McCownGordon works to stand firm during pandemic

In this day and age, in this line of work, the only concrete thing for McCownGordon is what’s poured — definitely not what’s planned for construction companies and other businesses alike.

AS WE SEEK TO HELP YOUREBOUND FROM THEONGOING PANDEMIC, WEARE CHECKING IN WITHAREA C-E-Os TO SEE HOWTHEY'RE STAYING AFLOAT.IN AN INTERVIEW YOUWON'T SEE ANYWHEREELSE, WE GO ONE-ON-ONEWITH THE CEO OFMCCOWN GORDON.ONE OF THE LARGESTGENERAL CONTRACTORSIN THE REGION WITHOFFICES ON BOTH SIDESOF THE STATE LINE.IN THIS DAY AND AGE....Ramin Cherafat / McCownGordonCEO"we're taking it slowIN THIS LINE OF WORKslow and steady is kind of ourthemeTHE ONLY THINGCONCRETE IS WHAT'SPOURED, DEFINITELY NOTWHAT'S PLANNED:Ramin Cherafat / McCownGordonCEO"we do certainly believe this isgoingto drive more flexibility intotheworkplaceRAMIN CHERAFAT IS CEOOF MCCOWN GORDON.ONE OF THE METRO'SBUSIEST CONSTRUCTIONCOMPANIES - THAT'SHELPED WITH PROJECTSLIKE HY-VEE ARENA,SCHOOL BUILDINGRENOVATIONS, HOSPITALEXPANSIONS, LIBRARIES.....2019 WAS A RECORD YEARFOR THE COMPANY.THEY CAME INTO THISYEAR WITH A BACKLOG OF1 POINT 6 BILLIONDOLLARS:Ramin Cherafat / McCownGordonCEO"and we forecasted this yearwoulmost definitely be betterWHAT THEY DIDN'TFORECAST -- AWORLDWIDE PANDEMICNAMED COVID 19.Ramin Cherafat / McCownGordonCEO"this is a different scenario,we'redealing with mother nature hereIMMEDIATELY CHERAFATAND HIS CREW PUT ASIDETHE FLOOR PLANS FOR ANEW, UNPRECEDENTEDGAME PLAN.MCCOWN GORDON WASDEEMED ESSENTIAL - ANDIT'S CHERAFAT'SRESPONSIBILITY TO MAKESURE WORKERS REMAINSAFE.THAT MEANT MOST OF THEOFFICE WORKERS - NOWWORK FROM HOME.AND UPON RETURN:Ramin Cherafat / McCownGordonCEO"screenings, questionaires thatpeople will ask every daywe'll do some temperaturescreenings as welland we're also talking aboutdoingsome contact tracing ourself."TO KEEP CREWS SAFEWHILE WORKING IN CLOSEPROXIMITY - THE COMPANYEXPLORED STAGGERINGSTART AND STOP TIMESFOR CERTAIN SHIFTS.LIMITING THE NUMBER OFPEOPLE ON ACONSTRUCTION SITE ATANY GIVEN TIME.Ramin Cherafat / McCownGordonCEO"THE BIGGEST LESSONYOU'VE LEARNED IN THELAST TWO MONTHSthe biggest lesson I'velearned is be flexible, do a lotof listeningand let the data and the metricsguide your decision makingCHeRAFAT SAYS THEGOOD NEWS IS - WORKHASN'T NECESARILYTAPERED OFF.RamiCherafat / McCownGordonCEO"kevin we're in an industry thattypically lags the economy by atlest9 to 18 monthsSO THERE'S STILL PLENTYOF WORK TO BE DONE -FOR NOW.Ramin Cherafat / McCownGordonCEO"our success and failure is adirectreflection of the strength ofourcommunityNOW IS USUALLY THE TIMEMCCOWN GORDONSECURES PROJECTS FOR2022 AND BEYOND.BUT AS SEVERALBUSINESSES TIGHTENPURSE STRINGS - ITLEAVES UNCERTAINTY FORFUTURE PROJECTS.Ramin Cherafat / McCownGordonCEO"1126 I'm hoping when we lookbackin five years this will be ablip on theradarwhen you think of all thegreat things happening in ourcommunitythe investment downtown,our new airportIT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE -40 PERCENT OF MCCOWNGORDON'S WORK ISACTUALLY DONE OUTSIDEOF THE KC METRO.SO LEADERS ARELOOKING AT CASENUMBERS AND DATA F