Gibson Tours McDonald's Summer 2008

As I was working on organizing job photos, I made an interesting observation. Woody & I have been at a different McDonald's every month this summer. We started by finishing out the McDonald's in Irving May 2008. Then we went to finish the McDonald's in Marietta, Ok for the month of June. July we were in Wichita Falls, TX with Pete Hamm helping out with the McDonald's that opened this week. Finally, August we'll be working on our newest project, McDonald's in Fort Worth on Alta Mere. Here I've posted a picture of each of these locations. The newest being the easist to identify.

Surveying Continues

Yesterday our Surveyors started staking the property and corner pins. They need the developers surveyors to return and stake out the lot pins in order to proceed. So today Reese sent out his surveyors to do this. Woody has scheduled our surveyors to return tomorrow and finish their surveying. After that Woody & I will run string for property and building lines. Then the city of Fort Worth will send an inspector to confirm we are going to proceed per plan.

GROUNDBREAKING MEETING

Today while the surveyors were on site marking property and building corners, we went to the groundbreaking meeting. We met Michael Sawyers and Jimmy Lopez there. Michael Sawyers is our Project Manager and Jimmy Lopez is our McDonald's Area Construction Manager. We were then met by the Partners for this project, Mr & Mrs Jasper. Along with them were several other McDonald's Operations people, including Ruthann Peterman & Michael Jasper. Later, H&K representative, John Slovak, joined our meeting. This meeting was helpful in getting everyone acquainted with each other, as well as being able to get information that will allow us to begin the project and other items that we identified as needing further research. The Jaspers did confirm that this project will not be the average build and we can expect many upgrade changes. Woody & I are definitely excited about the challenge we are beginning. The lines of communication were definitely strengthened today. This is one of our most important tools, so our goal is to make sure they remain open and positive.

Moibilization Begins

Parkway Construction & Assoc has a detailed checklist of items that are to be completed when a new job starts. It is known as the mobilization process. The mobilization process is not just setting up the job site for work to begin, but it involves the scheduling, communication, and research in order to be prepared for when crews begin the work. In many ways the tempo of the work is determined by how well a Superintendent mobilizes. Today we received the job trailer that we will know be able to use as our office on a daily basis. It will also be the usual meeting room for site meetings.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CARMEN

WOW, 43 years old today and here I am with my two of my three grandchildren, Juanita & Luke. They'll be coming to visit me in August as a belated birthday gift.

Welcome from Michael

Michael Sawyers drove out to Fort Worth to welcome us to our new site. He arrived with new plans, contracts, and permits. We walked the site and met with the superintendent for the development. We were able to get phone numbers regarding inspections and utilities. We were able to discuss our project schedule and milestones. We're scheduled to meet for groundbreaking on Monday. The photo is of our new site. It's taken from across the street. In the background is the Target scheduled to open this weekend.

First View of New Project

Well, here it is. We left Pete this morning in Wichita Falls and arrived in Fort Worth at our new project. We have been able to secure a location for the RV about 3 miles from the job site. We were able to locate the new job site with no problems. Then we met the Superintendent for the developer. He was helpful and informative. We made arrangements to meet with him tomorrow to get more detailed information. So here it is, in a few months this empty lot will be home for the latest McDonald's location. We've received a message that this McDonald's will be an extreme upgrade from the average McDonald's. This should be fun and challenging.

Inspection Day at McDonald's

Pete has City Inspectors set up for today and tomorrow. These are all the final MEP's ending with tomorrow's building final. At this point, Pete is in excellent shape to turn over on time. It's only a matter of hours now before a Certificate of Occupancy is obtained. After that the crews will concentrate their efforts on all final finishes not requiring inspections. The restaurant will open on July 29, 2008. Woody & I will be leaving in the morning to go to our new project in Fort Worth. It's been excellent to come out to help Pete Hamm, Superintendent of the project & Todd Mabray, Project Manager. Thank you both for the opportunity.

Last Weekend Before Turn Over

McDonald's is due to turn over on the 18th of July 2008. The crews have stepped up to finish contracted work. Inspections are scheduled for Monday. Any work that will be inspected Monday that is not complete today will have to be done this weekend. The sign company has continued to work on finish installation of signs and awnings. I've included a picture of the ceiling cover up. Finally, they are preparing to pour the final sidwalk on Monday.

Rick Mathews Inspects the Site Today

The refrigeration crew returned today and finished all they could in setting up the cooler refrigeration that they can do without permanent electric power. Speaking of electric power, it's right around the corner. The electricians passed their electric meter release inspection. Then, Oncor arrived today to run the main line to the transformer. Rick Mathews, McDonald's ACM, stopped by to do a site inspection. Rick and Cindy Boone, O/O, also came by for a site inspection. The landscapers, plumbers, sign company, concrete crew, and painters also worked today.

Wichita Falls deadline @ McDonald's Nears

Today the electricians, plumbers, landscapers, hvac mechanics, and sign company all showed up to continue their efforts to finish their contracted work. With turn over day six (6) days away, everyday is critical. Waterproofing the building, power washing and striping the lot are all set for later this week. Ceiling cover up has been approved.

Kitchen & Decor Complete in Wichita Falls

The kitchen equipment and decor installation is complete. We are also ready for a ceiling cover up inspection. The brick needed to finish the trash enclosure arrived today. The sign company worked on menu boards and arches today. Plumbers and electricians continue to finish their work in preparation for final inspections. Landscapers and painters also worked today.

Landscapers started @ McDonald's Today

Landscapers started trenching today. One of the storage boxes was picked up in preparation for clearing the lot for power washing and striping later this week. The plumbers announced today that we are ready for a gas inspection. This is great since we are waiting for the gas meter to be release. Sign co, tile setters, electricians, plumbers, and refrigeration crews all worked today as well.

McDonald's @ Wichita Falls on Sunday

Here is a view from the roof of the drive thru area and trash enclosure. It's been raining today, but that didn't stop the sign company, tile setters, or electricians from coming in to work today.

McDonald's @ Wichita Falls on Saturday

The fact that it's Saturday didn't stop the electricians and tile setters to stop work. They worked diligently to continue working on schedule as the deadline for final inspections nears.

McDonald's @ Wichita Falls Trash Enclosure

Below are pictures of the trash enclosure currently being constructed with an attached storage room. After the masons complete construction another crew will come in to frame the roof, followed by a crew that will complete the roofing. It was a busy site today with everyone coming to work on final finishes to the continuation of kitchen install and decor setting.

McDonald's @ Wichita Falls Progresses

The masons started the trash enclosure this week. They've finished the stone work on the building today. Plumbers, electricians, tile setters, wall paper hangers, sign company, refrigeration crew and concrete crews all worked today, also. The fire and safety company came to install the ansul system today. And let's not forget the kitchen and decor is being installed while the construction crews continue to do finishes. Rick Boone, O/O, came by for a visit today.

McDonald's @ Wichita Falls Trellis Complete

The trellis work was started this past weekend. On Monday, they finished the trellis around the building and set the trash enclosure gates. Decor arrived today. The crew that installs kitchen and decor are working at a fast pace to make a complete install over the next two weeks. Plumbers, electricians, masons, tile setters, concrete crew, and roofers were all working today. Also, the sign company sent some guys to setup drive thru and building signs.

McDonald's in Wichita Falls is Visited by All

It was a full house today. With several construction crews on site working towards reaching goals, before long several visitors arrived for a site inspection. Besides Pete, Woody and myself, Ted Young, Director; Michael Sawyers, our PM; Todd Mabray, PM; Rick Mathews, McDonald's ACM, and Joe Collins, McDonald's RCM were all present for the site inspection. Kitchen equipment also arrived today. While we were walking the site, the Owner/Operator, Rick Boone joined us. It was great to get so many people looking over the site to get an idea of specific items our customers are looking to check progress. It allowed the Parkway team to consult to make sure we are all working towards the same goal. With a perspective from Michael and Ted stressing what direction he wants us to focus our attention, we were left to make it happen. Here is a picture of the inside of the store and Pete Hamm, Superintendent.

McDonald's Wichita Falls

Well, we've been in Wichita Falls for a week. Pete Hamm, Superintendent, has a turn over date for July 22, 2008. We've come to assist him in anyway he can use us to help him reach his deadline. We probably won't be here until turn over, but it gives us somewhere to be while we wait for our project to begin in Fort Worth.

Last week, Michael Sawyers, Project Manager, and Ted Young, Director, both called Woody and we were given a week to come from Marietta to Wichita Falls to set up, rest, and prepare to come help Pete. It was a much needed rest. The week went very fast.

Today we've arrived and were welcomed by Pete and Todd Mabray, Project Manager for this location. Woody & I were given a brief history of the site work up to now. We then did an inspection to determine a plan of action that would keep the job on schedule and get us to the turn over deadline on time. Here is a picture of the site today and of the Project Manager.

Woody Experiencing Withdrawls

Here it is already THURSDAY. The week went much too fast. Tomorrow we'll be off celebrating the 4th of July weekend. Our goal is to finish all the training we'd scheduled for this week before setting of to our next project. While we've been training & relaxing this week, Woody made every attempt not to use THE FINGER. But he was unable to go the whole week. I tease him all the time that when he goes to work, he wears out his finger point at this and that and all he wants done. And although he didn't make it the whole week, he did a good job trying.

Down Time

Finally, we've managed to find time to take it easy for a little while. So what do we do when we aren't working. Well, we call it relaxing, but others may consider it continued work in a different form. We have enjoyed taking time to integrate some exercise into our daily activities. The RV Park has a really nice swimming pool. We've also been doing some work on the RV that we've neglected while working long hours. More importantly we're using a large amount of our time to review or refresh our 7 Habits of Highly Effective People knowledge. We also had a Project Manager recommend THE SECRET as a good read. And it has been an excellent addition to our 7 Habits. Finally, we are finishing our OSHA Course. We're actually behind schedule. However, when we are working with no days off and long days, it's impossible to study or test. By the end of the week, our health, our home, our minds, and attitudes should be sharper, stronger, and ready for our next project. One particular item, we are both practicing is NOT MAKING ASSUMPTIONS. We found a shortcut for remembering that I'd like to share:

Abbott: Put that cigar out. QUIT SMOKING!

Costello: I'm not smoking.

Abbott: Sure you are.

Costello: No, I'm not. I'm wearing shoes, but I'm NOT walking.

Things are not always what they seem....Our goal is to be more thorough with our observations before making conclusions.