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(left to right) Joe Dean, Vice President of Operations, Mike Barth,
President, and Bruce Wendel, Project Manager discuss the project.
When it comes to concrete sitework in southern California, they don't come much bigger than Jezowski & Markel. Not only are they on the cutting edge of machine production for curb and gutter, they also flow quite well with decorative hardscape.
Jezowski and Markel Contractors first began way back in 1953 with partners John Jezowski and Al Markel in Santa Ana, CA. As a small company they focused their work on residential driveways, curbs and gutters, sidewalks and other sitework. Over the years, Markel's son separated to concentrate more on the hardscape (cement landscape) end of the business; Jezowski became more successful innovators at curb and gutter type work. In the early 1980's Mike Barth purchased Markel Cement from Charlie Markel, Al's son. Then in 1996 Mike Barth, President of Markel Cement, purchased the John Jezowski business, and brought the two back together again. Together the two aspects of this concrete sitework company beautifully accent and compliment each other. Often J & M will take on work where they are able to use their full array of concrete talents.
J&M has established a solid reputation in machine extruded curb and gutter
concrete construction.
This is high production oriented work that requires speed and quality simultaneously.
To accomplish this lofty task
they make use of an entire fleet of Miller Formless Curb Machines shown above
operating back in 1972 and today.
Mike Barth, President of J & M, first started way back in 1972 as a yard man. He quickly moved to the position of office estimator, which he loved. By 1986 he took over as lead man. He simply says that he outlasted everyone else.
With annual sales in excess of $18 million, and a workforce of over 200 employees, this union contractor is definitely the biggest at what they do. At any one time they will be actively involved with 12 to 15 jobs. Their customer list consists of more than 300 clients. And there is a never-ending influx of calls from prospective clients offering to bid their jobs. They cannot keep up with all these referral-driven offers.
Their work load is an even mix of 50/50 public to private. It is also nearly a 50/50 mix of production extruded work (curb, gutter, etc.) vs. the decorative hardscape. The breakdown is roughly this: 25% residential track work (private), 25% street improvement (public), 25-30% schools and other public-type works for hardscape, and the remaining 20-25% being commercial hardscape. They perform their work all over Southern California. A couple of years ago, in anticipation of a 10th University of California campus opening, they opened a branch office in Merced, CA. Just last month, the governor approved funding for the school, which is expected to be open by 2005, and specialize in agriculture.
(Above) Some examples of decorative concrete created by J&M craftsman.
A few of the memorable projects
J&M has worked on include: The Long Beach Aquarium; The Stadium Towers;
USC Medical Center; The Block of Orange;
Century Stadium Theaters; The Tustin Market Place, and Riverside County Medical
Center.
Recently they completed a new version of the Auto Utopia ride at Disneyland. Now the course is just one track, not two, is twice as long, and sports many new features, even a section of concrete that resembles an off-road track. Last summer they helped re-vamp Soak City at Knott's Berry Farm. Currently they are doing phase 2 of the new Student Housing at UC Riverside. They are performing all of the sitework at that job: the sidewalks, curbs, gutters, stairs, and the decorative walls and hardscape. Their bill for that job was almost $900,000. The single largest project to date for J & M was completed for the LA Convention Center a number of years agoÑa whopping $3.7 million. On the cutting edge of architectural wizardry they delve into the relatively recent phenomenon of rustic terrazzo. This is artistic display for the exterior entrance areas of some buildings and structures. One example of this is the 75 foot long fountain they are doing for the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood. This 12 foot high structure also functions as a noise barrier to the street traffic. But perhaps what J & M is most proud of is their innovations for laying curb and gutter. They recently outfitted a Miller Formless Paving machine that will lay down a 10 foot wide sidewalk, and a curb, all from the street! They are truly pioneers in this arena of machine extruded cement laying.
(From left to right) Joe Dean, Vice President of Operations, John Bennett,
Vice President of Production,
Mike Barth, President, Ron Marstellar, Estimator/Project Manager, Bruce Wendel,
Estimator/Project Manager,
and Dave Westcott, Estimator/Project Manager.
Mike Barth loves to get away from it all from time to time with his family. He and his wife, Michelle, are the proud parents of five daughtersÑMelissaÑ23, NicoleÑ21, HeatherÑ19, MelanieÑ18, and LauraÑ12. They are a close family and enjoy their houseboating adventures on such lakes as Lake Powell, or Clearlake.
One thing that Mike would like to convey to the younger generation is this: "construction is a viable option for a good career. The money and benefits all make for a good living." He, as others in this industry, recognize the need for trade schools in the high school, and perhaps even college level. Currently there is a severe shortage of qualified personnel. He views his retirees with bittersweet feelings since it is nice to see them enjoy this new phase of their life; but he also knows that it takes years to train an apprentice to work as well.
Yet what really makes this career worthwhile for Mike and his crew is the great people he gets to work with day in and day out; and the pride in knowing their role in the creation of a beautiful society. This well-balanced company is solidly poised for the future.
Mike Barth and his family getting away from it all at Lake Powell & Clearlake.
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