Bill Welch is a former construction executive with more than 35 years of experience in HVAC, plumbing, piping and fire supression system construction and construction management. He began his career working for a family owned plumbing, heating and sheet metal company while studying engineering at the University of Iowa. He later joined the plumbing and pipefitter union and enrolled in the apprenticeship program. He graduated from the five-year program in 1965 and carried a plumbing license in Wisconsin for over 10 years.
In 1969, Bill became project manager for a mechanical contractor based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The Grunau Company. He managed several large mechanical projects in the mid-west and northeast. The projects involved shop fabrication and field installation of HVAC, plumbing, process piping and fire protection systems.
In 1979, Bill became national divisional manager for a large mechanical contracting firm, U.S. Engineering Company. In 1981, he became division vice president. Bill assembled a group of project management teams which concentrated on large projects nationwide. He was also active in union contract negotiations and establishment of project agreements.
In 1985, Bill became vice president and division manager of Schneider Mid-West in Indianapolis, Indiana. At that time, Schneider Inc. was the largest mechanical contractor in the United States. He was actively involved in all construction planning, project engineering, shop fabrication and field installation. Bill was active in the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE).
Bill has considerable experience in bidding, cost estimating, change order negotiation, and claims preparation and negotiation. Over his career, he has estimated and bid over 1,000 projects. He has prepared and negotiated approximately 5,000 change orders and over 20 major claims. Bill has also negotiated and managed approximately 1,000 subcontracts for services such as controls, insulation, painting, concrete work, etc. Bill is also an expert at planning and scheduling projects with modern computer based CPM, Gant and cost loaded scheduling tools.
EXPERIENCE (partial listing)
Praxair Air Separation Module, Detroit, MI $22,000,000
Buckeye Medium Security Prison, Buckeye, AZ $28,000,000
Maricopa County Jail Renovation, Phoenix, AZ $2,000,000
Durango and Towers Jail Renovation, Phoenix, AZ $2,500,000
United Airlines Maintenance Facility, Indianapolis, IN $45,000,000
Federal Express Expansion, Indianapolis, IN $7,500,000
Saturn Automotive Plant, Springhill, TN $42,000,000
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Facility, Tobaccoville, NC $48,000,000
Tinker Air Force Base Maintenance Facility, Oklahoma City, OK $12,000,000
Uranium Enrichment Facility, Piketon, OH $48,000,000
Miller Brewery Expansion, Fulton, NY $10,000,000
A.E. Staley High Fructose Syrup Facility, Lafayette, IN $19,000,000
Bristol City Hospital, Bristol, TN $17,000,000
Riley Childrens Hospital, Indianapolis, IN $8,500,000
Bureau of Public Debt Office Building, Parkesberg, WI $3,200,000
Saturn Office Building, Springfield, TN $3,500,000
Approximately 5 shopping malls and three Sears stores in various cities of the mid-west (costs vary)
Approximately 1,000 apartment units and 300 single family homes, Milwaukee, WI (costs vary)
The above project costs are for the mechanical work only. For more information, call (858) 587-2874.
A detailed resume is available upon request.
