“Family” Matters
Being related by blood was never a prerequisite to be considered “family” by James Ghilotti. James saw everyone around him as family. If you were in his circle, you were family, and this belief naturally extended to his employees.
Fondly known as “boss” to those who worked for him, James made it a point to share meals with his crew, often telling stories of the old country after a day’s work of pouring cement or raking asphalt. James’ family spirit did not stop at the lunches he provided or the time he gave to his crew—it also showed in the way he hired Italian “Paesanos,” better known as fellow countrymen, directly from the bus station.
Finding “La Fortuna” Together
Many of the men he hired were in search of the “La fortuna” that James had found here in America. Knowing he could not do the work of paving blue rock or building stone walls alone, James brought these men into his inner circle, many of whom would go on to work with him for decades.
Whether loading tools behind the boardinghouse for jobs in Ross, Sausalito, or lower Marin County, or jumping in beside his crew on-site, James led by example. He did not just oversee the work; he shared in it.
The Foundational Blueprint
That Endures Today
Through every lunch, every handshake, and every story told, James reinforced what it meant to be part of his team: to be part of his family. Being an employee of James Ghilotti meant you were family—an idea he would instill in the next generation of Ghilotti.
For more than a century, James’ way of thinking has helped shape the company’s culture, deepening the roots of the Ghilotti Family Spirit. This same spirit has been passed down through generations and remains the driving force behind Ghilotti Construction Company’s culture today.
