Custom Design Innovations is a full-service carpentry and drywall subcontractor based in Jamaica Queens, serving both the commercial and residential sectors at scale. Specializing in interior construction, CDI offers a comprehensive range of services including drywall and metal framing, acoustical ceilings, taping and finishing, rough carpentry, millwork installation, light general contracting, 3D scanning and modeling, and installation of doors, frames, and hardware. “We also do exterior framing,” Angel says, expanding on his company’s extensive list of capabilities.
A union carpenter from the age of eighteen, Angel Marquez spent fifteen years working for Prince Carpentry where he moved up the ranks to foreman. “I started running a major project in New York City,” he says of a pivotal point in his career to date, “before starting Custom Design Innovations in 2017. Now the people I used to work for as a carpenter are my clients.” Angel’s experience out on the field, from newly qualified carpenter to foreman running major projects, gave him a competitive edge when he left the stability of a large company and went out on his own. His experience remains beneficial today as he manages the operations of a rapidly growing company. “Especially when it comes to bidding the jobs, knowing how the jobs work, and actually executing them.”
CDI started out as a second-tier subcontractor, which meant it answered to, and was paid by, a first-tier subcontractor hired by the GC. “We were doing black iron, doors and hardware, and would work with other drywall companies doing some of their scopes,” Angel says. Being a second-tier subcontractor comes with a level of payment risk, and being further removed from the main contractor restricts a company’s ability to influence project decisions and timelines. Naturally, CDI’s goal was to work directly with the General Contractor as a first-tier subcontractor, so when this became a reality, it was a huge company milestone. “As far as revenue goes, we jumped in 2017 from making $350,000 a year doing small home improvement projects, up to $8 million in 2020, then $9 million, and we’re going to close out this year at close to $20 million.” In the fast-moving world of construction, 2017 is not all that long ago, and so the jump in revenue from then to now is significant, and reflective of a company that is doing something right. Angel agrees that the company grew almost too fast, but such is the nature of sweeping success in an industry that values a job well done.
During this growth spurt, CDI landed a contract at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, Elmont. This was a large-scale project for a high-end client, with custom ceiling work carried out on the arena’s large, open space. From small housing contracts to 700,000 square feet arenas, CDI has proven its ability to compete with New York’s bigger and longer-established ceiling and drywall companies. In recent years, CDI has been present in multiple terminals across JFK Airport—the busiest US gateway for international traffic with over 30 million passengers passing through its terminals each year.
This comes after completing successful contracts at LaGuardia Airport in Queens and Newark Airport in New Jersey, among others. At JFK, the company has been able to showcase its diversity, working on high-profile fit-outs for brands like Starbucks and Tory Burch. The company has worked on multiple fit-outs in Terminal 5, as well as providing the exterior framing for Terminal 4. CDI’s current projects span Terminals 1, 6, and 8, as well as the main terminal, contributing to the ongoing transformation of JFK’s passenger experience. “We’re very diverse when it comes to the scope,” Angel says. “Not every job is the same. What makes us a little different is that not only do we give you a full package, but we also work for other drywall companies, doing their drywall taping or their doors and hardware exclusively. We have a cleaning service that we do post-construction, so when the project is all said and done, the General Contractor hires us to do all the final cleaning without a cleaning crew.” This added service gives CDI a competitive edge, enabling it to deliver beyond the standard full package that so many claim to offer.
“What makes us a little different is that not only do we give you a full package, but we also work for other drywall companies, doing their drywall taping or their doors and hardware exclusively.”
Diversity is embedded into the company—reflected both in the wide range of services it offers and the diverse sectors it operates in. From hospitals and hotels, restaurants and retail spaces, universities and theatres, the CDI team has successfully navigated nearly every corner of the construction landscape. Operating across a wide range of sectors in New York’s dynamic and fast-paced market, Custom Design Innovations consistently delivers top-quality services that are both customizable and innovative—true to the promise in its name. “Another high-profile project is the NYPD Bomb Squad Building where we’re doing all of the exterior and interior,” Angel says of one of the company’s more unique projects. “We are also on a big NYCHA project on Staten Island, which is a residential renovation of seven buildings. We just started the Queen’s Botanical Garden renovation, which is all the exterior framing and all the interior fit-outs for the gardens. Most of our jobs are kind of high profile, which is good.” With each project, CDI adapts to unique client needs while maintaining a standard of excellence that reflects its reputation as a leader in innovative construction solutions.
As a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), CDI benefits from significant advantages such as access to government contracts and corporate diversity programs, boosted visibility through exclusive directories and networking events, and opportunities for training, mentorship, and business development. This certification also enhances CDI’s credibility and gives it a competitive edge in markets that value diversity and inclusion. As such, the company is very active in the Public Works space, where it can provide a top-quality service while allowing General Contractors and clients to fulfil their minority participation.
CDI’s MBE Certification, and the opportunities that it brings, is a contributing factor to the company’s continued growth. This is further supported by the company’s commitment to the Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Framework, which evaluates a company’s long-term sustainability beyond its financial performance. For CDI, this means advocating for inclusivity at all levels, upholding ethical business standards, and enhancing operational efficiency while minimizing its environmental footprint. In today’s market, clients are increasingly guided by ESG values when making decisions. By prioritizing these values, companies not only enhance their sustainability and reputation but also position themselves for significant growth and opportunity.
“We’re growing in size right now,” Angel says, and so it seems the growth spurt that took off in 2017 has not yet reached its peak. CDI’s plans for the future, under Angel’s steadfast leadership, includes the purchasing of a company warehouse and tripling its number of staff in the next couple of years. “We are still up and coming and we have a lot of work considering the size and age of our company,” Angel says. “But all my employees and myself being in the business for a long time—that’s what’s driving the company to grow so fast. A lot of my staff are people who have been in the industry for a very long time. My field supervisor staff are retired carpenters and retired tradesmen who now help me run and supervise the field. A lot of the Project Managers and Executives that work with us have been in the field for a long time too. We’re seasoned in the industry; we know what we do and where we bid at and where we’re going.”
As Custom Design Innovations enters its next chapter, one word continues to define its business model and drive its ongoing growth and success: innovation. It’s more than just part of the company’s name—it’s the foundation of its identity. Having witnessed significant transformations and challenges in the industry since 2017, CDI understands the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technology in lieu of adhering to traditional, outdated methods. CDI is recognized among its market for integrating advanced technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 3D scanning, AI-driven estimating, and LightYX automated layout tools. Moving forward, the company sets out to enhance efficiencies in carpentry and drywall that streamline project delivery. It is this unwavering commitment to innovation that equips CDI with the resources and tools it needs to meet future challenges and continued growth head on—without ever compromising on quality. As long as there is construction there is a demand for innovation, and as long as there is a demand for innovation, there is a steady stream of opportunity in the pipeline for this forward thinking, innovation-led team.
