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Constructive Comments:
Construction's 'professors' are working stiffsBy Dick Snow
Dick Snow
The difference between construction education and other forms lies in its faculty - industry leaders with proven track records who pass on their experiences to those less knowledgeable.
Truth is, the construction model in Wisconsin is envied on construction campuses across the nation. Why? Because of the dedication those in the industry demonstrate when they teach others all aspects of construction activity.
There are no ivory towers on Wisconsin construction campuses because working stiffs stand behind the rostrums in every class.
There is no better way to prove the point than by listing -- from memory -- the names of those who over a 30-year period have given of themselves, mostly without compensation, to the Wisconsin construction industry "student body."
The mix includes owners, top and middle management personnel, pro bono attorneys and CPAs, risk managers, estimators, field superintendents, heads of local college engineering departments and several nationally known general contractors.
"Professors" all:
Alan Lippert, Lippert Tile; Allan Knuth, Knuth Masonry; Brian Mitchell, Cook & Franke; Charles Benes, Benes & Krueger; Charles Schiltz, Security Financial Services; Craig Jorgensen, Voss-Jorgensen-Schueler; Dave Baldus, Milwaukee Sprinkler; Dan Catena, Price Erecting; Dave Kaczynski, Cardinal Fabricating; David Babel, Clifton, Gunderson; David Cannon, Michael Best & Friedrich; David Dondlinger, Security Financial Services; Dennis Bersch, Deloitte & Touche; Donald J. Charlier, J.P. Jansen Company; Donald McNamara, F.J.A. Christiansen Roofing;Donald Osenga, Wood-Lam Inc.; Donald Smith, Deloitte & Touche; Duke Dupree, Bend Industries; Edward A. Korpady, Klug & Smith; Edward Morgan, Security Financial Services; Ferd Klobucar, Klobucar Construction; Fred Fleck, Selmer Construction; Fritz Ganther, Ben Ganther & Sons; Gabriel Alberici, J.S. Alberici & Sons; Gary Jorgensen, Voss-Jorgensen-Schueler; Gerhard Zoller, JH Findorff & Son; Gervase Rose, Roman Electric; Gilbert Czaplewski, Klug & Smith; Gilbert Brueckner, Milwaukee Marble & Granite; Greg Coffman, Downey Company; Harl Forston, Luterbach Construction; Harvey Peterson, C.G. Schmidt Inc.; Herbert Goetsch, Milwaukee Department of Public Works; Jack Reichl, Reichl Construction; Jacob Bernheim, Michael Best & Friedrich; James Macejkovic, BSI; James Reichl, Reichl Construction; James Sweitzer, Hess, Sweitzer; Jerome Kringel, Michael Best & Friedrich; Joe Vigna, Midwest Surety; Joel Becker, Hunzinger Construction; John Illingworth, Illingworth Corp.; John K. MacIver, Michael Best & Friedrich; John Schauer, Creative Constructors; John Schultz, J.P. Jansen Company; Jose Olivieri, Michael Best & Friedrich; Joseph Miotke, Kotze Construction; Karl Koenig, Penta Technologies; Keith Faherty, Marquette University; Keith Krueger, Benes & Krueger; Kim Hurtado, SC Hurtado; Kurt Koenig, Penta Technologies; Kurt Schrang, J.P. Jansen Company; Larry Palank, Hunzinger Construction; Les Blum, Opus North Corp.; Lewis Hanson, Security Financial Services; Matthew Fuchs, Milwaukee School of Engineering; Mike Labonte, Creative Constructors; Otto Defner, Langer Roofing; Richard Duveneck, Service Painting; Richard L. Schmidt, C.G. Schmidt Inc.; Richard Pierce, Tews Company; Richard Riedelbach, Duwe Metals; Tim Just, C.G. Schmidt; Richard Wenninger, Wenninger Company; Richard Zirbel, Edw. E. Gillen Company; Robert Bartel, Krukowski & Costello; Robert Greenstreet, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Robert Johannes, Michael Best & Friedrich; Robert Komisar, Komisar & Spindler; Robert Nagy, Spancrete Industries; Robert S. Martin, Martin & Sons; Robert Schnur, Michael Best & Friedrich; Robert Smith, Wickwire & Gavin; Robert W. Caspari, Dahlman Construction; Robert Wendorf, Edw. E. Gillen Company; Roger Spahr, Bill Dentinger Inc.; Saul Winsten, Michael Best & Friedrich; Scott Engroff, Michael Best & Friedrich; Steve Engelke, Aon Risk Services; Steven Sobieski, Verhalen; Steven VanderBloemen, VanderBloemen & Associates; Steven Chamberlin, C.G. Schmidt Inc.; Steven Zantow, Stevens Construction; Ted Poull, M.A. Mortenson Inc. Thomas P. Dailey, Perini Corp.; Thomas P. Godar, Michael Best & Friedrich; Tim Just, C.G. Schmidt Inc.; Tim Tremel, Kolb Lauwasser; Timothy Schally, Michael Best & Friedrich; Tom Duffy, J.P. Jansen Company; Tom Obenberger, Michael Best & Friedrich; Tom Scrivner, Michael Best & Friedrich; Tom Tarkowski, Milwaukee Area Technical College; Tony Gabrysiak, Hunzinger Construction; Tony Groh, J.P. Jansen Company; Vernie Lindstrom, Kitchell Corp.; Wally Syring, Syring Construction; and William Schaaf, Security Financial Services.
Yes, the Wisconsin construction education model is envied by those in the rest of the United States and Puerto Rico.
A program is born
Thirty years ago, Tony Groh, now retired, felt the need to have an education program aimed at upgrading field supervisory personnel. He invented FAST --Foreman and Superintendents Training. He talked about its initial success with fellow members of the Associated General Contractors of America Education Committee. The committee advanced the idea to the AGC's board of directors, who bought in.
With a grant of $300,000 to provide manuals for 10 courses, AGC organized the program as STP -- Supervisors Training Program. Along came a guy named John Schauer, C.G. Schmidt field supervisor, who took all 10 courses, gaining national certification as STP Graduate No. 1. Later in life, John formed his own asbestos removal company, H.S.A., and is now co-owner of Creative Constructors, giving back his experiences.
Meanwhile, devotees of the STP program as administered by the AGC of Wisconsin, Gerd Zoller, J.H. Findorff, and Fred Fleck, Selmer Company, along with Ferd Klobucar, Klobucar Construction, became active in promulgating an update of the program as members of the AGC Education Committee. In the process, STP was split out as a stand-alone committee, Fleck became its chair, and the 10-course program, now embellished with special, advanced classes, is just a heartbeat from being totally updated.
And there is no question that the AGC, through its chapters in Milwaukee and Madison, is far and away the national leader in STP certifications, good anywhere.
Other evidence that construction education here is highly regarded nationally is the fact Steve VanderBloemen and Kurt Schrang labored long and hard, with input from Tony Gabrysiak and Roger Spahr, to produce an AGC textbook on theories of construction estimating now in circulation throughout the country.
So stay tuned -- you might learn something!
Dick Snow, the ultimate insider, has been a leading figure in Wisconsin's construction community for decades. We, and Mr. Snow, invite your response. Call us at 800-508-3800 ext. 125, or e-mail.
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