Vice President and General Manager: George Kramer
Specialty: Retail, casinos and hotels
Local division founded: 1983 (BFC is over 100 years old)
1999 revenues: Over $60 million
Projected 2000 revenues: Over $70 million
Largest current project: $30 million destination resort at Ocean Shores for Quinault Tribe. Construction started spring of 1999 and the facility is set to open in June.

George Kramer, BFC Frontier division vice president and general manager, said the local construction market continues to experience growing pains.

"I think it’s very challenging," he said. "It’s created some shortages in labor and the qualified subcontractor pool. I think we’re going to see the challenge for labor for several years to come, irrespective of what the economy does."

Kramer said the shortage of available subcontractors has let up a little of late, but is still historically tight. He said the industry might be better off in the long run because of it.

"Seeing this problem has created some opportunity," Kramer said. "It’s forcing people to look at things they might otherwise not have."

BFC Frontier recently interviewed candidates for project manager, project engineer and field positions. Kramer said the firm is continually looking for good people to hire throughout the ranks.

Kramer said the firm has no immediate plans to expand geographically or increase the scope of its construction services. "I wouldn’t discount any possibilities," he said. "Hopefully our radar is always on."

As for the continually strong construction market, Kramer said, "I don’t think it’s going to go like this for three to five years." He said many factors will influence the economy, including international markets.

Some of BFC Frontier’s recent projects include: a 28,700-square-foot headquarters for Index Sensors and Controls in Stanwood that started in February; a 107,000-square-foot manufacturing and office building for Northwest Composites in Marysville that was finished last year; a $10.6 million addition to the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn that is just finishing up; and the 170,000-square-foot Quinault Beach Resort in Ocean Shores that begin last year.

BFC Frontier is a division of BFC Construction Corp. of Toronto, which built the foundation for the Empire State Building as Banister Foundation Construction. Total 1999 revenues for BFC Construction are estimated at $600 million-$800 million.