Masonry Magazine June 2004 Page. 14
Contractor
to Contractor
MCAA member contractors respond to the industry issues of the day.
Ken Nessler
Sun Valley Masonry, Inc.
Sun Valley Masonry, Inc.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Sun Valley Masonry, Inc., (SVM), owned by Robert Baum and Ken Nessler, has been a strong force in the Southwest masonry community since its beginning in 1978. This position has been achieved through not only good work ethics and quality craftsmanship, but also by maintaining a full-time Safety Director, initiating a marketing program, and staying active in industry associations, all the way from the local to national level. This work has paid off by creating a sound and well-respected business, but also by generating awards for craftsmanship and leadership. Ken Nessler was kind enough to talk with us more about Sun Valley and the industry as a whole.
Masonry: What has been the key to Sun Valley's growth and success over the years?
Nessler: People, people, people. With a company as large as ours, we have to be able to delegate responsibilities. That means we are only as good as the people who work for us. Sixty-five percent of our bids are labor. That is a large variable to deal with, and it requires top production.
Robert Baum (President) and myself are active owners. Robert's main focus has always been hands-on with the field employees; my focus has always been centered on the estimating and contracting portion of the business. We start by showing a good work ethic and set an example for our employees to follow.
Masonry: SVM has been the recipient of dozens of industry and business awards, most recently two award-winning projects in the Arizona Masonry Guild's Excellence in Masonry. Tell us more about these two projects, and what made them stand out for recognition.
Nessler: The awards are actually architectural awards given for various reasons. The judges are always from another state and consist of architects and mason contractors. It is left completely up to them as to the type of award to be given. Our participation is awarded due to the quality of work. Regardless of how architecturally pleasing a project is, it won't receive an award if the workmanship doesn't meet the required standard of quality.
Masonry: Sun Valley Masonry is the only mason contractor in Arizona with a full-time Safety Director on staff. How has this position paid for itself?
Nessler: Three scaffold violations for the same occurrence is considered serious, and fines are issued accordingly. OSHA does not differentiate between the number of employees the contractor has on his payroll; therefore, we have a lot more exposure than smaller contractors. There are other times when OSHA erroneously issues a citation. It takes time to research and get it turned around. A Safety Director has dedicated time to deal with these and other problems. Having a Safety Director also makes us a safer company, which is reflected in our insurance rates.
Masonry: Not only have several Sun Valley employees held positions in industry associations, but you've also received "Industry Leader of the Year" from Masonry Construction in 2001 and the 2003 Bart Del Duca Award for lifetime dedication to the masonry industry presented by the Arizona Masonry Guild. How have these accomplishments helped your business, as well as your industry?
Nessler: There are certainly a lot of leaders in our industry, and I am certainly not a better leader than Robert. Everything we have accomplished, we accomplished together. I was probably singled out for the award because I was more of a front man getting work and more recognizable because of my position dealing with publications and promotions. I have had a lifetime of dedication to the masonry industry. We have always believed we should give back to the industry that supports our livelihoods, and we highly encourage all of our personnel to do their part.
We realize we have to give in order to receive. It eventually comes back to us.
It was unexpected but nice to be recognized by the Arizona Masonry Guild's