Jack Weir manages a warehouse property on the outskirts of Portland for its owner. The warehouse needed an addition and a facelift; rather then put the project out to bid, Weir hired PATCO. It was his first time working with PATCO, but they had come highly recommended from Tom Dunham and Greg Hastings, brokers at The Dunham Group.

It was an interesting project from the get-go. After conducting a soil test, the crew learned that the building site, located in a Portland industrial park with a marshy area, had a big layer of clay that needed to be addressed before the project could start. PATCO and Weir were ready for problems to arise, and the soil issue was no big surprise. So, they loaded the site with three feet of gravel and waited over three months for it to compress the ground. It was after they removed the gravel that they discovered another problem – a stump dump full, or buried wood debris and tree stumps. This was a big deal and required a change order as well as  expensive mitigation. Through it all, Weir was impressed with how the PATCO team communicated and handled the unforeseen issues. “They were very upfront in their communication and didn’t hide in the numbers,” shares Weir, appreciative of PATCO’s transparency and problem solving. Once the stump dump was cleared, the project was able to move forward as planned.

This project involved building a 14,000 sq.ft. addition to the existing 30,000 sq.ft. single-story warehouse. The original building also got all new metal siding so it would have a cohesive look with the addition. Through the entirety of the project, PATCO created an environment where teamwork could thrive, and worked closely with the design teams at Gorrill Palmer at Summit Engineering. Weir was also impressed by the “stable” of subs PATCO maintained who they could count on to help complete the project. “We had high expectations for PATCO because we knew they did good work, “ shares Weir. “I’m proud of the building. It looks really nice now. I’m also really proud of the team and the relationship we built. I consider the team at PATCO friends now.” It’s true that PATCO works just as hard to build good relationships as it does to build good projects. For this project, PATCO is finalizing the finishes for the building with its new tenant – Botto’s Bakery. As Weir says, “Everyone is happy.”

 

PATCO Employee Spotlight

Cheri Emmons, Administrative Assistant

After working as an Emergency Dispatcher for 23 years, Cheri was looking for something different. Executive Vice President Jon Bell reached out to her because he thought she would be a good fit for PATCO. Cheri joined PATCO in 2022 and hasn’t looked back!

 

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Massachusetts and went to Bay State College in Boston. I moved to Maine in 1999.

 

What is the best part of your job?

The people I work with every day. Everyone is friendly, kind, and fun. We have a lot of fun together, but we get the work done. We’re a great team.

 

What is a typical day like for you?

I’m doing whatever comes up: proposals, contracts, billing and then special projects as needed, like Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manuals and Operations Manuals. 

 

You work in the PATCO office – what’s on your desk?

I have crystals and oils on my desk, and turtles…they help me to think and relax! I also have tarot cards. The guys like to make fun of me; if I don’t know something they’ll say, “Why wasn’t that in the cards?”

 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I hang out with my husband. We like to travel. We traveled a lot last year; we went to the Bahamas, Tennessee, Florida, and we took a cruise in the western Caribbean. I love to get away and sit on the beach or by the pool. I often read personal development books or listen to podcasts; it’s good to fill your mind with ideas that motivate you.

I also enjoy doing crafty stuff with furniture. Right now I’m working on a bureau that I’m going to turn into an island for my kitchen after I paint the legs and put a new top on it.