JB FERRARONE ’98

TrinityPawlingJBFerrarone

For JB Ferrarone, hard work is simply in his DNA. At Trinity-Pawling, he served as prefect, played soccer, wrestled and captained lacrosse. He worked construction jobs in Westchester and Fairfield counties during summers, and after graduating from Gettysburg College in 2002, Ferrarone was “chief cook and bottle washer for a developer in New Canaan. I did whatever they needed to get my foot in the door.” His next move took him to California in 2006. “I sent my resumes out and got a call from an alumnus of Canterbury. He recognized Trinity-Pawling and decided to give me a shot.”

Ferrarone joined Plath & Company, a LEED Platinum construction firm which specializes in building and renovating fine homes and historic structures in the Bay Area. He became a partner in 2011 and stepped in as President in 2014.

What is the key to his success? “I just work really, really hard.” Ferrarone attributes that persistence to his four years at Trinity-Pawling. “It became ingrained in me: show up, work hard, go the extra mile, and you’ll always come out on top.”

Ferrarone joined Trinity-Pawling’s Board of Trustees in 2015 and describes his two year term as mind-boggling. “It was such an honor to serve in this capacity. I learned so much about the running of a school as a corporation. There’s a never-ending list of what it takes to meet the needs of the students, faculty, and alumni. All the programs and facilities we need to compete with other schools can’t come from tuition dollars alone. We as alumni need to step up and do our part. Our participation is crucial for the School’s long-term success.”

Though Ferrarone commends the School’s ability to pivot and embrace new challenges with academics and facilities, he is pleased to see that traditions remain. “I love that the guys still play softball, wear coat and tie, have sit-down dinners, and maintain a strong athletic focus. Bill Taylor was my dorm parent when I was a freshman in East, and he’s done a great job picking up the reins at a critical point after Arch Smith retired.”

Like many alumni, Ferrarone acknowledges that something happens every day that makes him think of his alma mater. “I loved college, but T-P instilled in me the work ethic that made me who I am today.”

JB is pictured above with his brother James ’02.