Politics & Government

Himes Tours a Monroe Company Producing Windows & Doors for Navy Vessels

This article was written by Monroe Local Editor Bill Bittar.

Cornell-Carr Company has handled government contracts and more at its Monroe headquarters for over 50 years.

Windows and doors for the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers, the Port Jefferson Ferry in Bridgeport, fishing boats and other vessels are manufactured by Cornell-Carr Co. at 629 Main Street in Monroe. The company was created in 1955 and has been headquartered in town since 1962.

On Wednesday morning, company vice president Philip H. Gangnath and his shipping manager, Greg Frichette, gave U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th) a tour of the facility.

"It's amazing how I'm always surprised by the ingenuity and capability of these smaller shops here in Connecticut," Himes said. "They're not getting the same press attention as General Dynamics, but they do mission-critical stuff right here in Monroe."

Himes said the state has to train its young people to carry on the work Cornell-Carr does.

Gangnath, who joined the company 28 years ago and worked his way up the ladder, says around 80-percent of his 30 employees are in their 40's, 50's or older.

"A lot of the supervisors have been here since age 17 — 45 to 48 years ago," Gangnath said.

Fernando "Freddie" Perpetuo is the longest serving foreman, having been with the company for 48 years.

"It's just amazing how long they have been here and what talent they all have," Gangnath said. "Sometimes we forget how to appreciate how good they are."

Gangnath said his employees have a highly skilled trade and recalled numerous times when younger job applicants couldn't get the job done.

"When welders come in, they want $80,000 and can't weld what they're taught to weld," he said. "How can I start you at that?"

When Gangnath offers to train prospective employees so they can work their way up, he said some lose interest.

Frichette is one of the younger staffers at Cornell-Carr and Gangnath's son, Mike, works in the factory.

Staying Afloat

Gangnath said around 90-percent of Cornell-Carr's business comes from government contracts.

When Himes visited one office, Rich Lasecki, who does engineering work, told him, "Commercial shipping died in this country a long time ago. If it wasn't for Navy ships ..."

Himes asked Gangnath if his company secures contracts on a routine basis. Aside from one former competitor, BAE Systems, there are not very many American companies who do what Cornell-Carr does, Gangnath explained.

However, Gangnath said he is constantly getting emails about potential cuts in military spending for Naval ships.

He shared a letter with Patch about a proposed amendment to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act that would have reduced the statutory requirement for aircraft carriers from 11 to 10. Joe Courtney, a member of Congress, told Gangnath the amendment was defeated 318 to 106.

Himes told Gangnath he expects to see some posturing among members of Congress during budget negotiations and debt ceiling talks, but expressed his hope that they will back down on any such cuts.

Walking into a large room outside Gangnath's office, Himes saw computer stations around the periphery and a conference table in the middle. Gangnath told him it used to be used as a paint room before Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards made him opt to use it for shipping instead.

Himes asked Gangnath if he believes Connecticut has been "friendly" toward his business and Gangnath said "Not at all."

He complained of OSHA and environmental regulations and health insurance requirements without programs to help small businesses to understand and deal with the constant changes.

Cornell-Carr on the Silver Screen

If you look at the windows of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on the Intrepid aircraft carrier docked in New York city, Gangnath said you will see where it says "Cornell-Carr Company, Monroe, CT".

Cornell-Carr has also designed windows and equipment for Hollywood movies, according to Gangnath.

"We did the movie 'The Perfect Storm'," he said. "We did all the windows and wipers."

In his office, Gangnath showed controls his company made for a boat with Russian labeling on it for the movie, "Virus", starring Jamie Lee Curtis.

Inside the factory, the whirring of power tools and machinery could be heard as workers manipulated metal with precision.

Gangnath showed Congressman Himes one large window weighing approximately 800 pounds, then another that was around 1,100 pounds.

"When you think about all the weight put on these boats, how do they float?" Gangnath said with a chuckle.


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