Construction:

I first worked in construction in 1972 as a finish carpenter and a plumber’s assistant.  In 1980, I returned to construction as a full-time finish carpenter with electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and framing responsibilities with CRW Industries, Inc.  I was made field supervisor in 1981.

In 1984, I became General Manager of a new satellite office of operation within CRW.  I did all estimating, job supervision, and billing within that operation, on 10 - 30 different construction projects at any given time.  In 1986, I opened a second branch of CRW in Soquel, California.

I have qualified as an expert witness on many occasions, and acted as Arbitrator and Mediator in hearings.  My staff and I interpret building codes and standards as they relate to “as built” structures of a wide variety.  We organize complicated construction discords into an easily understandable format.

I am a professional construction estimator, specifier, and analyst.  My work often includes case merit assessment, documentation review, Code & Standards compliance analysis, estimating and cost analysis, expert negotiations, reporting, exhibits production, and various types of expert witness testimony.  I have conducted forensic testing on a wide variety of construction assemblies.  I work for a variety of private and professional people who require information which they can rely on as both accurate, and presented in an understandable manner.

I have years of experience in creating details for the difficult assemblies often omitted from architectural plans: junctures of dissimilar materials, corners, repair-to-original tie-ins, through penetrations, and other transitions.  My design focus is customized waterproofing.

I am a lecturer on Construction Specifications and Defect Disputes.

Management and Course of Construction Inspecting:

Throughout my career, I have specified, managed, and assured quality on all manner of construction projects.  I have studied hundreds of failed construction assemblies, and understand the basic principles of construction, especially waterproofing and code compliance issues.

Environmental Testing:

I have been involved with the analysis of water intrusion issues, damages, and costs of remediation since 1982.  The presence of mold in wet/unvented buildings has always been a consideration in this work.

My firm is trained and equipped in mold testing, including air sampling and isolation containment area sampling.  Our mold and air samples are shipped to a certified laboratory for examination and reporting results.

Construction Dispute Resolution:

I have advised/consulted in over 720 construction cases, the majority of which were disputes.  I also have 25 - 30 consultations by phone per year that are completed in the first phone call (i.e., free advice calls).  I personally have attended at least 36 formal Mediations, 31 Arbitrations, as well as numerous expert witness meetings and settlement conferences.  I have been deposed as an expert witness 40 times, have testified at Trial 10 times, and have prepared for Trial in matters which have settled.

As Arbitrator, I have heard 39 cases for the CSLB and 2 privately.  I have also been privately hired as Mediator in 4 Construction Disputes.

Construction Related Licenses, Certifications and Affiliations:

International Code Council - UBC & ICB Certified Building Inspector (Certificate #0873078-B5/-10)

Environmental Testing Education:

“Mold & Healthy Home Training Course” by Hometest/Analysis METS Laboratories (6/01); “Solving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems in California,” seminar, which included a section regarding the legal ramifications of mold and rot, by Lorman Education Services (8/02); “Successful Mitigation of Water Damage” by PuroSystems, Inc. (5/03).

Dispute Resolution Education:

I earned the Construction Arbitrator Certificate (7/00) and the Commercial Mediator Certificate (10/00)from the Institute of Construction Management in Los Angeles, as well as the Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (8/01) from the University of California Extension, Santa Cruz. I also attended the following ADR seminars and conferences:; “Arbitration: Theory v. Reality” by American Bar Association (5/03); CSLB Annual Arbitration Training by Arbitration, Mediation & Conciliation Center (10/03, 8/04, and 9/05); “Mediation Training” and “Restorative Justice” by Bay Area Non-Violence Communication (11/04); Dispute Resolution Conference by American Bar Association (4/05); and “Advanced Mediation Training” by the Institute for Conflict Management (6/05); Nonviolent Communication Center of Santa Cruz's Marshall Rosenberg Workshop “Transforming Anger, Fear, and Other Difficult Emotions” (10/05); Bay Area Nonviolent Communication's “Mediation Training” by Marshall Rosenberg (11/05).

Publications and Speaking Engagements:

Your Future is Our Business, Career Panel Speaker, Aptos High School, 2001, 2002/03, and 2004/05.