CD Barnes Construction

As CFO of CD Barnes Construction for the past 20 years, DavidDave Smith Smith is responsible for all areas of the company’s finances and information systems including financial analysis and management, costing analysis, information systems, risk management, and financial management of all projects. Dave has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Ferris State University and his Professional and Construction CE from the Fails Management Institute.

As the Director of Client Services at CD Barnes Construction, Kirt Ojala is responsible for walking clients through the entire construction process. From concept to completion, Kirt assists with the recommendation of engineering, architectural, geotechnical, and environmental consultants, property acquisition, obtaining permits, and determining finishes. Prior to Kirt joining our team in 2014, he spent twelve years working as the regional director of leasing at the Hinman Company. Kirt received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan.

As Executive Vice President of CD Barnes Construction, Tom is responsible for both the business and operational direction of the company. Tom served in the Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003 which helped him build a strong work ethic, leadership skills, and the ability to multi-task via a precise organizational system. He is responsible for overseeing the operations of the company both in the field and the office. Tom maintains open lines of communication with all staff and clients to ensure accessibility whenever needed. He is responsible for contract negotiations, operations management, and quality control.

Todd Oosting has spent the last 25 years at CD Barnes Construction overseeing contract negotiations, land acquisition, consulting, property management, business development, and marketing programs. He is also in charge of overseeing the company’s growth strategies. Todd has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management from Albion College and a Certification in Plans and Specifications from the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.

Trevor leads our Business Development Team at CD Barnes and has experience in project management, commercial real estate, development, and finance among various industries. Trevor’s diverse background is a proven asset that he relies on to proactively lead projects from conception to reality. He has great insight to design, construction, project flow, development, and financing/leasing options. Trevor is responsible for walking clients through selecting an architect, design, and site, understanding entitlements, securing permits and financing, and preconstruction.

CD Barnes’ pre-construction services team is led by Mr. Mike Balke. With over thirty years in the construction industry Mr. Balke is knowledgeable in the discernment and delivery of client needs. As the leader of pre-construction services, his job is to plan, coordinate and manage the project from conception to the start of construction in a way that not only meets the needs of the project owner, but does so functionally and financially.

CD Barnes Construction’s main objective during the pre-construction phase is risk mitigation for the project. Our goal is to eliminate any unpleasant surprises that could otherwise come to light during the construction process. Like the old adage states, “measure twice, cut once” – the more thorough we are in planning, the smoother the construction process will be.

By using a detailed pre-construction services plan, CD Barnes Construction is able to provide better plans and specifications, fewer cost changes, a better understanding of construction schedule and sequencing, and fewer “headaches” for all involved.

A systematic pre-construction services plan entails:

Review of Drawings and Project Specifications: Mike will begin the pre-construction process by reviewing the drawings and specifications; this will be an opportunity for him to assist the team with design decisions and evaluate the drawings for constructability and feasibility.

Master Schedule Development: Mike will guide the team in creating a realistic timeline with critical path deadlines and long lead time items to ensure the project’s on-time delivery. Part of his job will be to determine the availability of staff, materials, supplies and other resources needed to complete the project.

Estimating and Value Analysis: Mike will develop a detailed estimate of the project. He will review the documents for value engineering opportunities and assist the owner in making informed decisions regarding building materials, upfront costs and life-cycle costs.

Pre-Qualification of Sub-Contractors: Drawing on his over thirty years of experience, Mike will determine the best list of sub-contractors to solicit for the project. Selection will be based on relevant experience, ability to staff the project and maintain schedules, financial strength and safety record.

Determine Bid Packages and Solicit Competitive Numbers: Our team will solicit competitive bids upon completion of construction documents and determination of bid packages. We are confident in guaranteeing you multiple bids from each major division. We will inform the subcontractors after bid packages have been determined, and when appropriate, make the documents available at the plan rooms. We will utilize every tool available to ensure the best subcontractors at the best prices are selected for your project.

Analyze Bids: Mike will prepare a bid-evaluation sheet for each trade line item.

Post Bid Interview: As necessary, the pre-construction services team will perform post bid interviews with any subcontractors who we may not be familiar with; we will call their references and ensure they are capable to completing the job on-time, on-budget and to our standards.

Recommend Award: Mike will issue a “Recommended Award” letter for each subcontractor.

The job of pre-construction services is to mitigate risk and ensure the project runs smoothly. Planning on the front end is key for successful project completion. A solid pre-construction plan ensures successful project completion!