Presented during the Training 2013 Conference & Expo in Orlando, the award recognizes the top training organizations based on excellence in employer-sponsored training and development programs across all industries. McCarthy was again honored with placement on the prestigious list, moving up from 10^th to 6^th place in this year’s ranking. This result positioned the firm as the highest ranked construction company on the list for the second year in a row, supporting a national effort to provide high quality development opportunities for those pursuing careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

“To deliver exceptional construction results for our clients, we know we must develop the best true builders in the industry,” commented McCarthy Chairman and CEO Mike Bolen. “And, as an employee-owned company, these builders also need to understand the intricacies of our business to bring real value to our clients and partners. It is truly an honor to be included among America’s best on the Training 125.”

Founded as a family-owned business almost 150 years ago, McCarthy is one of the largest 100% employee-owned companies in America today. The firm has long fostered a culture dedicated to continuous improvement, and “Learning” represents one of McCarthy’s six company Core Values. While a formal McCarthy Training Program had been in place for decades, McCarthy launched an entirely revamped training program in 2008 under McCarthy Build U^®. Unusual in the construction industry and among best-in-class training programs outside of the construction industry, McCarthy Build U is a personalized approach to employee development. Through a comprehensive array of in-person, online and self-directed training opportunities, employees are empowered to take control of their personal and professional development. Ensuring the safety of all individuals who work on or near all McCarthy project sites is the firm’s number one priority. This vigilant approach to safety is supported by McCarthy’s comprehensive Safety Training Program. Further, employees have access to an extensive on-the-job training program, as well as more than 325 instructor-led classroom sessions, 135 instructor-led virtual classroom sessions and 250 online, self-paced modules focused on building, business and management skills.

“Our focus on developing the best builders and industry professionals in the business starts from Day One,” explained McCarthy President and Chief Operating Officer Derek Glanvill. “With a training investment three times the construction industry average, we are serious about this effort. This approach enables us to attract and retain the best talent, execute work that others say is ‘impossible,’ and ultimately develop future company and industry leaders.”

 About the Training 125
Now in its 13^th year, the Training Top 125 ranking is based on a variety of benchmarking statistics such as total training budget; percentage of payroll; number of training hours per employee program; goals, evaluation, measurement, and workplace surveys; hours of training per employee annually; and detailed formal programs. The ranking is determined by assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative factors, including financial investment in employee development, the scope of development programs, and how closely such development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives. More information about the 2013 Training Top 125 Award winners may be obtained online at www.trainingmag.com.

About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest commercial builders. Committed to the construction of high performance green buildings, progressive job site technology, and safer, faster and more cost-effective execution, the company provides general contracting, construction management, and design-build services for healthcare, educational, commercial, parking structures, science and technology facilities; office buildings; tenant interiors; mixed-use; bridges; and highways. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work, McCarthy is a 100 percent employee-owned private company, or “S corporation employee stock ownership plan” (S ESOP). More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.

“Many people don’t know that heart disease is the number one killer of women,” said McCarthy Chairman/CEO and American Heart Association Western States Board Member Michael Bolen. “While construction was historically a male-dominated industry, that is changing fast and we hope that by wearing red and getting the word out among our employees and business partners, we can further increase awareness and support for this important cause. We can all be champions in the fight against heart disease and stroke by understanding our risks and working together to build healthier and more active lives.”

To help spread the word, McCarthy provided literature about heart disease in women at the firm’s jobsites and office locations for all to review and share with women in their lives. Among the many McCarthy project teams participating in the event are the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center in Oakland, Calif.; St. Jude Medical Center Northwest Tower in Fullerton, Calif.; San Diego Mesa College Math and Science Building in Clairemont, Calif.; Mercy Joplin Replacement Hospital in Joplin, Mo.; and San Jacinto River Authority Surface Water Facility in Conroe, Texas.

McCarthy is utilizing its “Heart Hats” community involvement program, in conjunction with the firm’s award-winning McCarthy Build for Life health and wellness program, to motivate staff and increase awareness about the dangers of heart disease. Each year, McCarthy Heart Hats volunteers donate countless hours of in-kind services and monetary contributions to improve local communities. 

About McCarthy 
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest commercial construction companies in America. A true builder, McCarthy is committed to the construction of high performance green buildings; progressive job site technology; and safer, faster and more cost-effective execution. In 2010 the firm launched McCarthy Build for Life to encourage all employees and their families to strive toward optimal mental, physical, financial and emotional well-being.  In 2012, McCarthy was honored as a Platinum-level  Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work, McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. The firm has full-service offices in Atlanta, Albuquerque, Collinsville, Ill., Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Newport Beach, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and St. Louis. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.

FEATURE ARTICLES in this edition include:

Building Before the Bell Rings
How to do a major school renovation on the fast track
by Justin Kelton, McCarthy Vice President, Education Services

Whatever project type, be it a school, hospital, laboratory, entertainment venue or civil project, time is often of the essence. What does it take to beat the schedule?

 The Three Frontiers of BIM
by John Grady, McCarthy BIM Manager

A paradigm shift is underway enabling owners to benefit from information-rich models during construction and throughout the building lifecycle. Find out how to get your team started.

 See the Summer 2012 Edition now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

FEATURE ARTICLES in this edition include:

Weathering the Storm
How Mercy and McCarthy are collaborating to rebuild healthcare in Joplin
by Stephen Meuschke, McCarthy Project Manager

What Mercy is accomplishing following last year’s EF5 tornado in Joplin, Mo., has never been done before. And, the inspirational story of Mercy Hospital Joplin is really just getting started.

Don’t Forget to Look Down – A Case for Floor Flatness
by Chris Pechacek, McCarthy Virtual Design and Construction Director

Imperfections in floor flatness can have significant impacts on operational efficiencies. To deliver superior floor flatness levels requires a detailed plan like that being implemented for Kaiser Permanente.

Aligning Sustainability Construction Goals with an Owner’s Mission
by Nate Ray, McCarthy Senior Project Manager

When Soka University of America challenged McCarthy to build a new performing arts center in line with the university’s Buddhist mission, the team knew this was more than simply achieving LEED status.

See the Spring 2012 Edition

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., one of the nation’s largest employee-owned construction companies, was recently recognized as a Platinum-level  Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association, improved from the firm’s Gold-level recognition in 2011. McCarthy was recognized during the Association’s 2012 Metro St. Louis Heart Walk opening festivities on Saturday, May 19 in Busch Stadium, and the award was personally presented on June 26 in McCarthy’s St. Louis headquarters. Fit-Friendly Companies are recognized by the Association as employers who go above and beyond when it comes to employee health.

“McCarthy recognizes the importance of a healthy workplace for its employees and has taken important steps to create a culture of physical activity in the workplace,” explained Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “Promoting a wellness culture by providing support to employees and implementing physical, nutritional and sculptural changes are extraordinary efforts and we commend McCarthy and its employees.”

McCarthy Chairman/CEO and American Heart Association Western States Board Member Michael Bolen noted, “As an employee-owned company, encouraging the health and wellness of our owners and their families goes to the heart of every decision we make. Achieving Platinum Fit-Friendly recognition indicates our comprehensive Build for Life program is among the best in America — across all industries.” 

Developed and launched in 2010, McCarthy Build for Life is designed to encourage all employees and their families to strive toward optimal mental, physical, financial and emotional well-being, while at the same time controlling healthcare costs over the long term. The program focuses on four key areas: awareness, prevention, activity, and lifestyle & stress.

Designed as a grassroots program, McCarthy Build for Life is supported by Wellness Champions in each McCarthy office who communicate to employees in their region. Key McCarthy Build for Life program features include:

• Opportunities for employees and their spouse/partner to earn points for completing proactive, health-related activities that will be directly applied toward reduced medical insurance premiums
• Annual Activity Challenge that promotes healthy competition across all company division offices
• Quarterly wellness newsletter delivered to homes of all employees, in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, and discount subscriptions to other health-related publications
• Complimentary health screenings for McCarthy employees and spouses/partners, including blood pressure screening, BMI/waist circumference checks, cholesterol/HDL/Glucose screenings, and Prostate Specific Antigen screenings
• Wellness areas in all main office locations and at all-employee biannual meetings featuring material on health, nutrition, activity, and stress/lifestyle management
• Regular educational wellness webinars available to employees and their families
• Wide array of company-sponsored wellness employee events

“The program has been very well-received with more than 75 percent of employees participating, well above the national average of 61 percent, according to our healthcare provider,” said Al Berardi, vice president Human Resources at McCarthy.

McCarthy President and COO Derek Glanvill added, “Safety and prevention are cornerstones of our construction process at McCarthy, and we have carried those ideals over to the health and well-being of our employees through our Build for Life wellness program. We continue to expand and improve our program in response to employee feedback and are honored to receive this Platinum award in recognition of these ongoing efforts.”

About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest commercial construction companies. Committed to the construction of high performance buildings, the company provides general contracting, construction management, and design-build services for healthcare, educational, commercial, parking structures, science and technology facilities; office buildings; tenant interiors; mixed-use; bridges; and highways. McCarthy has full-service offices in Atlanta, Albuquerque, Collinsville, Ill., Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Newport Beach, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and St. Louis. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work, McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.

FEATURE ARTICLES in this edition include:

Thinking like Owners
How Integrated Project Delivery Helps Achieve the Best Final Outcome
by Doug Mangers, McCarthy Project Director

Integrated Project Delivery breaks down traditional silos, exposing and connecting each team member to the entire building process. Read on to learn more.

Maximum Mobility Maximizes Productivity
The State of Mobile Technology is Taking Construction to a New Level
by Michael Oster, McCarthy Vice President, Information Technology

Technology innovations are hitting jobsites at a fast and furious pace. Here are some exciting technology trends to watch.

BIM in Action: LAX Central Utility Plant
by Ryan Clark, McCarthy Virtual Design & Construction Manager

Building a new 75,000-square-foot, steel-framed replacement central utility plant at the world’s seventh busiest airport is no easy feat. Find out how it’s being done.

Impossible Project?
Planning Makes Perfect at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
by Ben Johanneman, McCarthy Project Director

Faced with extremely tight site space, catastrophic weather conditions, and ongoing active hospital operations, the team implemented nine specific actions to make this project a success. See how these may apply to your next project.

See the Winter 2012 Edition.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

“Our new adventure began in an extremely difficult time for our nation, right after the events of September 11, 2001,” explained McCarthy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Bolen. “Despite the nation’s economic highs and lows over the past decade, employee ownership has literally transformed our company. We have experienced significant success on a wide variety of fronts, enabling us to deliver even higher quality projects on-time and on-budget. Moreover, with the addition of the ESOP, our employee owners now have an additional retirement benefit — an outstanding advantage from which all Americans could gain.”

A few notable McCarthy highlights during the past ten years include:

• Successfully streamlined processes and implemented industry-leading techniques to become one of the safest builders in America, improving safety results by more than 82 percent;
• Created MC Industrial, Inc., an independent McCarthy company, dedicated to meeting the highly specialized construction needs of the industrial marketplace;
• Developed and rolled out a multitude of technology innovations to enhance efficiencies in the field, ranking McCarthy among the top users of Building Information Modeling in the industry (Building Design & Construction Magazine, July 2011);
• Launched the innovative McCarthy Quality Without Question program, focusing on proactive planning for quality and tracking of quality incidents to improve company-wide performance;
• Tackled sustainability from the builder’s perspective, developing a unique in-house Green Training Curriculum and ranking us the 6 leading green builder (Building Design & Construction Magazine, July 2011);
• Developed and implemented the best-in-class McCarthy Build U^® employee-owner training and development program, ranking McCarthy #10 on the prestigious Training Magazine 125 list (February 2012);
• Implemented the award-winning McCarthy Build for Life wellness program, increasing the health and well-being of McCarthy’s employee-owners and families.

“As a self-performing builder, McCarthy has always been known for tackling the most complex construction challenges,” explained McCarthy President & Chief Operating Officer Derek Glanvill. “While many other contractors are selling out to owners overseas and moving away from performing their own work, our focus on hands-on building is even stronger than ever. We believe a true builder has a genuine command of the practice of building, better understanding how to balance schedule, cost, quality and safety so we can deliver the best final outcome. The past ten years have helped us show clients and partners the power of this approach.”

About S Corporation ESOPs
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a qualified defined contribution retirement plan that provides company workers with retirement savings through their investments in their employer’s stock, at no cost to the employee. ESOPs are regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) just like pension funds, 401(k) plans and other qualified retirement plans. In a 2010 Georgetown University/McDonough School of Business study, two leading tax economists reviewed the performance of a cross-section of S corporation ESOP companies during the recent recession. The study found that these companies performed better than other companies in creating jobs, economic activity and retirement security. For more information, visit www.esca.us.

About McCarthy
McCarthy Holdings, Inc., includes the consolidated results of its wholly owned subsidiaries McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and MC Industrial, Inc. McCarthy was founded in 1864 as a lumber business focusing on constructing farmhouses and barns around Ann Arbor, Mich. Three of the founder’s children went into the family business, and in 1907, incorporated the firm in Missouri. Over the next 50 years, the company completed projects at the World’s Fair in San Francisco, in Alaska and in the Panama Canal Zone.

In 1976, Michael McCarthy became president of the company, and soon after McCarthy began its ascent to national prominence in healthcare construction management, as well as becoming the nation’s largest design-build parking structure builder. In 1984, Michael McCarthy assumed the position of chairman of the board and led McCarthy’s expansion into semiconductor, biopharmaceutical, educational, R&D and general manufacturing markets, with the company becoming a major player in each. 

In anticipation of the transition to 100 percent employee ownership, the McCarthy Employee Stock Ownership Plan was created in 1996. The company continued to expand, becoming a national leader in K-12 education, higher education, water services, industrial and federal construction. Today, McCarthy is one of the nation’s oldest and largest commercial builders (Engineering News-Record, May 2011). Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work, McCarthy has approximately 1,400 salaried employees with offices in St. Louis, Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Portage, Ind.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Dallas and Houston; Albuquerque; and San Diego, Newport Beach, San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.

FEATURE ARTICLES in this edition include:

Limiting Risk: Does Your Builder Have Your Back?
by Mike Bolen, McCarthy Chairman and CEO

For even the most experienced owners, construction is likely a part-time job. So what can an owner do to mitigate risk and work towards the best outcome? Read on to find out.

Achieving the Single Source of Truth
by Chad Dorgan, McCarthy Vice President Quality and Sustainability

In the traditional, paper-based building environment, mistakes and omissions can occur because all parties are not working from a ‘Single Source of Truth.’ Want to get everyone on the same page? Here’s how.

The BIMportance of Being Early
by Adam Lega, McCarthy BIM Manager

Good design decisions made cooperatively early on make for a smooth process throughout a building project’s lifecycle. So how does the team get to that point? It all starts with a plan.

See the Fall 2011 Edition  now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

“McCarthy has worked in Illinois for more than 50 years; and over the years has completed nearly $1 billion in work in the state,” said McCarthy Central Division President Scott Wittkop. “We have remained committed to providing the same level of service, quality and attention to safety on both sides of the Mississippi River. We feel that the time is now right for a permanent presence in Illinois to better serve our clients and our partners.”

McCarthy was recently honored with the regional Better Business Bureau’s top TORCH Award for its commitment to ethical behavior and customer service.

“We believe an office in Illinois will help us to continue to develop and deliver better performance on our projects in Illinois,” added Wittkop.

McCarthy has a number of sizable Illinois projects in the works, including multiple projects at Good Samaritan in Mount Vernon (with Shores Builders and Lipps Construction), a $28 million hospital for St. Joseph’s in Highland (with Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc.) and a new $28.5 million Student Services Building for Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.  Also, approximately 175 of McCarthy’s 805 local employees already live in Illinois. McCarthy Director of Operations for Illinois, Jeffery Boyer, already a resident, has relocated to the office. McCarthy Director of Business Development Stacy Robben, also already a resident, has joined Boyer in the new space located in Collinsville, Ill.

Boyer also serves as project director for more than $160 million of healthcare work for Good Samaritan in Mount Vernon.  McCarthy serves as construction manager for the $140 million Good Samaritan Regional Health Center, about 50 percent complete; as well as the attached $14.5 million Frauenshuh Medical Office Building.  McCarthy was recently awarded an additional $9.8 million of fit-out work in the Medical Office Building.

“As a 100% employee-owned company, McCarthy partners are encouraged to continually develop ways to deliver better performance on our projects,” said Wittkop. “For example, we are seeing many technology innovations across the company right now, including in Illinois. This culture of superior performance and innovation continues to set us apart from competitors.”

McCarthy is using Building Information Modeling (BIM), Bluebeam software and prefabrication to improve construction efficiency and coordination on the Good Samaritan projects. The project design partners and subcontractors coordinate three dimensional images of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems on a smart board in McCarthy’s onsite BIM lab, which is virtually linked to McCarthy’s home-office lab. BIM allows the project team to create a model for use in the field, incorporating submittals, installation sequencing and startup sequencing to the model to expedite construction.

 About McCarthy
Founded in 1864 and headquartered in St. Louis, , McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest commercial builders in America. McCarthy is 100 percent employee-owned. More information is available on line at http://www.mccarthy.com/.

McCarthy Building Companies Inc., one of the oldest construction companies in America and a 100 percent employee-owned firm, was honored this week with the top 2011 TORCH Award from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. The TORCH Award honors excellence in customer service, employee relations and ethical business practices. McCarthy President and Chief Operating Officer Derek Glanvill accepted the award during the ceremony.

“Founded as a small family-owned company in 1864, McCarthy’s long history has been built on the solid values of integrity, trust and an open approach to doing business,” explained Glanvill. “Today, we’ve grown into one of the largest construction companies in America. But, even though times have changed, our guiding principles have not. Being honored with this TORCH Award confirms the principles that guided our builders nearly 150 years ago are still just as relevant today.”

Timothy McCarthy originally founded the company in Ann Arbor, Mich., as a lumber business. His sons moved the firm to St. Louis in 1917, where it has grown into one of the nation’s premier commercial builders known for safely solving the most complex construction challenges. The company became 100 percent employee-owned in 2002, when Michael M. McCarthy, the last significant family shareholder, sold his shares to employees.

“Our ownership culture fosters a level of commitment and dedication that we believe translates directly into world-class customer service,” continued Glanvill. “While we utilize the most sophisticated technology tools in the business, ultimately our reputation is built on how we treat one another – our McCarthy family, clients, industry partners and neighbors in the community. We think that’s what being a true builder is all about.”

With 2010 revenues of $2.5 billion, McCarthy has approximately 1,500 salaried employees across America. In the St. Louis metro area, McCarthy, together with MC Industrial, an independent McCarthy company, has completed work in a variety of market sectors including healthcare, education, commercial, science & technology, industrial, transportation and power. Currently, the firm has more than $500 million in work underway in the region.

McCarthy is the eleventh recipient of the top TORCH Award in the St. Louis region. Former recipients of the award include: Anheuser-Busch Companies, Brown Shoe Corp., Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Monsanto and United Van Lines.

About the Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Reviews, dispute resolution service, charity wise-giving reports, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. More information is available at http://www.bbb.org/.

About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest commercial construction companies. With a never-ending mission to be the Best Builder in America, the firm is currently the nation’s 10th largest builder (Engineering News-Record, May 2011) and 178th largest private company (Forbes, November 2011). McCarthy offers general contracting, construction management and design-build services for the a variety of project types including: healthcare, education, science and technology, green, entertainment, parking, office, bridges and highways, retail, industrial, tenant interiors and mixed-use. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work, McCarthy is a 100 percent employee-owned private company, or “S corporation employee stock ownership plan” (S ESOP). More information is available online at www.mccarthy.com.