]MADISON – Since Findorff’s start in 1890, our people have set the bar for excellence in the construction industry. We have continued this tradition as several of our employees were recently recognized by The Daily Reporter as Newsmakers of the Year. They include:
- Reese Mersberger: As the Rising Young Professional of the Year, Reese is a Project Engineer who routinely embraces new challenges with his unique experience and skillset. As part of the team that recently completed the impressive Westin Milwaukee Hotel, Reese helped coordinate construction efforts on a tight urban site, managed the project schedule, and assisted with labor management. For nearly ten years, Reese has additionally been engaged with community organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Revitalize Milwaukee.
- Christin Mlsna: Christin was recognized as the Business Developer of the Year. As she was recently promoted to Director of Education Market & Communication Services, Christin is known for strategically spearheading efforts and transforming business initiatives in Findorff’s education sector. In the last 10 years alone, Christin has supported $877 million of successful school referenda throughout Wisconsin. This work has included developing internal processes and procedures that have been replicated in Findorff’s other market sectors.
- Carl Wickman: Honored as Estimator of the Year, Carl has nearly 20 years of experience as Findorff’s Senior Preconstruction Manager. From K-12 educational facilities to high-rise residential developments, Carl’s expertise in preconstruction and estimating is second to none. He continually strives to go above and beyond to help clients save time and money on their construction projects. By working closely with project teams to manage budgets, value engineering, and constructability analysis, Carl exemplifies what it means to be a leading and strategic estimator.
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Blog written by Findorff’s Director of Project Management Matt Breunig
All schools have budget concerns that impact their abilities to appropriately fund maintenance projects, but it is imperative to remember that proper maintenance influences achievement and impacts the way children learn in the classroom environment.
Though one may think there is a simple formula applied to any facility that would give confidence it has an appropriate maintenance budget, the reality isn’t quite that simple because every facility is unique.
Examining the makeup of a building and its systems, how it serves its occupants, and what maintenance has been performed in the past are just a few factors to review as a capital maintenance plan is developed. The first step in understanding these factors is to complete a facilities assessment of all building components. Ultimately this assessment will be an important foundation from which to build a capital maintenance plan. The facilities assessment will identify current deficiencies and maintenance items to be considered, as well as be used to identify new projects for improvements.
Once facilities have been assessed, the capital maintenance plan is developed. The plan allows for a better understanding of potential short- and-long term maintenance expenses and serves as an important communication tool for a variety of stakeholders. Findorff’s preconstruction team has experience estimating typical capital maintenance projects. We know what they cost and will work with school districts to prioritize as appropriate to balance the goal of maintaining the facility with the reality of budget limitations.
What this all means is that a capital maintenance plan is a vital tool to understanding facility needs and how much addressing them can cost. The plans should be updated periodically to adjust to changing needs and priorities. Although there is not a simple formula to identify an appropriate capital-maintenance budget, the effort to complete a facilities assessment and capital-maintenance plan pays off. Giving districts the confidence to properly plan their budgets and maintain their facilities is priceless.