In this Issue:

• Green Construction: A Movement Takes Root
• The First Look Hotsheet: Extraordinary Candidates
• Ear to the Ground: Trends in Construction
• Update: Kimmel Scholarship for Students in Construction
• The Poll
• Hard Hat Humor
• Riveting News: Construction Industry News

Green Construction: A Movement Takes Root

The Green Movement and sustainable building practices are poised to reshape the construction industry. Rising energy costs, growing activism, and government regulation have coalesced to create incentives for almost every construction and architectural firm to recognize the size and momentum of the movement and to act progressively to embrace it. Further, increased corporate social responsibility has led some companies in the industry to become leaders in the Green and LEED building crusade.

The 2008 U.S. Construction Overview, published by FMI, predicts that non-residential construction put in place using green-building principles will reach a value of $21.2 billion by 2008, up from $13.4 billion in 2006.

This is a change in philosophy and methodology that many developers and communities want to see, and despite the fact that respected builders question the efficacy and tangible effect that LEED building has on the industry and the environment, the groundswell of emotion and assumption that it’s the right thing to do will dictate that construction companies comply with the rules and spirit of the Green Movement.

As the largest recruiting and consulting firm specializing in construction, Kimmel & Associates is uniquely positioned to help our clients respond to the growing demand for sustainable construction. » Read full Article

The "First Look" Hotsheet: Extraordinary Candidates

Listed below is just a small sampling of candidates with whom we are associated. Your personnel 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 email.

#440522 Senior Plumbing/Piping Designer/Detailer - Senior Plumbing/Piping Designer/Detailer with over 30 years of experience. Licensed Master Plumber and Pipefitter with a degree in Mechanical Drafting and certificate in AutoCAD. Projects include 10 major hospitals, high tech projects, and various industrial and commercial projects including high rise hotels and casinos. Open to opportunities nationwide.

#168250 Senior Estimator - Senior Estimator willing to relocate anywhere in the eastern United States. Has been part of a team bidding on very large projects. The largest project that this candidate bid on and won was $20 million. This individual has pursued competitive bid, design/build and negotiated work on government buildings, university, hospitals and laboratories, retail and hospitality projects. Responsibilities included developing scopes of work, assembling bids, value engineering, quantity takeoffs and pricing of in-house trades. This candidate is proficient in the use of Excel. Single and renting currently. Salary expectations are $90K +++.

#277719 Project Manager - Are you looking for a Project Manager with energy and passion for construction? This degreed Project Manager has experience working on MOB’s, schools, office buildings, hospitals, and casinos and is currently looking for the right employer in the San Diego market. If you are looking for an addition to your management team who has a good attitude and a diverse construction background, look no further.

#403094 Claims Consultant - Claims consultant with 14 years of construction experience is currently looking for a long-term fit. Experience in construction management, claims development, CPM scheduling, claims defense and has provided expert witness testimony. Currently looking for opportunities in the San Diego marketplace.

#430421 Assistant Project Manager - This exceptional Assistant Project Manager is currently looking for a company that can provide a growth opportunity. Background is in schools and hi-rise residential projects. Reference descriptions include: “hard working,” “can-do attitude,” and “always willing to step up to the plate.” Looking for opportunities in Los Angeles and Orange County.

#197959 CFO - Experienced CFO with strong strategic, operational and cost control background. Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills at both the General Construction level and the Subcontractor level. Thorough knowledge of the construction industry and related issues. Would consider the entire Southeast area. Also a CPA.

#241660 Senior Project Manager/Project Executive - This construction professional with over 25 years of operational experience has overseen varied commercial projects in excess of $70 million; the scope of the work managed includes hospital facilities, collegiate institutions, hotels and government buildings. Located in the Pittsburgh, PA market and would like to remain based out of that area.

#416156 Senior Project Coordinator - Senior Project Coordinator with large project experience is interested in opportunities in the Greater Toronto Area. Projects range into the hundreds of millions and experience is in projects from condos to hospitals.

#437751 Vice President - Vice President and Project Manager in Saskatoon, SK interested in opportunity. Professional Engineer with 20 years of experience in construction ranging from commercial projects to mining and industrial work.

#272845 VP Construction and Development - Construction experience includes multi-family, single family, hospitality and mixed-use projects in Texas. Recently oversaw development and construction of multiple luxury resort master plan communities inclusive of marinas, retail, single family, condos and massive infrastructure. Projects range from $100-300 million; has run multiple projects. Began career in residential construction during high school, went to college for Urban Planning and then built multi-family projects. A well-respected leader with 16 years of construction, 8 years of development experience. Prefers to stay in Austin, TX but would telecommute for the right opportunity.

#64651 Vice President - This senior executive has over twenty years of experience in the E&C industry catering to the industrial construction market. Adept at developing marketing strategies as well as proposal development for Engineering and EPC projects. Project execution is also a strong point. Has closed deals with major industrial clients both domestically and internationally. A keen focus on the bottom line and the ability to drive profits is where this professional excels. Strong preference for a Southeast or Southwest location.

#96233 Mechanical Senior Project Manager - Mechanical Senior Project Manager with QuickPen estimating and Project Executive experience on large commercial projects. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from major California University. Project experience throughout the western United States. Open to opportunities throughout the western United States.

#377643 Electrical Senior Project Manager/Estimator - Twenty years of electrical experience with only three companies. Worked way up the ladder, very respected and well-known as a top of the line electrical professional. Design/build and value engineering for large commercial projects including medical buildings, large retail, multi-story. Strong business development relationships throughout Texas. Advanced knowledge of controls and fire alarm systems as well as OSHA requirements. Would like to remain in Texas.

#426014 Engineering Manager/Manufacturer's Rep - MEP - Responsible for establishing working relationships with all local engineers. Provides technical and manufacturing support to engineers. Medical design, industrial and commercial experience. Very distinguished professional with entrepreneurial vision and engineering management expertise. Very committed to unparalleled customer service and innovation. Very well-established in the Houston, Texas area and would like to remain there.

#234703 Mechanical Branch Manager - Arizona Mechanical Branch Manager with experience estimating projects up to $12 million and managing projects up to $20 million mechanical. Former Chief Estimator and Senior Project Manager for multiple mechanical contractors and former Operations Manager for a controls service company.

#44334 Chief Estimator/Pre-Construction Manager - This seasoned professional has performed estimating, systems design (for HVAC, Plumbing, and Controls), and project management work for high profile work in hospital/healthcare, industrial-airport, mid- and high-rise office buildings, data centers, hotel/convention centers, government, schools, and large retail projects. In addition to work on the mechanical contracting side, this engineer has served as an Engineering Manager for design groups in the greater Los Angeles area. Candidate would prefer career opportunities in the Orange County area but would consider positions within a reasonable commute of home in the Anaheim area.

#19113 Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical Engineer with nine years in design work, both solo and as part of a team, seeks a design opportunity in the San Francisco/Peninsula area near home in Daly City. With HVAC (wet and dry), plumbing, and process piping projects for production areas, clean rooms, offices, computer labs, commercial tenant improvement, multi-family and jails in background, this candidate seeks an opportunity to both project manage and learn new mechanical design skills through tackling larger and more complicated projects. Well-versed in AutoCAD, with a strong work ethic.

#41942 Mechanical Engineer/Project Manager - If you are in need of a top notch Mechanical Engineer/Project Manager, this 12-year veteran has both the design and client skills you are looking for. With past projects such as Kaiser Permanente, Safeco Field/Seattle, Oracle Data Center and CSU Stanislaus Science building, this San Francisco area resident would be an asset to any facility, contractor or design firm. Candidate desires a position in the North Bay Area market and cannot re-locate.

#100255 Executive or Regional Manager - High energy Executive or Regional Manager, Heavy Highway, Hill Country, TX. Twenty-five year progression with leading road construction firm ($100 million); $10-25 million average projects; full P&L responsibility, strong operations and business development skills.

#104618 Heavy Equipment Manager - Results-oriented Heavy Equipment Manager; 25 years of experience in fleet management, acquisition, and equipment maintenance. Stable work history, exceptional business acumen. Nationwide.

#262034 Mechanical Senior Project Manager - Mechanical Senior Project Manager with Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Business Administration from University of Texas. Five years of experience as CEO of mechanical subcontractor which grew from $10 million to $20 million annually without an increase in staff. Open to opportunities throughout the United States.

#41490 Sales Manager/Marketing Manager/Civil Engineer/PE - Experienced in flexible and rigid poly pipe (composites). Professional with over 20 years in Central and Southern United States is seeking a rewarding position with progressive company in warm climate.

#45019 Global Supply Chain Manager - Global Supply Chain Manager in PA with BSEE, MIS, and MBA degrees. Experienced manager in manufacturing expertise in metallurgy that includes: Product definition, optimizing alternatives, developing strategic sourcing strategy, managing supplier relationship, quality, delivery performance, and cost.

#44969 Project Manager - Assertive Project Manager with solid experience in the construction management industry. Large project experience within both the commercial and multi-family markets. Recognized for strong performance and success throughout career. Strong key essential skills include project organization, time management, strong team leadership and construction planning. Currently working in the Denver, Co. area.

#437556 Land Acquisition/Management - This candidate has extensive land acquisition experience, land owner relations, and management responsibilities. Strong understanding of zoning issues, entitlement processes, and market analysis. Unsurpassed communication, negotiation, and organizational skills. A deal-oriented team player with an honest work ethic and strong financial modeling abilities.

#448984 Mechanical Plumbing/Piping Superintendent - Mechanical Plumbing/Piping Superintendent with international experience on casino projects up to $25 million mechanical. Supervised up to 240 tradesmen with 21 direct subordinates plus subcontractors on projects including a $1 billion project. Currently in North Carolina and open to opportunities in western United States.

#440390 PM - CADD/IT Manager - Performed implementation and customization of REVIT and all IT, designing, producing and managing projects up to 300,000 SF in REVIT. Experience in Africa as a Construction Superintendent. Projects include schools (K-12), Waste Water Treatment Plants, Water Management, Park Facilities, including Clubhouses, Amphitheaters, Churches and Multi-Use. Great at estimating and budgeting. Prefers Ft. Lauderdale/Boca Raton, Florida. Will travel. US citizen with current license from Lebanon. Speaks English, French and Arabic.

#438598 Producation Coordinator/ Project Manager – Licensed in Argentina. CAD proficient with extensive work abroad on large complex projects. Restoration of many historic hotels, hospitality in Argentina, India, Mexico, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Peru, the Middle East (Dubai), the Caribbean, Guatemala and the United States. Project types include mid and high rise, multi-family, government, schools. Skills include QC, construction docs, code review, client coordination, forensic inspections, historic preservation consultation. Appointed to board for LEED. Speaks English, Spanish and Italian.

#436752 Business Developer - Experienced Business Developer, with current company 2.5 years. Secured several MOB’s in the $2-4 M range. Procured this work totally through own efforts and not from company leads. Also has 6-8 other projects of which 3/4 should go to contract. Prior to business development for a General Contractor in the Tennessee area, owned a risk management company with three offices in the mid south region; sold this company at a profit. The owner of current company is bringing in his son to take over the business development role. This candidate is sharp, aggressive, knows how to sell, and is perceived as a mover and shaker.

#338353 Senior Procurement Manager - Procurement professional experienced on a variety of international and domestic petrochemical engineering and construction projects. Extensive project procurement management background in the execution of lump sum and cost reimbursable projects. Strong negotiator with excellent written, communication and presentation skills. Outstanding product knowledge, proficient on global/strategic sourcing programs across business areas/business units, solution-oriented. Has successfully completed project assignments in South America, the Middle East, the Far East and Canada. Well-versed in conducting business on an international platform. Located in Houston, interested in local or international opportunities.

#438620 Project Engineer/Assistant Project Manager - Seeking Nashville location. Bachelor of Science in Construction Science, stable work history. Project experience includes multi-family, healthcare. This sharp Assistant Project Manager is looking for an opportunity to remain local, where relocation to jobsites is not required. Periodic travel is no problem.

#103114 Project Manager/Estimator - Masters of Science in Structural Engineering, extensive experience in commercial and government construction projects. OSHA certified, NYC Scaffolding Safety Certified, skillful knowledge of SureTrak, Primavera, Expedition.

#252780 Mechanical Senior Project Manager - Houston Mechanical Senior Project Manager with large project experience including 20 projects over $10 million mechanical. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from a major Texas University. Projects include major hospitals and massive fast track retrofit work.

#426051 Project/Construction Management/Executive Management - Projects exceeding $250 million, accomplished and proactive executive with outstanding track history of successfully directing development, and construction. Expertise in orchestrating all aspects of large, diverse projects and delivering on time/under budget to increase profits. Organizational leader, adept at building and leading high-performance teams spanning multiple functions to meet and exceed objectives. Keen business analyst, proficient at reviewing and assessing risk and valuation of proposals, conducting all due diligence, and securing all necessary outsourcing contracts. Highly skilled communicator, proven ability to liaise and collaborate with involved parties to ensure all elements of the project coordinate and dovetail with organizational objectives. Specializes in development projects or portfolios for investment firms, private companies and individuals, including identifying, building and marketing properties in emerging global markets. Multilingual professional.

#373798 Mechanical Project Manager - Mechanical Project Manager specializing in hospitals and experienced in projects over $15 million mechanical. Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt with over 20 years of project management experience. Tennessee native open to relocating throughout the Southeast.

#253342 Construction Project Manager - Manager with 16 years of experience and projects up to $40 million; great project diversity. OSHA certified. All necessary computer skills: Prolog, Primavera, Excel and SureTrak.

#448232 Design/Build Project Executive - Design/Build Project Executive proficient in all aspects of construction management, site work, demolition abatement and structural work. Projects include low-, mid- and high-rise including hi-end finishes. Management of up to a one-hundred person labor force. Degreed from LaSalle University with continuing education in Masters program. Drexel University engineering management. Licensed Real Estate Agent in the State of New Jersey.

#320214 Electrical Project Manager - Highly motivated, results-driven, goal-oriented Project Manager with Electrical Engineering experience. Over 15 years of successful project management experience with hands on knowledge. Experience with challenging large projects up to $10 million. Looking for opportunities in South Florida.

#388232 Electrical Senior Project Manager/Division Manager - Electrical Senior Project Manager/Division Manager experienced with commercial projects up to $20 million and Divisions up to $20 million. Candidate is looking for new opportunities to use the experience and knowledge gained in the 30 years in the electrical industry. Interested in positions in the Southeast.

#441782 Project Controls / Program Controls Manager - Highly skilled project controls and financial/cost controls professional with experience managing large construction or engineering cost controls, scheduling, financial management, document controls, estimating and contract administration programs. Experience with a variety of commercial, industrial, municipal, and manufacturing facility or infrastructure projects. Has implemented Prolog and other program management software applications. Prolog Super User. Experienced with multiple delivery systems including CM at Risk, CM at Risk with savings, Lump Sum, D/B Lump Sum, Cost Plus, CM Agency, others. Program experience up to $1.6B Capital Construction programs. Interested in living/working in either Raleigh or Charlotte,NC areas.

#432992 Senior Project Manager – Electrical Construction - Electrical construction professional with extensive experience project managing electrical construction of commercial, some light industrial projects, some telecom/data centers. Project size up to $30 million plus. Will work union or merit shop. Located in Phoenix, AZ; desires to stay there.

#81390 Senior Project Manager/Project Manager - Over 22 years of experience in Industrial Construction. Recent involvement in mega refinery expansion project. Skilled project management both in the private and the public sector. Proven ability to complete projects on time and within budget. Excellent interpersonal, written, and communication skills. Well-versed, proficient, and comfortable in the PC environment. Involved in multi-million dollar projects nationwide and internationally. Organized, multi-skilled, flexible, and astute. Dedicated to family and community involvement. Extensive world travel/residence overseas in Iran, Australia, England, and Canada. Fluent in the Persian language. Can read and understand some Arabic, Spanish, and French.

#433852 President/Vice President - President/Vice President candidate for a General Contractor, Construction Manager or Developer looking to grow their business. This candidate would relocate anywhere in the U.S. for the right opportunity. Worked for the same company for the last 22 years. Has set up operations, trained staff, and worked in most all management roles within a company. Is degreed and also has a GC license. Projects include schools, prisons, retail, commercial, multi-family, etc.

#250417 Project Manager - Project Manager for a multi-family apartment builder. This candidate is degreed with nine years of experience in the multi-family residential arena. Received Project Manager of the Year awards from last company. Energetic, intelligent, and motivated! Current location is Georgia, but is open to relocation.

#319481 Safety Director - This candidate is absolutely outstanding! Possesses a Masters degree in safety and all the necessary certifications along with 30 years of experience. Has worked nationally and internationally. Has been with current company for eight years. Project expertise includes: government work, heavy commercial construction, industrial, petroleum, high rise, residential, etc. Considering only Safety Director level or higher positions.

#428371 Mechanical Project Manager - Mechanical Project Manager overseeing $20 million worth of mechanical projects including hotels, hospitals, biolabs, and government projects. Former construction business owner with two Bachelors degrees and a Masters specializing in turning problem jobs into profitable projects. Open to opportunities throughout the United States.

#448010 Construction Manager/Owners Rep - Expertise is multi-family/large project experience. Ten years of experience. Has been a part of the construction of over 2500 units at a value of $240 million plus. Candidate desires to be anywhere in the Chicagoland area.

#243631 Project Manager/Estimator - Drywall and Interiors: this candidate is a strong commercial interiors Project Manager from an architectural and engineering background with 10 years of experience. Proficient in estimating own work with On-Screen and Edge. Has run projects up to $8 million for a national drywall contractor. Candidate is degreed and fluent in Spanish and English. Has a specialty skill set for working with historical and colonial architecture. Open to strong opportunities in the greater DC area.

#233916 Senior Drywall Estimator - Outstanding candidate looking to make a quality, career diversifying move. A true interiors Estimator with 15+ years of experience at a well- established regional contractor. Has the experience to quickly lead a department. Has a proven track record of winning bids in a competitive market. Open to the DC/Baltimore corridor market.

#166519 Project Manager / Project Superintendent - Experience in construction management, field operations, project scheduling, quality control and safety. Ground up to Interior Systems. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software, Adobe, Chief Architect, MS Project, On Center Software both On Screen Takeoff (OST) and Quick Bid, Primavera P3e/c for Construction, QuickBooks, Timberline accounting and estimating programs and integration process. Projects $48 million plus.

#385922 Business Development Manager - Business Development professional with more than 20 years experience in development, strategic sales and marketing and operations for various markets; brand awareness and positioning, relations with developers, and interface between residential units and hotel management. Will relocate for the right opportunity.

#247166 Business Development Director - Seasoned professional with 17 years of sales experience focusing on Marketing and Business Development. Demonstrated capabilities include providing effective client and vendor relations, identifying and satisfying customer needs, account management, and creating revenue growth. Additional skills in creating effective marketing tools to support sales initiatives. Open to relocation in the Northeast market.

#128735 Civil Operations/Construction Manager - Very well-experienced Civil Operations/Construction Manager seeking Division/Area Manager responsibilities. Has handled mass excavation, asphalt paving/production, concrete, utility, and private site development including equipment management, estimating, total operations, client development and profit/loss responsibilities. Big project experience and overall volume capabilities reaching $80 million. Numerous achievements in productivity and very active in construction associations, looking to be the “go to” person.

#442274 Project Manager - Construction Project Management experience in institutional and commercial sectors. Construction experience in residential development and renovations. Architectural Science education with specialization in Construction Project Management. Completed CSAO Supervision and Construction Safety courses. Demonstrated contract and administration skills in fast-paced environment. Management experience in varying roles. In the Toronto, Ontario market.

#413638 Mechanical Senior Project Manager - Alabama Mechanical Senior Project Manager with estimating experience and projects up to $10 million mechanical. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University with extensive controls design experience. Open to Alabama opportunities in mechanical contracting or engineering.

Ear to the Ground: Trends in Construction

Owners Division

The Kimmel Construction Industry Newsletter spoke recently with five members of the Owners Division at Kimmel and Associates, the group that works with Owners and Developers. The consultants provided insights into their marketplaces and even made some educated guesses as to which trends will strengthen and which types of work may diminish in the coming months or next few years. Hear what these experts have to say about your part of the country.

Meredith Love serves as a consultant to clients and a career advisor for professionals in the Western and Southwestern United States.

CIN: What do you see when you survey the landscape right now?

Meredith Love: The major theme right now affecting Owners is that both debt and equity has been re-priced, i.e. lenders are much more selective about giving loans to Owners and developers. Pricing is more expensive. Owners are requiring the developer to increase their market guarantees which puts a lot of folks on the sidelines. So a lot of deals that were able to be underwritten before are not being done. The underwriting standards are much stricter so they can’t push rental rates like they used to. So the supply of new development has decreased, trimming the fat - the smaller, less capitalized companies will be pushed out of the market for now. Unless the equity provider will give them a back ended take out. But those deals are harder to do. The upside is that those deals that get financed will have a higher probability of being successful.

CIN: How do the Owners you work with interpret this?

Meredith Love: The solid owner/developers see this as an opportunity because the supply and demand balance will be in their favor. The deals that do move forward will have less competition and a higher probability of success. Multi-family seems to be an easier product to get financed than office or industrial. So there may be less construction but the well financed groups will continue to build.

Kenneth Trumbauer serves as a consultant to clients and a career advisor for professionals in the upper Midwest.

Construction Industry Newsletter (CIN): Within the Midwest region that you focus on, where do you see as the highest demand within the Owners Division?

Kenneth Trumbauer: One major arena that continually has a high demand and continually evolves is healthcare construction. People will always need healthcare, and the advances in construction technology and the medical equipment that goes along with those facilities keeps this market extremely active. It is ever changing; and the shift on the importance of what a patient experiences from the time they enter a facility until the time they leave has a direct impact on how a hospital is designed and built. New hospitals offer an aesthetic that is almost “high-end hotel” in feeling, which certainly assists in the healing process.

CIN: Besides healthcare construction, in what other arenas are you heavily involved with currently?

Kenneth Trumbauer: Hospitality. No matter what is happening within the economic climate, people will always have a need for some type of pleasure and entertainment. People will travel. If times are tough, they may take a short road trip over a long weekend instead of flying to a destination for a full week. No matter what the travel scenario, people will need a place to stay. The new amenities that are being built are also much more “guest-centric” in design and construction. There are continual improvements to older facilities and new ground up construction offers guests more than they did before.

Karen Calhoun serves as a consultant to clients and a career advisor for professionals in Texas, Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

CIN: What are the trends on the Owners side of the Industry?

Karen Calhoun: Everyone knows the saying “Location, Location, Location.” On the Owners side, it’s “Healthcare, Healthcare, Healthcare.” Healthcare is not going away and hospital construction is robust. There is nothing about the construction process that is by accident: planning, design, etc. Owners are moving towards a more aesthetically pleasing environment and many are going green. Healthcare trends are also still focusing on healing and less on sickness and in the next few years many hospitals will look more like hotels/resorts and less institutional. More of a focus on meditation rooms/gardens, decorating, soothing colors and music all to promote a more relaxing atmosphere. One of the biggest but most basic changes in recent healthcare construction is a shift to private rooms only. We have witnessed this change for two reasons: stricter privacy laws and more visitation/overnights with family and friends.

CIN: What are the trends driving increased healthcare construction?

Karen Calhoun: I see trends in all of the following: a greater focus on new facilities and expansion (less focus on renovation), increased outpatient and inpatient capacity, a concentration on adding new services (Wound care, Radiation therapy, etc), higher hospital margins, an inability of aging facilities to be retrofitted to meet future needs, demands and corresponding changes in technology, and an increase in patient volume.

Clayton Elliott serves as a consultant to clients and a career advisor for professionals in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

CIN: You and your colleagues work in the Owners sector for Kimmel & Associates. In regards to the West Coast market, what trends are you seeing in today’s fluctuating economy?

Clayton Elliott: As one of my colleagues had said previously in our newsletter, each region of the country has its own unique hiring situations. What happens in the West is different from the Midwest which is different from the East which is different from the Northeast. In the West the true Owners including restaurant chains along with QSR (Quick Service Restaurants), clothing and apparel companies, and other similar-minded companies are pulling back some of their growth plans for the near term. Basically, they are taking a “wait and see” approach to evaluate the overall economic scene. Grocery stores on the other hand, seem to be cruising right along with continued openings and new construction thus far.

In California within the Public Works arena, the Unified School Districts are still quite busy. They are under a State mandate to structurally upgrade and strengthen the entire school system statewide due to obvious seismic concerns.

Additionally, Healthcare and Hospitals are under a similar California State mandate. California State Bill 1953 requires that all acute care hospital Owners evaluate and report on both the structural and nonstructural safety of each of its buildings. They were given various benchmarks by which to not only file their evaluation reports, but also to physically complete certain phases of upgrades and modifications to each structure to adhere to seismic codes. New construction and upgrades are monitored by OSHPD (Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development), a California state agency that is heavily involved in the oversight of these projects. This has thus led to a significant amount of work in the last few years and in the foreseeable future.

CIN: Where do you see demand right now?

Clayton Elliott: Again, California is busy. A fair amount of demand is for Superintendents and Project Managers. But lately, I have seen more demand for Project Engineers. The work force is heavily laced with Baby-Boomers, so professionals that are newer to the Construction Industry seem to be generating higher demand from my clients recently.

Arizona and Nevada are still buzzing right now. Project Engineers, Superintendents and Project Managers are in demand for those markets. Additionally, I have seen a need for experienced upper level construction management executives to lead the effort.

CIN: What do you anticipate for the foreseeable future?

Clayton Elliott: Healthcare will continue to grow as the Hospitals continually need to upgrade and build. The public arena will continue to expand as the population continues to grow out West. And I do believe Retail will make a nice come back sooner rather than later. I still have work in that arena and I am still seeing demand for qualified folks.

Len Cruz serves as a consultant to clients and a career advisor for professionals in the Southeast as well as the Caribbean.

CIN: What impact are you seeing within the Owners Division from the tightening of the credit markets?

Len Cruz: Certain sectors are contracting. Some clients in the retail arena have scaled back their capital budgets. However, at both the very high end and the discount end of the market within retail construction, we have not seen the same softening in the retail construction market.

Many clients within the Owners Division undertake large scope projects that are not subject to short term fluctuations in the credit markets. Large projects that are part of long range strategic planning like replacement hospitals or expansions, resort and hotel development, and sports arenas and convention centers are not abandoned in times like these. But clients recognize that managing project costs and schedules tightly is more important now than ever.

We have also seen that international construction is continuing at a brisk pace and our multinational companies may be shifting their own capital plans to meet that demand. We expect to see continued strong demand from the hospitality industry, healthcare, high technology, and international development.

CIN: You focus on clients in the Southeast. What trends do you see unfolding in your region?

Len Cruz: The State of Florida is experiencing a downturn that is being accelerated by the decline in the housing market. There remains some uncertainty surrounding the way the new formulas for taxation are likely to affect local governments and their capital plans. Once the dust settles, the demographics are still going to drive the demand for continued construction spending in Florida.

There is strong construction activity throughout the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and certain parts of Alabama. Last year’s drought has sent ripples through the industry in and around Atlanta and other rapidly growing metropolitan areas. Owners may soon find their development plans being influenced by issues like water resource management, storm water recovery, Green building requirements, and other forces that are beyond their control. The Southeast continues to offer large employers like the automobile manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and high technology firms incentives, affordable labor and housing, good schools, and moderate climates. This will continue to fuel construction spending and the demand from Owners for experienced builders.

CARTOON

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Update: The Kimmel Scholarship for Students in Construction

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. 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 262 scholarships to students at 93 different colleges and universities located in 37 states, from Washington to Florida and from Massachusetts to California.

Kimmel & Associates is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2008 semester. The application is accessible via the construction homepage of kimmel.com and can be completed online; please note that completed applications and transcripts are sent to BuildingFutureBuilders.org, the website of Building Future Builders, a non-profit organization with which Kimmel & Associates works closely.

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 Fall 2008 semester. Please visit the construction pages of kimmel.com and read further about the Scholarship for Students in Construction.

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