News/PR

Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc. Celebrates Women in Construction

Women are constantly redefining their roles in the construction industry. More and more we see well qualified women taking on roles of Project Manager, Engineer, Estimator etc... Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc. is proud to have such women working for our company and we want to take the time to recognize these women. We are spotlighting Sandra Scharas, Project Engineer on our Boca Raton Condominium project.

We had a chance to chat with Sandy about being a Project Engineer and her thoughts about being out there on the jobsite.

Q: What made you decide to pursue a career in construction?
A: I started out as a temp for a construction agency doing QA work. I really liked what I was doing but wanted to get into the more commercial side of the industry so I looked for a position with a commercial company and found Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc.

Q: How long have you been with Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc.?
A: 1 year.

Q: What are some of the projects you have worked on?
A: Boca Raton, The Palms, and The Silverton.

Q: What is it like working out there in the field?
A: It's great! Its one thing to be in the office and look at paperwork all day, and it is another to be out there seeing what is really happening. You really learn a lot when you are out there every day seeing what is going on and interacting with everyone.

Q: What has been your most significant achievement at Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc.?
A: The knowledge I have learned from my experiences here. I've gained a great understanding of product knowledge and procedures.

Q: What is your next goal at Desert Plumbing & Heating Copmany, Inc.?
A: I would like to work my way up to Project Manager.

Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc. Mobilizes on One Las Vegas

One Las Vegas is a complete lifestyle-focused community of five 20-story high rises with plans for a high-end hotel, shops and special amenities. Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc. after receiving our official contract earlier this year, has begun mobilization on site to work "phase one", which includes tower one, two, and the parking garage. This Multi Million dollar contract should keep our team out there busy into late 2007.

4/22/06

Come join us for breakfast and show off your car building skills. See how your co-workers have creatively transformed a small block of wood into a racecar. Well, maybe not a car, but it will have four wheels!

Breakfast: 10:00am - 11:00am
Registration and Weigh-In: 11:00am - 11:50am
Racing Starts: 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Use your imagination, be creative, shape has the least to do with winning. A favorite car style or even a pick-up truck is more interesting than a wedge design racer.

Bring your whole family to the RACE to cheer your car. Participants are expected to show the families a good example of competition and sportsmanship.

We're doing this for FUN!!! Speed will not be the only characteristic that is judged, so have fun with your designs too!!

Participants must use BSA car kits. Contact your project manager or supervisor to obtain your free Pinewood Derby kit.

4/12/06

Keeping with the Times

In an effort to cultivate well-rounded and skilled Project Managers, Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc. has incorporated in its 2006 goals, a Project Manager training program.

The Project Manager training program is a 10-step training plan spanning a 5-year period. Candidates are chosen based on their current experience, knowledge, and aptitude. Participants in the program, Project Engineers, earn valuable skills and on-the-job training working day-to-day with Senior Project Managers onsite. During the program period, Project Engineers are also required to earn college-level education in an accredited Construction Management degree program through UNLV or CCSN. Upon successful completion of an appropriate Construction Management degree and 5-year training program, the Project Engineer will be eligible for promotion to a Project Manager.

The training plan was developed to allow the Project Engineer to progressively increase his/her knowledge, skill level, and responsibilities. The Project Engineer will work with each of Desert Plumbing & Heating's Senior Project Managers to gain diverse experience and familiarity with projects of varying scope (from simple to complex), and at various progressions of the project timeline.

4/1/06

Each quarter, Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc. selects one of their own who has consistently gone beyond the call of their normal job duties. In our quarterly spotlight, we take time to get to know a little bit more about the person whom most of us know, if not by face, then certainly by name. This quarter, Jim Stratton, our Field Operations Manager, was chosen for this recognition because of his excellent work ethics and consistent quality performance.

Tim: How long have you been with Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc.?
Jim: 11 years.

Tim: What is your background in the industry?
Jim: I’ve been in plumbing 30 years now. I was a member of Local 398 in California and moved to Las Vegas to work on the Luxor Casino.

Tim: How long have you lived in Las Vegas?
Jim: 13 years.

Tim: What have been some of your major projects?
Jim: Circus Circus west tower, Mandalay Bay and The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, and Bass Pro Shops.

Tim: What has been your most significant achievement at Desert Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc.?
Jim: The promotion to Field Operations Manager. I started here as a journeyman plumber and worked my way up through the ranks.