Employee Spotlight: Rich Ladow

2024 marks C3M’s 10th anniversary! To celebrate this milestone, we are highlighting some of the talented individuals who make up our team to celebrate this milestone. Meet Rich Ladow, a seasoned electrician superintendent with over three decades of experience in the field. Rich has been with C3M from the beginning, playing a pivotal role in our growth and success over the past decade.

Tell us about your background. 

I began my electrical career in 1987, graduated from my apprenticeship by 1991, and was with another electrical contractor for 24 years before joining C3M at its start 10 years ago.

Describe your role and core responsibilities at C3M. 

I am a superintendent working on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Alternating Current Switch Gear project, but previously I worked as a foreman and general foreman. My main responsibilities include managing the work by creating schedules, organizing the team and trade contractors, ensuring safety, and coordinating with the client and project team.

What do you like most about your current role? 

It’s challenging. Our work at WMATA requires a good amount of planning due to the many "moving parts," but it’s a good feeling when everything falls into place.

What brought you to C3M, and what do you like most about the company? 

I've been with C3M from the beginning when we had around 25 to 30 people. Our growth couldn’t have been achieved without everyone's dedication and commitment, both in the office and the field. C3M has a great team of individuals, all working towards continuous improvement.

What has been your favorite project you have worked on and why?

There have been a few memorable projects, but one notable job involved an urgent situation where equipment at a critical agency malfunctioned unexpectedly. Our team ensured the equipment and building were safe, evaluated the overall situation, provided temporary power, and managed the process of repaying the required equipment – all while maintaining power to the building and coordinating with the agencies. It was rewarding to see the project through to completion, knowing we worked through a challenging task. 

Why are you a builder?

There's no particular reason I entered construction – probably just luck and my circumstances at the time. I enjoy working with my hands, and it's rewarding to see the result of a project since the process of working through the project from start to finish is never the same.

Every day presents new circumstances, which keeps the work engaging. It's always exciting, and I get to work with lots of good people.

What are you most proud of accomplishing, either personally or professionally?

I've worked on many good projects throughout my career, some of which have even earned craftsmanship awards. It's fulfilling to see a project through from start to finish, ensuring it's completed safely and on time.

A significant achievement was leading the development of a specialized cable stripping tool for safer traction power work. Collaborating with multiple stakeholders, we refined an existing tool to better suit our needs by reducing manual operations and incorporating a low-speed impact driver to minimize accidents and enhance safety for our team members. This innovation has been integrated into our toolkit, and comprehensive training has been provided to ensure safe and efficient use.

Most importantly, I'm most proud of my family. I have a wonderful wife, great kids, and grandkids. They are truly what I am most proud of.

Employee Spotlight: Rob Bruce and Jason Bissett

2024 marks C3M’s 10th anniversary! To celebrate this milestone, we are highlighting some of the talented individuals who make up our team. Meet Rob Bruce and Jason Bisset, both senior project managers of our Special Projects Group.

Rob Bruce

Jason Bissett

Tell us about your background. 

Rob Bruce: I started my career in the electrical industry after graduating high school in 1989, working as a helper at a small non-union electrical contractor. In 1994, I joined Local 26 and started my apprenticeship the following year, graduating as an A Journeyman in 2000. I advanced to foreman, managing larger projects, and transitioned to project management in the office in 2016. I joined C3M in 2021 and now serve as the senior project manager of the Special Projects Group.

Jason Bissett: After graduating high school in 1995, I planned to join the military, but that did not work out. I took a summer job with a local electrical company and knew I had luckily found what I wanted to do with my life. The trade offered so many opportunities and satisfying work. I enrolled in the JATC apprenticeship and graduated in 2001, electing to come out of my indentured period with Truland. I moved into a management role in 2006, which was challenging, but I had an amazing support system that enabled me to learn and thrive in the role.

Describe your role and core responsibilities at C3M. 

Rob: I oversee daily operations of the C3M Special Projects and Temporary Power Group. My core responsibilities include maintaining communication with the general contractor or end user, managing project schedules, reviewing drawings and contract documents, creating invoices, tracking payments, and reviewing financial reports. This ensures we meet our financial goals while supporting the growth of the C3M Special Projects team in the electrical market.

Jason: I am a senior project manager at C3M. I am currently focused on several water treatment projects at Lake Anna, where I work with Clark Water.

What do you like most about your current role? 

Rob: I enjoy working with my team members, having the ability to assist them with daily challenges, and watching them grow within the C3M family.

Jason: What I enjoy most about my role is influencing the young, talented individuals I work with. I relish educating them on our work and how things are built.

What brought you to C3M, and what do you like most about the company? 

Rob: I joined C3M to expand my professional abilities and grow my career in a happy, healthy workplace. What I like most about C3M is the family atmosphere and supportive management. I am part of a team that genuinely cares about each other and enjoys their work.

Jason: I was initially attracted to C3M because I have worked with most of their team in the past and know their reputation of being the best at what they do.

What has been your favorite project you have worked on and why?

Rob: My favorite project was the Dwight D. Eisenhower Monument Repair Project. It wasn’t very large, but as the prime contractor, the goal was to improve water drainage in the light troughs, add louvers for heat dissipation, and replace damaged lights. I enjoyed collaborating with the National Parks Service, coordinating with multiple trades, and working on a national monument in our nation’s capital! That was pretty cool!

Jason: I have only been at C3M for a few months, and the only projects I have been on are the water treatment plants and the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial, both of which are just getting started. I am very excited to get “boots on the ground” for the memorial because coordinating all the parts that go into it will be a rewarding challenge.  

What do you find most gratifying about working in the construction industry?

Rob: What I find most gratifying about the industry is working with multiple groups of people and teams that come together in a coordinated effort or strategy with the common goal of building something from nothing.

Jason: It seems cliché, but there is a satisfaction gained from working, sweating, and coordinating to work toward a final product that you can stand back, admire, and say, “I helped build that.”

Why are you a builder?

Rob: Simply said, I like to build things. I like being involved in the entire construction process from start to finish. I enjoy pointing out a building or structure and saying I was a part of the process.

Jason: I am a builder because of the satisfaction of working with other fantastic trade partners to realize a common goal.

What are you most proud of accomplishing, either personally or professionally?

Rob: Like most of us, I am most proud of my family.

Jason: Without a doubt, I am most proud of the family my wonderful wife and I have raised together over our 25-year marriage! Our oldest daughter is a pre-med senior at the University of Maryland, and we have a sophomore studying mechanical engineering there as well, who will be a summer associate at Clark this coming summer. Our youngest is a senior in high school, and he may follow in my footsteps and become an electrician. Whatever path they choose, watching them become adults and, more importantly, good human beings has been fun. My wife and I have always told them you can be anything you want, except a bad person. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly, and we won’t accept anything less than that.

Employee Spotlight: Javis Pratt

2024 marks C3M’s 10th anniversary! To celebrate this milestone, we are highlighting some of the talented individuals who make up our team. Meet Javis Pratt, a superintendent currently working on the WMATA Electrician Labor Services project. 

1. Tell us about your background. 

   I’m from Clinton, Maryland. I first became interested in the electrical trade in high school and right after graduating in 1989, I started working in the trade on various Metro jobs throughout the area.

2. Describe your role at C3M and your core responsibilities. 

   I am a superintendent,  primarily responsible for WMATA Labor Services. I oversee the craftworkers on site, ensuring everyone complies with the job's safety procedures, scheduling, and planning.

3. What do you like most about your current role? 

   I like working with my hands and the people I have the opportunity to work with. Out of my 35 years of professional experience, this is the best company I’ve worked for.

4. What has been your favorite project you have worked on and why? 

   WMATA Labor services, we do a lot of rehab, replacing gear, pulling new feeders, doing new train controls, and a variety of other different things.

5. What are you most proud of accomplishing, either personally or professionally?

   Becoming a superintendent. I get to take on a lot of work and responsibility, and I love the challenge.   

Employee Spotlight: Bob Kessler Sr. and Bob Kessler Jr. →

2024 marks C3M’s 10th anniversary! To celebrate this milestone, we are highlighting some of the talented individuals who make up our team. Meet Construction Executive Bob Kessler Sr. and Senior Systems Manager Bob Kessler Jr. 

1. Tell us about your background. 

Kessler Sr. I began my career in the electrical industry in the mid-1980s as an apprentice for IBEW Local #126, serving the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh region, specifically in utility and commercial outside power distribution. Near the end of my apprenticeship, I had the opportunity to work on the railroad for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Philadelphia on projects that concentrated on signal and communications systems for various rail lines. I very much liked working on the railroad and with a young family, I found that specializing in this type of work has great job security. I was very fortunate to have my IBEW Local 126 business manager recommend me for a job in New Jersey as a field superintendent. That opportunity led me to a long-term career that took me to all corners of the US, working for many transit agencies, supervising large signal, traction power, and overhead catenary projects, and working with multiple electrical contractors.

Kessler Jr. I was born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania and received my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 2014. Right out of college, I worked for C3M for a few years, then as an engineering consultant for five years, and then returned to C3M in 2021.

2. Describe your role at C3M and your core responsibilities.

Kessler Sr. I am currently serving as the construction executive on the WMATA Fiber Optic Cable Infrastructure and Metro Box Enclosure Installation project, in Washington, DC. My core responsibilities are related to construction engineering and long-term scheduling. This project has had 12 design revisions in 26 months, requiring our JV partnership team to be flexible.

Kessler Jr. I lead C3M’s central engineering department. Central engineering provides field-level documentation to craft workers, which includes developing electrical equipment interconnects, site layout coordination of temporary and permanent equipment, OCS prefabrication and erection details, and more. The team is currently five strong, and we’re involved in every active C3M project. My core responsibilities are establishing and maintaining our work product standards, incorporating field feedback, and coordinating staffing between existing and new projects.

3. What do you like most about your current role?

Kessler Sr. The ability to mentor younger and less experienced team members and see the results as they mature and take on more responsibilities.

Kessler Jr. What I enjoy most is engaging and receiving feedback from the field; it’s ALWAYS productive. Engaging with the craft workers, listening to their comments, making changes in our processes, and creating a full feedback loop are the only reasons my department works.

4. What brought you to C3M, and what do you like most about the company? 

Kessler Sr. In the early 2000s, I was working for L.K. Comstock National Transit on the WMATA Largo Rail Extension Project, a design-build job WMATA's controls and indications system ran through the ATC rooms. These circuits were not laid out yet, so I went to find out who was responsible for this portion of the build, and that's where I met Chuck Tomasco, now a current C3M president.  We spent a lot of evenings assembling the circuit layouts and kept in touch over the years. In 2015, I was finishing a project in Portland, Oregon, and wanted to work closer to my home in western Pennsylvania, so I contacted the C3M team and found that they had a project at Morgantown University, 2 hours from where I lived. I interviewed and came on board after!

Kessler Jr. I started with C3M at its inception in 2014. I was privileged enough to be one of the original 15 or so folks on board. I left to pursue a different aspect of the industry and returned in 2021. What I like most about C3M is that I truly feel like I am an integral part of the team.
5. What has been your favorite project you have worked on and why? 

Kessler Sr. Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project—Phase 2. This was an opportunity to see the challenges the civil and trade contractors face while working full-time as a jobsite resource for Clark/Kiewit.

Kessler Jr. I was the chief electric inspector for a $200M+ signal power upgrade initiative for the NYC subway. The job was double-shifted, 7 days a week, for 18 months, with 30 active sites daily—400 locations in total. We had a survey, asbestos abatement, install, cutover, and punch list crews working simultaneously. Nothing went in service without my blessing. The job was bonkers. It was hands down the most fun and rewarding project I’ve done to date.

6. What do you find most gratifying about working in the construction industry? 

Kessler Sr. Seeing the work completed as you envisioned before the construction ever started.

Kessler Jr. It’s one of the largest jigsaw puzzles you get to help put together. Different components, vendors, and contractors all working for a common objective of finishing the job. When it’s all done, you get to stand back and say, “we did that.”

7. What are you most proud of accomplishing, either personally or professionally? 

Kessler Sr. I really enjoy being in a bind; I like figuring a way out.  My wife says that I would not be happy if there weren't problems to solve.

Kessler Jr. It started at around 9 years old. My dad had a set of railway signal single-line drawings in his work van. I remember looking at them in total amazement that all these lines and symbols were really just a way of communicating an idea and function. I was hooked. I wanted to be the person who could develop and interpret those drawings and see what was on the paper turn into reality.
8. What are you most proud of accomplishing, either personally or professionally? 
Kessler Sr. Gaining and having the full trust of the leaders on my team is very important to me, and I am able to provide for my family and three children along the way.

Kessler Jr. In the spring of this year, I passed my Professional Engineer exam. I spent a lot of time saying “no” to life’s extracurriculars in favor of studying. The process shed light on both how much and how little you know after 10 years of experience.

9. Bob Jr., tell me about how your dad working for C3M influenced you to go on the same path?

I’ve had no shortage of influence from my dad to get into the construction industry. My dad had a couple of sayings when I was growing up:

1. “Be air conditioned in the summer, and heated in the winter.”

2. “Show up and care; you’ll have 80% of everyone else beat.”

3. “Do something, even if it’s wrong.”

That first phrase led me to pursue an engineering degree, the second two provided some solid advice for work ethic and motivation. Ultimately these three sayings and discovering those single-line drawings when I was 9, led me here. 

Employee Spotlight: Jean-Jacques Mvom Ondoua

2024 marks C3M’s 10th anniversary! To celebrate this milestone, we are highlighting some of the talented individuals who make up our team. Meet Jean-Jacques Mvom Ondoua, a project manager currently working on the WMATA Fiber Optic Cable Metro Box Enclosure Installation project.

1. Tell us about your background.
   I am a first-generation immigrant from Cameroon. I earned my first college degree in environmental science at the University of Dschang, Cameroon, and a second degree in civil engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. I worked for two years as a pipeline construction inspector before joining Clark Construction and C3M in 2020.

2. Describe your role at C3M and your core responsibilities.
   As a project manager for C3M, I oversee trades, contribute to the project development and bid processes, and manage and lead small teams of engineers.

3. What do you like most about your current role?
   In my current role, I enjoy leading a team and mentoring summer associates. Each day, I am refining my leadership skills and learning through my opportunity to oversee the overall growth of many talented young team members who are essential for the success of our company.

4. What brought you to C3M, and what do you like most about the company?
   After joining the Clark team in 2020, Chuck Tomasco encouraged me to utilize my construction utility background to contribute to the C3M team. Chuck highlighted the value of each C3M project and the growth opportunities the company offers for young leaders. Mass transit projects are specialized and unique, and C3M remains one of the leading companies in this and many specific industries.
   
   At C3M, I quickly realized how much the leaders genuinely care for their team members. They care not only about their team members’ personal well-being but also about their career growth. I am a 9-year ongoing army reservist service member, and C3M has supported my military commitments from the day I started.

5. What has been your favorite project you have worked on and why?
   The LA Division 20 TPSS and EBPS project in Los Angeles, California. As a project engineer, the job offered the perfect space for me to learn about the Clark project management processes while also providing an opportunity to learn about the complexity of construction on the West Coast. It was my first time on the West Coast, and I was thrilled to visit a new city and immerse myself in a new culture.

6. What do you find most gratifying about working in the construction industry?
   The construction industry produces complex situations that require complex solutions, from project design to build-out phases. To me, the most gratifying aspect of working in the construction industry is finding solutions to these complex problems alongside my teams.

7. Why are you a builder?
   In my opinion, fortitude and resilience are two of the required traits needed to be a successful builder. I believe these two traits are key to who I am and are part of why I have enjoyed being a builder these past few years.

8. What are you most proud of accomplishing, either personally or professionally?
   I am most proud of becoming a Commissioned Officer in the Army Corps of Engineers with the United States Army Reserve. Military education introduced me to leadership and was a 6-year journey that taught me many lessons to cherish and values to uphold for the rest of my life.
   
   

C3M Successfully Completes Outage Work on the Portland Trimet Red Line Project

Congratulations to the Portland TriMet Red Line team on successfully completing their summer outage work!

During a 121-day summer outage, C3M’s scope included:

• Installing 47 overhead catenary system (OCS) poles and brackets;

• Prefabricating and installing 93 OCS arms;

• Pulling 30,000 feet of either 350 or 500-kilo circular mils OCS wire and auxiliary power feeders;

• Installing disconnect switches, surge arresters, balance weights, section insulators, and other support structures;

• Pulling 2,000 feet of underground cable from the traction power substation to energize the system.

the team performing a Pantograph clearance testing

the team installing one of forty-seven overhead catenary systems (OCS)

The Portland TriMet Red Line OCS final product

Testing went smoothly, and trains are now running to and from the Portland International Airport. Crews have started moving to the Gateway section of the project in preparation for the upcoming January outage.

C3M Closes Out on WMATA RGO Traction Power Upgrades

Congratulations to the WMATA Red, Green, and Orange (RGO) Traction Power Upgrades project team for successfully closing out the project!

The scope of work involved electrical rehabilitation to upgrade major power and supervisory equipment at five tiebreaker stations, 10 traction power substations, and one service and inspection shop.

The RGO project worked with 18 subcontractors and many Clark Group partners to deliver WMATA a fully functioning system at each of the 16 substations.

To execute the work, C3M demonstrated its expertise with the traction power system, equipment, and site conditions, going above and beyond by actively assisting with troubleshooting, system re-design, advising, and coordination.

 Over the course of the project, C3M was able to mitigate over 110 calendar days of delay due to effective execution by C3M’s talented self-perform craft personnel and efficient planning with all stakeholders. The project performed over 150,000 certified payroll manhours and was awarded Clark’s Safety Platinum Award Q3 of 2022. 

C3M Power Systems and Aldridge Electric Transform Metro Services

C3M Power Systems and joint venture partner Aldridge Electric (C3M-Aldridge) are updating radio, cellular, and IT infrastructure across the entire Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) metro system. As part of the WMATA Fiber Optic Infrastructure and Metro Box Enclosure Installation project, C3M-Aldridge is installing more than two million feet of fiber optic cabling and microducts along the tracks and in above-ground stations, and installing network equipment at more than 500 ancillary locations.

fiber microducts are loaded to the platform for the overnight team.

Full shutdowns of two segments of track were implemented to minimize disturbances to Metro system service and enhance the project schedule. While full shutdowns are typically uncommon, they can provide unforeseen benefits. The project team is able to access the tracks 24/7, instead of working overnight or executing work on a piecemeal basis. This approach enabled the C3M and Aldridge Electric teams to complete the work in a timely and efficient manner. 

The first shutdown affected northeast stations on the Orange Line between June 1 and September 5, 2022. The project team logged 24,741 man hours and installed 200,000 feet of cable. 

over two million feet of fiber optic cabling and microducts ARE being installed along the tracks and in above-ground stations.

The second shutdown affected stations south of Reagan National Airport on the Yellow and Blue Lines between September 10 and November 2, 2022. The team logged 14,969 man hours and installed 98,710 feet of cable and 40,523 feet of microduct.

These improvements to Metro services will further enhance the customer experience, while keeping the region's infrastructure up to date. The project is slated for completion in summer of 2026.

C3M 2023 Week of Service

Last week marked the fifth annual Week of Service, a company-wide volunteer event held in conjunction with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

C3M teams across the country dedicated their time and talent to organizations that provide our communities with the resources and opportunities to grow. 

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this week a success!

C3M and Clark teams sorted hockey equipment to donate to underfunded sports programs with Leveling the Playing Field, an organization dedicated to ensuring that every child has a chance to play sports.

Team members from the MTA Purple Line overhead catenary system project prepared and served food at Oak Chapel United Ministries Food Hub.

Project Executive Steve Sherman joined members of the Clark team to serve lunch at St. Anthony’s Dining Room.

Chuck Tomasco, division president of C3M, volunteered with Clark and Shirley at Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Conor Milligan and members of the Clark team volunteered at an adoption event with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

C3M business managers and project administrators packaged meals at Bread for the city.

Engineer Alex Novikov wrote letters to kids with the Ronald McDonald house.

C3M Celebrates the Reopening of National Mall Information Kiosks

C3M Power Systems and Clark Construction partnered with Home Depot and Helmets to Hardhats to provide pro bono interior and exterior improvements to the National Mall’s information kiosks. Over 150 volunteers from the four organizations helped create a safer, more efficient, and welcoming space for volunteers with new amenities, appliances, and storage. 

In mid-November, C3M and Clark celebrated with their project partners and Channel 7 News at the kiosks’ grand reopening.

New Traction Power Facilities West Bay Team Transports Machinery Across San Francisco Skyline

Last month, C3M and joint venture partners Clark Civil and Cupertino Electric (C3M Clark Cupertino) transported large boxes of equipment across the San Francisco skyline as part of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) New Traction Power Facilities West Bay project. A 106-foot-tall crane delivered boxes of heavy machinery and equipment needed to power a new substation beneath BART's Civic Center station through a 15-by-15-foot hole in the ground. The boxes, some of which weighed up to 37,000 pounds, contained transformers, air conditioning units, and rectifiers. The process took about 12 hours to complete, but the maintenance and engineering teams prepared for more than a year leading up to the event.

During each delivery, the team coordinated by radio with the crane operator. Four people waited in the hole to gently guide the delivery, sometimes with only a foot of space between the box and the wall, onto rolling wheels in order to transport the equipment to its final place. The space inside the hole was too long and narrow to move equipment around after it was delivered, so each item had to be deposited in a specific order and facing the right direction.

“Many agencies and contractors came together to make this happen,” said Gordon Wong, BART's principal electrical engineer. “It would not have been possible without the support and coordination of C3M Power Systems, Clark Civil, Cupertino Electric, Bigge Crane, and numerous other subcontractors, including San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission, Department of Public Works, and Municipal Transit Agency, as well as local businesses.”

The New Traction Power Facilities West Bay project is part of BART’s larger Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Program, which will greatly expand capacity throughout the existing transit system in order to accommodate increasing ridership. In addition to the new Civic Center substation, C3M Clark Cupertino is installing another traction power substation at the Montgomery Street station. The scope of work also includes structural, architectural, utility, and mechanical modifications, including demolishing portions of the concourse levels at both stations.

The project is slated for completion in fall of 2023. 

C3M is Powering the North Potomac Yard Pump Station Project

The North Potomac Yard Pump Station project in Alexandria, Virginia, has brought together C3M Power Systems, Clark Foundations, and Clark Water to construct a 7,800-square-foot sanitary wastewater pump station. The facility will support Virginia Tech’s new Innovation Station campus, conveying the flow to the Alexandria Renew Enterprises wastewater treatment plant. 

The jobsite and teams aren’t big, but they’ve persisted against outsized challenges. The hole the crew has worked in is deep – 45 feet total and 18 feet below the water table. It’s surrounded by slopes and sits less than a mile from the Potomac River. The site’s location, in combination with soil and weather conditions, was responsible for water continually seeping into the areas where teams had been working. 

The biggest challenge for C3M so far has been maintaining temporary power for the dewatering pumps, jobsite trailers, and equipment for the duration of the project. In the winter, Clark Water brought in C3M to add wiring for the additional sumps and pumps they determined were necessary to control where water in the excavation pit was going. A large roll-up generator and 1,250 gallon fuel tank provide 24/7 power to prevent pump failure. 

As part of the vertical construction efforts, C3M’s scope of work includes installing modern LED lighting both inside and out of the facility as well as a service-rated breaker and motor control center to power all building equipment and systems. The C3M team coordinated with other trades via 3D modeling to install all feeders and branch circuit pathways to equipment, lighting, instrumentation, and controls. 

Once final construction is complete, the C3M team will install a new 562 kVA 277/480V generator with an automatic transfer switch that can provide backup power in the event of a power disruption. They will also work directly with manufacturers and other trades to complete testing and commissioning of all building systems.

C3M is scheduled to reach substantial completion in the summer of 2023. Clark Foundations reached substantial completion last summer, and Clark Water is scheduled to finish below-grade construction by the end of summer 2022.

C3M Teams Celebrate Construction Safety Week 2022

Earlier this month, C3M project teams celebrated Construction Safety Week. During jobsite stand downs, teams discussed jobsite protocol and safety best practices.

The WMATA Fiber Optic Infrastructure and Metro Box Enclosure Installation project team held a safety orientation at the C3M warehouse in Capitol Heights, Maryland. The group discussed safety topics for almost an hour and a half.

Company leadership visited the team at the WMATA Metro TPS Upgrades on the Red, Green and Orange Lines project to discuss on site safety with field personnel.

Quarterly Foreman's Meeting

Last week, C3M held its quarterly Foreman’s Meeting. Field leadership across the organization discussed topics such as safety, recent project awards, current pursuits, and best practices. The team also learned about the innovative use of prefabrication, new products, and virtual design and construction on one of our mass transit maintenance facility projects. Connecting our field leaders and sharing best practices is what makes us a stronger company!

First Annual Foreman Refresher Course→

Last month, C3M field leaders participated in the first annual foreman refresher course at the Capitol Heights warehouse. The four-hour class will be held each year to reinforce best practices, processes, and procedures. Construction Executive Donny Schwier led the course with support from other C3M and Clark Construction representatives. Thank you to everyone who participated in this event.

C3M Presents to Washington Area Railway Engineering Society

Last week, several C3M team members presented on rail and mass transit state of good repair work at the February meeting of the Washington Area Railway Engineering Society (WARES).

C3M Senior Vice President Chuck Tomasco provided an overview of current state of good repair work and funding for it in the Baltimore-Washington region. Project Managers Arber Doci and Matt Sweeney detailed two of C3M’s relevant rail projects: the MTA Light Rail CBD 3 Interlockings and 10 Curves Rehabilitation project in Baltimore and the WMATA Traction Power System Upgrades on the Red, Green, and Orange Lines project in Washington, DC.

WARES brings together professionals interested in railway design, construction, operation, and maintenance. C3M is a long-time supporter of its mission to provide networking opportunities for members and annual scholarships to students majoring in railway engineering at local universities. Both Chuck Tomasco and Arber Doci are former members of WARES, serving as president and communications chair respectively.

C3M Celebrates Fourth Annual Week of Service

Last week we participated in our fourth annual Week of Service, a companywide volunteer event held in conjunction with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Throughout the week, C3M employees participated in a variety of service activities to improve our local communities. Thanks to everyone who made this event a success.

Senior Vice President and General Manager Mark Ketchel Retiring from C3M

After more than 40 years in the electrical construction industry, Senior Vice President and General Manager Mark Ketchel is retiring from C3M. Throughout his career, Mark has managed and delivered more than $500 million in complex rail and mass transit, aviation, water, and government projects to public agencies.

Mark began his career in 1973 as an apprentice electrician and quickly raised through the ranks as journeyman and then foreman. In 1984, he transitioned into a project management role at Truland Group before rising to executive vice president of Truland Transportation, a division devoted to infrastructure projects. During his time with Truland, Mark worked on some of the Washington, DC area’s most iconic projects, including FedEx Field, multiple projects for the Smithsonian Institution, and a substantial portion of the Washington Metrorail System. Under his leadership, Truland expanded from a local electrical contractor to a national industry leader with the construction of The Tide, Hampton Roads Transit’s light rail system.

Mark was part of the founding leadership team for C3M Power Systems, which launched as a subsidiary of Clark Construction in 2014. During his time with C3M, Mark provided executive management and guidance to teams across the organization as they won and delivered some of the most sophisticated infrastructure projects in the country. Under his leadership, C3M completed several critical projects that helped establish C3M as an industry leader, including the Cincinnati Streetcar, Oklahoma City Streetcar, Sound Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility: East, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, and numerous projects for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Chuck Hinton and Chuck Tomasco, both senior vice presidents and general managers of C3M, will continue to build the company’s success and prepare for the future in Mark’s absence.

As a founding member of C3M, Mark helped establish our core values of honesty, integrity, and teamwork. In his honor, we are pleased to announce the annual Mark V. Ketchel Award, which will be given to the C3M team member who best demonstrates these values. It will be awarded for the first time in December 2021.

Congratulations, Mark! We wish you a happy and relaxing retirement.

C3M Named Top 100 Electrical Contractor by Engineering News-Record

C3M is proud to announce that it has been named one of the top 100 electrical contractors in Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) annual Top 600 Specialty Contractors report. This year’s report, “Top 600 Specialty Contractors: Firms Feel Pandemic’s Pinch,” detailed how C3M and other specialty contractors have remained competitive despite a tumultuous construction market.

Chuck Tomasco, a senior vice president and general manager at C3M, shared with ENR how partnering has streamlined conversations and fostered trust between project teams and clients.

“Partnering should be implemented on every construction project. It’s a great way to align the team on the project’s goals, commit to quickly address issues that arise including agreeing on an escalation process among the project’s leaders, and most importantly build trust.”

C3M Projects Earn ENR Northwest Regional Awards

We are pleased to announce that Engineering News-Record (ENR) Northwest recently awarded two Awards of Merit to C3M projects in the region. The winning projects are:

Sound Transit – Operations and Maintenance Facility East

Award of Merit: Airport/Transit
Owner: Sound Transit
Client: Hensel Phelps Construction

Sound Transit’s Operations and Maintenance Facility: East in Bellevue, Washington, supports expansion of the region's light rail system from 20 to nearly 50 miles and from 62 to 214 light rail vehicles (LVRs).

C3M’s work included a yard and shop TPSS, an overhead contact system (OCS), train control system, LRV monitoring system, and integration with Sound Transit’s SCADA system. This first-of-its-kind application of a vehicle monitoring system to a light rail yard utilized a network of cameras to track the location of all LRVs throughout the facility and integrate seamlessly with Sound Transit’s maintenance system. C3M was responsible for final design of the train control and LRV monitoring systems.

Seattle Center Monorail Electrical Room Upgrades

Award of Merit: Specialty Construction
Owner and Client: City of Seattle

C3M upgraded equipment in the Seattle Center Monorail’s electrical rooms and electrical systems at Seattle Center and Westlake Center monorail stations.

C3M’s work included replacing medium and low voltage electrical equipment (rectifier, transformer, switchgear, battery chargers, uninterruptible power supplies, and annunciator panels), installing and wiring equipment, and testing and commissioning the new systems. Additionally, new HVAC equipment, intrusion alarm systems, fire alarm systems, SCADA systems, and emergency lighting were added in the electrical rooms at both stations.