Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News April 2015

Covering the Industry’s News

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Volume 13

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Number 4

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APRIL 2015

High note

Taking it by storm

Melinda Wood Allen uses her voice in construction and music.

Gibbs, Augustus, Trotter and Brooks at the Hard Hat 2015 event.

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elinda Wood Allen didn’t anticipate that she would find her voice in the construction indus-

try.

“Not at all,” Melinda, president and CEO of Allen & Company Environmental Services, says, shaking her head. “The way I got my start in this business is working for my husband, Bob. Initially, I worked for him before we were dating; I was a schoolteacher and had summers free. He asked if I would work in the office over a summer doing sales cold calling and other work, and so I got to know a little bit about the business through that.”

A couple of years and one wedding later, Melinda began helping more at the office and even worked on larger jobs when Bob was low on personnel.

“I came out and did the actual work with him; I was a lot younger then, and I felt pretty empowered actually!” Melinda remembers. “It got to the point where he was relying on my expertise more and more, and I realized I couldn’t teach school full-time and work this many hours for Bob. What I was hoping he was going to say was ‘Okay, you don’t have to work for the business anymore,’ but he was like, ‘Quit teaching!’ So I quit and worked for the business full-time.”

Melinda went on to become an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS), a Ventilation Systems Mold Remediator (VSMR), a licensed asbestos abatement contractor and licensed mold remediation contractor. She also testified before continued on Page 18

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n 2012, many construction companies were tentatively feeling their way out of the recession, wondering what steps to take next or how much risk their companies could manage.

Addison-based general contractor Alpha & Omega Professional Services Group LLC, on the other hand, had little choice but to hit the ground running.

The young company had only a few years of residential projects and custom homes under its belt when an F4 tornado decimated the Texas town of Lancaster. Suddenly, president R. Lamar Brooks, and vice presidents Alfred Gibbs, Darrell Augustus and Estavion Trotter had more work than they’d ever dreamed of and were fulfilled knowing that their work was making a difference.

“During that time, we were so busy scheduling projects that we were actually putting people on hold,” Trotter remembers. “After we completed our first project, it sort of spoke for itself. Other people were coming to us, requesting that we look at their homes and determine what we might be able to do for them. We were able to be a part of some life-changing experiences as far as putting people’s homes back together, far greater than where we started.”

It was this success, and the four men’s own strong bond (some of them have known each other for more than a decade) that provided the group the firm footing they needed to branch out into commercial construction. continued on Page 18

All in good health

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hen general contractor Adolfson & Peterson Construction was contracted to build the three-story, 51,500-sf Park Hill Medical Office Building and Ambulatory Surgical Center in Fort Worth, they knew the deadline would be tight. From the moment of the April 2014 groundbreaking, the race was on to meet the project’s December completion date.

Weather, unfortunately, doesn’t always appreciate the urgency of deadlines. Fortunately, the entire team – including developer LandPlan Development Corp. of Frisco, Ascension Group Architects in Arlington and the project’s many quality subcontractors – did.

“Time is money to the owners and contractors; from the owner’s perspective, there’s loss of revenue when not receiving a return on their investment, and there’s also cash flow problems,” A&P project manager Michael Ortiz says.

“From a contractor’s perspective, we face big challenges when there’s inclement weather or weather delays – snow, rain or muddy days. However, A&P overcame these issues and challenges of the project and came in on time and within budget. It was built on an extremely fast-moving schedule, but across the Metroplex and especially in Fort Worth we would hear about how quickly Park Hill was going up, especially with the [weather] delays.”

Ortiz gives special credit to the project’s subcontractors.

“Our subcontractors are definitely one of the main reasons why we finished so strong,” he says. “We collaborated with the subcontractors daily. We brought them into our schedule sessions and got their input on the schedules – they actually buy in on the schedules so we hold them accountable and hold ourselves accountable to meet dates. Then, The deadline was tight to build the Park Hill Medical Office Building and Ambulatory Surgical Center.

continued on Page 18

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Wait up

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L-R: RDO Equipment Co.’s Daniel Pompa, Steve Staples and Jim Carell

aryl Shelton, RDO Equipment Co.’s Vice President of Texas, says the wait for the company’s newest location in McKinney is finally over.

“It’s been very anticipated,” Shelton explains. “Overall, for customers, it’s just been a matter of ‘When are you going to build it? We can’t wait for you to be operational in McKinney!’”

The company’s seventh store in Texas, located at 2902 S. Central Expressway, was worth the wait. Built on 10 acres, the 38,000-sf facility will be the largest location service-wise, with 16 service bays.

The store promises to offer full product support, providing everything: Repair, preventative maintenance, certified welding, line boring, as well as its full line of John Deere equipment.

“We also carry parts inventory commensurate with the Irving and Fort Worth locations and offer full support coverage with customer service advisors, sales professionals and a full management staff,” Shelton says.

McKinney proved to be the perfect spot for the latest addition, with its position in the northern growth corridor of RDO Equipment Co.’s territory.

“We service basically from the Red River down I-35 to Laredo with the new North Texas location adding additional coverage and support capacity for a rapid growing north Texas,” Shelton says.

“We also want to be able to service both

the areas north of Fort Worth and north of Dallas, but still be on a major thoroughfare on Highway 75. We know there continues to be substantial growth plans for all of north Texas and our investment in expanding locations allows us to partner with employees and build customers for life.”

Shelton says easy access to Highway 75 (and, in turn, back down to the Sam Rayburn Tollway) and from the Lewisville area is ideal for transporting heavy machinery for the rental business. Also, another full sales and rental servicing location in North Texas “bodes well for our customer base as well as RDO Equipment Co.”

RDO Equipment Co. is pleased to be a part of and economically impact the McKinney community, just as it has in the company’s other locations. While some of the store’s 50 employees will be transferred from other locations, most will be locally hired. Jim Carell is the new store’s sales manager, Steve Staples is parts manager and Daniel Pompa serves as lead parts.

Now, the wait is for the store’s grand opening, which is being planned for the spring.

With 70 locations across nine states, and seven of those locations in Texas, RDO Equipment Co. sells and services heavy equipment brands for several markets, including construction. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

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The gist of the “List” (972) 202-5000

www.southernfastening.com

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DFW 972-202-5000 Houston 713-688-3781 Austin 512-248-9005 San Antonio 210-481-1313 Valley 956-682-0402

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“All-Star” TDIndustries has ranked on the list every year.

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 and 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

Submitted to Construction News

News crew

Since Construction News’ Dec. Spotlight feature on CG Environmental – Cleaning Guys’ Ebola cleanup, readers have asked for an update on the environmental spill cleanup company. Are they still in the news? Are they back to work? The answer is yes and yes.

When they aren’t busy cleaning up construction’s most hazardous spillage, they’re still in the media, as they were on Mar. 19 when they reenacted the Ebola cleanup for CNBC. Don’t worry, though, they’ll never let fame go to their Hazmat masks. –mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Holly Green President Brettco Roofing

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olly Green, president of Brettco Roofing, feels right at home among the men of the construction industry – that’s probably because, growing up, she had to hold her own among a family of boys. However, she also counts the women in her family among her greatest influences. Either way, she knows how to handle herself, whatever side of her the occasion calls for.

I’ve known you for about a year now, Holly, and I’m always struck by your strong, fun and independent spirit.

Did your family and childhood have anything to do with that?

I was born and raised in Carlsbad, N.M. My dad was a potash miner, my mom did hair, and I have a brother who’s a little bit older than I am – although he sometimes likes to say I’m older!

My biggest influences were my mom, who later got her Master’s degree, became a schoolteacher and was appointed by the governor to review the early childhood development program for the state of New Mexico; my aunt, who taught at Tarrant County College; and my grandmother, who was a single mom of three. I was the only girl in the family in my generation. With me being the only girl, I was taught how to always properly set a table and how to be a lady, but I liked hanging out with my brother and three male cousins so I had to hold my own! I did mostly what the boys did and was a tomboy. I played volleyball and golf, shot BB guns, rode horses and three-wheelers, learned how to drive on the ranch at a very young age and worked cattle. I always wanted to throw on some shorts and tennis shoes and go run the neighborhood, build forts and climb trees!

It sounds like a fun childhood!

It was, but we were all taught disci-

pline and work and that nothing was for free, that we had to work to earn what we wanted – all good things. My grandparents lived in Ruidoso, NM and I got to go up there quite a bit, and my granddad always made us work while we were there. I would weed rows in the garden for a quarter a row, which was big money back then! He had these beautiful apple trees that I would water.

My granddad would also deliver the programs from the racing track there to the local stores, and so in the mornings we would have to go pick up the ones that didn’t sell and then in the afternoons we would have to pick up the ones for the next day to deliver them.

I spent a lot of time in a really cool El Camino with my granddad, zooming up and down the mountains.

Being from New Mexico, how did you come to settle in Fort Worth?

I went to college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in public relations and graphic design. I could have stayed a couple of more semesters to get a finance degree, but I opted out. I was at that point where I was burned out and ready to go out in the world.

Growing up, I would come and stay with my aunt here. She has a group of really close-knit friends who are all very successful and talented. It was nice to already have a network of extended family here, which made for an easy transition for me to come to the Metroplex area.

Did you start working in construction right away, or did you pursue another career?

My first big corporate job was for the North Texas Division of the Southland Corporation, which owned 7-Eleven. I worked in the merchandising department under the buyers, and my ultimate goal was to be a buyer. I worked there for two or three years under a buyer and in the gasoline department. My primary job handled pricing, signage and promotions for over 600+ stores. When Ticketmaster first came out, I contributed the “Feeding Frenzy” idea. It was really fun; I got to use my creative side, yet had to use my analytical side too.

I finally went out into the field into management and that’s when the Southland Corporation was bought out. It was around 1990, and at that time, I decided it was time for a change. I had done the big corporate work, and I really wanted to do something different. I had met someone and we eventually got married. His father had been a roofer since 1968, and the person I married had just started his roof-

Brettco Roofing’s Holly Green

ing company, so I helped him develop the business side of the company. I just kind of fell into it; it seemed like a natural fit for me.

Eventually, I started going out in the field. The roofing business just seemed to be good for me; I was on job sites and outside meeting different people and learning roofing systems.

And now you own your own roofing business! Being a woman how do you approach directing all-male crews?

I had really strong female role models, but I had really strong males in my life, too – my dad, my granddad, my uncle, my brother, my cousins. The way I deal with men [in construction] is how I deal with any man. My father and granddad always said you look people straight in the eye, shake their hands firmly and stand your ground when you know you’re right and admit when you’re wrong. They taught me that if you can learn a better way from somebody else, then find the mentors out there, male or female, to help you along and build your knowledge. Basically, my father was very adamant that I may have been a girl, but there is not one thing out there that I couldn’t do.

It sounds like you learned a lot.

When you grow up around ranching and all of that kind of stuff, you had to do what the guys had to do and work as a team.

In my crews, we work as a team. I have multiple composition crews, a metal crew, a flat roofing crew and a tile crew, and we all work together. And, they’re all guys I have worked with in the industry since the beginning. They’re family to me, and they know that I know the roofing system.

For instance, my lead guy, Roberto Canada, has worked for me for 25 of the nearly 27 years we have been in business.

His son is now 25 and is now a commercial roofing installer for me.

You mentioned your strong role models growing up. I know you also count on the people you’ve met through the associations to which you belong. Can you share more about that?

Four years ago, I joined the Fort Worth Chapter #1 of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA). At that time, there were some changes happening in my life; I had become single and thought I might need some guidance.

NAWIC has been a good fit for me.

I’m glad that I have joined it, glad that I’m a part of it; it’s made me a stronger individual and has put me around some incredible talent and knowledge and some unbelievable and fun people. I think the best thing I’ve gotten out of it is that they’re not going to set you up to fail, they’re going to set you up to succeed.

Now, as immediate past president, I see that NAWIC really helped me through some of the worst times of my life. It’s been strengthening and has encouraged me.

When I joined the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, I wanted to be in an organization of my peers. The NTRCA is a strong organization in North Texas that educates the consumer and

contractors. In NTRCA we are working to improve the roofing industry through education. And, I just joined Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT), which is a statewide roofing organization.

Both NTRCA and RCAT have multiple requirements to be a member. Brettco Roofing is proud to say that we have achieved these requirements. Before I got involved in these organizations, I never knew what a benefit it was to be a member. Every contractor out there should go find an organization that they can get in.

They are going to learn more things they never even knew, because they’re not out there on a piece of ice floating in the middle of the water, they’ll be on a glacier in an organization. They’ll have challenges, but with their association’s knowledge base, they’ll recover faster.

When you aren’t working or attending association events, what do you do for fun?

I go to church every week with my family at First Presbyterian downtown Fort Worth. I had always gone to church when I was a kid and I just recently started to go with my brother and nephews, who are the light of my life, every week if I’m in town. I think it’s cool that my brother and I still get to do something together.

I’m also into photography, and have recently taken my photography in a different direction. I used to shoot motorsports; I’ve shot for NASCAR, and have been published in Sports Illustrated and NASCAR Scene. I did a photo shoot for The Star-Telegram of the saddles commissioned to be tooled and built for Prince Charles and Camilla.

I’ve shot a lot of Western stuff and a couple of weddings, but now I’m kind of taking it more to the artistic side and I had my first gallery showing at the Fort Worth Community Center in December!

I am a taking my photos to another level and putting them on canvas and doing them on a bigger media than normal. My goal this year is to take it bigger and my ultimate goal is to one day have a gallery showing in a museum.

What are your favorite subjects to shoot?

My favorite things that I shoot now are the trips that I take to Italy and to France. I love architecture shots; any place I go out of town I am constantly shooting different types of architecture.

What’s in the future for Holly Green?

The next few years, I’m working towards my woman-owned certification, my WBE and HUB – all of that paperwork!

I’ve finally gotten my company to the point where I can do that.

I’d also like my company to become more of a specialty type and possibly take it into consulting. I did the rat race for a long time, and the one thing I want to do is pass the information along, teach people how to correctly run companies, manage their time and how to actually live a life outside of their work.

Brettco Roofing in Fort Worth provides installation and maintenance of premium roofing systems and rain guttering, including commercial installation, maintenance and repair of low-slope roofing solutions including TPO, EPDM and modified rolled roofing. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

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Pillars of the construction community

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t was a very bright way to start a rainy morning! On a misty Mar. 20, hundreds of construction industry members gathered in an Omni Dallas Hotel ballroom for the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association’s 8th annual Pillar Awards Breakfast. The event recognized construction companies that have been true pillars of building strength in the industry. Five awards were preSeveral lucky attendees won prizes, including sented at the RHCA event: a free GM Chevrolet for a week.

Public Entity of the Year, Subcontractor of the Year, General Con- ry this year. Topping off the event, three tractor of the Year, the President’s Award lucky guests found a sticker at the bottom of their mugs, which won them their and Project of the Year.

Attendees were also given com- pick of a brand new General Motors memorative coffee mugs to honor both Chevrolet to use free for one week. –mjm the occasion and RHCA’s 20th anniversa-

General Contractor of the Year: Turner Construction Company

Public Entity of the Year: Parkland Health & Hospital System

Subcontractor of the Year: KPOST Company

President’s Award: KPOST Company

Project of the Year: Parkland Acute Care Hospital

Made in the shade

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uard-All Building Solutions president Dot Haymann credits her dad for the reason she “grew up different” from many girls.

“My late father was an engineer, so growing up I was always very much involved when we would talk about a project he was working on,” the South African-born Haymann says. “Many girls don’t know what an engineer is or does. I remember being a teenager and my father was building a welding machine in the garage, and I saw it firsthand. I like technical stuff. At university, I started out doing biochemistry; I like the math and science part of it.”

Haymann moved to the United States 37 years ago, claimed Dallas as her home and, with her husband, created businesses ranging from jewelry to shade product manufacturing. She founded Sun Port International 20 years ago to cater to recreation markets and then merged with a California company to become USA SHADE & Fabric Structures. In 2011, she sold the company and founded

Dot Haymann

Dallas-based Guard-All Building Solutions, which designs, engineers and manufactures freestanding, steel-framed tension buildings clad in waterproof fabric.

Haymann’s woman-owned, HUBcertified business perfectly combines her love of engineering with being a businesswoman.

“I like the challenge every day of coming to work, meeting different people and being involved in projects where the clients are looking for aircraft hangars, large warehouses, sand and salt storage facilities, relocatable large buildings or covered tennis courts and swimming pools,” she says. “I think there are huge opportunities for women, but I think many young women and girls are intimidated the minute they hear the word ‘engineering’ or anything that they feel they have to have a math specialty in.

I’ve had women intern with us. I think there are opportunities for girls and that they’ve got to take them.”

As an employer of nearly 50 workers who collaborate on projects for clients including Dallas Cowboys Stadium and the University of North Texas, Haymann is very glad she did. –mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth 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.

Auto court

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onstruction industry members had the chance to learn about one of Plano’s most headline-grabbing projects at Austin Commercial’s Toyota North American Headquarters Information and Networking Event. Nearly 400 attended the event, which was held Mar. 17 in the company’s Dallas office. –mjm

L-R: GCC Enterprises’ Mike Sully, Austin’s Simeon Terry and GCC Enterprises’ Greg Cody

L-R: Aguirre Roden’s Pedro Aguirre and KDC’s Ignacio Herrera

L-R: Azteca Enterprises’ Luis Spinola and Phillips/May Corp.’s Chris Escobedo

L-R: ESST’s Jacob Savoie, David R. Jones and Jeffrey Walker

Dallas/Fort Worth 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.

Construction News ON LOCATION

Pride-full

Pamela Lopez is proud to tell people about Inca-Sol Environmental Inc. in Arlington.

Not only does the company specialize in restoration and environmental janitorial services and federal contracting, but it’s also a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certified. –mjm

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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

Reaching the Summit

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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

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Submitted to Construction News

O Captain!

Remember Action Gypsum Supply’s Alexandra Acosta, the sales rep we featured in February who owned a menagerie of animals all named after movie characters? Meet her latest character, a golden retriever that she named “Captain” (yes, after “Captain America”).

She says she now has a zoo, but we think she now has an animal act worthy of Hollywood! –mjm

A real page-turner

Francine Hawkins-Alegeh can add “author” to her resumé.

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t took two years, countless hours of research, and a keen understanding of how the teen mind works.

Now, Francine Hawkins-Alegeh’s first book, Building Professionals: Road to Success, has been published, released on Amazon for Kindle, and is ready for distribution to her target audience: young people who are interested in construction careers, but don’t know where to begin.

When Hawkins-Alegeh began her career in drafting and construction as a

young woman, she struggled to find a mentor to guide her. Once she achieved success as founder of Alegeh Autocad Design and F.D. Hawkins Painting and Remodeling and as senior AV Autocad designer for ComNet Communications, Hawkins-Alegeh vowed to help young people begin their construction careers.

“I wrote this book because I mentor and work with high school students in architecture, construction and engineering fields,” she says. “They want to work in the industry, but when I ask them questions about it, they have no knowledge of it or what it takes to get there. Even in some of their classes, they don’t get enough information. I wanted to create a book that would guide them into what they needed to do.”

In the book, she addresses the different types of careers, the tools the construction industry uses daily, the degrees available, apprenticeship programs and organizations they can join that will support their careers.

Missing from the book are page numbers and complicated language.

“When kids read books, they can get easily distracted; it can be too much information. I wanted it to be basic – read that, and then move on to the next part,” she says. “I didn’t put page numbers because I didn’t want kids to read the index or the table of contents and only go [to certain parts of the book]; I want them to read everything.”

Interest in her book is already growing. School administrators have purchased copies for students and the National Association for Women in Construction (of which she is a member) forwarded the Amazon link to its chapters.

Hawkins-Alegeh also plans to gift the book to the students she mentors. It’s her way of reassuring the next generation of construction workers that someone will be there to guide them. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 9

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

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.

lures or surface plugs are by far my favorite types of lure to throw. They’re the only artificial lure that provides a 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 condi-

tions to the Laguna Madre and surrounding 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

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.

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 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or email 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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Dallas/Fort Worth 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 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!

Spring Break fishing results

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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 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

McPherson 46-pounder

Fishing boats just before setting out in the morning

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 Wiggins’ record striper. New youth record striper

Submitted to Construction News

Claying to win

L-R: Master Construction’s Don Weempe, George O’Reilly and RW Smith carted off the 1st place clay shoot prize on Mar. 19. The team won at the North Texas Chapter of the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI)’s inaugural sporting clay event at the Dallas Gun Club. O’Reilly also won top shooter at the event, with a score of 85/100. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

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Yaught to see them!

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fter competing in ABC’s 2015 National Craft Championships in Fort Lauderdale March 3-6, DynaTen’s Gary Buster decided he needed some fun in the sun. So Buster headed to the beach, and quickly realized why the South Florida town is often called “The Yachting Capital of the World.”

Boasting more than 300 miles of inland waterways and tens of thousand of registered yachts, Fort Lauderdale is homeport to the two largest cruise ships in the world, as well as the world’s largest boat show. The Intracoastal Waterway there also allows quick and scenic access to the inland waterways to the Atlantic.

Buster, who had never been to the east coast, enjoyed the parade of boats, and even had what he believes was a close encounter of the boat kind.

“I was told that one yacht I saw belonged to [filmmaker/director] Steven Spielberg,” he says. –mjm The yachts thicken.

Have an outdoor photo or story you’d like to share?

Send to:

DFWeditor@ConstructionNews.net or call Melissa at 817.731.4823 Submitted to Construction News

Check out the trout!

Russell Burgess, vice-president of operations for Burgess Construction Consultants Inc., caught this 16-inch rainbow trout from the Lower Mountain Fork River in Beavers Bend State Park in Broken Bow, OK. –mjm

Steven Spielberg’s yacht? Catch him if you can!

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

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 13

Happy mediums

Texas Apprentice Gary Buster DynaTen Corp., Fort Worth CEF Apprenticeship Program

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L-R: HPD Architecture principals Holly Hall, Larry Paschall and Laura Davis

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t was high-fives all around Feb. 18 for HPD Architecture LLC. The Dallas architecture and interior design firm was celebrating in style at New Life Hardwoods in the Dallas Design District, feting the fifth anniversary of “The Architecture Happy Hour,” an acclaimed monthly networking event created by HPD principals Holly Hall, AIA, CAPS, Larry Paschall, AIA and Laura Davis, AIA. Bringing together architects, interior designers and construction industry members interested in making design community connections, each event is hosted at a different location to keep members coming back for more. The plan has succeeded: The event has ballooned from the 140 members at the first event to 1,960 in membership, making it the 8th largest architecture and 6th largest architecture interior design meet-up in the world.

As a complement to “The Architecture Happy Hour” event, HPD authors and hosts a podcast of the same name.

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Targeted to design professionals, clients and architecture students, “The Architecture Happy Hour” podcast is an informal discussion about architecture available on iTunes, and currently boasts 65,000 worldwide subscribers.

Davis says that when HPD launched The Architectural Happy Hour to broaden its professional network, the principals had no idea the far-reaching impact of the event would have on the design community. She says she considers it a privilege to “watch people connect with those they never would have met” because of the event.

More than 175 celebrants attended the blowout and were encouraged to bring lots of business cards in the true spirit of the event.

HPD Architecture LLC was founded in 2008 as a woman-owned business specializing in commercial and residential architecture. –mjm

ary Buster says when HVAC workers meet him, their eyes light up.

That’s not his ego talking, though.

Sure, he’s qualified from his years of HVAC work in both San Marcos and D/ FW, and he’s currently training at the Construction Education Foundation as an apprentice. But that’s not the only reason eyes are bright over the DynaTen Corporation’s division of service employee. Buster is only 5’8” and 150 lbs. “soaking wet,” he says, which makes him the ideal candidate to shimmy into the tightest crawl spaces the crews are faced with. Fortunately, Buster doesn’t mind a bit.

“I remember being shoved into this little crawl space in San Marcos where there are snakes,” he says. “I’m in the attic and there’s a rattlesnake skin next to the duct I need to work on. I remember looking around and thinking, ‘I can’t believe I love this! I actually like everything about this!’ It’s a perfect fit.

It’s kind of my running joke at DynaTen that it’s a ‘confined space’ if they ask me to get up in it!”

The 28-year-old Irving native first came to love working with his hands from his dad, who was employed in drywall and masonry. After trying his own hand at masonry after high school, Buster was then introduced to an HVAC contractor in San Marcos, where he had moved in the pursuit of a romantic interest. Although the romance didn’t stick, his love for HVAC did, and upon moving back to the Metroplex, his father introduced him to an

American Legion pal who worked for DynaTen.

Since his hiring at the mechanical and industrial contractor, he enrolled in CEF’s four-year HVAC apprenticeship program and also competed in the National Craft Competition Craft in Florida last month, which he called “a great experience.” Buster says he appreciates his CEF training, and the fact that CEF “doesn’t turn away people who have been in the field but haven’t been [formally] educated.”

With a full workweek and CEF classes on his plate, Buster’s excited about completing his final semester this spring. He has post-graduation plans to stay busy by spending more time with his girlfriend Natasha and adding to his comic book and LEGO collection. He also anticipates plenty of crawl spaces in his future.

“I really see myself furthering the service department and honing in on the market that we’re aimed at right now – and that’s on the field level, not the office level,” he says. “I’m not there yet, but I’ll get there one day!” –mjm

Concrete reality

Construction News ON LOCATION

Salvador Rosales is living – and working – his dream.

Peter C. Mei, president of supplier Dura Products Industries LLC in Richardson, enjoys educating people about the company’s road and pavement safety marking solutions. –mjm

alvador Rosales has had his sights set on construction since childhood.

“Since I was a little kid, I knew I was going to get into construction,” Rosales, who is vice president of MSU Industries LLC, says. “I have family in construction in California that are into stucco, drywall, framing and concrete construction. I started in the construction industry when I was 17 years old and still in school.

I started with a local subcontractor and worked with them for 10 years as an operator and foreman.”

When the owner closed the business in 2004, Rosales says he took that as his cue to start his own concrete services business.

“It was a natural step because as a foreman I had been responsible for overseeing the jobs and turning in paperwork, so it made it a lot easier for me,” he explains. “And, actually, some of my employees were my former co-workers.”

Even with all of the responsibilities he has faced running his own company

for the past 11 years, Rosales continues to enjoy his work.

“One of the most important things I like about the job is when you get there, you just see an empty field and then, months later you see this very nice building or parking lot in operation. For example, at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, we’ve been working for six years doing concrete improvements, parking, lots, sidewalks – you name it.”

Even though business is good and Rosales currently employs up to 50 workers, he has even bigger plans for his construction career that he hopes to realize.

“I want to be a general contractor eventually. I know it’s not easy, especially with all of the competition,” he says.

“One of these days, we’ll get up there.”

Fort Worth-based concrete company MSU Industries LLC specializes in large commercial projects as well as driveways, sidewalks, retaining walls, parking lots, underground irrigation systems and more.

Road warrior

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Snow way! Yes way …

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omen In Construction (WIC) Week, which was scheduled for Mar. 1-7, almost became known as “Winter Is Coming” Week! With snow and ice that threatened to white out the National Association of Women In Construction’s annual and anticipated females-in-construction festivities, it looked like the parties might be shoveled out with the powder. But never underestimate a woman’s ability to recoup and regroup. WIC Week is a time to highlight the contributions and achievements of women in the construction industry, and also to give back to the community, and the ladies had no intention of missing it. With some clever rescheduling, many of the activities were hosted at a later date and the Dallas and Fort Worth chapters were able to get their girl-power pow-wows on. –mjm Fort Worth:

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AWIC’s Fort Worth chapter members rolled up their sleeves to start off their WIC Week on Mar. 4 by donating at the blood drive hosted at Barnsco in Fort Worth.

The winter weather cleared just enough for the ladies to enjoy a membership mixer at Fort Worth eatery Risky’s on Mar. 6. Then it was time to walk off all of that barbecue and beer on Mar. 7 with “Walk into WIC Week.” The ladies met up at Montgomery Plaza, shuttled to NAWIC’s Fort Worth headquarters and then promenaded 2.12 miles back to the Plaza. The walking workout ended with a Mexican meal and margaritas at Chuy’s restaurant.

The howls of laughter could be heard outside Fort Worth’s Diamond Oaks Country Club on Mar. 12. The chapter hosted its “Building Hope” fundraiser, complete with dinner and a fashion show of themed bras and boxers created by NAWIC members. Men and women in the construction industry sashayed and modeled such creations as “The Cowboy Baby” bra and the “Hole In One” boxer. One bra even featured ... ahem … headlights. It was a great way for the NAWIC members to show their “support” for each other and a worthy cause: all proceeds from the event went to Cancer Care Services and the NAWIC scholarship fund.

After the walk, the group refueled at Chuy’s

NAWIC’s national headquarters was the WIC Walk starting line.

Holly Green of Brettco Roofing models the golf-themed boxers she created.

Sarah Hutchins of Steel Construction Services and Julia Campbell of Cates, Courtney & Roebuck show off the brathemed bidding paddles

Castle Hill Builders’ Todd Hansard‘s headlighted-bra is blindingly brilliant.

Dallas:

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The ladies hosted a Bingo and Ice Cream social.

L-R: ComNet Communications’ Francine Hawkins-Alegeh, McCarthy Building Company’s Emily Britton, C-CAP Building Products’ Susan Kittrell, King of Texas Roofing’s Kelly BraddyVan Winkle, Manhattan Construction’s Sandy Liebau and SimplexGrinnell’s Jennifer Van Breda wait in line at the JFK Museum.

AWIC’s Dallas chapter tried a “two by two” approach to get the word out about its “Kick-Off Walk” on Mar. 1 at Bachman Lake. The goal was for members to include as many people as possible, with each member telling two friends, and encouraging them to tell two friends and so on.

Bingo! On Mar. 3, the group hosted a Bingo and ice cream social to bring smiles to the faces of elderly patients at Doctors Healthcare and Rehab Center in Dallas.

They’re so vein! To help meet the need for blood transfusions for the nearly 800 patients in North, Central and East Texas, an ongoing blood drive was hosted at Carter BloodCare Centers throughout the Metroplex.

Old man winter got in the way of the women’s plans by thwarting their Mar. 4 Schooling the Scholars event, during which NAWIC members had planned to assist Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) scholars, a fast-growing

“Cowboy Baby” bra-d Ben Thompson of Herzog Technologies Inc. drinks his daily dose of NAWIC.

group of students who are dedicated to learning about these fields. The event was rescheduled for Mar. 25.

The Dallas chapter topped off their WIC Week Mar. 7 with a tour of the 6th Floor JFK Museum. After the women learned more about the life and death of John F. Kennedy, they enjoyed fine dining at T.O. steakhouse.

L-R: Sandy Liebau and Susan Kittrell enjoy the exhibit.

A walk around Bachman Lake kicked off WIC Week for the Dallas chapter.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 15

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.

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Page 16

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Women in Construction Many more women in construction industry Patricia Livas, Corporate Procurement Turner Industries Group LLC Corpus Christi, TX

W

hat is your background in the construction industry?

I have been in the industry for 10 years. I started as a billing clerk with Bay Ltd. on a jobsite, so it was a whole different world for me since I was coming from an area manager position, but dealing solely with check cashing and loans. I worked my way up to accounts payable supervisor and learned the different aspects that accounting involved. At the same time I was working on my Master’s degree at the University of the Incarnate word. It was a challenge, but well worth it.

After five years with Bay Ltd. I started working for Turner Industries Group LLC as a clerk for the Construction Division manager and it came easy to me since I had already been in the field a few years.

During my six months as a construction clerk, not only did I learn even more about the industry, I was then offered a position as the corporate buyer for the South Texas Division at Turner Industries Group LLC. Along the way I have met so many different individuals, learned so much more, and dealt with many different vendors, clients and co-workers.

Why did you choose a career in the construction-related industry?

I would have to say it chose me.

While working on my MAA degree, I was at a point in my life where it was becoming a challenge to be an area manager of eight different locations and going to school full time, so I had to make a tough decision. But before I put my resignation

in, I made sure I had another job lined up and there it was: billing clerk for Bay Ltd. I knew at that point that I was in the right industry.

Do you have a mentor?

I would have to say that the one person who was and still is a mentor for me is my very first manager, Sally Ortega. It was through her management skills, training and words of wisdom that I am where I am today. I learned so much from her as an 18-year-old, fresh out of high school. To this day we still remain friends and I still sometimes call upon her for advice. As I matured in age, I understood what it was to be a manager and to make the decisions she did. It was then that I decided I wanted to go back to school and major in Psychology of Organizational Development.

What are the benefits of women pursuing a construction career?

Some of the benefits would be that we can decide how far we want to go in this industry. We can learn as many skills as we want and be able to advance. What we want to achieve as women - or any individual in general - is all up to us.

So many women had the mentality that a construction career was only for men, but today we are starting to see more women pursue careers in construction, i.e.: engineering, safety, finance, HR and even women that pursue a craft/manual trade.

Whichever route we take as women in this industry there will always be room for growth if we want it. To me one of the main

Submissions This is a section for brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge as space allows.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Email with “Round-Up” in the subject line (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month, for the next month’s issue to: DFWeditor@constructionnews.net

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benefits is that you gain the knowledge of construction and the city you live in.

What do you enjoy most about your career?

I enjoy my job and the relationships that I have built with so many people in this industry and within the company I currently work for.

What specific challenges have you faced in your career?

I really haven’t faced any challenges.

I would like to say they are more of an opportunity to learn something new. In this industry, every day can be a new learning experience, especially when working with so many different jobsites.

Currently, as corporate procurement, I deal with different jobsites on a daily basis in different cities and every site is a different ball game. Each site, depending on the client, has different needs and my job is not only to procure what is needed, but to fulfill the needs of the client.

What advice can you offer women who want to pursue a construction career?

Don’t give up or get discouraged. We all have second-guessed our career paths and if you think a construction career is for you then go for it.

Which is more important for a construction career – education, or experience?

I would have to say from what I’ve learned and seen in these 10 years in the industry is that education is of importance both internally and externally, and experience is more important externally.

From a woman’s perspective, has the construction industry changed over the years?

Yes, there are several opportunities in the industry for women, whether it be out in the field or in an office. I have seen more women in the construction industry within the past few years then I did when I started in the industry. Although

women only represent a small portion of the construction sector, it is growing and will continue to grow especially because women are becoming more independent and have more knowledge of what the construction industry entails.

What are your goals for the future?

I’d have to say that since I’ve been working for Turner Industries Group, LLC, I have set some high expectations for myself. Turner Industries Group, LLC offers classes to their employees for advancement within the company. I hope to grow with the company in the coming years, not only in procurement but in some of the different things they have to offer.

For instance, I would like to take the Primavera/P6 program so that I can excel in becoming an estimator/planner scheduler/cost control analyst or just utilize my Master’s degree and become an HR manager for one for one of their offices.

Whatever the future holds for me, I’m sure it will be within the construction industry.

Please feel free to add information that applies to you or that we did not think to ask.

I love to read, dance, listen to live music and watch sports. I have a 5-yearold son, Santiago Miguel Peña, who is my heart. He plays on a select baseball 7U team the Pro-Elite Rangers so three weekends out of the month we are busy with baseball tournaments.

I am a board member for National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Corpus Christi Chapter#4.

I am the Team Turner advocate for the Corpus Christi area and set up multiple events for Turner employees to participate in volunteering their time and getting involved within our community.

I coach youth soccer (ages 3-6) for the Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation centers.

My time is always busy and people ask, “when do I have all the time to do everything?” It’s called time management, the key to success, I say. –cw

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.

IBTX Risk Services announces the hiring of Nikki Morgan, ASCR, for the role of benefits account executive in the agency’s Irving office.

Morgan comes to IBTX with more than 14 years in the employee benefits field from the carrier and brokerage sides, specializing in executive account management, renewals and retention.

Cyndi Amador has been promoted to vice president of finance for Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors. Amador has more than 20 years of experience in finance and joined Hill & Wilkinson in 2013. She previously served as controller for a publicly-traded firm specializing in consumer goods.

Intertech Commercial Flooring announces that Scott Richter has been named vice president of operations in the company’s Dallas/Fort Worth location.

Richter joined Intertech as a flooring installer and foreman on large projects in 1992, was promoted to project manager in the San Antonio office in 1995 and was appointed to lead as vice president of operations Intertech’s Mission location in 2007.

Engineering and construction services firm Sebesta announces the addition of senior staff in its Irving location: Rey Roca joins Sebesta as a senior project manager.

Roca is the founder of Profile Consultants and brings 20 years of design, project management, construction management and commissioning services to his role. His body of work includes hospitality, commercial, aviation, federal, healthcare and higher education.

Carlos Castro joins Sebesta as an engineering drafter. He brings 7 years of experience working with computer-aided drafting and design applications to his role. His project experience includes work with facilities and transportation projects where he created construction and as-built record drawings.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 17

It’s a Hard Hat’s night

D

allas’ Eddie Deen’s Ranch set the stage for the Southwest’s largest diverse construction expo focused on minority and majority contractors. Sponsored by the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council, the Hard Hat 2015 Construction Expo on Mar. 3 welcomed 600 attendees to participate in roundtables, visit nearly 65 exhibitor booths, bite into barbecue and network.

Margo J. Posey, president of the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council, says the event has changed in the past 15 years to adapt to the needs of attendees.

“We separated from our normal business expo,” Posey says. “Construction folks need to be in the field as long as possible, typically. So we moved it to this time of the year but in the evening. They come meet the right people for the right opportunities.” –mjm

3i Construction

Brasfield & Gorrie

Byrne Construction Services

Aguirre Roden

Phillips/May Corporation

Carrco Painting

Hunt Construction Group

SpawGlass

Regional Hispanic Contractors Association

JE Dunn

RAMA

Beck Group

MEDCO Construction

Carcon Industries

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ACCA North Texas

ICRI - NT

Air Conditioning Contractors of Amer.

Int’l Concrete Repair Institute

Apr. 15: Membership Thank You Ballgame, Globe Life Park, 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington

AIA - Dallas American Institute of Architects

Apr. 2: CELEBRATE ARCHITECTURE 2015: An Awards and Honors Reception, Klyde Warren Park Pavilion, Moody Plaza, 6pm Apr. 9: RETROSPECT 2015, Exhibition opening Party, The Pirch, North Park Center, 8687 N Central Expressway, Dallas.

Exhibition held April 9-26 at NorthPark Center.

Apr. 13: 19th Annual AIA Dallas/ACME Brick Golf Tournament, Texas Star Golf Course, 1400 Texas Star Parkway, Euless.

ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers

Apr. 13: Branch meeting, 11am

ASA North Texas American Subcontractors Association

Apr. 23: Luncheon at The Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. Register online at www.asa-northtexas.org or call (817) 640-8275.

Apr. 24-25: ASA/TEXO Bass Classic, Lake Fork Marina, 275 Co Rd 1558, Alba, TX. Early bird deadline Apr. 17, late registration Apr. 18-23.

CFMA Construction Financial Mgmt Assn.

Apr. 16: Membership meeting and education session, Las Colinas Country Club, 11:30am.

Apr. 25: NT ICRI Scholarship application deadline

IEC - Dallas Independent Electrical Contractors

Apr. 29: IEC Night at the Ballpark

IEC - Fort Worth Independent Electrical Contractors

Apr. 29: IEC Night at the Ballpark

NARI Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Apr. 14: Membership meeting, SubZero/Wolf, 3707 Lemmon Ave., Dallas, 6pm.

NAWIC - Dallas Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Apr. 17-18: Region 7 Forum, San Antonio.

Apr. 20: Membership dinner meeting, Dallas Theological Seminary, 3909 Swiss Ave., Dallas, 5pm.

NUCA

UMCA

National Utilities Contractors Assn.

United Masonry Contractors Assn.

Apr. 10: 2015 Annual Awards Banquet and Members Meeting, Lone Star Park, 1000 Lone Star Parkway, Grand Prairie, 6pm. Contact Deana Butorac at (817) 6571993.

Apr. 25: 5th Annual Dirty Scurry Adventure Run, LaGrave Field, 301 Northeast 6th Street, Fort Worth, 9am.

Apr. 30: NUCA of Texas 2nd Annual Clay Shoot, Dallas Gun Club, 3601 S. Stemmons Fwy, Lewisville, 10am. Contact Deana Butorac at (817) 657-1993.

Apr. 10: Spring Golf Tournament, The Links at Lands End

Apr. 16: PHCC North Texas/Rheem 16th Annual Golf Tournament, Duck Creek Golf Club, 2800 Diamond Oaks Dr., Garland

RHCA Regional Hispanic Contractors Assn.

Apr. 28: RHCA Worker Memorial Day Breakfast, Goodwill Industries of Dallas, 3020 N. Westmoreland Road, 8:30am.

H Location H Location H Location H Location H Location

SCWCPA S. Cen. Wall Ceiling & Plaster Assn.

Apr. 16: Business meeting, Colonial Country Club, 6pm.

Apr. 17-18: Region 7 Forum, San Antonio.

Apr. 29: 31st Annual NAWIC Golf Tournament, Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club, 600 Promontory Dr., Keller

NTRCA

TEXO

NAWIC - Fort Worth

April 13-14: SPEER Summit, Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria, 14901 Dallas Parkway, Dallas.

PHCC Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

Apr. 9: SCWCPA Annual Luncheon, Coyote Ridge Golf Club, Carrollton, 11:30am.

Contact the association office at (817) 461-0676 for more information.

Apr. 9: SCWCPA Spring Golf Tournament, Coyote Ridge Golf Club, Carrollton. Teeoff at 1pm. Registration forms at www. scwcpa.org under “Events” or call the association office at (817) 461-0676 for more information.

Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

USGBC - NTx U.S. Green Building Council

N. Tx Roofing Contractors Assn.

The Construction Association

Apr. 8: Lunch and Learn, International Bowling Museum Arlington, 621 Six Flags Drive, 11:30am. Cost is $20 members, $25 non-members, includes lunch and seminar. Register at www.ntrca.com.

Apr. 24-25: ASA/TEXO Bass Classic, Lake Fork Marina, 275 Co Rd 1558, Alba, TX. Early bird deadline Apr. 17, late registration Apr. 18-23. Visit www.texoassociation.org for details.

Dallas/Fort Worth Austin San Antonio

Houston South Texas

Publishing the Industry’s News . . .

TEXAS Style Home Office (210) 308-5800 www.constructionnews.net

Page 18

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Winners, all

continued from Page 1 — Taking it by storm It’s a decision that they are grateful they made, and one in which they each find success and a personal reward. Trotter enjoys connecting with others and providing them with a valuable service.

Augustus, who grew up in a family that worked in “many different trades – framers, roofers, concrete guys, carpet, bricklayers,” takes pleasure in listening to customers’ needs and giving them a finished project that exceeds their expectations.

Gibbs, who has more than two decades of experience in Fortune 500 facilities management, finds satisfaction in making sure each project adheres to a schedule and that the employees feel good about the work they do on each project.

For Brooks (who, like Gibbs has nearly 30 years of Fortune 500 facilities management experience) it’s the abundance of opportunity to build.

O

“There’s not anywhere you can drive in any of the major cities, especially in Dallas and Houston, where you don’t see construction cranes and some sort of construction, whether it’s a highway or office project,” Brooks says. “There’s just so much activity. Being in Dallas/Fort Worth, it’s a great opportunity to be involved in a leading industry, especially in Texas. Taking a project from start to finish, and having the client along for the ride – finding out exactly what they need and everybody walks away happy – that’s one of the greatest feelings you’ll ever come across.”

Alpha & Omega Pro Services Group LLC is a minority business enterprise and HUB certified general contractor providing construction, interior renovation, restoration and management services. –mjm

NBC DFW Studios

n Mar. 6, six Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) TEXO member companies were awarded Excellence in Construction awards during the 25th annual Excellence in Construction Awards celebration in Fort Lauderdale. Two additional companies were honored as well: Polk Mechanical Company of Grand Prairie won a National Safety Excellence Award and Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing of Dallas nabbed a National Safety Merit Award. – mjm National Excellence in Construction Eagle Award winners: W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company (Yates Construction) Project: The Residences at Stoneleigh Category: Residential/Multi-family and condominium projects – less than $100 million Location: Dallas National Excellence in Construction Pyramid Award Winners: Southern Botanical Project: Royal Oaks Country Club Category: Sitework/Landscape/Hardscape Location: Dallas

TDIndustries Project: Parkland Central Utility Plant Category: Mechanical Location: Dallas McCarthy Building Companies Inc. Project: AT&T Performing Arts Center Box Office Pavilion and Marquees Category: Commercial – Less than $5 million Location: Dallas AUI Contractors Project: JFK Tribute & General Worth Square Category: Other Construction – Less than $2 million Location: Fort Worth Adolfson & Peterson Construction Project: NBC DFW Studios Category: Commercial - $10-25 million Location: Fort Worth National Safety Excellence Award Winner Polk Mechanical Company, Grand Prairie National Safety Merit Award Winner Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, Dallas

DID YOU KNOW . . . .

CONSTRUCTION

™

The Industry’s Newspaper

Largest circulation construction newspaper in Texas

continued from Page 1 — High note Senate and helped to write mold remediation licensing requirements for the state of Texas. However, no matter how many hours she invested in the business, there was one thing she couldn’t quit: music.

“When I taught school, I was teaching music – that’s my background,” she explains. “My dad was in the military and I was an army brat. I graduated from high school in Germany and so I studied opera there for three years before coming back to the States. The reason I ended up in Fort Worth is I got a full-ride scholarship to Texas Christian University for music. Then I ended up meeting my husband and never left Fort Worth! Singing is what I’ve always done, it’s what I’ve always loved to do.”

Melinda used to sing opera regularly, but soon only chose local work to avoid traveling after her daughter was born.

She soon learned to play guitar so she could do bar and restaurant gigs, musical theatre, opera, concert and studio work, background singing and do short tours, instead.

“I like lots of different types of music and I’ve been blessed to be really versatile in my singing styles,” she says. “I just kind of do whatever interests me.”

It is especially interesting when Melinda can combine her three loves – singing, traveling and Bob.

“Bob and I love to travel, and most of the time I can wrap what I’m doing musically with travel; either I bring him along to somewhere where I have a gig or, if

we’re going somewhere, I find a gig to do while I’m there.”

Melinda just returned from a music director’s conference in Florida teaching music ministry workshops to church music directors. She also closed her onewoman shows in Dallas and Arlington and released her CD All Is Grace in December 2014.

Whether it’s music or construction, Melinda is amazed at the range of experiences life has brought her.

“I have a very interesting life, I have to say!” she says, laughing.

Allen & Company Environmental Services in Fort Worth offers commercial asbestos and lead paint abatement, mold remediation and HVAC systems and duct cleaning. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — All in good health working with the architects and the engineers toward the same goal, we’re able to meet those deadlines.”

Located at the corner of Kimzey Street and Locke Avenue, the final result exemplifies how communication and planning for the unexpected can yield stunning results. The striking exterior consists of masonry brick veneer and a plaster façade, but its most unique feature is its luminous curtain wall featuring blue Azuria glass that’s only fabricated two times a year. The glass is something that Ortiz and the team planned far in advance.

“We found out about it and researched the product several months prior to construction,” he says. “Our suppliers warned us of the long procurement time. After a subcontractor was selected, the glass was immediately released.”

The glass wasn’t the only specialty item that needed to be ordered ahead of time. Inside the building, on the interior, rotunda and elevator lobbies, there is ceramic tile imported from Italy.

“It was an extremely long-lead item that we ordered several months before it was to be installed,” he explains. “When they ordered it, I made sure they doublechecked the quantities because if we ran short, we’d be waiting months before we would receive the remaining tile.”

In addition to the lobby, also featured

on the first level is a 16,946-sf vinylfloored ambulatory surgical center consisting of five operating rooms, associated Post Anesthesia Care Units (PACUs), PreOps and OBS rooms. The two floors above are shell space reserved for future clients.

In a space that would serve such an important need, the team was careful to ensure that there would be no issues when the Texas Department of Health came to inspect the building. Ortiz said a mock inspection that included the pretesting of all mechanical, electrical and plumbing and life safety equipment was conducted. Because of the team’s dedication to the details, the TDH inspection found the building to be 100% compliant before the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy was granted.

As for the clients, Ortiz says they are pleased with the results.

“They’re very happy, especially in the surgery center,” he says. “We enjoyed working closely with the tenants, LandPlan and with the architect Ascension Group, with whom we’re working on the next project. We were all determined to get the job done and do whatever it takes.”

Adolfson & Peterson Construction offers general contracting services through its Richardson office and seven locations throughout the country. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

Submitted to Construction News

Meeting that mattered

L-R: IBTX Risk Services’ Michael Hendrickson, PCL Contract Bonding Agency’s Clem Lesch, National Utility Contractors Association’s (NUCA) Deana Butorac, Representative Giovanni Capriglione and PCL Contract Bonding Agency’s Melissa and Eric Lesch discussed issues impacting NUCA North Texas members during the association’s visit to 10 legislative offices. NUCA North Texas reported that they received a warm reception for their issues at the Jan. 27 meeting. –mjm

The man behind the camera

Steve Huedepohl creates films and takes photos for HOLT CAT.

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

Page 19

Page 20

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Apr 2015

What’s your favorite local hidden gem?

The Trinity Groves (at the base of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in West Dallas), and all of the options that are in there. There’s a cake bar that is really, really good. Every place that you will try in there is the greatest.

Diana Diaz, Azteca Enterprises I like Taqueria La Ventana, a little taco shop on the backside of El Fenix close to the West End. It’s all outdoor seating, and I like going over there and sitting. ”La Ventana” is Spanish for “window” which is what you order out of!

Philip Partington, Austin Commercial Mercardo Juarez on Spangler and Northwest Highway. I like to have the lunch special combinations, several different ones, depending on the day of the week.

I highly recommend it.

Cesar Colunga, Carrco Painting There’s an Oriental market off Belknap and Beach Street on the Fort Worth/Haltom City line. They have authentic stuff, it’s an awesome store.

Patrick Murphy, 3i Construction My son is obsessed with Thomas the Train. Our favorite thing to do together is to get on the DART rail and ride; he thinks he’s riding Thomas or one of Thomas’ friends. It costs me $5 and it costs him nothing. We ride to the Dallas Zoo, go to the West End to the candy shop and go to the aquarium or the Perot Museum, which are all walking distance from the train stop. It’s nice because I don’t have to worry about driving and I can engage with him. It’s something that’s a mainstay in our activities.

Dustin Freeman, Complete Fire Protection Sneaky Pete’s on Lake Grapevine. The food is nice, the music is nice, the view is good, but not a lot of people know about it.

Ahad Ghafoor, Innovative Design Build Sundance Square. Fort Worth used to be such an old, old town with no modifications, a diamond in the rough. Once the Bass brothers and other investors took over, a place has been created that visitors, even visitors from out of the country, want to come to. I love it! It’s relaxing.

I love to walk and see what else is new there.

Sharon Douglas, Bradley Douglas Construction Services My favorite restaurant is Benito’s Mexican Cuisine on Magnolia (in Fort Worth). Oh my gosh … we used to live in North Richland Hills and we drove to Benito’s; now we live two blocks from it! Their ceviche is unmatched, their enchilada con mole verde and all of their breakfast stuff is really good. It’s not Tex-Mex, it’s very authentic Mexican food.

Melinda Wood Allen, Allen & Company Environmental Services There’s the Plano Arbor Hills Preserve. It’s a nature preserve, with walking trails, bobcats and birds. We also like to go to Outpost Barbecue in Tioga, north of Plano, home of musician Bob Wills. We like to drive up there; it’s a pretty drive, and it’s only about an hour from me.

Ann Hicks, Hicks Resource Consulting Ozona Grill and Bar. It’s close to where I work, so we run over there to happy hour sometimes. The service is just amazing.

It’s very roomy; they have an outdoor covered section that is really nice in the springtime and even in the summer. In the winter they have a fire going, so it’s cozy year-round.

Sandy Liebau, Manhattan Construction Company