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(Above
left) Mike Sapper on the jobsite in Fresno, California. (Above right) Steve,
Gene, and Dave Sapper in front of their headquarters
in Spring Valley, California.
It is respect for each other, and the partner-like relationships they form with their clients that keeps the three Sapper brothers in tune, supported by their fatherÕs forty years of experience.
Partnering is a concept that is bringing some sanity back into this industry. Like most other aspects of the business world, the construction industry is choked and besieged by attitudes of litigiousness, with the lawyers emerging as the only winners. It brings to mind a saying by Ben Franklin: two people find a clam together on the beach and argue who gets it. A lawyer happens by, opens the clam, separates the shell, giving a half to each. Then the lawyer takes the middle as his fee and departs.
Sapper Construction is well known for their quality work on airport runways
and taxiways,
both for the, military and private airports. Above Sapper constructed all
of the highlighted
concrete sections on the Miramar Marine Corps Air Base in San Diego California.
Dave Sapper, company president, explains that one of their strong points is their ability and willingness to work closely with clients, and work out the difficulties before small differences mount to legal tussles. This is the concept of partnering, which, according to Dave, re-emerged in this industry some ten years ago. He emphasizes that they avoid lawsuits like the plague, and they "prefer not to pay attorneys." Partnering brings back community and commonality since both parties have the same goal: to get the job done right.
Sapper Construction uses their Gomaco GP4000 with Dowel Bar Inserter on the
HWY 41 Construction Project in Fresno
Ca. (Top right) A closer look at the Dowel Bar Inserter. (Bottom right) Sapper's
CMI Johnson-Ross Dual Portable Concrete Batch Plant.
There is a similar theme to the way Sapper Construction Company has structured itself. Basically the three Sapper brothers, Dave, Mike, and Steve, run the company and are supported in advice by their still-active father, and company founder, Gene Sapper. Dave is the President and oversees all operations. He modestly explains that, since he is the oldest, this responsibility fell to him. Mike Sapper is in charge of field operations. And Steve Sapper is the companyÕs Chief Financial Officer. Dave is quick to point out that any one of them is perfectly capable of running the company. He underlines that they have a deep respect for each other, and each otherÕs capabilities. "We donÕt try to out-do each other, " he says. Instead, they have formed the habit of talking out their differences. They have come to realize that they are three distinctly different personalities. But instead of seeing these differences as barriers, they view them as strengths, using the diversity of their different perspectives and understandings to help solve problems, and find innovative ways to approach challenges. "We work well together", Dave simply explains.
Sapper Construction Company began in 1962 when Gene Sapper gave rein to his entrepreneurial impulse and went from concrete salesman to concrete contractor. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering; and when he got out of the Marine Corps, he decided to stay in San Diego. Before he sold concrete, he worked for the city of San Diego as a City Inspector. He started small, and grew the business slowly. His brother came aboard to help. Their specialty back then was curbs and gutters.
When Dave Sapper graduated from Arizona State in 1976 with a degree in Construction, he accepted a job with a major Hawaiian construction firm. He felt it was important to "earn his way" into his fatherÕs company; so the plan was for him to work four or five years away for experience. But only after one year, father Gene sought DaveÕs help for his rapidly growing company. Dave came aboard in 1977 as an estimator.
Today Sapper Construction Company specializes in concrete pavingÑmain-line projects such as freeways and airport runways and taxi-ways. This accounts for 90% of their work, which is all public-sector. Today their home base is in Spring Valley (east San Diego county). With 65 to 80 employees their annual income ranges from $15 to 20 million. Their average job is $2 to 3 million. Approximately 10% of their work is as a general contractor, and 90% as a sub-contractor.
Sapper Construction Company repairs center divider on Route 163, north of
Genessee Avenue, after a man steals
a tank from the National Guard Armory in Kearney Mesa and goes on a rampage
destroying everything in his path.
A high-profile job recently performed was for the US Air Force at Nellis Air Base in Nevada. They replaced the runway keel (center section), which was about an 80 ft. section of the 200 ft. wide strip. Incidentally, this was also the largest project dollar wise, coming up to $5 million. Currently they are working on a project at LAX for the general contractor, Kiewit Pacific. The project entails lengthening the taxiway so that 747s have room to make the turn. To do this, the Sepulveda tunnel, which goes underneath the airstrip at that point, is being extended. SapperÕs job will be to pave the area when completed. At $700,000 this is one of their smaller jobs.
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Four
generations of the Sapper Family are shown in this 1963 photograph. From the
left: Herbert Sapper, David Sapper, Gene Sapper.
From the bottom left are Gene's sons Mike, Steve and David. (Above right)
Sapper's Gomaco Commander III curb machine placing curb,
gutter and sidewalk monolithically.
Commenting on the business climate of the day, Dave muses that you have to love this business to survive. "People donÕt get into construction because they want to make a lot of money quickly," he says. But he enjoys the challenge. "You only get one chance with concrete," he warns. The one thing that tends to dampen the joy in this business is the huge amounts of bureaucracy required these days. "My dad used to start a job with a handshakeÑthat is unheard of these days. Before you are allowed to set foot on the job site, you must have signed the contract, furnished copies of your insurance, safety sheets, and bonding capabilities, " he says. And there is also the fierce competition today. But, Dave admits, that this is good for the public which benefits from the best value possible for their dollar. "It also makes us more efficient", he adds.
(Above right) The Sapper boys with father, Gene are all part of the US Swim-Team's
Master program. (Above Left) Dave Sapper in 1995 taking second place in Masters
Swimming
Competition consisting of a 12 mile solo swim around Coronado Island.
Coming from swimming backgroundsÑall four Sappers have competed in college and high schoolÑthey find release, recreation, and enjoyment in continuing to swim competitively. They are part of the US Swim-teamÕs Masters program which holds events regionally, nationally, and internationally. The program has some 35,000 members nationwide.
In partnership with each other, and their clients, Sapper Construction Company symbolizes an attitude that works well for everyone. This type of winning admits no losers.
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