Oakland - PMA Consultants - Alameda County Consultants

PMA’s continued growth in Alameda County and in the East Bay area required a new office to maintain our standard of providing excellent customer service. The new East Bay office is located in downtown Oakland and offers quick access to construction sites and clients and to the homes of PMA employees living in the area. Conveniently located near freeways and public transportation, the PMA Oakland location has earned a reputation for its artistic culture and walkable access to eclectic restaurants and art galleries. Portfolio projects in this region include clients in utilities, transportation, and port sectors.

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Angel Ripepi

Managing Director

Leadership

•Don Fredlund

•Angel Ripepi

PMA People

Learn more about our people and their work.

Angel Ripepi

Q&A with Angel PMA PEOPLE

Don Fredlund

Q&A with Don PMA PEOPLE

Nick Gendron

Q&A with Nick PMA PEOPLE

Ty Vess

Q&A with Ty PMA PEOPLE

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Central Subway

San Francisco, CA

SFO South Field Tenant Relocation

San Francisco, CA

Mel Leong Industrial Waste Treatment Plant

San Francisco, CA

San Joaquin Region Transmission System

San Joaquin County, CA

Harry Tracy Wastewater Treatment Plant

San Bruno, CA

Lower Cherry Aqueduct Fire Damage Repairs

San Joaquin County, CA

Superbay Hangar Fire Suppression System

San Francisco, CA

Facebook Campus Expansion

Redwood City, CA

Orinda Water Treatment Plant Reliability & Maintenance

Orinda, CA

Angel Ripepi

Managing Director, San Francisco

What current projects are you working on?
I am currently working on the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Central Subway project which involves constructing a new lightrail line that will improve public transportation in one the most densely populated neighborhoods in the world. I provide master scheduling services, time extension analyses and negotiations, cost management, and forecast reporting. I also prepare monthly progress reports using Primavera Contract Manager and Primavera P6.

Another major project I’m involved with is the Orinda Water Treatment Plant Reliability and Maintenance project which consists of replacing the existing filter under the drains and disinfection system and installing a redundant power building and other appurtenances, as well as the interior coating of the Orinda wash water tank. I provide construction phase scheduling services which include analyzing the contractor’s construction schedule and evaluating the adequacy of the construction activities and durations; identifying up-front risks, and providing detailed comments. Additionally, I am providing baseline, monthly updates, and change order reviews.

What is your career highlight so far?
Transforming an incomplete and unreliable 65 project P6 database that we inherited from a previous project administrator into a workable and useful resource of information was incredibly challenging in the best way. The effort our team put into the project changed the course of the entire program and was recognized by the client.

What is something new or innovative happening in your industry?
The use of drones and robots in the construction industry is incredible. For example, improvements on the new floor layout robot that can complete a 50,000 sqft floor plan overnight without superintendent/foreman errors are changing the industry at a very fast pace. There are no interpretation errors–just upload the AutoCAD floor plan into the robot and the entire floor will be ready for work by next morning.

What university or college did you graduate from?
I received a bachelor’s degree from Universidad Católica Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela and a master’s degree from University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, CA.

What is your favorite local establishment/feature (restaurant, museum, stadium, etc.)?
I like to eat and San Francisco is a great place for foodies. One of my favorites is Mandalay, a modest, low-key Burmese restaurant recommended by a Burmese friend.

Provide a Fun Fact?
Thursday nights are religiously observed as soccer night for me. I have been playing soccer since I was 7 years old. There was a time I was very serious about it; now I play just to stay in shape and have fun. We can talk soccer any time–just let me know.

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Don Fredlund

Chief Operations Officer, Phoenix

What current project(s) are you working on?
Expert Assignments:
• Claims on 3 separate construction contracts associated with the $2.6B Toronto Spadina Subway Extension Project located in Toronto, CN
• Claim on the $140M JW McCormack Post Office/Courthouse Repair and Alternations Project located in Boston, MA
• Claim on the BP-432 (Pods C and D) Baggage Handling System Expansion Project located in Orlando, FL
• Insurance Claims on the $1B East End Crossing Project located in Indiana/Kentucky
Contract Specifications Upgrade:
• Santa Clara Valley Water District

What is your career highlight so far?
Becoming part of PMA leadership when I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to start our “west coast presence”; I also got involved with corporate matters. That met one of my key career goals and reasons I came to PMA after spending many years working for large contracting firms (i.e., being one of thousands). It gave me much more opportunity to grow professionally in all aspects of management and have a say/control over my career while I helped a small company at the time to grow to what PMA is today.

It’s all about the people one works with and it’s rarely the result of one person’s efforts. That said, I have numerous highlights as an expert where a team of PMA professionals’ technical excellence resulted in a “win” via a ruling by a judge or jury that went the way we saw it, and our client was extremely happy with the result. Perhaps the most notable on a personal note was our firm’s expert work in South Carolina for a major pharmaceutical client that involved over a 2-3 year period and as many as 25 PMA employees flying back and forth to South Carolina from many offices. Testifying in a 100-year-old courthouse in the “south” (velvet curtains and all) was surreal! Plus, we got the ruling we and our client hoped for…can’t beat that. It was a complete and total team effort by many PMA employees who sacrificed a lot personally, a shining moment for PMA, and an opportunity to work with one of the country’s premier construction law firms.

What is something new or innovative happening in your industry?
While this is not so new or innovative relatively speaking in PMA standards, there is a continued trend toward the use of project delivery systems that allow for public and private clients to pick contractors on a qualifications basis or not strictly on price. Being the relationship firm we are and what we have to offer our clients technically, that trend is right up our alley. Throw increased use of and appreciation by some large players in the industry of NetPoint® and GPM® (PMA’s proprietary scheduling software) into that mix and we (meaning PMA, the consultants, contractors, and owners) will all benefit from that in the future.

What university or college did you graduate from?
Michigan Technical University located in Houghton, Michigan, where they only allow in and train technically smart and physically tough engineers as evidenced by PMA’s tendency to hire lots of people from there, including some of its best leaders.

What is your favorite local establishment/feature (restaurant, museum, stadium, etc.)?
I have eaten at so, so many restaurants in the U.S. and a few international spots (e.g., Mexico City and Shanghai, China) over the last 30 years and have flown into/out of every major airport in the U.S. it seems. Impossible to pick a favorite. Now if the question was the most unusual food eaten, that is an easy one. In a nice, quaint, and upscale restaurant just outside of San Francisco, one time I had “pigeon legs.” Yes, we were with a client. The things one does for client relationships. Guess what? It tasted like…wait for it…chicken.”

Fun Fact!
Now that is a good question. My wife of almost 44 years says we really have only been married 22 years because I am gone half of the time. That is technically not true, but one reason I have been married that long is because I have learned not to argue technicalities.

Looking back to the major pharmaceutical client assignment described above, after testifying on the witness stand and in response to some question from the judge, I actually said, “This was fun.” He laughed and gave me a strange look. Go figure.

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Nick Gendron

Senior Associate, San Francisco

What are you passionate about and how do you pursue that passion at PMA?

I am passionate about continuous advancement and positive progress. That drive is expressed in securing new clients, exploring new technologies to help our business, finding new markets, and it is also evident in my personal life. PMA has afforded me the opportunity to come to the Pacific Northwest and create a new business unit. I have also accomplished a lot of personal growth with PMA, moving closer to my family which has inspired me to get healthy and to reach the summit of some of my personal goals.

Who inspires you to push yourself?

My inspiration lately has been from the people around me. I moved to the Pacific Northwest during the pandemic, looking for new opportunities during a challenging time. With the support of the leaders at PMA and my loved ones at home, I have made great connections here, even in a work-from-home situation. I am anticipating pushing forward and finding the right projects and partners for PMA.

What are the most positive aspects of working at PMA?

The most positive thing I have to say about PMA’s culture is the inherent guidance to find what makes each of the employees happy and pursue it. I have said that I wanted to move to the Seattle area and start a new office from day one. With my determination and drive, PMA has stood behind me and supported me in doing just that. As a company, PMA is interested in their employee’s personal growth and fulfillment as much as their own.

What current project(s) are you working on?

I am working to build a strong clientele in the Pacific Northwest and to develop and grow a new office presence in the greater Seattle area.

What is your career highlight so far?

The highlight of my career has been the opportunity to work with my fellow PMAers. In my experiences on the GC side of construction, it is not easy to find such a high volume of decent and highly knowledgeable people. I have not met anyone in PMA that I could tell is “just going through the motions.” It is a great feeling to be a part of a team that has the knowledge, drive, and experience for any situation that I could find myself in professionally, and, even better, they are just a phone call away. I take pride in the fact that I work with such a diverse and well-informed team.

What is something new/innovative happening in your industry?

It has been interesting watching our industry handle the pandemic and adjust while still conducting business and holding networking events. I recently attended a conference virtually and gained a lot of knowledge while also making a few connections with local partners. Construction has done a great job adjusting from afar despite being such a hands-on industry.

What is something you get to do at work every day that you love?

I take the most joy in the feeling of being valued by my team and our clients. Working with clients who value our opinions and expertise is great. Being part of a team that can be open to PMA’s professional perspective makes me love coming to work.

From which university did you graduate?

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in construction management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

What is your favorite local establishment?

I moved to the area during the pandemic and haven’t had a chance to explore all that Seattle and Tacoma have to offer. I will have to get back to you on that!

Provide a fun fact about yourself?

Some of my fellow PMAer’s know that I climbed Mt. Rainier in 2019. I have not been able to get out and do any more climbing during the pandemic, but in 2021 I am planning to re-start my training and climb some of the large glaciated mountains here in the Pacific Northwest to get ready to attempt an ascent of Denali, possibly in a few years.

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Ty Vess

Managing Director, Denver

What current project(s) are you working on?
Currently, I am working on the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) light rail project and Denver International Airport’s Great Hall Project.

What is your career highlight so far?
So far my career highlight has been working in Hawaii on the new light rail project. In addition, everyone I have worked with at PMA has been so very helpful. I love being surrounded by professionals who all have a can-do attitude.

What is something new or innovative happening in your industry (CM or PM related)?
The utilization of Building Information Modeling (BIM) seems to be growing at a very quick pace and is being adopted by more and more clients. This is forcing the engineering and construction fields to embrace it or be left behind.

What was a transformative project or challenge that you did at PMA?
My original assignment on the Hawaii HART project was to work in the Changes and Claims group. The client was short staffed which resulted in my role changing to Resident Engineer for the construction of three transit stations and an interstate off-ramp less than a month after arriving on the island. It was very interesting working with the local contractors and learning the local culture. Did you know that backhoes are referred to as hoptoes? And Mauka (towards the mountain) and Makai (towards the ocean) are directions listed on engineering and construction drawings? The best part was Hawaiian (aka Aloha) shirts were considered formal business attire at work. I didn’t have to tuck my shirt in for almost a year.

Do you get to do something at work every day that you love? If so, what is it?
Currently I am assisting HART with large construction claim disputes which requires a lot of contract research which I oddly find to be interesting. The Denver Airport is also rewarding since we are helping our client maneuver through their first P3 project. This project has also enabled me to start using PMA’s NetPoint scheduling software. Learning new tools is always fun.

From which university did you graduate?
I earned my MBA at Regis University in Denver, Colorado in 2006 and my undergraduate degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in 1994.

What is your favorite local establishment/feature (restaurant, museum, stadium, etc.)?
My favorite is the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Every show is amazing due to the acoustics from the surrounding red sandstone formations (aka Red Rocks), the vibrant energy, and the rather spectacular views. I consider it mandatory to see at least one or two concerts there per year, preferably more.

Provide a fun fact about yourself?
I am an avid SCUBA diver who becomes grouchy if left to dry out for an extended period of time. Our family (my wife and two sons) were all certified at the same time and have been diving together ever since. My wife and I continued our training to become Dive Masters and have been lucky enough to dive all over the world. The Hawaii assignment helped with that.

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