Helix Brochure

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R

C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T R Y

ENERGY LEADERS www.energyleaderstoday.com

TODAY

Helix Electric

Winter 2009 $64.00 USD $68.81 CAN

Since 1985, Helix has been tackling some of the country’s most challenging and impressive public works projects.

Energy Leaders Editor-in-Chief Todd Weaver Editor Diana Doyle Executive Editor Jonathan Mack Assistant Editor Joseph Orange Creative Director Art Director Photography Director Video Director

Emily Detoro Stephanie Hess Ian Palmer Susan Maybach

Editorial Director Kate Darling Editorial Production Michael DeMatteo Production Manager Vincent Boyles Correspondents Aaron McGaskey (SW) Juan Orellana (NE) Gerald Adams (W) Steve Peters (Nation) Vendor Relations Director Diana Stephens Vendor Relations Todd Rogers Eric Banner Patrick Storm Advertising Sales Director Peter Jostens Advertising Sales Moe Kazemi Steve Stone David Levi Publisher Steve Reed

oZ WORLD MEDIA, LLC 1330 New Hampshire Avenue Suite B1 Washington D.C. 20036 www.energyleaderstoday.com

Energy Leaders Today is a quarterly B2B trade journal that services the energy industry in solar, geothermal, hydro/tidal/ wave, natural gas, wind, nuclear, oil, biofuels, coal & electric, and new technology sectors. ELT has a readership of 10,000 C-Level executives within the energy industry. We do not accept subscription requests from the general public, however an abbreviated version is available on our website.

2 Energy Leaders Today Winter 2009

Energy Leaders Today Winter 2009 3

corporate profile | coal & electric

Currents Run Str

4 Energy Leaders Today Winter 2009

coal & electric | corporate profile

rong for Helix

by Rebecca Rodriguez

Helix Electric, a towering force in the electrical design and construction business, shines as one of the largest and most successful electrical contracting companies in the nation.

It handles a myriad of projects from banks to entertainment complexes and it is hard to drive through Las Vegas or Los Angeles without seeing or entering one of Helix’s grand structures. In fact, those flying into Los Angeles Intl. Airport (LAX) are greeted by an awe-inspiring red, white, and blue kinetic lighting installation made up of 15 circular towers 560’in diameter and about 100’ high, as well as a 32’ LAX sign.

Out of hundreds of submissions, the Associated Builder’s & Contractors, Inc. (ABC) awarded Helix the most prestigious award for the LAX project.

The company’s portfolio is impressive and widely varied, including major projects in commercial and retail, correctional and industrial, government and military, hospitality and entertainment, healthcare and biotech, multi-family and mixed use, religious and educational, as well as transportation.

Helix is undoubtedly a giant in the electrical contracting business.

And president of the Nevada-based headquarters, Victor Fuchs, has even bigger plans for his company in the future.

Helix has total revenue of about $338 million in 2008, and Fuchs would like to see that grow to 10 to 15 percent per year.

“The only limit is what the economy and market will allow us,” he said.

Helix consistently receives national awards and is ranked number 11 in the country by the Engineering News Record (ENO) in terms of sales volume. Comprised of two companies headquartered in California and Nevada, Helix’s currents of power flow strong throughout these states. But it is growing into other markets within Arizona, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Oklahoma. And it has the power to complete projects throughout the country, such as Missouri and Washington, D.C. Helix also has branch offices in Arizona, Guam, and Hawaii.

A steady flow of both local and national awards gives Helix the prestige it needs to be at the forefront of the business.

ABC awarded Helix another “most prestigious” Pyramid Award for its work on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority (LVCVA) Metro Police Substation, ABC gave it the top national

Energy Leaders Today Winter 2009 5

corporate profile | coal & electric award for Excellence in Construction in the category of electrical-commercial under $2 million. Finished at the end of 2008, the turnkey project featured Wi-Fi throughout the three-level parking garage and lighting for 24-hour operation.

Its current project – The Smith Performing Arts Center - set in downtown Las Vegas, is a reflection of the company’s prestige in the industry. Once completed in late 2011, it will stand as the cultural epicenter of Las Vegas. And it will likely match the ritz and excitement of the strip.

The $475 million, four-theatre complex will span 220,200 sq. ft. Dance companies from all over the world will perform there and it will be home to the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theatre.

In late 2009, Helix Electric was 20 percent into the “epic” project that will utilize the latest in 3-D CAD technology.

“It’s large, complicated, and difficult,” said Fuchs, adding that the schedule is aggressive.

The multifaceted job entails Helix Electric providing lighting, power, fire alarm, security, telecommunications and audio visual systems. Helix is working with general contractor, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. for this project.

Fuchs worked with Whiting-Turner in the past on the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, also in Las Vegas. This white modern building features unique interior and exterior design elements such as staggered square layers juxtaposed with curved, statuesque structures. The four-story, steel medical building contains an activity center, community auditorium, café, as well as MRI rooms, exam rooms and an Alzheimer’s museum.

“This was one of the most difficult set of drawings we’ve worked with,” Fuchs said of architect Gehry Partners, LLP’s work on the project. “They designed an unusual building. It was a difficult project, we knew it, and decided to take it on anyway. It was a once-in-a-lifetime project.”

Fuchs attributes much of the company’s success to its long-term employees, which he treats like family. The company provides good benefits, an extremely safe working environment, and challenging jobs.

“The jobs are not basic and boring.

They’re unique,” Fuchs said. “We have a lot of challenging jobs that our competition would be afraid of because of the unknowns.”

The San Diego Business Journal, Inc., made Helix a 2007 Best Places to Work nominee.

Helix has 350 employees at its Las Vegas headquarters and 1,000 employees at the San Diego headquarters.

6 Energy Leaders Today Winter 2009

coal & electric | corporate profile

Energy Leaders Today Winter 2009 7

corporate profile | coal & electric Recently, the company celebrated completing a million hours without lost time. There is no compromise when it comes to safety and all superintendents are on the job sites. If something were to go wrong, it could be a career decision, Fuchs said.

Ten senior executives meet for two hours once a month and review any incidents.

“The incidents are scored and things are corrected within 24 hours or there are serious repercussions,” he said.

Every employee is tracked and if there is no accident within a month’s time that employee could be awarded up to $200.

Employees are encouraged to advance their training. Helix started a Photo Voltaic License Program in early 2009 with ABC so electricians can obtain Photo Voltaic Licenses.

The company was founded in California in 1985 by Gary Shekhter. Fuchs joined the company as assistant estimator in 1987 and quickly moved up the ranks, becoming head of the Helix of Nevada sister company.

Helix picked up steam building multi- people to get continuing education,” family projects in southern California. In Fuchs said. “If we are stagnant in this, we 1994, it expanded to Nevada. Fuchs moved will lose our competitive edge.” to Las Vegas in 1995 to start the new Growing and keeping a competitive edge division. is a way of the future that all companies Energy efficiency is also a priority must face. But for an award-winning with the company. Employees from company who already stands as a giant in journeymen to vice presidents are the field, it should be as easy as flipping certified in the Leadership in Energy and on a switch. ELT Environmental Design (LEED). The company’s Las Vegas preserve project earned a top LEED rating and many of Helix’s projects fall within Bonding and Insurance for Contractors the Platinum to Gold Meeting your Bonding and Insurance needs since 1925 level, the highest ratings for LEED. Fuchs said SURETY Larry McMahon the company’s current Ed Hackett projects will likely fall Jim Baldassare within those levels as Construction Services Division well.

INSURANCE 701 B Street, 6th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101 Jim Castle Helix encourages its Tel. (619) 238-1828 Fax (619) 699-2110 Cory Doucette employees to get LEED License No. 0C36861 Jim Williams certification. www.alliantinsurance.com Jim Young “We encourage our 404377_Alliant.indd 1

8 Energy Leaders Today Winter 2009

10/16/08 9:55:25 PM

coal & electric | corporate profile

Energy Leaders Today Winter 2009 9

THE MAGAZINE FOR

C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY

ENERGY LEADERS www.energyleaderstoday.com

TODAY

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT US AT info@energyleaderstoday.com