Home > Newsroom > SEAN TRUESDALE SPEAKS AT FUTURE OF MID-MARKET
Sean Truesdale spoke at Bisnow’s Future of Mid-Market event about the future of San Francisco’s hot submarket.
You can read a summary of the event here:
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“It’s exciting to be live, to see so many faces out there and so many mustaches,” Todd Ahern said as he kicked off Truebeck's 8th annual Movember event. “They look great,” Nick Pera added as he and Todd looked out at those in attendance. In the crowd, nearly all the men had mustaches trimmed and cut into different styles. Each year, Truebeck Construction participates in Movember. A play on the name November, it’s a month where men grow mustaches to raise awareness around men’s health and fundraise to support research and services on that front. Specifically, the Movember Foundation focuses on testicular and prostate cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. The non-profit got its start when a group of men in Australia attempted to bring back the mustache as a fashion statement. Now, Movember is one of the largest international organizations supporting men’s health. But growing mustaches and raising money is only a scratch on the surface for what Truebeck does over the course of the month. From the first of the month to the last, the team engages in contests, giveaways, and a teamwide event to celebrate. The theme for 2021 was “Raise the Barbershop,” a play on the company’s motto, “Raise the Bar.” In previous years, Truebeck did themes like the Moscars and mustaches in sports. At this year’s celebration event, the team hauled barber shop chairs into the main office and even brought in a local stylist to give shaves during the live event. “It started initially as a way for us to honor all the fathers, sons, husbands, uncles, brothers, and nephews, all the men in our life that unfortunately somewhere along the way may be impacted by anything from prostate cancer and testicular cancer to unhealthy lifestyles and poor mental health,” said Ahern. This year, Truebeck’s team raised $38,980! This put Truebeck Construction as the tenth highest team nationally for fundraising as well as the highest donor from the construction industry. “It’s another great year, we’ve blown out our target. There is no stopping Truebeck,” said Ahern. But among the Truebeck team there was a special group that were the largest contributors to this year’s success. A team comprised of six women called “The Hair Naked Ladies of Truebeck.” On this team were Brynda Olson, Betsy Bice, Jessica Mills, Kelley Wathen, Christine Zinkgraf, and Kalie Ward. These women raised over 50 percent of the total amount with $20,040. They were also ranked sixteenth on Movmeber’s Individual Leaderboard and broke Truebeck’s internal record for most money raised within the team. “It was fun to come together with this group of women to join the cause and raise awareness and money for Movember,” said Bice. As to how the team formed, Ward shared, “Brynda came up with the idea and we all jumped on board at the chance to band together. I think that the team aspect really led to our fundraising success as many of those who donated wanted to contribute to multiple members of the team or just liked the idea of the Hair Naked Ladies. Our goal is to try to motivate other potential teams to do the same.” While interviewing two representatives of the Hair Naked Ladies—Olson and Wathen—Pera asked, “How did you get all those funds? Because that’s absolutely amazing, no one at Truebeck has done what you have done.” “Our tips on how to raise the most money for this are if you drop the word ‘naked’ in an email, you get a lot more attention,” Wathen said as the crowd laughed. As for why Wathen chose to personally participate, she said, “Men’s health affects all of us, and we wanted to do our part to contribute!” “This was for a great cause to raise funds and bring awareness to something that affects us all,” said Olson. “Participating in a mustache competition was not on my radar... for obvious reasons,” said Zinkgraf. “But when this team came together we felt confident the blue ribbon could be ours. The real winners are the men in our lives, and I am thrilled that our donations will help bring awareness to men's mental health which has been stigmatized for too long.” As an industry with a strong male workforce, there is a vested interest for the construction industry and general contractors like Truebeck Construction to support causes like Movember. “Team Truebeck continues to be a leader for the betterment of men’s health and it amazes me every year to see the team’s enthusiasm for this event,” said Ahern. “Even more incredible is how team members yearly outreach continues to Raise the Bar in support of the Movember Foundation. The Hair Naked Ladies threw down a massive gauntlet this year and I for one can’t wait to see who will rise to the challenge in 2022.” https://vimeo.com/649230101/c6b3e33e92
READ MOREAs we move deeper into the digital age, we’re finding new ways to enhance safety practices. We’ve already seen other industries use automated dashboards to track metrics like sales, but what about the health and wellness of teams? Challenge of the Safety Industry Lack of data is an Achilles heel for any industry. Uniformed decisions can have disastrous consequences, so companies invest heavily into data reports to analyze key metrics. When no such data is readily presentable or easy to interpret, a common practice is to utilize industry standards. For example, in the construction industry the most common injury is falling. However, as a general contractor, Truebeck Construction is unique with an above industry average safety record. Are falls the most common injury for Truebeck and its trade partners? That is why Truebeck is rolling out the first ever of its kind, a safety dashboard in ProCore. Data Truebeck Can See With this new dashboard, Truebeck’s safety team can track safety incidents and interpret them with an easy-to-use visual display. Truebeck can track injuries by: Job site Trade partner Specific type Treatment needed Physical location The new dashboard can allow users to home in on each of these specific areas. It can generate graphs that allow the team to look at trends over periods of time. There is even a model of a human body with highlighted locations showing which parts of the body receive the most injury. How This Makes Truebeck a Better GC With this technology, Truebeck is prepared to address specific trends they see internally. If a certain job site is showing concerning signs, Truebeck’s safety team can address issues before serious problems arise. Likewise, Truebeck can monitor its trade partners. It will be easier to determine which trade partners consistently demonstrate an ability to follow Truebeck’s safety protocols. This will lead to Truebeck selecting the best trade partners for their clients on future projects. While these are just a couple examples of how Truebeck will use the dashboard, ultimately the purpose of the dashboard is to get data into the hands of decision makers faster than before. This customized dashboard will provide specific results for Truebeck. As a general contractor with an impressive safety record, reliance on industry averages cannot produce the information necessary to enhance Truebeck’s safety procedures. Truebeck’s Commitment and Success with Safety This dashboard was built internally by the Truebeck Construction Technology and Innovation (CTI) team. The passion of Truebeck’s Safety team to care for their field team and the trade partners they work with sparked this innovative push. As a general contractor, Truebeck has been given numerous safety awards by organizations like the Construction Employers’ Association and the Associated General Contractors of America. Its current safety practices have led to Truebeck possessing one of the best safety records in the industry. Many job sites are even Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) designated by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal OSHA).
READ MOREHow do handcrafted soaps help improve the unemployment rate? Recognizing that unemployment harms physical and mental health, Roots Community Health Center launched a workforce initiative to empower the local community in Oakland. Roots created a pathway to jobs for formerly incarcerated Californians by producing small batch artisan soap. As a part of their 2020 Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging charter to support social causes that directly aid underrepresented groups, Truebeck’s Team for Tomorrow sought out partnerships with local businesses and charities that shared that mission. Truebeck and the Roots Clinic share a social responsibility focus on health. Roots is an Oakland-based non-profit health center that provides medical and behavioral health care, health navigation, workforce enterprises, housing, outreach, and advocacy. Roots’ Emancipators Initiative combines on-the-job training with whole-person support. Their 12-week program addresses: Basic Education and Job Readiness Navigation and Linkage to Services Mentoring and Coaching Job Training, Experience and Counseling Their Clean360 shop teaches those in the program a trade and helps them get the start they need to succeed after prison. 96 percent of program graduates demonstrate long-term self-sufficiency 96 percent of program graduates are in stable jobs 97 percent of program graduates have not returned to prison since participating in the program Interesting fact: soap was almost toilet paper. While soap seems random, the Clinic researched heavily before making the decision. Roots wanted to manufacture a simple object that everybody needs – so it was either soap or toilet paper. Soap won because it was more inspiring, healthy, natural, and makes people feel good. “Everyone needs soap, and the organization has such a great cause providing opportunities to keep people from going down wrong paths. From the moment it was brought to Team for Tomorrow, I was excited to support it,” said a Truebeck Team for Tomorrow Committee member. After connecting with Clean360 to learn how Truebeck could support them, the firm purchased 2,000 bars of soap. These bars were then gifted to team members, business partners, family and friends. The remaining soap is being donated to local shelters. Truebeck believes that social change starts in your own neighborhood. Local organizations like the Roots Clinic and Clean360 are where real change can happen, and Truebeck is honored to be part of such a great cause. You can purchase the soap online here.
READ MOREInterviews can be nerve-wracking. We understand, we’ve been in your shoes before. But before we dive in, take a moment to realize that you made it past the first hurdle! Just applying to join our team is a great first step. Accept this virtual high-five from us! Now, the next step is the interview process, and we’re here to provide some help. We’re looking for a good fit, but that doesn’t mean we have to be the same, in fact one of our company mottos is “Uniquely you, authentically us.” Uniquely You Let’s break down that motto into two parts and start with the phrase “uniquely you.” Now, the first word chosen is unique and that’s on purpose. You are a unique individual with experiences, passions and interests that are inherent only to you. Now the second word is you, and that’s because during the interview process, you have the spotlight. We can’t wait to meet and learn more about you. So, our first piece of advice is, be yourself! Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Our company is passionate about making a positive social impact on the world. Our hometown of San Francisco is a special place that brings together people from all over the world. To be a fully engaged member of the community, we embrace and celebrate diversity. At Truebeck, we want the people inside our offices to represent the people in our beautifully diverse communities outside our offices. This means differences in age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, ethnicity, marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, sexual orientation and other characteristics that make each of us unique. Such diversity will inspire new perspectives, new methods of discovery, and new solutions. One of the values we hold dear – business and life are all about people – puts humans at the center of everything. Our team is diverse, and we’re motivated to bring even more unique individuals to grow our diverse family. Previous Successes We’re looking for candidates who have been innovative in their approach to construction or those who worked on a complex project and overcame steep challenges. Were there high stakes circumstances you navigated? Take a closer look at your past experiences and pull out some of the stories that showcase your unique skill set and talent. Tell us all about it. If you’re applying for one of our general administration positions, talk about your successes there too! Discuss your unique skills and share stories about how you used them in an innovative way. Passions and Interests At Truebeck, we are always making plans to get out as a team and have fun. Are you a fan of sports? Well, we have our annual Stanford football game tailgate and many sports leagues. Are there any causes or charities that you are passionate about? We’re always on the lookout for ways our Team for Tomorrow can give back to the community. Do you enjoy reading? We have a Book Club! Is mentoring important to you? We’re a partner to local high schools and provide many opportunities to mentor young people. Do you have musical talent? Join the Truebeck band! Authentically Us Just like the first part of the phrase, we intentionally chose the word “authentic” to represent our team. Our passion for construction and our company values is evident in everything we do. As a candidate for hire, there are probably a lot of questions you’ll have for us. After all, you’ll want to make sure we’re a great fit for you too. We highly recommend researching us – check out our website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and ask your friends in the industry about Truebeck’s reputation. The Truebeck Culture Quite simply our culture is built by living our values. We’ve broken down our values into bite-sized phrases like, “Business and life are all about people,” and “We win as a team and high-five a lot.” But they’re not just phrases, you’ll hear our team members saying them and living them. Get to know us, our messaging, what we stand for, our goals and vision, and what we’ve accomplished. Once you get a feel for our culture, you’ll see what values you align with and how you can be a strong candidate to join Truebeck. Our Clients and Markets Speaking of values, one of them is “If it’s not the best, it simply won’t do.” At Truebeck, we’re immensely proud of our work. We do more than just build; we craft spaces and buildings that shape the world. Our clients are busy making medicine to cure diseases and developing new technology to enhance lives. We are busy making sure they have the most modern and cutting-edge spaces to make it happen. Take a moment to scroll through our work and see the projects we’ve completed. Look at your own history and see if we have any shared ground. Have you done work for tech companies? Have you worked on any bioscience facilities? Let us know during the interview how you worked on these projects so we can see how your talents will help our clients meet their goals. Our Leadership Team One of the best parts of Truebeck is just how involved the leadership team is with everyone in the company. Whether that be an open-door policy, a high-five in the hallway, or working on fun projects like creating a hilarious video for the next company event. In short, expect to see our leadership team frequently and have some laughs with them. Take the time to review their personal bios and get to know them prior to your interview. Our leadership team will be your advocates and mentors as you grow in your career. Taking the time to get to know them will be not only advantageous in your interview but also for years to come if you join the team. Now, Take a Deep Breath Our final piece of advice is to take a deep breath. If you’ve done the legwork to learn about us and are prepared to share about yourself, then we guarantee you’re going to do great. We as a team are excited to take the time to get to know you! We wish you the best of luck and if you still haven’t taken the first step to join our team then apply now to join our work family.
READ MOREIn 2020, Truebeck’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Task Force implemented a charter with many objectives, one being to support local diverse businesses. As a general contractor, the first way to do that is on the job site working with our trade partners. But at Truebeck where “raise the bar” is the company motto, the obvious answers aren’t always the best answers. Beyond the job site, Truebeck works with many vendors, outsourcing partners, and other businesses, and the firm realized they could have a much greater impact in helping their partners. One such vendor are wine suppliers. The Truebeck leadership team annually gifts wine to clients and industry friends during the holiday season, and it’s become a long-standing tradition within the company. This year, Pete Caputo, Vice President of Operations, proposed sourcing our wine from local minority-owned wineries. Joining Caputo was the company’s wine-connoisseur, Mike Anderson, Senior Vice President of Operations, who set out to find the best selection available. After researching over a dozen minority-owned wineries, and holding tastings with the leadership team for each, Truebeck settled on two wineries near the San Francisco Bay Area and one in the Portland region. The chosen vendors were Ceja Vineyards, Indigene Cellars, and Abbey Creek Vineyard. In an industry of legacy and privilege, these wineries had neither. Ceja Vineyards is a Mexican-American family owned winery located in the heart of wine country, Napa Valley, California. The founders began their journey as immigrant vineyard workers. Indigene Cellars is an award-winning, Black-owned winery in Paso Robles, California. The founder began as a Ship Joiner and Grocery Clerk. Abbey Creek Vineyard is the first recorded Black-owned winery in the state of Oregon. The founder was born from Haitian-immigrant parents, and found his way from Brooklyn, NY, to become a self-taught winemaker. It wasn’t just their history and high-quality wine that convinced the Truebeck leadership team to select these wineries. What resonated with Truebeck was how each of these wineries were active members of their community and industry, by providing resources and support to worthy causes. As a general contractor heavily invested in the well-being of our neighbors, Truebeck valued the social responsibility and philanthropy of these wineries. Ceja Vineyards commits to promoting the value and fair treatment of farmworkers in agriculture and the food industry. Indigene’s founder creates wine devoted exclusively to his community-focused efforts, with one blend even named “Philanthropist” – for which a percentage of every bottle goes to First Responders in his city. The Abby Creek founder now helps other winemakers tell their similar stories of facing challenges in the industry, specifically the diversity challenge. Truebeck, like these wineries, believes we can all work together to make this world a better place.
READ MOREJust as the sun is barely climbing over the horizon, Sean Truesdale arrives at the basketball court. Lacing up his shoes, Sean glances out the gym window to see the sun’s golden rays slicing through the sky. He rhythmically bounces the burnt orange basketball across the newly polished gym floor until the clock reaches 6:30am. David Becker meanders down the tree-lined roads of Portola Valley. A bitter sensation fills his mouth as he sips his dark roast Peet’s coffee. His gaze shifts from the steering wheel of his Ford Raptor to the endless skyline of redwood trees blanketed with fog. At this pace he’ll arrive at Buck’s Restaurant early for his 7 o’clock breakfast meeting with Sean. Seated across from each other in a red leather booth, Sean and David begin discussing Truebeck, the company they founded in 2007 that grew into one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most successful general contractors. Covering everything from general business issues and strategies to personal life updates, the two co-founders of Truebeck reflect on the company’s history and then create future plans to make each week better than the last. Truebeck’s Roots Before David was even old enough to lift a hammer, his father worked as a residential contractor. Along with redesigning and building homes, David’s father also enjoyed woodworking around the house. This caught David’s eye as he decided to help his father with these projects and later pursue an education in construction. He took woodshop classes and even a drafting class where he designed his first house and floor plans. These experiences gave David a taste of the construction industry and helped him pinpoint his interests in civil engineering and construction management. Sean found his way into the construction world through his educational interests. He enjoyed math but also had an interest in architecture. This led him to study architectural engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. During college, Sean explored the various careers that came along with architectural engineering and mathematics, and that led him to decide to pursue civil engineering. Further, two elements of the construction industry grabbed Sean’s interest: the social interaction and technical work. Both of these facets of the industry became areas of Sean’s career that he enjoyed most. After gathering experience and developing a connection with the construction industry, Sean and David wanted to take their passion to the next level. After working 15 years for a large general contractor and then at a smaller company with a more narrow focus, David outlined a vision for Truebeck. “I wanted to be part of a high-quality professional general contractor in the Bay Area focused on technical projects with a group of talented [co-workers], smart business people, and friends.” Sean described the type of company he aspired to be a part of. “I felt that I could contribute to [an organization] that was committed to excellent client service, focused on adding value to every project, and a company that wouldn’t be afraid to evolve as technology evolved in the industry.” These initial hopes and aspirations, along with a powerful passion for construction, led Sean and David to transform their vision into a reality. In 2007, they founded the successful company known today as Truebeck Construction. Expectations and Goals The first few years of Truebeck were focused on survival. Being a new company, Sean and David had to prove why Truebeck was the best technical contracting business. They focused on working and performing in a way that not only met but exceeded all the client’s goals for budget, quality, and service. This mindset later translated into one of Truebeck’s core values: “Project first. Every time. No excuses.” This value is often misunderstood; it means that the project goals come first, before what might be advantageous for Truebeck, a trade partner, or the client exclusively. It does not mean that the project is more important than our team’s personal life, family, or health. In 2007, Truebeck proved it could live up to its promises when building their first ground-up project for John Muir Health. “I remember a lot of the bigger firms being a little bit afraid of that job. It had an OSHPD component to it and there were five or six make ready phases of work leading up to the construction of the building,” Sean described. The building Truebeck was hired to construct was a hybrid parking garage, surgery center, and blood lab. There were a lot of technical challenges, for example, the building was right next to the emergency department of the hospital and the helipad emergency landing flight path was directly through the construction site. Instead of shying away from the complexity of the project, Truebeck stepped up to the challenge. The team worked effectively by finding the right trade partners, developing the right schedule, and staying within budget. “With the team’s passion for building, there was no challenge that was too hard. I could feel the energy about halfway through that job. I knew we were going to finish on time or ahead of schedule,” Sean stated. Truebeck ended up successfully finishing the John Muir project ahead of schedule. This experience was eye-opening for Sean and David as they realized the capabilities of Truebeck and how influential they could become. In terms of size, Sean and David set a goal that in ten years Truebeck would reach $500 million in revenue. Truebeck met that initial goal even before the ten-year mark. Both impressed by the speed of the company’s growth, Sean and David realized they wanted to create Truebeck to be a company that was not only successful but a leader in the industry. Truebeck is One of A Kind The unique technical approach Truebeck brings to each project originated from Sean and David’s previous job experience. Before Truebeck, they both worked at larger technical companies that had specific building processes and procedures. Sean and David brought their past experience working on technically complex projects and then created processes and procedures to make Truebeck a leader in the construction industry. This new approach impressed many of their first clients, one being UC Davis in 2008. At the time, certain technologies weren't considered economical, but Truebeck wanted to prove that up-and-coming technology could enhance the construction process. For the project, the team utilized 3D modeling to create a prototype of the building. At the time, other construction companies weren’t using such technology for projects of a similar size. Because of Sean and David’s belief in technology, the UC Davis project became the highest scoring LEED Platinum facility in the world at the time and the first LEED Platinum project in the University of California college system. This feat could never be accomplished had it not been for Truebeck’s innovative approach. David and I were always focused on doing great work and finding a better way to do it. We weren’t afraid to be innovative in the way we were doing things. - Sean Truesdale Transparency and communication was another way Sean and David wanted Truebeck to stand out from other construction companies. This meant communicating not only to clients but to the team about the company’s health and direction. David describes that “With Truebeck you’re getting the technical expertise of a larger company but we’re giving you the personal touch of a small family-owned business.” Embracing challenges and always looking for ways to improve remained one of Truebeck’s core values. During the company’s rebrand in 2016, this mindset became the driving force behind Truebeck’s work and the company’s slogan: “Raise The Bar”. Many of Truebeck’s company values, created during the 2016 rebrand, related to sports vocabulary. For example, “We win as a team and high five a lot,” and “Don’t do what’s easy. Do what’s right. And hustle.” Sports became a part of Truebeck’s culture because both Sean and David devoted a lot of time to playing and coaching. They both recognized that being part of a company is similar to being part of a team where everyone works cohesively towards a goal. For Sean, sports were integral to his childhood. He played just about every sport but enjoyed baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, and water polo the most. From these team sports, Sean gained valuable experiences and learned valuable lessons that would later translate into his leadership style at Truebeck. Sean outlined a few of these key lessons. “I learned to follow directions, put in extra work, deal with high-pressure situations, and be a good teammate. I also learned how to manage challenging situations like reasoning with upset coaches, teammates, or officials and making tough moments a positive experience.” Similar to Sean, David played multiple sports such as baseball and football and also coached his daughter’s softball teams. As a player David learned self-discipline, how to listen to the coach, how to work hard, and how to support his teammates. As a coach, David learned that “A large part of a player’s success is effort, attitude, and hard work. It’s not necessarily god-given talent.” Growth Beyond Belief In 2013, Truebeck quickly transitioned from its core of life science and healthcare projects to developing complex corporate campuses including Apple and Facebook. The rapid and significant growth of the company continued to surprise Sean and David. “I never imagined we would be where we are at today, a billion-dollar revenue company,” David exclaimed. Truebeck consistently grew at a rate of about 30 percent a year and constantly achieved the goals the leadership team set. Goal-setting meetings occur every few years and during the meeting, the leadership team creates a plan for the next three to five years while also reflecting back on previous accomplishments. At one particular meeting in 2018, Sean realized how large and limitless Truebeck really was. “We got the entire leadership team together to outline what success looks like in five years. I was reflecting on the goals we set up and thought ‘you see those goals we just wrote up there, whoever would’ve thought that’s what we would be talking about.’ That was also the time I recognized that Truebeck was close to hitting the billion-dollar-a-year revenue mark,” Sean said. Truebeck Continues to Raise The Bar Today, Truebeck is a billion-dollar company working on a variety of projects, ranging from life science and healthcare to corporate office and education. Moving forward, Sean and David hope for Truebeck to focus on quality rather than quantity to produce the best work possible. Sean and I don’t have an aspiration to take over the world. Our goals are more about doing the best work that we can and providing the most opportunities that we can for our team members. - David Becker Externally, Sean and David hope for Truebeck to maintain the prestige of being one of the highest level general contractors in the Bay Area. They also hope to continue growing across the West Coast. Internally, Sean and David hope to continue improving their processes from a business standpoint to help everyone on the team be the best that they can be. They also want to ensure that Trubeck is a diverse and inclusive environment people feel proud to work in. Most of all, Sean and David hope that Truebeck maintains its passion for innovating and continues to challenge itself to do better because Truebeck is always “Raising The Bar.”
READ MOREThe grey clouds rolled overhead as five men stepped out of their vehicles. Before them was a small home with cobblestone steps leading up to the front door. They stepped up the stairs, a feat quite simple for construction professionals who climb flights of stairs daily to work on large-scale projects. A feat not so easy for a nearly 90-year-old Navy veteran. In moments, this team of construction professionals got to work constructing a ramp that would provide a safe transition from the door to the driveway. As if they were on a job site, the team quickly defined roles and coordinated an efficient process. After constructing projects that are over 10,000sf, they finished the small ramp before noon. They even had time to crawl under the house to check if there were any moisture or piping issues. Truebeck’s team partnered with Rebuilding Together, a non-profit organization that assists low-income homeowners with needed home repairs at no cost. The goal: to find families in the local community that could use the expertise of a few construction professionals. “Initially, we were planning on doing a bunch of work inside the house, but then COVID hit,” shared Blake LaRue, Project Manager. “We stayed in contact with Rebuilding Together to see if there was anything we could do.” Given the circumstances, Truebeck’s team couldn’t go inside because of the homeowners being high-risk. Despite that setback, the team was determined to find a way to help. “This particular family, the gentleman is a Navy veteran, and the gal is getting older and both were starting to have mobility issues,” continued LaRue. “Even though we couldn’t go inside, there was plenty of work we could do outside of the house. That’s when we got the idea to put up handrails on all their stairs and build a ramp.” With materials donated from both Truebeck and Rebuilding Together, two ramps with handrails were installed to allow ease of access for the homeowners. Speaking of the work Truebeck’s team performed, the homeowner, CJ Hooker, shared, “I found the crew incredibly professional and helpful. They installed a ramp and safety features around our home promptly, and with much knowledge. They were also a fun group of people to interact with and respectful of my wishes.” Truebeck’s team is honored to serve a veteran and help uplift the community. “It always feels good to give back and help out, especially when you hear it’s a veteran and with how times are now,” shared David Holmstrom, Superintendent. “It was a good opportunity to do it. When it’s the work we’re doing its usually construction and carpentry. I have a good skill set in that kind of work and if I have that skill I might as well put it to use for that kind of opportunity.” Truebeck’s Team for Tomorrow is comprised of team members who want to give back to the community and make a positive social change. Even now, the Truebeck team in Portland is partnering with local organizations and looking for opportunities to serve the community. "For me it’s just about the commitment, and knowing once you do it, you’re going to feel really good about it." - Blake LaRue, Project Manager.
READ MOREThe San Francisco Business Times released its list of the largest construction projects currently under development on the San Francisco Bay Area peninsula. These projects are ranked based on construction cost. Truebeck has three of the top 10 projects and seven of the top 20. Coming in at second is Truebeck’s Facebook MPK 22 project. A 457,000sf, four-story office building with an eight-story, 1750-stall parking garage. In fifth is our project in San Carlos for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc called “The Alexandria District for Science & Technology.” A future biotech campus that includes two separate, six-story, 275,880sf warm shell steel buildings, totaling 551,760sf, and a five-story, 517,600sf 1,510-stall poured-in-place parking structure. Other notable projects that appear on the list are 201 Haskins in South San Francisco, San Mateo Health Campus, Folded Wings in Palo Alto, and 520 Almanor in Sunnyvale. You can view the full list here.
READ MOREThe San Francisco Business Times recently released their list of the most successful privately-owned businesses in the Bay Area. Companies were ranked based on their 2019 fiscal year companywide revenue. Truebeck ranked 15th out of 169 companies and was also one of the youngest companies on the list. While other organizations have had 50 or more years of operation, in just thirteen years, Truebeck has risen to be a top organization and a leading general contractor in the Bay Area. With a subscription, you can access the full San Francisco Business Times list here.
READ MOREIt is certainly no secret that the construction industry is one of the most male-dominated career fields, with women making up roughly 9% of the construction workforce. In recent years, however, the industry has seen an uprising in women who dismantle withstanding gender barriers and occupy integral leadership roles in construction. “It’s not easy,” said Truebeck Project Manager Brynda Olson, “You have to be very good because they’re going to call you out if you’re not.” Olson found her way to Truebeck Construction in 2014, where she began as a Project Engineer. She advanced to Project Manager in under three years—though she did not always envision she would work for a general contractor. As a fresh UC Berkeley graduate, Olson joined an architectural firm in downtown San Francisco. It was her collaboration with various general contractors throughout her five years on the job that piqued her interest in the construction industry. “I liked figuring out how to actually build something, going from 2D to real life—I found that more compelling.” Though she is on the general contractor side of the business now, her days in architecture are far from forgotten. In fact, she has found that her previous work experience equips her with a unique advantage in the field. “It gives me a better connection with the architects because they know I’m on their side,” Olson comments, “I understand their intent and they love that I can see their point of view.” Olson also shared what she finds to be the most rewarding part of her career. “Being a mentor—I love seeing other engineers younger than me grow into strong leaders.” Truebeck Project Executive Kelley Wathen spoke to her experience of being underestimated by her trade partners. “Often-times people walk into the trailer or jobsite office and assume I’m performing a different role,” Wathen explains. “Some may view being underestimated as an obstacle. If anything, being underestimated can be a benefit.” In 2009, Truebeck welcomed Wathen, a recent Cal Poly graduate, to the team as a Project Engineer. She swiftly rose through the ranks, achieving the status of Project Executive—just shy of her ten-year anniversary with the company—an endeavor which very few people in the industry achieve in that timespan. Ironically, Wathen revealed that her career path with the company began with a rejection. In her junior year of college, she was turned down by Truebeck upon applying for an internship position. Unwavering in her determination, she applied again the following summer and was awarded the internship. “I like to tell this story to show that perseverance and resilience pay off. Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to try again.” Reflecting on other notable moments in her career, Wathen shared a sentiment regarding her first promotion at Truebeck. “I had been a Project Engineer for about three and a half years, and decided I was ready for a promotion,” Wathen recalled, “I knew I had to work for it. For my annual review, I prepared this whole sales pitch on why I should be promoted. I had a binder. It had tabs. When I showed up, the entire leadership team was at the lunch, and there were Prius keys on the table—the symbol of making it to a Senior Project Engineer role. Turns out it was a ‘congratulations’ lunch.” Wathen spoke to what she attributes her success. “I didn’t try to be the best female Project Engineer or female Project Manager, I just tried be the best engineer or manager I could be.”
READ MOREConstruction sites are reopening across the Bay Area as Shelter-In-Place restrictions on businesses are easing. However, returning to the normal business operations is still not feasible. With heightened restrictions and updated safety policies, construction sites are adapting to a new “normal.” Ahead of the curve has been Truebeck Construction, whose safety and operations team worked diligently during Shelter-In-Place to prepare policies and procedures to ensure job sites restart stronger, safer, and smarter. Read the full article to see how Truebeck’s high safety standards are leading the way for Bay Area construction sites.
READ MORETruebeck Construction, an industry-leading commercial general contractor, announces that our Marin Country Day School renovation in Corte Madera, California became LEED Platinum certified. This is the highest level of certification in sustainability from the world’s most widely used green building rating system, and it is rarely achieved. Conducted by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the LEED certification program sets standards that promote sustainable building practices with the goal of green building for everyone. The ranking is done on a point system with the following levels: certified, silver, gold, and platinum. Of the 111,215 LEED projects listed, only 6,633—just under six percent—have achieved LEED Platinum status. At the start of the project, the Marin Country Day School administrators wanted to renovate and expand the private school’s campus to reflect the school’s vision to equip students with “the knowledge, skills, and character necessary to lead effective and fulfilling lives as engaged global citizens in a complex and multicultural and interdependent world.” Paramount in this vision is the commitment Marin Country Day School has to sustainable practices. The project included the demolition of an outdated single-story classroom and science building to pave the way for a modern 8,500sf two-story classroom and science building. Truebeck also remodeled existing classrooms and faculty lounge areas, renovated two existing playing fields with a new drainage system, and restored an existing seasonal creek. The process for review was broken down into seven categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design, and regional priority credits. In each of these areas, the Marin Country Day School project received the highest mark available and was awarded the requisite points in subcategories to reach LEED Platinum. This project comes after years of paradigm shifts in the construction industry. Now more than ever, developers and owners are seeking project teams that are environmentally conscious and can deliver projects that push the limits on sustainability. In 2006, the USGBC only had 296 LEED certified projects, and as of 2018, there were 67,200. This massive growth shows a stark change in the industry and Truebeck Construction is leading the way in sustainable construction practices with projects such as the Marin Country Day School renovation and expansion. Marin Country Day School is a private K-8 charter school in the San Francisco Bay Area. With 35 acres and 40 classrooms, the school promotes a progressive approach to teaching and learning in an environment that allows children to connect to nature. Now with the completion of their new LEED Platinum classroom and science building, Marin Country Day School can further enhance their top-tier education and unique approach to academic learning.
READ MORETruebeck, an innovative leader in the construction industry, completed the final phase of the John Muir Behavioral Health Center renovation in Concord, California. Broken down into three phases, the behavioral health center was renovated to refresh the interiors and bring the entire facility up to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) code. The first phase focused primarily on the adolescent unit; the second phase was on the Child and Chemical Dependency Units; the third phase was the administrative office area and first floor accessibility upgrades. The entire renovation encompassed 20,000 square feet and with the completion of phase three, every division of the facility will be operational and compliant with OSHPD regulation. In order to make the entire building compliant with state and federal regulation, the project team removed old installation to make way for new anti-ligature compliant amenities. These included custom doors, faucets, handrails, and even floor drainage that prevent the attachment of any cordage that could be used to commit self-harm. In the case of this particular tenant improvement, exceptional care was placed on the design around these features and construction teams needed to build everything exactly as planned. With actual lives at risk, the design and project team were thorough and exact on their planning and delivery of the renovation. When it came to this project, intricate logistics and communication processes were required. Since many of the different wings of the center remained operational during the different phases, Truebeck’s team of technical builders worked closely with behavioral health center staff to ensure the successful completion of the project. Such interactions included noise mitigation plans, working outside of normal hours to accommodate staff, implementing containment booths, and completing infectious control risk assessments and disruption notices. “The staff know the unit, the patients, and the risks, and we know the construction risk for worker safety. We had to adapt and work with the John Muir Health team to ensure the best outcome for both project delivery and patient care,” said the Assistant Superintendent on the project. With the successful completion of this project, John Muir Health’s staff stands ready to provide the best in care and safety for their patients. It is Truebeck’s hope that this newly renovated behavioral health center will assist in the successful recovery of some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
READ MOREOne of the best ways a company can gauge how employees feel about their workplace is through the San Francisco Business Times "Best Places to Work" report. The results of this report are done by conducting anonymous surveys from employees about their job satisfaction and then weighing their answers against other organizations. It is an honor to be considered one of the best places to work across all industries of the same size in the Bay Area. Truebeck placed in the Large Company category with a range of 250 – 999 employees. Each year, Truebeck makes the list for being one of the best places to work in the Bay Area and that is in large part due to the unique culture and the people that contribute to an engaging and satisfying place of employment. “I’m able to create and grow successful teams with uncompromising support from our company leadership and owners,” shared a Truebeck Project Executive. “They’ve given me an open-door policy and always encourage me to seek their counsel through any endeavor I undertake.” What makes the Best Places to Work award so distinguished is that employees exclusively determine the winners. Companies are rated on such values as trust in leadership, team dynamics, personal engagement and satisfaction of individual needs through great benefits and perks.
READ MOREThe onset of COVID-19 required construction sites to rapidly update their safety policies and procedures. With some construction sites still open, general contractors had to ask the question, “What is the new normal for the daily routines of construction crews?” Bisnow recently wrote an article about Truebeck’s approach to keeping construction sites a safe place from the spread of communicable diseases. Read the full story to see what preventative changes we put into place to protect our team, trade partners, clients, and the public.
READ MOREThe San Francisco Bay Area is one of the world’s largest economic hubs with tech-giants like Apple, Facebook, Google, and Uber. As such, it is one of the most competitive and lucrative locations for the construction industry. Each year, The San Francisco Business Times releases a report on the largest general contractors operating in the Bay Area, and this year, Truebeck ranked fourth on the list of 75. This is up ten places from 2019 where Truebeck ranked 14th. Some of the projects that Truebeck is currently working on that contributed to the high ranking are for clients including Facebook, Uber, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Gilead, and Roku. Truebeck has proven to be a leader in the construction industry and reports like this show our consistent growth.
READ MOREThe Silicon Valley Business Journal recently released their rankings of all the general contractors operating in the Silicon Valley area based on 2019 revenue. Truebeck placed third on a list of 33 general contractors with a reported revenue of $684.3 million. Some of Truebeck’s most notable projects in the Silicon Valley are the Folded Wings project in Palo Alto – a new ground-up development of two two-story buildings totaling 185k sf – and Lane Partners’ 520 Almanor in Sunnyvale – a new ground-up development totaling 230k sf and designed to achieve LEED Gold certification. To see the full list of GC’s, view the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s report, “Largest general contractors in Silicon Valley.”
READ MOREThe use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) or mass timber as a building material is a growing trend in the construction industry and is heavily used in the pacific northwest. However, concerns arise about the benefits and drawbacks of mass timber, such as, is it both fire and earthquake safe, and how sustainable is this material? Ryan Wood, Truebeck Project Executive, has experience developing mass timber projects in the Portland area and he joined a Bisnow panel to address questions around the timely subject. Bisnow recently released an article capturing the highlights of the event as well as the entirety of the webinar for anyone curious to learn more about mass timber.
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