Breaking News! West America Arizona, LLC was just informed that our Pimmex/West America Arizona joint venture team has been awarded the District 6 Head Start and Tenant Improvements project for the Gila River Indian Community! We will be providing preconstruction services for the $9 million project. The scope of work will be defined through our preconstruction efforts in collaboration with the selected design team. New additions to the existing school will consist of a multi-purpose room, additional classrooms and storage space. The Tenant Improvements will include site work, exterior building, interior building, kitchen, HVAC electrical and special systems. Preconstruction efforts to will begin in February with a construction notice to proceed by August 2013.

Fantastic News! West America Corporation was recently awarded the Parc One project! We will be providing preconstruction and construction services for the $21 million Parc One Apartment community located on 6.78 acres in Santee, California. The 293,000 SF project includes 172 units; 52 one bedroom units, 84 two bedroom units, and 36 three bedroom units. The project consists of two, four story buildings, and one three story building all wood-frame with slab on grade. Amenities include a 2,000 SF building that includes a leasing office, club room and a gym, a paved walk along the San Diego River and an outdoor pool and spa, outdoor volleyball court, BBQ areas, and children’s play structure. Preconstruction efforts will begin in February and construction is scheduled to commence in June of 2013.

As Director of Native America Affairs for West America Corporation, John Christman will lead and oversee the development and growth of new business. His focus will be to develop and maintain effective key Tribal relationships.

Prior to joining the West America team, John A. Christman served as tribal treasurer for The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians in for five consecutive terms until 2010 as well as serving a two-year term as vice chairman from 1990 to 1992. As Viejas treasurer, Christman oversaw tribal finances and coordinated tribal business and government budgets, income and expenses. He represented the band as it pursued economic development and was instrumental in securing a sound financial future for generations to come.

Christman also previously served as manager of Administrative Projects at Viejas Casino where he was involved in many financially related positions of increasing responsibility, including purchasing manager. He was instrumental in establishing the purchasing department, and laying the foundation and groundwork for departmental operations. As a result, he brought strong accounting and organizational skills to the Viejas treasury.

Grounded in Kumeyaay culture, Christman learned traditional bird songs as a child and takes his responsibility for performing sacred spiritual ceremonies at many cultural events, including burial services very seriously. Dedicated to carrying on the tradition to future generations, he was one of three instructors to teach a semester of Kumeyaay music and dance at D-Q University on the Sycuan Reservation. Christman has also taught the California Indian game of peón to tribal many tribal youth.

West America Arizona, LLC is proud to announce the award of another new project – Searsucker Scottsdale! We recently began providing both preconstruction and construction services for the new Searsucker restaurant and bar in Scottsdale, Arizona. The project includes a complete tenant improvement build out of an existing retail space into the new restaurant and bar.

West America Arizona, LLC was recently awarded an contract to provide both preconstruction and construction services to the the Gila River Indian Community to construct their District 7 Multi-Purpose Building project in Sacaton, Arizona. This $7 Million project includes a 35,625 SF, two story building that will house a gymnasium, administrative offices, a commercial kitchen, elderly center, computer room, wellness/fitness area, and both men’s and women’s locker rooms. The site plans also include a 2,700 SF outdoor pool with 4,000 SF of pool deck to be located on 2.5 acres. The project will be constructed in 10 months and will be LEED Silver Certified.

West America Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of Ken McQuarrie to our team. He has assumed the role of Vice President of Estimating & PreConstruction, in which he will act as the team leader throughout the estimating and preconstruction phase of each project. He will insure that our preconstruction services are tailored to the needs of each client, ultimately providing detailed project estimates and schedules, timely constructability reviews and value engineering, providing our clients with solutions prior to the commencement of construction. Ken will manage all aspects of West America Corporation’s estimating department including bidding, preconstruction and design build.

Prior to joining the West America team, Ken served as Chief Estimator for one of ENR Magazine’s top 10 General Contractors. He has also worked as an estimator during the past 24 years preparing building estimates for all price ranges and delivery methods throughout North America.

West America Corporation recently promoted Mike Schmidt to Vice President of Operations. New hires in 2012 include: Ryan Meagher as Project Manager; Troy Cohen as Project Engineer and Richard Tall Bear as Native American Business Development Representative. Welcome and congratulations to all!

West America Corporation has leased 9,000 SF on the ground floor of the Aventine Building in the UTC area of San Diego. With obrARCHITECTURE currently designing the interiors, a full tenant improvement is scheduled to be complete by March 2012.