Thoughts from the field

The coronavirus outbreak has changed the way we’ve all done things, both at work and at home. Here at VPCS, we’re fortunate to be part of an industry deemed essential per California’s directives. Because of that, we’ve been allowed to continue working virtually...

Like professionals across the country and around the world, VPCS employees have been working mostly from home during the coronavirus outbreak. It’s been a bit of a transition, but our people have always been a dedicated and hard-working bunch. Not even a...

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected individuals, communities and economies around the world. Never in our lifetimes have we experienced such an abrupt shift in how we go about our daily lives and conduct our business. At VPCS, we take our commitments to our projects...

Even amid the busiest moments of the holidays, we remind ourselves to pause and focus on what matters most: the people who surround us at home and at work. We are immensely grateful for all branches of the VPCS family for allowing us to do what we love, day after day....

Construction project managers (PMs) like me are responsible for tracking all the large and small details related to the job (or jobs) we’re overseeing. We’re the bridge between the owner and the people who design, engineer and build the projects. It’s up to us to make...

My official title here at VPCS is Administrative Assistant. But sometimes I think I should change it to Mortar Assistant, given all the ways I fill in the gaps. When people ask me what I do at work, I usually answer with a very enthusiastic, “Whatever’s needed!” In...

When I was hired by Mark Van Pelt, a little over three years ago, I never would have imagined that my responsibilities would include categorizing, tracking and reconciling budgets totaling more than $268 million dollars. After all, I have a literature degree and I...

Around here, I’m known as the VPCS “oshpod guy.” That’s because I’m considered the in-house expert on all the regulations related to California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, commonly referred to by the acronym OSHPD. This is the agency that...

Even the most talented percussionists, the most eloquent string players, and brass instrumentalists with world-class cardio strength aren’t much use without a conductor. The conductor pulls those individually talented elements together to produce the symphony. That’s...

Last month, my (younger!) brother Mark wrote a piece for the VPCS blog reflecting on his first 40 years in the construction industry. It’s hard to believe that we’ve both been in this business for as long as we have. I suppose one of the reasons the time has flown is...

I started my career in construction on June 16, 1979 at 7:00 a.m. (The photo above was taken that very week.) Since then, I’ve collected paychecks from two companies: Lathrop Construction Associates and Van Pelt Construction Services, the latter of which I co-founded...

There are always two very important relationships that we honor and nurture when VPCS works on school projects. The first is the one between us and our client, the school district. And the second is the one between the district and the taxpayers, who are basically our...

If you’re a VPCS client, you may have chatted by phone or exchanged emails with Corinne Figueira. She’s one of the reasons our home office hums along so efficiently. She manages multiple responsibilities and attends to countless details, always making her juggling act...

Van Pelt Construction Services is a family-run business that has always thought of clients and colleagues as members of our extended clan. During this time of year especially, we offer our warmest wishes to every branch of the VPCS family. May your hearth be warm...

Stop. Reflect. Give thanks. These are always important practices, but are especially relevant this time of year. Here are a few reasons I feel thankful these days: During the recession, my brother Mike and I suffered through more than a few sleepless nights as we...

Sustainable design and construction practices are becoming more widespread. Architects, engineers and builders are adapting to and embracing green approaches across all market segments. Building standards and codes are also changing to accommodate sustainability. We...

We’ve reached the end of summer – that warm, relaxing season when students and teachers take some well-deserved time off. But for those of us in K-12 school construction, summertime is anything but slow-paced. As soon as that final bell rings on the last day of...

The headline news around here is that VPCS was recently awarded both the program and the construction management assignments for the entire Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) $269 million Measure H bond. We’ll be supporting the efforts of a talented team of...

It’s been three years since Brian Cameron joined us as an assistant construction manager. When he first donned his Van Pelt Construction Services hard hat, he was fresh out of college with the limited amount of work experience that’s typical of a 24-year-old. But we...

We are in the midst of a classic good-news-bad-news situation. Yes, the economy has largely recovered from the Great Recession, but the rebound has bumped up prices across all market segments. Construction is feeling the pinch as tightly as any industry....

It’s no exaggeration to say that Operations Manager Christine Diamond keeps us all connected here at VPCS. While most of us are out in the field each day, Christine is holding down the fort in Fairfield (in our great new expanded office space). Christine does...

Let me introduce myself: I’m the new guy. Not just around VPCS, but around the construction industry. Until recently, I was one of those annoying Silicon Valley creatures who’d spent the entirety of his career in technology corporations. In the Valley, I was the go-to...

I’ve been thinking a lot about change – both in our firm and in our industry. Around here, we’ll soon be saying goodbye to our longest-serving employee, Pete Norgaard, who is gearing up for retirement. Pete joined Van Pelt Construction Services way back in 1999 and...

The Van Pelt Construction Services family extends its warmest wishes to our clients, colleagues, partners and friends during this holiday season. We are grateful for the many ways in which you enrich our professional lives and we look forward to building with you to...