Opferman worked closely with MPS on a number of projects during his years with the Milwaukee office of Southfield, Mich.-based Barton Malow Company and the Jansen Group, of Milwaukee. While with the Jansen Group, Opferman submitted a joint proposal along with minority-owned Central City Construction, Milwaukee, for a multi-year construction management contract with MPS and the Neighborhood Schools Initiative (NSI).
The joint proposal was successful, but as the details of the working arrangement came together, Jansen wound up being shuffled out of the mix.
"As we worked out the final terms and conditions, it became apparent that my previous employer would not be satisfied with the arrangement," Opferman said, indicating that Jansen was hoping to involve itself in construction of facilities arising from the NSI rather than restrict its role to planner and facilities manager.
It was at that point, six months ago, that Opferman jumped ship to Central City Construction as its new executive vice president in charge of pre-construction and project management services. Opferman’s ties with MPS date back to a year he spent working on the 1991-1992 Facilities Master Plan, a $365 million initiative which was voted down by referendum. Opferman also undertook some planning and construction inspection work for the school system between 1993 and 1994. Over the subsequent years, he did not work for MPS, but the relationship remained intact.
Opferman and Central City staff will act under the auspices of Milwaukee Schools Managers, LLC, an extension of MPS staff, in essence managing design and construction projects through 2005 as the school system works to increase capacity of schools in underserved neighborhoods.
NSI was created by legislation contained in Gov. Tommy Thompson’s final biennial budget, which allowed MPS bonding authority of up to $175 million to assure that every child in the city can, if they want, attend a school in their neighborhood.
The MPS Board of School Directors subsequently requested $98.4 million in bonding for the project through 2005. It remains to be seen, according to Opferman, if the remaining bonding authority could be accessed at a later date, or what the fate of the program would be once the initial contract terminates.
While construction management often involves putting out fires as they erupt, Opferman said he preferred to prevent the sparks from flying to begin with.
"The best way to describe my particular role is not as the fire chief but as the fire prevention officer," Opferman said. "What I am trying to do is keep my eye out for what may be the next issue, to come up and figure a way to resolve the issue before it gets in the way of execution."
Hiring Opferman is a big step for the six-year-old, 50-employee Central City Construction. He has been involved with school projects not only with MPS, but with school districts in Madison and in Duluth, Minn.
Other major jobs that have come together under Opferman’s oversight include projects for Minnesota State Colleges, the University of North Dakota, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the California Department of Corrections.
Locally, Opferman has left his mark on the Children’s Court Center in Wauwatosa and Snap-On’s corporate headquarters in Pleasant Prairie.
"I have had the good fortune to be involved with some major projects," Opferman said.
"When I opened Barton Malow’s office in Milwaukee 13 years ago, we started off with a staff of two, which I grew to a dozen people in 10 years. I have been used to being self-supporting while having access to some of the resources of a large corporation. So now I feel a little more self-sufficient again," he said. "There are some great folks here I am working with. So while the position is new, it is not an environment that I am unused to."
While Central City Construction is a smaller operation than Opferman has been a part of recently, the company is involved in a few major projects that should keep its new vice president busy when he is not consumed with MPS work.
Central City Construction will act as construction manager for a 250,000-square-foot Volkswagen of America parts distribution center in Pleasant Prairie.
Central City Construction, at 1300 N. 4th St., is in the shadow of a major redevelopment scene. It’s offices are adjacent to the Park Freeway corridor being reclaimed for development as a portion of Highway 145 is razed.
Opferman resides in Milwaukee with his wife and two children. Given half a chance, he will spend his Fridays going to fish fries at Lakefront Palm Garden at the Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee.
"It is great food, and they have live music," Opferman said. "You can take the kids there, and if they are really squirelly, you can take them outside and let them play on the bridge abutments."
Oct. 25, 2002 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
