Richard D. Ridgeway, ASPE

VE Program Manager

The Value Engineering Online Certification Course was co-developed by Al Dell'Isola PE, CVS and adapted to the Internet by Richard Ridgeway a service disabled Viet Nam era Veteran, and a Saudi Aramco expatriate.

*Mr. Ridgeway is the managing partner of The Thomas Consulting Group LLC, our Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Business

Richard Ridgeway’s, career in Value Engineering began in 1972, when Mr. Al Dell’Isola his eventual value engineering mentor of more than 30 years hired him for a full-time department staff position as, a VE Workshop Team Member (Electrical) for, 250 VE studies involving a major Chicago School Rehabilitation Program (250 schools).

Mr. Ridgeway’s, experience in the Oil & Gas industry began in 1975, when he accepted a position as, a Construction Engineer (4 years) for Fluor Engineers & Constructors during construction start of, the Valdez Oil Terminal at Valdez, Alaska.

In 1976, while still a construction engineer for Fluor Engineers & Constructors during construction of, Valdez Alaska Oil Terminal, Mr. Ridgeway completed his thesis on “Japanese Steel Imports for the Alaskan Oil Pipeline” that summer semester at, The University of Chicago, Graduate School of International Economics. The research paper was highly critical of, The United States Steel Industry.

During that summer semester a department faculty member, Dr. Milton Friedman, Professor Emeritus, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics.

In 1979, Mr. Al Dell’Isola as, Director of Value Management, The Smith Group, re-hired Mr. Ridgeway as, Chief Electrical Estimator and VE Team Member (The Smith Group headquarters in Detroit, MI). Mr. Ridgeway estimated and/or participated as a VE workshop team member, during the design phase of more than 300 major international construction projects.

Mr. Ridgeway’s, experience expanded in the Oil & Gas industry in 1981, when he accepted a position as Senior Cost Estimator (4 years), Northern Area Projects, Project Design & Construction, ARAMCO at, Ras Tanura Saudi Arabia.

As Senior Cost Estimator he provided cost estimates for, major capital expenditures oil and gas projects (including 2 offshore platforms from Japan) for review and approval by, ARAMCO Board of Directors.

In 1986, shortly after his return to the United States, Mr. Al Dell’Isola as, Director of the Value Management Division in Washington D.C. for The Smith Group headquartered in Detroit, MI again hired Mr. Ridgeway as, Chief Electrical Estimator and VE Team Member for The Smith Group headquarters in Detroit, MI, where he estimated and/or participated as a VE Workshop Team Member, during the design phase of more than 600 major international construction projects.

In late 1990, Project Design & Construction Inc a firm providing estimating, construction management, project management and value engineering was founded by, Mr. Ridgeway.

In 1994, the State of Illinois, Capital Development Board awarded the firm its first prime contract to conduct a VE workshop for, a $60 million SuperMax Prison in which Mr. Al Dell’Isola as, the VE Workshop Lead Facilitator and Mr. Ridgeway his VE Workshop Co-Facilitator obtained $5 million in potential VE savings for the State (See Attachment I).

They later co-facilitated for, Star Enterprise/Texaco Oil Co, VE 5-Day Workshop Training Seminar, Houston, Tex.

Summary:

 Mr. Ridgeway has over 40 years of experience in construction, engineering design, estimating, construction management, project management and value engineering. He has a very strong background in the areas of cost estimating and value engineering, which he attained through positions with several major architectural, engineering and contracting firms in the United States. He is a licensed Electrical Contractor and a licensed Supervising Electrician in the City of Chicago.

Additionally, he has worked extensively abroad. He has been involved in projects ranging to $1,000,000,000.

Mr. Ridgeway has experience in:

1.  Electrical Construction

2.  Estimating (Schematic, Design Development, and Bid Documents)

3.   Value Engineering

4.   Housing Inspection

5.  Conceptual Construction Estimates for

6.  Mechanical Electrical and Architectural Projects

7.  Field Engineering

8.   Supervision and Inspection

9.   Soil Analyses

10.    CPM Scheduling

11.    Equipment Installation

12.    Review of Construction Plans and Specifications

13.    Project Coordination

14.    Project Planning

15.    Change Order Review

  The following is a list of projects for which Mr. Ridgeway has provided services 

The Industries, with Mr. Ridgeway has been involved over the years are many, they include:

 Education: 

                  Chicago Community Colleges;

                  Illinois Institute of Technology

      University of Illinois;

                  Roosevelt University;

                  University of Chicago - Graduate School of International Economics

Professional Affiliations:

                   Certified FEMA Housing Inspector

        Licensed Electrical Contractor, City of Chicago

        Licensed Supervising Electrician, City of Chicago

                    Member, American Society of Professional Estimators Secretary, ASPE, Detroit Chapter (1991)