Vision of One Man, Labors of Many – PCM

From humble beginnings in the back of an old trailer park more than two decades ago, a specialized Houma oilfield and construction company has transformed itself over time into a multi-service firm employing more than 500 people through its seven locations, whose name is synonymous with innovation as well as community service.

As the Bayou Region and its people rebuild from a crippling economic downturn, Mike “Big Mike” Fesi Sr. continues transforming problems into solutions at Pipeline Construction & Maintenance, utilizing the ability to adapt for his company’s own success, while sharing the talents and abilities of a talented staff into new potentials for clients and the community at large.

Despite the expansion, Big Mike and the constantly-evolving company hold true to cherished Houma roots, giving back to the community and its people, encouraging positivity and backing up important projects.

Known locally as PCM, Big Mike’s firm has expanded over the years into a multi-faceted one-stop shop for clients in the oil and gas industry as well as others in need of quality service. 

It all began with carpentry and solutions related to the work he was doing as an independent homebuilder. No job was too small. While Big Mike was building cabinets for the Texaco Facility on Coteau Road (now known as Shell), a problem emerged on the yard.  There was a leak and the contractor Texaco normally used was not available.  Big Mike volunteered, “If you need somebody to dig something up, I own a backhoe.”

Big Mike solved the Texaco Facility problem, and then took a leap forward, offering similar services in the Houma area, fast earning a reputation for dependability. 

A big break for Big Mike and PCM came in 1997, with Texaco’s Poseidon Project, for which they were offered a major role performing fabrication for tie-ins. They grew to 50 employees, and PCM never stopped moving forward.

As he solved problems for customers, Big Mike eliminated the uncertainty of sub-contractors in many aspects of the work. Rather than rely on outside trucking firms, he acquired his own to make sure deliveries of equipment and materials were done right and on-time. PCM hired its own civil craftsmen, carpenters, electricians, and other skilled workers. 

PCM’s VP of Business, Eric Tabor, “From scheduling, performance, efficiency, to making safety a priority; it all goes back to Big Mike’s philosophy of owning our work.  Clients want to know who is on their jobsite, and they trust PCM. “

Trailers for hauling solids, wet and dry vacuuming equipment and vacuum trucks are components of the PCM fleet. Fabrication continues to be a vital service. As the industrial and economic landscape of the Bayou Region transforms and new needs emerge, PCM stands ready to grow right along with it.

Community is everything to Big Mike and he never misses an opportunity to contribute, not just with a check, but also with actions.

Big Mike has provided lunches to volunteers at the Houma Regional Military Museum on Barrow Street every Friday, an act of support he has performed for years. When the museum needed help transporting a Scorpion tank from Oklahoma that it had purchased for display, Big Mike donated the solution, using his equipment to carry the massive war machine.

This was the second year of Big Mike’s annual turkey drive, which started with distributions at a building PCM owns and now includes donations to a local food bank and help for families whose members battle cancer. Big Mike also contributes to Christmas bicycle giveaways for charitable efforts.

As PCM evolved, Big Mike began recruiting highly talented employees who had experience in the industry and also young ambitious employees who were eager to learn all aspects of PCM.  Through Big Mike’s delegation and direction, PCM now has an experienced, dedicated team ready for the next 20 years that will continuously strive to have PCM as a leader in our industry.

For the long term dedicated employees who have grown with PCM, such as the skilled laborers who are now welders and carpenter helpers who are now field superintendents, “Our people are everything,” Big Mike says. “I can have all the brand new excavators, what I call ‘dumb iron,’ dozers, everything, brand new trucks, but if you don’t have the people to make it work, it is all worthless. Our strongest assets are our people.”•