Top Banner
H.A. DORSTEN INC. FROM SHOVEL TO SUCCESS THE MAGAZINE FOR CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVES Winter 2010 www.usdevelopersjournal.com
6

H.A. Dorsten Inc(HighQ)Spread

Mar 23, 2016

Download

Documents

H.A. Dorsten Inc. F rom S hovel to S ucceSS Winter 2010 www.usdevelopersjournal.com
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: H.A. Dorsten Inc(HighQ)Spread

H.A. Dorsten Inc.From Shovel to SucceSS

T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C O N S T R U C T I O N E X E C U T I V E S

Winter 2010 www.usdevelopersjournal.com

Page 2: H.A. Dorsten Inc(HighQ)Spread

H.A. Dorsten Inc.

2 | uS DeveloperS Journal Winter edition 2010 | 3

From Shovel to SuccessProduced by Mike Armstrong & Written by H. M. Kuldell

H.A. Dorsten Inc., general contractors, started small when the company headed out for its first job in 1951. Harold Dorsten and a buddy showed up on the job site in a rented pickup truck with a brand new wheelbarrow and shovel. that was it – two guys and minimal, unused equipment.

“the superintendent looked and asked if it was their first job,” recounts Dorsten’s grandson, sean. “they said yes, and he said, ‘Well, everyone has to start somewhere.” Home Is Where the Start Is

H.A. Dorsten Inc. crews head out to jobs with more than one shovel these days, as one would expect

from a company that specializes in building and remodeling nursing homes in its home state of ohio, as well as Indiana and Pennsylvania. now a company with an annual revenue of $15 million, it employs 42 employees and continues to be family-run. In 1990, sean Dorsten became the third generation to be owner and president of the company.

In the 1970s, Dorsten’s father saw the opportunities in nursing homes, a path Dorsten continues to follow. When the company first got into the nursing home construction business, it built the homes and rented them to owner-operators. the company later abandoned the idea of leasing nursing homes. “We have since gotten out of the leasing aspect due to the fear that, if an operator is unable to continue to pay

the rent or goes out of business, we might be forced to operate the facility, and that’s not something we wanted to do,” Dorsten said. Instead, the company focuses on the working with architects with the goal of doing projects on a design-build basis. “that is preferred, because many times we’re giving a budget number for people to work with, and they need this figure upfront to commit; this method works better than having us put together drawings and getting a price back to the owner,” Dorsten says. “We’ve done enough of this type that we feel comfortable giving a number and working within it if we can control our own design.”

Building nursing homes presents unique challenges, such as ascertaining the different needs of assisted

living and long-term care facilities. Long-term care homes, for example, require more medical wiring and gas issues, Dorsten explained. “one of the biggest offerings we make is that when we build a home, our superintendents and managers know the codes very well,” he says. “After our inspection is complete, the life safety people come in. We have very little problems with that, due to our experience, and the owner can move in on schedule. that’s important, as every day without residents costs revenue.”

over the years, nursing homes have evolved, going from larger long-term care facilites to smaller houses for group living and increased demands for physical therapy areas. to keep up with the changing industry, H.A. Dorsten Inc. leverages its membership in the Associated Builders and contractors (ABc) to train employees. “It’s rewarding to see you’re putting a

Heart Institute of Northwest Ohio- Lima, OH

HCR Manorcare- Parma, OH

Page 3: H.A. Dorsten Inc(HighQ)Spread

H.A. Dorsten Inc.

4 | uS DeveloperS Journal Winter edition 2010 | 5

Grandlke Regional Cancer Center

Page 4: H.A. Dorsten Inc(HighQ)Spread

H.A. Dorsten Inc.

6 | uS DeveloperS Journal Winter edition 2010 | 7

number of employees to work, but it’s even more rewarding to know they have the tools and knowledge to come home safe at night,” Dorsten says.

Redirecting Resources

Currently, the staff of H.A. Dorsten Inc. handles the concrete work, framing, rough carpentry and finished carpentry work for its jobs across various states. When the company travels for a job, it brings along a few specific subcontrators and accepts bids from locals. “When we go into a town farther away from us, we like to give the locals an

HCR Manorcare- Coffe Lounge- Parma, OH

opportunity,” Dorsten says. “nine times out of 10, they have better pricing in their own markets.” though the company specializes in nursing homes, Dorsten has noticed the industry is slowing down – at least temporarily until baby boomers get a few years older. Dorsten says that because of this the company has been exploring new options, such as student housing for colleges and universities. “We’re actually going to do our first development for a local branch university, hopefully starting in March 2010 [Wright state University, Lake campus].

Page 5: H.A. Dorsten Inc(HighQ)Spread

H.A. Dorsten Inc.

8 | uS DeveloperS Journal Winter edition 2010 | 9

We formed a new development company [Lake campus Development LLc] and we will put up units on land not owned by the university,” Dorsten says. the ages of the residents are on different ends of the spectrum, but the buildings share a similar condominium-apartment style construction that the company excels in.

the company also is exploring commercial industrial leasing. It recently developed a medical office facility in Vandahlia, ohio, featuring two suites, one for the

established : 1951 H.A. Dorsten Inc. employees : 42

President : sean Dorsten

www.hadorsteninc.com

COMPANY AT A GLANCE

Miniser Dental Center- Minister, OH

Good samaritan and the other for Dayton children’s medical centers. “Hospitals are looking to expand themselves in other areas they service but didn’t have a presence in physically, so we can help them cut drive times for some patients,” Dorsten says. the company is just beginning to market its new services; but, like the company’s founder and his new shovel, it has to start somewhere and is sure to end up successful.•

Page 6: H.A. Dorsten Inc(HighQ)Spread

Winter 2009 www.usexecutivejournal.com

h.a. DorSten Inc.1 4 6 N . M a i n S t .

M i n s t e r , O H 4 5 8 6 5U n i t e d S t a t e s

w w w . h a d o r s t e n i n c . c o m

w w w. u s d e v e l o p e r s j o u r n a l . c o m