Wal-Mart Project Brings Johnson & Pace
High Praises
In small Texas towns, few things get locals more excited than the construction of a nearby Wal-Mart. In Alamo, Texas (population: 8,965), news that the multi-billion-dollar company was locating within the city limits soon became the talk of the town. “People here were so excited, they couldn't do enough to help Wal-Mart get here quicker,” says Jaime Sandoval, Alamo's community development director.
In fact, soon after Wal-Mart hired Johnson & Pace to construct its Alamo site, residents from neighboring towns offered to haul dirt to the location to help the firm speed up its topography leveling.
That enthusiasm was enough to let Joe Hart, the project engineer with Johnson & Pace, know his work on the project was well worth the time commitment. “I worked on the Alamo Wal-Mart project for three years, and it kept me busy every day – all day long,” Hart says. “When I saw that the Alamo residents really appreciated our work, I realized that we were really doing something good for the community.” How much the community appreciated the new Wal-Mart spoke volumes during the store's grand opening. “The day Alamo's new Wal-Mart Supercenter opened, the store's sales were higher than any other store in the nation,” says Hart. “For a town of that size, it's a pretty incredible statistic.”
Although Alamo residents have become familiar with the convenience of their new Wal-Mart, their excitement hasn't waned. “People here are still pinching themselves, they just can't believe we finally have a Wal-Mart,” says Sandoval. “We have Johnson & Pace to thank. They were very detail-oriented, and they didn't keep us waiting. On a scale of one to 10, Johnson & Pace was definitely a 10.”
|
