Louis Pickus

Project Management and Construction, Oil & Energy

Hi, I'm Louis Pickus. Welcome to my profile!

Louis Pickus's Bio:

Louis Pickus's Experience:

• Manager, Project Management and Construction at United Conveyor Corporation

  April 2010 - Present | Waukegan, IL

  Louis Pickus provides guidance and direction to professional project managers in the design, engineering, procurement, supply and erection of hydraulic and pneumatic material handling systems serving thermal power generation utilities. In addition, overall responsibility for the development, implementation,and monitoring of a best-practices Construction Management process worldwide. Providing the expertise and management guidance in the transition from design-supply contracts to a design-supply-erect approach.

• Principal - Construction Group at Construction Realty Co.

  January 2007 - April 2010 | Highland Park, IL

  In this role, Louis Pickus was responsible for daily operations of design-build, construction manager/general contractor. 2008 revenues exceeded $60 million. Led project management teams on design-build, self-developed projects as well as construction management and general contracting projects for outside clients. Participated in site review and selection process on retail, office, multi-family and mixed use residential development projects Provided feasibility analysis from financial and constructability standpoints Worked with governmental authorities on entitlement and permitting Ensured companywide implementation of total quality management program. Warranty costs decreased from 2006 by over 20%. Responsible for all risk management and loss prevention on projects. Reportable incidents declined by 90% from 2006. Managed financial operations for corporation including bank relationships, cash management, and financial forecasting. Participated on corporate audit team and negotiated renewal of line of credit financing for corporation. Conducted monthly financial reviews of all projects, including in-depth job cost reviews and analysis and individual project impact on overall corporate finances. Reduced time to close out on prior month's accounting from 30 days to 15. Managed conflict and dispute resolution between corporation and outside parties. Manage relationships with outside legal consul.

• Principal - Development Group at Construction Realty Co.

  January 1992 - 2010

  Participates in development, creation and execution of commercial (office, hotel and retail) and investment-grade multi-family residential projects. Assist in obtaining entitlements and permitting, including zoning and land use approvals. Provide design programming, budgeting, and scheduling during conceptual and schemantic development process.

• Vice President, Design-Build Construction Division at Construction Realty Co.

  February 2004 - December 2006

  Served as overall manager of design-build projects within corporation (2005 revenues: $29 million, 2006 revenues: $40.25 million). Overall responsibility for all profit and loss within division. Worked with a staff of four project managers to develop initial project budgets. Managed bid and contract process with subcontractors. Executed all subcontracts and major materials purchases for each project. Managed scope process for all project activities through analysis and review with project manager. Developed procedures to identify, evaluate and process project scope creep. Managed costs through active cost reviews with project team on a regular basis. Championed total quality management program and worked with projects teams to ensure its implementation on every project. Improved initial work-in-place quality resulting in a reduction of callbacks and subsequent warranty work by over 50% from prior year. Developed corporate-wide policies and procedures for risk management, contracts and purchase orders, waivers of lien and insurance (2005). New procedures netted a decrease in general liability claims by over 20% and worker's compensation claims by over 80%. Waiver procedures resulted in better coordination and communication with subcontractors in processing pay applications.

• Vice President at Special Projects Division

  January 1995 - January 2004

  Created new division to focus on special projects - tenant improvements, office and industrial build-outs, in-line retail stores, additions and renovations (1996 revenues: $800,000; 2004 revenues: $6.0 million) Built management and field teams to deliver high quality construction services with a high level of customer service at a competitive price. Developed relationships with real estate owners as well as with key subcontractors to provide a "partnership" from end-to-end.

• Vice President, Marketing at Construction Realty Co.

  January 1992 - January 1995

  Developed marketing program for mid-level construction company to highlight differentiation points from competition. Researched corporate attributes, competitive environment and market conditions to create a targeted marketing program to generate new sales for corporation. Managed salesperson hired to use marketing program within target markets. Generated sales from zero (1992) to over $20 million (1995).

• New Product Marketing Associate at GTE

  1988 - 1990

  Provided market research for new products and services within regulated telecommunications environment. Conducted surveys, focus groups and employed in and out of house reserch to measure depth of markets, consumer and business need and demand and price sensitivity. Worked closely with product managers to position product or service to customers.

• Sales Engineer at GTE

  1987 - 1988

  Provide engineering design, proposal generation and sales support for large scale telecommunications and data systems. Led project teams in design/development of systems and provide post-sales support to implementation teams.

• Engineering Associate at GTE

  1986 - 1987

  Leadership development program for engineering professionals. Provided special project support for three different GTE business units in three different geographic locations.

Louis Pickus's Education:

• Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

  1990 – 1992
  Masters

• Arizona State University

  1982 – 1986
  Bachelors of Science
  Concentration: Computer Science

Louis Pickus's Interests & Activities: