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Remember the Fallen Memorial Day • May25
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(210) 308-5800
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Volume 3
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Number 5
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MAY 2015
Antz glance
A bright reflection
Brad and Billi Rue with their crew dog, Abbi, and Bart Homeyer with his crew member, Clyde
Front row, L-R: Chelsea Grouse, Sharon Sutter and Sonjia Peterson; back row, L-R: Ray Blaskowsky, Darren Vera, Chris Evins and David Evins
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he name Cut Antz Land Improvement is certainly different and memorable, and that’s what owners Bart Homeyer and Brad and Billi Rue were aiming for when they started the company in Karnes City in March 2012. Billi and Bart are siblings who descend from several generations of Homeyer’s in the Karnes County area. Brad and Billi met in Colorado, where Brad is from a logging family. “My brother was doing brush cutting and one of his clients commented the skid steer and shear reminded him of an ant scurrying around,” Billi says. “We didn’t want our name to get lost, so that’s what we came up with. It has worked.
People may not know who we are or what we do, but the name is easy to recall.” Primarily, the company provides fencing, as well as clearing the fence line and selective brush cutting. “What makes us different is we go in and help someone realize their image of what they want their property to look like,” Billi says. “We are able to go in and clear out a certain species of brush, rather than bulldozing the entire pasture.” According to Brad, that’s what differentiates Cut Antz from other fence companies. “We don’t do quick and cheap, which continued on Page 14
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avid Evins found out a major truth about going into business for yourself early on after starting Evins Glass Services in Corpus Christi in 1986. “I found out that the key to a successful business is your employees,” he says. “Hire right, train right and treat them right.” He had to learn that lesson fast. When he started, it was just him, an installer and soon after, someone to answer the phones - which kept ringing, turning the business into the multi-million dollar enterprise it is today. There are 46 employees now and Evins estimates the company will make
$4 million in sales this year. There are about 25 employees who have been with the company for 20 years or more. “We have the best – by far – employees,” he says. After college, Evins tried his hand in the corporate world, but soon discarded his tie and the meetings for a more hands-on career. He says that kind of made him the black sheep of the family in that his father, John Evins, is a legend in the State Farm Insurance Company, consistently being ranked in the top 10 in insurance sales in the nation. “Corporate life just wasn’t for me,” David says. “My father sat down with me continued on Page 14
Beauty on the bay Park. Traffic tables, intersection neckdowns and reduced lanes curtail traffic and improve the public realm for pedestrians. North Bayfront Park is also designed to accommodate festivals and other activities, such as Buccaneer Days. GC’s on the project were Fulton/ Coastcon and Haas–Anderson Construction. Architects were Gignac & Associates and Sasaki Associates. North Bayfront Park is sited atop the filled material behind the sea wall constructed after the hurricane. Rainwater from the site is directed to a linear rain garden planted with native coastal meadow plants that filter storm water contaminants and allow water to infiltrate into the ground. The coastal meadow serves as a reminder to visitors of the coastal ecological landscape prior to the sea wall construction and offers environmental education of the native ecological landscape
Photos courtesy Eddie Seal
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ollowing a devastating Category Four hurricane in 1919 that destroyed downtown, Corpus Christi filled a block into the Corpus Christi Bay to construct a new sea wall that would protect the community from future disasters. Since that time, Shoreline Dr, a wide boulevard designed preliminarily for automobiles that has provided limited spaces for pedestrians in the hot South Texas sun, has defined the bayfront. That changed with a $16 million project on 2.5 acres that called for the relocation of Shoreline Blvd in order to accommodate new green spaces along the water's edge. The relocation, reduction of two travel lanes, and removal of the 80-foot wide median of Shoreline Blvd recaptured the bayfront land and allowed for the creation of North Bayfront
A water park feature allows children and adults a place to cool off in the hot Texas summers.
continued on Page 15
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South Texas Construction News • May 2015
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Construction News ON LOCATION
Night lights
Bright smiles
Crews from Metro Electric, with locations in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, install stadium lights at McAllen High School. –cw
Shellee Torres, office and project manager, and Meghan Wilson, with Rural Electric Inc., provide service with a smile in Adkins, TX. –cw
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Man 1, tree 0
Joey Torres of Green Thumb Landscaping in Edinburg takes down a palm tree. –cw
South Texas
CONSTRUCTION NEWS South Texas Editor: Cyndi Wright STeditor@ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800 Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.constructionnews.net
Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyndi Wright Production Manager . . . . . . . . . Sue Johnson Sales Representative . . . . . . . . Kent Gerstner If you are a construction-related company in Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Dimmit, Frio, Goliad, Hidalgo, Karnes, Kenedy, Kleberg, LaSalle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Nueces, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Webb, Willacy or Zavala county and are not receiving a free copy of the South Texas Construction News, call for a Requester Form or visit our website. The South Texas Construction News (ISSN #2327-4670) is published monthly by Construction News Ltd., dba South Texas Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction related companies in the South Texas area. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space-available basis. Construction News, Ltd., dba South Texas Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time. © 2015 Construction News, Ltd.
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
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The third-generation Alpha
Texas Apprentice Nathan Eichman KSG Electric, Victoria Electrician Apprentice
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athan Eichman grew up in Goliad and attended school there. At 6’3”, he played basketball while in his freshman and sophomore years, but had to quit due to injuries. After high school, he had jobs that included fence building and welder’s helper. He then decided to join the U.S. Air Force in 2007. “I just didn't know what I wanted to do as far as a career,” he said, adding that the GI Bill, which offers educational benefits for veterans, was another factor in his decision. After joining, Eichman was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri for five years. While there, his job was weapons armament systems. “Basically, in layman’s terms, that means I loaded bombs on planes,” he said. He left the service with the rank of E4, Senior Airman. “I learned a lot about being a leader and working with people of different backgrounds and experiences,” he says. After his service, he says he took a little time off to relax and then enrolled in the electrical program at Victoria College. His instructor there was Bruce Harrison, who is also a senior estimator at KSG Electric in Victoria. “I asked if KGS was hiring for apprentices and shortly after, I had a job,”
Eichman said. He started working at KSG in June 2014. His usual day consists of bending pipe, running conduit and pulling wire. “I like working at KGS because I'm gaining experience towards becoming a journeyman electrician,” he says. “I enjoy gaining knowledge from my supervisor and coworkers, as they are very knowledgeable.” Even though he had once worked as a welder’s helper, he decided on electrician for a career. “Everyone is going to need electricity,” he says. His goal is to achieve his master electrician license. So far, Eichman has remained single and has no children. His hobbies are spending time with his family and friends, playing video games and watching movies. “I also like to spend time shooting my gun on my parent’s property,” he says. His dad, Jimmy Eichman, is a caterer and his mother, Bridget Eichman, is a registered nurse at DeTar Hospital. He has two older siblings, a brother and sister, and two nephews and one niece. –cw
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Kathy Acock has taken on a new position as CEO of Alpha Building Corporation, and Jonathan Rogero is now the third generation president.
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, designbuild 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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South Texas 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
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ffordability 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
Submitted to Construction News
School days
Nick Gignac, Associate AIA, LLED AP BD+C, with Gignac Architects in Corpus Christi says he had the time of his life talking to third grade students at Kolda Elementary School. –cw
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
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Spring birdie 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, em-
ployers 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. 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, call 214-219-0800 or see the web site www.TexasConstructionLaw.com
First place winners with Kristi Stevenson, president/CEO, of ABC Texas Mid Coast Chapter
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he windy spring weather did not deter the participants of the 29th annual Association of Builders and Contractors Mid Coast Chapter (ABC) Golf Tournament at Victoria Country Club Mar. 20. Forty-four teams and 175 participants came together to raise funds for the ABC chapter. Congrats to the winners! –cw
Coushatta…need I say more? Lynda Parma, VCS Companies I would love to take a road trip to Washington D.C. to see all the beautiful wild flowers along the way and end up at the National Cherry Blossom Festival! Stephanie Marie Rendon, Terracon If I could just take off today and go anywhere I’d head out for Davis Mountain State Park in Fort Davis. The drive would take us through the beautiful Hill Country to enjoy the wildflowers in full bloom. Once in Fort Davis and the park, my husband and I could set up our tent and enjoy our newfound love of camping. My childhood holds lots of great memories of Fort Davis and the McDonald Observatory, but we always stayed in the Indian Lodge. I think this road trip would be a fun way to share these memories and experiences with my husband, while incorporating a night or two in a tent and cooking over an open fire! Hadn’t thought about that in a while… now I really want to go! D’Anna Wallace, Raba Kistner Inc. Camp Wood Texas to enjoy the remote, slow paced, relaxing Texas Hill Country life. Shane Dworaczyk, Testengeer Pacific coast highway - have always wanted to. Billi Rue, Cut Antz Land Improvement San Francisco...It is in my bucket list to experience the Golden Gate Bridge as there's so much history where people have taken away their lives in the name of love...in movies and real life! It is an amazing iconic symbol of San Francisco and at one point the longest suspension bridge. Then along with it, a tour to Alcatraz which holds a lot of history about the most dangerous felons who served time in this maximum security facility. Liz Cantu, Briggs Equipment
Jessica Ochoa, Travis French and Brooke Reeves provide professional customer service at American Steel & Supply in Corpus Christi. –bd
Longest Drive #1: Pee-Wee Porter Closest to the Hole #12: Tommie Collier Straightest Drive #14: Darryl Hammond
Where would you take a road trip?
Construction News ON LOCATION
Real Steel
1st Place Team: Mike Rivet, Formosa; Glen Heim, Turner Industries; Lynn Cormier, Baker Shoring; J.R. Perez, VCS Companies; Jim Quitta, Formosa 2nd Place Team: Eddie Houseton, Tim Blachette, Tommie Collier, Pee-Wee Porter
Costa Rica, in fact I'm here now. My wife and I renewed our wedding vows on April 15, our 10th anniversary and are here celebrating. Joe Solis Jr., ABC Painting & Drywall
I would take my kids and go see my sister and her family in Tulsa. I haven't seen them in awhile. Roy Garrison, Hurricane Fence Road trip to Seattle, Washington via California because it would allow me to see the many facets of God’s beautiful earth. Debbie Montez, AIA Corpus Christi I’m thinking about taking my husband to New Orleans for a quick road trip this summer. I visited there about 10 years ago for a weekend and fell in love with some of the things I found, like the cemetery tour. It’s an amazing history of the people that are buried there, especially the Voodoo Queens. People leave relics on their tombstones. I also loved sitting at Cafe du Monde in the mornings and drinking chicory coffee while eating a beignet. We rode the trolley car to the Garden District and strolled through the neighborhoods taking in the amazing lush foliage. New Orleans is a fascinating place for a quick weekend jaunt. Cyndi Wright, Construction News
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South Texas Construction News • May 2015
I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to college, so my father laid it out pretty clearly: work or college. And he worked me hard. It caused me to pursue college (laughs). My father was stern, but fair. Esther: My parents, Mary and George Nettles, owned a successful barbershop in Pleasanton for 27 years. There were five children. They instilled in us a good work ethic, integrity and honesty. They taught us to work for what we want.
Trent and Esther Hoffman Owners Bay Area Landscape Nursery Corpus Christi
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atching Trent and Esther Hoffman work together, it’s obvious to see that this husband and wife team has had many years of practice getting it right. Twenty years, to be exact. When they met while both were students at UTSA, it’s unlikely they knew that someday they would own one of Corpus Christi’s most successful landscaping and nursery companies, but they both brought strengths to the union that enabled this dream to become a reality. Tell me a little about your backgrounds. Trent: I graduated from Carroll High School in Corpus Christi in 1987. In 1995, I received a Bachelor of Science in biology from UTSA. Esther: I grew up in Pleasanton. I attended UTSA, studying agronomics. Tell me about your upbringings. Trent: My parents are Mike and Joyce Hoffman. My mom was a paralegal and my father was the operations manager for a recycling company. He worked for them for 30+ years. They are now retired and living in The Woodlands. There were three children. My sister is an RN and my brother is a partner in the CPA firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. I don’t know where my entrepreneurial spirit comes from, but I got my work ethic from my parents. All three of their children are successful, so that says something.
How did the two of you meet? Esther: My toilet overflowed in my apartment (laughs). Trent: That’s how she always starts this story! In college, I owned a carpet cleaning company, so she hired me to clean and dry the carpet. Esther: I thought he was cute. I gave my phone number to a friend of his that was working for him. Trent: Well, I don’t date my customers, but I called her and we started dating and got married in 1995. That’s a great story! What happened next? Trent: I graduated that year and we immediately moved to Orlando, Fla. where I had accepted a job with a recycling company. I got my teaching certificate while I was there. I hadn’t really planned on teaching, but after doing that in Florida for a couple of years, we moved to Corpus Christi. I taught middle school and high school and in 1999, I started residential lawn maintenance as a side job. One summer, I got a job maintaining an apartment complex and it just kind of grew into more commercial lawn maintenance. With that comes landscaping.
Esther and Trent Hoffman stand in the quiet tranquility of the large greenhouse.
When my mother asked me what I was doing, I told her I was building a sprinkler system. When I was seven, I asked for a sprinkler for my birthday present. When I was eight and nine, I was mowing lawns.
You sound like you have an artist’s soul. Trent: My only artistic bent is an eyepleasing landscape! (Laughs) My canvas is a flowerbed.
So, after starting the lawn maintenance business in 1999, when and why did you open the nursery? Trent: We started the nursery in 2013 on Holly Street and then moved to this location on S. Staples Street in 2014. I’ve always wanted to open a nursery. I’ve always been interested in plants and the retail side of things. Do you have an affinity for working with plants and nature? Esther: This is an awesome place to work. It’s amazing how just coming here can change your mood. It’s a very calming environment. The aroma is incredible. You can hear the birds singing, listen to bees buzzing and right after the plants are watered, the smell of the rosemary and lavender is incredible. Trent: If you are going to work in this field, you really have to love plants and nature. You need to be able to have a vision and a good eye. You have to have passion to make it work. These are living things, so you have to have the desire – especially in the summer months when the plants really need more attention.
Did you know from a young age that you were interested in landscaping? When I was four, I took my blocks in the backyard and placed them all around.
Tell me about your employees. Esther: We really value our good employees. We stress team building and communication. We encourage them to
So, from teaching to landscaping? Trent: Yes. I started getting more knowledge about plants. In 2011, I became a licensed irrigator. I’m one of those who believe your home looks as good as your landscape. I’ve always been interested in how a landscape contributes to the aesthetics and makes something more appealing to the eye.
take ownership of their job. Trent: It is difficult to find good help, so when you find good employees, you work hard to treat them right. What is your philosophy towards customers? Trent: I always tell new employees, “I write the checks, but the customer pays the salaries.” We treat our customers right. Esther: As consumers, we like to be able to rely on service, quality and continuity. That is what we want to provide. Nurseries are like a getaway. It’s an experience. We want our customers to have a good nature experience. Tell me about your family. Esther: Our eldest is Kaitlyn. She is 18 and a senior at London High School. She interns at the district attorney’s office. Then there is Jacob, he is 15, and Hannah, 8. All the kids work here. Jacob is very strong and athletic. He plays football, basketball and runs track, so he gets to do some of the heavy lifting around here. Hannah is a very sweet little girl. The joke around the house is that she is Trent’s favorite. –cw Bay Area Landscape provides grading services, erosion solutions, solutions to water retention problems, drainage solutions, spring/fall color plantings, perennial installation and care, irrigation system maintenance/troubleshooting and repair, professional mulch and pine straw installation and all types of overall landscape improvement solutions.
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Bank on it
SLI Group, out of Houston, is the GC on this project building a Prosperity Bank in downtown Corpus Christi. –cw
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
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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.
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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 structures, 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 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.
Submitted to Construction News
Nice!
Chris Evins, Evins Glass Service in Corpus Christi, was at Padre Island National Seashore and took this black-tipped shark. Chris says if he is not working, you will find him fishing! –cw
Davin Cox of George West shows his catch before getting back in the boat with Steve Schultz Outdoors.
STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS
(361) 949-7359
www.baffinbaycharters.com steveschultzoutdoors@gmail.com U.S. Coast Guard & Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed
Page 8
South Texas 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
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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
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
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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!
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South Texas Construction News • May 2015
Page 9
Sticking with bricks
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Historical story
The Alvarez siblings remain close today. Back, L-R: Lauro, Jose, Julio and Juan; front, L-R: Maria, Olga, Josefina and Alejandra
Jose Torres, with Curtis Hunt Restoration out of Elmendorf, is busy with the renovation of the Karnes County Courthouse. The GC is MJ Boyle General Contractor, San Antonio. –cw
Cars afar
T
wenty-three years ago, Jose Alvarez was working at a local lumber company in Harlingen when a friend asked him if he would start selling bricks in the Valley. That was the beginning of Triple AAA Inc., a business that now has three locations and is a true family-owned business with Jose as president and four other siblings as owners: Julio Alvarez, Lauro Alvarez, Maria N. Alvarez and Josefina Martinez. The family grew up in Brownsville and the siblings all had fulltime jobs when Triple AAA first opened its doors. Julio had been at a supermarket for nine years, Lauro was – and still is – a teacher, Maria had been with Haggar Clothing in Brownsville for 20 years, and Josefina was a housewife. But the brick business took off and, with the exception of Lauro, who does the books part-time, the siblings all became full-time employees. Julio runs the Los Fresnos location, while Josefina runs the Padre Island Highway Brownsville location and Jose and
When driving between Harlingen and McAllen on Hwy. 83, be sure and check out this auto repair shop that has an old car raised above the road. –cw
Maria run the Paredes Line Road location, also in Brownsville. Julio says once they started selling bricks, then they needed to sell the mortar for the bricks, then sand for the mortar and it became “everything for bricks”. The company also sells concrete blocks and tile. The success of the company rests on the good service the family provides to their customers. “We try to give good service to our customers,” Julio says. “Our drivers have a good attitude and if a driver calls in sick, then we get in the truck and make deliveries. All the brothers have their CDL license.” And this family doesn’t just work together, they spend time off together as well. “Everybody goes to church on Sunday, then to the cemetery (to visit their parent’s gravesites), then to breakfast at Josefina’s house,” Julio describes. “There are usually more than 30 of us. We all bring food.” –cw
Keeping up for the demand for Eagle-Ford Shale
Submitted to Construction News
Hammer slammer Building Sand Plant in Harwood,Texas McAllen Valley Roofing Company’s sign is in the shape of a roofing hammer. According to owner Brian McSteen, it is the world’s tallest roofing hammer sign and is the same size as the tallest hammer sign in the world! –cw
in
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Page 10
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
A grand achievement
Driving on the edge
James Rodriguez, vice president, and his wife, Annette Mollere, marketing director, keep Easy Drive running smoothly at the company’s East Nakoma location in San Antonio.
H&E Corpus Christi Grand Opening. Flying in for the big day were, L-R: Brad Barber, president and COO, and John Engquist, CEO. Far right, Tom Hennig, branch manager.
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ore than 300 customers helped celebrate the official grand opening of the new H&E Equipment Services Corpus Christi location on April 2. Situated on eight acres, the new 22,000-sf facility has enabled the location to grow its services for customers considerably, said Toby Hawkins, director of marketing. “This larger facility allows us to expand our services and inventory as we continue to grow to meet the increasing equipment demands of our customers in rentals, sales, parts and service,” Hawkins says. Branch manager Tom Hennig says customers have expressed appreciation for the new location, which features more efficient office space, a large parts warehouse and yard area, twelve service bays and a repair shop that includes two, fiveton overhead cranes. The facility is capable of repairing a variety of machines from compact construction equipment to large cranes. “We’ve had a lot of customers come in because of the convenience of our location – right off the I-37 highway. It’s a beautiful location,” Hennig says. “They are impressed by the quality of the shop and offices. They are amazed by the improvements over our old location.”
Both Hawkins and Hennig agree that the new facility has also helped attract quality employees. “The staff has grown by 30-40 percent since the move,” Hawkins says. “Our desire is to be able to hire local talent. We really believe in our slogan: We’re an equipment company, run by equipment people.” With safety being first and foremost in mind, Hennig says being able to hire good employees is paramount to success. “We feel fortunate to attract experienced employees that understand outstanding customer service and embrace our safety culture,” he says. “Safety is very important to our company.” Attending the big event were Brad Barber, president and COO, and John Engquist, CEO. The company, now with 70 locations nationwide, was started in 1961 by John Engquist’s father, Tom Engquist. Hennig said the staff was thrilled to welcome Barber and Engquist, along with the 300+ new and existing customers that attended this special event. H&E Equipment Services is located at 7809 IH-37 South. The branch specializes in aerial lifts, earthmoving equipment, cranes and general construction equipment. –cw
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fter 65 years in business, Easy Drive is still on the cutting edge of its industry. As a supplier for engineers, surveyors and contractors, the family-owned company has evolved with its customers as their needs become increasingly technological. James Rodriguez, vice president, says that the company has solutions to fit those needs, and those solutions are what they sell to customers. As of about six months ago, those solutions now include drones. As this new technology is up and coming and the FAA changes their regulations, Rodriguez notes that drones will become more and more of a tool for contractors, and Easy Drive will have them on hand as they grow in popularity and utilization. “The exciting part about it is that we’re always on the leading edge,” says Rodriguez of his family’s company. “The construction industry has just been bombarded by more and more technical needs,” explains Annette
Mollere, marketing director. “The best practices for construction have evolved into a very technical field and it really is pushing our customers into being different types of corporations.” Mollere estimates that 85 to 90 percent of construction companies have become adopters of new technologies to stay competitive in the modern market and become more efficient. She notes that even smaller companies have learned that equipment like a robotic total station would make them more precise and more attractive to a general contractor looking to work with small businesses whose efficiency will complement their projects. Easy Drive also supplies the San Antonio Police Department with laser scanning and robotic technology, which they use for high tech mapping of crime scenes and accident sites. Easy Drive has two San Antonio locations, one on Ruiz and one on East Nakoma, and one in Austin. –mh
Construction News JOB SIGHT
In the lines
Paul Watson with Chain Electric Co. out of Mississippi and a crew are reconducting the line along Hwy. 87. The GC is Phelps Electric, Floresville. –cw
Construction News ON LOCATION
Which one’s the boss? More than 300 people joined 18 vendors to celebrate the grand opening.
Amanda Slaughter and Roscoe take care of business at Seymour Construction LLC in Karnes City. –cw
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
Page 11
Concrete Industry 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-
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.
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
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
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South Texas Construction News • May 2015
Barbecue bonanza
Texas leaders take the reins
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Hector Berrios, Richter Architects, Debbie Montez, executive director, AIA-CC and Victor Cruz, Lamarr Womack & Associates
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n Mar. 31, members of American Institute of Architects (AIA) Corpus Christi Chapter and Associated General Contractors (AGC) South Texas Chapter met up for their annual gettogether at Hoegemeyer’s BBQ Barn. –cw Debbie Schibi, executive director, AGC, with Sam Beecroft, Beecroft Construction
Jay Porterfield and Frank Reyna, Solka, Nava, Torno and Victor Cruz, Lamarr Womack & Associates
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 The Linbeck Group, was installed as the president of AGC of America for 2015. Though the general contracting company is headquartered in Houston, Greco is based in San Antonio, his hometown. Linbeck also has an office in Fort Worth. “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.’” Art Daniel, president and COO of AR Daniel Construction Services in Cedar Hill, TX, was installed as vice president of AGC of America for 2015. The familyowned contracting company does highway and utility construction in Texas and surrounding states. South Texas AGC Executive Director Debbie Schibi attended the convention, along with her husband, Charles Schibi, Apex Engineers, and Sam Beecroft, Shannon Reynolds and Mike Munoz, all of Beecroft Construction. “Every year I have the opportunity to meet with the top leaders in our industry at the annual AGC of America Convention,” Debbie Schibi says. “The current national efforts, led by these professionals, help me better understand and address issues facing AGC of America and our local chapter.
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Chuck Greco (right) accepts the position of president of AGC of America for 2015 at the convention’s officer installation dinner.
“With growing workforce shortages, and efforts to help companies succeed in an ever-changing economic and political environment, the Convention creates an avenue to come along side one another with determined goals.” Events 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, the AGC-Willis Construction Safety Program, a board of governors luncheon and several educational sessions. “Convention can feel like a whirlwind of activity,” Schibi says. “The days start early at 7am and sessions are packed with education and industry insight, professional development and the best of the best in building and safety awards. These few days prepare me for the future of our industry.” –mh/cw
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Art Daniel takes the podium after accepting the position of vice president of AGC of America for 2015.
Sam Beecroft takes part in the executive leadership roundtable discussion.
Mike Munoz (plaid shirt) learns about contractor’s marketing.
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
Page 13
Association Calendar
A feather in their cap
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News AGC- Corpus Christi
NAWIC - Corpus Christi
Associated General Contractors
Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
May 7-8: AGC/TBB Texas Safety Meeting May 15: AGC/AIA-CC Golf Tournament, 11am; Northshore Country Club, Portland, TX
May 19: National Association of Women in Construction Dinner Business Meeting, public welcome, The BBQ Man Restaurant, 5:30pm networking, 6pm meeting. Program - CAD winners presentation. $20. Contact Vickie Thompson 361-2996278 or 361-438-0593, to get more info check out nawic.org or nawiccorpuschristi.org
AGC- RGV Associated General Contractors
May 8: Golf tournament, 11am; Tierra Santa, Weslaco
AIA - Corpus Christi American Institute of Architects
May 1: Artwalk booth, downtown, Corpus Christi May 12: Lunchtime CEU at Silverado Steakhouse, 4522 Weber Rd. Presenter is Robert Sontag May 15: AGC/AIA-CC Golf Tournament, 11am; Northshore Country Club, Portland, TX May 19: Chapter meeting, Water Street Seafood Company, 5:30pm
RCAT Roofing Contractors Assn. of Texas May 2: 12th annual Fishing Tournament, Woody’s Sport Center, Port Aransas. 6am start.
SCTMC Safety Council of TX Mid Coast
May12-15: OSHA #521, Occupational Safety and Health Guide to Industrial Hygiene. For more information, contact Betty Birdwell at 361-552-7823.
AIA - LGRV American Institute of Architects
May 1: Golf Tournament, 12-6pm; Shary Municipal Golf Course, Mission, TX
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Only Bubba knows
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A new office building will soon open to house the VCS Companies.
or almost 30 years, the Victoria Communications Services (VCS) Companies in Victoria have provided a variety of private and commercial services to the area. Founded by Jennifer and Jim Hartman in 1985, the company now has a new accolade to add to the list of services it provides. Recently, the company was named a Certified Contractor Program by Leviton Network Solutions – the closest contractor with this certification previously could only be found by going to San Antonio, Houston or Austin. “This is big news for our area,” says Lynda Parma, marketing and public relations coordinator. VCS Companies includes Victoria Communication Services, VCS Security Systems, Infiniti Communications Technologies (ICT), and Rocket Oilfield Services. ICT offers network design and maintenance, computer services, network cabling and more.
“We service an area of 19,000 square miles and no job is too big or too small,” Parma says. “Our success is measured by our customers that have been with us since 1985 and those joining us today.” The Hartman family, now with son J.R. Hartman Jr. and daughter Kelly Henke, are well known in the community. Their Christian values and civic beliefs define the family. “God is first,” Parma says. “It’s a Christian-based company that is heavily involved in the community. They believe in giving back and they have taught us to give back.” As a company, there are numerous events to celebrate employees, including honoring veterans, milestone birthday parties, the occasional family day and regular potlucks. VCS Companies is currently building an office building and a parts and service department at 302 Kehr Blvd. in Victoria to house the various aspects of the company. –cw
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Upgrades
Ron Dorrell and Jamie Bryan with Buffalo Construction supervise the building of a Bubba’s 33 in Corpus Christi. What does the “33” stand for? You’ll have to ask Bubba! –cw
Round-Up Raba Kistner Infrastructure Inc. (RKI) has announced the hire of Donald A. Peterson, PE, as senior project manager II. With more than 28 years and $741 million in experience in highway design and construction, Peterson will be responsible for all areas of project operations for assigned projects, including construction inspection and material testing operations., to ensure compliance with project plans, approved shop/ working drawings, and specifications. He will have a special focus on South Texas energy sector roadway reconstruction projects for TxDOT. Previously, Peterson had an almost 30 year career with TxDOT. He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Round-Up Submissions
Johnny Gutierrez and Hugo Arenas work for Red Roof Hotels, handling the chain’s renovations. –cw
Specializing in Industrial Scrap Metal & Container Service
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Page 14
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
South Texas for the win!
Excellence in Construction, Eagle Winner: Tropical Texas Behavioral Health Harlingen Facility SpawGlass
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t the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Excellence in Construction Awards in Fort Lauderdale, FL, several members of the South Texas Chapter were named as winners at the association’s highest level of recognition. The South Texas Chapter was also honored with a membership award for chapter growth. –mh On the right: Excellence in Construction, Pyramid Winner: University of Texas-Pan American Executive Tower Renovation Alpha Building Corporation
continued from Page 1 — Antz glance is fine for some circumstances,” he says. “Our service is more about finding ways to customize a fence line for the owner and the specific conditions.” They also brainstorm ways to solve common problems with fences, such as creeks or drainages. The company mostly handles rural ranch work, but also provides fencing for commercial customers. Typically, they have four to five employees, in addition to themselves. Bart and his wife moved closer to his family in Karnes City in 2007. They have two children, Marshall and Lauren, ages
10 and 8. Bart was an off shore commercial diver while starting his brush clearing business during his time off and then later became a full time business owner, starting Cut Antz with Brad and Billi. Brad and Billi spent some time traveling around before settling in her family’s home area. The couple went to Alaska for a time before coming here and setting up shop. This month, Brad and Billi will add to their family when their daughter is born, their first child. For entertainment, the families enjoy skeet/target shooting, outdoor recreation and, of course, barbecuing. –cw
continued from Page 1 — A bright reflection and we plotted the pros and cons of starting my own business. My dad is a great motivator. It’s a gift that he gave me.” Evins Glass Service does 50 percent commercial work, with 25 percent auto and 25 percent residential. Some of the company’s larger recent projects have been the new dining hall at Texas A&M Corpus Christi ($380,000) and the new Cosmopolitan Apartments still under construction in downtown ($300,000). Safety is of utmost importance to Evins. The employees meet bi-weekly for safety meetings and the company has not had a reportable in ten years.
His 25-year-old son, Christopher, is currently working his way up through the ranks and he also has a daughter and a younger son. He and his wife, Colleen, have been married for 30 years. “She is the secret to my success,” he says. He says the most exciting thing is not how well his company is doing, but how well the city of Corpus Christi is doing. He bristles when anyone talks down about the city he loves. “It is exciting to see that we finally have a city where you want to raise your kids and they want to stay,” he says. “The future is so bright.” –cw
Come and get it!
A
ssociated General Contractors (AGC) Rio Grande Valley smoked up the Valley with the yummy smells of barbecue at its 5th annual Fajita Cook-off and Spring Membership mixer Apr. 9. The event was held at the South Texas AD8 facilities in Harlingen. Congrats to the winners! –cw Fajitas 1st Place: Terracon Consultants Inc. 2nd Place: Raba-Kistner Consultants
1st Place Fajitas
People’s Choice
Salsa 1st Place: GP7 Construction 2nd Place: CAPA Beans a la Charra 1st Place: Terracon Consultants Inc. 2nd Place: L&G Concrete Construction Pan de Campo 1st Place: Aquaworks Pipe & Supply 2nd Place: Southern Shingles
1st Place Beans a la Charra
Chicken 1st Place: SpawGlass Constractors 2nd Place: Terracon Consultants Inc. People’s Choice: GP7 Construction People’s Choice Raffle: Carmen Perez Garcia LRGV-AIA
1st Place Salsa
1st Place Chicken
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 Operators–Farm/Ranch Precut – Painted Residential/Commercial 6-5/8” OD X .188 wall X 7 Ft
210.431.0088 800.725.4776 210.431.0701 www.sss-steel.com
1st Place Pan de Campo
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
Page 15
Instilling skills
Painting a picture
S
everal South Texas crafts students recently took part in a SkillsUSA Championship Contest in Corpus Christi Mar. 26-27. SkillsUSA competitions reward students for excellence, involve industry in directly evaluating student performance and keep training relevant to employers’ needs, according to their website. Students who are awarded gold medals in their category advance to national competition. From Harlingen, Juan Torres, a student at Harlingen High School, was awarded gold in the category of masonry. –cw For welding/art sculpture, students demonstrate their ability to design and produce a sculpture of that design.
Joe Solis Jr. and his crew are ready to get to work on your business or home.
I
t all started as a summer job doing painting, but it’s grown into much more than that, says Joe Solis Jr., owner of ABC Painting and Drywall LLC in Corpus Christi. He started the business in 1988 and says business has been good ever since. “In my lifetime, I’d say I’ve done well over a 1,000 homes,” Solis says. “What started as a painting summer job has become my life’s work. After years of managing and running my company, I started hiring more painters and helpers. At one time I had 10 guys working for me.” Solis does residential and commercial work. “As a commercial painting contractor, my team has worked on many commercial projects throughout the Corpus Christi area and surrounding counties,” he says. “I have worked for local commercial sites, Denny’s, Montana Mikes, Mirador Retirement and other larger scale sites such as the Bank of America, Compass Bank and others.” Solis says it is important that his customers witness his work ethic. “I have worked all of my life to be the
best at what I do and my customers can see that in me,” he says. “They appreciate that me and my crew will all go above and beyond their expectations. No job is too small to get proper attention. And no job is so big that it can’t be done right the first time. If a site needs repairs before paint can be applied, it gets done.” Solis believes community involvement, especially with youth, is important. The company sponsors a local youth football league and brought the team, the Cowboys, to win the 2015 “Super Bowl.” Solis also belongs to the Optimist Club of Downtown Corpus Christi. “A company is only as good as its customers say it is,” Solis says. “If it wasn’t for my customers and all the opportunities they have given me, to paint their homes or businesses, I wouldn’t be where I am now.” –cw ABC Painting and Drywall offers drywall repair, residential interior and exterior painting, commercial painting, pressure washing, deck and fence staining, aluminum siding painting and getting rid of those pesky popcorn ceilings.
In the masonry category, students construct a composite brick & block project with the emphasis on quality workmanship.
continued from Page 1 — Headline of the bay. The park includes 35-foot-tall wind turbines along the waterfront designed to produce energy that goes back into the grid. The wind turbines are also a form of kinetic art, with sculptural qualities derived from the shape and colors of conch shells that expresses the city's distinctive setting on the bay. The turbines will serve as iconic landmarks on the waterfront while providing renewable energy to the park. The introduction of wind power production also makes a cultural and historical connection by harnessing potentially harmful winds. A bond approved by voters in 2008 paid for the project. Challenges included re-routing traffic on the heavily traveled Shoreline Blvd. during construction. The project included reducing three lanes to two lanes in each direction and the realignment of northbound Shoreline Blvd traffic lanes. The realignment
begins near Furman Ave and Buford St and continues north until the lanes merge near William St. The new Shoreline Blvd realignment provides a large pedestrian area connected to the water, McGee Beach and the Coopers Alley LHead. A key feature of the park is an interactive fountain that attracts children and families. Parents can sit at the adjacent cafe in the park, protected from the wind with glass windscreens, while watching their children play in the fountain. The cafe is shaded by fabric stretched between posts, while groves of palms and mesquite trees will grow over time to provide shady spots in the park. An arbor is designed to support colorful Bougainvillea planting that shades a walkway leading to the fountain. The arbor fronts an area identified for a future restaurant, which was included in the design to activate and program the park. –cw
Students competing in electrical construction wiring compete in conduit bending and hands-on installation of a conduit system.
Judges take a look at contestants’ entries in the welding fabrication category where a team of three students builds a designed project from supplied materials.
MUSTANG COLT SERVICES Serving Customers Honestly Electrical Contracting • Commercial/Industrial Special Projects
The park is designed to be a special place to enjoy the local area’s abundant charm.
San Antonio, TX Weslaco, TX
210 494 7100 956 969 5703
Page 16
South Texas Construction News • May 2015
Happy Mother’s Day! A MOTHER'S LOVE is like an island In life's ocean vast and wide, A peaceful, quiet shelter From the restless, rising tide ... A MOTHER'S LOVE is like a fortress And we seek protection there When the waves of tribulation Seem to drown us in despair ... A MOTHER'S LOVE'S a sanctuary Where our souls can find sweet rest From the struggle and the tension Of life's fast and futile quest ... A MOTHER'S LOVE is like a tower Rising far above the crowd,
And her smile is like the sunshine Breaking through a threatening cloud ... A MOTHER'S LOVE is like a beacon Burning bright with FAITH and PRAYER, And through the changing scenes of life We can find a HAVEN THERE ... For a MOTHER'S LOVE is fashioned After God's enduring love, It is endless and unfailing Like the love of HIM above ... For God knew in HIS great wisdom That HE couldn't be EVERYWHERE So HE put HIS LITTLE CHILDREN In a LOVING MOTHER'S CARE. Author: Helen Steiner Rice
Stephanie Rendon, Terracon, front, far right, with her mother, Christine Rendon in back of her and her grandmother, Teresa Rendon, next to her. Also pictured, front, far left, aunt Argentina Rendon Guerra and back, left, sister Annie Rendon Wolfe.
On the left: Elizabeth Cantu, Briggs Equipment, with her mother and hero, Jacoba Cantu.
Brandon Rees, CMC Rebar: Irma Rees
Sylvia Quinones, Terracon, and her mother, Blanca Gonzalez
Carlo Hernandez, AC-I Service Air Conditioning & Heating: Manuela Hernandez Christopher Albright, Terracon, with his mother, Sharon Albright.
Stephany Chacon, Terracon, and her mother, Elizabeth A. Abrego
Associated General Contractors (AGC) South Texas Chapter executive director Debbie Schibi with her mother, Rachel Marrs.
Jorge Flores, Terracon, with his mother, Maria Ramona Flores
South Texas Construction News Editor Cyndi Wright and siblings with their mother, Nancy Diane Dobbs, in 1963.
Billi Rue, Cut Antz Land Improvement LLC, with her mother, Cam Homeyer and her children on Easter 1981.