Dumas
Companies Featured in Construction Magazine
February 2003
Below
is a reproduction of the article featuring the Dumas Companies in
the February 1, 2003 Michigan Construction & Building magazine.
MC&B
serves the heavy, highway and non-residential building construction
industry in both the Upper and Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
MC&B
is published weekly and provides advanced and current information
on highway, airport, bridge, sewer, waterworks and heavy public
and private building construction from the proposed construction
stage to the finished structure. In addition, Michigan Contractor
& Builder publishes an annual Equipment Buyers' Guide, a complete
cross-referenced listing of manufacturers, area distributors and
their construction equipment lines.
For
more information about MC&B, visit their website at http://www.acppubs.com/.
Minority-owned
firms and employees are providing important services in the Michigan
construction industry.
By
Aram Kalousdian and Nisah Tahara, CIT
Dumas
Companies Celebrate
This
year marks the 30th anniversary for the Dumas Companies in the construction
industry. Working in both the public and private sectors, major
projects have included factories, hospitals, automotive facilities,
educational institutions, office buildings, casinos, and stadiums.
Through owner J. L. Dumas’ persistence, dedication and vision, the
firm has evolved into a multi-million-dollar enterprise that enjoys
a reputation for excellence and customer satisfaction in commercial,
industrial and manufacturing markets. With a core professional and
administrative staff of 50 employees and skilled tradesmen in the
field ranging from 25 to several hundred at any given time, Dumas
stands ready to meet industry needs. As early as 1981, the company
enjoyed the distinction of being one of the first minority-owned
firms in the country with the capacity to handle large-scale projects
on a national level.
Specialty
services include but are not limited to structural steel fabrication
and erection, manufacturing equipment installation, and the erection
of precast concrete. The firm also has offices in Chicago, Ill.,
and Toledo, Ohio.
In
2002, the firm opened a 64,000-square-foot structural and miscellaneous
steel fabrication shop located in Detroit. J.L. Dumas, president,
said, "We are one of a few African American owned entities
of this kind and magnitude in the country and the only one within
the city of Detroit. It’s been a 30-year journey with ups and downs.
For people entering the business my advice would be not to take
things personally, treat your people well and keep evolving."
Over
its 30-year history, the firm has developed an impressive client
base that includes automotive giants such as Ford, DaimlerChrysler
and General Motors; large municipalities such as the cities of Detroit
and Chicago, Ill.; educational institutions such as Wayne State
University and the Detroit Public Schools; and an array of commercial
owners including Detroit Edison and SBC, formerly Ameritech.
With
quality as a cornerstone of its operations, Dumas received its International
Standards Organization (ISO) 9001 registration in 2000, an accomplishment
that has helped to sustain and further develop excellent working
relationships and alliances with major construction enterprises
nationally. Dumas is a certified minority business enterprise (MBE)
with several local, state and national agencies including Minority
Business Development Councils in Michigan and Chicago. The firm
also has working agreements, memberships in or affiliations with
the International Ironworkers Union and International Operating
Engineers Union, as well as unions representing laborers, carpenters
and other trades.
In
addition to seeking out the best-qualified professional staff, J.
L. Dumas is an advocate for employee development and community involvement.
Dumas said, "Education is a life-long endeavor and it comes
in many forms. I want the best people around me and if that means
making an investment in their formal education, I’m glad to do that."
Dumas also maintains professional affiliations with the National
Association of Minority Contractors where he has been a board member
for 22 years; the Association of General Contractors; the American
Arbitration Association; Detroit Chamber of Commerce; the Chicago
Urban League; the Great Lakes Fabricators and Erectors Association;
and the Detroit Athletic Club.
Reprinted
with permission from Michigan Contractor & Builder magazine.
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