Contractor Profile: Art Gardner: F. Rodgers Corporation
F. Rodgers Corporation of Livermore, Calif., is known as “The Good Guy Company.” With 500 employees delving into specialty contracting, the company knows it takes persistence to build long-lasting connections with contractors and clients in the competitive West Coast market.
F. Rodgers Corporation of Livermore, Calif., is known as “The Good Guy Company.” With 500 employees delving into specialty contracting, the company knows it takes persistence to build long-lasting connections with contractors and clients in the competitive West Coast market
“We can offer more services to general contractors working under one contract,” said Art Gardner, President of F. Rodgers Corp.
While some contractors are quick to tout the amount of product put-in-place or even name-drop some of the owners or projects they have worked with, F. Rodgers Corp. instead chooses to win new projects by offering diversified services.
“What distinguishes us is having multiple disciplines under one roof,” Gardner explained. “We can offer more services to general contractors working under one contract, rather than them having to go to four or five contractors for the same services.”
Since Frank Rodgers founded the company in 1986, F. Rodgers has grown to become a preferred specialty contractor with eight branch locations in four states.
“Our strengths lie in the insulation and specialty industries for commercial, industrial, residential and marine needs,” Gardner said. “Not only can we handle small repair jobs, we also manage large multimillion-dollar projects with efficiency.”
The company is separated into the three divisions. They are:
• The Roofing and Waterproofing Division installs all types of roofing, along with tapered roof insulation, single-ply roofing, below- and above-grade waterproofing and traditional built-up roofing. The division also installs commercial caulking and sealants, roof coatings, deck coatings, and pavers, as well as performing maintenance and repairs.
• The Mechanical Insulation Division, which installs industrial pipe, equipment, storage tanks, mechanical pipe, duct, grease duct, and all marine insulation, along with fire-stopping penetrations and maintenance.
• The Interiors Division, which installs building insulation, acoustical sound insulation, head of wall, edge of slab, K13 and caulking. The division also installs acoustical and specialty ceilings, expansion joints, bathrooms, accessories, wall protection, and acoustical fabric panels.
Gardner, who joined the company in 2008 and became president in September 2009, said F. Rodgers Corp. continues to add new product lines that complement the business in order to offer a wide variety of services to its customers.
Under Gardner’s direction, the firm expanded the roofing division into central and southern California. Roofing had been introduced to F. Rodgers in 2004; however, Gardner saw the opportunity for expansion, and the company has adopted a learning culture in order to develop its employees.
“The company hires only union workers to provide the most skilled mechanics, installers and journeymen,” said Gardner, who noted the company introduced its Increasing Contracting Excellence Training course under two modules: project management and financial success.
The project management module, which Gardner instructs, is designed to identify and address issues project managers, estimators and superintendents encounter daily on the job. The financial module, taught by CFO Matt Warner, familiarizes employees with how certain actions can impact the bottom line.
“One of our goals is to have our customers utilize all of our disciplines in an effort to increase their efficiency and cost effectiveness, resulting in repeat business,” Gardner concluded. “During this harsh economic time, my goal is to maintain our sales revenue, in order to support our current structure.
“At the end of the day, we are all about relationships, integrity and quality and we are always solutions-oriented.”
Art Gardner, President of F. Rodgers Corporation, takes a moment outside the company headquarters in Livemore, Calif.
F. Rodgers Corporation of Livermore, Calif., is known as “The Good Guy Company.” With 500 employees delving into specialty contracting, the company knows it takes persistence to build long-lasting connections with contractors and clients in the competitive West Coast market
“We can offer more services to general contractors working under one contract,” said Art Gardner, President of F. Rodgers Corp.
While some contractors are quick to tout the amount of product put-in-place or even name-drop some of the owners or projects they have worked with, F. Rodgers Corp. instead chooses to win new projects by offering diversified services.
“What distinguishes us is having multiple disciplines under one roof,” Gardner explained. “We can offer more services to general contractors working under one contract, rather than them having to go to four or five contractors for the same services.”
Since Frank Rodgers founded the company in 1986, F. Rodgers has grown to become a preferred specialty contractor with eight branch locations in four states.
“Our strengths lie in the insulation and specialty industries for commercial, industrial, residential and marine needs,” Gardner said. “Not only can we handle small repair jobs, we also manage large multimillion-dollar projects with efficiency.”
The company recently completed the San Jose International Airport Terminal Area Improvement Program. Photos courtesy of F. Rodgers Corp.
• The Roofing and Waterproofing Division installs all types of roofing, along with tapered roof insulation, single-ply roofing, below- and above-grade waterproofing and traditional built-up roofing. The division also installs commercial caulking and sealants, roof coatings, deck coatings, and pavers, as well as performing maintenance and repairs.
• The Mechanical Insulation Division, which installs industrial pipe, equipment, storage tanks, mechanical pipe, duct, grease duct, and all marine insulation, along with fire-stopping penetrations and maintenance.
• The Interiors Division, which installs building insulation, acoustical sound insulation, head of wall, edge of slab, K13 and caulking. The division also installs acoustical and specialty ceilings, expansion joints, bathrooms, accessories, wall protection, and acoustical fabric panels.
Gardner, who joined the company in 2008 and became president in September 2009, said F. Rodgers Corp. continues to add new product lines that complement the business in order to offer a wide variety of services to its customers.
Under Gardner’s direction, the firm expanded the roofing division into central and southern California. Roofing had been introduced to F. Rodgers in 2004; however, Gardner saw the opportunity for expansion, and the company has adopted a learning culture in order to develop its employees.
“The company hires only union workers to provide the most skilled mechanics, installers and journeymen,” said Gardner, who noted the company introduced its Increasing Contracting Excellence Training course under two modules: project management and financial success.
The project management module, which Gardner instructs, is designed to identify and address issues project managers, estimators and superintendents encounter daily on the job. The financial module, taught by CFO Matt Warner, familiarizes employees with how certain actions can impact the bottom line.
“One of our goals is to have our customers utilize all of our disciplines in an effort to increase their efficiency and cost effectiveness, resulting in repeat business,” Gardner concluded. “During this harsh economic time, my goal is to maintain our sales revenue, in order to support our current structure.
“At the end of the day, we are all about relationships, integrity and quality and we are always solutions-oriented.”
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