National Safety Award from Associated Builders & Contractors

I'm really excited to share this news! Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recognized Centennial with its Excellence in National Safety Awards competition for the NAICS 236 - Category 3 award. The National Safety Excellence Award recognizes achievement at the highest level for safety across the Construction industry. This prestigious award is only presented to those firms that possess an exceptional safety record, demonstrate making safety a top priority as evidenced by rigorous employee training and education programs which produce measurable results.

Corporate Safety Director, Tony Lombardi, and Senior Corporate Safety Managers, Moose Hamid and Brian Salsgiver, accepted the award on behalf of Centennial at the 21st Annual Excellence in Construction Awards dinner and program on February 22 in Orlando.

Centennial Now Supporting Houston Airport System

Here's a new contract update I'm excited to share. Centennial has been awarded a new multi-year Job Order Contract (JOC) with the City of Houston and the Houston Airport System. It is now recognized as a preferred provider for the airports’ Operations & Maintenance JOC projects. Centennial will provide a full range of construction services for facilities repair, renovations, minor and security construction for all three of Houston’s major airports – George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Field Airport.

Centennial also serves Harris County, NASA Johnson Space Center and the Harris County Department of Education under Job Order Contracts and IDIQ contracts. It also works with several airports, including DFW Airport, where it recently helped prepare the facility for Super Bowl traffic.

Centennial as a Mentor

I am very proud of Centennial’s role in the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé program and I want to share our successes with you. We have participated in the program since 2001 with two separate 8(a) businesses, Sentinel Industries and North Island, both Alaskan Native Corporations (ANC). Congress and the SBA created the Mentor Protégé program to allow large businesses to help small disadvantaged businesses prepare for and begin to contract with the federal government on their own.

Our first protégé, Sentinel Industries is owned by the MTNT, Ltd. Today MTNT has created a holding company and is performing work directly for the US government through multiple contracts across the nation. The training and processes they received from Centennial, combined with successful joint venture contracts, have allowed them to invest and build a complete corporate infrastructure necessary to bid, manage and execute construction work themselves. Their greatest asset today is the past performance portfolio built over many years through the Mentor-Protégé program performing complex construction joint venture contracts managing multiple small projects simultaneously.

Our current protégé, North Island is majority owned by a different ANC, the NIMA Corporation. North Island, only a few years into the 8(a) program, has already developed a team of construction professionals and is performing work directly for the US government and pursuing large specialty projects outside of the 8(a) program by themselves. The NIMA Board has graciously invited Centennial to participate in their village corporation strategic planning sessions for the past two years to ensure that we are aware of and assisting them in achieving their long term business objectives. Their growth and development continues as they invest the profits from our joint ventures into their corporate structure.

I have had the honor and privilege to travel to the villages of McGrath, Nikolai and Mekoryuk (population 360, 88 and 210 respectively) over the past several years to personally see and understand the needs of the shareholders of both village corporations. On my first visit I inquired as to what Centennial could do best to assist the village corporation. Very quickly one shareholder told me that what they wanted was the opportunity to remain in the village of their ancestors and continue their subsistence lifestyle – an answer I was not expecting. Today I fully understand – and truly envy their sense of family and community in all aspects of their lives… I believe that some of these villages would not be able to survive in the future without a successful village corporation to support their culture and financial needs. The Chairman of the Board of each village corporation has personally told me that their successes would not have been possible without the ANC program and Centennial’s role as a Mentor. Our Centennial employees can take tremendous pride in being an integral part of preserving the tribal villages in Alaska.

Best regards,
Mark

Super Bowl Fans Fly to Renovated DFW Airport Terminal

Just in time for Super Bowl traffic, Centennial has turned over a new Corporate Aviation facility to DFW (Dallas-Forth Worth) Airport.

(See a video of our work here.)

The timing of renovation of the facility was driven by planning for Super Bowl traffic. DFW is the closest major airport to Cowboy Stadium, but the previous General Aviation facility could only accommodate about 30 private aircraft.

Now, many Pittsburgh Steeler and Green Bay Packer fans will fly into a complete renovation of a commuter terminal on the northeast side of DFW. The new facility features concierge services, a conference room and business center, pilot’s lounge and quiet rooms, and multiple lounge areas for passengers. DFW officials expect up to 1000 private jets to descend on North Texas in February.

This is the most demanding project yet we have completed for DFW, but we are very proud of this showcase facility which represents an expanded business line for our customer.

The project construction schedule had to be compressed by nearly 50% to open on time. DFW utilized its Job Order Contract in part because it’s designed for quick response, to perform the work. Centennial has served DFW under the Job Order Contract since 2005, completing up to 20 time-critical renovation and remodel projects annually in the demanding airport environment. A ribbon-cutting was held December 9th for local dignitaries and aviation executives.

Personally, I was in awe of the amazing dedication of our Centennial team. They pulled an all-nighter before the ribbon-cutting (I arrived at 9 pm and they were in full swing) to make sure everything was perfect! Great work!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

The December issue of the Centennial Connection is now online. In addition to this month's message from Mark Bailey and new customer relationships, read more about Centennial's strategic relationships, learn about its new employee wellness program, and discover the latest news from the field. Plus get safety tips and other fast facts!

JOC and Green

Green is seemingly everywhere today.  For us in the facilities world, much of the focus seems to be on glamorous new LEED buildings.  But the fact is the greenest building is almost always the one you're already in.

That's because of a concept called embodied energy.  Simply put, our existing buildings took alot of energy to build--the manufacturing process for the windows and brick, the transporting of materials to the jobsite, the machinery run on site.  And it takes a great deal more energy to demolish that building down and rebuild a new one, no matter how green.  By some measures, there is a 60+ year payback on replacing the biggest energy hog with a LEED platinum building, when embodied energy is considered. 

This isn't to say that we should stop building new LEED buildings.  We will continue to need new buildings for new purposes, and the move to LEED and other certifications is an important first step in the awareness of how our buildings impact the environment.  But an AIA study reveals that 75% of existing buildings will required major renovation by 2030, and how we go about that work, and the many incremental upgrades that occur in existing buildings, will have a far greater impact on our environment and our pocketbook than the sexy new buildings that make the magazine covers.

Of course most facility managers are more concerned with current budget issues than with embodied energy that was paid for long ago, and shrinking capital budgets are requiring us to reconsider the financial viability of new construction and focus on maintaining our existing buildings and upgrading them for greater energy efficiency and sustainability wherever possible. 

Job Order Contracting has an important role to play in the greening of our existing buiding stock.  As a collaborative, performance-based delivery method focused on remodel, renovation and repair, JOC can help building owners identify and implement green and sustainability strategies.  Studies have proven that collaborative delivery methods that involve the contractor at the outset are more successful in achieving sustainabiltiy goals; the focus of these studies has been CM At-Risk and Deisgn-Build, but Job Order Contracting brings the same approach to the table for retrofits and upgrades.

JOC's focus on cyclical upgrades means that building owners can integrate green materials and systems as they have maintenance funding available, and over time they can achieve increasing sustainability, energy efficiency, and occupancy comfort without a single major capital outlay.  The joint scoping and design-to-budget capabitlies of JOC mean that an owner can determine the level of green investment, after considering a menu of options.  By incorporating energy audits and payback analysis into the JOC proposal process, a contractor can empower the owner to make wise decisions based on a balance of lifecycle costing and more altruistic sustainability goals.

An exciting development in the JOC world is the upcoming release of a Green Building Cost Data book from RS Means, which will allow JOC contractors to accurately price some of the more cutting-edge green building technologies like solar installations and green roofs.  This book is being rolled out at Greenbuild in Chicago later this month, and we can't wait to get our hands on it!

Centennial's Director of Training and Development Helps Oversee Educational Programming for Greenbuild Expo

The U.S. Green Building Council chose David Sturdevant, LEED AP, director of training and development for Centennial, to serve on the 2010 Greenbuild Program Working Group (PWG).  PWG oversees the development and delivery of educational programming for the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, scheduled to take place in November. 

Sturdevant served on PWG with 11 individuals diverse in the green building industry including representatives from Carrier, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CB Richard Ellis, University of Florida, and the City of Cambridge make up the team.  From February to June 2010, including a three day Chicago retreat, the Working Group prepared for the November Conference.

Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building.  Thousands of green building professionals from all over the world come together for three days of educational sessions, renowned speakers, green building tours, special seminars, and networking events.

The 2010 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is November 17-19 in Chicago, Illinois where General Colin L. Powell is the opening keynote speaker.  The event expects more than 20,000 attendees, including representatives from Centennial, who are going to get fresh ideas for sustainability.

Centennial Presents Free Job Order Contracting Webinar

If you're curious about Job Order Contracting (JOC) or want to gain an informative perspective, Centennial presents an educational solution.  Centennial, along with Angela Prather with the National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance, will provide a free JOC Talk Webinar, “Extreme Procurement Makeover: Small Construction Edition” on October 27.

The free webinar covers the basics of Job Order Contracting and the JOC Request for Proposal (RFP) process and will last an hour and a half, beginning at 1pm EDT.

Prather, the webinar's presenter, has more than 18 years experience in public procurement at the Federal, State, and Higher Education levels.  She is a US Navy Veteran who specialized in Supply Chain Management with direct responsibility for implementation of JOC projects at the local base level and has developed numerous RFPs to establish JOC Programs.

To register, please visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/570045082.

Centennial is Going Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

For the fifth year in a row, employees of Centennial Contractors Enterprises and joint venture partners will go “Passionately Pink for the Cure."  Since 2006, Centennial employee's have been encouraged to be creative and dress passionately for the cause, and the upcoming "Dress in Pink Day" on October 27 will be no different. 


“Sometimes business is personal and it’s our business to help” says Mark Bailey, president of Centennial. “The Centennial family wears pink to draw attention to Breast Cancer and encourages more awareness and donations for care and research.  We hope to ultimately contribute to the end of this disease.”

Centennial and joint venture partners will donate $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure to raise funds and support for Breast Cancer Awareness. Visit the Centennial “Passionately Pink for the Cure” website to make a personal donation and learn more about ways to help fight the disease.  We posted pictures from past events for inspiration.  We can't wait to see you participate in your best pink!

Centennial Wins Golden Shovel!

Centennial has proven it’s not only a leader in Job Order Contracting, but also in sand sculpture! This year, Centennial won the Golden Shovel in the annual Sand in the City event benefitting the Olympia Hands On Children’s Museum.

This is Centennial’s sixth consecutive year fielding a team for the benefit. About 20 Centennial employees participated in the event. The team spent hours planning the design and had six hours to build the actual sculpture on-site. Centennial has placed in the competition every year, and 2010 Golden Shovel was the third time the organization has earned first place. 

The Hands On Children’s Museum stimulates curiosity, creativity and learning through fun, interactive exhibits and programs for children, families and school groups. Centennial also sponsors a community team in the event. 

Strong Subcontractor Base Key to Design-Build Success

Whether a construction company is expanding into a new geographical territory or a new market, the key to success is establishing a strong, reliable subcontractor base. Attendees at the Design-Build Institute of America’s (DBIA) 2010 Conference next month will learn how to build this critical base thanks to Centennial’s Gary Sylvester and Scott McGrew.   

Overseeing Centennial's Design-Build department, Gary, design build manager and Scott, senior project general manager, both have a great deal of experience with this construction delivery method.

Gary and Scott will identify helpful tools to find qualified subcontractors, discuss meeting minority requirements and describe how to build lasting long term relationships with reliable subcontractors. They'll also cover introducing a new subcontractor to Design-Build processes and procedures as well as the terms and conditions of the Design-Build contract as they impact the subcontract. Gary and Scott will include discussions regarding subcontractor budget pricing, final fixed pricing and early teaming as well as the impact of LEED Certification as it relates to the subcontractor’s requirements.

Centennial is also excited to be an exhibitor and the Diamond Sponsor of the DBIA Conference in Las Vegas. In addition to our company booth, we're hosting a special booth where attendees can “Relax Their Backlog” with professional neck massages, so stop by and say hi!

Owners, Who is Reviewing Your Construction Estimates?

A recent webinar on Job Order Contracting by RS Means (view the archive here: http://bit.ly/czfWcl) highlighted for me the importance of proposal review in the JOC process, and I wanted to share the guidance of a couple of the panelists, and share some of my own thoughts.

Allen Henderson, former Facility Manager for Texas State University, emphasized the “Trust but Verify” approach, which Centennial absolutely champions. We want our clients to understand the line item proposals and have confidence in the pricing structure.

When I was first hired by Centennial, I was working on a team with a new operational manager who insisted that we not provide a detailed line items proposal to clients, because he was afraid they would pick it apart. He and I did some rounds on this one, because I believed it was critical to validating our pricing and building trust with the client. If you have questions about pricing, I want us to deal with those upfront. I don’t want you to have buyer’s remorse. Needless to say, this manager didn’t last too long with Centennial, because he wasn’t doing it the Centennial way. Any good Job Order Contractor should be willing to sit down and review a line item proposal with the customer, explaining the logic behind the selection of line items and sharing takeoff calculations. If a JOC contractor won’t, that’s a red flag.

OK, so we all agree that doing a proposal review is important, but who is going to do it for the owner? Allen had some good suggestions on this one. In-house tradesmen who are familiar with the details of work can be a good option. Purchasing personnel, who often administer compliance efforts for Job Order Contracts, generally lack the construction know-how to review line items for accuracy and appropriateness. Whoever is reviewing the proposals should have training in line item estimating and the specific unit price book used to build the proposal.

Some of our more sophisticated owners actually use the same JOC software to build their own estimate at the same time the JOC contractor is building theirs, and then compare the two. Though not every client will have the capability or people resources to build an independent estimate, a review of two line item estimates can add tremendous value by revealing differences in how owner and contractor are approaching the job that can enlighten both parties and ensure that final scope of work is fully aligned.

John Murray of the State of Missouri pointed out that proposal review should cut both ways, with the goal of both parties being the most accurate estimate to produce the right final lump sum price before proceeding. This means a contractor should be willing to review and explain line items that the owner may have questions about, but the owner shouldn’t just be looking to eliminate or cut back line items, but to ensure that all line items are captured. John says they have had instances where their internal estimate review staff has caught line items that the contractor missed, and requested that they be added to ensure the full scope was captured. I don’t know if there are many owners that would actually request a price add like that, but it demonstrates that the State of Missouri team is working in true partnership with its JOC contractor.

If you don’t have the expertise or man hours in house to review JOC proposals, you have options. Experienced consultants can perform this service for you, either as part of a turnkey JOC program like The Gordian Group’s, or from an independent consultant who works with an off-the-shelf unit price book like RS Means and software you have selected.

And while most of the above pertains to Job Order Contracting, I think the principles are the same for any contracting methodology. If you don’t have some level of transparency and communication in you pricing discussions, and faith that you are receiving value for the dollar, you probably have the wrong contractor, or the wrong delivery method, or both.

August Connection Now Available!

The August issue of the Centennial Connection is now online. In addition to this month's message from Mark Bailey and new customer relationships, read more about Centennial's outstanding customer service, learn how it's building brand awareness, and discover the latest news from the field. Plus see an Earth Day Celebration recap and get safety tips and other fast facts!

Centennial's a Green Business Award Finalist!

A couple of months ago, we showed you the world’s first train bridges made from recycled structural composite (RSC) built for the US Army Transportation School at Ft. Eustis. Now, we’re honored that the Washington Business Journal has named Centennial as a finalist in its Green Business Awards- Green Invention category.

Centennial worked with RSC manufacturer, Axion International as well as Parsons Brinckerhoff, Innovative Green Solutions and English Construction Company to complete the project. RSC, which is comprised entirely of post-consumer recycled plastic such as milk jugs, detergent bottles, disposable coffee cups and industrial plastics (car bumpers and computer casings) was invented by scientists at Rutgers University in New Jersey who melted the different types of plastic in a precise formula creating a material stronger and more durable than any recycled plastic.

The material proved to be very similar to working with conventional materials such as wood or steel. It does not leach any toxins into the environment which will also protect the local wildlife and people who come in contact with the bridges. Using RSC on these two bridges kept 334,000 pounds of material out of landfills and saved more than 50,000 gallons of gasoline and 496 metric tons of greenhouse gases.

The Washington Business Journal will announce the category winners at a breakfast honoring the finalists on September 24th.

Is Construction Like Toilet Paper?

I sat in an interesting conference presentation earlier this summer. The entire premise was to compare the purchase of Job Order Contracting to the purchase of toilet paper—complete with props of toilet paper rolls, a picture of house that had been teepeed (that was the illustration of getting ripped off in your construction purchase), etc. Now I have to begin by saying that the presentation actually had some really informative content and it was presented by someone who has a lot of experience with JOC and works for a company that I respect.

But I took huge exception to the comparison of Job Order Contracting to toilet paper. Maybe it is because I have often used the same example to explain why purchasing JOC, or any complex construction service, is not the same as purchasing a commodity (As in “It’s not like buying toilet paper!”) For me, it pointed up an important philosophical debate when it comes to JOC, or any alternative project delivery method, which I thought was worth discussion.

Is construction a commodity? In some provocative dialogue after this presentation, it was argued that a specified doorknob is a specified doorknob—it is a commodity just like toilet paper. The definition of a commodity is a product that is sold by all suppliers without differentiation. The low-bid approach follows that definition. Materials and even construction means and methods and tolerances are prescribed, and the lowest-priced contractor is selected based on the assumption that there is no differentiation between contractors—they are interchangeable and it doesn’t matter who is installing your doorknob, so you might as well get it for the cheapest price.

Except it really does matter a lot who is installing your doorknob. It matters in the quality of installation. It matters in whether the right doorknob was even selected in the first place. It matters whether the installer is accommodating your ongoing operations and working with your end user when they install that doorknob. And it matters whether you have a contractor who will come take care of any warranty concerns on that doorknob without hassle. Now amplify that into a Bio-Safety Level 3 lab, or a time-sensitive school renovation, or any complex project, and the contractor matters even more.

AGC’s Legislative Platforms asserts that construction should not be treated as a commodity. “Construction must be addressed as a service because of the site-specific and design specific distinctions for each construction project, unlike manufacturing which is a repetitive, rarely changing process.” JOC and other alternative delivery methods raise the stakes beyond just the site specific distinctions. They recognize that the contractor has an important role to play in planning and managing the process, and that it takes creative thinking to bring the best, unique solution to each and every project. (I actually think this is one of the things I like best about construction—each and every project is different and demands a different solution, calling for continuous growth from construction professionals.)

So I think owners should carefully consider what they believe about construction before plunging into JOC. If you believe it is a commodity, then why do anything other than low-bid? But I think that most owners who are considering JOC and alternative delivery methods are looking for a better way because they recognize that construction is not a commodity, but a professional service.

Hi! My Name is Lisa.

As David Carrithers leaves Centennial to pursue an opportunity with a startup outside of the construction industry, he passes the baton on this blog to me. David’s shoes are big ones to fill, but he has assembled a team at Centennial through the last five years that will continue the important work he has accomplished. It is hard to overstate how far Centennial has come in this time. We went from virtually no branding beyond a dated logo to a comprehensive branding program including branding standards, a suite of advertisements and direct mail materials, and a brand store. More importantly, there is clarity across our organization about what the brand means, and what it is that we are selling to our customers (hint: it isn’t just construction). The brand was brought to life as the promises we make and keep to our customers.

But there is another role that David played within Centennial that I believe is critical, and that is as the conscience or “gut” of the company. Seeing and feeling where we might not be living up to the brand and inspiring us to do better. Watching the industry and being the bellweather for where the opportunities are.

Big shoes to fill, indeed. David was a marketing guru. I’m more of a construction gal. So the tone of this blog will inevitably change, but it will still bring you the latest news from inside Centennial and highlights about the difference Centennial is making in our world.

Hear Centennial CEO in Free Webinar

Centennial's president, Mark Bailey will speak on the topic of Job Order Contracting (JOC) during a new webinar presented by RS Means. Centennial has been starting up and operating successful JOC programs for public entities, both federal and state funded organizations for over 20 years. In addition, Centennial has experience completing projects under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds.

The webinar, “Job Order Contracting, the Stimulus Ready Delivery Method” will be presented August 19th, at 2 pm ET.

In addition to Mark, John Murray, State of Missouri Division of Facilities Management and Allen Henderson, Consultant, Former Facility Manager Texas State University will speak. Robert (Bob) Gair, Principal, RSMeans Business Solutions will moderate the discussion.

The presentation will address what partnering actions owners can take to promote the successful use of JOC at their facilities and will provide an overview of typical JOC contractor- submitted project proposal content as well as basic tips for the owner regarding JOC proposal review. Mark will share insights from the JOC Contractor’s point of view to help in the successful start up and ongoing relationship development.

The webinar is free. To attend, please visit Reed Construction Data’s website.

2010 Maryland Minority Contractors Association Diversity Solutions Award

Last Friday, July 16th, Centennial received the 2010 Diversity Solutions Award from Maryland Minority Contractors Association (MMCA), along with letters of recognition/commendation from both Maryland Senators Benjamin Cardin and Barbara Mikulski at MMCA’s 2010 Awards Banquet and Summer Soiree. Terry Dubbs, regional operations manager, accepted the award on Centennial's behalf.

Centennial was honored with several others, including Governor Martin O’Malley, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Senator Joan Carter Conway and Gilbane.

According to the MMCA, the Diversity Solutions Award is given to the organization that historically provides exceptional outreach to the minority contracting community; exhibits consistent inclusion of minority subcontractors that far exceeds goals set by the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland; empowers minority contractors by supplying strong contacts within the Baltimore business community; helps minority contractors build a stable reputation by providing access to a wider variety of construction projects; provides mentoring and training to assist minority subcontractors in their professional growth; helps minority contractors untangle the often convoluted web of regulations involved when dealing with City and State licensing governments; and bridges the gap between minority contractors and governmental institutions in order to better coordinate projects that directly benefit the Baltimore City community.

Centennial is honored to receive the Diversity Solutions Award from the Maryland Minority Contractors Association. The collaborative partnership we've established with the MMCA and its members ensures that both sides achieve a potential for growth that neither could have realized individually. We are proud of the many successful relationships that have been forged between Centennial and minority contracting organizations – both large and small – over many years in Baltimore.

Here is the letter and commendation:

Respect, Collaboration and JOC

In the recent July/August edition of The Military Engineer I had the opportunity to write an article on project delivery method, Job Order Contracting. The article is titled Respect, Collaboration and JOC.

At the core of this article is the ability to share on the benefits of JOC that help military facilities achieve their goals, including funding local economies, supporting sustainable projects and working with less.

Rick Wilson Named 2010 HRLA Honoree

Our VP of Human Resource, Richard (Rick) Wilson was named as a 2010 Honoree by the HR Leadership Awards of Greater Washington on June 15th. During his tenure at Centennial, Rick has reduced voluntary employee turnover and expanded employee training programs and benefits packages believing that employees are the differentiator between good companies and great companies.

Since 2001, the HR Leadership Awards of Greater Washington have honored HR executives for outstanding contributions to their organizations and to the field of human resource management through organizational leadership, risk taking, innovation, vision and communication, community service and ethics.

I attended the awards dinner and I thought it was great to hear about all the exciting people development efforts the leading companies in the U.S. are carrying out, like training and development efforts, wellness programs, pay for performance, alignment of the organization with goals, and session planning. At the same time to realize that Centennial is doing the same things as a Northrop Grumman or Marriott Corporation was amazing.

Rick Wilson was nominated based on his HR leadership skills and the outstanding effort at alignment between the employees and the mission of the business. Rick has positively impacted the long term culture of Centennial and it was great to see him honored at this event.