MMR Releases 2020 Year in Review

January 13, 2021

Under the leadership of MMR President and CEO James “Pepper” Rutland, MMR continues to flourish as the largest privately-owned electrical and instrumentation contractor in the nation. In 2020, MMR celebrated a number of accomplishments, including garnering multiple elite industry rankings, project recognitions, safety awards and the rollout of employee wellness and recruitment initiatives. In addition, a redesigned website was launched to complement MMR’s robust list of services, expanded industry experience and new geographic locations.

“Our industry, like many, has been faced with unprecedented and unsure circumstances in 2020,” said Rutland. “I am proud of MMR’s ability to adapt and remain successful, and I anticipate 2021 will continue to bring new markets and opportunities for our company and clients.”

Highlights of 2020

MMR is ENR Texas and Louisiana’s Top Electrical Contractor in the Nation

In January, Engineering News-Record (ENR) of Texas and Louisiana featured MMR as the number one electrical contractor in the nation. With 33 offices across the globe, the leading specialty contractor provides electrical construction, maintenance and technical services for clients in the oil and gas upstream and midstream as well as chemical and petrochemical downstream, industrial manufacturing, power generation, renewable energy, mission critical, heavy commercial and the energy storage sectors.

ENR’s January edition also highlighted MMR’s performance on the Sasol Lake Charles, Louisiana Chemical Complex - Cracker and Derivatives project. With a contract value of over $320 million for MMR, the project brought together at its peak 1,400 employees, logging approximately four million work-hours. Additionally, MMR was named Sasol’s “Safe Crew of the Week” in January and February for employees’ hard work and exemplary safety actions on the project.

The magazine recognizes MMR’s workforce development efforts among the industry-wide skilled labor shortage that specialty contractors are currently facing. MMR has taken an active role in addressing these concerns through the development of an NCCER accredited Craft Training Center and an apprenticeship program for electrical journeyworkers.

MMR Ranks Eleventh on ENR and EC&M’s Top Electrical Contractors Lists

MMR received further industry recognition in 2020 when ENR and Electrical Construction and Maintenance Magazine (EC&M) ranked the company as the eleventh largest electrical contractor in the nation, based on annual revenue earned the previous year. MMR’s revenue (domestic and international) totaled $806 million in 2019.

MMR Named ABC Top-Performing Electrical Contractor, Ranks Third on U.S. Commercial and Industrial Construction Firms Contractors' List
In March, MMR received prestigious designations from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), including being named the top-performing electrical contractor in the nation and receiving third place overall on the U.S. commercial and industrial construction industry list of top performers.

“ABC Top Performers are the best large contractors in the merit shop construction industry, demonstrating the highest commitment to world-class safety, craftmanship, workforce development, and community engagement,” said Michael Bellaman, president and chief executive officer of ABC. “These rankings identify contractors like MMR that will continue to lead our industry as we adopt innovative technologies, tackle industry-wide challenges such as the workforce shortage and lead us into a new decade.”

Several company highlights contributed to MMR’s status as the ABC top performer, with excellence in safety being a major contributor. MMR demonstrated world-class safety performance by achieving Diamond status in ABC’s STEP Safety Management System, which makes the top-performing contractors up to 827% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average, according to the ABC 2019 Safety Performance Report. MMR is also designated as an Accredited Quality Contractor. ABC members that earn the AQC credential certify their commitment to quality, safety, craft and management education, talent management, diversity and community relations.

Further, MMR was recognized by ABC for both its commitment to safety and project excellence at the local level. The ABC Pelican Chapter awarded MMR for three notable projects. MMR’s Gray Wolf Compressor Station project and GSU Bus Duct Replacement project received Excellence awards, the highest honor, and its Southern Ionics “Project Eddie” received a Merit award, the second-highest honor.

GBRIA Distinguishes MMR with Several Local Industry Awards for Safety, Workforce Development and Craft Training
The Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance (GBRIA) awarded MMR First Place in the Specialty Trade Hard Craft Category for Division III / 10 million+ work hours at the Contractor Safety Excellence Awards in September. Nominated by several customer sites, MMR was honored to be recognized for its superior safety practices in 2019. MMR finished the year with over 10.4 million work hours and a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.10.

In October, MMR Craft Training Coordinator/Master Instructor Richard Sanders received GBRIA’s Champion Workforce Development Award. With a career in the construction industry that spans nearly 50 years, Sanders is instrumental in the development and oversight of the MMR Craft Training Center and its nationally recognized industry certifications and workforce development programs. GBRIA also recognized MMR for its commitment to the recruitment, assessment, training, career path development and retention of employees with a Craft Workforce Development Hard Craft Division III Merit Award.

MMR continued its training and development efforts in 2020 with several internal projects. Highlights include developing an employee application to support MMR’s Construction Management System and effectively measure key performance indicators, and the introduction of the company’s online training curriculum in quality, safety and project management, named MMR TV. Additionally, MMR introduced its Human Resources Kiosk Web Portal, allowing employees to complete onboarding paperwork in a paperless fashion at home or in the office, reducing the risk of COVID-19 as well as the amount of paper being used.

MMR Ranks in Baton Rouge Business Reports Top 100 Private Companies
MMR, whose headquarters and roots are based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, secured the sixth spot on Baton Rouge Business Report’s Top 100 Private Companies list for the third consecutive year. “We are privileged to be recognized among the Capital Region’s Finest companies,” said MMR President/CEO James “Pepper” Rutland. “During these times of uncertainty, MMR remains grounded in our commitment to provide vital support and services to our employees and clients in Louisiana and abroad.”

MMR Continues to Expand with New Markets, Services, Projects and Locations

For over twenty years, MMR has invested in independent power project development, including experience in projects and interests ranging from cogeneration, bio-mass, ethanol and parabolic solar, wind energy and battery storage solutions.

In September, Pattern Energy awarded MMR the Western Spirit Transmission Line project in partnership with EC Source. MMR is responsible for the construction of a 165-mile, 345kV transmission line, which will deliver approximately 1,000 megawatts of new wind power to the existing New Mexico grid upon completion of the project.

In December, MMR Power Solutions completed the development, engineering, procurement and construction of a 4.8-megawatt microgrid power plant at the Cedar manufacturing site for Wawona Frozen Foods in Fresno, California. The microgrid power plant includes a 1.25MW / 670kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and a 125kW solar PV system that will provide renewable energy to Wawona and help safeguard their frozen food inventory from unexpected power surges and blackouts due to natural disasters.

MMR expanded into new markets and services by adding Mission Critical Construction and Power Engineering and Design Solutions to its robust list of services. MMR Mission Critical Construction delivers the world’s most critical and complex infrastructure needs while offering the unique advantage to self-perform electrical construction, telecommunications and security systems, fire alarm and gas services. MMR’s Power Engineering and Design Solutions group specializes in power system protection and power delivery at distribution and transmission levels up to 500kV, bringing safe and reliable power systems solutions to clients.

This year, MMR also expanded its footprint with six new offices:

• Kemah, Texas
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Surprise, Arizona
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Doha, Qatar
• Georgetown, Guyana

MMR Supports Employee Health and Wellness, Targets Cancer Education, Prevention and Detection
Additionally, MMR kicked off an internal campaign in 2020 with a rollout of wellness initiatives aimed at encouraging employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle in the new year. “The mental and physical health of my team is a top priority, and I am committed to providing exceptional benefits and cutting-edge health and wellness programs so that employees can seek the best care in a convenient and affordable way,” said Rutland.

In January, MMR partnered with the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center to target the education and prevention of oral cancer and tobacco use by setting up an on-site mobile clinic for employees, and in March, held a month-long campaign and screenings to target skin cancer awareness.

Through a close corporate partnership with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, MMR’s support has expanded and advanced cancer care as well as provided education, prevention and detection services to its employees and the community at large with Mary Bird Perkins’ Prevention on the Go – Workplace Program. In 2018, MMR was one of the first companies to participate in the Prevention on the Go program, which has screened over 300 MMR employees. Of those, 68 percent of skin and oral screening participants had never been screened before.

A remote radio show, “The Brand” with Carey Guglielmo on Talk 107.3FM, was held at MMR headquarters, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during March’s skin cancer screenings. Pepper Rutland described the relationship with Mary Bird Perkins formed after several employees received a cancer diagnosis and chose to utilize the services of the Cancer Center. “Having visited the facilities, gone through treatment and seen their technologies, it was obvious that MMR needed to be involved with the Mary Bird Perkins facility in Baton Rouge,” said Rutland.

Despite the unprecedented events of 2020, MMR maintained its strong commitment to safety and quality, providing unique services to clients in new markets, streamlining internal programs and focusing on advanced employee health and wellness initiatives.

Rutland concluded, “As we move into the new year, MMR will continue to provide the best service to our clients, focusing on breaking into new market sectors and expanding our geographic footprint domestically and internationally. MMR will continue to remain at the forefront of the industry thanks to the outstanding leadership and safety standards of the men and women who form our company.”

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About MMR

MMR is the industry leader in instrumentation and electrical construction, maintenance and technical services. Under the leadership of President and CEO James “Pepper” Rutland, MMR continues to grow both regionally and nationally with 30 branch offices throughout North and South America.

For more information on MMR or to inquire about services offered, please visit our brochure, website or call 225-756-5090. Like us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

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