Three students were recently awarded scholarships on behalf of Egan Company and partnering employees.
The annual Grunerud-Egan Scholarship awards scholarships to two individuals to aid in their pursuit of careers related to construction, engineering, and the trades, supported by Dane Grunerud, Egan Company Senior Project Manager. Zach Welsch and Edwin Solorio were named recipients of the Grunerud-Egan Scholarship this year, receiving $1,000 each toward their schooling.
Zach is a coil-cleaner in Egan’s Service department, and is attending Century College for his associate’s degree in HVAC-R. Edwin is an Assistant Project Manager with Egan’s Electrical Construction team and is going to school to earn a degree in Electrical Construction Design and Management from Dunwoody College of Technology.
This year, a third scholarship was sponsored by Mark and Char Broadwater. Mark is Egan’s Vice President of ATS. Their sponsored scholarship awarded $1,000 to Dawson Oelrich, who is attending Northwest Technical College for Electrical and is currently working on a solar project in Southern Minnesota.
This is the fourth year that the Grunerud-Egan scholarship has been awarded, and the first that was awarded in partnership with the Broadwaters. The scholarships are open to Egan employees, as well as the children and grandchildren of employees, and are awarded based on financial need, community involvement, extracurricular activities, academic activities, and an essay/video response.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (July 5, 2024) – Egan Company, a local specialty contractor and systems integrator, announced the upcoming retirement of Mike Tengwall, Senior Vice President of Electrical, in 2025.
Tengwall joined Egan in 2007 and has held many roles from Project Manager, Business Group Leader, and Senior Vice President. He also serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors. He began his 35 year trades career as an Electrician, Master Electrician, and Project Manager before moving into leadership positions. During his tenure, the industrial controls and electrical businesses have experienced significant growth under his leadership; additionally, his technical and operational contributions have reinforced the Company’s strengths in delivering trades and professional services to building owners and operators, general contractors, and OEMs.
“It has been a privilege to work and provide leadership at Egan for the past 17 years,” said Tengwall. “I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of very smart and talented people to assist our customers and grow our business. With constant steady pressure, we have been able to accomplish a lot together. I’m looking forward to spending retirement with my family on the lake and taking trips together.”
In January 2025, Tengwall will step down from his current role; he will remain with Egan in the role of Secretary of Egan’s Board of Directors. Grant Price, who joined Egan in 2002 following the merger of Comm Tech Electrical, will succeed Tengwall as Senior Vice President of Electrical.
About Egan Company
Egan Company is a privately-owned, specialty contractor providing building trades to general contractors, engineers, building owners, property managers, and facility engineers. Specialties include: electrical, mechanical, curtainwall/glazing/metal panels (InterClad), millwrights, building technology, controls and system integration, and 24/7 service. Egan serves every stage of a building and provides in-house expertise in planning, design and engineering, construction, and maintenance. For more information about Egan Company, visit www.eganco.com.
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Media Contact:
Angela Schmidt Marketing Communication Manager arschmidt@eganco.com // 763-504-3471
Buildings are made up of more than just the concrete walls and floors that specialty contractors provide. Underneath the surface of the conduits, wires, ductwork, and electrical and mechanical systems are formulas, regulations, data, and efficiencies that weave together to create hospitals, high-rises, stadiums, schools, offices, and more. Before they are translated to the jobsite, these factors are carefully put together by teams of engineers and craftspeople who are strategizing new ways to improve the quality and safety of the work done on the jobsite.
Engineering practices in the construction industry have evolved significantly since the turn of the century, with new efficiencies and opportunities presenting themselves every day. From virtual construction to prefabrication, more construction projects are being completed off-site than ever before. The jobsite, which used to be a centralized location where everything was built, has now evolved to become a receiving area where pre-engineered and pre-fabricated products are staged and assembled. Taking advantage of these practices is essential for modern project demands, optimizing efficiencies, timelines, budgets, and job site safety.
VIRTUAL PROBLEM-SOLVING
One of the first “construction sites” a project goes through is a virtually simulated computerized model known as virtual design construction (VDC). Egan’s engineers are taking advantage of VDC capabilities to streamline design and improve the entire build process. For more than two decades, VDC has become the tool of choice for the engineering industry, acting as the canvas on which engineers can work and create a model of their final product.
By beginning with VDC technologies in the early stages of projects, teams can identify project and material needs, potential hazards, and solutions before any work begins onsite. Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology, and other systems enable Egan’s VDC teams to get ahead of the curve, maintain safety and accuracy on the job site, and prevent delays in the building process.
ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
The benefits of engineering can be measured by the reduction of total labor hours, costs, and project timelines in conjunction with an increase in the quality of work. By engaging with Egan’s engineers early on in projects, the estimating and proposal processes can be exponentially more efficient and accurate thanks to the systems and software in place. This can also set a firm foundation for efficient prefabrication processes later in the project.
Engineering technology at Egan is not necessarily Artificial Intelligence (AI), though it looks like it on the surface level. Made up of formulas, spreadsheets, and efficiencies, engineering softwares can calculate and assess material, design, timeline, and budget requirements with high accuracy. Incorporating smart engineering can help predict the labor hours needed on projects or tasks, problems that may occur, or other considerations that can be planned for and solved ahead of time.
PREFABRICATION: THE NEW INDUSTRY STANDARD
Prefabrication is a standard practice utilized across many of Egan’s trades, and is becoming one of the primary construction sites for any project within the industry. InterClad, Egan’s glass and glazing team, has benefitted from the safety and efficiency of prefabrication since its founding in 1998. Egan’s Mechanical pipefitter teams are able to complete welds and piece together larger parts of projects within a controlled environment, utilizing custom CAD drawings to guide the fabrication process. Egan’s plumbing shop and control panel shop also utilize prefabrication to complete as much of the work as possible independently of the field site, to increase efficiency and safety at all stages of the project.
A prefabrication facility eliminates jobsite waste or excess labor that may come as a result of working in the field. This enables prefabrication experts to receive plans from trades professionals in the field and engineers and put them into action without slowing down the work on the project. Egan’s recent electrical work on the 568,000 square foot FedEx Distribution Facility in Rosemount, Minn. utilized nearly 3,500 hours of prefabrication work, which resulted in significant cost savings, as well as a reduced risk of injuries and mistakes on the jobsite. The dedicated team completed much of the repetitive or harder-to-complete work in a controlled environment before sending the ready-to-install materials to Rosemount.
The prefabrication team is taking quality one step further at Egan by documenting and double-checking the quality checkpoints of each build. These checkpoints are printed on a sheet with a unique QR code that is attached to each build. In the field, the QR code can be scanned by any field personnel to provide feedback/comments via a Google Form that provides an easy method for tracking, resolving, and improvements that are made in association with the comments.
THE FUTURE OF PREFABRICATION
The industry continues to evolve with these engineering practices; prefabrication is quickly becoming a larger operation where teams assemble whole sections of projects in a separate controlled environment independent of the final jobsite. Egan is finding solutions to improve the work we do while maintaining safety and quality at every step.
Egan sets high standards and goals annually for the number of prefabrication hours that are logged each year. This number directly correlates to the success of projects, revenue, and the entire operational efficiency across each of Egan’s 12 multi-trade expertise. Additional prefabrication capabilities are on the horizon at Egan, with the investment of a new 40,000 square foot facility that will primarily focus on electrical prefabrication being built in Southern Minnesota. As the construction industry continues to evolve, Egan strives to be at the forefront, ready to find solutions that help our customers in every way possible.
The building of a new prefabrication facility is underway for Egan Company after a groundbreaking ceremony was held in Kasson, Minn.
Meeting the growing demand of Egan’s Electrical teams, this new facility will enable projects to be streamlined and completed with increased safety, quality, and consistency with “value add” advantages for our customers. The facility will prefabricate various electrical components, assemblies, and systems that are utilized in Egan projects throughout the country.
With the additional 40,000 square foot prefabrication facility, Egan Company continues to grow and expand its presence throughout Minnesota. The general contractor on the project is Knutson Construction. Egan will self-perform the mechanical, electrical, exterior storefront and interior conference room glass, and low-voltage work on the new facility. The building is expected to be completed and operational by 2025.
Those in attendance included members from the Kasson Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Administration, Knutson Construction, and Egan Company leaders and employees who will be moving to the facility. The local ABC affiliate, KAALTV, was also in attendance covering the event.
Committed to offering an exceptional experience, Egan Company launched a new Portal that offers real-time access to facility data, including invoices, recent payments, and service/maintenance appointments. With this online tool, Egan’s customers can view and access:
Billing Details
Upcoming Service Appointments
Request Service
Current Maintenance Contracts
Key Contact Information (field technicians, account managers, project managers)
A self-service billing option allows for managing open invoices, viewing payment history, and submitting online payments through credit card or electronic funds transfer (EFT). The online tool also enables customers to request 24/7 facility service and send feedback.
Current Egan customers can log into the portal on a desktop or mobile device using a primary email address already shared with Egan, or connect with their service account representative. Questions about Egan’s customer portal, or interested in how you can access your account? Contact us!
ROCHESTER, MN (April 25, 2024) – Egan Company, a specialty contractor and systems integrator, announced the construction of a new prefabrication facility in Kasson, Minn. The facility is expected to be completed and operational by January 2025.
Recognizing a need to support growth, the 40,000 square foot facility will meet the growing demand of Egan’s electrical prefabrication business and provide additional warehouse space. Egan’s current prefabrication operation is located within its Rochester facility.
“We’re thrilled to be adding to our Southern Minnesota footprint in the growing city of Kasson,” said Brian Harren, Egan Company Vice President of Electrical Engineering. “Kasson’s location provides an ideal hub for our expansion. Many of Egan’s current team members call Kasson and the surrounding communities home, bringing a deep understanding and knowledge of the area to Egan. As Egan grows, we’re looking forward to creating new job opportunities for the area.”
The facility will prefabricate various electrical components, assemblies, and systems that are utilized in many Egan projects throughout the Midwest. Egan has additional offices in Champlin and Rochester, Minn., and a new location in Cary, N.C.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for May 13, 2024.
About Egan Company
Egan Company is a privately-owned, specialty contractor providing building trades to general contractors, engineers, building owners, property managers, and facility engineers. Specialties include: electrical, mechanical, curtainwall/glazing/metal panels (InterClad), millwrights, building technology, controls and system integration, and 24/7 service. Egan serves every stage of a building and provides in-house expertise in planning, design and engineering, construction, and maintenance. For more information about Egan Company, visit www.eganco.com.
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Media Contact:
Angela Schmidt Marketing Communication Manager arschmidt@eganco.com // 763-504-3471
National Women in Construction Week 2024 took place March 3-9. During this week, many organizations held events to share appreciation, celebrate diversity, and facilitate connections in the A/E/C industry. Egan Company employees participated in a number of local events throughout the week, where they grew professionally and took time to appreciate how past generations of women in the industry have opened doors for the current and future workforce.
Personal Safety On and Off the Jobsite
What better way to kick off WIC Week than with a self-defense class? A few Egan leaders learned the art of self-defense at the McGough-hosted safety class where participants learned about personal safety both on and off the jobsite.
Egan Company Employee Recognition
Celebrating the women who make up Egan was top of mind during WIC Week, as we held a lunch and also made personal calls to recognize the efforts and contributions they make every day. Egan also announced the commitment to its new women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) dedicated to supporting and advocating for women at Egan Company and in the industry.
Exploring Pathways to Construction Apprenticeships
The future is bright for women looking to break into a career in the trades! Promoting growth in the industry and opening up pathways for people of all backgrounds to find a career in construction starts with us, those who are here now. Hosted by Women in NECA and Future Leaders, attendees learned about the future of apprenticeships in the industry.
Three-Phase Jobsite Tour and Rosies and Robbies of the Rail Events
Mid-week, Egan employees attended multiple events throughout the Twin Cities. Downtown Minneapolis, Egan met up with the project management team at Kraus-Anderson to take a tour of a three-phase construction project, including the demolition and rebuild of Minneapolis Fire Department No. 1, a low-rise apartment building, and a high-rise apartment building of which Egan’s InterClad team worked.
Then, a few Egan team members attended a collaborative round table event in Hopkins, hosted by Lunda/CS McCrossan. The theme of the discussion was “what works, what doesn’t, what hasn’t been tried yet”. It was a thought-provoking discussion that had the team thinking more about the future of the industry at Egan!
Coffee & Conversation
Wrapping up the week with networking and breakfast at an event hosted by JE Dunn! Egan had the opportunity to connect with some of the great minds in the industry at a delightful networking event, which offered plenty of insights and ideas for us to bring back to our teams.
Creating Opportunities for the Future
Women in Construction Week is designed to celebrate the past while finding ways to improve the future for people of all backgrounds within the construction industry. Women make up approximately 10% of the construction workforce, and by creating more opportunities and opening doors, we can see that number increase and find ways to support women looking to blaze a career for themselves and others.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regularly provides updates to guidelines concerning safe practices and maintenance protocols. Egan Company’s ongoing commitment to safety in all aspects of our work entails reviewing such guidelines and aligning our practices to ensure our people, customers, and equipment is safe and up-to-code.
The new NFPA 70B guidelines outline new requirements for preventative maintenance of electrical, electronic, and communication systems and equipment in various settings. By following these guidelines, Egan can continue to create safe work environments and keep our employees, our customers, and the general public safe.
WHAT ARE THE NFPA 70B REGULATIONS?
The updated NFPA guidelines include updated language, marking a shift from a manufacturer’s recommendation of maintenance to noting an Electrical Maintenance Plan (EMP) is a formal plan facilities shall have in place moving forward. This new verbiage focuses on preventing risks or injuries through regular equipment maintenance, personnel training, and accurate documentation. Egan will begin following these recommendations in our work with customers who are receiving system upgrades and services. Many local and national electrical codes require adherence to 70B guidelines, and Egan is happy to provide further education and assistance in bringing your facility up-to-date.
Program development and implementation: establishing a systematic maintenance program tailored to the specific needs of the facility.
Maintenance procedures: detailed instructions for inspecting, testing, cleaning, lubricating, and repairing various electrical equipment.
Testing and diagnostics: identifying potential problems through electrical testing and diagnostic techniques.
Documentation and recordkeeping: recording maintenance activities and test results for future reference and analysis.
Team training: ensuring the team responsible for electrical equipment maintenance are adequately trained and qualified.
SAFETY FIRST. SAFETY ALWAYS.
Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Egan Company. Our electricians, service technicians, and account managers are keeping up-to-date with the latest safety guidelines from the NFPA and other organizations to ensure that wherever we go, safety follows. Bringing the NFPA 70B guidelines to our customers will help maintain the lifespan of your equipment, the safety of your buildings, and the quality of your facilities and operations. Bring your facility up to NFPA 70B standards and keep your buildings safe and sound. Questions on NFPA 70B or other electrical code requirements? Egan can help!
“Safety first” is more than just a saying at Egan Company. It is a foundational belief that paves the way for great work, successful projects, and most importantly, the health and safety of our team. In 2023, Egan renewed our commitment to safety by prioritizing the core value and putting it first each and every day.
This enhanced focus on safety resulted in our lowest recordable incident rate in Egan history: 1.27 (down from 1.95 in 2022). We are proud to be significantly below the industry average, thanks to the hard work of our employees. This number represents a number of things: the amount of injuries recorded throughout the year, the impact of incidents per hours worked, and of course, the hard work that goes into minimizing risks on the job site and reducing workplace injuries. Achieving a record-low incident rate required a daily commitment by every team and every individual, whether they were working from home, in the office, or on job sites. This number shows that our efforts pay off, and a future with zero workplace incidents is possible.
HOW WE PUT SAFETY FIRST
Every day, Egan employees show up to work dedicated to the task at-hand and the safety of themselves, their colleagues, and their environment. By taking time to put safety first, we were able to do better work and go home safely.
This was done in a number of ways:
Daily Safety Planning – Before beginning work each morning on job sites, our crews participated in Daily Safety Planning, which outlined the day ahead and discussed potential hazards, risks, and considerations for teams to be aware of. Starting the day with a focus on safety helps set the tone and establish expectations on the job site.
Toolbox Talks– Each week, Egan field leaders conduct “Toolbox Talks,” sharing important company updates and messages to their teams. Included in these weekly updates are important safety reminders and focuses, which often center around specific safety tips, equipment handling, or other necessary safety messaging.
Safety Lunches– Hard work does not go unrewarded. Teams who went injury free in a month during 2023 were recognized with a lunch. This helped reinforce our initiatives and reward the efforts made by each team throughout the year.
Safety Absolutes – Through 11 specific messages, Egan has established non-negotiable safety expectations for every employee to follow. These absolutes are guiding principles for how we can ensure safety in everything that we do.
Individual and Team Efforts– Each team member, whether they work in the field, in the office, at home, or anywhere in between, plays a part in creating a safe work environment. We all contribute to a culture of safety and teamwork everywhere we go.
STRIVING FOR ZERO INJURIES
While Egan achieved a record-low incident rate in 2023, our goal is zero injuries. We are continuing to work together to meet that goal and ensure every team member can go home at the end of the work day without injuries or near-misses. Everything adds up on the jobsite and in the office to lead to zero injuries and a safe work environment.
“It’s inspiring to reflect on our achievements throughout 2023,” said Reid Romer, Egan Company Safety Director. “For the past 18 months, we’ve shifted our mindset to integrate safety and risk assessment into how we pursue, plan, and execute work. When we manage our risk well on the front end, the results will follow. The result is a signal that we are building a strong balance between safety, quality, and production. This is important because safety is our leading core value. Our industry and customers are elevating their standards, so leading with safety is necessary to be sustainable. We’re on the cusp of what we’d consider best-in-class performance within our industry. It is the leadership within our organization, from our CEO to field leaders, that contribute to our culture of safety and instill that value in everyone who wears an Egan hard hat.”
Rounding out 2023 with our annual week of giving capped off a great year. Egan’s shareholders connected with local groups, nonprofits, and organizations in December with charitable donations to help positively impact the communities in which we live and work. From children’s hospitals and healthcare facilities to local food banks and everything in between, the following causes were selected by the Egan team as organizations that align with our purpose and values:
State-of-the-art research and treatments are continually being delivered to children facing difficult illnesses. Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Minnesota are there to treat patients and their families through it all. Egan Company chairman of the Board Duane Hendricks and his wife Linda made a personal donation to both of these organizations.
Ending the stigma around mental health and providing resources to the community is at the heart of the mission at Thumbs Up.
Children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses can find a bit of joy and hope when they have a wish granted through the Wishes & More Children’s Wish Foundation.
Check out the great work that these organizations are doing for our communities on their sites!
