Pivoting During a Crisis By / Natalie Bruckner
Understanding the importance of when, why, and how to pivot your business during a crisis could constitute its ultimate success or failure, as Fontana, California-based SMACNA firm GES Sheet Metal knows. The company recently proved how a pivot done correctly can lead to greater opportunities and business growth, even during a pandemic. In 2019, GES won a contract to become the architectural siding contractor for a $30-million job in Claremont, California. The company was tasked with providing designassist and custom metal work for the new McGregor Computer Science Center at Harvey Mudd College. At that time, nobody could have predicted that the world was about to be turned upside down. Fast-forward a few months, and construction in parts of the country came to a halt. In those areas where sheet metal was considered an essential service, operations had to undergo a rigorous rethink in order to meet safety guidelines and protect workers. 10 » Partners in Progress » www.pinp.org
It was this rethink that opened up new opportunities for GES. President Johnny Reeves says that the McGregor Computer Science Center project is a great example of a tough design, combined with a tough schedule, during a pandemic. While the project did indeed close briefly due to a shelterin-place ordinance, it opened just a few weeks later when it was deemed essential work. But “work as normal” could not resume. The team at GES considered their options. How would they protect the workforce from exposure risks? What measures needed to be put into place to ensure safety protocols were met and staff were comfortable enough to actually go to work? And what about material procurement? Would this impact the schedule? These were just some of the practices and systems that now needed careful consideration. Minimizing their exposure caused the team at GES to think about fabrications and installations a little differently. “We have had to be flexible in our thought process, while staying
