I met Etai Timna, the Director of Major Projects, Vesta Modular, at the MHBA Annual Meeting in Harrisburg, PA in October and knew right away I needed to learn more about what his company has to offer developers of large modular projects.
He and I finally had time for some answers to the questions most modular factories, commercial builders and developers have about how they can help with the set and finish of modular projects.
Gary Fleisher, the Modcoach: Vesta has done modular projects in some of the harshest terrains and also in some of the nicest. Coordinating your sets and finish for each one must be unique. How does Vesta plan for this?
Etai Timna: VESTA Modular is unique in our approach to tackling the most challenging of projects with our focused and experienced Major Projects Team. We have industry leaders with strong backgrounds ranging from manufacturing to design to setup.
Our national presence allows us to have a solid understanding of various building codes and zoning issues that affect specific locations. We are familiar with most of the manufacturers and logistics companies across the country and we utilize our long-term relationships with these entities to improve schedules and to provide the best product for the specific client requirements. It is our team that has given us the comfort to tackle and complete some of the most challenging projects in the modular industry. With careful consideration and planning, we are ready to engage in more complicated and challenging projects as we grow.
Modcoach: Do you have developers approach you directly to help with the design, manufacturing, set, and finish of their modular project?
Etai: The VESTA Modular team works directly with developers, owners, architects, and general contractors in providing a turnkey modular solution. In most of our larger projects, VESTA begins with the design process by engaging architects and engineers that are familiar with modular projects. If the client has already engaged a design team, we coordinate with that group to help the project proceed in a “modular friendly” fashion.
Our pre-construction team works directly with the A/E group to develop the specifications in coordination with the preferred manufacturer. We also coordinate the logistics and setup based on the project location and complexity. In many cases we will also include site services from civil to MEP. As a licensed General Contractor in nearly 30 states, we are able to provide a significant scope of work across the country and in the Caribbean.
Modcoach: A lot of modular home builders are having problems finding set and finish crews for their homes. Is Vesta helping small contractors with their single-family homes?
Etai: We are proud of our solid vendor relationships. At VESTA we respect and rely heavily on our subtrades, including the set and finish workers across the country. With our strong ties to many vendors, we receive great service, and the vendors work hard to ensure our projects get the attention they require in a timely fashion.
We don’t focus on the one-off single-family homes, but rather the larger-scale developments where we can leverage our capabilities to drive cost efficiencies to the project.
Modcoach: Are there any areas of modular construction Vesta would like to tackle in the future?
Etai: Our core focus is to expand our temporary modular building lease fleet. With over 5,000 modular buildings in our fleet today, we can provide quick and cost-effective temporary solutions to our customers. With current branch offices in Atlanta, Miami, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, Mobile, and Elkhart, along with our sales and operation staff spread out from California to Connecticut and everywhere in between, our goal is to continue our growth in becoming a Nationwide provider. We look forward to opening additional branch locations in key strategic areas.
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Modcoach: There are a lot of new modular construction factories opening across the US right now. Do you get calls from them to help set and finish their customer’s projects?
Etai: Gary, VESTA was founded in 2014 to help bridge the gap from factory to site completion. Our founders, Dan McMurtrie and Billy Hall, got their start together on the modular manufacturing side of the industry. Dan and Billy saw the need to bring a modular GC that understood what it took to successfully complete a modular building project beyond just the factory scope.
Our knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work, plus an understanding of costs in factories and on site, really helps to bring a comprehensive approach to the Major projects we complete. Because of our experience and know-how, we are working with several factories across the country in overseeing the modular process from start to finish.
Modcoach: Thanks Etai for taking the time to let my readers understand just how Vesta Modular can help them take some of the “after delivery” worries off their plates.
Gary Fleisher, recognized internationally as the “MODCOACH”, is the Editor-in-Chief of all publications of iMedia Group, LLC featuring Modular Home Source, the soon-to-be-released Offsite Builder website and Offsite Builder magazines.
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