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Volume 15
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Number 4
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APRIL 2015
Taking care of business
Building momentum
L-R: Will Martinez and Donnie Hice
The Southern Demolition staff at the South 1st St. location
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wner Donnie Hice works with his son-in-law Will Martinez on a daily basis at Hice Welding. Hice has made a living as a welder off and on for 48 years. He remembers building stock trailers and metal buildings for his father in Haskell. “By the time I was 10-years-old, my dad had a cut torch in my hand,” he said. “He taught me all I know about welding and building. I was raised when you go at it, you go for it full force. If you show up, you have to work.” When Hice established his company in 1999 it was just him and his daughter. At the time, his daughter worked her way through high school in Georgetown. She eventually went on to become a school
teacher in Jarrell. “Today, my son-in-law Will does the welding and prefabrication,” Hice said. “This past six months have been very busy for us. This is the first time in 10 years we have had work January and February. We usually start getting work after tax season.” Hice and Martinze rebuilt handrails for a walkway at an office building in Georgetown in March. They also travel outside of Georgetown to work on jobs in Bastrop, Lampasas, Abilene, Haskell and Fort Worth. If a young person wants to make a living in the welding business, Hice’s advice is to start with a good company, stay continued on Page 17
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outhern Demolition has changed its management team with a recent consolidation. Wurzel Builders, previously 50 percent owner, now owns 100 percent of the company. Southern Demolition will operate at the Wurzel Builders office on South 1st Street. Barry Wurzel is owner, Royce Haines is operational manger and Trish Broz is accounting manager. Wurzel’s wife Robin will help out with the marketing side of the business and is currently in the process of interviewing people. “We are ready to pick up the ball and play on a new playing field,” Wurzel said. Southern Demolition employees re-
cently trained with Hilti, a manufacturer of construction and demolition equipment. They learned how to utilize the Hilti PS 1000 X-Scan. “We went out to one of the Wurzel Builders projects in downtown Austin,” Wurzel said. “The Hilti PS 1000 X-Scan performs GPR scans for detailed data analysis and evaluation.” Outside of work, the Wurzel’s enjoy spending time with their children, going boating, jet skiing, tailgating, watching Texas A & M University and Louisiana State University football games, camping and riding motorcycles.
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Constant coordination
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n the heart of downtown Austin, you will find Travis County Executive Office Building. It is a 12-story building built in 1974 that recently got a facelift. Kiewit Building Group Inc. renovated 108,000sf of office space and a parking garage structure. Travis County Purchasing Office is the owner. Superintendent Chase Koory, Kiewit Building Group, says the renovation was completed in three phases while the building was occupied. The major scope of the project was upgrading the HVAC system. The new HVAC system provides improved indoor air quality, occupant comfort and improved energy efficiency. The primary construction materials used during the renovation project include sheet metal, cast iron pipe, ceramic tile and gypsum. According to Koory, the first phase included the renovation of levels 7-11,
while levels 4-6 remained operational. The second phase included the renovation of levels 4-6 after completion of the first phase, allowing the client to occupy levels 7-11. The third phase included the complete renovation of the building’s entrance lobby. “Kiewit’s phasing plan allowed the mechanical systems to remain operational during construction to ensure climate control in the occupied building,” he said. “Constant communication with the client provided reliable information to use when temporarily relocating occupants to accomplish the work.” The ultimate accomplishment of coordination occurred when the entire mechanical system within the top floor mechanical penthouse was removed and replaced. “Two 85-ton air handling units were replaced with brand new AHUs and associated condensing units,” Koory said. Travis County Executive Office Building exterior
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Page 2
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
What’s your favorite local hidden gem?
Stucco & EIFS Products • Custom Color Matching Cement, Lath & Trim Products
conveniently located to service Austin and San Antonio
Georgetown is my favorite place to be. I like not having to deal with lots of traffic in the mornings and afternoons. Everyone seems to know everyone here. It is a good place to raise kids. Tony McKenzie, A to Z Rental
23703 IH-35, #101B Kyle, TX 78640 512.268.5600
Since I am a tennis player, I’d have to says the tennis courts in Taylor and Georgetown. Ryan Remmert, Coastal Mechanical I like going hunting at a deer lease in the Hill Country. Richard Gattis, Supreme Electrical I love catching bass at Lake Buchanan. Alvin Wyatt, Rose Electric Lake Bastrop. Jaime Torres Jr., Bastrop Stone & Materials Supply Any golf course in Austin. Marc Mittleman, Austin MGM Air Round Rock is awesome! My husband and I love it here. Laura Labastida, Round Rock Landscape Supplies I like to play basketball for exercise at the local parks. Michael Mnoian, Central Waste & Recycling Smithville is really cool. Kim Harsh, Pease Custom Floors Lago Vista is beautiful. Diane Segrest, Diane’s Dirt & Excavation The Guadalupe River. Michael Beery, Firetrol Protection Services Bastrop State Park. Clyde Clark, 4MC Enterprises Burnet Road in Austin. Frank Bomar, Home Lumber Co.
CENTEX IEC Electrical Tradeshow & Wire-Off NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR
The Norris Conference Center 2525 West Anderson Lane Austin, Texas 78757 Thursday, May 28, 2015 1PM to 7PM
WELCOME ALL
Electrical Contractors Maintenance Contractors Systems Contractors Owners, Managers & Purchasers Electrical Engineers & Specifiers Plant and Facility Management Electricians & Apprentices Inspectors & Trade Instructors
FREE ADMISSION GREAT DOOR PRIZES
The OASIS Restaurant on Lake Travis. Craig Sellman, Affordable Concrete Products Lake Travis. Nathan Carson, Cashway Building Materials I enjoy going to Zilker Park to play soccer. Richard Cantu, Airco Mechanical I love the Hill Country and all the lakes. Chuck Paxton, ICON Plumbing, Heating and Air The swimming holes in Austin are great. Blake West, Innovation Water Solutions Liberty Hill is my favorite place because it is a friendly, small town. Jud Stringer, Building Abatement Co. I love Florence, just outside of Georgetown. The peace and quite is so nice. Sarah Andrews, Sustainable Solutions My backyard garden. I have spent lots of time gardening with my wife this spring. We love planting seeds and watching them grow. We have eight raised gardens in our backyard. We are growing onions and lettuce. I can’t wait until they are ready. Kevin Meinhold, Standard Drywall
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
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Electric times
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Chris Mares checks inventory at the warehouse.
alvin’s Electric has opened a second location north of Austin. The company’s primary location is in Dripping Springs. Chris Mares, electrical supervisor, says the company has the second location to receive shipments on jobs in the area. “The convenient location also makes it easier for the crews who work on this side of town,” he said. Mares has worked at Calvin’s Electric for seven years. He started out as an apprentice though the Independent Electrical Contractors Central Texas Chapter (Centex IEC). Today he walks jobs, speaks with builders and also spends some time at the office. “I worked my way up over the years after I got my license,” he said. “Management trusted me and thought I could do the work. Things just kept going up from there.” If a young person wants to make a living as an electrician, Mares says going
to school is important, as well as on-thejob training. “Doing electrical work is my craft,” he said. “I enjoy fixing problems. It is nice to see the completed job and know my hands were on it. It is a very rewarding job to me.” According to Mares, Calvin’s Electric handles work in Georgetown, Leander, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Marble Falls and Dripping Springs. A commercial job the company has worked at is the Texas School for the Deaf. When he has free time, Mares likes watching University of Texas Longhorn sports, such as football and basketball and he is a Dallas Cowboys and San Antonio Spurs fan. “Austin is growing so much these days,” Mares said. “It is exciting to be apart of it. I look forward to helping the company grow.” Established in 1997, Calvin’s Electric specializes in hardwire electric services for residential and commercial projects. –ab
Submitted to Construction News
Talking points
Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association (TACA) members attended Capital Day in February. The event included individual meetings with state legislators and their staff and a happy hour with legislators and their staff. –ab
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Electric avenue
Lesley Ledwell, Fox Service Co., does the electrical work at a Taco Bell project. EBCO General Contractor Ltd. is the GC. –ab
Austin
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Austin Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abby BeMent AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net 832-595-0091 Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.constructionnews.net
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The Austin Construction News (ISSN 15477630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba Austin Construction News, and distributed by mail to constructionrelated companies of record in Austin and surrounding counties. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space available basis. Construction News, Ltd. , dba Austin Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time.
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Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Do you have any siblings? Yes, I have a twin brother who works in the restaurant industry.
Thomas Russell Owner and Master Electrician, Russell Electric
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aster electrician Thomas Russell established Russell Electric in Leander after he gained experience in the trade working as a journeyman and lead electrician. Russell participated in the apprentice program at the IBEW Union 520 in Austin. “Things were slow when I first opened the company,” Russell said. “I am beginning to pick up more work in 2015. I have recently worked at few at commercial retail space projects in Williamson county.” Russell enjoys setting his own schedule and having the opportunity to work outside an office. Russell Electric provides residential and commercial electrical services in Austin, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Jonestown, Lakeway, Lago Vista, Leander, Liberty Hill, Point Venture, Round Rock and Westlake Hills. Where were you born and raised, Thomas? I was born in Houston. My family and I lived in Ft. Worth for a while in the early ‘80s and moved to South Austin in 1988. Where did attend high school? I attended Westlake High School in Westlake Hills. I was in school the same time football player Drew Brees played at Westlake. I graduated high school in 1997. What did your parents do for a living? In the early ‘80s, my dad was the vice president at Texas Lehigh Cement Co. in Buda and my mom was a homemaker.
What did you do after you graduated high school? I decided to go to Texas Culinary Academy in 1999 because I wanted to get into restaurant management. I worked as an assistant manager and a general manager in the restaurant industry for about nine years. My goal was to be a general manager and once I got to that spot, it was not quite what I expected. What did you do next? I had enough of the long hours working in the restaurant industry. I worked a minimum of 65 hours a week. I never had a day off. I wasn’t able to see my family as much as I wanted to at the time. I really wanted to do something to make a living. So, I decided to join the apprentice program at the IBEW Union 520 in Austin. I worked for large electrical contracting companies from 2006-2010. I worked on projects as a journeyman and lead electrician, including Texas Solar Power, Freedom Solar, Samsung, and System Electric. I took OSHA-30 classes to get certified and I also earned my Master’s electrician license. Why did you decide to go out on your own? I did some solar work for a little while and had to travel out of state because there was no work. I was working about 20 hours a week for a little while. I decided I could get more work if I started my own company. So I did some advertising and things started to take off. I wouldn’t trade being my own boss for anything. There is definitely more competition in the Austin market these days. If your price is too high, you won’t get a call and if your price is too low, you don’t make any money. I haven’t always wanted to own a company, but earning my masters license was something I really wanted to do. What is your favorite part about the job? My favorite part about what I do today is knowing that I am doing the best job I can do.
Master electrician Thomas Russell
I enjoy helping people solve their electrical problems. I like to make customers happy. I am also grateful I am able to spend more time with my family. My schedule is more flexible these days. What advice would you give a young person who wants to become an electrician? I’d say sign up for an apprentice program such as the IBEW Union 520 and gain experience at local electrical contracting companies. Work hard every day and ask questions along the way. Go for it! In your opinion, what are the keys to success in your trade? I’d say the keys to success are to be fast, reliable and dependable on every job. Are you married? Yes, my wife’s name is Suzy. She works as a preschool teacher. She loves teaching. Do you have children? Yes, I have two boys, ages 7 and 12 and a daughter, 10. My youngest son has been interested in playing hockey lately. The kids keep us busy after work and on the weekends. My wife and kids had the chance visit to travel to New York during Spring Break in March. They went for a short vacation. Do your kids ever go to the office or jobsites with you? No, they are all too young right now, maybe one day in the future though! What are a few of your favorite hobbies? I enjoy spending time with my wife and children when I am not at work. I also like to go elk hunting in the fall season when I have the opportunity to
go out of town. I had a great time elk hunting in northern New Mexico this past September. It was my second year to go. I got an elk out there. I loved seeing the mountains and beautiful sunsets during my trip. It was a nice getaway for me. During my trip I took a few scenic photos with my camera. I’d like to go back to northern New Mexico a couple times a year. I used to like to go deep-sea fishing in the past, but I haven’t been in awhile. Why do you enjoy living and working in the Texas Hill Country? I love living and working in the Texas Hill Country. My family and I live in Cedar Park. I think it is a great place to raise a family. The area has grown a lot since I first moved out here. There is no place I’d rather be. It almost feels like I live out in the country. It is nice and quiet. I recently worked on a job in Lago Vista. It was like taking a mini vacation working out there because the scenery was so beautiful. Have you traveled anywhere besides New Mexico lately? Yes, I took the kids down to Aransas Pass at the first of the year. We had fun duck hunting together on our trip. The kids liked spending time at the beach too. What are your future plans for your company? I hope to continue to grow my business in the future and handle more residential and commercial projects in Austin and the surrounding area. Hopefully someday I can expand my business by adding more employees and trucks. I look forward to staying busy the rest of this year. –ab
Thomas took this photo of the wide open spaces in New Mexico.
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
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Reaching the Summit
Fasten up
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reating a new position within the company, Summit Electric Supply announced that Paul Jeffries has joined the company and stepped into the new role of president and COO. Before accepting the position with Summit, Jeffries was a group vice president and general manager for a publicly traded international distributor. Summit, a privately held independent electrical distributor is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM, but Jeffries will be based in the Houston office where the EP&C Division is located. He will report to the chairman and CEO, Victor Jury Jr. “Paul’s perspective and skills will significantly contribute to Summit’s next phase of growth,” states Jury. “Adding Paul to the Summit team reflects our commitment to planning for Summit’s future success as part of a broadly implemented, companywide succession planning process.” In Jeffries’ new position, he will oversee sales, operations, corporate credit, marketing and talent management. He will be involved with several divisions, including the international sales and marine divisions, engineering, procurement, construction and the strategic accounts team. “Summit is well-respected in every market it serves and across the industry,” comments Jeffries. “As a private company, it operates strategically and has a progressive, forward-thinking vision that gives it the ability to drive complete solutions. I knew Summit and the values the company represents would be a natural fit for me. I’m eager to use my experience and business knowledge to deliver valueadded solutions to our customers and
Paul Jeffries, president and COO
further the company’s growth.” With nearly 25 years of experience running various businesses ranging in size from $10 million to $800 million in annual sales, Jeffries’ background is concentrated in sales, marketing, operations and technologies. Last year, Summit had $421 million in sales. For nine years, he was owner and president of his own electrical supply company. He earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering sciences from the United States Air Force Academy and his MBA from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Founded in 1977, Summit covers 27 markets across the United States and in Dubai, U.A.E. The company has the most locations in Texas, including Abilene, Austin, Beaumont, Bryan/College Station, Clute, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Kenedy, La Porte, Midland, Pearsall, Pecos, San Antonio, Victoria, Waco, and of course, Houston. –mh
L-R: Jose Garcia and David Mead
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rea Manager David Mead says the Southern Fastening Systems Austin location has stayed busy so far in 2015. “We are very optimistic about this year,” Mead said. “The Austin area is growing but there is a lot of competition these days. We have about 15 competitors in the area. We are staying strong.” Mead says his territory covers several Southern Fastening Systems locations in Texas, but he mainly stays in Austin because it is a busy store. The company hosts a Tent Day event throughout the year. Customers enjoy lunch and have the chance to learn about all the different products. In addition, employees look forward to going on a company deepsea fishing trip at Port Lavaca or Port O’Conner in November. “In my free time, I spend time at my
family’s ranch in Llano,” Mead said. “I love going hunting and fishing on the weekends when I have the opportunity. There are lots of bass in the tanks.” Jose Garcia recently joined the company and spends most of the work week at the front counter. He helps customers find what they need on a daily basis and helps them load products. “My favorite part of the job is learning something new about the products every day,” Garcia said. “I also like repairing tools.” Mead says the company would like to open a new store in South Austin in the future. Southern Fastening System provides wood-to-wood fasteners and automated fastening systems. The company supplies wood construction projects and manufacturing operations with tools and fasteners. –ab
Chili forecast
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he 2015 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Central Texas OSHA Partnership Chili and BBQ Cook Off took place at the VFW #8787 Mar. 12. Twenty-five teams competed in five categories, including chili, chicken, ribs, beans and mystery meat. –ab
1st Place Ribs: Building Team Solutions
L-R: Bob and Peggy Duda, Construction Metal Products
Beckett Electrical Services
People’s Choice for Chili: Andrews Meyers
1st Place Chicken: Harvey Cleary
2nd Place Ribs: The Nitche Group
2nd Place Beans: Biggs Plumbing
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Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Taxable fringe benefits and self-employed health insurance
Take steps to protect your family business
Lynda Land Ridout, Barret & Co. PC San Antonio, TX
Jesse Abercrombie Edward Jones Dallas, TX
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very day, in the ordinary course of business, employers provide benefits to their employees. Some are taxable; others are not. For instance, did you know gift cards and prepaid credit cards are taxable benefits regardless of the amount on the card? That personal use of a company vehicle is taxable? What about group term life insurance in excess of $50,000? And let’s not forget health insurance. The IRS addresses these and other fringe benefits in Publication 15B, Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits. Of the many benefits discussed in Pub 15-B, health insurance is the most often misreported and misunderstood. This is due, in part, because benefits are treated differently depending on whether the recipient is an employee or an owner/shareholder, and the entity is an S corporation or partnership. This article focuses primarily on health insurance for shareholders of S Corporations who own greater than 2% of their corporation’s stock. Health insurance premiums paid on behalf of a 2% shareholder through a company group health plan are taxable fringe benefits to the shareholder. The company cannot deduct premiums paid on behalf of the 2% shareholder, his spouse or dependents; nor can the 2% shareholder participate in a cafeteria plan, treating the premiums as pre-tax health insurance. Instead, the company must include the cost of health insurance in the shareholder’s wages, subject to income tax withholding; exempt from social security, Medicare and FUTA taxes. Including these benefits in the 2% shareholder’s wages allows him to deduct the cost as an adjustment to gross income on Form 1040. For S corporations with one shareholder who is also the sole employee, the policy can be in the name of the company or the shareholder. If the policy is in the name of the company and it pays the premiums, it must include them in Box 1 of the shareholder’s W-2. If the 2% shareholder owns the policy and pays the premiums personally, he can only deduct the premiums as self-employed health insurance if the company reimburses him and includes the premiums on his W-2. The company’s plan will not be a qualified health plan if the premiums are not paid or reimbursed by the company and included on the shareholder’s Form W2. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, small employers (less than 50 full-time equivalent employees) were allowed to reimburse their employees and share-
holders for health insurance via the “employee payment plan,” or EPP, rather than go to the expense of setting up and paying for a group health plan. Under an EPP, the employee would purchase an individual policy, submit proof of payment and be reimbursed by the employer for the premiums. The reimbursement was treated as pre-tax health insurance, exempt from payroll taxes. Today, with federal and state exchanges in place, EPPs are no longer permitted. In fact, continuing this practice will result in penalties of $100 per day per employee. That’s $36,500 per year, per employee. These penalties are punitive in nature and aimed at employers who directly pay or reimburse individual health insurance premiums. Because guidance on this penalty was not issued until late in 2014, the IRS recently issued Notice 201517. This notice provides retroactive relief from penalties for small employers who have or will have reimbursed employee paid premiums between Jan.1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Relief is also available for S corporations that reimburse or directly pay individual health insurance premiums on behalf of their 2% shareholders between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2015. It appears the self-employed health deduction for 2% shareholders will no longer be available after Dec. 31, 2015, unless the premiums are paid through a companysponsored group health plan. The health insurance debate will continue for many years. It is imperative that business owners and employees understand the rules to maximize their benefits and minimize potential penalties. If you have questions about self-employed health insurance or other fringe benefits, contact your CPA. We are here to help you. Lynda Land is the Manager of the Small Business Services department of Ridout, Barrett & Co., P.C. and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Texas Society of CPA’s.
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here’s nothing more important in the world to you than your family. However, your family-owned business probably helps support your family. So, when it comes to protecting both your family and your business, you need to carefully consider your moves.
would maintain control over the day-today operation of your business, but, over time, you could gift or sell limited partnership shares to your family members. And eventually, you would also relinquish control of the business to whoever is going to run it.
As you know, you face plenty of challenges to keep your business running smoothly — but it can be even more difficult to pass the family business on to your children or other relatives. In fact, according to the Small Business Administration, only 33% of family owned businesses survive the transition from first generation ownership to the next generation.
Another component of your succession plan might be a “buy-sell” agreement, which allows you to name the buyer for your business — such as one of your children — and establish methods to determine the sale price. Your child could then purchase a life insurance policy on your life and eventually use the proceeds to buy the business, according to the terms established in the buy-sell agreement.
Why is it so hard to keep a family business intact? Sometimes, it’s because no one in the family is interested in running the business — but family businesses frequently disintegrate because of the lack of a succession plan.
We’ve just skimmed the surface of techniques that might be used alone or in combination to carry out your business succession. The transfer can be complex, so you will certainly need to consult with your legal and financial professionals. It’s important that you fully understand the business and tax implications of any succession plan, as well as the financial effects of a plan on all your family members.
To create a succession plan, your first step — and possibly the most important one — is to collect the thoughts and preferences of family members on their future involvement with your business. It’s essential that you know who wants to really do the day-to-day work and who is capable. During these conversations, you’ll also want to discuss other key business-succession issues, such as the retirement goals and cash flow needs of retiring family owners and the personal and financial goals of the next generation of management. In developing a plan for the future of your business, you will need to determine who will control and manage the business, and who will eventually own it. These decisions will depend on a variety of factors, such as the time horizon, goals and financial needs of the family members involved. Your succession plan could be based on a family limited partnership. Under this arrangement, you, as general partner,
In any case, once you’ve created your succession plan, you’ll need to work with your legal advisor to put it in writing and communicate it clearly to all family members. Surprises are welcome in many parts of life — but not when it comes to transferring a family business. You want to leave your family a legacy. And if that legacy is the family business, do whatever it takes to pass it on in a manner that benefits everyone involved. This will take time and planning — but it can be well worth the effort. Jesse Abercrombie, financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments, works closely with business owners and executives in the construction industry. For any questions or comments, please contact him at: jesse.abercrombie@edwardjones.com or 972-239-0852.
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Tool time
The Austin Tool Inc. staff sells supplies, equipment and tools for construction companies, maintenance companies, contractors, plumbers and electricians. –ab
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Page 7
Legislation–we are under way
Stopping falls, saving lives 2014 National Safety Stand-Down to reach workers worldwide
Sewell C. “Spike” Cutler, Principal Cutler-Smith PC Dallas, TX
Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
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he 2015 legislative session (the “84th Legislature”) has already produced a number of filed bills that directly affect the construction industry. Here are some highlights (bill status is as of the date of writing): Consolidated Insurance Programs HB 1206, Representative Dan Huberty (R-Humble), provides modest regulation of “CIPs,” Owner-Controlled and Contractor-Controlled Insurance Programs, requires disclosure of the existence, terms and required participation in Controlled Insurance Programs before bid time, and allows regulation by the Texas Department of Insurance. Referred to the House Insurance Committee. Notice of Lender Default HB 1208, Representative Cecil Bell (R-Magnolia), Representative Jeff Leach (R-Plano) and Representative Ron Simmons (R-Louisville), requires notice of Owner default on construction loans to contractors, allowing suspension of performance upon default. Referred to House Business & Industry Committee. Retainage Trust Fund HB 1966, Representative Jim Keffer (R-Eastland), amends Texas Construction Trust Fund law, requiring retainage be escrowed for the life of a project to protect retainage for contractors and subcontractors. Alternatively, a bond could serve as security. Referred to House Business & Industry Committee. Worker Misclassification This is a hot issue - when employers do not classify workers properly as employees or independent contractors, many contend that they gain an unfair competitive advantage in bidding for jobs. Current penalties for not classifying properly are limited to payment of back taxes owed, plus nominal interest and a tiny penalty – not enough to deter employers from not classifying properly. HB 434, Representative Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), provides greater penalties for misclassification as a deterrent. Referred to House Business and Industry Committee. Mandatory Workers’ Compensation Insurance HB 689, Representative Armando Walle (D-Houston) and Representative Terry Canales (D - Edinburg), referred to the House Business & Industry Committee, and Senate companion, SB 155 by Sen. Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso), referred to Senate Business and Commerce Committee. These bills mandate workers’ compensation coverage be provided by all building and construction contractors. Mandatory e-Verify Participation Companion bills require contractors or subcontractors on state contracts to use the federally-administered “E-verify” program to verify employee information during the term of the contract with the agency. HB 889, Rep. Tony Dale (R-Cedar Park), referred to House State Affairs
Committee. Companion Bill SB 401, Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown), referred to Senate Business and Commerce Committee. Reduced Construction-Defect Liability Rep. Paul Workman’s (R-Austin) HB1784 reduces contractor liability for construction defects ten percent for each year after project completion. This should reduce claims of “construction defects” asserted immediately before expiration of the 10-year Statute of Repose. Referred to House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee. Union Contracts Senate Bill 303, Senator Kelly Hancock (R-Tarrant County), outlaws requiring or precluding collective bargaining (union) contracts as conditions of contracting on publicly-funded higher-education institutions. Referred to Senate Business & Commerce Committee. Made in the Good Ol’ USA HB1007, Rep. Yvonne Davis (D-Duncanville), provides that iron, steel and manufactured products to be used in state-fund the construction projects must be manufactured in the United States, unless they are not reasonably available or increase the cost of the project by more than 15%. This bill has been referred to the House Economic & Small Business Development Committee. Sovereign Immunity Modification Representative Paul Workman’s HB1124 limits sovereign immunity in contract claims on state projects. This bill removes the $250,000 floor for state claims, improves claims for increased costs and simplifies attorneys’ fee recovery. Referred to the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee for Hearing. Contractor Licensing The last bill I will mention is a real doozy – Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Travis County) has filed HB3148, a modest little proposal requiring that all construction contractors be licensed, under the control of the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, and for TDLR to develop rules for the enforcement and penalties for their violation. This bill, just filed, should provide plenty of controversy in the regulation-averse Texas political arena. There is much to be watched in this year’s legislative session and, as always, most of the action will come in the last “run to the gavel.” Watch these pages! Cutler-Smith PC focuses on representation of construction trade contractors and the commercial construction industry. For more information on the firm and its industry advocacy, see the web site at www.TexasConstructionLaw.com, or call 214-219-0800.
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ver the last 10 years, more than 3,500 workers have died from falls. In fact, falls remain the leading cause of death in construction, accounting for more than a third of deaths in the industry. If you’re involved in construction or any other high-risk industry, you may be familiar with these numbers. But what you might not know is that there’s a growing safety movement that focuses on saving the lives of workers through fall prevention education. Last year marked the first National Safety Stand-Down for fall prevention in construction, a combined effort from OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. During the stand-down, employers and workers paused their workday to focus on preventing falls through talks, demonstrations and trainings. Due to the success of the 2014 program, this year’s Stand-Down has been extended to two weeks. OSHA’s goal is to have over 3 million workers participate in over 20,000 stand-downs from May 4 to 15, 2015. As the economy continues to grow and the full construction season begins, we hope the Stand-Down will remind employers and workers that fall prevention is an important part of every workplace safety plan.
“Fatal falls and injuries touch workers in all kinds of jobs across the country; it’s a broad problem that has a terrible impact on workers and their families,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “Given the tremendous response we’ve received, it’s clear that this is an important issue to a great number of people across this nation. I know it is to me and all my colleagues here at the Department of Labor, which is why we are so pleased to work towards preventing these tragedies through innovative and collaborative efforts like the Safety Stand-Down.” Employers and workers all over the nation are encouraged to pause in their workday to talk about fall prevention in construction, and dedicate themselves yet again to the safety of this nation’s most valuable resource: workers. To learn how to partner with OSHA during the Stand-Down, get information on how to conduct a successful event, resources for employees and workers, receive a certificate of participation, and the latest news, visit: www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232
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Page 8
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Splash of paint
Keeping jobsites safe
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ocal contractors attended a 4th annual Safety Awards Banquet at Maggiano’s Italian Restaurant Mar. 5. The Austin Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) held the event. Jason Puckett, Patriot Erectors, and Jonathan Escalante, Chasco Constructors, organized the evening attended by more than 85 people committed to safe construction jobsites in the Austin area. Congats to senior risk engineer Mark Webb, XL Group, who won Austin AGC Safety Professional of the Year. –ab Mark Webb, XL Group, receives his award from Jonathan Escalante, Chasco Constructors
Kelly Probst mixes paint at the Round Rock store.
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herwin-Williams has transitioned the showroom at the Round Rock store after acquiring Kwal Paint. “We now have a sign put up at our location,” said Kelly Probst, store manager. “These last few months we have been remodeling and getting the store ready for business.” The company held a grand opening in March for painting contractor customers and the public. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit catered the event. Probst says on a typical day she helps customers, handles paperwork and is currently in the process of hiring more employees. Dom Blannin is a full-time employee and does a little bit of everything at the store. He mixes paint, works the register and loads and unloads the trucks. Eder Nieto is the assistant manager. Probst says she has worked for Sher-
win Williams since 2011. Before she joined the company, she worked in retail and also attended art school. “My dad is a contractor in Houston,” she said. “I came out of art school knowing more about paint than the typical person. I think my art background has helped me assist people with the practical application of paint.” Probst says she recently purchased a new home, so she spends her free time getting things set up. “I also enjoy photography when I have extra time,” she said. “I mostly do portraits these days.” In the future, Kelly says she and the Sherwin-Williams employees look forward to meeting and helping new customers find paint supplies. Sherwin-Williams is producer of paints and coatings. –ab
Safety director Larry Connelly, Austin AGC and Jonathan Escalante, Chasco Constructors
Patriot Erectors
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Stepping out
Sales representative Reness Broussard multitasks at the Safe Way Rental Oak Hill location. –ab
The Joeris General Contractors Ltd. Austin team has a productive day at the office. –ab
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Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Page 9
of fish that feed on them. If you’re opposed to using live bait, a soft plastic tied 18-inch behind a mauler can be just as effective. Gambler lures makes a 4-inch flap-n-shad that has become one of my favorite choices when choosing this method. Colors can vary depending on water clarity, but pumpkinseed/chartreuse and plum/ chartreuse can always be relied on.
Heart-stopping action on topwaters 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.
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pring fishing is one of this writer’s most exciting time of the year to be on the water for several reasons. The first reason is we associate spring with warming conditions and the end of cold winter mornings. The second reason is water temperatures are reaching that magical point that most look forward to throw top water lures. Top water lures or surface plugs are by far my favorite types of lure to throw. They’re the only artificial lure that provides a
Hill Ojeda caught this 28-inch redfish that stretched the boga grip over the 8-lb mark along the King Ranch Shoreline last week fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors.
visual sight when a fish attacks it. This type of fishing is by far the most exciting for me because of the heart stopping explosion that occurs when a fish attacks your plug. When a fish attacks your lure it can be at the end of your cast or five feet from your rod tip, either way it will surprise you even if you think you’re expecting it. For me every hit is as exciting as the first. With the arrival of warmer conditions to the Laguna Madre and surround-
ing bay it means the arrival of live shrimp at local marinas. I have already seen those white flags flying periodically at several of the marinas along the JFK Causeway. Live shrimp are by far the most popular of live baits along the Gulf coast. Using these little crustaceans under an Alameda Rattling cork can produce some constant action when drifting over grass beds with scattered potholes. As shrimp migrate through the bay systems, so do the many species
In our product section this month, we are going to put our equipment through some pretty rough conditions. Windy days are not uncommon during spring months and you can be sure there will be some days that you wished you would have stayed home. One piece of equipment that I will not have to worry about in the platform of my business is my boat. My 25-ft Majek Xtreme is by far the most reliable part of my operation and my office day after day. The folks at Majek boats have been around these waters for decades and know what it takes to build a boat to get you home safe. If you’re looking for a boat that will out perform the competition day in and day out, look no further than Majek Boats. The folks at Premier Yamaha have the full line of Majek’s to look at and test ride. To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail. com. Still have several days open in April although summer is filling up quick. Good luck and Good Fishing.
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STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC 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
San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston South Texas
Page 10
Austin Construction News • Apr 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 Break fishing results
our lake has seen because of the bad press we get concerning the drought. If people are cautious of running their boats on a low lake, that’s less people fishing and more fish having the time to grow to a larger size. That just makes fishing with a guide an even better proposition. We can put you on those fish and you don’t have to risk your boat. From what I hear from people who usually fish the white bass run on the Colorado River at Bend, the white bass once again have not been able to make their run due to low water. So I guess we will have to catch up with them around the islands this year. Crappie fishing is getting good, especially on the nicer sunny days. We are looking forward to good fishing and good times here on Lake Buchanan. We are going to be chasing the stripers and hybrids and going to focus a little more on those catfish too. I hope you can get the chance to come and join us this year! Tight lines!
F
or a lot of fishing guides, Spring Break is the fishing season opener. This is when we get to spend a lot of time on the water and get a good preview of the kind of fish we will be fishing in the coming months. After being on the water almost daily for the last couple of weeks, I can say that this is going to be a real good year! The only bad thing about Spring Break is that it comes a little too early in the year for us to have nice settled weather in place. You never know when it will feel like a frosty winter morning or a balmy summer afternoon when you go fishing this time of year. All you can do is make do with whatever weather you get and hope the fish don’t react too badly to the swings in the weather. We did have a little rain splashing around Lake Buchanan to keep us guessing, and a temperamental north wind that teased us and slowed down the catching. But when the weather behaved we did well. One afternoon trip pulled two new Youth Water Body Records for Lake Buchanan! Logan Wiggins visiting from Midland with friends caught an 11.2-lb., 30.25-inch striper AND a 6.8-lb.,24.75inch hybrid on the same trip. Two days later, Barbara McPherson on a fishing trip with her husband Bryan, caught her first fish ever – a 46-lb. humpback blue cat just like a pro! While the fishing might not have been consistent over Spring Break, I sure do like the trend I see here. We are marking lots of fish here on Lake Buchanan and larger fish too. The bait population is good and healthy and that’s what all the fishing revolves around. I think the increase in the general size of the fish we are seeing is largely due to the decrease of fishing pressure
McPHerson 46-pounder
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Reel happy
Brett Sunvison (right), son of Jim Sunvison, Sunvison Electric, recently won 1st place in the Marble Falls High School open tournament on Lake LBJ. –ab
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Page 11
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Swing batter batter
Endurance running
The JE Dunn Construction Austin office left it all on the field at its first Dunn vs. Dunn softball tournament in late February. Families were welcome to join in on the fun, which included games, music and food and drinks. –ab
The Sabre Commercial Inc. team recently participated in the 3M Half Marathon at the Texas State Capital. They ran 13.1 miles. –ab
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Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
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The end of a beautiful day
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Trip to the coast
Thomas Russell, Russell Electric, shared his favorite sunset photo he took in New Mexico. –ab
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Braun and Butler Construction Inc. superintendents and project managers recently had a great weekend of fishing at the Texas coast. –ab
Rodeo time
First signs of spring Regan and Paul Landreth, Landreth Construction, loved attending Rodeo Austin in March. –ab
If you take any bluebonnet photos in March or April, email your favorite one to Abby at houstoneditor@constructionnews.net. We can include the photo in Great Outdoors section the May issue. –ab
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Page 13
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A wonderful week
Industry FOLKS Tony McKenzie Salesman A to Z Rental
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In celebration of the 64th anniversary of Engineer’s Week, the Texas Society of Professional Engineers Travis Chapter (TSPE) held the 2015 Engineering Week Banquet at Barton Creek Country Club Feb. 27. –ab
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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a crane
epending on the day, Tony McKenzie handles sales, deliveries, repairs and loads and unloads equipment at A to Z Rental. “I wash equipment in the yard and I make sure the equipment is gassed and oiled up,” he said. “I wear many hats at the company these days. During the first part of March, I spent time outside in the rain making deliveries and picking up equipment.” McKenzie has worked at the company for 20 years. He started out wiping tables and chairs when he was 15. “I love my job because the atmosphere is good and I really enjoy interacting with customers,” he said. “I am definitely a people person so my job suits me very well. I like meeting new people every day. McKenzie visits with landscape contractors, builders and do-it-yourselfers on a daily basis. He typically arrives at A to Z Rental between 7am and 7:30am and works until 5:30pm. On Saturdays, he works from 7:30am till noon. McKenzie has a son, 5, and daughter, 8. On the weekends, he coaches his son’s Georgetown Youth Baseball Association (GYBA) team. “My son has mostly played third
Just a few tower cranes at work on the University of Texas Dell Medical School in Austin. Hensel Phelps is the GC. –ab
base and the outfield positions this season,” he said. “This is my first year to coach my son and I am having a such a blast.” Before coaching baseball, McKenzie refereed youth basketball for ten years. He started refereeing in high school until he was 26. McKenzie says he loves living and working in the Georgetown area. “I like not having to deal with lots of traffic in the mornings and afternoons,” he said. “Everyone seems to know everyone here. It is a good place to raise kids. “I have lived in Georgetown all my life and there is no other place I want to live. I have seen the town grow over the years, but it is still has a small town feel. I look forward to continue working at A to Z Rental for years to come!“ –ab
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Chilling!
Back in the U.S.A.
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fter years of developing his career abroad, Evan Creson returned home to the United States, joining HOLT CAT in early February. The equipment dealer appointed him vice president of sales for its Machine Division. In this position, Creson will lead machine sales for the Southern Region, including San Antonio, Austin and South Texas. Born and raised in North Carolina, Creson earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Appalachian State University. Between high school and college, he served as a diesel technician in the U.S. Army Reserve. He began his career at a Caterpillar dealership in North Carolina as an assistant to a supervisor in the component rebuild area and then as an assistant to the general service manager. While working as a fleet manager, he met a CAT rep named Bob Nelson. Nelson encouraged Creson, who was young and single and eager to see the world, to try to get into the Caterpillar marketing training class, a three-month course the company offers every year in which a select number of recruits learn about CAT products and visit CAT factories. At the end, students received a factory or marketing company assignment, and Creson went to a Miami-based marketing group covering Latin America. As a general construction marketing consultant, covering dealers in Latin America, he was responsible for mini, small and wheeled excavators. In October 2003, he received a machine sales representative assignment in Puerto Rico. While living there, he facilitated deals between the factory and dealers as well as end users. His territory was the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, British Guiana and Colombia.
The Texas Air Conditioning Specialist staff enjoys golfing and hunting when they aren’t at the office. Mark Cardwell and his wife Tessa operate the company. –ab
Evan Creson recently came into the HOLT fold and was named vice president of sales in the Machine Division.
In November 2004, he switched gears to become branch manager of a CAT dealership in Freeport on Grand Bahama, and in August 2005, he took a position as marketing manager of the CAT dealership in Bogota, Colombia. He also served as vice president while based in Bogota, and then vice president of the mining division in Barranquilla on the Caribbean Coast in Colombia, and finally returned to Bogota to become president of the CAT dealer. With more than 15 years of experience with Caterpillar and its dealer network in North America and Latin America, Creson left the Bogota dealer as it split into three companies that his three vice presidents took over. Returning stateside with his wife and two daughters, now 6 and 7 years old, Creson is a self-described family man who is happy to be back in the U.S. with his family and joining the HOLT family. –mh
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Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Celebrating women in construction
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he National Association of Women in Construction Austin Chapter (NAWIC) had fun-filled Women in Construction (WIC) Week Mar 1-7. The ladies kicked WIC Week off by attending “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” at the University of Texas at Austin Feb. 28. A happy hour took place at Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que Mar. 3. Members also attended a Proclamation Ceremony for WIC Week at City Halll and volunteered at Capital Area Food Bank Mar. 5. –ab
The City of Austin declares Mar. 1-7 Women in Construction Week. Terri Underhill (left) and Cindy Richter (right) accept the proclamation.
L-R: Elissa and Kelli attend Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.
NAWIC members network at Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que.
NAWIC ladies volunteer at Capital Area Food Bank.
H Location Dallas/Fort. Worth H Location Austin H Location Houston H Location San Antonio South Texas H Location
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Local contractors learned about concrete overlays at a training class at Super-Krete in late February. Super-Krete provides products for concrete repair, restoration, waterproofing and beautification. –ab
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Irish smiles
A ribbon cutting reception for the new Irish Consulate project in downtown Austin took place at the Bank of America building in March. Structura was the GC on the project. –ab
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Page 15
Women in Construction Good communication is key Michelle Rossomando, AIA, Principal McKinney York Architects
What is rewarding about working in your industry? Happy clients! It is extremely rewarding to receive positive feedback from our clients. I like seeing my drawings converted into actual buildings.
Austin, TX
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utside the studio, Rossomando is active in organizations that promote quality of life in the community. She serves on the board of YouthLaunch, a non-profit focusing on the empowerment of young people. She also works with Urban Roots and sits on the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association’s Design Review Committee. Rossomando earned her Master of Architecture from The University of Texas at Austin and her Bachelor of Science from Tufts University.
What does it take to be a successful in your profession? It takes vision and the ability to turn that vision into reality. You need to have original ideas and be creative. Perhaps one of the most underestimated skills needed to be successful is good communication - being able to listen closely and hear what is said and what is not said, relaying accurate information to all team members and expressing abstract ideas with clarity.
Treating women as equals on the jobsite Linda Drassen, Senior Vice President/Emissary for HR Services IBTX Risk Services San Antonio, TX
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s the emmisary for human resources for IBTX Risk Services, Linda Drassen receives calls with a variety of issues concerning women working on jobsites. While these issues might discourage some women from wanting to be a part of the construction industry, she has this advice for them: “Do not give up.” For the year 2013, Drassen recalls that 47 percent of all wage and salary jobs were held by women, and at the end of 2013, only 2.6 percent of those women were in the construction field. Though that falls far short of the goal for any federal contract, which is 49.9 percent women out in the field, it is the highest that percentage has ever been. With such a small percentage of female pioneers in the industry, Drassen observes that employers and field employees often do not know how to respond to a woman in the construction field. They don’t want to treat them like women, because that would be treating them differently, but they don’t want to treat them like men, because they’re not
men. This leaves her clients very confused as to how they should approach a range of problems. The situation is even more awkward if a female employee is not meeting the expectations of her position. In the last year, Drassen has had almost a dozen calls where the female employee’s performance was not meeting expectations and the supervisor or manager wanted to terminate her. Not once, in any of those cases, had the supervisor or manager approached the female employee to inform her she wasn’t performing well. Some supervisors are uncertain how to properly communicate with a female employee. But without addressing the issue directly, Drassen notes that any employee would believe they are doing a good job. Often, Drassen will speak with the female employee or she will counsel the supervisor to treat the employee like she is any other person out in the field. They should call her in with somebody present, like you would any other employee, to discuss the problem – the expectation for
What is your opinion about the current state of the Austin construction industry? Construction in Austin is back on track. It’s not just the cranes visible in the sky over downtown, it’s the drawings on the boards in architecture offices. It feels healthy and vibrant, and it looks like construction will continue at this pace for a few years.
her job performance, how they can help her improve, and the repercussion if there is no improvement. That is how Drassen says this situation should be treated – the same as for anyone else. She advises that if they wrote up a male employee who is the female’s work counterpart for producing the same low-level or poor quality work, then the female employee has to be written up in the same way. Regardless of whether it’s Drassen or a supervisor who has the necessary conversation with the female employee, more often than not, her job performance does indeed improve as does the working relationship. When there’s no improvement, however, the supervisor sometimes lets the issue go for too long, worried about gender bias, and unfortunately, the female employee will quit on her own, which Drassen feels is a shame, though she encourages them to continue to try. On the opposite end, Drassen receives calls from employers who want to promote a female employee but express concern over what to say to their male employees. She says that employers don’t have to say anything to their male employees other than they have to respect her as they would any other person in that position. She does receive calls from male employees who complain that a female employee doesn’t deserve a recent promotion or that the promotion was unfair. To these complaints, Drassen responds, “Worry about your own job. It is
What advice would you give a young woman interested in what you do today? Attend a summer academy at an architecture school like the University of Texas in Austin to see if you like the studio. If possible, get an internship in an architect’s office to give you exposure to the daily tasks of a young designer. Educate yourself about how much money we make, how many hours we work, and how long and hard the road is to become a registered architect. Try to assess what you like and don’t like about the profession through the experience of an internship before jumping in, because there are also many jobs involving architecture in other related fields that might be worth exploring and be a better fit. –ab
that easy. You need to trust that management knows what they’re doing, and that they’re looking out for the best interests of the organization as well as the people out in the field, and that she works just as hard as everybody else. “They have to be willing to accept the female as an individual on the workforce, just like anybody else. And if she’s doing a good job and she deserves to be promoted, then she should be promoted.” Drassen emphasizes that the communication barrier is on both sides. While supervisors have to speak up as well as set the example as ambassadors against discrimination and harassment, female employees must not remain silent. Sometimes, women are offended or feel mistreated out in the field, but do not say anything for fear of facing isolation from their coworkers or termination from their supervisors. As a woman who has been in human resources for 15 years – and HR consultant at IBTX for the last four – what words of wisdom would Drassen offer women working in construction? “I want them to not give up. Even when they think that they are not getting the respect that they deserve, just open up and say something. Give your boss or give your manager the opportunity to correct it, and don’t give up, because their position out in the construction industry is extremely important. I would love to see the scale get to that [federal goal of] 49.9 percent.” –mh
NEXT MONTH May 2015
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Page 16
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Women in Construction Studying, networking key for women Sharon Douglas, President/Owner Bradley Douglas Construction Services LLC Fort Worth, TX
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hat is your background in the construction industry? I came out of the military, where I managed transportation. When I was recruited from the military, I went into manufacturing, then left corporate to start my own business. I founded my company in 1995, first as a construction cleaning company. In 1996, I actually merged to general contracting. My background is concrete; I do commercial and heavy highway. Why did you choose a career in the construction industry? Years ago, I believed I would be the builder of my own home. As I continued with the construction cleaning company the first year, I was looking out the win-
dow at all the concrete formations happening and my curiosity became stronger. What are the benefits of women pursuing a construction career? For one thing, it teaches non-traditional skills [for women], so they can learn so much more. Women in construction right now are growing very strong in number. I think the other thing with women in construction is that – and I don’t think I’m being biased when I say this – women focus on the project, because [the opportunities to build or construct something] were originally something that was not a part of our so-called traditional world.
What do you enjoy most about your career? I would actually say the excitement; I always call it an adventure because it’s never going to be the same way. When you start a project, for example, LBJ, when we started the project, we had to clear everything away, and now when you look at it and it’s a beautiful structure that people are able to use. I like the beginning and the finish. What challenges have you faced in your career? I think the key challenge is that organizations are not so apt to take on a small contractor or a woman-owned contractor. Again, we fall back into a traditional world. We really have to prove ourselves that we can take on the work with passion and ride that throughout the project. If there’s one small contractor that fails, it’s as though that stigma follows us all. What areas do you see the most increase in jobs for women? Heavy highway is growing. This is the opportunity that I see that we can make an impact, not only on the numbers, but on the type of work that we do. What advice can you offer women who
want to pursue a construction career? I would say study it. Know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. When I say study, that means study the structural work that you’re going after. When I first started in concrete, I didn’t know a lot about it, I didn’t know all of the technical [aspects] behind it. So I actually spent a lot of time out on projects that I wasn’t actually doing, I just wanted to see [the processes]. I would actually go out and record their [concrete] pours; even at 2 o’clock in the morning, I was out there recording it all. The other key is to not to have someone else running your business. In your experience, are more opportunities opening up for women in construction? Yes, at this particular point, I should hope that we are running the front race for the women to come. The key thing is that we stay strong, network strongly and make sure that we take the jobs that we know we’re going to be successful at. Fort Worth-based Bradley Douglas Construction Services LLC is a small minority/woman-owned and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business business providing general contracting services with a focus on concrete. –mjm
Women can achieve a career in construction Sandy Field, president National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Ft. Worth, TX
M
y career in the construction industry began as an accountant/bookkeeper for a homebuilder. I found the industry to be a very good career choice for me and I spent about 20 years in residential construction. Approximately 10 of those years I was a custom homebuilder building only custom homes. For the past 13 years I have worked for general contractors focusing mainly on commercial construction. I have to admit that I really didn’t choose construction as a career path at first; I chose a position with an established company/homebuilder that offered stability with a competitive salary and benefits. Only after working for this firm for a few years and having the opportunity to learn construction and move up within the company, did I realize that the construction industry was a very good career choice for me. The chal-
lenge of completing a project on time, within budget, meeting the owner’s specifications and expectations, and delivering a beautiful custom home that a family could be proud of is why I chose a career in construction. Seeing a lot or home site become someone’s dream home gave me satisfaction in my career choice. Part of my success in the industry has been due to mentors that, over the years, have shared their knowledge and encouraged and inspired me to pursue a career in a non-traditional field. My construction education was not from a college degree in construction science or management, but from on the job training and from mentors willing to invest in me. The first homebuilder I worked for was a great mentor. He encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone in the
office and get out in the field in a nontraditional role. I became vice president, general manager for this firm, not only selling new homes, but overseeing the construction of every home I sold. There were also two female homebuilders in the area that were good mentors and encouraged me not only as a homebuilder, but as an industry leader in the community. Some of my best mentors and advisors are women I have come to know and respect who are members of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). Taking advantage of the mentoring and professional development offered the members of this association, I have grown professionally and personally; gaining knowledge and skills that have helped me become a respected leader in my company, in the community, and in NAWIC. Over the past few years there definitely seems to be more opportunities for women in the construction industry than when I started. Corporations, large and small alike, are promoting diversity in the workplace, including in the trades. The construction industry is experiencing a labor shortage at all levels. Add to that the fact that more and more baby boomers are leaving the workforce, there is an even greater shortage with addi-
tional positions needing to be filled. Women make good candidates for positions in construction because of their attention to details. Whether it be in architecture, engineering, project management, administration, welding, electrical or some other trade or position, there are opportunities for women in construction. My advice to women who want to pursue a construction career would be you can achieve anything you set your mind to and are willing to work for. Women truly are more readily accepted today than when I started in the industry over 30 years ago. I would also share NAWIC’s core values: BELIEVE in yourself; PERSEVERE with the strength of your convictions; and DARE to move into new horizons. According to some reports, discrimination is still a major barrier for women and one of the key reasons why the number of women employed in construction has not changed much in three decades. Education and awareness can help overcome some of the barriers we face today. One of my goals is to continue working with NAWIC, other organizations and educational institutions to create a greater awareness of career opportunities for women in the construction industry.
NEXT MONTH May 2015
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Jan: Construction Forecast Feb: Construction Safety Mar: Construction Education
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Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Page 17
continued from Page 1 — Taking care of business
continued from Page 1 — Building momentum They also do volunteer work for community and church organizations. Wurzel mentors young kids through Boy Scouts and local schools. He is also involved in the Associated Builders and Contractors Central Texas Chapter (ABC). “We are enthusiastic about the year ahead,” Wurzel said. “We are currently
hiring, getting organized and our office set up. We will continue to perform GPR scanning, concrete coring, concrete sawcutting and demolition.“ Southern Demolition is a demolition company serving commercial builders and general contractors throughout Central Texas. –ab
Southern Demolition employees learned how to use the Hilti PS 1000 X-Scan from HIlti representatives.
continued from Page 1 —Constant coordination “Each AHU, weighing in at over 10,000 lbs., made coordination a top priority in downtown Austin while using a 350-ton crane to lift the new equipment 12 stories.” The Kiewit team and the mechanical contractor developed a work plan to accomplish this task on one weekend day, minimizing the impact to downtown Austin and the building occupants. The Kiewit team took the lead in coordinating with Travis County, City of Austin Right of Way Department, the mechanical contractor, structural steel contractor, roofing contractor and the rigging and hoisting contractor. “The upfront planning and coordination resulted in this great accomplishment with little disruption,” Koory said. A special feature of the project is two boilers allowed to share the same space with the air-handling units. “This is not typically allowed due to the potential threat of carbon monoxide releasing into the HVAC system,” he said. “One way to mitigate this potential problem was to create a demising wall between the combustible equipment (boilers) and the air handling units.” Instead, the design engineer chose a different option: install carbon monoxide
detection (CO) system in the same room as the air handling units and the boilers. The CO detection system was designed to have a local audio and visual alarm at the air handling side of the boilers. “The detection system has three modes: alert, alarm and shutdown,” he said. “The modes were initiated at 50 ppm, 95 ppm and 100 ppm respectively. Calibrated test kits were a key factor in successfully testing this system. It was critical to have the system tested by a competent and qualified individual at start-up.” The Travis County Facilities Management Department, the owner’s representative, also served as the project’s registered architect. The owner was enthusiastic to work with Kiewit, a new contractor for Travis County, and pleased with the final product. The project is expected to commence the LEED EB certification process upon the one-year anniversary of operation of the renovated building. Founded in 1884 by Peter and Andrew Kiewit, Kiewit Building Group, an indirect subsidiary of Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc., provides general contracting services and construction management services. –ab
Travis County Executive Office Building interior
Round-Up General contractor Rogers-O’Brien has hired Graham Merriman as vice president, director of Client Development. He is responsible for developing new business with corporate, retail, mission critical, industrial, healthcare and senior living clients statewide. Merriman most recently managed a general contractor’s Houston office, oversaw senior living projects and developed a statewide mission critical/data center division. Merriman holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas Christian University. Senior project architect Jonathan Loiselle, AIA, has joined the Stantec Austin office. Loiselle brings 26 years of experience in architectural planning, design and project management. He will use this experience to lead K-12 and higher education, healthcare and commercial projects throughout Texas and the Gulf Region. Loiselle earned his Bachelor of Architecture summa cum laude at Drexel University.
Submissions
out there in the stands cheering him on,” he said. On the side, Martinez is an arena director at 3C Cowboy Fellowship in Salado and also helps to reach out to ministries. Looking ahead, Hice’s longterm goal is to work hard, retire and enjoy his family. “We look forward to having a busy year in 2015,” he said. Hice Welding builds metal buildings and hand rails and also provides hot shot services. –ab
Round-Up
there and retire. “It is hard to make it on your own in this business,” he said.”There is quite a bit of competition these days.” Raised on Lake Stanford in Haskell, Hice says he used to go hunting and fishing all the time when he was younger. These days when Hice is not working, he likes to spend time with his grandson, 4. His grandson is a mutton buster. He rides sheep, barrel races on a pony and also does speed racing on a horse. “Will, my daughter and I are always
Joe Brooks joined IE² Construction as director of business development. He has 11 years of experience and was previously the CEO of Forefront Builders Corp. In his new position, Brooks will help lead varied and complex tasks, develop relationships and continue to grow the company’s annual revenue. Raba Kistner Infrastructure Inc. (RKI) has hired Bryan A. Wood, PE as senior project manager II. Wood will be responsible for all areas of project operations for RKI, including construction inspection and material testing operations, to ensure compliance with project plans, approved shop/working drawings and specifications. Prior to joining RKI, he had a long career with TxDOT. Wood graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a B.S. degree in Architectural Engineering and a MS degree in Civil Engineering.
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 Construction News ON LOCATION
Plumb busy
L-R: KJ, Ben Potter and Thor Cortez are all smiles at Texas Plumbing Supply in Round Rock. –ab
Page 18
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Capitol bound
T
he Associated General Contractors Texas Building Branch (AGC-TBB) held Legislative Day at the Texas Capitol Mar. 12. More than 120 general contractors and AGC members traveled to Austin to meet with legislators and discuss issues pertaining to the construction industry. –ab
Association Calendar
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ACEA
CTSA
Austin Contractors & Engineers Assn.
Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.
Apr. 30: Central Texas Infrastructure Design and Construction Symposium, 8am, Austin Convention Center For more information call 512-836-3140
Apr. 14: Monthly meeting, 5:30pm-6pm Social Hour, 6pm-8pm Dinner and Presentation, Embassy Suites, 5901 N. IH-35 For more info: www.ctsaon- line.org
AGC
IEC
Associated General Contractors
Independent Electrical Contractors
Apr. 1: TEEX OSH 581 – Hazard Recognition/Shore Oil & Gas Apr. 6: Safety Committee meeting Apr. 7-10: TEEX OSH 510 – OSHA Standards for Construction Apr. 14-15: TEEX PRT 256 – Medic First Aid Trainer Apr. 21-24: TEEX OSH 501 – General Industry Train the Trainer Apr. 28-30: TEEX OSH 225 – Ergonomics Apr. 30: OSHA 10/30 Hour Class For more information call 512-442-7887
Apr. 11: BBQ Cook-Off and Apprentice Appreciation Day Apr. 21: Apprenticeship Committee meeting, 11:30am Apr. 29: General Membership Luncheon, 11:30am, Saltgrass Steakhouse For more information call 512-832-1883
AIA American Institute of Architects
Apr. 1: BEC: Austin Apr. 2: CRAN Site Visit Apr. 6: Design Awards Committee meeting Apr. 8: Emerging Professionals meeting Apr. 13: COTE meeting Apr. 14: ASLA – CTX CodeNext Committee Apr. 16: Small Firm Roundtable and LAC meeting Apr. 17: AAH Committee meeting Apr. 21: DesignVoice Committee meeting Apr. 22: Urban Design Committee meeting Apr. 30: Activities Committee meeting For more information call 512-767-7436
NARI Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry
Apr. 8: The ONE Thing event Apr. 10: Bowling Tournament Apr. 15-18: NARI National CotY & Leadership meeting Apr. 29: Builders Round Table For more information visit www.austinnari.org
NAWIC Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Apr. 1: Chapter meeting Apr. 10: Board meeting and Mid Year Budget Review, 10:30am, Equipment Depot Apr. 17-18: Region 7 Forum, San Antonio For more information visit www. austinnawic.org
TSPE Texas Society of Professional Engineers
Apr. 4: PE Exam Preparation Course For more info visit www.tspe-travis.org
Construction News ON LOCATION
Trading up
L-R: Westley Price and Ivan Perez man the counter at Texas Tool Traders in Pflugerville. –ab
Construction News ON LOCATION
Can do attitude
Tint room technician Eric Sanchez, Boral Building Products, stays dry on a rainy Monday. The company provides bricks, stone, fiber cement siding, EIFS and stucco, hardscapes products and accessories. –ab
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
Page 19
The man behind the camera
Construction News ON LOCATION
Steve Huedepohl creates films and takes photos for HOLT CAT.
L-R: Matt May, Terry Pigg, Wally Muses and Tom Hebert help folks find electrical supplies at Dealers Electrical Supply in Georgetown. –ab
W
hen HOLT CAT needs to capture as photographing people and events at the image of the company, various locations across 118 counties in that’s when multimedia com- Texas. One of his latest projects showed munications manager, Steve Huede- the teardown and rebuild of a CAT 777D pohl, grabs his equipment. mining truck at the Fort Worth facility At 61, Huedepohl has been with the over a period of two months – in a threecompany for more than 16 years, joining minute video, which can be seen on the equipment dealer as Power Systems Vimeo. marketing manager in December 1998. “I’m so blessed to get paid to do Named multimedia communications what I love to do,” says Huedepohl. “And manager in January 2006, he is HOLT’s of- I’m very grateful for HOLT.” ficial photographer and filmmaker. Huedepohl is not the only member After graduating from the University of his family to make a career behind the of Texas at Austin with his bachelor’s de- eye of a lens. His paternal grandfather gree in mechanical engineering in 1977, worked at Studer’s Photos in San Antonio Huedepohl and a good friend embarked for 45 years. upon a month-long backpacking adven- Not one to sit still, when he’s not at ture through nine countries in Europe. work, Huedepohl sings and plays guitar Before leaving, Huedepohl bought his at his church, plays in a sand volleyball first camera for the trip, and he devel- league, goes snow skiing and rides dirt oped his passion on that journey. bikes. He also used to race motocross. His He cultivated his interest on the side 32-year-old son, Erik, was a professional while working at jobs for Gulf Oil Com- motocross racer before he started his pany in Houston, designing compressor own remodeling company in 2012. He packages at HOLT Machinery, and evalu- also has a daughter, Stephanie, 22, who ating oil reserves for Alamo National lives in Denver. –mh Bank. When the oil industry tanked and Alamo National Bank shut down his department in 1987, Huedepohl had been doing photography and videography for weddings and other events on the side for four years. So, he became self-employed and took his hobby on as a fulltime endeavor. Two years later at church, he met Gary Stone, a marketing manager at HOLT at the time, and Huedepohl started doing photography and video jobs for the company and transitioned to working for HOLT in 1998. Today, Huedepohl creRepresenting HOLT CAT at the Spike MS Volleyball ates primarily brand-building Tournament at Sideliners in 2012, Huedepohl and his son, Erik, won the championship that day. films for the company, as well
A core of four
15 to 500 Ton Capacities Available for your Toughest Projects
Alamo Crane helping stay ahead of the growing demand for office space in the Capital city. from El Paso to Beaumont Amarillo to Brownsville
Submitted to Construction News
Building an interest
35 Years of Service to Texas
www.alamocrane.com The Beck Group project team in Austin recently hosted 14 Webelo Scouts for a project site visit. Paul Solberg, senior project manager, explained the scope, cost and approximate man-hours required to do this type of project. The Webelos learned basic design and construction concepts and reviewed drawings. –ab
San Antonio (210) 344-7370 Austin (512) 282-6866 Toll Free (800) 880-0134
Page 20
Austin Construction News • Apr 2015
The gist of the “List”
Construction News ON LOCATION
First glass
Lead technician Patrick McCurdy, Russell Glass Co., installs glass on a daily basis. He has worked at the Georgetown-based company for almost a year. –ab
“All-Star” TDIndustries has ranked on the list every year.
Southern Demolition, LLC Serving the Austin–San Antonio corridor AUSTIN 8721 S 1st Street Austin, Texas 78748 (512)222-6805
SAN ANTONIO 4754 Shavano Oak, #102 San Antonio, Texas 78249 (210)901-8778
www.SouthernDemo.net Who We Are When quality service counts for your GPR scanning, concrete saw cutting, wall sawing and selective demolition, our team of professionals are here to provide our clients with quality service work and customer service. We pride ourselves on superior workmanship while developing long lasting relationships with our customers and 100% satisfaction.
Our Services • GPR Scanning • Scanning Reports • Concrete Coring (Slab & Wall) • Concrete Saw Cutting (Interior & Exterior) • Concrete Wall Sawing • Selective Building Demolition
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
E
ver since Fortune Magazine created its “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 1998, construction companies have jockeyed for a position among the various industries represented. This year, six construction companies with a Texas presence have been recognized with the distinctive honor. Dallas-headquartered TDIndustries (TDI), which has secured “All-Star” status because it has made the list every year, was ranked #83. With offices in Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Weslaco, the company, which offers facility services and mechanical construction, earned #82 last year. For the ninth year, upscale homebuilder David Weekly Homes has been included in the Top 100, and was named #14 for the 2015 list. Last year, the company, which is headquartered in Houston and includes offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio, held the #13 position. Employee-owned engineering and architecture firm Burns & McDonnell has enjoyed five years (four of them consecutive) on the Top 100 list; this year, the firm, which has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, took the #15 spot after holding 14th place in 2014. Design consulting firm Kimley-Horn & Associates skyrocketed to #25 from the 73rd slot this year. This is the eighth year on the list for the national firm, which also has Texas locations in Austin, Bryan/College Station, Collin County, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Las Colinas, Lubbock and San Antonio. The nation’s sixth largest contractor, PCL Construction, was named #67 after holding the #59 spot in 2014. The group of independent construction insurance companies with Dallas and Houston offices has enjoyed 10 consecutive years on the list. Fortune Magazine welcomed a newcomer to the 2015 “100 Best Companies to Work For” list: specialized construction toolmaker Hilti. Breaking in at #89, the company has Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio offices. –mjm