Why I Started Vulcan Infrastructure

During 20 years of advising on major capital projects, my observations of both successful and failed projects led me to conclude that a new kind of infrastructure development firm was needed in the industry – a smaller scale project management advisory firm with the relevant expertise, customized solutions and personable service to “live and breathe” a major capital investment alongside the Owner from end to end.

I frequently found the main causes of major project failure to be:

1. Unclear Project Purpose – from unconvincing business cases, to changing market dynamics and even just forgetting the original intent and essential purpose of infrastructure. When the pressure increases on a major project, it’s critical that everyone maintains a clear understanding of the original project vision and goals, particularly as they set priorities and assess trade-offs between quality, timeline and cost.
2. Misaligned Incentives – conflicts of interest are common where we often observe contractors solely responsible for managing their own project, or engineering firms managing the construction of their own design or real estate brokers managing a project beyond the closing of their transaction. This results in a project delivery model which is lacking the vital checks and balances between the various parties accountable for executing the work.
3. Fragmented Delivery – the major project advisory industry is fragmented with many different service providers at each stage of the project lifecycle and this often leads to a significant number of hands involved at various points across a multi-year effort and not a fully integrated, consistent and dedicated core project delivery team.

So in January 2022, Vulcan Infrastructure was born – a true major project delivery partner, but also a firm who cares deeply about maximizing the value derived from infrastructure projects for the greater good of the nation and its citizens.

A source of inspiration was found in Birmingham, AL which was once a great industrial center of the country, where local iron was transformed into stoves, fire hydrants, manhole covers and iron pipe to support nation building efforts in the early 1900s. As part of the New Deal in the 1930s, a Public Works Administration crew installed a 56-foot iron Vulcan statue overlooking the city as a symbol of homeland industry which still stands today.

Vulcan is known as the Roman God who made things and thus embodies the modern-day professions of engineering and architecture. The name draws inspiration from the foundational principles of the past and integrates these elements into our present day.

The Romans were also the first to utilize infrastructure for strategic national growth: a way to move military, supplies and trade, to support development of an empire. They often developed innovative engineering solutions to manage around geographical hazards and improved existing designs to achieve progress.

In the US today, as we observe a renaissance of former industrial centers and the nation rebuilds its essential sectors and its aging infrastructure, we have an opportunity to look back at our roots in order to help us move forward. There is inspiration to be found in how challenges have been overcome in the past and then apply these lessons in today’s world to unlock growth and increase our national competitiveness.

At Vulcan Infrastructure, our mission is to drive the national conversation on the strategic importance of infrastructure, by demonstrating the economic, social and environmental benefits that can flow to citizens when infrastructure is planned, developed, managed and connected in an efficient and effective manner. We believe that strategic infrastructure projects and delivery improvements will lead to a more resilient and competitive nation.

More company updates to follow soon!