Mike has been around the construction industry for most of his life. “My dad had a blasting company that worked on tunnels and bridges,” he said. “I used to go out on projects with him when I was in third grade.” By the time Mike graduated high school in 1970, his older brother had been working for West Valley for several years, and asked Mike if he might be interested. So after graduation, Mike joined West Valley as a laborer and by 1974, was sent out on his first job as foreman. Mike went on to help establish West Valley offices formerly located in Walnut Creek and Salinas before moving back to Mountain View to open the former Menlo Park office in 1976. As a systems operator, Mike was instrumental in establishing West Valley’s still-thriving Redwood City office, where he served as manager before joining the board.
Today, Mike is instrumental in project management, estimating and strategic planning for West Valley. He works hard to maintain the company’s customer base and takes time to build relationships with West Valley’s clients. “Everyone at West Valley strives for excellence, and it shows,” he said. “We’re a great company to work for, and a great company to do business with.”
When he’s not working, Mike enjoys fishing and diving for abalone in Mendocino. He’s also an avid golfer and sports fan. Mike is a member of the Sons of the American Legion, a former Lions Club member and a longtime supporter of the Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County.
After graduating with his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Lehigh University, Dave went to work as a geologist on an oil rig. Before long he decided to go back to earn a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from Colorado University. Over the next two decades, Dave worked in finance for high tech firms and Fortune 100 companies before joining West Valley in 2010. “After talking to the folks at West Valley, I was very impressed,” he said. “They have a deep sense of ethics and they do things the right way. After working for more than 20 years in the turmoil of Silicon Valley tech firms, it was a breath of fresh air.”
Dave appreciates the sense of camaraderie at West Valley, noting that people are always straightforward with one other and with customers. “Here, what you see is what you get,” he said. “We never take shortcuts and we always put the customer first.”
Dave’s expertise in GAAP accounting and management reporting includes SEC/IPO and mergers as well as operations development. Today he is on the board of the Construction Financial Management Association.
To unwind from the world of finance, Dave plays guitar, harmonica and sings lead vocals in his classic rock band, The Newcastle Brothers. He describes himself as a hard-core fly fisherman who loves to cast for steelhead trout on the Trinity River and in Montana.
“Never underestimate the value of working with quality people day in and day out. Sometimes the journey is its own reward.”
“As far back as I can remember, I loved to build things and play in the dirt,” said Kevin when asked about what inspired him to go into construction. Kevin’s dad, [name?], was president of West Valley from 19XX through 2004, and from age 12 through college graduation, Kevin worked every summer at West Valley, first as a “shop kid” and eventually as a field engineer and project manager. “My dad forged a unique relationship between the unions, the industry and West Valley back in the mid-1980s,” he said, “and for the last 25 years, I’ve strengthened those relationships. Today, West Valley is the only company in the region allowed to negotiate solely with unions on behalf of the construction industry.”
Kevin is highly valued at West Valley for his expertise in labor relations and contract administration, and he works with the unions to avoid grievances. He also oversees the company’s preconstruction and construction activities.
As a member of the Monterey Bay Tritons, Kevin competes on a national level as a free dive spear fisherman. He also enjoys surfing and waterskiing. In 19XX, he founded the Mule Deer Foundation, which sponsors annual hunting excursions for youth ages 10-16 at the Kelly family ranch in Wyoming. Kevin is a member of the Engineering & Utility Contractors Association and the American Water Works Association.
“We have tremendous respect for our labor force at West Valley. There is no ‘ivory tower’ mentality here. People choose to work here and stay here because we take good care of them.”
With his in-depth knowledge of information technology, network design and programming, Jeff has made valuable contributions to the success of West Valley. The son of Dwayne Azevedo, an accountant and co-founder of West Valley who [retired in 1991?], Jeff began working as a laborer while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and Computer Science at San Jose State University. “I never intended to join the company,” he said, “but one day my dad asked me to come in and help with the computer system and I decided to stay.” That was in [1978 or 1982?]. “We were a simpler company back then, but the people always had integrity,” he noted. “That’s how we did business then, and it’s how we do it today. I’m very proud of this fact.”
Today, Jeff focuses on keeping the company’s information technology updated and running smoothly, and he appreciates the spirit of collaboration. “Many of our people have been with the firm 20 or 30 years,” he said. “We make a real effort to connect with one another, and are committed to including people in decision making.”
Jeff is a gifted writer who has written several novels and a screenplay, and he also enjoys photography. On weekends he likes to go mountain biking, running and hiking, and spending time with his family.
“West Valley has always stood out as a company with a lot of integrity. We’ve evolved over the years, but our people still come from a place of personal and professional integrity. I’m very proud to be part of this team.”
Jimm has come a long way since drag racing his beloved 1970 Plymouth Duster in his high school days. Always fascinated with cars and engines, Jimm got a job as a machinist after graduation and jumped at the chance to repair heavy equipment. He spent a dozen years as equipment manager and heavy equipment mechanic for Stevens Creek Quarry, and another six years as a heavy truck and equipment mechanic. After joining West Valley in 1998, Jimm worked in equipment and operations, but soon found he was assisting in the bidding process as well. Today, he oversees all of West Valley’s projects based out of our Visalia, Bakersfield and Fresno offices.
Jimm is a Certified Automotive Fleet Manager and sits on several committees of the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). He has served on the Fleet Education Council since 2010 and on the California Air Resources Board Advisory Council. He is also a Certified Crane Operator and is certified by the California Department of Health as a Grade 1 Water Distribution Operator. Jimm is Chairman of Operating Engineers Local 3.
Jimm is involved in numerous community activities. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and every year he runs the Cupertino Lions Club “Fish-a-thon” at Stevens Creek Quarry for blind and disabled children and adults. He has also been on the committee of Milpitas Ducks Unlimited since 1998.
“I don’t believe in doing things halfway, so I put everything into my work at West Valley. The company is like a tight family where everyone in management has an opportunity for ownership through the Employee Stock Option Program.”
There were key moments in Mike’s early life that led him toward a career in construction. First, it was an uncle who was an aeronautical engineer who showed Mike a Texas Instruments calculator that fascinated his 12-year-old mind. Then, Mike’s dad, a heavy truck mechanic, taught his son how to do tune-ups and engine overhauls as Mike worked his way through high school and college. By the time Mike graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, he had worked as an engineer/surveyor trainee with the City of Burlingame. A semester before graduation, he was hired by Nolte and Associates where he spent eight years as a senior engineer.
Mike went on to work with San Jose Water Company for four years as pipeline replacement program manager and senior engineering supervisor. “I had already made friends at West Valley through my work with San Jose Water,” said Mike, “so when Kevin Kelly invited me to join the firm, I was ready.” After joining West Valley in 2000, Mike established the firm’s Integrated Design-Build Practice, and today he contributes his depth of skill and experience to our clients’ projects.
Mike is a registered civil engineer in both California and Nevada and a Designated Design-Build Professional™. He is a longtime member of the American Water Works Association, the Design-Build Institute of America and the Engineering & Utility Contractors Association. In addition, Mike is a certified Disaster Safety Assessment Volunteer for the California Emergency Management Agency.
“The executive dimension is key to my role at West Valley, but I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. I always keep my boots and hardhat in my car because in our business, you have to be ready for anything.”
Dennis joined West Valley as a purchasing agent in 1977, and over time began helping then-president Patrick Kelly with contracts. “He’d ask me to look over the numbers, schedule the sub-contracts and handle the insurance requirements,” recalled Dennis. “The administration of insurance certificates, bonding and sureties became very important as each phase of a job was completed.” Today, Dennis continues to administer all contracts with West Valley clients, including San Jose Water Company, AT&T and other major clients.
“I first heard of West Valley through an uncle,” said Dennis. “As soon as I met Patrick, I knew this was a different kind of company. Here, people help each other. It’s more than camaraderie; it’s part of your life.” When new employees join the firm, Dennis reminds them that it’s a compliment to be selected to be part of the group. “I’ve seen many people come in since I started here, and none of them have left,” he said. “It’s because we look for fit. Here you don’t just do a job; you’re part of the job.”
As the father of three sons, Dennis spent 15 years coaching youth sports until 1995. He also instilled his boys with a sense of civic responsibility, requiring them to do volunteer work for six weeks every summer before they graduated high school. Today, Dennis’ favorite hobby is traveling around the country with his wife on his Honda Goldwing motorcycle.
“It’s not a paycheck that gets you up each morning to put your feet on the ground and come into work. It’s how much value you give and get. It’s how you feel about yourself and what you accomplish that will carry you for the long term.”
Jeff grew up helping his dad in his concrete business, so the business of construction was a natural direction for his career. Even so, he elected to earn a Bachelor of Arts in economics with a minor in finance from Chico State University, where he became friends with fellow student Kevin Kelly, now senior vice president of West Valley. Kevin encouraged Jeff to come work for West Valley, but Jeff opted instead to work in the financial services field for four years until realizing that it wasn’t his calling. Finally in 1990, Jeff joined the team at West Valley, assisting estimators and working as a project manager. In 2002, Jeff was named Division Manager of West Valley’s Redwood City office and was soon asked to become a board member.
Jeff now oversees all the managers running West Valley’s projects in San Mateo County, as well as the management teams in our Campbell, Chico, Salinas and Stockton offices. As his job responsibilities have grown over the years, Jeff is glad that one aspect of the company hasn’t changed. “When I started in 1990, West Valley had a real family atmosphere, and today it’s still the same,” he said. “The company president knows the laborers out in the field, and anyone who works here has the opportunity to advance as far as they want to. It’s just a great working environment.”
Jeff and Kevin Kelly still enjoy their longtime friendship, and go hunting together and love to go fishing for steelhead trout in the rivers of Southern Oregon. Each year, Jeff, Kevin and Jimm Vosburgh volunteer to raise funds for their local chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
“At West Valley we put the customer first and we treat people right. That’s the secret to our success.”