Anthony ‘Tony’ Cirillo Celebrates Decade of Service to M&R
Anthony “Tony” Cirillo, M&R’s vice president of engineering and construction, recently celebrated a significant milestone: his 10th anniversary with the company. During his decade of service, Tony has played a pivotal role in overseeing the life-safety, maintenance and engineering needs across M&R’s portfolio. Whether it’s responding to power outages, managing elevator issues, or troubleshooting mechanical, electrical and plumbing problems, Tony and his engineering team are always on call to ensure the smooth operation of M&R’s hotels.
Tony’s work includes collaborating closely with contractors, suppliers, engineers, architects, designers and permitting agencies to successfully manage new construction hotels entering the M&R system and renovations of existing properties. But Tony’s influence goes beyond his technical expertise; he brings a strong hands-on approach and team-oriented mindset to every project.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran with more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, Tony’s journey is shaped by a deep understanding of what it means to work as a team. “In the Marine Corps, you learn to operate as a unit, with everyone doing their part for the greater good,” he said, adding that the same applies to his work at M&R. “It’s all about mutual respect and shared responsibility. Everyone understands their roles and how they contribute to the bigger picture.”
A strong sense of unity and equality is central to Tony’s leadership style. While having a trade is an important skill, he emphasized the importance of recognizing people’s individual strengths. “It’s important to treat your team with respect, fairness and compassion,” he said. “Every person has unique abilities, and it’s my job to help utilize their strengths and maximize their potential.”
While Tony is a seasoned leader, he is quick to acknowledge the importance of his team. “The people who work on my team are amazing and probably more important than I am,” he said. “They work incredibly hard and are on call 24/7, solving problems and keeping things running smoothly. It’s a true team effort.” Many of the members of his team have been with him for years or have come up through the ranks. Tony credits their dedication and teamwork: “We are all in the trenches together. We’re there to do a job, and we do it better together.”
Even with decades in the industry, Tony continually learns from his team just as much as they learn from him. “I’m always learning,” he said. “There’s always something new, something I haven’t seen before. That’s one of the things I enjoy most about my role. No two days are ever the same.”
An electrician by trade, Tony’s journey in hospitality began after he left the Marine Corps. He found his first job in the industry as an electrician at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton in New Jersey. From there, his career evolved, with key roles in various organizations. Prior to joining M&R in September 2014, Tony served as the engineering director for AvalonBay Communities, overseeing construction for high-rise and midrise residential buildings in New York and New Jersey. He also worked as executive director of operations for MGM Electric and held key positions with Morgans Hotel Group, Hartz Mountain Development and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Tony holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and has earned numerous certifications, including in fire safety, HVAC and refrigeration, pool operation and electrical technology. His technical expertise is complemented by his Six Sigma certification and a Black Seal boiler operator license. He is also an active member of the Hotel, Motel and Engineering Association.
As he reflects on his time with M&R, Tony understands that leadership is about more than just technical skills, it’s about people. “At the end of the day, it’s about the team,” he said. “We all work together to achieve our goals and to contribute to the success of M&R. “We all get along great, and I’m proud of the team we’ve built.”
