San Antonio Construction News March 2015 by Construction News

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Volume 17

Number 3

MARCH 2015

Due vigilance

Picking up the pace

In running GPS of Texas, Blake Stephens has helped companies track their workers and work hours, even solving some crimes in the process.

JR Trevino is proud of the new headquarters that he, his father, and their team renovated for Treco Enterprises.

ontractors and equipment companies need to keep track of their trucks and machines, and for more than a decade now, Blake Stephens has been helping them do it as the owner and president of GPS of Texas. While the company sells tracking devices for vehicles and equipment all over the United States and Canada, GPS of Texas, which started in San Antonio about 16 years ago, has most of its presence in South Texas. Stephens observes that business doubled in 2013 and doubled again last year, attributing much of that growth to the oil boom in the Eagle Ford Shale as contractors and other companies continue adding trucks to keep up with the work.

He says that equipment and rental companies often use it for theft protection. This also allows them to tie into an hour meter and track how long equipment has been running so that it can be properly maintained accordingly. Stephens describes the GPS devices as profit tools that promote fuel savings, overtime savings, proof of work, efficiency and productivity by holding workers accountable for their output and time. He notes that the people who really toe the line love it. He adds that some are afraid of it, because the system can weed out workers who are pulling productivity down, and then the bottom line improves dramatically and quickly. continued on Page 24

he new home of Treco Enterprises, Inc. has been about two years in the making, and finally, Edward “JR” Trevino, vice president – business development, and his parents have a new home the business can call its own. Since Treco had outgrown its former office off Tradesman Drive, which was about 1,000sf, JR and his father, Edward Trevino, Treco’s president, sought out a bigger, more central location. When they found their new office downtown at 1414 North San Jacinto, the space needed a lot of work, but being general contractors, they put two years of work into the building. About six months ago, they achieved substantial completion on their new base of operations.

After doing a little research into the new building’s history, JR discovered that the building was once home to David Pace, founder of Pace Foods. Upon digging up the original deed, he learned that Hettie Bosshardt sold the land to David and Margaret (nee Bosshardt) Pace on Dec. 21, 1955 and a portion of the property was deeded to the city for the expressway, which is I-10 today. Now, with Treco settling into its home, business continues to pick up pace. Running 12 trucks and about 15 employees, those numbers are up from when they first bought the new building. JR comments that having their own property has been conducive to the growth of continued on Page 24

A drive-in for a new generation

o you remember the good old days when moviegoers could park their best ride at an old-fashioned drive-in theatre and enjoy a feature under the stars with tasty food and good friends? Well, those days are back. Drivein movie theatres are returning to Texas. Whiting-Turner helped bring the first of these new theatres to the San Antonio area with the Stars & Stripes DriveIn in New Braunfels, which aims to open this spring. The private owner of the family-owned theatre, who was very involved in the building process, has two other drive-in locations in Lubbock and Midland. Located on Kroesche Lane, in a rural area off I-35 and 1101, the project encompassed the development of roughly 50 acres. The property hosts a total of seven buildings and three screens, with space for a potential fourth. As you enter the

main drive, you approach one of three bright red box offices underneath a metal-roofed canopy to purchase your tickets. Each screen has a galvalume-clad booth, roughly 100sf in size, to project the feature to the outdoor big screen. The focal point of the property is the centrally located 7,000-sf concession building. Clad in galvalume siding and natural stacked limestone, the design lends a modern take on the classic drivein that blends in with the rural landscape. While the drive-in concept may conjure retro images of yesterday, the look for the Stars & Stripes in New Braunfels is based on today’s design concepts with clean lines giving the classic drive-in a modern feel. There are pendant lights hung from an exposed metal roof structure, smooth white countertops, polished concrete floors and shiny fabric The Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre in New Braunfels, the first new drive-in in the San Antonio area, will be opening soon. Photo by Bob Wickley, Photographer

continued on Page 24

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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Capital and courage

L-R: Kerry J. Koehler, president, and David Brodbeck, project manager, at the CKE office on Warfield

hen Garth Coursen and Kerry Koehler set out to establish their own civil engineering firm in 2008, the recession was draining the economic pool. Coursen says they figured it was time to either sink or swim, and they jumped off the diving board. Coursen-Koehler Engineering & Associates

(CKE) was the result of that leap of faith. Having had a work relationship for about 15 years, Coursen and Koehler first worked together at Turner Collie & Braden (TCB), and then a smaller firm, but they soon realized they wanted to strike out on their own. The biggest challenge to that goal

was financing it. Coursen notes that it takes capital and a lot of courage, and it’s important to have your families behind you, because nothing is a guarantee when you make that jump. Fortunately, with the relationship they developed with the Bank of San Antonio, they were able to secure an SBA loan that provided the seed money to get them started. Coursen and Koehler specialize in single-family residential development. With the downturn in the economy, they expanded into commercial projects. Today, the firm does a lot of land development, flood plain analysis and master planning. Their recent projects include River Rock Ranch, the Ranches at Cibolo Creek, Valencia Hills and Emerald Oaks retirement community. “We have 12 employees,” says Coursen. “We’ve basically doubled in size over the last year-and-a-half. We feel we’ve taken advantage of a little bit of the rebound in the market. We’re cautiously optimistic.” Though Coursen doesn’t expect their growth to continue at that rate, he says they’re comfortable with it. He hopes to expand with a couple more professionals in the next year to 18 months and to expand services and do some municipal work. –mh

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New COO at Marek Companies

ike Holland, new chief operating officer at The Marek Companies, has been with the company for 31 years and says the company’s culture towards employees encourages long-time retention. Holland will be headquartered in Houston. “Some of this started with the three original Marek brothers and their desire to share the company and its success with the employees,” Holland says. “We don’t look at people as a short-term investment. We look at them as a longterm investment. I’m an example of that.” Holland will oversee the operations for the award-winning specialty subcontractor’s offices in Houston, Dallas-Ft Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Atlanta. “We selected Mike to provide the leadership and sustainability for our overall operations as we position the company for continued growth throughout our markets over the next decade,” said Stan Marek, president and CEO of the Marek Family of Companies. “Holland, a proven leader with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry, has served the Marek Companies as the Houston Division president for the last 31 years.” In addition to his role with the company, Holland, who is married and has three children, currently serves on the boards of several industry organizations, including the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Houston Chapter, American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Houston Chapter and the Construction Career Collaborative (C3). He is a member of the Texas A&M Construction Industry Advisory Council and is involved in the community as a board member of the Greater Houston YMCA, the Foster Family YMCA and Covenant House Association. He says the company’s long- and short-term goals remain focused on strength and growth. “In the long-term, it’s really about the quality of people we find to grow from top to bottom,” Holland says. “In the short-term, it’s about sharpening the saw. Making sure everything we do is aimed in the right direction. The market is constantly changing and we want to make sure we are in the right place doing the right things.” Marek is a 77-year-old private, familyowned specialty interior subcontractor that provides both commercial and residential construction services to major office, retail, healthcare and institutional clients. –cw

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 3

PUTZ AROUND TOWN JC Putz here . . . Construction News sales staff Kent Gerstner and Jim Reilly journeyed to Dallas last month to represent the five-city newspaper at the 2015 Dallas Build Expo USA…

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And to eat, apparently!

Does it feel hot in here? Maybe it was just photographer extraordinaire Mary Haskins heating things up at last month’s Associated General Contractor’s Salsa Taste-off! . . . With that, I’m out’a here

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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

With engineer’s eyes

Metal Studs Drywall

WALLS

Acoustical Insulation

A C R O S S

TEXAS

DOING A STAND-UP JOB SINCE THE 1900s 9018 Tesoro Suite 101 San Antonio, Texas 78217 (210) 826-4123 Fax (210) 826-5801

L-R: Barry Black’s engineering and construction experience and Fred Belfort’s construction experience while working with engineering firms allows them to see plans from both perspectives for projects they are involved with in their own general contracting company.

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Contact Cecil Sorsby

ith more than 70 years of experience combined, Fred Belfort and Barry Black set out to forge their own path with Belfort – Black Contracting, Inc. in March of last year. As their general contracting company celebrates its first anniversary, they emphasize that the business is new, but they are by no means new to the business. As general contractors with backgrounds in professional engineering and inspection and testing, their experience lends itself well to identifying constructability and design issues. They can also identify holes in bid packages and provide true project cost. An engineer by training, Black came to Texas from Tennessee in 1998 after making a career change to get into construction, thus wearing both hats. As a contractor, he worked with Belfort, who was with Drash Consulting Engineers at the time, on several projects for material testing and geotechnical engineering

expertise. Belfort started in the engineering field in 1976 out of high school in Michigan, working summers in the engineering department for the City of Saginaw, MI. “We have experience not only as professionals in our respective industries and our specialized skills, but we’ve been out on job sites working as laborers, foremen and superintendents,” explains Black. “This hands-on experience gives us a perspective of the work from several angles, and I think that’s important for our clients and the services we offer.” What they do is already expanding as they are in the process of creating a concrete division to provide subcontractor work in addition to their general contracting services. They are working in the private sector and interested in the government sector. The company is MBE/ SBE/HABE/ESBE and Texas HUB certified, working on DBE certification with a goal to become an 8(a) contractor. –mh

San Antonio Construction News â&#x20AC;˘ Mar 2015

Page 5

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L-R: Louis and Kurt Mosel represent two generations of leadership at L.C. Mosel Company.

riginally starting out as a plumbing contractor, L.C. Mosel Company has branched out in its three generations. In 1947, Louis Clarence Mosel Sr. bought the construction side of Martin Bauml Plumbing. At the time, he had a partner, and the company was called Mosel and Terrell until he bought out the Terrells in 1969. That was when the company became L.C. Mosel. In time, Moselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son, Louis Clarence Mosel Jr. became president, and in 1988, his son, Kurt Mosel came into the business, taking over as president a couple years later. During the course of being a plumbing contractor, the younger Mosel explains that the company started doing air conditioning also and then opened its own sheet metal shop to help with the AC side. The company evolved into a fullfledged mechanical contractor. In 1975, as a result of some joint venture projects, Louis Mosel Jr. and Kurt Monier, A.J. Monier, also a San Antonio

mechanical contractor, decided to join their sheet metal shops to form M&M Metals. It is still owned by both companies today. Kurt Mosel started at the family business in 1976 and started his apprenticeship for sheet metal in 1982. He and his father are active in the Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MCA-SMACNA) and both have served as president several times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been the greatest boss in the world,â&#x20AC;? says Mosel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think a lot of father and son businesses may have a tough time, but Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always been really good and easy to work with.â&#x20AC;? The Mosels enjoy spending their time at the coast. Mosel Jr. was in the Merchant Marine and built a 32-foot offshore deep sea fishing boat before he discovered his passion for skeet shooting. Kurt Mosel enjoys restoring and collecting classic cars with a particular fondness for his Mustang fastbacks. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;mh

Fasten-ating

L-R: Brandon Beck, general manager, and Samantha Rodriguez, sales support, hear interesting tales of projects and businesses in the neighborhood.

orking as a general manager for Fastenal overseeing the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location on Nakoma, Brandon Beck loves his customers; he particularly enjoys hearing their stories about the projects and businesses that bring them into the store. Beck says that customers come in from a variety of different businesses in the area, as well as from a variety of fields. He has customers who are from sign manufacturers, roofing companies, and a battery plant that does car batteries. One customer makes breach doors for SWAT teams and military to practice on, and he buys adhesive spray among other items. Another customer down the street makes plastic injection molds for the breach door customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business. He notes that there are a few others who come into the store to buy something to work on some aspect of that same customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projects. Having grown up in Castroville, Beck

was a journeyman plumber, working at Beyer Boys for eight-and-a-half years. He has also worked as sales for Pepsi-Cola and fleet rental for Enterprise. He started at Fastenal as an outside sales representative in July 2011, and he made general manager in five months. His wife, Holly Beck, is a product manager for Friedrich Air Conditioning, where she does design. They have an 11-year-old daughter who keeps them busy with volleyball and soccer, and a son, turning 2 this month, who keeps them busy with everything, Beck jokes. Beckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s store is one of six locations Fastenal has in San Antonio, plus surrounding cities, including Universal City and Kerrville with stores in Pleasanton and Uvalde also. The company has 2,700 stores across North America. Fastenal sells industrial and construction supplies, including fasteners, nuts, bolts, washers and screws. They also sell supplies for welding, electrical and plumbing. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;mh

210-587-7634 www.GPSofTexas.com

Page 6

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Michael Rivas President Valla Construction

n 2002, Michael Rivas started out as Valla Design Group. A year later, he started Valla Construction, Inc. Today, the construction side of the business is far larger than the interior design side. The company does quite a bit of design build work, which is one of the biggest benefits of working with Valla; their clients benefit from both sides. Now, Rivas is able enjoy the best of both worlds. At 46, he keeps busy as a businessman and a father. At work, he recently broke ground on a 10,000-sf two-story office building and a Haven for Hope project that were both design build. At home, he spends as much time as he can with his sons and he still lives in the home he built for himself that started him on the path to being a general contractor. Where did you grow up? And how did you get started in the industry? I was born and raised here in San Antonio. I grew up in the Inspiration Hills area and went to Central Catholic [High School] for two years, and then I transferred to Holmes. When I graduated from Holmes, I was top 5 percent of my class, which opened up many doors for me in the college arena, and I was accepted everywhere I applied. I decided to get my feet wet locally. So I ended up going to UTSA – when there wasn’t much of UTSA back in ’86. I was there for two years and met a friend there who had suggested, “Let’s apply to A&M.” So, we applied and I got accepted. The letter went to my parents’ house, so they found out about it before I did. I transferred to A&M the next semester. My first drafting classes were in high school, which was really what started my education for my college career in architecture – my degree is in environmental design architecture. I graduated in ’91 and moved back to San Antonio. The economy was still in the recession that we had experienced in the late ‘80s. I spoke to people that I knew in the architecture profession and asked their opinion about what they thought my next move should be. I wasn’t sure if I should go back to school for my master’s or if I should just dive into on the job training and get out in the field. Basically, I was advised by everyone to work in the field and get experience. So, I ended up working for an architect here in town, waited tables, and I moonlighted at night. I also had a little side company I started when I graduated college to design custom homes. I also designed quite a bit for Racquetball and Fitness Clubs to supplement my income. My first job was minimum wage, and it was just to start getting experience. I was paid a strict 40-hour workweek, but I would work about an hour or two extra every day. I would spend the extra time reading documents and contracts and anything else pertinent to learn as much as I could in a real working office. I stayed at my first job for about a year and a half. I found out about another architect that was hiring. I applied with him, and after the interview, he hired me on the spot. His name was Daniel Muzquiz. He was from San Antonio. He had just moved back from California. I

was with him for about nine years. He really developed me into how I run my business and how I treat my employees. He taught me a lot. There was a lot of trust that we had for each other. I had been offered jobs at other firms – large firms – and I was never really a large firm kind of a person. I liked the smaller firms, because I was able to be involved in everything. [Daniel] gave me the freedom to work in many areas of the field. I really learned a lot under him. I was his senior project manager, and we ended up picking up some big contracts for the VA hospital. I headed up all that work from schematic design to punch lists. I ended up designing and building my house in Helotes. I broke ground in 2002. With starting this project, I felt that I couldn’t give Daniel the time for what he was paying me for. We sat down and I explained the situation to him. He understood completely. I put my two weeks in, and we worked it out – we still talk today. I still ask him for advice and ask how things are going, as we are still friends. My house was my first design build project. Building my house made me realize that I could go out on my own and start my own business. I still had my little side business designing custom homes. While I was building my house, I started building up my workload, and I partnered up with an old school friend of mine. His degree was from A&M in architecture also. We started a little design firm. We would refer contractors to our clients. If something went wrong with a contractor we would hear about it. I sat back one day and said, “You know what? I can do this.” So, in 2003, I started Valla Construction, Inc. We kept the two businesses separate, so we had the design side and we had the construction side. We were designing and then we were starting to build what we were designing through Valla Construction. When I started Valla, I brought in another partner on that because of leads and referrals he was able to bring. I was able to start building up Valla Construction. In 2004, my first partner on the design side decided he wanted to go out on his own. So, I bought him out. It was my second partner and myself that started building Valla up, and six years ago, he decided he wanted to do something different. So, I bought him out, and now I’m the sole owner of Valla Construction. What do you do in your spare time outside of work? My spare time? How much spare time do I have? I have three wonderful boys, and I spend as much time with them as I can. My oldest one is a sophomore in college. He and my second oldest boy have worked here in the company during the summers. I was trying to get my oldest one to come on board, but he’s doing his own thing and that’s fine. He’s studying cyber security, which – in San Antonio, you can’t go wrong with that. So, I’m very happy for him. I love to go fishing as often as possible, and I have a condo down at the coast. I do a lot of volunteer work with St. Luke’s Men’s Club that I am a member of and we do a lot of fundraising activities. I‘ve been involved with St. Luke’s since I was in college. I really didn’t become a full member until probably ’95. It’s a fraternity of men, and we meet once a month and plan fundraisers for charity. Our big function is the Wild Game Dinner, which is coming up the first weekend in March. About 800 people attend this, and we have a live auction with all sorts of items. The money we raise, we pay off our bills, and what’s left over, we donate to various charities and nonprofits – Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, St. Vincent de Paul, the battered women’s shelter, the State School, you name it. Then, we have a big dinner where we give the money out to everybody. I’m a volunteer. It takes a lot of work. We prepare year round for this one event, and the week before the Wild Game,

Michael Rivas evolved his design business into Valla Construction, and since 2003, he has been providing both services to commercial, government, healthcare and institutional clients.

we’re working all week, preparing the food and the venue. St. Lukes Men’s Club was the originator of the Wild Game dinner. And other organizations have emulated what we have put together. It’s really focused on hunting, fishing, camping – outdoors. There are fishing trips and hunting trips that are raffled and auctioned. There are firearms, fishing rod combos, coolers, and everything else that goes with that lifestyle. A lot of people and organizations are involved and sponsor corporate tables every year like Valla does. It’s a very well known, popular event. Are you involved in any other organizations? We belong to the Hispanic Contractors Association (HCA), the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the BB and SAGE to name a few. What about your hobbies? I take my kids fishing. I travel when I can travel. One of my passions is paintballing. So, I take my kids and friends and we go paintballing. I take some of the employees also. It’s a stress reliever. It’s a way for us to kind of decompress a little bit. I go with my kids more often than with anybody else. It’s a good bonding thing for me and my boys. All three of them play. I also love to scuba dive, and my oldest son is certified as well. Tell me more about your family. Are your parents from San Antonio? My parents are from San Antonio, and they provided a lot of support for me, especially through college and then in the early years when the work was really hard. My mom passed away six years ago. My dad worked for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) – Wage and Hour. He retired, and he still lives here in San Antonio. He helps me with the kids all the time. He’s a doting grandfather. He calls my kids his kids, and they’re very close. My dad helped us early on, especially when we started getting involved with the government work, because of the wage scales. The DOL would do seminars – well, I knew everybody over there, so any questions I had, if my dad couldn’t answer, he would say to call so-and-so and they can answer that question for you. During that time was when we started getting into the government work about 10 years ago being an 8(a) contractor. So, he was able to actually help us with some of those issues at the very beginning. What stands out to you about the experience of having your own design and construction business? Having my own business affords me the freedom to make my decisions and be able to live with those decisions and run the company the way I was trained through Dan Muzquiz. I really try to emulate [him] the way I treat my employees. We don’t have time cards. It’s all on the honor system. We’re a close family. Everybody we’ve hired has always been from somebody that we know. I have an employee

that I’ve known since I was 4 years old and an employee that I’ve known since I was in fourth grade. Also, an employee that I met through the Cub Scouts when my now 20-year-old son was a Cub Scout. So, that’s kind of how we’ve brought people in, and it keeps that trust and that common thread of looking out for the company for the long term. I try to be fair with everybody and treat everybody equally and just the way I’ve been treated in my years of learning. I’ve always been strong on the artistic side since I was young. That’s how I got into drafting and then drawing and then AutoCAD. I started construction work when I was 15. I began working in New Jersey with some cousins in East Hanover. We built custom decks. I would work up there during the summers when I was in high school. That was my first step into construction. My biggest satisfaction is seeing a completed project, especially one I know that we’ve designed and that we’ve taken from the very beginning to completion. That was one of the frustrating things for me in the past on the architectural side of things – spending all that energy doing a drawing or a project and it never gets built. I’ve experienced that quite a bit with the architectural firms that I’ve worked with, and it’s disappointing when you put all that effort and thought in the design. When you’re designing, you’re designing in your sleep, at night, you’re thinking and thinking, and you wake up with solutions. You’re always working on it. So, for something to not come to fruition is really disappointing. What is it like balancing the design and construction sides of business? Both sides complement each other, and that was my vision from the very beginning when we had just the design side and I created the construction, that they would feed off each other. We have 15 employees. Everybody’s flexible. We all wear multiple hats. So, even though you’re on the interior design side, they give support to the construction. We are all involved in getting submittals, close out docs, going to meetings and going to punch lists etc. Do you have any personal goals that you’re working towards right now? Well, one of them is that I want to keep building this business and make it as successful as I can, not just for me but for my employees. Because everybody has a vested interest in the company, and being a business owner, it’s a big burden, because you’re responsible for everybody that works for you. And if something goes well, it benefits everybody. If it doesn’t go well, then it hurts everybody. That’s something that I think about all the time. I recently purchased a building, office and warehouse, on the eastside. It is within the Promise Zone and Eastpoint designated areas. Valla is on the SAGE board and is actively developing working relationships with local businesses to help develop the area. –mh

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 7

Getting their granite going

The new Mesquite family

Steven Villarreal, branch manager for Superior Granite’s new San Antonio location, greets customers as they enter the indoor showroom.

L-R: Sandi, Courtney and Gary Wilhelm have made Mesquite Interiors into their own family business.

hough Superior Granite By Vivaldi has 12 locations across Texas, including one in Albuquerque, NM, the company opened its first San Antonio location at the end of November. The new store on Warfield has drawn customers that include custom homebuilders, fabricators and remodelers. As a wholesaler, Superior sells the raw material to contractors and builders, which makes their market very specific. Since Superior does not fabricate or cut the granite, they do not market to homeowners since they do not typically have someone or some way to transport or cut the stone. Steven Villarreal, manager for San Antonio, came on board a week after the location opened. Asking 110 percent of his employees, he goes the extra mile for his customers as well. Though the store is closed on Sundays, he has emphasized to customers that he will open on Sunday to show a specific type of granite or address

a need that arises. In the new store, Superior carries varieties of granite, marble and onyx as well as sinks and tools. He notes that other Superior locations have flooring, too. Since customers have already inquired about flooring, they aim to incorporate flooring soon, and faucets, he adds. Villarreal served in the Marine Corps for 10 years. Back home in Laredo, he used to work for a granite company with his background in sales, always in management. In his experience, “if you take care of your employees, they will take care of you.” In June, he came to San Antonio because of his daughter, Alexis, who is 18 and was starting at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) where she is studying sports medicine. Father and daughter are so close that when she moved in at UTSA, he moved into a place of his own, relocating to be near her. They talk every day. –mh

Galloping along

s president of Mustang Colt Services, Bill Shaw is very comfortable in the industry and has enjoyed learning new things over the last 10 years since he established the company, formerly known as Mustang Electric. Having started out in November 2004, Shaw says that the endeavor to go into business for himself was “a goal skipping one generation” since his grandfather owned his own business in the mid1900s. Shaw describes his father, who worked for CPS, as very artistic and organized, noting, “I admired these qualities and strive to follow his lead, God rest his soul.” He enjoys art as one of his many interests outside work. He also enjoys many outdoor activities, including golf, hunting, fishing, and of course – as one might guess since his passion for wild mustangs inspired the name of his company – rodeo is what he enjoys and indulges in mostly. Before starting out on the path that brought him to a milestone decade in business, Shaw served in the Navy, where he was an ET, but his Naval career was cut short. When he was honorably discharged from active duty in 1978, he used the training and the GI Bill for apprenticeship school. Shaw declares that he learned his trade by the expenditure of blood, sweat and tears, and he feels blessed and appreciates his team sticking with him through the years. He also likes being able to make a difference in the lives of the people who work for him. “I like helping individuals in the pursuit of an electrical career,” he says. “I enjoy the challenges of a changing industry with more emphasis on technology. This also spurs interest from younger people

Bill Shaw, president of Mustang Colt Services, established the company 10 years ago.

and helps me convince them that the electrical industry is a good career choice.” At its most, in 2013, Mustang had 30 employees, and currently, there are 28. Mustang’s workload is 30 percent commercial, 1 percent residential, and 24 percent industrial, service and special projects. Keeping the business very diverse, Shaw takes a special interest in first-of-akind, unique jobs, which is what he refers to as “special projects.” “I am constantly improving my processes and learning from my peers in the industry,” he says. “I am able to continue learning new things and new processes. I enjoy meeting new people and especially enjoy servicing my existing customers honestly and to the best of my ability.” –mh

hough Mesquite Interiors started out in 1984 with one owner and transitioned to three, the company is now back to having one owner, longtime partner, Gary Wilhelm. After sharing the business with two partners, the original owner retired two years ago, at which point, Wilhelm’s wife, Sandi, came into the company. Then, Wilhelm’s partner, Jerry Taliaferro, retired in May, and Wilhelm bought all of the shares as well as the building Mesquite had been housed in that had also been owned by all three partners. He recalls that the first large job they did was the Fairmount Hotel. Mesquite also did the Sunshine Cottage for deaf children with Kopplow Construction, with Wilhelm noting that they do a lot of work for Ed Kopplow. They also did the Butterkrust Bakery building on Broadway and recently finished work on the San Antonio Children’s Museum. They also do a lot of work with Metropolitan Con-

tracting Company and the Fetzer Companies. Wilhelm notes that the partners had an agreement that there would be no family involved while all three of them were running the company. Today, with Wilhelm as sole owner, he runs the company as president, his wife is vice president, and their daughter, Courtney, is office manager. Their daughter, Candace, has just started college, and she is an assistant at Mesquite. “We do all gauged galvanized steel framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings and insulation,” says Wilhelm. “We try to chase the more negotiated projects. We don’t bid public schools anymore. We haven’t for years. It’s been a good ride.” Now that Mesquite is a family business, Wilhelm notes that it has been neat to sit and talk with family over coffee at work in the morning, as he jokes, “I’m not a micromanager.” –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Construction News ON LOCATION

Winter is still coming

With a lot of big jobs in the works, Eloy Alfaro, left, branch manager for the HD Supply/White Cap Construction Supply on Factory Hill Street, points to the weather this winter as one of the biggest challenges to local construction recently. –mh

What is your most annoying habit? I cannot sit still. I’m just going, going, going, going, going, and people get annoyed with that. If you sit down to watch a movie, and I’m like, I have to go do this, I have to go do that. I just can’t sit still, and people find that annoying. I think it’s a good trait. I get annoyed with it sometimes, like in the evenings when I want to sit down and relax, but I’m just always going. Lindsey Sutherland, G.D. Interiors It takes me too long to tell a story, and I got that from my dad. Barb Hrbek, Hart Acoustical & Drywall Probably being too loud, I would think. When I’m on the phone, the girls outside of my office often give me a hard time about that. Shane Harrell, Catamount Constructors My wife would say snoring. I’m going to work on that [laughs]. Blake Stephens, GPS of Texas

I asked my husband, and his answer was sometimes I drive a little too fast. Stacie Gray, Lone Star Lighting [Other people] would say that I beep at everybody on the highways. With people the way they drive in San Antonio, I’m always honking at them, and I guess I annoy everybody in the car with me, but we’ve got the worst drivers in the world in San Antonio. I travel all over, but – I don’t know where they get their driver’s licenses. If anybody ever said something about Andrew, they would say he’s always beeping at somebody on the road. Andrew Hernandez Sr., Decorative Concrete Designs & Repairs One of mine is that I’m always so busy. I know people want to talk to me about things – trying to make time for people and there’s just so much going on in a day. I wish I had more time. I have things going on all the time, and I know people want to sit down and talk to me, and I kind of put things off because of that. If an employee really wants to talk to me about something, I know it’s important, and I say, “We’ll talk about it today.” And then something comes up. And then the next day, something comes up. Being the sole owner, I’m involved in everything, so I try to make that time to accommodate everybody. Michael Rivas, Valla Construction Well, it doesn’t annoy me, but what annoys other people about me would probably be that I’m a little messy. In college, they called it the “Peter Pile,” because I would just throw my stuff down, and then my roommates would kind of gather. So, my wife does that too. I have a little basket where if I’m looking for something that I put somewhere and I can’t find it, it’s usually in the basket. Peter Willcox, Willcox Metal Fabricators I’m a pretty introspective person for the most part. So, I think probably not expressing myself openly and freely. People wonder what I’m thinking a lot of the time. Darrell Lehmann, Lehmann Engineering I think my fiancé would say that I can be overly sarcastic. I don’t think people dislike it at first, but I think after a while, they’re telling me to shut up, pretty much. Clarence “CJ” Gore Comfort-Air Engineering

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 9

Thunder roars back

Submitted to Construction News

Engineers of relief

L-R: Craig King and Brian Evans started Thunder Electric, named for the company King’s uncle owned where Evans got his first electrical job 45 years ago.

fter working together off and on at various companies for decades, Brian Evans and Craig King have their own business together, Thunder Electric. When Evans was 16, he worked for a company by the same name, Thunder Electric, which was owned by King’s uncle, Jerry. The two have been working together at various electrical contracting companies ever since. Evans and King both worked at Calhoun Electric, Todt Electric and Montemayor Electric, and both had their own electrical contracting companies at one time. Evans also worked for Tim Smoot Electric and Associates Electric. King also worked for Bexar Electric and IES Commercial. They finally seized the opportunity to go into business together when the company they were working for shut down its residential department. Since 2007, Evans, president, and King, vice president, both owners, have been doing installation and service work

that is mainly residential, including remodels, and light commercial, such as lease spaces. In their spare time, both Evans and King enjoy hunting and fishing. Evans has a 1935 Ford Street Ride he built over the years, and he displays it at car shows every once in a while. King started on his path to the electrical trade in his junior and senior years of high school in a vocational program, and that’s what he has been doing ever since. Between working for King’s uncle and working with King again at Calhoun Electric in 1970, Evans served three years in the Army. Evans was born in Australia during World War II at a time when his father was a prisoner of war. His mother is “fullblooded Australian,” he says, noting that he left when he was 2 years old, and once his father was released, they returned to the U.S. and traveled all over the country and then overseas. –mh

A doctor in the house

John Irwin, president of Travertine Doctors, and his wife, Lisa, who handles advertising and bookkeeping for the company.

hen John Irwin started Travertine Doctors a little over 10 years ago, he had already been doing repairs and resurfacing of stone floors part-time with his first company Diamond Tile & More on West Avenue. In 2004, when he started doing it full-time, he didn’t think there was enough work to conduct a business and stay busy; however, by 2008, Travertine Doctors was keeping him so busy that it became their only business, and he started focusing entirely on restoration. “A long time ago, we were actually the only people in San Antonio that sold people travertine,” says Irwin, who has been in the stone business for 22 years. “We honed it, polished it and sealed it, and in knowing how to hone and polish and resurface marble floors, we started fixing cracks and pits and bulldozing staircases where the edges were chipped, doing it by hand on the jobsite, like you’d do in a fabrication shop, and just devel-

oped the process that we’ve got in the field.” Irwin notes that he chose travertine for the company name, because as sellers of floors and countertops, he has known travertine to outsell marble consistently in South Texas for about 20 years. He explains that travertine is sedimentary rock, often mistaken for being a type of marble. One example of travertine and Irwin’s work is the courthouse in San Angelo. Though the name represents a key aspect of his expertise, Irwin notes that they do work on all natural stone. While Travertine Doctors has done retail work, they mostly focus on larger homes, 5,000sf and up. They do a lot of work for customers they sold stone to years ago, including polishing out spilled wine for an existing client at no charge. Though he never intended to stay in the business when he got in at 18, Irwin credits his passion for stone as the reason he’s still in it today. –mh

Vickrey & Associates, consulting engineers and surveyors, joined the city’s Transportation and Capital Improvements (TCI) group at a groundbreaking ceremony for the extension of Hardy Oak Boulevard. Vickrey is the civil engineer of record for the project that will provide a connection and relieve traffic in Stone Oak. –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Use JPM to track productivity during jobs Lane Gorman Trubitt PLLC Dallas, TX

oor productivity can spell disaster for a construction project. Unfortunately, traditional measures of productivity are applied after the fact, so they do little to help contractors spot issues during a job — while there’s still time to do something about it. To help contractors monitor productivity during jobs, ASTM International (formerly, the American Society for Testing and Materials) developed its Job Productivity Measurement (JPM) standard. Adopted in 2010, the standard enables contractors to measure productivity throughout a job and address productivity issues as they arise. It also alerts contractors to changes in productivity rates, serving as an “early warning system” for potential productivity problems down the road. Output vs. outcomes Rather than focus on output — such as the amount of concrete poured — JPM looks at outcomes. Output measures the amount of effort expended or materials installed, with little regard for the quality of the results. It obscures unproductive activities, such as repairs, rework or outof-sequence work. JPM, on the other hand, analyzes work performed relative to actual construction put in place — that is, work product that’s acceptable to the customer. By measuring outcomes based on the transfer of value to the customer, JPM offers a more accurate picture of productivity in terms of actual progress toward contract completion. It also provides a more reliable method of measuring percentage of completion. By tying it to construction put in place, JPM allows a contractor to make progress billings based on value provided, regardless of the amount of cost incurred, which can improve cash flow. This method tracks nicely with upcoming changes to accounting rules,

which tie revenue recognition to the completion of performance obligations. Putting systems in place To make JPM work, you must have systems in place to measure, in ASTM International’s words, “observed completion of the project as accepted by the customer.” You need to break down the contract into tasks, assign cost codes to each task and create a budget that assigns labor hours to each activity that contributes to the finished product. In addition, when relying on regular reports from workers in the field, you must track the observed percentage of completion for all activities (typically, weekly). Then, you need to compare those results against the actual hours devoted to each activity. Errors, repairs, rework and inefficient processes hurt a construction company’s productivity. Rather than discover these issues in a “postmortem,” consider implementing JPM. By providing ongoing feedback on problems that hurt productivity, it gives you an opportunity to correct problems during the course of a job — enhancing your performance, cash flow, and ultimately, your profitability. About Lane Gorman Trubitt, PLLC Founded in 1950, Lane Gorman Trubitt, PLLC (LGT) is one of the largest certified public accounting firms headquartered in the Southwest. Dedicated to serving the middle market, the firm represents a broad range of clients, from individuals to public companies, in a variety of industries. LGT offers traditional accounting, audit and tax services, as well as various other specialized services. In an effort to expand the services provided to valued clients, LGT has launched three affiliated companies, LGT Financial Advisors, LLC, LGT Insurance Services Inc. and LGT Retirement Plan Solutions. To learn more, visit http://www.lgtcpa.com.

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Invisible exclusions, part III The new (04 13) additional insured endorsements Charles E. Comiskey, Sr. V.P. Brady, Chapman, Holland & Associates, inc. Houston, TX

here are three potentially significant issues with the new (effective April 2013) additional insured endorsements. The new endorsements (1) exclude the sole negligence of the additional insured party, (2) potentially limit the amount of recovery, and (3) according to some insurance companies and their agents and brokers, are required to be used in place of the older, broader-inscope additional insured endorsements. #1. The Sole Negligence Problem The ISO CG 20 10 endorsement provides coverage for on-going exposures only. No coverage is provided for completed operations. The ISO CG 20 10 04 13 states that coverage is provided to the additional insured “only with respect to liability … caused, in whole or in part, by: 1. [insured’s] acts or omission ; or 2.. he acts or omissions of those acting on [insured’s] behalf in the performance of on-going operations.” Sole negligence of the additional insured would not be “caused, in whole or in part by” the downstream named insured, hence coverage is no longer provided for the additional insured’s sole negligence. The ISO CG 20 37 endorsement provides coverage to the additional insured for completed operations exposures. As with the CG 20 10, the CG 20 37 10 01 includes coverage for the sole negligence of the additional insured, and the CG 20 37 04 13 excludes the additional insured’s sole negligence. If additional insured status including coverage for the sole negligence of the upstream party is needed, use of the following wording is recommended: Additional insured status shall be provided in favor of [Upstream Parties] on a combination of ISO forms CG 20 10 10 01 and CG 20 37 10 01. #2. The Amount of Recovery Problem The April 2013 endorsements include three new provisions: 1. The insurance afforded to such additional insured only applied to the extent permitted by law; and 2. If coverage provided to the additional insured is required by a contract or agreement, the insurance afforded to such additional insured will not be broader than that which [the named insured is] required by the contract or agreement to provide for such additional insured; and 3. If coverage provided to the additional insured is required by a contract or agreement, the most we will pay on behalf of the additional insured is the amount of insurance: Required by the

contract or agreement; or available under the applicable Limits of Insurance shown in the Declarations; whichever is less. The first change is inserted to permit the additional insured endorsement to apply to the many various state laws affecting the provision of this coverage. The second change is clearly intended to make the agreement the controlling document with regard to the intended scope of coverage (i.e., for what exposures coverage is granted). The third change is problematic as it can limit the amount of coverage provided, depending on how the construction agreement was drafted. And keep in mind that these same terms are being incorporated into many excess liability policies as well as the primary general liability policies. If you are a downstream contractor (i.e., a subcontractor or a sub-sub), the more limiting wording works to your benefit. If you are an owner or upstream contractor, the broader wording works to your benefit. #3. The “Required to Use” Problem The April 2013 editions of CGL additional insured endorsements are now in common use, and many insurance companies are firmly stating that they must be used and the older endorsements providing broader coverage are no longer permissible. This statement may be true within a particular insurance company, but is absolutely not true within the insurance industry. The CG 20 10 10 01 and CG 20 37 10 01 additional insured endorsements remain readily available to qualified contractors. New, small or residential contractors, or contractors with insurance agents or brokers that cannot access qualified insurance carriers, will likely not be able to get them. Charles E. Comiskey, CPCU, CIC, CPIA, CRM, PWCA, CRIS, CCM, is Sr. V.P. of Brady Chapman Holland & Assoc. and is National Chairman of the Construction Insurance Practice Group of RiskProNet International, the 5th largest brokerage organization in the U.S. He can be contacted at 713.979.9706 or charles.comiskey@bch-insurance.com.

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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 11

Employers use noncompetition & nonsolicitation agreements to limit poaching of key employees

Trenching and excavation safety Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

Shelly Masters, Principal Cokinos Bosien & Young Austin, TX

etween the demands of the surging construction market and the increasing scarcity of construction labor in the Texas workforce, employers face a heightened risk of losing key employees to poaching by competitors. Because key employee retention is critical to the overall success of a company, a growing number of employers are seeking ways in which to keep key employees satisfied, limit lateral movement and prevent others from hiring away talented workers. Thanks to recent Texas Supreme Court rulings, well-drafted noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements offer a viable form of relief for employers. Noncompetition and nonsolicitation exclusive forms of employer-generated agreements are not synonymous. Non- consideration necessary to enforce noncompetition agreements aim to prevent competition and non-solicitation agreean employee from working for another ments. These opinions have recently employer in a competing business while been extended to contracts with indenonsolicitation agreements preclude so- pendent contractors as well. licitation of another in some form or fash- The key to enforcement now is that ion (e.g., by preventing a departing em- these types of provisions must be reaployee from calling on the employer’s sonable and not impose a greater recustomers or clients or preventing an- straint than necessary to protect the emother company from soliciting the employer’s interest. The provisions must ployer’s workforce). Nonsolicitation state a duration of time, geographical agreements may also be used by a com- area to be limited, and scope of activity pany to prevent another company with to be restrained. Courts have generally whom it has entered into a contractual held reasonable geographic restrictions relationship (such as a general contractor include the territory in which the emor subcontractor) from soliciting its employee worked and performed services ployees. for the employer, the area in which the Covenants not to compete and so- employer does business, the physical lolicit are governed by Section 15.50 – 15.52 cation of the employer’s customer or cliof the Texas Business and Commerce ents, etc. The shorter the time period, Code. By statute, a covenant is enforce- the more likely the covenant will be enable if: (i) it is ancillary to or part of an oth- forced. If the provisions are indefinite or erwise enforceable agreement at the time without appropriate limitations, a Court the agreement is made; (ii) it contains will likely find them unreasonable and reasonable limitations as to time, geo- unenforceable. graphic area, and (iii) the scope of activi- Because Texas has become more faty restrained does not impose a greater vorable to employers than it has been in restraint than necessary to protect the the last two decades, employers should goodwill or other business interest of the audit existing and prospective employemployer. If the primary purpose of the ment agreements, incentive plans, prime agreement to which the covenant is an- contracts and subcontracts to determine cillary is found in an employment con- whether to incorporate covenants not to tract, the employer has the burden of es- compete, solicit or hire employees and/ tablishing that the covenant meets the or customers and other provisions to prostatutory criteria. tect confidential information and trade Prior to recent Court opinions, the secrets. Poorly drafted provisions can judiciary frequently found noncompeti- lead to unwanted surprises for employtion agreements to be an unreasonable ers who wrongfully believe they are relyrestraint on trade. Texas courts enforced ing on solid agreements with enforceonly narrowly tailored noncompetition able language. agreements. Under prior law, employers Shelly Masters is a Principal in the Auswere often unsuccessful in obtaining in- tin office of Cokinos Bosien & Young. She junctive or other relief against the em- represents clients in the areas of construcployee. tion, labor and employment, commercial The Texas Supreme Court has made and products liability law. Cokinos Bosien it easier for employers seeking to restrict & Young has been representing the conkey employees from competing post- struction industry for over 25 years. She employment. Now, trade secret informa- can be reached by e-mail at smasters@cbtion and specialized training are not the ylaw.com or by phone at (512) 615-1139.

Construction News ON LOCATION

Lab technician

Marc Davis, a technician for Braun Intertec, did some work splitting aggregate in one of the laboratories at the company’s new branch. –mh

wo workers are killed every month in trench collapses. The employer must provide a workplace free of recognized hazards that may cause serious injury or death. The employer must comply with the trenching and excavation requirements of 29 CFR 1926.651 and 1926.652. An excavation is any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface formed by earth removal. Trench (Trench excavation) means a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet (4.6 meters). General Trenching and Excavation Rules: • Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges. • Identify other sources that might affect trench stability. • Keep excavated soil (spoils) and other materials at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) from trench edges. • Know where underground utilities are located before digging. In Texas, dial 811 to request utility location at least two business days prior to digging. • Test for atmospheric hazards such as low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases when greater than 4 feet deep. • Inspect trenches at the start of each shift. • Inspect trenches following a rainstorm or other water intrusion. • Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials.

Did You know ?

• Inspect trenches after any occurrence that could have changed conditions in the trench. • Ensure that personnel wear high visibility or other suitable clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic. Protective Systems: There are different types of protective systems. Benching means a method of protecting workers from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near vertical surfaces between levels. Benching cannot be done in Type C soil. Sloping involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation. Shoring requires installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and cave-ins. Shielding protects workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins. Designing a protective system can be complex because you must consider many factors: soil classification, depth of cut, water content of soil, changes caused by weather or climate, surcharge loads (e.g., spoil, other materials to be used in the trench) and other operations in the vicinity. For more information: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/index.html http://www.texas811.org natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

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Page 12

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

She lights up your life

Industry FOLKS Clarence “CJ” Gore Fabrication Shop Foreman Comfort-Air Engineering

larence Gore, better known as CJ, just celebrated 14 years working at Comfort-Air Engineering on Feb. 12. Soon after graduating from Madison High School, Gore started at the company as a delivery driver, driving parts to jobs. In time, he moved into the sheet metal shop, and today, at 33, he runs the whole fabrication department. Gore cites the people as the reason he has stayed with the company for his entire career. He observes that everyone is like family, and while there are ups and downs, everyone works together and cares about each other. He is also very grateful that Comfort-Air has allowed him to pursue his love of music, allowing him to take time off to hit the road and play shows. Gore is a drummer, and about five years ago, he recalls he was playing about 25 dates a month. “I started playing guitar when I was really young, I think in middle school,” says Gore. “In my family on my dad’s side, everybody plays music. So, I started playing guitar, and it was fun, but once I got a hold of a pair of drumsticks in eighth or ninth grade, I couldn’t stop. I just wanted to play every second of every day.” Right now, he plays with the Jeff Jacobs Band, but he will play with groups when they need a fill-in drummer. He has played all over the southeast. He’s played in Austin a lot, Houston, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and a lot of little towns with one venue on their way to a bigger show. Though his current band doesn’t have any upcom-

ing gigs, they’re spending their time in the studio recording their second album. Though the first was self-produced, this one, “Livin’ Life Free,” is being professionally produced and will be released in approximately three to four months and available on iTunes. Music isn’t Gore’s only interest; a while back he and two partners had a production company and website called 5Live. He describes the site as investigative journalism, fairly similar to Vice.com. One of his partners in the endeavor was the editor and Gore wrote for the site and handled its marketing. He recalls that one article went viral with about 50,000 shares across social media. In the end, the three of them decided that the website wasn’t sustainable, and the venture lasted about a year. Now, Gore is trying to venture into the world of craft beer. He has been doing a lot of craft beer tasting as opposed to just drinking. He’s even interning one to two days at a time with various craft breweries, learning the actual science of how to brew. For exercise, Gore enjoys running and doing 5Ks. He has a puppy and is engaged to Analisa Farias with the date set for Oct. 17 of this year. –mh

L-R: Sean Stellato, project manager; Stacie Gray, president; Chris Stellato, quotations

hree years ago, Stacie Gray took over Lone Star Lighting as president, and since then, she has been helping to run the business her husband, Al “Skeeter” Gray and Ken Flory started in 1991. Gray originally came to work for the company in 1997. Unfortunately, nine years after the company was founded, Flory passed away. After that, Gray stepped up from her sales position at Lone Star to a more managerial role. She recalls that it was a challenge at first, but it’s one she overcame “just by doing it.” Her husband, who has a degree in history, was in the marketing training program with a major manufacturer where he learned the lighting sciences. He has been working in the lighting industry since the mid-1980s. Stacie graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in architectural engineering in 1980, subsequently working in the lighting or electrical engineering part of the business. Since college, she has been in-

volved in the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). Lone Star sells lighting and control products, representing more than 80 different manufacturers. Most of those products are for commercial, institutional and industrial lighting. The residential market accounts for around 10 percent of Lone Star’s business. In its portfolio history, Lone Star has done a majority of lighting on the AT&T Center, a major addition at USAA, several Alamo Community College District (ACCD) projects at different campuses, work at UTSA and Port of Corpus Christi, and Lone Star recently completed a job on a new Silo restaurant. Gray notes that she and her husband run the business together. He travels a lot in their territory, which includes Corpus Christi and Laredo. They have two grown sons, one of whom is in the Marine Corps and the other is attending the University of Colorado. –mh

Changes in market temperature

10843 Gulfdale San Antonio, TX 78216 210-829-1793 Serving the construction industry for over 28 years

Charlie Gallagher, branch manager of the Century A/C Supply on Wetmore Road, says that York’s air conditioning line has opened up the branch’s customer base.

usiness changes, like the seasons, fluctuate with the needs of the markets served by a supplier. In the case of Century A/C Supply on Wetmore Road, Charlie Gallagher, branch manager, observes that their business has experienced a couple of shifts in the last few years. Gallagher started at Century in 1987, soon after the branch opened, as a delivery driver and worked all aspects of the business through the years, from counter to outside sales, eventually ascending to his current position around 2004. About two years ago, he noticed that contractors were coming in who were working to get air conditioning into the camps in the South Texas area. With few hotels or options for living accommodations in the Eagle Ford Shale, the employees working in the oil field were staying in camps that needed AC. With the oil industry boosting business, the branch experienced another boon when they acquired the York brand

air conditioning equipment late last year. Though Century sells commercial and residential HVAC products, the branch has not had a line that is heavy on commercial equipment before, and securing York’s products has really put their commercial sales on the rise in the last four or five months. One of two stores in San Antonio, the branch on Wetmore has seven employees and is about the average size for a branch of the Century Companies, which has its corporate office in Houston. Gallagher believes that he couldn’t ask for a nicer owner to work for in founder and CEO Dennis Bearden. When he’s not helping contractors get cool, he’s heating them up with barbecue at any event he can get to, including ACCA and PHCC events and the rodeos in San Antonio and Houston. He’s even taken his barbecue on the road to the American Royal Rodeo in Kansas City. –mh

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 13

Fueling up for work

Construction News ON LOCATION

Some Xtreme equipment

L-R: Brothers Brent and Mark Marshall provide members of the construction industry with the fuel they need out in the field.

L-R: At Ahern Rentals, Izzy Uriegas, Hector Salazar Jr. and Jesus Apolinar have forklifts to the extreme – Xtreme forklifts by Xtreme Manufacturing, that is. The equipment rental company and Xtreme have the same owner, Don Ahern. –mh

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We heard it through the pipe line

L-R: Jerry Flores; Adam Rylas, warehouse supervisor; Jennifer Lee; Bill Lawrence; and Matt Martinez have a lot of work coming down the pipe. All-Tex Pipe & Supply is currently working on the convention center and the Frost Bank project, as well as jobs in high schools and in Boerne. –mh

ifty years ago, John Marshall got into the fuel business. Three years later, he started Marshall Distributing Co. in Seguin. In the late ‘80s, the company moved to San Antonio to expand its territory and add new services and suppliers. John’s sons, Brent and Mark Marshall, bought their father out in the early ‘90s and the company has been under their leadership ever since. As a fuel supplier, Marshall performs construction onsite fueling services for equipment or service trucks at the jobsite or in the yard. Brent explains that this service is “great for reducing or eliminating labor cost and increasing production profit.” He adds, “Our professionally trained employees can come on regularly scheduled route or fuel equipment during off-use hours or shift changes allowing your manpower and equipment to be ready to go.” The Marshall brothers practically grew up in the company, and today, they have 64 years of combined experience. The company has always provided fuel products, services, tanks and equipment to commercial business, retail, government, farm and ranch, auto dealers, schools, marinas, and of course, construction. “The construction industry runs a lot of equipment to get their job done and that equipment needs fuel to run,” states

Brent. “We provide fast friendly solutions. Fuel is one of the biggest expense items our customers incur and we take great pride in saving them money or time or worry when it comes to their fuel needs. In recent months, the fuel prices have dropped considerably, and we are glad to see that for our customer operating budgets.” Marshall’s services focus on supplying gasoline and diesel products through direct delivery, wet hosing, fuel fleet card, and tank and equipment packages for permanent or temporary jobsites. –mh

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Page 14

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

A cure for boring concrete

Serving up a super bowl

n Jan. 30, the Friday before the Super Bowl, Luna Architecture + Design held its own event – the inaugural Luna Bowl Chili Cook-Off. The event, which Luna intends to do every year, even had guest “celebrity” judges, including Tom Guido, Guido Construction; Christina Taylor, H2MG; David Ash, D ASH Construction Management; Nick Holscher, Kimley Horn; Robert Saunders, NeoM; Craig Martinez, Vickrey Associates; and Matt Hoffer, Lehman Engineering. –mh Winners Grand Champion: Ozy Martinez 2nd: Jose Yanez 3rd: Charli Valadez

The first place winner took home a super Luna “bowl.”

After working in concrete for decades, Andrew Hernandez Sr. found his specialty calling in decorative concrete.

lthough Andrew Hernandez Sr. started Decorative Concrete Designs & Repairs about 10 years ago, he has 28 years of experience in decorative concrete work and a combined 42 years of experience in the concrete business. At 54, Hernandez has done everything in concrete, but he believes decorative was his calling. He enjoyed the process of coloring concrete, and he recalls that 20 years ago, he couldn’t give a stamped job away. As the specialty evolved, he notes the industry has grown more and more interesting. His jobs include an entryway with a carpet layout that included a vine and leaves as part of the design and a repair to the asphalt in downtown San Antonio where he poured black concrete that matched the asphalt when it dried. His “trophy job” was a repair at the San Antonio International Airport Air Traffic Control Tower years ago when the extension was added to the offices at the

base. The tilt wall had a granite banner on it, and when the panels were raised, all the granite fell off. He’s proud to say that though other companies were consulted about the problem, he came up with a system to fix the issue within 30 minutes. Eager to teach others, he does consulting and training on the job, traveling to show people how to stain, overlay or stamp concrete. To keep himself current on the newest techniques and the cutting edge of the industry, he has been attending the World of Concrete conference in Las Vegas whenever possible since 1989. Originally from Chicago, Hernandez came to San Antonio in 1982 to join family here. His grandfather and uncles did concrete work, and now his two sons, Andrew Jr. and Anthony, do decorative concrete with Andrew Jr.’s own company. Hernandez says that they could be called competitors, but he doesn’t see it that way. –mh

After 20 years, Luna Architecture + Design hosted its first ever chili cook-off.

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 15

are several pointers I will give you to help you be a better angler when throwing surface plugs. Not every game fish can be raised with a popping plug, of course, but most can’t resist the temptation to blast what appears to be a helpless meal - even if they have no idea just what it is. That even applies to fish that aren’t hungry. Presentation is key when working surface baits. On calm mornings I tend to use smaller baits than I would if it was windy. Work the bait with a side to side action and a slow retrieve with frequent pauses. On winder days move up to a larger plug such as a Top Dog or She Dog and be a little more aggressive with your retrieve and less frequent stops or perhaps none at all. Try different retrieves of rhythm to find what works best on that given day. Another tip that will be very useful when fishing surface baits, is to not try and set the hook to quickly when you see the fish hit the lure. Lots of times they will miss or short strike on the first pass only to come back and hit it again. Once you find the tempo your target fish wants, it could make for some explosive action. Also, those who say top water lures only work in early mornings and late evenings, have obviously never given them a solid effort during mid-day wades.

Spring outlook is promising by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Premier Yamaha Boating Center, Majek Boats, E-Z Bel Construction, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, Interstate Batteries, Simms Products, Pure Fishing, Mirr-O-Lure, ForEverlast Hunting and Fishing Products and Columbia Sportswear.

or the last several months I’ve been fishing with my fingers crossed, not so much for the fishing luck but for what our water conditions have been. So far this year the waters of the Upper Laguna Madre (ULM) and Baffin Bay Complex have been in great shape and free of any algae blooms, even with the extreme low tides we had during February. I hope I’m not speaking too soon, but just maybe the winter rains we had will be enough to keep our bays clear through the spring and summer months.

Cameron Zelnik (5) of Katy, TX caught this sheephead on his cast last month during an outing with Capt. Steve Schultz. As you can tell from the picture, he was one proud angler.

As we enter into March, we start seeing the early stages of our spring weather patterns. Hopefully, cold fronts will just be a change in our wind directions and a slight atmospheric temperature change. Surface bait activity should be more present as our water temperatures should be steadily rising and nearing the 70-degree mark. I guess it’s time to break out the topwater lures and get ready for some explosive surface action. There

In the product section this month while we are on the subject of top water baits, I would recommend using the line of baits produced by MirrOlure. They offer one of the largest selection of floating and slow sinking bait in the industry. Top Dogs and She Dogs both come in several sizes to meet all fishing conditions along with Catch 2000, Catch 5 and MirrOdine lures. All these lures come in an assortment of colors and patterns which are assured to catch fish. Look them up on the web at www. shopmirrolure.com or your nearest tackle retailer. To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Still have several days open in March although summer is filling up quick. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Making a live appearance STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC

veryone knows that the Great Outdoors section of Construction News is the perfect place to claim your bragging rights from a successful hunt or fishing trip, but did you know that we also welcome photos of live animals? Last month in Great Outdoors, we featured Gary Weaver, Timber Tech Texas, visiting the mountain gorillas of Uganda. We’ve also featured photos of wildlife taken locally, such as deer grazing in the backyard. Whether you’re on a hike or on vacation, or even on your own ranch or patio, we invite you to send photos of creatures great and small.

BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS

(361) 813-3716 (361) 334-3105 www.baffinbaycharters.com steveschultzoutdoors@gmail.com U.S. Coast Guard & Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed

Here’s Dean, my three-legged dog, chilling in the sun after a brief romp in the surf at Corpus Christi beach on a sunny summer afternoon.

If you have a photo of your pet out and about with you that you would like to share in the paper, please send it to us. We love animals, and we know that so many of our readers have animal companions of all kinds and sizes. –mh Call Mary at 210-308-5800 or send to: SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net For example, here’s a squirrel who came by to inspect my wilted poinsettia (before my dog chased him away).

Page 16

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Ken Milam’s Fishing Line Since 1981, Ken Milam has been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country,. You can hear Ken on radio on Saturday and Sunday mornings, 6-8 AM on AM 1300, The Zone – Austin, or http://www.am1300the zone.com

Spring fishing by Max Milam

pring is almost upon us and the weather is getting nice. The water is getting warmer and the fish are starting to stir. March is my favorite month of the year to fish; you really don’t know what you will catch with each cast. This is because the warmest water is in the shallows and this is where the baitfish will be along with multiple species starting to spawn. Largemouth and crappie are finally moving back into the shallows and this is a great time to take the kids fishing. How many of you have memories of going fishing with your dad or granddad sitting on the bank with a cane pole catching perch or crappie? Those memories very likely took place during the spring or early summer, during this pattern. The best part about spring fishing is that you don’t need a boat; all you need is a hook, some bait, and some water. Rather it is a pond in your subdivision or Lake Buchanan there is a good chance that you can catch something and create memories in the process. Spring is also the time of year when you can catch some trophy sized blue catfish. I can remember one trip I had some years ago when we were fishing shallow with big baits looking for big spawning female stripers and we found one. As I started to turn the boat to chase down the big fish another rod bent over and started screaming out drag, I thought oh boy we have two big stripers and was getting ready for the rodeo. We continued to chase down and land the first fish, an 18 pound striper, and then we turned and started after the second fish. We could see it throwing a wake 100 feet off of the side of the boat, our adrenaline was pumping because we knew it had to be a potential lake record striper, and

then all of a sudden I thought I saw it rolling. Well stripers don’t roll and I knew we had a catfish that we all would remember for the rest of our lives. After about twenty minutes we finally landed a 48 pound blue cat. It just goes to show you even the guys that do it for living can make new memories this time of year. On your next day off grab your fishing gear, or call your favorite guide. Load up the kiddos, a friend, or a neighbor and go make some memories. I see stories everyday where some lucky fisherman catches a fish of a lifetime, and many times it is caught in a place where the people that “know” what they are doing would never suspect a fish like that to be lurking. If nothing else you will have spent some quality time with good company enjoy a beautiful spring day in the great outdoors. Max Milam (son of Ken Milam) has been running fishing trips for several years at Lake Buchanan. Max is a graudate of Texas A & M, with a degree recreation, parks and tourism.

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!

Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 17

Submitted to Construction News

A buck on the home range

Snow escape

Candace Wilhelm, 19-year-old daughter of Gary Wilhelm, owner and president of Mesquite Interiors and Sandi Wilhelm, vice president, works part-time at her parents’ company, and she shot this 10-point buck on the family ranch near Floresville. –mh

Members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Antonio Chapter hit the slopes for the annual ski trip to Steamboat Springs, CO Jan. 29-Feb. 2. The long weekend included continuing education classes and plenty of opportunities for fun on and off the slopes. –mh

Gone west

David and Mary Hazlett found peace and beauty in White Sands National Monument, their favorite stop along a road trip through New Mexico.

ometimes, your San Antonio editor for Construction News – that’s me, Mary Hazlett – has the urge to hit the road and explore. In that spirit, my newlywed husband, David, and I went on a weekend road trip through New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment did not

Submitted to Construction News

A girl and her gilt

Found: proof of alien life!

disappoint. We sledded down the pristine dunes of White Sands National Monument, stood in the shadow of a lava flow frozen in time in the Valley of Fires, followed the Rio Grande through the mountains from Santa Fe to Taos, and stopped in Roswell for a close encounter of the nerd kind. –mh

Lexy Thornton, niece of Cherie Foerster, executive director of the Builders’ Exchange of Texas, won first place in her class with Marley, her Duroc gilt, at the San Antonio Stock Show. Standing with Lexy are her parents, Tim and Kim Thorton, who is Foerster’s sister. –mh

2nd

Annual

Mr & Mrs. Big Trout Scholarship Tournament April 30 to May2

Yes, that is the world’s largest pistachio.

Ladies Fish May 1 Men Fish May 2

Our purpose for this event is to create a Scholarship Fund for students studying Marine Biology at Corpus Christi A&M University and to practice fish conservation setting a standard for future tournaments. And, most of all, to be safe on the water and have fun.

Hosted by

See MrBigTrout.com for more details

Contact: Doug 210-213-8289

Cindy 210-385-9195

Pattie 210-885-8593

Page 18

San Antonio Construction News â&#x20AC;˘ Mar 2015

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 19

basiC humanity

very weekday morning before going into work at Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc. (RKCI), Frank Martinez, supervisor for the Construction Materials Engineering and Testing department, goes to SAMMinistries’ Transitional Living and Learning Center at 5 a.m. to make sure 40 homeless families have breakfast and sack lunches for their children. This effort to provide food to the homeless began with Martinez’s brother, Joe Othon, and their fellow parishioner from Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Scott Thomas. Three years ago, when they got their foot in the door at SAMMinistries on Blanco Road, Martinez joined in the cause. Seeing a need and an opportunity to provide help and a service, they decided to get organized and formed basiC (brothers and sisters in Christ) Ministries, and Martinez was elected its president. In the three years since establishing basiC Ministries, they have gone from offering breakfast, consisting of tacos and sandwiches, one day a week, to offering breakfast, including pancakes, a variety of tacos and sandwiches, fruit, and sack lunches, Monday through Friday. They’ve gone from the original three founders to approximately 40 volunteers, including meal teams of five to seven volunteers that come in and cook everything on site at 5 a.m. “We see the results of our efforts,” says Martinez. “We see the people at breakfast. We see the kids pick up the sack lunches, and they’re very appreciative of that. Something as simple as a bean and cheese taco just means a lot to these folks, because some of them don’t have the funds.” Others at Raba Kistner have joined in Martinez’s effort. Receptionist Pam Mora and her two sons are part of a meal team.

Last year, Frank Martinez won United Way’s Volunteer of the Year in the Faith-Based category for his work as president of basic Ministries.

Katrina Conner, Martinez’s dispatcher at the firm, helped them develop their Facebook and website. Conner is just one of several volunteers who work behind the scenes because they cannot be there physically in the morning, but they can help with administration and marketing. Raba Kistner’s Andy Matelski brings his barbecue pit to basiC fundraisers, and field techs bring in old clothes for Martinez to take to the center. Martinez’s work with basiC led to SAMMinistries nominating him for an award from United Way last year. Up against three or four other big organizations in San Antonio, Martinez took home the Volunteer of the Year Award in the faith-based category. Meanwhile, basiC is in the process of applying for 501 nonprofit status. –mh

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Getting up and running

At the new office for IBTX Risk Services, Emmanuel Pineiro, Punchdown Telecommunications, which does infrastructure and network cabling, was helping them get established by installing cat 5 cables for the data drops inside the walls. –mh

15 to 500 Ton Capacities Available for your Toughest Projects Reroofing at SAMC. We can help you stay dry in all types of building trades.

To celebrate his award, Raba Kistner hosted an office reception for Frank Martinez, pictured here with reception guests Dr. Robert Costigan and Richard Kistner.

Submitted to Construction News

A sign of home

from El Paso to Beaumont Amarillo to Brownsville

www.alamocrane.com 35 Years of Service to Texas A team of HOLT CAT employees helped install permanent building signage for Boysville in Converse. The project aimed to improve the aesthetic of the 78-acre campus that is home to children who are unable to live in their homes due to family disruption. HOLT CAT brought volunteer manpower and heavy equipment to plant the signs, which are limestone with iron lettering. –mh

San Antonio (210) 344-7370 Austin (512) 282-6866 Toll Free (800) 880-0134

Page 20

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Centrally relocated

Ground control

Bryan Moore, principal in San Antonio, stands outside the office building that IBTX Risk Services now calls home.

Dan Corrigan, owner and president of C-3 Environmental Services, with his wife, Christin

ince IBTX Risk Services deals in risk and what’s best for a company and its people, the firm took a risk of its own to the same ends, relocating from its office on Hausman Road to Suite 100 of the Union Square I building at 10101 Reunion Place. The new space is 10,981sf and will help accommodate IBTX’s expanding footprint in the Alamo City. In a growth mode for the last two years, the San Antonio office has increased its staff by more than 25 percent with more than 50 employees and more to be added soon. “This move provides us an office identity that reflects our strong South Texas presence and accommodates our future growth plans as we continue to expand our insurance, employee benefits, bonding, risk management services and wealth management capabilities,” states Stephen Smith, IBTX president. “We are continuing to hire and grow our client base and our new office space will

allow us to continue to grow our enterprise of services for our clients.” Bryan Moore, owner/partner in San Antonio, noted that moving so many people is not easy, but the benefit of having multiple locations is that the Dallas office picked up the service slack while the San Antonio office was down. Now, as the office gets settled, employees are enjoying amenities such as covered parking and a lunchroom downstairs that services the building. The office also has a kitchen now. “This is a smarter space than the other one,” observes Moore. “It’s going to give us room for growth. It’s just a better space for us. It’s more cost effective for us, better layout, better location.” Now centrally located close to the airport, the firm is not only convenient to its San Antonio market but for IBTX team members flying between the Dallas and San Antonio offices. –mh

hen Dan Corrigan says he started from the ground up, one could take him very literally, because his company, C-3 Environmental Services, has all of its roots in groundwork. After graduating from high school, Corrigan got right out into the field, moving from South Texas to Austin and going to work for an environmental company there. While working in Austin, he built up experience doing erosion control and re-vegetation projects. Ten years ago, when the company Corrigan worked for was traveling to San Antonio periodically as the Alamo City started on its upswing, he noticed a need for erosion control and other ground services in the San Antonio market. He started C-3 to fill that void. Based in Schertz, C-3 is an erosion control company that does work in all markets, with residential new development accounting for about 70-percent of the workload. The company offers ser-

vices that include retention and filtration ponds, stabilized retention walls, rock berms, hydro seeding, construction exits and tree protection as well as light concrete work and concrete washouts. Corrigan notes that the cyclical market took some adjustment. So, as he conservatively grew the company, he sought opportunities to diversify the business. That is how C-3 started doing land clearing and grinding. C-3 did a lot of work with Zachry on the Mission Reach, doing rock gabion structures, engineered wire baskets that are filled with rocks and used to hold back earthen structures. Another project that stands out for Corrigan was the large earthen reinforced walls, some 80 and 100 feet, which they built for the Sonoma Verde subdivision. At the office, Corrigan has 55 employees he keeps busy with work. At home, he has a wife and three young kids who keep him busy with sports. –mh

Construction News JOB SIGHT

He nailed it

For general contractor Helmke & Associates’ office remodel on Gatecrest, Manuel worked on the wood trim. –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 21

Salsa extravaganza

he Associated General Contractors (AGC) San Antonio Chapter spiced up this year’s 12th annual Salsa Taste-Off Mixer Feb. 12 by bringing the event to the new headquarters of Joeris General Contractors, complete with a

A firm frame

mariachi band. The turnout was tremendous with 28 companies participating, and 139 votes cast by attendees. –mh Showmanship Award: Construction Leadership Forum (CLF)

Leaders at Lehmann L-R: Darrell Lehmann, Cindy Delgado, Aaron Staas

1st Place: Terracon Consultants, Inc.

2nd Place: Allen & Allen Company

3rd Place and People’s Choice: San Marcos Air Conditioning

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Three men at work

eing a structural engineer, Darrell Lehmann probably had more professional insight on how to structure his firm, Lehmann Engineering, than he realized when he started out in 2003. “The engineering came naturally to me,” says Lehmann. “The hardest part was starting the business – making business decisions, marketing decisions, all the hats that you have to wear that aren’t actually the number crunching part of engineering.” Though Lehmann found the business side the most challenging part of striking out on his own, he seems to have applied some of his expertise to building a framework so that his firm could stand up with strong reinforcement in all the right places. His first hire was Cindy Delgado, and he charged her with the business management so that he could focus on engineering. His second hire was Juan Valdez, who was a CAD draftsman and is

now a graduate engineer still working for the firm. Soon, he hired Aaron Staas, a graduate engineer from Texas A&M who was licensed in 2009 and became a partner, buying into the firm in 2012. Today, he has 20 employees, among them three licensed engineers, two graduate engineers, a lot of CAD techs and several administrators. He notes, “My goal for the future is for this company to provide opportunities for the people working for it, for them to be able to actualize their goals in engineering.” Lehmann’s firm has touched on every kind of project except for single-family residential. They have worked on the Scobee Challenger Learning Center at San Antonio College and at the San Antonio Zoo, as well as working with landscape architects on the San Antonio River Mission Reach. Also, the firm has partnered with a client firm to offer AE services to the wireless communication industry. –mh

2nd Annual Citywide High School Construction Career Day

APRIL 8, 2015 9am - 2pm Freeman Expo Hall

n o i

1200 select San Antonio and surounding area high school students will attend Hosted by to see equipment and skill demonBYF and TCCI strations and visit with area Sponsored by contractors and profesThe Builders Exchange sionals representing Education Council, Gibson Plumbing, Memco various trades and Zachry Construction Corpration industry Marek Brothers, PHCC, professions. MCA-SMACNA, Beyer Boys, Moen

i t e

l i u

t n e

Greg Moore, I-Work; Chris Powell, superintendent for general contractor C2C Construction; and Michael Jones, I-Work were busy at the site of the new Family Dollar on Perrin Beitel. The project manager is Duane Shelton, and completion is expected in April. –mh

d u t

Exhibitor Space and volunteer opportunities still available! For information call Texas Construction career Initiative (TCCI) 210-701-1893

Page 22

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Bringing down the house

Standing strong

Based in Selma, the ColeBrack team has done a variety of work, but they have a soft spot for demolition.

hough ColeBrack Enterprises was established as a general contractor, the company specializes in demolition. Ernest Coleman, vice president, notes that they do a lot of interior demolition – though they do exterior, too – and asbestos often gets in the way. So, dealing with that issue, the team also specializes in asbestos and lead-based paint abatement. Along with Ernest, David Coleman is also a vice president, and Robert Bracken Jr. is president. All three leaders of the company have at least 25 years of experience in environmental remediation and demolition. Their senior estimator, Gerry Alexander, has more than 30 years of experience in the same field. Alexander feels the highlight of his job is being the successful bidder on a project, completing it, and turning a profit for the company. ColeBrack has done a little bit of everything - from small houses to big hotels

and schools. They have worked under fixed price, cost plus and negotiated contracts. They’ve done projects ranging from $1,500 to $2.7 million, and they’ve performed abatements that were more than 1 million square feet. They also have extensive experience in government work as a both prime contractor and subcontractor with more than 600 city, state and federal – as well as private – projects under their belts. With determination to continue its growth through diversification and customer service, the company also does new construction and remodeling, construction management and design build. They emphasize strict adherence to all EPA, OSHA, state and local regulations, stating that they have had no non-compliance regarding time completions or quality deficiencies. The company has also established their own standard operating format and quality assurance program. –mh

ince Voges Drilling Co. does foundation piers, it’s not surprising that its leader, Jack McKinney, knew how to keep his business standing on solid legs through the recent recession. When the downturn hit the company in 2008, Voges made the most of the opportunities that came its way, including the transition from doing solely commercial projects to doing projects for TxDOT. McKinney says that with stimulus money coming into Central Texas, some bridge projects were released quickly, and in the City of San Antonio, a lot of work was being done on the River Walk. “We took advantage of those opportunities and kind of came out of the recession with a little firmer presence in the TxDOT arena, if you will,” comments McKinney. “I would say probably at least half of our workload is in roads and bridges right now.” He says they learned to monitor the level of infrastructure building in the area – not only roads and bridges, but also schools and work for the Corps of Engineers, for example. He has also developed a better understanding of the relationship between public works and private works. He sees what he refers to as a “build it and they will come” pattern, where the state expends funds to develop infrastructure and private enterprise comes along to build onto that foundation. As work kicked up in the oil field, retaining his employees was a priority. Realizing that employees are an investment, McKinney kept his valued workers by staying competitive and matching a large portion of their health insurance. For example, there was a big demand for crane operators in the oil field, and knowing this, Voges reviewed the compensation packages with his four trained crane operators, making a commitment to them, and they made a commitment to stay with Voges, and McKinney didn’t lose anyone.

Jack McKinney, owner and president of Voges Drilling Co. in New Braunfels, adapted to the changing economy and gave Voges a stronger foundation.

Adding that the recession afforded him opportunities to pick up more equipment and build the company up, McKinney says the economic slump ended for them when they started work on the new Amazon.com warehouse in Schertz in late 2012. Since then, Voges posted its best years to date in 2013 and 2014. Now, with a new group of owners and general contractors in the area, McKinney has watched Voges’ market change, and he quotes Mike Tyson, saying that everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. “For a business owner, you have to understand that a plan is going to change and that the trick is, especially with an event like a recession, to understand why it changes,” he says. “Accept the fact that it’s going to change, but understand why.” –mh

Going green board

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The U.S. Green Building Council-Central Texas Balcones Chapter announced its new board of directors for 2015-16. This year’s board includes second-year members Karen Bishop, SARA; Cliff Braddock, PEPCO Energy Services; Paul Brown, Bautex Systems; Pam Carpenter, 7th Generation Design; Brad Garner, Garner Development Services; Jane Baxter Lynn, JBL Strategies; and Marc Stroope, Gardner Law Firm; second-term members Mehmet Boz, AECom; Scott Gerhardt, CORE USA; and Michael Sweeney, Arup; and new members: Jim Brunson, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction; Bonny Gray, GSC Architects; Andy Kim, Austin Community College; Reed Sternberg, Texas Green Realtor; and Lisa Storer, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Sustainable Sites Initiative. Alternate board members are Andrew Clements, Texas Department of State Health Services; and Beth Guillot, Fuse Architecture Studio. –mh

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 23

First on the range

Construction News ON LOCATION

The morning paper

he Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter hosted the first industry event to be held at Top Golf, just 12 days after the entertainment venue’s grand opening. With around 200 RSVPs, about 240 showed up at the modern driving range, taking turns in their teams’ game bays to drive for fun and points. Even members who don’t play golf enjoyed the event. “It’s the newest entertainment venue in San Antonio,” comments Steven Schultz, chapter president. “We didn’t know what to expect. We knew everybody would have a great time. That’s what ABC is all about, fun and friends.” –mh Justin Calvin, SpawGlass, takes his turn swinging for his team. Diana Wigington-Hilleary, jack-of-all-trades in the office at Capital Pumping, perused the paper before getting ready to start invoicing for the previous day. –mh

Over 100 years of building relationships

L-R: Tye Gardner, Trade Management; Bob Luton, ROMCO Equipment; DeWitt Bebout, Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling Co.

Saul Robles, right, with his son Justin Robles, 26, who is interning at his father’s demolition company, Robles1.

Since 1913, Fisk has been one of the nation’s leading providers for the design, installation and maintenance of electrical systems, structured cabling applications, integrated electronic security systems, and building technology solutions.

L-R: Debbie Martin, Lundberg Masonry; Stephanie O’Rourke, Cokinos Bosien & Young; Greg Allen, T&D Moravits and Co.; Lynn Lundberg, Lundberg Masonry

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Gasoline – On Road Diesel – Off Road Diesel On Site Fueling – Wet Hosing – Temporary Loaner Tanks We Loan City Approved UL-2085 Vaulted Tanks L-R: (Standing) Andy Lindsey and David Campbell, South Texas Drywall; Bernie Ball, Traugott Inc.; Michael Traugott Jr., Tammy and Alan Thompson, and David Dolby, South Texas Drywall; (seated) Joe Cockerham, South Texas Drywall; Stacy Littlefield, Ryan Lambert and Chris Jacobs, Equipment Depot

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210-666-6002 Brent & Mark Marshall

Page 24

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

continued from Page 1 — Due vigilance

Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.

15th Annual IEC San Antonio BBQ Cook-Off Saturday, March 21 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Helotes Festival Grounds Adults - $7.00 Kids under 12 - $5.00 Price includes BBQ Plate Kid’s activities/games Apprentice Wire-Off Competition Public Welcome

In his time as owner, Stephens has foiled many who should fear GPS for a different reason. He notes that they have found and recovered a lot of stolen equipment – literally, tons of it. Clients can log in on the website to view data for their own vehicles or equipment, and Stephens can use this same tracking data to assist authorities in finding thieves on official cases. “I’ve been on the phone with a highway patrolman triangulating on a stolen truck,” recalls Stephens. He says it was satisfying to know three cops swooped in and caught the thief because of him and the products he carries. He says that was a lot of fun, and they do catch a lot of thieves, but a few years

ago, there was a very sad case where GPS of Texas helped solve a double murder in Odessa. He explains that the son of an elderly couple asked Stephens to put a tracker on his parents’ Lincoln Navigator because his 86-year-old father kept getting lost. Six months later, the couple was found murdered in their home and their vehicle stolen. Stephens says when authorities contacted him, he logged into the account and saw exactly where the vehicle was, 150 miles away in Lubbock. Within 15 minutes of contacting GPS of Texas, Stephens is proud to say that the suspect was in handcuffs. In 2012, that suspect was convicted and sentenced to death. –mh

continued from Page 1 — Picking up the pace their workload and team. While working on the property, Trevino, his mother and father, and one of their administrators used a small 15x15 room as their office until the office space inside could be finished out to allow them each to have a space to call their own. The new location has about 3,000sf of office space with room to add more offices if the need arises. There was also space for a conference room and a file room, which JR notes was a big bonus. Though they kept files in cabinets and moved older files into boxes in their former location, the new one allowed them to put in a rolling file system, which makes everything easily accessible and

much more convenient. The new building also has a 9,000-sf warehouse, whereas the old office didn’t have a place for them to receive material. There are old drainage grates in the floor of the warehouse, which JR believes is a remnant from its time under Pace’s ownership. They also made several improvements to the property, including safety and security features, such as new fencing and video monitoring systems. The new building is just north of downtown and only about two to three miles from one of Treco’s current projects, its largest renovation to date, the downtown La Quinta Inn across the street from Rivercenter Mall. –mh

continued from Page 1 — A drive-in for a new generation

The drive-in is a classic moviegoing experience, but the interior of the concession stand is very sleek and modern. Photo by Bob Wickley, Photographer

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booths along the window line with future open seating planned. Just outside the concession building, there’s a covered patio with outdoor seating illuminated with string lights and ceiling fans, and plans for a playground within the wooden fenced area are underway. Whiting-Turner worked on the project for approximately seven months; achieving substantial completion by mid-December. Construction of the buildings took roughly five months to complete, but the site work, performed by V.K. Knowlton Construction & Utilities, took more than 6 months. The project began by clearing the property, which was farmland with very expansive soils; thus requiring special consideration for the building and pavement construction by the geotechnical engineer of record, Terracon. To help mitigate movement due to moisture, all the theatres and drive aisles were constructed on lime stabilized subgrade underneath 6 to 9 feet of compacted base material. The paved areas are chip seal pavement, which is a mixture of rock and oil, often seen on county roads. Instead of big black parking lots of rigid asphalt, the chip seal rock is tan in color, giving a natural and rural finished appearance. Treated wood post fencing, by Cut Antz Land Improvements out of Karnes City, with various types of high tensile net wire and 3-strand poly-coated wire fence lends the property the feel of a ranch. A significant part of the job was getting the underground infrastructure in place prior to the extensive site work preparation. The concession building is set back approximately 1,600ft from the

main road, and the projection booths and ticket booths, requiring power and data, required runs of conduit upwards of 400ft and 800ft respectively. Another challenge was the remoteness of the location with respect to obtaining a guaranteed water pressure and minimum flow required to support the demand of the building and operation of the fire suppression system. WhitingTurner and the owner, Ryan Smith, engaged Kimley-Horn for the design of a domestic water booster pump in the early stages of construction. The project team consisted of Yvonne Larson, project manager; Cecil Perkins, superintendent; and Jeff Breeding, project engineer, with Whiting-Turner; architect Dale Dibello of Dibello Architects, and HMT Engineering & Surveying. PBK’s San Antonio office did the MEP Design. Among the subcontractors on the project were VA Electric, SI Mechanical, Mulder Fire Protection, Longhorn Concrete, Comanche Masonry, Campbell Paint, D&E Glass Company, Ennis Door, Boa Studio for the millwork, Texas Fifth Wall Roofing and Spider Wall Systems. G.W.C. Whiting and LeBaron Turner, classmates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), founded The WhitingTurner Contracting Company in 1909. After working on the original phase of La Cantera in 2002, the company opened its San Antonio office in 2005. As a commercial general contractor, Whiting-Turner’s work includes industrial, K-12, retail, hospitality, mission critical, student housing and senior living projects. –mh

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 25

Construction Education Promoting professional development Dana Marsh, Education Director Associated General Contractors (AGC) San Antonio, TX

hile there are programs to rally the next generation of the workforce and college programs to bring construction science into the realm of higher education, what options are available for a professional in the field who wants to continue to improve along an existing career path? The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America has programs that are offered nationwide that anyone can attend, regardless of membership. Dana Marsh, education director for the San Antonio Chapter, notes that these programs offer professional development on every level. For people who are out in the field, AGC has the Supervisory Training Program (STP), a construction-specific training curriculum developed, updated, and field-tested by and for contractors. “Supervisory skill – or the lack of it – directly affects every company's bottom line,” explains Marsh. “Each day, decisions made by every foreman and superintendent are crucial to the success or failure of

every construction project. You make your money in the field, and STP can help you improve your organization's bottom line.” Participants in the STP program, which is comprised of six courses or modules, come from a range of backgrounds, and Marsh notes that they could be “anyone on a construction jobsite in a supervisory role – from the new supervisor and foreman to the experienced superintendent – who is looking to become a more effective manager of people, time, equipment and materials.” For project managers, there is the AGC Project Manager Development Program (PMDP), another training curriculum developed and field-tested by and for contractors, which also offers a certificate of completion. This five-course program helps assistant project managers, project managers, project engineers and project administrators, among others, develop long-term skills. These courses teach estimating and job costing, contract administration, project administration, risk management and leadership.

Education and experience equally important Dr. Orlando R. Bagcal, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Construction Management Technology Program Tarrant County College South Fort Worth, TX

ow have construction education and training changed over the years? Construction education has always been dynamic and evolving. The demand of stringent industry standards and quality, as well as the growing emphasis on making buildings more energy efficient, require a high level of knowledge and education. Keeping abreast of current technological changes, emerging techniques and methods and computer knowledge and skills will help future construction project managers perform their professional responsibilities. In addition, the delivery of education and training has changed in the past decade. Aside from the traditional classroom face-to-face instruction, there are various options that students can choose that will suit their demanding schedules, such as online classes and hybrid (combination of face-to-face and online) classes. These options allow individuals who want to further their education more flexibility and enable them to learn subject content at their own pace. What areas of education need to be improved to better serve the industry? The construction industry is a com-

plex and challenging environment, thus requiring an individual that has the ability to quickly adapt and respond to current situations and problems. Students who are pursuing a career in construction must be trained and learn critical thinking (logical and analytical), team working (collaboration) and advanced knowledge and skills in computer-driven technology. Further, as many government agencies and private companies require and standardize the use of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in construction projects, it is important that students must learn the capability as well as ability to operate this software. The use of BIM in construction projects is known to improve collaboration and more efficient processes in the construction industry. How important is “hands-on” training? As I always tell my students, education is as important as obtaining experience (hands-on). Knowledge + experience = wisdom, a trait project managers must possess in order to make good decisions in every situation that arises at the field site. Practical experience or handson training is very important in becoming a construction manager, whether you

This program is comprised of five modules, and it is two days for each module. Marsh emphasizes that they try to spread out the scheduling for the classes, especially if they are two-day classes, which ensure that the attendees will not be out of the office for an entire week. “What’s good about these programs is each module is stand alone,” she adds. “So, if you don’t feel like you need all five modules, you can attend just one module. If you’re a project administrator and you want to just take the one on contract documents and project administration, you can. “These really hit everybody that works in construction, you don’t have to be just a project manager or just a superintendent to get something out of one of these modules.” In 2009, AGC started its Building Information Modeling (BIM) Education Program, and upon completion, participants receive the Certificate of Management – Building Information Modeling (CMBIM). Marsh points out that this is the industry’s first and only BIM certificate program that teaches the practical application of the Building Information Modeling process for commercial construction firms. The San Antonio Chapter has also joined with Bexar County to offer the “Basics” of Construction Training Program, and this month, the program is in its 10th year. “The program is a 10-session educational program designed to assist small, minority and women-owned construc-

tion businesses,” she says. These sessions include topics such as running a successful construction business, project scheduling, financial management, understanding contracts, liens, estimating, project management, safety, business development, insurance and bonds. Graduates of the program are eligible to participate in AGC’s two-year Mentor-Protégé Program. These programs each offer a certificate of completion and help to fill an education gap once an employee or manager is in his or her job. Not only are these things that are not taught in college, Marsh comments, but a lot of field personnel might not have gone to college, having worked their way up to their current position. Addressing practical issues that these team members will be dealing with daily, these programs can help them learn how to motivate the people working for them and communicate to them. Also, Marsh believes that this can benefit those applying for these positions, stating, “if you’re applying for a job, it’s going to show the employer that you’re really interested in bettering yourself and progressing in your career.” Dana Marsh started at AGC San Antonio as the plan room manager 15 years ago. As the chapter developed a more robust education program, she transitioned to education director. She serves on the Advisory Council for Construction Careers Academy and the St Philip’s Construction Advisory Committee, as well as chapter administrator for the AGC Student Chapter at UTSA. –mh

obtained it through classroom laboratories, an internship or a job as a construction trade.

Students who consider a career in this industry must learn the functions of project managers: estimating, scheduling, planning, coordinating and supervising. There is also this growing need toward certification in special areas as construction managers. This certification is becoming valuable as it provides validation and evidence of their expertise, proficiencies and competencies to be construction management professionals. Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), American Institute of Constructors (AIC), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) all have established a voluntary certification exam or training for construction managers. At Tarrant County College, we offer four different certificates of completion and an AAS degree in Construction Management Technology.

What are ways to attract young people to the industry? The mindset of young people has to be changed. The idea that the construction industry is all about dust and mud, hammers and saws or materials and heavy equipment must go away. Prospective young people need to know that getting an education in construction will lead them to vast and various opportunities in the industry. To attract young people, we need to teach them to look at things in a different way, a varied way in doing things. Teaching strategies and ways that will streamline processes and improve workplace safety by integrating computer and automation in the workplace could stimulate their desire to be in the construction industry. Likewise, construction companies should invest in training their young construction workers so that they feel secure that their viability as a hirable employee will continue to grow. Thriving construction companies must establish skills progression programs with rewards as young workers move up the management ladder. Doing so will help restructure the industry to continue to be appealing to young people. What are some areas of study? The responsibilities of the construction manager are becoming complex and demanding. Construction managers plan, direct, coordinate and budget diverse construction projects in various sectors such as residential, commercial, heavy infrastructure and industrial facilities.

Are scholarships available for construction education? There are several scholarships offered for construction management students at Tarrant County College through the TCC Foundation such as the “Westwood Contractor Scholarship” and “For the Ones Who Get It Done Scholarship.” In addition, the Texas Builders Foundation and the National Housing Endowment of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) offer scholarships for students who pursue a career in the residential sectors. The Associated General Contractors (AGC) is also offering scholarships for those wanting to be in the commercial sectors. –mjm

Page 26

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Construction Education Look for a good education foundation Mike Holland, CPC, AIC, President American Council for Construction Education San Antonio, TX

hen most people think about construction education, the first thing that comes to mind is training for the skilled trades – plumbing, electrical, equipment operator, steel erector, etc. These are important elements of the industry. Just as important are the senior managers, executives and business owners who create the opportunities to work in the industry and invest their money and manage the risks to their investment (the company’s equity). This element of the construction industry needs more than the training of the skilled tradesman – they need education, that element provided by colleges and universities that provides the foundation upon which to build and lead a successful business. Through American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), the industry has developed the ability to create the foundation (there’s that word again – a construction-appropriate term for this article) for new graduates to begin their

career in the management of the construction process, to grow their experience and ability to combine the many parts and teams of skilled folks and businesses to deliver that safe, on-schedule, on-budget project, protecting the equity of the company from the many risks that threaten every construction project. There are many colleges and universities across the country that offer 2-year, 4-year and master degrees in the building sciences, construction management, construction science and management that prepare the graduates to manage the process. Other degrees that are tangent would include construction engineering, architectural engineering and construction technology and other descriptors. Engineering is more focused on the design of the project, whether a building, highway, residential developments, a bridge or a utility. The building sciences are focused more on managing the constructing of the project; this re-

Hands on experience is key

Glen O’Mary, Director of Education Construction & Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF) La Porte, TX

hat type of training is available at your organization? CMEF provides formal craft training, skills upgrade training, soft skills training, customizable corporate training, and fast-track training. The Foundation consistently seeks new training avenues to assist members and contractors with their changing needs in today’s construction environment. A new program we have developed – the Commercial Jump Start Training Program - is a great example of how we are able to fill a need that is the direct result of contractors requests for fast tracked, module based learning. By keeping our training model flexible, we are able to meet a wide range of contractors’ needs quickly and efficiently. How has construction education and training changed over the years? Previously, the training model of formal semester-based craft education fit the bill for most contractors. While this training model is still applicable, today we have a ‘perfect storm’ brewing in the industry.

We are blessed to have a healthy industry with new projects that have either broken ground or are coming down the pipeline in short order. However, we have a shortage of men and women in the field to build these projects. A shortage of skilled labor has a domino effect for everyone – delayed projects and higher costs are most apparent. CMEF is working on many levels to help alleviate this problem, from high school programs that educate young people about the opportunities in construction, to reaching out to veterans and the un- or under-employed to demonstrate the rewards of a career in construction. Because of the industry’s critical worker shortage, CMEF is focusing on specialized, industry-based, fast-track training options that benefit the employee as well as the employer. How important is “hands on” training? The “hands on” component is crucial, and should be a part of every program. You can sit with a student in a classroom and teach him or her the funda-

quires a broad basis of the technology of building as well as the business side of the process; engineering does not give the graduate that element. A degree in the building sciences includes education in these competencies: estimating; scheduling; safety; project management; construction law; communications, both written and oral; construction accounting; basic construction methods and materials; surveying; ethics in the construction industry; and the fundamentals of business: accounting; economics; business law; and principles of management and more. Regardless of the level of college degree (2-year, 4-year, or master degree), the foundation that a college degree provides the graduate the starting point for advancing their career. With the downturn in 2007-2011, the media caused many parents and high school students to steer clear of the construction industry – a sad situation. Though the industry did slow down, it is not one that can be exported, like computer programming, architectural and engineering efforts, to lower wage countries – construction and the management of it has to be on-the-ground, at the site. The industry is now suffering from a worker shortage on many levels, including the construction management graduates. This “hole in the pipeline” of new graduates is now impacting many companies that need the continuum of management talent in their organizations to

continue that flow of quality management and leadership development for the successful succession in the years ahead. Today, the shortage of new graduates in the construction management arena is causing companies to struggle in filling their teams with the talent they need. A career in the building sciences, construction management, construction science and management professions provides the opportunity for young graduates to begin a very rewarding career – more than money – the chance to be part of creating in every community, state and country and supporting the local economy, health and education, and environment for that community. During one’s career, one can look at what they created – not alone - with a team of other professionals, skilled tradesmen and other local leaders and be proud of where their career has taken them. Education will provide the opportunity – the foundation; a person’s capabilities will take them toward their calling and the success provided by this special industry – construction. Get that foundation built and see where you take your career.

mentals of welding for hours, but it is not until that student actually stands at a welding booth and is able to physically experience the welding process that he or she gains a true understanding. Hands on experience is the key to success. It is this reason that we offer Performance Verifications at the CMEF campus. We assist craft professionals by observing their skills in a trade to verify that they do in fact have the correct skills to complete a task – not only correctly, but also safely.

supported and passed House Bill 5, as well as the efforts of our Schools Program Director, Dr. Steven Horton, today I am proud to say that we are partnered with 30 high school campuses and continue to grow that number. One of the goals of the Schools Program is to provide students with the opportunity to explore the many facets of the construction industry and the career opportunities available. A second goal is to give CTE teachers resources and new connections to current happenings in the industry, providing them with opportunities to meet industry leaders, and become aware of the numerous job opportunities for their students. A third goal of the program is to encourage industry participation from the very companies who will seek to fill construction positions.

What are ways to attract young people? The first step is to improve the construction industry’s image and properly convey the many opportunities available. We, not only as an industry but as an entire community, need to let young people know they have more options available to them after high school. Unfortunately, many young people are led to believe that a four-year college degree is the only option if they want to be successful. Not all high school students want to go on to college and they need to know about careers in construction. We feature success stories on our website at www.cmefhouston.org of men and women who went through our training program, built their career in construction, and today are highly successful individuals. We have also been very successful in expanding our outreach to high school campuses. Just a few years ago, we partnered with a handful of high school campuses. Thanks to our state legislators who

The mission of ACCE is to be a leading global advocate of quality construction education; and to promote, support, and accredit quality construction education programs. –cw

How important is recruitment at high school and college level? As mentioned before, it is very important to create awareness about industry opportunities and recruit students into the industry at the high school and college levels. These recruitment efforts help develop a long-term pipeline of future industry professionals and exposure of our industry. It is never too early to educate young people about the industry and built environment around them. Many of our contractor members participate at the middle school level of education – working to foster lines of communication with young people early on. –ab

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 27

NEXT MONTH April 2015

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The young and the Rooter

L-R: Roger Vela and Amanda Hill were at the front desk around lunchtime, helping Ryan DeWeese, operations manager, hold down the fort at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of San Antonio. –mh

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Polished

Enrique Carstens is the director of marketing and sales for Modern Day Concrete, and he has samples to show the type of decorative and polished concrete the company does. The floor of the office is a full-sized example. –mh

Call for Ad Space (210) 308-5800 Reservations

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Here come the trail riders!

Trail rides from all over converge on San Antonio for the annual Stock Show and Rodeo. Above, the South Texas Trail Riders were seen on Hwy. 181 just outside of San Antonio. –cw

Getting schooled

Members of Joeris General Contractors’ San Antonio team visited the company’s Fort Worth office on Feb. 11 to discuss “Joeris University.” The upcoming centralized training program for employees takes any opportunity happening within the company and makes it available online for easy access. –mjm/mh

Page 28

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Round-Up Erika Yates has joined IBTX Risk Services as a risk advisor. She will expand the commercial insurance portion of the company’s business line and will be responsible for providing holistic risk management solutions to businesses in the energy and oil and gas industry. Having started in the personal insurance arena when she moved to San Antonio in 2010, she is licensed in Property & Casualty and Life & Health.

Submissions

Round-Up

Big Red Dog Engineering announces: Leo Gutierrez has joined the firm as a project designer. His responsibilities will include providing engineering design support to the project management staff for retail, office, multi-family and industrial development projects. He earned his associate degree in drafting and design at San Antonio Community College. James Sakai has joined the firm as a project engineer. His responsibilities will include the completion of engineering designs and construction plans. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Skanska USA announces that Amie Kromis O’Riley has been named as the diversity and inclusion coordinator for the company’s Texas region. O’Riley, who is positioned in the Dallas office, will be responsible for internal coordination of diversity and inclusion initiatives, community outreach and relationship development with diverse business enterprises. O’Riley received her Bachelor of Arts degree in corporate communications and public affairs from Southern Methodist University.

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC Associated Builders & Contractors

All events are held at the ABC office unless otherwise stated. Mar. 2: Future Leaders Task Force meeting; 4pm; for more info, email Steven Schultz at steve@abcsouthtexas.org Mar. 11: Safety & Health Committee meeting; 12pm; for more information, email Dana Hickman at dana@abcsouthtexas.org Mar. 12: Chili Cook-off; parking lot adjacent to ABC office; 3:30-7:30pm; for info, email Ruby Trejo at ruby@abcsouthtexas.org Mar. 18: Apprenticeship Committee meeting; noon; for info, email Dana Hickman at dana@abcsouthtexas.org

AGC Associated General Contractors

Brian Platfoot has joined Raba Kistner, Inc. as corporate health and safety manager for the firm and its subsidiaries, including 14 locations across the state of Texas, Utah, Mexico and New York. He will manage the EnterpriseWide Health and Safety program. With more than 14 years of experience, he has been a regional health and safety manager in the construction and oil and gas industries for multiple companies in Alaska. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health and safety and his master’s in occupational safety and health from Columbia Southern University.

This is a monthly section for brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Email (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month, for the next month’s issue (published 1st of each month). Email info to appropriate city issue, with “Round-Up” in the subject line: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– San Antonio: saeditor@constructionnews.net Austin: austineditor@constructionnews.net Dallas/Ft. Worth: dfweditor@constructionnews.net Houston: houstoneditor@constructionnews.net South Texas: STeditor@constructionnews.net

All events are held at the AGC office unless otherwise stated. Mar. 2: Media Interview Training, 1-5:30pm Mar. 3: The Basics Session #1, 6-8pm Mar. 9: Annual Golf Tournament; The Club at Sonterra; registration 11am, shotgun 12:30pm; deadline entries is Mar. 4; for more info on playing or sponsoring, call Kelly at 210-349-4921 Mar. 10: The Basics Session #2, 6-8pm Mar. 11: BIM Unit #4, 8am-5pm Mar. 12: TBB Legislative Day, Austin; CLF Brown Bag Lunch: Forensic Documentation, noon Mar. 13: Education Committee mtg, 8:30am Mar. 16: Leadership Academy, Week #1, 12:30-4:30pm Mar. 17: The Basics Session #3, 6-8pm Mar. 19: Safety & Health Committee meeting, 11:30am Mar. 18-20: AGC of America Convention, San Juan, Puerto Rico Mar. 23: Leadership Academy, Week #2, 12:30-4:30pm Mar. 24: CLF Steering Council meeting, noon; The Basics Session #4, 6-8pm Mar. 28: CLF Family Event, Main Event Entertainment, 11am-3pm Mar. 30: Leadership Academy, Week #3, 12:30-4:30 pm Mar. 31: The Basics Session #5, 6-8pm

AIA American Institute of Architects

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Mar. 9: Lecture Series; lecture from Wilhelm von Boddien, the driving force for the rebuilding of the former Imperial Castle, Berlin into Humboldtforum Museum; 6pm; San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 West Jones Ave.; free and open to the public Mar. 25: Joint Chapter meeting with SMPS; “Perspectives on the Exploding Urban Core” speaker Robert Rivard, The Rivard Report; 11:30am-1pm, Plaza Club, 100 W. Houston, Frost Bank Tower, 21st Floor; RSVP required; for more information, visit www.aiasa.org

ASA

American Subcontractors Assn.

Mar. 5: 20th Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet; Historic Pearl Stable; cocktails 6pm followed by dinner and awards; to reserve a table or individual seat, call 210-349-2105 Mar. 31: Lunchbox Seminar – Reasonable Suspicion, Drug and Alcohol Training DOT Certification eligible; Padgett Stratemann, 100 NE Loop 410, Suite 1100; 11:30am-1pm; lunch provided; members $40, non-members $50; to reserve a seat, call 210-3492105 or email contact@asasanantonio.org

IEC Independent Electrical Contractors

All events are held at the IEC office unless otherwise stated. Mar. 16: Continuing Education Class, 5-9pm Mar. 17: A&T Committee Meeting, 11am Mar. 18: Board of Directors mtg, 11am Mar. 20-21: 15th Annual BBQ Cook-Off & Apprentice Competition, Helotes Festival Grounds Mar. 28: Electrical Maintenance Technician Class, 8am-5pm For more info please call 210-431-9861 or visit www.iecsanantonio.com

MCA–SMACNA Mechanical Contractors Association Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.

Mar. 4: Regular & Associates meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30 a.m. Mar. 18: Joint Industry Fund meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am Mar. 19: Golf Tournament, SilverHorn Golf Club, 1pm

NAWIC Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Mar. 1-7: National Women In Construction Week Mar. 4: General meeting, Petroleum Club; 5:30pm; WIC Week Celebration Membership Mixer Mar. 6: Golf Tournament, SilverHorn Golf Club Mar. 19: Board of Directors meeting, Urban Concrete, 6pm

NFRA National Foundation Repair Assn.

Mar. 19: Chapter meeting, TBD, 5-8pm Apr. 16-17: 25th anniversary conference, Menger Hotel, speaker Nolan Ryan

PHCC Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

All events are held at the PHCC office unless otherwise stated. Mar. 7, 21: Plumbers Continuing Education Mar. 12: Open House/Monthly meeting Mar. 18-19: Rheem training Mar. 24: Board of Directors meeting

SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.

Mar. 25: Membership meeting; Pappadeaux Restaurant, 76 NE Loop 410; noon; $30 per person; for more info call Debbie at 830-606-5556

CFMA

SDA

Construction Financial Mngmt. Assn.

Society for Design Administration

Mar. 24: Chapter Luncheon; 11:30am-1pm; Petroleum Club, RSVP to Stephanie at 210828-6281, ext. 1575, or stephanie.harms@ padgett-cpa.com

Mar. 26: Monthly Chapter meeting; “Non-Technical Drivers of Risk in a Design Firm” with speaker Jim Jimmerson, USI Southwest; noon-1pm at The Barn Door, 8400 N. New Braunfels; for more info email cdelgado@lehmanneng.com

HCA de San Antonio Hispanic Contractors Association

KEEP HAULING MY FRIENDS

Construction Site Safety in Work Zones; this is a federally-funded training course; space is limited Mar. 18: Monthly meeting/Mixer; The Plaza Club, 100 West Houston; free for members, non-members $10; presentations by Joeris General Contractors Mar. 19-20: OSHA 10-Hour (Spanish Course); HCA office, 203 Norton St.; members $25, non-members $40; includes breakfast, materials and OSHA 10 cards; space is limited Mar. 27: 2nd Annual Casino Night; San Antonio Food Bank, 5200 Old Hwy 90 West; 6-11pm; silent auction, beverages, food, prizes, three hours of gaming; bring canned goods donation, get an extra gaming chip To register or for more info, call 210-4441100, email Patty at admin@hcadesa.org, or visit www.hcadesa.org

Mar. 12-13: OSHA 10-Hour; UTPA McAllen Teaching Site, 1800 S. Main St., Suite 100m, McAllen, TX; 8am- 4:30pm on the 12th, 8am-1pm on the 13th; OSHA 10Hour Construction Industry Course on

USGBC U.S. Green Building Council

Mar. 12: Monthly Luncheon, 11:30am1pm; members $30, non-members $40, student $20; TBD, San Antonio

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 29

Another new leader rises at HOLT

Three times bigger, cooler

Heather and Keith Schmidt, owners of Schmidt Mechanical Group, are much more comfortable in their new office location.

several advantages. The new space has a reception area and six offices. Everyone fits comfortably, and there is still room for future growth. Heather notes that they hope to continue to add employees. There is also a training room complete with a projector screen, allowing them to show training videos. This gives them a classroom setting to conduct their weekly safety meetings and training with their technicians. The facility also boasts a parts storage room and a warehouse space. The area is surrounded by other professional businesses, including neighbors they enjoy having, and it is convenient for its owners. This can be especially important for Heather, who is at the office parttime, since the couple has an active 3-year-old son. Heather notes that Keith manages operations, including training and inventory, while she does accounts payable and helps dispatcher Susan Mays with receivables and invoicing. –mh

hen starting a business, many factors are hard to predict, such as how the business will grow and what space will be necessary. Heather Schmidt, co-owner of Schmidt Mechanical Group, says that they found out very quickly that they needed more space. In October, they moved to Suite 102 at 10927 Wye Drive. Heather’s husband, Keith Schmidt, president, started the HVAC company in 2010. Their previous office was on Austin Highway with only about 900sf of space, putting about four offices and the office staff right on top of one another. Space outside the office was also very limited and did not offer enough parking or room to spread out vehicles or trailers. There was also not enough storage room for parts, which meant their employees were running back and forth to supply houses. At approximately 3,000sf, Schmidt Mechanical’s new location comes with

he New Year brought some big changes to the leadership at HOLT CAT, and in early February, the equipment and engine dealer announced that Bert Fulgium has been appointed vice president of product support for the company’s Machine Division. Fulgium is taking over for a veteran at HOLT, Ron Craft, whom Fulgium calls a “legend builder,” who recently announced his retirement from the company. Before moving into his new role, Fulgium served as vice president of product support for HOLT CAT’s Power Systems Division. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to serve our customers in this new capacity,” says Fulgium, noting that he has been on the engine side of the company for 13 years. In his previous position, Fulgium estimates that 80 percent of their business came from the oil and gas industry. On the machine side, instead of dealing with just engines, he is leading a group that deals with a diverse group, including customers in road construction and the mining industry. Having grown up in Beckville, TX, Fulgium originally started out as an instrument and electrical (I&E) technician. He then moved into supervision and management in the oil and gas industry. From there, he took on a business development role for a couple of years. Around that time, having attended junior college for a short time after high school, Fulgium decided to return to school in pursuit of his bachelor’s degree in business administration, which he earned from LeTourneau University in Longview. He later earned his master’s degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He began his career at HOLT CAT in 2002 around the time the company acquired Darr Equipment Co. He started out as a local service manager in Longview. A year-and-a-half later, he was promoted to

Bert Fulgium has taken on a new role at HOLT CAT as the vice president of product support for the Machine Division.

regional service manager. Five years ago, he was promoted to product support manager, and then he became vice president of product support on the engine side. Along with his team, he has worked on building new engine rebuild facilities, which, he adds, have been wildly successful, and they started national generator maintenance contracts. He states that a lot of good people have contributed to his success at HOLT CAT. In his new role, which he describes as being part of the sustainability and growth efforts, leadership and the culture of the company will be keys to success. He maintains that a lot of great things are already at work, and he just has to continue to provide leadership for a great team. At 47, Fulgium’s passions outside of work include his family and bow hunting. –mh

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Electronic gold

hen Thomas Schluter, PE, bought Beckwith Electronic Engineering from founders Jack Beckwith and George Ridder in 1991, there were 15 employees; today, as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary, Schluter has grown the company to ranging between 60 and 75 employees. Since 1962, Beckwith has been a distributor, contractor, and consultant, designing, selling, installing, and servicing commercial communication systems. Those include nurse call and fire alarm systems, security systems such as card access and closed-circuit TVs, and intercom systems in schools. As an engineering graduate of Trinity University, Beckwith hired Schluter as

a manager trainee in 1986 and worked under him to get his professional engineer license. “Thomas pretty much worked sideby-side with Jack, learning the company from the bottom up,” remembers Cynthia Schluter, his wife and vice president. “Thomas did every job there was to do, because he wanted to know everything and how it all worked.” Several years passed before Beckwith expressed his intentions to retire and sell the business, and Schluter seized the opportunity to buy it. Even though he was born and raised in Mexico City, both of Schluter’s parents were of German descent, and his family continued on Page 25

Number 3

MARCH 2013

A & C power

L-R: Cynthia and Thomas Schluter have grown Beckwith Electronic Engineering to be the star of its very own boulevard. Photo by Luis Vazquez.

Volume 16

John Wright and Bob Corbo have come together to bring the Corbo Electric Company under the Alterman name.

wo of San Antonio’s oldest and most respected electrical contractors, Alterman, Inc. and Corbo Electric Company, Inc., have merged. Alterman’s acquisition of Corbo is a mutually beneficial move that will open doors and will maintain current employment levels. Corbo owner Bob Corbo describes Alterman as a “dear, friendly competitor” that his company has worked alongside on projects as building automation while Alterman’s performed the electrical contracting. As he approaches his 70th birthday, Corbo states that it was time for him to make plans to transition that would take care of his nearly 100 employees, many loyal customers, and ultimately, his

family. John Wright, CEO and president of Alterman, says that the company has been looking for an opportunity to diversify and grow in the ways that the acquisition of Corbo will finally allow. Corbo’s expertise in areas such as automated controls, service, and projects that fall in Alterman’s small to mid-sized range between $50,000 and $3 million. “It was a perfect fit for us,” Wright explains. “And it helped Bobby accomplish what he was trying to accomplish, so it’s working out great for both of us.” Corbo has reassured employees and customers alike that Alterman will continue Corbo’s business, including allowcontinued on Page 25

Steel’s second life

century has passed since the Peden Iron & Steel building was in its prime, but Galaxy Builders revitalized the historic structure, transforming it into luxurious downtown living aptly called Steel House Lofts. At a project cost of approximately $7 million, the old two-story, steel-manufacturing warehouse on South Flores Street was converted into a four-story, 67-unit multi-family residence in just over a year. The rebirth of this facility came with many challenges, several of which were directly related to its age. Galaxy had to be sure of the structure’s integrity. “The framing materials that we used were substantially different,” says Neilesh Verma, president of Galaxy. “The first two floors were metal and transitioned to wood framing for the third and fourth floors.” This was one of the first challenges Galaxy faced, project manager Mick Sid-

bury recalls: “We had to test the concrete on the roof to find out if it was going to be strong enough. We weren’t sure because no one had ever done any core drilling on that roof.” Once the roof proved sound to hold the additional two stories, the flooring was redesigned to match the roof. The crew faced another challenge with the historic slab in the two-story units occupying both the basement and first floor. Ten inches of concrete had to be cut out to install the spiral staircases connecting the two floors of each unit with bedrooms downstairs from living areas and kitchens. “Hundred-year-old concrete is probably better than the concrete today,” observes Sidbury. “It was definitely a challenging job.” Steel House marks Sidbury’s first job Steel House Lofts was born from an historic downtown building over 100 years old. Photo by Mary C. Haskin Photography

1998 2001 2003 2003

continued on Page 25

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Focused on design

L-R: President Meg Jorn and Vice President John Pearcy

egamorphosis, inc. partners Meg Foster Jorn, AIA, LEED AP, RID, IIDA and John Pearcy, AIA, say the love of design is apparent in the work they do at their Harlingen-based architecture and interior design firm. Jorn, the president, founded the firm in 1995, and notes you won’t catch her and Pearcy, the vice president, doing cutand-paste design on their projects. The Rio Grande Valley’s bi- cultural border location has developed styles that are unique says Jorn. “The border brick style” that was developed here in the early 1900s is one example of an architectural style indigenous to the region. “John and I try to use details and materials that are regional; sometimes with

a new or modern twist. We try to create something unique for each client, regardless of budget. We see every project as an opportunity. “John and I are very different people, but we share the love of architecture and design.” The firm celebrated a milestone of sorts in February after purchasing and renovating a building in downtown Harlingen that will serve as its new headquarters. “It’s very unique – it’s a little, funky old building,” Jorn says. “After renting at our current location for 13 years, this is very exciting.” A Massachusetts native, Jorn said she got her love of architecture from her continued on Page 14

Volume 1

Number 3

MARCH 2013

Chip off the ol’ block

Tre’ Peacock, owner of Peacock General Contractors, is hard at work in Harlingen.

re’ Peacock, owner of Peacock General Contractors in Harlingen, didn’t go to college for a construction degree. He instead opted for a business degree, because he already knew he planned on following in the footsteps of his father, Bill Peacock, former owner of Peacock Construction, which was formed in 1974. This year, Peacock General Contractors celebrates its 10th anniversary, where Tre’, owner, works alongside his father, who joined his son after his partner’s retirement. “”I grew up in construction,” says Peacock, who was raised in the Rio Grande Valley. “I always knew what I wanted to do—what my dad did.

“As soon as I got out of college, I jumped out and started working from him. From there, I went on to start my own company.” Peacock inherited his father’s staff when he opened the doors to Peacock General Contractors, but soon saw that it took more than a name to get big contracts. “I had the same employees and the same people, so that was pretty seamless,” Peacock explained. “As far as the jobs I could take on, that was a lot different. “My history was not my father’s, so my first year was probably a volume of $1 million. Last year was $11.5 million, so continued on Page 14

Up and running like a Deere

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ictoria, TX is home to a number of breathtaking, beautiful ranching and farming properties—which you can’t maintain without good farm equipment. Fear not, ranch owners and ranch hands. K&T Construction Co., Inc. recently completed a new farm supply store and equipment dealer in Victoria that is selling a variety of John Deere farm equipment. The project involved construction of a 26,677-sf structure that included a retail sales floor and a large mechanic shop for the John Deere dealership. The project took 270 days to complete, said K&T co-owner and project manager Scott Strnadel. The finished product bears the name Shoppas’ Farm Supply, and is owned by Chris Shoppa. Strnadel said working with the owner was a positive experience, and allowed

the project to run smoothly. “As a construction firm, a key component to a successful project is time,” Strnadel explained. “Mr. Shoppa played a key role with making decisions in a very timely manner. “His presence throughout the life of the project minimized any down time. When we needed a decision to be made, it was done determinedly and immediately.” The main materials used to construct the dealership and mechanic shop were metal building, masonry and drywall. Architectural features include floorto-ceiling windows on much of the dealership’s front wall, allowing natural light to enter the showroom. Strnadel said the project’s short distance from the Gulf Coast presented challenges with wind. Despite this challenge, he noted that nobody was hurt. Glass windows adorn the front of Shoppa’s Farm Supply, a new John Deere farm equipment dealership in Victoria.

continued on Page 14

Page 30

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Metallic youth

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Modern remodel

As a Texas State grad, Peter Willcox, owner of Willcox Metal Fabricators, shows off his Bobcat pride with a metal sign from his shop. Mario Rivera, a “jack-of-all-trades” for general contractor Treco Enterprises, installed the laminate for new countertops and cabinet doors in one of the guest suites at the La Quinta Inn downtown. Treco started renovations of the largest corporate-owned hotel property in the country on Jan. 5 and should be finished by the beginning of April, completing a whole floor every 12 days. –mh

n the first years as Willcox Metal Fabrication, Peter Willcox had started his own company so young that he feels it was hard for people to take him seriously: “I’d have people come in and ask where my dad was. It would definitely take people off guard.” Today, he’s the 34-year-old owner of a successful business, and it still might be hard for his customers to believe he’s been doing this going on 10 years now. He enjoys what he does and tries to do the best he can for his 27 employees. Last year, he was proud to finally be able to bring in health insurance, and in the next year or two, he hopes to be able to offer a 401K plan. “It’s really neat to me that so many people can make a living working here, and I just think it’s my responsibility to keep it going, and with my success, share it with everybody else,” he says. “I don’t want to leave anybody out, because Willcox Metal’s success is [because of] them.” Originally from Austin, Willcox moved to San Antonio after graduating from Texas State University, and three months later, was laid off. When opportunity knocked to start his own business, he started operating in Boerne and moved to San Antonio a few months later. At one point, Willcox had a partner and they bought out Triple J Manufacturing, which

made angle iron sign frames. He sold that part of the business about a year ago. Willcox Metal Fabricators does a lot of signs, and a very unique project was the AT&T logo on the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington. Willcox came in on the job to help complete parts of the signage, doing one entire logo on one side, and the top three pieces on the other side. They also did two of the words AT&T Stadium on the Jumbotron, and a set of letters behind one of the end zones. He says the logo is about 95 feet wide and the letters are 50 feet high, and he remembers that it required 18 18-wheeler truckloads from San Antonio to Arlington. They also had just a monthand-a-half to complete it, whereas a project like that typically takes them six or seven months to do. Willcox was particularly excited to be part of this project since his father played a small part in the construction of the original stadium. When his dad was younger, he drove a truck and delivered concrete to the jobsite. The sign business has kept the shop busy lately; they’ve recently completed the pylon for the Sonterra Village shopping center and the new pylon for Community Bible Church. Aside from the signs, Willcox did the wine racks for Kirby’s Steak House and Stonewerks. –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Page 31

Ruling the planet

Along came a Spider Wall

L-R: Bradley Bookout, founder of Spider Wall Systems, and Benjamin Gonzalez, the company’s new owner

enjamin Gonzalez came to work for Spider Wall Systems as a superintendent in February 2012. About a year-and-a-half later, Gonzalez bought the company from owner and founder Bradley Bookout. At the time Gonzalez moved from Houston to work for Spider Wall, his older brother, Gustavo Gonzalez, had been working side by side with Bookout for a few years as his first full-time employee. When Ben and his brothers decided they wanted to start a business to create some of their own opportunities, Ben and Bookout made a deal for him to buy the company in its entirety. Since Ben took over in November 2013, Bookout has stayed on as a director, helping to teach them all that he learned about owning and operating a small business. Bookout started Spider Wall in 2010 to earn a living for him and his family. In the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University, the spider was the mascot for

his company, and it became the mascot for the business. Based in New Braunfels with around 50 employees working on projects from Austin to San Antonio, Spider Wall does commercial walls and ceilings. They are currently working on an elementary school at Fort Sam Houston, and their biggest project to date was J&J Worldwide Services in Austin. Ben says that owning his own business, which is now a family business, is a little different than he expected. Having to make difficult decisions and live with the consequences is a challenge, but he overcomes it by being tough and taking risks, knowing that everyone is depending on him. He hopes to expand the business with a branch in Austin and continued growth in San Antonio. At home in Dale, TX, Ben has some land, and he can relax with his kids and feed the cows. –mh

Capital improvements

Anthony Heye built his store and shop up over the last 15 years to be the center of the pickup universe.

fter celebrating his 60th birthday in November, Anthony Heye is celebrating the 15th anniversary of his company, Planet Pickup. With lots of work these days, Heye told Construction News that he never takes down the “Now hiring” sign. In the business for a total of 42 years, Heye worked for another company for 25 years, then helped someone else start a business before starting Planet Pickup. “We’re all lock, stock and barrel paid for and rolling along,” says Heye. “We’re good to go. Still, things are rocking along good. We’re pretty blessed.” Heye credits his customers with advertising for them by word of mouth and the oil field business for being a boon. They’ve done a lot of fleet work for different groups of oil field companies, as well as contractors. As the name suggests, Planet Pickup encompasses a world of products for pickup trucks, including lift kits, tires,

wheels, bumpers, goosenecks and hitches, and Heye adds that they install everything that they sell. Little by little, Heye notes he is trying to feed the business over to his cousin, James Heye, employee Chris Campbell, a shop foreman who has moved to the counter, and Anthony “Antz” Mackechney, who has also moved from the shop to help at the counter. Heye says after he turned 60, he told everyone to “expect me when you see me.” But that’s been put on the backburner since one of his top salespeople, Steve Jones, is fighting cancer and has been out since December, but they’re praying for him and Jones says he will be back. Having had his 60th birthday party at Natural Bridge Caverns with a cave exploration and doing the canopy challenge, Heye says his next big adventure will be a New Zealand red stag hunt in April with his buddy and their families. –mh

www.olmosequipment.com

or more than 20 years now, HJD Capital Electric Inc. has grown under the leadership of its founder and master electrician, Henry Davila, who continues to grow the company. Founded in 1994, Capital does civil, structural, electrical and mechanical construction services. The company has more than 125 full-time employees. More than 30 years ago, Davila started out in the electrical industry as an electrical apprentice under his father’s business. He became a journeyman electrician and then a master electrician, and struck out on his own. Early on, Davila did work providing electrical services to the Audie Murphy Veterans Administration Hospital, and that work opened the door to add general construction services to Capital’s repertoire. In 2013, the company created two separate divisions, Capital Construction and Capital Electric. In 2002, Capital obtained its Small Business Administration (SBA) 8a certification, which led to new contracts at Department of Defense installations, including Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Camp Bullis, Camp Mabry and Fort Hood. Though Davila is still the sole proprietor, as he grew the company, he also grew his leadership team. His vice president, Dave Wineman, has 30 years of experience on multi-million-dollar projects, including 18 years as a project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers and the Air Force Construction and environmental projects. Wineman has a bachelor’s degree in geology/biology and a master’s degree in land/water resource management. Running the electrical division as operations vice president, Ray Garcia has been with Capital for 10 years and has 34 years of experience in electrical. Garcia has increased federal projects

Henry Davila, president

by 40 percent in the last three years, which allows Capital to add new team members to the division, which already accounts for approximately 60 percent of the overall staff. –mh

Dave Wineman, vice president

WE MOVE THE EARTH

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Page 32

San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2015

Phoning it in

hen we at Construction News see y’all out and about, we’ve noticed that some of you love showing us photos on your phones. Who doesn’t love showing off a picture or two, whether it’s of a loved one or a cherished memory or just something pretty cool? Since you’ve piqued our curiosity, we asked members of the construction community to send us one of their favorite photos on their phone and invited them to tell us about it. Here are the pictures that you and your peers sent in response. –mh

Michael Sireno, Baker Triangle Sireno’s granddaughters Ella and Karsyn “making funny faces at me.”

Yvonne Larson, Whiting-Turner Larson couldn’t decide between a few pictures. One photo is of her daughter with her “live baby doll” Zaria, whom she says has the patience of a saint, and the other is of her daughter jumping in the waves at South Padre Island.

Rick Gonzales, San Marcos Air Conditioning Gonzales with his wife Rosa Linda, who is the one who made the winning salsa for this year’s AGC Salsa Taste-Off

Clarence “CJ” Gore, Comfort-Air Engineering “Here is a pic of me at Sunken Garden Theatre in 2006. My band at the time, called Rockus Circus, was opening for Blue Oyster Cult. I’m holding a cowbell because of the whole ‘more cowbell’ joke on Blue Oyster Cult made famous by a Saturday Night Live skit.”

Ruby Trejo, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter “This is a picture of my best friend and I finally seeing each other after about two years. It was taken at Home Slice Pizza in Austin, TX.”

Justin Smoot, Alterman Smoot in February 2012 with his 41-inch scimitar horned oryx bull harvested in Mason at Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Nancy Parker, Raba Kistner “This was taken last October at the San Antonio Country Club with coaching great Grant Teaff. He was the speaker – as inspirational as ever – and then a book signing afterwards. It was with a Baylor alums group. When we won the Southwest Conference championship in 1974, I was a freshman at Baylor. We played against Penn State/Joe Paterno in the Cotton Bowl, which was billed as the ‘Christians vs. the Lions’ by the media.”

Debra Ruiz, Wells Fargo/National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) “This is my little angel, ‘Rosie,’ looking so shy and innocent as a ballerina,” Ruiz says, adding that her mama knows better. “At 3.5 years old, she keeps a smile on my face and is a true angel and blessing from God.”

Kelly Wilson, Associated General Contractors (AGC) San Antonio Chapter A photo of her with her husband, Tim Wilson, in Gruene

Cory Frazier, IBTX Risk Services “This photo is from the end of August 2014 and was the first baseball game for my son, Bryce. Here, he is meeting the legendary Henry the Puffy Taco. The players may change every year, but it was a treat for two generations of Missions fans to hang out with the mascot that binds the generations together.”