On April 25, Krusinski Construction Company participated in Family Business Day presented by the University of Illinois at Chicago Family Business Council (UIC FBC).

Family Business Day is an opportunity for FBC member companies to learn about each other, as well as hear presentations on such topics as human resources and profitability.

Each company was encouraged to set up a table-top display to highlight their products or services. UIC students were invited to attend the trade show.

Doug Hall, founder and CEO of Eureka! Ranch, was the keynote speaker. Hall recently appeared as a judge on the reality show American Inventor. Eureka! Ranch specializes in igniting bold thinking about new products and services for corporate clients such as American Express, Nike and Walt Disney.

The University of Illinois at Chicago Family Business Council exists to help family businesses and other closely held companies achieve their business goals through a unique peer-support system and related educational programs that provide growth strategies for chief executives, their families and their businesses.

Krusinski Construction Company has recently hired and promoted several employees.

John R. Becker, of Gurnee joined Krusinski as a project engineer. He previously held a similar position at The Pickus Companies. Prior to that, he was a trim engineer at Neumann Homes. Becker holds a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Illinois State University.

Krusinski also hired Matthew R. Cotherman, of Elk Grove Village, as a project superintendent. He comes to Krusinski after working as a superintendent at Davis Homes in Indianapolis for two years. He has also worked at Ryland Homes in Indianapolis. Cotherman received a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Purdue University.

Rick Drews was recently promoted to project superintendent. Drews previously worked as a carpenter/foreman. He has been with Krusinski for three and a half years.

Krusinski Construction Company recently completed a $5 million, three-story office building for Moser Enterprises, Inc at the southwest corner of Main and Water streets in downtown Naperville.

Moser, a prominent real estate developer in the Southwest suburbs, will occupy the third floor of the 17,000-square-foot building, called Moser Plaza. Northern Trust Bank will occupy the first and second floors.

Parking for 30 cars is provided at a nearby lot on Water Street.

Andrew J. Johnson was the project manager, Steve Bulger was the project superintendent and Dominic Valvano was the project engineer.

The number of foreign-born workers killed each year from falls is on the rise, especially in the Hispanic community.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that close to 25 percent of the fatalities they investigate are related to language or cultural barriers. Many foreign-born workers do not speak any English and some are illiterate. Without proper training, these workers are at risk for serious injury.

Shawn M. Barry, general superintendent/corporate safety officer for Krusinski Construction Company, emphasizes the importance of open communication between supervisors and workers.

To prevent accidents, Barry suggests one of the following three options: Hire a bilingual foreman to be on site at all times. Require all employees to speak fluent English as a prerequisite to hiring. Provide training for all workers. During training, it is important to have a bilingual supervisor who would be able to answer any questions.

Krusinski Construction Company welcomed more than 40 brokers to its Young Industrial Brokers lunch on July 19.

The event was located at the site of Krusinski’s International Airport Centers/Select Carrier Group project site at 1850 Arthur Avenue in Elk Grove Village.

Adam J. Moore, vice president, welcomed the group. Other speakers included Leo Koonmen of IAC, who discussed components of the land and construction deal, as well as Stephen A. Moeller, Krusinski’s project manager, who highlighted the construction schedule and budget.

The event wrapped up with a tour of the building and lunch.

David Prell of Trammell Crow in Schaumburg received a flat screen television as the first prize raffle winner. Other gifts raffled off included Lettuce Entertain You gift cards.

Katie Osgood, administrative assistant, is the winner of Krusinski’s 3rd quarter 2006 DIG (Diversify, Improve, Grow) award.

Osgood, of Glendale Heights, received the award for her enthusiasm and professionalism with clients.

“As the ‘voice of Krusinski,’ Katie is the first person that many of our clients speak to,” says Gina M. Krusinski, marketing and administrative manager. “We receive many compliments regarding her phone manner and work ethic.”

Osgood has been with the company since 2005, and was recently promoted from receptionist.

The DIG program was instituted as a way to involve every employee in company strategies for growth and profitability. The award is given to employees who have either submitted recommendations for cost savings, sales leads or productivity initiatives or have worked to further those goals.

As a DIG recipient, Osgood received an extra vacation day and a company lunch in her honor. In addition, her name will be added to a company plaque.

As widely reported in the press, a national building boom has joined forces with a petroleum shortage to escalate the price of construction materials as much as 500 percent (in the case of copper).

To help clients and brokers understand the impact of the current pricing reality, Krusinski Vice President Adam J. Moore has developed a pricing chart that gives the estimated cost-per-square foot of a 50,000-, 125,000-, and 250,000-square-foot industrial/office building.

The chart analyzes 22 different variables, including materials, services and mechanical systems and is updated regularly as prices change.

Moore is currently conducting a series of brief workshops on pricing for brokers, lenders and architects to provide them with the data they need to better counsel clients.