Honoree: Keith Dalton Company: KDW Title: CEO How has your office/employees evolved in the past 5 years? Over the past five years, KDW has experienced steady growth, thanks to our loyal clients and talented group of associates. Over 50% of our clients are repeat customers, and our employees' average tenure is 10 years, more than double the national average. This reflects the supportive and rewarding work environment we've cultivated, empowering individuals to thrive. Recently, we've expanded our reach by bringing several international companies to Houston, including Elin Energy, MAN Energy Solutions, Mapei, Tenaris and OMV Petrom. Additionally, we opened a second office in Austin to support our growing portfolio of projects in Central Texas. What is a book or podcast that has influenced your leadership style and why? A book that has significantly influenced my leadership style is "Fly into The Wind," by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney. This book helped me understand how to apply the concept of CAVU — Ceiling and Visibility Unrestricted — to my life. By focusing on the things immediately under my control, I have been able to navigate challenges more effectively and maintain a clear vision for my goals. Rooney's insights have taught me the importance of staying grounded in the present while striving for excellence, a lesson that has been invaluable in my leadership journey. What has surprised you the most since becoming a top executive? What has surprised me the most since becoming CEO is the demand for my time. Balancing responsibilities while ensuring I'm available to support my team, make crucial decisions and drive the company forward requires a level of time management and prioritization that I hadn't fully anticipated. Additionally, the need to constantly stay informed about industry trends, maintain relationships with key stakeholders and remain accessible to employees has underscored the importance of being adaptable and efficient. This role has truly taught me the value of every minute and the necessity of delegating tasks and empowering my team to ensure we continue to achieve our goals. What is your leadership philosophy? My leadership philosophy revolves around cultivating diligence, humility and resilience among our team members. I encourage the development of well-rounded individuals who embrace continuous improvement and learn from setbacks. Clear and collaborative communication, both written and verbal, is fundamental to achieving clarity and fostering teamwork within our organization. What advice would you give to emerging leaders? Work hard, be humble and focus on what will get you to your goals. How do you relax/unwind? To relax and unwind, I cherish spending time with my family. This quality time helps me disconnect from work and refocus. It’s so important to rejuvenate and maintain a healthy work-life balance — something I encourage all employees at KDW to do. Who were the biggest mentors for you in your career, and how are you now mentoring others? My father played a pivotal role in shaping my work ethic, instilling in me the core values I use to lead KDW today. Additionally, my company founding partner, Jim Kingham, served as an inspirational mentor, accompanying me through the complexities of leadership and business strategy. As CEO of KDW, I dedicate significant time to mentoring individuals in need, offering support to help them achieve their goals. Members of the community and associates at KDW know they can always come to me for guidance and direction. At KDW, we are eager and willing to provide our employees with the tools they need to grow and thrive in their careers. We believe in creating an environment that supports personal and professional development, ensuring everyone has the resources and opportunities to succeed. We prioritize extensive training, mentorship, and ample opportunities for advancement.   https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/c/meet-hbj-2024-most-admired-ceo-awards-honorees/27120/2024-most-admired-ceo-honoree-keith-dalton-of-kdw.html

European PV panel maker Elin Energy opened its first manufacturing facility in the United States. The 225,000-square-foot solar panel assembly facility located in Waller County near Houston, Texas, has the capacity to manufacture 2,000 MW annually and features two solar panel manufacturing lines. Elin is currently leasing the site in Twinwood Business Park from Welcome Group, a Houston-based leader in single-tenant real estate development and property management. Production began on March 5. The facility will produce only modules. Currently, cells are being sourced from Thailand. “The facility [Elin has leased] was designed with generous bay spacing, clear height and upgraded power to accommodate and upgraded power to accommodate a variety of manufacturing needs,” said Welcome Wilson Jr., President & CEO of the Welcome Group. “Elin Energy’s state-of-the-art solar manufacturing equipment easily fit into the building footprint. The first equipment lines are installed, and the future equipment lines have been ordered.” The construction was completed in under six months by design-build firm, KDW, a full-service design-build firm specializing in customized industrial and commercial construction. “The equipment delivery demanded an aggressive schedule which made it essential that all parties involved have a heightened level of coordination and cooperation,” said KDW Construction Manager Bryan Harrison. The facility will catapult Elin’s growth in the Western hemisphere and reinforces its commitment to sustainable energy production and innovation. Elin utilizes highly efficient designs to boost the productivity of solar panels, which require less space than traditional systems while producing equivalent electricity. Elin employs more than 100 associates locally with plans to scale up to 500 associates as the company increases production. Elin Energy joins several international solar energy brands setting up manufacturing operations in Texas.   https://solarbuildermag.com/news/elin-energy-opens-u-s-solar-module-manufacturing-facility/

WALLER COUNTY, TX (Covering Katy News) — The Waller County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) is making great strides in attracting substantial industrial projects to the Katy area, a crucial move as the Houston metro area continues to expand westward. The WCEDP’s primary focus on industrial growth has contributed to the county and city's ability to consistently reduce tax rates. “We have some great projects with the City of Katy,” said Vince Yokom, Executive Director of the WCEDP. “We worked together to attract Southern Glazers to the West 10 Business Park and Amazon to Katy, within Waller County.” This industrial growth is enabling the City of Katy to extend its boundaries westward through annexation. “This expansion into Waller County sets the stage for even more great projects,” Yokom added. WCEDP partners Clay Development and Falcon Development have recently added nearly 2 million square feet of speculative (spec) building space, anticipating demand from companies needing ready-to-occupy facilities. “Our spec building program has generated more than 10 million square feet of industrial space and has allowed us to compete for top projects,” Yokom said. “Clay Development is adding another 767,000 square feet in the Twinwood Industrial Park, bringing the total spec space developed by Clay in Twinwood to over 1.2 million square feet.” Falcon Development’s Kingsland Ranch Logistics Center is also planning to add 500,000 square feet. “The combination of significant residential growth, good schools, and business-friendly municipalities makes West Katy/Waller County—also known as the West Houston industrial submarket—a prime location for corporate expansion,” said Ben Newell of Falcon Development. Coloplast, a Danish company specializing in medical devices, has recently established its U.S. distribution center in one of the spec buildings at Kingsland Ranch. In addition, a new spec building developed by WCEDP partners The Welcome Group and contractors KDW has become the U.S. headquarters for Elin Energy, one of Europe’s largest solar panel manufacturers, now located in Waller County. KDW has been instrumental in developing the MAN headquarters and Goya Foods of Texas headquarters in Waller County. These industrial projects have created thousands of jobs, spurring new residential developments and increasing local spending in Katy and Brookshire. “We really value our partners and always want to bring them into projects and support their work whenever we can,” Yokom said. “Counties have limited development power, so our partners really make things happen.” The ongoing partnership with the City of Katy is expected to pave the way for further expansion and provide a solid foundation for future industrial development in Waller County. “We believe Katy’s future is in Waller County,” Yokom said. “I’m glad we have such a great working relationship with the City.” The WCEDP’s vision is to cultivate a strong local economy by attracting and retaining top companies that offer quality jobs while maintaining environmental responsibility. According to the WCEDP, a good quality of life begins with having a good job.   https://coveringkaty.com/business/new-industrial-development-allows-city-of-katy-to-continue-g/