coast tocoast
The Employee Magazine for Skanska in the U.S.
2007 / Issue 04
HOW THE U.N.
WAS WON
page 12
Standing Strong
With Skanska
page 6
McNally Steps to
the Plate
page 8
A GREAT YEAR TO BE WITH SKANSKA
Dear Colleagues,
Even though the year is not quite finished, we’re very close to reaching our outperform targets
for 2007—an accomplishment that you can all be very proud of. When it comes to the four zeros,
our loss-making projects are few and we’ve had zero ethical breaches. We had a great Safety
Week with very few accidents, but safety is so important that we need to have our focus on it all
year long. Not only have we not had any environmental incidents, we were named Top Green
Contractor by ENR!
The year 2007 has also been a year of big projects, like the contract to renovate the U.N.’s
headquarters in New York. Big changes are also taking place. Mike McNally took over for me as
USA Building’s Business Unit President in October and has whole-heartedly embraced this role.
We also began a journey at the beginning of 2007 to unite all the U.S. business units behind
the Skanska name, and to connect the dots by visiting you in locations around the country. At
every stop I’m always impressed by the caliber of people who work for Skanska. Your dedication
is what makes us successful and will continue to make us one of the world’s most respected
construction companies.
A big Thank-You for a great year,
Johan Karlström
Executive Vice President, Skanska USA
CONTENTS 2007 • ISSUE 04
SAFETY
04 IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
How two lives were saved in Florida
during a lightning storm
Page 4
Page 7
Page 7
05 The Scoop on Safety Week
OUR PEOPLE
06 STANDING STRONG WITH SKANSKA
Coast to Coast celebrates employees
who’ve made a long-term commitment
to the company
07 Jim Winchell, Great Boss
08 Mike McNally to lead USA Building
10 Community Service Timeline
OUR PROJECTS
Page 8
12 A UNANIMOUS ACHIEVEMENT
Ethics and an international team
played a primary role in winning this
landmark project
Page 12
12 A UNanimous Achievement
16 Respectful Relationships on
Native Lands
FOCUS
Page 16
coasttocoast
Page 18
18 GOING FOR GOLD IN TEXAS
Taking advantage of the construction
boom in the Lone Star State
19 Update from Skanska ID
Publisher Johan Karlström Editor Cole Ruth Contributing Editors/Writers Anneli Andersson, Tom Crane, Caroline Bucquet, Karen Diemer, Allyson Orfan, Terry Kufl ik, Shana Bitterman,
Mary Humphreys, Shelby Adams Printer Dolan Wohlers COAST TO COAST is the quarterly employee magazine from Skanska USA. Subscribe free of charge by sending an email to: [email protected]
COAST TO COAST is printed on FSC certifi ed environmentally friendly paper. Feel free to copy from the magazine or quote us, but please name the source. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited material, though
you are welcome to send your ideas and suggestions to the editor at: [email protected] If you have a story you’d like to see covered in COAST TO COAST, or one that you’ve written and want to see published,
contact the editor at: [email protected]
SAFETY
CELEBRATING SAFETY WEEK
This year Skanska teams all over the U.S. worked hard to reduce accidents and create healthy work environments during
Safety Week. Here are some snapshots from the week. More photos can be found at: www.skanska.com/safetyweek
IN THE EYE
OF THE STORM
Reports of lightning strikes reach their peak in July with
Florida seeing twice as many casualties, deaths and injuries
combined, as any other state. Most of these strikes occur in
2
1
the late afternoon, climaxing at 4 p.m. Fortunately, lightning
never strikes twice in the same place. At least that’s what
our team on the Peninsula jobsite in Jacksonville, Florida,
is working hard to prevent.
4
3
5
6
1. Florida
The project team from the Lynn Cancer Center cleans up the streets in
Boca Raton, Florida.
2. Michigan
General Superintendent Tim Hobson recalls that day in late July carrying on
like any other. With good weather conditions, the masons gave the green light
to bucket concrete for a pour. But as the afternoon wore on, workers found
themselves at the forefront of an intense thunderstorm.
Senior Superintendent Mike Brunson immediately cancelled the balance
of the pour, but it was already too late. As crane operators wrapped up the job,
lightning struck the crane’s
’’s cable and traveled down to the bucket being used
for the pour. Mark Cummings of Cummings Masonry and his lead foreman
Scott Cannon, who were positioned on a structural steel beam that was lying
on the ground when the strike occurred, were knocked eight feet from where
they were standing.
Falling back on required first-aid training, the team employed a
premeditated plan that included a flagman at the gate, access for the emergency
vehicles and a clear pathway to and from the victims. The quick thinking actions
of the subcontractors and employees on site paid off and Mark and Scott were
treated at a local hospital and released the same day with only minor injuries.
“We
We are more aware than ever that the safety of our employees is paramount,”
states Tim. “That’s
’’s why we’ve established a new policy that takes precedence
over production at all cost.” This policy requires that all crane activity at
the jobsite be shut down throughout a thunderstorm as well as during its
4
The Portage office held a Michigan Out-of-Doors hunting safety
training session.
3. Colorado
“We are more aware than ever that the
A subcontractor employee safely at work at the Rocky Mountain
Arsenal landfill project in Colorado.
safety of our employees is paramount.”
4. Texas
Thomas Mostrom, Traffic & Revenue Tolling Director, proudly displays
his certificate of completion of the Defensive Driving course—an
achievement that reduces traveling risks and lowers car insurance rates.
– Tim Hobson
5. New Jersey
Safety Director Dan Wurzburg leads USA Building’s Headquarters in
stretch and flex.
leading and following edges. To better detect and prepare for
oncoming storms, Mike adds, ““As part of our program, we are
now in constant contact with the two tower crane operators
who have eyes in the sky and we regularly monitor the weather
radars online.”
For our team working on the Peninsula project, every storm
cloud has a silver lining. Tim says, “By setting these precedents
and adhering to them we are showing trade workers as well as
Skanska employees that above all else, safety comes first.” ◆
6. Tennessee
Workers at the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Cameron Hill
Campus project gather after watching the “Charlie” video presented in
English and Spanish.
7. New York
7
The South Texas College project team in McAllen, Texas, gets the entire
project site involved.
9. New Jersey
Stretch and flex on site at the New Meadowlands Stadium in
Rutherford, New Jersey.
For more information contact: Tim Hobson at
[email protected] or Mike Brunson at
[email protected]
coast to coast
Bob Koch pays a visit to the team erecting the steel at Yankee Stadium.
8. Texas
10. Georgia
8
coast to coast
9
10
A supplier at the Turtle River Bridge project in Brunswick, Georgia,
gives a fall protection demonstration.
5
OUR PEOPLE
OUR PEOPLE
STANDING STRONG
WITH SKANSKA
Lewis Holk Jacobs – 29 yrs
Robert J. Moore – 29 yrs
James K. Bradford – 29 yrs
Frank J. Young Jr. – 29 yrs
Donald H. Bullock – 29 yrs
Willie James Childs – 29 yrs
Beth C. Carchi – 28 yrs
Clinton S. Jellison – 28 yrs
Larry G. Hepper – 28 yrs
Andrea E. Atherton – 28 yrs
Charles K. Deans – 28 yrs
Linda Essick White – 28 yrs
Nancy D. Macey – 28 yrs
Barry Steele – 28 yrs
Ronald Everson – 28 yrs
Paul Magagna – 28 yrs
Dudley Eisser – 28 yrs
Jerry Collins – 28 yrs
As 2007 draws to a close, COAST TO COAST would like to pay
tribute to those Skanska employees who are celebrating their
25th, 30th, 35th and 40th (+!) anniversaries. Your hard work
and dedication over the years has not gone unnoticed. As
this is Coast to Coast’s first year in publication, we are also
printing the names of those who have previously celebrated
anniversaries. If you know some of the individuals mentioned,
be sure to congratulate them!
40+
Joe Goncalves – 48 yrs
Jackie Bailey – 46 yrs
Richard Redmon – 44 yrs
Patrick L. Gallagher – 44 yrs
Ronnie Carlucci – 4 yrs
Dowayne Bockmann – 4 yrs
Irene Bedell – 40 yrs
Stanley Katz – 40 yrs
Tom Collins – 40 yrs
35 +
Salvatore Mancini – 39 yrs
John Williams – 39 yrs
Paul Wayda – 39 yrs
Wyatt Andrews – 39 yrs
Larry I. Waldrip – 39 yrs
George Timothy Anderson – 39 yrs
Samuel Clax – 39 yrs
Zollie Privette – 39 yrs
Larry McAllen – 38 yrs
Thomas Maxwell – 38 yrs
Michel Carricaburu – 38 yrs
John Tudor – 38 yrs
Bob Walker – 38 yrs
George Travostino – 38 yrs
Norman Bailey – 37 yrs
John Withers – 37 yrs
6
Kenneth Dahlke – 37 yrs
Byron Bean – 37 yrs
Norman Kay Johnson – 37 yrs
James E. Grizzard – 37 yrs
John H. Halpin Jr. – 36 yrs
Jeffrey S. Barber – 36 yrs
Cecil Loftland – 36 yrs
Gary Clayton – 36 yrs
Michael Tracy – 36 yrs
Frank Spore – 36 yrs
Francis Mahady – 36 yrs
Leon Collins – 35 yrs
Robert Sirico – 35 yrs
Michael Kowalski – 35 yrs
Dennis Cox – 35 yrs
Steven Koch – 35 yrs
Sammie Lee Robinson – 35 yrs
Alex Gary Byrd – 35 yrs
Snoie “Jay” Carroll – 35 yrs
Thomas Stephens – 35 yrs
Bruce Lamarte – 35 yrs
30 +
John Saunders – 34 yrs
Jack Daly Jr. – 34 yrs
Charlie Ware – 34 yrs
John L. Griggs – 34 yrs
Donald Raymond Monroe – 34 yrs
James Sid Holcombe – 33 yrs
Robert C. Watkins – 33 yrs
Michael J. Donovan – 33 yrs
Herbert Johnson – 33 yrs
Alfred Treherne – 33 yrs
Bill McGuinness – 33 yrs
Danny Davis – 33 yrs
Debbie Outten – 33 yrs
Wayne Bell – 33 yrs
Ed Tabor – 33 yrs
Jack Carter – 33 yrs
Stephen Rex Olin – 33 yrs
Bob Koch – 33 yrs
John B. Hargrove – 33 yrs
Barry Ross – 32 yrs
John Czarnick – 32 yrs
Terrance Daly – 32 yrs
Henry Lee Gilbert – 32 yrs
Ralph Easterwood – 32 yrs
Tj Hightower – 32 yrs
Michael H. Gaston – 3 yrs
Robert J. Thygesen – 3 yrs
Dan M. Strickling – 3 yrs
John H. Young – 3 yrs
William Dahlke – 3 yrs
James Tewell – 3 yrs
Gary Allen – 30 yrs
Clarence Kellam – 30 yrs
Floyd Ruffin – 30 yrs
Peter Franco – 30 yrs
Ali Catik – 30 yrs
Frizzel Burton – 28 yrs
Nathaniel Fitchett – 28 yrs
Larry M. Smith – 28 yrs
James Toy – 28 yrs
Burley Johnson – 28 yrs
Wade Watson – 28 yrs
Bill Eskins Jr. – 28 yrs
Curley Collier – 28 yrs
Walt Roberts – 28 yrs
Nancy Ferguson – 27 yrs
Bill Spence – 27 yrs
Jack Liles Jr. – 27 yrs
Frederick Baker – 27 yrs
Leo Kellam – 27 yrs
Michael Dixon – 27 yrs
McKinley Joynes – 27 yrs
Michael Toy – 27 yrs
Albert Sinclair – 27 yrs
Paul Brown – 27 yrs
Mike Attardo – 27 yrs
Vincent Santangelo – 27 yrs
James Mullervy – 27 yrs
Barry Nosowitz – 27 yrs
Larry Vanderpool – 27 yrs
Marty Massey - 27 yrs
Scott McAllister – 27 yrs
Bob Walent – 27 yrs
Daniel Koch Jr. – 27 yrs
James Becker – 27 yrs
James E. Hamm – 27 yrs
Mark D. Johnson – 27 yrs
Duane Perry – 27 yrs
Laurie Clifford – 27 yrs
Frank Varisco – 26 yrs
Dale Robinson – 26 yrs
Charles Trower – 26 yrs
Edward Joynes – 26 yrs
Glenn Burton – 26 yrs
Chris Nofsinger – 26 yrs
Michael Cortez – 26 yrs
Patricia Macias – 25 yrs
Jesse Ruiz – 25 yrs
Kevin Dockham – 25 yrs
Kenneth Diamond – 25 yrs
Ante Validzic – 25 yrs
Curtiss M. Lindler – 25 yrs
Linda L. Wheeler – 25 yrs
Due to different HR systems,
some names may be missing.
If you or someone you know is missing
from the list, please email us at:
[email protected]
Allamonte Ybarra – 30 yrs
Randy Lee Rush – 30 yrs
Ronald Warren – 30 yrs
Jeffrey Buckmaster – 30 yrs
Charles Blosfield – 30 yrs
Raymond Macias – 30 yrs
Tom Lane – 30 yrs
Mark Apaliski – 30 yrs
Herschel Hampson – 30 yrs
James J. Cole Jr. – 30 yrs
Sandy Hunter – 30 yrs
25 +
Stephen W. Best – 29 yrs
Gary Winsper – 29 yrs
Robert Sellers – 29 yrs
Dave Eseltine – 29 yrs
Charles Askins – 29 yrs
Chris Eastin III – 29 yrs
Richard Shipley – 29 yrs
Ricky Leroy Stewart – 29 yrs
Jo-Ann Puskas – 29 yrs
Kevin Lyons – 29 yrs
Todd Donoho Collier – 29 yrs
Robert W. Babitsky – 29 yrs
Matt D. Edwards – 29 yrs
Mark E. Mcquater – 29 yrs
Marino A. Micheli – 29 yrs
Ricky Clayton – 29 yrs
coast to coast
Joe, with his granddaughter, Christina, at Family Safety Day in Whitestone, New York.
Pat proudly posing beside his Skanska-branded truck.
Joe Goncalves, General Labor Superintendent,
New York, New York, Employed 48 years
Patrick “Pat” Gallagher, Superintendent,
Southfield, Michigan, Employed 44 years
What have you learned working for Skanska?
This is a very good company to work for. I’m still glad to get up in the
morning at 4 a.m. to go to work and I enjoy what I do. I especially
like the chance to show the younger generation how the company
works and how construction works.
What have you learned working for Skanska?
I’ve learned to push myself to do a job that I can hang my hat on
when it’s complete. I always want to be proud to say that I did the
job correctly, the owners are pleased, Skanska is satisfied and the job
is profitable.
How do you see Skanska in the future?
This company has a very good future, especially for people that start
now. The company offers people lots of benefits and opportunities
particularly for the younger generation.
How do you see Skanska in the future?
I expect Skanska to be the number one construction group
worldwide of course!
coast to coast
7
OUR PEOPLE
McNALLY STEPS
TO THE PLATE
GREAT BOSS INITIATIVE
What are your priorities as BUP?
People. People. People. Those are my top three. With great
people, everything else happens automatically (satisfied
customers, profits, etc.). Someone wrote a book recently
about the employee being first, not the customer, and I
firmly believe that. Train, Retain, Recruit. I also believe that
great employees have positive attitudes.
On October 1, Skanska USA Building welcomed
Mike McNally as the new business unit president.
COAST TO COAST spent some time speaking with
How have you spent your first month as BUP?
I’ve spent the first three weeks on the road, getting to
know our business, starting with the Connect the Dots
Roadshow in Boston, San Antonio, Detroit and Nashville.
This week I’m in Oregon.
Mike during his first busy weeks, to find out
more about him and his goals for Skanska.
What potential do you see in the future for the business
units to work together?
There is a huge untapped potential here. But the first step is to
better understand one another’s businesses. An example of how
good it can be is the Meadowlands Stadium. Skanska Koch is
doing an amazing job out there.
What possibilities do you see for leveraging Skanska’s
combined expertise?
Together we can do lump sum work for the benefit of both.
The Meadowlands is a great case-in-point: We would not have
the job without USA Civil; USA Civil would not have the job
without USA Building.
What has been the toughest part of your new position
so far?
So many meetings and not enough time.
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. I attended the University of
Notre Dame where I studied civil engineering. My first job was as
an offshore field engineer in Egypt. I then came back to the states
and got an MBA from the University of Rhode Island (where I
met my wife). After that I took a job as a project engineer with
Mobil Oil in Brooklyn, New York, and then in Philadelphia. I did
that for about five years and then moved back to Rhode Island
with my wife and took a job with a company called Marshall
Contractors, where I ran construction operations. They were
purchased by Fluor Daniel. I spent about 4 years there and then
got the opportunity to run a company called Beacon Skanska in
Boston. That started my career at Skanska 0 years ago. My wife
Michele is a speech therapist. I have one daughter in college,
Kirsten, and one daughter in high school, Caroline. We have
lived in Rhode Island since 985, but we will now be moving to
New York so that I can be closer to company headquarters.
8
Was there anything you weren’t prepared for?
The importance of the Swedish press and the affect of the U.S.
business on Skanska’s share price. Skanska AB had to train me
on what I can and can’t say. That was new for me.
“People, people, people. These
are my top three priorities. With
great people, everything else
“
JIM WINCHELL Project Manager
Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) Project
I began working with Jim Winchell when I was transferred
to the NIT Wharf Extension Project in Virginia Beach, VA. Jim has
provided me with multiple opportunities to challenge my leadership
and technical skills and has also demonstrated his vast knowledge
of concrete as well as his project planning capabilities. He’s also
been very willing to teach me all he knows not only about working
in the field, but also about how to strengthen and develop my
relationship with owners, subcontractors and fellow employees. Jim’s
contributions to this project and to his employees have proven to
be invaluable in making the NIT Project so successful. Under Jim’s
tutelage, I am continuously learning about the construction industry.
His willingness to answer my questions and help me develop my
skills has given me confidence for the future.
— DOUG NAUMANN
”
Do you have a good boss? Tell us what makes your boss great!
Email: [email protected]
What has been the best part?
Meeting great people from all around the country.
And what are you most looking forward to?
The Sox sweeping Colorado. (Since Mike answered this
question on October 22, prior to the World Series, we can only
guess that he’s looking forward to next year!)
happens automatically...”
What was your role at skanska before becoming BUP?
I was Co-Chief Operating Officer responsible for the Boston, New York and
New Jersey offices. I have had the good fortune to be involved in many exciting
projects such as Gillette Stadium and now the United Nations and the New
Meadowlands Stadium.
coast to coast
Is there any one thing you would want to be remembered
as doing/changing after you’ve left this position?
Helping make Skanska a great place to work, a place where
everyone in our industry wants to be and at the same time
make our outperform goals—every year.
coast to coast
9
OUR PEOPLE
OUR PEOPLE
HELPING HANDS
What our People are Doing for the Communities in Which we Live and Work.
Slidell, LA: Rebuilding for a cause
Supporting the reconstruction effort after the devastation left by Hurricane
Katrina, Skanska sponsored Superintendents Darrel Bolden and Stan Keagle
and Project Manager John Clark who traveled to Slidell, Louisiana for six weeks
to work for the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity to reconstruct
a number of ravaged homes in the area.
Southfield, MI: Riding for MS
Five employees and an owner’s representative
rode in two Bicycle Tours to benefit the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society. Over the years, Team
Skanska has raised more than $80,000 for the
organization. Participants: James Harris, Mike
Parker, Mark Oetting, Arthur Robinson, Jessica
Barber and Bruce Singley.
JUNE
Cortez, CO: Elks Lodge gets a facelift
The office provided manpower, equipment and a financial
contribution to renovate the parking lot and clean the inside
of the nearby Elk’s Lodge. The lodge is also a community
center, and residents were delighted with the improvements.
JULY
Durham, NC: Students get books and a better school
A dedicated team of employees spent the summer renovating
the Communities in Schools learning center. Lisa Florack, Bobby
Waller, Jennifer Suitt, Keith Dean, Russ Florack and Philip Henry,
staff, family members and 12 subcontractors replaced carpets,
built storage units and revamped bathrooms. Skanska also
donated a book to every student.
AUGUST
Blue Bell, PA: Rowing for cancer treatment
The Skanska Hammerheads competed for the
first time in the International Dragon Boat
Festival. This energetic group of paddlers,
steersperson and drummer practiced for months
before the race. Fellow employees and families
cheered on the Hammerheads during their race
along Philadelphia’s famed Boathouse Row.
Proceeds from the event were donated to the
Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Whitestone, NY: Safety becomes a family affair
More than 400 people attended Family Safety
Day. Safety personnel designed special stations,
and kids were given a card to have stamped at
each one. NYPD and FDNY took fingerprints and
talked about fire safety, and kids dressed their
parents in safety gear.
Uganda, Africa: Building unity abroad
Sponsored by his fellow employees, Project Engineer Adam Neil spent two
weeks in Uganda working alongside locals to construct a building that
will serve as a cafeteria, school, church and general assembly. His team
also worked with a neighboring orphanage, to which he contributed by
sponsoring two homeless Ugandan children. Adam reflects on his trip saying,
“It was a wonderful growing experience both emotionally and spiritually.”
0
SEPTEMBER
Virginia Beach, VA: Sponsoring brighter smiles
Training Manager Patrick Query won two tickets to
attend Operation Smile’s 25th Anniversary Event.
The tickets were raffled off by the Virginia office to
sponsor four children’s reconstructive pallet surgery.
Whitestone, NY: Promoting a healthy
lifestyle for kids
Estimator Michelle Blattner ran in the
New York Marathon to support Team
for Kids, a group of adult runners
who run to raise money for the NYC’s
Roadrunner Foundation. Skanska also
donated $500 to the cause.
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
San Antonio, TX: Fundraising to boost
community CPR skills
The project team at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital
hosted a charity golf tournament to benefit
Harper’s Embrace.
Riverside, CA: Serving up gratitude
Hosting the 1st annual Gratitude Barbecue, staff showed appreciation
for local heroes at the Fire Dept., Police Dept., SWAT and Highway Patrol
for keeping Skanska’s personnel safe.
Rockville, MD: Earning mileage at Habifest 2007
Five members of the super fast Skanska Speedster running/
walking team participated in the Habitat for Humanity of
Howard County 5K walk/run.
coast to coast
coast to coast
11
A UNanimous Achievement
What does it take to win a $1-billion renovation project for the United
Nations? Besides some of the best brains at Skanska and a lot of
coffee, the final decision came down to one critical ingredient: values.
From the very start, Skanska’s New York team saw the
opportunity to renovate the United Nations Headquarters in
Manhattan as a “must-win” project. After all, Skanska has a
long history of working with the U.N. Slattery-Skanska was
part of the original joint venture that built the iconic complex,
and Skanska has continued to work with the organization
around the world.
But there is another, more important reason why the
Skanska team wanted this project so badly. As EVP Johan
Karlström puts it, “We want to work for clients who share our
values.” “It was vital to the U.N. that the chosen firm have a
dedication to the Global Compact, a strong ethical culture and,
as a natural extension, an enormous commitment to safety,”
says Steve Pressler, VP and Area General Manager for USA
Building’s New York operations and Principal-in-Charge of
the U.N. work.
MORE THAN VALUES ON THE LINE
The pursuit of the U.N. renovation project also required
stamina. Skanska submitted its first letter of interest in
February 2006. The Request for Proposal arrived in July.
Then came the Request for Information period, which culminated in a formal
interview in October 2006. In February 2007, one year after the process began,
Steve Pressler got word: Skanska had been selected and the U.N. was ready to
negotiate. Officially called the United Nations Capital Master Plan,
the massive assignment involves a complete rebuild and renovation of the
U.N. headquarters—the organization’s largest investment ever.
Due to the high degree of security surrounding the organization and its
headquarters, the U.N. kept the only set of project drawings—and no copies
were allowed. So the Skanska team made numerous trips to U.N. to scrutinize
the documents in order to plan their logistical and technical approach to the
project. Steve Pressler, Dan Kolakowski, Jack Raff, Steve Aspden, Richie Christ,
Jennifer Buermann and Elizabeth Heider all racked up many hours in those
hallowed halls. Back at the main office, Aaron Guzman and Jason Reynolds
lent tireless support with proposal and graphics production. And the legal team,
consisting of Lynn Shavelson and Richard Kennedy, in cooperation with Russ
Johnson, VP of Risk Management, spent long nights going over the proposal,
the Request for Information and the negotiations. In the end, more than two
dozen of Skanska’s top people provided input throughout the process.
“It took hundreds of hours over several months before we really understood
the project and the client’s concerns so we could devise the best approach,”
says Steve Pressler.
Members of the project team, left to right: Richard Christ, Susan Jenkins, Steven Pressler, Daniel Kolakowski, Susanna Catalano and Jack Raff
SAFETY
OUR
PROJECTS
OUR PROJECTS
For a safe and healthy workplace.
As an industry leader in Green Building, Skanska
eagerly took up this challenge. Skanska is the only
construction firm that is consistently included in the
Global 00 Most Sustainable Corporations in the
world announced each year at the economic forum
in Davos, Switzerland.
Skanska is also one of the founding members of
the Sustainable Building and Construction Initiative,
a Green Building initiative launched by the United
Nations Environment Programme earlier this year.
“The most exciting thing
for me is that this is a
high-profile building that
everyone has seen or heard
about.” – Peter Wieslander,
Skanska International
The team that won the project. Standing, left to right: Jason Reynolds, Susanna Catalano, Susan Jenkins, Danielle Siringo, Steve Pressler, Richard Christ, Amy Chase, Steve Allen and Donna Licciardi. Sitting, left to right: Deborah
Ippolito, Nancy Etherson, Jack Raff, Jennifer Buermann, and Dan Kolakowski
“I was very proud to be selected since the
United Nations represents the international
community. This will be the most important
project in my career.” - Ted Jadermark
MIRROR IMAGE
If it was important to the U.N. that they chose a partner whose organization
mirrored their values, the Skanska team took for granted that the U.N. would
also want to work with a team that mirrored their own in diversity.
Since the project will employ more than 70 Skanska professionals at
its peak, Mike McNally, Steve Pressler and Dan Kolakowski worked with
Human Resources to review resumes of Skanska personnel from around the
world. Johan Karlström also located Steve Aspden, Peter Weislander and
Ted Jadermark, who had experience managing large, complex projects for
Skanska International.
All three have spent the last few years working on the Mater Dei Hospital
in Malta – a 2.6-million-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility with a 480
construction value.
4
GLOBAL ABILITY
From the very beginning, Stuart Graham, CEO and Chairman
of Skanska AB and Johann Karlström, committed the firm’s
worldwide resources to the project. And throughout the
process, the Skanska team highlighted its strengths as “one
Skanska.” In addition to having access to Skanska’s worldwide
human resources capabilities, the team appealed to Skanska’s
financial strength and proven commitment to the U.N. Global
Compact since 200.
Skanska’s good corporate credit allowed the company to
provide the United Nations with a corporate guarantee from
Skanska AB, in lieu of a conventional bonding mechanism.
“Given our international capabilities, we also identified
global procurement opportunities,” adds Steve Pressler.
“This was especially key to an organization comprised of
92 nations.” When it came to purchasing, Bill Flemming,
Co-Chief Operating Officer at USA Building, sits on Skanska’s
International Procurement Committee and provided
invaluable support.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING GREEN
The United Nations emphasized its commitment to being
sensitive to the environment throughout the project and that
the building will be designed to meet new energy standards.
coast to coast
COMPLEXITIES OF THE JOB
Currently in pre-construction, the construction
management assignment will be performed on a
phased basis through 204. For each phase of the
project Skanska will negotiate separate Guaranteed
Maximum Price contracts with the U.N. Throughout
the entire construction period, the U.N. will carry
on its daily operations.
In one of the first phases, Skanska will manage the
construction of a 02,000-square-foot temporary on-site
facility to house the General Assembly and Conference
Building. Seventeen floors of swing space will also be
outfitted at a separate location for office staff.
Solutions discussed in Skanska’s proposal included
how to efficiently handle equipment and material
deliveries in a densely populated urban area and move
tradespeople through security checkpoints for the job’s
duration, especially during construction peak, when
,200 tradespeople are expected to be on site.
These are just a few of the deciding factors that went
into turning this “must-win” proposal into a win-win
for Skanska and the U.N. “It is an honor for our entire
team to have been chosen to represent an organization
that works for peace among nations,” Steve Pressler
concludes. “The fact that we were selected from a group
of national competitors through a rigorous process is
extremely validating.” ◆
coast to coast
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The U.N. Headquarters includes
• Six buildings: The Secretariat Building: 4-stories, The Conference
Building, General Assembly Building, The Dag Hammarskjold
Library, North Lawn Building, and South Annex Building
• Total floor space of 2.6 million square feet.
• 17-acre campus
• Location: Along Manhattan’s East River, extending from 4st
to 46th Streets
• Pre-construction contract amount:  billion
15
OUR PROJECTS
OUR PROJECTS
been good for the Navajo Nation,” says Cary. “When I first started, the payroll
was 6 million per year. Now it’s 5 million.”
The company within a contract
Based in Shiprock, New Mexico, NECA is a major employer on the reservation,
which is 27,000 square miles (larger than West Virginia) and encompasses parts
Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The Navajo population is more than 250,000,
making it the biggest Native American nation.
NECA works mainly through the federal government’s Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service to build infrastructure as part of a
concerted effort to better the lives of the Navajo people. NECA performs
earthwork, paving, and bridge construction under negotiated highway
construction contracts with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. For the Indian
Health Service, NECA builds projects to deliver safe drinking water
and modern sewer systems to communities throughout the reservation.
“Through NECA, we give local workers
marketable job skills so that they are
employable when their project is completed.
It instills a feeling of pride among
NECA employees to know that they’re
contributing to a better life for their people
and they are able to support their family at
the same time.”
Pictured, from left: Ron Everson, Frank Smith, Cary Patterson, and Brett Grubbs
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS ON NATIVE LAND
In the southwestern U.S., a small team of Skanska
employees plays a big role in the Native American
community. USA Civil’s Cary Patterson doesn’t just
manage one project – he manages all of the projects
on behalf of the Navajo Engineering and Construction
Authority (NECA). According to Cary, doing this
successfully requires a light touch and a firm hand.
6
In 99 USA Civil West’s Rocky Mountain District signed a contract
with NECA to manage the company’s construction activities on the
reservation for the Navajo Nation. Having begun his work there as
Operations Manager in 993, Cary has seen NECA evolve first-hand.
Today he is General Manager, a position previously held by both
Chris Eastin and Curtis Broughton, who still work for USA Civil in
the Rocky Mountain District.
Cary’s team also includes Operations Managers Frank Smith
and Brett Grubbs. Ron Everson is Manager of Engineering with
responsibility for estimating and project support. Their small team
supervises about 580 NECA employees – 99 percent of whom are
Navajo and other Native Americans. “NECA’s significant growth has
coast to coast
Giving local work to local people
The sovereign status of the Navajo Nation as a government has
a major impact on NECA’s operations. Although NECA is a for-profit business,
it is ultimately accountable to the Nation’s government. With an unemployment
rate on the reservation of more than 45 percent, there is a serious need for
NECA to employ Navajo people.
Some core NECA employees have worked there a long time. They go where
the work is, traveling around the reservation to different NECA projects.
However, since jobs are scarce, local communities often want NECA to hire
their own people. “We’re there to help the Navajo develop NECA and help them
be profitable,” says Cary. To do this, Cary’s team works as a partnership with the
Navajo Nation. “We don’t just employ people,” he explains. “Through NECA, we
give local workers marketable job skills so that they are employable when their
project is completed. It instills a feeling of pride among NECA employees to
know that they’re contributing to a better life for their people and they are able
to support their family at the same time.”
Skanska’s management also works closely with NECA’s directors,
superintendents, engineers, and administrative personnel to train employees in
the latest construction and management methods.
coast to coast
Cary talking with a NECA employee.
Respectful on foreign soil
For all intents and purposes, Cary and his team are foreigners
on the reservation. If they want to maintain their contract with
NECA, they must abide by Navajo traditions and respect the
Navajo way of life. For example, a NECA project often starts
with a groundbreaking ceremony in which Navajo spiritual
leaders perform traditional blessings.
Cary and his team also do what they can to contribute
to the local Navajo communities. They often take on minor
projects as pro-bono work, such as grading a road or parking
lot or clearing debris from a flood. This work is often in
remote locales with limited access to equipment and skilled
personnel. “Anything reasonable that can be done as an in kind
contribution to help the Nation we do,” says Cary. Through
NECA, Cary and his team have also contributed over 4
million for scholarship funding. All of these things go a long
way toward the Authority being viewed as a valuable member
of the community and of the Navajo Nation.
After nearly 5 years on the reservation in the Four Corners
region, Cary and his team have proven that they have what
it takes to make this contract a success. “It all comes down
to respect,” Cary concludes. “They respect us and we respect
them. They know that at the end of the day, we will always do
what’s in the best interest of the Navajo Nation.” ◆
For more information about Skanska’s work with NECA,
contact Cary Patterson at: [email protected]
17
FOCUS
FOCUS
Harlingen
Over the past few years, operations in Texas have grown at
such an incredible pace that establishing an additional office
in south Texas was necessary. Like Houston and San Antonio,
education is surfacing as a major industry in Harlingen and
the team is reaping the benefits. Project Manager Josué Reyes
is working on La Joya High School, a 58-million job that
includes the construction of four buildings. Like the majority
of the projects here, the school is being used as a benchmark to
showcase the quality that clients can expect from Skanska.
As the new kid on the block, Josué acknowledges the merit
in adhering to a new corporate philosophy, pointing out that
the Harlingen staff can already be defined by its desire to
embrace the Skanska way of working.
He is also prepared for the growing pains that come with
achieving a streamlined version of the Houston and San
Antonio offices. “We differ from the others in that we are a
smaller, scaled back operation,” he adds. “We’re pretty far
removed on Texas’ southern tip and it hasn’t been very easy
to facilitate communication.” The tides are already changing
though as Josué indicates that an open dialogue is developing
among the offices – and this is facilitated by events like the
Connect the Dots Roadshow. In fact, Josué has no reservations,
just high expectations when it comes to expanding the brand
and becoming a dominant force in a new region. ◆
GOING FOR GOLD IN TEXAS
The oil industry is not the only booming
business in the Lone Star state these days.
Home to the second largest economy in
the United States, Texas is transforming
into a mecca of opportunity.
With this comes a crucial need for expansion and Skanska
dove right in with a collection of healthcare and education
projects. As the growth will only continue, the ability to
progress in this new market is limitless.
Central Texas
The new San Antonio office will open in mid-November and
with five projects underway, Skanska is primed to become a
major player in this thriving city.
With higher education making up one-third of the
company’s Texas portfolio, it comes as no surprise that General
Superintendent Russ McLeod, who has more than 20 years of
experience under his belt, is overseeing a 56-million project at
Alamo Community College on the St. Phillips College in San
Antonio. The job includes construction of two blocks of parking
lots, a three-story educational facility and a diesel lab. “The
university system in Texas will be spending a lot of money to
accommodate the rising number of students, so there will be a
constant growth in higher education work,” he states confidently.
8
As for healthcare projects, the surge can be attributed to a number of factors
including antiquated resources and an aging population. Russ points out that “most
baby boomers are at the point of retirement or, at least, thinking about retirement.”
So, the healthcare industry is preparing for the demands of this mounting
demographic by expanding and enhancing facilities.
While the opportunities seem never-ending, there is a downside to working
in an emergent market – there are more jobs than there are workers. Then again,
Skanska has the chance to earn a reputation for enticing qualified personnel,
training them and retaining them.
Houston
Working in Texas’ largest city makes it pretty easy to get lost in the shuffle. As
a result, Project Manager J.P. Chandler and his team are focused on a certain
distinguishing trend in construction. “Ninety percent of potential clients ask
if we have LEED® accredited professionals on our team,” he remarks. “So we’re
concentrating on attaining accreditation for our employees in Texas.”
J.P. looks forward to starting up jobs at the Houston Community College and
the University of Houston. Much like Russ, he is confident that higher education
will remain one of the largest sectors for Skanska in the state. He says, “Right
now, most universities are turning away applicants because of the lack of space.
As the schools expand, we’ll be there to help them.” Getting in on the ground
floor of the higher education movement will help the Houston team’s stronghold
on construction in the area.
Drawing on the city’s unrivaled concentration of healthcare facilities, J.P.
anticipates tapping into the industry by gradually building Skanska’s presence
before taking on larger jobs.
coast to coast
Skanska ID:
North American Update
The new business plan for Skanska Infrastructure Development North
America concentrates on bidding and winning green field toll road
projects in the home Skanska USA Civil markets of the Mid-Atlantic
and Southeast U.S. regions. Skanska ID is also active in Canada, where
there is steady, predictable deal flow.
As of fourth quarter 2007, Skanska has earned shortlist bidder
status on U.S. Route 460 in Virginia, SH 6 in Texas, and Port
Mann/Highway  in Vancouver. We are preparing to pre-qualify for
the Midtown Tunnel project in Norfolk, Virginia. By year’s end we
will know if Skanska is selected as a short-listed bidder for the I-595
managed lanes project in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
US PPP road projects are hotly competitive, highly complex and
range from -3 billion in value. A typical bid process lasts two years
from prequalification to financial close.
“We’re focused in markets where Skanska has a competitive edge,
where the procurements are fair and predictable, and on projects
that can deliver long-term value,” says Karl Reichelt, Executive Vice
President for Skanska ID North America. “Expectations are high, and
2008 is shaping up to be a big year for Skanska.”
For more information, contact Joey Hatch at:
[email protected], or at: 615-238-6710
STAT SHOT: TEXAS OFFICE
Location
Contact
Personnel
Location
Contact
Personnel
Location
Contact
Personnel
coast to coast
Central Texas
Tel: 254-778-8941
12 in the office / 46 in the Field
Houston
Tel: 713-401-5200
8 in the office / 20 in the Field
Harlingen
Tel: 956-412-3866
2 in the office / 24 in the Field
Florida I-595 Focus
In November, Skanska ID North America, with partners John
Laing plc, Fluor Corp, and USA Civil, submitted a Statement of
Qualifications (SOQ) to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The opportunity? To design, build, finance, operate and maintain the
Interstate 595 Roadway Corridor Improvements Project. The contract
term is expected to be between 35-50 years.
Containing more than ,500 pages, the SOQ provides information
about the team’s technical and financial capabilities to deliver
the 0.5-mile east-west roadway project that includes toll lanes,
interchange ramps, bypasses and accommodations for future transit.
The availability payment/shadow toll concession project is expected
to improve travel for commuters and trucks, and will be constructed
at-grade in the median of an existing, heavily congested highway
through Central Broward County in Florida.
The Skanska-Laing-Fluor partnership—joined under the team
name of “Direct Connect Partners”—expects to know more about the
selection by December 3, 2007. A formal, detailed proposal follows, with
preferred bidder selection scheduled for mid-2008. Visit www.i-595.com
for project info.
19
“When building schools
you have to be
able to face your
toughest critics.”
Todd Predmore, Skanska Project Manager
Our educational clients demand grade “A” work. That’s why detailed constructability reviews were used
to streamline construction at Witch Hazel Elementary School in Hillsboro, Oregon. According to Todd
Predmore, tactical solutions such as creative steel engineering and erection sequencing were also critical
to the project’s success. “It’s rewarding when the schools we build exceed our client’s expectations,” says
Predmore, “but it’s even more rewarding when I see how happy it makes the kids.”
www.skanska.com
coast tocoast
The Employee Magazine for Skanska in the U.S.