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The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net
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(210) 308-5800
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Volume 16
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Number 1
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JANUARY 2016
Buildings are for people
Multiple disciplinarians
Austin staff includes, L-R: David Negrete. Bruce W. Menke, Jesse Martinez and Jason George.
The Austin office of Stanley Consultants celebrated the firm’s 100-year anniversary with cake.
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egrete & Kolar Architects began in 2003 when David Negrete and Roger Kolar, architects who have practiced in south and central Texas for more than 30 years, combined forces. The firm has offices in Austin and Edinburg. When Kolar retired in 2011, Negrete’s wife, Diana, bought Kolar’s remaining shares and became a partner. She handles human resources and accounts payable. “After Roger retired, we reorganized as Negrete and Kolar LLP,” David says. Austin is the firm’s principal location and they currently have five employees, but David says he is evaluating recruitment of talented, passionate people.
“I’m always looking to find passionate and intelligent people,” he says. “The rest can be taught. The most difficult shortand long-term issue is to have the right personnel in line with what we are doing.” Austin office senior project manager Bruce Menke has been with Negrete since the beginning. “He is a critical element in making everything work,” Negrete says. The Austin office relocated from downtown to North Austin three years ago, and he says the firm has had continuous and steady work. The firm is both a state-certified HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) firm, continued on Page 14
tanley Consultants, an employeeowned firm operating since 1913, is a provider of engineering, environmental and construction services in 30 locations worldwide. The Austin office opened in 1998 and houses 40 highly technical professional engineers, designers and construction managers providing multi-discipline engineering services. They create innovative solutions for complex energy, environmental and infrastructure projects. Stanley Consultants has successfully completed more than 25,000 engagements for more than 2,500 educational, healthcare, utility, government agencies, industrial, commercial and private clients. The Austin office continues to ex-
pand project capabilities for power generation, power delivery, environmental, thermal utility plants and building services. “I take great pride in our continued client success that we attribute to quality work, on-time performance, customer attention and competitive pricing,” said Randy Schrecengost, PE CEM operations manager of the Austin office. When Stanley celebrated it’s 100th anniversary in 2013, the firm chose to give back through community service. Austin’s employees donated their time to the Texas Ramp Project by building multiple wheelchair ramps for low-income, continued on Page 14
Highlighting your project
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The Gracy Title interior by RG Tate & Associates
The Rabb House by John King Construction Ltd.
ach month we reserve this premium space in our publication to feature a recently completed project by an Austin general contractor. Our goal is to vary the project and contractor size to afford everyone the opportunity to participate. We feel a small- or medium-sized project constructed by a smallor medium-sized contractor is just as important as the high profile projects that seem to receive all the attention by other media. Finding those small to medium projects can be difficult at times. Some contractors might think we would not be interested in their project because it may be a modest one. Some may think because they are not a huge company with a full-time marketing staff they don’t have a chance to make the front page of our paper. Nothing could be further from the truth. Since we began our first paper, the San Antonio Construction News in October 1998, we have always reached out to everyone big and small. In this tough economy we want to highlight our Texas-based general contractors who are in the game and competing with the out-of-state contractors who have come to our great state. continued on Page 14
The Boardwalk trail by Jay-Reese Contractors
Sonesta Bee Cave by Zapalac/ Reed Construction Co.
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Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
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Ugly sweaters and beautiful purses
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ational Women in Construction (NAWIC) Austin Chapter combined a Tacky Sweater Christmas party with a purse drive to benefit SafePlace. –cw
Spirit of Christmas
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ssociated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Austin Chapter got into the holiday spirit with a Christmas Party at Abel’s On The Lake on Dec. 2. The event was well attended and no “grinches” were allowed! –cw
L-R: Carson Fisk, Ford Nassen; Jeff Chapman, The Chapman Firm; and Clayton Utkov, Ford Nassen
Tacky Sweater winners were L-R: Toni Osberry, Ugly Sweater; Chaundra Callaway, Uglier Sweater; and Britanie Olvera, Ugliest Sweater! All of the sweaters were homemade!
Autumn Eastus, Harvey Cleary Builders
L-R: Rick Rushton, Anchor-Ventana Glass; and Roland Rios and Becky Moose with Southern Demolition LLC
Three boxes of purses will go to help women escaping abuse in Austin.
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Smile in Kyle
L-R: Sarah Johnson, controller, Wurzel Builders; and Tim Bentley, vice president, Wurzel Builders, and his guest.
GOT CHIPPED TUBS? BATHTUB & SHOWER SURFACE REPAIR Perfect for New Construction Punch List CHIPS • SCRATCHES • RUST STAINS
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CSI Hose Services employees work on the ventilation system going into the Kyle ER project, owned by Dr. Tom Vo. The GC is Huffman Builders, Cedar Park. –cw
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Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Business is a game! Play to win! Part 1 of a 3 part series Carrie D. Bradshaw, C.P.A. Brown, Graham & Company P.C. Georgetown, TX
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now your score Business is a game and your financial statements are your scoreboard. Do you know your score? Are you winning or losing the game? In order to answer this question, you must first understand the financial management of your company and the story your financial statements tell about your company. Consider your monthly balance sheet as the score at the end of a period; a quarterly balance is your score at the end of the game; and an annual balance is your score at the end of the season. You can make adjustments to the game plan during the quarter if you are paying attention during the game. When you get to the end of the game you will see if your strategic adjustments worked to win the game. If it worked, maintain that strategy for the next game. If it did not work, the strategy needs to be adjusted for the next game to have a winning season. In a nutshell, your balance sheet is Association (RMA), Construction composed of assets, liabilities and equity. Financial Managers Association’s annual Assets are what you own. Liabilities are survey, and many others. Compare the what you owe. Net worth is what is left ratios you calculated on your balance over. sheet to your peers and see how you measure up. Are you consistent with Ratio analysis – understanding your your peers? scoreboard A word of caution in using industry Financial managers use a benchmarking: You cannot be sure the methodology referred to as ratio analysis comparison is “apples to apples”. There is to understand the scoreboard. You are no standardization of information probably familiar with some of these submitted to the groups gathering this ratios as you have been in conversation information. You also do not know the with your bonding agent or banker. level of success of the companies When you evaluate your ratios related to submitting this information. We your balance sheet, consider the recommend finding industry publications following: that publish “Best in Class” benchmarks Current working capital: This ratio as well. The purpose of benchmarking is measures your solvency - the number of to identify potential targets at which to dollars in current assets for every $1 in aim. current liabilities. In other words, can you pay your bills today? Internal financial trends Debt-to-worth: This ratio measures Another important aspect of your financial risk - the number of dollars understanding your score is monitoring of debt owed for every dollar of net your internal performance over time. Is worth. In other words, does the bank your business seasonal? How does that own more of your company than you do? seasonality impact your score (and more Accounts receivable turnover: importantly your cash!)? Perform your Measures the rate at which accounts ratio analysis on a monthly, quarterly and receivable are collected on an annual annual basis to help you identify trends basis. How many days from the time an within your company. invoice is generated until it becomes a Part 2: Know your costs deposit in the bank? We will discuss a break-even analysis Accounts payable turnover: tool. Measures the rate at which accounts Part 3: Know your cash flow model payable are paid on an annual basis. Is every dollar of revenue created the How many days from the time an invoice same? is received until the bill is paid? By beginning to implement a Something to consider: Should you disciplined system of monitoring your be paying accounts payable at a slower score, you can develop the strategy to rate than you collect accounts receivable coach your team to greater success! to conserve cash? Maybe. That question Carrie D. Bradshaw, CPA and CCIFP will be addressed in part 3 of this series. with over 20 years of construction contractor coaching experience, is the Industry benchmarking Managing Shareholder of the Brown, Now that you understand your Graham & Company, P.C.’s Georgetown score, how do you measure up against office. You can contact Carrie at the competition? There are many sources cbradshaw@bgc-cpa.com or call 512-930for obtaining industry benchmarks: 4090. industry associations, Risk Management
Product Recall Insurance should be part of your Product Risk Management Plan Julie Davis, CIC IBTX San Antonio, TX here may be no word that strikes greater fear in the hearts of individuals in the manufacturing/ processing industry than “recall.” Mere consideration of the term may mean that someone has been made ill or possibly died from consumption of or exposure to a product. The response must be inordinately fast and include coordination with federal government agencies, and state governmental agencies, as well as other companies who sit both upstream and downstream of your position in the distribution chain of the product at issue. The aftermath can leave injured consumers and damaged reputations. The monetary costs may include lost profits, recall expenses, civil damages and potential criminal action. Despite excellent quality control, you may find yourself swept into a recall. Advance planning for recalls can make the difference in the survival of your company. While a written recall plan has long different than another. been a regulatory requirement, planning Coverage details for a recall should include much more The following are key issues of the than a template form in a file. Recall policy, and policies may differ on the planning should include record-keeping definitions. Each policy must be carefully steps to be taken well in advance of any read and understood by policyholders to concerns, but which will make any recall insure they are purchasing what they effort more effective. A team of advisors need. who will serve in various roles in the • Loss of sales revenues planning, execution and post-recall • Customer loss of gross profits process is also a necessity. It should also • Government recall include Product Recall insurance • Voluntary recall coverage. • Adverse publicity Cost of Recall • Rehabilitation expenses The next step to consider after • Extra expense internal procedures are consistently • Defense costs implemented is how much will this cost • 3rd Party coverage the company? Loss of sales, not only the • “Pay on behalf” or reimburse company’s lost profit, but that of your language customers should be considered. Also Depending on who you speak with, consider the damage to the company’s the chance of having a serious product reputation and possible effect on future recall occurrence is not a matter of if, but sales, the added expense for disposal, when. Serious consideration of a proper replacement product, time and mental game plan in the event could be crucial anguish by management and employees; for the company’s survival. Is this a cost these are all part of the cost. that the company can absorb or is it more Many companies look at funding this cost effective to purchase an insurance possible exposure with an insurance policy for the risk? Recently, many large policy, but in today’s market, most distributors and retail corporations are Commercial General Liability (CGL) requiring Product Recall/Contamination policies will not cover a loss in a Product coverage in their contracts. In any event, Recall scenario. Do not mistake Product as part of your company’s recall Liability coverage for Product Recall procedure, add an insurance policy coverage, they are not the same. Some review by a competent insurance insurance carriers may offer a sub-limit to professional and review all contracts with cover the expense of removal and suppliers and clients regarding the disposal of the product as part of the insurance expectations. CGL, but these amounts may only cover a Julie Davis, CIC has worked with the fraction of total cost. food processing industry for over 15 years, Product Recall/Contamination coordinating risk management plans and Insurance insurance policies to reflect the food There are insurance carriers that industries’ changes to new exposure and have policies that pertain specifically to heightened responsibility. IBTX understands the issue of product recall, contamination your potential risk exposure and stands and/or tampering. These stand-alone ready to help you make informed decision policies may also include crisis about how to protect your customers, your management consultants. Product supply chain, and your bottom line. Contact Recall/Contamination policies are not us at 800-880-6689 or visit us at www.ib-tx. standardized policies, so one insurance com for more information or to setup your company’s coverage may look drastically policy today.
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Smile power
L-R: Korina and Beatrice Jaimes take care of the office at PCW Construction Inc. in Austin. The contracting company provides excavation, foundation and engineering work. –cw
Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Texas Mechanic’s and Materialman’s Liens on private projects in Texas Janet Townsley, Senior Associate The Cromeens Law Firm Dallas, TX
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redit is the lifeblood of the construction industry. By the nature of a construction contract, the contractor extends credit to the owner to the extent the contractor performs labor or services and supplies materials before being paid. When construction funds are withheld, the impact is felt throughout the construction chain. On even a small project, a payment default by an owner can have disastrous consequences for dozens of contractors, subcontractors and suppliers (and their employees). Just as most lenders will not loan money without adequate security for payment, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers need security when they extend credit on a construction project. Such security is the right to secure and enforce a lien on real property for the value of work performed. Mechanic’s and Materialman’s Liens (M & M Liens), when executed properly, elevate a subcontractor or material supplier from an unsecured creditor to a secured creditor. 1 Because the M&M lien operates like with the owner, you may have the right to an involuntary mortgage on the, Texas lien the owner’s property. To perfect a law requires specific steps to create a lien, certain notices must be sent prior to valid lien. One misstep in complying with filing the lien. This gives the owner and strict notice deadlines or omission of a general contractor a chance to resolve sentence required in the notice letter, your claim prior to filing the lien. invalidates the M & M Lien. All notices must be sent Certified Anyone who provides labor or Mail Return Receipt Requested to comply supplies materials for the construction, with statutory notice timelines. These repair of a house, building or timelines are strictly enforced and improvement is entitled to an M& M lien. missing a timeline date even by one day, After recent changes in Texas law, invalidates the lien. Therefore, do not let architects, engineers, surveyors, anyone stall or push you past outside landscapers, demolition trades that your deadlines. provide temporary workers may have an The notice timelines differ between M&M lien when not paid. a commercial and residential project, and on whether you have a contract with the The Homestead Pitfall General Contractor. Thus, it is good One of the great things about Texas practice to calendar a deadline for is the protection of homesteads found in sending notice of unpaid invoices for the Article 16, §50 of our Texas Constitution. 15th day of the second month after the This means you cannot have a lien against labor was performed or materials a property unless there is a construction supplied, as in many instances, this is the contract signed and notarized by the first deadline you will have to meet. An homeowner(s) and filed in the real attorney should be consulted to address property records prior to any work. deadline and notice requirements in Typically, this means you cannot file a lien specific instances. for a small repair. This is because it is Janet Townsley is a Senior Associate at unlikely a contract has been filed of The Cromeens Law Firm. For more record unless you filed one. But, if you’re information on our services, please visit doing a large repair or remodel, it would www.thecromeenslawfirm.com or call be worth the investment to hire an (713) 715-7334. attorney to draft and file the contract to 1 ensure you will be protected! Public property is not subject to lien, and A homestead is regarded as a is beyond the scope of this article. residence owned by an individual that is 2A spec home is one owned and being being OCCUPIED by that individual. A built by a company. It is not a homestead person and spouse may have only one and is considered commercial conhomestead. Hence, an owner building a construction. residence while currently living in a homestead, cannot call the new residence a homestead. However, if the individual does not currently have a homestead and is building a new residence intended as a homestead, the new residence is considered a homestead although the individual does not live in it.2 Notice, Notice, Notice M&M liens are an involuntary lien against someone’s property and although you may not have a contract
Did you know? Past editions can be downloaded at www. ConstructionNews. net
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Electrical Lock Out and Tag Out Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
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nergy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other sources in machines and equipment can be hazardous to workers. During the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected startup or release of stored energy can result in serious injury or death to workers. Failure to control hazardous energy accounts for nearly 10 percent of the serious accidents in many industries. Proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices and procedures safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases. The OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) (29 CFR 1910.147) for general industry outlines measures for controlling different types of hazardous energy. The LOTO standard establishes the employer’s responsibility to protect workers from hazardous energy. Employers are also required to train each worker to ensure that they know, understand, and are able to follow the applicable provisions of the hazardous energy control procedures: Proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices and procedures safeguard workers from the release of hazardous energy. The OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) (29 CFR 1910.147) for general industry, outlines specific action and procedures for addressing and controlling hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment. Employers are also required to train each worker to ensure that they know, understand, and are able to follow the applicable provisions of the hazardous energy control procedures. Workers must be trained in the purpose and function of the energy control program and have the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of the energy control devices.
● All employees who work in an area where energy control procedure(s) are utilized need to be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure(s), especially prohibition against attempting to restart or reenergize machines or other equipment that are locked or tagged out. ● All employees who are authorized to lockout machines or equipment and perform the service and maintenance operations need to be trained in recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources in the workplace, the type and magnitude of energy found in the workplace, and the means and methods of isolating and/ or controlling the energy. Specific procedures and limitations relating to tagout systems where they are allowed. Retraining of all employees to maintain proficiency or introduce new or changed control methods. The control of hazardous energy is also addressed in a number of other OSHA standards, including Safety and Health Regulations for Construction; Electrical (1926 Subpart K), Concrete and Masonry Construction (1926 Subpart Q), Electric Power Transmission and Distribution (1926 Subpart V), and General Industry; Electrical (1910 Subpart S), Special Industries (1910 Subpart R), and Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (1910.269). natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232
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Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
sities, but Purdue offered me a scholarship. I got three degrees there – the first in electrical, the second in mechanical and the third in structural engineering. I decided to stay in school after my second degree because I was dating someone special, so I went for a third degree. Then my dad told me I needed to finish being a student!
Ragu Sada Owner G2 Builders
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ou could say that Ragu Sada grew up in the construction industry: His father worked for Turner Construction in Chicago for 45 years. Now, Sada and his wife are raising their daughter in Austin – where he started G2 Builders in 2013. Watching and learning from his father gave Ragu the tools he needed to run a successful construction company with ethics and moral values. Tell me about your early life. I grew up in Chicago in a suburb called Lombard. I am an only child. I went to Glenbard East High School. I played baseball and tennis – and I played flute in the band for three years. I wanted to play the drums but my mom pushed me into flute. It turned out to be a good thing, I believe learning the flute made me more sensitive to design.
Your mom sounds pretty smart! Tell me about your parents. My daddy is my hero. His name is Narayan Sada and he was born in India. He came to work for Turner Construction in Chicago and worked there for 45 years. During that time, he had 11 projects – each one of them lasting an average of 4-5 years. That’s what inspired me to go into construction. My mom, Hema, is an office manager. She is the most loved person in the world! She taught me the value of being energetic and happy. I learned from her the value of bringing a certain energy level to everyone you meet. Up until last year, all four of my grandparents were living. Tell me more about your dad. This business is tough – it’s easy to get discouraged, but man, he never did. He never left. He said, “Turner took a shot on me.” His loyalty and honor withstood everything. In construction, there are so many opportunities for corruption – he never participated in any of that. He never compromised his principles. What did you do after high school? I got accepted at three good univer-
After college, where did you go? Well, I had decided I wanted to go visit Australia for six months before I settled into a job, so I called a couple of companies and looked into a job with them, but they weren’t having any of the taking six months off to go to Australia! (laughs) I called a structural engineering company I had done an internship for and they agreed to letting me have my six months and gave me a signing bonus of $3,200 – that seemed like more money than God to me at that time! When I got back I had $12 and my mom bought me a ticket to St. Louis where the job was. Tell me about that job. It was with Clayco Construction. I feel like it was so necessary – the firm’s reputation is all about ethics and quality. In 1997, I was one the guys who went to start up the firm’s Chicago location. They knew I didn’t like St. Louis. I’d like to think we had moderate success at that venture. What happened next? In 1999, I was sitting in my favorite barbershop (which I still go to by the way and have been for 40 years) and some of my friends from high school, Jimmy and Oscar Garcia, were there as well and we were just doing the guy thing, kind of complaining about our jobs, etc. We decided to start our own company, G2 Builders. We maxed out all of our credit cards to start it up. Where did the name G2 come from? My friends call me “Gu.” Combined with the last name Garcia, it became G2! Tell me about the early years of your company. It took us almost two years to get our first big jobs. In the beginning, we did anything we could. Our volume steadily grew, even though we went through two downturns in 2002 and 2009. We had to let people go. At one point, we decided to not only be a general contractor but to do concrete and masonry as well. We found out that we couldn’t really manage it. We made mistakes but we learned from them. We decided to just be really good builders. We were there between 2005 and 2009. It was great. Our daughter, Ava, was born there. When that slowed down we were trying to decide if we should move back to Chicago.
Ragu and Pam Sada and their adorable daughter, Ava.
Well, somehow you ended up in Austin, right? We visited a lot of cities – Portland, San Diego, Austin, Boston and more. When we visited Austin, we could not believe how mice everyone was and how beautiful it was. We found a beautiful home in Westlake Hills. I was commuting to Chicago every week. I’d leave on Monday morning and come home of Friday. By 2013, I was getting exhausted by the travel and there were so many opportunities in Austin. I sold my shares in Chicago to Jimmy and Oscar and took 100% of the Austin office. We are still the best of friends.
one who wants to follow your path? I would say to 100% really spend the time learning the science of construction. Once you do that, it becomes much easier and enjoyable.
Things are going well for G2 in Texas, right? We went from $3 million to $68 million in two years. G2’s vice president of operations, Paul Maurer, came with me from Chicago. The company has steadily grown even though we’re not making any money yet! We have four projects in the Dallas area, six in the Austin area, three in Houston and we’ve finished a couple in San Antonio. My goal for 2016 is to become really good at construction before any more growth.
What do you do when you are not working? We both have a huge group of friends so we do a lot of things with our friends. We both play tennis and golf, so we play against each other. We spend the majority of our time doting on our daughter! I like to do Yoga and Pam does Pilates. She is definitely the extrovert.
Did you have any mentors along the way that helped you? All the past companies I have worked with have helped me. I can also say that Guy Martin, Martin-Harris Construction, and Victor Suchs, Helix Electric, have been mentors. I reach out to them regularly to get their perspective.
You must have relatives in India. Have you visited there? I still have uncles, aunts and a grandmother in India. Our firm has an office with three employees in India, so I go there once a year. We took Ava there last Thanksgiving. It was great for her to see how different it is. Before we got married, I had to take Pam there to ask permission to marry her – it’s tradition in that culture. –cw
What advice would you give to some-
How did you meet your wife, Pam? Pam was working at a client’s office. She actually asked me out and I said no because our firms were working together and all that. I woke up the next morning and said, “What am I doing?” Who cares about that? We got married one year later! Pam has an MBA from the University of Chicago and works for offers.com. We have one daughter, Ava, who is 9.
Where have you gone on vacation? We’ve been to Disneyland, Portland, Denver.
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Ale to the holidays
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Austin’ Chapter’s Construction Leadership Council (CLC), an Associated General Contractors (AGC) organization, had a holiday networking hour at the Austin Alehouse on Dec. 9. –cw
Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
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look forward to a long working relationship with them and the entire staff at Waypoint Marine. They are a full service marine dealership that services all of the major brand outboards and have an array of new and used boats to choose from. Stop by and see them at 3033 S.P.I.D. in Corpus for all your marine needs. For the past several weeks I have been in a hunting mode, traveling all over South and West Texas hunting and guiding white tail and mule deer hunts. I must say it’s been a good break from the salt life I live on the water. There is something about the South Texas brush country, the mountains in West Texas and the serenity of the Laguna Madre that make my job so enjoyable. I can’t think of anything else that I would enjoy doing.
New changes for a New Year by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, E-Z Bel Construction, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, ForEverlast Hunting and Fishing Products and Columbia Sportswear.
Fishing remains good in the Laguna Madre/Baffin Bay complex. Both trout and redfish are still being caught on live shrimp and lures along the King Ranch shoreline and rocks of Baffin Bay. Best bet this time of year is still wade fishing with artificial lures.
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ell I can’t tell you how excited I am to announce the changes that are in store for the 2016 season for Steve Schultz Outdoors. For those of you that have fished with me in the past five years, you already know that the Majek Xtreme is the boat that got us to and from our fishing spots in comfort and style. I consider the 25-ft. Xtreme the best hull on the water for the everyday guide and recreational angler. One change that most people will notice immediately will be the new Evinrude E-TEC G2 300hp outboard on the back of my 2016 Majek. Evinrude has stepped up their game recently on the introduction of the E-TEC G2 and I have spoken with several guides that have run the outboard, and they are extremely happy with the performance, fuel efficiency and speed not to mention the savings of maintenance. Here is a statement from Evinrude: “The new Evinrude E-TEC G2 isn’t just built to last. It’s built to outlast. Run it right out of the box for 500 hours with no dealer scheduled maintenance.
David Wyatt shows off his 26-inch redfish caught on live shrimp under a popping cork with Steve Schultz Outdoors.
Less time in the shop means lower ownership cost, less hassle and much, much more value over the lifetime of your engine.”
I have already started to fill the calendar for the upcoming 2016 season. Don’t wait until all the good dates are gone! To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.
STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS
Along with the change of the new Evinrude E-TEC G2 will be the new relationship I look forward to being a part of with the staff at Waypoint Marine in Corpus Christi. I’ve known owners Jim and Jared Poole for many years now. I also know many of the pro-staff and guides that they have established relationships with them throughout the years, and really
(361) 813-3716 www.baffinbaycharters.com steveschultzoutdoors@gmail.com U.S. Coast Guard & Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed
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Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
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
Fishing Calendar of Events!
cooler weather. Catching catfish is still steady over baited holes and will come in to chum. The white bass begin to migrate upstream again. Stripers can be slow when it’s still hot because they find our water temperatures in Texas to be excessive. Once the shorter days and cooler nights start to cool off the water, they turn back on and feed like crazy because they don’t feed much in the heat. You will catch a lot of smaller stripers, lots of action. Larger stripers begin their swim upstream.
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he water has finally made it back to our lake and several others! For the first time in years we get to look forward to all the fishing and catching the New Year will bring. Last year we were trying to clean and clear up the scary wild lake bed to protect ourselves from wildfires, rattlesnakes and cactus. This year its all about the fish! Just in case you have forgotten what our lakes have to offer, or are new to the area of a recently returning lake, here is an idea of what you can expect. In the Spring the catfish are loving the cold water. If you want a trophy cat, now is the time. White bass are running up the rivers to spawn again. For several years this hasn’t been possible, but now they are back, and catching them is a lot like eating popcorn. Their big cousins, the stripers, can also be found upriver trying to spawn. Look for crappie to be moving up river in their pre-spawn pattern. Warm, sunny afternoons draw them up into shallow murky water around brush and trees because this water
warms up first. As spring warms into summer, smaller catfish become easier to find in shallow water. White bass begin moving back down the river channel after spawning and all they want to do is chase shad and eat anything they can catch. Stripers are moving back down stream forming big schools of fish that form feeding frenzies that anglers dream of in early to mid
Winter sees all the fish staging for next year, heading upstream to spawn. We get some really nice fishing days mixed in with the winter chill. It’s worth checking out if only to take a break from hunting and get out of the house. summer. Once it gets hot they begin to slip into deeper cooler water, but still like to feed on top on cool mornings. Crappie go back to being their elusive selves once it warms up. I have always thought that is why we consider them so delicious, they can play hard to get. A good crappie guide can still get you on them though. Fall comes in with a mix of blazing leftover summer heat and the promise of
I think we are in for exciting times on the water in these returning lakes. We have lots of new trees and vegetation improving our fisheries now, plus there are plenty of fish out there that haven’t been exposed to human fishing pressure or as long as five years in some places. That means they have had plenty of time to get big and bold. I can’t wait! Let’s Go!
Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Page 9
Submitted to Construction News
Talking turkey
15 to 500 Ton Capacities Paul Marriott, Resfloor Concrete Solutions in Austin, bagged this turkey just in time for Thanksgiving dinner! –cw
Available for your Toughest Projects
Standing three story wall panels in Round Rock. More quality office space.
Submitted to Construction News
Nice start to the holiday
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST! Shawn Young, branch manager for H&E Equipment in Hutto, shot his largest whitetail buck with his Recurve on Dec. 3 in South Texas on the Uno-Mas ranch. He has been hunting on the ranch for 17 years, and the buck scored 157 3/8’s and was 200 punds on the hoof. –cw
Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com
from El Paso to Beaumont Amarillo to Brownsville
36 Years of Service to Texas
www.alamocrane.com
Stucco & EIFS Products • Custom Color Matching Cement, Lath & Trim Products
conveniently located to service Austin and San Antonio 23703 IH-35, #101B Kyle, TX 78640 512.268.5600 www.LonghornStucco.com
San Antonio (210) 344-7370 Austin (512) 282-6866 State Wide (800) 880-0134
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Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Landscaping Austin with a mission
Raba holiday cheer
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hings got a little crazy at Raba Kistner’s Christmas party in the Austin offices. About 90 people attended
between the infrastructure office and the geo/cmt/env group. The event was held at the Golf Club at Star Ranch. –cw
L-R: Juan Villarreal, Bryan Wood, Howard Holland, Bryan Raschke (hidden somewhat) and Russel Lenz goof around at the event.
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hauna Mroski was in construction sales and estimating for 15 years, specializing in erosion control with Matoka and later started the commercial division for Andy Howard Pest Control – it became the number #1 pretreat firm in Austin. This broad based experience gave her the confidence to embark upon starting her own landscaping & irrigation firm, Enviro Touch Properties in Cedar Park. “I began it with small residential projects, never borrowed money, and I remain debt free. I am very proud of that,” Mroski said. Customer service and attention to detail is the strength of Enviro Touch Properties and as a result she was able to build her business through referrals. “I have carefully managed the growth to ensure customer service remains at the highest level,” she says. She handles sales, estimating, daily operations and runs both the residential and commercial crews. The firm has an impressive portfolio of banks, restaurants,
retail centers, office locations and more. Her most current endeavor is a Starbucks and the Shadowview Retail Center in Maynard. She has also added Christmas lighting projects recently – check out the Oasis and Soile restaurants. This single mom has two terrific young ladies (Hanna is 14 and Dakota is 8). Hanna recently took first place FAA’s Central Texas Junior Creed for public speaking. Mroski utilizes her “spare” time as the director of Texas Stem Cell Research, fundraising for clinical trials for children with brain tumors. Hanna and Dakota both participate in her fundraising activities and events for FFA. “I would like our business to continue with carefully managed growth and set an example for giving back. We will always remain focused on our core values of relentless customer service. I love my work and love showing my girls what they can accomplish with hard work and a giving heart,” she concluded. –lh
Submitted to Construction News
Helping Santa
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Austin Chapter collected toys for Blue Santa at the annual Christmas Party Dec. 2. Ono Dec. 9, the toys were delivered to the Austin Fire Department and are guaranteed to make the holiday bright for some lucky kids. –cw
Submitted to Construction News
Neat sales meeting
Rock star! Ken Simonson, chief economist at the Associated General Contractors Association (AGC) in Virginia, took time to be a rock star while visiting in Austin to speak on the construction forecast with the Austin city council. –cw
Equipment Depot held a sales meeting in December at the University of Texas. As an Official Corporate Sponsor, the company is allowed some special privileges here and there. The sales teams from across all of the Southwest Region had a two-day meeting at the university with the BIG "Welcome Equipment Depot" on the Jumbotron all day! –cw Photo by Meg Long
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Convenience achievement
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Office: 512-837-1028 Fax: 512-837-7234 www.csiconcretesupply.com 404 West Powell Lane Suite 201 Austin, Texas 78753
Ron Vorndran, senior project manager for GC R.J. Allen & Associates Inc., is busy on the site of a new CST Corner Store in Austin. –cw
Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
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Construction Forecast Lending small business owners a hand Debra Ruiz, Vice President - Construction Loan Manager Wells Fargo San Antonio, TX
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art of Debra Ruiz’s job at Wells Fargo is to assist the small business owner by working with them on loans to purchase or build a space for their operations. These small business owners are the clients of the construction companies and contractors who build or renovate those spaces. So, we asked her what she sees in the construction loan forecast for small business borrowers in 2016. What does your position as construction loan manager of the SBA Lending Group in San Antonio entail? I manage and oversee an SBA portfolio of close to $40 million in construction-related loan volume. While overseeing this portfolio, I am maintaining excellent customer service to both my internal and external clients of Wells Fargo Bank. I have the entire State of Texas under my management. My specialty is in Small Business Administration, working with various general contractors, architects and the small business borrower on a day-to-day basis. We like to say that we are making dreams come true in the small business world.
ume, all awaiting on their architects’ plans, zoning, replatting, permits, and just construction bids from their selected general contractor. These are already in the closing group and just waiting. This does not account for the new loans being approved [in December], and this is just the one month forecast in January 2016. I forecast we are just going to get busier in the construction industry in 2016. With that said, I foresee an increase in construction material and costs, as this happens every year. With activity in the market and throughout Texas, I would also hope for an increase in overall appraisal values for the small business customer/client.
What do you expect will be the biggest changes to construction lending in 2016? On my desk and what I have seen approved in our Texas market, are more and more ground up construction projects. We have a lot of land in Texas, so building and owning your own building is key. With the year’s end wrapping up and winding down, I already have approximately $20 million in approved loan vol-
Are there any expected shifts in the market that would affect construction loans next year? I have seen historically the overall vacancies rates in existing real estate/condos improve a great deal. I know some of our Texas cities do not have enough inventory to sell, or the real estate seems to be purchased quickly with cash by a seller versus waiting on financing.
Construction Outlook: Sweet (and Sour) ‘16 Ken Simonson, AGC of America
Chief
Economist
Arlington, VA™
T
exas contractors are facing a varied landscape in 2016. Overall, the outlook is favorable, but the slump in oil and gas drilling will be a major drag. The state continues to benefit from one of the highest population growth rates in the nation. That keeps demand high for both single - and multifamily housing, schools, stores and many other categories of construction. The U.S. Census Bureau reported in March, “Two Texas metro areas -- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington -- were the only ones in the country to add more than 100,000 residents over the 2013-2014 period. Within the Houston metro area, Harris County alone gained almost 89,000 people, more than any other county in the nation. The Lone Star State also had four metro areas among the nation's 20 fastest growing by rate of change: Austin-Round Rock (third), Odessa (fourth), Midland (ninth) and Houston (11th).” For 2016, population growth is likely to remain especially strong around Dallas, as three major national firms relocate thousands of employees to new office space there: Toyota and Liberty Mutual in Plano, and State Farm in Richardson. Even in areas of the state where population growth is slowing, there will be a lot of
school construction to accommodate recent inflows of students. The planning for an expanded Panama Canal, currently expected to open sometime in 2016, has already triggered billions of dollars of investment in ports, pipelines and other transportation infrastructure, natural gas liquefaction plants, and storage and distribution facilities. More such investments will occur in the coming year. In contrast, railroads are expected to cut back on construction, after years of investing in new track and yards to serve ports and to haul crude oil from drilling areas without enough pipeline capacity to refineries and terminals. Low natural gas prices may encourage construction of more petrochemical plants and gas-fired power plants. But those same prices will hold down drilling, related service and materials supply businesses, and investment in wind and solar generation—all of which had contributed to construction in Texas in recent years. With the enactment in early December of a five-year federal highway and transit funding bill, Texas and other states will see a slight boost in federal dollars
Do you expect any increases or decreases in business or interest rates? They have been stable. I do not think they will go up. You hear about it from the Fed, but nothing has happened. I think since we are in an election season, that will come down the road. Lenders are being very aggressive and competitive in rates to secure deals. So, it is the time for a small business to request a loan, if they plan to expand, purchase a building or build a new building for their small business.
the paperwork the bank has required. Then, the longer processed loans can take up to six months-plus. Keep in mind, this is based on all of the replatting, zoning and permitting processes involved. The loan approval process is the first step of a long process. The six months estimate is the beginning phase of loan application up to the close date. And the close date is based on when the building permit is issued. So, the overall process is truly up to the borrower and how fast they really want to close their overall project.
What should clients expect when applying for construction loans? With my job role as a construction loan manager-SBA lending, I am working with the borrower on their approved loan to get them to the closing table as well as making sure their selected general contractor has met the bank’s and SBA requirement to minimize the construction risk. The contractors are not applying for the loan, but once I ask for their financials for bank review, they feel like they are applying themselves. The overall goal is to waive the payment and performance bond fee for the small business owner. This is the fee the contractors pass over to the borrower/owner on the contract. My goal is to try to eliminate this fee, to benefit the small business.
What changes have you seen in construction lending, as a market or in terms of business, over the last five years? And what would you like to see change? Projects are getting bigger and busier. As I stated earlier, if the inventory for real estate is scarce, then small businesses are wanting and needing to purchase their own building or building a new one for business expansion. So, it will only get busier. The overall appraisal values have bounced back since the lull we had back in 2008-2009. So again, I have to repeat that it is the time to borrow, especially for the small business. And keep in mind, the small business has to be profitable and not in the red or negative (net losses). I forecast more and more borrowers want to be their own boss, and then be a small business owner themselves versus working for a big corporate company. And I believe the city fees will increase year after year. I would like to see the building permit process throughout the major cities of Texas move a bit faster to benefit the small business owner. Debra Ruiz began her banking career in 1996 and has been working with small businesses since 1999. She has been with Wells Fargo Bank, NA-SBA Lending for 12 years. –mh
What does the process involve and how long does it take? The SBA-Small Business Lending process is not fast. So, that is a very openended question. We have some small leaseholder deals that have historically closed as quick as 10 days or less. But keep in mind, the borrower has to be on spot and proactive on their end in providing
for transportation infrastructure. State funds also will be more abundant for highways and universities. Healthcare spending has picked up nationally in 2015 after lagging ever since the 2008-09 recession. Compared with earlier periods, fewer patients are being admitted overnight to a hospital, and they are staying for fewer days. Consequently, hospitals are building more emergency, diagnostic and treatment rooms, and fewer recovery rooms. A larger share of healthcare construction spending is going into standalone urgent-care facilities, outpatient surgical centers and clinics in stores and shopping centers. These trends appear likely to continue in 2016 in Texas as elsewhere. Construction downshifted in Texas in 2015 while accelerating nationally. From November 2014 to November 2015, U.S. contractors increased their employee count by 4.2%, whereas construction job growth in Texas slowed to 1.6% from a 7.7% growth rate a year earlier. In the latest 12 months, the state tied for 36th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia. For 2016, national construction employment and spending growth should continue, albeit slightly less robustly than in 2015. Texas also will add construction activity, but the growth will vary widely by region and sector, with the totals again falling short of the nation. In the Austin-Round Rock metro area, construction employment grew by 5% from November 2014 to November 2015. That rate outpaced the state and the nation but was less robust than the 8% increase a year earlier. (Data for Austin and most other metro areas includes mining and logging with construction.)
Thanks to population growth, tourism, government and university spending, construction in the capital area should continue to outperform the state as a whole in 2016. In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area, construction employment has plummeted from some of the highest growth in the nation—a gain of 11,500 jobs between November 2013 and November 2014—to among the largest declines—a loss of 2,800 jobs between November 2014 and November 2015. (Because the data actually combine mining and logging with construction, the gains and losses to construction employment alone are probably overstated.) In 2016, Dallas and its immediate suburbs are likely to experience moderate-to-strong construction growth but construction around Fort Worth will be dragged down by oil-industry woes. In the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area, construction employment growth slowed dramatically in the past year, from 16,600 jobs added between November 2013 and November 2014 to 4,000 in the following 12 months. Continuing population growth, expanded school construction and the windup of some office and industrial projects may keep construction from losing jobs overall in 2016, but further expansion is unlikely for the time being. Construction activity expanded sharply in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area in 2015. Construction employment jumped by 10% from November 2014 to November 2015, more than double the national rate or the local rate a continued on Page 13
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Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Holiday spirit
Industry excellence
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he Austin Chapter Associated General Contractors (AGC) annual Holiday Party was Dec. 15 at The Long Center for Performing Arts Kodosky Lounge. Austin AGC teamed up with Capital Area Food Bank and guests brought canned goods to help fight hunger. Everybody had fun, food and great conversation! –cw
Contractor of the Year: Realty Restoration, LLC. L-R: Kayvon Leath executive director NARI Austin; Christopher Davison; Kamie Manders; Laurie Roberson; and David Davison
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he Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards for remodeling projects were announced at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Austin Chapter (NARI) Evening of Excellence event on Nov. 12. Congrats to the winners! –cw Entire House $750,001 to $1,000,000: RisherMartin Fine Homes Entire House Over $1,000,000: Realty Restoration LLC and Twelve Stones Designs Entire House Under $250,000: Don Boozer Construction Inc. Entire House $250,000 to $500,000: Austin Impressions Inc. Landscape Design/ Outdoor Living $60,000 and Over: RisherMartin Fine Homes Residential Addition $100,000 to $250,000: CG&S Design-Build Residential Addition Over $250,000: CG&S Design-Build Residential Bath Under $25,000: Realty Restoration LLC and Twelve Stones Designs Residential Bath $25,000 to $50,000: RRS Design + Build Residential Bath $25,000 to $50,000: Bartush Design LLC Residential Bath $50,001 to $75,000: Realty Restoration LLC and Twelve Stones Designs Residential Bath $75,001 to $100,000: Realty Restoration LLC and Twelve Stones Designs Residential Exterior $100,000 to $200,000: RisherMartin Fine Homes Residential Historical Renovation/ Restoration $250,000 and Over: Avenue B Development LLC Residential Interior Element under $30,000: Austin Impressions Inc.
President’s Award Winner: Jason Crabtree, Premier Partners with Chris Risher, Risher-Martin Homes and 2015 Austin NARI President
Residential Interior Under $75,000: Austin Impressions Inc. Residential Interior $75,000 to $150,000: Clark | Richardson Architects Residential Interior Over $150,000: Texas Construction Company Residential Kitchen Under $30,000: Kitchens By Bell Residential Kitchen $30,000 to $60,000: Bartush Design, LLC Residential Kitchen $30,000 to $60,000: Adams Company Residential Kitchen $60,001 to $100,000: Kitchens By Bell Residential Kitchen $100,001 to $150,000: Realty Restoration LLC and Twelve Stones Designs Residential Kitchen Over $150,000: CG&S Design-Build Residential Detached Structure: RisherMartin Fine Homes Universal Design Project – Bath: Realty Restoration LLC and Twelve Stones Designs Grand Contractor of the Year: Realty Restoration LLC
Spirit Award: Savana Schroeder Beckman, Schroeder Carpets. L-R: Chris Risher, Kayvon Leath and Savana Schroeder Beckman
Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Page 13
Round-Up
Submitted to Construction News
Helping children
year earlier. In 2016, growth is likely to continue but at a more subdued pace. Construction activity was mixed in South Texas in 2015. Year-over-year employment growth had matched or exceeded the national average through early 2015 in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area but stalled beginning in
April. Employment has been nearly flat in the Brownsville-Harlingen area after slipping throughout 2014 and 2015. (Data for these and most other metro areas includes mining and logging with construction.) In 2016, both areas are likely to record small increases in construction.
Association Calendar
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News CTSA
PMI
Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.
Project Management Institute
Jan. 12: Monthly meeting from 5:308pm at Embassy Suites, 5901 N I H 35. Topic: Cyber Security Issues for Subcontractors
Jan. 12: Lunch & Learn at Any Baby Can, 6207 Sheridan Ave from 12-1pm
IEC
Feb. 4-6: RCAT Winter Membership Meeting in Houston. Registration is open at (512) 251-7690.SFPE
Independent Electrical Contractors
Jan. 30: IEC of Texas meeting in Austin
RCAT Roofing Contractors Assn. of TX
NARI
SFPE
Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Jan. 14: 5-7pm, Steve Plevak, regional director of Metrostudy, presents the “Market Outlook For Remodeling in Austin” at the first meeting of 2016. This free event, sponsored by Prosource & Austin NARI, will kick off with a members’ mingle at 5pm and the presentation will begin at 6pm.
Jan. 13: Chapter meeting at San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos. Topic: Fire Safety in Tall Buildings & Performance=based Design Solutions
NAWIC Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Jan. 6: Mix…Mingle…Network! Begins at 5:30pm at Big Daddy’s Burgers & Bar, 9070 Research Blvd. Speed networking event with a photography team on site taking headshots.
TACA TX Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.
Jan. 6-7: Basic and Advanced TACAMP for TACA members with less than five years in the industry or advanced for members with more than five years in the industry. Call 512-451-5100 for more information.
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Submissions
continued from Page 11 — Focus
Round-Up
Austin National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) partnered with Wonders & Worries for the Tour of remodeled Homes. Fifteen percent of tickets sales goes towards the charitable WW organization. L-R: Meredith Cooper, middle, executive director of Wonders & Worries; Dolores Davis, CG&S Design Build Committee Chair for the Tour of Remodeled Homes; Kayvon Leath, right, executive director of Austin NARI –cw
Raba Kistner Consultants Inc. announced that James Dedrick, PE, has accepted the position of manager, Construction Materials Engineering and Testing Services for the Austin office. He brings more than 20 years of experience in engineering consulting, including construction management, geotechnical engineering, and construction materials engineering, testing, and inspection. Dedrick holds a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in Geotechnical Engineering and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Steve Holton has joined Stanley Consultants as a project principal in the company’s Energy Business Unit. Stanley Consultants, a global consulting engineering firm, provides program management, planning, engineering, environmental, and construction services worldwide. Based in the firm’s Austin office, Holton will focus on business development in the energy market. He has an MBA Professional Diploma in Management from the Open University in Milton Keynes, England, and a diploma in Electrical Power Equipment from the City & Guilds of London Institute at East Warwickshire College in Rugby, England.
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
www. constructionnews.net
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Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Addition to division
continued from Page 1 — Buildings are for people as well as a certified MBE (MinorityOwned Business) and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) firm, which Negrete says helps with being involved with bigger projects. “For example, we were the architects on the City of Austin Water Treatment Plant #4 under prime consultant Carollo Engineers,” Negrete says. “That was an approximately $400 million project with $40 million in architectural work.”
The firm also works with Austin ISD, some private clients and public work. Negrete says the majority of the work is from repeat clients, although he’s always on the look out for new opportunities. “Our philosophy is to listen, interpret and define their needs so we can provide them appropriate and durable solutions,” he says. –cw
continued from Page 1 — Multiple disciplinarians
The Cadence McShane team is leading the way at the general contractor’s new San Antonio office L-R: (bottom row) Ron Wood, Lexy Stecker, Surbhi Usrey, Kevin Cummings, (top row) Don Watkins, Srinath Pai Kasturi
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hile celebrating its 30th anniversary, Cadence McShane Construction Company opened its fourth office, breaking into the San Antonio market with a location at 3512 Paesano’s Parkway, Suite 300. The expansion broadens the general contractor’s Central Texas Division, which also includes the Austin office. Srinath Pai Kasturi, vice president and general manager for Central Texas, oversees the San Antonio office, which opened Oct. 1. Kasturi started with the company as an intern in 2001 and joined full-time after graduating from college. He earned his master’s degree in construction management from the University of Oklahoma, and then, he was offered a job at the corporate office in Dallas. After spending 10 years there, starting as a project engineer and working his way up to vice president, he relocated to Austin. “It has been one of my personal objectives to broaden the Central Texas Division to include San Antonio,” says Kasturi. “So, since I moved to Austin in 2012, that’s been one of the things that I’ve always wanted to do, and we were finally able to achieve it as a team here.” Currently, he has five people working in the San Antonio office with all of the administration, including accounting and human resources, supported from either Austin or Dallas during the growth
process. Diverse by design to weather changes in the market, the company’s core market sectors are corporate end user, food and beverage, commercial, industrial and multi-family, which includes student housing, apartments, condos, senior living and assisted living. K-12 and higher education are other big components of their portfolio. Their strategy is to maintain the same mix of core sectors in their newest market, San Antonio. Current projects in San Antonio include Doerr Lane Industrial Park, a 213,864-sf Class A speculative industrial building located in Schertz, and Villas at the Rim, a four-story, 427-unit luxury multi-family project, as well as Vitre, a mixed-use project. The culture inside Cadence McShane’s offices includes encouraging charitable initiatives spearheaded by employees through events such as Canstruction or ideas such as Jeans Fridays, where employees contribute $5 to the charity to be able to wear jeans that day and the company matches up to $1,000. Established in 1985, Cadence McShane Construction Company is a commercial general contractor that also does design build and construction management. Headquartered in Dallas, the company also has offices in Austin and Houston. –mh
physically-challenged families. Company wide, employees donated over $150,000 and volunteered over 10,000 hours of their own time to lend a hand to those in need. “These types of projects exemplify their commitment to the communities where we live and work, that have sup-
ported us and our continued growth,” Schrecengost said. Ranked #66 in Engineering News Record listing of the top 500 engineering firms, Stanley Consultants is a recognized leader in answering the world’s engineering challenges in energy, environmental, water, and transportation. -lh
continued from Page 1 — Highlighting your project Do you have a recently completed project you would be proud to see on our cover? Give me a call or send me an email and let’s get you covered.
Cyndi Wright, Editor Austineditor@constructionnews.net 210-308-5800 (Home office)
Submitted to Construction News
Cheers!
At Bartlett Cocke General Contractors Central Texas office in Austin, employees know how to start the holidays off right! Ugly sweaters and good cheer! –cw
Submitted to Construction News
Want your company in Construction News?
Fore Christmas
Call or Email us! There is no charge for stories or photos.
Austineditor@ConstructionNews.net (210) 308-5800 (Home office)
Lone Star Materials had its 2015 holiday party at Top Golf Austin. –cw
Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Page 15
40 years and honors
A win-win for busy people
Efficient Air Conditioning & Electric employees believe they work in one of the best places in Austin.
L-R: Dan Caine, Megan Hodges, Nick Kennedy and Clynt Taylor invite busy professionals to try a more efficient way of moving around Texas.
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ick Kennedy founded RISE with a laser focus on transforming air travel for frequent travelers. Cofounder Clynt Taylor had been involved in numerous start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures since leaving IBM. Both had traveled extensively, and suffered through the valuable time lost dealing with airport lines and delayed flights. Together they assembled a world-class team and leveraged their skill sets to revolutionize private air travel to make it accessible through membership. RISE (iflyrise.com) is a game changer with no lines, VIP treatment and bringing back dignity to flying. Flying out of Austin, Dallas, Houston, and soon San Antonio, their members spend very little time in airports and they have them flying within minutes of their arrival. The only thing worse than spending hours in traffic is spending hours stuck in lines. RISE airports have free parking and are outfitted with a con-
cierge, Wi-Fi, snacks, a comfortable lobby with bathrooms, charging outlets and much more. “Somewhere in my two million miles of commercial air travel, I determined that I would find a way to make travel better for time starved executives,” Kennedy says. “The solution had to be affordable, accessible and a justifiable expense, not a luxury. It had to be safe and convenient as well as recover what has been lost in commercial air travel – time and dignity. I hope you'll join the RISE community of successful frequent travelers. We created it with you in mind." Reclaiming hours of busy executives lives is critical professionally and personally, and RISE affords them that opportunity. “Monthly membership dues are fixed, no matter how much you fly – five times or 20 times a month. So your CFO will never complain about your travel expenses again,” Kennedy said. –lh
E
fficient Air Conditioning & Electric was founded in 1976 as Comfort Engineering and later became known as Comfort Mechanical, and most recognizably, RM Mechanical. In 2008, owners Molly and George Drazic rebranded the company as Efficient Air Conditioning. In 2014, they added “& Electric” to the name to recognize the company’s growing electrical division. Recently, the company learned that an employee nominated the company to the Austin American Statesman's Top Workplaces Program. “All of the company's employees were asked to complete a third-party survey that asked them about the leadership, ethics and values of the company, and whether they feel they are well-treated and given opportunities for advancement,” says marketing manager Kate Villacis. “Nearly 25,000 other local workers took the same survey, and based on the results, the Statesman published a list of
the top 55 small businesses to work for in Austin. Efficient Air Conditioning & Electric, a first-time participant in the program, was ranked #26.” The company performs mechanical and electrical construction, residential and commercial HVACR and electrical service, and sheet metal fabrication. “They’re willing to give you a chance to prove yourself and see what abilities you have, whereas other companies are all about the numbers,” said service manager Dustin McCauley, who began working for Efficient Air Conditioning & Electric eight years ago as a service technician and advanced into management. George Drazic said teamwork is essential. “We don’t stick to one thing. We all do a number of things, and we all step up and do what we need to do to get through that day, that week, that month and really keep our customers happy,” he says. –lh
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Austin Construction News • Jan 2016
Triad holiday bash
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Apartment department
T
riad Mechanical in Austin celebrated a holiday party for employees and families on Dec. 4. Everybody had a great time! –cw
Neal and Gabriel, with subcontractor MFC Construction, stand in front of the back of a 264-apartment complex going up in Austin. The GC on the project is Oden Hughes, Austin. –cw
L-R: Triad’s owners, Everett Hicks and Marvin Gattis
Construction News ON LOCATION
Solid calling
Jose Hernandez with Rock Solid USA in Kyle gets ready to deliver a load of specialty products to a job site. –cw
The whole group got together for a company photo.
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