Employee Spotlight | Ryan Boyle

Posted on February 6, 2023February 7, 2023 by Sara Bequette

Western would like to recognize Ryan Boyle as our Employee Spotlight.

Kudos, Ryan—and thank you for being a valued member of the Western team!

Q&A with Ryan Boyle

What is your role at Western?

Senior Superintendent 2

What do you like most about Western?

The people that I get to work with.

What are three words to describe Western?

Stability. Family. Loyalty.

What is your proudest moment at Western?

Having the field crews at the Kansas Ciyt branch recognize all the positive changes and hard work I put in to make there lives easier, and the foreman speaking so highly of me to others at Western.

What has been your favorite project at Western?

Cerner Children Learning Center.

How did you first learn about Western?

My Father, he has worked here for 38 years.

Before working at Western what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?

Master French Pastry Chef at La Bonne Bouchee.

What advice do you have for prospective Western candidates?

Take initiative, and work hard for what you want, nothing is given, its earned.

What have you gained from Working at Western?

Friends and the amazing ability to schedule on close time restraints.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with Western?

High Country Crew Truck! >b>(Make sure Tom get this!!) Honestly just to continue to grow.

If you could switch your job with anyone else within Western, whose job would you want?

Tom Brooks

What about you? What do you personally enjoy?

Love Cooking, Singing, and Golfing, just love to have a good time, and making people laugh!

Click here to view all of our Employee Spotlights.

Trimble Award | Best Use of Technology

Posted on December 7, 2022December 8, 2022 by Sara Bequette

Western Specialty Contractors is proud to announce that it has received a Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) Viewpoint Construction Award for the Best Use of Trimble’s Construction One Technology – an award recognizing contractors that have leveraged technology solutions to create more data-driven, connected construction businesses.

Held annually, the Trimble Viewpoint Construction Awards honor the technological achievements of North American contractors as exhibited through the growth and improvements of their projects, people and processes over the past year. Honors are given in three categories: Most Outstanding Project, Most Impressive Human Resource Achievement, and Best Use of Trimble Construction One Technology. The awards were announced during the Trimble Dimensions+ Conference on Nov. 9 in Las Vegas.

“Continuing to work with the right partners and leverage the technology platforms available provides a benefit to all our employees and drives ROIC. We thank Trimble for partnering with us and recognizing our efforts with this award.”
Tom Brooks | Chief Operating Officer

Western used Trimble’s Construction One Technology to centralize and streamline many of its workflows, including the development of a custom Human Resources Information System (HRIS) that supports everything from safety training to performance management. This includes a compensation dashboard that provides an accessible view of each employee’s salary history with built-in workflows and notifications for approvals/rejections.

The dashboard has helped streamline Western’s merit increase process and allows managers to see a consolidated salary view as they prepare their budgets. A process that used to take weeks to complete, now only takes a few minutes with Trimble’s Construction One Technology.

“What a great accomplishment and a team effort. First to human resources for identifying a need and conceptual solution, followed by our technology team working with Trimble Viewpoint to create a turn-key solution. We could not be more pleased with the outcome; definitely a win for Western’s employees.”
Tom Brooks | Chief Operating Officer

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology.

About Trimble Viewpoint

Trimble Viewpoint, a Trimble Company (NASDAQ: TRMB), enables contractors to better manage their projects, processes and people, using the data gathered to lower risk and improve margins. The Trimble Construction One management software suite integrates operations across the office, team and field to improve project profitability and enhance productivity. With nearly 8,000 clients, including more than 40 percent of the ENR 400, Trimble Viewpoint’s innovations are transforming the construction industry by fully integrating operations across financial and HR systems, project management tools and mobile field solutions. For more information, visit www.viewpoint.com.

About Trimble

Trimble is an industrial technology company transforming the way the world works by delivering solutions that enable our customers to thrive. Core technologies in positioning, modeling, connectivity and data analytics connect the digital and physical worlds to improve productivity, quality, safety, transparency and sustainability. From purpose-built products to enterprise lifecycle solutions, Trimble is transforming industries such as agriculture, construction, geospatial and transportation. For more information about Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB), visit www.trimble.com.

Press

St. Louis Post Dispatch

Civil + Structural Engineer Magazine

Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine

Cision PR Newswire

Employee Spotlight | Sarah Ray

Posted on November 15, 2022December 8, 2022 by Sara Bequette

Western would like to recognize Sarah Ray as our Employee Spotlight.

Kudos, Sarah—and thank you for being a valued member of the Western team!

Q&A with Sarah Ray

What is your role at Western?

Sales Project Manager

What do you like most about Western?

I like the environment. Everyone here feels like family and more than just coworkers. I also enjoy the fact that two days are never the same, so I’m constantly learning.

What are three words to describe Western?

Challenging. Exciting. Family.

What is your proudest moment at Western?

It would probably be my first big sale that I got an [internal] iFlash for. (Mecklenburg Pedestrian Bridges)

What has been your favorite project at Western?

My favorite project was probably the South Mountain Spillway in Morganton. It was in the valley of the mountains, and the scenery was gorgeous during early morning meetings.

How did you first learn about Western?

I was in college, just browsing the internet for internship opportunities, and I came across Western. What set it apart from all of the other companies is the fact that it was restoration and not new construction. It felt like a much better fit for my learning style, so I decided to go on a limb and apply, and never looked back!

Before working at Western what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?

My high-school and college gig was selling fireworks every 4th of July and New Years.

What advice do you have for prospective Western candidates?

Just give it a try! During my time at school, it seemed like everyone could only talk about new construction. It can make people looking to go into our field feel like they’re confined to this new construction box, but that simply isn’t true. From someone who struggled with the idea of that, stepping into restoration was exactly the breath of fresh air that I needed. Don’t limit yourself and don’t be afraid to try something different!

What have you gained from Working at Western?

Knowledge. After two years, I still feel like I learn something new every day. Whether it’s on the admin side or the sales side or the field side, I’m constantly learning and that is invaluable.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with Western?

I hope to keep advancing within the company, wherever that may take me.

If you could switch your job with anyone else within Western, whose job would you want?

Sara Bequette 😊 I love social media and marketing so I definitely think it would be fun to take a crack at it!

What about you? What do you personally enjoy?

I personally enjoy Dirt Track Racing and Disney World. My weekends are spent on the roads with Chris Ferguson Motorsports selling merchandise or down in Orlando with Mickey Mouse! Recently, I even ventured out to become an official Disney Travel Agent! (If anyone is looking to plan a magical vacation, I’d love to help out. All Castle, No Hassle on Facebook) 😊

Click here to view all of our Employee Spotlights.

Employee Spotlight | Thomas O’Donovan

Posted on October 21, 2022December 8, 2022 by Sara Bequette

Western would like to recognize Thomas O'Donovan as our Employee Spotlight.

Kudos, Tom—and thank you for being a valued member of the Western team!

Q&A with Thomas O'Donovan

What is your role at Western?

Senior Superintendent

What do you like most about Western?

Their open door policy and communication.

What are three words to describe Western?

A. Good. Company.

What is your proudest moment at Western?

Being asked to move to Super position.

What has been your favorite project at Western?

The Corbin Building—won the Lucy Moses award.

Before working at Western, what was the most unusual job you had?

Elevator Operator.

How long have you worked at Western?

I started here in 1980, so I'm about to start my 43rd year.

What advice do you have for prospective Western candidates?

Work hard, work smart.

What have you gained from Working at Western?

A lifetime of memories and wisdom.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with Western?

Sipping whiskey and smoking cigars in the comfort of home because I plan to retire soon.

If you could switch your job with anyone else within Western, whose job would you want?

Butch's.

What about you? What do you personally enjoy?

Spending time with family, fishing, and thoroughbred horse racing.

Click here to view all of our Employee Spotlights.

Diaster Recovery | Hurricane Ian

Posted on October 13, 2022October 13, 2022 by Sara Bequette

Serve as Staging Locations for Gulf Coast Disaster Recovery Services

Losing a structure or building to an unforeseen natural disaster, such as flooding or the recent hurricanes in Florida and Texas, can be devastating to the owner and its tenants.

The decision to move forward with repairs may not come quickly, but when it does, facility managers and owners should work with a specialty contractor experienced in disaster recovery to get the job done correctly and efficiently. Western Specialty Contractors' branch offices in Atlanta, GA; Houston and San Antonio, TX and Orlando, FL have been helping companies recover from natural disasters on the Gulf Coast for over 50 years.

“Bringing a building or structure back to life in the case of a natural disaster takes a certain level of experience and skill,” said Chester Scott, Branch Manager of Western's Atlanta, GA branch. “Special skills are needed to properly assess the damage, develop a recovery plan and initiate the restoration or take steps to mitigate further loss.”

Disaster Recovery Services provided by Western Specialty Contractors include:

Building exterior stabilization
Emergency building enclosure
Roofing repair and replacement
Window boarding, repair, and replacement
General clean up
Masonry and concrete repair
Historic restoration

When Hurricane Katrina, one of the five deadliest and costliest hurricanes in the history of the United States, struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, Western Specialty Contractors was there to help.

South Shore Harbour Marina features one of the largest boat slips near the New Orleans Lakefront Airport overlooking Lake Pontchartrain. Hurricane Katrina left the covered slips unusable and virtually unrecognizable. Western crews worked to remove any remaining damaged panels and purlins and completely replaced the outer skin of the slips (approximately 30,000 square feet) with interlocking Berridge Zee-Lock panels. Western also replaced the guard house that overlooked the harbor with a new modular version and made renovations to the public restroom and oil containment facilities, which all suffered severe wind and flood damage during the hurricane.

That same year, Western Specialty Contractors came to the rescue of Florida-based Ardaman & Associates after they noticed some leaking windows in their building, resulting from the recent hurricane activity.

Western crews surveyed the building before making a recommendation to re-seal all the glass-to-glass, metal-to-glass and metal-to-concrete window joints throughout the entire building. The result was a watertight building and a happy owner.

The following branches currently serving as staging locations in the Gulf Coast disaster recovery services:

Western Specialty Contractors of America
3790 Browns Mill Road, SE
Atlanta, GA 30354

Western Specialty Contractors of America
8813 Fairbanks North Houston Road
Houston, TX 77064

Western Specialty Contractors of America
9468 Corporate Drive
Selma, TX 78154

Western Specialty Contractors of America
2590 N. Powerline Rd.
Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Liquid Applied Roofing

Posted on September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 by Sara Bequette

Did you know? A form of liquid roofing was first used in the early 1800s when natural residue from petroleum distillation, called bitumen, was combined with jute, straw, rag felt, and other materials to waterproof roofs. It wasn’t until the early twentieth century that liquid roof coatings became commercially manufactured and more widely used.

Today, with so many systems and high-performance coatings available, facility managers may have difficulty knowing which type of liquid applied roofing to use and when and where to use it for the best results.

Liquid applied roofing has many benefits in relation to its cost, performance, and ease of installation. Plus, it is well suited for most roof structures and can be applied over most traditional roofing materials, including concrete, copper, bituminous, metal, tile and PVC/TPO/EPDM. When applied correctly by an experienced specialty roofing contractor, liquid applied roofing can provide up to 25 years or more of solid performance.

Liquid Roofing System vs. Coating System

There is a big difference between a liquid roofing system and a coating. A liquid roofing system is a thicker reinforced membrane (50+ mils) that requires additional application steps and costs more than a traditional roof coating. With a liquid applied roofing system, building owners receive a labor and material warranty similar to a traditional roof. Coatings are typically not reinforced, are a thinner membrane (23-40 mils) and are less expensive, but the warranty typically only covers the materials.

Financial Benefits

Liquid applied roofing systems are typically used to restore an existing roof, although they can be used in new construction. Liquid applied roofing can increase the useful life of an existing roof without having to add an additional layer of roofing on top of a structure. A maximum of two layers is recommended for a traditional roof.

A liquid applied roofing system is categorized as a roof repair and could potentially cover two traditional roofing layers. The cost of a liquid applied roofing system can also be depreciated within the year that it was performed, whereas a traditional roof replacement is depreciated over 29 years. Since liquid applied roofing is considered a roof repair, building owners could potentially charge their tenants for the expense, depending on how their lease is written.

Sustainability Benefits

Liquid applied roofing is a sustainable option:

Saves landfill space from traditional roof tear-off materials
Cool and reflective for energy savings
Low VOC options are available to reduce air pollution
Fewer material quantities are required for installation
Maintain and re-coat for the life of the structure

Versatility Benefits

Liquid applied roofing provides a monolithic, seamless roof that can be easily applied around difficult-to-flash areas. While not ideal for every roofing situation, liquid applied roofing is recommended for difficult-to-access and busy roofs with a lot of penetrations, such as hospitals and high-rise buildings.

Additionally, there are many material choices and colors available at varying price points for liquid applied roofing.

Occupant Friendly Benefits

A worker with a bucket and a roller installing a liquid applied roof is much less intrusive and noisy than workers performing a full-roof replacement on a building. A liquid applied roof also takes less time and equipment to install than a traditional roof, the materials typically give off fewer odors, and there is a lower risk of water intrusion – always a major concern on a traditional roofing project.

Liquid membrane roofs are not a one-size solution for every roofing scenario, and not everyone has the expertise to install them properly. In many ways, liquid roof systems require more craftsmanship and expertise than the installation of a traditional roof. With liquid applied roofs, workers are essentially manufacturing a roof on a building and not in a factory. Identifying the substrate and the wetness of the existing roof, performing the proper substrate prep work and determining which system and primer to use are key to a successful project outcome. Liquid applied roofing may not be the cheapest roofing solution, but when applied correctly, liquid roofs, in the long run, are a very good value.

For building owners considering a liquid applied roof, continue to maintain the existing roof and repair any leaks, with the goal to keep good roofs in good shape. Contact a roofing professional, whether that’s a contractor or a consultant, to do an investigation, core sampling and scan of the roof to determine whether it is a viable candidate for a liquid roof system. Owners should also plan ahead to allow adequate time for these projects to be planned and the materials to be ordered and obtained. Finally, account for contingencies. Despite the best planning, in roofing projects, there are always unforeseen delays, particularly with the current material shortages and price escalations. Be sure to provide additional funding in the roofing budget to compensate for the current economic environment.