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 was entrusted with creating and managing a new operation within CRW. I did all estimating, procurement, management, subcontracting, 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. My responsibilities included writing all estimates, managing all jobs, hiring, dismissals, insurance, accounts payable and receivable, advertising, public relations, equipment, stock, and general management. I ran up to 32 jobs at once with up to 16 employees.

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 760 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 38 formal Mediations, 32 Arbitrations, as well as numerous expert witness meetings and settlement conferences. I have been deposed as an expert witness 42 times, have testified at Trial 11 times, and have prepared for Trial in matters which have settled.

As Arbitrator, I have heard 45 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:

State of California, Contractors State License Board (CSLB) - Class B General Contractor, #603517
International Code Council (ICC) - Member (since 8/18/97) and Certified Building Inspector, #0873078 (since 5/8/05 for IBC codes)
Formerly certified as Building Inspector UBC (Uniform Building Code) through the ICBO/ICC (from 5/99-5/11, when ICC retired this designation)
City of Santa Cruz Board of Building and Fire Appeals - Member
Western Construction Consultants Association (WestCon) - Member
Western Regional Builders Master Builder Association - Member
Santa Cruz Construction Guild - Member
Community Housing Land Trust of Santa Cruz County - former Chairperson
Santa Cruz City Housing Advisory Committee - former Member
I submitted input during the formulation of the first International Building Code.