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College Tradespeople Enhance Success of Bond Construction Project
by Gloria Biersdorff

President Mary Spilde (left) and bond construction project manager Bob Mention join college trades professionals at fall in-service. The team received a standing ovation from an appreciative campus community. - photo by Dan Welton

"When I think what this college got for $50 million -- community learning centers, six new buildings on campus, remodels, upgrades, infrastructure -- all that for what Eugene paid for a new library, I think, Wow, this college got a lot for its money," observes Lane Community College bond project coordinator Lynn Atkins. "A lot of people said we couldn't do it. My greatest source of pride is, we did it."

Voters approved a $42.8 million general obligation bond for Lane Community College in 1995 to build and remodel facilities for job preparation, training and other instructional programs; address health and safety issues; and increase community access. Funds were leveraged to $62 million thanks to interest earnings and additional sources. Work by college tradespeople saved the college about a half-million dollars.

"That's a pretty solid estimate," says bond project manager Bob Mention, who took the bond project (BP) reins from retiring facilities director Paul Colvin in 1999.

Construction began off campus in 1995 with a new center in Cottage Grove, followed by an addition to the Florence center, then the construction of eight Community Learning Centers at district high schools over the next four years. Work began on main campus in 1999. Since then, Atkins and fellow coordinator Todd Smith have orchestrated a group of highly skilled, motivated tradespeople and office staff to implement many aspects of the project at significant savings to the college and taxpayers.

Atkins and Smith were college carpenters when Mention asked Facilities Management and Planning (FMP) Director Mike Ruiz if their talents could be channeled exclusively toward bond work. Although neither had prior experience overseeing such a large and complex institutional project, says Mention, they both possessed the intellectual, mental and emotional tools to grow. "This was fertile ground. They are both outstanding men."

Atkins came to Lane in 1990, after running his own construction business for 17 years. Smith was hired in 1996, leaving a project manager position with a local general contractor. He had 14 years prior experience in the field. The two men now act as liaisons between Mention, Ruiz, outside contractors, in-house tradespeople and staff. "Some days I went home and said, 'this isn't going to work,'" Atkins admits. "Lots of battles. Lots of conflicts. Every tradesman had to extend his knowledge base, hone his skills. But every single thing we asked of our tradespeople, they accomplished. Having been in the construction field most of my life, I knew the college had great people. Absolutely great people."

Smith expresses gratitude at the wealth of knowledge he's gained as contract administrator for the project. He says the leadership styles of Mention and Ruiz have cultivated a culture of empowerment and excellence among bond/facilities team members. "I can't say enough good things about those guys. They are wonderful to work with. They mentored me and Lynn to a level above what I ever could imagine when I first started working here. They've allowed us to make decisions, shown confidence in us to do that. Without those two guys, it would be really, really hard to do what we've done."

A tradesperson-guided tour of the Center Building's fourth floor in late summer shed ample light on the breadth and quality of work performed by the project team. Over the course of this final major remodel begun in summer 2002, tradespeople emptied 480 tons of material down chutes to recycle bins 50 feet below, and hoisted that much tonnage up again. Campus carpenters framed the entire 43,000 square-foot space, and built all the cabinetry, bookcases, conference tables and computer desks. College electricians pulled 150,000 feet of data cable to feed the multiple computer labs, offices and classrooms. Campus painters coated all interior walls with a total of 1,500 gallons of paint. Gone is the cavernous maze of dimly lit small spaces, gone the chicken wire that used to cap office cubicles as a security measure. A smart, spacious floor plan replaces the old, with 1,000 square-foot classrooms illumined by state-of-the-art lighting fixtures chosen by the electrical crew for their low cost, low maintenance and high performance.

Ruiz worked in Lane's carpentry shop for 24 years prior to becoming facilities director. He says, "This bond project pushed our tradespeople to the limit. Over time they've had opportunity to produce very high quality work; practical work that will be long-lasting." He says everyone, from the telecommunications specialist to the locksmith, worked as a cohesive unit to get the project done. "There's been great cooperation. It's more of a family here at Lane. They care about one another, are more compassionate here. People pay attention, listen to one another.... I have a lot of pride in our department."

Following are brief profiles of Lane's tradespeople, office staff and others who collaborated over the past four years to ensure the bond project was a success:

Electrician Ron Case, left, with trades coordinator Lynn Atkins, contract administrator Todd Smith, and lead electrician Danny Avalos, outside the Center Building's refurbished fourth floor in late August. The expertise and care of college tradespeople, office staff and others ensured the bond project's success. - photo by Gloria Biersdorff

Rob Atkins, FMP lead carpenter A former general contractor, Atkins has been in the trades for 32 years, and in Lane's carpentry shop for 15. He says the bond work has been very challenging, but rewarding. "We had to be quite creative. It was a great undertaking for our department. It gave us the chance to show we're not just maintenance guys who fix door knobs. Even sub-contractors were amazed at the work we were capable of doing."

Steve Kayl, FMP carpenter, cabinet maker Kayl just passed the five-year mark at Lane. He's been a cabinet maker for 30 years, and owned his own shop for 12 years. He has built approximately 700 cabinets, 1,000 computer desks, and laid 30,000 square feet of plastic laminate for countertops since the project's beginning. Although Kayl's craftsmanship is apparent at every turn in the bookcases, display cases, and shelving, he considers himself "the person hiding in the shadows. I wave as I'm walking out the door."

Al Mauldin, BP carpenter Mauldin was hired in 1999 to work exclusively for the project. He has 25 years' experience as a finish carpenter and cabinet maker. "Many times we had cabinets and desks stacked three high for assembly," he says. "But it's a well-tooled shop, which really helped a lot." Some of his more complex projects included the stair-stepped framing in the Work Force Training Center auditorium, and the angled oak and walnut reception counters on that building's first and second floors.

Danny Avalos, FMP lead electrician Avalos has worked nine years at Lane. He has been in construction since age 15. He and his crew performed all project electrical work. "To make sure a building is friendly to users, friendly to maintenance, that's my goal," he says. "I've grown professionally. The bond project has made me a better leader."

Ron Case, FMC electrician Case left the Union Pacific Railroad where he had worked for 33 years to come to Lane five years ago. Projects he and Avalos have completed include a transformer upgrade, installing a generator and running high voltage wiring out to four new buildings. "I like the challenge," Case says. "I like keeping busy."

Max Schumacher, BP electrician Schumacher has been an electrician since 1964 and at Lane since 2001. He oversaw all electrical work on the fourth floor Center remodel. "To finish before school started, we did things a lot quicker, a lot more efficiently. We had to make every move count," he says.

Mike Skeers, FMP lead painter Skeers came to Lane in 1974. He began his painting career while still in high school. "Painters are always used to getting stretched," says Skeers, who painted about 95 percent of project cabinetry. His crew painted three buildings last summer. "We try out new paint, new materials," he says, to create higher quality and longer-lasting results. "As a taxpayer, I'm trying to do the best with what we get for the money. The better you do your job now, the less hassle later."

Terry Starr, FMP painter Starr was hired in 2000 with 27 years experience as a crew foreman for a painting contractor. Having painted such architectural giants as the new Register-Guard building and Sacred Heart Hospital, Starr notes, "I thought I could handle the bond project." He painted the entire Center fourth floor, with minimal help. "I think (Mention and Ruiz) were fascinated by the amount of paint I put on at a time ... people thought I was pushing it, but I was used to that kind of work."

Frank Drengacz, FMP lead groundskeeper Drengacz has been at Lane since 1998 and admits that landscapers are a frustrated breed. "We're the last ones to come onto a project. Invariably there are budget problems, so we're the ones that get cut." However, local nurseries have donated plants and materials and Drengacz and his work-study students continue to cultivate donated plants specifically for use around the new buildings. He expresses gratitude toward Mention and Ruiz for securing soil and irrigation funding. "I know we accomplished quite a bit with the money we had. We got a lot of bang for the buck."

Ted Flory, FMP plumber Flory works as Lane's only licensed plumber. He's been with the college since 1979. His role in the project has consisted primarily in preparing for outside contractor work. He praises Lane's tradespeople, saying, "All these guys had a broad variety of experience they had to tap into ... We did a good service to the taxpayers. Students, ones to follow, staff can look to the enhanced campus, the learning experience for those involved, and be proud of it."

Susanne Tatar, BP administrative assistant Tatar, who came to Lane a decade ago, has worked closely with Atkins and Smith since 1999. Her duties include: monitoring expenditures for all projects, facilitating staffing, processing payroll, and serving as bond move coordinator. She attributes the project's success to the collaborative efforts of the entire campus community. "The bond team had to work with nearly every department in one way or another. Each project was completed with the help of staff, their willingness to pitch in, to wait when rooms weren't done, to be patient when things went wrong, and to work around noise, dust and disruption."

Judy Ann Fuller, FMP administrative specialist Fuller joined the facilities department in 1991. At the bond project's inception she provided office support to then-FMP director Paul Colvin and now works for Ruiz. "I enjoyed talking to the departments to set up the project user groups. I met a lot of people that I would not normally have come in contact with." She adds, "I'm glad that our facilities staff and especially Lynn Atkins, Todd Smith and Susan Tatar, were so heavily involved in the projects. They have a wealth of knowledge that the facilities department will need in the upcoming years."

Virginia Brady, telecommunications specialist Brady has worked at Lane for 23 years, and in her current position for 12 years. She is responsible for all telephone installations, repairs, cell phones, pagers, voice-mail setups and repairs. "These projects have made me a better planner. Each project was a little different in the way the phone installations were handled. I learned that you have to make changes up to the last minute."

Tom Oroyan, FMP architect/facility planner Oroyan has more than 30 years' experience as an architect and joined Lane six years ago. At the project's beginning he sketched promotional renderings of all the new architecture. He designed and managed construction of the Lane Transit District plaza and the Forum building's glass elevator, among other projects. "I find working here kind of unique," he says. "The tradespeople I work with are more of a family; there's more communication, interaction, which makes for better resolutions."

Mike Hopkinson, BP furniture coordinator The former Lane television production instructor has spent the past three years facilitating between various user groups and suppliers to ensure furniture needs are met. He's learned a lot from the people he's worked with, he says. "As a teacher I was used to being a disciplinarian; things have to be a certain way. But life's dynamic. Things constantly change. We have to change with them."

Randy Lindstrom, FMP locksmith, special maintenance Maintaining the key system for approximately 3,000 doors and more than 2,500 cabinets even as he continues to install lock systems in new doors has kept Lindstrom "very, very busy," he says. He has worked at Lane more than 17 years, 14 as head custodian. "There have been real challenges in this job," he says. "I knew a lot from my custodial work. I came to understand staff needs in terms of security."

Stanley Kerr, maintenance helper Kerr was hired as a mover for the Project in 2001. His title shifted as "special maintenance" jobs increased from hanging black, green and white boards to building temporary walls. He worked alongside Starr, Kayl, Mauldin and other tradesmen often. "I learned a lot from them ... I walk away with a pretty big feeling for all those folks. And their work is really quality stuff. Not shoddy at all. That really impresses me."

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