Awards

EMCOR Diamond Award
When a leak in the glycol chilled water system threatened to shut down the Motorola MOS-12 facility at 4 p.m. one Saturday, the company's representatives were in desperate need of help. The fab generates literally thousands of dollars every second, so shutting down the facility for repairs, even for a short time, was out of the question.

University crews were working at the site that day, so our response to Motorola's call for emergency help was instantaneous. John Soto, our piping general foreman, and Bill Vollrath, piping superintendent, were faced with an immediate challenge: Spraying water prevented them from getting close enough to assess the problem. After a quick brainstorming session, John and Bill came up with a simple yet effective means to stem the tide. They cut the end off of a shovel handle, and, dressed in full personal protective gear, they pounded the little wooden plug into the hole where a 1-inch thread-o-let had been knocked off.

Now able to get a closer look, they determined that they could weld a 6-inch pipe, with a weld cap on one end, to cover the temporary wooden plug. All the necessary equipment and materials were found in University's on-site inventory, so John was able to complete the repair immediately.

Within just 60 minutes of that emergency call - and with the fab in full operation all the while – the leak was stopped.

Since that Saturday, Motorola representatives have pointed to Bill's and John's quick response and resourcefulness many times as a great example of the effectiveness of University's high-level, personal dedication in ensuring the success of the MOS-12 site.

For their commitment far above the call of duty, Bill and John recently were chosen to receive an extraordinarily high honor. They were presented with the "EMCOR Diamond Award" in recognition of an exemplary performance that has enriched us all.

Best Mechanical Contractor in the State

In 2001, University's Arizona Division was voted the best mechanical contractor in the state's largest business opinion poll.

The poll is conducted annually by Arizona Business Magazine, which invites its print and online readers to vote for specific companies based on quality of product, service and customer satisfaction. University competed against 21 other mechanical contractors for the honor of being ranked number one.

An excerpt from Arizona Business Magazine's 2001 issue of "The Best of Arizona Business:"
University Mechanical and Engineering Contractors' top ranking can be attributed in large measure to the company's unique approach to client service. Every individual embraces a personal commitment to embody "The UMEC Way." This translates into working safely, wowing every client every time, optimizing productivity, acquiring and utilizing superior knowledge, anticipating problems and opportunities, fostering long-term relationships, and always turning in a peak performance both as an individual and as a team. "These values in action have resulted in personal success for our employees and their families, as well as in the growth, strength, and success of our company," says UMEC's executive vice president, Brad Thornton. UMEC is an EMCOR Group company, making it part of the nation's largest mechanical and electrical contracting and facilities services organization. As an EMCOR company, UMEC offers clients throughout Arizona and the Southwest the ideal combination of global capabilities, local focus, and a 79-year history of strength and stability. Add to this UMEC's solid financial and bonding capabilities, strong subcontractor and vendor relationships, sheet metal and piping fabrication facilities, highly trained and skilled field workers, and sophisticated in-house technical expertise – and you can easily see why UMEC is the choice of clients who demand the finest mechanical services for projects of all sizes and types. Many of Arizona's public and private landmarks feature mechanical systems designed and installed by UMEC, and numerous key industries rely on the company to construct the infrastructure needed to support their growth.

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