For many of us, the idea of dealing with the insurance company is about as pleasant as going to the dentist for root canal. While few enjoy anything to do with the process of making insurance claims for damage to our homes, the alternatives of waiting too long before contacting our insurer can result in an even bigger headache.

SLCE Architects, LLP is celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary this year. The award-winning company has grown over the decades to become one of the most prominent firms in the metropolitan area of New York City. From its offices in New York and London, it actively pursues projects in markets in the United States and spanning the globe.

WHPacific is a full-service engineering, architectural, planning, and technical consulting firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon with offices spread across the Western United States. With $35M in annual revenue, and over 250 employees, WHPacific is an engineering firm to be reckoned with.

Lemay was established in 1957 by George Lemay, father of current Chief Executive Officer Louis Lemay. Located in Quebec, Lemay employs 350 people with talent from across Canada. It is a leading architecture and design firm with a strong commitment to being the best and its sights set on continual growth.

Natural disasters across the world have been increasing in frequency. Some claim that this is a result of global warming, and others cite overbuilding in flood zones as the primary cause. “As you put more and more people in harm’s way, you make a disaster out of something that before was just a natural event,” said Klaus Jacob, a senior research scientist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

Master Electric is a leader in the electrical industry and has earned its title by providing customers with highly-responsive, day-or-night service. The company’s service-oriented approach to electrical construction and technical services has proven that quality is more than just a word in its slogan—it is the driving philosophy behind its success.

Windemuller provides advanced technical and design services throughout Michigan. The company was established in Grand Rapids in 1954, primarily as an electrical contractor. However, over the past sixty-two years, the company has grown to offer a comprehensive range of services.

Sturgeon Electric Company, Inc. (Sturgeon Electric) is shattering the negative connotations sometimes associated with being a Union contractor. Thriving today as the largest specialty contractor in the Rocky Mountain region, the company’s story is a tale of historical significance, humble beginnings, a struggle to survive, and the hardened resolve of a company committed to the growth of its most precious asset: its people.

Pangea Enterprises is a leader in the American oil, gas, and maritime industries. Guided by CEO Marco Pesquera’s unique perspective on company needs and industry trends, Pangea sets itself apart through the quality of its work and the skill of its tradesmen.

The story of a small family business that succeeds is a fundamental a part of the American dream, and Jalisco International, Inc. has just such a story. In just thirty-one years, Jalisco has grown to eighty employees and generates over $22 million a year in sales. Executive Vice President Antonio D. Ledezma and President Rich Ledezma spoke to me from company headquarters in Commerce City, Colorado.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has over 150,000 members and representation in 177 countries. It is the United States’ oldest national engineering society, having been established in 1852. Its mandate for existing is simple: to advance the civil engineering profession for the welfare of humanity. In doing so, ASCE provides the voice for the built environment. However, there are issues to be addressed. ASCE aims to do just that and do it proactively.

Chemetall is a leading global player in all facets of surface treatment, with a core competence in the chemical treatment of metal surfaces. The team is dedicated to the development and implementation of customized technology and system solutions for surface treatment, allowing the company to deliver far more than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Todd Cordes serves as the international sales manager for Peddinghaus Corporation, the leader in Structural Steel Fabrication Equipment. When Peddinghaus purchased an existing facility in Illinois from its native Germany in 1978, the firm expanded its manufacturing flexibility. However, the machine tool manufacturer used this facility to better serve the North American market. This was such as successful investment that the firm moved its corporate headquarters here in 1994.

Rapid Equipment Rental Ltd. is a heavy construction equipment rental company in Toronto that is growing, well … as rapidly as its name. Rapid offers a full range of brand-name construction equipment and four branches across the province of Ontario.

Quality roads and bridges are a necessity for any modern nation. But maintaining a transportation network that stretches from sea to shining sea is no easy task. Not surprisingly, the challenge mostly comes down to money. “Whether there is sufficient funding to meet the nation’s surface transportation needs is the most pressing concern,” according to a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) spokesperson…