In this Issue:

• Lead Story: Gray Power
• Announcement: Grant for Students in Construction
• Ear to the Ground: Trends in Construction
• Great Jobs/Great Candidates
  

• Hard Hat Humor
• The Poll
• Riveting News: Construction News
• Made in the USA
• Salute

Lead Story: GRAY POWER can give you an EDGE

There is a pervasive and malignant myth in the construction industry that
companies should not hire older employees simply because they are older.
Life in the 21st Century has changed and firms cost themselves money
and valuable resources by dismissing out-of-hand a pool of smart and dedicated older workers.

Resumes that show that a job applicant has 30 years of experience obviously indicate that the candidate is at least 50 years old, maybe 55, maybe even 60. Some companies make assumptions about such people that are stereotypical and usually wrong: the candidate is over the hill and lacks energy and ideas, is looking to coast into retirement, or won’t be up to speed for the firm’s fast-paced, technologically-advanced environment. >>more

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KIMMEL & ASSOCIATES ANNOUNCES GRANT FOR STUDENTS IN CONSTRUCTION

On Tuesday, December 7th, with great excitement, Kimmel & Associates began accepting applications for their new Grant for Students in Construction. The goal for the Grant is to award one-hundred $1,000.00 prizes during the 2005 academic year. Continue and read the information concerning the Grant, including the application form, and learn about our desire to contribute to the continued growth and health of the construction industry by providing financial assistance to its next generation of leaders. We welcome applications from all those who are eligible and interested. Read on and let us hear from you! >>Grant and Application Information

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EAR TO THE GROUND: Trends in Construction

This Issue: West Coast Construction in 2005

The Construction Industry Newsletter recently spoke to five consultants in the West Coast Division at Kimmel and Associates. Each offered their thoughts about what 2005 may hold for professionals and what trends might mean for new construction:

CIN: What trends do you see as 2005 begins? What segments of commercial construction look strong? Where do you see construction falling back?

GUY ROSS (commercial construction in Southern California): I’ve seen Residential Podium projects take off lately. I think that’ll be a strong market for some time. Schools projects are evening out. Healthcare is at a premium; talented professionals in that field are valuable. And Las Vegas wants to add 10,000 new hotel rooms by 2007.

CHUCK LANDERS (commercial construction in Northern California): I agree with Guy: OSHPD is big; healthcare construction and people who know how to build those facilities are going to be busy. School projects are still hot in Northern California, especially around Sacramento.

CHUCK ANDREWS (commercial construction in Oregon and Washington): A few years ago, commercial office space was maybe 25% over-built, and now that businesses are filling those leased spaces up, there is a renewed need for building mixed-use construction. Multi-family residential construction, such as high-end apartments, is surging as well.

DAVID GOODRUM (heavy-civil and highway construction in California): Site development work is as strong as I’ve seen it in the last 5 years. Excavation, grading, paving, and underground utility are all rolling in the greater Bay Area. In the public sector, highway and bridge work are fairly strong, especially in San Diego and LA; there’s lots of work up for bid and numerous projects in excess of $50 million. There is also a lot of federally-funded work for the Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers to comply with Homeland Security upgrades.

ROBERT STEIN (mechanical and electrical construction in California): Healthcare is big right now, but biotech and biopharm are in a sort of waiting for Godot phase in the Bay Area. Process pipe has been slower than expected, but there are hopes that things might move forward in the spring of 2005. Most of the work right now is in LA and Irvine; they’re ahead of the rest of the state. There is more light and heavy retrofit work being done than new Design-Build projects.

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GREAT JOBS:

GREAT CANDIDATES:

The job postings on our website and in our newsletter represent only a partial list of searches that we are currently performing. New searches arrive at our firm daily. We continually place professionals in positions with the top construction firms in the nation in all locations. Our network has the reach to place professionals like you in positions that are never advertised. Please call 828.251.9900 or contact us by e-mail. Click on the position title below to contact us.

SOUTHEAST:
#1017564 Chief Estimator
Growth opportunity for Senior Estimator in Healthcare. Vibrant $70-$100 million per year Healthcare General Contractor seeks candidate with preconstruction skills for hospital and commercial work. Stable track record, repeat clientele/negotiated work, cutting-edge technology. Location Southeast. Must be a self-starter with a "can do" attitude. Excellent opportunity to grow career in this fast-growing company.

SOUTHWEST:
#1018133 Senior Project Manager Houston office of a national developer/builder needs an exceptional Senior Project Manager to run 2-3 projects/year. Must have knowledge of concrete, particularly with hi-rise projects and some stick building experience. Excellent opportunity for advancement for an entrepreneurial-oriented leader that can run the office with autonomy. Most projects are mid-rise and hi-rise multifamily residential in the Houston area. Candidate must be computer savvy. Six figure salary package commensurate with experience.

WEST COAST:
#1017776 Senior Estimator
Local San Francisco construction firm is seeking a Senior Estimator than can move into the Chief position. Company is currently doing about $25 million per year in volume bidding healthcare (OSPHD), TI and Design/Build projects. Small department with only one boss. $90,000.00-$100,000.00.

MIDWEST:
#1018848 Project Superintendent
NO TRAVEL. That's the easy part. We are looking for strong, aggressive Project Superintendents, 8-12 years experience with a broad base of projects. Healthcare a plus, degree a must. Our company is an ENR Top 125 with a strong history of quality, integrity, stability and reputation. If you are a strong, cost conscious builder, with a 100% customer satisfaction mentality, please respond.

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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.

DALLAS, TX:
#173671 Project Superintendent Seasoned Project Superintendent with many years of hospital construction up to $25M in value, as well as general commercial construction up to $40M. This candidate has experience with GCs who self-perform as well as GCs who do construction management. Based in the Dallas, Texas area, but he and his wife are ready to travel again.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
#173902 Project Manager
Articulate and savvy Project Manager who is ready to make a move to the next level. He’s worked on schools, clean rooms, prisons, and high-rise projects. If you are looking for a PM in the Inland Empire/San Diego area with great client skills, this is your man.

INDIANAPOLIS OR CHICAGO
#174133 Assistant Project Manager
This young, hard-charging Assistant Project Manager has worked on a variety of commercial projects ranging from $1-45M in value. Eager for a challenge as a PM on smaller projects or an Assistant PM role on larger jobs. Would be most interested in opportunities in Indianapolis and Chicago areas.

SOUTHEAST
#174365 Project Executive
This versatile project executive is an excellent builder with diverse large project experience (up to $425M). He seeks a stable opportunity with a solid organization. Though he is located in the Southeast right now, he is happy to travel or relocate for the right opportunity.

HARD HAT HUMOR

On Tuesday, December 7th, with great excitement, Kimmel & Associates began accepting applications for their new Grant for Students in Construction. The goal for the Grant is to award one-hundred $1,000.00 prizes during the 2005 academic year. >>More

As a construction professional, which of the following matter the most to you in the workplace?

• Contrack’s Design/Build Contract Terminated for Non-Performance Government Says
• Measuring the Doomsday Tsunami
• New Concrete Problem Found at Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Completed in 1936 after 7 years of dangerous labor and countless breakthroughs in construction and engineering, 726-foot high Hoover Dam remains one of the great construction feats of any age. Built during the Depression and serving as a symbol of America’s spirit of achievement and innovation, the Dam still serves as a geographical and historic landmark. It impounds Lake Mead and provides hydroelectric power, flood control, and water for irrigation.

We salute Fred Spielmann, an estimator with the Asphalt Division of Hewitt Contracting in Orlando, Florida. Fred is a Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) in the National Guard and served a tour in Germany, Italy, and Oman with his unit from late 2002 through July 2003. After a stint at Ramstein AFB in Germany, Fred shipped to Italy to prepare and review equipment for use in Afghanistan and Iraq and then ended up in the southwest of Oman, where, for four months, as Operations Superintendent, he oversaw the construction of airstrips for the Air Force’s use. While completing that mission, Fred managed to carve out a day here and there to scout around in that ancient Arabian land (where he visited the tomb of the Old Testament figure Job). After a job well done, he was sent home to Florida, where he rejoined his wife Andrea and two children and returned to his civilian life. Thanks to Fred for serving his country.

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