The Washington Construction News APRIL 2004 PAGE B7

At J.E. Richards Electrical Construction& Services, Teamwork is Key

J. E. Richards, Inc., is a 320-employee,Beltsville, Md.- based electrical construc-tion and services firm serving WashingtonD.C., Baltimore, and northern Virginia.President Joe Richards explains that itbegan as a one-man operation. We wereincorporated on Feb. 1, 1983 as RichardsElectric. We soon found out that there wasalready a Richard Electric, RichardsonElectric, and a Richards Group ofWashington in the DC area and I beganreceiving material invoices for these com-panies,” laughs Richards, “ so we decidedto trade as J. E. Richards Electric.”

J. E. Richards, a 2003 recipient of aWashington Building Congress ElectricalCraftsmanship Award, boasts a list of corecompetencies that includes but is not lim-ited to: fire alarm, life safety, and securitysystems, uninterruptible power supplies(UPS), building energy management sys-tems, and commercial switchgear andgeneration. Richards says, “We’re notshut out of any job. There’s nothing tootechnical, too big or too small that wecan’t do. We’re available to do anythingthat our customers send our way.”

One area where J. E. Richards distin-guishes itself from its competitors is inthe electrical installation of biotech facili-ties such as Human Genome,Therrimmune, Covance, andMedimmune. J. E. Richards’s websitestates that the firm “specializes in the con-struction of biopharmaceutical, healthcare, related laboratory andcommercial/industrial facilities.” J.E.Richards lists Children’s Hospital,Columbia Hospital, George WashingtonUniversity Medical Center, WashingtonHospital Center, Providence Hospital,Sibley Memorial Hospital, NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH), InternationalMonetary Fund and the SmithsonianInstitution among its distinguished clients.

Despite annual sales of $39.4 millionin 2003 (up from $33.9 million in 2002)and a workforce 320-strong (up from anaverage of 260), Richards maintains,

“We’re a small company; mean we’re bigfor electrical but small.” Still, being clas-sified as small suits Joe Richards just fine.He feels that adaptability and flexibilityare important components to the successof J. E. Richards “It’s important to havegrowth so our people have the opportuni-ty for advancement; however, our growthis dependent on the local economy. If thelocal economy takes a nosedive and weare not growing, it feels like we are dying.Then it is better to shrink quickly until wecan start growing again. “

Being a small company but a largeelectrical company also gives J.E.Richards the opportunity to subcontractwith some very well-known general con-tractors, and, at the same time, contributeto some of the major development proj-ects in the D.C. metro area. Some of thefirm’s largest clients include Brown &Root, Clark Construction Group, Inc.,HITT Contracting, James G. DavisConstruction, the National Gallery of Art,Spaulding & Slye, and TompkinsConstruction.

HITT Contracting, Inc. looked to J. E.Richards during its major renovation ofthe historic eight-story Hay Adams Hotel

in the swanky Lafayette Square section ofdowntown Washington, D.C., and again in2003, when HITT put a team together tobuild the Medimmune biotech facility.

James G. Davis ConstructionCorporation enlisted the services of J. E.Richards to assist in the renovation of theMadison Hotel, which, located at the cor-ner of 15th and M Streets, lies in the heartof downtown Washington D.C. Richardsis also the electrical expertise behindDavis’s 2004 construction of theDiscovery Channel Data Center, which islocated in Sterling, Va.

Whiting-Turner is using the expertiseof J.E. Richards as it builds the RiggsAlumni Center, and Clark ConstructionGroup relies on J. E Richards as it buildsthe Kim Engineering Building, both ofwhich are on the campus of the Universityof Maryland, College Park.

In response to a question about a 2004report in Power Outlet magazine thatstates that the electrical industry is operat-ing at a dangerously low level of skilledelectricians and that an electrician short-age should continue through 2008, JoeRichards agrees, “Skilled electricians arehard to come by.”

Despite the report’s findings, Richardsremains positive and confident. “I havewhat we need,” he says, “but do notexpect to continue rapid growth as wesaw in 1999 through 2003.”

J. E. Richards understands that safetyis a critical issue on construction sites,and that a safe workplace, for many com-panies, could mean the differencebetween windfall and financial ruin.Safety is extremely important. With thatin mind, Joe Richards has no probleminvesting in the safety of his employeesand workplace to avoid unfortunate acci-dents. Chad Bittick, the J.E. Richardssafety officer, is actively seeking to keepsafety a top priority to ensure that J.E.Richards’s jobsites are as safe as they canbe. “Chad goes to new training seminarsevery quarter at Xcelecom headquarters inConnecticut. He’ll learn new safety tech-niques and come back and convey them tothe rest of the employees,” says Richards.

One concept not lost on Richards isthat training and experience are para-mount to the future success of J.E.Richards. Richards understands theimportance of surrounding himself withgood people who possess valuable skills,

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The Washington Construction NewsAPRIL 2004PAGE B8

and he is confident thatupon his retirement,although not slated to hap-pen anytime soon, J.E.Richards will be in goodhands. “I have two vicepresidents. One is EdMcCarty who is the seniorvice president. I’ve workedwith Ed since he was 19years old, and he’s been mysecond-in-command since1987,” says Richards.“And the other, DeanFleming, has been with mesince 1998 and has been inthe industry since 1976.

Our chief estimator, DannyLittleford, has been with usfor 20 years. He came twoweeks out of school andknows our operation fromtop to bottom.”

But the training andexperience so characteristicof J.E. Richards’s leader-ship does not end with thetop brass. “I would ventureto say that we have morethan 50 employees withmore than 10 years of serv-ice with us. And severalhave over 15 years ofemployment. I’ve got a lotof the same guys that havebeen here since the early1980s.” Richards adds,“Most of our foremen havecompleted five years ofapprenticeship with Local26 IBEW. We encourage

continuing education forelectricians and gladly payfor anybody who wants totake classes.”

Richards attributes hiswell-trained, competentemployees to the efforts ofthe IBEW Washington,D.C. local 26. He says,“The local union offerscourses continuously. Fortheir part, they have onething to sell the electricalcontractors: well-trainedlabor. They do this verywell and we are proud to beassociated with them.

J. E. Richards’s smallsize is, in part, what makesit such a great place towork. The relaxed atmos-phere and the even-keelednature of Richards con-tribute to overall workplace

satisfaction. “If we haveoffice grievances, employ-ees just come to me.Anybody can come in hereand talk about anything,”says Richards. “ I don’teven have my phone callsscreened.”

Richards also under-stands the necessity of effi-ciency in trying to providecustomers with the bestpossible and most cost-effi-

cient end result. He says,“We at J.E. Richards wantto be known for our quality,for our fairness and for ourability to do anything ourcustomers need done, andfor completing our work ontime. Equally important,”Richards stresses, “is theidea of teamwork on thejobsite. Any project wework on, we want to be partof a team, and work togeth-

er toward the commongoals.

With such a passionateavowal, it is clear that J.E.Richards has in place thecomponents to realize thesebasic business principleswell into the future.

For more informationvisit J.E. Richards online atwww.jerichards.com orphone (301) 345-1300.

J.E.RichardsContinued from page B7––––––––––––––––––––––

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