Newsletter:  September 2004 a  "With Jim, the customer always comes first, he really focuses on their needs" – Mary Van Veen of LeDuc & Dexter's Residential Department, speaking about Manager Jim Kempers "REACH will be saving on their gas bill with this hydronic heating system" – Tom Schefer, LeDuc & Dexter Hydronic Department Manager A letter from Tom LeDuc on behalf of Pat Krueger, the Republican candidate for the 7th District State Assembly seat to be decided on Election Day, November 2, 2004.

Teamwork Helps Customers	RESIDENTIAL

The residential department is using a team approach to handle the busy season of home building, which has maintained a high volume of activity throughout the entire year. Residential manager Jim Kempers has staff that has kept pace with industry demands by being highly organized and focused on giving their customers the service they have come to expect from LeDuc & Dexter. Mary Van Veen and Jason Leavitt assist Jim Kempers with estimating, change orders and customer service. "With Jim, the customer always comes first, he really focuses on their needs," says Van Veen, "The customers trust him and rely on him - he's always there for them."

Van Veen does the plumbing fixture take-offs for subdivisions, individual homes, and special orders. After she receives the drawings from the general contractor she calls them to see when they need the bid. She schedules time for each bid that needs to be completed by a certain date and logs all progress to meet the customers' deadlines.

Jason Leavitt, Jim Kempers (Mgr.)  and Mary Van Veen of LeDuc & Dexter's Residential Department

Van Veen, who has a background in interior design, is responsible for meeting the specifications requirements from the plans she receives for each project. She also works with the purchasing department at LeDuc & Dexter to get pricing on the plumbing fixtures that have been chosen. Jason Leavitt oversees customer service for the general contractors and homeowners of new residential construction. When the contractor calls with a service request Leavitt contacts the homeowner to set up an appointment at their convenience. Leavitt then sends a plumber to handle the call. If it is an emergency Leavitt will contact Super Service Plumbing, which always has a technician on call. Leavitt does the take-offs from project plans for rough materials, including piping, flashing, vents, hangers, tubing, gas stubs, and appliance connections. The take-off figures from Leavitt and Van Veen go to Jim Kempers, who calculates the bid, and it is then submitted to the contractor. It's that kind of teamwork that keeps the focus on details, quality, and service for the customer.

Hydronics for REACH	HYDRONICS

The new REACH hangar facility at the Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport has hydronic heating in 6,000 square foot floor section used for maintenance and repair of the their emergency aircraft. REACH is an air ambulance transport service, which provides rapid assessment, intervention, and safe transport of critically ill or injured patients of all ages from the scene or referring facilities.

One of the REACH air rescue helicopters that will housed and maintained at the new facility.

LeDuc & Dexter's Hydronic department manager, Tom Schefer, oversaw the hydronic installation at the two-story facility that has living quarters for on-call emergency personnel. Schefer used ¾" tubing for the hydronic layout, "Because of the size of the floor and the long run of tubing, the ¾" tubing had to be used to keep the floor warm. Tubing is typically ½" for residential installations." The REACH facility floor has 11,000 feet of polyethylene PEX tubing for the hydronic heating system.

The new REACH hangar facility at the Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport. (click image to enlarge)

The water temperature going out from the boiler and through the hydronic tubing is 115 degrees and 100 degrees as it returns to the boiler at the REACH facility. "The floor will be 85 degrees in the winter to properly heat the area," says Schefer.

Because the hangar has a cement slab floor and a 30-foot ceiling Schefer says, "Hydronic heating is the way to go to heat the area where maintanence personnel will be working during the cold winter months." Personnel will be walking and standing on a huge cement slab and close to the floor as they move around and under the aircraft for maintanence and repairs.

The hydronic heat with its radiant properties will keep personnel warm without wasting heat far above the work area that makes traditional heating systems expensive for spacious facilities like this, "REACH will be saving on their gas bill with this hydronic heating system," says Schefer.

Supply and return manifold for hydronic heating system at REACH. (click image to enlarge)

In addition to the hydronic heating, LeDuc & Dexter's commercial department is installing heavy-duty floor drains for aircraft wash downs and extensive roof drainage system for the expansive roof, along with plumbing for the living quarters that include restroom, kitchen and shower facilities.

	POLITICAL ACTION

Pat Krueger is the Republican candidate for the 7th District State Assembly seat to be decided in November 2004. A letter from Tom LeDuc on behalf of Pat Krueger, the Republican candidate for the 7th District State Assembly seat to be decided on election day, November 2, 2004.     August 30, 2004   Dear Friends: Several months ago at the Builders Exchange, I had the opportunity to meet Pat Krueger. As soon as we met, I knew that she was the one Republican who actually had a chance to win the 7th District Assembly seat. She has experience as a state Senator in New Hampshire and has a "get things done attitude". While in the Senate, she became known as the person who brought opposing sides together. I believe that right now we need someone like Pat on our side in Sacramento. She lives in St. Helena and would represent our needs well in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Pat understands the needs of small business in California and is prepared to stand up for us in Sacramento. Right now is a critical time for her in the election process. She has shown the State Republican Party and the California Chamber of Commerce that she can raise money. The North Coast Builders Exchange, the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, the Napa Chamber of Commerce, and many other concerned business groups are stepping up to the plate to endorse Pat. The Exchange and many of its members, including myself, have already made generous donations to her campaign. A lot of people tell me that they have never really been politically involved. I used to be that way until I experienced the PAC Committee at the Exchange. It was eye opening for me. I have learned that we really can make a difference, but we have to get involved to create change. We all need to come together and support a positive future for business in California. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me and I will get the answers for you. Sincerely,   Tom LeDuc