Houston Construction News May 2015

Covering the Industry’s News

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Volume 13

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Number 5

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MAY 2015

Signs of success

Right time, right place

Ed and Ziba Soheili make teamwork a priority at Intex United.

Erin and Jack Hooper

W

hen Ziba and Ed Soheili, owners of Intex United, immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in 1979, they didn’t immediately set out to become small business owners.

“We weren’t even sure how long we would stay in Houston,” Ziba said. “Shortly after we arrived, revolution erupted in our native country, so we began laying down roots in Houston.”

Trained as an engineer, Ed began to hone his skills at a company in the sign trade.

The Soheihi’s went out on their own and established Intex United in 1985.

2015 marks the company’s 30th anniversary.

“We started from pretty much noth-

ing,” Ed said. “In the beginning, I made a desk with two sawhorses and a door I took down from a small office we rented at the time.”

Ed’s improvised sawhorse desk set the tone for what would become the company’s signature design.

Ed designed and built their first projects and Ziba came up with a detailed business plan. She has managed the business ever since.

Early on the Soheili’s made it a priority to foster a positive company culture.

“If you treat employees with integrity and respect, it makes a huge difference,” Ziba said. “Be honest with yourself continued on Page 13

F

ounded in 1954, Gray-Walker Inc. is one of the oldest construction supply distributors in Houston.

Gray-Walker opened a second location at 1420 Avenue H (Highway 90) in Rosenberg in December. Erin and Jack Hooper operate the store.

The Hooper’s interact with track builders, custom homebuilders, commercial contractors, masonry contractors and retail customers on a daily basis.

“Several of our customers live in Fort Bend County,” Erin said. “They mentioned to us there wasn’t many masonry supply businesses in the area.”

The Hoopers found the location on Highway 90 after looking for a few months.

“This building turned out to be exactly what we were looking for as far as visibility and location,” she said.

Erin’s father purchased the company in 1973. The company has been family owned since that time.

“When I graduated college, I couldn’t find a job, so my mother said they had a job for me working Monday through Thursday and I could look for a job on Fridays,” Erin said. “This turned into a permanent job in 1992.”

She began with helping out in the office and soon become the office manager. Over the years, she has handled marketing and sales. continued on Page 13

Careful planning pays off

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ntrepid Construction Co. LLC completed the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Minimum Security Units, (two units) in Dec. 2014. Each unit is approximately 1,500sf.

According to Intrepid Construction Co. President Rodney McCall, the purpose of the project was to remove the deputy’s station inside the units, relocate an intercom and computer kiosk and move and modify existing electrical wiring and low voltage wiring.

The project also included modifying existing security door hardware on eight doors with specialty hardware and installing custom stainless steel panels over millwork, patching walls and painting, saw cutting and removal of concrete, pour back and installing floor tile.

“Staging the work proved to be a challenge as materials and personnel were moved in and out of the jail,” McCall said.

McCall says the workers were escorted in, checked in, escorted to the units and the facility personnel and deputies remained with them.

“It took careful planning each day to make sure that we had all materials and tools needed for the job,” he added. “If we forgot anything it was usually an hour or longer to make the trip to a loading dock and back due to the fact of being escorted and being checked in and out.“

Trash removal proved to be an equal challenge. Working with the deputies and facility personnel was a great experience for Intrepid Construction Co. “We were congratulated several times after completion and final inspection by the state prison inspector, for a job well done and the professionalism of our team,” McCall said.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Minimum Security Unit

continued on Page 13

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Houston Construction News • May 2015

Houston Construction News • May 2015

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Cook-off champions

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housands of people converged on the Sam Houston Race Park for the 24th annual Associated General Contractors Houston Chapter (AGC) Barbecue Cook-off Mar. 27-28.

Gorgeous weather made this year's event even more enjoyable for cook teams as they manned their barbecue pits around the clock, smoking brisket, chicken, ribs and other delicacies. –ab Congrats to the winners!

Ralph Morton Spirit Award: Jeff Johnston, Tellepsen Best Theme 1st Place: Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. 2nd Place: W.S. Bellows Construction Corp.

3rd Place: JE Dunn Construction Company Best Hospitality 1st Place: MEMCO 2nd Place: JE Dunn Construction Co. 3rd Place: Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. Open Category 1st Place: MLN Co. 2nd Place: Tellepsen 3rd Place: Allied Fire Protection Chicken 1st Place: Fireproof Contractors Team 2nd Place: Suncoast Post-Tension 3rd Place: Ranger Specialized Glass Ribs 1st Place: Hervey-Barlow Specialty Contractors 2nd Place: JE Dunn Construction Co. 3rd Place: Tellepsen

Brisket 1st Place: Suncoast Post-Tension 2nd Place: Pieper Houston Electric LP 3rd Place: Tellepsen Margarita 1st Place: Allied Fire Protection, Team 1 2nd Place: MEMCO 3rd Place: Astro Fence Corp.

Salsa 1st Place: MEMCO 2nd Place: Linbeck, LLC Team 2 3rd Place: Linbeck Group, Team 1 Crawfish 1st Place: Hervey-Barlow Specialty Contractors 2nd Place: Pieper-Houston Electric LP 3rd Place: Peak Roofing Bloody Mary 1st Place: Enterprise Commercial Trucks 2nd Place: Astro Fence Corp.

3rd Place: Piper-Houston Electric LP

Overall Champion: Suncoast Post-Tension

Astro Fence Corp.

BlueLine Rental

Houston

MEMCO

HCL Services LLC Pieper-Houston Electric LP

Houston

3

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Underwood Sheetmetal

Houston Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abby BeMent HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net 832-595-0091 Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.constructionnews.net

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The Houston Construction News (ISSN 1547-7630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba Houston Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction-related companies in Houston and surrounding counties.

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On the right: Brookstone LP

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Houston Construction News • May 2015

Scary IRS letter Kathleen Dvorak, CPA, Shareholder RidoutBarrett San Antonio, TX

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ow about that sinking feeling you get when you find an IRS envelope in your mailbox and you know it’s not a refund check? With anxiety you slit open the envelope knowing it’s going to be bad news. “The IRS says I owe how much?”

Well I may have some good news for you. There’s a possibility you may qualify for penalty abatement. So, if a significant portion of what the IRS says you owe is penalty, and interest on that penalty, it may be worthwhile to work with the IRS in an effort to have the penalty abated. If penalties are successfully abated, interest related to those abated penalties should also vanish.

Some helpful IRS agents will actually work with you or your appointed representative to maximize the abatement of penalties and related interest. When working with the IRS in an effort to have penalties abated for clients, some tax practitioners may even occasionally speak with very helpful agents who provide guidance on how to get a bigger abatement. The IRS has programs in place to allow taxpayers, who are not habitually charged with the same type of penalty, to receive a First-Time Abatement Waiver. Before using this get-outof-jail-free card however, taxpayers assessed with penalties should first consider whether or not they may have the penalty removed “for cause” and save the first-time penalty abatement request for a possible future need.

The IRS grants penalty abatements when the taxpayer can show just cause for the deviation from the rules or regulations. Unfortunately, being unaware of the rules and regulations is not just cause for abatement.

The IRS often grants First-Time Penalty Abatements to qualifying taxpayers.

Certain types of penalty assessments can be abated if the taxpayer has not been assessed the same type of penalty within the prior three-year period and if the taxpayer is otherwise in compliance with that same type of issue for subsequent and current periods. If a taxpayer has had, or does have, an installment agreement in place and he or she has been making timely payments according to the plan, the taxpayer is still considered to be compliant and may still qualify for the abatement.

Tax practitioners have available to them an IRS Tax Practitioner’s Hotline which allows practitioners to work on behalf of their clients with agents who are generally very knowledgeable, helpful and frequently authorized to correct issues and grant certain penalty abatements over the phone at the time of the call from the tax practitioner. Unfortunately, because of budget cuts and a reduced staff of IRS agents, the tax practitioner is often on hold for great lengths of time, sometimes between one and two hours before the tax practitioner is able to speak to an agent. However, patience is not only a virtue, but in these instances it can also be fiscally beneficial, resulting in the savings of significant dollars in penalties and related interest.

Other options available to qualifying taxpayers are Installment Agreements and Offers-In- Compromise. If a taxpayer finds he is unable to fully pay a tax debt by the due date, he may be able to obtain an Installment Agreement and make monthly payments over time. Penalties and interest continue to accrue however, so the best option is to pay it off as quickly as possible. For those who may find themselves unable to full pay a tax debt over a 72-month Installment Agreement, the taxpayer may be eligible for an OfferIn-Compromise to have part of the tax liability removed. There are many issues involved with Installment Agreements and Offers-In- Compromise for which another article would be required. But know that these are possible solutions to consider when a taxpayer cannot immediately full pay a federal tax liability.

If you find the dreaded IRS envelope in your mailbox, know that you may have options for some relief.

Kathleen Dvorak obtained her CPA license in 1988 while working in private industry. Kathleen went into public accounting in 2001 and joined RidoutBarrett as a department manager in 2005. She became a shareholder of the firm in 2011.

Compliance quick check: Top common group health plan issues Terrell Taylor, Partner Christ Taylor Insurance Houston, TX Affordability under healthcare reform: Wellness credits and surcharges cannot be taken into consideration when determining affordability under the employer mandate, unless they are tobacco-related. Additionally, small employers must determine affordability for purposes of the Marketplace Notice. Finally, individuals should be informed as to the affordability of coverage for purposes of the premium tax credit subsidies available in the federal marketplace.

Payment of individual policy premiums: Some employers have begun to explore the possibility of providing contributions toward health coverage purchased in the individual market, including coverage and employee purchases through either a private or public exchange. In Sep. 2013, the IRS published Notice 2013-54, essentially prohibiting the payment, subsidy or reimbursement of the cost of individual policy premiums by an employer. The IRS requires that a participant in an employer-sponsored arrangement that is designed to pay for health coverage on a tax free basis also be enrolled in a group health plan.

Nondiscrimination: Corrections to any failed nondiscrimination test are not permitted after year end. This means that the status of the plan should be monitored during the year so that any adjustments can be made prior to year end. As a best practice, testing should be performed several times during the plan year to help a plan sponsor facilitate corrections and show, upon audit, that the plan passes the appropriate tests.

Failure to offer COBRA: If an employer offers benefits that satisfy the definition of a group health plan, the employer should also offer COBRA in connection with the plan. Commonly overlooked group health plans include flexible spending arrangements, health savings accounts, employee assistance programs and wellness programs. Failure to offer COBRA may subject the employer to penalties under ERISA, an excise tax under the tax code, and penalties and remedies by the court.

Mixing up HIPPA and COBRA notices: The HIPAA Special Enrollment Rights Notice and the COBRA Initial Notice are commonly confused, but the application and audience are different. Employers should ensure that the HIPAA document is provided to all employees (not just those covered under the plan) who are offered the opportunity to enroll. Conversely, the COBRA document is only provided to employees and spouses who are actually covered under the plan within 90 days of the beginning date.

Medicare/Tricare prohibition: An employer with 20 or more employees may not offer to pay, subsidize or otherwise reimburse the cost of TRICARE or Medicare coverage for employees or their spouses, as this could be seen as taking such coverage into account and incentivizing the individual to drop group health coverage.

FMLA: Final regulations released in February 2013 expanded the federal Family and Medical Leave Act to include leave for family members who are on or have been called to active duty. Extended leave is available for an employee to care for a family member with a serious illness or injury.

Advance notice of midyear plan changes required: Health care reform introduced the summary of benefits and coverage requirement. Under SBC distribution rules, if a plan changes information or design midyear, an updated SBC must be provided 60 days in advance of the effective date of the change. A summary of material modification (SMM) may also be required on an expedited basis when a plan change is made.

Charging employees different premiums: In general, an employer is free to design their plan to charge employees different premiums as long as it is based on bona fide employment classifications or participation in a wellness program.

However such plans must ensure they will pass nondiscrimination rules under both IRS code Section 125 and 105(h). Assessing premium differentials based on the satisfaction of a health standard (such as not smoking) is only permitted when it is part of a wellness program that satisfies the five criteria of the federal regulations.

Christ Taylor Insurance is an Employee Benefits and Insurance Brokerage firm doing business for over 50 years in southeast Texas, and long-time ABC member. The firm provides solutions to small and medium size companies for healthcare and benefit programs, as well as life insurance and Retirement Plans. Contact the Christ Taylor team at 713-850-7747 or www.christtaylor.com

Bridging communities

McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), along with dignitaries and community leaders, broke ground on the METRO Harrisburg Overpass project, located in Houston’s East End, in March. –ab

Houston Construction News • May 2015

Page 5

The third-generation Alpha Are you ready for new union rules?

Sewell C. “Spike” Cutler, Principal Cutler-Smith PC Dallas, TX

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ew union-representation election rules are effective as of April 14, 2015; are you ready?

You may recall earlier efforts by the current administration's National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to enact substantial changes to union-representation election policies and procedures, changes to substantially expedite union elections and eliminate procedural protections employers had when faced with union election petitions. The new rules, sometimes called "Rocket Election" or "Quickie Election" rules, were set aside after a determination that the board adopting the rules at the time included improperly- appointed members.

The prior reprieve has turned out to be temporary; a properly-constituted NLRB adopted a final rule in December, effective April 14, 2015, which implements accelerated election rules. Not only does the new rule accelerate the union election process, it also has some real gems to assist unions in organizing workgroups. The Final Rule, as published in the Federal Register, is 182 pages long, but its most important impacts can be summarized as follows: 1. Union representation election petitions may now be submitted electronically, including petitions, voter lists and statutorily-required notices; in the past, these had to be submitted by mail, inperson or by facsimile.

2. Regional directors for the NLRB are now expected to set a "pre-election hearing" within eight days after hearing notice issues, and conduct a post-election hearing 14 days after the filing of any objections; importantly, and critically, elections will not be stayed (delayed) pending resolution of most issues, whereas in the past, elections were not held until pre-election issues, including the validity of voter lists and potential bargaining units, were resolved.

3. Employers must submit a position statement setting out issues with the prospective election at least one business day before the hearing, or waive such issues; previously, all relevant issues could be considered.

4. Employers will now be required to give the union a list of possible voters, their locations, the job classifications, and will have to include personal phone numbers and email addresses for all such employees, and this list has to be provided within two days after the regional director directs that election be held. So, employers are required to actively assist organizers in their efforts to line-up employees against them.

Bottom line, the process of going from the collection of expressions of interest (election cards) to actually conducting the election is vastly faster, and the employer is required to help the union get in touch with its people.

While the new rules are couched in

terms of "fairness," most press favoring the new rules is written with the assumption that all employers are large, well financed, and have only the worst interests of their workers at heart, something most small business owners know to be false. Small businesses are required, as a matter of practical reality, to hire counsel to challenge elections, and they have to do it quickly – while unions already have full-time, trained professional organizers and counsel on staff.

Congress passed a bill blocking the new rules, but President Obama immediately vetoed the legislation.

Challenges have been filed, including one filed by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), in Federal District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Employers must ensure that they know the rules governing representation elections. Most importantly, employers must maintain a clear line of communications between the employees and company management. Employees who know their employer has their best interests at heart are less likely to call for a union election.

If you learn of strangers hanging around jobsites or contacting your employees, find out about what's going on so you can ensure that any decisions made are made with factual information in hand. Union organizers rely upon poor communication and misinformation and they are pros at doing this. At the first sign of difficulty, be sure you consult with counsel about what you can - and cannot - do in responding to a union organizing campaign.

Kathy Acock has taken on a new position as CEO of Alpha Building Corporation, and Jonathan Rogero is now the third generation president.

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he board of directors at Alpha Building Corporation elected Jonathan Rogero the San Antoniobased general contractor’s third generation president. Kathy Acock, after serving 25 years as president of the company her father, Gordon Kovich, started 45 years ago, stepped up to the role of CEO. The transition became effective Apr. 1.

As Acock’s son, Rogero, takes on his new position and responsibilities, he is instituting a multi-faceted rebranding throughout the company, including its offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi, Harlingen, Edinburg, College Station, Lubbock, El Paso, Conroe and Stephenville in Texas; Memphis and Murfreesboro in Tennessee; and Fayetteville, AR.

In 1993, Rogero started at Alpha as a laborer, and worked his way up the ranks through many roles, including carpenter, crew foreman, project manager and estimator. He earned his associate’s degree in construction project management and bachelor’s degree in business administration by going to school nights and weekends, and he joined the corporate office.

Rogero has unveiled a new corporate logo and says, “Our primary focus for many years had been Job Order Contracting. Over the last two or three years, we saw the need to go into the CSP, design-build and CM at-risk projects. That is a big change for us.” He adds that they are switching to an enterprise software system to streamline internal communication and operations.

As part of the succession changes, Rogero also named his new executive leadership team: Andy Hicks, vice president of construction operations; Dan Perry, vice president of accounting and finance; and Rob Crow, vice president of business development.

Acock has watched her son rise through the leadership of the company, and remarks, “He and I have worked together since 1993. He started in the field.

He had a lot of room to grow, and he did.

I feel like the company now has transitioned to its third generation, and I know my parents would be very proud of that, very proud of Jonathan and probably a little bit amazed at what their small firm had grown into.” –mh

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www.ConstructionNews.net

Page 6

Houston Construction News • May 2015

Where did you attend high school?

I attended and graduated from Lamar High School.

Instead of going to college after graduation, I decided to join the family business and work alongside my father.

Bob Ray President Ray Glass Co. Inc.

B

ob Ray grew up in the glass industry in Rosenberg. His father Grady O. Ray and his mother Martha started the company in 1949 in a building on the far west end of Rosenberg.

Bob’s father bought a few pieces of auto glass, an old Ford truck and a grinder from a local man for a few hundred dollars and began installing glass in vehicles.

Soon Ray Glass Co. expanded and began installing mirrors, shower enclosures and storefronts. Nowadays, the company focuses on commercial work.

Ray Glass Co. has completed jobs all over Fort Bend County and the surrounding areas.

Where were you born and raised, Ray? I was born and raised right here in Rosenberg. I have lived here all my life.

In fact, if the building near our storefront wasn’t here, I would be able to see the hospital where I was born.

I haven’t drifted very far. Rosenberg is home.

What was it like growing up in Rosenberg when you were a child?

Rosenberg was a smaller town when I was growing up.

When I was a kid, the population of the town was about 12,000 people and today it is 36,000 people.

Everybody knew everybody.

The town has grown and changed so much in recent years.

Even though it has tripled in size, I am glad Rosenberg still has a small town atmosphere.

Did your mom continue to work with your dad at the company?

Yes, my mom handled the bookkeeping at the company for a while when I was younger.

She eventually became a stay-athome mom so she could raise my sister and me.

My mom was active in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and she was heavily involved in the Fort Bend County Museum.

Describe your very first job.

As soon as I had a driver’s license, my dad sent me to Houston to pick up materials in the truck.

I started out doing mostly auto glass work. It was the very first thing I learned at the shop.

I gradually progressed to work in the commercial side of the business. I spent many hours working in the field.

In the early ‘50s, my dad relocated from the far west end of town to a small wooden building about a foot from where we are located today.

In 1986, my dad passed away and I began managing the family business.

In 1995, we built our current building, which is four and a half times larger than the original building. We are located right next door to the old building.

Did your sister join the company too?

My sister is a stockholder but she never worked in the glass business or joined the company.

What did your father teach you that you carry on today?

My dad taught me to be honest with customers and do a good job every day. I think this will keep any company in business.

As the old saying goes, “Take care of your customers and they will take care of you.”

We have had many repeat customers over the years.

What advice would you give a young person interested in your trade?

If you want to own a glass company, my advice is to find a mentor and find out what to expect, such as overhead costs.

You will have to work a lot of hours. It is very challenging to own a small glass company today.

I think it is important to find a trade or profession that is a good fit for you.

Are you involved in trade associations?

Yes, I am a member of the National Glass Association (NGA), and a charter member of both the Texas Glass Association (TGA) and the Houston Glass Association (HAGA).

I have served on the HAGA board and on the TGA board three times.

I think belonging to a trade association is very beneficial for business owners to interact with other folks in the industry.

Are you married?

Yes, my wife’s name is JoAnn. We live on five acres near the Brazos River just outside of town.

Bob Ray began managing the family business in 1986.

Do you have any children?

Yes, JoAnn and I have one son named Stephen. Stephen is an Eagle Scout.

I was involved in Boy Scouts while Stephen was growing up and I still am today.

Scouting was great for my son and it is great for me as an adult to be a part of it. Scouting gave my son a tremendous experience and provided him with many opportunities.

Stephen graduated from the University of Houston.

He makes a living as a civil engineer today. He will be eligible to take his Professional Engineering (PE) exam later this year.

Does JoAnn work with you at the company?

No, JoAnn has never been involved in the glass business.

Have you and JoAnn traveled anywhere recently?

JoAnn and I haven’t traveled in a while. If we can’t drive somewhere, we usually don’t go.

I will turn 70 in a few years, so maybe I’ll slow down a little at work so we can visit small towns in Texas.

I don’t really have a desire to travel anywhere outside of Texas. Texas is such a big state and there is so much to see!

Do you enjoy reading about Texas history?

My mother was always interested in the history of Fort Bend County and Texas history.

I have always been interested in Texas history, too.

Texas history is something that gets overshadowed by other things in the news.

March and April is an important time of year for Texas history.

What are a few of your favorite hobbies when you are not at work?

Spending time on my five acres is my hobby after work. I have a shop outside my house.

I keep the tractor and mower going on our property and I like to piddle around the shop on the weekends.

It is a relaxing place for me to spend my time after a long week at the office.

My wife gave me a doormat for my shop that says, “Man Cave.”

In addition, as a business owner, I think it is important to be involved in the community.

I am involved in Boy Scouts and I am also the president of the West Fort Bend Management District.

The district has control over the corridors and development of the city.

What are your future plans for Ray’s Glass Co.?

At my age, I don’t want the company to get any bigger. I like to keep things manageable.

I know what we can handle to continue to give our customers personalized attention.

Staying on schedule on all jobs is so important in this business.

We have had an extremely good year so far in 2015. We have work scheduled for the rest of the year.

I am actually turning down some jobs I wish I could do, I just know what our capabilities are.

It is better not to get in trouble and be honest with customers.

If you can’t do the job, customers appreciate you letting them know.

What has been the best part about working in the glass business over the years?

I have had the opportunity to meet so many different people over the years.

I remember my dad was a people person.

It didn’t matter how busy he got at the shop, if someone came through the front door, he would sit down and visit with him or her.

The technology and codes in the glass business are always changing. This business is always interesting to me. –ab

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The Bass Construction crew moves lumber at the City of Richmond Fire Department project near Hwy. 90. –ab

Houston Construction News • May 2015

Pre-summer patterns and tactics

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Premier Yamaha Boating Center, Majek Boats, E-Z Bel Construction, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate ­­­ForEverlast Hunting and Fishing Products and Columbia Sportswear.

H

igh winds and an abundance of rainfall in April made fishing a little more difficult for most of last month. There was also one storm where severe weather moved through and winds were clocked at 60 mph, catching some anglers by surprise and far from home. Despite some harsh weather and terrible water conditions in the upper lagoon, our bay system should prosper from the rains and recover for the upcoming summer months.

With May approaching, you should start seeing those croaker flag starting to appear at the local marinas. Fishing strategies will change as we make the transition from shrimp to croakers. Rock struc-

Page 7

tures, reefs, grass beds and potholes are areas which need to be keyed on. It is very important when approaching these areas to use a trolling motor or push pole.

Anchoring up on the outside edges of these areas can be very productive on spawning trout. Setting up on these locations is the key to catching fish. Always approach the intended area with the wind at your back, carefully estimating the length of your anchor rope and the distance of your cast. Once you have drifted over the area, you intend to fish because your anchor didn’t hold or you misjudged the wind. You might as well find a new area to fish and try that spot later in the day.

During the summer months here in the Coastal Bend, anglers can find some of the best fishing along the entire coast.

Our bays are loaded with resident fish and tide runners, which constantly are arriving from the Gulf. With school being out for summer and the weather getting better everyday, that can only mean one thing . . . boating and fishing pressure will be one of the most important factors for not being able to find large quantity of fish or stay on those fish once you have a bite going. That is why I emphasize so much that the best fishing is usually during the week instead of on a weekend.

Another alternative to getting away from the heat and crowded bays is late evening and night fishing.

Fishing late into the evening and into the night during the full moon can get you out of everyday crowds and into some of the more popular fishing areas without being hassled by novice boat operators and inpatient anglers. I have experienced all aspects of these people trying to move-in on a set of rocks or a sand pocket you are catching fish from and scare all the fish away. It has reached a point where you have to do some

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Concrete for the king

Davin Cox of George West shows his catch before getting back in the boat with Steve Schultz Outdoors.

homework and really think about how you will go about catching fish on any given day.

My tech-tip for the month keys on using braided line when fishing either live bait or artificial lures. Power Pro Slick 8 is this captain’s line of choice. It’s smooth as

silk feel gives you extra long cast and is sensitive enough to feel every bite.

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.

Good luck and Good Fishing.

STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS

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

The T & T Construction crew does concrete work at the King of Cars project in Pasadena. –ab

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Houston Construction News • May 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

A

h, springtime in Texas! The Hill Country wildflowers are winding down, school is wrapping up and the fishing action is heating up!

We are off to a good start this year on Lake Buchanan. The old lake hasn’t caught much water over the winter months, but we have learned to fish the low lake and know how to cope with it.

So far we are seeing lots of good healthy fish trending larger as fewer people seem to want to mess with a low lake. As with any other game animal, the secret to getting bigger trophies is letting them have more time to grow.

I know I’m always on my soapbox trying to get people to realize the importance of getting out and taking their kids hunting and fishing. I firmly believe the old adage, “Take your kid hunting and you won’t be hunting for your kid.” I once had an old judge on my boat who told me he never had a kid in his courtroom that had a hunting or fishing license in their pocket. I think it is the combination of time spent with our kids and letting them have a chance to learn the lessons nature can teach that can help them become more balanced and confident people.

With that in mind, try to take a little time as school lets out for the summer to look at your summer plans and go ahead and make your reservations for family travel and events. Try to book your hunting or fishing trips through vacation time instead of having to settle for just doing anything you can still do at the last few

days of vacation. Our schedule and I’m sure that of most other recreational services looks like spring break all over again during the month of August because of the end of vacation panic. We do appreciate the business, but we really hate to turn families away because they all want to go at once.

During early summer we see nice weather before summer heat really gets settled in and that makes outdoor trips more comfortable. As far as fishing is concerned the earlier trips will usually

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished

have better fishing and larger fish because they are just ending their spawning season. The fish will continue to bite well through the summer months, but sometimes if we have a really hot summer they will start to slow down around mid-August. That is why trips earlier in the season are so good for bringing the kids along. You want to get them hooked on fishing with a good strong “catching” trip so they will want to continue fishing.

As we get into the months of the year when we can see more rainfall we are all

hoping that the El Nino pattern we are moving into will bring the much needed rains to begin restoring our lakes and rivers to more normal levels. If that doesn’t actually happen, at least it should bring in some water to freshen up out water bodies and keep fishing good.

At any rate its prime time fishing now and I hope you can find the time to join us – on the water!

Submitted to Construction News

Reaching the finish line

Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You

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

Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!

Jim Ellis, Strike Construction, completed the 2015 BP MS 150 race from La Grange to Austin Apr. 19. Way to go! –ab

Houston Construction News • May 2015

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Page 9

Texas leaders take the reins

he Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America held its 96th annual convention, 360 Degrees of Construction, Mar. 18-20 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

At the convention’s officer installation dinner, Texas found representation at the national level of the association in two of its three highest offices.

Chuck Greco, chairman of Linbeck Group LLC, was installed as the president of AGC of America for 2015. The the general contracting company is headquartered in Houston.

“Thirty-six years ago when I started my career with Linbeck, I never imagined that one day I would be serving as president of the Association General Contractors of America,” stated Greco. “During the course of my career, I had countless opportunities to observe just what a positive impact the association had on our business and our industry. And more often than not, those benefits were the product of years of work by involved contractors and association staff. Clearly, AGC was the place where people were fighting to improve the industry’s future.

That is why the theme for my tenure as your president will be ‘AGC today for a better industry tomorrow.’

AGC Houston members Anslow Bryant Construction Ltd. and Linbeck Group LLC won awards at a luncheon ceremony.

Anslow Bryant Construction captured a Merit Award in the Design-Build Category for The Treehouse Memorial City built for MetroNational in Houston.

Linbeck Group took home the Alliant Build America award in the Construction Management New Category for the Tobin Center For The Performing Arts in San

Down on the bayou

Chuck Greco (right) accepts the position of president of AGC of America for 2015 at the convention’s officer installation dinner.

Antonio.

Brookstone LP, Satterfield and Pontikes Construction Inc., Aggregate Technologies Inc., and Peterson Beckner Industries Inc. also took home Construction Safety Excellence awards at the WILLIS Safety Awards Breakfast held in conjunction with the convention. O t h e r events at the convention included a prayer breakfast, student chapters annual meeting and luncheon, the Education and Research Foundation Board of Directors luncheon, a luncheon for spouses and guests, Celebrate Construction Night, a board of governors luncheon and several educational sessions.

AGC Houston hosted a reception for Chuck Greco at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino Bella Vista Terrace Mar. 30.

The chapter proudly flew the AGC Houston flag and distributed Texas Building Branch AGC lapel pins and "Rancho Greco Special Reserve 2015" Don Q rum to all attendees. –mh/ab

Attendees enjoy crawfish under the tent.

S

pawGlass employees celebrated with owners, architects and specialty contractors at the 18th annual Bayou Bash Apr. 9.

Four hundred friends in the industry came to the Houston location to enjoy the beautiful day, listen to live music and

put a hurt on some crawfish. Folks brought can good donations to support the Houston Food Bank.

SpawGlass is a general contractor, construction manager, design builder and civil contractor. –ab

SpawGlass employees and guests are all smiles while they listen to live music.

L-R: Jim Stevenson, Brenda and Chuck Greco and Kelly Stevenson SpawGlass employees and friends catch up over a cold beverage.

L-R: Chuck Greco visits with Steve Mechler and Jim Stevenson, McCarthy

L-R: Sandy and Paul Sipes, Kevin Imming and David Stueckler, Linbeck Group

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Houston Construction News • May 2015

Houston Construction News • May 2015

Page 11

Concrete Industry Paying attention to the details Kimberly Acosta, Owner KDA Custom Floor Co. Katy, TX

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hat sparked your interest in stained concrete flooring?

In 1949, my grandfather and his brothers came to Dallas and opened a company installing all types of flooring, including stained concrete and hardwood floors.

They were one of the first people to introduce concrete staining to the United States.

I learned all about stained concrete from my family over the years.

I asked my family members questions about stained concrete at family reunions and when we got together for the holidays. I opened KDA Custom Floor Co in 2005.

A KDA Custom Floor Co. crew member does a stained concrete project.

In your opinion, what is the state of the construction industry?

There is plenty of work right now.

We got really busy last year in April and we didn’t slow down.

Normally there is a slow down in December and January. We just kept on going this year.

We have stayed very busy with commercial projects in 2015.

What types of changes have you seen in your industry since you opened your company 10 years ago?

We still do things the old school way, but I have noticed nowadays more people prefer a sealer for protection.

Polished concrete and overlays are more popular these days.

How do you stay up-to-date with new trends?

It is my goal to attend the World of Concrete in Las Vegas next year to learn about new technologies and products in the industry. I get so busy it is hard to leave for a few days. I want to go though!

We recently took part in a polished concrete class to freshen up our skills.

I went to a flooring convention this past year to gather new information about products and services as well.

In your opinion, what are the keys to success in your industry?

First of all, you have to know exactly how to do stained concrete. It is important to do it correctly.

In addition, I think you have to pay attention to details, be professional and provide excellent customer service.

If a young person wants to do what you do today, what advice would you give him or her?

I think it would be a good idea to become an apprentice and learn from a more experienced person in the industry.

If you are just starting out, you can educate yourself by watching how-to videos online provided by a reputable manufacturer.

What is on the horizon for your industry?

I think polished concrete will continue to become popular in the future for both residential and commercial jobs.

KDA Custom Floor Co. specializes in the installation of stained concrete flooring, epoxy flooring and prefinished hardwood flooring for commercial, residential, interior and exterior projects. –ab

Have cements changed?

Dave Suchorski, Senior Technical Services Manager/ Sales Manager Ash Grove Cement Company, Ankeny, IA

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ement is one of the world's most popular building materials and has been used for over 2,000 years.

Structures such as the Roman Coliseum were constructed using a form of cement. Some are still standing today.

Cements changed very little until 1824 when an Englishman, Joseph Aspdin, received a patent for his new method of proportioning and blending raw material based upon chemistry. He named his product Portland cement because mortar made with his product had a color similar to a natural building stone that was quarried from the Isle of Portland off the coast of England. Improvements

by Aspdin and others have led to the cement we are currently using. Portland cement has not changed significantly in the last 100 years.

In 2004, the Portland Cement Association surveyed all 123 cement plants in the U.S. and Canada (P. Tennis, J. Bhatty, 2005). This survey collected and compared cement data in three different areas: chemical and phase composition, fineness, and strength. This data was then compared to survey data from 1994 and the early 1950s. These surveys proved there have been very few chemical changes. While cement is still made up primarily of calcium, silica, alumina and iron, there has been a slight change in the phase composition. Tri-calcium silicate (C3S), the compound primarily responsible for early strengths, has increased, while dicalcium silicate (C2S), the compound responsible for later age strength, has decreased.

These phase composition changes, as well as an increase in fineness (Blaine) result in modern cements that have higher early strengths. There has been a demand in construction to increase early strengths to speed up construction processes, allowing wall forms to be stripped earlier and pavements and slabs to be opened to traffic sooner. Although cube compressive strengths between the cements from the 1950s and the 1990s are not directly comparable due to a change in the water content used to make the strength samples, the table shows an approximation of the strengths and how they have gone up since the 1950's. (See table.)

Blended cements

One of the bigger changes in the cement industry is the increase in the amount and types of blended cements being manufactured. Blended cements combine Portland cement with Supplemental Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and other minerals to produce cements with specific enhanced properties. SCMs are materials

such as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume, calcined clay and volcanic ash. These materials are either blended with ground cement or interground with cement clinker at the finish mills in tightly controlled proportions. The SCMs chemically combine with the hydration products of the Portland cement to reduce the permeability of concrete and increase concrete durability.

Blended cements can be formulated to mitigate Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) in concrete containing reactive aggregates. Blended cements can also be formulated to increase sulfate resistance in concrete exposed to high sulfate soils and water. Certain blended cements can be used to lower the heat of hydration in mass concrete, such as dams and large foundations.

Blended cements can also have gypsum contents optimized for the blend of the cement and SCMs. Gypsum is used to control the setting of cement to prevent false and flash sets in concrete. The gypsum does this by controlling the alumina portion of cements. Some SCMs also have alumina compounds that can compete with the alumina compounds in the Portland cement for the gypsum. This can lead to rapid slump loss and setting problems in concrete. Blended cements can have increased gypsum to optimize the SCMs. Blended cements are manufactured to comply with ASTM C 595, Standard Specification for Blended Cements. The blended cements are designated as Type IP(X) for pozzolan blended cements containing fly ash, or natural pozzolan SCMs, such as calcined clay or volcanic ash or Type IS(X) slag blended cements, where (X) is the percent of SCM in the blend. For example, Type IS(25) is a blended cement with 25% slag.

In recent years, another type of blended cement has been gaining popularity in North America, Type IL. This is a Portland cement type that contains interground limestone. Cements blended with up to 35% ground limestone have been used for many years in other parts of the world and are often the predominate cement used. By intergrinding limestone, the clinker content of the cement can be lowered. Lowering the clinker content helps to reduce the CO2 emissions per ton of cement and thereby per cubic yard of concrete.

Concrete is a green building material.

Durable concrete has a long service life that expends very little energy, giving it a long, sustainable life cycle. Reducing the CO2 emissions during manufactur-

ing helps concrete be an even more sustainable building material. Research has shown that controlling the fineness and the particle size distribution during intergrinding results in a cement that produces similar properties as concrete made with other types of cements.

The cement industry faces increasing regulatory issues and is constantly striving to reduce energy consumption. As the industry responds to these challenges, changes in the manufacturing process may result in slight changes in the cements produced. The cement industry will be working with the chemical and admix industry, concrete producers, researchers and specifiers to provide cements that will produce durable and sustainable concrete that can last for centuries.

Suchorski is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and a registered professional engineer in Kansas and Wisconsin. Dave has over 30 years experience in the cement and concrete industry. He is a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute, a member of the Board of Directors and serves as the chairman of the Curing Concrete Committee.

Dave is also a member of the Parking Lot, Pervious Concrete and Hydraulic Cements Certification Program and Chapter Activities Committees. –cw References: For more information on cements go to The Portland Cement Association website: http://www.cement.org.

Bhatty, J.I., Tennis, P.D., “Portland Cement Characteristics-2004,” Concrete Technology Today, Vol. 26, No. 3, CT053, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Illinois, December, 2005, pages 1-3. http://www.cement.org/tech/pdfs/CT053_cement.pdf Tennis, P. D., “Portland Cement Characteristics -1998,” Concrete Technology Today, Vol. 2, No. 2, PL992, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Illinois, August 1999, pages 1–4. www.cement.org/tech/pdfs/pl992.pdf “Portland Cement: Past and Present Characteristics,” Concrete Technology Today, Vol. 17, No. 2, PL962, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Illinois, July 1996, pages 1–3. http://www.cement.org/pdf_files/pl962.pdf

Page 12

Houston Construction News • May 2015

Round-Up

Going green

Charlie Hunton has been promoted to president and general manager of Hunton Distribution, the residential and light commercial division of the Hunton Group.

Hunton has been with the Hunton Group for 21 years and most recently served as sales manager and vice president of Hunton Distribution.

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Photos by Ruben Serrano, R.Serrano Photography

Leisa Nelson, PE, has joined Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) as a regional director. Nelson will manage Houston’s large diameter pipe group. She has more than 30 years of civil engineering experience. Nelson received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Cincinnati and her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Houston.

L-R: Cynthia Ecrette Guillory, David Painter and Jody Henry

DeWayne Krawl was promoted to vice president of business development at the MLAW Engineers Austin office. He joined the firm in 2005 in its warranty department. Bringing years of real estate and business experience to the table, he created and managed the additions and remodeling department from 2006 to 2010.

From 2011 to 2015 he served as district manager and continued to expand MLAW’s presence statewide. Based in Austin, he will travel and work in all MLAW markets in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and the Texas Coast.

L-R: Nina Masters and guests

elebrating 10 years of green building education, Gulf Coast Green took place at the Norris Conference Center Mar. 27.

This year’s theme was Healthy Communities - Vitality in Placemaking. Architects, landscape architects, urban planners, developers and building managers attended the green building conference.

A symposium addressed urban design solutions including eco-districts, sustainable neighborhoods and housing, transportation solutions, active buildings, and the rebirth of true public space.

In addition, the Green Products Expo featured the latest products and systems in the industry and manufacturers gave live mini-presentations.

After the event, folks attended the Gulf Coast Green After Party at The Monnalisa. –ab

Colby Rose, LEED AP, has been promoted to vice president of the Cadence McShane Construction Co. regional office in Houston. Rose is relocating from the firm’s headquarters in Addison. Rose will be responsible for the management of project personnel and support teams, the development and expansion of new business opportunities and the strategic planning and execution of the firm’s growth within its key market sectors. Rose attended Texas Tech University and earned a B.S. degree in construction engineering technology.

Sabra Phillips has joined Marek Companies headquartered in Houston as the director of talent development.

Phillips will lead Marek’s talent and workforce development program focused on enhancing the skills and careers of people at all levels of the Marek team.

She holds degrees from the University of Texas and the University of Houston.

Turner Duran Architects LP has hired Guillermo Sahagun as an architectural designer and project manager. Guillermo received Bachelor degrees in architecture and environmental design from the University of Houston.

Having a blast

H

ouston area air conditioning contractors and suppliers took part in an annual Shoot Out event at the American Shooting Center Apr. 10. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Greater Houston Chapter (ACCA) held the event. –ab Congrats to the winners!

1st Place 1st Class: Team AJ Warren Services: Jay Warren, Hunter Edmunds, William Edmunds, Walter Edmunds and Sandra Nail

2nd Place 1st Class: Team ACES: Mike Williams, Jon Landry, Richard Balderrama, Dan Davenport and Steve Davenport 1st Place 2nd Class: Team DXS: Joe Rincon, Danny Carter, Aaron Rincon, Kirk Voitle and Bryan Sublett 2nd Place 2nd Class: Team EASI: Donnie Englefield, Ryan Studt, Rob Elolf and Bob Elolf 1st Place 3rd Class: Team Ferguson: James Sharp, Kevin Baust and Rion Child 2nd Place 3rd Class: Team Century: Eddie Debowski, Kevin Haegner, Merle Aaron, Keith Carden and Brad Long

AJ Warren Services

EASI

Houston Construction News • May 2015

Page 13

continued from Page 1 — Signs of success and your employees. Tell them the truth, and be very upfront with them.

“They understand the pressure of ups and downs in business. When you see them as one of you and you are one of them, it makes it so much easier. It’s teamwork. It’s a family.”

Even during the economic downturn, Ziba and Ed made a commitment: no layoffs at Intex United. They made tough decisions and banded together, and they emerged from the recession stronger than ever. They’ve never laid off a single employee in 30 years.

Ziba says separation of duties is the secret for a husband and wife team to get along for 30 years.

“Our jobs are so different,” she said.

There are days Ziba won’t even see Ed because she is in charge of the numbers, financials, employee packages, benefits and hiring and he is strictly the

production and the marketing guy.

“Ed is the person who will go out and get the project and price the project,” she said. “So what he does, I really know nothing about, what I do he knows very little about.”

When they have free time, Ziba enjoys reading and Ed loves playing soccer and volleyball for exercise.

“Our company goal is to keep growing and expanding and getting involved in more innovative projects,” Ziba said.

“We will celebrate our 30 years in business this year by holding a company wide appreciation picnic.”

Intex United is a manufacturer of custom architectural graphics and signage products. The company’s signage sits atop landmark Houston institutions, from Reliant Stadium to Methodist Hospital, as well as projects in 12 states. –ab

Ed Soheili (second from right) and employees work in the shop.

continued from Page 1 — Right time, right place “These days, I am involved in all aspects of the company,” she said. “My husband Jack and I are focused on getting the Rosenberg store up and running. I will eventually travel between the two stores and Jack will run the Rosenberg store.

“Every day we get a new customer, so that is always exciting! In the future, we want to make the Rosenberg location as

big as the Houston location, if not bigger.”

When the couple has free time, they enjoy hanging out with their kids, spending time in La Grange and Galveston and going to church on Sundays.

Gray-Walker sells foundation steel, concrete block, bagged cement, fireplace supplies, natural and manufactured stone, stucco supplies, masons tools, wire, masonry accessories and sand. –ab

continued from Page 1 — Careful planning pays off Founded in 1985 by McCall, Intrepid Construction Co. is a general construction firm specializing in remodeling for both the commercial and residential markets in the greater Houston area. Over the years, the company has completed light industrial, retail, restaurants, professional and medical offices. –ab The project included modifying existing security door hardware.

Submitted to Construction News

First glimpse

A group of Texas Tech University graduate architecture students were given a primer on project delivery methods and toured the site of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Cypress. The tour was hosted by Turner Duran Architects LP and Brookstone Corp., the GC for the project. –ab

Page 14

Houston Construction News • May 2015

Mechanically inclined

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he Mechanical Contractors Association of Houston (MCA) conducted its 10th annual Shotgun Invitational at the Greater Houston Gun Club Apr. 10.

More than 150 MCA members and guests attended the event. Associates council and event committee members June Johnston, Travis Brothers Building Automation; Cynthia Birdwell, Andrews Myers; Doug Gregory, GregoryEdwards Inc. and Trey Hale, Ferguson, helped organize the event.

“The Shotgun Invitational is a unique, wonderful event for networking, and for spending time with friends and customers,” Johnston said. –ab

Association Calendar

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

L-R: June Johnston, Cynthia Birdwell, Trey Hale and Doug Gregory

May 1: Introduction to Safety and Health Management May 4, 5, 6, 7: OSHA 501 May 6: OSHA 30 and Commercial Blueprint Boot Camp May 8: Leadership Forum and Trench Safety May 12,13, 19, 20, 26, 27: OSHA 30 May 13: Commercial Blueprint Boot Camp May 14: Expo/Crawfish Boil May 20: Lien Law and Commercial Blueprint Boot Camp May 27: Commercial Blueprint Boot Camp May 29: Leadership Forum Graduation For more information call 713-523-6222

ACCA Air Conditioning Contractors of Amer.

May 19: Monthly meeting, 5:30pm, Saint Arnold, 2000 Lyons Ave. For more information call 713-781-4822

AGC Associated General Contractors

L-R: Flurry and Flush team competition winners: Hunton Trane - Tyler Williams, Kevin Murphy, Malcolm Gaus and Brandon Walker

L-R: Annie Oakley Individual competition winners: Tyler Williams (2nd Place), Phillip White (1st Place) and James Zander (3rd place)

May 1: Certificate of Management-BIM Credentialing Exam and OSHA 7410: Managing Excavation Hazards May 5-8: RM 701: Advanced Accident Investigation May 7: Member mixer May 8: Engineering 101 for Contractors May 12-14: OSHA 3115: Fall Protection May 13: First Aid/CPR/AED Training May 14: 2015 Construction Leadership Council Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament May 18-22: OSHA 30-Hour Spanish May 19-22: OSHA 2015 - Hazardous Materials May 20: Raising Safety Awareness in Construction May 21: Raising Safety Awareness in Construction (Spanish) May 22: Texas Lien Laws May 26-29: RM 101: Safety, Health, and Environmental Risk Management (SHERM) Principles May 29: Advanced Lien & Payment Issues Seminar For more information call 713-843-3700

CSI Construction Specifications Institute

May 18: Quikserv Factory Tour, 11441 Brittmoore Park Dr., 3pm, Food Truck will offer food and drink for purchase after the tour.

For more info: www.csihouston.org

FPA Foundation Performance Assoc.

May 13: Presentation, 5pm – Guidelines for the Evaluation of Foundation Movement for Residential and Other Low-Rise Buildings, Lowell Brumley, PE, BEC-LIN Engineering LP For more info: www.foundationperformance.org

IEC Independent Electrical Contractors

May 2, 9, 16: State Masters Exam Prep Class (402), Sat. 8am – noon, Contractor members $325/Non-members $390 May 4: Motor Controls Class –PLCs, Mon. 6-9pm, Contractor Members $400/NonMembers $475 May, 6, 13, 20, 27: State Residential Appliance Installer & State Maintenance Exam (202), Weds. 6pm-9pm, Contractor members $240/Non members $290 May 7: Motor Controls Level 1 Class, Thurs. 6-9pm, Contractor Members $400/Non-Members $475 May 20: Monthly meeting For more information call 713-869-1976

NAWIC National Assn. of Women in Construction

May 12: NAWIC General Dinner meeting: Industry Appreciation Night, 5:30-6pm Networking, 6-8pm Dinner and Business meeting, HESS Club, 5430 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77056, Cost: $35 Dinner & Program with reservation $40 Dinner & Program without reservation $8 Program only, Membership is not a requirement for attendance – guests are always welcome For more info: www.nawic-houston.org

NECA

AIA American Institute of Architects

May 1: MGMC Awards Ceremony May 2: Rice University Walking Tour May 8: Lunchtime Learning: Materials Investigations, presented by Donna Kacmar May 9: Third Ward Bicycle Tour May 12: IDP Bootcamp May 13: Mobility for Sustainable Development & LEED Certification May 14: Houston Heights Bicycle Tour May 15-17: A.R.E. Structural Systems Seminar for ARE 4.0 2015 May 16: Buffalo Bayou Walking Tour May 19: Continuing Education – BEC Presents May 26: Updates to the Harris County Building Code May 30: Sandcastle Competition For more information call 713-520-0155

National Electrical Contractor Assn.

May 7: Coastal Sabine Division meeting and CSLMCC meeting May 8: Coastal Sabine NECA Affiliate Golf Tournament May 11-14: Council on Industrial Relations May 12: Houston JATC meeting May 18-20: NECA Safety Professionals Conference May 26: Houston Division meeting For more information call 713-977-2522

PHCC Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

May 13: Member Lunch, Saltgrass Steakhouse For more info: www.gulfcoastphcc.org

TSPE Texas Society of Professional Engineers

ASA American Subcontractors Association

May 5: Small Business Peer Group May 6: Membership Committee meeting & Schmooze & Mingle May 7: OSHA Safety Stand-Down Day and Associate Member Peer Group May 12: Houston Fall Protection Safety Day 2015 May 14: Contract Language Seminar May 21: BPI Session May 25: Safety Committee meeting

Did you know?

May 30: Fiesta on the Beach, AIA Sandcastle Competition For more information call 281- 679-1877

May 12: Education Night, 6pm May 18: Annual Fundraising BBQ For more info: www.tspehouston.org

WCA Women Contractors Association

May 21: Annual Boots & Bling with Cowboy Catwalk For more info: www.womencontractors. org

Past editions can be downloaded at www.ConstructionNews.net

Houston Construction News • May 2015

Page 15

Splash of paint

Tex-cellent

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Having fun, the ASA Houston group strikes a pose at event.

he American Subcontractors Association (ASA) held its 2015 SubExcel Conference Mar. 26-29 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel in Seattle, WA. For 2015-2016, ASA National has a Texan taking over as president. Letitia Haley Barker, Haley-Greer in Dallas, will step into this role on Jul. 1 from her current office of vice president.

At the awards luncheon, ASA presented awards for Excellence in Ethics to 13 companies including Marek Brothers Systems and Holes Incorporated, both based in Houston, and Haley-Greer, based in Dallas.

“There was plenty of opportunity for networking with the educational programs as well as some free time to explore the city with our peers,” said Brianna Boudreau, ASA Houston executive director.

“We had 13 individuals from 12 companies from ASA Houston attend the event.

“As executive director, the time spent with my peers from across the nation, learning and sharing with one another to make our chapters stronger and better was priceless!”

The annual conference’s special events included a welcome reception, a spouses’ tour of Pike Place Public Market, an executive directors’ outing to tour Seattle craft breweries, a national general contractor expo, an attorney’ council reception and dinner at Aqua Restaurant, and a reception and banquet on the last night.

Some of the many education programs included workshops on finding, training and motivating employees, selling and negotiating jobs, building a backlog – regardless of market conditions, and financial management. –mh/ab Submitted to Construction News

One lucky golfer

Congrats to Johnny Nichols, Insul8, for his Hole in One at the Associated Builders and Contractors Houston Chapter (ABC) Spring Golf Tournament held at Kingwood Country Club Mar. 30. –ab

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Brian Johnson, 2014-2015 national president, with his vice president and successor for 2015-2016, Letitia Haley Barker

L-R: John Glaze; Elaine Garcia, San Antonio Chapter executive director; and Shannon MacArthur, MEMCO in Houston

Painter Reba Drafts

ebecca “Reba” Drafts started RLD Painting in Houston in Sep. 2014.

She has loved the craft for almost 30 years.

Before Drafts opened RLD Painting, she worked at a commercial painting company in the Metroplex area.

“I began my career painting for a homebuilder in the early ‘80s,” Drafts said. “Painting runs in my family. My great-great-grandfather made a living as a house painter.”

Drafts is excited commercial work has kept her busy in the Houston market for the past few months.

“I am an old school painter,” she said.

“It is important to me to be honest, clean and provide quality work on every job.

“I love seeing a customer’s face light up with joy after I complete an interior or exterior painting job. It makes me feel good I can do something positive for someone.”

Drafts says her advice for a young person who wants to become a painter is to make sure you really enjoy the trade

and then just go for it.

When Drafts doesn’t have a paintbrush or roller in her hand, she stays busy taking care of her grandson, 3, and she loves animals, too.

She goes to work in the mornings and picks her grandson up from day care in the afternoons.

“On the weekends, especially when the weather is nice, I like to take my grandson to the park and he loves riding in the car with me,” she said. “He also likes to attend festivals.

“He loves to carry a stick with him when we go walking in nature. He has loved seeing all the beautiful wildflowers this spring.”

Looking to the future Drafts plans to continue painting, sanding and staining because it is what she knows best.

“Who knows, maybe one day I will teach my grandson how to paint and he can join me in the field when he gets older. He is my little buddy.”

RLD Painting provides commercial and residential painting services. –ab

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Houston Construction News • May 2015

The foundations of a successful conference

he National Foundation Repair Association (NFRA) hosted its 25th annual conference Apr. 16-17 at the historic Menger Hotel in San Antonio.

More than 220 members and guests came from across Texas and the country to attend the milestone event.

With chapters based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio/Austin, NFRA recently added the national designation to its association name as there are now members in 18 states with more chapters being established.

As celebrity spokesman for Olshan, a foundation repair company, with locations in many states and several in Texas, legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan was the special guest speaker at Friday’s luncheon. Ryan answered pre-selected questions from his audience and shared a few stories from his long and successful career in major league baseball. One lucky guest at each table won an autograph and got to have their photo taken with the Hall of Famer. The night before, Barney Fife provided entertainment – and character – at the dinner, which included mariachis and a silent auction.

On Thursday, during a construction tour of San Antonio with guide Ken Er-

furth, members learned about the building of the Tower of the Americas, the Guinness World Record move of the Fairmount Hotel and the raising of the former Liberty Bar house off its foundation by member Dodson House Moving. Erfurth illustrated the tour with binders full of information from the convention bureau and other sources with photos of the historical construction and hotel relocation.

Other events included the board meeting and educational programs. The sessions covered a broad range of topics. such as “Raising a Building,” “Engineering Ethics,” “Soil Types in Texas,” “Drought,” “Backfilling Methods for Tunnels” and “Underslab Insurance Coverage… It’s Baaack!”

Crediting his team with organizing the conference, Paul Wolf, NFRA national president and owner of Perma Jack Foundation in San Antonio, comments, “Everything went really well. We had rave reviews. Half of the classes were changed from last year to new subjects, and we had a lot of good comments about the new subjects and new speakers. It’s a lot of work, but it sure came out good and it showed.” –mh

L-R: Chuck Armstrong, Dave Orebaugh, Donovan Thomas, Steve Bradley, Church Services

The 25th Annual NFRA Conference brought a major league legend to podium.

L-R: Joe McCullough, executive director; Nolan Ryan; Paul Wolf, national president Photo by Kyle Wolf, Wolfman Performance Productions

L-R: Randy Mobley, NFRA immediate past president for the six years prior to Wolf’s presidential term; Pete Falletta, PE, Terracon, who was a speaker at one of this year’s sessions; and comedian Barney Fife.

Photo by Kyle Wolf, Wolfman Performance Productions