Department of Natural Resources
and Conservation
State of Montana
1520 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59620 2301


April 19, 1990


Rod Welch
The Welch Company
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111

Subject:   Broadwater Dam Project
Cost Savings using SDS and Welch Methods

Dear Rod,

Now that the Broadwater project is "on-line" we wish to express our appreciation for the work you did in resolving contract disputes and supporting the general management effort on this project. Your management expertise together with the computer program you applied, SDS, greatly contributed to reaching our completion and budget objectives.

You were hired approximately half-way into the job, because the State and its consulting engineer were frustrated in dealing with one of several project general contractors. It appeared little could be done to avoid schedule and cost overruns. Ordinary business meetings with contractors had all but ceased to occur. You changed this, and got things going using SDS.

Your coordination with the contractors, the Engineer, the State's management staff (including the Director and myself), and our legal counsel was professional and effective. We were particularly pleased with the manner you took control of the project record and used SDS to both schedule and report on critical events, so the State and its Engineer could make informed decisions.

Contractor performance improved, business meetings became productive and the state saved several hundred thousand dollars. Contractors, ourselves as Owner, and the Engineer all benefited from your work and the management practices of SDS.

Thanks again for your help.

Sincerely,

Director's Office


Wayne Wetzel
Deputy Director


WAW/tmm