(Above Left to Right) Jim Coulton, Crane Operator, White's Crane Service, Inc. and Mark Perrotte, Field Foreman, White's Steel, Inc.

Charles White started White’s Blacksmith and Welding Works in 1940. While the company has undergone numerous changes over the ensuing years it remains a constant in the Coachella Valley. Renamed White’s Steel, Inc. in 1996 the company has remained at their original location in Indio, CA since its inception. White’s Steel had always used cranes on their various projects over the years. The primary focus of the company was of course setting structural steel and welding. Over time while involved with their steel work other contractors working on the project would seek out White’s to assist them in various work, such as landscaping that would include the setting of large trees, boulders etc., on the job. The outside crane operation projects of White’s Steel, Inc. eventually became so numerous that the company decided to create a subsidiary, White’s Crane Service, Inc. “We have used cranes in some capacity for years,” said Ed Neumeyer, President of White’s Steel, Inc. “While working on those projects frequently landscape contractors would utilize our cranes at a site to set trees, rocks and steel towards the end of the project. We started getting so much business that the company decided to create another division or company to handle the crane work that was coming in.”

White’s Crane Service specializes in the setting of structural steel and on large size landscaping projects. The company focuses their operations primarily in the Coachella Valley, but has worked on various projects from Palm Springs all the way south to the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley. The company specializes in large custom home construction and has a number of current projects they are involved in. Big Horn Country Club in Palm Desert, Stone Eagle Country Club, Reserve Country Club as well as Vintage Country Club in Indian Wells and the Hideaway Country Club in La Quinta are just some of the areas the company is currently building custom homes and working on large scale landscaping projects. 

(Above and Top Right) White's Steel Service, Inc. uses their Link-Belt HTC-8690 truck crane to lift a bridge for a water feature at the custom home in Big Horn. (Below Right) A view of the Big Horn Country Club in the Coachella Valley.

A custom built home will usually run between approximately 5,000 – 10,000 square feet. One of the projects White’s Crane Service is currently working on is a massive 35,000 square foot private residence located at the Big Horn Country Club. This residence was designed by Guy Dreier owner of the architectural design firm Habitat Architecture. This ultra modern designed residence will require 650 tons of structural steel and features an extended office area over a cliffside as well as a multiple roof radius. The home also has a number of other outstanding characteristics such as several water features and glass and steel bridges that link to the guest homes, entry way and an exposed elevator. The project which started in 2005 is slated to be completed sometime in 2007.

Another custom home White’s Crane Service is currently working on at the Big Horn Country Club is a two-story home that has been designed by Narendra Patel  of the firm, Design Development. When completed the home will be 11,000 square feet. White’s Crane Service will have used over 125 tons of steel in the construction of the residence that will also feature unique aspects such as  a glass and steel bridge to connect the various portions of the house.

(Top) Jim Coulton inside the cab of the Link-Belt HTC-8690, 90-on truck crane.(Above Left) A view of the custom home project at Big Horn Country Club. (Directly Above) White's Link-Belt HTC-8690 purchased from Nixon-Egli Equipment Co.

Custom built homes are just a portion of the work that White’s Crane Service is involved in. They also have a number of large landscaping projects that involve the setting of large trees and rock at the various aforementioned country clubs. In addition to the private residence projects White’s Crane Service is actively involved in a number of commercial projects as well. Currently the company is working on the construction of a number of new schools in the Coachella Valley area. The company is building eight new structures at West Coachella Elementary School. At Xavier Prep School White’s Crane Service is constructing two new buildings. The company is putting up a two story main classroom and a two story gym at that site. At Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Indio the company is busy putting up steel for several new buildings going in at the school. White’s Crane Service is also currently working on setting steel for two new buildings that will be office and retail structures in the Old Town development in downtown La Quinta.

Ed was quick to note that much of White’s Crane Service success was due in a large part to the company’s managers. Colin Dove, President of White’s Crane Service has been with the company since 1990. Jim Coulton, who is the company’s Crane Manager, has been with White’s since 2000 and Jim Boglino who is the company Controller and has been with White’s since June of 1998. Ed also noted that the company’s seventy employees have been with White’s for an average of seven years or longer. “Finding qualified employees is a major challenge for us,” said Jim Boglino. “The area we are located in is predominately a residential area as opposed to an industrial area. Trying to find operators who are licensed and have the necessary skills has been very difficult. Once we do find someone we don’t want them to leave. Most of our employees have been very loyal to the company.” White’s Crane Service is in the enviable position of having more work than they can handle. “We have plenty of work and are in a good position within the community,” said Jim. “Right now what is holding us back on expanding is the lack of qualified personnel. We don’t want to take on a job unless we can be assured that we can handle it with the same high quality of workmanship we would normally expect to do on any project we are involved in.”

With challenges such as tight work areas, schedules and the need for qualified technicians and operators Jim still enjoys the work he is involved in. “Working outside and the variety of challenges that we face on a regular basis is what makes this job fun. When you set a huge air conditioning unit up on an office building, or you set a row of palm trees down a street, or you set steel for a house or office you can stand back and see a completed project. There is a lot of satisfaction when you can see something that you’ve done and it turned out well.