Marc Paolicelli, CCO/SVP, RK Industries: The diversification of our project offerings across specialty contracting services, prefabricated solutions and modular systems allow us to serve customers across a range of markets and project types while remaining responsive as demand and economic conditions shift. Workforce remains one of our biggest challenges. Through recruitment campaigns, digital advertising, employee referral initiatives, targeted content and employer branding, we’re expanding our reach and strengthening our ability to attract talent in both established and new markets.

Jon Varner, Operations Manager, Helix Electric: Our response is to engage earlier and work closely with the general contractor, owner and engineer to assess challenges and evaluate solutions before the critical path is affected. We are putting more emphasis on constructibility, project execution planning, procurement, prefabrication, workforce development and project control processes. We aim to demonstrate to our clients our ability to manage risk transparently and facilitate early decision-making to best position each project for success.

Rogers: Right now, data centers, build-to-suit work and semiconductor projects are the bright spots. The owners behind these projects are investing for the long haul—this isn’t speculative money, it’s capital going toward real operational needs, so the work keeps moving even when financing is tight elsewhere. The firms that figure out where owners are really putting their money and keep sharpening how they work will be the ones ready to capitalize when speculative work eventually comes back.

Paolicelli: Data center specialty contracting, prefabricated mission-critical infrastructure and modular systems remain exceptionally strong across the Mountain West and Southwest. We continue to see significant demand for the mechanical, electrical, steel fabrication and other integrated specialty capabilities required to support highly technical facilities. We’re also seeing continued opportunities across aviation, health care and laboratory facilities, education, transportation, energy, power and other infrastructure-related markets.

Helix Electric is providing comprehensive electrical services for Haas Automation’s approximately 2.4-million-sq-ft manufacturing facility in West Henderson, Nev.
Photo courtesy of Helix Electric LLC

Rogers: We’ve genuinely seen AI make a difference for us; it helps our teams move faster, make smarter decisions and get ahead of risk before it becomes a problem. Paired with the field technology our crews already use every day, it gives us a much clearer, real-time picture of how our work is performing. Combine that kind of visibility with being thoughtful about which projects you pursue, and you can stay competitive no matter which way the market shifts.

Varner: Firms should understand where they can create real value and focus on the sectors and delivery methods where their capabilities stand out. For an electrical subcontractor, that may mean leaning into projects in which it is most specialized and developing deeper expertise in mission-critical, advanced manufacturing, industrial, health care, medium-voltage, controls, commissioning or design-assist work rather than pursuing every competitively bid opportunity.

Second, firms need to move upstream. Early involvement in design coordination, equipment selection, constructibility and procurement gives trade partners the opportunity to solve problems before they become impacts. Strong VDC, prefabrication, standardized assemblies and reliable supplier relationships are not only competitive advantages, but are becoming necessary for participation in certain project types because they improve predictability and productivity while reducing risk for general contractors and owners.

Paolicelli: Specialty contractors must continue investing in workforce development, expanding technical expertise and finding ways to deliver greater efficiency and certainty for customers. Diversifying capabilities is an important part of that strategy. Building expertise across trades gives contractors more ways to respond to evolving project needs while leveraging off-site manufacturing to help address onsite labor constraints. Centralizing key operations can also create efficiencies across the organization, allowing contractors to better leverage resources, standardize processes and provide more consistent support across projects and markets. Expanding geographically and into new verticals can also strengthen resilience by reducing reliance on any single market or project type. Contractors with diverse capabilities, strong centralized resources and the ability to adapt their delivery approach will be better positioned to navigate market fluctuations.