Balfour Beatty Rail, Inc.

Large companies and small companies are forming partnerships!

Balfour Beatty Rail's Regional Manager Ravi Swamy believes in the importance of helping small businesses thrive and grow and cites his company's sub-contracting work with small business firm Smittick Electric. "I am here to help Smittick Electric succeed," he said.

Swamy invited Joe Smittick to have an office in Balfour's building "because we wanted Joe to feel a part of the team." Swamy said his company encourages an open-door policy and open collaboration with its partner firms. "We make it a point to involve all our small businesses in our meetings which is inclusive of owner's meetings, weekly scheduling meetings, etc."

As a sub-contractor to Balfour Beatty, Denver-based Smittick Electric works on the West Corridor project installing 12 substations and has pulled nearly 33,000 feet of wire over long spans which connect feeders to the track. The firm also installed five substations for the Southeast Light Rail Line.

"I believe in them and because of that have continued to use them on other projects and have even referred them to other contractors," Swamy said.

Because of his commitment to helping small businesses, Swamy recognizes that it's a delicate balance for a small firm to work with a prime contractor as a partner. So, he's developed a list of lessons learned that all small business owners can profit from including advice like, "the business must produce and deliver on its commitments. It must do what it takes to get the job done and be open to new opportunities."

He also suggests that small business owners who want to succeed should "learn to take some risks, and make sure they have the right team in place, and invest in that team."

"I believe that if prime contractors are willing to take a mentor protégé approach, then they have to go above and beyond to see the small business grow and thrive," Swamy said.Balfour Beatty Rail, Inc. is working on several projects for RTD's FasTracks program – the EagleP3 Rail Line being constructed between Denver Union Station and Denver International Airport; the Gold Line, which will connect downtown Denver to Wheat Ridge and Arvada; and the West Rail Line, which connects downtown to Lakewood and Golden.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Balfour Beatty Rail, Inc. is part of London-based Balfour Beatty, a global engineering, construction and investment company. Balfour's rail division specializes in construction, design, signal engineering and maintenance for public and private railroads.

In 2010, RTD honored Balfour Beatty Rail, Inc. with performance awards for On-Call Services and the West Corridor project. On-Call Services is a $56.3 million project comprised of communications, signal, overhead catenary, traction power substations, fare collection and system-wide electrical work. The $62 million West Corridor Light Rail project is a 12.1-mile extension to an existing 35-mile light rail system. The work includes the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the line's traction power, overhead electrical and signal systems. At the same awards ceremony, RTD also recognized Swamy with the "Systems Manager of the Year" award.