Dave Grubb and Emerald Fund Selected as BICB Award Winners

By Beth Rodi

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Building Industry Conference Board honored both an industry legend and a leading San Francisco residential developer at its 53rd Annual Awards Banquet, held Nov. 20 at the Sheraton Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

The BICB is a 67-year-old Bay Area construction industry-networking group. Its members represent a broad spectrum of businesses.

The Honor Award, given to an individual or organization whose activities have directly benefited the building industry, was presented to Dave Grubb, Chairman of the Board of Swinerton Inc., part of a 113-year-old family of companies that provide general contracting, preconstruction, design-build and construction management services.

“I really am honored,” Grubb said. “This award really is recognition by your peers that you’ve done something worthwhile.”

The Achievement Award recognizes significant contributions to the industry. This year’s award went to Emerald Fund Inc., a 23-year-old real estate developer. Emerald acquires real estate and financing and manages design and construction for office, residential, retail, and mixed-use properties. Peter Bosma, vice president and principal, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

“This is a significant achievement for a development company, since only one other developer—an individual—has ever won the BICB Achievement Award in its history,” said Bosma about Emerald Fund’s accolade.

Grubb was introduced at the ceremony with a powerful story of how, as a young hod carrier and bricklayer from West Virginia, he worked his way through high school and Princeton University, earning a degree in civil engineering. Grubb headed west, where he received a Masters of Science degree from Stanford University. Two years later, he joined what was then Swinerton & Walberg, his home for the next 39 years.

Grubb hit the ground running, overseeing the construction of the renowned Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco’s historic Wharf District.The project was the first example of the impact Grubb would have not only on the industry, but on the community, his students in construction and in the classroom and his family. Grubb said his father, grandfather, Richard Walberg and Bill Swinerton were among his mentors.

His advice to others who are starting out today?

“Never underestimate the value of an education. Each time you are presented with a task, no matter how routine, always try to figure out a better way to do it. If you keep your own learning process alive, you’ll always find innovative ways to do things. It’s fun, and you will ultimately be successful.”

Grubb has lived by his own word—he is actively involved in Swinerton’s 60 employee training classes, teaches leadership at Stanford and is extremely dedicated to opening doors for future construction leaders.

Grubb said his many accomplishments in construction—he oversees a company that consistently ranks among the five largest general contractors in California —can't hold a candle to raising six children, his greatest achievment.

“All of (my kids) are have grown up, been educated and are all married.” Not surprisingly, five of the six have careers in construction (the sixth is in public relations).

Established in 1979, Emerald Fund has developed innovative office, residential, retail, and mixed-use developments in San Francisco.

Bosma is a BICB member, participating in several of its forums. As a contractor for Emerald, he oversees project construction. Bosma's industry experience dates back to his school years.

Bosma, who has an MBA, believes that in today’s economy it is critical to champion non-linear thinking and creativity in design. “We constantly focus on value-added activity. Teamwork is a big part of that and is more important than ever to survive the hard economic times,” he said.

“Through the years as a team, we’ve developed some innovative equity and design techniques.

Also, we’ve established extremely high standards for our projects.”

The significance of some of Emerald’s more innovative solutions can be seen elsewhere in the industry, as their concepts have been copied and put to use by several different developers, Bosma said. “We should probably look into copyrighting someday,” he said chuckling.

HMH Receives CalOSHA's Safety Award: Sacramento-based contractor now exempt from standard jobsite inspections

SACRAMENTO -- Harbison-Mahony-Higgins Builders Inc. has become the first general contractor in California to be exempted from standard job site inspections by the California division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under a new Cal-OHSA program that recognizes construction firms with exceptional safety records.

At least six contractors have recently applied for the Golden State designation, which is an outgrowth of an earlier pilot effort called the Voluntary Protection Program. The designation is the highest of three levels. The Golden Eagle and Golden Gate follow it.

To qualify for the Golden State designation, general contractors must demonstrate that their records are clear of any violations and that their rate of injury and illness is lower than the industry average during the last four years. In addition, a Golden State company must have an effective safety program that goes beyond Cal-OSHA's minimum requirements.

"HMH could not have maintained our record and this level of safety without the support of the trade unions and subcontractors with whom we work. They deserve this honor every bit as much as we do at HMH," said Bo Bradley, safety manager for HMH.

In announcing the Golden State designation, Cal-OSHA certified HMH's status as a contractor whose risk for serious accidents is so low that state inspectors no longer have to conduct programmed inspections on HMH sites, which will free up inspectors to concentrate on other work sites.

HMH and other Golden State general contractors will also serve as mentors on safe construction practices to contractors throughout California.

"As an inherently dangerous occupation, building construction demands constant attention to safety; there simply is no such thing as too much emphasis on safety. We and our partners in the trade unions and subcontracting community work very hard at it, and all of us are deeply honored that the state recognizes our efforts," said HMH President David Higgins Sr.

Cal-OSHA representatives will present HMH with a sample of a flag that will identify a construction site as being overseen by a Golden State general contractor.

HMH was founded in 1957 as Harbison & Mahony, operating out of a garage in Sacramento. Growing beyond its roots as a public sector building contractor, HMH today covers all of Northern California, where it specializes in medical, high-tech, industrial, office building, tenant improvement, renovation and commercial projects.

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