One of the keys to Cougar’s success is the company’s investment in technology.
When Ron Schmitt started the company’s Fort Myers operations in 1981, he began with a $400 handheld gas saw that sprayed dust and slurry. Today, Cougar team members operate $50,000 concrete saws that are Bluetooth-enabled with GPS so they can be remotely operated, keeping workers safely away from dust and debris.
The result is safety, speed and efficiency. Today, for example, Cougar manages 700 jobs a year compared with 200 jobs 10 years ago with the same number of employees.
“They are at the top of their field as far as the technology and equipment,” says Dan Adams, vice president at Stevens Construction in Fort Myers.
Cougar’s modern equipment complies with strict environmental and worker-safety regulations, often going well beyond what’s required. In addition, the company holds extensive weekly training sessions designed to maintain its exceptional safety rating. This helps keep its workers’ compensation rates low and gives Cougar an edge to win business from Gilbane Building Co. and other multinational construction companies that place a premium on safety.
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