Snyder Langston continues to build on its title as one of the largest and most trusted constructors and developers of commercial and industrial projects in the southwestern United StatesÔÇöone high-profile project at a time ┬áWhen Don Snyder and Bill Langston founded Snyder Langston in 1959, Southern CaliforniaÔÇöwith the exception of Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan areaÔÇöwas composed of small towns.

Ice in their viens┬áContinuous improvement has been a fact of life at Scotsman Ice SystemsÔÇÖ Fairfax plant for nearly 25 years. Small wonder then that teamwork and employee involvement are a keystone of its operations.

Big plans on campus┬áSan Mateo County Community College District is making improvements to its campuses in the nick of time, since enrollment is increasing rapidly in the economic downturn, Gary Toushek discovers. The San Mateo County Community College District consists of three colleges located between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. The College at San Mateo has the largest campus, Skyline College is in San Bruno, and Ca├▒ada College is in Redwood City. Total enrollment is currently about 50,000 students.

Musical history in record time┬áThe worldÔÇÖs first truly global museum of musical instruments is scheduled to open in April 2010. Keith Regan learns how the Ryan Companies handle an aggressive construction schedule to meet that target while also creating a world-class institution.  The idea of opening a Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), and even the timeframe for doing so, came before the founder, former Target CEO Bob Ulrich, had found a location or finalized design for the attraction.

Hometown pride┬áThe County of San Diego Operations Center will consolidate its operations in a brand-new office campus. April Terreri learns how a collaborative approach is achieved among many players. In another six years, all functions of the County of San Diego Operations Center will be consolidated on a beautiful new campus on 38 County-owned acres in Kearny Mesa. The projectÔÇÖs three phases will ease the consolidation process for employees over a six-year period, after which the campus will be home to 4,000 County employees.

Titanic┬ámaterial┬áAs buildings become greener and the value of concrete as a versatile and carbon-efficient building material is exploited, prospects are good for cement producers like Roanoke Cement, plant manager Kevin Baird explains to John OÔÇÖHanlon. The Titans were the original gods of ancient Greece, and Titan, the $2 billion global cement manufacturer, is indeed based in Greece.

Waste not, want not Just three years after its launch, Pure Earth, Inc. is establishing a strong position in the recycling sector. CEO and founder Mark Alsentzer talks to Gay Sutton about introducing new technologies that can manufacture fuel from everyday waste.

Cold gold┬áThe Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County is hoping to have its new multipurpose arena, which will be home to the cityÔÇÖs NHL franchise, certified as a LEED Gold building. Keith Regan learns how racking up LEED points for a hockey arena has had its share of unique challenges. The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA) has gained significant experience in building new stadiums and facilities.

Paper Converting Machine Company got serious about getting lean shortly after it was acquired in 2005 and has since turned in some of the best financial years in its history. Keith Regan learns how the journey is viewed as ongoing, but one capable of producing powerful results along the way Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC) has been in business for 85 years, and as an independent, family-owned firm, it grew into a leading provider of automated paper converting solutions, which are used to produce tissues, packaging, flexographic printing and non-woven materials.

Mixing explosives and gas┬áOne of the indispensible techniques for extracting oil and gas involves explosive charges, but they actually can and do work together well, as Dan Bailey learns. ┬áIn the oil extraction business, a perforating system is a way of deploying explosive materials into an oil or gas well to perform a variety of critical functions.