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Air Force to determine its specific needs. The company provided comprehensive design and engineering services and custom-crafted the stand to meet the needs of the Air Force. “We work on many public projects and have many repeat customers, which is something we are very proud of,” Vice President Gene Panelli says. “To deliver the highest quality, we have qualified project managers on every project, and a field superintendent stays in the field to keep his focus on customers’ issues. We keep track of any complaints or problems in the field and follow up quickly on any issues. Also, we are ISO 9000certified, which helps us to maintain our quality focus.” With more than 49 years of experience, Kern Steel provides structural steel fabrication and structural steel
design services in California and various other locations throughout the United States. After its success at Travis AFB, Kern Steel created a division dedicated to constructing aircraft docking and maintenance systems. Focus on the Customer Panelli says Kern Steel’s dedication to meeting clients’ needs is demonstrated on every job. Not long ago, general contractor Hartigan/Foley came to Kern Steel, with which it had worked multiple times before, to construct a parking structure for the headquarters of Patagonia Inc. This was a special project because Patagonia wanted a parking structure that would provide shade for employees’ vehicles, but also produce electricity for the entire building. It also wanted
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the structure to be made of corrosionresistant steel. Kern Steel delivered on every need by erecting a parking lot canopy that held solar panels. “This was a custom installation and had to be aesthetically pleasing and Kern Steel filled the bill very well,” said Jerry Brown, superintendent of Hartigan/Foley, after the project was finished. The goal of Kern Steel, Panelli says, is to provide a high-quality product with the least amount of trouble to clients. If the company can achieve that on every project, he says, it makes its customers more profitable. “We have to keep our focus on the customer to remain competitive,” he says. “As long as we can maintain the degree of product we’re supplying, we will continue to grow.” x
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