ENR Top 600 US Specialty Contractors 2010
ENR Top 600 US Specialty Contractors 2010
The recession took a brutal toll on many large specialty contractors and subcontractors as they
burned through backlogs built up in the boom years. The economic impact is clear: ENR's Top
600 Specialty Contractors had a combined revenue of $72.55 billion in 2009, down 16.6% from
2008. Of the 536 companies on this year's list that also submitted surveys last year, 414 saw
declines in revenue in 2009, while 117 had increases in revenue. They expect more of the same
in 2010.
Main Content:
Article:
Hanging On Despite Hard Times
Ranking:
The Top 600 Specialty Contractors List
Data Tables:
Hanging
On Despite
Hard Times
In this recession, most large specialty contractors and subs are
willing to sacrifice the top line to preserve a healthy bottom line
For many firms in the construction indus- year. Of that group, 414 saw a drop in
try, the market recession is well into its 2009 revenue from 2008 levels. Only 117
third year, and most executives believe it firms had increased revenue levels—barely
shows no signs of abating. Specialty con- one in five grew in 2009—while five had
tractors and subcontractors have been hit revenue that was essentially flat.
particularly hard; few had healthy back- Most specialty contractors believe
logs to tide them over for an extended there will be no major turnaround any
period of time. time soon. “I don’t see
Many large specialty things getting any
contractors have gone worse—just more of the
into survival mode, ac- same,” says Tony Guzzi,
cepting lower revenue president of EMCOR
levels, pursuing only Group. “People are pre-
those projects that make pared to deal with the
sense and only working slow market for the next
with customers and part- 12 to 18 months.”
ners they trust. “There isn’t any light
The impact of the switch that will come on
downturn can be mea- to turn around the mar-
sured by the results of ket,” says Mark Ron-
the ENR Top 600 Spe- deau, manager of busi-
cialty Contractors survey. The Top 600 as ness development for Dunkin & Bush.
a group had contracting revenue of $72.55 “We were hoping for a turnaround in Sep-
billion in 2009, a drop from $87.02 bil- tember 2010, but now we are looking to
lion, or 16.6%, for the group in 2008. September 2011,” says John Boncher,
The scale of the downturn can be seen recently-appointed chief executive officer
in the individual responses to the Top 600 of Cupertino Electric. However, he says
survey. A total of 536 companies on this predicting the market is difficult at this
year’s Top 600 also sent in surveys last point. “Going out any farther than the
40 ENR October 11, 2010 enr.com
“
current project cycle is just guesswork.”
2010 Top 600
at a Glance Two Markets
The recession has forced a tough decision:
You have to learn
Volume Bid for quantity or quality. “It takes some to say no to bad
2009
($ mIL.)
2008 %
($ MIL.) change
real courage to shrink your top line,” says
Guzzi. EMCOR’s revenue was down last deals in bidding,
REVENUE 72,554.0 87,016.3 -16.6 year from 2008, and the firm reluctantly where the [firm
laid people off. “But the alternative was to
that makes the]
NEW CONTRACTS 60,856.1 75,013.0 -18.9
chase anything, and we have been trying
really hard not to take bad jobs,” he says. biggest mistake
”
Market Analysis Many larger contractors are becoming
REVENUE PERCENT more selective in the projects they pursue. wins the job.
TYPE OF WORK $ MIL. OF TOTAL “There are two markets out there: a price-
BUILDING 35,216.8 48.5 driven market and a value-driven market,” – CHarlie bacon, CEO
HAZARDOUS WASTE 748.1 1.0 says Dave Suder, CEO of KHS&S. He Limbach Facility Services
INDUSTRIAL 3,536.8 4.9 says his firm avoids the hard-bid market
MANUFACTURING 4,751.7 6.5 because of the risks to the bottom line. people still need gasoline and they still
OTHER 2,105.0 2.9 “You have to learn to say no to bad need power, so our customers still have to
PETROLEUM 5,732.8 7.9 deals in bidding, where the [firm that keep their industrial infrastructure main-
POWER 8,488.1 11.7 makes the] biggest mistake wins the job,” tained,” says Rondeau.
SEWER/WASTE 2,041.4 2.8 says Charlie Bacon, CEO of Limbach Fa- “There is work around, but the prices
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 4,158.6 5.7 cility Services. He says the firm recently on the smaller projects are very competi-
TRANSPORTATION 4,947.7 6.8 was invited by a general contractor to tive,” says J. Robert Mann, chairman of
WATER 826.9 1.1 partner on a project, but the GC said the E-J Electric Installation. He says E-J
owner insisted on bringing in a dozen Electric is tracking several large, complex
other bidders. “We appreciated the offer, projects coming up for bid in New York
Profitability but we had to decline,” Bacon says. City where few electrical subcontractors
NUMBER OF FIRMS Times are tough, but some say the have the size and expertise to tackle the
REPORTING AVERAGE % OF sense of doom and gloom may be over- job. E-J Electric is part of the team that
PROFIT LOSS PROFIT LOSS
blown. “People tend to go into a recession won the job to build the Barclays Center
FIRMS REPORTING 532 39 7.3 NA
as optimists, believing that things will in Brooklyn.
turn around quickly,” says E. Colette Nel- There are some signs of an uptick in
son, CEO of the American Subcontrac- the market. “We are seeing the pipeline
specialties tors Association, Alexandria, Va. How- improve. We tracked a 22% increase in
REVENUE PERCENT ever, she says once a recession lengthens, opportunities in the last quarter,” says Ba-
TYPE OF WORK $ MIL. OF TOTAL
people in the construction industry tend con. He concedes this activity does not
ASBESTOS ABATEMENT 551.8 0.8
to turn pessimistic until a recovery is well constitute a recovery, but it is a positive
CONCRETE 4,658.6 6.4
under way. She says people are beginning indicator.
DEMOLITION/WRECKING 940.5 1.3
to get work. Many firms look with skepticism at
ELECTRICAL 19,134.2 26.4
Many subs say that there still is work federal stimulus packages. Guzzi says the
EXCAVATION/FOUNDATION 2,255.6 3.1
out there. “The difference between this $50-billion infrastructure stimulus bill
GLAZING/CURTAIN WALL 1,515.8 2.1
market and the one in the early 1990s is proposed last month would not be enough
MASONRY 677.4 0.9
that there is work to bid this time around,” to affect the market. “The commercial
MECHANICAL 16,169.6 22.3
says Suder. He notes that the total U.S. market is dead, and there’s not enough
PAINTING 873.9 1.2
market still is about $900 billion. He says money … on the federal and state level to
ROOFING 1,680.1 2.3
KHS&S’s market is on par with what it take up the slack,” says Mike Taylor, ex-
SHEET METAL 992.1 1.4
was in 2004. “We thought 2004 was a re- ecutive director of the National Demoli-
STEEL ERECTION 1,044.7 1.4
ally good year. You just have to do your tion Association, Doylestown, Pa.
UTILITY 4,105.4 5.7
job, and your revenue will be what it will Guzzi says American corporations
WALL 2,914.8 4.0 be,” he says. have an estimated $1.8 trillion in cash on
OTHER 15,039.5 20.7 On the industrial-services side, it is no hand. “Once there is more certainty on
NA=not available
different. “Capital spending is down, but federal tax and energy policy, some of that
42 ENR October 11, 2010 enr.com
money may start being spent on hiring eral building boom, but it also has a sub- Some say European money will con-
and capital programs,” Guzzi says. “Pub- stantial presence in the health-care and tinue to enter the U.S. market. Andy
lic spending will not end the market reces- education markets, Lynch says. For ex- Walker, CEO of Nicholson Construction,
sion. Private spending will.” ample, the firm was part of the design- says European firms recently have ac-
Some firms have been able to avoid build team that recently won the quired several heavy and civil contractors
some of the impact of the recession thanks $500-million hospital project at Fort in the New York City area, including Se-
to the markets they serve and the services Hood in Texas. caucus, N.J.-based Schiavone Construc-
they provide. M.C. Dean managed to in- tion by Spain’s Grupo ACS and Holmdel,
crease its revenue in 2009 despite the Mergers and Acquisitions N.J.-based E.E. Cruz by Germany’s
downturn. “We did this by being diverse The recession has many owners of spe- Hochtief.
in both the buildings and infrastructure cialty contractors looking to get out of the Some firms are holding fast. “We are
markets,” says CEO Bill Dean, noting the business, rather than going through tough a group of roofing executives with 30-plus
firm just won a major life-safety contract times one more time. But owners looking years in the industry, not a roll-up,” says
with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid to sell have seen multiples fall rapidly, de- Richard M. Nugent, CEO of Nations
Transit Authority. valuing the equity in their firms. Thus, Roof. “We have no interest in buying
Dean also notes that his firm has had while these owners may want to cash in other roofers. When we expand, we do
major successes in the manufacturing and get out, they are reluctant to do so at start-up offices.” He says the cost and risk
market in the South. “That has made up rock-bottom prices, which has caused a of starting up in a new location make ex-
for the falloff in the commercial market.” falloff in the amount of transactions. pansion a bad idea in this market.
Further, M.C. Dean has won some big However, Guzzi of EMCOR believes
contracts in the health-care market. the industry is nearing a tipping point on Holding On
Another firm that has been helped by M&A activity. He says many owners were For the past 18 months, industry execu-
its diversity is Southland Industries. “We waiting for the market to get better to sell tives have been predicting the recession
now do more business outside of our at a higher multiple, but they now believe and aggressive bidding would cause a
home state of California than within it,” the turnaround may be two to three years wave of contractor failures; however, there
says Ted Lynch, regional president. away. “They may not want to wait that has been little evidence of widespread
Southland has benefited from the fed- long,” he says. bankruptcies. “We have seen a couple of
electrical
2009 revenue % chg. 2009 revenue % chg.
Rank Firm ($ Mil.) ‘08-09 Rank Firm ($ Mil.) ‘08-09
1 EMCOR Group Inc. 1,664.4 -30 26 Guarantee Electrical Co. 179.0 +13
2 Rosendin Electric Inc. 658.0 -26 27 Parsons Electric 172.5 -18
3 M.C. Dean Inc. 642.5 +32 28 Walker Engineering Inc. 162.8 -24
4 Integrated Electrical Services Inc. 638.4 -20 29 E-J Electric Installation Co. 151.0 -13
5 MYR Group Inc. 631.2 +2 30 Gaylor Inc. 144.3 -20
6 Fisk 625.0 +38 31 Redwood City Electric Inc. 140.4 -22
7 Bergelectric Corp. 423.3 -10 32 Continental Electrical Construction Co. 140.0 -42
8 MMR Group Inc. 385.0 +20 33 Gill-Simpson 139.5 +93
9 The Newtron Group LLC 365.0 -5 34 Tri-City Electrical Contractors Inc. 133.0 -30
10 Truland Systems Corp. 350.3 +15 35 Hatzel & Buehler Inc. 132.0 -12
11 Greenstar Services Corp. 347.2 -9 36 Cleveland Electric Co. 131.7 +1
12 Helix Electric Inc. 343.0 +1 37 Inglett & Stubbs LLC 129.2 -9
13 Cupertino Electric Inc. 305.0 -23 38 The State Group 128.5 -20
14 Morrow-Meadows Corp. 279.0 +4 39 Freestate Electrical Service Co. 125.5 NA
15 Aldridge Electric Inc. 272.2 +10 40 Wellington Power Corp. 124.0 +67
16 Sachs Electric Co. 263.5 -10 41 YTG LLC 123.9 -27
17 Mass. Electric Construction Co. 262.5 +5 42 New River Electrical Corp. 109.7 -26
18 Wayne J. Griffin Electric Inc. 238.7 -1 43 Sullivan & McLaughlin Cos. Inc. 108.1 -16
19 Hunt Electric Corp. 231.6 +10 44 Valley Electric Co. of Mount Vernon Inc. 107.0 NA
20 ISC 223.0 +8 45 Ludvik Electric Co. 104.2 +18
21 Faith Technologies Inc. 219.0 -4 46 Sprig Electric 104.0 NA
22 Miller Electric Co. 214.3 -28 47 Ardent Services 103.4 -18
23 Cache Valley Electric Co. 195.6 -7 48 Cochran Inc. 101.7 NA
24 Unity International Group Inc. 189.4 -11 49 APi Group Inc. 99.9 -11
25 Motor City Electric Co. 182.0 -31 50 Quanta Services Inc. 99.5 +32
NA=not available
mechanical
2009 revenue % chg. 2009 revenue % chg.
Rank Firm ($ Mil.) ‘08-09 Rank Firm ($ Mil.) ‘08-09
1 EMCOR Group Inc. 2,441.1 -14 26 Sauer Inc. 139.0 -8
2 Comfort Systems USA Inc. 1,117.6 +9 27 Murray Co. 136.0 -5
3 Acco Engineered Systems Inc. 525.0 -14 28 McCarl’s Inc. 131.0 -9
4 Southland Industries 445.0 -6 29 University Mechanical Contractors Inc. 130.0 +41
5 Harder Mechanical Contractors Inc. 367.0 +38 30 Corval Group Inc. 129.7 +49
6 McKinstry 350.5 -16 31 Hill Mechanical Group 126.9 -33
7 APi Group Inc. 312.1 -11 32 MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions 124.0 NA
8 TDIndustries 299.0 -8 33 Elkhorn Holdings Inc. 120.3 +7
9 Nooter Construction Co. 289.8 +3 34 John W. Danforth Co. 115.6 +8
10 Limbach Facility Services LLC 246.4 -17 35 Pierce Associates Inc. 114.3 +39
11 Kinetics 238.4 -28 36 Worth & Co. Inc. 114.2 +14
12 MMC Corp. 233.5 +21 37 Ceco Construction Group 113.9 +15
13 Murphy Co. Mechanical Contractors & Engrs. 224.2 -16 38 J.C. Cannistraro LLC 112.0 -13
14 Critchfield Mechanical Inc. 205.2 +88 39 A.O. Reed & Co. 111.5 +10
15 U.S. Engineering Co. 202.0 +13 40 Harris Cos. 106.6 NA
16 W.E. Bowers 196.5 +4 41 Coastal Mechanical Group 106.2 -26
17 Ivey Mechanical Co. 195.0 +5 42 The State Group 105.1 -17
18 John E. Green Co. 189.5 -19 43 Scheck Industries 104.6 -10
19 J. F. Ahern Co. 181.2 -15 44 Yearout Mechanical Inc. 102.2 +9
20 Brandt 177.6 -23 45 Bahnson Holdings Inc. 98.5 -24
21 Titan Contracting/Horn Industrial Services 175.0 +8 46 Hermanson Co. LLP 98.0 -4
22 RK Mechanical Inc. 164.9 +12 47 Letsos Co. 97.0 +6
23 Apollo Sheet Metal Inc. 150.0 NA 48 Mechanical Inc. 96.1 -33
24 Fresh Meadow Mechanical Corp. 145.8 -22 49 Universal Plant Services Inc. 94.3 NA
25 Greenstar Services Corp. 145.6 -10 50 Warwick Plumbing & Heating 92.3 -10
NA=not available
contractor failures and some that have had welcome. “We like it because maybe it that subs should be careful if contract re-
their credit lines pulled, but I thought we will help weed out some of the less reli- quirements or conditions look too oner-
would see more,” says Bacon. Sureties able general contractors,” says Walker of ous. “Sometimes, the best jobs are the
don’t see a wave of firms going out of Nicholson Construction. ones you never took.”
businesss any time soon, says Bacon. Many subs say the surety market is Nicholson Construction’s Walker
Many contractors have maintained tightening up. “Bonding is tight, and sure- agrees, saying, “The bad guys [among
good business practices, but others have ties are making you dot all the i’s and cross GCs] are getting worse, and the good
been bidding wildly. Suder saw a bid all the t’s, but that benefits the healthy guys are under pressure to push subs.” He
spread for a school drywall contract that contractors and is good business,” says says some GCs are attempting to cut costs
ranged from $1.5 million to $3.6 million. Mann of E-J Electric. and retain profits by self-performing the
“How do you leave that much on the table Unlike the past couple downturns, more simple tasks they used to sub out.
in a 3%-margin business?” he says. there have been fewer complaints about “That isn’t always the wisest decision.”
Owners and GCs are growing increas- predatory practices by general contractors A buyers’ market is tilting the playing
ingly wary of subcontractors’ financial during this recession. “The major GCs field. “Owners are taking a much tougher
health. “Clients are looking for more are being really fair,” says Mann. “GCs stance on things like change orders,” says
prequalification and background checks,” are requiring competitive pricing, but Boncher. “Whenever the issue comes up,
says Burt Fried, chairman of LVI Services. they also appreciate quality and are will- the first word out of their mouths seem to
While subs once would have had to com- ing to pay a little more for it,” Mann says. be ‘no.’ ” He says GCs and subs have to
plete a one-page form, prequalification “Owners are beating up on everyone, so spend increasing amounts of time and ef-
forms now can run to a dozen pages of GCs and subs see that they are all in the fort to get paid for changes. “So those
detailed questions, he says. same boat and are working together,” contractors that bid low and hope to make
ASA is conducting workshops on how adds Boncher. it up on change orders risk getting into
subs can present themselves effectively to Nelson thinks there are not as many trouble,” Boncher says.
GCs and owners. “The prequalification predatory practices being used by GCs But ASA’s Nelson warns that strict
document is not just a piece of paper but during this recession as compared to past contract enforcement by owners can cut
a means to sell yourself,” says Nelson. downturns, saying, “It is not as pervasive, both ways. “With margins so tight, GCs
For some, this increased scrutiny is but it still is going on.” Nelson cautions and subcontractors may also be less will-
46 ENR October 11, 2010 enr.com
masonry concrete
2009 revenue % chg. 2009 revenue % chg.
Rank Firm ($ Mil.) ‘08-09 Rank Firm ($ Mil.) ‘08-09
1 Western Construction Group 56.0 -33 1 Baker Concrete Construction Inc. 912.0 +19
2 McGee Brothers Co. Inc. 48.1 -51 2 Structural Group 429.0 -1
3 Sun Valley Masonry Inc. 46.0 -37 3 Ceco Construction Group 314.6 -34
4 Seedorff Masonry Inc. 43.9 -11 4 United Forming Inc. 176.3 -27
5 Pompano Masonry Corp. 42.2 +26 5 Keystone Concrete Placement 170.0 -36
6 GUlf Shores Consulting & Acquisitions LLC 41.7 NA 6 Gate Construction Materials Group 168.0 -41
7 C.A. Lindman Cos. 40.5 -16 7 GUlf Shores Consulting & Acquisitions LLC 166.6 NA
8 Wilks Masonry Corp. 35.2 -23 8 Schuster Concrete Construction 133.0 +49
9 Lucia LLC 33.4 +67 9 Bomel Construction Co. Inc. 120.0 -63
10 WASCO Inc. 33.3 -22 10 T.A.S. Commercial Concrete Construction LLC 117.2 -53
11 Pyramid Masonry Contractors Inc. 27.4 -35 11 McHugh Concrete Construction 117.0 -45
12 B.W. Dexter II Inc. 24.8 +35 12 Capform Inc. 115.3 -26
13 Dee Brown Inc. 24.4 -22 13 S&F Concrete Contractors Inc. 111.0 -28
14 Fred Kinateder Masonry 22.3 +10 14 T.B. Penick & Sons Inc. 105.0 -3
15 John J. Smith Masonry Co. 21.5 -8 15 High Concrete Group LLC 103.6 -16
16 Northland Concrete & Masonry Co. LLC 20.5 -51 16 S.B. Ballard Construction Co. 91.0 -29
17 Old North State Masonry LLC 18.1 -8 17 Suntec Concrete 85.0 -26
18 Masonry Arts Inc. 17.9 -54 18 Concrete Strategies LLC 72.0 +20
19 The Witmer Group 16.5 -19 19 Southland Concrete Corp. 70.5 -36
20 Ziolkowski Construction Inc. 15.4 -36 20 Western Construction Group 64.6 -19
NA=not available NA=not available
ing to perform courtesy changes that may try to be all things to all people.” who is the former CEO of MACTEC, an
cut into their bottom lines, the way they For many specialty contractors, deci- Alpharetta, Ga.-based engineering firm.
did in the past,” she says. sions made years ago are paying off now. “We are moving into the power, industrial
“We [prepared] ourselves … for bad times and hydrocarbon markets, and Scott’s ex-
Managing for Success six to seven years ago by diversifying,” perience at MACTEC in those markets
Bacon of Limbach cautions that subs must says Walker. By providing a broad variety will help us do that,” says Fried, LVI’s
get smarter about managing their compa- of product lines and expanding geograph- chairman.
nies to survive, saying, “You don’t succeed ically, Nicholson has been able to do well Fried says LVI is targeting the Dept.
simply by bidding lower. You have to im- in a down market, according to Walker. of Energy’s decommissioning program, in
prove efficiency.” Limbach has been im- “I pity firms with just one specialty in a which State has experience. Finally, LVI
plementing a variety of lean construction limited geographic market,” he says. has its eye on the international market and
practices, including the use of building Limbach is improving efficiency by us- now is expanding into the U.K. and the
information modeling and working with ing prefabrication and off-site system as- Middle East.
designers, general contractors and suppli- sembly. “We can now complete up to 40-
ers on how to squeeze waste out of the ft mechanical sections and ship them to Green Energy
process. the site on tractor-trailers to hang on Green building continues to be strong,
Many firms have learned lessons from site,” says Bacon. He says this process is but the emphasis is shifting toward energy
the past that they are now applying to the not only more efficient but safer. efficiency. “We are expanding our work
current downturn. For example, the sud- LVI is another firm that is making a in green and photovoltaic roofing,” says
den spike in steel prices seven years ago few changes to improve efficiency. “We Nugent of Nations Roof. Using the right
hit The Williams Group hard, and the have been asked by clients to take on more design and installation can turn a roof
firm struggled for several years before responsibilities,” says Fried. In the past, from an expense to a profit center, accord-
coming back to financial health. “We have for example, LVI would sub out many ing to Nugent.
consolidated our fabrication work and tasks. “We are now doing more self-per- The data-center market is also active.
have strategically upgraded our equip- form. It reassures the client on scheduling As data centers require a lot of energy to
ment to help,” says Marianne Pastor, vice and process, and it avoids factoring in operate, power-usage effectiveness
president. “We have been very methodical double margins into bids,” he says. (PUE)—the number of watts of power it
in what we bid on and how we deal with LVI is one of the many firms making takes to supply one watt of power to the
suppliers.” The company is sticking to moves to expand into other markets. To servers—is the key to measuring energy
what it does best, she says. “Now it is crit- this end, on Sept. 27, the company ap- efficiency. “Energy is one of the biggest
ical to shepherd your resources and not pointed as president and CEO Scott State, overhead items, so PUE is one of the most
48 ENR October 11, 2010 enr.com
critical concerns for the owner,” says progress are in the building’s skin. “The ment. “We hear [Peoria, Ill.-based] Cat-
Boncher of Cupertino Electric. He says building envelope is one area where a lot erpillar is introducing a new 30/70/100
innovative design can reduce the PUE of energy can be saved, but I haven’t seen line of demolition-friendly excavators,”
significantly. Cupertino recently com- any surge in interest,” says Mic Patterson, he says. Taylor says German-based equip-
pleted work on a data-center project that director of strategic development for cur- ment manufacturer Liebherr will be mar-
has a very efficient 1.08 PUE, compared tain-wall giant Enclos Corp. He says that, keting a new series of attachments for the
with the industry average of 1.92. because of the cost, facade retrofits are demolition market this year.
Energy retrofits is another area of op- among the last to be considered. “Mostly,
portunity. The National Electrical Con- we see low-E films being applied.” Research and Development
tractors Association, Bethesda, Md., is Part of the impact of the recession is Many subs are not standing still in the
working with its members to penetrate that prices of materials and equipment slow market, and a few are investing in
this sector. “This is a big market, and we have fallen or stabilized. “Steel prices have new processes and practices. Enclos Corp.
are offering training programs in how to been steady,” says Pastor of The Williams is one firm that is putting a lot of empha-
provide energy-efficiency services,” says Group. She has heard that steel imported sis on research and development. “We
John Grau, NECA’s CEO. from Canadian producers has brought have created an advanced technology stu-
But Grau says that many electrical down prices for some projects that do not dio to research everything from thermal
contractors are used to bidding through contain local-content requirements, such to acoustical properties in the building
general contractors and do not know how as on federal projects. envelope,” says Enclos’ Patterson. He says
to effectively market directly to owners. The recession also has had an effect on the industry has a bad record of investing
NECA also is offering a program for equipment prices and availability. “Two in R&D, but Enclos believes the compa-
members on how to sell to potential cli- or three years ago, you couldn’t rent a hy- nies that come out of the recession with
ents, Grau says. draulic rig. Now, everyone has anything new and effective products will have a big
Many firms are taking advantage of you need,” says Walker. “There is a lot of advantage.
this opportunity. “We are hiring staff with heavy-iron, top-flight stuff available now,” In addition, Enclos is retooling its
experience marketing directly to the C- says Taylor of the National Demolition marketing. Patterson notes that the typi-
suite level—the CEOs and CFOs,” says Association; this surplus has helped NDA cal contractor website is little more than
Bacon. He says the firm is concentrating members make major equipment pur- a company brochure. Instead, Enclos is
on the hospital market and smaller col- chases and upgrades. including on its websites technical docu-
leges. “We call the group Limbach En- However, Taylor says the recession has ments and instructional guidelines to help
ergy Services Division.” not stopped some of the major equipment educate potential clients on the language
Energy retrofits that are slow to make companies from marketing new equip- and concepts regarding the building en-
“
With an eye toward R&D, KHS&S
acquired a BIM software firm last year and
now is developing a program to allow dif-
ferent BIM software platforms to work Usually, the poor
together. Suder says the use of different
platforms by different parties is a road-
perfomers are
block to the effectiveness of BIM. the ones let go,
While the workforce shortages of a
few years ago have all but disappeared,
but we are
many subs worry about the impact of the finding top
recession on future personnel needs.
people
”
“There are 3,000 union electricians out
of work in New York City, and that is available.
tragic,” says Mann. He says many people
in the trades may consider retiring. – A
ndy Walker, CEO
Some contractors are working to en- Nicholson Construction Co.
sure they are prepared for the market
turnaround. “We are doing our best to
upgrade our expertise and skills,” says
Rondeau of Dunkin & Bush. The firm has
maintained an internship program for the
past three to four years. “A lot of young
people are finding it tough to break into
the industry in this market, but we are
continuing to bring in young, talented
people,” Rondeau says.
Layoffs are a fact of life in this reces-
sion. However, some firms are taking ad-
vantage of this unfortunate situation.
“We’ve started hiring high-quality people
who were out of work,” says Walker of
Nicholson Construction. He says this is a
new experience, saying, “Usually, the poor
performers are let go in a recession, but
we are finding some top people.”
Southland Industries, on the other
hand, is working hard to hold on to its
people, transferring them from office to
office, depending on where the work is.
“We did not train them up only to let
them go,” says Lynch.
The panic many large specialty con-
tractors felt last year has given way to a
grim determination to pursue and per-
form work in a prudent manner, holding
on until the market turns around. “The
smart contractors will get stronger com-
ing out of this,” says Bacon. m
Revenue Drops
Across the Board
The recession took a brutal toll on many large
specialty contractors and subcontractors as
they burned through backlogs built up in the
boom years. The economic impact is clear:
ENR’s Top 600 Specialty Contractors had
a combined revenue of $72.55 billion in
2009, down 16.6% from 2008. Of the 536
companies on this year’s list that also submit-
ted surveys last year, 414 saw declines in rev-
enue in 2009, while 117 had increases in rev-
enue. They expect more of the same in 2010.
HOW TO USE THE TABLES
Companies are ranked according to construction Key to Market Type: incinerators, industrial-waste facilities, etc.
revenue in 2009 in ($) millions from specialty GENERAL BUILDING includes commercial buildings,
contracting in a prime or subcontracting offices, stores, educational facilities, government INDUSTRIAL PROCESS includes pulp-and-paper
capacity. Firms that were not ranked in 2009 buildings, hospitals, medical facilities, hotels, mills, steel mills, nonferrous-metal refineries,
are designated by double asterisks (**). New apartments, housing, etc. pharmaceutical plants, chemical plants, food and
contract awards refer to contracts awarded in other processing plants, etc.
2009. NA=not available. MANUFACTURING includes auto assembly,
electronic assembly, textile plants, etc. PETROLEUM comprises refineries, petrochemical
Key to specialty type plants, offshore facilities, pipelines, etc.
POWER comprises thermal and hydroelectric
A=asbestos abatement; C=concrete;
powerplants, waste-to-energy plants, transmission TRANSPORTATION includes airports, bridges, roads,
D=demolition/wrecking; E=electrical;
lines, substations, cogeneration plants, etc. canals, locks, dredging, marine facilities, railroads,
G=glazing/curtain wall; M=mechanical;
tunnels, etc.
MA=masonry; O=other; P=painting; WATER SUPPLY includes dams, reservoirs,
R=roofing; SH=sheet metal; transmission pipelines, distribution mains, HAZARDOUS WASTE comprises chemical- and
ST=steel erection; U=utility; irrigation canals, desalination and potability nuclear-waste treatment, asbestos and lead
W=wall/ceiling; X=excavation/foundation. treatment plants, pumping stations, etc. abatement, etc.
Guarantee Electrical Co. 80 J & S Mechanical Contractors Inc. 270 Marina Landscape Inc. 296 N
W.B. Guimarin & Co. 513 Jacobson & Co. Inc. 437 Markham Contracting Co. Inc. 402 Nabco Mechanical & Electrical Inc. 458
Gulf Shores Consulting & Charles E. Jarrell Contracting Inc. 193 Maron Electric Co. 241 Nagelbush Mechanical Inc. 423
Acquisitions LLC 64 Jensen Corp. 370 Marr Scaffolding Co. 489 NASDI LLC 328
Johnson-Davis Inc. 554 Martin Petersen Co. Inc. 278 National Construction Enterprises Inc. 97
H Joslin Construction 543 Masonry Arts Inc. 595 National Steel City LLC 400
HACI Mechanical Contractors Inc. 378 Mass. Electric Construction Co. 49 Nations Roof LLC 208
Haley-Greer Inc. 264
K MasTec Inc. 4 New River Electrical Corp. 152
Harder Mechanical Contractors Inc. 29 K2 Industrial Services Inc. 106 Matco Electric Corp. 329 Newkirk Electric 281
Hardrock Concrete Placement Co. Inc. 498 Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc. 253 Mayers Electric Co. Inc. 538 The Newtron Group LLC 30
Harmon Inc. 63 Karas & Karas Glass Co. Inc. 292 MBR Construction Services Inc. 225 Nicholson Construction Co. 133
Harris Cos. 89 Kearney Electric Inc. 535 McCarl’s Inc. 122 D.W. Nicholson Corp. 541
Hartman Walsh Painting Co. 508 Kelso-Burnett Co. 237 G.M. McCrossin Inc. 497 Nooter Construction Co. 39
Hatzel & Buehler Inc. 121 Kenmor Electric Co. LP 352 McDade-Woodcock Inc. 321 Norment Security Group Inc. 239
Hayward Baker Inc. (a Keller Co.) 37 Kent Cos. Inc. 256 O.C. McDonald Co. Inc. 406 North American Coatings LLC 442
Hazardous Elimination Corp 475 Keystone Concrete Placement 84 McGee Brothers Co. Inc. 290 North American Dismantling Corp. 527
Heating & Plumbing Engineers Inc. 255 KHS&S Contractors 36 McHugh Concrete Construction 139 North Bay Drywall & Plastering Inc. 588
Edwin L. Heim Co. 305 Fred Kinateder Masonry 557 McKinney Drilling Co. 195 Northland Concrete & Masonry Co. LLC 376
Heinaman Contract Glazing 316 Kinetics 41 McKinstry 28 Nuprecon/CST Holdings LLC 94
Helix Electric Inc. 34 King of Texas Roofing Co. LP 575 McPhee Electric Ltd. 244
Heller Electric Co. Inc. 522 Kirk & Blum - a CECO Mechanical Inc. 161 O
Henkels & McCoy Inc. 9 Environmental Co. 259 Meisner Electric Inc. of Florida 330 O.S. Interior Systems Inc. 536
RMCI Inc. 265 Superior Air Handling Corp. 399 Van Ert Electric Co. Inc. 380
P Robinette Demolition Inc. 509 Superior Rigging & Erecting Co. Inc. 453 Vaughn Industries LLC 221
P&P Contractors Inc. 486 Rogers Electric 181 Sure Steel Inc. 433 Vee-Jay Cement Contracting Co. Inc. 308
Pacific Coast Steel 45 Rosendin Electric Inc. 12 Swanson & Youngdale Inc. 482 Veit & Co. Inc. 157
Pacific Construction Systems Inc. 219 Ruttura & Sons Construction Co. Inc. 210 H.T. Sweeney & Son Inc. 450 Vellutini Corp. dba Royal Electric Co. 298
Alex E. Paris Contracting Co. Inc. 267 Ryan Inc. Central 202 VSC Fire & Security Inc. 134
Parsons Electric 83 T Vulcan Painters Inc. 521
Patriot Erectors Inc. 315 S T&T Construction 584
PayneCrest Electric 206 S&F Concrete Contractors Inc. 147 T.A.S. Commercial Concrete
WX
Penhall Co. 75 S3H Inc. 234 Construction LLC 138 W & W Glass LLC 173
T.B. Penick & Sons Inc. 162 Sachs Electric Co. 48 Taylor Electric Inc. 339 Wachter 174
John A. Penney Co. Inc. 336 Sauer Inc. 33 TDIndustries 40 E.S. Wagner Co. 155
Performance Contracting Group Inc. 10 Scheck Industries 163 Team Fishel 91 Wagner-Meinert Inc. 487
Perreca Electric Co. Inc. 520 Schlouch Inc. 414 Team Industrial Services 19 Waldrop Mechanical Services 529
Peterson Mechanical Inc. 565 Schreiber Roofing 347 Techno Coatings Inc. 325 Walker Engineering Inc. 92
Petillo Inc. 556 Schuff International Inc. 25 Tecta America Corp. 26 Walters & Wolf 52
Petrin Corp. 389 Schuster Concrete Construction 118 Tennessee Electric Co. 468 C.P. Ward Inc. 512
Philips Bros. Electrical Contractors Inc. 435 SDB Inc. 318 Terry’s Electric Inc. 431 R.W. Warner Inc. 360
PIC Group Inc. 187 Seedorff Masonry Inc. 348 Testa Corp. 306 Warwick Plumbing & Heating 184
Pierce Associates Inc. 142 Seretta Construction Inc. 367 Texas Scenic Co. 405 WASCO Inc. 440
The PIPCO Cos. Ltd. 452 Shapiro & Duncan Inc. 204 Thomas Co. Inc. 564 Wayne Automatic Fire Sprinklers Inc. 396
Piping & Equipment Co. Inc. 505 Sharlen Electric Co. 500 Thomas Industrial Coatings Inc. 499 Wayne’s Roofing Inc. 577
Pittsburg Tank and Tower Co. Inc. 438 Shaw Electric Co. 420 FD Thomas Inc. 427 Wellington Power Corp. 132
Player and Co. 342 Shelley Electric Inc. 501 Thompson Electric Co. 441 West Electric Group 432
Poblocki Sign Co. 537 Shields Inc. 516 Jerry Thompson & Sons Painting Inc. 593 West Valley Construction Co. Inc. 257
Pomeroy Electric Inc. 430 Shoreline Foundation Inc. 494 Thorne Associates Inc. 461 Western Construction Group 120
Pompano Masonry Corp. 361 Siemens Industry Inc. 5 Terra Millennium Corp. 104 Wheeler Electric Inc. 567
Port Morris Tile & Marble Corp. 192 Sierra Detention Systems 354 Titan Contracting/Horn White Electrical Construction Co. 411
Postler & Jaeckle Corp. 220 Sierra Pacific West Inc. 545 Industrial Services 82 Wiegmann Associates 600
Power Piping Co. 384 Sigma Marble and Granite Inc. 467 TolTest Inc. 100 TJ Wies Contracting Inc. 353
PPMI Construction Co. 495 Singleton Electric Co. Inc. 205 W.G. Tomko Inc. 236 Wilks Masonry Corp. 422
Precision Concrete Construction Inc. 363 SkiHi Enterprises Ltd. 424 Topcor Cos. 392 The Williams Group 101
Precision Environmental Co. 408 Slack & Co. Contracting Inc. 511 Total Engineering Inc. 249 Kirk Williams Cos. 446
Premier Electrical Corp. 456 Sloan & Co. Inc. 248 Tower Glass Inc. 410 Wilson Electric Services Corp. 207
Prime Electric Inc. 252 John J. Smith Masonry Co. 566 Tri City Electric Co. of Iowa 268 Worth & Co. Inc. 111
Progressive Roofing 172 Southern Industrial Constructors Inc. 199 Tri-City Electrical Contractors Inc. 119 Wyatt Inc. 222
Pyramid Masonry Contractors Inc. 493 Southern Power & Controls 589 The Tri-M Group LLC 312
Y
Southland Concrete Corp. 232 Tri-State Drilling Inc. 286
Q Yearout Mechanical Inc. 170
Southland Industries 21 Truland Systems Corp. 32
Quality Plus Services Inc. 258 Young Plumbing & Heating 445
Sowles Co. 465
Quanta Services Inc. 2 U YTG LLC 79
Spacecon Specialty Contractors 377
U.S. Engineering Co. 67
R Specialty Finishes Inc. 552 Z
Sprig Electric 165 United Electrical & Instrumentation Ltd. 518
Rado Enterprises Inc. 586 A. Zahner Co. 428
SPS Corp. 351 United Forming Inc. 81
J. Ranck Electric Inc. 338 Zebra Construction Co. Inc. 443
Staff Electric Co. Inc. 231 United Group Services 417
Randall Mechanical Inc. 531 Zephyr Aluminum LLC 459
Standard Drywall Inc. 69 United Riggers & Erectors Inc. 555
The Raymond Group 90 Ziolkowski Construction Inc. 287
Stark Excavating Inc. 194 Unity International Group Inc. 76
Redwood City Electric Inc. 98 Universal Builders Supply Inc. 251
The State Group 55
A.O. Reed & Co. 145