ARGO PERFORMANCE, LTD.
Smart People Creating Smart Buildings
ARGO PERFORMANCE
Consultants Specializing in
Commissioning - Smart Buildings - Controls - Sustainability - Cybersecurity
Independent Third Party Commissioning Firm
Minority-Owned Small Business Enterprise (MBE)
Registered Professional Engineers and Licensed Contractors
What is the Argo commissioned to do....
ARGO PERFORMANCE
"Smart People Creating Smart Buildings"
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Argo Performance is a commissioning and smart building consulting firm capable of providing incomparable professional services to sophisticated clients. We base our business philosophy on a strong company culture of employee satisfaction, inter-team collaboration, attention to detail, good documentation practices, exceptional problem-solving, and passion for what we do. Our employees bring along unique creativity and unparalleled expertise to bring the most cutting-edge, energy-efficient, intelligent buildings to life.
A Little Bit of Greek Philosophy...
OUR MISSION
Foster a free-thinking culture of employee empowerment that enables them to provide our clients with uncompromising service and ingenious solutions.
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Our Values
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Promote work-life integration
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Invite perspectives from individuals
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Provide prompt, effective communication
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Share our knowledge and mentor others
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Constantly strive for improvement
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Develop longstanding relationships
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Earn Trust
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Pursue opportunities that ignite our passion
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Embrace change
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Accept challenges
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Forever Move Forward
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Our Goal
Earn the reputation of providing extraordinary service and astonishing expertise.
OUR CAPABILITIES
Skills of the Argonauts...
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Building Commissioning
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Whole Building Commissioning (01 91.00)
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HVAC, Envelope, Process, Renewables, Utilities, IT, Power & MEP
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Retrocommissioning
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cGMP Integrated CQV
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Monitoring and Continuous Commissioning Programs
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Smart Building Consulting​
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Planning, Design, and Commissioning
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Open Systems Network Integration
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Systems: (BMS, EMCS, SCADA, PLC, HMI, controls & instrumentation)
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IoT Convergence
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Cloud Services
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Artificial Intelligence
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Software Development
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Energy & Sustainability​ Management
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Data Analytics
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​Systems Optimization​
- Ratings (LEED, Net Zero, Green Globes, Living Buildings Challenge)
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​Title 24, CalGreen, & IGCC Compliance
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Energy Audits and Water Balance
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Cybersecurity​​
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Risk Management
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Security Assessment​
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Vulnerability Investigation
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ISA/IEC 62443 for Automation and Controls
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Regulatory Compliance (NIST-800-171, CMMC, DoD)
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SERVICE AREA
Where will the Argonauts journey to....
Argo Performance, Ltd. is based in San Diego, California. We provide services throughout the Southern California region. This includes the counties of San, Diego, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles Santa Barbara, Kern, Ventura, San Bernardo, and Imperial. Also, we provide services in Northern Baja California, Mexico.
WHY ARGO PERFORMANCE
Story of the Argo...
Jason Commissions the Argo...
WHY THE NAME ARGO?
Commissioning originated in the shipbuilding industry. It was the process of placing a ship in active service. During commissioning, the ship is tested for seaworthiness, safety, function, speed, and endurance. It is an acceptance process. Once the ship been accepted, it is deemed commissioned for active duty, and ceremonies involved are often rooted in centuries-old naval traditions.
When naming our firm, we thought no better than to start our firm’s name with a name a famous ship. We thought that it would be appropriate to use the name ARGO from the Greek epic Jason and the Argonauts, for one of the founders of Argo Performance has the first name of Jason.
TACK ON PERFORMANCE
Commissioning the Act of Placing a Ship in Active Service....
One of the few sports, where engineers and constructors go head-to-head, is in the world of yacht racing. It is a sport where the team that can construct a better boat can give the sailors the edge to victory. In developing a racing boat, there are three major groups of people: the naval architects, the shipwrights, and the commissioning crew. The naval architects devise the plan to make the boat. They figure out the sail's dynamics, develop the hulls, and create an ultra-efficient, high-performance integrated machine. The shipwrights assemble the boat, paying attention to the smallest details and tolerances, assembling the machine, tuning for ultra-performance. Finally, the commissioning crew takes the boat on its maiden voyage to test the boat, pushing its limits, finding it faults, seeking ways to make it perform better, relaying the information back to the architects and shipwrights, and creating the ultimate performance machine that is ready for race day.
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This analogy holds true for building construction. The Architects and Engineers are the building’s designers, they plan for every detail for making the building highly functional, while not sacrificing its aesthetics. The contractors are the shipwrights. They put the building together, working through the though the design, assembling the pieces with precision and craftsmanship. Finally, the commissioning agent takes the building for its first drive, much like a commissioning crew takes a ship on its maiden voyage. The commissioning agent tests the building, verifying that it can perform, they provide valuable feedback to the A/E and construction teams and leads them to fine-tune the systems. Also, they make sure that the building operating staff are fully equipped with the proper training and documentation so that the staff will be successful in running a high-performing, efficient, smart building.
OUR LOGO
An Argonaut's Coat of Arms.....
Our logo is based on a variation of the star formation Vela. It was originally part of a larger constellation Argos Navis, which was later divided into multiple sections, the others being Carina (The Keel), Puppis (The Stern), and Pyxis (The Compass), The constellation is located in the southern hemisphere.
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SAMPLE OF OUR PROJECTS
Victories of the Argonauts...
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
B800 Reef TI GMP Plant, Oceanside, CA
Commissioning authority for Gilead’s Building 800 project which consists of 263,169 sqft pharmaceutical building with GMP space, as well as R&D labs and office spaces. The facility is supplied by a new central utility plant comprised of two chillers with variable speed primary-variable pumping, two heating hot water boilers, and two steam boilers. Additional utilities include N2, LN2, CO2, O2, clean steam, clean compressed air, RO/DI, vacuum, WFI, and lab waste neutralization. There are 13 environmental rooms. Several pieces of air handling equipment and exhaust fans provide ventilation to a series of terminal boxes and air valves. Also, several fan coil units also provide conditioning. Power is supplied by city-power, UPS, and generator-power connected system. Illumination by ultra-efficient LED luminaires and lighting controls. Validation
Incorporated Argo's commissioning documents in their protocol The project was a fast track project, being designed and built in 11 months. SDG&E Savings by Design M&V. LEED Gold Certification Project.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Life Science Research and Development Spectrum 4, San Diego, CA
Commissioning authority for the new 170,000 square foot, 5-level building that was constructed for Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Alexandria Real Estate Equities. The building is a research and development facility supported by a new central utility plant with chillers, boilers, CDA, RO/DI, vacuum, and steam. Additional systems include N2, LN2, CO2, bulk gas, Solvent Delivery, fume hood, O2, and lab waste neutralization. Systems include BMS, HVAC, Phoenix lab controls, Lab utilities, emergency power, and waste recovery. Responsible for design review, functional testing, TAB verification, control system operations, and M&V. LEED Gold Certification Project.
Real Estate Landlords & Developers in the San Diego Life Science Cluster
Multiple clients and multiple projects
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Alexandria Real Estate, Grad Labs
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Alexandria Real Estate, Spectrum 5
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Alexandria Real Estate Spectrum 3
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Alexandria Real Estate Singular Genomics
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Alexandria Real Estate Campus Point 3 Leidos
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Alexandria Real Estate Campus Point 5
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BioMed Realty Towne Center Drive, APEX
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BioMed Realty Oberlin Redevelopment MODA
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BioMed Realty Center for Novel Therapeutics – T.Is
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BioMed Realty Cost 9 Research Park – multiple T.I.s
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Healthpeak North Torrey Pines – Synthetic Genomics
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Healthpeak Directors Place – Sorrento Gateway
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Longfellow SOVA Science District – multiple T.I.s
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Oxford – Sorrento Valley Redevelopment
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Scottdale Partners – The Campus at Horton – T.I.s
Commissioning agent representing the landlord for several real estate firms specializing in life sciences throughout San Diego County. Project delivery ranged from design-building to plan-spec. Projects included core and shell, warm shell, and tenant improvements in single-tenant and multiple-tenant properties. Systems and equipment include district heating and cooling plants, lab utilities, purity water systems, LEED, BMS, clean rooms, vivarium, BSL3, cold storage, parking structures, amenities, and process controls. Projects ranged from 500,000+ square feet to small 10,000 sf TI.
Naval Facilities Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southwest
Multiple locations and multiple projects (sample of projects)
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Navy Base San Diego, P-110 Littoral Combat Ship Facility
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Navy Base San Diego, Dry Dock #1 Modifications
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Navy Base Coronado P-966 Special Warfare Training
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Navy Base Coronado B-94 Aircraft Rework Facility
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MCB Camp Pendleton, P-574 Fire Station
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MCB Camp Pendleton, P-334 Supply Warehouse
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MCB 29 Palms, B-1460 Phelps Dinning Hall
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MCB 29 Palms, B-1206 Vehicle Repair Facility
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MCB 29 Palms, B-1235 Combat Vehicle Repair
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Navy Medical Center Balboa Hospital Cogen Chillers
Commissioning Provider for several military installations throughout Southern California. Completed over 20+ projects for NAVFAC and Army Corps of Engineers. Most project delivery was achieved via Design / Build. ARGO provided services for several critical facilities, including:
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Converting four absorption chillers to steam-driven chillers at the Balboa Hospital Cogeneration plant
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Process control for three 800 hp filling and dewatering pumps at a dry dock
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Combat training pool for Navy Seals
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Ship to Shore power for LCS ships
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Critical fire station and emergency response centers
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Aircraft and tank repair facilities.
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Secure warehouses
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Commissioning conformed to AWEMS, UFGS and UFC specifications for Total Building Commissioning.
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Dexcom, Inc.
GMP Medical Device Manufacturing with Controlled Environment Rooms and GMP Warehouses
General Atomics
Energy Research and Defense Contractor developing Nuclear Fision and Drone Aircraft (Multiple Projects)
Supported the design-build construction, commissioning, and qualifications for two GMP suites in San Diego, CA, and Mesa, a Manufacturing Plant with four controlled environment GMP manufacturing rooms, and two CERs inFactory 3 in Penang, Malaysia Argo Performance provided commissioning and construction quality management services for the general contractor Skanska USA Building, as well as operational readiness scheduling directly for Dexcom, Inc. Duties included: writing the User Requirement Specifications (URS), compiling the validated turnover package (eTOP), quality inspections, monitored testing and certified cleaning, FAT/SAT for USP water systems, P&ID verifications, performing functional testing, and facilities shakedown. Dexcom's QA/QC incorporated Argo's commissioning documents to develop validation OQ, PQ, and IOQ protocols. The facilities include a controlled environment room with sensitive temperature, humidity, & pressure control, ISO classified areas, and validated support.
Scripps Institute of Oceanography
GA is leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems. It also manufactures a variety of state-of-the-art digital Ground Control Stations (GCS) and provides pilot training and support services for RPA field operations. Argo Performance provided commissioning services for several of their assembly line, research and development, and manufacturing facilities. Commissioned both facility and process systems including HVAC, critical electrical power distribution, backup generation connections, process cooling, compressed air, central vacuum, environmental rooms, lighting, and pure water systems.
University of California, San Diego
Principal commissioning agent for several new construction and tenant improvement projects. Noted projects include the newly constructed Marine Conservation and Technology Building, which is a part of the Center for the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (CMBC). Sea water distribution is a large civil project with process controls that pumps seawater directly from the Pacific Ocean from the Scripps Pier seawater to several buildings on the campus, including the Burch Aquarium. The Center for Coastal Studies with natural ventilation. Hubbs Hall chiller and boiler plant renovations. These buildings have specialized equipment, including warm-chilled-ambient seawater processing and distribution, purified water, process controls, laboratory utilizes, clean rooms, and specialized filtration.
Pfizer
La Jolla Campus Building Management Systems Consulting and Commissioning
Pfizer, La Jolla Campus is a 25-acre campus dedicated to research in the fields of oncology and the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Argo Performance provided project engineering and quality assurance services for campus-wide building management and lab controls systems upgrade. Investigated the existing systems, developed a scope of work, wrote the request for proposals, interviewed vendors for selection, provided owner representation engineering services, and commissioning. The project included upgrading the building management systems and automated controls of HVAC, equipment monitoring, energy management, central utility plant, and lab ventilation control systems.
There have been 40+ multiple tenant improvement and renovation projects throughout the campus. Experience on campus includes many buildings that support ongoing research servicing critical environments, including supercomputer data centers, wind tunnels, museums, clean rooms, laser lab, library collections, clinical spaces, food services, research laboratories, controlled environment rooms, and engineering spaces. Equipment and systems include central plants, HVAC equipment changeouts, Retrocommissioning, TAB oversight, purified water, campus utility distribution, optimization, emergency power systems, LEED, building automation, electrical switch gear replacement, and tenant improvement.
Wind Power Generator for San Clemente Island
Wind Turbines Generation SCADA System and Smart Grid Commissioning for the Naval Landing Field hosted by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Provided third party witnessing and commissioning services for the modernization of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. This system supervised the power generation and engine monitoring of 675 kilowatts (kW) wind turbines. Fifteen percent of the Island power is produced from these turbines, decreasing the Island diesel fuel use by 141,757 gallons. The SCADA system ensures that the wind turbines operate properly and monitors the carbon offset of 18,000 pounds of CO2. Also, the SCADA system supports the islands Micro Grid electrical systems, which interconnects the various power generation: solar, wind, and diesel generation, using Smart Grid Technologies.
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Earth Science & Ocean and Climate Research Institute (multiple projects)
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Marine Conservation & Technology Facility MCTF, New Build LEED
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Center for Coastal Studies, New Build LEED
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Sea Water Distribution Civil pumping renovation & process control
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Hubbs Hall, Chiller and Heating Plant Replacement
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Vaughn Hall Geochemistry Lab
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Research University multiple projects (some examples)
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Bonner Hall Insectary
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Stein Clinical Research HVAC Renovations
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Center for Magnetic Memory Research HVAC Renovation
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Geisel Library HVAC Renovation
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The U Downtown San Diego, New Construction LEED
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San Diego Supercomputer Center Water Cooled Economizer
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Muir Biology Whole Building Renovation and Improvement
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Engineering Building Unit 2 HVAC Renovations
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Mandeville Art Gallery T.I.
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Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior (CNCB), Renovations
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
The Argonauts...
Jason McGehee, CxA+BE, BCxP, BECxP, CBCP, CCP, CEM, FitWel, GPRO, LEED AP
Managing Principal, Commissioning Authority, Leader of the Argonauts
Jason a graduate of the Univ. of Maryland and UA Trades Professional School, as well as has over 30 years in the San Diego construction community. His experience is highly concentrated in HVAC, building automation systems, advanced lighting, and smart building technologies. His responsibilities ranged from the installation, start-up, TAB, commissioning, design, programming, service, and project management of many different types of mechanical and control systems.
He has experience as a contractor and a commissioning agent, giving him a unique perspective about the commissioning process. Jason understands both the time and technical challenges that A/E and construction teams need to achieve. He proactively leads the commissioning process using a hands-on approach to testing and problem solving. Jason McGehee is an integral part of the project team and uses a team building approach to ensure the project’s success.
Yanaris Nieves, MSEng, CxA+BE, BCxP, BECxP, CQM
Principal, Process Manager, Navigator of the Argo
Yanaris is an ASHRAE certified Building Commissioning Professional, as well as a University of Wisconsin Certified Building Envelope Commissioning Process Provider. She has over 15 years of experience in engineering management services. She has earned a Masters of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Vermont and Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Related commissioning experience includes: HVAC System Design, Building Control Systems, Pharmaceutical Commissioning, Qualification and Validation, Fire Protection Systems, Engineering Management, Project Management, Commissioning, and Engineering Release & Change Management.
Prior to joining Argo Performance managed $20 million global program account of integrated fire systems projects for gas turbine application in the US and Internationally. Managed program from system design, manufacturing, integration, testing, and commissioning via requirements-based execution, project management and engineering change management.
OUR AFFILIATIONS
Who do the Argonauts associate with....
Building Commissioning Assoication (BCxA)
Certified Commissioning Firm (CCF)
The Building Commissioning Certification Board (BCCB)'s Certified Commissioning Firm (CCF) demonstrates the highest standards for professional commissioning firms. Organizations that hold the CCF designation stand out among competitors as experts – with the determination and ability to provide the premier services to clients and the commitment to the advancement of the practice of commissioning.
Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
Certified Building Commissioning Firm (CBCF)
Certified Building Commissioning Firms are professional services companies that demonstrate acceptable knowledge of the principles and practices of building commissioning and prescribed standards of performance and conduct as required by the Association of Energy Engineers
CLASSIFICATIONS
How the Argonauts distinguish themselves....
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
State of California Public Utilities Commission
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification is a process that verifies a company as a for-profit enterprise, owned, managed, and controlled 51% or more by an ethnic minority.
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Verification Order Number: 15060391
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Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
California Department of General Services (SB-Micro)
California Metropolitan Water District (SBE)
City of Los Angeles (SBE)
The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Certification program is a diversity certification that is issued by the State of California to businesses with 25 or fewer employees.
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Certification ID: 1799302
Small Local Business Enterprise (SBLE)
City of San Diego
Port of San Diego
San Diego County based small businesses with 50% of the employees residing in that county are eligible to become Small Local Business Enterprise (SBLE)
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Certification Number: 17AP1654
Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE)
San Diego Housing Commission
SDHC's Diverse Business certifies San Diego based businesses that are owned and operated by one or more of these categories minorities, women, veterans, or gay/lesbian.
CONTACT ARGO PERFORMANCE, LTD.
Where to find the Argonauts.....
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Thanks for your interest in our services. Please feel free to ask questions or provide comments regarding our services. We’d like to hear from you. Our business hours are 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, Closed weekends, and major holidays.
Operations & Sales
322 8th Street, Suite 105
Del Mar, CA 92014 U.S.A.
+1 (760) 607-3500
+1 (760) 607-3420 fax
Accounting & Business Management
307 Laurel Street
San Diego, CA 92101 U.S.A.
+1 (760) 607-3500
+1 (760) 607-3420 Fax
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