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The recipe for this family's specialty has been handed down from generation to generation. The specialty is building water and wastewater treatment plants. The key
ingredients include Filanc brothers Mark, who is executive vice president and runs its field operations, and Peter, who is president and CEO of the business. Their father Jack, who founded the company 46 years ago, is still active as chairman of the board.
For over 46 years, J. R. Filanc Construction Co. Inc., has built more than 200 water and wastewater treatment plants in Southern California alone, including a dozen
design–build projects. Peter Filanc's goal is to help make design–build a viable alternative for public works projects. According to Filanc, "getting objective
design–build information into the hands of owners, public agencies, engineers and contractors, should enhance the public works design–build process for everyone."
Enhancing a project is just what happened when Filanc Construction teamed with an environmental design firm to build a Reclamation Facility for the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA). The two companies shared a mutual trust with each other, and the engineering firm was receptive to the input and ideas of Filanc. These attitudes played a large part in the success of the project.
According to Filanc, "a design–build project forces the partners to think through each design very clearly and make sure every issue is addressed. The result is greater efficiency and more quality control." There is an emphasis on partnering, brainstorming and teamwork. Reviews provide critical input to the design and result in a smooth transition from beginning to end.
The WRCRWA project is testimony to why design–build is growing so rapidly. This growth is why contractors, now more responsible for design and design delegation, are realizing the need for professional liability insurance. According to Cathy Final, CFO for J. R. Filanc Construction, "emerging opportunities in design–build bring added responsibilities to the contractor. We looked for a partner to share this high–end exposure. After examining several programs, our broker, John Burnham & Company, recommended CNA/Schinnerer's combined program of professional and pollution liability for the quality of the coverage and the reputation of the program."
Randy Williams, a principal of Burham agrees. "We looked at packages, examined the coverages, and found that the CNA/Schinnerer package was more tailored to the types of projects Filanc works on. Their program also does the best job of minimizing the overlap of coverage with Filanc's general liability policy."
For more information on Filanc, call Cathy Final at 760-941-7130. To talk with Randy, or one of the other agents at John Burnham of San Diego, call 619-231-1010. For more information on the Contractors Program from CNA/Schinnerer, call Eugene Todaro at 301-961-9828.
This information is provided by Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. as the program administrator for the CNA Professional Liability Insurance Policy for Design Professionals. The CNA/Schinnerer Program is the Commended Program of The American Institute of Architects and the National Society of Professional Engineers.
In each issue of Constructive Comments we answer questions on important contractor issues. Do you have a question you would like answered? Please submit all questions to: Attention: Constructive Comments, at info@schinnerer.com or fax to 301-951-5444.
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