MC Consultants is like the “CSI” of construction defects, according to Dan Ducommun, president and CEO of one of the most prominent construction forensics groups in the western United States.
“If a building or house if broken, MC Consultants is called. Our group of forensic experts come out to the scene and figure out what happened” he said. “If the building leaks or has some other defect, we're going to figure out why and how to fix it.”
The firm, which is headquartered in Carlsbad, operates five consulting companies, employing approximately 50 professional and administrative staff members who serve clients nationwide through its six offices in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Oregon. The consulting staff ranges from architects to environmental investigators.
The Carlsbad Business Journal
sat down with Ducommun to talk about the business of providing expertise in construction management, quality control and risk management, construction defect forensics, water intrusion, environmental investigation and civil engineering, as well as right-of-way management services.
CBJ: What is your professional background?
Ducommun: Over the past 25 years, I've served a variety of senior management positions within national and international companies.
CBJ: What is the company's background and history?
Ducommun: MC Consultants was founded in 1989 by longtime Carlsbad resident Ed Martinet. Because of his education and construction management experience, he began receiving requests from local law firms to serve as a construction defect expert during the late 1980s. Ed's passion to serve this market full-time and run his own business led to the formation of MC Consultants.
CBJ: What is the company's mission?
Ducommun: We are an employee-owned business. Our mission is to grow the business by delivering superior consulting services to our clients while providing advancement and stock value to our owner employees.
CBJ: What is unique about MC Consultants?
Ducommun: Our clients have come to appreciate having consultants from our multiple service divisions serve their wide-range of consulting needs. A good example would be when one of our construction defect experts serves as the owner's representative by overseeing construction defect repairs or remediation.
CBJ: MC Consultants just celebrated its 20th anniversary; why do you think the company has been so successful over the years?
Ducommun: Over the past 20 years, we have recruited and developed the most experienced consulting professionals in each industry we serve. MC is recognized as an industry marketing leader, primarily for the contribution we've made hosting annual conferences that offer the professionals serving the construction defect market an opportunity to gather for educational sessions and professional networking. We just completed hosting the 15th Annual West Region Construction Defect and Construction Law Conference in San Diego. No other construction defect consulting companies within the country host an annual conference, let alone 15.
CBJ: How is MC Consultants faring in this economy? And what new strategies have you implemented to ensure its survival?
Ducommun: Like most businesses, the down economy created challenges for us throughout 2009. One of our five consulting divisions specializes in construction management and quality assessment services. In early 2009, the number of building start-ups dropped off substantially. As a result, construction consulting opportunities also dropped off. Rather than wait for the construction market to recover, we looked at the building start-up slump as an opportunity to market our consulting services to investors interested in purchasing distressed construction projects. Property assessment analysis helps the investor better understand cost estimates and potential issues related to completing these projects. This is just one example of the many ways we are successfully marketing our team's construction expertise to meet the demands of current market needs.
CBJ: Who are some of your clients?
Ducommun: A small sample of the of the San Diego law firms we serve include Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman and Wolfenzon Schulman & Ryan. Insurance companies we serve include such well known names as Travelers, Chartis (AIG) and Zurich. Our CE Prime division is currently serving as right-of-way management consultant for SDG&E's Sunrise Power Link project.
CBJ: What is the most challenging aspect of this company?
Ducommun: Searching to identify experienced industry candidates to deliver the consulting services we offer is a challenge. For instance, a construction defect consulting expert needs to have construction experience, be able to prepare an analysis and communicate effectively in front of attorneys and juries.
CBJ: What do you enjoy most about your position?
Ducommun: Being surrounded by a terrific and dedicated group of professionals. We all believe in the same company goals and objectives, making my role very rewarding.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of MC Consultants?
Ducommun: Our consulting divisions and expansive consulting staff model have created a demand for our services throughout the United States. Our growth plan includes regional office expansion in 2010 to serve the southern states and southeast consulting markets.
MC Consultants:
2055 Corte del Nogal, Carlsbad
(760) 930-9966
www.mcconsultants.com
“If a building or house if broken, MC Consultants is called. Our group of forensic experts come out to the scene and figure out what happened” he said. “If the building leaks or has some other defect, we're going to figure out why and how to fix it.”
The firm, which is headquartered in Carlsbad, operates five consulting companies, employing approximately 50 professional and administrative staff members who serve clients nationwide through its six offices in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Oregon. The consulting staff ranges from architects to environmental investigators.
The Carlsbad Business Journal
sat down with Ducommun to talk about the business of providing expertise in construction management, quality control and risk management, construction defect forensics, water intrusion, environmental investigation and civil engineering, as well as right-of-way management services.
CBJ: What is your professional background?
Ducommun: Over the past 25 years, I've served a variety of senior management positions within national and international companies.
CBJ: What is the company's background and history?
Ducommun: MC Consultants was founded in 1989 by longtime Carlsbad resident Ed Martinet. Because of his education and construction management experience, he began receiving requests from local law firms to serve as a construction defect expert during the late 1980s. Ed's passion to serve this market full-time and run his own business led to the formation of MC Consultants.
CBJ: What is the company's mission?
Ducommun: We are an employee-owned business. Our mission is to grow the business by delivering superior consulting services to our clients while providing advancement and stock value to our owner employees.
CBJ: What is unique about MC Consultants?
Ducommun: Our clients have come to appreciate having consultants from our multiple service divisions serve their wide-range of consulting needs. A good example would be when one of our construction defect experts serves as the owner's representative by overseeing construction defect repairs or remediation.
CBJ: MC Consultants just celebrated its 20th anniversary; why do you think the company has been so successful over the years?
Ducommun: Over the past 20 years, we have recruited and developed the most experienced consulting professionals in each industry we serve. MC is recognized as an industry marketing leader, primarily for the contribution we've made hosting annual conferences that offer the professionals serving the construction defect market an opportunity to gather for educational sessions and professional networking. We just completed hosting the 15th Annual West Region Construction Defect and Construction Law Conference in San Diego. No other construction defect consulting companies within the country host an annual conference, let alone 15.
CBJ: How is MC Consultants faring in this economy? And what new strategies have you implemented to ensure its survival?
Ducommun: Like most businesses, the down economy created challenges for us throughout 2009. One of our five consulting divisions specializes in construction management and quality assessment services. In early 2009, the number of building start-ups dropped off substantially. As a result, construction consulting opportunities also dropped off. Rather than wait for the construction market to recover, we looked at the building start-up slump as an opportunity to market our consulting services to investors interested in purchasing distressed construction projects. Property assessment analysis helps the investor better understand cost estimates and potential issues related to completing these projects. This is just one example of the many ways we are successfully marketing our team's construction expertise to meet the demands of current market needs.
CBJ: Who are some of your clients?
Ducommun: A small sample of the of the San Diego law firms we serve include Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman and Wolfenzon Schulman & Ryan. Insurance companies we serve include such well known names as Travelers, Chartis (AIG) and Zurich. Our CE Prime division is currently serving as right-of-way management consultant for SDG&E's Sunrise Power Link project.
CBJ: What is the most challenging aspect of this company?
Ducommun: Searching to identify experienced industry candidates to deliver the consulting services we offer is a challenge. For instance, a construction defect consulting expert needs to have construction experience, be able to prepare an analysis and communicate effectively in front of attorneys and juries.
CBJ: What do you enjoy most about your position?
Ducommun: Being surrounded by a terrific and dedicated group of professionals. We all believe in the same company goals and objectives, making my role very rewarding.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of MC Consultants?
Ducommun: Our consulting divisions and expansive consulting staff model have created a demand for our services throughout the United States. Our growth plan includes regional office expansion in 2010 to serve the southern states and southeast consulting markets.
MC Consultants:
2055 Corte del Nogal, Carlsbad
(760) 930-9966
www.mcconsultants.com