DPR Construction Inc., based in Redwood City, CA was the winner in the medium-sized business category. The chamber said DPR's performance incentives "ensure customers that the estimates will be accurate, change orders will be processed quickly, the project will stay on schedule and will finish with no punch list." It also cited DPR's practice of surveying customers during the project so changes can be made on the fly.

DPR takes a similar tact to customer service that the Chevy Chase character did in "Caddy Shack." Whereas Chase said the key to golf is to "be the ball," Gary Nauert, a DPR regional manager, said DPR employees are greeted with a sign each morning that says, "listen to the client, become the client."

DPR's Austin projects include CarrAmerica's Braker Pointe and Riata Corporate Park; expansion of Motorola Inc.'s MOS 13 semiconductor manufacturing plant; and work for Dell Computer Corp. The customer service winner in the big companies' competition was the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin.