CT: What types of technological investments has R.C. Stevens made recently?
DS: Strategically, we began looking at an integrated approach to all our technology needs about seven years ago. At the time, we had numerous databases that we maintained, but we gradually moved in a direction where we now have one software supplier that provides an integrated solution for our estimating, project management, accounting and general database.

Another area where we face challenges is in tracking and filing, and then archiving project records. About five years ago, we began scanning all of our close-out and as-built documentation to CDs, with the ultimate goal of going as paperless as possible. This year, we have implemented a document management software solution that integrates with our project management, accounting and estimating. Eventually, all documents within the company – including project management files, invoices, payments and estimates – will be logged and saved as compressed files, eliminating the major burden we’ve had of storing paper.

CT: What does your project portfolio look like?
DS: About 50 percent of our work is in industrial and processing, with about 25 percent in healthcare, 10 to 15 percent in commercial and 10 to 15 percent in financial. Our market focus is about a 150-mile radius from our headquarters.

CT: What types of relationships has R.C. Stevens fostered with its clients?
DS: We see a need to continue to be able to react quickly to our clients’ requests. So many of our projects are with repeat owners that don’t always have a multimillion-dollar project they want built. They have needs for small project support, so we are moving forward with creating a small project division in which we will perform much of our own work.

CT: What are some current projects?
DS: In 2007, we completed work on Hanson Pipe & Precast, a 172,000-square-foot, fully automated pipe-manufacturing facility in Winter Haven, Fla. We were selected for the design/build job because of our experience in manufacturing and process-oriented projects, as well as our ability to be both a team player and team leader. This job was the single-largest design/build project we’ve ever handled.

We also completed the All Souls Catholic Community Church in Sanford, Fla., a $10 million, complex modern steel structure designed to emulate the Old-World style of cathedrals.

Projects that are currently under construction include the CFE Credit Union branch office in Fern Park, Fla., for $1.4 million; the Church of the Messiah in Winter Garden for $2.7 million; the Coca-Cola Flammable Storage Cooler in Auburndale for $900,000; the two-story,  Garden Building in Winter Garden for $4.7 million; and the Winter Garden Theatre in Winter Garden for $2 million.

CT: What does the future hold for you?
DS: We are in the design phase of our new corporate headquarters, a 15,000-square-foot, two-story office in Winter Garden, Fla. We expect to be in our new office in about a year. Lack of office space has been one of the factors limiting our growth, and once [we are] in our new office, we will be able to expand our staff.

We have also recently opened a branch office in Brevard County on the east coast of Florida. We intend to focus on the growing healthcare markets. We [will] keep a focus on the areas of work that we have historically done well in and remain diversified.