The Mystery of the Missing Workers

Seems that we are not the only ones feeling this pinch in our efforts to attract talent. In the recent article “The Mystery of the Missing Workers” from Barron’s, there sure seems to be some credence to this. Having spoken with many of you recently on this very topic, I know it is at or near the top of your lists of concerns.

Specific to our industry and region, there seems to be a recurring pain in trying to hire mid-level talent – those with 5-10 years experience in the real estate and construction fields. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the cause of this dearth of talent. The lack of hiring, training and experience in this experience level can mostly be attributed to the results of the post Lehman Brothers era induced recession.

Yes, this upturn in demand for our services translates into somewhat increased margins, (or potential for them) but if we cannot perform to the level at which our clients demand and deserve, then it exacts a great long term cost to our business in terms of sullied reputation and lack of willingness for clients to repeat with us. Something NONE of us can afford or allow.

Here at Himes Associates, Ltd. we have to cast a wide net and constantly be on the lookout for new talent. Being busy is a GOOD thing in this rising (albeit moderately) market. It seems we are constantly running ads on LinkedIn, Indeed, and various industry / association boards. And in several markets concurrently.

Just thought I would share this, since many of you feel the same thing…..  So if you know of any great talent in project management, real estate development in the commercial and mission critical sectors send them our way ! If of course you have not snagged them first !

Hope that 2015 continues at this pace…. Being busy sure feels good !

Paul

Johnny Come Lately to the Data Center Dance

http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/2014/07/14/12-million-plan-lure-data-centers-montgomery-county/

Thunderstruck. Floored. Maryland (who?) announces they are trying to woo data centers. Better take a sip of coffee or I will faint.

Now I am from Maryland. Born and raised. Love Baltimore and the State of Maryland. To visit. As a place to do business, Maryland has historically lagged Virginia as a business hub. Geographically close, the two states border each other but seem to be different planets. Drive through Northern Virginia and witness the energetic hubs of Tysons Corner replete with corporate HQ; Reston with its mixed use developments; and the mecca of Reston Town Center These all lead out to one of wonders of the tech world, the center of harmonic convergence in the data center world, Ashburn. Drive through Maryland and see, well, strip malls. And the occasional office building.

Now I applaud Maryland for even trying here. And this is GREAT news for ByteGrid who has to compete with Prince William County’s aggressive courting of high tech firms, Buddy Rizer of Loudoun County and the formidable Martin Briley from the State of Va EDA. More depth to their excellent offerings.

This move should especially hearten brokers who will add this to their arsenal of financial weaponry and wizardry to lure folks to Ashburn and PW County.

As I have been saying for years to people asking how to get into the data center game, you have to be deeply committed, in it for the long haul and be willing to stake your capital and reputation.

Good luck Maryland. I want you to succeed and I applaud your coming to the dance, albeit late

DICE Conference 2014

DICE Conference 2014

Great event hosted by Bisnow for DICE last week!

A Conference Call In Real Life

The Team at Himes Associates, Ltd. couldn’t stop laughing at this video. Is this how your conference calls are?

Re-inventing Firms in a Down-Sloping Market

By: Paul E. Himes

Yesterday, my good friend and prominent businessman, Jim Cahill and I had an hour long conversation  about “re-inventing” our firms in this sideways and down-sloping commercial real estate  market. The turbulence and unpredictability of course, comes courtesy of dynamic (some say destructive) capitalism. It is the ability to think DIFFERENTLY and to view things differently that enables us to formulate game winning strategies, the insight to “zig” when others “zag”, and like a good battlefield general, to know when to charge and when to pull back.

Primarily it is the “How do I differentiate myself?” question that we, as business people, need answered. For you see, our clientele, our customers, are NOT going to take the time to view us differently, or to use any sort of divinator when viewing us. It is us who must present, front and center, that difference. Place the lens in front of their eye, as it were, and FORCE them to view you as you would want them to view you.

“How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci” was a great read. It taught me a lot, including to start using my left brain more. My left hand is my off hand since I am right handed.  To this day, years later, I have to continually work at this. Surfing and researching today I ran across this article in Inc. Magazine that struck me a a great distillation of the book in some easy points.

The Italian master had skill and great ideas, but he also had something else: the ability to look at the world around him differently. And Michael Gelb, being a pretty brilliant guy himself, uses DaVinci himself as an easel to paint to you how to think like Leo.

Applying this to my conversation yesterday spawned these thoughts:

Do you look, walk, act and sound too much like your closest competitors? Do SOMETHING about it. Change your viewpoint and start looking at the issue / your firm / your job / your life DIFFERENTLY. So what would Leonardo do? (A new bumper sticker in the making here – WWLD?) Do these: (or other creative ideas)

• Sharpen your market offering  – focus and dig into specialty niche or sub-niche markets.
• Everyone in your firm dress in blue suits, white shirts and ties? (ATTENTION: Lawyers and brokers) Do as our Mobil client did when they re-made themselves years ago – BAN the ties.
• Change your pricing model. I often admired the guarantee of client satisfaction sometimes offered by the Staubach Company . 100% guaranteed. In the clients sole discretion.
• Everyone using PowerPoint? Ditch it and bring an easel with a blank piece of paper and some markers. Start writing down what the CLIENT says. Which of course is what counts anyway.

And for the must have “wax on, wax off” balance and counterpoint – what should you NOT do as a so called “differentiator”? Some thoughts –

• Offer yet another incremental copy cat offerings – ANOTHER dashboard of metrics? PUH-LEEEEZE
• Add more dots to the maps of locations. YAWN. Ever heard of the internet? Mobile devices? I can be anywhere in this country in 6 hours
• Add yet another service offering as an extension of your services. WOW ! Soon we will have firms that do EVERYTHING providing services to companies who outsource it all and do NOTHING.

These are easy thoughts and ideas. Getting more specific as to your particular situation is difficult. Intrigued enough to read the book? Get it here.

From that little company who saw things differently and differentiated themselves. Amazon.

 

Please Welcome John Tribble to the HAL Team!

Please join Himes Associates, Ltd. in welcoming John Tribble, our new Senior Project Manager to the team!

After a long, grueling search, we are happy to bring John on-board as an outstanding addition to our Mission Critical team.   John has over 30 years of experience in the mission critical space working on Data Centers, Tenant fit-outs, commercial, and federal projects ranging in worth from $1.5 million, to $500 million.

John’s expertise lies in the mission critical space. Specifically, John has managed data center projects up to 50,000 SF and 12 MW, and commercial space of over 70 million SF. His experience dealing with the complexity of data centers will bring  great value to the Himes team. In the past 2 months alone, Himes Associates, Ltd. has acquired over six data center/mission critical projects. With Himes’ dedication to quality service, and attention to detail, it was imperative to add a team member whose skills and experience match our quality of service. Currently, John is working with an important client on a data center in Denver, CO.

With that being said, Himes Associates, Ltd. is thrilled to welcome John Tribble to our team! We look forward to seeing John’s success here at Himes. 

Experts speak about Design-Build at Bisnow’s DICE Event

Last week, Paul Himes moderated at Bisnow’s Data Center Investment Conference and Expo (DICE) at DC’s J.W. Marriott. Check out the full list of Bisnow DICE speakers!

Paul Himes and Kevin Brightwell

Paul Himes from Himes Associates spoke about the controversial topic of the Design-Build  model. Other speakers on the panel included, Kevin Brightwell, KTA Group, Brian Brezovsky, DPR Construction, Ben Stewart, Verizon Teremark, and James Sauvageau, ESD.

The best thing about this panel, aside from the constant witty banter, was that each speaker came armed with the view of their respective backgrounds: General Contractors, A/E firms, Owner’s Reps. This of course made for an interesting and truthfully comical 45 minutes of meaty dialogue for the audience.

The DB model has many positive aspects; it is collaborative, and saves the owner both time and money by preventing constant back and forth between A/E firms and GC’s. It seems so simple, doesn’t it? Yet somehow, information always seems gets lost in translation. It seems to me that nothing would be more logical and productive  than having every important player at one round table making quick decisions. Ben Stewart from Teremark made the best point that everyone should to take home. Yes, the DB model has some pitfalls and can be a bit more time consuming, but consider the other option. A traditional design-bid-build model is just outdated.

It’s all about managing expectations on all ends of the spectrum. From the scope of work, to who (GC or A/E) will act as the lead throughout the project.The DB model has been around long enough now that it’s time for the masters to master it!

“Remember that the six most expensive words in business are: ‘We’ve always done it that way.'” -– Catherine DeVrye 

The Panel

Paul Himes, Kevin Brightwell, and Ben Stewart

Staying Resilient in Corporate Real Estate–A look back at the event that can show you how

Last week, CoreNet hosted the Eastern Regional Symposium (ERS), which is held each year for the benefit of Commercial Real Estate Executives. Paul Himes and Karen Fields from Himes Associates were main components to the Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s success. If you were not one of the 400+ attendees at the ERS, read on! It’s imperative to know what’s happening in your industry, and I’ve got the inside scoop. 

Held at The University of Pennsylvania for two days, the ERS is a centralized forum for Commercial Real Estate professionals to network and partake in break-out sessions where the most well-known figures in the industry discuss past experiences and future concerns.

This years overarching topic: Resource Strategies for Resilient Corporate Real Estate Portfolios. That’s quite a title. So, how was this arbitrary statement broken down for the ears of ERS’ 400+ attendees?

Himes Associates was intrinsically involved in three breakout sessions entitled:

1. Contingency Planning
2. The New Location Paradigm
3. Building Better, Building Bolder

Relating these titles back to Resilient Corporate Real Estate Portfolios is starting to make sense now, right? Let’s take a closer look.

1. Contingency Planning: Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, the Oklahoma Tornado; these are just a few natural disasters that have had devastating effects on the U.S. in recent history. Although these natural disasters are few and far between, they will only continue to worsen and adversely affect our industry.

Just as hurricane victims  seek to build stronger homes in reaction to their devastation, CRE will undoubtedly be looking to make their business as resilient and long lasting as humanly possible.

Speaking of humans, contingency planning experts suggest that it is vital to create and implement a contingency plan in the case of an unforeseen event. Here’s how:

Top 10 Recommended Contracts To Have “In Place”

1. Disaster cleanup and restoration services
2. Plumbing services (including large pumps)
3. Electrical services (manpower and equipment)
4. Generator services
5. HVAC services (A/C equipment and controls)
6. Communications (radio, cell, Blackberry & phone)
7. Food & accommodations (cots, showers, hotel rooms)
8. Fuel oil supplies
9. Demo Contractor
10. Security services

Remaining resilient in the ever-changing environment of the twenty-first century takes more than a speedy emergency plan. Infrastructure must be not only look outstanding, but must also be innovative and therefore adaptive to the curve-balls, fastballs, and change-ups thrown by our economy and nature alike. So what do we do? We build better; we build bolder.

2. Building Better, Building Bolder: This discussion mirrors its title. It’s essential to recognize what buildings are developed, but also why they are built that way. The major construction of Capitol One’s Headquarters in Tyson’s Corner, VA was a big talking point. Capitol One is a major player in creating the Tyson’s culture.

If you’re not familiar with Tyson’s, it is a somewhat controversial location in Northern Virginia. It’s not Washington D.C. (really, it’s not), but it’s not Virginia. It’s NOVA, an accumulation of business and living. It’s sort of like a mini corporate Disney World where you can make and spend all of your money within a 3 mile radius. CRE is undoubtedly a driving factor behind the success of Tyson’s Corner.

Capital One’s Barry Mark said it best:

“The story of Capital One’s rezoning and new Headquarters building is a lesson on the importance of involvement and resiliency in the face of a changing urban planning environment.  Those companies which actively engage with local government agencies and neighboring companies and citizens will be the beneficiaries of the changes that will be produced in that environment”

In other words, leaders like Capitol One built boldly, and will reap the benefits of their risk. They’re not only creating a building, they are creating a culture and environment that others are likely to follow. If you build it, they will come. To learn more about Capitol One and Tyson’s. Check out this article in The Washington Post.

Last but certainly not least was the discussion where Paul Himes Moderated.

3. The New Location Paradigm- The focus of this discussion was on “Mission Critical” Facilities, a large part of the work done by Himes Associates. A Mission Critical Facility is any facility that plays a critical role in delivering primary business activities. My biggest takeaway from the panel is that a Mission Critical facility requires acute attention, but is entirely dependent on the company’s industry. It wouldn’t make too much sense for Coca Cola to create their best contingency plan for a Data Center in Ashburn, right?  These are all factors to take into consideration when choosing Mission Critical Facilities.

According to Jack Funchion from Digital Realty Trust, DLR owns over 122 data centers across 10 countries and 4 continents. The number will only continue to grow as businesses become more and more technologically dependent. The decision making process as to where to place these facilities should be strategic. Check out some more Digital Realty locations to get a better look.

• Mission Critical Factors to consider in location strategy
  • A strong contingency plan is critical for each mission critical location
  • Elements of the contingency plan will vary significantly based on type
  • Third party providers can play a critical role in viable contingency plans
• Recommended Steps
  • Ensure you have consensus around which are your mission critical facilities
  • Take the lead in forming a cross functional team to vet contingency plans
  • Set up a process to review contingency plans on a regular basis
  • Avoid complacency with regard to mission critical facilities

And so we come full circle. Employing all three of these strategies in tandem is the key to becoming an industry professional like Paul Himes, Matt Fanoe, Jack Funchion, or Dan Radilla. Consider your options, be thoughtful in your decision-making, and be bold!

It’s easy to get caught up in the monotony of your daily work. Don’t forget to take a look at the big picture of your industry. Whether you’re the CEO of a brokerage firm, or a Sales Rep for a battery company, it is imperative to be able to understand, better yet, predict the climate of your industry, or lets face it — you’ll end up left in the cold.

Karen Fields and Julie Morris attend CRE 2020 Program

Last week, Karen Fields and Julie Morris attended the CoreNet Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s education program focused on CoreNet Global’s year-long Corporate Real Estate 2020 project.  The goal of the initiative was to take an in-depth look at the state of Corporate Real Estate and examine a wide range of external and macro-economic, societal, political and other influences, triangulating these drivers against trends affecting the globally networked enterprise and CRE itself.  The project brought together hundreds of CRE global thought leaders who were tasked with analyzing the industry’s current and future state.  The study included interviews with more than 150 CRE executives, service providers and economic developers.

From left to right: Janise Nichols, Tenant Logistics Manager for GSA; Eric Thorpe, Managing Partner for Terra Novo Partners; Sheryl Etelson, Strategic Facility Planner for Lockheed Martin

The program was kicked off by Janise Nichols, Tenant Logistics Manager for GSA.  Janise provided an introduction to the 2020 study and gave an overview of the study’s major findings.  Chief among her discussion was a look at the eight industry domains, including Enterprise Leadership, Location Strategy and the Role of Place, Portfolio Optimization and Asset Management, Service Delivery and Outsourcing, Sustainability, Technology Tools, Workplace and Partnering with Key Support Functions.

The program next moved to Eric Thorpe, Managing Partner for Terra Novo Partners.  Eric, who was a participant in the 2020 study, focused on one of the identified industry domains – Enterprise Leadership.  His discussion included an in-depth look at some of the statics that were revealed by the 2020 study which included how CREs are perceived in the C-suite and how quantifiable data and metrics (or lack there-of) effect CREs integration into the C-suite.  His discussion ended with a look at the “Productivity and Innovation Equation” which, simply stated is – Engagement x Tools x Workplace =Productivity Innovation.

Next, we moved to Sheryl Etelson, Strategic Facility Planner for Lockheed Martin.  Sheryl, another participant in the 2020 study, focused on one of the other industry domains – Partnering with Key Support Functions.  Sheryl’s presentation included an introduction to the concept of the “Super Nucleus” – a business model that includes the integration of an organization’s key leadership functions – HR, IT, Finance AND CRE.  Her discussion specifically looked at the opportunities and challenges that CRE face when it comes to forming a “Super Nucleus.”  Additionally, Sheryl discussed some of the benefits that can be derived from implementing a “Super Nucleus” which was supported by a case study from The Proctor & Gamble Co.

The program concluded with a group discussion of the study’s findings and opinions on what the future of CRE could look like and the bold assertion that “If we wait until 2020, it’ll be too late.”  Some of the topics discussed included: How can CRE drive initiatives?  How can we better demonstrate CRE’s value to an organization?  Where is CRE succeeding as well as were are we falling short?

Interested in learning more?  Click the link below to check out the presentation, courtesy of the CoreNet Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

Mid Atlantic Chapter CRE 2020 Presentation

Himes Associates, Ltd. Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Fairfax, Virginia, September 12, 2012 – This October, Himes Associates, Ltd., an industry-leading owner’s representation services provider, will celebrate the firm’s 30-year anniversary of providing comprehensive project management, real estate consulting, development management and relocation management services to some of the most notable Fortune 1000 corporations.

Founded in 1982 by Paul Himes, the firm was established as the first third-party project management, construction management and construction consulting firm in the Washington DC metropolitan area. With over $4 billion worth of managed projects under their belt, the firm has maintained a strong presence in both the DC metro and national real estate market and has been instrumental in delivering a countless number of projects on time and in budget. The firm’s expertise in managing complex design and construction projects has garnered Himes a reputation for being the go-to firm for mission critical and large commercial office building projects.

Himes Associates, Ltd. looks forward to not only celebrating 30 consecutive years in operation, but also the opportunity to reflect on some of the firm’s biggest milestones. From their first project over 1 million square feet in 1996 to the establishment of the Project Management Alliance (PMA) in 2002, the firm is proud to have had so many achievements and looks forward to continuing to strive to provide the highest quality management services possible to the real estate and facility user communities.