UNIT Company's continued success: adapting flexibility, public sector focus.

AuthorJaeger, Stephanie
PositionBUILDING ALASKA SPECIAL SECTION

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Since the recession in 2007, in Alaska, as elsewhere in the U.S., the economic slowdown has caused the loss of many private construction contracts. Anchorage-based UNIT Company has continued to be successful by demonstrating its ability to be flexible, switching its main source of income to large State and government projects. But Unit still does private work such as building and remodeling grocery stores throughout Alaska.

"The economy has slowed down and this has caused a slowdown of private sector contracts," said Michael Fall, president and major shareholder of Unit. "Public sector construction offers a different type of contracting and challenges. The government gives us more time to complete projects, but they are particular about how they want things done. The government holds us to a higher level of scrutiny during construction."

COMPANY STRUCTURE

Derald Schoon founded Unit, a general contracting firm, in 1977. Michael Fall joined the company in 1993, and today leads Unit after Schoon's retirement. Currently employing 25 year-round administrative staff members, Unit is internally structured so many of its year-round staff members have crossover roles and specialties. Estimators work with proposal writers, managers supervise workers and assure quality control, and financial officers work with project managers. In addition, Unit hires many subcontractors and craft workers throughout the construction of its projects. The name "Unit" comes from this cooperation and sharing of roles between the architects, owner, management, labor and subcontractors. Hal Froehle, vice president, works as chief estimator and Melissa Meyers is chief financial officer.

"Unit's relationship with its subcontractors has remained the same over the years," Fall said. "We have really established ones we work with year in and year out. We know the people who operate well and are familiar with the ones who work in Alaska. We are always open to new subcontractors. Occasionally we have to look outside of Alaska for special skills, but most of our subcontractors are local Alaskans."

EVOLVING BUSINESS

Since 2004, Unit's client base has shifted to public institutions such as the Army Corps of Engineers, Anchorage School District and the Alaska Department of Transportation. Unit is a participant in the federal government's Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) program. Under this program, the government puts out a master contract for a...

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