�ǿմ�ý’s team were proud winners of the��‘s Highway Specialty Construction Project of the Year for building Utah’s first cable restraint escape truck ramp.

The construction team, engineers –��,, and client,����all worked together with one common goal, to produce a successful project.

We love projects like this that make the roads we travel safer. Next time you go to Bear Lake, be sure to check it out!

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Project managing at a self-performing civil, structural and mechanical construction company—seems to go hand-in-hand, right? Well, working as a senior project manager at a reputable company like �ǿմ�ý involves a lot more than you might expect. Whether you are drawing up a detailed plan for an upcoming project or overseeing a series of projects, there are fascinating corners a project manager navigates every day.

Jeff Jones, Senior Project Manager at �ǿմ�ý, sat down to discuss what his day-to-day looks like and how working at �ǿմ�ý differs from other construction companies. He helped us fully understand the ways clients rely on project managers during the entire construction process and how life changes working at a private industrial and transportation focused construction company. Here is an in-depth look at what Jones and other team members at �ǿմ�ý experience daily.

Project Managing: The Core of Any Good Project

Industrial and transportation construction managers today must use their experience and know-how to adapt to the changing world. At its core, project managing is the glue holding the entire construction process together. Ask one of our clients, and the chances are they will explain how well their project manager worked to get their interests met. That is because our project managers are primarily in charge of keeping clients updated on the latest happenings with their projects. Along with being a client liaison, project managers also track costs, set-up sub-contractors, handle weekly communication meetings, perform material submittals, and permitting. All in all, whatever the project needs, the project manager is there all-hands-on-deck. While �ǿմ�ý follows the general project manager outline, the entire experience is different for Jones.

Jones only joined �ǿմ�ý at the beginning of 2020. Only three months into his work with our company, Jones already notices the difference between �ǿմ�ý and his past construction experiences. He explained, “While the work is similar, it is completely different environments. We are a family at �ǿմ�ý, unlike other companies I’ve worked at where I felt like I was just a number.”

The �ǿմ�ý Difference

When a client comes to �ǿմ�ý asking for a bid, our team begins by determining if the project is a good fit for us. If we bid on the project, we don’t always come in at the cheapest cost. However, we are very transparent in the reasonings behind our bids. We want our newly formed relationships to be beneficial for both our client and us. If that means losing out on a project, that is alright with us. We want our clients to feel comfortable and satisfied with the entire process as well as the final result. Along with worrying about our clients, finding spot-on projects is also helpful for our team.

Along with our unique bidding process, Jones notes how working for the company differs from his past employers. “Of course, salary is great. But more than anything, it is that smaller-company feel that made �ǿմ�ý the best choice for me. There are also more friendships and a more personable worker-boss relationship,” said Jones.

�ǿմ�ý prides itself on making daily life for our employers the best experience possible. We are trying our best to create a culture that gets our workers excited to get to work each morning. That includes working hard, doing the best job we can, and having fun while we do it. Since focusing on our work culture, our employee engagement continues to rise.

Another way we are continually checking in on employee morale is by looking at the progress of each project, which is a large portion of Jones’s job as Senior Project Manager. “If a project isn’t going well, the first thing we notice is the morale of our employees drops,” said Matt �ǿմ�ý, President of �ǿմ�ý .“Often we see that when a project is behind, our employee engagement is low. When that happens, we make sure to look for ways that we, as management, can support them.”

�ǿմ�ý believes that by continually checking in on the progress of every project ensures that things go smoothly—for workers and the project as a whole. “We believe that project morale feeds into company morale. The more we support our employees and be the voice of positivity on a project, the better the results will see,” said �ǿմ�ý.

Working at �ǿմ�ý

�ǿմ�ý’s ability to navigate projects and execute thoughtful make us second to none. Jones highly praises �ǿմ�ý for its family feel. Not only does it feel good to be appreciated, but it makes your work feel worthwhile when someone notices. When we hire new employees, we take note of their attitude. A prospective worker can have an excellent track record, but if they have the wrong attitude, �ǿմ�ý will probably not be the best fit.

Throughout our years in the industrial construction industry, we have noticed the difference a positive attitude can have on the job site. Negativity can drain energy and make it difficult to come to work. Just as negativity can hurt a project, the opposite is true. Our team focuses our efforts on promoting positivity on a one-on-one basis.

“Many times, we’ve had to part ways with people who were unable to fix their attitude—even senior-level people,” said �ǿմ�ý. “That’s why we’re determined to recruit positive team players who work well with others.”

�ǿմ�ý also puts a significant emphasis on the safety of every employee.

�ǿմ�ý further explains, “Even if someone gets a small injury, then it doesn’t hurt us overall, but it hurts their life outside of work. That’s why we set up projects that not only work safely but keep our people safe. Keeping our people safe is our top priority. It’s really a part of how we built our company.”

�ǿմ�ý

As an industrial and transportation construction firm that spends a lot of hours working as a team, we are continually pushing to create an environment that our employees enjoy on and off the job site. You can learn more about our culture by��contacting us���ٴǻ岹��.

What more would you like to know about working in construction? We’d love to hear your thoughts on why �ǿմ�ý interests you and what we can do better. Comment your thoughts below or call one of our team members!

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Have you ever been part of a construction project that everything seemed difficult? It was over-budget, behind schedule, and no one seemed to know what to do next. The construction industry is notorious for over-promising and under-delivering. Fortunately, strategy development, Key Performance Indicators, are helping negate these challenges.

Measuring a project’s success typically involves a set of metrics and data streams. In fact, these numbers are crucial to the success of a project. Most companies usually use financial measurements to indicate how their performing; however, other high-level metrics can keep a project on track. The industrial construction industry is by far one of the best markets for this information. In actuality, the most successful data-centric companies are turning to Key Performance Indicators to determine project goals better

KPI’s Help Break it Down

Every construction project has a project schedule with the necessary sub-activities included. All of this work can span 40-50 days. KPI’s take a large-scale project and break it into daily segments. Without these break downs, it is difficult to see what activity was done that day. If you use KPI’s as a tracking system, you can see how your day-to-day work fits into your schedule. This will help you know ahead of time where you need to pick up work, so you don’t come to the end of the road asking for additional time.

Adam Callaway, one of �ǿմ�ý’s project managers tracking KPI’s on the Barney’s Reclamation Project, explains that using KPIs helps his projects stay on track. The Barney’s Reclamation Project includes moving millions of yards of dirt during a 50-day period.

“KP’Is break the project down to the cubic yard, so we know how much we need to move per shift. It helps us modify as we go. I usually use two running tallies. One is our baseline, and the other is the actual work completed for the day. The second greatly helps the project because it allows us to modify as we go. Using these KPI tallies, we develop a daily plan that accounts for issues and lets you adjust as you go,” said Callaway.

KPI’s Help You Modify

Key performance indicators not only break down your project into digestible chunks of work, but it also helps you alter your plan as needed. Instead of assuming what you need to get done that day or week, you know the exact performance you need to have that day to stay on schedule. Along with staying on track schedule-wise, KPIs also break down what equipment you need to install down to the wield. Travis Sparks, the piping project manager on our US Magnesium Lithium Plant project, explains why he trusts KPIs to get the job done.

“Our production is based on how we are doing each day and how we meet our schedule. Unlike Adam, who is working on a large earth-moving project, the Lithium Plant includes 30,000 ft. of different pipe quantities,” said Sparks. “KPIs help us daily, meet our project completion date. Every day I get reports of what activity was done, and I put it into a production tracker. Then, I get to fill in the gaps making sure we are on track to hit the projected completion date.”

KPI’s Help Clients Know Where They Stand��

Another crucial benefit of using KPI’s is providing you with trackable measurements you can pass-on to clients. Performance metrics offer exact data backing up your claims. It allows you to be transparent with your clients, which bolsters your reputation and keeps you honest.

“By measuring and understanding your time and efforts, you have day-to-day, real-world data showing you where you are. It is that next level of detail that clients appreciate,” said Callaway.

While not every client needs the level of depth, all your KPIs include. You have that information on-hand no matter what is needed. Daily project logs give you the statistics necessary to back up your claims, especially to business owners, project managers, and all others involved. All in all, KPI’s provide clients with exact numbers that turn something intangible into something real.

KPI’s Help You Make Informed Decisions��

KPI’s also give you the information needed to make important decisions. During your daily coordination meetings or weekly project updates, you have data showing you what’s done and what is required. Typically, KPI tracking shows how you are trending, the percentage of the project that is done, and where you are at on the project.

Sparks said, “I have been on projects that don’t use indicators. You are constantly guessing where you think you are, which can get you in a lot of trouble. Without KPI’s, you end up relying on your intuition to keep your project on time. It can bite you in the butt in the end. You can also forget to take in all aspects of the project. KPI’s give you a microscopic view of your macroscopic project, which saves you time, equipment, manpower, and headaches.”

About �ǿմ�ý

�ǿմ�ý has years of experience in the construction industry. Our teams understand the importance of client communication and using Key Performance Indicators to track project success. If you want to learn more about our culture of safety, quality, schedule, and budget,��contact �ǿմ�ý���ٴǻ岹��.

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The construction industry is notoriously a male-dominated field. Out of the 100 million construction workers in the United States, only one million are female. What’s even more alarming is that the number of females in the field is only 1%. The good news? This group of women may be small, but they are mighty. In fact, many of these women are making some pretty big names for themselves. So, how is the 1% making a difference right now? Let’s look at the ways.

Women as Leaders

Most of the women in construction have progressed to leadership roles. According to , women in the industry primarily work in administrative roles, management, and production. Thanks to the steady increase of women gaining education on a global level, the highest percentage of growth happened on the management side.

What’s even more promising is the profits gained by having a woman in charge. According to one , 9% of women-owned construction firms achieve revenues of $500,000 or more. Compare that to the 8% of all firms, and it’s to see that women are having a significant impact on profits.

At �ǿմ�ý, we celebrate the women in our field. Especially those making industry-changing moves like Kelsey Williams who is currently running our largest project in the company. Since joining our company less than a year ago, Williams has quickly made her way to the top.

“When I first started working in the construction industry seven years ago, I noticed a difference between how women and men were treated on a job site,” said Williams. “There wasn’t necessarily push back, but when a woman walks onto a job, she doesn’t automatically have respect like men do.”

For Williams, this wasn’t much of a surprise coming from a graduating class with only four women besides herself. But it felt strange when an older male co-worker told her that she should be at home having children, not working next to him.

However, a month later that same man came to Williams asking for help.

“Having him come to me was very rewarding,” said Williams. “And that’s how things in our industry are going to change— changing people’s perception of women one person at a time.”

Why Women Matter

The����explains that women in leadership are particularly helpful to a company’s overall collaboration because women are more likely to work cooperatively than men. As construction professionals affirm, most projects require an intense amount of cooperation to succeed. Adding women into the conversation only increases your chances of success on any given project.

Since Williams started in construction, she’s seen much change.

“Across the board, society is becoming more accepting,” said Williams. “In the past five years, I’ve seen more women become project managers and CEOs. More women than ever before are in leadership roles. I don’t know if construction will ever be a 50/50 split, but it can and will get better.”

How to Support Women in Construction

Encouraging women to join the construction industry requires active commitment. In a male-dominated sphere, it’s easy to keep things as is. But if construction has any chance of surviving, it needs thought-leaders and communication-bearers. That package comes in many forms, but women top our list.

Williams explains that the construction industry can support women by giving young women more role models.

“As women, we like to have a tribe and someone to lean on. I had that. One of my best friends works in construction and helps me maneuver through some of my biggest challenges,” said Williams.

Luckily, there are also many professional organizations to help women build their tribe like the National Association of Women in Construction, Women Construction Owners & Executives USA, and Professional Women in Construction.

Along with creating connections, Williams encourages women to believe in themselves.

“Don’t let this male-dominated industry intimate you. Stop doubting yourself. Women don’t typically have as big of an ego as men, so we tend to downplay our abilities and doubt ourselves. But we can do it, and we should stop doubting that,” explained Williams.

Learn more about the women at �ǿմ�ý by contacting our offices today.

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Company culture can make a big difference in your business’s ability to retain your employees and keep them happy. In the construction industry that’s notorious for low employee retention rates, your company’s culture is more important than ever.

Providing an environment that your employees enjoy will motivate them to not only stay at your company long-term but work harder, as well. Strong working culture is the ultimate recipe for creating successful construction firms.

As we move into the new year, one question that keeps crossing our minds is how we can strengthen our company culture. Here’s what we’ve discovered:

Put Employee �ǿմ�ý First

In an industry that puts employees at risk every day, it’s essential to maintain strict adherence to its safety standards. Let your employees know that their safety matters by making safety a core value of your company.

As an experienced construction firm, �ǿմ�ý has developed a culture built around employee safety. We’ve achieved this by continually communicating with all levels of our organization the importance of a safe, injury-free work site.

Build a Community

Creating a strong company culture involves building an active community on and off the job site. Building a community doesn’t happen overnight but little by little through leadership efforts, it’s possible.

You can help push efforts forward by supporting your leaders and encourage them to get involved in employee’s lives and hold company functions. By creating a positive work environment, a community will naturally fall into place.

Have a Vision

It’s one thing to say you want a strong company culture; it’s an entirely different thing to envision what that includes. Find out exactly what that is by asking your employees what’s important to them and working with key leaders to narrow down precisely what the entails.

Then, you can enlist and empower those leaders to create that culture. Get people excited to be involved in your vision.

Lead by Example

If you don’t believe in your company culture, it’ll show. Too often, leaders don’t hold themselves to the same standards as their employees. Change that by living what you preach. Once you start building that culture yourself, you’ll see those efforts trickle down.

Communicate Successes

Strong company cultures are founded on a mutual understanding of what’s expected of each employee, what’s important to the company, and your values. In the construction industry, you can do this by communicating your company values frequently whether its safety, client trust, or something else. As you express those expectations, make sure to celebrate your employee successes in those efforts.

Establish Trust

The strongest company cultures are built on mutual trust. If your employees trust the leadership of your business, they’re bound to hold themselves to your standards rather than their own. Establishing trust also includes encouraging employees to provide feedback continually. Their feedback can directly lead to you tweaking and improving your company culture as it progresses.

Follow these guidelines and watch your business grow. For more information on how �ǿմ�ý maintains a strong company culture, contact one of our team members today.

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We are in the midst of a new website build.�� Make sure to check back in and see the changes that should be in place by 3/1/18.

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�ǿմ�ý recently celebrated a very important milestone this year–��30 years in business. We are happy to have served the mining, mineral processing, energy, oil & gas, and heavy industrial industries within the intermountain for the past 30 years. Since its founding in 1986, �ǿմ�ý has continued to provide superior results and innovative solutions on every construction project we undertake. As we look back on our success, we realize we could not have reached this incredible milestone without our loyal clientele and our highly skilled craftsmen. We would like thank everyone in the �ǿմ�ý family, and we look forward to a future of continued growth and prosperity.

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�ǿմ�ý is committed to do our part in decreasing our carbon foot print.�� We have installed 149 solar panels that generate 46.81 KW.

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