COOPER ENGINEERING, INC

Cooper Engineering performs left hand type 60M barrier pour on highway 138 in Palmdale.

Partnering with Contractors and Suppliers Toward a Shared Objective of Excellence

For decades, the traditional customer/supplier or general/subcontractor business relationship has seemed to default to availability, price and convenience. Today’s economy and business environment necessitates a more novel approach to achieving quality and long-lasting business objectives. For many, the key to success is found through partnering. Partnering with other companies replaces the traditional customer-supplier approach with a collaborative methodology that focuses on a shared objective. Hod and Denise Cooper of Cooper Engineering, Inc. believe that partnering with general contractors and suppliers is how successful contracting firms will continue to evolve in the future. “Our focus has been to rethink the working landscape for a subcontractor, while always being a good partner to the general contractor,” says Denise Cooper (Denise), President and CEO, Cooper Engineering, Inc. “We strive to work closely with our prime contractors and do all we can to save them time and money. We want to leave every job knowing that we performed well and will be asked back for future projects.”

Hod Cooper is chief operating officer of Cooper Engineering, Inc. and he makes it clear that his company’s business model has never been to just work for anyone and everyone and shoot a number out there in hopes of getting a job. “We want to work with and are always looking for contractors that recognize that there is value in time. That there is value in redesign, staging and constructability,” says Hod. “In some cases, the subcontractor has traditionally been somewhat expendable and that can be frustrating. There is so much that goes into a bid situation. We like to talk to a prime and discuss what we can do with redesign or staging or other elements that can save time and money. Some companies do not value this type of relationship. We want to work for general contractors interested in planning and working together to build each project better, faster and more cost-effective. That is what partnering is all about.”

Installing Type 60 MC barrier with Wirtgen SP 25i slipform paver with Wirtgen AutoPilot 2.0 system.

FLATIRON-SKANSKA-STACY AND WITBECK JOINT VENTURE (FSSW)

Joint venture construction projects are a great example of how partnering helps with sharing both the risk and reward. Cooper Engineering, Inc. (Cooper Engineering) is on the Flatiron-Skanska-Stacy and Witbeck, a Joint Venture (FSSW) currently in Phase 1. This project is designed to construct a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction from Lomas Santa Fe Drive to SR 78. Additionally, this first phase will replace bridges and overcrossings, construct new access ramps, and build new soundwalls and rail lines. Cooper Engineering is a subcontractor to FSSW and they are currently finishing the installation of 80,000- plus feet of barrier wall on the I-5 freeway in the Oceanside/Escondido area. “We were able to build a partnership with an extremely well managed joint venture (FSSW), from the construction management team to the owners and every stakeholder. They are all real pros who were open to hearing what we had to say and offer and treated us as partners in the project,” says Hod. “This is a design-build job where we were allowed to modify certain constructability aspects for the project’s greater good. This included some barrier rail reinforcement details that the joint venture found acceptable to change. Our slipform and extrusion operation is sometimes limited by design and in this case, we were able to meet the requirements better with a slight modification.”

Cooper Engineering is using its new Wirtgen SP 25i offset slipform paver from Nixon-Egli Equipment Co. to place the 42” high concrete barrier type 60M on the I-5 freeway for FSSW. Hod Cooper points out that the 80,000 linear feet job has drainage scuppers every 10 feet that required design modifications to accommodate the extrusion slipform process. Cooper Engineering also utilized hand forming around the bridges on the FSSW project that started around six or seven months ago. “We are thrilled to be using our new Wirtgen (SP 25i offset slipform paver) on this design-build project,” continues Hod. “The onboard, customized, AutoPilot 2.0 technology is highly advantageous on a production job like this that demands the highest standards in quality and productivity.”

GOMACO GP-2400 slipform paver with Topcon system working with GOMACO RTP-500 rubber-tracked placer at LAX.

PARTNERING WITH WIRTGEN AND NIXON-EGLI EQUIPMENT COMPANY

Cooper Engineering has been focused on researching and investing in technology and equipment over the past 18-months. “Our research led us to the point where we began considering the addition of a Wirtgen machine or two to our fleet. We had several conversations with long time Wirtgen users, like Pavement Recycling Systems, who own cold milling machines, soil stabilizers and other Wirtgen equipment. They had nothing but great things to say about both Wirtgen and Nixon-Egli Equipment Company, which led us to give them a call,” says Denise Cooper. “Hod is very innovative and is always looking for ways to be more productive to save both time and money for every stakeholder. Wirtgen and Nixon-Egli have partnered with us to make that possible.”

Cooper Engineering purchased two Wirtgen SP 25i offset slipform pavers from Nixon-Egli Equipment Co. in 2019. They are currently using these machines to place everything from curb and gutter and sidewalks to small concrete paving jobs and large barrier rail projects. “I have to tell you that I am very impressed with that group of people at Wirtgen and Nixon-Egli. The working relationship we have with them is a match made in heaven. We share the same work ethic and partnering ideas, and they have been there for us every step of the way. They want a partnership, and they are genuinely interested in our success,” continues Denise. “We are a big picture company, and we are here for the long haul to help the general contractor get the most out of our services. Wirtgen and Nixon-Egli have our back and are there to help make sure that we get this accomplished.”

Wirtgen SP 15i slipform paver with AutoPilot 2.0 placing curb & gutter in Riverside.

Hod Cooper also appreciates their relationship with Wirtgen and Nixon-Egli Equipment Company. “The amazing thing about Wirtgen is that they welcomed our ideas on redesigning some of the physical and software machine aspects of the equipment to better meet our specific needs. That is just unheard of in our industry,” says Hod. “We were on a job and explained to Nixon-Egli what we were trying to accomplish. They immediately sent out a demo model paver and a barrier rail machine to both of our job sites. Both performed beautifully, but we pointed out that the wireless technology needed to do more for us than what was currently being offered. Wirtgen went back into the AutoPilot 2.0 program and did a custom update. I don’t want to get into the specifics for proprietary reasons, but their updates and redesigns have given us a decisive advantage. They take pride in improvement and are just so sophisticated in their personal approach to doing business. It has been an amazing change for us, and their partnership is greatly appreciated.”

Hod Cooper offers an example of a request that he presented to Wirtgen and Nixon-Egli Equipment Company and their representative, Jay Rosa. “I had the front of one of our two SP 25i slipform pavers modified to increase productivity. Wirtgen engineered the modifications and did an incredible job meeting our request. Slight changes followed and we ended up finishing the modification and then shared that with Wirtgen. They were genuinely excited about our efforts and the fact that we could collaborate on moving our industry forward in such a way,” says Hod. “Technology is sometimes lagging in the field of construction as far as I am concerned. Wirtgen is interested in our specific technological needs and willing to engineer whatever we need to make our company more productive and profitable.”

Hod points out that Wirtgen sent out individuals from the Wirtgen America Group headquarters in Nashville and a few engineers from Germany. “They wanted to get a look at what we were doing and modifying. Having this much interest and care in how our company operates and what can be done to help us succeed is rare in today’s business world,” says Hod. “This sentiment was also provided to us from Nixon-Egli Equipment and their representative, Jay Rosa. Jay is not just a great guy; he is also the only one in our industry that I have witnessed that can get up on a machine and show you exactly how every function works. I’m talking about a sales guy. Unbelievable. I can call him anytime, and he will be there for us.”

WBE AND DBE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

Cooper Engineering is a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), as well as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Denise Cooper is the president and CEO and owns 100% of the shares. Denise is also the current president of the Southern California Contractors Association (SCCA). She has served on the Board for several years and was an officer for four years before becoming president. She is only the second female president in the associations 26-year history. “I strongly believe that our involvement in the SCCA has been invaluable. SCCA has helped guide our business through everything from labor relations and legislative issues to knowing exactly what is going on with Caltrans and other agencies,” says Denise. “I would never want to be involved in a business such as ours without the support of an association like SCCA. They are on top of local legislation and looking out for their members to make sure that things like SB1 are being managed properly.”

BUILDING A LEGACY – FAMILY FIRST – THE FAMILY BUSINESS - VS - THE BUSINESS OF FAMILY

Cooper Engineering is a true family-owned and operated company led by husband and wife team, Hod and Denise Cooper. Their three children, Mitchell, Chance and Jacqueline have all helped out and worked for the company during summers and weekends. The youngest, Jacqueline, decided to pursue a different career path in Colorado, while the boys eventually found themselves wanting to make their mark in the family business. “We didn’t know if our children would want to follow in our footsteps after discussing the good, bad and ugly of our business with them at the dinner table each night. Our son Mitchell started out working in finance after graduating from college but decided a couple of years ago that he wanted to join us. He now works closely with Hod and has taken the lead in our estimating department, overseeing the daily bid process and building bidding relationships,” continues Denise. “Our other son, Chance, is our machine control specialist overseeing dual platform software systems. He is kept very busy as he develops machine technology improvements with regards to CEI current and future needs. Our family’s success is the most important thing, which is evident in the fact that we have many immediate and extended family members working here. My sister, Lane, has been with us through our ups and downs and has supported the growth of CEI for many years. My nephew, Paul Loll Jr. and his father Paul Loll Sr., both operators, have helped us become a leader in innovation and partnering. Most of our crew has been with us for many years, and we consider them family as well.”

Hod Cooper shares his wife’s sentiments on the importance of family. “If we can’t sit down and have family dinners together, we are just not doing it right. We hired an executive coach a while back and everyone in our family meets with him weekly,” says Hod. “We all work on how we can self-improve and how we can work best together. We look at each of our talents and the challenges or misunderstanding we all have from time to time. Every personality is different and everyone brings value. We want to keep our family together, and if we do this right, we can bless many generations in the future.”

Wirtgen SP 64i inset slipform paver with AutoPilot 2.0 working on 405 freeway project in Irvine.

CONCLUSION

Cooper Engineering is signatory to the union in five trades, and they work throughout Southern California. They are well-known for their tremendous talent and innovations in concrete and barrier paving for a long list of heavy hitters like Flatiron, Atkinson, Sully-Miller, Granite, Skanska, J. McLoughlin Engineering and Chumo Construction. “We want to work for companies like these that want to partner with us and build long term, strategic relationships,” concludes Hod Cooper. “This is how we plan to go forward with our general contractors and suppliers as we all work together to achieve and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage.” For more information on Cooper Engineering, Inc., please visit their website at www.cooperconcrete.net or call their Corona headquarters at (951)736-6135. Cc