Building Nevada - January 2005

Flagship Construction

Expertise Helps Company Pursue Varied Niches

by Ruth Furman

When Flagship Construction’s high-energy team set sail in Las Vegas four years ago, they never looked back. The company’s aggressive approach to growth has earned it high marks, including an annual sales volume that has grown to more than $90 million in ground-up construction. Flagship has landed high-profile jobs at McCarran International Airport, in addition to prestigious contracts in the commercial, retail and hospitality markets.

Despite Flagship Construction’s relative newness to the Valley, the reputation of its Michigan-based parent company, National Construction Enterprises, Inc. (NCE), and of its senior management team make it a strong industry competitor. NCE owns 14 companies nationwide, including general and specialty contractors. The broad-based backgrounds of Flagship’s senior managers, including executives from the Engineering News Record’s top-10 construction management and general contracting firms, add heightened value.

Director of Business Development Nancy Paolino is an industry expert in her own right. After graduating with a finance degree, she entered the industry at age 20, quickly earning the respect of her peers. Paolino owned and managed a New York-based specialty-contracting firm for 10 years. Credited with building terminals at JFK International Airport, the Korean Embassy and major projects at the World Trade Center, she established a solid reputation through performance. Magdy Allam, senior project executive at American Airlines’ $1.5 billion new terminal at JFK International, who worked on projects with Paolino for eight consecutive years, said she is "absolutely hands-on and committed to a project’s success." The lure of semi-retirement brought Paolino to Las Vegas in 2001. After a short consulting stint, she was drawn back to the construction business, accepting an offer with Flagship Construction and a challenge – to grow Flagship as a general contracting and construction management company.

One look at Flagship’s prestigious involvements tells the rest of the story – Paolino succeeded in a big way. In addition to a major retail project and redevelopment in downtown Las Vegas, Flagship also created a project called Desert Mesa for the North Las Vegas Housing Authority. Aviation projects currently underway include a $125 million in-line baggage screening system being built at McCarran International Airport in coordination with the Transportation Safety Administration. The company recently added an additional project to its "to do" list, with the McCarran A & B Gates Building Rehabilitation.

Flagship has also done its share of hospitality projects, including hotel and casino renovations, as well as restaurant development. When upscale New York-based restaurant Il Mulino announced plans to open at The Forum Shops at Caesars, Flagship was awarded the contract. According to I1 Mulino’s Kevin Galligan, project manager for construction, Flagship alleviated many of the headaches that came with opening alongside dozens of other establishments. "Based on the project’s scope and deadline, our job was a nightmare," said Galligan. "Our finishes and styles are very distinctive from a construction standpoint, and Flagship stepped up to the plate."

Paolino is proud of Flagship’s commitment level and said employees average 22 to 25 years in the business. Comprehensive procedures help things run smoothly. During a project’s duration, Paolino formally meets with the owner at least three times to audit the team’s level of performance. "Customer service is number one," she said. "In today’s market, effective construction management is expected. It is about how well you rise to the challenges."

Paolino is an advocate for women in her industry. Along with an associate, Ofra Gelman of MWT Ofra Architecture, she formed WIND (Women In Development) in Southern Nevada. The duo created the organization for women executives in construction and development to exchange ideas and industry trends. "Because woman are detail-oriented, we have strengths that complement the construction business," said Paolino. "I can’t see myself doing anything else."

Ruth Furman
Ruth Furman is a freelance writer based in southern Nevada.