Company History
Cherenzia & Associates, Ltd. (Cherenzia) is a fully licensed Civil Engineering and Land Surveying firm located in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. We believe strongly in staying on the cutting edge in our respected fields of expertise by constantly upgrading equipment and software to ensure that our clients receive the best possible service. As a full service firm dedicated to high quality work, all design and engineering operations are performed by a team of in-house professionals that are qualified to manage projects from beginning to end while ensuring that the final product delivered conforms to all design and regulatory specifications.
Cherenzia is a family owned company proud of its family roots. Founded in 1979 in Westerly, Rhode Island by former President Raymond F. Cherenzia, our company enjoys a reputation of excellence in southeastern New England. During our thirty year existence, regulations pertaining to Engineering and Land Use have become increasingly specialized and complex. We have built our reputation on the ability to meet the demands of our clients both accurately and efficiently in this ever changing environment.
In 1987, Cherenzia acquired Rossi & Lewis Engineers, Inc., the oldest land surveying firm in southern Rhode Island. This investment gives Cherenzia the most complete set of historical survey and site records available and provides the company with the ability to avoid costly and duplicative costs for its clients.
In January 2008, Cherenzia moved their corporate headquarters from Westerly, Rhode Island to Pawcatuck, Connecticut. This move has created a larger workspace which is stocked with the latest engineering technologies and software. It has also provided the ability to cater to both Rhode Island and Connecticut from a centralized location. We are already well known in the Town of Westerly, and are expanding our quality reputation across the state boundary.
The acquisition of Rossi & Lewis, combined with our impressive new headquarters, demonstrates our dedication to expansion and continued efforts to improve and further succeed. Built upon 30 years of hard work and professionalism, we are proud of our past achievements and continue to look forward towards a bright future.
Cherenzia Founder
Raymond was born in Westerly on Nov. 14, 1951, son of the late Salvatore and Frances (Gaccione) Cherenzia. After graduation from LaSalle Academy in 1969, Ray entered Worcester Polytechnic Institute and began a lifetime commitment to the school. As an undergraduate, he joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was chosen for the prestigious senior society, The Skull. He was a member of the wrestling team and in his senior year achieved All-New England status. After earning his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1973, he remained at WPI to complete graduate coursework and to serve as assistant wrestling coach.
Subsequent to college and following several years of working outside of southern New England with Engineering firm Metcalfe and Eddy, Raymond returned to Westerly to accept the position of Town Engineer. In 1979, he left public service and founded Cherenzia & Associates, Ltd. He later purchased Rossi & Lewis, Inc. in 1987 another local civil engineering and land surveying company. He was licensed as a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor in the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Professional Engineer in the State of Maine. He was business partner with his brother Salvatore (Sam) E Cherenzia, III. together they owned and operated the civil engineering business as well as Cherenzia Excavation, Inc. which not only performed many large site work projects but also operates two quarries in Westerly and produces many aggregate products for public and private consumption.
A 1995 Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce Key Citizen of the Year Award recipient, Raymond contributed his expertise without charge to a number of local charitable organizations including serving as the construction manager for the building of the Chamber's headquarters and Olean Center addition. He also contributed the master plans for the Ocean Community YMCA, Watchaug camp site, Stand-Up for Animals and the Prout School. He has been involved many years with the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association and held a position on the board of trustees starting in 2008. Raymond received the WPWA Trustees Award, posthumously, in May of 2010. Raymond was active in the Westerly Rotary Club serving as an officer, including president from 1992-93 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the board of directors of the Chamber from 1991-1994 and 2002-2005. He was also a corporator of Dime Bank.
Raymond continued to give back to his alma mater, serving on multiple committees and offices in the Poly Club, the school's athletic support organization and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. In 1988, the school bestowed its Distinguished Service Award on him. Posthumously, Raymond has had the WPI athletic department “Unsung Hero Award” named for him which is presented to a member of each varsity team who exemplifies the spirit of an "Unsung Hero," who works hard every day, puts the team first over personal goals, who does the little things without much recognition, yet is vital to the team's success in competition, in the classroom, and in the community. He was also inducted into the Rhode Island Wrestling Hall of Fame in March of 2010.
He offered support to local high school juniors and seniors who were considering attending WPI and/or entering into a career in civil engineering. Raymond would meet with these young men and women, give them tours of his office showing them his firm's work and the advancements in technology in the civil engineering field that he always strived to include in his company. Raymond provided annual scholarships to Prout and Westerly graduates accepted to college engineering programs. He believed WPI graduates were well prepared and gave initial employment to many graduates as junior engineers within his firm.
Raymond remained active in wrestling, serving as a highly regarded referee at the college and high school levels for 25 years, including being chosen to officiate the Collegiate National Championships. Raymond was an avid runner and biker and enjoyed hiking, skiing, and scuba diving. He was a member of the Westerly band and played the clarinet. He ran nine marathons, including Boston twice as well as Ocean State and Sugarloaf and was a proud member and sponsor of the Westerly Track and Athletic Club. He summited numerous mountains including Mt. Rainer, Mt. Hood, Mt. Katahdin and Mt. Washington.
Raymond F. Cherenzia passed away January 9, 2010 after a two-year valiant battle with brain cancer. He was truly a remarkable man, generous contributor to his community, and an extraordinary father and provider for his family. His quiet wisdom, self-effacing modesty, enthusiasm and humor will be sorely missed by all who were privileged to know him. Raymond was always a personable, genuine, caring person that would put others before him; he would always talk to people and not at them. Raymond worked tirelessly to build Cherenzia & Associates, Ltd into a full service environmental and civil engineering & surveying firm fostering positive relationships with clients, businesses, and the community. He believed strongly in the firm that he built and in the highly capable, professional, intelligent people he employed at his business. Raymond always assured to keep up on changes and new trends and technology in the industry to provide the most cost effective and professional services.
These ideals are Raymond’s legacy which remain paramount and continue even after his passing. Cherenzia & Associates, Ltd remains a family business with the next generation, his son, Sergio F. Cherenzia, who is working for the company as a project manager. The continued success of Cherenzia & Associates, Ltd shall be built upon values that Raymond set forth during his time in conjunction with a highly capable, intelligent, and professional staff.