San Antonio Construction News April 2015 by Construction News

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Volume 17

Number 4

APRIL 2015

Flying away

A tale of two screens

Jon Randolph and Cathy got carried away by the idea of sailing through skies all over the globe while attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta last year.

Clint Hansen, owner, and his wife, Vicky Hansen, run the shop at Hansen Screen Company and keep busy with interests outside of work, too.

ver since attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October, Jon Randolph, vice president at Baker Triangle San Antonio, has been dreaming of taking his own hot air balloon flight. But Randolph’s ambitions don’t stop there. He will be taking a leave of absence to go on a balloon trip around the world. “There have only been a few people in history to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon, and Cathy and I are going to be on that list by the end of May,” declares Randolph. “We’re going to have help, of course. There’s no way I could do this without a trained professional along for the ride. It would be like having our pilot come in and do drywall.”

In 1998, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones became the first to fly a balloon around the world nonstop, taking a little under 20 days to travel more than 25,000 miles. In 2002, Steve Fossett became the first to fly around the world nonstop solo in a balloon – or any aircraft – taking a little more than 13 days to travel more than 20,000 miles. Having researched the undertaking for the last four months, all things considered, Randolph assures that he will only be away from work for about a month, even optimistic that they may beat both Fossett’s flight time and his top speed of 186 miles per hour. continued on Page 24

hile Hansen Screen Company celebrates its 40th anniversary selling, installing and even repairing screens for homes and business - owner Clint Hansen also has experience working on independent films for the big screen. Hansen has his own Internet Movie Database (IMDb) page, listing 19 acting credits, as well as credits as miscellaneous crew, producer and director of indie films. He already has two credits to his name for this year, including “Violence 4 Fun,” which is listed as filming. Hansen’s uncle, Greg Hansen, started Hansen Screen Company out of his garage in 1975 and then partnered with his father in 1984. Clint came into the business right out of high school in 1986.

His uncle retired in 2000 and then his father in 2003, and he’s been the sole proprietor ever since. When the economy took a downturn in 2009, Hansen was searching for a parttime job on Craigslist when he found someone looking for a place to film a continuation to one of his favorite movies, “The Warriors.” Hansen offered the use of his shop as a location, and he was offered a role in the film. He played the part of a biker mercenary, and he loved it. He’s been acting on the side ever since. In the office, Hansen has a poster for “Amounting to Nothing,” a film from his Place to B Productions, in which he continued on Page 24

Improving upon history

he Plaza de Armas Building Improvements project carried a series of challenges more than 130 years in the making for Byrne Construction Services and its design-build project team. The 58,000-sf building with two floors and a basement is located downtown next to the Spanish Governor’s Palace and across from City Hall. The goal was to renovate and repurpose the building for its new tenants, the City of San Antonio’s Department of Communications & Public Affairs and Cultural & Creative Development, as well as a healthy eatery, retail and an art gallery. The structure is actually four buildings that were all connected to one another. Phase I, demolition, lasted from February 2013 to June 2013, and Phase 2, build up, lasted from July 2013 to substantial completion in November 2014. During both phases, the design-build project faced several challenges, often

The Byrne Construction Services project team spent a year-and-a-half carrying out major renovations on the historic Plaza de Armas building. L-R: Gary Sanchez; Devin Fitzpatrick; Jess Foltz; Larry Davenport

requiring custom solutions. Excavations yielded archaeological discoveries from a time period that predates the Alamo and covers a historical gap from which the archaeology community has been missing information. Gary Sanchez, project manager, estimates that the team recovered more than a dozen boxes of artifacts. The project incurred a major delay due to the archaeological dig, which meant a 33 percent increase in project schedule. Also, this treasure trove of findings required the team to do a complete redesign of the structural foundation halfway through the project. Another issue was waterproofing due to the significant amount of water infiltration into the basement through the deteriorated masonry walls and vapor drive from the foundation. The design team and waterproofing consultant continued on Page 24

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

In memoriam

teven Bruce Jones, Planet Pickup, passed away Mar. 12 after waging a short but brave battle with lung cancer. Born Jun. 7, 1956 in San Antonio to parents Robert Edward and Gloria Jean Jones, he graduated from MacArthur High School and went on to attend the University of Texas in Austin. He deeply loved his family and friends, and he had a lifelong passion for fast cars, racing and motorcycles. He started his automotive career at Northside Ford, and his love for high performance brought him to Speed & Sport where he re-connected with Anthony Heye, who later opened The Max, and Steve joined him. When Heye opened Planet Pickup in 1999, Steve again joined his friend in November 2001. In those 14 years, he enjoyed working with co-workers and customers he happily called his family and best of friends.

Survivors include his wife, Cathy L.; his sons, Chris, Robert and Tyler; his stepdaughters, Elizabeth and Rebecca; his sister, Debbie; brother-in-law, Jeff; and many other family members and friends. –mh

arry Nathan Zimmermann, founder of Zimmermann Service Co. and Blue Frog Plumbing and Drain, passed away Mar. 6 at the age of 65. Born Aug. 29, 1949 to William and Mary Agnes Yosko Zimmermann, he was well known in the local construction industry. A lifelong member of the UA Local 142 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, Zimmermann started his career at Guarantee Plumbing and A/C and then worked for A.J. Monier & Co. for more than 20 years. He worked on the Bank of America Plaza, The Pyramid Building and USAA Towers. When he was laid off with so many others in the late 1980s, he started his own service company with his wife Pati in 1989. Three of their four sons have gone on to make their own mark in the construction industry. Daniel is a mechanical engineer and owner of Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, Matthew is a licensed plumber and owner of Quest Plumbing, and Luke is a licensed plumber and owner of Blue Frog Plumbing. The boys always knew they could call their father and ask how to fix anything or any questions about land, hunting, AC, plumbing, gardening, tractors, etc., be-

cause he would know. Danny stated that this is what he will miss the most. Raised on a farm and ranch in Nixon, TX and surrounding Southeast Texas communities, Zimmermann attended Karnes City High School and earned his associate’s degree in applied engineering sciences from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. He was a farmer at heart, farming wheat, corn or maize, and growing vegetables in his garden in the city. To the chagrin of his wife and son, Luke, Zimmermann hoarded tractors and anything mechanical and stored them in the garage or the warehouse. Luke recalled a funny story of his dad cutting off the sleeves of his work shirt, working in it, and then sending it to the cleaners to be washed and pressed. He was also a man of faith who loved God and attended HOPE Center and the First United Pentecostal Church, where he was a board trustee for many years. Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Pati; four sons, Daniel, Matthew, Joshua and Luke; and grandchildren, Briley, Cade, Ethan Daniel, Sophia Grace, Asher Troy and Emma Rhyse. –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

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PUTZ AROUND TOWN JC Putz here . . . Spring is almost here but some people we know are getting an early start in the great outdoors. Yes, yes that is NAWIC Chapter president Michelle Urbanczyk relaxing with the girls at the recent golf outing during WIC Week. Wonder what her score was? Praise the Lord or Politician in Waiting? From the looks of this photo at the recent ASA Awards Banquet, Mike McGinnis with Allen & Allen Company is still deciding what he wants to do in life. Either way, the girls around here tell me his smile is a winner.

You really drink that stuff? Only a guy named “Scratch” could get sane people to drink “Rattle Snake Spit.” Yes, it really happened at the Hart team booth during ABC’s Chili Cook-Off.

With that, I’m out’a here

Following the big BlueLine

L-R: BlueLine Selma team members Walt Baxter and Tyler Turner

n January of last year, Volvo Rents became BlueLine Rental. More than a year later, team members in Selma continue to spread the word to customers and potential customers in the construction industry that they are the same people under a new company. Chuck Graves, branch manager for the Selma location since it opened in August 2012, says that it’s the same team they had under the previous ownership. They didn’t lose anyone in the acquisition; in fact, they actually gained a few team members for a current total of 24. One of the biggest challenges since the transition, Graves says, is that customers don’t realize that they have become BlueLine Rental. With a familiar brand name, Volvo’s Selma location hit the ground running when it opened in August 2012, even while operations were run out of a trailer until its facility was completed. Business continues to boom as BlueLine. Graves comments that they are

reaching out to customers they’ve done business with in the past to let them know that it’s a different company now and present them with the chance to see what BlueLine has to offer. Graves notes that BlueLine places heavy emphasis on safety, and he says that the branch is getting bigger with more equipment coming in and more equipment on rent. He adds that they are bringing in new business as they adjust the mix of their fleet to be a little more commercially driven. While their previous focus was on dirt equipment, such as excavators and backhoes accounting for 70 percent of their fleet, BlueLine places an emphasis on aerial equipment such as forklifts and manlifts. As the Selma facility changes its fleet, selling some equipment to buy more aerial equipment, the mix is moving more toward 50/50. According to its website, BlueLine has more than 130 rental stores throughout North America. –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

What’s your favorite local hidden gem?

In memoriam I’ve only been in town about seven years, and it’s not really a hidden gem by any means, but when my wife and I get in the mood for some good Tex-Mex, we always have to go to Rio Rio on the River Walk. They’ve got some of the best Tex-Mex I’ve ever had, and they have the best margaritas in San Antonio. Aaron Schinbeckler, Mission City Electric

homas Lynn Fulks, Urban Concrete Contractors, passed away Mar. 10 at his home in Lakehills at the age of 56. Well known in the construction community, he worked in the industry for 30 years. He was born Oct. 22, 1958 in San Antonio to Harry Edward Fulks Jr. and Nancy Lee Crawford. He graduated from McCollum High School in 1976 and married Lori Jean Spencer on Apr. 15, 1983. Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Lori; daughters, Ashley Marie and Samantha Lynn; son, Justin Thomas; grandson, Kaleb Edward;

mother, Nancy; brother, Richard Glenn; sister, Dianna; and many nieces and nephews. –mh

I guess one of my favorite places in the past was McNay Art Institute, because I used to do portraits out there for many, many years – bridal portraits, engagements, things like that. That’s back when I had my business from ’87 to ’98. It’s really a neat place. Steve Huedepohl, HOLT CAT

Specht’s Store. It’s a restaurant and has live music occasionally. I like the food and the atmosphere. Jeff Vogt, Dynamic Systems There’s a park – Eisenhower Park – by our house. I enjoy taking the kids out there for a day out and letting them enjoy bike riding and playing. Jonathan Contreras, Structure Tone Southwest For me, it’s a breakfast spot that I love. It’s called Halcyon. It’s downtown in Blue Star. It’s an awesome coffee shop and a great oatmeal place. Gary Sanchez, Byrne Construction Services Friedrich Wilderness Park. It’s a killer work out. You’re going up hills that are completely vertical and rocky terrain. It’s a great work out, and it is so rugged. It’s fun, and I just discovered it a couple weeks ago. Linda Drassen, IBTX Risk Services We like going to Fredericksburg a lot. It’s local but it’s busy – and Gruene. And neither one of them are secrets. John Calhoun, United Tool & Fastener I enjoy going to Friedrich Wilderness Park. My wife and I are avid outdoors people, and so on the weekends, when the sun is out, we get our backpacks and go for a hike. Greg Shue, Open Studio Architecture I grew up in San Antonio, and I would say Sunken Gardens was always cool as a kid. That was a neat place. And then out here, one of my favorite places to go to is the Anhalt Dance Hall. It is a structure that is over 100 years old, and it was built by all the German farmers out here. It’s north of 46, Bulverde-Spring Branch area. It’s just a really neat place. James Kissling, Kissling Architecture The Hotel Havana. It’s a hotel and restaurant. I like it because I’m from Miami and it has the Cuban flair. Rita Phillip, Zachry Construction Corporation It would probably be the Hangar. My fiancé and I love to go there and get some hot wings and beer. Angel Robles, G.D. Interiors Bolner’s Meat Market. Their selection of meat is awesome, and plus, they make the best jalapeno cheese salami that I’ve ever tasted. Ryland E. “Reb” Brem, Keller-Martin Construction The Comal River. It’s the shortest river in the state of Texas, and it’s pristine and crystal clear. Thor Thornhill, HMT Engineering & Survey I love to hike, and I do it as much as I can, so Friedrich Wilderness Park is one of my very favorite hidden gems. They have good hiking trails. Dawn Thompson, Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Niki’s [Tokyo Inn] is a sushi place off Hildebrand that looks scary, but it is the absolute best, most authentic sushi place in San Antonio. The people are fabulous. You can sit on the floor. The food is the absolute best. Madeline Anz Slay, Slay Architecture

Next month’s question: What makes you smile?

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 5

20 years of excellence

he American Subcontractors Association (ASA) San Antonio Chapter hosted its 20th annual Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet Mar. 5 at Pearl Stable. –mh

Superintendent of the Year Glenn Brietzke The Koehler Company

Project of the Year – $2.5-$5 Million The Storehouse Building Structure Tone Southwest

President’s Award Bert Mazac, Big B Construction

Project of the Year – Under $2.5 Million St. John Lutheran Church New Classroom Keller-Martin Construction

Pioneer Award Fred Raley, SpawGlass

Project Manager of the Year Brent Dawson Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Project of the Year – $5-$10 Million KSAT-12 Television News Station Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Project of the Year – Over $20 Million San Antonio ISD Alamo Stadium Joeris General Contractors

Project of the Year – $10-$20 Million Pape-Dawson Headquarters Koontz-McCombs Construction

General Contractor of the Year Keller-Martin Construction

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

came back into the room, I had demolished it and started on a new building. I guess you could say I had a passion for building things at a young age.

E. Daniel Garcia President Rhino Design Build, LLC

or more than 10 years, E. Daniel Garcia has been running his own construction company, Rhino Design Build. Having always admired his father, who owned his own business in the industry, Garcia started his own business Oct. 22, 2004 and formed his LLC a little less than a year later. With projects including home renovations and tenant finish outs, he has kept busy at work while founding a nonprofit to help less fortunate San Antonio residents with their homes. Crediting his father with the person he is today, Garcia is also learning how to be a father to his new baby. Tell me about your family. My parents, Ed and Veronica Garcia, live in San Antonio, and I have one sister, Analiza Avila, who is two years younger than me. My father is an architect and has recently retired from a school district. He is now opening his architecture practice up, and we have teamed up to go after development and design build projects here in San Antonio. My father has extensive experience in the construction and development industry and had the honor of serving as president for the San Antonio Chapter of American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1996. My mother is a retired educator and administrator for Northside Independent School District (NISD). My sister works for a title company in San Antonio and is in charge of business development. You were born in Lubbock, but you moved to San Antonio at 5 years old. Do you remember Lubbock, and do you have family there? I don’t remember Lubbock, but I do remember running up and down the ramp of the moving truck the day we moved to San Antonio. I don’t have any family from Lubbock. My parents were from Laredo, and I still have family that lives there. When did you know you were interested in construction? I remember being extremely into playing with my building blocks. My dad tells stories of how I would build these massive buildings, and I would wait for him to get home from work so I could show him my latest creation. He said he would come in the door and I would grab his hand and drag him to my room to show him what I had built. He would run to get his camera to take a picture of it, and by the time he

What are your fondest memories of growing up? I recall having lots of energy as a child. I was always outside playing with my friends and would usually come inside to get a drink of water and then head back out. My favorite time was when my dad would get home from work, and we’d go to my elementary school field and throw the football around. I studied his every move – just as I’m sure most kids do. It sounds like you really admired your father. Growing up, I would always brag to my friends about my dad and how he had his own business. I knew that someday I wanted to do the same. Everything that I am today I owe to having such an incredible dad. He taught me to always stand up for what I believe in, how to always be honest and upfront with people, how to always do what you say, how to run a business, and how to be a man. How did you get started in the construction industry? When I turned 16, my Dad gave me my first job at his architecture/construction company as a runner. I would pick up material and deliver it to various jobsites. When I would get back to the office, I would watch the architects draw on computer software, and I was fascinated. It wasn’t long before I was helping design buildings and helping on projects. After I graduated high school, I enrolled in college and kept working full-time as well. I continued working and learning for my father’s companies until the decision was made to shut the companies down. What happened then? I made a decision right then and there that I was going into business for myself. I only had $14 in my bank account and no real idea of what I was going to do to generate business. I started off designing custom homes for some investors, and before I knew it, I was in business with these investors and building custom homes on a golf course. That’s great! Did it keep going that way? The business was beginning to roll in and I was gaining a reputation as a young and upcoming homebuilder in San Antonio. At that time, San Antonio was one of the hottest real estate markets for homebuilders in the nation. A local television station approached me to film a local version of the Extreme Home Makeover show. I was one of the main sponsors of the show and was in charge of rebuilding this home for a very deserving family. To capitalize on the momentum of the show, I filmed a television commercial that aired locally. This really increased business. It was now the start of 2008 and I wanted to expand my business, so I started a second business that focused on green energy products. Spreading the word about a new business is never easy, so I decided to film another television commercial to help generate quick sales. We hit the ground running. I was also doing radio advertising and local Internet

E. Daniel Garcia, owner of Rhino Design Build, and his wife, Elena

marketing. Months went by and the sales kept coming in until the day the stock market crashed. My phone literally stopped ringing over night. Months went by and the bills were piling up. How did you get past this? This would continue for the next two years until one morning I was reading the newspaper and stumbled upon an article that said Donald Trump’s show, “The Apprentice,” was looking for business owners affected by the economy to appear on season 10 of “The Apprentice.” I sent them an email explaining what happened to me and my business. They responded right away and a month later, I was a finalist and on a plane headed to Los Angeles to meet with casting producers and NBC executives. I stayed a week and went through all kinds of tests and interviews, but was not chosen for the final cast of the show. That opportunity would have never come my way had it not been for what I had been through in the business world. When I returned to San Antonio, I had felt like I now had the energy and desire to do it all over again and I have. What do you enjoy about construction? What I really enjoy about construction is the creation of something that doesn’t exist and willing it into solid reality with my team. I enjoy providing jobs and helping local small business increase their business. I also enjoy exploring new business opportunities. How did you meet your wife? How long have you been together and what do you enjoy doing together? My wife, Elena, and I were introduced through a friend that insisted that she had found “my wife.” As soon as I walked into the restaurant, my friend turned to me and said, “There’s your wife.” I looked and fell in love at first sight. After working up the courage to go over and talk to her, we struck up a conversation and went on our first date a week later. We’ve been together for four years and never left each other’s side since then. We just had our first daughter on Dec. 16, Arainna Elena Garcia. We’ve been lucky enough to do some traveling and can’t wait until our daughter is old enough so she can join us in our adventures. We are also both part of St. Paul’s Church A.C.T.S community and serve on the team. What is A.C.T.S.? A.C.T.S. stands for Adoration Community Theology and Service. It is a church retreat that my wife and I attend almost every year. It is a great way to get away and refocus on what is important in our lives as well as help other people along the way. We strongly believe in “paying it forward.” You started the Rhino Garcia Foundation last year. What kind of progress

has your nonprofit made? The Rhino Garcia Foundation has teamed with Building For Hope and is currently filming footage helping local San Antonio residents that are living in homes that don’t meet current building code and need our help to fix the home. We are actively seeking donations to help us get this off the ground. There is no shortage of people that need our help, but there is a shortage of contributions to help us achieve our goal. I have seen some of the living conditions that some families are living in, and I can’t believe this is happening in our city. The worst part is seeing how this affects young children and the elderly. Starting a non-profit from scratch and finding funding to help has presented a huge challenge. What are some of your biggest successes in life? And what are some goals you are still striving to achieve? My biggest successes in life have been getting married and starting my family. My nonprofit has been a longtime goal that has been recently introduced to San Antonio. I envision a world where everyone on Earth has a roof over their heads and a place to call home. It is my lifetime goal to help them all. What are your favorite things to do when you have spare time? I really enjoy going to the gym and lifting weights. It’s a hobby that I took up back in 1998, and I really enjoy it. Staying active has always played a huge role in my life. Also, I have recently teamed up with some investors and started flipping homes. You were recently accepted as one of the San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. What did it feel like to receive this award? Being selected as one of the 2015 40 Under 40 was a tremendous honor. I was nominated by some fellow business owners and colleagues. This was the first year that my hat was thrown into the ring for the award, and I had one shot at getting in because I turn 40 on Jun. 7. As I walked on stage and received the award, my mind quickly replayed all the moments – ups and downs – that had brought me to this point in time. I looked out in the crowd and saw my wife cheering – and trying to take as many photos as possible. I am truly blessed to have my wife as my number one supporter. I feel I was recognized for the award because not only are we a local San Antonio emerging small business, but we are also helping others along the way. I was fortunate to have my father as a mentor, not only growing up, but on the business side as well. Not everyone has that. I’ve had the privilege of working with some young entrepreneurs who sometimes just need a sounding board to bounce new ideas off of. I am also part of the City of San Antonio’s Mentor-Protégé Program. I am the protégé for Tony Davila’s company, Davila Construction. –mh

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

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Ice cold beer at the ball

Best-dressed directors

L-R: Jeffrey Watson, Alamo Architects; Jill Thomas; Victoria Shum; Adam Bush, Overland Partners

he American Institute of Architects (AIA) hosted its 2015 Beaux Arts Ball, its signature annual fundraiser, Feb. 21, at the Alamo Beer Brewery. Guests enjoyed beer from steins made of ice, which they held with the help of a glove. –mh

The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) San Antonio Chapter Board of Directors gathered at the 20th annual Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet, which was the last ASA event for Dawn Thompson, executive assistant (center right). –mh

Photos by David Rangel

Benjamin and Jenny Rosas, O’Connell Robertson Architects

Brian Keller, PE, Cleary Zimmermann

Jeffrey Olivares, PBK Architects, and Alina Kesl

A stake in instruments

L-R: Marcus Garza, Dorothy Bustillos, Cathy Pawelek, Caesar Perez and Michael Duderstadt

ith three generations now involved in Duderstadt Surveyor Supply, the company has come a long way since Bill Duderstadt, primarily known as “Duder,” started in the surveying industry in 1942. Formerly known as Duderstadt Stake Company, the company is now rebranding to reflect its continuing expansion into instrumentation. In terms of revenue, instruments now account for 60 percent of the business. In terms of labor, wood still accounts for 100 percent. Though Duderstadt started selling instruments again back in 2002 and that side of the business is steadily growing, the company still does wood stake. Since they make all of their own wood stake, the wood is hand-selected and screened so it will not break when pounded into the ground. Even with automation and robotics dominating the field these days, surveyors still use stake to mark the ground.

Duderstadt’s son, James, came into the business a few years ago, and his grandson, Michael, came into it in May of last year, doing administration and business development. At 95, Duderstadt is still the owner and stays active, still going to the wood shop and the ranch. He has also never thrown any piece of equipment away, which is why Michael says that if a customer has a piece of equipment that is 20 years old, they will be able to take care of it. In the 1940s, Duderstadt worked for the San Antonio Arsenal during World War II, repairing instruments and traveling to the east coast to train with Bausch & Lomb on optics work. After the war, he bought a coating machine from the federal government and started doing optical repair, which led to surveying instruments. Having returned to instruments in the last decade, that part of the business is now coming to the forefront with its new name. –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Red hot chili cookers

he Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter hosted its annual Chili Cook-Off Mar. 12 in the parking lot adjacent to its Arion Parkway office. Attendees enjoyed refreshments and all the chili they could eat along with silent auctions and raffle prizes. –mh

On the right - 1st Place: Alamo Concrete Products 2nd Place and Showmanship Award: Hart Acoustical

3rd Place: Trade Management

Best of Show: IBTX Risk Services

Galaxy Builders

Smithers Merchant Builders

BlueLine Rental and H&E Equipment

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 9

Back in the U.S.A.

fter years of developing his career abroad, Evan Creson returned home to the United States, joining HOLT CAT in early February. The equipment dealer appointed him vice president of sales for its Machine Division. In this position, Creson will lead machine sales for the Southern Region, including San Antonio, Austin and South Texas. Born and raised in North Carolina, Creson earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Appalachian State University. Between high school and college, he served as a diesel technician in the U.S. Army Reserve. He began his career at a Caterpillar dealership in North Carolina as an assistant to a supervisor in the component rebuild area and then as an assistant to the general service manager. While working as a fleet manager, he met a CAT rep named Bob Nelson. Nelson encouraged Creson, who was young and single and eager to see the world, to try to get into the Caterpillar marketing training class, a three-month course the company offers every year in which a select number of recruits learn about CAT products and visit CAT factories. At the end, students received a factory or marketing company assignment, and Creson went to a Miami-based marketing group covering Latin America. As a general construction marketing consultant, covering dealers in Latin America, he was responsible for mini, small and wheeled excavators. In October 2003, he received a machine sales representative assignment in Puerto Rico. While living there, he facilitated deals between the factory and dealers as well as end users. His territory was the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, British Guiana and Colombia.

Jonathan Contreras Senior Project Engineer Structure Tone Southwest

Evan Creson recently came into the HOLT fold and was named vice president of sales in the Machine Division.

In November 2004, he switched gears to become branch manager of a CAT dealership in Freeport on Grand Bahama, and in August 2005, he took a position as marketing manager of the CAT dealership in Bogota, Colombia. He also served as vice president while based in Bogota, and then vice president of the mining division in Barranquilla on the Caribbean Coast in Colombia, and finally returned to Bogota to become president of the CAT dealer. With more than 15 years of experience with Caterpillar and its dealer network in North America and Latin America, Creson left the Bogota dealer as it split into three companies that his three vice presidents took over. Returning stateside with his wife and two daughters, now 6 and 7 years old, Creson is a self-described family man who is happy to be back in the U.S. with his family and joining the HOLT family. –mh

A lesson in labor costs

t general contractor Structure Tone Southwest, 29-year-old Jonathan Contreras is hoping to officially move into the role of project manager soon. Currently, as a senior project engineer, he performs project management duties, including budgeting, coordination and scheduling, so it will be a natural transition. Having begun his career in the construction industry approximately 10 years ago on the subcontractor side, Contreras did framing and drywall and then commercial site work before getting into general contracting. He joined Structure Tone a little over two years ago as a project engineer. He enjoys that every day at his job is different and he’s never doing the same thing twice, which keeps his job exciting and keeps him thinking on his feet. He has done retail, automotive and commercial finish outs working with clients such as HEB, Visionworks and Sewell Cadillac. Born and raised in San Antonio, Contreras is a lifelong resident of the Alamo City. He graduated from Highlands High School, and then earned his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership online from Arizona State University. He and his wife, Priscilla, married at a young age, and his father-in-law brought him into the world of construction. He started out estimating for his father-in-law’s commercial drywall company.

Contreras’ father is in the industry and works for a local engineering firm. His mother is a manager in the retail sector. His wife is also in the industry. Priscilla Contreras is president of her own commercial drywall and framing company. The couple has two sons, 9-year-old Jordan and 3-year-old Ethan. Aside from being a husband and a father, Contreras enjoys going to the gym with a passion for personal fitness as well as outdoor activities. When he’s not at work, his biggest hobby, however, is spending time with his family. He is actively involved with the North Chamber of Commerce. He went through the chamber’s Leadership Lab and now he is a part of the North Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lab Alumni Association. He notes that the lab program helped him evolve to be a better leader in both his personal and professional lives. The association allows him to continue the friendships formed during the lab, stay in touch with those fellow members of the business community and grow those positive working relationships. He is also in his second year of service on the North Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Committee. –mh

MUSTANG COLT SERVICES Serving Customers Honestly

he Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MCASMACNA) of San Antonio hosted one of the biggest seminar events in its history Feb. 17 at Morgan’s Wonderland, with more than 300 plumbers, pipefitters, welders and sheet metal workers in attendance. The guest of honor was Mark Rogers, Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) past national president. Rogers presented the seminar, “Understanding the Full Cost of an Hour of Labor,” to offer insight as to the costs associated with putting a worker on the job for one hour and how various scenarios and problems on projects directly impact profitability. Attendees came away realizing just how much more goes into the cost of an hour beyond the hourly wage shown on a paycheck. The educational evening also included a little fun. MCA-SMACNA and UA Local 142 donated $3,000 worth of gift

Industry FOLKS

Electrical Contracting • Commercial/Industrial Special Projects San Antonio, TX Weslaco, TX

L-R: Bill Monier, AJ Monier & Co., and Mark Rogers, MCAA past national president

cards for door prizes for the event, which is the first of what will be a twice-a-year series. –mh

Photos by Mary C. Haskin Photography

L-R: Roger Ford, Jay Rohan, Lance Hagdorn, Jeff Vogt and Justin Crippin with Dynamic Systems

210 494 7100 956 969 5703

Page 10

San Antonio 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

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-

APPRENTICE OPPORTUNITY Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 67 will be accepting applications for Apprenticeship beginning Monday, March 23, 2015 through Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Applications must be made in person, M–F, from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM, and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Sheet Metal Worker’s Apprentice School, 11 Burwood, San Antonio, Tx. QUALIFICATIONS: • Must be 18 years old by 07/31/15. • High school diploma or equivalent (GED) • Physically able to perform work required. THE FOLLOWING MUST BE SUBMITTED AT TIME OF APPLICATION: • High school diploma or GED and Percentile rating • Certified high school transcripts (sealed envelope)

For further information, call 210-349-3350. Acceptance and training shall be done without discrimination to race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.

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.

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.

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

Page 11

Legislationâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;we are under way

Stopping falls, saving lives 2014 National Safety Stand-Down to reach workers worldwide

Sewell C. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spikeâ&#x20AC;? Cutler, Principal Cutler-Smith PC Dallas, TX

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

he 2015 legislative session (the â&#x20AC;&#x153;84th Legislatureâ&#x20AC;?) 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;CIPs,â&#x20AC;? 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 Workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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 workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;E-verifyâ&#x20AC;? 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 Workmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (R-Austin) HB1784 reduces contractor liability for construction defects ten percent for each year after project completion. This should reduce claims of â&#x20AC;&#x153;construction defectsâ&#x20AC;? 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 Olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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 Workmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 attorneysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fee recovery. Referred to the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee for Hearing. Contractor Licensing The last bill I will mention is a real doozy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legislative session and, as always, most of the action will come in the last â&#x20AC;&#x153;run to the gavel.â&#x20AC;? 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

A riddle of lighting

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 youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stand-Down has been extended to two weeks. OSHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fatal falls and injuries touch workers in all kinds of jobs across the country; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a broad problem that has a terrible impact on workers and their families,â&#x20AC;? said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given the tremendous response weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve received, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.â&#x20AC;? 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 nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

Submitted to Construction News

Belting out potential

As part of the rodeo season "Tool Belt Round Up," members of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) San Antonio Chapter donated tool belts to students of the George Gervin Youth Center's YouthBuild Program, which provides its trainees with marketable construction skills and career planning and preparation. Contributing members included Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, Cude Engineers, F.A. Nunnelly Company, Guido Construction, Joeris General Contractors, Linbeck Group, Lynwood Building Materials, Mullis Newby Hurst, Sundt Construction, Turner Construction Company, Zachry Construction Corp., Whitecap/HD Supply, San Marcos Air Conditioning, and Watson Nunnelly Electric. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;mh

:H %X\ DQG 5HF\FOH

Â&#x2021; $OXPLQXP &DQV 6KHHW &DVW Â&#x2021; &RSSHU :LUH 7XELQJ Â&#x2021; 5HG <HOORZ %UDVV Â&#x2021; &DWDO\WLF &RQYHUWHUV Â&#x2021; 5DGLDWRUV &DU $& $OXPLQXP Â&#x2021; 6WDLQOHVV 6WHHO DQG 0RUH How many salesmen does it take to sell a light bulb? In search of the answer, we found these three gentlemen at Voss Lighting on Randolph Boulevard. L-R: Kendal Langenberg, Tom Blackford and Bill Blackford. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;mh

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Page 12

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

BBQ under pressure

he Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) San Antonio Chapter held its 15th annual Bar-B-Cue Cook-Off and Apprentice Wire-Off Mar. 20-21 at the Helotes Fairgrounds. The awards were hard-earned with cook-off teams working through constant rain and occasional downpours. Out of 10 apprentices competing in the wire-off, the winner will enjoy a paid trip to Tampa, FL to compete in the national competition in October. –mh

Pork Ribs 1st: IES Commercial 2nd: Elliott Electric Supply 3rd: TMT Solutions 4th: Graybar Electric Supply 5th: Quinney Electric

Gumbo 1st: CED 2nd: The Reynolds Co. 3rd: Quinney Electric 4th: Dealers Electric Supply 5th: E-Tel

Apprentice Wire-Off: 1st: Albert Arteaga, JMEG 2nd: Roberto Fraire, Masters Electrical Services 3rd: Aaron Dews, Southwest Electrical Contracting

Open 1st: E-Tel (Oysters Rockefeller) 2nd: Mission City Electric Co. (Chicken Stuff) 3rd: IES Commercial (Firecracker Shrimp) 4th: Summity Electric Supply (Stuffed Jalapenos) 5th: The Reynolds Co. (Armadillo Eggs)

Brisket 1st: Central Electric 2nd: Graybar Electric Supply 3rd: Eaton 4th: Mission City Electric Co. 5th: JMEG

Chicken 1st: JMEG 2nd: The Reynolds Co. 3rd: Brandt 4th: Hill Country Electric Supply 5th: Baish Electric Co.

Best in Show: IES Commercial

Dessert 1st: Bell & McCoy (Baked Sopapilla Cheesecake) 2nd: The Reynolds Co. (Brown Sugar Cheesecake Bar) 3rd: Central Electric (Cheesecake) 4th: E-Tel (Pineapple Upside Down Cake) 5th: Summit Electric Supply (Apple Crisp)

Beans 1st: JMEG 2nd: Eaton 3rd: Dealers Electric Supply 4th: Rexel 5th: Summit Electric Supply

Bragging Rights 1st: The Reynolds Co. 2nd: JMEG 3rd: Bell & McCoy, IES Commercial, Summit Electric Supply (tie) 4th: Central Electric, E-Tel (tie) 5th: Eaton

Chili 1st: Summit Electric Supply 2nd: Bell & McCoy 3rd: Brandt 4th: Hill Country Electric Supply 5th: IES Commercial

Submitted to Construction News

Building up scholarship funds

Armadillo Homes and several other members of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA) donated time, materials and labor for the build of GSABA’s 2014 Charity Home, which recently sold. Through this project, GSABA funds three scholarships each year through the Greater San Antonio Education Foundation. Contributors to the build included Murray Plumbing Co., Champion AC, Goodman Air Conditioning and Heating, Maverick of Texas Construction, Greenstone Industries, Parrish & Co., MG Building Materials, Innovative Kitchens & Bath, Hart Components, JP Hart Lumber Company, Powerhouse Electrical Services, Fashion Glass & Mirror, Prime Seamless Gutters & Roofing, Hollywood-Crawford Door Co., Builder Security Group, Final Touch Cleaning, Turney Lighting, Kipp Flores Architects, ATS Engineers, and Pest Shield Pest Control. –mh

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 13

Industry FOLKS Angel Robles Estimator/Project Manager G.D. Interiors

hough Angel Robles started out in the construction industry as an electrician helper, he soon found his passion in the drywall and metal studs part of the industry. Today, as an estimator/project manager at G.D. Interiors (GDI), Robles, 29, aims to bridge the gap between the office and the field. He recalls working out in the field and being afraid to ask the office team a question, but now he wants the field members of GDI to see that they have support in the office. While production time is a factor on any jobsite, Robles also knows the importance of safety and aims to develop his own safety education. As an authorized OSHA instructor, he has been giving OSHA 10-hour and 30hour classes for about two years. Before joining GDI in June, Robles worked at M.K. Marlow Company for about five years, heading up a digital production control program. Robles’ stepfather introduced him to metal studs and drywall and is still working in the field today. His mother stayed at home to help raise Robles and his six siblings. After graduating from Southside High School, Robles studied music at San Antonio College (SAC). Though he wants to finish his degree, he is now planning to transfer to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to study construction management. He continues to pursue his passion for music in his spare time. He plays guitar, piano, drums and bass. He also does sound engineering, setting up stages, running wires and checking sound quality.

Though Robles has played at venues such as the White Rabbit and Backstage Live, he didn’t play in school, and there’s a story behind that. “My mom bought me a guitar when I was 3 or 4,” he explains. “Unfortunately, I saw a rock video, and at the end of the rock video, they smashed the guitar. And I did the same thing with my acoustic guitar, and I never saw another instrument or another guitar until I was 16 years old. “My mom bought me a guitar when I was 16 years old. She said, ‘Do not break this one,” and I said, ‘Yes, ma’am.’ From there, I’ve never really given it up. I wouldn’t go anywhere without my guitar. I would put it in my car, and I would just go with it. I’m 29 now and I still have my guitar in my room, and when I’m not doing construction, I’ll go home and I’ll just play some guitar.” These days, Robles spends less time on music and more time with his little brothers and sisters. At 22, he lost an older brother, and it brought him and his siblings closer together. He also tries to be a positive presence for his youngest brothers, who are 13 and 10. –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

www.olmosequipment.com

WE MOVE THE EARTH

The man behind the camera

440 Pinn Road San Antonio, TX 78227 210-675-4990

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

Steve Huedepohl creates films and takes photos for HOLT CAT.

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

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Tejas talent from El Paso to Beaumont Amarillo to Brownsville

www.alamocrane.com 35 Years of Service to Texas San Antonio (210) 344-7370 Austin (512) 282-6866 Toll Free (800) 880-0134

At Tejas Equipment Rental, these guys were holding down the counter fort and keeping busy. L-R: Sam Erwin, branch manager as well as regional manager for both the North and South San Antonio locations, and Brandon Trefero, service coordinator –mh

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 15

just as effective. Gambler lures makes a 4-inch flap-n-shad that has become one of my favorite choices when choosing this method. Colors can vary depending on water clarity, but pumpkinseed/chartreuse and plum/ chartreuse can always be relied on.

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

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.

pring fishing is one of this writer’s most exciting time of the year to be on the water for several reasons. The first reason is we associate spring with warming conditions and the end of cold winter mornings. The second reason is water temperatures are reaching that magical point that most look forward to throw top water lures. Top water lures or surface plugs are by far my favorite types of lure to throw. They’re the only artificial lure that provides a visual sight when a fish attacks it. This

type of fishing is by far the most exciting for me because of the heart stopping explosion that occurs when a fish attacks your plug. When a fish attacks your lure it can be at the end of your cast or five feet from your rod tip, either way it will surprise you even if you think you’re expecting it. For me every hit is as exciting as the first. With the arrival of warmer conditions to the Laguna Madre and 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

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A jolly good fallow

Randy Reiley, vice president of operations at Keller-Martin Construction, was proud of his son, Tyler, for harvesting this fallow deer in February. –mh

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

In our product section this month, we are going to put our equipment through some pretty rough conditions. Windy days are not uncommon during spring months and you can be sure there will be some days that you wished you would have stayed home. One piece of equipment that I will not have to worry about in the platform of my business is my boat. My 25-ft Majek Xtreme is by far the most reliable part of my operation and my office day after day. The folks at Majek boats have been around these waters for decades and know what it takes to build a boat to get you home safe. If you’re looking for a boat that will out perform the competition day in and day out, look no further than Majek Boats. The folks at Premier Yamaha have the full line of Majek’s to look at and test ride. To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail. com. Still have several days open in April although summer is filling up quick. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Page 16

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

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

Spring Break fishing results

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

Wiiggins’ record striper. New youth record striper

McPHerson 46-pounder

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 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 wa-

Fishing boats just before setting out in the morning

ter. 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!

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 17

Submitted to Construction News

She didn’t shoot the sheriff or the deputy

Joining the club

L-R: Margaret Timms, Sheriff Susan Pamerleau and Charles Timms shared a birthday Margaret will always remember.

“This is my best buck to date,” says Buster Williams, outside sales and manager for plumbing and mechanical manufacturer’s representative PMI Sales & Marketing in San Antonio. Harvested at the M3 Ranch in Charlotte, TX, the 10-point buck scored 168 3/8 B&C 2015. It made the “160 Club” in the Muy Grande Deer Contest in Freer, TX. –mh

ast June, Charles Timms, Timms Trucking, surprised his wife, Margaret Timms, with a KLRN Blazing Gavels auction item purchased for her birthday, the opportunity to “Shoot with the Sheriff.” When her birthday rolled around, the

couple met with Sheriff Susan Pamerleau and Chief Deputy Manuel Longoria at the Blackhawk Shooting Range. Afterward, the four of them met for lunch at the Sandbar located at the Pearl. –mh

Submitted to Construction News

The big sheep

Under the instruction of the sheriff, Margaret takes her shot.

A-1 Fire & Safety

n a trip to Tajikistan in late February, Gary Joeris, president of Joeris General Contractors, successfully hunted this beautiful 62-inch Marco Polo. “I traveled to Kyrgyzstan where I met my guide's crew, then drove six hours to the camp, crossing into Tajikistan and traveling along the border to China along the way,” recalls Joeris. “Our camp was on Karakul Lake, which sits at 12,990 feet

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above sea level. The ram was spotted on the second day after a 1,000-foot climb. After a successful stalk to 350 yards, this magnificent trophy will be headed to my trophy room. “The two best things I took with me on this trip were the right equipment, a custom 300 Win Mag and the proper training on how to use that equipment at long range.“ –mh

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

The third annual Rubber Ducky BBQ was Mar. 7 at MacArthur Park. The fundraiser is coordinated every year by Kent Gerstner, sales for Construction News. This year had the biggest turnout with about 100 guests and team members, and this year’s raffle prize was the biggest yet, a Triton smoker pit that went to lucky winner, Tammy Reilly, Bubba’s Propane. –mh

Ladies Fish May 1 Men Fish May 2

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

Hosted by

See MrBigTrout.com for more details

Contact: Doug 210-213-8289

Cindy 210-385-9195

Pattie 210-885-8593

Page 18

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Submitted to Construction News

Something fishy in Floresville

One lucky girl

L-R: Zhon Gibson, Circle C Millwork, and his son, Darrell, and Eloy Ramirez, a project manager at Alterman, and his daughter, Samantha, won second place with 49.4 pounds of fish in the Floresville Police Department 10th annual Catfish Tournament Mar. 14. –mh

Sweet little Frannie is a 6-month-old Catahoula mix that the Harris family, Concrete Renovation Inc., adopted from the Animal Defense League. When we spotted this adorable girl at the Concrete Renovation office, she was almost fully recovered from a broken leg, the pin having been removed the day before. She had escaped the house and was clipped by a car, and much to Donna Harris’ surprise, the driver actually stopped, distressed and deeply apologetic about having clipped her. Frannie is very resilient and was all happiness and affection when we saw her. –mh

Mounting heat

Cindi Johnson

Glenn and Cindi Johnson, Heat & Treat, took to the arena, firing at red balloons while riding horseback, to practice for their first mounted shooting competition, which will be this month. –mh Glenn Johnson

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 19

A firm of his own design

Dynamic mechanical

S The Kissling Architecture team L-R: James Kissling, Kim Kissling, Dan Gonzalez, Ashley Powell, Juan Zaizar

ounding his own firm, James Kissling was able to add residential projects to his repertoire, eliminate his commute and create his own schedule. On Mar. 1, he celebrated the 15th anniversary of Kissling Architecture. Before going into business for himself, Kissling had just completed work on a lot of commercial development at HEB. Though he notes that he learned a lot from working at HEB and that it is a great company, he enjoys doing residential work too, and his commute from the Boerne-Bulverde area to and from King William took about two hours out of each day. Today, he lives and works on a little more than 300 acres in the Hill Country, having built a separate building for the office on his ranch about 10 years ago. He has four full-time employees: Juan Zaizar, Dan Gonzalez, and Carrie Simnacher, project managers; and Ashley Powell, office manager. Since the office location is isolated, finding employ-

ees was challenging, but Kissling helped alleviate their commutes by implementing a four-day workweek, which he had always wanted to have. Starting up in 2000, communication technology was limited, but the firm tried any new technology that would help offset their remote workspace. The firm’s phone systems and Internet-based communications have allowed employees to work from home when necessary and allowed the firm to work on projects all over the country. Kissling’s portfolio includes the San Antonio Food Bank, the Briggs Ranch Golf Club and hunting lodges for international corporations, as well as projects in Colorado and Mexico. His first project was the Retama Park Racetrack backstretch facility. The firm is currently doing a lot of work on the Texas coastline, including multi-family, single-family and master planning of communities and developments. –mh

The gist of the “List”

Dynamic team L-R: Mike Nobles, Jeff Vogt, Mike O’Day, Tiffany Sanders, Chris Solis, Tracy Kitchens, Chris Reidy

tarted in Austin in 1988, mechanical contractor Dynamic Systems established its presence in San Antonio within the next year. Located on I-10 between San Antonio and Boerne, the local branch has been involved with several large projects in the Alamo City, including the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, the JW Marriott and Maruchan’s facility in Von Ormy. The local branch focuses on large projects, including hospitals (like the recent UHS expansion) and mission critical, such as large data centers. While they are capable of doing very large-scale projects, the branch is not limited to big jobs. They also do smaller jobs, including special projects and service work. Jeff Vogt, vice president and division manager, explains that they like to get involved in a project during the design phase and work with the construction management, the general contrac-

tor, the engineer and the owner. “We believe we can add value coming on early,” says Vogt, adding that they may be able to offer suggestions regarding design and ways to save on costs. With Dynamic Systems for 20 years now, Vogt started out in Austin and worked in the San Antonio and Phoenix offices before settling in the San Antonio location in 2003. He joined the company right after graduating from Texas A&M University with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. The local management team includes Mike O’Day, vice president and branch manager, and Chris Solis, operations manager. With the company for about eight years, O’Day does business development and preconstruction, getting involved early on with design assist projects. With the company for about 15 years, Solis oversees operations and installations. –mh

Do you have a photo or story you’d like to share? Send to:

SAeditor@Constructionnews.net or call Mary at 210.308.5800

“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 & 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

Page 20

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Digging into our past

onstruction teams working on projects in downtown San Antonio – and other various jobsites across the city that require excavations – often find buried structures or treasures that require the involvement of an archaeological team. When that happens on City of San Antonio public property, Kay Hindes, city archaeologist, comes onsite. Working in the archaeological field for about 35 years, Hindes has been with the city going on 12 years. She observes that in the last decade, with so many projects following the 2007 and 2012 bond programs, about 100 to 150 sites have yielded some artifacts or other archaeological finds. “We’re going to celebrate our 300th anniversary in 2018, and because we’re such an old city, almost any place you put a shovel in the ground downtown, you’re likely to hit something,” explains Hindes. “It’s not uncommon.” To illustrate that point, Hindes estimates that during the Main Plaza renovation from 2007 to 2008, they counted close to 200,000 artifacts. Depending on the type of site being excavated, she estimates that a more typical, regular-sized project yields between 1,500 and 2,000 artifacts. The types of findings from these sites fall into one of three categories: prehistoric, dating back thousands of years up to around 1450 A.D.; protohistoric, between around 1450 and the 1680s when

De Leon came through the area; and historic, the time of written record. During the Main Plaza renovation, the archaeological team discovered several historic features under ground. “We found the 1835 Mexican fortification entrenchment that was dug as part of that time period during the Siege of Bexar,” she says. “What we found in that were things like a lot of ceramics, broken shards – basically people’s trash that had been backfilled into this trench feature. Glass, ceramics, lead-glazed wares… “We found majolicas, and those are tin-enamel ceramics. We also found some gunflints that would have been used in a flintlock rifle. We found the tip of what’s called a briquet sword, and that was a sword used by Mexican infantry between 1832 and 1835. Those are some of the more indicative things that we found from that time period.” During the same project, in old Main Street, the team uncovered a series of latrine features, or wells, and at the bottom of one of the wells, they found two gold coins, a $1 piece and a $10 piece, both from the 1800s. Another project with a significant find was the trail along Mulberry in Brackenridge Park, part of the River Walk’s Museum Reach. Working with the San Antonio River Authority at a site in the park called 41BX1396, the team found deposits related to what is called the late PaleoIndian period.

Archaeological work on the Mulberry Sidewalks at Site 41BX1396 in Brackenridge Park, a San Antonio River Authority project

At this site, they found a point type known as St. Mary’s Hall. Named for the place of its discovery, the projectile point was originally identified by Dr. Tom Hester during construction on the current location of St. Mary’s Hall. At the time of its discovery, the point did not match anything that was known, and there were no radiocarbon dates obtained for that point. After recognizing the St. Mary’s Hall point at the 41BX1396 site, the team was able to obtain a radiocarbon date, a very exciting feat for the local archaeological community. The point dated back to 10,490 B.P. (Before Present) or roughly 8,500 B.C. So, what happens to the artifacts recovered from these numerous sites? Any work the City of San Antonio does on city-owned property falls under the purview of the antiquities code of the Texas Historical Commission, and if the projects have federal funding or oversight, then the finds fall under the National Historic Preservation Act.

The artifacts recovered under the Texas antiquities permit go to an approved facility, which is a lab that stores artifacts for the citizens of the State of Texas, and the Texas Historical Commission holds the collections in trust for the citizens. Hindes notes that museums sometimes pull from these collections for exhibits, and the objects do come out on display at times. “All of our prehistory and all of our history belongs to all the citizens of San Antonio,” she says. “And so, by conducting these archaeological investigations, we not only help to shed new light on our prehistory, which is of course before written record, but we also help to augment the written record that tells us about the history and development of our community. Going on to our 300th anniversary, what better opportunity do we have than to help tell that story of the early settlers and explorers than that which we can augment with artifactual evidence that will help to tell that story.” –mh

Ceramics from the Main Plaza excavations of the Mexican Fortification Entrenchment, 1835 Siege of Bexar Guadalupe tool found at the dig site in Brackenridge Park

1880 gold coin recovered from work on Main Street

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 21

An engineer’s time to shine

Submitted to Construction News

Design support team

uring the 2015 Engineers Week, Feb. 22-28, the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Bexar Chapter hosted events for the local engineering industry and celebrated an outstanding member of the engineering community, Engineer of the Year Chuck Gregory, Terracon. The first big event was the Proclamation Breakfast on Tuesday at the new Norris Conference Center on Loop 410. Guests included local professional engineers, high school students interested in engineering, and featured speaker JoAnn Browning, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The event honored the chapter’s Young Engineer of the Year, Mike Bratten, EIT. Engineers took to the range to test a different kind of accuracy and precision in a sporting clay tournament at the San Antonio Gun Club on Wednesday. That evening, there was a Structural Engineers Association of Texas (SEAoT) Scholarship Social at Hofbrau Beer Garden in the Quarry. On Thursday, the chapter held a Past Presidents Luncheon with speaker James Murphy, Guadalupe‑Blanco River Authority (GBRA), at Paloma Blanca. At the end of the day, the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) hosted a Happy Hour at Sherlock’s Pub. Friday brought a golf tournament at Canyon Springs Golf Club followed by dinner, and Saturday started bright and early with the Family Fun 5K Walk/Run at Northwest Vista College. Saturday evening, the week concluded with its biggest event, the Engineer of the Year Banquet and Casino Night at Morgan’s Wonderland. This year’s honoree was Chuck Gregory, PE, a senior principal at Terracon as well as its vice president and regional manager overseeing San Antonio, Laredo and Pharr. At the corporate level, he is also a member of the Quality Committee and Pavements Committee. Gregory has a long history with Terracon and in the engineering field. With the firm for 20 years, he has 32 years of experience as a consulting engineer with

UTSA’s JoAnn Browning spoke to local professional engineers as well as high school students interested in pursuing a career in engineering.

Engineer of the Year Chuck Gregory, Terracon

expertise in geotechnical engineering, construction materials engineering and testing, and forensic engineering. His experience in technical areas includes soil stabilization, pavement design, pavement failure analysis and concrete technology. After graduating from Three Rivers High School as valedictorian of the Class of 1977, Gregory went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and became a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas in 1987. He has also been actively involved in several professional organizations. As a member of TSPE, he is involved in the association’s PE Day at the Capitol and is a regular participant in the activities during Engineers Week each year. Along with other numerous positions in which he has served the local and engineering community, he has been treasurer for Professional Engineers in Private Practice Bexar Chapter and has held leadership roles in the American Council of Engineering Companies San Antonio Chapter, the American Society of Civil Engineers San Antonio Branch, and the Geoprofessional Business Association (formerly ASFE). He is also active in his church, First Baptist Church in Boerne, where he has been a volunteer leader for its Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed program and taught fourth grade Sunday school. Among his other credits, he has written award-winning papers and regularly speaks at local colleges and universities. Additionally, he also placed 11th in his age group in last year’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon 10K and is a member of Terracon’s basketball team. –mh

O’Connell Robertson served as the local host firm for student teams participating in the healthcare Planning + Design Challenge (PDC) 2015, held in conjunction with the PDC Summit here in the Alamo City Mar. 15-18. Rick Burnight (pictured), president and CEO of the firm, and Walter Marks, the firm’s healthcare director and local liaison for the challenge, welcomed the students and were among the industry advisors supporting the teams through the challenge. –mh

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Texas Apprentice

Building activity

Aaron Schinbeckler Mission City Electric IEC Apprenticeship Program

hen Aaron Schinbeckler came to San Antonio, he had no job prospects. Now, he is a fourth year apprentice in the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) apprenticeship program working at Mission City Electric preparing to test for his journeyman’s license in May and looking forward to graduation in June. Born in Heidelberg while his father was stationed in Germany, Schinbeckler was only 3 months old when his father got out of the Army and they moved to Huntertown, IN where he grew up. He spent 19 years in the Northeast Indiana town, and then joined the Air Force. During his eight years in the service, he met his wife, Sandra, who was a dental lab technician. She retired after serving 20 years in the Air Force, but at the time, the economy was hitting the Midwest hard. The couple chose to move to San Antonio where Sandra’s parents were and the economy was still good. Outside of work, Schinbeckler says that he and his wife don’t have a lot of free time. They spend a lot of time with their son, who is in college, and every now and then they will run some fun errands together and go out to lunch or dinner. Living a mostly quiet life outside of work, he enjoys playing guitar, and his wife enjoys reading and arts and crafts. Schinbeckler notes that San Antonio is about four times bigger than where he was raised in Indiana, and he has fond memories of growing up there. His parents lived in Fort Wayne, IN for a time; however, in June of last

year, his father became an ordained Lutheran pastor and today his parents live in Sandusky, MI. After arriving in San Antonio, he briefly took a job with Home Depot home services, and then he worked at a Valero while looking for another job. One night, an electrical contractor came in, and he asked if he was hiring. He took a job with the company, but after three months, he was laid off. A week or so later, he found his place at Mission City Electric. Having always enjoyed working with his hands and construction in general, he knew this was going to be a job he wanted to keep. So, he strived to learn as much as he could as fast as he could, and in his three-and-a-half years as an apprentice, he says he has gained more knowledge than he could have on his own and this has made him more valuable and beneficial to his employer. “It’s a very specialized trade, and I like to know that I’m a part of that specialized trade,” he says. “And to top it all off, my grandfather on my dad’s side was an electrician in Indiana for a lot of years. He’s now passed, but I miss him very much, and the fact that I’m doing the same trade that he used to do really means a lot to me.” –mh

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L-R: Ricardo Hernandez, Christian Solano and Jacob Baxter, Guido Construction, which is the general contractor for the job, were working on the City of San Antonio District 10 Senior Center on Thousand Oaks by Bulverde Road. Final completion for the activity center for seniors is expected in September. The project manager on the job is Joe Allen. Assistant project manager is Ashley Ruggles. Superintendent is Bill Farrell. –mh

Reaching the Summit

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,

Paul Jeffries, president and COO

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 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

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 23

Women in charge

he National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Antonio Chapter celebrated the ladies who work in the industry with its 2015 Women in Construction (WIC) Week Mar. 1-7. “WIC Week is designed to increase the visibility of women working in the construction industry, share our passion and encourage others to join the construction industry and NAWIC,” states Michelle Urbanczyk, chapter president. “We have women-owned businesses, en-

gineers, estimators, architects, backhoe operators, field workers, administrators and more to show women can do almost anything in the construction industry and are proud of it!” The first part of WIC Week was kicking off a weeklong blood drive for members to donate blood and platelets on behalf of NAWIC. On Tuesday, Dawn Holmes, WIC Week chair, and Debra Ruiz, chapter treasurer, hosted an event at the Con-

struction Careers Academy (CCA) at Earl Warren High School. The luncheon with juniors and seniors at CCA included guest speakers Megan McCray, DIRTT, on alternative construction; Swapna Biju, SpawGlass, on Building Information Modeling (BIM); and Cherie Foerster, Builders Exchange of Texas, on ethics in the workplace. The chapter held its monthly general meeting on Wednesday with a little party to celebrate the big week. Members spent the night playing games to help them get to know one another a little better and to understand NAWIC history. For Thursday, Patty Wylie, chapter vice president, organized a jobsite tour of the Pearl Brewery Hotel. Last year, NAWIC members toured the site in its renovation stage, but this year, the group saw the project near its final stage of completion. The ladies had luck on their side Friday when the sun came out without a drop of rain for NAWIC’s annual golf tournament at Silverhorn Golf Club. Approximately 104 golfers attended the event, which included a putting contest and raffle prizes.

The week wrapped up with a birdhouse build at Home Depot on Saturday. Members hammered together and decorated the birdhouses, which will be auctioned off at the Region 7 NAWIC Forum in San Antonio Apr. 17-18. The proceeds from the auction will benefit a military family in need this Christmas. That afternoon, members gathered at Stray Grape for a Wine Down Party featuring wine, snacks and a shuffleboard competition. –mh Golf Tournament Winners Women’s Team: Maggie Seay, Eva Ramirez, Laurie Montgomery, Anita Kegley 1st: Sheldon Eskelson, Zachry-Parsons; Adam Matthys, Chamberlin; Ron Lee, Alterman Electric; Brian Lennard, ZachryParsons 2nd: Barbour, Guillaudeu, Hendricks, Padalecki 3rd Place: Ceruim, Aubalcava, Matt Isley, Flores Putting Contest: Jonathan Wilson Longest Drive: Matt Isley Closest to the Pin: Joey Cielenski

Members took a jobsite tour of the Pearl Brewery Hotel.

Golf Tournament 1st Place Men’s Team

Everybody, chill

L-R: Heidi Trimble, PHCC SA executive director; Perry Beyer Jr., Beyer Plumbing and PHCC SA president; Alicia Dover, PHCC Texas executive director; Carter Ramzel, Benchmark Plumbing, PHCC Texas 2015-2016 president elect

he Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC) San Antonio Chapter hosted its annual open house and membership appreciation luncheon Mar. 12 at its office on Broadway. Guest speakers included current president of PHCC Texas Milton Frank,

Milton Frank Plumbing in Spring, TX, and executive director of PHCC Texas Alicia Dover. Also, representatives of the City of San Antonio Plumbing and Mechanical departments gave updates on 2015 IPC/IMC code requirements. –mh

L-R: Doug Trimble, Ferguson Enterprises; Perry Beyer Jr.; Pat Freund, Primo Plumbing

Linda Shapiro, Workplace Resource, was one of the members building a birdhouse for a good cause

The golf tournament women’s team winners strike a pose on the green.

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

The sum of all planning

usiness owners, managers, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) chapter staff and industry partners from all over the country gathered at the Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel in New Orleans for the 2015 IEC National Business Summit. Chapter executive directors, including San Antonio’s Julie Howard, and committee members attended to discuss business planning for the association in 2015. The summit hosted educational sessions, networking opportunities and economic forecasting for the industry and country. Fun events included a welcome reception with local oysters and shuckers, an early riser walking tour to Café du Monde in the French Quarter, and an IEC Political Education Fund (PEF) fundraiser at the original Pat O’Brien’s bar, which raised more than $20,000. Soon after returning home from the summit, IEC San Antonio hosted its strategic planning session Feb. 20-21 at its office with Tim Welsh, IEC National, facilitating the two-day project.

Julie Howard, IEC San Antonio executive director, and Mark Gillespie, 2015 IEC National president, jester about in New Orleans.

The groups devised a plan for the next three to five years that will concentrate the chapter’s efforts on advocacy, apprentice and non-apprentice education, building and financial, and marketing and membership. Several new committees will be formed soon, and one immediate goal is to make room for more parking. –mh

continued from Page 1 — Flying away He also hopes that he and Martin will set a new record, becoming the first couple to circumnavigate the globe together. “This is the kind of thing most people can only imagine, but we’re going to get to do it,” he says. “It’s going to be a hell of an adventure. If we don’t make it on the first go, we’ll just go again. Fossett only did it on his sixth try. So, we know it isn’t going to be easy, but we’re going for it anyway. That’s part of the thrill of it.” Randolph has sponsors for the trip, and he’s finalizing all the details now. He notes that there’s a lot more paperwork than one might think and he’s had to jump through a lot of hoops to make this happen. He plans to take off from the site of the balloon festival in Albuquerque,

since that is where this idea got off the ground, and he is aiming for departure on April 30. “I saw ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ when I was a kid, and I remember thinking the idea of traveling by a big balloon was pretty cool,” he says. “But I never thought I would wind up doing anything like this. It’s been a lot of fun to find out about everything that’s involved and all the places we’re going to be flying over. We’re going to see a lot of countries and sites in a way that very few people ever have.” If Randolph completes the circumnavigation on this first attempt, Construction News will have the story upon his return. If you believe this, Construction News got you big time! April Fool’s! –mh

continued from Page 1 — A tale of two screens played a judge. He also has a poster for Branded Outlaw Wrestling (BOW), part of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), for which he is a promoter. He and his wife, Vicky, will be at Woodlawn Gym for a NWA BOW event later this month. They also support a local band of teenagers called Wounded Souls, sponsoring and promoting their shows. When Hansen and his wife were married in 2005, Vicky came into the business, doing a little bit of everything. Hansen considers her “Mrs. Boss.” Since taking over the family business, Hansen has enjoyed being his own boss and has found the paperwork and taxes to be the biggest challenge of being the owner. Another challenge is the

slow period of the year, but business picks up in March and keeps them busy all the way through to Thanksgiving. The company does mostly residential jobs, but about 40 percent of their work is commercial. They’ve done screens for the San Antonio Botanical Garden, Sweeties Deli and La Taza Coffee House. Hansen notes that there are a lot of different types of screens other than the basic fiberglass and aluminum wire. There are also pet-resistant screens and solar screens. The SunTex 80 and SunTex 90 block out 80 and 90 percent, respectively, of heat and glare, reducing the electricity bill and carpet fading. They can also rescreen if the existing frames are in good shape. –mh

continued from Page 1 — Improving upon history

L-R: Lloyd Quinney, Quinney Electric and chairman of the National PAC/PEF Committee, and Jason Todd, IEC National vice president of Government Affairs

Tim Welsh, IEC National senior vice president of Meetings and Member Services, was the facilitator for IEC San Antonio’s planning session.

South Texas meets North Texas

The interior of the Plaza de Armas Building after the improvements performed by the Byrne construction team

L-R: Rita Phillip and Jason Estes, Zachry Construction Corporation, represented the San Antonio and Grand Prairie offices respectively, at the Hard Hat 2015 Construction Expo held Mar. 3 at Dallas’ Eddie Deen’s Ranch. –mjm/mh

found a special product made in Germany called Crisin 76 within the Koster product family and put a lot of work into preserving what was there rather than have to replace it. An unusual issue was the sound and vibration isolation of TV studios for the City of San Antonio inside the building. In order to prevent sound and vibrations from transferring and interfering with cameras and other studio equipment, the team had to build a floating studio level, basically building a box within a box on an isolated concrete slab separating the studio from the structural slab, the ceiling, the doorways and the HVAC system. An important part of the renovation was reuse of the wood flooring and timbers, much of which is long leaf pine, a species that has been virtually extinct since the 1920s. The initial belief was that 20 percent of the existing flooring could be salvaged, but the actual amount was closer to 2 percent of the 20,000sf of wood flooring slated for reuse. However, to meet the need for 5,000sf of reclaimed wood flooring to match the existing conditions, the team used large timbers and joists that had been salvaged from the Fest Building and stored. Sanchez says that there’s a saying in construction that if you can build a hospital, you can build anything, because of all the infrastructure requirements involved. He laughs as he observes that this project

has convinced him that this saying is false and he suggests amending it. Noting that this building had no foundations, walls slanted sideways, and the floors were up to a foot out of level, he says, “If you can do a hospital and you can do a historic reuse project, then you can do anything, because it was unlike anything I’ve ever had an opportunity to build.” The superintendent on the job was Larry Davenport. The architect was Ford Powell & Carson, and the engineers were Datum Engineering for structural and Cleary Zimmerman for MEP. Consultants included RBDG for the studio, the UTSA Archaeology Department, and Raba Kistner for waterproofing. The owner is TCI – City of San Antonio. Subcontractors on the job included KMAC Construction Services for demolition, Curtis Hunt Restorations for masonry, F.A. McComas for painting, Facilities Solutions Group (FSG) for electrical, United Restoration for waterproofing, Marek Brothers Systems for drywall, Automatic Fire Protection, Urban Concrete, A.W. Installers for wood framing, Architectural Division 8 for doors, Allegiance Floors, and Hammonds Wood Floors. Thomas S. Byrne established Byrne Construction Services in 1923. Based in Fort Worth, the San Antonio branch was opened in 2000 after the company was purchased by native San Antonian and current owner John Avila Jr. –mh

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 25

Women in Construction Treating women as equals on the jobsite Linda Drassen, Senior Vice President/Emissary for HR Services IBTX Risk Services San Antonio, TX

s the emmisary for human resources for IBTX Risk Services, Linda Drassen receives calls with a variety of issues concerning women working on jobsites. While these issues might discourage some women from wanting to be a part of the construction industry, she has this advice for them: “Do not give up.” For the year 2013, Drassen recalls that 47 percent of all wage and salary jobs were held by women, and at the end of 2013, only 2.6 percent of those women were in the construction field. Though that falls far short of the goal for any federal contract, which is 49.9 percent women out in the field, it is the highest that percentage has ever been. With such a small percentage of female pioneers in the industry, Drassen observes that employers and field employees often do not know how to respond to a woman in the construction field. They don’t want to treat them like women, because that would be treating them differently, but they don’t want to treat them like men, because they’re not

men. This leaves her clients very confused as to how they should approach a range of problems. The situation is even more awkward if a female employee is not meeting the expectations of her position. In the last year, Drassen has had almost a dozen calls where the female employee’s performance was not meeting expectations and the supervisor or manager wanted to terminate her. Not once, in any of those cases, had the supervisor or manager approached the female employee to inform her she wasn’t performing well. Some supervisors are uncertain how to properly communicate with a female employee. But without addressing the issue directly, Drassen notes that any employee would believe they are doing a good job. Often, Drassen will speak with the female employee or she will counsel the supervisor to treat the employee like she is any other person out in the field. They should call her in with somebody present, like you would any other employee, to discuss the problem – the expectation for

Studying, networking key for women Sharon Douglas, President/Owner Bradley Douglas Construction Services LLC Fort Worth, TX

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.

her job performance, how they can help her improve, and the repercussion if there is no improvement. That is how Drassen says this situation should be treated – the same as for anyone else. She advises that if they wrote up a male employee who is the female’s work counterpart for producing the same low-level or poor quality work, then the female employee has to be written up in the same way. Regardless of whether it’s Drassen or a supervisor who has the necessary conversation with the female employee, more often than not, her job performance does indeed improve as does the working relationship. When there’s no improvement, however, the supervisor sometimes lets the issue go for too long, worried about gender bias, and unfortunately, the female employee will quit on her own, which Drassen feels is a shame, though she encourages them to continue to try. On the opposite end, Drassen receives calls from employers who want to promote a female employee but express concern over what to say to their male employees. She says that employers don’t have to say anything to their male employees other than they have to respect her as they would any other person in that position. She does receive calls from male employees who complain that a female employee doesn’t deserve a recent promotion or that the promotion was unfair. To these complaints, Drassen responds, “Worry about your own job. It is

that easy. You need to trust that management knows what they’re doing, and that they’re looking out for the best interests of the organization as well as the people out in the field, and that she works just as hard as everybody else. “They have to be willing to accept the female as an individual on the workforce, just like anybody else. And if she’s doing a good job and she deserves to be promoted, then she should be promoted.” Drassen emphasizes that the communication barrier is on both sides. While supervisors have to speak up as well as set the example as ambassadors against discrimination and harassment, female employees must not remain silent. Sometimes, women are offended or feel mistreated out in the field, but do not say anything for fear of facing isolation from their coworkers or termination from their supervisors. As a woman who has been in human resources for 15 years – and HR consultant at IBTX for the last four – what words of wisdom would Drassen offer women working in construction? “I want them to not give up. Even when they think that they are not getting the respect that they deserve, just open up and say something. Give your boss or give your manager the opportunity to correct it, and don’t give up, because their position out in the construction industry is extremely important. I would love to see the scale get to that [federal goal of] 49.9 percent.” –mh

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.

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.

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

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

NEXT MONTH MAY 2015

Concrete Industry 2015 Schedule

Jan: Construction Forecast Feb: Construction Safety Mar: Construction Education

Support Your Industry’s Feature Issue San Antonio • Austin Dallas / Fort Worth Houston • South Texas Apr: Women in Construction May: Concrete Industry Jun: HVAC & Plumbing

Call for Ad Space (210) 308-5800 Reservations

July: Electrical Industry Aug: Service Providers Sep: Green Building Trends

Oct: Specialty Contractors Nov: Architecture & Engineering Dec: Construction Equipment

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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

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

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

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

Women can achieve a career in construction Sandy Field, president National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Ft. Worth, TX

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.

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 27

Dawn of a new era

Fore Habitat

s of Mar. 1, Dawn Thompson has officially taken over the role of executive director for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) San Antonio Chapter. Having joined the local construction community about five years ago when she accepted the position of executive assistant with the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), Thompson notes that working for the organization had a profound impact on her and she will miss being part of it. She credits ASA with helping her find her niche working in the construction industry and nonprofit sector. “I’m so grateful for my time at ASA, because I really developed a passion for the San Antonio construction industry,” says Thompson. “ASA is just an incredible group of people, and I’m very grateful for all the professional relationships and the friendships that I have gained from working there. I’ve learned so much. It’s amazing, and I’m really proud of what I accomplished while I was there.” While maintaining her full-time position at ASA, Thompson began working with ACCA part-time in March of last year. She assisted with basic administrative duties as well as helping with events and member meetings. ACCA had been without an executive director for a little while at the time. Jack Lappeus held the role for a very long time until his retirement a few years ago. Now, as she steps into her new fulltime position at ACCA, Thompson aims to grow the association and elevate it to the next level. She aims to get it back to the standard Lappeus upheld, raising its profile and standing in the industry. “First of all, I want to increase the exposure in the construction industry and in the community through events, by partici-

pating in the Construction Career Day and the Construct A Kid’s Christmas,” she says. “And then, I really want to focus on providing benefits to the members – quality value benefits – and to really be the go-to source for business training for our members and industry-related information.” She also wants to focus on representation in the State Capitol, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and the City of San Antonio. “This is a great opportunity for me to grow professionally,” she comments, adding that she has a lot to learn, just as she learned so much with ASA. Before she joined the ASA staff, Thompson worked as an administrative manager and marketing coordinator in a variety of fields. Originally from Louisiana, her family still lives there, just north of New Orleans, and she visits as much as she can with her husband, Daryl, and three children. Her 26-year-old daughter recently graduated from UTSA, and she has two sons, 16 and 14, who attend Boerne High School. –mh

Construction News ON LOCATION

A concrete family

1st Place Gross

he Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MCASMACNA) hosted its 22nd annual golf tournament Mar. 19 at SilverHorn Golf Club. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity, and this event raised more for the charitable organization than ever before. –mh Winners: 1st Gross: Kenner Coon, Doyle Spencer, Zach McManus, Rick Smock 1st Net: Greg Tabor, Darrell Hagendorf, Jeff Morris

2nd: Daniel Neutzling, Stephan Grothues, Brad Bright, George Phillips 3rd: David Wood, Lance Hagdorn, Michael Cervera, Steve Huck Putting Contest Winner: Greg Tabor Longest Drive Hole #1: Zach McManus Hole #18: Zach McManus Closest to the Pin Hole #5: Zach McManus Hole #7: Greg Tabor Hole #13: Cody Matthews

1st Place Net

Construction News ON LOCATION

A very Shipley’s Wednesday

Donna, Patrick and Roxanne Harris keep busy and close in the office at Concrete Renovation Inc., but they also keep busy with local association chapters where they are members, including the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) and the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC).

L-R: Dean Balensiefen and Hector Hernandez at Sunbelt Rentals’ Selma location, made sure people coming into the shop knew there were plenty of Shipley’s donuts for sharing. The facility has a safety meeting every Wednesday morning and there was more than enough Shipley’s to go around the meeting and for the morning’s customers. –mh

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

Round-Up Sundt Construction announced the following: Mark R. Bakeman has joined the company as an area safety manager for the Texas division. He has 39 years of experience in the construction industry.

Gerardo â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jerryâ&#x20AC;? Garcia Jr. has joined the company as an estimator 1. His responsibilities will include generating requests for information, tabulating cost proposals, negotiating prices and providing best values to clients. He earned his bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in construction science from Texas A&M University and is currently working on his masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of business administration from the University of Memphis.

Abel Ortiz has joined the company as a project executive for heavy civil projects. With 21 years of construction experience, his key project achievements include the DFW Connector in Grapevine, the I-35 E managed lanes project in Denton and Dallas counties, and the SH99 Grand Parkway in Harris and Montgomery counties.

Round-Up Submissions

This is a monthly section for brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Email (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month, for the next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue (published 1st of each month). Email info to appropriate city issue, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Round-Upâ&#x20AC;? in the subject line: â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; San Antonio

saeditor@constructionnews.net Austin austineditor@constructionnews.net Dallas/Ft. Worth dfweditor@constructionnews.net Houston houstoneditor@constructionnews.net South Texas STeditor@constructionnews.net

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Structural Steel Products Pipe, Tubing, Plate & Sheets Metal Building Materials Ornamental Iron & Accessories Cast Iron Spears Fittings Decorative Castings & Designs Toll Free Welders Welding Supplies & Accessories Fax Power Tools Abrasives Shop & Safety Supplies 2042 W. Thompson @ Port San Antonio Paint & Machinery San Antonio, TX 78226 Trailer Products Access Control Products Gate & Door Hardware Pipe Bollards Gate Operatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Farm/Ranch Precut â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Painted Residential/Commercial 6-5/8â&#x20AC;? OD X .188 wall X 7 Ft

210.431.0088 800.725.4776 210.431.0701 www.sss-steel.com

Association Calendar

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

Events are held at the ABC office unless otherwise stated. Apr. 6: Spring Golf Tournament, 2-5pm, Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club; registration 11:30am, shotgun start 1pm; $600 per team, $175 per player; Future Leaders Task Force meeting, 4-5pm Apr. 7: Executive Committee mtg; 3-4pm Apr. 13: Board of Directors meeting, noon-1pm Apr. 15: Safety & Health Committee, noon-1pm Apr. 22: Apprenticeship Committee, noon-1pm Apr. 28: Wine Festival, Boerne Wine Co.

ACCA Air Conditioning Contractors of Amer.

Apr. 2: Sporting Clay Shoot; National Shooting Complex; 1pm registration and lunch, 2pm shoot; $135 per shooter; awards dinner afterwards; for dinner only, members and first attendee free, additional attendees and non-members $25 each; dinner RSVP required Apr. 16: Monthly Member meeting; The Club at Sonterra; 11:30am; 2015 ICC codes and changes; members and first attendee free, all others $20 each To RSVP or for more information, contact dawn@accasa.org or 210-901-4222

AGC Associated General Contractors

Events are held at the AGC office unless otherwise stated. Apr. 6: Golf Tournament; The Club at Sonterra; registration 11am, shotgun 12:30pm; for info call 210-349-4921; Leadership Academy, Week #4, 12:30-4:30pm Apr. 7: The Basics Session #6, 6-8pm Apr. 10: Education Committee mtg, 8:30am Apr. 13: Leadership Academy, Week #5; 12:30-4:30pm Apr. 14: The Basics Session #7, 6-8pm Apr. 16: Safety & Health Committee meeting, 11:30am Apr. 17: Kirk Global Compass Marketing Series â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Branding; 7:30-9:30am Apr. 21: The Basics Session #8, 6-8pm Apr. 24: Board of Directors meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8am Apr. 28: CLF Steering Council meeting, noon; The Basics Session #9, 6-8pm May 1: CLF Night Golf Tournament, Alamo Golf Club

AIA American Institute of Architects

Apr. 1: Building Enclosure Council Book Club Kick-Off meeting, 11:30am-1pm, Center for Architecture; NCARB Intern Development Program Presentation, 5:30-7pm, Center for Architecture Apr. 27: Chapter meeting; Comprehensive Planning for the City of San Antonio; noon-1pm; Fiesta Room of Lubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 911 N. Main Ave.; no RSVP necessary; $25 For more info visit www.aiasa.org

Meeting Room, Wyndham Garden Hotel, 3401 South IH-35, Austin; 3:30pm; 9am next morning, board meets with legislative consultant and legislators at the Capitol; for more info, call 830-629-1620 or visit www.earthmovingcontractors.com

HCA de San Antonio Hispanic Contractors Association

Apr. 9, 16, 23, 30: OSHA 30-Hour Safety Training; 10876 Hillpoint, San Antonio; members $200, non-member $300; breakfast and materials included Apr. 9: VIA Bus Hop, TBD Apr. 29: Monthly meeting/mixer; 6-8pm, free for members, non-members $10 For more info visit www.hcadesa.org or call 210-444-1100

IEC Independent Electrical Contractors

Events are held at the IEC office unless otherwise stated. Apr. 1: 1st night Journeyman/Master Prep class, 5:30-9:30pm Apr. 7: Membership/Marketing Committee meeting, 5pm Apr. 8: Construction Career Day, Freeman Coliseum, 9am-2pm Apr. 10: Career Day, Warren High School, 11:30am-2:30pm Apr. 15: Board of Directors mting, 11am Apr. 20: Continuing Ed. Class, 5-9pm Apr. 21: A&T Committee meeting, 11am Apr. 22: Career Day, New Braunfels HS, 10am-1pm; Lunch and Learn hosted by Dealers Electric Supply, 11am- 1pm Apr. 28: Electrical Maintenance Technician Class, 8am-5pm Apr. 30: NEISD Career Day, Blossom Athletic Center, 6-8pm May 1: IEC of TX Mting, Austin, 8am-1pm For more info: call 210-431-9861 or visit www.iecsanantonio.com

MCAâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;SMACNA Mechanical Contractors Association Sheet Metal & A/C Natâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Assn.

Apr. 1: Regular and Associates meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am Apr. 8: Construction Career Day, Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall Apr. 15: Joint Industry Fund meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am

NAWIC Natâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Assn. of Women in Construction

Apr. 1: General meeting, The Petroleum Club, 5:30pm, speaker Ricki Love-Joy Apr. 16: Board of Directors meeting, Urban Concrete office, 5:45pm Apr. 17-18: Region 7 Forum, Hilton San Antonio Hill Country Hotel & Spa

NFRA National Foundation Repair Assn.

Apr. 16-17: 25th Anniversary Conference; Menger Hotel, 204 Alamo Plaza; guest speaker is Nolan Ryan; to register or for more info: www.foundationrepair.org

PHCC

ASA

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

American Subcontractors Association

Apr. 8: Booth at High School Career Day, Freeman Expo Hall Apr. 4,18: Plumbers Continuing Ed. Apr. 20: Board meeting Apr. 25, 26: Master Plumber Test Prep Apr. 30: Golf Tournament, Hyatt Hill Country Resort

Apr. 23: Membership meeting, Meet the GC with Structure Tone; 11:30am-1pm; TBD Apr. 15: Construction Careers Job Fair, San Antonio Airport Hilton, 9am-12pm; for more information, call 210-349-4921 May 1: SubFest & BBQ Cook-Off; Raymond Russell Park; 5:30-10pm; food, music, silent auction, raffle prizes; $20 per person, 6 and under free

CFMA Construction Financial Mgmt. Assn.

Apr. 28: Chapter Luncheon; 11:30am1pm; The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels; to RSVP, contact Stephanie at 210-828-6281, ext. 1575, or stephanie. harms@padgett-cpa.com

ECAT Earthmoving Contractors Assn. of TX

Apr. 1-2: 1st Quarter Board and Legislative meeting; Guadalupe/Barton Creek

SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.

Apr. 9: Golf Classic; The Republic Golf Club; 1pm shotgun start; $120 golfer, $25 non-golfer Apr. 29: Membership meeting; The Barn Door, 8400 N. New Braunfels; noon; $30 For info, call Debbie at 830-606-5556

SDA Society for Design Administration

Apr. 23: Chapter meeting; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Archiving, Cold Storage & IT solutions for Design and Construction Firmsâ&#x20AC;?; noon-1pm; The Barn Door, 8400 N. New Braunfels; for info email cdelgado@lehmanneng.com

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 29

Golden impact on the community

United in the Alamo City

Three generations of engineering Dawsons L-R: Taylor, Sam, Gene Sr., Gene Jr. and Trey Dawson

L-R: Alex MacGraw, Jeff Sellars, Brian Yezierski, Jamaal Black and John Calhoun

ith three generations involved in the firm, five Texas locations, and a new headquarters to call home, Pape-Dawson Engineers is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Established in 1965 by Gus Pape and Gene Dawson Sr., the two founders did all of their own engineering, surveying, drafting, computations and handwritten field notes, while Pape’s wife, Lily, served as the company’s first office manager. Today, the civil engineering firm operates under the leadership of Dawson Sr.’s sons, Gene Dawson Jr. and Sam Dawson, and the next generation of leadership – Sam’s son, Taylor, and Gene Jr.’s son, Trey – is already on the rise within the firm. With more than 300 of the company’s estimated 400 employees located in San Antonio, moving into the new headquarters on Loop 410 united three separate San Antonio offices. The other team members are part of offices in Austin,

Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth. The firm’s goals for the future include expanding service areas within these other existing markets. Emphasizing partnerships with its clients and communities, the company has endowed scholarships at several Texas public universities and donates to several nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Last year, Pape-Dawson’s employees donated a total of $101,716 to its United Way campaign. As part of the firm’s 50th anniversary celebration, employees will identify five different charitable organizations, and the company will donate $20,000 to each of them. “I often tell people that if all we do at Pape-Dawson is produce plans, what a failure we will be,” says Sam Dawson, CEO. “Life is bigger than plans, bigger than projects. It’s about having an impact on the community. If we can touch lives, I consider our company a success.” –mh

bout 12 years ago, John Calhoun relocated from Houston, where he was a sales manager for United Tool & Fastener, to San Antonio, taking over as branch manager of the company’s location on Jones-Maltsberger Road. “The hardest sale I ever made was getting her to move over here,” Calhoun says of his wife, Karin, whose family is still in Houston and visits every Christmas. Calhoun came into San Antonio as one of the partners, Jimmy Bartee, was retiring. Bartee originally established the branch, and when it quickly outgrew a few previous leased locations, he found a piece of property, bought it and had their current facility built. Calhoun says that he talks to Bartee every month and that he is doing well, adding, “He’s still as passionate about the business as the day he became a partner. He’s a good guy and a good mentor.” Though traffic in the area has increased since Calhoun arrived, relief may

be on the way since the new Wurzbach Parkway extension is just down the block. When it opens, he expects that local travel will be easier. United Tool & Fastener sells nuts, bolts, and washers from brands such as DeWalt and Powers, as well as safety gear to all the construction trades. They have a full-time safety rep who comes in from Houston for about a week every month, which adds value for their customers. The branch has eight full-time employees and two temps. At 56, Calhoun likes to hunt and loves to fish and cook. He also enjoys riding four-wheelers around the property with his three sons. Ian, who is 18, is preparing to go to Texas A&M University in the fall. Andrew, 17, runs track and plays soccer for the home school team, Family Educators Alliance of South Texas (FEAST). Patrick, 9, is a cub scout. –mh

Page 30

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

As the wheel turns

any members of the construction industry turn into road warriors away from work, hitting the pavement or the shop for some quality time with their best car, truck or bike. We asked some of you to send us photos of your favorite set of wheels – but we want to see more than just the wheels, of course! We want to see what gets your heart – and your motor – racing. –mh

1972 Chevy Short Bed Roy Bass, Smithers Merchant Builders

2000 Corvette Michael Sireno, Baker Triangle

2014 730 HP Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Gary Joeris, Joeris General Contractors

John Deere 6715 Chris Christians IV, Lynwood Building Materials

2006 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic Kevin Bisang, B&E Contractors

Custom Built 2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide with a Sinister Package Craig Noto, Quality Fence & Welding

2014 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Jon Randolph, Baker Triangle

1963 Volkswagen Beetle (his first and favorite) David Colby, South Texas Drywall & Construction

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Page 31

Open for development

Industry FOLKS Ryland E. “Reb” Brem Jr. Project Manager Keller-Martin Construction

ost people know Ryland E. Brem Jr. by the nickname Reb, which comes from his initials, but most people might not know that he joined Keller-Martin Construction as a project manager on Nov. 17 of last year. In October, Brem was facing the frightening prospect of being out of work for the first time in more than 32 years. The owners of Wallace L. Boldt General Contractor, where Brem started as a laborer in the construction yard in 1982, elected to close the company. He worked his way up through various positions over the decades from delivering materials to completing a journeyman carpenter apprenticeship program to become a carpenter and in time, rising to project manager. Then, in 2014, Boldt finished all its projects and began the process of closing. Since the Boldts were like family, Brem stuck it out with them as long as he could. In the beginning of October, they told him payroll was stopping Oct. 31. Being very involved at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, serving as chairman and on the board of trustees in the past, Brem turned in a prayer card that Sunday asking the congregation to pray for him to find another job and for the Boldts. After the service, Paul Ross, owner of Budget Signs at the time, approached Brem and asked him for a resume he could pass on to general contractors he knew. Brem sent the resume to Ross on Monday, and on Tuesday, Bill Mc-

Cullough, vice president of Keller-Martin, called him for an interview. By Oct. 5, Brem was hired. “It was truly a blessing,” says Brem. “It all started with a prayer card. I was a little scared being 54 years old looking for a new job, but this has been a great opportunity. It was just so relaxing and comforting to know that I had a great place to land after being with Wallace Boldt for 32-and-a-half years. They needed somebody and I needed someone too. I’m so happy here.” Having attended Alamo Heights High School with Gary Boldt, Brem started with Boldt right after he completed boot camp and infantry training school for the Marine Corps Reserves and just before he married his wife, Barbara, on Dec. 18, 1982. Before joining the reserves, Brem worked for a few different contractors while studying biology at Southwest Texas (now Texas State University). Brem feels that he and his family have been very blessed in the last few months. Joshua, the oldest son at 29, recently got married and is a teacher for Northside ISD with a master’s degree in special education. Courtenay passed the bar exam and is now an attorney in San Antonio. Their youngest, Austin, is as an assistant teacher, also for Northside. –mh

L-R: Aaron Clark and Greg Shue ventured out into the open with Open Studio Architecture

ostering an open work environment helped inspire Greg Shue and Aaron Clark to name their firm Open Studio Architecture. The partners wanted to create an open studio environment to bring more interaction and energy to their office. They are also very open with clients and staff about how the business is run. So, the name just felt right. Opening their own firm at the beginning of 2012 when they saw the economy start to turn around from the downturn, they started out with just two clients and one employee, their office manager, Stephanie Mayo. In three years, they have grown from three people to 21. The firm works in the private sector on the development side of the industry. Being a new business, they concentrated on their strengths, which included building relationships in the private sector. They do a lot of business with returning clients, and they are focused on the needs of those clients. Shue notes that, in

development, there is a need to get projects out of the ground quickly. “The people that we work with move very quickly, and we have to match that RPM,” explains Shue. “We’ve built systems, mostly around our production software, that allow us to move as quickly or even quicker than our clients have been accustomed to working in the past.” The firm’s projects have included Marriott hotels in Houston, retail centers at Dominion Oaks and Forum West, and an office development at Creekside in New Braunfels. Shue estimates that about 40 percent of their work is in San Antonio with a total of about 85 percent in Texas, and the remaining 15 percent of their work is across the Southwest. Outside of work, Clark and Shue both enjoy playing “bad golf.” Clark is very involved in his church, and Shue is very involved in his children’s athletic careers. –mh

Page 32

San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2015

Competing in their craft

Braccus Hannah, a pipe welder with Zachry Group, performing a 5G weld on pipe at the National Craft Championships.

early 200 competitors from 32 states participated in the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 2015 National Craft Championships, Mar. 4-5, at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. This year’s competition featured the largest number of craft trainees and apprentices in the event’s 28-year history. Competitors contended for gold, silver and bronze medals and a safety award in 15 competitions representing 12 crafts, including carpentry, electrical, pipefitting, plumbing and welding. The twoday competition featured both a written

exam and a hands-on practical application. Zachry Group, based in San Antonio, had nine employees participate at the National Craft Championship. Chad Bass, pipefitter; Fidel Rueda, insulator; Jose Montejano, carpenter; Jeff Garner, millwright; and Francisco Barragan, electrician, won the bronze medal in the team competition, and Eric Capps, pipefitter, won the bronze medal in pipefitting. Zachry felt its craft professionals successfully demonstrated how Zachry’s taskbased training, whether on the job or after hours, can positively impact the craft workforce. –cw/mh

Construction News ON LOCATION

They’re dynamite

Members of the TNT Crane & Rigging team in Selma gathered in front of the office for a group snapshot. The company is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. –mh

Partners mark a milestone

Kevin Bisang, co-owner of B&E Contractors, started the small general contracting company with Rick Ehninger just over 25 years ago.

Houston Hall, a pipe welder with Zachry Group, performing a 2G weld on pipe, competing in the National Craft Championships.

When B&E Contractors celebrated its 25th anniversary Jan. 1, co-owners Kevin Bisang and Rick Ehninger reflected upon the fact that the business they founded in 1990 had made it to that quarter-of-a-century milestone.

Bisang and Ehninger, whose initials make up their company name, have known each other for about 40 years. They worked together on various commercial construction jobs with different companies until 1989, when they were on the same jobsite and work started slowing down to the point where there was talk of layoffs. They took fate into their own hands and went out on their own together. In the beginning, they had no overhead and Bisang’s father worked for a company that did insurance restoration, which offered them some work to start. They slowly grew the company, hiring helpers so that one of the partners could find new work while the other would focus on the existing workload. Today, they have a lot more overhead, which has made the recent slowdown a bit more challenging than the days in the beginning when they worked out of their homes, but repeat clients have kept them busy. Handling mostly remodeling, B&E does residential and commercial general contracting jobs up to $1 million. Recently, they started a remodel for Watts Water. They have also done work for both Marriotts downtown and a lot of work for the Kipp charter school system in San Antonio. While Ehninger enjoys hunting, Bisang notes that he and his wife, Jennifer, like to ride motorcycles and go camping. The couple has friends who have RVs and they enjoy attending biker rallies, such as a recent four-day rally in Bandera. He says he is most relaxed when he’s out camping or on his Harley. –mh