Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News March 2016 by Construction News

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Volume 13

Number 3

MARCH 2016

Loads of goodwill

70 years of service

L-R: Bubba Tugs’ Gib Shellenberger and employee Norman Jackson

TDIndustries’ TDPartners will celebrate 70 years where they serve.

n Dec. 26, 2015, a four mile-long EF4 tornado tore through the city of Rowlett. The aftermath devastated the small community; in addition to the human lives tragically lost, residents faced with shock what was left of their homes and businesses, the debris of which was strewn an estimated 300,000 cubic yards. In the weeks that followed, news stations reported on the tornado’s impact on the community. One viewer, Gib Shellenberger, couldn’t help but feel the impact as well. When he learned from a newscast that tornado debris was still piled up in front of homes weeks after the tornado had hit, he jumped into action. He knew his company, Bubba Tugs Corp., which hauls debris from construc-

tion sites, could help. “The people were really distraught over seeing the trash just sitting there from [when the tornado hit],” Shellenberger says. “I just felt sorry for them. I called the CBS 11 news station and asked to speak to the news desk. I told them that I saw the broadcast and what my intentions were, which was to offer some free help out there.” Shellenberger intended to drop off dumpsters for residents to load debris into, but the newscaster informed him that the residents weren’t physically able to load heavier debris. Undeterred, he called friends Johann and Renee Ferguson at Dallas-based junk-removal service continued on Page 18

n 1972, a management philosophy touting leadership via service and the connection between personal growth and organization growth caught the eye of businessman Jack Lowe Sr. But even though the concept inspired Lowe to offer his partners formal training classes in “servant leadership” years later, it actually wasn’t a foreign concept to him. Twenty-six years earlier, when Lowe had opened Texas Distributors Inc., a small air conditioning supply store in Dallas, his servant’s heart was already beginning to beat. By 1952, Lowe had transformed his business from one that simply provided service and appliance sales for HVAC customers into an employeeowned company.

Even when his son Jack Lowe Jr. became CEO and chairman of the board after his dad’s death in 1980 and expanded services into the Houston market, servant leadership continued to be the company’s backbone. When the 1980s banking crisis forced five of the six largest mechanical contractors to fold, “TDPartners” (TD’s employee owners) invested $1.25 million of their own retirement funds to save the company from the same fate. The plan worked – the business was eventually restructured, operations were consolidated, and headquarters were moved to 13850 Diplomat Dr. in Dallas. The TDPartners were fully reimbursed and the company continued to thrive, continued on Page 18

Bathing beauty

n 1930 on White Rock Lake’s shores, a bath house – one of the first examples of Art Deco architecture in the southwest – was built. For the many visitors seeking sweet relief from scorching summers in that lake, the building offered everything needed for fun in the sun: Lockers, changing rooms, concessions – even rentable swimsuits. For more than 20 years, the bath house at 521 E. Lawther offered a sort of “see and be seen” swimming hole for North Texans. However, that all changed when swimming in the lake was discontinued and the bath house was shuttered in 1953. The building sat vacant for 25 years until neighborhood arts activists rallied for its restoration and reopening. In August 1981, the bath house made new waves when it was reintroduced to the public as Dallas’ first neighborhood cultural center. As a visual and performing arts venue, it now houses a 116-seat

black box theater, a White Rock Lake Museum, three gallery spaces and several multipurpose spaces. Thirty-five years later, Dallas’ Bath House Cultural Center needed another renovation. Downstairs, a 4,200-sf former “boating station” promised to be the perfect space for theater productions – except for the gravel floor. General contractor Alpha & Omega Professional Services Group president R. Lamar Brooks, vice presidents Darrell Augustus and Estavion Trotter and project manager Tyron Whiteside were delighted to install a new concrete floor and become part of the Bath House Cultural Center’s history. “The whole project was designed around the vision that Bath House manager Marty Van Kleeck had,” Augustus explains. “She wanted to create that area into useable space as opposed to what it The show can go on, thanks to Dallas’ Bath House Cultural Center’s new concrete floor and drain system.

continued on Page 18

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Full speed ahead into new era

L-R: Dana Calonge and Leslye Hernandez are well familiar with the construction industry in Texas. Drop them a line or give a call to 210-308-5800 to find out how they can help you and your business.

s Construction News continues to cover the construction industry in Texas in our five printed newspapers, the company is also launching some exciting new opportunities in digital, social media and other projects. With the addition to the staff of Leslye Hernandez, marketing director, and Dana Calonge, account manager, Construction News is well equipped to launch into this new era of digital mobility. “Reesa and I are very excited that Leslye and Dana have joined our Construction News family,” says Buddy Doebbler, publisher and owner. “So much will happen this year with our papers, social media reach and new digital products. Having the two of them out in front leading the charge will assure we will go to the next level.” Leslye Hernandez leslye@constructionnews.net Leslye grew up outside of Washington D.C., in Fairfax, VA., where her father was a pilot for the Air Force and her mother worked at the Pentagon. Because of the military connection, Leslye spent her childhood moving from school to school. “I was never in the same school for more than a year,” she says. “It forced me to reinvent myself on a regular basis to make new friends. Thus, I’m in marketing!” Leslye has worked with and around construction for many years, which led to her moving into marketing. “I became familiar with construction many years ago when I was responsible for building out hundreds of stores at Opryland and the Opryland Hotel in Nashville as the merchandising director,” she explains. In 1992, she was recruited by Play By Play, a large international toy company, located in San Antonio and fulfilled a long-time goal. “I was absolutely ecstatic because it was in San Antonio,” she said. “I had visited and fallen in love with San Antonio and said if I ever had an opportunity to live there, I would like to settle there. I have been all over the world and San Antonio has not disappointed!” After leaving Play By Play, Leslye opened her own ad agency, Odyssey Graphix. “I had the pleasure of marketing a wide variety of firms from restaurants to construction and published several magazines,” she says. “I have always been drawn to the construction industry due to the wonderful folks involved in the business. “Having read Construction News for years, and its coverage of the people,

companies and projects, I was thrilled to be invited to join the team,” Leslye says. “As the digital age has evolved, publishers are moving to digital delivery of content and I look forward to participating in that growth for Construction News as we expand our social media footprint, add digital delivery of our papers and launch an e-newsletter mid-year.” She is married to Juan Hernandez and has two daughters and a son. She started at Construction News in October 2015. Dana Calonge dana@constructionnews.net You could say that Dana has been in the construction arena in San Antonio for her entire career – starting with Alterman Electrical Contractors as a vocational education student while still in her senior year at Alamo Heights High School. Dana also grew up in an Air Force family. Her father worked at the Pentagon and the family was stationed there just prior to moving to San Antonio and Kelly Air Force Base when Dana was a junior in high school. After graduation, Dana stayed on with Alterman for 30 years, moving from her original position as a receptionist to the position she retired from as senior project manager. While attending UTSA, she met and married her husband, Dick, and the two were married in 1985 and have one son. After retiring from Alterman, Dana says she spent about one-and-a-half years accomplishing a lot around the house, getting to have breakfast with her son again, and ultimately deciding it was time to have conversations with adult people and not her dog. At that point, she joined Vision Construction as the company’s business development director and stayed for about three years. A chance meeting between Leslye and Dana, who had known each other through the San Antonio NAWIC Chapter, at Alterman’s annual Christmas party led to a lunch date. Leslye’s enthusiasm for the direction Construction News is taking got Dana’s attention. “I met Buddy when I was on my very first project for Alterman,” Dana said. “When he and Reesa started the San Antonio paper in 1998, I thought it was a great idea because it gave so many people and companies a chance to be seen. “With more than 30 years in the construction industry, I want to use my extensive experience and network base in Texas to help grow Construction News in all five of our markets.” –cw

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Page 3

Power (wash) to the post office

In memoriam

teven Charles Welch, 52, founder and president of Woodwright Hardwood Floor Co. Inc. in Dallas, passed away Jan. 26, 2016 in Aquilla, TX from complications from cancer. Welch was involved in notable projects, including George W. Bush Presidential Library, Kimbell Art Museum, Tobin Center for Performing Arts and Winspear Opera House. Survivors include wife Lorie and children Ransom and Copeland. A funeral was held Feb. 5 at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Steve Welch Memorial Fund, c/o Plains Capitol Bank, 2010 N. Hampton Rd., DeSoto, TX 75115. –mjm

Fort Worth U.S. Postal Service Office pre-power washing …

ince opening on George Washington’s birthday in 1933, the downtown Fort Worth United States Postal Service Office has been a faithful receptacle for the community’s bills, birthday cards, love letters and more. Sadly though, the Cordova limestone on the beaux arts/classical revival structure had become stained and dingy over time. Once a star on the National Register, the post office found itself on Historic Fort Worth Inc.’s “Most Endangered Places” list in 2014. The community considered renovating it into a city hall or even closing and selling it. Those with a soft spot for the building, though, fought to keep it as a post office. When the call came for contractors to bid on a cleaning of the building’s exterior, general contractor K-W Construction Inc. won, but with a catch:

The project’s 45-day schedule started the day the bid was awarded. Besides a tight deadline, the team had to consider that the post office, with its four separate entrances, would stay open for business during the power washing. Also, large postal trucks with scheduled deliveries would limit when workers could use a lift to access the building. But just like the unofficial U.S. Postal Service motto goes: Neither deadlines nor deliveries nor business hours nor gloom of working odd hours stays these workers from the swift completion of their appointed project. “We worked around the mail; you don’t stop the mail!” K-W Construction Inc. president Elaine Thomas says. In other words, they delivered. – mjm

…and after.

Dallas  Fort Worth

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Melissa Jones-Meyer . . . . . Dallas/Fort Worth Editor DFWeditor@ConstructionNews.net 817-731-4823 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyndi Wright Admin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lacie Cortez Production Manager . . . . . . . . . Sue Johnson Marketing Director . . . . . . Leslye Hernandez Account Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Dana Calonge 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 Dallas, Tarrant, Collin or Denton counties and are not receiving a free copy of the Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News, call for a Requester Form, or visit our website. ©2016 Construction News, Ltd.

The Dallas  Fort Worth Construction News (ISSN 1547-7657) is published monthly by Construction News Ltd., dba Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction related companies in the Dallas/ Fort Worth metropolitan area. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space-available basis. Construction News, Ltd., dba Dallas  Fort Worth 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.

aymond L. Critchfield, 52, passed away Jan. 31, 2016. Critchfield served as a safety manager for Satterfield & Pontikes Construction for almost five years and as safety director of Environmental and Health Services for TEXO ABC/AGC for nearly seven years. Critchfield is survived by daughter Amber Schneider (Aaron), daughters Cayden and Rayn Critchfield, a granddaughter, two sisters and his mother. Memorial services were held Feb. 12 in the J Bar C Cowboy Church of Palmer. –mjm

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

of Dallas for the electrical inspector. When I was in my teens and early 20s, my dad owned his own electrical business, MODECO, which stands for “My Own Damn Electrical Company!” I love it! Did you work for your dad? I worked for him a couple of times. It wasn’t fun. He did residential projects, and I was the one who got stuck crawling under the houses and in the attics. Not my idea of a good time!

Samentha Tiller President DMI Technologies, Inc. Fort Worth

hen Samentha Tiller left a struggling company and 47 co-workers resigned too so they could work for her, it spoke volumes about their confidence in her. Tiller has worked hard not to let them down. For more than a decade, the former farm girl has put her work ethic to the test as she has built DMI Technologies from the ground up. As her staff has doubled and her locations have tripled, she has learned to let go and trust others – and that there is always time in a work week to enjoy grandchildren and pets. Tell me a bit about your childhood. I was born in Dallas, but we lived in East Texas in Hawkins. I grew up on a farm until I was about 10 and we moved to Pleasant Grove. How was farm life as a kid? [Laughing] It was just like it sounds! We had horses, chickens and pigs. When I was growing up, we ate what we grew or what my father killed, and my mom went to the store and bought coffee, flour, sugar and cornmeal – the basics. Early on, I was in charge of the chickens, and as I got older, I would help feed the cows and horses and slop the pigs. I helped my mom in the garden a bunch, but I don’t really have a green thumb, I have a black thumb! I was a tomboy growing up – football, baseball, tag, climbing trees, jumping off of roofs. I had an older brother and sister and a younger brother. It was trying, but it was fun. Why did you move away from the farm and out to Pleasant Grove? My dad, Bill Tiller, was an electrician, and he actually went to work for the city

Did that turn you off to that part of the construction industry? Not really, but it wasn’t my goal in life. After graduation from H.G. Spruce, I worked in auto parts as an assistant manager. After I had my daughter, I went to work as an admin for a low voltage company and then I moved into project management. I switched jobs and went to national projects. When my daughter turned 13 I needed to be home more, so I took a job as a local project manager so I would be there for her. How did you grow your knowledge in the industry? I got my knowledge from being an admin and just grew my knowledge from there. I ended up going to school and getting my project management professional certification (PMP) and that helped me on national rollouts. When I was a senior communications manager at the last company I worked for, everyone in the department reported to me. What motivated you to start your own business? The company I was at was having financial issues, so I started looking around, trying to figure out what I was going to do. A couple of people wanted to hire me, but one person suggested I open my own company. I had thought about it but I didn’t think that financially I was prepared for that. So when I had my “angel backer,” it worked out well because I didn’t have to come up with a lot of cash up front. When I gave my notice to the company in 2005, everyone else quit and said they were coming with me. I told them that I didn’t even know if I was going to have work! They said, “We don’t care. We’re going with you.” From Day 1, I had 47 employees – and no customers. Wow. No pressure there! What was the first thing that you did? I started calling all of my [former] customers, asking, ”Can I get your business? Can I do stuff for you? Can I have the opportunity to bid stuff?” Why do you think the other employees quit and followed you, even when

Submitted to Construction News

Filling out the Form

Dallas’ iconic architecture set the scene for the Dallas Center for Architecture (DCFA) Form Follows Fitness 5K presented by Blackson Brick Co. on Feb. 20. The race, hosted at Klyde Warren Park and now in its fifth year, was sold out. HKS was earned the “fastest team” prize, Kimley-Horn nabbed the “largest team award” and the “best dressed team” trophy went to GSR Adrande Architects. –mjm

Work and family keep Samentha Tiller very busy – and nothing makes her happier.

you had no prospects? I guess it’s because I try to be fair and even across the board. I don’t treat anyone different, I treat everybody the same. I wouldn’t have it any other way for my employees. What was the first year like? Stressful, very stressful. When I did get a project or a few projects and I didn’t have all of the people I needed, I had temps. And I wanted to make sure the projects were done right, so I was taking on a lot of that ownership and I wouldn’t delegate it to the project manager. I wanted to make sure it was done and done correctly. It was a lot of hours. There were days when I went in at 6 a.m., worked in the office until 2 or 3 p.m., went out to a job site and worked until midnight or 1 a.m., and then did it all the next day for several days. But you do what you have to do. What lessons did it teach you? That I have to let go; I can’t do it all. I’m that person that says, “Give it to me and I’ll do it.” Now I realize I can’t do everything; my arms won’t fit around it all. I realize that I have to have the right people in the right places to trust and depend on them. It’s harder than you think! Do you still struggle with letting go? Not as much, I’m much better now. I have a great group of people in place who are really good at what they do and I don’t have to stress near as much. I have approximately 90 employees and it’s easier to have this 90 than the 47 employees I had in the beginning because people are in the right place. I’m not trying to manage 90 people, I’m trying to manage three: The office manager, the sales manager and the admin manager. I let them do their jobs and try not to manage their jobs for them. Now that you simplified your work life, tell me about your home life and family. I’m married to Bart Wuemling; we’ve been together for more than 20 years. We have our daughter, Samentha Renay, who is about to be 30. I have two awesome grandkids: My 10-year-old granddaughter Emma, whom we call “M&M,” and my grandson Derek, whom we call “Peanut;” he will be six in April. I do everything I can do with my grandkids. I have them every Sunday and then I try to keep them as much as I can overnight. Once a year, we try to go somewhere with them like Galveston or Disney World, and we always have season passes to Six Flags. We try to go to the beach and take the grandkids and throw the hooks out for the fish, and we catch crabs off the dock. My favorite thing to do is read; I read everything. I read self-help books, presidential biographies, historical romance, sci-fi, mystery – as long as I can pick up a book and it keeps me entertained, I’ll read it. My husband and I travel; we go to Mexico at least once a year, and we’ve

been to Belize, but I really want to go to Europe. My husband likes to go hunting and fishing and stay in a tent, but that’s not my idea of a vacation! Growing up on a farm kind of turned me off [to roughing it]. I don’t want to go stay at a fishing camp or on a lake. I want to stay at a fivestar where they have a bar and a restaurant and a masseuse! My daughter complains all of the time that I don’t take her camping, but I don’t like to camp. I do like to fish though. You are also heavily involved in construction-related associations. I joined the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) to meet like-minded women in the industry. I’ve made some wonderful friends and have gotten some business through NAWIC, but that’s not why I joined. I wanted to promote women in construction. I’m able to give back to the community, be around and have mentors in those women and I mentor some of those women as well. I’m also a member of the Dallas chapter of PMP, am involved with Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and I help out with Girls, Inc. of Tarrant County. Sounds like a nice life you have there! It’s a nice life. I work, I do NAWIC and whatever else I need to do. Then, I go home and I’m with my three mutts, my husband, my grandkids and my daughter. What do you hope the future holds for you? Personally, my goal is just to spend time with my grandkids and my husband when I’m not working or doing something for the community. I hope in the long run that DMI is around for a while. I know that there are going to be a lot of ups and downs, but it is what it is. I have some great people in place, and as long as they can continue to think outside of the box, accept the new technology and move forward with the future, I think DMI will be sustainable and can be here for a long time. Will you retire, or will you run DMI as long as you are able? We have a process in place where we have employees take over ownership. However, just because I sell my ownership doesn’t mean I won’t be around here! Right now, I’m not looking forward to retirement any time soon. I can’t sit at home. Somehow, someway, I will still be involved. Because, as you say, it’s hard to let go, isn’t it? [Laughs] It’s very hard to let go, you are correct! DMI Technologies is a womanowned, HUB-Certified low-voltage contractor specializing in audio/video and voice data installations as well as being a licensed security installer for video surveillance and access control. In addition to the Fort Worth corporate office, DMI has satellite offices in Austin, TX and Grand Junction, CO. – mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Page 5

Touchdown!

ome of roofing’s most valuable players were honored at the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association’s 16th annual Awards Banquet held Feb. 6 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. The event kicked off with cocktails and carried it to the end zone with dinner, dancing, raffles and a casino night. Golden Hammer Awards recognizing outstanding 2015 roofing projects, the Industry Leader Award and the Industry Associate of the Year Award were also presented. The evening’s extra point went to the guests who showed up ready to play in their Sunday Night Football best. –mjm

Outstanding Residential Roofing Project: Guinnup Residence Buzz Roofing and Construction Outstanding Residential Roofing: Schmaltz Residence Roofing Giant

Outstanding Commercial Roofing Project: SMU Owens Arts Center Castro Roofing

Outstanding Residential Project: Granger Residence Showtime Exteriors

Outstanding Commercial Roofing Project: Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Supreme Roofing

NTRCA Industry Leader of the Year Award: Judy Smith, Lon Smith Roofing

Outstanding Green Roofing Project: LEED High Efficiency Home with Metal Roofing, Trim and Siding, Scott Exteriors

Outstanding Commercial Roofing Project: AT&T Stadium Logo KPost Roofing & Waterproofing

Left: NTRCA Associate of the Year Award: John Gibson, C-CAP

Outstanding Community Service Project: Sunshine Village Supreme Roofing

Outstanding Community Service Project: CBS11 Consumer Justice for Sharon Thompson Residence Brettco Roofing

2016 NTRCA Board of Directors announced: (Front row,L-R) Owens Corning’s Bo Jackson, MHBT’s Mike Buttrey, Cutler-Smith’s Karen Ensley, Brettco Roofing’s Holly Green, Titan Contractors’ Gina Beakley, GAF’s JoAnn Moreno, ER Systems’ Nick Febo, Pitts Roofing Company’s Dan Pitts, Southern Shingles’ Bryan Pinder; (Middle row, L-R) Venture Roofing Supply’s Chad Lacefield, Zenith Roofing’s Charles Cross, Matt Hines of MRB Contractors, Supreme Roofing’s Craig Rainey, Springtree Roofing and Restoration’s AJ Huckaby, Mike Huddleston Roofing Systems’ Mike Huddleston, Trinity Roofing and Construction’s Paul Duncan; (back row) NTRCA’s Kelly Kirkendoll and Karen Vermaire Fox, West End Roofing’s Darcy Dierking, NTRCA’s Ronnie Crowley and ABC Supply’s Matt Moody (not pictured: Renown Construction Inc.’s Adam Buttorf and RJ Reynolds & Co Roofing, Waterproofing and Sheetmetal’s Matt Skipper

Submitted to Construction News

Helping hands

The Texas Division of McCarthy Building Companies Inc. recently partnered with the non-profit organization Thirst No More to aid recent Rowlett tornado victims. On Jan. 22 and 23, the McCarthy team and their equipment demolished five homes and separated debris into construction materials and household items. Their efforts saved each family up to $40,000 in demolition costs, which is money that can help the victims start over and build their new homes. –mjm Photo credit McCarthy Building Cos.

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Business is a game! Play to win! Part 3: Know your cash flow needs

Individual Health Insurance Mandate and what it means to you

Carrie D. Bradshaw, Shareholder Brown, Graham & Company P.C. Georgetown, TX

Cindy Brenke, Risk Advisor IBTX Risk Services San Antonio, TX

n part one, we discussed the importance of knowing your score to be able to win the game. In part two, we discussed evaluating your costs and how to use break even analysis to improve your score. This month, we will discuss how to use cash flow projections to fund your next winning season! There are basically two methods of recording revenue and expenses: Cash Basis: The practice of recording revenue when the related cash is collected and expenses when the check is written. The disadvantage is you do not know your profit. Accrual Basis: The practice of recording revenue when it is earned and expenses when incurred. The disadvantage is you do not know your monthly cash flow. We will need these two concepts to coexist for this exercise. Projecting your cash needs involves the following steps: Step one: You will need your income statement (on an accrual basis). Using the income statement, calculate the percentage of sales for each expense category. For example, if sales are $100,000 and small tools expense is $2,000, the percentage of small tools expense percentage is 2%. Step two: On a separate piece of paper (or preferably in a spreadsheet if you are comfortable) create a column for each month of the year. Take your best guess and pencil in your anticipated monthly sales for the next year. Step three: Forecast your monthly expenses by using the average percentages calculated in step one, based on the projected sales you estimated in step two. If your small tools are 2% of sales, in each monthly column you will multiply 2% times the monthly sales to populate the individual monthly small tools expense. Step four: Convert this monthly accrual projection to a cash basis. You do this by evaluating when you believe each job will pay according to the anticipated contract schedule. Then determine the monthly payments to be made for job related costs such as subcontractors, materials, and other variable supplies. Step five: Next estimate your monthly payments for general and administrative costs which is relatively predictable based on historical trends. Step six: Calculate your cash surplus or shortfall. Begin with the expected monthly cash receipts from customers

and deduct cash payments for expenses. This is the amount of cash flows provided by your operations. Next deduct anticipated purchases of long lived assets or repayments on debt and dividends to be paid to owners. Step seven: Repeat this process for each month of the year and calculate the cumulative effect to determine your cash balance for the year. If you have a cash surplus, you are winning. If you have a cash shortfall, you need to start planning. Identify the month(s) with a cash shortfall. You will need to determine what method you will implement to cover the shortfall. The traditional options are: 1. Deposit personal funds into the company, 2. Borrow from the bank, 3. Borrow from your vendors by delaying the payment of their invoices. You may have the opportunity to fund shortfalls by squeezing cash from your balance sheet. To accomplish this consider the following: 1. Collecting accounts receivables faster by giving net/15 discounts (or simply printing a due date on the invoice), 2. Implementing a just-in-time inventory system, 3. Evaluating if you have short term debt that can be refinanced into long term debt, 4. Paying vendors early to take advantage of their discounts. If your business is in a growth phase, this tool is critical. You can use this to anticipate the cash that will be needed to fund the growth. Many small businesses “grow broke” because they do not have a way to anticipate the cash needs to fund the start up costs related to growth. This concept also applies to an upcoming large job. By forecasting and proactively managing your cash, you can develop the strategy to coach your team to greater success! Carrie D. Bradshaw, CPA and CCIFP with over 20 years of construction contractor coaching experience, is the Managing Shareholder of the Brown, Graham & Company, P.C.’s Georgetown office. You can contact Carrie at cbradshaw@bgc-cpa.com or call 512-930-4090.

eginning in 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care required most individuals to maintain health insurance coverage or potentially to pay a penalty for noncompliance. Specifically, most individuals are required to maintain minimum essential coverage (MEC) for themselves and their dependents. MEC is a term defined in the ACA and its implementing regulations and includes most private and public coverage (e.g., employer-sponsored coverage, individual coverage, Medicare, and Medicaid, among others). Some individuals are exempt from the mandate and the penalty, and others may receive financial assistance to help them pay for the cost of health insurance coverage and the costs associated with using health care services. Individuals who do not maintain MEC and are not exempt from the mandate have to pay a penalty for each month of noncompliance with the mandate. If you did not purchase MEC beginning Jan. 1, 2014 you faced a penalty of the greater of 1% of adjusted household income or $95 per adult plus $47.50 per child. In 2015, you will have to pay the greater of 2% or adjusted household income of $325 per adult plus $162.50 per child. Thereafter, the penalty will be the greater of 2.5% of adjusted household income or $695 per adult plus $347.50 per child. The penalty is assessed through the federal tax filing process. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can attempt to collect any owed penalties by reducing the amount of an individual’s tax refund; however, individuals who fail to pay the penalty will not be subject to any criminal prosecution or penalty for such failure. The Secretary of the Treasury cannot file notice of lien or file a levy on any property for a taxpayer who does not pay the penalty. Certain individuals are exempt from the individual mandate and the penalty. For example, individual’s with qualifying religious exemptions and those whose

household income is below the filing threshold for federal income taxes are not subject to the penalty. The ACA allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to grant hardship exemptions from the penalty to anyone determined to have suffered a hardship with respect to the capability to obtain coverage. Effective for the 2015 filing year, employers, insurers and government programs which provide minimum essential coverage to any individual must present a 1094/1095 to the IRS and a statement to the covered individual that includes information about the individual’s health insurance coverage to prove compliance with the federal mandate. Recognized in the industry for her indepth employee benefits knowledge and insight, Cindy Brenke is excellent at sharing her more than 14 years of experience with all levels of employees. She is Texas Group 1 Life and Health licensed. She is a graduate from Michigan State University and now resides in Boerne, TX. with her family.

List makers

Halff Associates celebrates its first year on The Dallas Morning News’ “Top 100 Places to Work” list.

everal North Texas constructionrelated companies recently found themselves on a “nice” list: The Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 Places to Work. While it’s nice to land on the list, it’s especially nice to be nominated, since anyone (even a non-employee) who is a fan of a business’ culture can put that company’s name in for consideration. Workplace Dynamics then contacts each company to distribute surveys; at least 35% of the employees must complete surveys for the company to be considered. For the 2015 list, 81,344 employees at 319 participating companies filled out surveys so that their workplace might be included in the “Top 100.” Although no construction companies were listed in the “Large Size” category, several “Midsize Companies” were honored. Milestone Electric & Air in Garland nabbed the fifth spot. Richardson-based Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors (a six-time winner) came in ninth. It was the fourth time for

Texas Excavation Safety System Inc. in Dallas to be on the list – the company grabbed the 11th slot this year. Coming in at No. 22 was Dallas-based insurance consultant and broker MHBT, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company. Richardson engineering and architecture company Halff Associates celebrated its first year on the list at number 26, as did Baker Brothers Plumbing & Air, which came in at a close 28th place. Employeeowned construction company McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. enjoyed its fourth time on the list, rounding out the mid-size category at No. 32. To prove that good construction comes in small packages, smaller-sized companies were lauded as well. Taking the top spot was Scott + Reid General Contractors, making it the company’s fourth time on the list. Two-time winner Frontline Source Group Inc. in Dallas, which offers engineering staffing, came in at No. 5. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

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The FLSA and coming changes: How will they affect you?

What are the dangers of power tools?

Christa Boyd-Nafstad, Esq. The Cromeens Law Firm Houston, TX

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

he Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) is a federal statute, regulated by the Department of Labor (“DOL”,) which covers minimum wage and overtime pay for most employees. All non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay at a rate of time and one-half their regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours a week. Whether an employee is exempt or non-exempt depends on: (1) how much they are paid, (2) how they are paid, and (3) the kind of work they do. In July 2016, the current threshold for non-exempt salaried employees will more than double. Under the current regulations, a salaried employee will automatically be non-exempt if that employee makes under $23,600 a year, and is exempt under the “highly compensated employee” exception if they make over $100,000. The DOL is changing these amounts to $50,440 and $122,148, respectively. The changes also include a mechanism that automatically adjusts these figures going forward based on inflation and costs of living. Hourly employees are always nonexempt. Salaried employees making less than $23,600 ($55,440 as of July) are always non-exempt. For salaried employees making more than the minimum threshold, their status depends on if they fall into one of the so-called “white collar exemptions.” Whether an employee falls into a “white collar exemption” depends on the duties they perform, and not on their job title. For this reason this is often referred to as the duties test. There are three kinds of exemptions: executive, professional, and administrative. The exemption that comes up most often in construction is the executive exemption. An employee is considered exempt as an “executive” if management is the “primary duty” of their job. The exempt executive must regularly supervise two or more employees. However, “mere supervision” is not enough. The manager/ executive must be responsible for, or have genuine input into the decisionmaking process regarding hiring, firing, interviewing, promoting, selecting and training employees. They should also determine work techniques, plan the work, and apportion the work among employees. In the construction industry this issue comes up most often in the case of the foreman. Despite the fact that construction workers are almost always non-exempt (meaning entitled to overtime pay), one exception to this is the Construction Foreman. The distinction turns on whether the foreman is purely supervisory or if he is a “Working Foreman.” The foreman, if purely supervisory, is

likely exempt under the executive exemption. Of course, if the foreman is paid hourly, or his salary is less than $50,440 (as of July), then he is entitled to overtime pay, even if he is purely supervisory. However, if the forman is salary and meets the minimum salary amount, then the question becomes whether he is an exempt supervisor or a non-exempt Working Foreman. A Working Forman works side-byside with other construction workers while also performing administrative tasks. A Working Foreman does manual labor and works with their tools for the majority of the day, and also manages other employees and fills out necessary paperwork. The Working Forman is entitled to overtime pay regardless of whether they are hourly or salary, and even if they meet the minimum salary of $50,440 a year ($970 per week). For a salaried foreman to be exempt under the executive exception, he must not devote more than 20% of his working hours to activities not associated with directing other employees. It is important to note that the duty to keep records classifying which employees are exempt or non-exempt falls squarely on the employer. Because of this, employers should begin preparing for the coming changes; evaluating their current exempt positions and determining whether to raise their salary to the new minimum or re-classify them as non-exempt. In addition, the DOL is expected to modify the requirements concerning the duties employees must perform in order to be considered exempt. These changes are expected to have significant impact and go into place in 2016. For information on the FLSA or any employment matters, please contact me at cboyd@ thecromeenslawfirm.com.

ppropriate personal protective equipment such as safety goggles and gloves must be worn to protect against hazards that may be encountered while using hand tools. Workplace floors shall be kept as clean and dry as possible to prevent accidental slips with or around dangerous hand tools. Power tools must be fitted with guards and safety switches; they are extremely hazardous when used improperly. The types of power tools are determined by their power source: electric, pneumatic, liquid fuel, hydraulic, and powder-actuated. To prevent hazards associated with the use of power tools, workers should observe the following general precautions: • Never carry a tool by the cord or hose. • Never yank the cord or the hose to disconnect it from the receptacle. • Keep cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges. • Disconnect tools when not using them, before servicing and cleaning them, and when changing accessories such as blades, bits, and cutters. • Keep all people not involved with the work at a safe distance from the work area. • Secure work with clamps or a vise, freeing both hands to operate the tool. • Avoid accidental starting. Do not hold fingers on the switch button while carrying a plugged-in tool. • Maintain tools with care; keep them sharp and clean for best performance. • Follow instructions in the user’s

manual for lubricating and changing accessories. • Be sure to keep good footing and maintain good balance when operating power tools. • Wear proper apparel for the task. Loose clothing, ties, or jewelry can become caught in moving parts. • Remove all damaged portable electric tools from use and tag them: “Do Not Use.” Guards The exposed moving parts of power tools need to be safeguarded. Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, flywheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating, or moving parts of equipment must be guarded. Machine guards, as appropriate, must be provided to protect the operator and others from the following: • Point of operation. • In-running nip points. • Rotating parts. • Flying chips and sparks. Safety guards must never be removed when a tool is being used. Portable circular saws having a blade greater than 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) in diameter must be equipped at all times with guards. An upper guard must cover the entire blade of the saw. A retractable lower guard must cover the teeth of the saw, except where it makes contact with the work material. The lower guard must automatically return to the covering position when the tool is withdrawn from the work material. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Playing hearts

ove was just a game for some poker, roulette, black jack and craps players on Feb. 12. The North Texas chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) hosted a pre-

Valentine’s Day Casino Night at Irving’s Westin hotel. With a DJ, dancing, an open bar, photo booth, nibbles, casino games of all kinds and raffle prizes, what wasn’t there to love? –mjm

We have a winner!

The event was all that and a stack of chips.

Submitted to Construction News

They have heart!

In honor of National Wear Red Day, employees at Marek’s Dallas office wore red clothes and red ribbons to recognize the fight against heart disease. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

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cold, windy, cloudy, sunny, etc.? Try to predict what your day is going to be like and look back to find a similar day in your logs. Don’t be like most routine fishermen who go to the same spots over and over because they caught a good fish with their grandpa when they were a kid.

Spring Fishing Forecast by Capt. Steve Schultz

Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, Evinrude Outboards, E-Z Bel Construction, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, ForEverlast Hunting and Fishing Products MirrOlure, and Columbia Sportswear.

ey folks, here we are already in March and the weather already feels like summer. We have been having days in late February where temperatures are reaching the upper 80’s, and sometimes touching 90 degrees. Fishing season is upon us early this year so don’t hesitate in planning your summer outings. For the next few months we will spend many days walking countless miles wading the shallow waters of the Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay in search of one of the most sought after trophies that roam

Mark Walters (Left) and Chris Huey (ForEverlast Prostaff) had a successful day on the water wading with Capt. Steve Schultz on Baffin Bay last week.

the inshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Most anglers know that wintertime is when speckled trout are at their peak weight. A 30” trout caught in the middle of the summer may only weigh 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 lbs.; where as that same fish may be 9-1/2 to 10 lbs. in the winter. These heavier trout make your catch that much more gratifying. One of the most important tools to have before you venture out for your day on the water is something that can’t be pur-

Purple trees in Texas?

f you are out driving around in Texas and you see purple painted tree trunks and fence posts – it doesn’t mean that someone who loves the color purple (me, for example) lives there. In fact, purple paint on trees and posts mean the same as a prominently displayed “No Trespassing” sign. Purple was chosen due to the fact that even people who are color blind will see it. The law was added in 1997 to the Texas Penal Code regarding Criminal Trespass and was created to allow Texas landowners an alternative to posting “No Trespassing” and “Posted” signs that would give the same legal weight, but without the cost of signs or having to frequently replace them. Section 30.05 of the Texas Penal Code, dealing with criminal trespass, says that: (paraphrased) ‘A person commits an offense if he…enters property of another without consent…and that he had notice that the entry was forbidden.’ One of the code’s definition of notice is the placement of identifying purple

paint marks on trees or posts on the property and that those marks are: vertical lines at least 8 inches long and 1 inch wide, placed between 3- 5 ft. from the ground, and that their placement is in a location that is easily visible to a person approaching the property, and that the markings be no more than 100 feet apart on wooded land or 1,000 feet apart on open land. The rule was created in September 1997 and amusingly had an original requirement that landowners also post a sign on the property explaining that the purple markings meant no trespassing. That requirement for posting a sign expired one year later, in September 1998. Placing purple markings around your property – as per the Texas code above – to give notice and mark boundaries, does have the same legal weight as a “Posted” or “No Trespassing” sign; unfortunately, few people know what the markings mean. But, now, you are not one of those! –cw

chased. A GAME PLAN must always be one of the first things you should have before you leave the dock. If you’ve kept logs in the past like most serious anglers do, review them. Think back to previous years or outings that were successful. What lures did you throw and which ones did you have the most success with. What were the weather conditions like,

Now that you have arrived to your predesignated fishing spot, your next decision should be which lure to throw. My suggestion to most of my clients is to throw a lure you have confidence in. I always start out with a lure that has been a producer for me in the past. If I have a group of customers, I always try to mix it up. I start everyone off with a different lure. This helps me determine what the fish are wanting on that given day. After we have established what the fish want we can all go to the same type of lure. Don’t get caught up in some new item that came in a fancy package and costs a small fortune or a lure that your buddy gave you and said these are what I catch all my fish on. Remember one thing when your walking down the aisles at Bass Pro Shops or Academy, fishing lures are packaged to catch the eye of the fisherman rather that the fish. I have already started to fill the calendar for the upcoming 2016 season. Don’t wait till 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.

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 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

Kids Love Fishing!

’ve been in the fishing business almost all my life and nothing is as much fun as taking kids fishing. I don’t know what it is about kids and fish that makes something magical happen. Part of the allure I’m sure is getting to go fishing with the grownups. It is a little rite of passage. It doesn’t matter if they go with mom and dad or grandma and grandpa, every kid loves to see and learn new things at the side of their favorite people. Nothing makes them feel more special than for you to share something you love doing with them because they understand that it is a gift. If you are jerking a perch out from under a sun drenched dock, crappie from the riverbank, largemouth from a stock tank or catfish from a Kid Fish even at the coliseum, it is that tug on the other end of the line that is just magical. Fishing is entertaining because it gives us immediate, continuous feedback. Fishing beats video games because you can always find a way to cheat or manipulate your way to achieving a goal in a game, but not in fishing. Right quick the fish let you know they don’t care a thing about messing with you because they are largely in charge of the situation. If they feel like biting, you don’t know when or where or how they’ll do it. No telling whether they will try to sneak off with your bait or hit it so hard they knock it out of the water and just keep on chasing it. Most of all, who knows what you are going to catch and how big it’s going to be! And maybe the fish will just turn loose and leave you wondering what just happened…. Nope you can’t just reset the level on that and try it again! Then there is the fact that fish are just so darn fascinating in the ickiest way. When it comes time to clean the fish you catch most kids are awestruck. First thing, a soft little finger tip has to just see what one

of those googly fish eyes feels like. Next comes the anatomy of a fish lesson. Fish guts are just amazing when you are a kid. They are smelly, not too bloody and so many different colors and purposes. I never met a kid who could pass up a chance to just watch fish being dressed. If you go ahead then and wet another hook and line under the fish cleaning station and get to catching what is lurking there for a quick lunch it just gets more interesting! Fish are just fun. You can watch them in an aquarium with calm fascination, catch a serious case of the giggles over a dare to touch one, or just put a hand full of minnows down your sister’s shirt and run like the dickens. And don’t think girls can’t get into fishing just like boys do because they can and will often out fish you. One bunch of little kids comes to mind. When it came to be picture time to show off their catch at the trip’s end, they all preferred holding their catch

like favorite teddy bears embraced by both arms and hugged up tight with big happy grins! II bet Mom was thrilled with that load of laundry! Spring break – kids – you know what to do.

Submitted to Construction News

Shoot, that was fun! The Southwest Lath & Plaster crew enjoyed their annual hunt at Flying P Outdoors. Although the group didn’t score the number of birds they did last year, their time at the Hico, TX hunting preserve was “all the same fun,” says SLP’s Keith Frazier, with “the absolute best cooked food in south Texas.” –mjm

L-R: Southwest Lath & Plaster’s Cody Schultz, James Cummings, Sawyer Sams, Keith Frazier, Brice Komatsu, Bart Matthews, DeWayne Taylor, Brandon Colquitt and Derek Steinmeyer

L-R: James Cummings, Keith Frazier and Derek Steinmeyer

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

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Reinventing the wheel

The Hūmster Wheel will spin you right round.

Submitted to Construction News

Great Scot!

L-R: Hunting guide Lucas and Master Construction & Engineering Inc.’s Don Weempe show off a red deer from Weempe’s hunt in Scotland. –mjm

ant to see something wheel-y awesome? Behold the “Hūmster Wheel,” the latest just-for-fun project dreamed up by the Archways and Ceilings Made Easy (ACME) team. Sized for humans, the wheel is made to scale using a computer numerical control (CNC). Outfitted with medium density fiberboard arches, heavy-duty casters, fake turf and screws, the wheel can simultaneously hold up to several people and bear the weight of more than 350 pounds. The creation works just as a normal hamster wheel would: People walk or run as the wheel spins, making it a unique workout option. “The Hūmster Wheel is completely crazy and ridiculous,” Wesley Scott, head of sales, says. “When our team asks for fitness equipment for the new year, this is how we respond. Nothing will get you in better shape than 10 minutes on the wheel.” The ACME team spent three weeks designing the wheel, which allowed each team member to contribute input before the design was built. It took two to three

days to manufacture the pieces and then one day to assemble it. The project was a delightful detour for the staff of craftspeople. Although the woodworkers put their creativity to use in their work, sometimes it’s nice to think outside the arch. The last project the team tackled was a pumpkin made from their product. “We are always looking for new ways to get our product out there, so we scrapped the traditional methods of advertising and decided to have fun,” he says. “What better way to show our potential customers that we can create anything?” “We love to have fun, and what better way to break up the rigorous work day with this fun build!” Scott adds. “From conception to completion, I don’t think our team stopped smiling and laughing! This fun little project brought us all closer together and you can’t put a value on that.” Grand Prairie-based Archways and Ceilings manufactures low-cost framing kits for archways, ceilings and wall designs. –mjm

The ACME team used fiberboard arches, casters, turf, screws and creativity to reinvent the hamster wheel for humans.

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News â&#x20AC;˘ Mar 2016

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Page 13

2016 TEXO Board

2016 AIA Fellows announced

n Feb. 12, the American Institute of Architects announced the newest members of its prestigious College of Fellows. Only about 3200 of AIA’s more than 88,000 members hold this distinction.

EXO, The Construction Association, announced its 2016 Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The Executive Board consists of SEDALCO’s Russ Garrison (chair), The Beck Group’s Jeff Forbes (chair-elect), Polk Mechnical Company’s Fran McCann (vice-chair), Cadence McShane Construction Co. LLC’s Will Hodges (secretary/treasurer), Potter Structure’s Lee Smith (immediate past chair) and TEXO, The Construction Association’s president/CEO Meloni McDaniel. The board of directors are BakerTriangle’s Johnny Barnes, Wilks Masonry Corp.’s Mike Blackburn, Balfour Beatty Construction’s Charles DeVoe, ValleyCrest Landscape Development’s Matt Fisher, Lee Lewis Construction’s Bob Fullington, Gallagher Construction Services’ Lisa Gallagher-Ellrich, Lane Gorman Trubitt PLLC’s Brad Gross, Brandt’s Melissa Howard, Rogers-O’Brien Construction’s Cary Hughes, Humphrey & Associates’ Randy Humphrey, McCarthy Building Companies’ Joe Jouvenal, Peckar & Abramson PC’s Tim Matheny, Chamberlin Roofing and Waterproofing’s David Neal, Willis of Texas Inc.’s Luke Nolan, Hill & Wilkinson Construction Group’s Mike Oswald, JE Dunn Construction’s Chris Paris, Manhattan Construction Company’s Mark Penny, Climatec LLC’s Alex Radovan, Alliance Glazing Technologies Inc.’s Mike Smith, Walker Engineering’s Scott Walker, MEDCO Construction LLC’s David Williams, Andres Construction Services’ Chandler Brooks (YCC Chair) and Construction Education Foundation’s Jane Hanna. –mjm

Turf war

Congratulations to the 149 individuals elevated to Fellowship this year. Eleven Texas Society of Architects members were recognized and four of those are in Dallas. –mjm Photos and bios courtesy of AIA

Fredrick Perpall, FAIA, The Beck Group – AIA Dallas As CEO of The Beck Group, Fredrick Perpall, FAIA, has transformed the 103-year-old company by focusing on the importance of design and the role of the architect in an integrated process. He established Beck’s first regional architecture practice and led design teams for clients such as Duke University, General Services Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has also harnessed the leadership skills honed in practice to improve communities through civic leadership and mentoring of at-risk youth in roles such as public advocate and member of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, founding board member of Impact Dallas Capital, and board member of the Atlanta Center for Creative Inquiry. Jeffrey Stouffer, FAIA, HKS – AIA Dallas Jeffrey Stouffer, FAIA, a principal at HKS, has transformed the pediatric health facility design process – and his firm – through the integration of lean project delivery principals that add value by eliminating waste and fostering innovation. He has changed the way care delivery is supported architecturally by involving families in the design process and integrating evidence-based design principals to reduce stress and improve safety, sustainability, and patient satisfaction, all while lowering operational costs for hospitals. He has also implemented these processes at HKS to improve operational outcomes firmwide in project delivery, business functions and human resource integration. Stouffer has received more than 20 awards for his pediatric and academic projects, including the Seattle Children’s Hospital Expansion. R. Craig Williams, FAIA, Esq. – AIA Dallas As both an attorney and architect, Craig Williams, FAIA, Esq., works tirelessly against strong odds to equalize risk appropriately and to defend architects nationally with sound legal advice. The Managing Uncertainties and Expectations in Building Design and Construction research study, conducted and published by Dodge, which helped establish guidelines for the standard of care of the architectural profession in a reasonable and fair metric, was his brainchild, and he actively participated as legal advisor on the project. Williams is chief legal officer for HKS and active on the AIA Dallas professional liability committee and Large Firm Round Table. He also founded The Jefferson Society, which assists attorneys who are also architects in dealing with the changing legal environment.

L-R: CMC Rebar’s Mike Trull, Jim Hollis and SEDALCO’s Jeremy Hogan and Dave Ritz

t moments, it all came down to a swing and a player as 250 golfers competed for top prize at the TopGolf Tournament in The Colony. Hosted by the American Subcontractors Association’s North Texas chapter and TEXO, the Construction Association on Feb. 11, the event divided up the players into foursomes so that they could battle it out on the putting turf. –mjm Early Round: 1st Place (Total: 542): Southwest Construction Services’ Brandon Stewart, Steve Moriarty, Russell Childress and Ryon Pittsinger 2nd Place (Total: 502): TDIndustries’ Tim Edwards and Terri Covert and Balfour Beatty’s Karl Joeris and James Nelson 3rd Place (Total: 434): Skiles Group’s Clay Harrison and Dwayne Hodges, Methodist Healthcare Systems’ Jeff

Schroder and Perkins & Will’s Mark Roan Late Round: 1st Place (Total: 602): Manhattan Construction Group’s Logan Sligar, Thomas Price and Justin Wade and MAREK’s Colton Hinson. 2nd Place (Total: 590): The Brandt Companies’ Eric Spaeth, Greg Dusckas, Robert Hedrick and Michael Kimmell 3rd Place (Total: 505): Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing’s Justin Holiman, Andrew Malis, Heath Lenert and Daniel Dodd Overall Long Drive Winner: Michael Knapp, Skiles Group Early Long Drive Winner: David Petty, Wright Construction Late Long Drive Winner: Logan Capps, Beck Group EyeSite Booth Drawing: Alex Villegas, Manhattan Construction

Submitted to Construction News

Feeding the love

Members of the National Association of Women in Construction’s Fort Worth chapter were feeling – and feeding! – the love with their spouses at a pre-Valentine’s Day progressive dinner, held Feb. 6 at Kent & Co., Cane Rosso and Avoca Coffee. –mjm

Thomas Wurtz, FAIA – AIA Dallas During his almost 30 years of public service, Thomas Wurtz, FAIA, has been the guiding force for the development of some of the City of Dallas’ most significant projects, including the Convention Center Expansion, Convention Center Omni Headquarters Hotel, and the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. His collaborative leadership and ability to craft business deal points with clarity and purpose, and that address and satisfy all stakeholder needs, has united public and private sectors to create outstanding built environments that have been recognized nationally for their functional, aesthetic, and sustainable designs.

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Morning glory

t’s never too early to recognize great construction companies and their work! The Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA) hosted an early-morning 9th annual Pillar Awards Breakfast and State of the RHCA on Feb. 19 at Omni Dallas Hotel. The event began with a 7 a.m. Chairman’s Power Breakfast, followed by a presentation of awards in four categories: Project of the Year, General Contractor of the Year, Subcontractor of the Year and Public Entity of the Year. –mjm

Subcontractor of the Year: NOW Specialties Inc.

Project of the Year: Parkland Sky Bridges, Parkland Health and Hospital System Azteca-Russell (Joint Venture)

Public Entity of the Year: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

General Contractor of the Year: Turner

Ignacio Moreno of Nacho’s Painting Contractors LLC was nominated for an individual award.

L-R: RHCA president John Martinez –D. and RHCA Board Chairman Ben Muro of Acme Brick address the guests.

Engineering, environmental services and surveying firm Arredondo, Zepeda & Brunz LLC enjoy the pre-awards Chairman’s Power Breakfast.

PAC-ing ‘em in

.S. Representatives and Senators greeted the construction crowd Feb. 18. Nearly 70 members of the American Subcontractors Association’s (ASA) North Texas chapter filled Irving’s

La Cima Club for a PAC fundraiser hosted by the association. The event offered ASA members an opportunity to meet their legislature and hear their plans to address issues facing the industry. –mjm

Haley-Greer’s Letitia Barker and Representative Giovanni Capriglione

L-R: Texas AirSystems’ Rusty Vaughn, Walker Engineering’s Mike McAdams, PCL Contract Bonding Agency’s Melissa Lesch, Senator Don Huffines, and Striland Construction’s Gina and Traci Strieker

L-R: TDIndustries’ Richard N. Cofer, ASA’s Beverly Reynal and Texas AirSystem’s Rusty Vaughn

(Far right) Representative Ron Simmons makes the first comments of the evening as other representatives and senators wait to speak.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Page 15

Construction Education Many changes in construction education Joe Horlen, Department Head, Department of Construction Science

Texas A&M University College Station, TX

n 2009, Construction News visited with Joe Horlen about construction education at Texas A&M University. We talked to Mr. Horlen again this year to find out what changes have taken place since then. What has changed in your department concerning student recruitment? The change has largely been the number of students recruited from high schools vs junior colleges. In 2009, our largest percentage were students coming into Texas A&M straight from high school (50 percent), with roughly 25 percent coming from junior college. That’s flip-flopped. Now, we have roughly 50 percent coming from junior college and 25-30 percent coming from high school. The number of students coming into our program due to a change in major has stayed about the same – 25 percent. That’s true of many majors – A&M overall is taking more students from junior colleges. There has been a slight increase in the number of veterans coming in. We are quite veteran friendly. They make really good students, but it’s not a significant total of the student body. What has changed concerning scholarship availability and student numbers? The change there is we’ve increased the number of scholarships and the dollar amount. In 2009, we had 150 students receiving scholarships totaling about $250,000. Now, we have 250 students getting scholarships totaling more than $450,000. In 2009, we had roughly 600 students in our undergrad program – now we have somewhere around 1,050. We have grown fairly significantly. What has driven that change? I attribute it to the word starting to get out about the Bachelor of Science in Construction Science degree being a good career path. It is similar to the construction management degree, which is what some schools call it. One of our biggest challenges was making students aware of this. Five years ago we hired a recruiter who is working with junior colleges and high schools. We are actually turning away a high-

NEXT MONTH April 2016

Women in Construction

er number of applicants now. The number of applicants has really grown. What are your recruitment goals? We still need to work on and continue to improve our recruiting and getting the word out there and continue growing that way, but we’ve obviously turned the corner. It’s still a struggle. There is something like 2,500 high schools in Texas, so you could work all day and never get to them all. We’ve starting making inroads there and we are seeing results. There is still lots of ground we could cover and there is still opportunity, especially to expand the percentage of women in our program. Currently, we run to 10-15 percent women students in our department, at the college as a whole, it’s 50 percent. We would like to see our percentage of women increase over the next five years and that’s one of our plans that we are just now implementing. The percentage of women is still the same as when we were 600 students - we’d like to be double where we are in 5 years. I’m hopeful. The industry is very interested in women. We have experienced success in recruiting minority students, especially Hispanics, which now make up about 30 percent of our student body. We have worked hard with several high schools and junior colleges that have high populations of minorities. I am hopeful we can continue that trend as we work to expand our number of women in the program. What is causing the low numbers of women coming into the program? Historically, it has been a male domi-

nated industry and there’s still that perception out there. In all honesty, I think the industry is not a 40-hour work week and it’s not an 8-5 job for the most part. I think that impacts some segments of the population more than others. We have the impetus to make it known that it is a good professional career for many people.

What kind of salaries do these graduates find? Last year the average starting salary was around $60,000. It’s continually improved. There was a period right after our interview in 2009 where the salaries kind of slowed down, but it improved. It’s still one of the highest starting salaries for undergraduates on campus.

What is the strategy for getting a variety of people interested in this field as a career? The key is getting them interested in early high school and junior high school. For the most part, students who will be high school seniors apply in the summer before their senior year to college. They already have a good idea of where they want to go and what they want to do. That even applies to some juniors. So you better get to them when they are freshmen and sophomores. We are even trying to get into some junior high schools.

What is one of the biggest changes in your department? From what I’ve seen and heard, the change we’ve seen has been the fact that most students in our program used to come from a construction background, for example, their families were in the construction business. That’s no longer true. Some are, but the vast majority is looking for a good career and they found out about working in the construction field. It’s a little different type of student, that doesn’t have that background, but they are very bright and capable and with the internship and summer jobs they can get caught up very quickly.

You still require students to take a one-semester internship, right? Yes, and the number of interns has grown, as well. The number of companies hiring our interns has increased to about 500, up from roughly 300 in 2009. There are about 175 companies that take our interns on a consistent basis. Do those internships turn into jobs for the students after graduation? Yes. In 2009, about 50 percent of our graduates went to work full time for the companies they interned with. That’s jumped to about 2/3. Out of the roughly 85 percent who get a job offer from the company they interned with, 2/3 take the job. That’s the word we try to get out to these companies - if you want to hire our grads, you better hire our interns. That’s the best route to getting our students and then keeping them. We still have 100 percent of our graduates finding full time employment as soon as they graduate – that has not changed.

What is the future for students thinking about going into your program? The good news is the industry is dong well. We are having a job fair this week (early February) and we estimate we will have 170 companies there, which is the largest department job fair at Texas A&M. Demand is high right now, even with the downturn in the oil and gas industry. Typically, about 10 percent of our graduates go into the oil and gas sector. The other markets in Texas are doing well as it relates to hiring our graduates. The Austin market has grown a lot for us. Of the four major cities, typically the largest number of graduates go to Houston, then Dallas/Ft. Worth, then San Antonio, then Austin. Now there seems to be a three-way tie for second place between DFW, San Antonio and Austin. It may all be equal by this spring! –cw

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Construction Education Education resources available and varied Tommy Campbell, Vice President of Operations MYCON General Contractors Dallas, TX

ow has employee training impacted employee performance and/or productivity for your organization? MYCON is focused on creating a great learning environment. While we hire qualified personnel for both our field and home office operations, we believe that ongoing training helps each individual achieve a greater level of productivity and performance. We believe in building and sharing a comprehensive knowledge base through our in-house training and our jobsite experiences. The greater each person is exposed to diverse construction challenges and solutions, the better his or her performance on-site and job growth. Of course, technology has been a game changer. Years ago, on my first jobsite, we had one computer that eight people shared and that provided our labor cost reports. Today, you have iPads, iPhones, laptops, mobile apps, and we are so well-connected to real-time information that our projects rely on these tools to help us track our budgets, change orders, and progress with great speed and accuracy. What training is your company focusing on now? We are developing MYCON University. We have many MYCON professionals who are passionate about their work and have developed quality performance ini-

tiatives that can be shared and replicated across the company. The idea is to provide an exchange of our company knowledge of complex construction projects that will benefit our project managers, superintendents, project engineers and project coordinators. We are building a curriculum and implementation plan, which will enable us to conduct 80 percent of our training in-house. This kind of proprietary training will not only distinguish us as a general contractor but also enable us to control training costs. What areas of education need to be improved to better serve the industry? So much of the training currently focuses on the technical side. But with our clients and projects, behavioral training comes into play. I’ve been in the construction industry for more than 28 years, and throughout my career, some of the best training I’ve received was behavioral-based. People don’t often think about behavioral training when they put their programs together but the results can be profound. For example, one of the best books for learning how to talk with your customers is called Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking when Stakes are High. Learning how to talk to a variety of clients in a wide range of situations is an invaluable educational experience. There’s another challenge in our in-

Hands-on training works Arash Rahmatian, Ph.D, P.Eng, Assistant Professor University of Houston (Downtown), Engineering Technology Department, Structural Analysis and Design Program Houston, TX

ow have construction/engineering education and training changed over the years? The projected percent change in employment from 2014 to 2024 is 8 percent while the average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The reason is the variety in the construction and civil engineering industry that makes this field more prominent amongst other engineering fields. The promising future of civil engineering is potential and tractability with other fields such as materials, chemistry, electronic, computer and mechanics that already lead to civionics specialty. As we focus more on the construction industry, we determine more emphasis on optimizations: cost, weight,

energy, size, durability, and sustainability. Application of computer and software on the other side has boosted this industry one step ahead of traditional construction. Most of the education has been guided toward knowledge and research over new materials and utilizing, validating more laboratory tests. How important is “hands on” training? The latest research shows that students who build using the hands-on experiment had "a deeper understanding" of the concepts than the students who had lecture-based lessons. I believe building a concrete cylinder by following its correct steps in the lab makes memorizing the ratio of water to the cement or

dustry today, and that is time management. Our clients are expecting us to perform faster and leaner than ever before. This puts a lot of extra stress on our teams. The demands on our time have also exploded with so many channels of communication from emails, texting, meetings and social media. Using training from Effective Edge, for example, enables our project teams to understand how to manage incoming data and emails with a specific plan that allows you to carve out time for yourself. The general idea is to learn how to do it, defer it, or delegate it which keeps you from handling data multiple times and allows you to handle just once, eliminating a lot of wasted time. What are ways to attract young people to the industry? The millennials are a learning generation. If the information is relevant and the intrinsic value is understood, then young people will embrace this training. Even field personnel who have been with us for decades will respond favorably if you have the relevant information. There’s a payoff, too, if you position these seasoned personnel to become trainers for the younger team members. That cross-generational training experience is a plus for the whole company. What opportunities for construction education are available at area high schools and universities? There are many good programs statewide because our industry is going strong. In North Texas, for example, the Dallas Independent School District offers pathways in construction, welding, business management and information technology, which are important pathways for the construction industry. Texas State Technical College in Waco has a two-year program in Building Construction Technology. They also focus on workforce

readiness as an educational outcome. I plan to be there at the career fair in March to recruit. Of course, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, OU and OSU have developed excellent programs and are top choices for recruitment. Are scholarships available for construction education? I have served on TEXO’s Research and Education Foundation. The TEXO Foundation raises money throughout the year through the support of TEXO members and many of these funds are earmarked for Region V universities and students. For young people who are interested in a career in our industry, ACE-DFW funds a scholarship program for students who choose a post-high school course of study leading to a career in the building industry. This program has awarded scholarships worth more than $100,000. The AGC Education and Research Foundation has awarded more than $8 million in scholarships to more than 3,000 students enrolled in the ABET or ACCE-accredited construction management or construction-related engineering programs. And the good news is that women are moving into our industry and moving up the ranks with support from organizations such as the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) that offers more than $25,000 in scholarships. I can’t think of any time in my career that has been as exciting as younger generations help to develop and embrace new construction technologies and find their own career paths and opportunities that our industry offers. Established in 1987, MYCON General Contractors Inc. offers design-build services, BIM, Lean construction, LEED/sustainable construction, construction management and professional project supervision. –mjm

total volume of aggregates or volume of any supplementary material much easier than looking at a collection of numbers. In any aspect, civil engineering is more tangible than other engineering fields, which makes it more attractive.

What are some of the areas of study? Asset integrity monitoring with application of sensor, image processing, pre-cast tilt up walls, light weight concrete, acoustic concrete and fire resistance remediation.

What opportunities for construction/ engineering education are available at the University of Houston-Downtown? In the engineering department, the faculty tries to involve students more in practical experiments, real industrial challenges and solutions, and innovative projects through building a real sample. Here at UHD we spend more time with students in smaller size teams which lead to higher productivity and results. New concrete lab and equipment and continuous link to American Concrete Institute (ACI) helps to keep our students updated in the latest concrete and material technology. Application of sensor in the construction industry, which is a new knowledge and image processing via 3D camera, is taught to the students and our annual workshop in structural health monitoring (SHM), which is very unique in this field and strengthens our department level of knowledge and abilities.

What are ways to attract young people to the construction/engineering industry? I had the chance to teach to the gifted-talented students last semester about civil engineering. For the first day, instead of talking or showing videos, I took them to the concrete lab and asked them to make their own concrete sample and cast it in an ashtray form of maple leaf. Then they decorated it with marble. On the second day, I asked them to measure difference in the level of the building and then they worked with analysis software demo. At last, unanimously, they found civil engineering as their desired future job with certainty. It means that hands on training always works for any level of audience. We just have to design our plan to be comprehensive and smart. –ab

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Page 17

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ASA North Texas American Subcontractors Association

Mar. 2-6: ASA National Convention, Miami Mar. 24: Lunch meeting, Las Colinas Country Club

ASCE - Dallas

Toyota Headquarters, 6781 Headquarters Dr., Gate 3, Building 3, Plano, 1pm. Mar. 12: Sign Making, High Value Signs, 8409 Sterling St., Suite B, Irving, TX, 10am. Lunch following at Main Street Bistro & Bakery, 316 S. Main St., Grapevine, noon Mar. 21: Dinner meeting, MCM Elegante, 2330 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, 5pm

American Society of Civil Engineers

Mar. 9: 2016 Charity Golf Tournament, Cowboys Golf Club, 1600 Fairway Dr., Grapevine, 8am Mar. 14: Branch meeting, 11am

ASCE - Fort Worth American Society of Civil Engineers

Mar. 9: 2016 Charity Golf Tournament, Cowboys Golf Club, 1600 Fairway Dr., Grapevine, 8am

ASSE – Southwest American Society of Safety Engineers

Mar. 14: Chapter meeting, Boy Scouts National Office, 1325 W. Walnut Hill Ln., Irving

CFMA Construction Financial Mgmt Assn.

Mar. 17: Construction Financial Professional of the Year Awards, Hackberry Country Club, 1901 W. Royal Ln., Irving, 5:30pm

CSI – Dallas Construction Specifications Institute

Mar. 10: Chapter meeting, Addison Conference Center, 5:30pm

CSI – Fort Worth Construction Specifications Institute

Mar. 8: Chapter meeting, Pappa’s Burgers

DACA Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Assn.

Mar. 23: Membership meeting, Courtyard Marriott TownePlace Suites Dallas DFW Airport, 2200 Bass Pro Dr., Grapevine, 11:30am

ICRI - NT Int’l Concrete Repair Institute

Mar. 16-18: ICRI 2016 Spring Convention, The Condado Plaza Hilton, San Puerto Rico

IEC - Fort Worth/Tarrant County Independent Electrical Contractors

Mar. 24: Annual meeting and dinner, Joe T. Garcia’s – La Puertita, 2201 North Commerce St., Fort Worth, 7pm

NARI Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Mar. 8: Meeting, DeVance AV Design, 2833 Trinity Square Dr. #173, Carrollton, 6pm

NAWIC - Dallas Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Mar. 6-12: WIC Week Mar: 6: Dress For Success, Honey of a Deal, 1106 S. Elm St., Carrollton, 5pm Mar. 9: Tool Demonstration and lunch, Hilti, 7250 Dallas Pkwy, Suite 1000, Plano, 11:45 Mar. 10: CPR Training, Austin Commercial,

NAWIC - Fort Worth Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Mar. 6-12: WIC Week Mar. 6: WIC Week Kickoff Urban Adventure Quest, Tarrant County Courthouse, 100 W. Weatherford St., Fort Worth, 1:30 pm. Mar. 7: WIC Week Blood Drive with Carter BloodCare and BBQ Lunch, Accutex Electric LLC, 2930 SE Loop 820, Fort Worth, 10:30am. Mar. 10: Building Hope Fundraising Event, Diamond Oaks Country Club, 5821 Diamond Oaks Dr. N, Fort Worth, 6:30pm Mar. 17: Business/dinner meeting, Diamond Oaks Country Club, 5821 Diamond Oaks Dr. N, Fort Worth, 5:30pm

NTRCA N. Tx Roofing Contractors Assn.

Mar. 9: Meeting, International Bowling Museum Arlington, 621 Six Flags Dr., Arlington, 11:30am

NUCA Nat’l Utility Contractors Assn.

Mar. 10-12: NUCA National Convention, El Conquistador Resort & Conference Center, Puerto Rico

PDCA Painting & Decorating Contractors of Amer.

Mar. 9-12: PDCA National Expo, New Orleans LA

PMI – Dallas Project Management Institute

Mar. 10: Meeting, Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Dr., Farmers Branch, 6:30pm

PMI – Fort Worth Project Management Institute

Mar. 17: DFW Marriott South, 4151 Centreport Dr., Fort Worth, 6pm

RHCA Regional Hispanic Contractors Assn.

Mar. 31: 2016 RHCA Board Elections & Membership Luncheon, Goodwill Industries of Dallas, Inc. 3020 N. Westmoreland Road, 2nd Level, Dallas, 11:30am. Contact yolanda@regionalhca. org for details.

TEXO

Round-Up BakerTriangle announced the promotion of Charles “Charlie” Armbruster to vice president of operations for the Dallas Baker Drywall office. Armbruster previously served as field superintendent for the company for 15 years. Joeris General Contractors announces the hiring of Jim Graham as the director of preconstruction services in the firm’s Dallas/ Fort Worth office. Graham will be an integral part of the office’s growth and will be responsible for overseeing the office’s estimating department and preconstruction services. Hill & Wilkinson announces the following promotions in its Richardson office: Mike Oswald has been promoted to chief operating officer. In his new role, Oswald will focus on the management of field operations for all of the company’s divisions. Oswald began his career at Hill & Wilkinson 12 years ago, serving as group manager, senior project manager, project manager and most recently as executive vice president of manufacturing. Oswald graduated summa cum laude from Northern Michigan University and serves on TEXO’s board of directors. Kirk Woltman was named the new head of the firm’s manufacturing division. As vice president of manufacturing, Woltman oversees the operations of all manufacturing projects from conception through completion and serves as liaison to the owner. Woltman, who has worked at Hill & Wilkinson for 21 years, most recently served the company as group manager for aviation and food and beverage.

The Construction Association

Mar. 31: Crawfish Boil, Silver Lake Marina at Lake Grapevine, 2500 Fairway Drive #1, Grapevine, 5pm. Cost is $20 (TEXO members only).

UMCA United Masonry Contractors Assn.

Mar. 17: Top Golf, Flower Mound

Howard Holland PE has been promoted to vice president of Raba Kistner Infrastructure Inc. Holland will manage the operations of RKI’s Dallas and Bedford offices. Prior to joining RKI, Holland worked for the Texas Department of Transportation for 24 years, serving in numerous positions, including district engineer in Amarillo before retiring as the director of the maintenance division in Austin. Holland is a graduate of Texas A&M Unversity.

Submissions Email with “Round-Up” in the subject line (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month, for the next month’s issue to: DFWeditor@constructionnews.net

JQ has announced the following: Barry K. Krieger, PE MLE was promoted to principal in the firm’s Dallas office. Krieger. Krieger brings his experience with structural engineering projects ranging from industrial buildings to airports to healthcare to the role. Krieger earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Northeastern University and holds licenses in several states. Christopher Baker, PE LEED AP has been promoted to associate in the firm’s Dallas office. In his 10-year career in structural engineering, Baker has worked on projects ranging from municipal to K-12 and higher education. Baker holds a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and an Associates degree in applied science in drafting and design. Jessica Simon, PE LEED AP has been promoted to associate in JQ’s Dallas office. Simon brings experience in higher education, municipal, federal and commercial to her role. Simon holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, both from Texas A&M University. Ovi Sipos, PE LEED AP has been promoted to associate. Sipos brings more than 15 years of experience in civil engineering design, and has extensive experience in roadway construction, drainage analysis and design and water and wastewater distribution systems design. Sipos holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Transilvania University and a Master of Science in GIS from the University of Texas at Dallas. Ronald R. Ishmael, PE LEED AP has been promoted to associate in the firm’s Fort Worth office. Ismael has worked for JQ since 2007 and has nearly a decade of experience in both new construction and repair/ retrofit of existing buildings. Ishmael is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. KPost Roofing & Waterproofing in Dallas welcomed Shane Mullinix to the company’s business development team. For the past 15 years, Mullinix has held new business and account management positions in the real estate and construction industry representing corporate clients throughout the country. He spent three years specializing in the oil and gas industry while at a design build general contractor and most recently served as director of new business with Saratoga Roofing & Construction in Texas and New Mexico.

Page 18

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

continued from Page 1 — Loads of goodwill

Locally grown

he theme “The Growth of North Texas: A Defining Opportunity” was explored by both industry professionals and students at the 14th annual University of Texas at Arlington’s (UTA) Building Science Expo. Architecture and engineering design professionals, builders and developers, city administrators, and local regional and urban planners had a chance to meet UTA’s College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) students, faculty and administrators. Attendees enjoyed a building material trade show, lectures by industry experts and a banquet meal in the school’s CAPPA/Architecture building. The American Institute of Architects’ and Construction Specifications Institute’s Dallas and Fort Worth chapters hosted the event Feb. 17. –mjm

Renaté Woods, CSI

Allegion

Junk King, who coordinated the needed labor and secured a skidsteer from Sunbelt Rentals. Shellenberger then spoke with the City of Rowlett to make sure they knew he was coming. “The city of Rowlett has a garbage franchise, which means that no outside haulers are allowed in,” he explains. “But I called the city of Rowlett and told them that I was planning on coming out there and that nobody was going to get charged anything. They said that was awesome and that they would let all of their police officers know. They were very open and welcome to the gesture.” Hoping to motivate other major construction companies to help, Shellenberger coordinated with the news station to broadcast the dumpster drop-off and cleanup efforts. On Jan. 26, eight Bubba Tugs dumpsters were deposited amongst the rubble and crews began to work. The company even “ended up leaving the dumpsters there for another several days so that people could pile more stuff if they needed to,” he says. Even with the dumpsters and labor

he donated, Shellenberger says so much more was needed to help Rowlett. “I know that we put a small dent in it, but I was kind of sad that it was as small a dent as it was,” he says. “I thought that ten 40-yd. dumpsters would really be a big deal. But by the end of the day, my friend Johan at Junk King was like, ‘Man, it’s sad how little of an effect that we had.’ I really wanted to do something noticeable, but there was just so much stuff out there. It’s miles and miles of houses and apartments. It is just completely devastated.” “Obviously, people can’t afford to just clean it all up; it is blocks and blocks of stuff piled up as tall as a house all along the streets,” Shellenberger adds. “It is the biggest epic garbage heap you’ve ever seen.” Rowlett still has much to do to clean up the debris, but hopes to have the last of the largest of it picked up by the end of March. Bubba Tugs in Dallas hauls waste and recyclables off of large construction sites. – mjm

continued from Page 1 — 70 years of service Superior Concrete Products

Rmax

through service leadership. To honor this, TDPartners will celebrate the milestone not only at their local branches and project offices, but also on the construction jobsites where they serve. TDIndustries (TD) is a mechanical specialty contractor and facility services provider. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Bathing beauty

Hilti

Conley Group

Carlisle Syntec Systems

Architectural Systems Inc.

changing its official corporate name to TDIndustries Inc. in 1983 as well as opening offices in Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Phoenix, AZ. The company regularly lands on Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For List” in addition to an “All-Star” distinction from the publication. This year, TDIndustries Inc. celebrates 70 years of company growth

Headwaters Construction Materials

previously was – a boating station where they kept boats, which is why they had gravel on the floor. They wanted to utilize it for different plays and events downstairs in the evenings and on weekends. The problem was walking around on the gravel – it was an unsafe, uneven and messy surface that didn’t provide the right ambience they were trying to set.” As a designated historical site, care was taken to preserve the best of the space’s history, with all plans being approved by White Rock Lake’s preservation team. Also, with the building just yards from the lake, future flooding was an issue, both for patrons and the concrete pour. Luckily, consistent sunny weather provided ideal conditions for the five-day project. “The lake being so close was one of the key factors that came into play,” Augustus says. “When we were getting ready to start the job, we checked the weather forecast to make sure that we weren’t going to run out of time. We didn’t want to pour concrete in rain. Plus, that area floods when the rainwater comes off of the building, and sometimes the lake fills up and runs back into the building. As it was previously, the water would just sit on top of all of that gravel, which meant several days had to go by before it was useable space again. “We had to move the excess gravel and do a grade and scale it off. As we did the grade, we had to frame it up, apply rebar and get it ready for pour,” he continues. “For future flooding issues, we created a slope in the ‘wave pool’ [underneath the moveable theater stage]; ev-

erything is sloped to that. We put in a suction pump so that when water comes in, it will pump it into the manhole, which keeps it from flooding back in.” The weather stayed constant, but historical sites sometimes reveal remodeling “surprises” like buried lines, time capsules, fossils or coins. While the AOPSG crew didn’t find any of those thanks to a good survey team and a dig test, they did find the unexpected. “At one point when we first came to the site, there were coyotes in there,” Augustus says, laughing. “We would walk in the building and all of a sudden hear some growling. We would just back out! After a while, we would see a family of coyotes run out. That was the only surprise that we had.” Brooks and Whiteside say other visitors came in the coyote’s place: Neighbors and visitors checked in on and cheered the project’s progress, with one group even requesting a “selfie” be taken there. The biggest cheer came from Van Kleeck, who was thrilled with the Bath House’s new floor and what it would provide for patrons. For AOPSG, her approval was music to their ears. “Even though it was a small project, it was a very big privilege to be involved because it is a historical site,” Trotter says. “We are very appreciative to have been involved in the process.” Alpha & Omega Pro Services Group LLC is a minority business enterprise and HUB certified general contractor providing construction, interior renovation, restoration and management services. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Page 19

Chili con carne – yay!

ongues were wagging over the chili concoctions at Lane Gorman Trubitt’s 20th annual chili cook off. The event, which can be counted on to be one of LGT’s hottest, was held at the firm’s Dallas office on Feb. 4. Nine entries, with names like “Keep Calm and Chili On,” “Cheers! It’s Chili Time,” “Mexican Knife Fight,” “Brute Force Chili,” “El Wilbur Muerto” and “Vegetarian’s Worse Nightmare” competed in the company’s Chili Bowl. In the end, three competitors took the crown; Neil Barrow’s “Fiesta in la Boca” won the “spiciest” category, Victoria Hernandez’ “Claritin C” won “most creative name” and the grand prize went to Irene Steffen’s “Shot Down Chili” for “best overall.” –mjm

Food for thought

Jillian Ward tallies the results

L-R: Mobile Mini Inc.’s Dallas office manager Misty Ramsey and branch manager Brian O’Reilly presented a donation check to North Texas Food Bank’s Aaron Chambers on Feb. 17. The company recently held a fund drive to benefit the food bank, which needs donations most during the spring and summer months. –mjm

Grand-prize chili champ Irene Steffen

Neil Barrow’s “spiciest chili” won him a party crock prize.

Submitted to Construction News

Victoria Hernandez’ “Claritin C” chili beat out for best name.

Page 20

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Mar 2016

Bridging past and future

ith Sundt opening its Fort Worth office last September, the general contracting company bridged the firm’s past to its future – literally. The newest location is a stone’s throw from one of its most recent and notable local projects. “We picked this location because we built the West 7th Street Bridge right down the street from us, which gives us great brand recognition,” corporate strategic business officer John Carlson says. “Also, we love this area; it’s great.” The opening coincided with Sundt’s 125th anniversary, giving Carlson and Fort Worth leadership, including senior vice president/Texas district manager Eric Hedlund CPC PE and project directors Hal Hardister and Shane Malkowski a chance to celebrate and meet community and industry members. The team has found the city to be a great fit. “Fort Worth is a relationship-driven group which is kind of our culture,” Hardister says. “We’re relationship-driven, not necessarily transactional.” Hedlund and Carlson add that being an employee-owned company drives Sundt’s success as well. “That’s why we have longevity here; it’s our company. It’s the next best thing to owning your own company,” Carlson says. “We invest in our clients and communities by making smaller firms grow their businesses to become bigger and better and employ more people. It’s part of our mission at Sundt.” “Sundt has been in Texas for nearly 50 years and has performed $2 billion worth of work across the state. Roughly $1.8 billion of that has been since 2008,”

L-R: Eric Hedlund, Hal Hardister, Shane Malkowski and John Carlson in Sundt’s new Fort Worth office

adds Hedlund. “As our work across the state continues to grow, particularly in North Texas, expanding our presence in Fort Worth allows us to better serve our diverse group of clients. All three of Sundt’s major markets are represented here: Transportation, Industrial and Building.” Employees enjoy putting extra effort into their work, like the iconic Reunion Tower project, but also prioritize having fun and giving back to their communities, whether it’s at a company picnic, contributing to the Sundt Foundation (Sundt matches every employee dollar donated), participating in “Sundt

Spirit Day” or building a playground for a non-profit. Victory Media also recently designated Sundt as a military-friendly employer. With Texas accounting for 25% of the firm’s work, Sundt was motivated by North Texas’ building boom to accelerate the office’s opening by nearly a year. The area’s potential, however, may be too much for the new location to contain: Hedlund is already seeking out larger leasing space to keep up with his office’s hiring spike. –mjm Sundt has additional Texas offices in San Antonio and El Paso. –mjm