In Episode 100 of Blue Collar Startup, Mike and Derek sit down with Sonny Bonacio of Bonacio Construction for a candid look at his 35-year journey from framing homes to building one of the region’s most influential development companies. From humble beginnings to transforming the landscape of Saratoga, Sonny shares lessons on growth, grit, and staying persistent when the stakes are high.
You can connect with Sonny and Bonacio Construction at bonacio.com or by following the company on social media.
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00:00 Introduction
00:50 Winter prep and farm life
02:05 The broken plow story
03:35 Sponsor shoutouts & episode milestone
04:15 Introducing Sonny
05:30 Bonacio Construction: the early days
07:20 Word-of-mouth growth and “never say no”
09:35 Expanding to larger-scale commercial work
11:05 Surviving downturns & banking relationships
12:40 Pressure, risk, and staying calm under fire
14:12 “Leading the market instead of chasing it”
16:03 From subcontractor to GC to developer
17:55 How they landed major clients
19:14 Saratoga’s evolution over decades
21:30 Front-and-center projects & public pressure
24:41 Building true downtown communities
27:45 Landmark Price Chopper transformation
30:31 Legacy building and next generation leadership
33:58 Passion vs. planning: what really matters
