TOOLS OF THE TRADE; MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions

Jan. 1, 2010
Each month, Contracting Business picks a leading contractor and takes a look at the products, tools, and services that he or she has chosen to help make their company successful.

MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions
Seattle, WA

MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions is one of the largest design/build mechanical contractors in the Pacific Northwest. Services include mechanical engineering, Design/Build construction, custom metal fabrication, service and maintenance of systems and equipment, and energy management programs that include a high-level of utility rebate dollars for lighting and HVAC solutions. Established in 1965, the company employs more than 150 office staff and 450 field personnel. In 2008, MacDonald-Miller's gross sales exceeded $160 million. MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions won a 2009 ContractingBusiness.com Design/Build Award for the Shoreline City Hall project (see http://bit.ly/ShorelineCH). Derrick “Gus” Simonds (pictured above) is president.

  • Number and type of trucks/vans: six cars (including two Toyota Priuses);166 Chevy vans; 118 full size and small Chevy and Toyata pickups; 11 mid-size flatbed Chevy and Isuzu trucks; five Chevy and Isuzubox trucks; four Toyota and Lincoln SUVs; one International Harvester bucket truck.
  • Test instruments technicians carry: Fluke 902 multimeter; Testo manometer; Supco M500 megohmmeter; JB micron gauge; Bacharach Fyrite Pro combustion analyzer.
  • Tools provided to technicians: Appion 65 recovery machine; DeWalt power tools; Bachrach Informant 2 leak detector; Victor MC cutting/welding torch kit; JB 7CFM vacuum pump; WEY-TEK 713-500 recovery scale.
  • Preferred field communications method: Sprint/Nextel; Motorola cell phones featuring Nextel Direct Connect® service (technicians and field foremen).
  • Preferred ladders: Werner.
  • Preferred business management software: WennSoft; G.P. Dynamics; Microsoft Office 2007; Adobe CS4 for internal graphic design.
  • Preferred load calculation software: Trane Trace 700.
  • Preferred sales management software: Microsoft CRM.
  • Preferred computers/printers: Hewlett-Packard.
  • Preferred photocopiers: Panasonic; Canon.
  • Business connection to the Internet via: Qwest.
  • Preferred uniform supplier: Cintas.
  • Credit cards accepted: VISA; MasterCard.
  • Preferred HVAC equipment brands: Carrier; Trane; Reznor; RBI boilers; Aerco.
  • Preferred accessories: Nailor; Titus; Greenheck; Ruskin; Shoemaker.
  • Preferred zoning equipment: Nailor; Titus; Enviro-Tec.
  • Preferred Indoor Air Quality equipment: Kele.
  • Number of technicians currently certified and type of certification: 100 technicians covering HVAC, electrical, lighting, controls, commissioning, TAB, and plumbing. All are certified based on trade.
  • Preferred distributors: Ferguson; Gensco.

IN THE TRUCKS

IN THE OFFICE

IN THE SHOP

About the Author

Terry McIver | Content Director - CB

A career publishing professional, Terence 'Terry' McIver has served three diverse industry publications in varying degrees of responsibility since 1987, and worked in marketing communications for a major U.S. corporation.He joined the staff of Contracting Business magazine in April 2005.

As director of content for Contracting Business, he produces daily content and feature articles for CB's 38,000 print subscribers and many more Internet visitors. He has written hundreds, if not two or three, pieces of news, features and contractor profile articles for CB's audience of quality HVACR contractors. He can also be found covering HVACR industry events or visiting with manufacturers and contractors. He also has significant experience in trade show planning.