Engineering Profession
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal • February 21, 2020
Engineers see steady volume of projects; address resources challenges by Michelle Leach
Omaha’s built environment ended 2019 on a high note; in late November, the Associated General Contractors of America named the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro as the market with the biggest year-onyear gains in new construction jobs of the nearly 360 metropolitan areas surveyed — at 20% (or 5,900 jobs). The local engineering industry is benefiting. “Construction acCowman tivity is generally a byproduct of a robust design environment,” said Morrissey Engineering Principal George M. Morrissey. “Most construction activity comes from design activities. With more activity, engineering firms find opportunities to focus their efforts on the type of work that best suits their firm’s abilities. Conversely, some firms will find opportunities to pursue a variety of different types of work to gain diversity in workload.” Schedules for projects are continuing to shorten and become more aggressive, according to Morrissey.
George M. Morrissey, principal at Morrissey Engineering. “Our greatest challenge lies in trying without a high level of engagement from to meet aggressive schedules while still the entire team tend to be less distinct and having all the face time needed with own- unique. We coach our teams on the value ers and architects to develop the design of of collaboration.” the project,” he said. “Projects designed The firm is increasing efforts to bring
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sustainability into design. “Programs such as LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge can be used as an aid or for a building certification,” he said of associated certifications. “We are also investing in technology to help engineers find the best balance between competing elements.” Technology should aid, not replace, the creative process. “As an example, we want to maximize the benefits of daylighting while minimizing solar heat gain,” he said. “The goal is to find that balance. Using visualization software, we develop options to change the building’s characteristics for best in class solutions for our projects.” Kim Cowman’s position in the new role, national director of engineering, represents an evolution for Leo A Daly. “Primary responsibilities of this role are to bring greater focus to the technical excellence of all of our engineering disciplines, and leverage the benefits of our integrated engineering and architecture practice,” she said. “We recognize the influence engineering has over the lifecycle of a building, from the inclusion of low-carbon building materials, to reduced energy and resource usage, to the long-terms costs of maintenance and operations. This new position reinforces the vital role of engineering in design.” Cowman also said the firm hired its second dedicated commissioning agent. “Commissioning agents are engineers (usually mechanical), and they focus exclusively on building performance,” she said. “This is especially apropos right now because Nebraska recently adopted new commercial energy guidelines, and the guidelines will take effect this summer.” Cowman noted Leo A Daly’s involvement in high-profile projects. “We are highly involved in driving innovative engineering for some of the region’s most topical and transformative projects — among them [Omaha Rapid Bus Transit], the Cottonwood Hotel (historically known as the Blackstone Hotel) and the Omaha VA,” Cowman said. “The ORBT construction is well underway, and the VA and Blackstone projects are scheduled to open later this year.” Generally speaking, opportunities for engineers are presented by design solutions that integrate and use new technologies in building operations — internet of things, Continued on next page.
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Engineering — inside FEBRUARY 21, 2020
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 46 NO. 8
Truck Center Cos grows in consolidated Omaha headquarters with acquisitions by Michelle Leach
Goldfish Swim School emphasizes safety for young children. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 Dredge looks for innovative ways to build up students at Green Hills Area Education Agency. – Page 3
ss ine us ges B a ln co al P Lin ourn J
SCC’s Great Plains Culinary Institute plays role in attracting more students to restaurant careers. – Page 4
Since moving into its consolidated corporate offices at Cornhusker Rd. around two and a half years ago, President and CEO Trey Mytty said Truck Center Companies’ -hour turnaround time to get customers back on the road has gone from the low th-percentile to its fill rate parts in stoc is up by about to appro imately and its “e press assessment” is at 75% — from a percentage in the low s-range. “Within two hours of a customer arriving, we give them a basic diagnosis of what is causing the issue, tell them if we have parts and, if we don’t, when we will have the parts and somebody to work on the truck, as well as the estimated completion,” ytty said of the aforementioned assessments, spanning nine dedicated bays. “Those are big-time metrics that we measure, and all e uate to customer satisfaction.” ounded in , Truc Center Cos. offers new and used trucks and trailers, parts and service, leasing and financing, fuel solutions Continued on page 20.
President and CEO Trey Mytty … Securing continued expansion opportunities in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas core; development of industry training program among objectives on the horizon. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
Bakers Candies builds on 32-year tradition of chocolate in Nebraska by Becky McCarville
General Manager Todd Baker is not only well-versed in the lore of his family’s -year-old business, a ers Candies, but he can also e pound the social and economic factors that shaped the chocolate industry. Many Nebraskans know the chocolate factory’s origin story by heart, he said. Kevin Baker, Todd Baker’s father and founder of the chocolate factory located in Greenwood, Nebraska, has
a background in electromechanical engineering in the aerospace industry and mass-produced missiles for government contract work during the Vietnam War era. “He got really good at mass producing anything,” Todd a er said, noting his dad’s “e ceptional mechanical aptitude.” When the war wound down the U.S. ended up with a surplus of misContinued on page 20. Instructor and Franchisee Daniel Cornwell … Omaha native launches center that uses established self-learning methodology, with goal of students doing calculus by the time they enter high school.
Omahan debuts Village Pointe arm of global Kumon educational franchise by Michelle Leach
General Manager Todd Baker … The addition of a new, larger retail store at the chocolate factory helped boost sales by 30% in 2019.
Before native Omahan Daniel Cornwell returned to the States a year ago this March, he was becoming acquainted with the Kumon method that would evolve into Kumon of Omaha-Village Pointe while teaching second-graders in South Korea. “A girl was doing basic algebra,” Cornwell, instructor and franchisee, recalled. “She’s doing most
of it in her head, and she’s quickly going through these worksheets. I ask her, ‘What’s that?’ and she said, t’s umon.’” Cornwell owns and operates the avenport t. location, a local arm of the worldwide math and reading center operation. ounded in , umon reportedly enrolls over million students in nearly , centers across Continued on page 21.