LA JOLLA GROUP

2008-2009 : I STARTED ONE OF THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF MY CAREER. MY PROJECT MANAGER MATT VELTRE CALLED ME ON THE PHONE AND SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO REMODEL THE OLD E-MACHINES BUILDING INTO THE LA JOLLA GROUP AND THAT I HAD BEEN SELECTED TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT. I HAD NO CLUE WHO THE LA JOLLA GROUP WAS, BUT I WAS EDUCATED VERY QUICKLY. IT STARTED WITH A MEETING WITH MATT, BILL ZOLG(PART OWNER LA JOLLA GROUP), AND MIKE BROWN FROM THE IRVINE COMPANY. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT WAS THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD SPACE AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF IT. WE WALKED THE SPACE FROM END TO END AND BASICALLY DECIDED TO TEAR OUT 95% OF THE WALLS, BUILD A WALL TO SEPARATE THE OFFICE FROM THE WAREHOUSE AND IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER AND WE WERE COLD. THERE WAS SO MUCH DEMOLITION THAT WE RAN 2 CREWS OF 10-15 GUYS IN TWO SHIFTS 5 DAYS A WEEK. I WAS ALWAYS NERVOUS THAT THE NIGHT CREW WOULD HIT A FIRE SPRINKLER OR CUT A WATER LINE, BUT THEY WERE CAREFUL AND I NEVER DID GET THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WAKE UP CALL.

DUE TO DESIGN ISSUES AND MONEY COMPLICATIONS THE PROJECT SHUTDOWN FOR A MONTH AND THEN COME FEBRUARY WE WERE RIGHT BACK ON IT. BY THEN EVERYONE OF OUR SUBCONTRACTORS ASSOCIATED LA JOLLA GROUP WITH O'NEILL SURFING AND THEY ALL WANTED IN ON THE ACTION. THE SURF INDUSTRY IS BIG IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND MOST CONSTRUCTION WORKERS EITHER SURF, PRETEND TO SURF, OR WEAR SURF INDUSTRY CLOTHING. I WOULD GET CALLS EVERYDAY FROM WORKERS ASKING ME TO CALL THEIR BOSS AND REQUEST THEM TO BE ON THE JOB. THE O'NEILL NAME ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, MANY A DAYS I WOULD WALK THE JOBSITE AND THINK I HAVE THE BEST WORKERS FROM EVERY TRADE ON MY JOBSITE. THE GUYS WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE THE PLACE NICE. THEY EVEN DID THINGS THAT THE COMMON OBSERVER WOULDN'T CATCH. THE PHOTOS BELOW TRULY ARE A TRIBUTE TO THEIR WORK.