April 26, 1993

WILLIAM R. RICHARDSON, A.I.A.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Over the past eight years I have had the pleasure of working as the architect for the homeowners with Mr. Raymond Anderson on the successful reconstruction of the following projects:

• Pleasant Heights, Pleasant Hill, CA

• Bridgeview Heights, Benicia, CA

• Mariners Landing, Vallejo, CA

Mr. Anderson served as the owner's representative in managing the various design and construction contracts for these projects. His services are truly unique, both in nature and high quality, in my 37 years of experience in the practice of architecture on over $800 million of completed building projects.

He first assembled the entire project team of designers and builders for owner approval. He then managed that team, providing directives on behalf of the owner. He coordinated, scheduled and expedited the work of all parties involved to an early and successful conclusion.

He represents the owner and is a steward of the owner's best interest, with a dedication, energy and enthusiasm which is unique in my experience. He conducts his client's business with greater care and concern than most individuals conduct their own affairs. He is a team player whose knowledge of all the details and his follow up on them, gets the job done efficiently.

I highly recommend Mr. Raymond Anderson to manage the various design and construction contracts on reconstruction projects. I would be pleased to answer any questions in this regard.

Sincerely,

William R. Richardson

April 9, 1997

Burton Rockwell, F.A.I.A

Dear Ray:

I should like to comment on your services from my observations during the Two Worlds Woodsworth Lane remedial work for which we were the architects.

Your project evaluation services are valuable, first, in bringing ill-defined aspects of planning and construction into such focus that objectives become clear and, then, giving competent guidance as to the necessary steps and their desirable sequence in addressing those objectives.

To me, however, your invaluable service is in taking charge. Either no one or too many are normally trying to run a remedial contract. Project managers become overloaded when running a construction program is added to their responsibilities; owners, themselves, become frustrated trying to cope with imagesers beyond their experience.

I should like to see you brag a bit about your ability to organize and administer projects with clear responsibility for performance and strict accountability to the owners.

Sincerely yours,

Burton Rockwell, F.A.I.A

March 27, 1997
James A. Karr

To Whom It May Concern

As treasurer for Two Worlds Phase Three, I have worked with Ray Anderson for approximately twelve years, During that time I have worked very closely with Ray dealing with budgets, cost control and re-construction.

All members of the Board think very highly of Ray. He is very competent in handling the day to day management problems of our Association.

Ray was particularly effective in directing our re-construction project. The project required coordinating major repair efforts on all 50 of our units. Ray coordinated the activities of subcontractors, architects and the Board of Directors. During the initial settlement phase, I think Ray the key to our winning an additional $100,00.00. It was his ability to define and present our requirements that made the difference.

I can recommend Ray Anderson, without reservations, for all matters regarding major re-construction and day-to -day operations for large condominium facilities.

Sincerely,

James A. Karr

Treasurer

Two Worlds Phase Three

March 2, 1997

PAUL R. GRIBIK

To whom it may concern:

 

In the mid-1980's, Two Worlds Pleasant Hill-Woodsworth Lane Owners' Association faced the prospect of suing the developer and others to correct construction defects discovered in our homes. The Association needed more capable management services to manage the effort successfully. After a thorough search, we contracted with Ray Anderson and Assured Management to provide the needed management services.

I served on the Board of Directors throughout the lawsuit and the reconstruction effort. During this time, I served in positions from Treasurer to President; and I worked closely with Ray and his staff. They provided our Association with outstanding service during this difficult time. Ray worked long hours overseeing the many phases of the work.

In the early stages, we needed special assessments to fund engineering studies to investigate and document the defects. Ray gave clear presentations to the members explaining the need for legal action and the assessments. Ray helped us find quality engineering firms to perform the studies. He was also constantly on vigil to find ways to reduce costs to preserve our limited budget. When Ray's staff could work with the engineers to lower costs, they did so. Ray also worked closely with our lawyers. This helped immeasurably since the officers of the Association had careers and could not devote full time to handling the volumes of material involved.

The parties that we sued made an acceptable offer to settle out of court. However, the Association was not the only party to the settlement; two other homeowners' associations were also suing the developer. They had more serious defects to correct, so we had difficult negotiations with them to gain an acceptable share of the settlement. Ray spent considerable time and effort to improve our share of the settlement. Due to Ray's efforts in these negotiations, we were able to secure a share that was $100,000 more than our lawyers had recommended.

This was only the first part of the work. Next, we had to hire architects and contractors to correct the defects. Here again, Ray and his staff proved invaluable to us. Ray helped us find quality firms to perform the work at reasonable costs. He spent many hours in meetings with the architects to review their designs and solutions. At one point, it appeared that we might not have funds to undertake all the repairs that were needed. Ray noticed that the architect's design called for the installation of custom greenhouse windows. Ray suggested a less expensive solution that the architect was able to implement. The resulting greenhouse windows looked great, worked as well as the original design, and saved the Association about $100,000.

Ray also worked closely with the contractor. Ray implemented a pilot project in which the contractor repaired a small number of homes. This helped the contractor learn more about the problems that he would have to correct. It also gave Ray and the Association a chance to evaluate the contractor. As a consequence, we were able to identify some of the best managers in the contractor's firm and insist that they be assigned to our project. Because of this, the main reconstruction project was well managed, and all defects were corrected on time and within budget.

Ray helped our Association manage a successful $1,200,000 project to correct construction defects in our homes. We could easily have spent this budget without correcting our problems without careful management. Ray provided the management that kept the project on time and on budget.

I strongly recommend that any association that is facing such problems contract Ray and his team to help manage the process.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul R. Gribik