Kenneth M. Colao, Founding Principal & President of CNY Group
Ken Colao is a recognized leader and entrepreneur in the construction industry with more than 38 years of experience as a principal of several major firms, completing more than $5 billion of building construction.
As Founder, President and CEO of CNY, Ken manages an innovative forward-thinking Manhattan-based company that has led the way for “open shop” construction that disrupted an otherwise all union labor marketplace for large-scale development. His role at CNY is as thought leader and to bring discipline and an approach to problem solving that fulfills objectives of clients and designers. His mission is to create value, challenge the norm and lead the delivery of CNY’s proven best practices and expertise.
CNY provides CMAR and design assist services with a collaborative, open forum management style. The company differentiates itself with expertise involving complex reconstruction and repurposing of buildings, and build-outs of sustainable and uniquely designed spaces and are considered expert in hospitality construction. The firm was named by ENR as Contractor of the Year, among other notable recognition including two of its projects, Times Square Edition and Woolworth Tower receiving Best Project Awards in 2019.
An engineer with a B.S.C.E. degree from NJIT, Ken serves as the Vice President on the Board of Overseers for the University and chairs the Advisory Board at Hillier College of Architecture and Design. Ken has received the University’s Alumni Achievement Award and is amongst its Top 30 Influencers. He serves as Vice Chairman on the Board of Governors for the New York Building Foundation and has held positions at several charitable organizations. Ken has been an active member of YPO for over 26 years serving on boards of YPO Metro, Big Apple Gold and Construction Industry Network. He has spoken on several industry panels and was speaker at CIN RT in 2014 on Life Lessons.
Ken was named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® in 2017 for the New York Region, in the category of Real Estate, Construction and Hospitality. EY’s global program recognizes individuals who excel in innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
Ken Colao 