Rick Haskew Jr., president of Haskew Company & Associates Inc., said April 1 it’s business as usual, “albeit certainly more quiet.”
“Everyone is watching this develop and how we’re being affected. We are taking extra precautions as recommended,” Haskew said.
Haskew said he hasn’t seen any projects put on hold directly related to the pandemic.
“However, there has been less communication as everyone is wanting to see how things evolve and impact working conditions,” he said.
Haskew said all of the company’s current commercial/industrial projects are going forward, while remaining mindful of conditions and government mandates.
“With more and more cases showing with wider testing, the precedent has been set by certain cities hit the hardest,” Haskew said.
“Hopefully, locally we can avoid shutting more businesses down, but the numbers keep going up. Most clients, brokers, and industry types are working remotely where possible.”
Haskew said the company will adapt “as we see the evolution.”
On the job, Haskew said on-site supervisors will continue to be diligent about social distancing and safe practices.
“Those with us that can’t work from home are being strict about the protocols of working around others,” he said.
“Ours is an essential business.”
Haskew said that as more people are tested and the results monitored, “it should aid in predicting what’s coming or the duration.”
He said the company works with a lot of large distribution clients, such as those producing or shipping food, finished goods and medical supplies.
“We are seeing lulls in some areas as demand goes down with closing/scaled-back businesses, but also spikes in the medical supply distribution centers with critical demand,” he said.
The economic impact is not easy to predict.
“The recession we all faced a decade ago was different in that there was no waiting to see, or business as usual,” Haskew said. “Construction/development just stopped.”
Now, there is a need to develop and complete projects.
“The glaring issue with comparing right now, is that this crisis isn’t over to survey the entire scope of what it has caused,” Haskew said.
“Obviously, there are and will be more economic repercussions.”