The original office in Batavia, NY, 1958.
Quality and Integrity Since 1958.
In 1958 two highly skilled masons, Duane Squires & Richard Manning, started Manning Squires as a masonry and masonry restoration contractor. Richard Hennig joined the company in 1962, forming Manning Squires Hennig. Squires and Manning saw an opportunity to become general contractors with the K-12 public schools building boom that occurred in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s and the success of those projects led to additional general contract work with private commercial and industrial clients, predominantly in the Genesee County area. Richard Manning died in 1963, and in 1972 Duane Squires bought out Richard Hennig.
Gary Squires joined the firm in the early ‘70s, rising to lead the company in the mid ‘80s. Good fortune led us to masonry work with Kodak in the ‘70s, and for the next 25 years Kodak was at least 50% of our sales volume. MSH learned and grew alongside local industry, leading us to develop a strong culture based on safety and quality. As large industry declined, we were faced with the challenge of replacing our largest and most loyal customers, and this transition from negotiated work with 30-year repeat customers to the hard-bid market was not without its challenges. Gary’s leadership, our great reputation, and fantastic team of tradespeople helped carry us while we learned the commercial, institutional and educational marketplace that we operate in today.
In 2015 we began a transition to new leadership by a third generation of Squires with Matt Squires as CEO, Brian Kelly as COO, and Samantha Nickerson as CFO.
Matt Squires
CEO
Matt Squires has been with Manning Squires Hennig Co. since 2004 and has held the roles of shop laborer, truck driver, assistant project manager, project manager, vice president and now Chief Executive Officer of the business his grandfather started over 60 years ago.
A new level of excitement and opportunity comes with Matt’s leadership as he positions the company for its continued long-term success. While the industry and economy have experienced significant changes, Matt’s message remains the same as his father’s before him and his father’s father before him… build with quality, act with integrity and treat people well.
Matt grew up in Chili and graduated from McQuaid before going to Wheaton College (Mass.) where he competed as a diver. In 2012, he received his Executive MBA from the U of R’s Simon School. Today, he lives in the heart of Rochester with a front-row seat of what he sees as a rejuvenated city truly coming alive. Fiercely devoted to furthering his family’s legacy, he makes time to serve as a board member of Foodlink of Rochester and Geva Theatre Center, play paddle tennis, and for family trips to Alexandria Bay.
Brian Kelly
COO
Brian oversees all aspects of MSH’s operations, including Estimating, General Construction, Concrete, Masonry, and Interiors. From the bid table to project kick-off through close-out, he supports MSH’s teams to ensure safety, quality control, scheduling accuracy, and customer satisfaction. Since beginning his career in 1995, Brian has built a reputation as a committed, trustworthy professional known for taking on tough assignments and delivering exceptional results.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. He began his career in Boston with The Perini Corporation as an estimator and project engineer. Nearly two decades with The Pike Company as both Project Manager and Operations Manager gave him extensive experience leading projects of varying size and complexity. His portfolio includes meaningful work such as a children’s hospital, cancer center, and numerous K–12 education facilities. Clients consistently describe Brian as organized, efficient, and focused on their best interests.
Outside of MSH, Brian and his wife Emily enjoy supporting their sons, Luke and Jack, through their college years—and enthusiastically cheering on Jack’s baseball journey, Go Bonnies! Brian is also deeply committed to community service. He is a past Chief and current Captain with the West Webster Fire District, a Deputy Fire Coordinator with Monroe County’s Special Operations Unit, and serves on the Executive Boards of the Builders Exchange of Rochester and the ACE Mentor Program of Rochester.
Samantha Nickerson
CFO
Samantha oversees all aspects of the company’s financial and administrative operations. She is recognized for her ability to distill complex financial matters into clear, actionable insights, enabling informed decision-making across the organization.
Since joining MSH in 2015, Samantha has focused on enhancing operational efficiency, delivering meaningful financial reporting, and driving effective problem solving. She is valued by colleagues and clients alike for her ability to balance big-picture strategy with attention to detail.
Samantha holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY Geneseo and earned her CPA designation while at The Bonadio Group, where she specialized in construction and non-profit clients. She also gained significant experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Orlando, auditing both public and private multinational companies. Prior to MSH, she served as Chief Financial Officer at the Genesee Country Village & Museum.
Outside of her professional role, Samantha enjoys supporting her three children’s athletic pursuits with her husband, Shane. She also serves on the board of Foodlink, Inc. and as Treasurer of the Cal-Mum Youth Basketball Association.
