July 2010. Public Services Medal and Award from the Seattle Federal Executive Board, Celebration of Public Service for his work on FEMA disaster #1733 with the Oregon Emergency Management Team and FEMA Region X.
Cecil Walker of Longwood, Florida received the Public Services Medal and Award from the Seattle Federal Executive Board, Celebration of Public Service for his work on FEMA disaster #1733 with the Oregon Emergency Management Team and FEMA Region X. The winter storm event of December 2007 resulted in severe damages to the historic Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad. The Railroad was built between the years 1906 and 1911, and continued to bring market goods and tourism to the region, until that winter when eighty-seven miles of the rail line were damaged, including a twenty five mile segment of the line that was nearly completely devastated.
Mr. Walker was on the team that facilitated what would be the largest repair project in FEMA Region X history. Mr. Walker and team inspected the eighty-seven miles of rail line, including seventy-seven bridges and ten tunnels. The only access to the much of the rail line was by hiking. The team hiked anywhere from four miles to eighteen miles a day, often in rain, snow, and even hail carrying thirty pound backpacks loaded with equipment, ropes for climbing, food and water. After inspection was completed, they developed design criteria to rebuild the rail system as it was before the flood damage, as well as a budget for all engineering costs, environmental costs, design costs and construction costs. Mr. Walker was also awarded the status of honorary Oregonian by the Governor of Oregon, Governor Theodore Kulongowski.
Mr. Walker has an extensive background in heavy rail and rail line bridge construction with Union Pacific Railroad, and experience in the Light Rail construction of the Metro Blue Line from Long Beach to Los Angeles using overhead catenary cables to provide electric power to the train. Mr. Walker’s experience includes light to heavy horizontal construction, vertical and high-rise construction, business strategy, acquisition, equity management, project funding, development, planning, marketing, business development, procurement, program management, project management, construction management, disaster recovery, general contracting, estimating, contracts, and budget control systems.
July 1995 – First in Indian Country, Construction contract no sovereignty waiver required
First in Indian Country, CW Construction team wrote the first construction contract in Indian Country for Gila River Indian Community Arizona new casino and completed negotiations for the tribe. This is the first. The bonding companies, insurance companies and contractor accept this contract without requiring the Tribe to wave their sovereign rights.
December 15, 2000 – Cecil Walker Named Small Business Person of the Year
Cecil V. Walker, President of CW Construction, Inc., was awarded “Small Business Person of the Year” by the Seminole County/Lake Mary Regional Chamber of Commerce. The presentation occurred at the Maitland Sheraton Hotel on December 13, 2000. CW Construction, Inc. is based in Longwood, Florida and has been in business for more than nine years. CW Construction, Inc. is a Native American owned company.
April 17, 2001 – Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year
Cecil V. Walker, President of CW Construction, Inc., has been selected as the Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year for the State of Florida by the U.S. Small Business Administration. CW Construction, Inc. is based in Longwood, Florida and has been in business for more than nine years. CW Construction Services is a Native American owned company.
August 1, 2001 – Board of Directors for Children’s Home Society of Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. Cecil V. Walker president of CW Construction, Inc. has been named to the Board of Directors for The Children’s Home Society of Florida, Central Florida Division.
Mr. Walker is a well-known advocate for social issues, including those affecting the betterment of children’s lives. He founded his company as a construction management, design/build general contracting corporation in 1991 with the express purpose of building a family-type business.
“CHS’s commitment and historic track record in improving the family structure, and helping children in need, is something that hit home for me, and it’s why I wanted to get more involved with the organization,” Mr. Walker said.
Mr. Walker also serves on the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), and the Association of General Contractors. He has held leadership positions with large organizations including Union Pacific Railroad and The Kellogg Corporation.
Mr. Walker is a graduate of the University of Kansas as well as a graduate of executive masters programs in business from Harvard University, science from MIT, medical science from Creighton University, and advanced management systems from Loyola College.
He founded his company as a construction management, design/build general contracting corporation in 1991 with the express purpose of building a family-style business. Mr. Walker has nearly 30 years experience in the commercial construction industry and has built airports, hotels, resorts, office buildings, shopping centers, jails, universities and schools.
Mr. Walker has been nominated for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Central and North Florida in both 1999 and 2000. CW Construction has received awards from The Orlando Sentinel as one of the top 100 Companies for Working Families and was voted the fifth fastest growing company in Florida for the year 2000. Mr. Walker also was recognized as the United States’ Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year.
October 12, 2001 – CW Construction, Inc. completes NASA project
Longwood, Fla. CW Construction, Inc. (CW) recently completed the construction of the Shuttle payload processing facility for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center. The project consisted of a Butler pre-engineered metal building along with interior build-out, finishes, and an oxidizer system. The 6,000 square foot project was constructed as an addition to an existing clean room facility.
October 12, 2001 – CW Construction, Inc. completes Walgreens project in Orlando, Florida
CW Construction, Inc. recently completed construction of a Walgreens Drugstore in Orlando, Florida near the Orlando International Airport. The 15,290 square foot project was part of a larger commercial development in the Lee Vista area.
October 12, 2001 – CW Construction, Inc. (CW) completes Walgreens project in Palm Bay, Florida
CW Construction, Inc. recently completed construction of a Walgreens Drugstore in Palm Bay, Florida. The 15,290 square foot project was the third to be completed by CW this year.
October 19, 2001 – CW Construction, Inc. completes Federal Bureau of Prisons project
Longwood, Fla. CW Construction, Inc. (CW) recently completed the construction of a 60,000 square foot design/build warehouse facility for the Federal Bureau of Prisons at their correctional facility in Coleman, Florida. The project consisted of a pre-engineered metal building along with interior build-out and associated sitework. In addition, CW also constructed a 10,000 square foot concrete block high security Armory building as part of the $3.5 million project.
November, 2001 – CW Construction, Inc. Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Founded by Walker in 1991, CW has earned a strong reputation for projects ranging from schools, retail and warehouses to resorts, casinos, and theme parks. CW specializes in Program Management, Construction Management, Design/Build Construction, and General Contracting.
“This is a significant benchmark for us because we started out with $1OO and have evolved into a well-respected and tough competitor on numerous types of construction projects that range in size and complexity,” Walker said. “Our philosophy has always been to be smart and reliable, which has and continues to work well for us.” CW is here for the long run to “Build A Better Tomorrow” in our community.
Having successfully completed their projects on time and within budget, CW has maintained a remarkably strong safety record. “We have not had anyone injured on the job and CW has never had any litigation on our projects,” Walker said. “Again, it’s a matter of working smart offering cost-effective consultation, and abiding by a strong team approach.”
CW has managed and constructed millions of dollars of projects ranging from international airports, casinos, resorts, theme parks, industrial facilities, retail complexes, metal buildings, schools, universities, office buildings, medical facilities, and warehouses. The company is a wholly owned Native American Corporation and Walker, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is one of the country’s leading advocates for Native American Issues.
In the past ten (10) years, CW Construction, Inc. has earned numerous awards, including the U.S. Small Business Administration Minority Advocate of the Year, #3 in the Top 100 Companies For Working Families, Native American Business of the Year, the Smithsonian Institute Outstanding Native American Business of the year 2000, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur nominee twice, Delloitte & Touche, Orlando Business Journal, University of Florida, Fifth fastest growing company in the state of Florida, to name a few.
