News

April 7, 2011

Robert M. Gerard Chairs Alliance for Action Healthcare Construction Conference

Robert Gerard, Managing Director of Torcon Energy Services (TES), a corporate member of the Torcon family of companies, recently served as Chairman for the 2011 New Jersey Alliance for Action Healthcare Construction Conference in Trenton. Mr. Gerard has chaired this conference series, which focuses on the construction activities of the acute healthcare and biopharmaceutical and medical technology industries in NJ, since 2006.

Despite the uncertainties created by federal healthcare reform along with a continued challenging economy, Thomas Biga, Chairman of the NJ Hospital Association reported that New Jersey hospitals are forging ahead with new construction projects, with the goal of enhancing their competitiveness in a changing environment.

Joseph Devine, senior vice president of the Kennedy Health System, outlined plans for $153.2 million in projects at the Cherry Hill, Stratford and Washington Township campuses over the next five years. He said Kennedy has a strategy of providing a network of community-based care throughout South Jersey: “We are reaching out to physicians who will bring patients to us.”

The incoming President and CEO of the Healthcare Institute of NJ, Dean Paranicas, indicated that capital construction spending by the biopharmaceutical and medical technology industries in NJ is expected to exceed $2.6 billion over the next two years.

Richard McGreal, northeast region director for Merck’s Global Engineering Services unit, provided an overview of the major renovation under way in Kenilworth, to create a research facility that will open in December 2012. This new “biologics center of excellence” will measure 140,000 square feet, provide labs for more than 1,400 scientists and represent an investment of more than $100 million.

A panel discussion on healthcare consolidation and strategic realignment and its impact on construction was moderated by Gerard. The panel featured leading healthcare professionals including Steve Schwarz, Director of Projects at Torcon, Inc.; Clare Broderick of Birdsall Services Group; Ed Albarran of Saphire + Albarran Architecture; Jeffrey Brown of Garfunkel Wild, PC; and Terrance McCarty of TD Bank.

James Leonard, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Christie and the individual responsible for creating and implementing strategies to assist industry sectors such as healthcare and life sciences, stressed the Governor’s focus and commitment to these industries. Leonard indicated a clear awareness of the importance of these industries in generating both direct jobs as well as their commitment to invest capital construction projects.

In 2010, New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority arranged funding that totaled $675 million in construction volume, and produced about 10,000 jobs over the life of the construction projects.

The Alliance for Action is a non-profit, non-partisan statewide coalition of over 2,500 business, labor, professional, academic and government leaders. It is an advocate of investment in infrastructure for New Jersey’s economy, environment and quality of life.