Member Profile
oncrete is as much a part of Alaska’s environment as trees, waterways, mountains, and wildlife found throughout the state. Alaskans travel on concrete roads, across bridges, walk on concrete sidewalks, visit or live in buildings with concrete foundations, and much more. Chuck McHenry, managing member of Finishing Edge Concrete Construction, LLC, says his company takes pride in building much of the infrastructure that Alaskans enjoy today will enjoy far into the future.
The company was founded in 1995 by Craig Morrison and Norscot Investments, Inc. in Washington state, under the name Finishing Edge Curb & Sidewalk, LLC. Other owners were also brought in over time.
When Norscot Investments was bought out, Morrison, Brad Bergman, and Luke Simpson became sole owners of the company, later bringing in Chuck McHenry in Alaska.
Finishing Edge is a specialty concrete subcontractor proficient in all types of site concrete construction, including roadwork and site development, structural work, and pervious concrete installation for government and commercial projects.
CONSOLIDATION HONED FOCUS
“We carry a large workload,” says McHenry. “We easily run five to six crews daily at the height of the season. We hire labor from Local 528 that are well-versed in different regulations and rules that apply to our different types of projects.”
Hiring from the Alaska Local 528, the cement and masons and plasterers union, in addition to his core fifteen employees, has prevented Finishing Edge from experiencing laborer shortages faced by many companies in the construction industry. McHenry says Local 528 has a good apprenticeship program that gives laborers a realistic view of the long work hours necessary to complete projects during a short construction season.
“We work twelve to fourteen hours a day, six days a week in summer,” says McHenry. “There isn’t a lot of downtime for camping, fishing, or hunting. But those who have worked with the company can provide for their families and usually take time off in the winter to spend time with them, play outside, or travel.”
BUILDING CONNECTIONS ONE PROJECT AT A TIME
One of McHenry’s favorite projects is the recent FedEx hardstand project. Finishing Edge worked as a subcontractor for Roger Hickel Contracting, pouring nine acres of new concrete hardstand, totaling more than 30,000 cubic yards. The FedEx hardstand project wasn’t the first time the company worked for Roger Hickel Contracting. Vice President Scott Dunlap says his company works with Finishing Edge on aircraft hardstands, municipal curbs and gutters, and a variety of other concrete sidewalk and plaza applications every year.
“Finishing Edge is more than a subcontractor, in that they are a partner on our projects,” says Dunlap. “They work with Roger Hickel Contracting in meeting our schedule commitments. They always seem to have the manpower needed to crew their work and keep the overall project on track. Finishing Edge’s reputation of quality work, performed safely and efficiently, is well deserved.”
McHenry’s other memorable recent projects include the Dowling Road and Seward Highway Interchange project, headed by QAP, which included fast-paced bridge-building in a single season; a 2021 4th Avenue Signal and Lighting project that involved removing and replacing sidewalks, concrete apron removal and replacement, new curb ramps, and more, headed by Neeser Construction, Inc., in which the team worked in heavy vehicle and tourist traffic; and an ongoing project with QAP to upgrade O’Malley Road to improve safety and accommodate pedestrians.
The company’s work on multiple road projects throughout the year helped them establish a solid relationship with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. Chong Kim, engineering associate for the Central Region’s Construction division, says Finishing Edge has worked on many projects he has overseen.
“They have a pretty extensive knowledge of curb and gutter, sidewalks, ramps, and anything related to road building,” says Kim.
AGC IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER
“I can’t say enough good things about them,” says McHenry.
As a lifelong Alaskan who worked in the construction industry from a very young age, McHenry feels taking care of Alaska’s infrastructure using local vendors and local employees is a top priority. He says his company is doing its part to build a state that’s going to function beyond his lifetime. This includes bringing young employees into the ranks and preparing them for future leadership roles.
“We not only want to lead our field, but we want to pass this down to other people,” says McHenry. “We want employees to buy into the company and keep this thing going. I want to give them something they can build further in the future.”