Expert Details
Architectural Precast Concrete, Cast Stone, Commercial Construction Process
ID: 731687
Illinois, USA
He was engaged by the attorney representing a subcontractor (a precaster) in an arbitration with a general contractor. At the end of the project the sub felt they were owed $600,000 whereas the GC felt the sub owed them $200.000. The attorney sent me two cartons of documents and wanted to understand what happened. I was able to provide an accurate and coherent narrative of how the project progressed.An architecture firm with a design contract for repair or replacement of a deteriorated pair of historic bridge houses engaged him to do a technical and cost analysis of the two scenarios: repair or replace the original cast-in-place exterior.. The completeness of the analysis allowed the owner to quickly and confidently decide on which scenario they favored.A metal fabricator who was in a potential dispute engaged Expert. Services included an analysis of the various and conflicting relevant contractual ("plans and specs") provisions and technical research on corrosion of stainless steel in a marine environment. After the owner engaged a forensic engineer Expert raised numerous methodological concerns about coupons and test methods. An architecture firm with a design contract for a bridge engaged Expert to assist in design details and in preparation of specifications. His work reduced disputes and friction on the project. A subcontractor engaged him to provide a business process (consisting of rules, procedures, form letters, etc.) to implement a system for routinely making claims against general contractor payment bonds on public works projects. This greatly reduced the risk of a collections problem during the lengthy retention period.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1970 | Degree: BA | Subject: Psychology | Institution: University of Chicago |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1998 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: VP | Department: |
Responsibilities:He is responsible for sales, estimating, detailing, and all coordination and project management for commercial construction projects. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1999 to 2000 | Employer: HeavyWare, Inc | Title: Founder, CEO | Department: |
Responsibilities:This dotcom arose from a Cary Concrete strategic project, initiated in 1997 to catalog and exploit the many high-cost, fully amortized molds that fabricators retain after the original project. It then grew to encompass a unique aggregated catalog of many specialized construction products. We met with many first tier venture capitalists, but did not receive funding and then closed the company. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1987 to 1988 | Employer: Dependable Concrete Products Inc. | Title: General Manager and VP | Department: |
Responsibilities:Joined this construction-related manufacturer as part of a succession arrangement with the owner. Purchased a wide variety of direct manufacturing materials and MRO supplies.Improved estimating function through the use of job cost studies. Sales, estimating, and project management. Led a voluntary liquidation, optimizing the interests of creditors and of the owner. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1980 to 1987 | Employer: CNA Financial | Title: Various Analyst and IT management positions | Department: |
Responsibilities:As systems analyst and then as Manager of Office Automation: Pioneered a new generation of small hardware and software systems in numerous areas. Delivered multiple projects on time with a staff of 8 analysts. Typical scopes included ROI analysis, business process analysis, selection and purchasing, and user training. As strategic planner for "office automation" was noted for business-oriented approach. Streamlined previously separate and manual functions of procedural documentation and work measurement in insurance processing areas by designing and implementing a mainframe system that won high user appreciation for ease of use. Redesign of life underwriting workflow included CNA's first small system integration and communication with host and reduced devices from four to one.As Manager of Casualty Claims Data Control: Staffed a new corporate function, recruiting and hiring from inside and from outside. Responsible for documenting all casualty claims data from multiple business perspectives. Designed the function to simultaneously support conversion to a new online claims system, assist in report reconciliation efforts, and improve interpretation of summary reports. Evaluated available tools and then designed, built, implemented, and populated a data dictionary tool as a repository for metadata. The subsequent voluntary adoption of our data dictionary database by similar groups in other operating areas such as health, etc., was a very high compliment. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
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| He is a long time member of the American Subcontractors Association.. |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
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| His website and blog feature presentations and short writings on aspects how we go about building the "built environment". |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
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| He has limited experience as an expert witness, primarily as a consultant to assist in assessing testimony of expert witnesses. His ability to construct alternate explanations for a given set of observations in useful in challenging apparent "expert" testimony. |
| Training / Seminars |
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| Seminar for architects on what and how to detail - what's too much, what's too little. |
| Vendor Selection |
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| As a "virtual manufacturer" sourcing specialty suppliers is a core feature of the business model that Expert has operated within for decades. He is able to quickly grasp a plant's strengths and weaknesses. |
| Marketing Experience |
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| He has unusual analytic insight into the process of commercial construction, combining hands-on knowledge with an understanding of contract provisions and of the flow of information in a construction project. He grasps the many variables that influence the outcome of projects. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
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| He has both strong technical knowledge and understanding of "customary practice" in the context of architectural precast concrete and cast stone. He is able "read between the lines" of written project-related communications. |