RBC project coordinator to play big role

RBC I Feeling there has been little progress in the recent past, even on small projects, the Rio Blanco County Commissioners are looking forward to the work to be done by new county project coordinator Eric Jacquez, who has started work at the newly created job.
“We have had a lot of projects under way for quite a while and we have a lot of projects coming up,” county commission chairman Shawn Bolton said. “Our expectations are very high; Eric is perhaps a 9 out of 10 find — and possibly a 10.
“We were really lucky to fund Eric,” Bolton said. “He has been on the job for very few days and already has a couple of the smaller projects completed.”
Jacquez (pronounced Hawk-ez) comes to Rio Blanco County from the Fleur Corp. in Denver, where he was construction engineer from 2011 to the present.
He was construction engineer most notably on the $1.3 billion RTD Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project and project lead schedule engineer on the same project, starting in 2010.
His duties included being charged with performing take-offs and construction reviews of 1 million square feet of retaining walls, taking part in development of subcontracts and defining the scopes of work, managing all aspects of subcontractor coordination and making certain work is performed within project design and specifications, leading the development and submission of the 15,000-activity, six-year, $1.3 billion cost, developing and implementing standard operating procedures for scheduled progress, resource and impact and analysis, and coordinating the planning and scheduling efforts between cities, counties, railroad entities and utility owners within the 36 miles of corridor.
Prior to that, he was employed as project schedule engineer by MWH Contractors on a $225 million capacity and effluent quality upgrade project in Tucson, Ariz., from 2010 to 2011, and he was controls engineer with MWH on a $125 million wastewater treatment plant expansion in Ogden, Utah.
Juaquez is a 2008 graduate of the University of Nebraska — Kearney, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in construction management.
“I am a driven construction engineer with more than 10 years of experience in the construction industry with managing, planning and executing of projects in heavy civil, rail and wastewater,” he resume states. “I am experienced in design review and constitution input, estimating and management of multiple subcontractors and self-perform crews on large-scale construction projects.
“I am a skilled problem-solving leader who utilizes experience, creative thinking and the ability to maximize the knowledge and input from fellow team members to resolve issues,” it states. “I am a driven leader who understand the priority of safety before all else.”
Some of the areas of expertise listed on his resume include: project controls, project estimation, excavation and backfill procedures, all aspect of concrete work, heavy equipment operation, CAD drafting and design, and he has 30 hours of OSHA safety certification and is certified in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
“Many of the projects over the past two years haven’t been done, and I look for Eric to get right on these issues,” Bolton said. “We hired a third-party consultant in 2011 …and we just weren’t getting our bang for the buck.
“By hiring Eric on to work with the county, we can pay him well, get the jobs done and save money” Bolton said. “He has the ability to handle projects large and small, and I expect he will pay his way in just a couple of years.”
Bolton says he has very high expectations for Jacquez.
“We now have someone who will finally get stuff done,” he said. “Eric can handle any kind of facilities work, maintenance and upgrades — where we hadn’t even been getting the basic maintenance done before.”
Jacquez grew up in Canon City, Colo.
“My wife and I grew up in a small town, and we like the fact that the outdoor activities are right at our doorstep here in Rio Blanco County,” he said. “People have been exceptionally nice since we got here, and I look forward to a long, successful stay in Rio Blanco County.”
Jacquez’ wife, Amanda, is expecting their first child in October. She worked for Salvation Army prior to their move to the county, but, he said, “she will be a stay-at-home mom when the baby is born.”
Four major projects facing Jacquez, he said, are the new county justice center, the new county Department of Human Services office in Rangely, work at the Fairfield Center in Meeker and finalizing the new 4-H building at the fairgrounds.
“I will be heading up all projects in Rio Blanco County except those under the Road and Bridge Department, Jacquez said. “One of the biggest projects under way right now is the new runway expansion and taxiway at Meeker Airport. All I can say, since they are so far along, is that I will assist where and when I can.”
“I really want to add that my wife and I are excited that I am working for Rio Blanco County and we are really glad to be in Meeker,” he said.