Warehouse Construction Management in Southern California: Meet Jimmy Chung

Jimmy Chung, a Regional Construction manager at Link Logistics, supports capital improvements and value-add projects across the company's Los Angeles and Inland Empire industrial real estate portfolio. From preparing vacant warehouse space for new customers to maintaining cold storage facilities, Jimmy works closely with the firm’s Property Management and Asset Management teams to keep Link Logistics distribution centers and logistics facilities operating at peak performance. Read on to learn how he approaches construction management in one of North America's busiest warehouse markets.

How long have you been with Link Logistics and what are your primary responsibilities?

Jimmy: I've been with Link Logistics for a little over three years. My primary responsibilities include budgeting, bidding and managing capital expenditure and vacant space preparation projects across our Southern California industrial properties. I mainly oversee our warehouses and distribution centers in Los Angeles, and recently I've been supporting our Inland Empire industrial properties as well.

Can you explain what vacant space preparation and capital expenditure projects entail in industrial real estate?

Jimmy: When a customer moves out, my job is to get their warehouse ready for the next business that will occupy the space. I work with our Property Management and Asset Management teams to determine what the facility needs to make the vacant space market-ready for leasing. Our goal is to start construction as soon as the space is vacated so we can quickly turn it over to our Property Management and Leasing teams.

Capital expenditure projects typically involve roofing and paving work—the long-term maintenance items like seal coating, repaving asphalt and painting that keep our industrial facilities performing as intended. In Los Angeles, where our buildings are typically older, we deal with a lot of water leaks. We work closely with our local teams to address these issues before they affect customer operations.

What makes Southern California such a strategic location for warehouse and distribution operations?

Jimmy: Southern California is home to the two busiest ports in North America: the Port of LA and Port of Long Beach. This creates tremendous demand for warehouse space in the region, as companies need logistics facilities near these major import-export hubs to manage their supply chain operations efficiently.

What do you find most rewarding about your work in industrial construction management?

Jimmy: The most rewarding part of my job is collaborating with our Property Management and Asset Management teams to resolve a customer need or issue. It’s always rewarding when we work together to find solutions that keep our customers' businesses running smoothly.

Are there any facilities in Link Logistics’ Southern California portfolio that require extra attention?

Jimmy: Our cold storage facilities in Los Angeles require additional focus and care. These temperature-controlled warehouses need constant maintenance and supervision because our customers are storing food products and other items that must remain within specific temperature ranges. We work closely with our cold storage vendors and Property Management team, holding recurring calls to stay ahead of preventive maintenance and capital work. The cold storage element makes these projects more complicated, but ensuring these systems work properly is critical for our customers.

How do you collaborate with other teams at Link Logistics to complete construction projects?

Jimmy: I work closely with our associate director of Regional Construction for the Los Angeles market. We stay in constant communication, in addition to visiting properties and meeting with vendors together. I also stay aligned with our local Property Management and Asset Management teams through regular calls where we discuss outstanding capital projects, upcoming vacant space work and leasing updates that might impact construction timing.

What do you appreciate most about working at Link Logistics?

Jimmy: I really like the people at Link Logistics. We've hired talented professionals across the organization, and I appreciate that we're very data-driven and stay on top of changes in technology. We're always willing to try new things, adopt new platforms and implement new programs. We’re also comfortable with change, and it creates a progressive environment that helps us manage our industrial properties more effectively.

When you're not managing construction projects, how do you spend your time?

Jimmy: I'm an ardent Dodgers fan, so I watch a lot of baseball here in Los Angeles. I also love camping with my family. We go to Yosemite every year, along with trips to Joshua Tree and other spots. What's great about Southern California is that we're close to the ocean, mountains and desert, so there are endless places to explore and enjoy the outdoors.