On November 16, 2011, Broadlands Financial Group, LLC and the Chatham County M/WBE Program will present a workshop on estimating for construction contractors, titled, “Faster, Smarter Estimating.” The workshop will be held from 11am-1pm, at The Creative Coast, 15 W. York Street, Savannah, GA.

This workshop will be the first in a series of estimating training sessions. Based on the input of a large number of Chatham County contractors, Broadlands has developed an effective program that will help you estimate construction jobs quickly, accurately, and effectively. The primary goal of this first session is to enable small to medium sized contractors to conduct accurate estimating in-house, utilizing affordable software programs and achieving satisfactory profit margins.

Thirty small, minority and local business owners and managers recently completed the Phase I session of the Chatham County Small Business Leadership program. The six week curriculum, which was designed and implemented by Broadlands Financial Group in conjunction with the Chatham County M/WBE Coordinator’s office, provides small business owners and their employees the opportunity to learn critical leadership, management and sales strategies. A special track for construction contractors and subcontractors was integrated into the curriculum to provide critical strategies for obtaining contractor surety bonds, a statutory requirement for working on state and federal government funded construction projects.

Phase I of this innovative small business program, which began on March 31, 2011, included fifteen hours of core skills training in the areas of business leadership, motivational management, creative decision making, advanced sales strategies and creating powerful mission statements. Broadlands’ Executive Vice President, Bryan Fortay, said the program is designed make sophisticated business strategies simple enough for the small business owner to understand and implement immediately.

“Every small business owner is looking for an advantage, especially in today’s challenging economic environment. This program allows small businesses to establish key fundamentals in marketing, sales, operational efficiency, leadership, management and, for contractors, surety bond credit,” Mr. Fortay said. “The program has been implemented in a number of regions throughout the United States and continues to receive high compliments from participants,” Fortay added.

“High” may be an understatement. Thirty participants responded to a program assessment evaluation, ranking program components on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 – absolutely agree / 1 – absolutely disagree). Some of the questions asked and corresponding average scores include: 

• This was one of the best training sessions I ever attended: Average  response – 9.14
• The instructors were the best instructors I have ever heard: Average  response – 9.15
• I learned something that will make me a better business person: Average response – 9.37
• I would recommend this program to another business: Average response – 9.4

“We don’t craft the program approval survey to skew the responses in our favor so we can post them on our website,” Fortay said. “We want to know where we stand in the eyes of the businesses we work with. We ask hard questions that challenge our program. We want to be the best so we ask program participants if our program is in fact the best, if our instructors are the best.”

Arneja Riley, Chatham County’s Coordinator for Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises said the first group of Chatham County participants answered with a resounding yes. “I knew this training would be a success after the first session. Bryan Fortay’s teaching style is insightful, strategic, engaging and empowering. Although it’s two months since we graduated our first class, the participating business owners are still thanking me today.”

Adrienne Edge, President of Cutting Edge Communications and Tummy Time Foods described the program. “Amazing! The content is so engaging and necessary! This program addresses all of my major needs in getting my business off the ground. This is an excellent program for those wanting to start a business, but do not have a background in business. I have learned how to think differently, relate differently, market differently and most of all to BE different as a company. The best leadership training I have experienced.”

Edge was not the only participant applauding the program. Carolyn Guilford, President of Health Restoration 101 reflected on the program’s impact on her businesses. “Wow, this program is fast paced and information packed. The program opened my thinking like no other class has.”

Fortay said he is not surprised that the program’s first graduating class of business leaders showed their appreciation unanimously.

“Our focus is first on the client, then the curriculum. We provide program participants with solutions to real problems that they face every day. We ask questions and modify the content. We take complicated business ideas and wrap them in simplicity. Then we show program participants how to implement business fundamentals immediately into their daily business lives. We don’t train, we solve problems.”

One after another, the program’s first graduating class came forward. “I think this program should be offered to every business owner. Chatham County has raised the bar,” said Santonio Bright of Silverstone Roofing and Painting.

Tidian Diaby of Diaby Electric Inc. said “This is one excellent program the County brought to Savannah. And we are looking for more of this kind of program. Thank you Chatham County, thank you Broadlands.”

Jane Rogers of Dean Forest Nursery added, “I think we need more programs like these to help more small businesses.”

The program is open to any Chatham County business. The County charges a small $25 commitment fee. “The Chatham County Board of Commissioners did something very special for their small business constituents,” Fortay said. “The program costs the small business owner roughly $4 per session. These companies will pay the County back ten-fold with long, profitable and tax generating business enterprises that employ local talent and can participate on locally funded projects.” Mrs. Riley added, “Those that participated say it’s the best $25 they will ever invest in their business.”

A new group of thirty small and local Chatham County businesses will begin the six week Phase I curriculum in September followed by a Phase II curriculum for Phase I graduates.

“I heard Carol Chen of Thrifty Supply Center say she would apply the curriculum to her business, school, church and any other social function,” Fortay commented. “Then Kenny Greene of Atlantic construction said the program was ‘business and life changing.’ These extraordinary responses demonstrate the impact we have on small businesses. It’s tremendous and an indication of what you can do when you have a County that is behind their small and local businesses,” Fortay added.  

“The sessions reminded me of the awful mistakes I made when I first started in business,” said Deatiza Thornton-Winston of Titan’s Construction Cleaning. “Over the years I learned the hard way, with no training. This program was so powerful. I wish that it was available when I first started, when I needed it the most. But some say the best is saved for last. I experienced things and now I can correct them for future use and expand my business. Thank you soooo much!!!” 

To learn more about the Chatham County Small Business Leadership Series and secure your place in the next program session, contact:

Arneja Riley, Chatham County M/WBE Coordinator: (912) 652-7860 or email alriley@chathamcounty.org.

*Broadlands Financial Group, LLC is a business solutions and loss controls company serving owners, real estate developers, financial institutions, contractors and government agencies throughout North America, India, Europe, The Middle East and the Caribbean. The company provides training, business mentorship, construction loan and portfolio controls, investment and project disbursement controls, default analysis, takeover and completion of failed construction projects and renewable energy program management. Broadlands is affiliated with First Sealord Surety, Inc., a Treasury Listed, A.M. Best Rated A- property and casualty insurance company licensed to issue contract surety bonds in 38 states and the District of Columbia.

The program is designed and implemented by Broadlands in coordination with the Chatham County M/WBE Coordinator’s office. Registration began March 9th and seats are filling quickly. Chatham County held two information sessions on March 15 and 100% of the informational session attendees registered for the program. Limited seats remain.

Participants Receive:
• 2 Free Tickets to Kick-off Reception (March 29th)
• Small Business Leadership Training Certificate (Graduation Ceremony)
• One on One sessions with Broadlands Financial Group, LLC http://broadlandsfinancial.com/
• 12 hours of instruction time

Topics include (Class meets only twice per Month):
• Business Leadership: Motivation and Management
• How to obtain Bond Credit
• Advanced Business Practices: Think like a CEO and Build a winning team
• Intro to Construction Accounting
• The Science of Sales and Marketing: How to Motivate Your Customers to Buy!
• Advanced Construction Accounting

Bryan Fortay said that he anticipates a strong turnout for the program. “Everyone small business owner is looking for an advantage, especially in these economic times. This program allows small businesses owners to establish key business fundamentals in marketing, sales, operational efficiency, leadership, management and, for contractors, surety bond credit.” Mr. Fortay added, “the program has been implemented in a number of locals throughout the United and has seen 100% participation approval across the board. Chatham County has done something special for its small business community.”

Chatham County M/WBE Coordinator, Arneja Riley said that she believes the program is an important step toward strengthening the small business community. “Our goal is to ensure the small businesses in Chatham County have every opportunity to be competitive in the marketplace, especially when it comes to participation on local initiatives,” Riley said. “This program is one step in that direction.”

More than 100 small businesses participated in a similar program implemented by Broadlands in Miami-Dade County Florida. “We spoke to some of the small businesses that participated in the program that Broadlands designed and implemented in Miami Dade County Florida,” Ms. Riley stated. “They all raved about this program.”

One such participant was Eloise Gonzalez, President of Commercial Interior Contractors and member of the Miami-Dade County Small Business Advisory Board. When asked about the program, Ms. Gonzalez said, “This program is so amazing. I am so grateful to Broadlands and the County. I feel like I am the lucky recipient, I really am. It’s like a little MBA for free. I implement a piece of every session into my everyday business operations and it has made such a difference. Thank you Broadlands.”

“Broadlands and its family of companies support thousands of small businesses every year.” Mr. Fortay said. We know the hurdles that these companies must overcome and Broadlands is in a good position to provide the information necessary for these up and coming enterprises to grow.” Fortay added, “We provide surety bonds to small contractors through our sister company, First Sealord Surety, we provide proven leadership and management training programs that meet real world needs of these companies, we provide creative solutions for sales and marketing that give these companies advantages even over their larger counterparts. It’s a tremendous program.”

Sign up for this program by March 28, 2011, by contacting:

Arneja Riley
Chatham County M/WBE Coordinator
(Minority and Women Business Enterprise)
Ph(912) 652-7860
email: alriley@chathamcounty.org

“Broadlands is one of the few companies in the world that brings concentrating trough, concentrating tower and photovoltaic experience to its clients’ solar initiatives,” Fortay said. “We are proud to bring that experience to the upcoming CSP Summit.

Mr. Fortay will Chair four panels of world class experts in the development, financial, engineering and construction segments of the solar marketplace. The sessions will include critical discussions on renewable energy project finance, cycle optimization, material procurement, construction operations maintenance, cost savings strategies, and project development challenges, as well as a case study on molten salt storage.

Broadlands was the owner’s choice to provide owner’s representative services and project controls on the largest Concentrating Solar Trough Power Plant built in the world in over 20 years – the 64 MW Nevada Solar One. Broadlands was the owner’s choice to provide owner’s representation on the 10.5 MW photovoltaic plant, PA Solar Park I. Broadlands was the owner’s choice to provide post construction cost analysis and best practice construction strategies on a 5 MW CSP tower project. In addition, Broadlands was chosen as the owner’s representative on the first CSP plant being built under India’s new national tariff program and as the strategic consultant on a 100 MW wind initiative for a major government authority. Broadlands’ professionals further bring diverse energy project experience to the company, including nuclear and biomass. And, the company employs personnel that worked on the design of the Luz SEGS VIII and IX 80 MW projects as well as modifications and plant improvements made on the SEGS 30 MW units.

“We have a proven approach to decrease development costs, mitigate construction risk and drive on time project completion of solar plants, especially concentrating solar,” Mr. Fortay added.  “The upcoming CSP Summit will be another opportunity for Broadlands to showcase that experience and collaborate with other talented professionals working in the concentrating solar field.”

For more information, visit: www.BroadlandsOnline.com or contact us at 610-664-2324.

After providing critical owner’s representation and project controls for Acciona on the Spanish conglomerate’s 65 megawatt Nevada Solar One Project, Broadlands was selected by Entegra to represent Entegra through the design and construction of Entegra’s Rajasthan Solar One, a 10 MW concentrated solar project that will include eight hours of thermal storage to be built in Rajasthan, India.

“The national feed-in-tariff program has put India squarely on the renewable energy map,” said Ted Drauschak, Broadlands’ President. “Companies in India and around the world are designing and implemented strategies to take advantage of the opportunity in India. Broadlands just happens to be one of the few companies in the world with major concentrating solar, PV, wind and biomass expertise. There aren’t too many companies that can say that they have utility scale concentrating solar and PV experience, but Broadlands can,” Drauschak added.

As a result, real estate owners, developers and lenders are looking to Broadlands to design the roadmap to bring their Indian projects from concept to successful and profitable operation.  “There is no question that owners and lenders want to know what we know,” Drauschak said.  “We’ve worked to protect owners and lenders against the risks on CSP trough, CSP tower and PV projects. We have the experience and others want to take advantage of our knowledge. Broadlands’ move to the Indian marketplace is a logical progression for Broadlands and its clients.”

Risk-averse capital providers require proven, meaningful ways to contain construction risk and demanded transparency as part of the deal. Broadlands fills that need.  Bryan Fortay, Broadlands’ Executive Vice President said, “investors and lenders want to see an experienced team. Unfortunately for owners looking to develop major solar projects, there are not that many companies in the world that bring any significant experience in representing the owner’s interests on utility scale solar projects. Broadlands does.”

“When an investor or lender sees a company like Broadlands as part of the owner’s team, a company with two decades of underwriting construction and development projects, a company that designed and executed loss control strategies on over $15 Billion of loss-free projects and a company that brings real solar experience to the project, that investor or lender is more likely to want to be involved in your project,” Fortay added.

Several Broadlands representatives will attend POWER-GEN India and Central Asia 2010. “We will meet with existing clients, government agencies, lenders, and large multi-national corporations capable of utilizing strong balance sheets to generate substantial internal rate of return via solar project development in India,” Drauschak said. “Come and see us at the conference.”

Contact:
Tony Sanchez
Information@BroadlandsFinancial.com
789 East Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA  19085
Ph: 610.617.2324



Broadlands Financial Group, LLC, an international owner’s representative and construction controls services firm based in Villanova, PA, has added a number of key personnel to its renewable energy group in response to a surge in renewable energy projects under contract.

Gage Kellogg has been named the Senior Vice President of Renewable Energy. Mr. Kellogg has been with Broadlands since 2002 and led the project controls team at Broadlands for Nevada Solar One, a 64 MW CSP plant in Boulder City, NV.

Broadlands Executive Vice President, Bryan Fortay, said Broadlands is quickly becoming the international leader in owner, lender and investor controls and project management in the renewable energy marketplace. “Project owners and lenders see real value in the experience we bring to the table and the strategies we carry out to maximize return on investment.” Mr. Fortay said. Broadlands has recently been engaged to provide a variety of project controls, program management and consulting services. Broadlands is providing owner’s representative and program management services on the 10MW Rajasthan Solar One CSP project in India and the 10.6MW PV PA Solar Park One in Carbon County, PA. , The company is supporting the development initiatives of a major governmental entity on a 106MW wind project in Bethlehem, PA and provided a variety of post construction services on a 5 MW concentrating solar tower project in California, to name a few.

“For twenty years we have been implementing development and project controls that ensure the on-time, on-budget delivery of construction projects. Our renewable energy clients are benefitting from our ability to drive project costs down and maximize investment returns and many others are taking notice.” Fortay said. Broadlands currently has a renewable energy pipeline of nearly one billion dollars of projects in the United States, Asia and Africa.

Broadlands’s ability to deliver the necessary diversity of professional expertise, including engineers, accountants, project managers, attorneys, scheduling experts and budget controls professionals, is bolstered by the recent addition of Terrence Hottle. Mr. Hottle has joined Broadlands as Vice President of Engineering – Energy. and brings over 30 years of energy experience, including design and construction of nuclear reactors and major solar plants, as well as waste-to-energy facilities. Prior to joining Broadlands, Mr. Hottle held various engineering and project executive positions with, among others: Veolia Energy North America; General Electric/Penpower; Chevron Energy Solutions; Trigen Energy Corporation; and Illinova Generating Company.

Broadlands Financial Group, an international owner’s representative and construction controls services firm based in Villanova, PA, has been selected as the Owner’s Representative by India-based Entegra Limited for the construction of a 10 megawatt Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant in Rajasthan, India.

Broadlands Executive Vice President, Bryan Fortay, said Broadlands is quickly becoming the international leader in owner, lender and investor controls and project management in the renewable energy marketplace. “Project owners and lenders see real value in the experience we bring to the table and the strategies we carry out to maximize return on their renewable investment.” Mr. Fortay said.

Broadlands has recently been engaged to provide a variety of project controls, program management and consulting services. Broadlands is providing owner’s representative and program management services on the 10.6 MW photovoltaic PA Solar Park One in Carbon County, PA, supporting the development initiatives of a major governmental entity on a 106MW wind project in the eastern United States and providing a variety of post construction services on a 5 MW concentrating solar tower project in California, to name a few.

“For twenty years we have been implementing development and project controls that ensure the on-time, on-budget delivery of construction projects. Our renewable energy clients are benefitting from our ability to drive project costs down and maximize investment returns and many others are taking notice.” Fortay said. “Now we have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to work with the Entegra team and support Entegra’s investment in solar power.”

Rajasthan Solar One, as the project has been named, will consist of a 10MW solar field of parabolic trough mirrors using molten salts as a heat transfer medium as well as for 8 hours of thermal energy storage. Entegra has teamed up with the Italian Consortium Solare XXI, consisting of Techint, Archimede Solar Energy, Ronda Reflex and Duplomatic Oleodinamica, to supply their innovative solar collectors capable of utilizing molten salts as an environmentally-friendly and higher efficiency replacement for oil. Rajasthan Solar One will be the first major utility-scale deployment of this new technology.

Broadlands Financial Group will lead the international project team for Rajasthan Solar One and provide the same program of financial and construction controls proven successful on Nevada Solar One, a 64 MW CSP plant currently operating near Boulder City, NV. A unique system of contract negotiation, design optimization, schedule controls, and open-book accounting provides project developers, lenders, and equity partners the oversight and industry experience required to deliver large renewable energy projects on time and on budget.

The construction and finance professionals at Broadlands Financial Group, LLC have been providing loss controls to owners, lenders, sureties and government agencies for nearly 20 years. An industry-leader within renewable energy, Broadlands is currently representing owners and lenders on nearly one billion dollars of energy projects.

For more information, visit: www.BroadlandsOnline.com

The Pennsylvania solar park will generate enough electricity to power 1,450 homes and eliminate more than 320,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over 30 years of operation – the equivalent of planting more than 25,000 acres of trees. The project also includes a LEED platinum educational center and observatory.

“We are extremely proud to be a part of this project,” said Bryan Fortay, Executive Vice President at Broadlands. “This project is a sharp statement by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that it intends to be a national leader in renewable development and the project owner is one of the most knowledgable and passionate renewable entrepreneurs we have worked with.”