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
01
What is your role at Western?
Senior Superintendent 2
02
What do you like most about Western?
The people that I get to work with.
03
What are three words to describe Western?
Stability. Family. Loyalty.
04
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.
05
What has been your favorite project at Western?
Cerner Children Learning Center.
06
How did you first learn about Western?
My Father, he has worked here for 38 years.
07
Before working at Western what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?
Master French Pastry Chef at La Bonne Bouchee.
08
What advice do you have for prospective Western candidates?
Take initiative, and work hard for what you want, nothing is given, its earned.
09
What have you gained from Working at Western?
Friends and the amazing ability to schedule on close time restraints.
10
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.
11
If you could switch your job with anyone else within Western, whose job would you want?
Tom Brooks
12
What about you? What do you personally enjoy?
Love Cooking, Singing, and Golfing, just love to have a good time, and making people laugh!
Western Specialty Contractors – Minneapolis Branch recently contracted with S and S Development to restore a damaged pedestrian bridge connecting the four-story Ridgedale Office Center to its parking structure.
Years of severe winter weather had deteriorated the concrete bridge, and ultimately the collision of a horse trailer into the structure prompted its immediate repair. Western worked directly with the engineering firm Walker Consultants to design a replacement bridge railing system and estimate the repair work.
The scope of work included removing the bridge’s old steel railing system on all sides, replacing the outer concrete edge, and opening the precast plank’s outer core.
After Western removed the concrete, the structural components were inspected by Walker, who put the design into place.
Western then installed new supplemental reinforcing steel embeds into the precast plank structure and poured a new supporting edge on the outside of either side of the bridge. To create the edge, Western utilized a fast-setting, ready-mix concrete from a local plant and placed the concrete using a conveyor system to speed up the process and complete the project before winter set in.
During the construction process, Western workers ran into unexpected damage that prompted a slight change in plans.
“After we removed the old railing, we found that the outermost edge of the precast planks had a shear crack running longitudinally on both sides of the bridge,” said Western Minneapolis Assistant Branch Manager David Grandbois.
“It was determined that this had to be completely removed, and new reinforcing steel had to be embedded into the existing planks to allow for a new concrete edge to be poured before Western could install the new railings.”
David Grandbois, Western Specialty Contractors Minneapolis Assistant Branch Manager
Western performed additional concrete repairs on the underside of the bridge and the abutments on either end. After completing all the concrete repairs, Western installed new galvanized railings and applied a traffic coating to protect the newly restored concrete deck.
Western completed the project in two months and within budget.
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. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.
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.
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
01
What is your role at Western?
Sales Project Manager
02
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.
03
What are three words to describe Western?
Challenging. Exciting. Family.
04
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)
05
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.
06
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!
07
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.
08
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!
09
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.
10
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.
11
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!
12
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) 😊
The Western Specialty Contractors Sheet Metal Division in Kansas City, MO, recently replaced leaking, improperly installed wall panels and flashings covering the control tower at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE.
Historic Offutt AFB is the headquarters for the US Strategic Command, 557th Weather Wing, and 55th Wing, the largest wing of the United States Air Force’s Air Combat Command. With its history dating back to 1894, Offutt AFB has played an essential role throughout US history, including hosting one of the first major strategy sessions by President George W. Bush in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
With so many crucial military aircraft flying in and out of Offutt daily, it’s imperative that its airfield and control tower function properly at all times.
Western Specialty Contractors was contracted to replace leaking freezer panels and associated flashing on the envelope of the base’s control tower. The damage resulted from improper installation when the structure was built nearly 30 years ago.
Western’s sheet metal experts worked with project general contractor HHI Corp. to estimate/bid the job and design and fabricate a new Dri-Design wall panel system and associated flashings. Dri-Design is a 100% recyclable, pressure-equalized rain-screen architectural metal wall system that attaches to nearly any substrate without using clips or extrusions. Its interlocking design makes installation quick and easy, plus it comes in a variety of colors, materials, textures and custom perforations.
Western installed the control tower’s new metal panel system within a month and on budget. The architect on the project was Kenneth Hahn Architects.
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. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.
