Tuesday, March 25, 2008

New Jobs Coming to Griffith

New Jobs Coming to Griffith

BY ANDREA HOLECEK

March 22, 2008

GRIFFITH Valdes Engineering Co.'s new office scheduled to open here in fall could bring nearly 100 well-paying engineering jobs to the region.

"We hope -- in time -- as we grow our customer base and reach other customers, it could grow to that number," owner/founder Bob Valdes said this week. "We hope it's a positive impact on employment."

The family owned engineering firm based in Lombard, Ill. performs project management, engineering and design services. It was founded by Valdes in 1993. His wife, Donna, is the comptroller. Although the firm's specialty is process engineering, it employs about 200 engineers schooled in every facet of the profession.

The company broke ground for the new, $3 million, 25,000-square-foot satellite office at Ridge Road and Broad Street, earlier this month.

"We've been thinking about Indiana for many years," said Valdes, a civil engineer, who graduated from the University of Illinois. "It's actually a better fit for the work we do than the commercial and residential area we're in here."

The new building is designed to house 100 to 105 employees with the vast majority engineers, engineering technicians and other support staff, who will work on projects based in Northwest Indiana.

"The bulk of the work force will be Indiana people because of logistics," Valdes said.

Having an office in the region, where it already does significant business "will allow us to spread our wings and allow us to reach more industrial clients in the area," he said.

The consulting engineering firm currently performs engineering work for BP's Whiting Refinery projects and numerous other local clients, Valdes wouldn't name, citing confidentiality agreements.

"We hope more clients will look at us as a viable engineering service once we have a presence in Northwest Indiana in proximity to interface with their plants," Valdes said. "Interface is very important. The closer to the plant, the better it is for a project's execution."

Currently, the company's engineers and other staff work in trailers trucked to job sites.

"Trailers, as nice as we try to make them, are never to the level of a permanent office, especially in the date and age of highly technical equipment," Valdes said. "There are a lot of tools we have in order to execute engineering projects and there's only so much room in the trailers."

The company broke ground for the new, $3 million, 25,000-square-foot satellite office at Ridge Road and Broad Street, earlier this month. It could bring nearly 100 well-paying engineering jobs to the region.

Source: www.nwi.com
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Valdes Engineering Company (VEC) sets the standard for excellence in engineering serving regional, national and global corporations with on-time, on-budget projects. VEC is a Chicago-based engineering consulting firm, specializing in the petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, power, chemical, alternative energy, and manufacturing industries.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Dodgeball Blog, Week of 3-14

The VEC Dodgeballs O' Fire triumphed over the Wednesday Warriors this week by a final score of 7 to 3. After the 7th week of matches, VEC finds itself with a record of 5-1 and is sitting atop the league standings in a first place tie with the Bootleggers. Week 8 will pit the Bootleggers against VEC. The VEC Dodgeballs O' Fire look to avenge their only loss of the year and take outright control of the top spot in the league. Game time is at 9 PM on March 19th at the River Woods School in Naperville.
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Valdes Engineering Company (VEC) sets the standard for excellence in engineering serving regional, national and global corporations with on-time, on-budget projects. VEC is a Chicago-based engineering consulting firm, specializing in the petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, power, chemical, alternative energy, and manufacturing industries.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Groundbreaking Photos Posted!

Valdes Engineering Company broke ground on it's new Griffith, Indiana office on Friday, March 7, 2008. VEC was pleased to welcome the FCL Builders team; Rick Ryfa, President of the town of Griffith; and U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky to the ceremony. Click here for photos of the event!

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Valdes Engineering Company (VEC) sets the standard for excellence in engineering serving regional, national and global corporations with on-time, on-budget projects. VEC is a Chicago-based engineering consulting firm, specializing in the petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, power, chemical, alternative energy, and manufacturing industries.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Company bringing $3M facility to Griffith

Company bringing $3M facility to Griffith

BY CHARLES F. HABER
Times Correspondent

Friday, March 07, 2008

GRIFFITH Valdes Engineering Co., of Lombard, Ill., breaks ground this morning on a $3 million facility at the southwest corner of Ridge Road and Broad Street.

Griffith Building Commissioner Donche Andonov said the single-story building will be 25,000 square feet and will take about six months to complete. The company plans to move into the all-brick facility by Sept. 1, he said.

Valdes provides engineering services to process, power and manufacturing industries in the Midwest, according to the company's Web site.

Griffith Town Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, said the new business is a win-win situation for the company and Griffith residents.

"As more Illinois businesses begin to understand the substantial cost savings they will realize by crossing over the border into Indiana, we want to let them know that Griffith is open for business."

Source: www.nwi.com
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Valdes Engineering Company (VEC) sets the standard for excellence in engineering serving regional, national and global corporations with on-time, on-budget projects. VEC is a Chicago-based engineering consulting firm, specializing in the petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, power, chemical, alternative energy, and manufacturing industries.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Dodgeball Blog, Week of 3-7

The VEC Dodgeballs of Fire won a close match against The Lantern on March 05 by a score of 6 games to 4. Highlights of the match were two seemingly impossible circus catches made by Ted Raymond and an impressive sudden death victory by Andy Schwerha. VEC has now defeated the tough Lantern team twice this season and will look to achieve the clean sweep when the teams square off for the final time on April 16th. VEC's record improved to 4-1 and the Dodgeballs of Fire sit atop the standings in a first place tie with The Bootleggers. The next match is at 7:00 PM on March 12th against the Wednesday Warriors at the River Woods School in Naperville.
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Valdes Engineering Company (VEC) sets the standard for excellence in engineering serving regional, national and global corporations with on-time, on-budget projects. VEC is a Chicago-based engineering consulting firm, specializing in the petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, power, chemical, alternative energy, and manufacturing industries.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Shoot for the A's in Math And Science

Last year, Valdes Engineering Company participated in ExxonMobil's "Shoot for the A's in Math and Science"; a fundraising event organized to help math and science teachers through company sponsorships and participation in clay target shotgun sports. VEC's shooting team took second place overall, capturing the first place contractors trophy for high overall team score, as well as picking up the individual high overall score in the event. The competition consisted of a round of trap, 5-stand, and a 50 bird sporting clays competition, with the total score for the three events counting towards each team members overall score. VEC will be defending their first place contractor trophy this June.
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Valdes Engineering Company (VEC) sets the standard for excellence in engineering serving regional, national and global corporations with on-time, on-budget projects. VEC is a Chicago-based engineering consulting firm, specializing in the petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, power, chemical, alternative energy, and manufacturing industries.

VEC Basketball Blog for Week of 3/3/08

The VEC basketball team played at their peak this week, as things are beginning to come together. While only six players were available for this weeks game, five of which would be considered guards, the VEC team managed to hold their own against the undefeated and top ranked team in the entire league. While only a few games remain, the VEC team is beginning to figure out how to play with one another, and the general consensus of the team is that next year could show a considerable turnaround. The team's next game is on 3/10/08 against the Tappers.
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Valdes Engineering Company (VEC) sets the standard for excellence in engineering serving regional, national and global corporations with on-time, on-budget projects. VEC is a Chicago-based engineering consulting firm, specializing in the petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, power, chemical, alternative energy, and manufacturing industries.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Welcome New Employees!

Valdes Engineering Company warmly welcomes the newest additions to our team!
  • Brooke Haggerty
  • Timothy Poe
  • Peter Folga
  • Diane Mueller
  • Charlene Thomas

VEC's success is directly attributed to our staff of highly-trained, talented professionals. VEC offers its employees a unique, challenging and rewarding work environment. We are proud to add these new faces to our staff!

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Valdes Engineering Company (VEC) sets the standard for excellence in engineering serving regional, national and global corporations with on-time, on-budget projects. VEC is a Chicago-based engineering consulting firm, specializing in the petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, power, chemical, alternative energy, and manufacturing industries.