Certifications Matter When Expertise is Promised

I recently read my colleagues at Compliance One Group's recent blog post, "CHC Certification for Contractors," and it brought back fond memories and reinstilled an important message. If you're a company that says you specialize in something, you need to back it up.

For 37 years, CSM Group has specialized in healthcare construction, and from its roots, specializes as a contractor that understands and appreciates working within occupied healthcare facilities. 

That specialization was relayed to me when I first joined the company in 2005; I was enamored with the in-house training and education and the mentorship I received that coincided with my entry into the healthcare market in 2007. I quickly understood that CSM Group was unique, advanced, thoughtful, and intentional in working within this sensitive space.

For three years, I worked on an extensive six-floor hospital renovation that involved a rooftop expansion, a new envelope, a complete mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrade, architectural modifications, and critical Life Safety modifications -- all while patients occupied two of the six floors!

I spent many long hours working with the client, my CSM Group team, architects, engineers, and authorities having jurisdiction, and trade contractors -- who were critical to the project's success. Many of the individuals that supported my entry into this market are still in my mind today. They were professionals in what they did and how they did it, and I will forever be grateful for the time they took to explain how to deliver a unique construction project amid a critical space.

By 2010, I was a member of the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE). I spent a lot of time reading, studying, and learning how to be an expert in healthcare construction.

Around this same time is when the Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) certification was announced. If I wanted to claim to be an expert in healthcare construction, I knew I must understand Life Safety, infection control, pedestrian traffic and wayfinding, and have an in-depth understanding of how to perform construction tasks in a high-risk environment.

After studying for hours upon hours, I passed the examination and was issued the 23rd certification. I have spent the past decade of my career ensuring that my certificate is up to date by completing various training and continuing education courses.

I am also proud to say that CSM Group has the most CHC certificate holders from one company within the state of Michigan. In our 37-year history, we have built some of the most complex projects for healthcare clients across the country. This includes new hospitals, large expansions, renovations, additions, data centers, surgery centers, operating rooms, emergency department, radiology departments, MIRs, mission-critical equipment, pneumatic tubs, and hospital-specific specialty clinics, with the majority of our work centered around occupied space and patient satisfaction scores.

I am very proud of the work my company does. We have a passion for continually striving to ensure we model safe construction practices parallel to code compliance. If we are to promise our clients an expertise-driven solution, it must be our experience and recognized credentials that back it up. 

About Jim Feltch

As the President and Chief Executive Officer of CSM Group, Jim is responsible for setting strategies and visions for the company, as well as building a culture built around trust, respect, and communication.

During his career, he has managed over $1 billion worth of projects total. His portfolio includes clients like Intel Corporation, GSA (General Services Administration), Applied Materials, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Stryker Instruments, Catalyst Development, Bronson Healthcare Group, Spectrum Health, Good Samaritan Hospital, and many more.

Jim is a member of the American Hospital Association and the American Society of Healthcare Engineering and is a Certified Healthcare Constructor. He also serves on the Southwest Michigan First Board of Directors and as an Elder at Radiant Church.