Newsletter:  December 2005 a "The thing I like the most about this job is the people. I really enjoy the people I work with and all of the other people that I interact with everyday." – Beth Gunter, LeDuc & Dexter Receptionist "He seems to be able to wave his hand and make things happen – he has that kind of credibility." – LeDuc & Dexter's Joe Mitchell, speaking about Jim Kempers, LeDuc & Dexter Residential Manager "This is the kind of job we like to be a part of," says Zeeb, LeDuc & Dexter Commercial Manager, referring to the new Merryvale winery facility in the Carneros wine region

Class of 2005

The Company

Over the past few years LeDuc & Dexter has expanded their company with new business, new departments and new employees to fill key positions in the field and administration. Experienced plumbers are being sought to meet the manpower requirements the market is currently demanding. At the headquarters of LeDuc & Dexter the management and administration workload has increased along with the workload in the field and new talent has been hired to meet the challenge.

Since June of 2005 Chris Parsons has worked as an administrative assistant in the hydronics department with Tom Schefer, Hydronic Department Manager. Parsons is responsible for billing, job scheduling, dispatching and customer service calls. Parsons also assists with the fire sprinkler department submitting plans to the County and surrounding cities for approval and he assists with bids and proposals to contractors. "Everyday is different, which is one of the things I really like about working here," says Parsons, "We have a great office staff, they're all very helpful. It's a good work environment. Everyone here understands our customer philosophy – that keeping our customers happy is what makes us successful."

CHRIS PARSONS LeDuc & Dexter Administrative Assistant for the Hydronics and Fire Sprinkler Departments

BETH GUNTER LeDuc & Dexter Receptionist

Since April of 2005 Beth Gunter is most likely the first person you meet when you call or come to the offices of LeDuc & Dexter. Beth is the receptionist, handling eleven phone lines for the company. Beth creates the job folders for construction projects and handles insurance information requests. Beth also works on the LeDuc & Dexter Employee Newsletter, which is published quarterly. "The thing I like the most about this job is the people. I really enjoy the people I work with and all of the other people that I interact with everyday," says Beth. These are a few examples of the talented and knowledgeable employees that LeDuc & Dexter have recruited to their office administration staff in an effort to give customers better service and satisfaction.

More New Faces

Residential

Joe Mitchell is a recent addition to LeDuc & Dexter's residential department. Joe is working with Jim Kempers, LeDuc & Dexter Residential Manager, as the housing market and new residential construction continue to flourish in the North Bay area. Mitchell comes to LeDuc & Dexter with a construction background as a project manager and estimator for a landscaping contractor. Prior to that Mitchell ran a glazing business. Mitchell received a B.S. degree in business management from the University of Phoenix in Novato after he sold his glazing business. He worked for a San Rafael glass company while in school as a residential foreman.

JOE MITCHELL of LeDuc & Dexter's Residential Department

At LeDuc & Dexter Mitchell is working with many members of the residential department, "I've worked with Dale (Bettcher) in purchasing, Chris (Parsons) in residential fire sprinklers, Jason (Leavitt) in customer service and, of course, Jim Kempers. Jim is amazing. He knows everyone in the business. He seems to be able to wave his hand and make things happen – he has that kind of credibility."

STEPHANIE PALLAS Assistant to Jim Kempers, LeDuc & Dexter Residential Manager

Stephanie Pallas is the new residential assistant to Jim Kempers. Stephanie is responsible for billing in residential plumbing and residential fire sprinklers along with change orders. Stephanie works with customers and contractors to make sure they have the correct materials and products on the job sites. Since coming to LeDuc & Dexter Stephanie has worked as a receptionist and purchasing assistant before her position in the residential department. "I love this job. Working with Jim Kempers is fun. Even though we're very busy we're able to keep our sense of humor. We have a really good rapport." With LeDuc & Dexter's residential department having one of its busiest years ever, a good team rapport can be a key ingredient to help control stress and promote successful productivity.

Merryvale Vineyards' New Winery

Wineries

Merryvale's new 65,000 square foot winemaking facility in the Carneros region of Napa. (click image to enlarge)

Merryvale Vineyards, of St. Helena, has broken ground on a new winemaking facility in the Carneros region of Napa County. The general contractor for the winery, which is scheduled for completion by the crush of 2006, is Andrews & Thornley, Inc. of Napa. LeDuc & Dexter has worked with Andrews & Thornley many times over the past few years including Infineon Raceway, River Terrace Inn and Stryker Sonoma, a premium winery located in Geyserville.

Bill Zeeb, LeDuc & Dexter Commercial Manager, describes Merryvale Vineyards' new facility as "a big winery". The recent trend of winery construction in the industry and for LeDuc & Dexter has been towards smaller family wineries, such as, Mauritson Family Winery and Moshin Family Winery.

LeDuc & Dexter commercial crew testing the waste water lines before inspection. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter installed these waste water lines for the fermentation room. (click image to enlarge)

"We're just starting with the underground plumbing now," says Zeeb, "The cement slab is so big that it will be poured in sections and construction will start on each section after they're poured. It's definitely a fast track schedule. As usual, the work schedule is always well orchestrated by Andrews & Thornley. Later on the catwalks will be installed before the wine tanks, typically they are installed together, but because we have so much overhead piping the catwalks will be attached to the building so we can go up and get started on the piping."

"The winery drainage system is also large," says Zeeb, "we'll be connecting oversized trench drains with wider and more catch basins as requested by the winemaker." Aside from the large fermentation room, the winery will also feature a large barrel storage room, mechanical room and administration area. "This winery will also have a very elaborate laboratory set-up," says Zeeb, "the lab is larger than most and will have numerous jet stations with de-ionized water, natural gas, nitrogen, compressed air and a vacuum system." Overall this project will be somewhat of a challenge because of its size and schedule for LeDuc & Dexter, but, "this is the kind of job we like to be a part of," says Zeeb.

LeDuc & Dexter installed these waste water lines for the barrel room. (click image to enlarge)

Large retaining wall separates existing vineyard (left) and new winery facility (right). (click image to enlarge)	Merryvale Vineyards in St. Helena. (click image to enlarge)