INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, ASSURED SUCCESS
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. ASSURED SUCCESS.
Proudly serving the Mid-Atlantic region with industrial engineering services since 1988, ITAC provides process and industrial clients with integrated design-build services for complex capital projects. We find out more with ITAC CEO, Jon Loftis
Writer: Ed Budds | Project Manager: Kierron Rose
From humble beginnings as a small engineering firm to a leading provider of design-build services, ITAC was built on a dream by trusting its clients and assembling a highly qualified team of superior industry experts.
Headquartered in Chester, Virginia, the design-build firm now leverages over three decades of experience, enjoys a nationwide footprint, and employs over 550 staff operating in six offices in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the US.
“At ITAC, innovation is planted in everything we do. We founded our business in 1988 on the need to innovate the project delivery process
and provide our industrial clients with total project solutions for their most challenging problems,” introduces Jon Loftis, CEO of ITAC.
“Many of us have been on our clients’ side of the table, and we know what it’s like to walk in their shoes.”
Loftis grew up on his family’s cattle farm and in his dad’s manufacturing shop, where he always admired the patents his father had proudly earned during his career and, following in his footsteps, learned to love designing and building things.
“It was the process that I fell in love with, such as the planning, studying, and decision-making needed to manage a successful project. I quickly
realized that this requires a strong team working together and that every member is critical,” recalls Loftis, who initially joined ITAC in 1989 to manage the mechanical design department.
Utilizing the wealth of technical and leadership skills he learned leading fast-track R&D projects for new processes and products, Loftis was tasked with building a new project management team and methodology – now referred to as Assured Project Management (APM) – for ITAC’s burgeoning slate of business.
Today, this vital methodology still plays a critical role in delivering a focused and disciplined approach to every job.
ITAC MISSION, PURPOSE, AND VALUES
MISSION: To build great projects.
PURPOSE: To make life better by loving and serving one another.
VALUES:
• FAMILY – ITAC puts people and family first.
• TRUST – The company earns trust every day.
• TEAMWORK – ITAC inspires the best in everyone.
• PASSION – The company cares, and it shows.
• EXCELLENCE – ITAC strives for greatness in everything it does.
As CEO, and President for the past 20 years, Loftis has overseen ITAC’s vertically integrated project services and business operations with a firm focus on creating a winning experience for clients and employees.
“Our greatest desire is to be a respected partner to our clients and to earn their trust every day.
“My most critical contribution is to lead our team to create great experiences for our employees and
clients. Success is assured through the relationships and trust built with every team member on every project,” he sets out.
LEVERAGING INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Having garnered a vast bank of experience over 35 years of business, ITAC has collectively witnessed significant change in the construction market and
come through many challenging times, repeatedly adapting to new trends, developments, and market fluctuations.
Similarly, Loftis leads by encouraging ITAC’s people to always persevere in an industry that can often be challenging.
“I was taught at a very early age that practice and preparation are paramount to success, and this dedication to proper preparation
“SUCCESS IS ASSURED THROUGH THE RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST BUILT WITH EVERY TEAM MEMBER ON EVERY PROJECT”
– JON LOFTIS, CEO, ITAC
also helped with my mental strength, which has been crucial, as things don’t get much tougher than the construction industry,” he imparts.
“This industry is volatile and can change significantly from year to year. The peaks are really high and the valleys can also be pretty deep, so we have learned to pivot effectively in order to thrive.”
Having successfully maneuvered the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis, companies such as ITAC now find themselves navigating a prosperous upturn for the industrial and manufacturing portions of the construction landscape.
Meanwhile, despite the pressing labor shortage issue across the industry, a robust job market and the resurging demand for manufacturing segments such as housing and automobiles sees ITAC positioned in the middle of an industry boom that is allowing the company to excel.
“We’re very optimistic about the future and will continue to attract,
hire, and train skilled professionals and craftsmen, as our design-build service model fits perfectly with what employees and our industry clients desire,” Loftis elaborates.
SAFETY FIRST
ITAC believes that the safety of its employees, subcontractors, and clients is paramount.
“Our seasoned safety professionals have decades of experience in their fields of expertise and are fully engaged in our projects from beginning to end,” Loftis prides.
“From outages to pre- and post-construction, our safety and construction managers oversee the owner’s site to ensure the project is constructed safely and in accordance with the client’s safety program,” he continues.
Numerous ITAC projects are performed within operating facilities that bring a whole new level of potential hazards and concerns for workers and clients, while all ITAC
staff and supervisors are trained in the latest Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.
ITAC therefore holds itself accountable to the highest safety standards and is constantly focused on assessing risk to prevent occupational hazards and lost time accidents on its projects.
As a self-insured company, ITAC remains especially passionate about protecting both people and property.
“Our robust safety program requires that we train constantly, identify the leading risk indicators, address those issues daily, and audit jobs regularly. This daily due diligence keeps us performing at our best, mitigates risk, and assures project success.”
From the way ITAC approaches projects to the specialty services it now offers, the company’s primary guiding principle is to continuously seek ways to improve safety, function, and production for complex industrial environments.
“WE INVEST IN THE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH OF OUR STAFF BY SPONSORING CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND PROMOTING A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE”
– JON LOFTIS, CEO, ITAC
This resolute and impressive commitment has driven the development of ITAC’s safety and specialty services, including turnkey fall protection systems and training, machine guarding, and comprehensive site safety management.
The company’s award-winning safety performance is the result of its employees’ careful attention to all operations.
This steadfast commitment has garnered ITAC prestigious industry accolades, including multiple Associated Builders and Contractors’ Paragon Excellence in Safety Awards, BB&T Insurance Services’ Lighthouse Beam Safety Awards, and Affinity’s coveted Safety Award – all esteemed and respected honors that enhance ITAC’s formidable reputation.
ASSURED PROJECT MANAGEMENT
The seeds of success for industrial
projects are planted long before start-up.
Therefore, ITAC achieves success through collaborative upfront planning and following a proven process that has been tested and refined over three decades.
“Our proprietary APM process drives risk out of our projects by systematically eliminating the assumptions that can derail an execution plan. Thus, our meticulous APM excellence is built into every project, with every client,” Loftis explains.
ITAC’s APM is a robust project control system that measures realtime data, allowing performance to be proactively managed against baseline documents to ensure the desired results.
“We aim for speed and excellence, A+ work, but not perfection. Perfection is the enemy of greatness,” Loftis adds. “We believe making and meeting commitments is a daily
practice built into ITAC’s culture.”
The company’s guiding principle is to deliver safe project execution from concept to marketable product in the shortest timeframe while maintaining quality and controlling costs.
First, ITAC listens to its clients’ business goals and defines what success will look like on an individual project basis.
“Next, we perform detailed upfront planning to identify and remove assumptions and to optimize design, procurement, and construction into a seamless delivery process. We provide comprehensive ‘assume nothing’ execution plans and address best safety practices, schedule milestones, and risk mitigation.”
Furthermore, as ITAC moves expertly through a project life cycle, it constantly monitors and assesses new data alongside any change to the baseline documents, modifying the execution plan accordingly.
“The management of change is
the lifeblood of a project; setting the expectations and process for change management is paramount for success. Some change is inevitable and beneficial to our clients and their needs, even in fast-moving projects, but too much change made too late in the design-build process is costly and adds risk,” Loftis cautions.
A comprehensive, integrated, and controlled approach brings visibility to project delivery and changes so ITAC’s collaborative client and project teams can make accurate, informed decisions.
Clear and continuous communication is essential to ensure project performance, and ultimately, APM enables the company to deliver on its promises.
“After the construction phase is complete, we provide the project owner with high-functioning processes, facilities, and utility systems designed for optimum operability and maintainability,” he adds.
We at Construct, Inc. aim to be one of the leading Industrial & Commercial Steel Fabricators by consistently exceeding our customers’ expectations in Quality, Cost, and Customer Service. Founded in 1999 in Wilson, NC, Construct is based on a core objective to be responsible and flexible while
A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL
Ultimately, ITAC’s drive for individual project success is led firstly by a deep, company-wide passion for making life better for employees, clients, and local communities.
“We invest in the professional and personal growth of our staff by sponsoring continuing education opportunities and promoting a healthy work-life balance,” Loftis reveals.
“We also partner with local industry and economic development organizations to advocate for policies that strengthen the manufacturing sector and our clients’ bottom lines.
“Lastly, we support local ministries and charitable organizations as we strive to build a stronger, thriving community together,” he affirms.
Additionally, each summer, ITAC and its industry partners sponsor a Manufacturing & Technology Camp, an exciting initiative to educate local high school students about careers in manufacturing.
building long-term relationships with our clients, employees, associates and suppliers.
We are totally committed to meeting our customer’s needs and conduct business with integrity while providing high-quality services, safely, at fair prices.
The goal of this camp is to provide exposure to career paths that are in extremely high demand in ITAC’s area of operation.
Thanks to kind contributions from sponsors, the camp is completely free to students, who then have the chance to win a scholarship to a post-secondary program of their choice.
Undoubtedly, ITAC looks set to continue making life better by caring for and serving one another far beyond the walls of its offices and bustling operations of its clients’ sites.