Spotlight On: Helen Callier, President, PermitUsNow
August 2024 — Invest: spoke with Helen Callier, president of PermitUsNow, about the organization’s mission to reduce “pain in the marketplace,” the massive investment and growth in the Houston area, and the numerous awards it has won for its permitting services. “We are always grateful to be recognized by our clients. We are touching lives when we deal with housing barriers, so getting permits fast is important to getting families into homes.”
How would you describe PermitUsNow’s presence in Houston’s construction landscape?
We have been in business since 2016. We came about because of pain in the marketplace, with contractors and project owners having challenges getting building permits in certain areas. We know that delays in permitting cost money. So we created a one-stop permitting company that helps architects, contractors, and project owners save money, time, and energy by pulling permits in a timely manner, allowing clients to focus on what they do best and that’s fulfilling their customers’ dreams. A building permit is a critical milestone that you need to start construction on projects.
What are some of the major highlights or successes for your organization in the Houston region over the last 12 months?
We have received a number of large contract awards over the last 12 months. In November 2022, Harris County voters approved a $2.5 billion bond to help build the new Harris Health LBJ Hospital Expansion Project. The hospital itself will be one billion dollars. We are working with the contractor and architect of record on the new hospital project, which is significant for the region and will bring ideal healthcare to the area. The other project that we are working on is the new United Airlines Catering Kitchen at the Houston Airport System. This kitchen operations facility will support the new United Airlines $2.6 billion Terminal B expansion project at Bush IAH once it opens in 2028.
We are also the only permit expediting firm that has been given recognition by the Greater Houston Business Procurement Breakfast Forum, which has been in existence for almost 35 years. We were recognized in fourth quarter 2023 as one of the professional services firms for large projects that we are working on in the Houston metroplex. . We are always grateful to be recognized by our clients, such as the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department in December 2023. We are touching thousands of lives when we assist with housing barriers, so getting permits fast is important to getting families into an affordable place they can call “home”.
How have your permitting services evolved in recent times?
It has evolved significantly. The bottom line is that the majority of projects being designed and constructed require permits. The stats show that 1,300 people move into Texas daily. That drives demand for restaurants, grocery stores, airport improvements and so on. For us, this means we are needed to help with permits. Wherever major infrastructure or transportation goes, rooftops follow. The Grand Parkway Segment B-1 is a $4 billion investment. The highway isn’t even finished, but developers are already building around it. Also, we have a $2.5 billion hospital campus going up in the Houston area as well as a lot of housing developments and townhomes. We ride right along with this major development and because our clients are there meeting market needs, we know our service ultimately helps to improve people’s lives.
How have recent economic developments and difficulties impacted your clients?
Clients shifted project priorities. The word difficulty is a syntax error for us. During the pandemic, commercial developments such as multi-family and mixed use that were underway continued to move forward. Residential builders that had already purchased the lots before the pandemic hit, and they continued to build. We continued to pull significant permits during the pandemic, and we continue to do so. Inflationary pressures have had an impact on large office towers downtown, but the convention center is getting a $2.5 billion expansion, and new restaurants and consumer businesses are coming around major developments to improve Houstonians quality of life. This shows the confidence and activity in the city. Hospitals and clinics are always needed because illness is a common occurrence. School bond programs are also receiving billions to move forward, and billions in infrastructure dollars are coming into airports in the next five to six years. The Texas economy is unique because we represent a significant portion of the country’s GDP and Houston plays a major part in this business activity.
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How are you leveraging technology in your operations?
We embrace technology. When the pandemic happened, a lot of people feared the four-letter word: Zoom. We were already using Zoom and other virtual platforms well before the pandemic. When we had a major flood here many years ago, I said “never again, will our operations be hampered”. We made sure everyone had a laptop, cell phones, and other backup items to work remote and to be well equipped to serve clients while mobile in fleet trucks. If something similar happened again we would still be able to move forward. Also, we are using updated CAD software that integrates and allows collaboration, and we are early adopters of AI. We use AI for specs, laser scanning, and for shop drawings, and photographs. We are at the forefront of using innovative tools.
What are the challenges and opportunities for women in your sector?
I have a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and I cut my teeth in building and construction by coming up through the ranks in Corporate America. For me, I haven’t experienced the challenges of being a woman in design and construction, but I can speak to them from hearing stories and coaching others in the field. I am confident and know my abilities, skills and value I bring to the table. When you are confident , then you are respected. It is a male-dominated field, but women have the ideal natural gifts to excel in design and construction, such as attention to detail, intuition, observation, caring, and listening skills. I know that women have strengths to deliver projects with excellence, on time and on budget.
What is your outlook for your company and the industry over the next couple of years?
The outlook for the industry is being driven by the investment funds and planned growth that is coming into Houston and in the industry.. This drives the market, which means opportunities. Hundreds of millions in grant dollars to billions in infrastructure to major developments are shaping Houston’s economic landscape for the next several years. Mixed-use, restaurants, clinics, new schools go along with this development. I am very bullish on the next couple of years. The wave is here and rising; and PermitUsNow is going to ride it to serve our clients.
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