Newsletter:  February 2005 a "They're great guys to work with, Jim (Kempers) (pictured) gets us everything we need and Kevin (Delong) is good with the scheduling." – Gary Tatman, General Contractor, Dale's Property Service talking about LeDuc & Dexter's residential department. "It was actually easier than some of the custom homes I've built." – Pete Boschetti, General Contractor referring to Dutcher Crossing, the first winery he has built. "I've also surveyed our customers to find out what they like and don't like. Price is not usually the most important thing. Service and attention seem to be more important, so that's what I'm focusing on." – Kevin Delong, LeDuc & Dexter Residential Supervisor, talking about what he learned in "The Bullet Proof Manager" training course.

Cotati Cypress Meadows	RESIDENTIAL

Corner lot at Cotati Cypress Meadows, all homes are approximately 3,000 square feet. (click image to enlarge)

Dale's Property Service is in the midst of a seven-home project, Cotati Cypress Meadows, in Cotati. Located on Cypress Ave. off W. Sierra Ave. five homes are now under construction on half-acre lots. The homes are all in the 3,000 square foot range and will sell for one to 1.2 million dollars.

Two-story home is on half-acre lot as are all of the homes. (click image to enlarge)

Gary Tatman, general contractor and owner of Dale's Property Service will build two custom homes at the end of the cul-de-sac off Cypress Ave. after construction is complete on the five homes under way now, which are due to be finished by June.

Tatman has worked with LeDuc & Dexter in the past including their first venture together, a 40-home project, Honey Brook in Rohnert Park. "Kevin (Delong) laid out that job when he was a plumber," says Tatman. Delong is now residential superintendent for LeDuc & Dexter. "They're great guys to work with," says Tatman," Jim (Kempers) gets us everything we need and Kevin is good with the scheduling." LeDuc & Dexter also worked on Park Estates, 18 homes in Rohnert Park.

Three other homes are currently being built on the cul-de-sac, there will be 7 in all. (click image to enlarge)

Bath is set upstairs in two-story home. (click image to enlarge)

Gary Tatman's father started Dale's Property Service 35 years ago and now Gary has two sons working in the company, Jason is in the office and Jeff is in the field. Tatman also has another company, Custom Housing, which has built custom homes throughout Sonoma County including Petaluma, Windsor, and Healdsburg.

The next big project for Tatman and his company will be a subdivision in Rohnert Park, due to start in '06. "It will be 80 to 100 homes over a five year period," says Tatman, "We'll build around 20 homes a year – that's a comfortable pace and the way we like to work."

Topped out plumbing downstairs in two-story home. (click image to enlarge)

Dutcher Crossing Winery	WINERIES

Dutcher Crossing Winery as seen from vineyards behind the winery. (click image to enlarge)

Boschetti Construction Inc. is nearing completion of Dutcher Crossing Winery in Dry Creek Valley. The winery was designed by TFA (Tierney / Figueiredo Architects). Pete Boschetti's design/build team included Kerry Damskey, Dutcher Crossing Winery winemaker, Bill Zeeb, LeDuc & Dexter Commercial Manager, Knights' Electric, IRAPP Mechanical, and The Furnace Works.

Pete Boschetti, General Contractor who built Dutcher Crossing Winery, stands in winery's picnic area in front of vineyards and home he built for the owners. (click image to enlarge)

Boschetti Construction also built a home for one of the owners on the winery property, which has an existing vineyard. Boschetti had previously built a home in Alexander Valley for the other owner/partner of Dutcher Crossing.

This is the first winery Boschetti has built, "It was actually easier than some of the custom homes I've built," says Boschetti, who has a strong background in commercial work, "It was fun getting back to do things like process piping, we had good subs on this job."

From the boiler in the mechanical room, process piping leads to the winemaking area. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter's Jeff Shank displays the craft of plumbing with a pipe cutter. (click image to enlarge)

Boschetti has built many exclusive custom homes in Sonoma County including 7 in Shiloh Estates and has worked with LeDuc & Dexter's residential department including fire sprinkler installations over the past 5 years.

Boschetti Construction was founded in 1964 by his father and incorporated in 1972. "I started working for my dad when I was 10, sweeping floors and cleaning up," recalls Boschetti, "By high school I was framing in the field and drafting and estimating in the office." Boschetti has a degree in engineering from Santa Clara University and shortly after graduation he was working on the challenges of high-rise buildings and clean rooms for companies like IBM and Intel. Pete joined with his father as a partner in 1990.

Boiler and hot water storage tank with expansion tank behind it installed by Jeff Shank and Gonzalo Ochoa of LeDuc & Dexter. (click image to enlarge)

Jeff Shank adjusting a gauge for the air compressor and air dryer unit. (click image to enlarge)

Bill Zeeb of LeDuc & Dexter found Boschetti easy to work with, "It's the first time I've worked with him – he's a nice guy and quite intelligent." LeDuc & Dexter installed process piping for hot and cold and air along with the air compressor, boiler, and hot water storage tank plus plumbing for the restrooms, lab, and tasting room.

"I love doing commercial work," says Boschetti, and commenting on his first winery he amusingly adds, "Maybe I've found my niche – building wineries – after all I'm a fourth generation wine grower. We have a vineyard in Fulton with Zinfandel and Merlot. I found building that winery to be a very satisfying experience."

LeDuc & Dexter's Gonzalo Ochoa installing hot water heater. (click image to enlarge)

Bullet Proof Managers	THE COMPANY

LeDuc & Dexter "Bullet Proof Manager" graduates, left to right: Steve Garner, Kevin Delong, Tammy Townsend, Jon Schutz, and John Dunn with Art Dexter and Tom LeDuc. (click image to enlarge)

Five employees of LeDuc & Dexter, Inc. recently graduated from "The Bullet Proof Manager", a 12-month Crestcom management training course. The graduates are Steve Garner, Warehouse Manager, Jon Schutz, Super Service Manager, Kevin Delong, Residential Superintendent, Tammy Townsend of the residential department, and John Dunn of the commercial department. LeDuc & Dexter owners Tom LeDuc and Art Dexter attended the graduation. LeDuc was so impressed with the training course that he has been listening to the course tapes while he drives, "Between these tapes and Jim Rohn tapes it's all I've been listening to the last six weeks." The graduates of the course were equally impressed with what they learned over the past year. Steve Garner found the speakers on the videotapes to be motivational, "I got a set of the tapes for having perfect attendance and they're a great reference along with the workbook. I've being sharing the ideas with the warehouse staff – it will be interesting to see how it helps over the next year or two." Jon Schutz said he learned something from every class, "Especially the negotiating and Gold Customer Service classes – I also learned how to manage each employee according to what kind of person they are instead of trying to treat everyone the same." Kevin Delong said, "Before I took this course I really felt the stress of my job. They covered how to handle stress and it helped me a lot. I've also surveyed our customers to find out what they like and don't like. Price is not usually the most important thing. Service and attention seem to be more important, so that's what I'm focusing on. I've also learned to find out what kind of jobs each plumber likes doing the best and try to use them in that area for better results." Tammy Townsend discovered some things about who she was personally, "The course was fabulous. I realized what kind of work is rewarding to me and makes me more productive. I learned how to mold a management style around who you are as a person." The "Bullet Proof Manager" included monthly management topics that were discussed in class after video presentations by the industry's top speakers including Lisa Ford, Tom Hopkins, and Zig Zigler.