In this Issue:

• Lead Story: Study of an Internship
• The First Look Hotsheet: Extraordinary Candidates
• The Kimmel Scholarship for Students in Construction: 179 and Counting
• Hard Hat Humor
• Riveting News: Construction Industry News
• Made in the USA: The Golden Gate Bridge
• Tip of the Hard Hat

LEAD STORY: Study of an Internship:
Jonathan Walthers and Kajima Construction
Form a Summer Partnership

“I learned facets of the business that are virtually impossible to learn in the classroom. Construction is one of the most hands-on industries there is. The experience was the ultimate transfer from the theoretical to the practical, and the dichotomy that I saw between theory and real life was eye-opening.”
  » Read Full Article

When the Kimmel & Associates Construction Industry Newsletter speaks to professionals in construction, the conversation often turns to the issue of the continuing need to attract talented young people to the industry.

That’s why CIN is encouraged by conversations it held with a trio of men committed to the present and future of the construction industry. Aaron Bidne is a Senior Project Manager with Kajima Construction Services, Inc. and works on projects out of their Atlanta office. Dr. Craig Capano is an Associate Professor of Construction Management at Western Carolina University and a coordinator of internships for students in the Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology. The third man involved in this discussion, and the link between the first two, is Jonathan Walthers, a junior majoring in Construction Management at Western Carolina who spent the summer of 2006 on an internship with Kajima’s office in Atlanta. » Read Full Article

The "First Look" Hotsheet: Extraordinary Candidates

Listed below is just a small sampling of candidates with whom we are associated. Your needs may be different; please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can assist you with finding the right professional for your organization. The Kimmel & Associates network has the relevance, reach, and response to find the candidates who fit your specific needs. Please call 828.251.9900 or contact us by e-mail.

#280507 Superintendent - Solid superintendent with 18 years of experience. He has ground up and TI Experience, but his specialty is medical TI. He has 15 years of experience doing hospital projects, very comfortable with OSHPD regulations. Great references, available immediately. Located in Los Angeles, CA.

#269647 Project Manager - Motivated, sharp, degreed Project Manager. 6 years commercial experience, projects to $10M, estimating and project management. Must stay in Birmingham.

#278329 Operations Executive - This Operations Executive knows retail design, development, construction. Expertise in site, vertical construction, multi-million dollar budgets and staff development. Degreed with PE. Family considerations necessitate a mid-Atlantic or Carolinas location.

#354452 MEP Superintendent - MEP professional Superintendent experienced in diverse projects (hospitals, dorms, bus terminals, rail) for world renowned CM firms. Experience in the “fast-track” installation and modification of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems in New York City. Intimate knowledge of New York City construction industry to include regulatory, local union and community processes. Outstanding Safety record and practiced knowledge of OSHA 1925 Regulations & NYC DOB Article 19. Wants to stay in NYC.

#25600 Director of Development - Director of Development and Construction with project diversity ranging from hi-rise hospitality to commercial and retail. Fifteen years working with GCs before moving to the development side to oversee operations. Charismatic, friendly proven leader ready for opportunity for growth and more responsibility. A loyal professional who has been at the same company since 1998. Currently located in Dallas; will relocate to the Southeast.

#294249 Senior Project Manager - Senior Project Manager with one of the nation’s largest residential builders. Resourceful, professional construction manager with a goal-oriented approach and a track record of success. Dedicated to enforcing regulations, policies and procedures. Hands-on management style and excellent communication skills. Looking for excellent opportunity with upward mobility. University of Florida, M. E. Rinker School of Building Construction, Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, track record of running several multimillion dollar projects simultaneously. Excellent references and job history. Located in Jacksonville, FL.

#110152 Chief Financial Officer - A true self-starter, with 20+ years experience, this Chief Financial Officer possesses unique problem solving capabilities in addressing a variety of corporate financial and operational issues. Expertise in job cost, percentage of completion, and reducing costs. Looking for a stable growing company with a need to increase revenues and manage finances. Highly developed communications, managerial and motivational skills and demonstrated ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels. Located in Orange County, CA.

#354721 Electrical Estimator/Project Manager - Seasoned Electrical Estimator/Project Manager seeks new opportunity with stable and growing company. This professional offers a diverse project list and design/build experience. Energetic with a “can do” attitude, his troubleshooting abilities and attention to detail have brought him consistent success on past projects. Excellent references and employment history. Located in Nashville, TN.

#321712 Sr. PM, V.P., Operations Manager, President - Former family owner of a large underground company specializing in large utility and tunnel work who now enjoys real estate development and urban renovation. Vast business and technical experience seeking a challenge in the Chicago area, but open to opportunity.

#329370 Project Superintendent - Solid, well experienced Project Superintendent for civil site work, excavation, grading and utility with proprietary experience. Currently in Michigan but open to any good opportunities.

#356943 Estimator/Project Manager - Solid Estimator/PM for a range of civil work including excavation, grading, utility, pump and lift stations, concrete structure, sewer, paving, piling, storm drain. Lots of mid-sized municipal projects with strong negotiating and client interface skills. Technically solid with engaging leadership qualities. In the St. Louis area.

#326088 Sr. Estimator/Project Manager - Senior Estimator PM who really enjoys the challenges of big project DOT work. BSCE, 15 year run with one company, seeking next level to area or division manager. Looking in Indiana or New Jersey.

#111330 Senior Electrical Project Manager - This Senior Electrical Project Manager is recognized as a “Big Gun” in the Electrical Construction Industry. Excellent problem solving skills: has pulled several very large failing projects out of the red. He is a planner, good eye for detail and gets from point A to B with a logical approach. A team player with the highest of work ethics. Thirty years of experience with an outstanding project list. Just finished a major hospital and wants to settle down with his family in Texas.

#307044 Deep Foundations Project Manager - Very high-energy deep foundations geotechnical PM and engineer with Masters Degree from Northwestern currently working on a major heavy civil project in Florida. He is used to handling large projects including dam work and a major power plant, but is looking for a company he can help to grow. He has sales engineering experience and lots of drive. He is open to relocation and is single.

#297967 Estimator/Pre-Construction - Young pre-construction professional with an MBA degree. This candidate has 4 years of experience in Commercial construction handling business development, estimating, and purchasing. This candidate also has estimating/purchasing experience in the residential development market where he was instrumental in developing a lumber purchasing system and processes. In the Denver area.

#126181 Estimator - Mid-career estimator for site and municipal underground utility. BSCE, AGTEK and Primavera. Looking to get to Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri corridor for family reasons.

#253501 QAQC Manager, Estimator/PM - 12 years in heavy civil as QAQC Tech/Manager and Estimator/Project Manager for private and municipal asphalt paving projects. Associates in Civil Engineering. Capable in Asphalt Estimating and Project Management and a whiz with mix design.

#23848 Mechanical Engineer/Professional Engineer/Project Manager - With a mix of commercial and industrial projects in his background, this ME/PE would be a fortunate catch for an MEP design firm or a design-build mechanical contractor. His background includes design and project management for hospitality, light manufacturing, military, data centers, laboratory, pharmaceuticals, micro-electronics, food processing, and various types of commercial projects. Particular strength is in the area of Wet Side HVAC for large Chiller Plants, both new construction and retrofits. Orange County, South LA County, or the San Diego area would be a top choice for this engineer.

#346142 Project Superintendent (Excavation) - 10 year superintendent with some inspector experience specializing in excavation for commercial and DOT projects. Handles Trimble GPS for equipment. Seeking opportunities in the northern Midwest or Rocky Mountain states.

#349792 Project Manager (Pharmaceutical) - Highly educated and recommended, bi-lingual (Spanish and English) Project Manager with experience in pharmaceutical and high-tech facilities. BSCE, PE and has almost completed MBA. Exceptional young man seeking long term opportunity in the US.

#134954 Project Manager - Project Management professional with Owner’s rep experience in residential and municipal development, Contractor experience in budget controls for residential builder, possesses construction management and MBA degrees. Located in Chicagoland.

#310638 Finance Manager/Executive - MBA (finance) BBA (accounting) executive level manager fully capable of handling all financial, administrative, purchasing, HR and IT components of single or multi-site entities on a consulting, contract or employment basis. With more than 20 years of successful financial and administrative management experience, this candidate can support, build, and improve systems and processes to sustain tactical and strategic business objectives. Located in the Midwest.

#1479 Branch Manager/Business Development - This consummate ground-up HVAC professional has begun a Mechanical company and built it to $6.5m in annual revenue performing HVAC, refrigeration, and energy management work; he is looking to serve in Branch Management/Business Development. He has also turned around, in only eight months, a money losing service contractor while reducing employee attrition from 80% to almost zero through proactive team building. Concentrating in recent years on energy management projects, he desires a firm that will allow him to share his innovative style while he builds profits for an owner. California would be a top choice for re-location, but any attractive opportunity would interest him.

#125415 Equipment Executive - Experienced Equipment Executive, fleet and warehouse manager for large civil equipment fleets. Worked his way up through the field, recently obtained MBA. Located in St. Louis, MO; open to relocation within the Midwest.

#356876 Project Manager/Estimator - Masters in Civil Engineering with PE experience in very large transportation projects seeking to Estimate and Project Manage similar. Design-build/CM and self-perform experience. Desires Midwestern location.

#353337 Property Development/Construction Project Manager - Talented property development Project Manager who can Manage cross-functional teams in all phases of project development, design/engineering, preconstruction and construction for Distribution Center, Import Warehouse, and Unique Store projects throughout the country. Negotiate and administer various constructions contracts and design-build agreements. Managed $300M Projects. Over 10 years of Senior Management with one of the ENR's Top 50 Design-Build Electrical Contractors. MBA in Accounting, B.S. Electrical Engineering, B.S. in Material Science/Chemical Engineering, CPA. Little to no advancement with current company, very motivated, eager for a challenge. Very reasonable with salary, results-oriented with outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

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The Kimmel Scholarship for Students in Construction:
179 and Counting...

In 2004, the leadership at Kimmel & Associates began the Scholarship for Students in Construction as a means to encourage college students to consider construction as a career. Since the Fall 2004 semester, Kimmel & Associates, the leading executive search firm in the construction industry, has given 179 scholarships to students at 75 different colleges and universities located in 34 states, from Washington to Florida and from Massachusetts to California

Kimmel & Associates is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2007 semester award and will take them until May 15, 2007. The application is accessible via the construction homepage of kimmel.com and can be completed online or printed and mailed back in.

As the number of applicants has increased each semester, the requirements have become slightly more stringent. An applicant now must have a construction professional call in a reference for the applicant, providing a very brief testimonial to the applicant’s talent and commitment to the construction industry.

Those who receive this round of the $1000 award will have the money put directly into their college account in time to defray costs for the Spring 2007 semester. Please visit the construction pages of kimmel.com and read further about the Scholarship for Students in Construction.

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HARD HAT HUMOR

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Results of our previous poll:
How many people does your firm employ?

• Environmentalists Want A Stop for Mr. GO
• Sciame Carves Out a Prestigious
  New York Niche
• Developer Accepts Superfund Cleanup To Speed Reuse

The Golden Gate Bridge

One of the most famous landmarks in arguably the most beautiful city in the United States – the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco - was long seen as an impossible dream, a vision that would remain unfulfilled due to insurmountable challenges in engineering and construction.

But during the 1920s, plans and funding for a bridge to span the “Golden Gate” entrance into San Francisco Bay began to take shape, and master bridge builder Joseph B. Strauss – a world renowned engineer – took on the project as Chief Engineer.

Construction began in early 1933; more than 4 years later, the Bridge opened to vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937 at twelve o'clock noon, ahead of schedule and under budget, estimated at the time to be around $35M. It became a vital link between San Francisco and Marin County to the north. The official opening occurred when President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in the White House announcing the event.

The Golden Gate Bridge's 4,200 foot long main suspension span was a world record that stood for 27 years. The bridge's two towers rise 746 feet - making them 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument. Even more important than its impressive physical dimensions, it serves as a backdrop and object of admiration in countless films and television shows, postcards and photographs.

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Tip of the Hard Hat

The Construction Industry Newsletter applauds PRI, Project Resources, Inc., for its selection by the United States Small Business Administration as the 2006 Minority Small Business of the Year. Shari Walden, the CEO of PRI, received top honors for her business leadership and the firm’s unwavering commitment to the SBA program. This award is given annually to firms which have demonstrated superior business achievement. Ms. Walden stated that the award came to them as a result of “PRI’s past performance on time-critical projects, particularly on recent contracts from FEMA and the USACE to support Gulf Coast Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts.”

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