erhaps most significantly, Dowling shot, edited, and distributed video footage of the various milestones in the building process. Prominent construction consultant Wes Daniels asserts that "with so many different people needing to share information the video was the most helpful tool we had." Explains Daniels, "To have a lengthy document outlining the issues would be one thing. It's quite another matter to have a companion video to show the issues in context. It made the issues so much more understandable to all the parties. We all agreed the video was the key to the process. He's the Copolla of construction."

The degree of efficiency achieved on the project was striking to Daniels. "One of my colleagues," he laughs, "took to calling Dan 'Eisenhower' because he coordinated the movements of so many men and materials so quickly. For my role, what I needed more than anything was accurate information about what he had done or wanted to do. When I asked for information, you better believe I got it." Production of the videos by Dowling was "above and beyond the call. Where else do you find a contractor that can schedule, build, write, speak, and shoot technical videos? They're a consultant's ideal contractor."

"They're a contractor's ideal contractor," asserts William Cook, the master carpenter Dowling engaged to lead his crew's re-crafting of the home's extensive woodwork. "This was the second challenging project I've done with him. He knows that tradesmen need orderly site conditions and proper sequencing to be productive. He knows how to get answers when questions come up. He delivers the goods."

"When Dan brought me on board, the scope of the work was still growing. But that didn't stop him from having a critical path schedule on the wall that outlined when information for each phase of the work would be necessary. And the schedule was tight. The completion date looked impossible to me. Dan has an innate skill he can start with nothing, generate a spark to make things happen, and complete very intricate work on a tight schedule."