By Nate West
News Assignment Editor
Carl Paladino,’68 and 2010 New York gubernatorial candidate, spoke to students yesterday in the Walsh Amphitheater about the value of family-owned businesses.
While a student, Paladino was a member of the ROTC program. He then graduated from Syracuse University in 1971 with a Juris Doctor degree. From there he went to the Army, before founding Ellicott Development in 1973.
Paladino covered a wide array of topics, ranging from a brief political statement in the beginning encouraging student voting to the importance of quality work in business.
“The future is with you,” Paladino said to students about the importance of education. “You have an opportunity today that many don’t have today. I think I speak for every one of your parents when I say your ancestors came here to give us and you opportunity to do what you really want to do.”
At Ellicott Development, Paladino works with his son and current CEO, William. He says there is no greater pride or accomplishment than working with his children.
“Back in the early 1970’s when I was a young lawyer practicing law, I had no idea that I would be building a family business,” Paladino said. “Many years later in the 80’s and into the 90’s, I didn’t recognize what I was doing. I just put the blinders on and went on to build a business.”
Today, Ellicott Development employs around 500 people, own approximately $700 million of property and ranges from all of upstate New York to parts of western Pennsylvania, Paladino said.
From there, Paladino listed some of the basic principles to a business. Having the ability to manage, hiring the right people and having a long-term attitude.
“You’re there for the long stretch, not for the quick hit,” he said. “We see so many contractors come in, low bid the job and then do a poor job. It doesn’t work because people are going to find out about you and put you out of business.”
Paladino opened the floor for questions, fielding only one about his first retail purchase as a developer.
He closed his hour-long talk with students speaking about how St. Bonaventure alumni will always help their own.
“The alumni of this school you will find to be just like you,” Paladino said. “Don’t ever hesitate to call an alumni who might be able to help you, and that includes me. If I can help you, help guide you with something, that’s what life’s about. We’re one big family.”
westnl11@bonaventure.edu
