PEER REVIEW

A higher calling

Garvin sacrifices for National Guard

Bert Garvin Family: Married with two children On being one of a set of triplets: "It wasn't unusual in our family because my grandmother had two sets of twins." Best thing about being active military: "Just being a part of the Army team. Doing your part - that's the esprit de corps of the Army - and the everyday camaraderie you have with your buddies. Being part of an Army family is something I'll always appreciate." Worst thing about the Army: "Living out of a bag for several months - that and realizing very quickly that you are federal government property and lose some individual freedoms." Hobbies: "Any outdoor activities - pheasant hunting in the Dakotas, duck hunting with some friends from Merrill, going to Packers' games. I'm as stereotypical of a Wisconsin person as you'll find." Pet peeve: "It used to be waiting in airports until I was deployed. Now I can wait there forever. But I get impatient in lines, regardless of location." Favorite thing about being a PSC commissioner: "You are able to be a policymaker on a subject that affects everybody." Least favorite thing about being a PSC commissioner: "Siting is difficult because we are permanently disrupting the environment. And passing off rate increases, that's tough for people on fixed incomes and retirees. And I'm from a very poor, rural area, so I am very aware of the cost consequences of our rate decisions. But that's the job."

Bert Garvin occasionally took heat during his six-year term as a commissioner for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.

But that was nothing compared to the heat he took in the Iraqi desert. Garvin returned in fall from a yearlong deployment in Iraq with the Wisconsin National Guard.

"For an older soldier, it's definitely getting outside of your comfort zone when you deploy to a combat zone like Iraq," said Garvin, 40. "My wife was pregnant at the time, so it was difficult personally, but my sacrifice was no different than any other soldier's."

Garvin was accepted to the National Guard as a Judge Advocate General in the mid-1990s. He was appointed a PSC commissioner in 2001 by then-Gov. Tommy Thompson, Garvin's cousin, but that position took a backseat when Garvin's military unit was sent to Iraq in 2005.

"It was an opportunity to do what you are trained to do," he said. "I started as the senior prosecutor for a unit of about 2,600 soldiers. Within a month, I was moved up to serve as the deputy for about 20,000 soldiers.

"It was a good experience. I became a better soldier and also a better lawyer because I got an opportunity to try cases over there."

Garvin hasn't viewed the luxuries of civilian life in America the same since returning.

"Coming back, I'm very appreciative of what we have in this country and what we take for granted in terms of our infrastructure and standard of living," he said. "When you see people line up outside a post for the opportunity to make $7 a day, you recognize what a wealthy country we have here."

Garvin grew up in Elroy and went to undergraduate and law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He made the rounds after college, first working at a private law firm, then as a staff attorney for the PSC and then joining former state Assembly Majority Leader Scott Jensen's staff.

Garvin subsequently worked for Wisconsin Public Power Inc. before landing at the PSC as an executive assistant to then-chairwoman Cheryl Parrino in 1998.

As a commissioner, Garvin said he is most proud of the $4 billion in new transmission and generation construction the PSC approved since 2001 and the speed-up of the application process that reduced a regulatory lag.

"When I was here as an executive assistant, Wisconsin was in a true reliability crisis," he said. "Our reserve margins had plummeted into the single digits because of extended nuclear outages and no new power plants in several years.

"But the commission is not a place where it takes three to four years to process an application for construction activity anymore."

After 16 months of military training and deployment, Garvin returned to his PSC post to serve out the remainder of his term until February. He is now spending time with his wife and two children while deciding his next career move.

"It won't be in the public sector, that much I can tell you," said Garvin. "These jobs are wonderful jobs, but they are not careers, and no one's indispensable in state government."

- Joe Grundle

Your Honor

Theiss Interior Design Ltd. earns a Silver Award in interior design for its work on the Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin in Waukesha. Photo courtesy of Theiss Interior Design Ltd.

Zimmerman Architectural Studios earns a Silver Award for interior design for its work on the Milwaukee Athletic Club bar. Photo courtesy of Zimmerman Architectural Studios Inc.

Several members of the land survey practice group at National Survey & Engineering, a division of R.A. Smith & Associates Inc., Brookfield, won honors from the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors. Jamie Beaty took third place in the Subdivision Plats Category for his work on the Broken Hill Subdivision in Pewaukee. Jim Morrow and Drew Miazga took first place in the Property Survey Category for their work on JBK Properties in Milwaukee. Mark Reinsch took second place in the Land Title Surveys Category for his work at Grede Foundries in Reedsburg. Eric Sturm and Miazga took first place in the Topographic Maps Category for their work at the Told Development/Target Stores in Rhinelander. Greg Kunz and Miazga took second place in the Miscellaneous Maps Category for their work on The Village preliminary subdivision in Dousman. … Zimmerman Architectural Studios Inc., Wauwatosa, won 10 design awards from the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. The firm won a Gold Award for its work on The Johnson Athletic Center at The Prairie School in Racine. Zimmerman also won Silver awards for its work at Brew City Barbecue in Milwaukee, the Children's Hospital and Health System Corporate Center in Wauwatosa, Holy Family Medical Center in Manitowoc, Markel American Insurance in Pewaukee, the Milwaukee Athletic Club in Milwaukee, the Park Street Dorm in Madison, the Pewaukee Library and the University Club of Milwaukee. The firm also won a Bronze Award for its work at the Castleman House restoration in Oconomowoc. The ASID's Wisconsin Chapter also honored Theiss Interior Design Ltd., Milwaukee, with three awards in the Health Care/Medical Category. Theiss won Silver awards for its work on the Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin in Waukesha, the Rockford Orthopedic Associates in Rockford, Ill., and the dental office of Dr. Constantine Stamatelakys in Greenfield. Eppstein Uhen Architects Inc., Milwaukee, also earned honors from ASID's Wisconsin Chapter. The firm won Silver awards for its work on the Zen on Seven at Hotel Metro in Milwaukee, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in West Allis, the GE Healthcare Research Park in Wauwatosa, Johnson Bank in Appleton, Aurora/Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee and Eppstein Uhen's new office in Madison. Torke Wirth Pujara Ltd., Elm Grove, won a Silver Award from the ASID for the firm's work on the restoration and conversion of the historic Old St. Mary's Church in Elm Grove into the firm's new offices. Shannon Cooper of MSI General Corp., Oconomowoc, won a Bronze Award from the ASID for her work on the addition at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Oconomowoc. … Wayne Foster of Brookfield won the Executive Vice President's Award from the Wisconsin Builders Association for his commitment to the WBA. The WBA also honored Bill Carity of Brookfield by inducting him into the association's Hall of Fame in recognition of the time and energy he committed to helping to improve the WBA and the home-building industry. … Veridian Homes LLC, Madison, was named the 2007 Energy Value Housing Award Builder of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center for the company's focus on building energy-efficient and environmentally responsible homes.

Best of the Web

The Hollywoodland: Frank Lloyd Wright Web site at hollywoodlandwright.com chronicles the 1920s opening of a Wright office in Los Angeles and the home construction projects commissioned by the office in ensuing years. All constructed from concrete, the homes are beautiful and unique, and the site features excellent photos of a handful of them.

- Rick Benedict

Wardesky

In Memoriam

Eugene Wardesky, Milwaukee, died Feb. 8 of undisclosed causes. Wardesky, 62, retired from Interstate Erecting Inc., Oak Creek, in 2000 after 17 years working as an ironworker foreman for the company. ... Edward Poblocki, Sarasota, Fla., died Jan. 20 of undisclosed causes. Poblocki, 88, was the former president and co-founder of Poblocki Sign Co. LLC, West Allis.

On the Move

Hoffman LLC, a planning, architecture and construction management firm based in Appleton, plans to move its headquarters this year from N434 Greenville Center, Appleton, to City Center East in downtown Appleton. The company intends to certify its new headquarters under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for commercial interiors. … Fischl Construction Corp. in January moved its offices from 6064 McKee Road, Madison, to 230 Horizon Drive, Suite 100, Verona. The company's new phone number is 608-848-9800.

Branching Out

Lycon Inc., a concrete and aggregate products provider based in Janesville, in January completed the purchase of M&M Concrete from Michels Corp., Brownsville. The purchase will help Lycon expand its business to Wisconsin's Highway 41 corridor.

Dotted Line

C.D. Smith Construction Co., Fond du Lac, took home a $1.24 million contract to build an addition to the Campbellsport Department of Public Works garage. C.D. Smith also won a $2.96 million contract for a storage-basin project in Racine. … Vinton Construction Co., Manitowoc, won a $3.02 million contract for utility improvements and bridge-approach construction in Sturgeon Bay. … The Selmer Co. Inc., Green Bay, landed a $2.96 million contract to construct improvements to wastewater-treatment facilities in Lomira. … Forest Landscaping & Construction Inc., Lake Mills, secured a $2.35 million contract for sanitary-sewer improvements in Columbus. … Trierweiler Construction & Supply Inc., Marshfield, landed a $2.06 million contract to repair and replace concrete pavement at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center in Camp Douglas. … RJS Construction Group LLC, Superior, will refurbish a pump station in Duluth, Minn., after winning a $1.96 million contract for the job. … Sonag Co. Inc., Milwaukee, won a $1.85 million general contract for the second phase of renovations at the GEF 2 building in Madison. Town & Country Electric Inc., Sun Prairie, won a $1.26 million electrical contract for the job. … August Winter & Sons Inc., Appleton, landed a $1.66 million mechanical contract to replace a heating plant boiler/deaerator at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. … C.W. Purpero Inc., Milwaukee, won a $1.42 million contract to construct improvements to the Kenosha Regional Airport in Kenosha. … Pieper Power, Milwaukee, took home a $1.41 million contract to construct second power sources at wet-weather diversion sites in Milwaukee and Glendale. … Underground Pipeline Inc., New Berlin, landed a $1.15 million contract to construct a bioretention system and storm sewers in Milwaukee. … A-1 Excavating Inc., Bloomer, won a $1.13 million contract for utility and street work in Cross Plains. … MSI General Corp., Oconomowoc, was selected as the design/build firm for a remodeling and expansion at the H.C. Brill Co. in Oak Creek. MSI also was selected to construct an interior build-out for a new Century 21 Affiliated office in Delafield. MSI also was selected by the Slinger Fire Department for the design and construction of an 8,474-square-foot addition and remodeling to the existing fire station.

Giving Back

In 2006, the Veridian Foundation, which is the charitable arm of Veridian Homes LLC in Madison, donated more than $250,000 to 59 philanthropic organizations. For those efforts, Veridian won a Bronze Award and $2,500 from the National Housing Endowment, which is the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Home Builders.

The Columbia County Panthers little league team poses for a team photo in 1996 with coach Brian Lehr (back row, right). Photos courtesy of Brian Lehr

OFF THE CLOCK

Go-to guy

There's a Brian Lehr in every group.

He's the guy people call for help; the guy who's wired in such a way that even when his brain says no, his mouth says yes. He can't help but be helpful.

For Lehr, this affliction struck in 1979, the year after he graduated from high school. The Poynette community and the Columbia County Panthers, a Poynette-based youth athletic association, benefited ever since.

"A friend asked me to help coach a youth football team in Poynette," said Lehr, the director of field operations for McGann Construction Inc., Madison. "I did that for two years."

The Columbia County Panthers wrestling team celebrates a first-place finish at the Panther Youth Wrestling Tournament in 1997. Lehr (back row, sixth from left) coached the team.

That same year, Lehr started coaching a Panthers youth wrestling team.

Though his tenure with the teams didn't run in consecutive years, he ended up spending 10 years with football and 13 years with wrestling.

"I also coached tee ball [for two years] and little league baseball for [four] years," he said. "They were looking for coaches, and a friend of the family asked if I would do it. My kids were in that."

Coaching his children - Andy, Erica, Matt and Jim - was a big motivation for his involvement, Lehr said. And that often meant coaching several teams at once.

"I coached girls' fast-pitch softball for two years," he said. "I had a daughter in it who I hadn't done any coaching with, and I figured I was running out of time to do something with her. It was either now or never.

"The year I coached my daughter, I also coached my sons in football and wrestling."

Lehr places a tile on the Wall of Pride in 2003. The Poynette Athletic Boosters sells tiles every year to raise funds for athletic projects.

And now, for the first time in 16 years, Lehr is out of coaching, which gives him more time to focus on his role with the Poynette Athletic Boosters. He helps collect funds - like when he and his wife, Elizabeth, sell Wall of Pride tiles to raise money - for athletic department projects.

"Three years ago, the Boosters did the athletic field bleachers at Poynette High School, and I headed that up and organized the construction," Lehr said. "Two years ago, we did the concession stand at the field. This year, we put up a haunted house to raise funds for a press box at the field.

"This is all nights and weekends. I see my family occasionally, too."

For every moment Lehr gives to his community, he's also giving up time spent elsewhere. But he doesn't see it that way.

"With the coaching, I spent time with my kids or nephews," he said. "I gain from it. I had a lot of time with my kids I wouldn't have had otherwise."

And when it comes to picking up that phone and saying yes even when he might want to say no, Lehr said he doesn't see much cause for regret.

"What's the point of volunteering," he said, "if you'll complain about it later?"

-Chris Thompson

On the Horizon

Equitable Development LLC is expanding its plans for the Fountains of Franklin. Image courtesy of Equitable Development LLC

Irgens Health Care Facilities Group, a division of Irgens Development Partners LLC, Milwaukee, is working with the Sleep Wellness Institute Inc. on plans for a 38,000-square-foot, medical office building in West Allis. … Equitable Development LLC, Franklin, is expanding its plans for Fountains of Franklin, a mixed-use development in Franklin, from 70,000 square feet to 495,000 square feet. … Kueny Architects LLC, Pleasant Prairie, is working with the Salem Town Board on designs for a new public works and fire/rescue complex in the town. … HSR Associates Inc., La Crosse, is providing architectural and engineering services for an estimated $1.58 million painting-bay conversion project at Fort McCoy and Camp Douglas. … HGA Architects and Engineers Inc., Milwaukee, is designing the third phase of construction of a multisport facility on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus. … Ring & DuChateau Inc., Milwaukee, is working with the University of Wisconsin-Madison on plans for the estimated $4.72 million Lakeshore Utility Project. … TDI Associates Inc., Waukesha, is moving forward with the design of an estimated $50 million Deer Creek Inn and Conference Center with a waterpark in New Berlin. … Angus-Young Associates Inc., Janesville, is designing a new police station for the town of Beloit. … Zimmerman Architectural Studios Inc., Wauwatosa, is designing several municipal projects in Delafield.