USBuildersReview. Northline Utilities LLC. Prime Electric Inc. Constructors. Cover Story Page 43 Summit Contracting Group Inc. Providing Maintenance

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1 T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R LEADING CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVES USBuildersReview SPRING 2013 EDITION I Safety is Our Way of Life Northline Utilities LLC Providing Maintenance Services for Tennessee Valley Authority Constructors Providing Full Turnkey Electrical and Systems Solutions Prime Electric Inc. Cover Story Page 43 Summit Contracting Group Inc. Building On Trusted Relationships

2 architecture, engineering, construction, technical services, both indoor and outdoor DAS, operation and maintenance. In the planning phases of a project, SAC is able to identify appropriate sites for projects, negotiate leases and review regulations, zoning and permitting. The company will also set up a project team for strategic solutions for an ever-changing industry, thus ensuring clients needs are met. SAC clients report the team s collaborative approach is appreciated. SAC staff also includes well-experienced architects and engineers. SAC s licensed employees are able to handle the planning and design of tower projects and distributed antenna system networks, as well as determining rooftop structural integrity. The architecture and engineering departments are equipped to handle high volumes with fast turnaround for even the most complex projects. SAC is a leader in the wireless industry for executing site construction, so even after the design and planning phases are complete the team is ready and able. The company s construction team keeps in mind scope, schedule, cost and resources when working on new construction or modifications alike. SAC provides project managers, site supervisors, civil, electrical and tower crews to execute each job safely, and with SAC s high quality in mind. Once the project is up and running, SAC is also able to provide technical services, operations and maintenance. The company s technicians are certified experts in installing and commissioning microwave radios, broadcast equipment and cellular base stations. A separate team of troubleshooters is on-hand to work with landlords, perform inspections, repair antennas or lines, or replace radios in the base station. SAC maintains 60,000 square feet of warehouse space to store materials and spare parts so maintenance can be done as needed without delay. Probably 98 percent of our business is commercial in nature, says Koziel. There s a really interesting thing happening in our business right now. The providers SAC works with are investing billions of dollars into new technology to provide a 4G network to customers. Telecommunication is a consumer- and device-driven commerce now, Koziel says. Customers are using smartphones and tablets to connect with the world. Customers connect through a smartphone or ipad through wireless connections. As more people buy these devices, naturally they want it to be faster and easier to use. SAC has grown along with the telecommunication industry and is seeing more growth in the future. In Koziel s opinion, this only emphasizes the importance of self-performing the services SAC provides. There is so much more to be developed that I think it s going to be a challenge for all of us, Koziel says. The ability to self-perform and really control the resources out there is just at a critical stage. While SAC wasn t spared the struggle during the country s recent economic downturn, Koziel admits things look good for the business. We ve had a good run, he says. We re looking to expand, but being a company that performs the work, that is always a different challenge. In the next few years, Koziel will seek the balance between expansion and maintaining a healthy level of work. All the while, Koziel and his team will ensure SAC Wireless LLC successfully 161

3 Twin City Acoustics Inc. Fine-tuning Specialized Service and a Family Foundation Produced by Chuck McKenna & Written by Molly Shaw Twin City Acoustics Inc. (TCA) is a Plymouth, Minn.- headquartered interior contractor specializing in the installation of acoustic products and ceilings. The company serves Minnesota plus the four surrounding states Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota and Iowa from its main facility outside of Minneapolis-St. Paul and three satellite offices. TCA takes pride in providing hands-on client-focused service to the commercial, health care, governmental and institutional sectors, and it reinforces these best practices because it has remained family owned and operated for 40 years. Founded in 1973 by Darryl Brinker and Dave Ehlers, TCA is currently conducted by its second-generation president, Dave Brinker. Dave began working at his father s business, starting out as an installer in the late 1970s and making his way into the executive offices in In 1991 my father retired, but he still makes frequent visits to the office a couple of times a week, shares Dave. TCA has built its success around a team of good people. The company employees about 100 individuals; many among the staff have been with TCA since the beginning. We have very little employee turnaround, explains Dave. There are at least 20 guys who ve been with us for 25 years or more. TCA strives to provide creative, reliable and professional 165

4 MIDWEST installation of acoustical products to the commercial construction industry, building on a four-decade legacy of delivering service and project satisfaction on projects large and small. Experience sets us apart, details Dave. TCA has a strong project management team with skilled construction personnel that represent a wide array of backgrounds, from acoustical design to application work. The company self-performs almost every facet of its work, delivering results for architects, designers, general contractors and building owners. We don t really outsource anything, shares Dave. Architects control the designing, but we can always assist in the process. The TCA team provides information and collaboration for ceiling applications, wall projects and specialty material applications, including traditional treatments and unique design options. The company has expertise in wood, metal and traditional ceilings and wall panels, windows, doors and millwork, as well as specifically designed fabrics for acoustic environments. USG Corporation, a global leader in the design and production of ceilings and drywall, is one of TCA s main suppliers. Partnering with USG allows TCA to ensure it will be able to integrate a quality, pleasantly designed, sustainable product. From high lightreflectance ceilings to high recycled-content ceilings, USG offers building materials that meet LEED criteria. From airports to universities and churches to concert venues, TCA has a great depth of knowledge in all projects. We do jobs that are $200 but also jobs that are $5 million, shares Dave. No matter the job, TCA performs award-winning work. In 1999 TCA was awarded the CISCA GOLD National Project of the Year Award for its work on the Main Terminal of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Winners are selected based on the project s design, complexity and quality of construction. In 2012 TCA was also awarded the CISCA BRONZE for the company s work at Bayer Medical and the CISCA GOLD for the Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna. The company relies on its manufacturers to provide quality supplies, and fostering these relationships is critical to TCA s success. These valued strategic partners include USG Corporation, Chicago Metallic, Hunter Douglas, CertainTeed, Fabritrak, Clipso and Armstrong. 166 US Review SPRING 2013 EDITION I

5 Recently, TCA finished another Minnesota project at the Duluth International Airport. This site consists of 25,000 square feet of custom wood ceilings and 10,000 square feet of specialized waved metal ceiling. This was a huge undertaking, which we completed in about three months, recalls Dave. Projects more recently completed by TCA also include: the Best Buy Corporation corporate offices, United Health Group, the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, the Minnesota Wild Excel Arena, TCF Stadium at the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Twins Stadium, Regions Hospital and the Science Museum of Minnesota. In addition, the company has a project in March 2013 at the Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. Although the economy has created instability in many industries, TCA is maintaining its workload and doing well. We almost have more work than we can handle, Dave reveals. To further counter the economic downturn, however, the company has reached further into Iowa and North Dakota than usual to find jobs. We ve got a job in the works at the History Center in Bismarck, N.D., reveals Dave. The Brinker name continues to imbue its third generation at TCA. Dave s two daughters, both college graduates, are currently working for the company and his son plans on doing so after he finishes college as well. Drawing on a family-led and team-enriched commitment to excellence, Twin City Acoustics Inc. will continue to provide highly skilled services and specialized products that meet and exceed Chicago Metallic Corporation 4849 South Austin Avenue Chicago, IL