Trimble Award | Best Use of Technology

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.

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St. Louis Post Dispatch

Civil + Structural Engineer Magazine

Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine

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Diaster Recovery | Hurricane Ian

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

 

 

Debbie Kalck | New Branch Manager

Western Specialty Contractors announces the appointment of Debbie Kalck as Manager of its Chicago Facades Branch.

In her new position, Kalck is responsible for managing sales, daily operations, and field personnel, plus developing new projects within her branch’s territory. Western’s Chicago Facades Branch, established in 1982, offers the following services to customers in the Chicago area: building cleaning, concrete restoration, epoxy, and chemical grout injection, expansion joint systems, exterior wall coatings, masonry restoration, parking, and plaza deck restoration, and waterproofing.

As a female in traditionally male-dominated industries, Kalck said she appreciates Western’s dedication to diversification and celebrates their initiative to seek diverse candidates to join their team in all aspects of the business. She believes the strongest teams are built with diversity and unique abilities.

Debbie’s ability to connect with people, her positive energy, and drive for growth made her the perfect fit to lead our Chicago Facades team,” said Justin Berndt, Western Specialty Contractors Midwest Region Operations Manager. “She has an extensive background in finance, construction, sales, restoration, training, and development, and has spent a large part of her career leading successful teams in multiple industries. Debbie’s vision of team success and her customer focus aligns well with our company’s culture and core values, and we’re excited to have her join our Western family to see what she will bring to the Chicago Facades Team.” 

Prior to Western, Kalck was Director of Operations for nearly five years at LMC Construction, Inc. During her time with the Chicago masonry contractor, she became a Certified Manager of Community Associations, Certified Lead Renovator, and obtained concrete and masonry licenses. In addition, she worked for three years as an Account Executive for a large Chicago-based commercial flooring contractor.

Kalck also has more than 24 years of experience managing customer investments and teams in the financial sector, having worked for Morgan Stanley, MetLife, and Merrill Lynch.

When I took a pause from my financial career, I connected with several of my construction industry clients to provide consulting services – that is how I transitioned into construction operations. Construction is deeply financially focused, and I love collaborating with teams and working with numbers, so Western’s Branch Manager position was a great fit for me,” she said. “I find the façade restoration aspect of construction fascinating; façade work is artwork. As an environmentalist, I also see the value in preserving the structure and beauty of old buildings.

Kalck attended Valparaiso University in Indiana and Carthage College in Wisconsin. She and her husband Rob have two children – daughter Lakin who is pursuing Environmental Law at Indiana University and son Cullen who has an environmental position as a project manager.

When not working, Kalck enjoys running, self-sustaining gardening, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.

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. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit www.WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.

Beat The Heat | Seven Tips To Stay Cool

A member of Western's crew staying hydrated to beat the heat

Summer is a great time for construction work but a brutal time for construction workers. Excessive temps and sun exposure pose significant dangers, such as sunburn, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Every year, construction workers become ill on the job, and some even lose their lives due to heat exposure.

To protect its workers from the extreme summer temperatures, Western Specialty Contractors manages a heat illness training program and a safety hotline for its employees.

As part of the program, training is provided to all employees and supervisors who work in high temperatures. Training topics include how heat can affect the body, how to identify the signs and symptoms of various heat-related illnesses, and what to do if a co-worker is experiencing symptoms of a heat-related illness. Western also regulates the hotter environment by providing water and shade to workers and having supervisors and safety managers monitor the heat index so that the proper protective measures can be taken.

“It is important, particularly during the summer months, that outdoor workers drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration, which is the primary cause of heat cramps and exhaustion,” said Alex Jeffries, Safety Director at Western Specialty Contractors.

Alex, who has training and experience managing the health and safety of outdoor workers, offers the following tips for preventing heat-related illnesses on a construction job site:

Western's crew staying hydrated during the summer heat
Western's crew staying hydrated during the summer heat
  1. Drink water frequently and drink enough water that you never become thirsty. Drink water or other non-caffeinated electrolytic beverages, and ensure your drinks are always cool, not room temperature. Adding a lemon slice to water can make plain water more drinkable.
  2. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing made from natural materials such as cotton. Avoid wearing non-breathing synthetic clothing. Wear safety glasses with UV protection, sunscreen, and brimmed hard hats.
  3. Gradually build up to heavy work. If possible, do the most demanding work during the coolest time of the day. Workers who are suddenly exposed to working in a hot environment face additional hazards to their health and safety. New workers and those returning from time away need to be extra careful in ensuring they stay hydrated.
  4. Take more breaks in extreme heat and humidity. Move to the shade or an air-conditioned area when possible, but try not to go in and out of air conditioning too much as it will make it harder for you to adjust to the temperature. Use cooling fans whenever possible.
  5. Select your lunch carefully. Junk food is high in fat and preservatives and will put a high caloric load on the digestive system. Try eating a big breakfast, so you're not as hungry at lunch. Eat light lunches that include fruits, vegetables, and salads.
  6. Keep an eye on your co-workers and be alert for signs of heat exhaustion. Early symptoms include lethargy, disorientation, stumbling, dropping tools, slurred speech, or unresponsiveness. Heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring a 911 call and immediate cooling.
  7. Check your urine frequency and color throughout the day. Water intake is adequate when urine is clear or light yellow. When the desire to urinate is less than twice per day and/or you are producing dark yellow urine, you may be dehydrated.

By training employees on the early signs of heat exhaustion, taking the proper precautions, and employing tips like those listed above, outdoor workers can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related dangers.

Shawn Nichoalds | Viewpoint Summit, June 14

(St. Louis, MO, June 13, 2022) Western Specialty Contractors Sr. Director of Information Technology Shawn Nichoalds is slated to present at the Trimble Viewpoint Vista User Summit (June 14-15), the nation’s largest free, live and virtual construction technology summit.

Nichoalds’ virtual session, “The Coolest Things Customers are Doing with Vista,” is scheduled for 1-1:50 p.m. CST on June 14. For more information or to register for the Vista Summit, visit https://events.viewpoint.com/vista-summit-2022.

Trimble Viewpoint’s Vista Construction Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software enables users like Western Specialty Contractors to quickly and easily view the status of projects and project management activities in real-time. The software is also capable of managing risk and tracking revenue, among other features.

Nichoalds, along with co-speaker Joe Garza, Software Consultant for Trimble Viewpoint, will share examples of how customers like Western are managing workflows and solving unique challenges using the Vista software. Western has used Vista for the past eight years.

“Building positive relationships, partnering with the right companies, like Viewpoint, and having the right people in place make executing strategic plans much easier,”

Shawn Nichoalds | Senior Director, Information Techonology | Western Specialty Contractors
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“With the compensation dashboard and automating the data input for salary raises, our Chief Human Resources Officer says the software has saved us about a week’s worth of time. In the past it would take about a week, and now it’s done within five minutes.”

Bradley Johnson | Senior Director, Information Techonology | Western Specialty Contractors

The Vista Summit will also feature:

  • Product training, pro tips and Vista customer suggestions
  • An opportunity to earn up to seven free Continuing Professional Education credits.
  • New product and capability announcements for Vista customers
  • Training on specific workflows designed to save time and effort
  • Industry information and best practices
  • Networking opportunities, resources and product tips

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.

ICRI 40 Under 40 Award

(St. Louis, MO, April 8, 2022) – The International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), the only association in the concrete industry devoted solely to repair and restoration, recently announced the winners of its 40 Under 40 Award. Western Specialty Contractors is proud to announce that Steve Genovese, Senior Branch Manager of its Chicago Branch, was among the announced winners.

This year’s 40 Under 40 winners were recognized at the ICRI’s 2022 Spring Convention, April 4-6, in Baltimore, MD. The prestigious award recognizes 40 individuals who exemplify dedication to the concrete repair industry. A peer-nominated award, the ICRI 40 Under 40 recognizes individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to continued professional growth, high potential for continued success in leadership roles, and a strong passion for – and commitment to – the mission of ICRI.

“It is a great privilege to be recognized by my industry peers for this award. I am thankful for all the relationships that I have made and continue to make during my 16+ years in this industry while being an active ICRI member. ICRI has been a key component in developing my industry knowledge throughout my career.”

– Steve Genovese, Recipient of ICRI's 40 Under 40 Award & Chicago Senior Branch Manager

Genovese started with Western in 2006 as an Asst. Sales/Project Manager then promoted to Sales/Project Manager in 2008 and Department Manager in 2013. He was named Western’s Chicago Branch Manager in 2016. 

He has been an active member of the Illinois ICRI Chapter since 2007 and served as the chapter’s president in 2015. He has a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Illinois State University and an Associate in Arts from Triton College. 

In 2021, the ICRI honored Western’s Chicago Branch with a “Project of the Year” award for its concrete restoration work at Extra Space Storage in Chicago. The project was selected for its unique construction challenges and historical significance. Western made slab underside concrete repairs throughout the 1900s building and slab topside repairs on the building’s ramps and parking surfaces. Western also applied a traffic bearing membrane to all the vehicular traffic surfaces in the three-story building, which previously stored the Chicago Tribune’s delivery trucks.

Western’s Minneapolis Assistant Branch Manager David Grandbois was named an ICRI 40 Under 40 in 2020, the award’s inaugural year. Project Manager Tony Marchiafava of Western’s Minneapolis Branch and Derek Robertson of its New York Branch also received the award in 2021.  

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. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.