Houston Construction News July 2015

Covering the Industry’s News

Texas Style

P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290

PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT #1451

Change Service Requested

San Antonio Dallas/Fort Worth Austin Houston South Texas

Houston

CONSTRUCTION

™

Happy Birthday America

The Industry’s Newspaper July 4, 2015

www.constructionnews.net

H

(210) 308-5800

H

Volume 13

H

Number 7

H

JULY 2015

A grand achievement

Fasten up

H&E Equipment Services employees and guests gather at the grand opening event.

Branch Manager Juan Betancourt mans the counter.

C

ustomers helped celebrate the official grand opening of the new H&E Equipment Services Brookshire location at 502 FM 359 South in May. The store will serve the Katy area.

Branch manager Travis Tullos says the reconstructed 24,500-sf facility sits on six acres with a large yard area, offices, a parts warehouse and a seven-bay repair shop that includes a 10-ton overhead crane.

The facility is capable of handling repairs on a variety of machines from compact construction equipment to large boom lifts.

“We are very excited about the opening of our third location in the Houston area,” Tullos said. “It fulfills our goal to

continue to support equipment customers in this region of tremendous growth.

There is high demand for our full-service approach to the equipment business.”

Tullos says the location is convenient for customers and the company will be better able to serve existing and new customers throughout the energy corridor and beyond.

The branch specializes in aerial lifts, telescopic forklifts, compact and some large earthmoving, and general construction equipment from the following manufacturers: Gehl, Genie, JLG, Multiquip, Skyjack, Skytrak, Sullivan, Takeuchi, Wacker Neuson, Yanmar and others. continued on Page 13

T

he Southern Fastening Systems Dickinson location saw an increase in business after Hurricane Ike in 2008. Branch Manager Juan Betancourt says things haven’t slowed down since.

“In all the years I have worked here, last year was our busiest year ever,” he said. “We are looking forward to a busy summer.”

Betancourt joined the company almost nine years ago after working as a store manager at Best Buy for a decade.

“I wanted to try something different so I jumped at the opportunity to work at Southern Fastening Systems,” he said. “I work with a great group of people today.

“I enjoy interacting with people on a daily basis. I have sharpened my Spanish

speaking skills over the years to communicate better with customers.”

Eric Cole and Will Pennington are outside salesman and spend lots of time in the field. Salesman Bill Kainer retired in January after working in the business for 42 years.

When employees have free time, they like watching sports and spending time with family and friends at the Gulf Coast.

“We had a good time at company fishing trip near Port Aransas,” he said. “It was my very first fishing trip. I can’t wait to go again.”

Sports employees like to watch on continued on Page 13

Historical endeavors

B

uilding Galveston Inc. (dba Building Solutions) has completed The Hendley Building renovation project in Galveston. The owner is Mitchell Historic Properties.

“The Hendley Building is the oldest commercial building in Galveston and we were very conscious of the need to perform the work in a way that would not further damage the integrity of the building,” said owner Chris Arneson, Building Galveston.

John Kirkman was the project manager and Dana Hardy was the onsite superintendent. The architect was Eubanks Group Architects.

According to Arneson, the goal was to make the building structurally sound and weatherproof.

“The process of doing these structural repairs was a first for our company,” he said. “We thought through the method very carefully from the beginning and

we were able to perform the process exactly as we laid it out.”

The renovation project consisted of leveling the interior second and third floors, making repairs to the roof trusses and replacing the roof, repairing and repointing the interior and exterior masonry and re-installing the existing windows, making new to match as necessary.

“The interior walls and floors were historic wood framing so we had new structural wood components made to match the original sizes,” he said. “The interior and exterior brick that had to be replaced was a reclaimed brick that matched the size and color of the original.”

Arneson says the challenge from the beginning was how to accomplish all the masonry and framing repairs on a building vacant for many years in a safe and cost effective manner.

The Henley Building in Galveston

continued on Page 13

Page 2

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Construction News ON LOCATION

Submitted to Construction News

Testing, testing

Officer of this dealer’s ship

General Manager Bart Wootan is ready to lead the construction materials testing group at Geoscience Engineering & Testing Inc. in Houston. –ab

Having served as an executive vice president of RDO Equipment Co. since 2012, Chris Cooper was recently named COO of the company. Based at RDO’s Field Support Office in Fargo, ND, he will be responsible for daily operations across all regions and teams. He joined RDO in 2004 as general manager of the Irving, Fort Worth and Waco locations, becoming vice president of the Texas region in 2007 and vice president of southern construction in 2010. –mh

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Connecting wires

The Baez Electrical Services crew handles the electrical work at the Braden Center project in Pasadena. –ab

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Page 3

Leaders of the pack

Boot scootin’ good time

E

WCA members and guests are all smiles at the Redneck Country Club.

W

omen contractors and friends were decked out in their finest western wear at the Boots & Bling event May 21.

Held at the Redneck Country Club in

Amy Mitchell enjoys the cowboy catwalk.

Stafford, the evening featured dinner, a cowboy catwalk, music and a silent auction.

The Women Contractors Association (WCA) held the event. –ab

The TSPE officers

ngineers from all areas of Texas gathered at the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Conference & 79th annual meeting at the Omni Houston Hotel in Houston Jun. 17-19.

Julia M. Harrod, PE, F.NSPE, garnered the TSPE Engineer of the Year award and Ardita Dushi, PE, APMP, won the TSPE Young Engineer of the Year award. In addition, Nancy Blackwell, PE, AEI Engineering Inc., was installed as TSPE's new president.

Seminar topics during the event addressed the professional, economic, social and political aspects of engineering in Texas.

Exhibitors at the conference included ADS Pipe, Hobas Pipe, Horizon Environmental Services, Inc., JPH Land Surveying Inc., Lime Association of Texas, Locke Solutions, SAM Inc., Texas Concrete Pipe Association and Texas Hydrant Services. –ab

TSPE Engineer of the Year, Julia M. Harrod, PE, F.NSPE, receives her recognition from Harold “JR” Reddish, PE.

Vincent Morales Jr.

Construction News ON LOCATION

Nancy Blackwell, PE, AEI Engineering Inc.

TSPE Young Engineer of the Year, Ardita Dushi, PE, APMP, (right) receives her award from Harold “JR” Reddish, PE.

Ride like the wind Construction News ON LOCATION

A part of it

L-R: Owner Dan Rowton and his son Jason, J & J Affordable Enterprise, like to ride Harley Davidson motorcycles when the aren’t doing window replacement jobs –ab Jeremy Moore spends his day working in the parts department at Brookside Equipment Sales Inc. in League City. –ab

Houston

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Houston Editor — Abby BeMent — HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net — 832-595-0091 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyndi Wright Production Manager . . . . . . . . . Sue Johnson Sales Representative . . . . . . . . Kent Gerstner Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.ConstructionNews.net If you are a construction-related company in Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend or Montgomery counties and are not receiving a free copy of the Houston Construction News, please call for a Requester Form, or visit our website.

The Houston Construction News (ISSN 15477630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba Houston Construction News, and distributed by mail to constructionrelated companies in Houston and surrounding counties.

All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space available basis.

Construction News, Ltd. , dba Houston 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.

www.constructionnews.net

Page 4

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Are your construction contracts choking project cash flow?

Michael Kuchar, CPA Doeren Mayhew Houston, TX

W

Workers compensation EMR changes Mark Gaskamp, CSP, CRM, CIC, CPCU, ALCM Wortham LLC Austin, TX

hen you think about what’s tying up your available dollars, a variety of culprits may come to mind.

Perhaps you’re servicing a substantial amount of debt, waiting for past-due customer payments or dealing with elevated material costs. But one perpetrator of cash-flow crises that often goes overlooked is the piece of paper you sign in advance of every job — the contract.

ffective July 1, 2015, the world will change, at least in regards to workers compensation experience modifiers in the State of Texas. Last year, Texas began a transition to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for work comp rates and policy forms.

Construction contracts, or rather the language therein, can start choking your project cash flow before work even begins. So let’s look at some points to consider before signing on the next dotted line.

Front-load, where possible

Payment terms can also impact cash flow. A contract that calls for payment on completion of specified phases can create uncertainty, making project cashflow forecasting difficult. If a contract requires payment in equal installments over the course of a project, it provides predictability, but may not correspond to your expenditures on the job.

Construction projects often involve significant upfront costs. If possible, negotiate a front-loaded billing schedule reflecting your greater cash needs in a project’s early stages.

Also look at language regarding requisitions. It’s not unusual for a construction contract to disallow requisitions for materials until the materials have been installed. To avoid cash-flow disasters, try to negotiate requisition terms allowing you to request payment once materials have been delivered to the job site.

Consider the method of payment, too. You might ask for accelerated methods, such as wire transfers or electronic checks.

Review retainage A 5 percent or 10 percent retainage can easily defer your entire gross profit on a job until after construction is completed. To reduce the impact on your project cash flow, try to negotiate a lower percentage or ask for retainage to be phased out over the course of the project.

For example, the construction contract might provide for 10 percent retainage, reduced to 5 percent when the job is 50 percent complete and eliminated when it’s 75 percent complete.

Other options include limiting retainage to certain job costs, such as the labor component, or eliminating it altogether through the use of letters of credit, performance bonds or other security.

Clarify your construction change orders As you know, construction change orders are inevitable in most construction

The immediate impact is that rates will change for most classifications, some by as much as 15%. This could have a positive or negative impact on your premium and experience modifier calculation. The other impact related to the experience modification rate (EMR).

The workers compensation experience modifier (AKA EMR or eMod) is an insurance rating component designed to integrate the individual risk characteristics of each organization based on prior claim experience into the workers comp premium calculations.

NCCI compiles claim data from insurance carriers by classification, providing a database for comparison and the ability to produce the EMR for each individual policyholder. There are several changes that will occur as part of the transition. Two will have significant impact for most every policyholder.

First, there are major changes in how medical only claims are utilized in the calculation. NCCI’s experience rating rules allow for an experience rating adjustment of 70% for medical-only claims. This means that only 30% of a medical-only claim is used in the experience rating calculation. This change will make it less advantageous to pay claims out of pocket rather than report them to the insurance company.

For example: If you have a $1,000 medical only bill for a cut or eye injury, only $300 would apply to the EMR. This will create an extra emphasis on reducing lost time claims. Once one penny is paid in indemnity payments, 100% of the claim will be included in the EMR calculation.

Second, “spilt points” are changing. The “split point,” which is used to determine the “primary expected losses,” will increase from $5,000 to $15,500. For those that are not aware, there are actually two calculations used to produce the EMR. One utilizes total expected losses (capped at the maximum, which will be increasing to $230,500 per claim). This calculation uses the actual losses relative to the expected losses multiplied by a normalizing factor based on the size of the operation. The

jobs. It’s critical to establish clear terms and procedures for approving and paying them. If your contracts don’t have such terms, your payments may be delayed for additional work. Or, even worse, you might lose out on those payments altogether.

Establish clear procedures for your personnel to identify changes in the scope of work and to promptly prepare and document change orders in accordance with contract terms.

Moreover, before things get to the point of a construction change order, monitor work-in-process reports closely to ensure you can generate the proper paperwork should a change come up.

Match outlays Remember cash flows in two directions, and outflow is as important as inflow. Scrutinize your contract terms with vendors, suppliers and subcontractors. You may be able to avoid cash-flow problems by negotiating payment terms that, to the extent possible, match your cash outlays with your receipts from the owner or general contractor.

For example, include in your subcontracts retainage provisions that have terms similar to those in your contract with the owner. If you’re a subcontractor and your contract with the general contractor contains a “pay-whenpaid” or “pay-if-paid” clause, your contracts with subcontractors should contain parallel provisions. That way, you won’t be forced to pay subs until you collect from the general.

Get to work Once a construction contract is signed and you get to work, there usually isn’t much you can do about the language or terms of the agreement. At that point, it’s critical to regularly prepare project cash-flow forecasts based on your workin-progress reports and make necessary adjustments during the course of the job.

Michael Kuchar, CPA, is a shareholder and leader of Doeren Mayhew’s dedicated Construction Group in Houston. A top 100 U.S. firm, Doeren Mayhew’s CPAs and business advisors serve more than 500 suppliers and general and specialty contractors doing business domestically and abroad. For more information, visit www.doeren.com.

E

smaller the organization, the more normalizing. This helps reduce the impact of one claim on a smaller organization’s EMR. The second calculation includes the actual “primary losses,” those that fall below the “split point” relative to the expected primary losses also capped at the “split point.” Note that there is no normalizing, this is dollar for a dollar ratio without taking into account the size of the organization. So, with the split point increasing from $5,000 to $15,500, if an organization has a higher than average number of claims above $5,000, their EMR will be adversely impacted. This could be a dramatic change. In all other states, NCCI phased this increase in over three years. Texas is doing it all at once.

So over the next couple of years, you can expect some volatility in your EMR. It will be very important to work closely with insurance company underwriters to help ensure the overall rates and premiums are not adversely impacted by dramatic changes in the EMR. You may also want to revisit the current claim reporting process and determine if paying medical only claims remains a cost effective way to control the overall costs.

Lastly, this affirms why the EMR is not an effective safety benchmark. Just because an EMR moves over 1.0 due to the new rating methodology does not make an employer “unsafe.” There are a multitude of reasons for a high experience modifier not related to a safe work place.

Mark Gaskamp is a managing director for Wortham Insurance & Risk Management in Austin. He is a part of the Wortham Construction Industry Practice Group where his responsibilities include partnering with clients to manage safety and risk management exposures to reduce their cost of risk. He is actively involved in the ABC and AGC safety committees, and is a national faculty member of The National Alliance’s Certified Risk Manager’s (CRM) program. For more information, contact Mark at (512) 532-1536 or mark.gaskamp@ worthaminsurance.com or visit www. worthaminsurance.com

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Construction News ON LOCATION

Tape shape

10-4, Roger that

Independent drywall contractor Hector Garcia tapes and floats drywall at the 19325 Gulf Freeway project. –ab

L-R: Salesmen Chase Custer and Chris Apostalo communicate with other employees with walkie talkies at American Fence & Supply. –ab

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Page 5

Play to win No damages for delay clauses: Do they mean what they say?

West W. Winter, Partner McNelis + Winter, PLLC San Antonio, TX

A

re contract clauses enforceable in Texas to limit or negate the very substantial damages that may be incurred due to project delays which occur through no fault of your own?

In Zachry Construction Corp. v. Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, a significant construction law opinion which also discusses certain lien release and waiver of sovereign immunity issues, the Texas Supreme Court recently addressed the enforceability of nodamages-for-delay provisions.

Zachry sued the Port of Houston Authority in 2006 claiming damages from delays allegedly caused by the Port when it switched course and ordered Zachry to complete the project “in the wet” and without the benefit of a previously utilized cutoff wall. The Port asserted that the no-damages-for-delay provision in the contract precluded Zachry’s delay damages. Pursuant to the contractual provision, the Port was not liable to Zachry “…for any damages arising out of or associated with any delay…to the Work, regardless of the source of the delay…and even if such delay…results from, arises out of or is due, in whole or in part, to the negligence, breach of contract or other fault of the Port Authority.”

Zachry countered that this provision could not be enforced if the Port’s intentional misconduct caused the delay.

After a three-month trial, the jury found, among other things, that the Port caused Zachry to incur more than $18 million in delay damages due to the Port’s “arbitrary and capricious conduct, active interference, bad faith, and/or fraud.”

However, the court of appeals subsequently held that the no-damagesfor-delay provision barred Zachry’s recovery of delay damages. It then reversed the trial court’s judgment in favor of Zachry, and rendered judgment for the Port, awarding it $10 million in attorney’s fees.

On appeal, the Texas Supreme Court recognized the general rule that a contractor may agree to assume the risk of construction delays and not seek damages. But, the Court also detailed four previously recognized exceptions to the enforcement of such agreements when the delay: (1) was not intended or contemplated by the parties to be within the purview of the provision; (2) resulted from fraud, misrepresentation, or other bad faith on the part of one seeking the benefit of the provision; (3) has extended for such an unreasonable length of time that the party delayed would have been

justified in abandoning the contract; or (4) is not within the specifically enumerated delays to which the clause applies.

The Court further recognized a fifth exception “based upon active interference” with the contractor or other wrongful conduct including “arbitrary and capricious acts,” “without due consideration” and in disregard of the other parties’ rights. Zachry argued that the no-damages-for-delay provision was invalid and based upon the jury’s findings, relied upon these second and fifth exceptions.

The Texas Supreme Court agreed with Zachry and held, among other things, that the no-damages-for-delay provision was unenforceable and that the award of attorney fees to the Port should be reversed. As part of its rationale, the Court reasoned that while contractors can assess potential delaying events when estimating and bidding, they cannot properly assess potential delays that may arise due to an owner’s direct interference, willful acts, negligence, bad faith fraudulent acts, and/or omissions. Another stated purpose behind these exceptions is to preclude a party from insulating itself from liability for its own deliberate and wrongful conduct.

As exemplified by the Zachry holding, no-damages-for-delay clauses can be enforced, but there are numerous viable exceptions. Such clauses certainly cannot be used to insulate oneself from liability for deliberate and wrongful conduct or allow one party to intentionally injure another. Contractors who have suffered delay damages should closely scrutinize the specific facts and circumstances involved as early as possible so they may be fully informed about the impact of any applicable nodamages-for-delay clauses and whether any of these recognized exceptions may apply.

West W. Winter is a partner at McNelis + Winter, PLLC. A LEED Green Associate, West serves on the board of the Construction Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association and has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in San Antonio for Construction Litigation. West can be reached via email: west@mcneliswinter. com.

Construction News ON LOCATION

Always be prepared

L-R: Damiane Cauley Sr. and Sam DeMaria, The Window Guys, make sure they have everything they need for a job. ­­–ab

E

ighty poker players brought their game at the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Construction Leadership Council Texas Hold ‘Em Poker tournament in May.

It was a memorable evening - whether the chips were up or down - as the tournament lasted more than four hours.

–ab Congrats to the winners 3rd place: Calvin Silva, McCarthy Building Companies Inc. 1st place: Susie Trevathan, Trevathan Marketing Group Inc.

2nd place: Jander Ortiz, PBK

L-R: Alex Buscher, McCarthy Building Companies Inc. won a DEWALT tool kit presented by Juan De la Vega, DEWALT.

Submitted to Construction News

Making connections

Chamberlin Roofing and Waterproofing, a local specialty subcontractor, raised funds for The WorkFaith Connection at their annual Customer Appreciation event at Minute Maid Park in May. L-R: Sandy Schultz, president/CEO of The WorkFaith Connection and John Kafka, president/CEO of Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing. –ab

Page 6

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

I knew guys that framed houses and I would go help them pour concrete.

I would just walk to their house and they would take me to work with them, because I didn’t have a car.

I also worked at a couple of grocery stores in the summers. I worked at Kroger stocking groceries when I was a senior.

Glenn Pitman Owner Pitman Construction

G

lenn Pitman founded Pitman Construction, a commercial interior/ exterior drywall company.

Along with his wife, Carol, office administrator and a steady crew of employees, Pitman Construction has thrived over the years and has managed to stay solvent through some of the best and worst times in the Houston economy.

The company will celebrate its 27th anniversary in October.

Pitman Construction provides metal stud framing, drywall, acoustic ceilings, commercial build outs, metal stud drywall construction and tenant finish outs.

Where were you born, Glenn?

I was born in Houston at St. Joseph’s Hospital downtown.

What did your parents do for a living?

When I was growing up, my father worked for Houston Light & Power and my mother worked as a butcher in a meat market.

My parents started a small restaurant in Humble and they did that for four or five years after my dad graduated from college. I was in the seventh grade when he graduated.

Later in life, my dad became a CPA. We still confer with him regarding our business.

What was it like growing up in Houston?

I remember going to the Astrodome and watching the Astros play. I liked playing Little League baseball when I was a kid.

My family had a small lake house and we would go fishing there on the weekends.

How was your high school experience?

It was good, but I graduated too early.

I should have stayed another year because I graduated at 17. I was 16 when I started my senior year.

What was your first job as a teenager?

I worked at construction jobs because that was all that was in our neighborhood.

What did you do next?

I went to college at Stephen F. Austin State University and played football for a year.

Then I came back and went to school in Houston the rest of the time. I went to junior college for three or four years, just taking night classes.

I went through an apprenticeship program and had a job hanging drywall.

Next, I worked at a local drywall company.

What did you learn in apprenticeship school?

I mostly learned about carpentry. I learned how to read blueprints and how to manage jobs, as well as survey.

What were the early days like at the company?

We first began doing tenant buildouts and then did more ground up jobs.

We have primarily stayed in the private sector while doing some medical and educational facilities along the way.

What does a normal day for you consist of?

Generally, I come into the office in the mornings and I go over the problems for the day.

We usually line our men out the night before, so they are already going to the job site first thing.

I’ll usually bid a couple of jobs during the day or sometime that week, depending on what size they are.

I also approve invoices and get the paperwork they’ve done and get it submitted so Carol can process it.

What is rewarding about owning your own company?

It’s rewarding because we built it ourselves and created it when the odds were against us.

I have always loved building and I’ve always loved being involved with construction. It’s something that feels right.

Did you have any mentors in the industry?

I had some older guys that I worked with who helped me out – like the guys from my neighborhood who would take us to work with them.

They would pay us practically nothing to work all day, but they would teach us what we needed to know.

How did you meet your wife?

I met Carol in the eighth grade. She

L-R: Glenn and Carol Pitman will celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary in July.

was my very first date ever. It went so well, I didn’t talk to her again until I was 30.

We went to high school together and had classes together but we really didn’t socialize.

Then in our late 20s we went to our 10th high school reunion and after that, it just fit together.

We dated for about a year and got married in 1986. She is a great mom, wife and a wonderful best friend.

What does Carol do at the company?

Carol does all the day-to-day accounting and manages the office.

She also helps with our record keeping, job costs, filing invoices, bill paying and payroll – among other things.

Do you have children?

Yes, I have two children, Jamie and Kirby. Jamie works in marketing at Home Heath in the Huntsville/College Station and Bryan area. She has two young daughters.

Kirby joined the company after he graduated Texas A&M University. He will become the new face of the company as we begin to phase in the next generation. Kirby just survived his one-year anniversary in May. What hobbies do you and Carol enjoy when you aren’t at work?

We went sports fishing in Cabo San

Lucas a few years ago.

We caught eight stripped marlin and one mahi mahi.

Of course you are only allowed to keep one a piece (marlin) so the others were catch and release. We gave the crew the mahi mahi.

What has been the biggest lesson you have learned in this business?

My biggest lesson is not to take too many big steps. I’ve been more successful taking little steps than big ones.

What are some of the things you would like to do in your life?

I’d like to slow down a little bit. I would like to get it to where I would only have to come to work about two days a week.

I’d come in, check on things, then go fishing or go play golf.

That would be something I would like to do while I am still young enough.

What are your plans for the future?

With the Texas economy growing every day, we are excited to begin the next phase of our lives training and incorporating our son Kirby into our business and continuing on a path to retiring knowing that our legacy will be carried on – but of course we know that is still a ways off.

We are grateful to all our customers who have stood beside us over the years and for our employees, past and present.

–ab

Submitted to Construction News

Future construction professionals

Submitted to Construction News

Sun, sea and sand

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction and Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF) held a graduation ceremony for these hardworking individuals at Brady’s Landing in May. –ab

The American Subcontractors Association Houston Chapter (ASA) held its 9th annual Fiesta on the Beach in Galveston May 30. –ab

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Page 7

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.am1300thezone.com

Oh Deer!

W

hat a year for deer! For the first time in years we do not have to worry about our whitetail deer making it through a hot, dry summer!

This year plenty of rain and milder temperatures have turned Texas into a paradise for our wildlife.

It seems like we have had a good fawn crop because the does have had plenty of food and water while they carried fawns. But just as important, they still have plenty while they are nursing and tending their young. In past years we have seen so many deer lost to the highways as they searched for water and fawns lost to predators while the does went out to find scarce food in the pastures. Not this year!

The rain has brought us back our rivers and lakes just in time for us to enjoy time on the water this summer. As the waters settle down fishing is going to go from good to better and draw our attention to fishing, but we need to take a little time to think ahead to hunting season too.

Do you realize that by July a buck’s antlers are already about 50% formed?

From now until the velvet comes off in the fall they will be putting the finishing touches on those antlers. Up to this point the mild, wet weather has benefitted antler growth too, but now we are coming into the part of summer that can be stressful for deer.

Builders Gypsum, Austin

Summer heat can dry up smaller rain fed water sources. High temperatures are as hard on deer as anyone else and all they can do is endure them. Insect pests prey on them too. If you can help your deer endure these seasonal stresses better by being sure they still have adequate sources of water and plenty to eat you will see better antler grown as they finish up and more fawns surviving. Think about it. Nature is concerned with keeping the animal alive first. Horns and babies are just the icing on the cake. If you make sure the basic needs of the animal are fully met, then you get big horns and lots of fawns.

This is the time of the year to do some planning and preparation for your hunting grounds. If you need to move feeders and blinds around, this is the time to do it. That way you have several weeks for the deer to get used to any changes you make in the pasture. Watch out for snakes and wasps and take care not to get too hot. It can be hot sweaty work this time of year, but you will be glad you got it done when you are sitting in that blind in November and that big buck steps out!

Get that done and hook up the boat or call your favorite guide and head back to the water! Then you can enjoy your reunion with the lakes knowing what great hunting you’ll have in the fall!

Wortham

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You

Submitted to Construction News

That’s why I’m walkin’

More than 60 Waukesha-Pearce Industries employees participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Houston in May. The Fierce Pearce Fighters ranked 9th in overall team fundraising. –ab

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

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

Page 8

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

A

Summer fun in the sun

rchitects, designers, engineers and contractors took their tools to East Beach in Galveston May 30 for the annual sandcastle competition.

More than 60 teams had their eyes and shovels set on winning the Golden Bucket Award. Participants stretched along the beach, sculpted their sand piles and worked non-stop for five hours.

The judging of the sandcastles was rated on originality of concept, artistic execution of the concept, technical difficulty, carving technique and utilization of the site.

The Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) hosted the event. –ab Congrats to the winners!

Most Complex: PflugerFlintco - Positive/Negative Most Hilarious: Kirksey - Jurassic Seuss Most Lifelike: CDI: Medusa Best Traditional: Gensler - Drift Outside the Shell Best Architectural: cre8/Duratech/ Matrix - Michael's Grave Let the Games Begin: Walter P Moore/ Baker Concrete Operation Stars and Stripes: SWA Group - The Lone Star-fish The Sydney LeNoir Public Favorite Award: Freese and Nichols Inc. - Left Shark Best Team Sign: Ziegler Cooper Architects - 20,000 Leaks Under The Sea Best Team Costume: US "N" SAND - Lame Duck Season AIA College Challenge Award: The University of Houston Architecture Students and Alumni - Baymax: Your Personal Sandcastle Companion

That’s Entertainment: Integrity Structural Corp.

Power Up with Integrity

Gold Bucket Winner: Kirksey - Jurassic Seuss

Silver Shovel Winner: Gensler - Drift Outside the Shell

Bronze Shovel Winner: The Dow Chemical Co. Beauty and the Beachslayer

Honorable Mention (4th Place) Ziegler Cooper Architects 20,000 Leaks Under The Sea

Honorable Mention (5th Place): Matrix Design Built By The Egyptians

Honorable Mention (6th Place): HDR Inc. - Texas Pictionary

Submitted to Construction News

Wheels turnin’

L-R: Mark McDowell, Dan Gilbane and Alan Coleman, Gilbane Building Co., participated in Houston’s Bike to Work Day in May. –ab

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Page 9

Celebrating 15 Years in the Industry

San Antonio

Austin

Houston

CONSTRUCTION

Dallas/Fort Worth

™

The Industry’s Newspaper

www.ConstructionNews.net Advertising @ ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800

South Texas

Page 10

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Aloha!

On the road again

Deborah Blacklock, Cornerstone Hardware & Supplies, (left) and friends

C

ornerstone Hardware & Supplies held its annual Summer Sale Big Event at the Houston location June. 10.

Customers came out to eat, play games and win prizes. Vendors showcased products and offered raffle prizes.

Boyert Shooting Center let everyone test their skills with the laser firearm simulator.

Folks played TopGolf games outside

and Classic Chevy of Sugar Land brought in commercial vehicles for attendees to look at.

Mahalo Munchies served burgers, chicken and pineapple iced tea and Kona Ice cooled everyone off with snow cones.

Cornerstone Hardware & Supplies provides builder’s hardware, decorative hardware, lighting and supplies. –ab

Freud Tools

Diana Henriquez, Cornerstone Hardware & Supplies, enjoys a snow cone.

B

Customers watch an equipment demo at the Houston location.

lueLine Rental recently kicked-off a 21-day roadshow with stops planned across the United States.

Customers and folks in the construction industry attended the Houston event May 28.

Manufacturers from Mi-T-M, GEHL, Atlas Copco, Generac, Bomag, Hilti, JGL and SkyJack were on hand to answer

questions and demo equipment.

The event raised money for Homes For Our Troops, a non-profit organization that builds mortgage-free, specially adapted homes for severely injured post 9/11 veterans.

BlueLine Rental rents equipment for the construction, commercial and industrial markets. –ab

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Page 11

Electrical Industry Wired for change Mark Coshal IEC San Antonio, Instructor IES Commercial, Superintendent San Antonio, TX

T

he National Electrical Code (NEC) is published every three years, and each new edition brings changes to the electrical industry. When the local building codes change, the impact is even more drastic and immediate, according to Mark Coshal, a third-year curriculum instructor for the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) San Antonio Chapter and a superintendent for IES Commercial. puter or add a different type of light fixture or even just changing out a regular incandescent lamp for one of those little compact fluorescents that everybody is going to now – it makes an impact on the way that things have to be wired in the [projects] from the ground up.”

With these changes in technology, he observes that the code book is now covering areas that were not there in the past, including circuitry and electronics as well as solar power and green energy.

With standards leaning toward the green, that adds to the complexity of those electrical jobs.

“One of the issues with going greener is that you get a bunch of transient loads on your circuitry that causes an increase in ampacity on your neutral wires,” he explains. “The first thing that

At 38, Coshal has been working in electrical for 15 years, 12 of which have been with IES. He has been an instructor at IEC for eight years, and in 2013, he earned national recognition as Instructor of the Year. He is also on IEC’s book review committee, which writes the curriculum and keeps it updated.

His experience in the field and as an educator, who also spends time in the IEC classroom as a student to stay current, affords him a good opportunity to keep up with the amount of changes in the industry, which he feels is one of the most difficult things about being in electrical.

“We get a new code every three years, and so we have to keep up with that,” says Coshal. “But then, technology changes, and every time they add a com-

Growth strong, skilled labor weak Thayer Long, Executive Vice President/CEO Independent Electrical Contractors Alexandria, VA

H

ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? Have you heard of an increase or slowdown in business?

Generally, the construction industry is strong in the vast majority of the country. It is still rebounding from the economic downturn, but the majority of business owners are cautiously optimistic about the future and that the increased business will continue. Most sectors (i.e. healthcare, education, manufacturing and commercial) are experiencing an incline in work and state and local government investment in infrastructure is also driving growth.

What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown?

A healthier economy is certainly a

huge help to any recovery. This leads to more confident business owners and consumers.

What are the “hot button” issues in your industry?

The largest threat to the electrical industry is a shortage in skilled labor. Electrical contractors across the country are struggling to find individuals who want to join this rewarding and lucrative occupation. There are very unique opportunities available to electricians, including apprenticeship, that allows students to earn money and gain on-the-job skills to accompany their classroom learning.

Additionally, electrician is a very entrepreneurial field. We have many people who have graduated from our apprentice program and worked for a contractor for

went away was what they call multi-wire branch circuits, which is sharing of neutral loads on different circuits. They’re requiring independent neutrals for everything, which adds wire to the job, adds circuit ampacity, which increases wire size, and in essence, it makes the job cost more money.

“They’re going to save money in the long run by running a more efficient light bulb essentially, but in the initial cost, it’s pretty substantial. There’s quite a bit more wire to be pulled. There’s larger wire that has to be pulled. The transformers associated with all of those circuits have to be increased in size to be able to handle the increase in capacitance on the wires.

“It’s changed the way that everything is circuited. It’s changed the way that we route our conduits. It’s changed the way that we size all of our conduits and our wire and then, of course, the cost impact. So, we have more work going into a job.”

Meanwhile, the industry is still suffering a labor shortage. More work going into a job means more labor to get the job done on accelerated schedules. With the field being drastically undermanned, Coshal comments that they need more people who know what they are doing and the IEC apprenticeship school helps to turn installers into electricians by preparing them for their journeyman test to get their license. He believes the key is to

get the knowledge out there so the people in the field understand the changes that are happening – why they are upsizing neutrals and why transformers are getting bigger, for example.

“In the field, we see it on a print and then we do it,” he says. “But in the classroom, you’re able to teach them why that’s happening. You can actually show them the physical difference that is being produced by the different types of greener things and it doesn’t just have to do with the green stuff. “Computers do the same thing. With everything becoming more and more computer-oriented, you have more and more circuitry in buildings for computers, and they do the same thing. They produce a capacitive load that increases neutral demand. A lot of it is taken care of with the code and we have to adapt the curriculum to meet that code and to teach what’s new going on in the field.”

While many of his students are new hires, some are also people who have been in the industry for a while, because in the electrical industry, knowledge really is power.

“A person that understands why he or she is running a wire from point A to point B is more valuable than a person that has to be told, ‘Okay, pull that wire from point A to point B.’ Contractors will hire new people and want to put them in school to get them to learn.” –mh

years then opened their business.

their impact on so many different systems, electrical contractors are leading the way on making substantive improvements to buildings’ energy-efficiency.

What is on the horizon for your industry? Changes in technology; equipment; materials?

Technology is changing in the industry. To combat the labor shortage, companies must be more efficient in handling and installing electrical material.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) and other tools increase the need for digital availability. The adoption of smart devices has been prevalent on jobsites.

The technological improvements are going to continue to positively impact the construction industry.

With the recent emphasis on green building, what is the most environmentally friendly change relating to your industry?

Lighting and lighting controls have been a recent revolution in electrical work. This includes using more energy efficient lighting fixtures, controlling and automating lighting for maximum efficiency, and energy use for heating and cooling system. According to the Energy Information Administration, 60% of an office building electricity is used in lighting, cooling and venting the space. With

What cost increases relate to your industry?

Commodity and material costs are always fluctuating, driven by normal courses of supply/demand globally. Wages rates are starting to rise markedly, and will continue to do so with labor shortages and again, economics of supply and demand.

What are the rewards of the industry?

A career in electrical involves working in a challenging, sophisticated, and technologically evolving industry. It provides one with a lifetime skill and endless education due to the constant construction evolutions. Electricians will always be in high demand and continue to provide high wages.

IEC is a trade association representing more than 3,000 members with 53 chapters nationwide. IEC is the nation’s premier trade association representing America’s independent electrical and systems contractors. –cw

NEXT MONTH August 2015

Service Providers 2015 Schedule

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

Support Your Industry’s Feature Issue

Call for Ad Space Reservations Apr: Women in Construction May: Concrete Industry Jun: HVAC & Plumbing

• • • •

San Antonio Austin • Houston Dallas/Fort Worth South Texas

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

(210) 308-5800

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

Page 12

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Wired for success

E

Submitted to Construction News

A fishing tale

Attendees watch the wire-off competition.

lectricians and apprentices attended the 2015 Independent Electrical Contractors Texas Gulf Coast (IEC) Wire-off Competition & Trade Show at the SPJST Lodge 88 in late May.

Apprentices competed for the top prize: a chance to represent IEC at the upcoming National Apprentice of the Year Competition. –ab The Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Houston (ABC) held the 2015 Fishing Tournament at Topwater Grill in San Leon Jun. 5. The Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing team won 1st place and with the help of a few guys from Austin Commercial, they reeled in a stringer weighing 28.06 lbs. –ab

Submitted to Construction News

Down south

Apprentice Esau Barajas

Apprentice Paul Gill

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention 2015 brought thousands of architects and design professionals, including folks from Houston, to Atlanta in May. Former President Bill Clinton delivered the keynote address. –ab

H Location Dallas/Fort. Worth H Location Austin H Location Houston H Location San Antonio South Texas H Location Publishing the Industry’s News . . .

TEXAS Style

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

Submitted to Construction News

Right on track

President John Glaze, Fast Track Specialties (center), recently attended and spoke at the 12th annual Runners For Life golf tournament. Fast Track Specialties is a construction specialties firm in Houston. –ab

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Page 13

continued from Page 1 — A grand achievement Grove, Manitowoc and Manitex crane products and services for the area will continue to be provided by the H&E Houston crane store.

In addition to equipment rentals, the facility provides new and used equipment sales, in-shop and mobile service, a comprehensive parts inventory, training and other value-added services.

Established in 1961, H&E Equipment Services is a supplier of equipment for construction, industrial, mining, manufacturing and material handling industries. –ab Marlene, H&E Equipment Services, (right) hands out raffle tickets.

Attendees enjoy a catered lunch at the Brookshire location.

Raba Kistner Consultants Inc. has hired Justin R. Castro to serve as the construction materials engineering and testing supervisor for the company’s Freeport location. Castro will expand Raba Kistner’s presence in the Gulf Coast region. Castro holds an associate’s degree in Business Management from San Jacinto College.

Adam Delk has joined the JE Dunn Construction Houston office as vice president. In his role, he will be responsible for project planning, implementation and success. Delk graduated from Auburn University with a BS degree in Construction Science and a minor in Business.

Skanska USA has hired John Leos as a project executive for its Houston office. Leos joins Skanska with more than 17 years of experience in delivering new construction and renovation projects. Most recently, he was a senior project manager for Manhattan Construction Co. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from the University of Houston.

Leos is currently completing his master’s degree in Sustainability and Development at Southern Methodist University.

Katherine E. Moore and Rob Hood have joined Wilson Architectural Group Inc. Jenna Murphy, AIA, LEED AP, is the firm’s newly licensed architect.

Moore joined the team as project manager. She brings over 24 years of healthcare architecture and project management experience. She holds a Master of Architecture from Tulane University Hood, AIA, LEED AP, joined the team as a project architect. He has more than 20 years of experience in various project types, including hospitality, education, healthcare and industrial. Rob holds a Master of Construction Management and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Houston.

Murphy, AIA, LEED AP joined the firm in 2009. She has been instrumental in the everyday design and project production process. Murphy holds a Master of Architecture degree from Texas Tech University.

Submissions

Round-Up

continued from Page 1 —Historical endeavors

Round-Up

The interior framing

“The east wall was severely deteriorated as was the interior framing and roof trusses in areas where the roof was leaking,” he said. “We started by supporting the east wall so it would be stabilized while the interior work was done.”

The roof trusses were then supported on columns to the ground floor to allow the second and third floors to be leveled independent of the truss supports.

The floors were repaired and leveled, the trusses then repaired, and finally the exterior wall was repaired and re-pointed.

Arneson says the Building Galveston team has worked closely with the owner and the architect on previous projects.

“I think this facilitated the renovation of this building greatly,” he said. “Our largest commercial customer has been Mitchell Historic Properties. They own several historic buildings on the Strand and around Galveston that we’ve worked on over the years.”

continued from Page 1 Fasten up the weekends include basketball, golf, baseball football and soccer.

“I am a Dallas Cowboys, Houston Astros and Rockets fan,” Betancourt said. “I attend the games when I get the chance.”

Looking ahead, Betancourt says his goal for the rest of the year is to continue to increase sales and assist more customers looking for tools and fasteners.

Southern Fastening Systems supplies wood construction projects and manufacturing operations with tools and fasteners.

–ab

Established in 2007, Building Galveston Inc.(dba Building Solutions) has one office location in downtown Galveston with 6 employees. The company performs most types of construction and specializes in historic renovation. –ab

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

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Email (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month, for the next month’s issue (published 1st of each month).

Email info to appropriate city issue, with “Round-Up” in the subject line: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

San Antonio: saeditor@constructionnews.net Austin: austineditor@constructionnews.net

Dallas/Ft. Worth: dfweditor@constructionnews.net Houston: houstoneditor@constructionnews.net South Texas: STeditor@constructionnews.net

Did You know ?

Construction News reaches your target market

Page 14

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Association Calendar

Beachin’ it

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

Jul. 6-8: OSHA 511 Jul. 9: How to Submit Seminar Jul. 10: Breakfast Jul. 14: OSHA 500 & OSHA 2264 Jul. 15: Legal Seminar Jul. 16: OSHA 500 and OSHA 2264 and PAC summer event Jul. 17: OSHA 500 For more information call 713-523-6222

ACCA Air Conditioning Contractors of Amer.

Jul. 17: Annual Bay Bash, 5am, April Fool Point Marina – Top Water Grill For more information call 713-781-4822

AGC Associated General Contractors

Jul. 7: Lean Unit 3: Lean Workstructuring Jul. 7-10: OSHA 510: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry Jul. 8: OSHA 30-Hour Course Jul. 10: Certificate of Management-BIM Credentialing Exam Jul. 15: 2015 Midyear meeting and First Aid/CPR/AED Training Jul. 17: Texas Lien Laws Jul. 21-23: OSHA 3115: Fall Protection Jul. 23: Lean Unit 4: The Last Planner System Jul. 24: Advanced Lien & Payment Issues Seminar Jul. 27-29: OSHA 502: Update for the Construction Industry Outreach Trainers Jul. 29-31: OSHA 503: Update for General Industry Outreach Trainers For more information call 713-843-3700

AIA American Institute of Architects

Jul. 7: Updates to the Harris County Building Code – July Jul. 21: Working Abroad Continuing Education

Jul. 22 & 24: AIA + 2030 Kickoff Jul. 23: Design Awards Jul. 28: Full Day CE opportunity For more info visit www.aiahouston.org

ASA American Subcontractors Association

Jul. 14: Fishing Tournament meeting, 11am, Holes Inc. Jul. 15: Safety Professionals Peer Group Jul. 28: Safety meeting For more information call 281- 679-1877

T

he Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Texas Chapter (PHCC) annual conference took place at the Moody Gardens Hotel Spa and Convention Center in Galveston Jul 11-12.

Despite all the rain in the area, air conditioning and heating contractors from around the state gathered at the opening reception. The next day, 22 vendors showcased their products at a tradeshow. –ab

FPA

Nancy Jones was honored at the event for all her hard work at PHCC Texas.

Foundation Performance Assoc.

Jul. 8: Presentation, 5pm, Overview of Windstorm Programs For more information visit www.foundationperformance.org

IEC Independent Electrical Contractors

Jul. 8: State Residential Appliance Installer & State Maintenance Exam (203), Weds. 6-9pm, Contractor Members $240/Non members $290 Jul. 9: State Journeyman Exam Prep Class (303), Thurs. 6-9pm, Contractor Members $240/Non members $290 Jul. 11. State Masters Exam Prep Class (403), Sat. 8am-noon, Contractor Members $325/Non members $390 *No Class Jul. 25th Jul. 15 Monthly meeting For more information call 713-869-1976

Rick Shelton, Shelton Plumbing (right) and friends

L-R: Rhonda Dowdy and Sam Dowdy, S & D Commercial Services (center)

NAWIC Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Jul. 14: Happy Hour, 5pm, 024 Grille, 945 Gessner, Houston For more information visit www.nawic-houston.org

PHCC

Milton Frank, Milton Frank Plumbing Co. Inc.

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

Jul. 15: Member Lunch, Saltgrass Steakhouse For more information visit www.gulfcoastphcc.org

L-R: Ray Jones, Raven Mechanical LP and Carter Ramzel, Benchmark Plumbing

Patrick Freund, Comfort-Air Engineering Inc.

Submitted to Construction News

Top of the class

INSTALLER, DESIGNER, CONSULTANT

COMMERCIAL

BEST Construction Tool?

ROOF SYSTEMS OUR CUSTOMER OF THE MONTH

ML DEER CONSTRUCTION FOR THEIR TRUSTING, RESPECTFUL, PROFESSIONAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP

THANK YOU!!! Leticia Elias, cc-rrc

832-339-2865

www.ecroofsystems.com mbe / wbe / sbe / dbe / HUB / Section 3

ADVERTISING in Construction News 210-308-5800

www.ConstructionNews.net

The Houston Chapter National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) Block Kids winner, George Nations, a 5th grader at Schultz Elementary, also won the Region 7 competition and came in 2nd place in the national competition. L-R: Nations received his trophy for winning Region 7 and his prize for 2nd place in Nationals from NAWIC members Jody Richwine and Debbie Savage during the awards day at his school. –ab

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Page 15

Food and fun

Making a difference

Some of the BakerTriangle Charity Golf Classic participants

B

CFI Mechanical employees and friends catch up at the appreciation party.

C

FI Mechanical inc. recently hosted an appreciation party/barbecue cook-off at the northwest Houston headquarters and fabrication facilities.

With the support of some of their strategic partners, including Ferguson, Grant Sheet Metal, Hilti, Marsh and McLennan, Milwaukee Tool and Victaulic, the company hosted more than 600 customers, vendors and employees for a night of entertainment and great food.

“The majority of the attendees are actively involved within the Houston construction industry,” said Scott Hubert, controller. “This record attendance was despite a very stormy afternoon that

failed in dampening any of the spirit.”

Hubert says nine professional cook teams participated and spent over three days camping out and preparing a variety of appetizing meals. This culminated in the formal event where there was also a mixed drink and dessert contest.

In keeping with the tradition from previous years, an extra 1,500 lbs. of boiled crawfish and fried catfish was also served by a professional caterer.

CFI Mechanical is a specialty trade contractor specializing in the commercial plumbing and mechanical market within the greater gulf coast region. –ab

akerTriangle hosted the Charity Golf Classic at Willow Creek Golf Club in Spring in May. Ninety-two participants played in a four-person scramble format at the tournament. Lunch was provided before teeing off, with a barbecue dinner and awards ceremony following the event.

First place winners include Larry Murphy, Pat Pollard, Scott Lestus and Brian Cudd.

“Our thanks go to all the golfers, sponsors, BakerTriangle employees and the Periwinkle Foundation staff for making our inaugural charity golf tournament a success,” said President Mike Syzdek, BakerTriangle.

The tournament raised $30,000 for the Periwinkle Foundation, which will help support programs for children with life-threatening illnesses being treated at

Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers.

BakerTriangle is a drywall and acoustical ceiling specialty contractor located in northwest Houston in the Cy-Fair area. –ab

Golfers are ready to hit the course.

Construction News ON LOCATION

Construction News ON LOCATION

Down by the bay

Cool and collected

Counter salesman Cecil Boles has a productive Monday at Bay Electric Supply Inc. in League City. –ab

Salesman Jason Rodriguez, Cool Parts, helps air conditioning contractors in Houston find the supplies they need for jobs. –ab

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Snake season

DID YOU KNOW . . . .

CONSTRUCTION

™

The Industry’s Newspaper

Watching out for snakes in the high grass, James Robinson and Mike Highet, Town & Country Surveyors LLC, do a boundary survey on a 5-acre tract near I-45 South. –ab

Largest circulation construction newspaper in Texas

Page 16

Houston Construction News • Jul 2015

Submitted to Construction News

TACCA comes back

Bait and hook

T

The SpawGlass Houston office hosted its 3rd annual CJ IV Memorial Fishing Tournament in Port O'Connor June 5-6. Despite the weeks of rain, this weekend turned out to be perfect weather for the event. More than 200 people attended Friday night's Captains party, catered by Jake's BBQ. More than 40 boats competed on Saturday from SpawGlass locations throughout Texas and clients.

Griesenbeck took home the first place honor with a 27.16-pound stringer, breaking the tournament record. –ab

What’s on your bucket list?

Travel to Europe and see all the historical sites I can.

Joe Carrasco, Joe’s Painting

taking pictures of landscapes and sunsets.

Chuy Mata, JQ Doors

Go on a cruise.

Daniel Frank, Cryer Plastering Co. Inc.

I want to go kayak fishing.

Brian Miller, Totaline

I want to go camping at the Grand Canyon with my wife.

Billy McDonald, Southwest Equipment Rentals Inc.

Retire somewhere near my family!

Michael Glass, Falcon Flooring

I’d like to move somewhere right outside the city limits. I don’t know exactly where though.

Ron Karr, Karr’s Building Supply & Service LLC I’d like to grow a flower garden filled with orange canna lilies, lantana, roses and petunias.

Cindy Legare, Sunstate Equipment Co. Attend Lakewood Church.

Toby Woodward, Aladdin Floors Play more golf!

Tom Large, Maverick Enterprises Retire and live in Galveston with my husband Tim. Bonnie Webb, One Stop Hardware Travel to El Campo more often.

Stanley Ramirez, Lone Star Glass Inc. I want to do more photography. I love

Go sailing, spend time with my family and grandkids and start a couple of more businesses.

William Plant, Building Products Plus

he Lone Star State’s Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ACCA) is now an independent entity again.

ACCA Texas reclaimed its previous name, Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association (TACCA) as of Apr. 1.

Well known as TACCA since its founding in 1969, the state entity changed its name to ACCA Texas in 2000 when ACCA National brought chapters into affiliation under a federated structure from the top down starting with the national office, according to Todd McAllister, TACCA executive director.

Since the chapters were affiliated at the national, state and local level, members were required to pay dues to all three entities. Earlier this year, ACCA made the decision at the national level to forego federation. Now, TACCA is separate from ACCA, and though McAllister says they still encourage members to join ACCA on the national level also, national membership is no longer required. Members will only have to pay dues to their local chapter and the overseeing state entity, TACCA. Though the name and logo have changed, McAllister and David Mathews, TACCA president, assure members that the local and state levels will continue with business as usual, offering the same services and hosting the same events as always. The 10 chapters that comprised ACCA Texas also remain the same under TACCA. Those chapters include Abilene, Austin, Coastal Bend, Greater Houston, High Plains, North Texas, Rio Grande Valley, Greater San Antonio, South Plains and Waco.

In the 15 years under the name ACCA Texas and McAllister’s tenure as the state association’s executive director, he explains that the disaffiliation from national came about because everything about association business models and the way

David Mathews, president of TACCA

a nonprofit trade organization operates has changed. Mathews adds that national did the billing for all the state and local chapters, which was approximated to require about 400 different billing structures for dues across the country.

The change will allow the TACCA board of directors to run the organization with autonomy. The only difference was that they had to adjust the dues structures for the local and state levels.

The new organizational structure will benefit smaller contractors in the HVAC industry, as Mathews recalls that several small contractors could not afford to pay dues to all three levels of the association and subsequently left ACCA. McAllister observes that since returning to the familiar TACCA name, they’ve seen several small contractors come back.

Mathews notes, “I think it’s a positive adjustment for contractors throughout the state, and I think it’s going to be a really good thing for us.” –mh

I want to take my brother fishing at Lake Amistad.

Doug Long, Power Vac America Inc.

BEST Construction Tool?

I’d like to fly an airplane.

Mark Nelson, Gemini Plumbing Inc. I want to see the Astros play at Minute Maid Park.

Jason Rodriguez, Cool Parts

ADVERTISING in Construction News

Coach my son’s football team in Humble, TX. Jose Ponce, Ponce Remodeling Service Live in Conroe.

Chris Payne, Consolidated Electrical Distributors

210-308-5800

www.ConstructionNews.net

Spend more time on the beach in Galveston.

Anthony Rios, Joe Aquirre Tile Inc.

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Lighting the way

L-R: Daelen Lamphier and Eric Geswender, JL Floyd Services LLC, do the electrical work and install lighting at the Noodles & Co project. The GC is Warwick Construction. –ab