ABOUT WATERBOURNE CONSTRUCTION ADVISORS

Building Trust. Delivering Excellence. Serving You.

Founded in 1991 by Jim Carminati Sr. and Tony D’Auria, Waterbourne Construction Advisors grew from the success of a client-centered real estate firm. Recognizing a growing need for dedicated owner advocacy in construction, we established a separate company built on the same values of integrity, transparency, and client focus.

About Us

Waterbourne began out of a simple but important need in the marketplace—true owner representation. The original firm, Waterbourne Real Estate Advisors, LLC, was founded in 1991 by Jim Carminati Sr. and Tony D’Auria as a client-focused real estate company specializing in tenant representation and buyer’s brokerage. Over time, many of those clients asked the firm to oversee the construction and build-out of their new spaces.

Because Waterbourne already had strong relationships with owners and a deep understanding of their budgets, priorities, and goals, it was a natural step to form Waterbourne Construction Advisors, LLC. This new company carried forward the same client-first philosophy while focusing exclusively on project management and owner advocacy in the construction process.

Today, Waterbourne Real Estate Advisors, LLC and Waterbourne Construction Advisors, LLC operate as two independent companies. For real estate services, please contact Tony D’Auria through Waterbourne Real Estate Advisors.

Based in Youngstown, NY, Waterbourne Construction Advisors is owned and led by Jim Carminati Sr. and Jimmy Carminati. Though our projects have grown in scale and complexity, our values remain unchanged. We continue to act solely as the owner’s advocate—ensuring that every project reflects the client’s vision, protects their investment, and delivers lasting value.

Meet Our Team

Jimmy Carminati

Owner / Managing Partner

Jimmy Carminati is the Owner and Lead Project Manager at Waterbourne Construction Advisors. He leads the firm’s daily operations and serves as a key advisor on every project, guiding each phase from early planning through closeout. Known for his hands-on approach, Jimmy combines sharp attention to detail with a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to client success.

His leadership has been central to some of Western New York’s most complex and high-profile builds, including the $30 million, nine-story DoubleTree Hotel and the $14 million Rainbow Air Tourism Center in Niagara Falls, as well as the $20 million Learning Commons at Niagara County Community College in Sanborn. His ability to uncover savings, resolve challenges in real time, and maintain steady progress has earned lasting trust from clients and partners alike.

Backed by a broad network of regional contractors and trade professionals, Jimmy ensures every Waterbourne project benefits from strong relationships, disciplined oversight, and clear accountability from start to finish.

A graduate of SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.S. in Social Studies Education, he also holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master Captain’s License and a U.S. Sailing Level I Instructor Trainer Certification. He is an active member of the Youngstown Yacht Club and the 3F Conservation Club in Lewiston. Mr. Carminati resides in Youngstown, NY with his wife and three children.

Brian Greves

Estimator/Scheduler

 

Brian Greaves brings more than 25 years of experience spanning every phase of construction from initial concept through project turnover. He began his career in the field, working on carpentry and concrete crews, and advanced through roles as foreman, field coordinator, field supervisor, and on-site project manager. This hands-on foundation gives him a rare depth of understanding that continues to guide his work in estimating, bidding, project management, and scheduling.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Greaves has contributed to the successful delivery of new and renovated commercial offices, warehouse and manufacturing facilities, educational and medical buildings, and student housing. At Waterbourne, he provides full-time estimating and scheduling services while supporting field operations and project oversight.

Mr. Greaves completed multiple Construction Estimating courses at Erie Community College, holds a Program Certificate from the Construction Institute of America, and has earned CDT and CCCA Certifications from the Construction Specifications Institute.

Notable projects include:

  • Rainbow Air Tourism Center, Niagara Falls, NY – $14,000,000

  • Jacobs Hall, University at Buffalo, Amherst, NY – $6,400,000

  • Paddock Chevrolet Renovation and Addition, Buffalo, NY – $3,700,000

  • Windsong Place Apartments, Williamsville, NY – $18,500,000

  • The Woods at Blairville, Lewiston, NY – $9,500,000

  • Renaissance Place Apartments, Amherst, NY – $11,000,000

  • Ketter Hall Earthquake Research Center, University at Buffalo – $5,000,000

  • South Lake Village Apartments, University at Buffalo – $11,000,000

  • MusicalFare Theatre, Daemen College – $200,000

Jim Carminati Sr.

Owner / Partner

As a Licensed Real Estate Broker, experienced Real Property Administrator and Construction Project Manager, Mr. Carminati has a broad knowledge of the real estate and construction industry. Specifically, he utilizes his extensive and wide-ranging expertise to assist clients with site selection, lease/purchase contract analysis and negotiation, construction advisory, construction site supervision, project and property management services.

Mr. Carminati started his career in banking before becoming a real estate agent and top-performing leasing executive for Uniland Development Company where he worked for 6 years. His vast expertise and special attention to meeting client needs have resulted in successful projects for high-level national and multinational companies such as Ashton-Potter USA, Kaleida Health, Laidlaw Transit, Inc., Monro Muffler and Brake, NationsBank, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Great Lakes Customs Brokerage, Quest Diagnostics and SmithKline Beecham.

In addition to his achievements in the real estate industry, Mr. Carminati is active in the community as the former president of the Aspire of WNY, Inc. Foundation (formerly United Cerebral Palsy) and is a member of Aspire’s Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Town of Porter Board of Assessment Review and the Liberty Home Care Board of Directors. He is also a past member of the Board of Directors for the Youngstown Yacht Club and ran the Yacht Club’s Summer Youth Sailing Program. Mr. Carminati is the proud father of three sons, two of whom are active in the U.S. Navy.

WHY CHOOSE US?

Here are the core values that are the bedrock of how we do business:

  1. Customer Focus: Prioritizing understanding and meeting the client’s needs, maintaining open communication, and ensuring client satisfaction throughout the construction process.

  2. Integrity: Upholding honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all dealings with clients, fostering trust and long-term relationships.

  3. Communication: Prioritizing clear, effective communication with clients, keeping them informed, and involving them in decision-making processes.

  4. Adaptability: Being flexible and adaptable to evolving client requirements or preferences while ensuring the project’s success.

  5. Accountability: Taking responsibility for meeting client expectations, timelines, and budget constraints, and ensuring that commitments made to clients are fulfilled.

  6. Problem-Solving: Proactively identifying and addressing issues, offering innovative solutions, and anticipating and resolving potential concerns for the benefit of the client.

  7. Relationship Building: Establishing and nurturing strong relationships with clients, understanding their vision, and aligning construction strategies accordingly.

We proudly serve the following areas:

  • Niagara Falls, NY
  • Buffalo, NY
  • Southern Tier
  • Niagara County
  • Erie County
  • Orleans County
  • Greater Upstate NY
  • Rochester, NY
  • Batavia, NY
“Waterbourne was a true partner in this endeavor and had our best interests in mind every step of the way. I can recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone wishing to have a construction manager who does what they say they do and never loses sight of the owner’s goals and objectives.”
– John J. Ottaviano, Esq. (President of the Board of Directors), Lockport Ice Arena & Sports Complex
“Waterbourne was a successful part of our formula for success—helping to keep costs low, meeting deadlines, minimizing change orders, and producing a facility that we are as proud of today as we were the day it was opened.”
– Stephen R. Anderson, Ph.D (Chief Executive Officer), The Summit Center
“Waterbourne helped manage a significant re-construction project in the historic Guaranty Building in Buffalo in 2019. Waterbourne’s daily oversight of contractors and trades work was critical to the success of the project. They also were instrumental in uncovering some potential issues that could have caused budget overruns and delays.”
– Paul Pellegrino (Facilities Director), Hodgson Russ LLP
“I would strongly recommend Waterbourne Construction Advisors to provide CM services as I’ve found the site superintendents, clerk of the works, and support staff to be flexible, polite, and professional when performing their duties. Ownership was also polite and had a strong customer focus.”
– Michael D Dombrowski, CPMM (VP of Operations), Niagara County Community College
“From the design and budget stage to handing us the keys, it was an absolute pleasure working with the Waterbourne team! Honest, thorough, and with attention to detail, resulted in a spectacular building we are extremely pleased with! They turned our dream into a reality! Don’t build until you talk with Waterbourne first!”
– Mark T. Schiferle (Owner), Capital Fence Co. Inc.
“The Waterbourne onsite supervisor did a spectacular job coordinating with the subs and keeping our facility safe and operational during the construction.”
– Michael R. Lippa, Jr. (COO), Multisorb Filtration Group

Ready to experience true owner advocacy?

Contact us and let’s build something great together!

CONTACT US