Over the past five years, our country has faced an extremely challenging economic environment. The housing industry was particularly hard hit. Shea Homes has endured the ups and downs by making many operational changes that allowed us to flex with the changing economy. Through it all, one thing has remained constant- - - - - our unwavering commitment to enhancing people's lives by offering our customer a high quality home and community paired with an excellent home buying experience.
Challenges are nothing new to the Shea family of companies. For over 130 years, the Shea family of companies has been renowned in the construction industry as an innovative leader who takes complex issues and new ideas to accomplish things that may have seemed impossibly challenging at the time all with one goal in mind: enhancing people's lives.
When the Golden Gate Bridge was built, the J.F. Shea Company was hired to take the first and most dangerous step in that amazing project- - - - - holding back the waters of the Pacific to build the foundations and pilings that would support what would become one of the world's most impressive landmarks. The J.F. Shea Company also built the amazingly complex double-decker Bay Bridge and the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), highly ambitious construction projects that made a difference in millions of lives by connecting Bay Area families and communities.
When the Hoover Dam project began, the J.F. Shea Company was not only one of the six companies involved, but was also the manager of the six companies who built that incredible structure, setting the standard for quality that was critical in completing the largest infrastructure project in history at that time. Our unique capabilities again played a key role in realizing an ambitious vision that would change the lives of millions of Americans by harnessing the power of the Colorado River to generate affordable power for the entire Southwest.
Expanding to the East, the J.F. Shea Company built the Washington DC Metro, including the tunnels that are the basis of that complex system, connecting the people and communities of Washington DC and enabling them to come together to lead our country and the world. Shea's pioneering spirit found a new home in 1968 when we started Shea Homes. The rapid growth of the West created an unprecedented demand for not just housing, but a new type of community; one that would connect and empower the families of this boom. Shea Homes has been at the forefront of developing communities which bring together homes, offices, retail and recreation for families in walkable, eco-friendly neighborhoods for both families and active adults.
Doing what we do every day, always with an eye on what's important to our customer has led us to be recognized in 2012 as a J.D. Power Customer Service Champion for a second consecutive year. This recognition is not one we sought or applied for. It's not something a panel of judges decided. It's based on J.D. Power's cross-industry customer satisfaction research. It's the voice of the actual customer speaking about the experience they had when they visited a Shea Homes community and made the decision to buy a home and have it built for them. Caring since 1881 isn't just a tagline. It is a way of life for all of us at Shea Homes. Being recognized as a J.D. Power 2012 Customer Service Champion is a compliment to the effort we make every day on behalf of our customers.
Challenges are nothing new to the Shea family of companies. For over 130 years, the Shea family of companies has been renowned in the construction industry as an innovative leader who takes complex issues and new ideas to accomplish things that may have seemed impossibly challenging at the time all with one goal in mind: enhancing people's lives.
When the Golden Gate Bridge was built, the J.F. Shea Company was hired to take the first and most dangerous step in that amazing project- - - - - holding back the waters of the Pacific to build the foundations and pilings that would support what would become one of the world's most impressive landmarks. The J.F. Shea Company also built the amazingly complex double-decker Bay Bridge and the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), highly ambitious construction projects that made a difference in millions of lives by connecting Bay Area families and communities.
When the Hoover Dam project began, the J.F. Shea Company was not only one of the six companies involved, but was also the manager of the six companies who built that incredible structure, setting the standard for quality that was critical in completing the largest infrastructure project in history at that time. Our unique capabilities again played a key role in realizing an ambitious vision that would change the lives of millions of Americans by harnessing the power of the Colorado River to generate affordable power for the entire Southwest.
Expanding to the East, the J.F. Shea Company built the Washington DC Metro, including the tunnels that are the basis of that complex system, connecting the people and communities of Washington DC and enabling them to come together to lead our country and the world. Shea's pioneering spirit found a new home in 1968 when we started Shea Homes. The rapid growth of the West created an unprecedented demand for not just housing, but a new type of community; one that would connect and empower the families of this boom. Shea Homes has been at the forefront of developing communities which bring together homes, offices, retail and recreation for families in walkable, eco-friendly neighborhoods for both families and active adults.
Doing what we do every day, always with an eye on what's important to our customer has led us to be recognized in 2012 as a J.D. Power Customer Service Champion for a second consecutive year. This recognition is not one we sought or applied for. It's not something a panel of judges decided. It's based on J.D. Power's cross-industry customer satisfaction research. It's the voice of the actual customer speaking about the experience they had when they visited a Shea Homes community and made the decision to buy a home and have it built for them. Caring since 1881 isn't just a tagline. It is a way of life for all of us at Shea Homes. Being recognized as a J.D. Power 2012 Customer Service Champion is a compliment to the effort we make every day on behalf of our customers.