Wisconsin Constructor Issue #1 2012 by Slack Attack

A Publication of the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin

ISSUE 1 • 2012

J.P. CULLEN

& SONS, INC. MASTERING THE TOUGH JOBS

P.R.I.D.E IN CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE SINCE 1892

A Publication of the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin

Official publication of the

Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin

Features

4814 East Broadway Madison, WI 53716-4195 TEL: 608-221-3821 FAX: 608-221-4446 Laura Cataldo Editor 2011 OFFICERS Kurt Boson President Mark Rudnicki Vice President Bob Barker Executive Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer STAFF Dave Bohl General Counsel Jim Boullion Director, Government Affairs Jeri Breen Director, Administration Laura Cataldo Director, Workforce and Industry Outreach Jim Falbo Associate Director, Safety Dan Makovec Plan Room Manager Brent Miller Director, Safety & Environmental Services Jackie Troia Team Assistant PUBLISHED BY: Slack Attack Communications Barbara Slack Publisher Nancy Rudd Art Director Kelly Wolf Project Coordinator, Advertising Sales kelly@slackattack.com Wisconsin Constructor® is a quarterly publication of the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin, Inc., 4814 East Broadway, Madison, WI 53716-4195, 608221-3821. It is published in January, March, June, and September by Slack Attack Communications, 5113 Monona Dr., Madison, WI 53716, (608) 222-7630. Printing is by Reindl Printing Inc., PO Box 317, Merrill, WI 54452-0317. For advertising information, contact Slack Attack Communications. Subscriptions included in AGC membership dues; non-member subscriptions: $20 per year. Address corrections or subscription information should be directed to the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin, Inc., 4814 East Broadway, Madison, WI 53716-4195. USPS #016128. Periodicals postage paid at Madison, WI and at additional offices. ©Copyright 2011 by the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin. Permission to reprint must be secured in advance of publication and credit given to author and Wisconsin Constructor®.

ISSUE 1 • 2012

J.P. CULLEN & SONS, INC. MASTERING THE TOUGH JOBS

8 J.P. Cullen & Sons, Inc. Page 8

J.P. Cullen & Sons, Inc., a family-owned business in Janesville, is one of the oldest and largest construction firms in the country.

AGC SPECIALTY MEMBER PROFILE 14 Applied Ecological Services AGC ASSOCIATE MEMBER PROFILE 16 Reynolds Transfer

Applied Ecological Services Page 14

Departments 4

Message from the President — Now Let’s Get Back to Work!

Message from the AGC Staff — Is There a Workforce Shortage on the Horizon?

Dear Barry

AGC of Wisconsin Membership

Index to Advertisers

Professional Directory/Buyer’s Guide

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

Message from the PRESIDENT isconsin became the eye of a national political storm in 2012, and on June 5th Wisconsin voters got their chance to speak at the polls. The months of discourse and unrest caused by the unprecedented recall election of Governor Walker and several State Senate seats is finally behind us. Governor Walker can finally stop the constant campaigning he was forced into and continue working on job creation for our state. The pause in political campaigning is a brief one. As soon as the victory was claimed for Walker, the media began focusing on how this will impact the histakes political campaigning that will last through the Presidential election in November. For the sake of your business, and the construction industry – you need to stay involved. In a step the AGC of Wisconsin hasn’t taken for quite some time – The Board of Directors unanimously endorsed Governor Scott Walker in the recall election: “Wisconsin’s future prosperity and growth are at risk during this recall election. In addition, the legitimacy of the entire political process is at risk when a duly elected public official can be recalled for instituting policies intended to save our state from financial ruin. This recall effort strikes at the heart of the democratic

W Kurt Boson 2012 AGC of Wisconsin President

Let’s Get Back To Work

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Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

process. Governor Walker inherited a $3.6 Billion deficit, passed down from previous governors and legislatures, and he addressed the deficit by making tough decisions, avoiding massive layoffs and tax increases. Wisconsin is on the cusp of great economic growth thanks to Walker’s pro-business initiatives, and a recall of Governor Walker will send this state backwards into a prolonged recession and anti-business path. Business needs the stability that Governor Walker’s policies provide. This is why AGC is standing behind Governor Walker.”AGC President Kurt Boson The construction industry has been hit hard by the recession. Both public and private projects have felt the blow delivered by budget cuts, financial constraints and political uncertainty. We need to send the message to Madison and Washington DC that the construction industry is a massive economic engine that needs to be kick-started. There are great jobs to be filled at every level of our organizations. We can help reduce the unemployment in Wisconsin and the nation. Free up the lending constraints, put confidence back in the people instead of protests, stop the partisanship, and move forward. Remember – our political fight did not end with this recall – there are important elections that lie ahead this November. And while the country saw what we were able to accomplish on June 5th, we need to continue that momentum if we are going to have strong pro-business and pro-growth policies in the future. Remain involved, do your small part, and help get the right people in place to move this economy forward and put the construction industry back to work! How can you get involved? • Vote! These elections will be determined by the ability to get out the vote on both sides. • Support your candidates by donating your time, putting up a yard sign and volunteering. • Financially support your candidates through the AGC of Wisconsin PAC or AGC Conduit. Now let’s get back to work!

deAr bArry,

Q A

I heard that OSHA’s new “whistle blower” program discourages contractors from having safety award programs for our employees. Incentive programs are an important way for us to reward safe jobsites. Can we continue to reward safety and adhere to OSHA’s new regulation?

If employees do not feel free to report injuries or illnesses, the employer's entire workforce is put at risk. Employers do not learn of and correct dangerous conditions that have resulted in injuries. Ensuring that employees can report injuries or illnesses without fear of retaliation is crucial to protecting worker safety and health.

I understand the questioning of why you might need to modify your safety incentive program. One important factor to consider is whether the incentive involved is of enough value that failure to receive it might dissuade workers from reporting injuries. The program would result in the employer's failure to record injuries, that it is required to record under OSHA recordkeeping law.

investigations of injuries, incidents or a near miss. OSHA's VPP guidance materials refer to a number of positive incentives, including providing t-shirts to workers serving on safety and health committees; offering modest rewards for suggesting ways to strengthen safety and health; or throwing a recognition party at the successful completion of companywide safety and health training.

The OSH Act prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee because the employee reports an injury or illness. Reporting a work-related injury or illness is a core employee right, and retaliating against a worker for reporting an injury or illness is illegal discrimination.

For example, an employer might enter all employees who have not been injured in the previous year in a drawing to win a prize, or a team of employees might be awarded a bonus if no one from the team is injured over some period of time. This program is a well-intentioned effort by the employer to encourage the workers to use safe practices but it discourages reporting of injuries.

Don’t forget - AGC of Wisconsin has two Safety Professionals that can help you structure safety programs that reward your employees and meet OSHA guidelines. Call them!

The most common discriminatory policies may be dealing with the company’s safety incentive programs. Some employers establish programs that unintentionally or intentionally provide employees an incentive to not report injuries.

There are better ways to encourage safe work practices, such as incentives that promote worker participation in safety-related activities, identifying hazards or participating in

Have a Best Practices question for Barry? E-mail: BarryCade@agcwi.org

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Message from the AGC STAFF orkforce is a hot issue in Wisconsin as industry groups have spoken loud and clear that they do not have qualified applicants for their workforce needs. The numbers do not lie – there are not enough people now or in our future to fill current jobs. • Wisconsin is getting old – the median age is in the early to mid-forties (the oldest third in the country) • There are not enough people in the pipeline to replace our aging workforce. With only 7.5% growth predicted through 2020, this is likely to get worse, not better. • Workers laid off during this recession have likely moved on to other industries and are not likely to return. • The apprenticeship stream slowed to a trickle in the last 4 years. As an industry, construction is facing challenges similar to manufacturers in that there is a decline in interest to work in our industry, we have an image prob-

Laura Cataldo AGC of Wisconsin Director, Workforce & Industry Outreach

Is There a Workforce Shortage on the Horizon?

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

lem and our workforce typically retires at an earlier age (70 year old accountants are not rare but a 70 year old mason is). AGC of Wisconsin remains committed to workforce development and dedicates considerable amounts of staff time and resources to this effort. While we are proud of our accomplishments, we know that these initiatives require ongoing support and involvement from members. Knowing that we are competing with other industries to get our share of qualified workers, AGC continues to be very active reaching out to high school students. Construction Career Academies: Curriculum mapping, developed by AGC and the consulting team retained by the AGC Education Foundation, has been critical in helping the existing CCAs in Burlington, Fond du Lac and Marshfield develop their programs. We welcome the addition of two new Academies this fall in LaCrosse and Tomah and hope to see Kimberly High School on the list for fall

2013. The CCA effort is critical in reaching out to high school students that have an interest in construction but struggle with their core curriculum. Career and Technical Education departments are being eliminated in many districts and the academy model is successful at increasing enrollment numbers, student success and support with the school district – critical for our future workforce. Construction Merit Badge: The 20112012 Class of Leadership AGC is working with Boy Scouts of America to propose a construction merit badge that would be available to thousands of boy scouts across the country. Junior Achievement: The Specialty Contractor Board has committed to work with Junior Achievement in high schools across the state. This program provides us entry into the classroom to share our experiences, industry and image with young people looking at career paths. Spreading good will (and money!): The Construction Education Foundation awarded $10,000 to Burlington High School and Fond du Lac High School this year for participation in the Construction Quest YouTube challenge. Five Wisconsin college students are offered AGC scholarships. A new Day in the Life video is completed – highlighting CR Meyer Millwright Marty Baker. All great accomplishments that include a price tag – thank you for supporting the Construction Education Foundation. It is my privilege to receive an appointment from Governor Walker to represent Wisconsin’s Workers on the Wisconsin College & Workforce Readiness Council. As one of only four private industry seats, I am able to share in shaping the educational system for our future workforce. This includes a greater emphasis on technical career paths, industry input in the educational process and tools to prepare the students of today – your employees of tomorrow. While the verdict is still out as to when the construction industry will return to pre-recession volumes, the numbers do not lie – a workforce shortage is on the horizon. While watching your bottom line, don’t forget the horizon. There are many ways your company and employees can participate in this worthwhile investment in the future. n

agcwi.org

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

J.P. CULLEN

& SONS, INC. MASTERING THE TOUGH JOBS by Mark Crawford

J.P. C ULLEN & S ONS , I NC ., A FAMILY- OWNED B USINESS IN J ANESVILLE THAT ’ S BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 120 YEARS , IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CONSTRUCTION FIRMS IN THE COUNTRY. I T ’ S ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST — WITH REVENUES OF $299.9 MILLION IN 2011, C ULLEN PLACED 181 ST IN C ONSTRUCTION , B UILDING , AND E NGINEERING N EWS ’ 2012 T OP -400 C ONTRACTOR RANKING — A 48- SPOT JUMP OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR .

“I will always be involved in the company like my father has been. He is still coming to work at 86 years of age.” — President David Cullen

John Patrick Cullen, an Irish descendant who learned construction as an apprentice to his carpenter father, founded the company in Janesville in 1892. His work ethic was renowned; he once rode a bicycle 50 miles from Janesville to Mt. Horeb to inspect a Cullen job under construction. Son Mark A. Cullen joined the company in 1919 and together they guided the company through a period of aggressive growth. During World War II they won several military contracts, including building 80 housing units in 55 days at Camp Grant. The company grew rapidly during the postwar construction boom. In the early 1960s Mark’s son, John Paul (J.P.) Cullen, became president and expanded into education, health care, and industrial markets. In 1981 J.P.'s eldest son, Mark, assumed the presidency. Today Mark is board chair; his brother David is president/CEO and brother Richard is vice president of field operations.

It’s a matter of P.R.I.D.E. – Personal Responsibility In Daily Excellence – for which Cullen is known. This attention to quality, craftsmanship, and work ethic is fundamental throughout the company. The family’s work ethic is just as strong in the newest generation of leadership. “I will always be involved in the company like my father is,”says David Cullen.“He’s still coming to work at 86 years old.” Cullen is a full-service construction company that specializes in the tough jobs. Working in active construction sites where safety is of utmost importance and providing little to no disruption to the day-to-day operations is where they excel. Their services include general contracting, construction management, design/build, building information modeling (BIM), integrated project delivery, trade subcontracting, preconstruction services, estimating and budget development, process improvement, referendum services, and green building. Key markets

P.R.I.D.E IN CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE SINCE 1892

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

are public and municipal projects, health care, education, technology, arts and entertainment, sports venues, commercial and industrial facilities, and historic restoration. The company’s primary market is southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and eastern Iowa. “Although we travelled further during our first 50 years to places like Nebraska and North and South Dakota,” says Cullen,”our goal is to be the contractor of choice in our core market area.” An Innovative Approach to Business Cullen follows a five-element approach to business: 1. Process improvement. The company is always looking for ways to do things better.“Our field process improvement efforts are an example of how we do this,” says Cullen. “It can be as simple as taking video of activities on a job site to review, evaluate, and improve our work environments.” 2. Business development initiatives. The company strives to be diverse in its marketing activities and the industries in which it operates. As a result its Industrial Division is growing in size. 3. Applying technology. Using advanced tools has made Cullen more productive, both in the office and the field. An example is the extensive use of iPads with project owners, which has increased communication and streamlined work processes. 4. Strategic planning. Looking back is just as important as looking forward— it is important to know what worked and what didn’t, and why. 5. Strategic initiatives. Procuring, planning, and execution are things we all do,“but blocking and tackling and driving our planning and communication efforts forward to the crew level is what sets Cullen apart from the rest,” says Cullen. John W. Westphal, President of Westphal & Company, an electrical subcontractor in Madison, agrees. “We have been working with J.P. Cullen since we were founded in Janesville in 1931,” says Westphal. “They are a very sophisticated firm—from project documentation to their scheduling capabilities, they do a great job coordinat-

Epic — Verona, WI

ing the various subcontractors and phases of work. Their staff is always willing to talk, review issues in person, and get engaged right away if needed.” “J.P. Cullen & Sons has great planning and organizational skills,” adds Craig DeGarmo, president of DeGarmo Plumbing in Janesville. “A lot of issues are discovered and addressed during these sessions and it always makes for a smoother running project.” The company has been an active member in AGC since it was established in the late 1920s. In fact, David’s grandfather, John Patrick Cullen, was one of the founding members of national AGC and served as the Wisconsin chapter President in 1931. John Patrick’s son, Mark, was president in 1946, Mark’s son J.P. served as President in 1969, and J.P.’s son Mark served as President in 1987. “AGC’s mission is something we totally support and benefit from,” says Cullen. David served as president of the AGC of Greater Milwaukee chapter in 1998, where Janesville Division vice president Ron Becher is current vice president and the incoming president.

An Exemplary Workforce Cullen employs about 700 workers — over 125 professional staff and over 475 construction workers in the field. “We are committed to growing our people through training,” says Cullen. “Our people are our most important assets and their development is taken into account in every job we do. We expect all our staff to find ways to improve our day-to-day work. It’s all about finding what each of us can do every day to be more productive, efficient, cost-effective, and safe on the job.” It’s no surprise, then, that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently named J.P. Cullen & Sons a “Top Workplace of 2012” for southeastern Wisconsin—a reflection of the company’s commitment to the personal and professional growth of its employees. The company’s passion for safety has resulted in an incidence rate and DART rate far below the national average. “We accomplish this by keeping the focus on continual attention to safety on the job and ensuring a sound work environment for all staff, including our subs,” says Cullen. Each project is thoroughly reviewed

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

Camp Randall, University of Wisconsin — Madison, WI

before it starts, resulting in a project-specific, site-specific plan that addresses the real-life, day-to-day challenges through all the construction phases. Construction crews follow a 10-point job-site safety program that is required for all workers and contractors, which includes OSHAcompliant job-site safety planning, fallprotection training, and random and post-accident drug testing. “Every person on the job is responsible for maintaining a safe environment,” says Cullen. “Safety has become the way we do business—it’s not just a site requirement. Worker safety is the priority on every job, every day.” Selected Projects Camp Randall, Madison This 96,000-square-foot addition and 56,000-square-foot renovation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison included the expansion and renovation of Camp Randall Stadium, the “Shell” athletic facility, McClain Center, and the Kohl Center. This project was a joint venture with C.D. Smith Construction Inc., of Fond du Lac, WI, also an AGC member. The initial restoration project involved 10

a major relocation of site utilities around the stadium in preparation for its expansion. Third-level and fifth-level concourses and 72 luxury suites, plus 944 club seats on new sixth, seventh, and eighth levels, were added. A new video scoreboard, sound system, field lighting, and artificial turf were also installed. “UW Athletics has an excellent working relationship with Cullen,” says Barry Fox, Camp Randall Facilities Director.“We are most impressed by their commitment to the delivery of quality construction at a reasonable price, and in a timely manner. Most importantly, their major project commitment doesn’t stop with project closeout. Their real-time response to our post-construction needs is invaluable and certainly exceeds our expectations.” Having an events coordinator on Cullen’s staff to ensure all of this activity was conducted without incident amongst game days and hundreds of functions at Camp Randall was essential to the success of the project. “Cullen understands our aggressive major project schedules, which has required construction activities to take place before, during and after our busy football and event seasons,” commented

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

Fox. “Cullen has never failed to meet scheduling challenges and/or ensure a safe and comfortable environment for our patrons.” State Capitol, Madison The Wisconsin Capitol Restoration Project consisted of 27 major projects and dozens of minor projects that fully restored the State of Wisconsin’s capitol building in Madison. The multi-phased project was undertaken from 1989 to 2007, starting with the four wings and followed by the dome, rotunda, grand stairs, outside grounds, and the installation of the “Wisconsin Eye” video system. Projects were completed with minimal disruption, maximum safety, and optimal security protocols for the thousands of people who used the capitol every day. Total project size was 400,000 square feet. “Cullen showed great ability to manage and control an enormous variety and number of activities simultaneously,”says Daniel Stephans, Project Manager for the restoration. “To achieve our goals the selection of Cullen was a must—I don’t think we could have achieved them any other way.”

Epic Systems, Verona Cullen has been working on the Epic campuses in Verona since 2005. The first project was the Learning Campus, which included a 452,083-square-foot training center that was completed in 22 months. The 196,000-square-foot auditorium section was completed in 17 months and seats 5,800 people. The second campus was started in 2007 and consists of four, 155,000-square-foot office buildings and a four-story underground parking ramp. Work crews also installed a central plant for the geothermal system that heats and cools Campus 2—one of the largest geothermal systems in the country. Overall Cullen has completed approximately 2.5 million square feet of construction on site. "Cullen personnel know what’s going on throughout our facility and work to minimize disruption to our business,”says Stephen J. Dickmann, Chief Administration Officer for Epic. “For example, they helped us prepare for our annual user group meetings and even shut the job down during that week to make sure it came off without a hitch. Cullen also works integrally with Epic to propose cost-effective solutions to design challenges. Projects are completed on very aggressive schedules and Epic is kept completely informed all along the way.” Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee This series of projects began in 2003 and to date total about 55,000 square feet. Cullen crews constructed an Epic training center on the seventh floor that consists of state-of-the-art classrooms with storage and bathrooms. A 25,000-square-foot cancer center build-out on the fourth floor required integrated communication between adjacent floors to keep operations running smoothly. Cullen’s estimating department worked on-site with subcontractors to ensure costs were accurate in meeting the original budget. Two new MRI units were also installed through a second floor window because the units were too big to fit through the doors. "What sets J.P. Cullen apart for us is that they really understand the uniqueness and complexities of working in a health-care environment,” states Roy Funk, Project Manager for Facility Planning and Development at Froedtert.“They are very strong in field supervision and go the extra mile to ensure coordination and communication. They know how to take

State Capitol — Madison, WI

Epic Systems — Verona, WI

Froedtert Hospital — Milwaukee, WI

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

the ball and run with it, but they also have a clear commitment to doing a good job and keeping us informed along the way—that’s how you earn a client's trust."

UW-Oshkosh Sage Hall — Oshkosh, WI

Whitewater Innovation Center — Whitewater, WI

Watertown Unified School District — Watertown, WI

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

UW-Oshkosh Sage Hall, Oshkosh This four-story, 191,000-square-foot building is the first academic hall to open on this campus in four decades. Started in December 2009 and finished in August 2011, Sage Hall is home to administrative, faculty, and program offices of the College of Business and multiple departments of the College of Letters and Science. The building includes 27 state-ofthe-art classrooms, two lecture halls, 23 labs and dozens of breakout, study, and project rooms. The building is expected to receive LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. By incorporating renewable energy sources and sustainable principles the university will save more than $182,000 annually. Innovative engineering was heavily incorporated throughout the design. A 400-foot radius wall was erected on the south side of the building, which combined precast and masonry. This radius wall and angular corners give the building its striking identity. The masonry embraces a brick that enriches a glazed finish—as the sun rises and sets over Sage Hall the brick literally shines, reinforces the building’s theme of the “wisdom of nature.” Whitewater Innovation Center, Whitewater The Whitewater Innovation Center is a two-story, 35,000-square-foot, multitenant office building that is the flagship building for the university’s new technology park. Building Information Modeling (BIM) was utilized on a weekly basis to identify and avoid clash detection points—this enabled the team to solve any problems prior to installing the systems in the field, saving time and money. By incorporating sustainable design practices and energy saving technologies, such as geothermal heating and cooling systems and photovoltaic generation of electricity, the center will achieve a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold certification. Cullen’s preconstruction services saved the city and university $740,000, making the geothermal heating and cooling system affordable. “J.P. Cullen was very responsive to our

facility construction needs,” indicates Kevin Brunner, City Manager for Whitewater. “Whether it was providing value engineering to ensure that our project met critical budget and financing requirements or just following up on our everyday questions and concerns, the Cullen team was always there—this high degree of responsiveness sets them apart from many other general contractors.” Watertown Unified School District, Watertown This seven-school addition and renovation for the WUSD was a referendum where Cullen participated in community forums, information sessions, facility tours, and various meetings to provide cost, budget, and schedule information. During public meetings Cullen served as a valuable resource to answer the tough questions and acted as a trusted advisor and supporter of the school district’s vision. Cullen also produced a video for community presentations as part of the pre-referendum outreach program. All projects (a total of about 250,000 square feet of additions, renovations, and upgrades) were completed on time and within budget between August 2009 and August 2010. Building Information Modeling (BIM) software programs were used for accurate design reviews and as electronic operational and maintenance manuals. Construction occurred while school was in session, yet there was no disruption of the day-to-day activities of the 4,000 students, staff, or community. St. Mary’s Hospital, Janesville Dean Health Systems and SSM Health Care of Wisconsin teamed up to construct two buildings that now comprise the new St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital. This 50-bed hospital is about 163,000 square feet in size and is part of a 50-acre campus that connects to the 150,000-square-foot Dean Health System Clinic. Cullen built the superstructure for the new five-story hospital (four levels above ground and one level below). They set 997 tons of steel, poured 6,836 cubic yards of concrete, and laid all the face brick that covered the exterior to complete the structure. “I am very pleased that we partnered with J.P. Cullen & Sons, Inc. for the construction of St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital,” states Kerry Swanson, president of the hospital. “Working with them was a

St. Mary’s Hospital — Janesville, WI

true collaboration. Their team took the time to understand our expectations and excelled in communications with all levels of our team. Their craftsmanship is stellar and project management is exceptional. I would work with J.P. Cullen & Sons again if given that opportunity.” Moving Forward Innovation has been an integral part of J.P. Cullen’s success. Investing in new equipment and the latest technologies helps the company maintain strict control over project phasing. A skilled, experienced management team and highly trained workforce assure that innovative thinking is the rule, rather than the exception. Markets that will likely have more construction opportunities in the future include power generation, oil/petroleum, manufacturing, and health care. “All of these industries are impacted by the growth of our economy,” says Cullen.“Staying the course with continuing the basics of quality construction, excellence in communication, and embracing technology by looking for innovation in ideas and process improvement will position us well for the future.” While many things have changed over the course of 120 years, the Cullen family values, which foster individual development and a sense of community, have not. The company contributes to more than 30 local charitable organizations. Many of its employees volunteer with various organizations, sit on committees, and make personal financial contributions that are matched by corporate donations. For example, David Cullen and his son Daniel are co-chairs for

Jess Smith / PHOTOSMITH

fundraising efforts for the United Way of North Rock County. “We feel very blessed to be in a position where we are able to give back to our communities,” says Cullen. J.P. Cullen & Sons will eventually be a fifth-generation, family-owned business. The management and succession plan set in place will ensure that Cullen’s core values and family integrity continue through the next generation of ownership. David’s son Daniel is the first of the fifth generation to have completed the succession plan requirements and join the company business, where he is working as a project manager. David Cullen believes the integrity of a 120-year-old, family-based company and its employees, many of whom are second and third generations working for Cullen, sets it apart from the competition. “We strive to outperform the competition through active planning and execution of our work with safety always being first,” says Cullen. “Our internal motto of PRIDE—Personal Responsibility in Daily Excellence—is something each employee takes to heart every day.” "Standing on the shoulders of employees and families in the past is critical to the success of any business in the future," states board chair Mark Cullen. "Our heritage, work ethic, and pursuit of excellence are what made us—our employees and their integrity, hard work, and dedication to community, safety, and service are what carry us into the future.” n J.P. Cullen & Sons, Inc. is a charter member and has belonged to the AGC of Wisconsin for over 50 years.

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

MEMBER PROFILE

Specialty Contractor

Applied Ecological Services It is a 50 million dollar contract, a major remediation project. You came across the usual glitches and solved each emerging problem. It is the home stretch before the “sign-off” by the regulatory agencies. But wait, there is that little “habitat piece” seemingly tacked onto the contract, less than 5% of the total. You thought you had taken care of it. You had some landscaping done and it looks pretty good. What is this about providing habitat for an endangered species? Why is the Army Corps of Engineers all over you and refusing to issue a closure? What now!? For over thirty years, Applied Ecological Services (AES) has filled the niche of ecological contracting to meet this type of challenge. With three integrated service divisions—ecological contracting, ecological consulting, and native plant nurseries—AES provides turnkey solutions to the most complex remediation and restoration projects while still maintaining the ability to nimbly address specific tasks as parts of larger projects. According to Troy Anderson, a restoration ecologist and Director of Construction for the firm, the AES Ecological Contracting Division is adept at speaking the language of construction while doing the actual “boots on the ground” work of ecological restoration. “AES contractors bring a unique blend of ecological knowledge and practical know-how to projects related to natural resources. Whether we’re executing the designs of an engineering firm or participating as a specialty subcontractor in a large project, the value we bring is a deep understanding of the science of ecology.”

“Ecological contracting is distinct from environmental contracting. Ecological contracting addresses the final condition of the site. It ensures that the ‘icing on the cake’ is not just attractive, but functions in the way the regulatory agencies and public expect. It’s the same as the difference between planting grass and creating habitat. Because we are specialists, we know how to create habitat. This gives us credibility with agencies, the public and engineers and other designers.“ AES is frequently the linchpin between agencies, the public, and potentially responsible parties. And once construction is complete, AES provides critical ongoing maintenance (such as prescribed burns or herbicide treatments) that keeps the project in regulatory compliance. With AES on board, the general contractor can attend to the overall project while being assured that the ecological portion is being ably and expertly completed. AES has successfully applied its Ecological Systems Approach™ to a wide variety of projects involving multiple partners and stakeholders: • In a $1.1 million project jointly funded by the U.S. EPA and the State of Wisconsin, AES was part of a successful team led by general contractor Lee & Ryan of Indianapolis that conducted streambank stabilization and restoration of native vegetation along a Milwaukee River tributary affected by severe industrial contamination in the City of Milwaukee. AES will be providing three years of vegetative maintenance to ensure compliance.

Applied Ecological Services’ operator installing native seed on a United States Army Corps of Engineers project in Kansas City, MO.

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1, 2012

• The City of Appleton retained AES to address its serious storm water problem. AES ecological contractors planted native vegetation in detention ponds, installed shoreline erosion treatments such as coir logs and erosion blankets, and recruited local support via outreach to surrounding residents. This ongoing project valued at $1.25 million is in its seventh year, with two more years under contract. • In a high profile reclamation project, AES developed surface grading plans and native plantings to restore ten ecological communities to the closed Flambeau Copper Mine in Ladysmith, WI. Due to the success of the restoration, the mine was able to obtain its Certificate of Completion years before it had been anticipated. AES is dedicated to fostering ecological contracting as a distinct discipline, including the development of industry standards. In 2009, Anderson established a new professional trade association, the National Ecological Contractors Association (NECA) with a mission “to engage knowledgeable industry professionals to create and uphold ecological performance standards as well as provide education and guidance to contractors, owners, and the community to enhance and sustain all natural environments.” Wherever you have a project with a natural resource component, AES has offices in 6 states and works throughout the U.S. to assist general contractors with its unique ecological contracting specialty. You might also consider streamlining your next project at the very beginning by allowing AES to supply you with customized contract specifications that effectively and efficiently address the ecological piece of a much larger project. For more information, visit us at www.appliedeco.com. Or, contact Troy Anderson at 608-897-8641 troy@appliedeco.com. n

Applied Ecological Services has been a member of the AGC of Wisconsin since 2002.

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

MEMBER PROFILE

Associate Member

Reynolds Transfer ow in its fifth generation, Madison’s Reynolds Transfer has proven time and again that quality wins over quantity. “There is a real emphasis on family ownership and quality here,”says Bob Van Rens, Vice President of Operations for Reynolds Transfer. “It’s not about being the biggest, but the best and offering impressive service each step of the way. Our owners will climb up on a tower crane; there’s not anything they wouldn’t do themselves and that says a lot about the company.”The vision of great-great-grandmother Anna Gault, the company started with a livery stable, four horses and 10 rigs back in 1888. From that humble team of horses and wagons until today, Reynolds Transfer continues to evolve. Today, brothers Mark and Tom Reynolds own the company, and are preparing the next generation to continue the family’s business tradition. “We have a really rich history to say the least,” says Van Rens. Today, Reynolds Transfer has about 75 employees and seven distinct divisions to serve the needs of homeowners, businesses, general contractors and more. They are: Crane Division: With yard operations in Janesville, Madison and Milwaukee, Reynolds’ crane division has supported the construction industry since 1947 and the wind industry since 2007. The company’s tower crane erection crews travel around the United States, working with some of the largest

Demag CC2500 550-ton crane

general contractors in the country. Reynolds also has maintenance contracts with three different wind manufacturers and offers equipment for erecting wind farms. In addition to being a member of AGC, Reynolds is a member of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the National Specialty Crane and Rigging Association (NSCRA). Reynolds holds the market for tower cranes and offers complete turnkey service; they erect, operate, insure and dismantle, all with one vendor. Machinery Moving Division: In recent months, Reynolds offloaded two 250,000-pound boilers for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Charter Street power plant upgrade. Reynolds’ machinery moving division is often called on to move power generation equipment and other heavy equipment and mechanicals around the state. With a nationwide grid update underway, Reynolds is seeing “tremendous activity” in the power generation area. Warehousing Division: Forgotten elephants are what prompted Reynolds to start its warehousing division. Van Rens explains that in the 1920s, the circus train forgot the elephant cars, leaving the pachyderms in Madison. “Grandma Reynolds loved all animals, so she built some elephant cages and provided food and vet care. That is how our warehouse division got started. It’s really a pretty cool story.” The company offers 300,000 square feet of warehouse space near the Dane County Regional Airport. Of course, the company’s warehouse can be used for more than housing elephants. For example, says Van Rens, a customer, realizing the quickly increasing cost of petroleum products, purchased the product before the price shot up and warehoused it with Reynolds. “His foresight, plus our ability to store his goods, saved him a lot of money.” Household Moves: An agent for United Van Lines, Reynolds has national move contracts with prestigious companies throughout the state and can handle international, national and local moves.

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

Office Relocation Division: “We specialize in minimizing downtime,” says Van Rens. “We’ll pack up and pick up all your stuff, and move you on Friday and over weekend so you’re operational on Monday.” Document and Data Division: This division of the company stores everything from medical files to music tapes, including original Nirvana tapes. Heavy Haul Division: This division is responsible for transporting industrial equipment in the 200,000-pound to 300,000-pound range and hauling one of the company’s largest cranes, which requires 28 tractor-trailer loads. “We are a well-diversified company,” says Van Rens.“If one division is slowing down, another is picking up.” An AGC of Wisconsin member for fourteen years, Van Rens says the association’s service to the industry is impeccable. From legal support and day-to-day business issues, like negotiating contracts with unions, they’ve been instrumental to our success. They’ve also helped us develop relationships with some of the best general contractors in the state.” In working with Reynolds Transfer, you can rest assured that you’re working with a strong company that offers excellent service and knowledgeable staff. “We have a long history, over a century of experience and some of the best, most experienced personnel out there,” says Van Rens. “Our employees give us the opportunity to continue to do business with our contractors and succeed generation after generation.” For more information, visit www.reynoldstransfer.com. n

Reynolds Transfer has been an Associate Member of the AGC of Wisconsin since 1998.

MEMBERSHIP General Contractors ACS, Inc. Alfredson Bros. Construction Co., Inc. Bacco Construction Company Bachmann Construction Co., Inc. Bauer & Raether Builders, Inc. Blue Sky Contractors, LLC Oscar J. Boldt Construction Co. The Boson Company, Inc. Camosy Incorporated Capitol Underground, Inc. Community Living Solutions LLC J.P. Cullen & Sons, Inc. Dane County Contracting, LLC Dell Construction Co., Inc. Ellis Stone Construction Company, Inc. Marshall Erdman & Associates Paul V. Farmer, Inc. J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. Fowler and Hammer, Inc. Ganther Construction, Inc. Gorman & Co., Inc. Gundlach Champion, Inc. Hamann Construction Company Hammersley Stone Company Hoffman, LLC Holster Construction, Inc. Homburg Contractors, Inc. IEI General Contractors, Inc. Ideal Builders, Inc. Howard Immel Inc. Klobucar Construction Company, Inc. Kraemer Brothers, LLC Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. Lunda Construction Company Magill Construction Company, Inc. Market & Johnson, Inc. Maryville Construction Company, Inc. McCabe Construction, Inc. McGann Construction, Inc. McKee Associates, Inc. McMullen & Pitz Construction Company C.R. Meyer and Sons Company Miron Construction Company, Inc. M.A. Mortenson Company Parisi Construction Co., Inc. Progressive Construction Services, LLC Quasius Construction, Inc. Rasch Construction and Engineering, Inc. Riley Construction Company, Inc. Rossi Construction Co., Inc. Ruzic Construction Co. The Samuels Group, Inc. Scherrer Construction Company, Inc. The Peter Scherrer Group Jos. Schmitt & Sons Const. Co., Inc. Sjostrom & Sons, Inc. C.D. Smith Construction, Inc. Speedway Sand & Gravel, Inc. Staab Construction Corporation Stevens Construction Corp. Kenneth F. Sullivan Co. TCI Architects, Engineers, Contractor, Inc. Tri-North Builders, Inc. Vogel Bros. Building Co. Vonasek & Schieffer, Inc. Frank O. Zeise Construction Company, Inc.

Specialty Contractors A&A Environmental, Inc. Acme Construction Metals, Inc. J.F. Ahern Co. Appleton Lathing Corporation Applied Ecological Services Architectural Products of Wausau, Ltd. August Winter & Sons, Inc. Austad & Son, Inc. Badger Swimpools Inc. Balestrieri Environmental & Development, Inc. Bartingale Mechanical, Inc. Bassett Mechanical C&S Construction, Inc. Ceco Concrete Construction Central Ceiling Systems, Inc. Coppens Metal & Roofing Corner Stone Construction of Janesville, Inc.

Crowley Masonry E&A Enterprises, Inc. Faith Technologies, Inc. Falcon Drilling & Blasting, Inc. Forward Electric, Inc. Gauthier & Sons’ Construction, Inc. General Heating & Air Conditioning Howard Grote & Sons, Inc. H&H Group Holdings, Inc. H&H Industries, Inc. Hagen Decorators, Inc. & North Central Insulation Marshall Hanes Steel Erectors, Inc. Hasheider Roofing & Siding, Ltd. Hooper Corporation Hurckman Mechanical Industries, Inc. Interior Installation Services Klein-Dickert Co., Inc. Lewis Construction Inc.

Madison Crushing & Excavating Co., Inc. Madison Gas & Electric Company Martell Construction, Inc. H.J. Martin & Son, Inc. Middleton Construction Middleton Insulation Systems, LLC Monona Masonry, Inc. Monona Plumbing & Fire Protection, Inc. Neuman Pools, Inc. North American Mechanical, Inc. Northern Electricians, Inc. Omni Glass and Paint, Inc. Ostrenga Excavating, Inc. H.J. Pertzborn Plumbing and Fire Protection Corp. Prairie Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Pro-Foamers, Inc. Continued on next page.

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

Specialty Contractors (continued) Quality Erectors & Sheeters, Inc. Quality Insulators, Inc. Robinson Brothers Environmental, Inc. Rockwell Group, Inc. Rohde Brothers, Inc. SPE, Inc. Terra Engineering & Construction Corporation Don Theobald Masonry Tri-City Refrigration, Inc. Tweet/Garot Mechanical, Inc. Van Ert Electric Co., Inc. Veit, Inc. Ver Halen, Inc. Wall-Tech, Inc. Wallcovering One WI, LLC Westphal & Co., Inc. Zander Insulation/Solutions

Associate Members AON Risk Services of Wisconsin Akerman Senterfitt Wickwire Gavin Allied Insulation Supply Allstar Financial Group American State Equipment Company, Inc. A. N. Ansay & Associates, Inc. Arch Insurance Group Axley Brynelson, LLP Badgerland Supply, Inc. Baker Tilly Benes & Krueger, S.C. Block Iron & Supply Company Blueprints, Inc. The Bruce Co. of Wisconsin Brunsell Lumber & Millwork CNA Surety Corporation Candlewood SuitesChubb Group of Insurance Companies Clifton Gunderson LLP Cobb-Strecker-Dunphy & Zimmerman, Inc.

Construction Data Services Construction Risk Associates, Inc. County Materials Corporation The Daily Reporter Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental DeWitt Ross & Stevens DirectNetworks, Inc. Discher Architectural Millwork Endres Manufacturing Company Scott Engroff, LCC Enterprise Fleet Services Fabco Equipment, Inc. Farrell Equipment & Supply Company, Inc. The Forker Company Gallagher Construction Services Gerdau Ameristeel–Appleton Hatch Building Supply Hausmann-Johnson Insurance Hayden Murphy Equipment/Hausmann Insurance John Heugel, Attorney at Law Ideal Crane Rental, Inc. Iron Planet Janesville Brick & Tile Janesville Sand & Gravel Company Kelly Financial Kendell Doors & Hardware, Inc. Komisar & Spindler, S.C. Krukowski & Costello, S.C. LaForce, Inc. Lakes Brick & Block, LLC LarsonAllen Lee, Kilkelly, Paulson & Younger, S.C. Liberty Mutual Surety Lincoln Contractors Supply, Inc. Lindner & Marsack M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc. Manitowoc Cranes, Inc. MasterGraphics McCarty Law LLP

Wisconsin Constructor® / Issue 1 • 2012

McElroy Metal Inc. McFarlane Manufacturing Company, Inc. Melli Law, S.C. Murphy & Desmond, S.C. Neenah Foundry Company Nimsgern Steel Corp. O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong S.C. Park Bank Premier Engineering & Testing Purple Cow Organics Quarles & Brady, LLP R&R Insurance Services, Inc. RSM McGladrey Reynolds Crane Service River Steel, Inc. J. Ryan Bonding, Inc. Safe-Con, LLC Sand Source Services, US Schenck Business Solutions Security Insurance Slack Attack Communications Smith & Gesteland, LLP Spancrete Inc. Spider Staging LLC Stetson Building Products SVA Construction Services Temp-Air, Inc. Travelers Truck Country Vander Bloemen Group LLC Verona Safety WK Construction Co. Inc. T. Wall Properties Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, S.C. Willis of Wisconsin, Inc. Wilderness Development Wingra Stone Company—Wingra Redi-Mix, Inc. Wipfli LLP Zurich

Interested in becoming a member? Contact Laura Cataldo at the AGC of Wisconsin office for membership information: 608-221-3821 cataldo@agcwi.org

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INDEX TO ADVERTISERS American State Equipment.................................6 Balestrieri .....................................................IBC General Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. .......15 Hooper Corporation .......................................15 Hurckman Mechanical Industries, Inc. .................7 Ideal Crane Rental, Inc...................................IFC

J.F. Ahern Co. ................................................18 Kelly Financial, Inc. ..........................................4 Liberty Mutual ..................................................5 Lycon Inc. ......................................................18 Middleton Insulation Systems ..........................IBC M3 Insurance...................................................7

Pro-Foamers, Inc............................................IBC Stetson Building Products, Inc..........................IBC Tweet/Garot Mechanical, Inc. .........................17 Vogel Bros. Building Co. ................................IBC Wall-tech, Inc.................................................BC