C.R. Fedrick, Inc.
History
The Founder
C.R. "Dick" Fedrick was raised in Lordsburg, NM and graduated from Lordsburg High School. His first job out of high school was working on the construction of the top secret Manhattan Project facility in Los Alamos, NM. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 16 but was removed from the ship prior to sailing when it was discovered he was not old enough to serve. In 1944, he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area to join his father in the contracting business. He spent the next 60 years building one of the largest heavy construction firms in Northern California and developing a reputation for taking on some of the most challenging and difficult projects throughout the U.S.
Company History
Founded in 1948, C.R. Fedrick, Inc. (CRF) began as a small company specializing in electrical facility installations, pump stations, airport runway lighting systems, and electrical distribution systems. During the 1950’s and 1960’s CRF ventured out from it’s roots and began performing projects requiring a greater civil construction focus such as site development for buildings and underground pipelines (incl. water, sewer, storm drain, and gas). Other projects involved mechanical piping systems, plumbing, as well as electrical, and civil work. Developing the ability to self perform many trades of work set the stage for even stronger growth in the 1970’s.
C.R. Fedrick, Inc. was acquired by Sundt Corp in 1972. Sundt Corp is one of the 100 largest construction companies in the United States. During the 1970’s, CRF experienced substantial growth in many markets. Common projects performed by CRF included: water and sewage pump stations, geothermal site development, complex mechanical piping systems, electrical sub-stations, large diameter water pipelines, and roadwork. In order to perform such a wide variety of projects, CRF developed a management pool of individuals experienced in many facets of construction. Some of the Projects performed were for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the State of California Department of Water Resources. Strong relationships were developed with these two Owners, as well as with other municipality Owners.
With solid growth in the civil markets during the 1970’s, CRF continued to self-perform the electrical portions of nearly every project. Beginning in the 1980’s as a full service contractor, CRF procured and completed the construction of many large pump stations, power plants, and water conveyance facilities. The focus on innovation and value engineering was a daily activity on CRF projects, giving its clients a quality project for a better price in less time.
Early in the 1990’s, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation downsized and eventually ceased participating in the letting of construction projects. This activity cut CRF’s construction opportunities virtually in half. But CRF had already began moving into the municipality market, prison market, and reclaimed water market. It was during this time of transition that CRF purchased CRF Integrated Solutions (CRFIS). This acquisition was made to diversify CRF’s ability to perform work in yet another market, Telecommunications. CRFIS was a young company with strong Inside Plant (ISP) capabilities. CRF’s depth of civil experience, coupled with CRFIS’s talent in the ISP telecommunications market allowed the company to pursue large telecommunications projects and self-perform nearly all the work. During 1998, CRF shifted much of CRFIS’s telecom expertise to CRF and finalized the build-up into telecommunications work. CRFIS was sold in 1999, retaining its service-oriented work. CRF’s growth and stability are a product of its ability to diversify in changing markets and enter into and adapt to new markets. The management of CRF was headed by its founder C.R. Fedrick for nearly 50 years, and was comprised of a group of high tenured individuals dedicated to the performance of the company.
