With a strong background in business and field experience in structural concrete, Salvatore Merante combines financial insight and construction expertise to drive Merante Contracting forward. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University before joining Clark Concrete in the Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia market, where he spent three years working on major projects, including the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Surgical Pavilion, a $50 million structural concrete project.

In 2022, Salvatore returned to Pittsburgh to join Merante Contracting full time, contributing to both operations and strategic business growth. His diverse skill set allows him to bridge the gap between field execution and business management, helping position the company for long-term success.

Beyond the job site, Salvatore is passionate about culture and community. He is fluent in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Greek, trains in Muay Thai, and leads local cultural organizations, including The Calabria Club and Friends of Pittsburgh, an Italian social club. He also enjoys sports, family time, and connecting people through shared traditions.

Italo Merante brings a strong foundation in civil engineering and large-scale construction management to Merante Contracting. A graduate of Bucknell University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, he began his career interning with Walsh Construction on the P3 Bridge Project before joining Clark Concrete, where he spent three years managing structural concrete for high-rise projects, including the $1 billion Amazon headquarters and a $400 million Navy Yard apartment complex in Washington, D.C.

Italo further expanded his expertise at Atkinson Construction, managing heavy highway projects such as the $500 million SR46 corridor project in San Luis Obispo—a cradle-to-grave CMGC contract. Upon returning to Pittsburgh, he earned his Professional Engineering license and joined Merante Contracting in 2022, where he now oversees project management across all jobs and leads structural estimating efforts.

Outside of work, Italo is an Ironman triathlete and avid marathoner. Driven to honor and build upon his father’s legacy, his future vision is to continue growing Merante Contracting as a respected heavy highway general contractor, alongside his brother and the rest of the Merante family team.

Anthony discovered his passion for construction at an early age, inspired by stories from his father’s work on heavy highway labor gangs after immigrating to America. He pursued carpentry at Parkway West Technical School and gained hands-on experience working for general contractors while still in high school.

In 1987, with his father’s encouragement, Anthony launched his own business at just nineteen, focusing on residential remodeling and concrete flatwork. By 1991, he incorporated the company and secured his first public project with the City of Pittsburgh Board of Education. Mastering the public bidding process, he quickly expanded into larger and more complex projects, recognizing the importance of PennDOT’s prequalification in building credibility and growth.

Since the early 1990s, Merante Contracting has delivered numerous high-profile projects across the public sector, including work for the PA DOT, WV DOH, municipalities, counties, and commercial and industrial clients. The company’s ongoing contributions continue to strengthen and advance public infrastructure throughout the region.

In 2022, Anthony’s sons joined the firm, bringing expertise from large-scale projects and enhancing operational efficiency. To honor the family legacy, Anthony renamed the company from A. Merante Contracting, Inc. to Merante Contracting, Inc. in 2025.

Beyond Merante Contracting, Anthony has founded and operated more than ten businesses spanning construction, transportation, pipe lining, property development, restaurants, and real estate. He takes pride in both his family’s personal and professional accomplishments and remains dedicated to instilling a strong work ethic, reinvesting in growth, and building a lasting impact on the communities he serves.