Forbes Names Garney ‘Best Place to Work’
Aug 2017
Garney has claimed a spot on a new “best places” list of mid-sized employers published by Forbes. Among the top 300 U.S. employers, Garney is humbled to be recognized No. 149 on Forbes’ America’s Best Midsize Employers. Forbes’ list ranks companies with 1,000 to 5,000 employees based on a survey that asked employees how likely they were to recommend their workplaces to family or friends.
“Garney is fortunate to be 100% employee owned — it’s the foundation of our culture,” said Mike Heitmann, President and CEO of Garney Construction. “When you’re an owner, you care more about the company. It has defined our culture and our success.”
Forbes partnered with Statista to survey 30,000 employees from firms across the country on their workplace cultures.
“Garney’s employee ownership, coupled with our reputation as a leader in the industry, has created this environment where we continue to grow and invest in the development of our employee-owners.”
“We continue to see historic growth at the company. Even throughout the slowdown of the economic downturn several years ago, we continued to grow. The market we are in now is much stronger, and has put Garney in a position to grow even faster.”
For a full list of companies that earned spots on America’s Best Midsize Employers, click here.
Vista Ridge Recognized Internationally, Winning Top Water Awards
Apr 2017
APRIL 2017 – As the largest privately financed water project to close in North America to date, Vista Ridge has received top honors on a global platform. The $927 million project will support the construction of a well field, pump stations, 142-mile water pipeline, and terminus site carried out by the Vista Ridge consortium led by Garney P3 with the construction contract executed by Garney Construction.
Vista Ridge was named North America Water Deal of the Year by IJGlobal and Project Finance International (PFI). Both organizations celebrate industry excellence on a global scale, with IJ Global recognizing the best in energy and infrastructure and PFI honoring project finance professionals. Garney accepted the awards on February 1 in London and March 15 in New York.
On April 24, Vista Ridge was awarded Water Deal of the Year by Global Water Intelligence (GWI) in Madrid, Spain. Vista Ridge was up against three impressive competitors: a desalinization plant in Aqaba, Jordan; a sea-water reverse osmosis plant in Oman; and, a water treatment plant in the Bulcan Province of the Philippines.
International attention on Vista Ridge developed when the original equity partner encountered financial difficulties and Garney stepped up to assume a leadership position. San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. The Vista Ridge Regional Water Supply Project remains a critical project for helping San Antonio secure their water future. Vista Ridge will expand San Antonio’s water supply by 20 percent, decreasing pressure on the sensitive Edwards Aquifer, which is subject to federal, state, and regional pumping regulations.
Water supply is expected to flow by 2020, complementing SAWS’ continued conservation efforts and development of water resources as San Antonio adds an additional one million residents by 2040.
“Vista Ridge, Garney P3, and Garney Construction are all humbled by the international recognition associated with this momentous P3 project,” said Scott Parrish, Chief Operating Officer of Garney Construction. “We look forward to successfully delivering this project on time and on budget to do our part in helping secure San Antonio’s water future.”
Garney Reaches Financial Close on Vista Ridge Water Supply Project
Nov 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 — Financial close has been reached on the Vista Ridge Water Supply Project, allowing Garney to begin overseeing the design, construction, and financing of a 142-mile pipeline. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, the 142-mile pipeline is a critical project for San Antonio as it will deliver 16.3 billion gallons of water to the rapidly growing community.
The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) board voted unanimously to consent to the financial close. Garney will continue to assume the regulatory, financial, and construction risk of the project. This public-private partnership (P3) venture is a significant milestone for Garney. It signifies Garney’s ability to invest in the financial and logistical requirements to undertake the $927 million program.
Vista Ridge will expand San Antonio’s water supply by 20 percent, decreasing pressure on the sensitive Edwards Aquifer, which is subject to federal, state and regional pumping regulations. SAWS is a national leader in water conservation, and the Vista Ridge pipeline will complement SAWS’ continued conservation efforts and development of other water resources as San Antonio adds one million residents by 2040.
Construction is set to begin in early 2017 and last through 2019, with water flowing in early 2020. SAWS and its customers will only pay for the water that actually makes it to San Antonio. After 30 years, in 2050, SAWS would own the pipeline.
“Achieving financial close is a huge milestone and development of this important project,” said Scott Parrish, Chief Operating Officer of Garney Construction. “Our team is ready to commence construction and be in a position to deliver water to San Antonio in 2020.”
Talking Shop with Tim Porter: Driving Future Growth within the Power and Industrial Market
Oct 2016
OCTOBER 2016 – Since joining Garney six months ago, Tim Porter has developed impressive growth within the power and industrial market. Porter joined Garney in April 2016 as Business Development Manager with a sole focus to broaden Garney’s client base in the power and industrial market sector throughout the United States. He brings 27 years of experience in the private sector, primarily within the power market delivering large-scale water supply and related infrastructure. This week, Porter sat down to share insight on the direction of the market and the plan for the future.
With more than 27 years of private and industrial construction expertise, what prompted you to join Garney?
Garney is a national leader in the water resource market. With the power and industrial market on a slow but steady comeback, I saw Garney in a great position to where I could help leverage Garney’s leadership role, national footprint, and established industry relationships within the market sector.
What have you learned at Garney within the past six months that will drive future growth in the private market sector?
As a previous competitor of Garney’s, I was surprised to learn the level of commitment to attracting bright young talent. Combining this with the long-term experienced ‘gray beards’ is a solid package for growth.
One challenge is transitioning some of the relationship capitol of the established individuals so the company can maintain a network of layers with our clients and engineering partners.
How will you leverage Garney’s expertise in water and wastewater infrastructure within this market segment?
We have already begun by bringing young talent to lead complicated power and industrial projects. This exposure will pay dividends for many years to come. It also creates an urgency for managers to share their skills and expertise. The challenge is this requires more time from an already stretched contingency of the company.
From your perspective, what challenges must the power and industrial market overcome with regard to stringent regulations in maintaining existing infrastructure?
The complete lack of a comprehensive energy plan in our country has hindered the power market for nearly all of my career. Regulatory impacts and unrealistic timelines have forced closures of many valuable assets within the coal and nuclear segment prior to the end of their anticipated design life. These types of assets will not be easily rebuilt in a pinch.
Garney stands to benefit from the most recent regulatory assault. The new ELG (Effluent Limitation Guidelines) regulations will prohibit coal-fired power plants from discharging ash related effluent through current permitted outfalls. This in itself creates pipeline and treatment opportunities, but the short deadline creates urgency that will consume all of the capable contractors and vendors’ resources. Garney is working to position ourselves to capitalize on this perfect storm via strong joint venture agreements and building new relationships with Owners.
What is unique about working in the power and industrial market?
The power and industrial markets present tough projects with tight timelines that force contractors to hit the ground running with very little design completed. Contractors who stub their toe early can face crippling damages along with being ostracized in the industry.
What is your strategy for success?
It may sound simple, but I believe in showing up. So many people are content to work through email and long distance communication. It is nearly impossible to build a strong relationship and garner the type of insight necessary to solve a client’s issues from afar. Once you show up, be a resource. There are plenty of vendors who will buy lunch but fail to deliver any value. If you spend time with the client, it is almost impossible not to learn about the business. Once you do that, try to understand what they want before you get to what you want.
2016 Objectives Built on 55 Years of Tradition
Jan 2016
JANUARY 2016 — The start of a new year inevitably evokes a time of reflection and the opportunity to ignite change. In 2016, that reflection for Garney will be marked by celebrating 55 years in business. Since 1961, the company has thrived on our goals and philosophies of integrity, excellence, and fairness with our customers. These goals and philosophies have always been a mainstay of our organization, leading Garney to more than a decade of dominance in the rankings as one the nation’s leading water contractors.
As we enter 2016, Mike Heitmann, President & CEO, has developed Garney’s annual objectives in parallel with the foundation that Charles Garney brought to the company 55 years ago. Garney’s 2016 company objectives will leverage focus in three aspects:
SAFETY
Garney will maintain a steadfast focus on safety. It is incumbent upon each employee-owner to live our safety culture and take ownership in performing every activity. Safety is truly number one with Garney and safety will never be sacrificed for productivity.
STRENGTHEN THE TEAM
The company’s consistent growth will continue to drive mentorship and employee development to equip our employee-owners for new opportunities and a strong market.
NEW INITIATIVES
With several new initiatives underway, including new business ventures of Garney Federal and Garney Pacific, Garney will enhance strategic planning and implementation to generate success in these arenas.
Although Garney has experienced a rapid start to 2016, the company is not without vision and inspiration built on timeless goals and philosophies.
Garney Salutes Vice President Tom Dahl in Retirement
Jan 2016
JANUARY 2016 — Tom Dahl has retired following 25 years of illustrious service with Garney. Dahl joined Garney in May 1991 and since that time, he has orchestrated the company’s accounting and financial reporting systems, financial planning, banking and bonding relations, and administration of the employee stock ownership plan and benefit plans.
Most notably, Dahl’s impact on the employee stock ownership plan has been crucial to Garney’s success over the past 25 years. During his tenure, Dahl worked closely with the company’s Board of Directors in the areas of strategic planning, executive compensation, acquisitions, investments, and valuation of the company’s stock. He also served as an advisory member of the Board’s investment committee and managed the company’s investment funds.
Jeff Lacy, Chief Financial Officer, Tom Roberts, Director – Financial Reporting, and Meggan Krase, Director – Corporate Controller, will ensure continuity and continuing excellence as Garney moves forward in this transition.