Your honor

Loftus In memoriam Joseph Loftus, West Bend, died June 10 after a battle with cancer. Loftus, 73, became president of Terminal Electric Co. in 1971. After Terminal acquired Andrae Electric in 1989, he merged the two companies into Terminal-Andrae Electric Co., Milwaukee, and became chairman of the board.

Jim Pankow Inc., a design/build general contractor based in Plymouth, won the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin’s Safety Training and Evaluation Process Safety Award for the company’s safety achievements and its development of a quality safety program. … Linetec, a Wausau-based architectural metals finishing company, was honored by Gov. Jim Doyle, the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and NorthCentral Technical College for the company’s commitment to diversity in the workplace through its employment outreach and training program for those who are deaf. … Bray Associates Architects Inc., Sheboygan, won a Best of Show Award from the Wisconsin Concrete Masonry Association for the firm’s design of the new Shepherd of the Hills Church in Eden. MSI General Corp., Oconomowoc, won a Finalist Award from the WCMA for the company’s design of the RiverGlen Christian Church in Waukesha. … Creative Constructors LLC, Menomonee Falls, won the Perfect Safety Award for the seventh straight year from the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Construction Industry Safety Council for the company’s perfect construction-safety record. … AZCO INC., Appleton, won a Certificate of Merit Award and a Safety Leadership Award from the National Safety Council for the company’s safety practices in its pipe-fabrication facility. … Fred Halfen, a vice president with Ayres Associates Inc, Madison, won the 2006 President’s Award from the Wisconsin chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies for his service on behalf of the organization. Halfen also was elected president of the Wisconsin Land Information Association.

Branching out

Crispell-Snyder Inc., Lake Geneva, acquired Mid-America Planning Services Inc., Madison. The acquisition expands Crispell-Snyder’s professional services to include community Smart Growth planning and grant administration. … VJS Construction Services, Pewaukee, formed a new aviation division in Pewaukee. VJS Lincoln Co. will design and contract airport hangars throughout the country. … The construction law firm of Wickwire Gavin, with offices in Wisconsin, Los Angeles and Virginia, merged with Florida law firm Akerman Senterfitt.

Giving back

County Materials Corp., Marathon, donated $700 in lunches to the Masonry Technology Foundation of Wisconsin’s golf outing on June 12.

Peer Review

Land rover

McCartney enjoys the dirty work

M. Carol McCartney was ahead of the curve.

In 1973, before any of today’s initiatives encouraging women to go into math and science were in place, she earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Now, McCartney — who recently joined the Madison branch of engineering/architecture firm Ayres Associates Inc — has a doctorate and more than 25 years of experience as a professional geologist, hydrogeologist and risk assessor in Wisconsin.

But as an undergrad at Colorado, she found what would become her area of expertise through the luck of the draw.

“I was in search of a major and just took a science class as a general requirement,” McCartney said. “I just thought it was so interesting that I changed my major, and I still think it’s interesting. I’ve become a real science geek.”

Her first college advisor questioned why she would want to be the only woman in class, but McCartney, who attended an all-girls high school in southern Illinois, didn’t see a problem.

“I didn’t get his point,” she said. “I said, ‘I have a lot of women in my life. I have four sisters. I’m OK with being in class with guys. That doesn’t bother me.’”

McCartney was the first female one of her geophysics professors ever taught (“He was somewhat flummoxed,” she said.) and was the only woman in her graduating class of 20 geology students.

After a short stint working for a mining company in Steamboat Springs, Colo., McCartney and her husband Mel moved to Madison, where she earned her master’s and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin.

“I got very good at being a student,” she said. “They call [a Ph.D.] a terminal degree because they make you stop.”

McCartney began her professional geology career at RMT Inc., a Madison-based environmental consulting firm for which she did hydrogeology and risk assessment on brownfields in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Her job was to figure out how polluted a site was and help the engineers design a remedy.

“The work I have done the last 25 years is on dirty sites that have contaminated soil or groundwater or both,” she said. “Sorting it out is kind of like solving a big puzzle. You never have all the pieces that you would like, so you have to do it with holes and gaps, and that’s a challenge.”

McCartney left RMT in 2001 to try her hand at teaching science at Monona Grove High School in Monona, but that only lasted a year.

“I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would,” said McCartney, who has three children, all of whom are in college.

At about the same time, she started her own consulting firm, M.C. McCartney LLC, but found that venture lacking as well. It was at that point that McCartney realized she worked best in a group.

“Looking back on it, what I found I missed when consulting on my own as well as teaching is that it’s too solitary,” she said. “Up until then, I had always worked collaboratively with other people on project teams and my clients, and I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed that.

“Collaborating with other people is something I really need in my work career.”

Her quest to get back into collaboration ended in April when she signed on with Ayres, where she once again is dealing in dirt.

“I can’t think of anything more collaborative than working in brownfields,” McCartney said. “There is collaboration with the project teams, other technical people, communities and developers. They all come to the table and try to reach a common goal.

“[Ayres is] doing very interesting work that applies the skills I have from working on dirty sites all these years. I still have a passion for it, so I’m still doing it.”

— Joe Grundle

On the horizon

Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., Madison, is designing a communication arts center and campus master plan for the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley in Menasha. … Bloom Consultants LLC, Milwaukee, is working with the University of Wisconsin System on an estimated $7.55 million parking ramp in Oshkosh. … OMNNI Associates, Appleton, is providing architecture and engineering services for an estimated $2.14 million heating-plant boiler/deaerator replacement at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. … Lang Associates Inc., Wausau, is designing and engineering an estimated $2.05 million substation switchgear replacement at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. … Architects Group Ltd., Green Bay, is designing the estimated $1.12 million office remodel of Dempsey Hall at the UW-Oshkosh. … Howard Design Inc., Madison, is providing architecture and engineering for the estimated $2.37 million art building infrastructure maintenance project at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. … Grumman-Butkus Associates, Wauwatosa, will design and engineer an estimated $1.34 million chiller installation project at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha. … Johnson Diversey Inc., a cleaning and janitorial products company based in Sturtevant, is considering construction of a 650,000-square-foot distribution center in Sturtevant. … The city of Brookfield is planning an estimated $1.2 million redesign of its City Hall. … MSA Professional Services Inc., Beaver Dam, is working with the city of Watertown on an estimated $3.4 million plan to replace the Milwaukee Street Bridge over the Rock River. … The city of Menomonie is planning construction of a new fire station on the city’s north side. … River Architects Inc., La Crosse, is consulting with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on an estimated $23.56 million academic building on the campus. … Kahler Slater Architects Inc., Milwaukee, has state approval for an estimated $42.27 million College of Business and Economics building on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus. … KEE Architecture Inc., Madison, is proceeding with plans for an estimated $6.24 million improvement project for the union building on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus. … The state Department of Administration is planning construction of a new clinical testing and agricultural lab for the Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection in Madison.

Top Dollar

Super Excavators Inc., Menomonee Falls, will upgrade Waukesha County Airport in Waukesha after winning a $2.99 million contract for the job. Super Excavators also won a $1.7 million contract for road and subdivision construction work in Sturtevant. The company also won a $4.93 million contract for a combined-sewer relay and sewer-lining project in Milwaukee.

Dotted Line

Bauman Construction Inc., Chippewa Falls, will construct the dairy science teaching facility at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls after winning a $7.29 million contract for the job. … A-1 Excavating Inc., Bloomer, will reconstruct Silver Street in Hurley after winning a $2.07 million contract for the job. A-1 also won a $1.41 million contract for street and utility work in Eau Claire. A-1 also won a $2.05 million well-house and transmission-main contract and a $1.08 million wastewater-collection contract for a water- and wastewater-improvement project in Antigo. … RJS Construction Group LLC, Superior, will expand the barracks and activities facilities at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Willow River, Minn., after winning a $4.23 million contract for the job. RJS also will rehabilitate a dock in Superior after winning a $1.65 million contract for the job. …The Boson Co. Inc., Marshfield, won a $5.2 million general contract to construct a new National Guard armory readiness center in Camp Douglas. Total Electric Service Inc., Marshfield, won a $1.05 million electrical contract for the Camp Douglas job. … Haas Sons Inc., Thorp, won a $1.1 million contract and a $1.27 million contract to reconstruct streets and utilities in Eau Claire. Haas Sons also won a $2.24 million contract for the northeast interceptor project in Eau Claire. … Huotari Construction Inc., Medford, won a $3.7 million contract to remodel and expand Peace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. … Speedway Sand & Gravel Inc., Middleton, won a $2.29 million contract for street and utility improvements in Sun Prairie. Speedway also won a $1.01 million contract to reconstruct Mifflin and Seventh streets in Madison. … Rock Road Companies Inc., Janesville, landed a $3 million contract for street construction and traffic improvements on Deerfield Drive and Vicinity Street in Janesville. … Michels Corp., Brownsville, won a $2.97 million contract for trenchless and interceptor rehabilitation work in various Minnesota counties. … Reichl Construction Inc., Hales Corners, landed a $2.95 million general-work and concrete contract for the Racine County Law Enforcement Center project in Racine. Mared Mechanical Contractors Corp., Milwaukee, won a $2.08 million HVAC contract; Spancrete Industries Inc., Waukesha, won a $1.98 million precast-concrete contract; and J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc., Brookfield, won a $1.8 million masonry contract for the Racine job. … Musson Brothers Inc., Rhinelander, will construct various improvements at the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport in Rhinelander after winning a $2.89 million contract for the job. … PTS Contractors Inc., Green Bay, secured a $2.59 million contract for sanitary-sewer and water-main work in Ledgeview. … Northeast Asphalt Inc., Fond du Lac, took home a $1.22 million contract for paving work in Dodge County. Northeast also won a $1.34 million contract for road reconstruction and resurfacing work in Suamico. … C.W. Purpero Inc., Milwaukee, won a $2.49 million contract for street and utility extensions in Franklin. … J.F. Ahern Co., Fond du Lac, took home a $2.43 million mechanical contract for an air-pollution control project at Mendota Mental Health Institution’s central heating plant in Madison. … R.G. Huston Co. Inc., Cottage Grove, landed a $2.37 million contract to construct the lower Badger Mill Creek interceptor in Verona. … KBK Services Inc., Ashland, secured a $2.36 million contract for a chiller/tower replacement on the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus in Menomonie. … Oscar J. Boldt Construction Co., Appleton, landed a $2.33 million contract to construct a new warehouse facility and perform site work for Kaukauna Utilities in Kaukauna. … Staab Construction Corp., Marshfield, won a $2.17 million contract to construct improvements for a sewage-pump station in Kewaskum. … Visu-Sewer Clean & Seal Inc., Pewaukee, took home a $2 million contract to construct storm-sewer linings in Milwaukee. … Globe Contractors Inc., Pewaukee, won a $1.97 million contract for the 2006 utility and paving program in Bayside. … LCO Development Corp., Hayward, secured a $1.59 million contract to construct a new Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles in Hayward. … F.J.A. Christiansen Roofing Co. Inc., Milwaukee, landed a $1.55 million contract to replace the roof at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee. … James Peterson Sons Inc., Rhinelander, secured a $1.54 million contract for road construction work in Mount Pleasant. … Henshue Construction Inc., Madison, won a $1.5 million contract for street construction work in Madison. … Staff Electric Co. Inc., Butler, secured a $1.45 million contract to upgrade the fire-protection system at the Jones Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Milwaukee. … Wayne Nasi Construction Inc., Hurley, landed a $1.39 million contract to expand the library at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College in Hayward. … Mann Bros. Inc., Elkhorn, won a $1.37 million contract to improve North Shore Drive in Delavan. … Burkhart Construction Corp., Butler, will construct Paramount Plaza in Grafton after winning a $1.36 million contract for the job. … Pember Companies Inc., Menomonie, won a $1.29 million contract for utility construction work in Eau Claire. … Hoffman Construction Co., Black River Falls, landed a $1.28 million contract for utility and road construction work in Black River Falls. … American Sewer Services Inc., Hartford, will construct sewers and water mains in Wauwatosa after winning a $1.18 million contract for the job. … Ellis Stone Construction Co., Stevens Point, landed a $1.16 million contract to construct improvements at Marshfield Municipal Airport. … Dorner Inc., Luxemburg, won a $1.13 million contract for sewer- and water-main construction in Appleton. … Payne & Dolan Inc., Waukesha, took home a $1.11 million contract for street construction work on West Lincoln Avenue in West Allis. … Allen Howe & Son Inc., Waterloo, secured a $1.07 million contract for street and utility construction in Verona. … Robert’s Roofing & Siding Inc., Glendale, will replace the roof at the Milwaukee School of Languages in Milwaukee after winning a $1.05 million contract for the job. … Milwaukee General Construction Co. Inc., Milwaukee, landed a $1.04 million contract for street construction and paving work in Racine. … De Groot Inc., Green Bay, won a $1.01 million contract to reconstruct the sanitary sewers, water mains and storm sewers in Kaukauna. … Magill Construction Co. Inc., Elkhorn, won contracts to build a rest room and pavilion building for Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, renovate Roosevelt Elementary School in Janesville, renovate the Stoughton Public Library and renovate Madison East High School. … MSI General Corp., Oconomowoc, was selected to design and build a 28,792-square-foot building in Hartland for IDI Distributors Inc. MSI also was selected to design and build a 12,030-square-foot addition to the Meadowbrook Marketplace in Waukesha.

Sedgwick

A burning question with ...

Jim Sedgwick
principal with VJS Development Group LLC, Pewaukee

Who is your favorite historical figure?

“Jane Russell — and the reason should be visually obvious.”

Off the Clock

Carini prepares for his second qualifying session at the June Sprints. Photo by Dan Thede

That’s racing

Sitting on the sidelines has its advantages.

Sure, it’s not as exciting as racing in the 51st running of the June Sprints at Road America in Elkhart Lake.

But Gino Carini, vice president of business development for J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc. in Brookfield, was willing to make the best of an unfortunate situation.

Carini, an amateur road racer who was on a four-race winning streak, was set to compete in the event in his Mazda Protégé, but that plan took a detour at the beginning of the second qualifier for the main event.

“When we started racing, everything was going fine until I picked up a piece of debris, and it cracked my oil pan,” he said. “That was the end of the day.”

It created a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, Carini was able to spend the day with the 35 friends, family, clients and colleagues who showed up as part of J.P. Cullen’s promotional event at the races.

Gino Carini (right) heads off to watch the June Sprints with his four-year-old son Enzo (front middle), his nephew Andrew Riedy (left) and friend Quinn Mooney (back). Photo by Dan Thede

“We thought it would be an opportunity for us to take some business clients out of the office and do something unique,” he said.

On the other hand, Carini hated missing a race in which he was one of the favorites.

“It was extremely disappointing, especially because there is a group of guys who are the guys to beat, and I was one of them,” he said. “But that’s racing.”

Carini should know. He’s raced motorcycles, dirt bikes, snowmobiles and bicycles his entire life. He earned his competition license for road racing about four years ago and now races about once a month at tracks all over the Midwest.

“I’ve always been kind of a speed junkie,” Carini said. “I’m a very competitive person; it’s just part of my personality. I really enjoy the camaraderie of the other drivers.”

And on June 25, the Cullen group enjoyed some camaraderie with Carini, although not necessarily in a way that was part of the original plan.

“This is just the first year of Gino’s employment and our first attempt at making it a marketing event,” said David Cullen, president of J.P. Cullen. “Everything didn’t turn out as planned, but it was a great day.”

And for those in the group who were able to see Carini race for even just a short while, the event was worth it.

“I get cramps in my accelerator-pedal leg sitting and watching people like Gino,” said Dave Stroik, president of the Zimmerman Design Group, Milwaukee. “You think you’re just watching the race, but you’re pushing for them.”

- Chris Thompson