Imagine a Day Without Water video highlights critical need
Oct 2020
Every day, people drive on, under, over, and around public infrastructure. The first two are easy to observe—the roads you drive on and power/telecommunication lines you drive under. What you don’t see is what you drive over and around—waterlines that bring clean water to your home and workplace, sewer lines that take away your liquid waste, and the facilities cleaning and treating that water.
Do you know which one you can’t live without? Water.
Garney created a video to Imagine a Day Without Water. It’s a good reminder that water is essential for everything we do in life.
Imagine a Day Without Water is led by the Value of Water Campaign to raise awareness about how water is our most precious resource, yet the most undervalued. America’s water infrastructure is rapidly aging and deteriorating. Since water infrastructure is largely invisible, it’s out of sight, out of mind for most people. While nature provides water, it takes pipes, pumps, equipment, and people working 24/7 to deliver clean water to homes and businesses, and then remove and treat wastewater so it can safely be reused or returned to the environment.
The gap between funding water and our water infrastructure needs is growing daily and is currently at $81 billion, according to a recent study by ASCE and the Value of Water Campaign. We can’t continue to ignore this fact. Let your local, state, and national elected officials know you want change and support increased water funding and necessary rate increases required to make this happen.
Learn more at imagineadaywithoutwater.org and follow the conversation on social media at #ValueWater.
Kipp Connell promoted to Director of IT
May 2020
Garney is pleased to announce the promotion of Kipp Connell to Director of Information Technology (IT). After serving as Garney’s IT Manager for the last five years, Kipp’s promotion creates the new role of Director of IT. In this role, Kipp will continue to oversee Garney’s responsive and agile IT team as well as maintain our backend security. Kipp’s integrity, positive attitude, and approach to problem-solving have facilitated improvements in the behind-the-scenes systems that support and protect Garney’s employee-owners. Kipp joined Garney in 2015 after working in IT for the Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department for 11 years. He attended Washburn University and holds degrees in information technology and business administration.
Meggan Krase promoted to CFO
May 2020
Garney is pleased to announce the promotion of Meggan Krase to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Throughout her career at Garney, Meggan has demonstrated tremendous work ethic and dedication, which has propelled her to achieve this important position. Her humility, service-minded orientation, and willingness to do whatever it takes demonstrates her commitment to Garney and her team. What’s even more impressive is her courageousness to blaze this trail in a traditionally male-dominated industry like construction. The respect and admiration she has garnered from her peers in operations is a testament to the type of leader she is. Jeff Lacy is leaving a tremendous legacy at the CFO position and replacing this leadership is no small feat. However, Meggan is fully capable of taking the reins and leading the financial side of our company into the future.
Celebrating the life of Steve McCandless
Jul 2019
From our Garney family, it is with great sadness that we share the passing of Steve McCandless – a legacy and friend. Throughout Steve’s 39 years of service, he epitomized Garney’s goals and philosophies. Steve embodied exceptional work ethic, long-term commitment to his clients, partners, and fellow employee-owners, diligence for continuous improvement, and an unwavering passion to Garney. He was truly one of a kind.
Steve started his Garney career in 1979 and was quickly named Vice President. He was integral in shaping an employee-ownership culture of honesty, integrity, and excellence. Steve retired in June of 2018, leaving a profound impact on the company’s success.
“There is a tacit understanding that no future player could ever live up to the number of a legend, whether it be on the field or off.”
It was an honor and a privilege to know Steve. Our thoughts and prayers are with the McCandless family during this incredibly difficult time.
Garney Constructs First of Its Kind Tunnel Rearmoring
Jul 2019
In a highly rural area, at the base of one of the tallest mountains in the lower 48 states, the Mud Mountain Dam towers over the White River in Enumclaw, Washington. Constructed at the base of Mount Rainer in the 1940s by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), it was the tallest rock/earthen dam of its time at a height of 430 feet.
Two tunnels channel the river around and under the dam. A 9-foot-wide tunnel passes normal flows and relieves the pressure of debris buildup on the backside of the dam. The debris flows consist of 2-foot diameter boulders flowing at velocities as high as 75 feet per second. The flat bottom, high carbon steel liner began to develop multiple scour holes after a decade of use and required maintenance repairs one to two times annually.
Awarded the first project of its kind in North America, Garney and our engineering partner, ILF, proposed an innovative approach to reline the tunnel using granite blocks rather than steel. This extended the design life to 40 years and reduced overall construction and capital lifecycle costs.
Garney adopted the concept of using granite for Mud Mountain Dam from the Pfaffensprung tunnel in Switzerland instead of using steel. This tunnel served as a basis for information and inspiration for the alternative granite proposal to USACE.
Garney performed all construction work on the site to line 1,685 linear feet of the 1,800-foot tunnel. A 4-inch layer of cellular concrete was installed over the floor, drains, and alarm system. Precision-cut granite blocks were installed tightly together in a specific sequence on top of the cellular concrete. The scope required dewatering, 1,600 linear feet of 3″ bypass pumping, and temporary power. The main challenge included the logistics of getting the required materials in place.
Check out this video to learn more about this forward-thinking project.
Garney Joins Water Design-Build Council
Jul 2019
As collaborative delivery has taken a stronghold in our industry, the need to create consistent best practices has generated multiple organizations that provide resources to owners, engineers, and contractors.
Originally formed in 2006, the Water Design-Build Council (WDBC) is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to advance the development and rehabilitation of the nation’s municipal water and wastewater systems through the use of the design-build and construction management at risk (CMAR) methods of project delivery.
Comprised of engineering and construction leaders in the industry, Garney is excited to now be a part of the council helping shape the future of collaborative delivery.
Learn more about North America’s leading educational resource for best practices in water design-build delivery on the Water Design-Build Council’s website
Garney acquires Warren Environmental and A&W Maintenance
Nov 2018
Garney acquires Massachusetts-based companies, Warren Environmental and A&W Maintenance. Warren Environmental manufacturers epoxies that offer a cost-effective option to coat, protect, and rehabilitate pipelines and structures with minimal downtime. A&W Maintenance is Warren’s applicator and trains all of Warren Environmental’s approved applicators worldwide.
This acquisition expands Garney’s capabilities in the water and wastewater market, and for the first time in the company’s history, Garney is a product manufacturer. As a 100% employee owned company, Garney provides Warren Environmental and A&W Maintenance with significant resources and financial strength for continued long-term growth in the epoxy coating industry. It also assures their current and future employees gain a beneficial ownership interest in the combined companies without any personal investment.
“It was very important that our team of incredible employees be secure and thrive after the sale of our companies,” said Danny Warren, President of Warren Environmental and A&W Maintenance. “Garney’s employee owned structure provides that.”
Warren Environmental and A&W Maintenance were founded by Danny and Jane Warren nearly 35 years ago. The companies were established with the goal of protecting the environment and developing safer 100% solids epoxy coatings and application technologies. Danny and Jane Warren will remain in their current positions to drive continued success.
“It will be exciting to be a part of the future growth that Garney will accelerate because of their footprint in the industry,” said Jane Warren.
Garney is excited to welcome both organizations as our newest employee‐owners. Our combined strengths will enable both organizations to continue leading the water and wastewater industry.
Leadership promotions at Garney
Oct 2018
October 2018
Scott Parrish has been promoted to President of Garney Construction.
Scott joined Garney in 1988 as a Laborer, learning the field skills necessary to be an effective builder of water and wastewater projects. These skills proved valuable in becoming a leading Project Manager and Estimator of pipeline projects throughout his 30-year career at the company. In his new role, Scott has oversight for all company operations, including resource management, employee development, and operational strategy. Scott has been responsible for some of Garney’s most high-profile projects, including the Vista Ridge Water Supply Project – the largest P3 water project in the history of the United States. Scott’s role as President allows current CEO, Mike Heitmann, to focus on longer-term aspects of the company’s growth, such as succession, strategic vision, and acquisitions.
Matt Foster has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Western Pipe Operations.
In this role, he is responsible for the organization and management of Garney’s pipe operations in the Western United States. Matt oversees project pursuits and operations across multiple projects throughout this region. These projects focus primarily on large diameter water and sewer pipelines in varying ground conditions. Matt joined Garney in 1993 after graduating from Kansas State University. He is based in Garney’s Kansas City headquarters.
Garney enters Business Journal Hall of Champions
Jun 2018
JUNE 2018 – Garney was honored with the Kansas City Business Journal’s 2018 Champions of Business award. The program recognized 15 companies based in the Kansas City area that are committed to the community, innovators in their industry, and strong financial performers. This year, Garney was inducted into the Hall of Champions as a three-time award recipient.
Garney’s success story begins in 1961, when Charles Garney left his father’s Kansas City plumbing business to start his own pipeline and utility construction company. Nearly 60 years and several acquisitions later, Garney is recognized as one of the nation’s leading contractors in water and wastewater systems, working with municipalities, private developers, and industrial users nationwide.
“Our proactive approach and problem-solving mindset with our customers, our non-confrontative approach with our suppliers and subcontractors, and the sharing of our success with our employees distinguishes us from our competitors,” President and CEO Mike Heitmann said.
Building the ideal employee owned company
Jun 2018
JUNE 2018 – In partnership with the Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (ESCA), Garney participated in two videos featuring the role that private, employee owned companies play in the American economy. Across every major industry, S corporation companies are comprised of more than 800,000 employee-owners, reaping the benefits of employee ownership through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Garney is fortunate to share in this powerful solution for economic growth.
Thank you to all of our employee-owners and clients who help make Garney the ideal employee owned company.