South Texas Construction News April 2016 by Construction News

Covering the Industry’s News

Texas Style

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

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

Change Service Requested

San Antonio Dallas/Fort Worth Austin Houston South Texas

South Texas

CONSTRUCTION

™

The Industry’s Newspaper WIC Week - See page 12

www.constructionnews.net

(210) 308-5800

Volume 3

Number 4

APRIL 2016

To Belize for papayas!

A window to success

Danny and Nancy Boultinghouse, along with daughter Wanza and granddaughter Sierra, are shown in front of their new papaya plantation in Belize.

L-R: Roy, Richard Jr, Ernestine and Richard Valadez Sr. are ready to welcome customers to Academy Window Coverings.

ost people who know Danny Boultinghouse, Boultinghouse, Simpson, Gates Architects in McAllen, know that he loves going to Belize. In fact, he’s been known to say, “If I go missing, look for me there – or rather, don’t look for me!” What a lot of people don’t know about Danny, and his wife, Nancy, is their secret addiction – to papayas! “It’s not something we brag about,” Danny says. “You never really want to admit that you have a secret addiction.” Danny and Nancy say they come by the problem honestly. Both sets of parents were and are also papaya addicts, as were plenty of other ancestors. “Nancy actually has a secret recipe book that her grandmother put together

– it’s absolutely filled with thousands of ways the families, through the years, have incorporated papaya into everything they cooked – often without their dinner guests even knowing!” Danny boasts. So, when the pair found out that Belize is actually known for its papaya plantations, the die was cast. “We’ve decided to chuck it all and move to Belize, where we will start a papaya plantation,” Danny said. “Of course, we are going to miss our lives and friends here in the Valley, but we are hoping that people will find the time to travel to Belize and visit us – and that while they are there, we can turn them into papaya addicts, too!” continued on Page 10

hen Richard and Ernestine Valadez returned to San Antonio in 1958 from Europe after Richard’s time in the U.S. Air Force, the young couple used some savings to buy a small grocery store on Presa Street. “We always had a dream to open our own business,” Ernestine says. But the profit margin on a grocery store wasn’t living up to the growing family’s needs, so they passed it onto Richard’s father and Richard went to work for a blind company. In 1959, the company transferred him to Corpus Christi to run the branch there. When the company no longer wanted that branch, Richard and Ernestine bought it and Academy Window Coverings was born. “We made it a successful company,”

Ernestine says. “It was hard work. Sometimes we would work until midnight trying to complete orders when it was just him and I.” Ernestine even wrote a book, “Success and Survival in a Family Business” about their hard-won triumphs. The couple has six children (five sons and one daughter), all of whom worked in the family business while attending high school. Three of their sons work there today. There are also 16 grandchildren. “They learned their work ethic while working here in the summers,” Ernestine says. “I call it a blessing.” All of the children are successful continued on Page 10

Bright new star in McAllen

ith a year-round temperature that includes an average high of 81° and a low of 59°, the growing city of McAllen is becoming a destination spot for vacationers from all over. Located near the popular beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and boasting an array of shopping, dining and local attractions, the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States. In 2015, Phoenix Hospitality Group provided the area a world-class hotel by converting the 35-year-old Embassy Suites by Hilton into a Double Tree by Hilton. The $10 million-plus project was spearheaded by Alamo System Industries LLC (ASI), the general contractor on the project. Project manager was Brandon Wallace, an owner of ASI and Mark Romel was superintendent. The architect was SA Partnership. “A year of planning went into the project prior to starting construction,”

McAllen has a brand new destination hotel in the recently renovated Double Tree by Hilton.

Wallace says. “The renovation took six months and was completed in July 2015. The hotel is 272 rooms and nine stories over 250,000 sf. The property was converted to a Double Tree and updated to Double Tree standards. All guestrooms, corridors, indoor pool, meeting space, ballrooms, public bathrooms, atrium, lobby, restaurant, bar and Porto Corche were renovated. Materials used included sheetrock, paint, metal studs, carpet, tile, concrete, and lots of demolition. “With any large renovation of such an old property there were unforeseen conditions behind walls and finishes,” Wallace says. “The vision from the developer and architect did not always work and minor adjustments were necessary to maintain structural integrity or MEP systems of the property. The structure itself is pre-cast concrete and elevated post tension - cutting holes into concrete continued on Page 10

Page 2

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

Not so ‘mini’ anymore

In its new location, Mobile Mini branch manager Mark Molina, center, says customers and employees will benefit.

obile Mini has been in Harlingen for 15 years – and recently they moved to a new location in Edinburg, where they opened on Mar. 1. Branch manager Mark Molina, who also manages the location in Laredo, says the old spot wasn’t conducive for customers or employees. “Now, we are a lot closer to our target market,” Molina says. “We can take care of them faster and offer better service. It’s also a better environment for our employees.” The company went from a mobile office to a two-story, brick and mortar facility with an attached warehouse for fabrication and repairs. “It’s an overall improvement,” Molina says. There are 12 employees at the Edinburg location, including Eddie Cantu, who Molina says is his right hand man and the office manager; and Jessica Seguro and Rocky Ybarra, inside and out-

side sales reps. The company provides secure portable storage and specialty containment and office solutions for retail, law enforcement, school districts and governmental agencies. In the construction business, the company offers secure storage for tools and materials to prevent theft on job sites, as well as office space for the job offices. According to Molina, Mobile Mini is the largest container company of its type in the world, with locations in the U.S. and the U.K. “We strive to be a leader in the business to customers everywhere,” he says. “We empower our teams to deliver exceptional service you can depend on.” Molina says the company is going through an expansion phase and credits customers and employees. “The customers in our area have allowed us to grow and our employees play a huge role in our growth,” he says. –cw

In memoriam

homas Irving Wolfe, 68, died Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 at his residence in Harlingen, TX. He was born Nov. 21, 1947 in Holton, Kan. He served in the United States Army from 1967-1979, where he served one year in Vietnam. Wolfe is a retired educator from Raymondville I.S.D. After retiring from teaching, he worked as a project superintendent and safety coordinator for Wil-Con LLC Construction until his second retirement in 2015. Most of his projects were building schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley. He also served on the school board at South Texas I.S.D. for 25 years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alexander and Muriel Wolfe, and his brother, James Wolfe. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Anita Gomez Wolfe, daughter Donielle (Justin) Roberts, son Terry (Cynthia) Wolfe, and granddaughters Riley Regan and Hattie Harper Wolfe, brother Larry Wolfe, and sisters Francis Wardin, Lora Sue Felps, and Joanna Wills. Funeral services were Mar. 2 with interment following at Raymondville Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 825, Raymondville, TX 78580.

Stewards of a legacy

Brother and sister team Peter John Holt and Corinna Holt Richter have stepped into new executive leadership roles at HOLT CAT, taking up the next phase of the succession plan in their family’s company.

epresenting the fifth generation of the HOLT CAT family tree, Corinna Holt Richter and Peter John Holt have taken the next step in the succession plan towards their ownership of the heavy equipment dealer. In her new role as executive vice president/chief administrative officer, Holt Richter will be responsible for the administrative divisions, including HR, safety, IT, organizational development, facilities management, continuous improvement, environmental, legal, marketing and strategy, and transportation. In his new role as executive vice president/general manager, Holt will be responsible for all enterprise operating divisions, including HOLT CAT, HOLT AgriBusiness, Texas First Rentals, HOLT Crane & Equipment and Sitech Tejas. Both of them joined the HOLT CAT team in 2011 and note that in those five years, they have learned a lot from their experience and ascension through the ranks. They also emphasize the significance of starting on the product support

side of the business, which Holt Richter says, “is really what we see as the heart of what a dealer does.” Holt, who bears the name of their father, Peter M. Holt, owner and CEO of HOLT CAT, says, “This is truly a formal step for my sister and I to move into being owners of the business and head operators of the business in our partnership. So, this is a really important time in HOLT’s past, present and future in the fact that we’re moving into roles that we will stay in for our entire careers. So, it’s vitally important for us to build and grow our teams, and then use a balanced approach to continue on our operations excellence journey, but also to find areas for growth and diversification.” Holt Richter adds, “It’s really humbling to be a part of this legacy that my family’s built. We’ve outlined what our sibling partnership mission statement is, and it’s essentially to be a steward of that legacy and to grow the business. We’re really excited about the future.” –mh

In memoriam

enneth Wayne Painter, 80, died March 17 in Seguin. He was born June 27, 1935, in Kiowa, OK, to George and Izona Painter. He moved to Corpus Christi in 1948, and considered Corpus Christi his home town, though he lived across Texas and Oklahoma with his work for AGC. He was the Associated General Contractor (AGC) Austin Chapter’s executive director from 1993-2000. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette and children, Karen Painter Greathouse (Cody), Wayne Painter, Kirk (Heidi) Painter, Traci Garlington and Scott Garlington; grandchildren, Kelby Greathouse (Lindsey) and Lori Greathouse King (Darrell), Serena, Sarah, Shayla, Kelan and Mckennon Painter, Kelsey, Zachary and Harrison Painter; and six great-grandchildren with many nieces and nephews that he loved deeply as well. A memorial service was held Mar. 24 in the Chapel at First United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi. –cw

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

Page 3

Sunny day on the fairway What you need to know about compilations, reviews and audits to obtain a loan or line of credit PKF Texas Houston, TX Chris Hatten, CPA,

M First place team: MW Rentals, L-R: Charles Aiken, Mike Bartels, Russ Janssen and Steve Zeplin

he sun came out after rainy, cold weather just in time for the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Texas Mid-Coast Chapter’s 30th annual golf tournament on Mar. 11 at the Victoria Country Club. With flights at 8am and 1pm, the 40 teams were well feted during the event with food served from many stations all over the course. Golfers enjoyed chicken

wings, oyster shooters, stuffed jalapenos, gumbo, boudin, chili-cheese nachos, sliders, hot dogs, ribs, sausage wraps and spiked fruit cups. The first place team came from MW Rentals and consisted of Charles Aiken, Mike Bartels, Russ Janssen and Steve Zeplin. Congrats! –cw

Submitted to Construction News

Fishing for funds

SpawGlass South Texas Division donated $10,000 to Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in Harlingen. Proceeds were raised during the firm’s annual fishing tournament in September 2015 on South Padre Island. –cw

South Texas

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Cyndi Wright, South Texas Editor: STeditor@ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyndi Wright Admin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lacie Cortez Production Manager . . . . . . . . . Sue Johnson Marketing Director . . . . . . Leslye Hernandez Sales Representative . . . . . . . . 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 San Antonio • Austin • Dallas/Fort Worth Houston • South Texas

If you are a construction-related company in Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Dimmit, Frio, Goliad, Hidalgo, Karnes, Kenedy, Kleberg, LaSalle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Nueces, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Webb, Willacy or Zavala county and are not receiving a free copy of the South Texas Construction News, visit our website.

The South Texas Construction News (ISSN #2327-4670) is published monthly by Construction News Ltd., dba South Texas Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction related companies in the South Texas area. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space-available basis. Construction News, Ltd., dba South Texas Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time.

any business owners looking for their first loan or line of credit face the daunting task of picking the right financial institution and subsequent credit agreement that best fits their current and future needs. Unfortunately, this can be a challenge for many owners who do not have experience in finance or accounting. Signing a loan that is not properly negotiated can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year, while choosing the incorrect loan can be an expensive mistake that cuts into your bottom line for years. Most loans or lines of credit come with different covenants, and many require the borrower to provide yearly financial statements. These range from internally prepared financial statements to compilations, reviews or audits. Many first-time borrowers don’t understand the differences or the costs of producing these reports. Financial statements prepared by a CPA firm assist with the assurance banks look for when they issue a loan. Typically, the larger the loan, the more assurance the bank will require. Some loans only require a compilation, which technically provides no assurance, while loans which appear riskier to the bank may require a financial statement audit. Compilation A compilation is a financial report put together by a CPA firm that follows AICPA guidelines to assure the financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or other standards recognized by the AICPA. This is a relatively inexpensive report, compared a review or audit, but it also provides no assurance. Review A review is the next step up and provides limited assurance. This report must be done by a qualified CPA firm, but unlike a compilation, the firm must be independent; meaning, the firm has no financial interests in the business, relations with owners or elected members of management, or with the area of the business it reviews. A review is typically two or three times more expensive than a compilation, with an increase in the level of work for the review process, and the increased risk the accounting firm assesses in preparing the reports. Reviews are like compilations, in that they are the representation of

Sam Razmandi, CPA management and not the CPA firm, and follows standards set by the AICPA. Audit This is typically a much more involved process and provides reasonable assurance the financials are presented fairly, in all material respects, and are in accordance with the stated financial framework, such as U.S. GAAP or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Audit procedures include an examination, substantive analytics, confirmations, and for some companies, the testing of internal controls. Audits can be two or three times the cost of a review and can even get into the six figures, depending on the company, its size and the complexity of the transaction involved. There can be a major price difference between the procedures banks may require, so it is important to note, like other aspects of your loan, these requirements can be negotiated. As with interest rates, collateral and other important factors of a loan, the financial reporting requirements are just as substantial. At times, a bank may be asking for an audit when a review might suffice and be a better fit for your business needs. Yet, after obtaining a loan or line of credit, it can be a painful lesson to learn of the costs associated with preparing the required financial statements, and the subsequent charges incurred by the CPA firm. It takes proper planning to prepare for a compilation, review or audit, which adds to the costs incurred if the company is not ready for the process. Most business owners do not like surprises. Always read the fine print and make sure you understand all of the covenants and reporting requirements that come with a debt obligation. Discuss these items with your banker and CPA to ensure you understand and can meet them. In addition, find out if any of the three can be interchanged from one year to the next. For example, getting a review one year and an audit the next can save time and money and may still be able to satisfy the financial institution and allow the business owner to grow into the reporting process. Chris Hatten, CPA, and Sam Razmandi, CPA, at PKF Texas can be reached at chatten@pkftexas.com or srazmandi@ pkftexas.com.

Page 4

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

10 things every construction company should do to control their E-Mod Tom Spencer, Construction Practice Leader INSURICA San Antonio, TX

Assignment issues in construction contracts Ben Wheatley , Title Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr Austin, TX

t is a beast that goes by many names: Experience Modification Rating (EMR), Experience Modification Factor (EMF), experience modifier, and many others. I call it the “e-mod.” Many people in the construction industry are judged by their e-mod, but most owners and operators think their rating is out of their control. Here are 10 tried and true ways anyone in the construction industry can take back control:

s construction, design and real estate professionals (and their lawyers) know, the following clause is found in most standard AIA contracts: Neither Owner nor Architect [or Contractor] shall assign this Agreement as a whole without the written consent of the other, except that Owner may assign this Agreement to an institutional lender providing financing for the Project.

1. Understand how your e-mod is calculated. Understanding how your e-mod is calculated is the foundation for building a plan to control it. Once a basic understanding is achieved, all efforts with loss control, claims control, and safety planning can be specifically targeted to have the biggest impact on your bottom line. 2. Understand the financial impact of your claims. When you understand how individual claims affect your e-mod (and ultimately, your Workers’ Comp premium), it is easier to allocate resources where they can be most helpful. Claims trends can be analyzed to understand the impact of specific types of claims. This information can then be used to foresee problems before they get out of control. 3. Invest in your company’s safety culture. Creating a strong safety culture is an investment in the future success of your operations. It is well documented that a strong safety culture has far-reaching benefits, including increasing employee retention, increasing employee morale, creating a team atmosphere, and drastically reducing workplace injuries. 4. Make Return-to-Work work for you. Early Return-to-Work, or “light-duty,” programs have been shown to have tremendous benefits, when implemented correctly. While some employers have mixed feelings about Return-to-Work, nearly every best-in-class construction company has some form of a Return-toWork program—and for good reasons. 5. Work with loss control and risk management experts. Loss control and risk management experts can do more than keep you in compliance with OSHA requirements. A skilled professional can assess your current operations and make recommendations based upon best-in-class status. Pro tip: check with your insurance carrier to see if they offer free loss control services to policyholders. 6. Help control the cost of claims. Controlling the cost of claims goes beyond timely claim reporting. Develop a procedure for injured employees to follow, and work with your insurance carrier to communicate with injured employees. Routine claims

Because the only explicit exception to the consent prerequisite in the AIA Contract is for institutional lenders, courts have questioned whether this provision actually prevents the assignment of contract performance or related causes of action. For example, design and construction professionals want the right to choose who they work for. On the other hand, a developer may have a difficult time selling a newly completed project if the design and construction teams cannot be held accountable for defects that are discovered after a sale. In addressing this question, courts generally interpret this provision to prohibit the assignment of contract performance, but not the assignment of a post-performance cause of action relating to that performance. The primary purpose of clauses prohibiting the assignment of contract rights without permission is to allow the party to select the persons with whom he [or she] deals. When a contract is performed prior to the assignment of a breach of contract claim arising therefrom, assignment of the claim does not require consent because a general anti-assignment clause, one aimed at prohibiting the assignment of a contractual performance, does not necessarily prohibit the assignment of a breach of contract cause of action. The legal distinction between the “right to assign performance under a contract and the right to receive damages for its breach” is the right to assign performance of the executory contract. There are two reasons for this distinction: First, is the general rule that causes of action are freely assignable Second, references not only the distinction between executory and non-executory contracts, but between contracts pre- and post-breach Even though an executory contract may be non-assignable because of its personal nature, after an event that gives rise to a liability on a contract, the reason for the rule disappears and the cause of action arising under the contract is assignable. Thus, claims for money due under a contract, which is non-assignable because of its personal nature, may be assigned to a third person and enforced by the assignee. Courts have traditionally made this

reviews can keep you up-to-date on claims before they spiral out of control. Claims costs are directly related to how your e-mod is calculated, and the lower your claims costs are, the lower your e-mod will be. 7. Communicate with your insurance carrier. Develop relationships with the claims managers and adjusters at your insurance carrier. Most carriers have a limited number of claims people, so it is common to work with the same people over many years on multiple claims. Let them know you take your safety culture very seriously, and communicate with them about resources at your disposal, such as your Return-to-Work program. 8. Hire the right people. Construction is hard work. Ensuring that capable, skilled workers are being hired is one of the easiest ways to prevent fraudulent claims and control overall claims costs. Best-in-class companies utilize pre-employment screenings and physicals in order to avoid potentially problematic hires. Additional resources available include reference checks, motor vehicle record checks, criminal background checks, and integrity testing. 9. Create safety goals. Having employees buy in to your safety culture is paramount for your success. Creating achievable short- and long-term goals is a way to engage employees and give them ownership in the safety process. 10. Celebrate safety success. Adding to number nine, it is important to celebrate team safety successes. Many companies choose to do monthly catered lunches for loss-free months, while others provide things like new work boots to their employees to reward successes. Regardless of what your specific incentive program consists of, it is important that the message is well-communicated and all mid-level managers support all safety goals and celebrations. Tom Spencer is the Construction Practice Leader for INSURICA’s Texas offices. His experience as a life-long construction insurance professional gives him a unique understanding of managing the risks facing the construction industry. Tom can be contacted at TSpencer@INSURICA.com or by phone at 210.805.5901.

distinction between an assignment of a right or thing before a loss or breach has occurred, and an assignment of a right or thing after a loss or breach has occurred. This is because pre-breach assignments involve the potential creation of new contractual relationships, which could materially increase the risk of the nonconsenting party, whereas the postbreach assignment is supported by the law concerning the free alienability of causes of action that do not materially increase the risk of the non-consenting party because, in theory, that risk has been fixed by the breach or loss. Last, when the anti-assignment clause prohibits assignment “as a whole,” assignment of the right to sue only constitutes a partial assignment. The AIA language above will not prevent the assignment of a contract, even while executory. Rather, a party seeking to enforce the anti-assignment provision will simply have a breach of contract claim for damages arising from the breach. If a party wants to prevent assignment while a contract is executory, it should include language in the clause noting that any assignment without consent is void and unenforceable. Finally, when reviewing a design or construction contract, which contains an anti-assignment provision, carefully consider the long term implications of such a clause, in the context of your project role as a designer, builder or owner. Each project constituent will have a different view on what it actually wants as a result of such a provision, and ensure that the language plainly states your ultimate goal. Ben Wheatley has more than 23 years of experience litigating complex construction and environmental matters, negotiating and drafting construction and design contracts, serving as in-house counsel for an international A/E firm, and working on issues concerning the practice of architecture, engineering, and project construction in all 50 states, Mexico and South America. In addition to construction law matters, Ben handles administrative matters related to the construction and design industry, as well as environmental and commercial litigation. bwheatley@munsch.com www. munsch.com

We’ve got this!

The crew from ABC Painting and Drywall LLC in Corpus Christi took part in this year’s Corpus Christi Home and Garden Show. –cw

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

Page 5

likely to occur without a f fecting any change in the perceived light. The rise and set of a new moon is invisible anyway, and overcast weather often hides the moon. Without prior knowledge of setting and rising times, two of the best fishing times will be missed every day!

Using the moon to your advantage 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

very fisherman knows that the best fishing times are when the fish are feeding. This tends to be during dawn and dusk, but what often goes unnoticed are the two periods elsewhere in the day - moonrise and moonset. Because the moon has an effect on a variety of factors surrounding the fish, these periods, combined with the moon’s phase, are what trigger feeding. By understanding this, and choosing times when sun-

Got a chance to bring my son Carson on a charter with Mike Kaiman and his daughter Kelsey. Here are the kids with a couple of Baffin Bay redfish that were caught during the break.

rise/sunset and moonrise/moonset coincide with new or full moon phases, you’ll increase you chance of a good fishing catch. Assuming there are fish in the area, of course. Choosing The Best Fishing Times There really is nothing complicated about this at all; it’s just a matter of knowing ahead of time exactly when the sun and moon will rise and set. Fish are most active during 90-minute windows surrounding each of these four daily events; that’s 45 minutes before and after these four daily points.

Everyone has a story. Send us yours.

Fishing during these four periods will help increase your fishing catch, but if you plan wisely so as to ensure you’re at the water’s edge on the days of new or full moon, you can use these ‘windows’ to reel in a catch like you’ve never done before. If you have to choose between sunrise/set and moonrise/set, always go with the moon as the moon is the stronger influence. Hunters have always known that fish and game are most active at dawn and dusk - sunrise and sunset - but their activity surrounding moonrise and moonset is less noticeable because these events are

Other Considerations When planning your fishing by moon phase, there are certain other factors that should also be considered. Weath e r : Severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. When a storm’s brewing, or just after one has passed, is a good time. If this happens while you’re in place, you’ll be in for a treat! However, if there’s a cold front approaching, the fish are likely to move deeper into the water and become inactive. Season: Most fish are more likely to bite willingly during seasonal transitions with the transition from winter to spring and summer to fall being the two bestfishing times. Now tht you know that moon phase fishing really works, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t utilize this knowledge to increase your own fishing catch by being at the ready with your rod during the best fishing times available. It’s easy and it works! My summer schedule is filling quick. Don’t wait till all the good dates are gone! To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-8133716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors @ gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Send us your photos and stories. Outdoor activities and sports Fishing • Hunting • Biking • Racing Hobbies • Crafts • Entertainment

All content and photos are placed free of charge. Email to: STeditor@ConstructionNews.net or call Cyndi at 210-308-5800

Page 6

South Texas Construction News • Apr 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

Liquid Resurrection!

just saw a sweet sight. Three generations of my neighbors just slipped down to the boat dock to wet a hook and see if they could catch a mess of crappie. Now you might think that would be a routine thing if you weren’t from around here. The amazing thing is that the kids of the group are just getting acquainted with the lake because it has been dry for most if not all their lives. It’s like that old West Texas joke about drought that says a three year old kid would think the sky was falling if it rained because it never had in his life time. After being over 34 feet low at its worst the level of Lake Buchanan has risen to just a little over 4 feet low! It has taken several rises on the Colorado River since July of last year to get the water back, but it is finally here! Years of drought left thousands of acres of lake bottom dry and exposed to the sun. The rich silt grew all kinds of heavy brush and trees. Now all of that structure is mostly hidden beneath the waves again and the fish have already moved in, just in time to spawn and raise their young. Buchanan is poised to become a destination fishing lake once again! All around the lake the lights are coming on as people come back to enjoy their lake houses and rediscover their favorite resorts and fishing camps. We are hearing not only from fishermen that had been displaced by this drought, but from long lost friends and customers from up to 30 years ago. Everyone seems to just

want to check in on the return of the water and recapture the good times they’ve had here and we are happy to welcome them. We can’t seem to stop looking at the lake either! I can’t explain how good it is to hear soft conversation on the cabin porches over coffee, and smell bacon sizzling as the sun comes up, children playing on the beach with splashing dogs and fishing boats idling in and out of the docks in

the cool morning air or the scent of fish and taters frying as the sun goes down. It is so nice to have everyone around again. It was too quiet for a long time around here. Already we have plenty of bait fish that have moved back in. For the first time in several years the white bass have been able to make it all the way up to the head of the lake at Colorado Bend State Park for their spawning run. Stripers and hybrids are back to their old spring migration patterns like nothing ever hap-

pened. Largemouth bass are starting to find themselves good spots to nest and the crappie are loving all the brush to hide in. Everything seems to be settling back into place I know this same scenario is being played out all over the state with the other lakes that are returning. We are in for a fine fishing season this year. Don’t miss out on going back to the waterfront; after all we have learned just how precious our water is and how quick it can be gone.

Submitted to Construction News

Play makers

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

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

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

AFC Builders LLC in Pharr is proudly sponsoring this soccer team on which AFC owner Eloy Aguirre’s son, Ian Eloy Aguirre, 11, is pictured in the second row, far right. –cw

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

Page 7

Protect yourself but be safe

uns have been a debated topic for as long as I can remember. It seems you are either for them or against them and not much is in between. The fastest growing group of handgun shooters appears to be females between 30 and 60 years old. We wanted to find the reason for this dramatic increase so we headed up to Ballistic Therapy LLC just outside of Boerne for some answers. Sandy and Wes Barnett opened the facility in August 2015, but are not newcomers to the industry. The facility includes an indoor range, gun shop and a classroom for License to Carry and other training. “We first went through the process to receive our FFL (Federal Firearms License) and started selling firearms. Ladies would buy a firearm and didn’t know anything about it and that led to training,” said Sandy. “About four to five years ago we started thinking about our own shop. I really enjoy training women. This range became vacant so we met up with

Sandy Barnett spends time with Dana Calonge in the classroom before hitting the range.

Beginner’s luck? Not according to Wes Barnett, who says women are more focused when learning to shoot.

a partner and took it over.” How did she get started shooting I asked. Her big smile and quick response was that daddy had no boys so he turned his three girls into tomboys. She is the oldest and started shooting at 9. I turned the focus of my questions to the driving force behind the increase in women learning to shoot and carry a firearm for protection. “In the last five years it has really gone up. I think it’s the world we live in now. That’s what I hear from a lot of ladies. They don’t want to have to rely on their boyfriend or husband. They want to feel protected when they are in or out of their home. Forty percent of our business is women,” continued Sandy. Wes explained that formal training appeals to people, as well. “Husbands are also bringing their spouses in to have them trained as opposed to training them themselves,” he said. “Also, after the wives learn to shoot they can come in together. Shooting as a

Outdoor time

Eric Kennedy, SpawGlass South Texas Division and his son, Cole, went camping at La Paloma, Texas. While there, they took part in the father/son wood splitting contest at the Gault Ranch.

Eddie Rodriguez, a superintendent for SpawGlass, spent a day catching dinner at the coast.

sport has drawn countless number of women.” Women who walk in the range may be uncertain, Sandy says. “Probably one half the ladies that walk in this door are somewhat afraid of a gun,” she said. It’s the unknown. They don’t know what to expect or if they will even want to shoot. They also worry about if they will shoot well.” Is it better for a lady to be trained by a male or female was my next question and how does she get a new shooter over that initial fear? Also, what is the difference between the sexes when it comes to learning about guns and safety? “They come in and say ‘I want to learn from a female because I feel more comfortable.’ I work with them one on one using a nice easy approach. Safety is first hands down. It’s the first thing I start with and no matter what we are talking about, we go back to safety. Over and over again we talk about safety,” stated Sandy. “They come in and are usually a little nervous. After we go though the steps and some training sessions they are more comfortable and their confidence is building. Confidence plays a big part.” According to Wes, women have different strengths than men. “Women seem to multitask a little better than men do,” says Wes. “They seem to follow the process better when they step into the lane. They do the same thing in sequence all the time. They are very deliberate in what they are doing. Guys don’t necessarily do that.” Sandy says she has a specific plan in place for training women shooters. “There is a strategy in the training,” said Sandy. “When I get them in here we take it step by step by step. Women will spend more time in the class than the males hands down. They ask more questions. They want to know and make sure they get it right. “Also we go through the process even before we go into the range so I am comfortable they know how to dry fire, stance, hand placement and all of that.” I brought Dana Calonge our new Construction News account manager to

the interview since she had shown interest in learning more about guns. She had never shot a handgun so a first training session seemed like a good idea. Sandy began going through the basics with Dana and I could tell very quickly that safety is the number one topic in this classroom, along with lots and lots of basics. After this phase was complete we headed to the range and, here again, the first thing out of Sandy’s mouth was safety rules. It was interesting to watch Dana and her initial apprehension about what she was about to do. She was carefully guided step by step. Load one round of 22 long rifle into the pistol. Assume the proper stance, proper grip, proper aim and gently squeeze the trigger. After that first shot she said, “I wasn’t aiming there.” Her first shot was in the 8. Now load up three more rounds and go again. This time each of the shots hit close to the X circle. Beginners luck, I said to myself. Next was the step up to a Sig Sauer P238 and six more rounds. This sweet little .380 was going to be Dana’s first experience with a little bit more recoil. All six landed in the X circle and now I really believe in first time luck. The gal is now hooked on something new. Back to the classroom and a little more conversation and I had to ask. “Are the ladies really better shots than men?” Sandy says yes, but then puts in a, “I don’t know why,” but Wes may have the answer. “When guys get guns our first thoughts are, “I can’t wait to go shoot” and wanting to shoot off a lot of rounds. With the women, they are not so much about that. They are about hitting that X and seem to be more focused, I think.” Proper training and fit seems to be the key word at Ballistic Therapy and I asked Sandy for her final comments. “I want women to know when they come into this range it’s different than anything you have experienced before hands down,” she said. “Wes and I are proud to say that. If they have never shot before we suggest a shooting course to get the basics down then we can go into other classes. We tell them if they are going to carry they need to train. If you don’t train, then maybe they shouldn’t have a gun with you. “Buying a gun is a personal fit like buying a pair of shoes or a purse. It has to be what you are comfortable with and that’s why we have you try before you buy. And safety is always first.” Buddy Doebbler Publisher P.S. After Dana left, I went to the range and shot a box with terrible results. I asked Wes to hide the evidence (target) in the trash. P.S.S. Next day I had an eye appointment and found out my prescription really needed to be changed. I knew there was a reason.

Receiving formal training before picking up this new skill is a good idea. Pictured, L-R: Dana Calonge, and Sandy and Wes Barnett, owners of Ballistic Therapy LLC.

Page 8

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

My mother is giving and caring. She was always involved in the church and the community. She taught me about giving back.

Jim and Jennifer Hartman Owners VCS Companies Victoria, Tx

im and Jennifer Hartman have been married for 49 years and although Jennifer says Jim was the first “cowboy” she ever dated, their successful union and success in business can be attributed to a strong faith in God and family. In 1985, Jim and a partner bought Victoria Communications. It was the start of a growing operation that now includes four businesses. Many of the employees have been with the Hartman’s since the beginning, with one employee explaining it as “the best place and family to work for in Victoria.” Tell me about your roots and family in Victoria, Jennifer. My grandfather, Walter Rode, was a contractor or carpenter in Victoria. Some of the buildings he built are still standing. My grandmother was from Austria. Her parents put her and her sister on a boat to America when she was 13 years old. Her brother was a Lutheran pastor in the Hallettsville area, which is where she met my grandfather. They had six children. My dad, E.R. “Nook” Rode, is the only one who stayed in the area. He was in the Navy Seabees during WWII. After he came back, he worked for the railroad and in the oil fields until he retired. He started Rocket Workover retiring from that in 1984. The Rocket logo we use today is from his business. He also played semi-pro baseball as a pitcher for the Victoria Rosebuds. My mother is Marge Huddleston Rode. She was raised in Palacios by her grandmother and moved to Victoria. She met my dad while she was working at Foster Field Air Force Base. My dad’s sister also worked there and introduced them. She has been a volunteer at Citizens Hospital for 59 years serving in local, district and state offices through the years. I have a brother, Ronnye Rode. They live in Tennessee, but are moving back to Texas soon at his retirement. What did your parents teach you that you have always carried with you? My dad instilled in me to always put your faith and your family first in all that you do.

Jennifer Rode Hartman with her father, E.R. “Nook” Rode.

What were Jim’s early years like? He was raised in Corpus Christi and graduated from Miller High School in 1963. He was very active in livestock showing during his school years. His father is R.F. “Dick” Hartman originally from Cuero and his mother is Dorothy Smith Hartman originally from Victoria. His father was the Ag rep for CP&L and he traveled the state. He chaired and judged many stock shows across the state and world, was responsible for organizing many “community clubs” in Texas. His mother’s family ranched in the Victoria area. When they retired, they moved to Victoria. What did he take from his parent’s lessons and way of life? The same as me – God and family first. We were not affluent. We knew where things came from. There were a lot of similarities in the way we were raised. How did the two of you meet? My best friend was Jim’s cousin and she set us up on a blind date. It was interesting. I’d never dated a cowboy before! But he was a total gentleman. We dated for two years and got married in June 1967 when I was 19. What did you do next? Following graduation from Victoria High School, I received my Associates degree from Victoria College in 1967. Jim and I moved to Kingsville following our wedding where he was attending Texas A&I University. I worked on campus, and he was a police officer at night while attending classes in the day. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in January 1970 in animal science. When we moved back to Victoria, he worked for the state, and I worked for First Victoria National Bank. Jim also went to work at First Victoria National within a short time. After the children were born, I was a stay-at-home mom and involved in our church, their schools, Junior League, the HEAR Foundation and others groups through the years. In 1985, Jim and a partner bought Victoria Communications. It was struggling, so they asked me to come in and help. How did that go? I realized pretty quickly what some of the most pressing issues were and knew I needed to be able to make quick decisions without having to go to them every time. They agreed to let me run the business, which I ended up owning at the dissolution of the partnership. God had a plan for me and it’s been fun. It was a challenge, however, not to get a paycheck for several of the beginning years! I had very limited knowledge about what the business entailed. I knew what a 2-way radio was, which in the beginning was all that we sold. I had to learn about the FCC and FAA, radio products and systems and so much through training, reading and basic hands-on learning. I continue to take advantage of opportunities to learn and grow my knowledge in this world of technology. In 1988, I was approached to be an agent by Cellular One and GTE Mobilnet. I went with GTE Mobilnet which, through many mergers, is now AT&T Wireless. We’ve stayed the course and been very blessed by this decision, being a leading AT&T Authorized Retailer in this area. We’ve expanded our footprint beyond radios and have a very strong focus on Motorola and all of their solutions. We’re proud to be their lead partner in this entire area offering their full portfolio of products.

Jim and Jennifer Hartman at Christmas with their four grandchildren, back row, Kyle Henke; front row, L-R: Ryan and Ethan Hartman and Katelinn Henke.

You also started a second business at that time, right? Yes. In 1998, we started VCS Security Systems Inc. It started as burglar alarms in homes and has expanded to both residential and commercial in the areas of burglary, fire, CCTV, access, automated homes and office, audio and cinema. I would say we do 60 percent of our business in construction of new buildings, home and commercial. Our products and systems are a permanent part of the finished project. We’re privileged to be the preferred subcontractor with known general contractors and residential contractors in many areas. What are the other two companies under the VCS umbrella? In 2006, we bought Infiniti Communications Technologies (ICT) and in 2011 Rocket Oilfield Services began. ICT provides network design and maintenance, computer services, network cabling and infrastructure, business phone systems, Wi Fi and fiber optic technology cabling to support many of the solutions we provide as well as within our customers’ locations. Rocket Oilfield Services handles boring and trenching for the installation of pipelines, cabling and other applications. In 2013, our son, J.R. Hartman Jr. and a partner, started Rocket Field Services, which also handles boring and trenching, site preparations in the oilfield such as pipeline, well hookups; road, location and facility construction; fencing and gates; lease crews. We’re all intertwined and see the businesses as offering most ‘all’ solutions from a single basket. Our children are officers in respective corporations and share our passion about them being truly a ‘family’ business with each of us sharing the load. What is your philosophy towards your employees? We have a goal of cross training everyone. We have a lot of employees with long tenure. It’s a blessing in today’s world. We have a great team. We stress professionalism, integrity and honesty. If you have that, it opens the door to both gain and retain customers. Excellent customer service is a vital key to success. Tell me about your family. We have two married children. Our daughter, Kelly Henke, handles accounts payable for two of the companies. Our son, J.R., is involved in management. Both have basically ‘grown up’ with our businesses. Kelly has two children, a 14-year-old and a 9-year-old daughter. J.R. has twin boys who are 12. The grandchildren are the highlights of our life! Our children and their spouses are all involved in their families lives, our com-

munity and exemplify what Jim and sincerely believe….we are blessed so that we may share and bless others. What do you do when you are not working? We are very involved in our church, First English Lutheran Church. It was the first English speaking Lutheran Church in Victoria. We both serve on various boards and committees. Jim recently acquired some registered Brahma cattle, so he is having fun with them. To our grandchildren we are “MeMe” and “P”. All four are very active at school, make excellent grades and truly bring joy whenever we’re with them….. yes, I’m a very proud grandmother! Our granddaughter and “P” are very tight. She loves to drive him around the pasture to feed his heifers while the boys are always eager to be outside hunting, fishing and doing the guy things. I’m on the board of Theatre Victoria and Future Sight (our daughter-in-law’s nonprofit). I’ve been honored to serve on multiple boards and with organizations that share my passion to give back into our community and particularly to children. Do you travel? Not much. Jim doesn’t like to travel, and I go on the occasional business trip. We have a place in Rockport that I love and Jim ‘tolerates’. Being in the salt air and watching the water is great therapy and sufficient ‘travel’ for me while Jim prefers the pasture on his tractor or hunting as his ‘travel’. We love to do things with the grandchildren and love watching them at their various events and sports. What are the keys to being a successful business owner? One, believe that God has chosen you to do this Two have family support of what you do. Three, you have to be willing to work. You have to be willing to do anything you ask your employees to do. Work ethic is key. Four, include extracurricular activities to keep your sanity. You were very close to your dad, weren’t you? Yes, and I miss him very much. People around here knew him and knew his reputation as a person, a Christian and a businessman. One thing I learned from that is to keep your reputation in business at a level that will benefit you, as well as your heirs. I loved being asked if I was Nook’s daughter when getting started and even still today. He was truly my mentor in many respects. He never met a stranger and was always professional. I hope that I’m the same way. –cw

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

Page 9

Women in Construction Plenty of opportunity for women in construction Riki F. Lovejoy, President National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Antonio, TX

hat is your background in the construction industry? I have been in the industry since 1985, starting as a receptionist for a national general contractor. By the time the company had a layoff I was a project manager. At this point, in 1990, with a male partner, we opened a carpentry/concrete/miscellaneous specialties company. By day I worked in the field alongside our crew on commercial projects; by night, I was president of the company and all that entailed. Due to personal issues, both for my family and my partner’s, we closed the business in 1992. From there, I went back to work with a couple of local general contractors and finished my education. In August 2001, I opened RFL Consulting Solutions in Orlando, FL. We are a construction management consulting firm specializing in owner and lender representation on commercial projects and moved to the San Antonio area in October 2012. Why did you choose a career in the construction/construction-related industry? Prior to 1985, I had worked both in the hospitality and insurance industries but knew that neither of these was to be a life-long career for me. I had also worked as a part-time secretary/bookkeeper for a masonry subcontractor. The VP of the company would take the office staff on ‘field trips’ to visit the various projects we had going. From these field trips I found it fascinating to watch a building literally rise from the ground. I realized that this was a very ‘tangibly’ rewarding career opportunity. I also realized that I could make better money to support myself (and later, others) nicely. I love the fact that 10 years or more later, I could drive by a building that I had a part in and realize that the building is a part of any city’s history and/or footprint. Do you have a mentor? I don’t think I can honestly say I have had A mentor, and certainly not for this industry. What I will say is that the support I received from the ladies in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) was probably the biggest factor in staying in construction and continuing to pursue career goals. And to be perfectly frank, I really did not realize the knowledge and leadership skills I had received from being an active member until 20 years after becoming a member and becoming a part of the national board. Not that I want to shamelessly plug NAWIC, but I truly believe I would not have had the ‘moxie’ to pursue the starting of my companies, working in the field with little skill but learning as I went along, co-authoring in women’s issues books, doing workshops and other presentations, or even becoming the president of NAWIC. So I say all this to say that I believe NAWIC was my mentor – or rather the members of NAWIC! What are the benefits of women pursuing a construction career? There are sooooo many avenues in the construction industry that can be pursued. When someone first says ‘con-

struction career’, the first thought is the field/trades people, which I’ll get back to. Architects, engineers, contractors, business owners, developers, are next in line. But because of the very nature of construction, attorneys, CPA’s, bookkeepers, insurance/bonding agents – all must have knowledge specific to construction. With all this said, women can find themselves in any aspect of construction to be able to support themselves and their families very well. Personally, working in the field was very fulfilling to my sense of accomplishment. I believe having a trade/skill becomes the basis for conquering anything that is thrown in our path. Additionally, the industry as a whole is changing… women will have a very positive influence on these changes and there is a very large sense of satisfaction in being a part of these changes. What do you enjoy most about your career? I would have to say still seeing that building that I had a part in, whether as a PM/Owner-Lender’s Rep or when I worked in the field and knowing that my contribution to the project was a key part of the ‘being’ of the building. Next, would be the people, including the men, who I have met along the way. For the most part they are all hardworking, honest people with the same goal of a great building coming into existence. What specific challenges have you faced in your career? Early on in my career, being taken serious that I knew what was going on with a project and wasn’t ‘the secretary’ was very frustrating for me. Also, with the first GC that I worked with, I was actually passed over for a PM position for a guy that had literally just got out of college and I was asked to ‘train him’. I had been doing PM work for about a year with this company, but didn’t have the title or money that went with this! In the field, I did have to work twice as hard to prove that I could do the work as well the guys and there were some uncomfortable moments with being approached by guys with perhaps another agenda for my being in the field. And I think the worst challenge is the port-apotties! Uggghhh! How did you overcome those challenges? In the case of the PM pass-over – I let the boss know in no uncertain terms that this was not a fair decision. I did have support of a couple of the other PM’s in the

NEXT MONTH: Concrete Industry

office so after I let loose on them and calmed down, with their advice, I talked to the VP (who had hired me in the first place and knew I was looking to rise in the company). Two things happened shortly after this conversation – first ‘the guy/PM’ really proved himself to be near worthless…and, because I was still covering his butt, I finally got the promotion. I’m pretty sure the pay scale was not the same, but I still felt accomplished. The field work – I continued to work hard, kept up with the crew, and, in fact, found out later that my partner used me as a benchmark for hiring and staying employed with us. He told all new hires, first, can’t have a problem with working with a woman in the field and second, ‘gotta keep up with her’. For the uncomfortable moments, I basically just had to face the issues head on, probably taking on a little more ‘male attitude’ and then just staying cautious about being alone with any of the troublesome workers (none on my crew – these would be from the other subs on the project). And, the port-a-potties – well, just had to hold my nose and get through it the best I could! In your experience, are more opportunities opening up for women in construction? Most definitely the opportunities are opening up. The problem is that the women are not taking advantage of these opportunities. Some of this is due to societal teaching – women are teachers, nurses, secretaries, men are plumbers, electricians, construction guys! The industry as whole has the image of being ‘dirty’ work, ‘hard’ work, a man’s world – most of which is true! But I see the industry as being one that will always be there (after all, it is one of the oldest industries in existence) and, yes, there are economic down times that would adversely affect job opportunities, but it also one of the first to start bouncing back as the economy improves. What areas do you see the most increase in jobs for women? Quite honestly, I would say the field/ trades. As predicted in the late 90’s, we are experiencing a trades/skills shortage.

In most cases, I truly believe that women make great tradespeople because of their attention to detail, their ability to learn and adapt quickly, and their need to succeed. What advice can you offer women who want to pursue a construction career? Talk to women that are currently in the field of choice. If a woman thinks she wants to pursue the trades, talk to tradeswomen about the challenges they face in the field. And whether one goes for the office or field job, don’t be afraid to face the challenges, i.e. comments, being eyed as you walk by, etc. but also don’t complain or whine about the men. There is a fine line of ‘being one of the guys’ and not losing your femininity. Which is more important for a construction career – education, or experience? Obviously, it really depends on career choice, but in general, I think experience is the greatest education. For tradespeople, although there is an amount of education needed, to acquire skill it is experience. But being of the contractor persuasion, I have also always said that architects and engineers should have an internship period of actually working in the field. I have had both, but I learned more from the experience. From a woman’s perspective, has the construction industry changed over the years? Of course, as has all other male-dominated industries. But, there is still a lot that needs to change, specifically image and developing a 21st century mindset. I believe as more women come in to the industry and take leadership positions, these changes will move a little faster – maybe even before we leave the 21st century! What are your goals for the future in the construction industry? To not have to have this discussion about women in the construction industry. For not only women to realize the benefits of choosing a construction career but for the industry as a whole to understand the importance of having women and their influence in making this industry a career of choice for everyone! – cw

Page 10

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

What was your favorite TV show growing up? The Brady Bunch! Besides the groovy clothes and mod architecture, the moral dilemmas that typically presented themselves always got neatly wrapped up in 30 minutes. Now…all I want is for Alice to move into MY house! Cally Coleman Fromme, Zarsky Lumber, Victoria My Three Sons, so many cuties….. Debbie Montez, AIA Corpus Christi Growing up, my favorite shows were Who's the Boss and Married with Children. I was infatuated with Alyssa Milano and Christina Applegate! Tre' Peacock,Peacock General Contractors, Harlingen My favorite TV show growing up was The Dukes of Hazzard because it had great action, comedy, and Daisy Duke, and it aired on Friday nights, which meant no school, homework, and the weekend was starting. Jorge A. Flores, Terracon, Pharr MacGyver. He could do anything and was a true engineer! Christopher Albright, Terracon, Pharr

My favorite TV show was Night Rider. I always looked forward to see it right after school. I was sad every time show was ending because it meant ELOY IT IS TIME TO START YOUR HOME WORK. Eloy Aguirre, AFC LLC, Pharr McGyver…He always found a way! Eric C. Kennedy, SpawGlass, Harlingen The Jetsons when I was little – loved the theme music and the glimpse into the future and Little House on the Prairie when I was older. It was the show my mom and I would watch on Monday nights while my dad was bowling. Cyndi Wright, South Texas Construction News I remember always watching Inspector Gadget long long ago. Then probably moved on to Saved by the Bell. Then Friends. Matt Ezell, South Texas Building Partners, Corpus Christi

continued from Page 1 — To Belize for papayas! Specifically, the couple plans to raise Caribbean Red Papaya – a gem among papayas. The red papaya has been described as a large papaya, with a melon-like flavor, fragrant aroma and beautiful salmon red interior. It most resembles a strawberry papaya, only much sweeter. “We’ve discovered that the fruit has an extremely high sugar content and the red papaya adds color and flavor to any salad or it can be served chilled topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream for a tasty tropical sundae!” Danny exclaimed. “It’s perfect and is a feature in many of the recipes we have, although it has been hard to get. As an added bonus, the pinkish flesh contains papain, which helps digestion!” Danny and Nancy are excited to get started and can hardly wait to leave for the tropical clime. They were thrilled

when they found a plantation for sale online and they bought it sight unseen. “It’s a fixer upper for sure,” Danny says. “But we both plan to get down and dirty and fix it up while cultivating our new lifestyle with the Belize natives.” His partners at the firm, Robert S. Simpson and John Gates, say they will be sad to see Danny leave. “It’s going to leave a big hole in our hearts, but on the other side, we certainly look forward to receiving crates of papayas on a regular basis,” Robert said. Danny and Nancy left for Belize on April 1 – and coincidentally, that is April Fool’s Day. If you’ve read this far and believe what you read, you’ve been Fooled! Thanks extended to the firm of Boultinghouse, Simpson, Gates Architects for being good sports and playing along. –cw

continued from Page 1 — Bright new star in McAllen

Leave It to Beaver was by far my favorite! Loved every adventure “the Beaver” got into and how his parents handled all of it. Sue Johnson, Construction News

continued from Page 1 — A window to success adults and Ernestine attributes at least some of that to what they learned while working for their parents. Over the years, the company has grown from just blinds to include a variety of products, including exterior hurricane blinds, and many different and wellknown interior window coverings. They do 25 percent commercial and 75 percent residential work. Richard is the only person in Corpus Christi that repairs the old-fashioned wood interior blinds, as well. Ernestine believes the company’s

values and friendliness keeps customers coming back. “We always greet our customers with a smile when they come in,” she says. “Everybody is equal, no matter what they spend. We are just eager to help them in any way we can. “We are still an old-fashioned mom and pop store. We want to make our customers happy and let them know we appreciate them stopping by.” Academy Window Coverings has 15 full-time employees. –cw

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC- Coastal Bend

AIA - LRGV

Associated Builders & Contractors

American Institute of Architects

Apr. 6: First Wednesday Mixer, 5:30-7pm, Brewster Street Ice House. For more information, contact Venessa Spencer at (361) 289-5311.

Apr. 8-9: Membership meeting and tour of Laredo architecture with Laredo AIA at 6pm. Contact Carmen Perez Garcia at 956-994-0939 or info@lrgvaia.org

AIA - Corpus Christi

CSI

American Institute of Architects

Construction Specifications Institute

Apr. 14: Dialogue with Architects, Advocacy Day at Turner Ramirez Architects, 3751 S. Alameda, Corpus Christi from 3-5pm. Confirmed special guests include Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Representative Jeannie Morrison and Representative Todd Hunter. Apr. 18: Golf Tournament – River Hills Country Club, 4225 River Hill Drive, Corpus Christi. Sponsorships available, contact Debbie Montez, 361-887-2124 or dgmontez@aiacorpuschristi.org Apr. 19: Chapter Meeting – Water Street Seafood Company; Sponsor: Walker Glass; Presenter: Roger McGuire; Program: Bird Friendly Building Design With Etched Glass

Apr. 14 – 16: South Central Region Spring Conference and Trade Show, Hilton Houston Post Oak Conference Center, 2001 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, Continuing Education:Leadership Education with Heath SuddlesonAccessibility with Brad Gaskins (McIntosh Group) and Jeremy Murphy (ACI)CDT Exam Cram For more information go to http://scr.csinet.org/ or email holly.jordan@hok.com

NAWIC - Corpus Christi Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Apr. 19: Dinner Business Meeting, public welcome, The BBQ Man Restaurant, 5:30 pm networking, 6pm meeting, ProgramTBA, $20. Contact Vickie Thompson at 361-299-6278 or 361-438-0593 for more information or check out nawic.org or nawiccorpuschristi.org

A nine-story atrium adds a touch of uniqueness to the newly-renovated hotel.

panels was not always possible, and finding plumbing or electrical was not always there.” One of the most unique features of the renovated hotel is the atrium. The atrium is nine stories to the top floor and another 20-ft to the bottom of the roof. “We had to bring in a special lift from Corpus Christi to paint the atrium and elevator shafts,” Wallace described. “The existing flooring in the atrium was Saltillo tile floor, and there were numerous planters built out of cast concrete. All of this had to be demolished using a bobcat in the lobby, and all of this while the hotel was in operations. The general manager at the hotel, Eddie Lopez, was certainly stressed, to say the least, during this phase of the remodel. Eddie was the ultimate professional, balancing his guest satisfaction with the knowledge that no time is a good time, and a ‘just get it done’ attitude.” The project was phased in six groups of work, some overlapping. The guestrooms were plumbed vertically on floors 2-6 and horizontally 7-9. ASI renovated the guestrooms sections at a time on floors 2-6, taking out approximately 30 rooms (6 on each floor 2-6). Then, 25 percent of each floor 7-9 was tackled. The meeting rooms were the first of the public spaces to get renovated, as the hotel had holiday functions during construction. The lobby was next, which moved the front desk operation and guest check in, followed by the atrium and pool. Porto Corche was last and tied into the lobby/guest check in. “This job took lots of planning and willingness to adjust turnover dates on

www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news

both sides due to the hotel staying in operation,” Wallace said. “The finished product was beautiful.” Wallace says everybody worked together as a team during the challenging project. “We really had a perfect blend of personalities on this job,” he says. “The developer/management group, Phoenix Hospitality Group, is well versed and specializes in large hospitality renovations. This being at least their fourth of this size, they knew what to expect and that things have to move and adjust. The management of the hotel, led by Eddie Lopez, have all been working at the property for years, some like Eddie for over 20 years. There operations manager Danny and F&B manager Fernando have been there since it first opened. They were well aware of what a remodel entails while a hotel stays open. “Although I think even they had a few surprises at the extent of the demo that had to take place. ASI superintendent Mark Romel also specializes in hotel remodeling. When ASI gets a large remodel job, Mark is always our first choice. His attention to detail and experience of making adjustments on the fly is what makes him the right guy for the job. The key to any great construction project is team work, maintain quality, schedule, and budget, identify the order of importance of the three, sacrifice accordingly to keep the job moving.” Alamo System Industries LLC, opened in 2007 by Bob and Brandon Wallace, specializes in hospitality, construction and warehousing design build projects. There are 23 employees in the McAllen office and four employees in the San Antonio office. –cw

Texas Style

    

San Antonio Austin South Texas Houston South Texas

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

Page 11

Historical bridge receives landmark status

n Mar. 5, 2016, more than 100 people gathered together to celebrate the declaration of the Roma-Ciudad Miguel Aleman Suspension Bridge as an ASCE Texas and Mexico Section Historic Civil Engineering History and Heritage Landmark as part of the bridge’s 88th Anniversary Celebration. Opened on March 1, 1928, the suspension bridge’s main span of 630 ft. crosses the Rio Grande River at Roma, TX. to Ciudad Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas, Mexico and at the time was very important to the economic development of the Texas-Mexico border region. In 2004, the Mexican Government declared this bridge as an “Artistic Monument” by the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes and together with the 1993 Historical Landmark designation by the U.S. Department of Interior, makes this bridge the only bi-national historic property to be designated at the highest level by each of the two countries. The bridge has also been awarded other important historical designations by Mexico, the United States and the Texas Historical Commission; including being placed in the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge is owned by Starr County and the SCT, Caminos y Puentes Federales y Servicios Conexos and was closed to traffic in 1978 after the completion of the new pre-stressed reinforced concrete bridge that was constructed adjacent to this historic bridge. The Roma Suspension bridge is the last remaining suspension bridge of its type along the Texas/US Mexican Border.

A dedication was held on Mar. 5 to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the historic suspension bridge.

While suspension bridges are expensive to build, the towers enable engineers to drape the main cables over long distances. The bridge was designed by George E. Cole, the same engineer who built the Royal Gorge Bridge in 1929. The suspension bridge is currently under consideration for rehabilitation and restoration by the Texas Department of Transportation and the Mexican counterpart, for use as a pedestrian crossing between Roma and Miguel Aleman. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the bridge is now at “Fracture Critical Stage” and urgent repair and restoration is necessary for its preservation. After its repairs and restoration at an estimated cost of $9 million, the bridge will serve as a pedestrian and bicycle pathway between the United States and Mexico. The Roma suspension bridge is a part of the Roma historic district that has many historic properties that include Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, the Old Roma Convent, the Manuel Guerra Residence and Store, the Roma Plaza, Customs House, and many others. The bridge was taken out of service in 1979 with the opening of the newer Roma-Ciudad Miguel Aleman International Bridge. The Mar. 5th event began with citizens from both sides of the border meeting in the middle of the bridge for “el abrazo”, or the group greeting hug between the two border communities’ dignitaries. –cw

A view from the bridge looking towards the U.S. side.

Burning meat

he sun was shining and the meat was cooking at the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Coastal Bend Chapter at its annual Burning Meat BBQ Cook-off Mar. 11-12 at San Patricio County Fairgrounds. –cw Winners are: Jackpot Fajita’s 1st Place - Leo Soliz, Eagle’s Nest Jackpot Chef’s Choice 1st Place - Michael Layton, Texas Heat Jackpot Bean 1st Place - Jesse Avila, Full Speed Ahead Chicken 1st Place - Robert Leal, Hitman BBQ 2nd Place - Tim Lemon, YB Legal 3rd Place - Justin Flores, Family Grillers

Pork Spare Ribs 1st Place - Rusty Hauckla, Team Woody 2nd Place - Tim Lemon, YB Legal 3rd Place - Joe Ornelas, Bodacious BBQ Brisket 1st Place – Gary Kelly, Road Crew BBQ 2nd Place – John Leita, Big Booty Cookers 3rd Place – Randy Larson Jr, Pork Stars Grand Champion Gary Kelly, Road Crew BBQ Reserve Grand Tim Lemon, YB Legal

The grand champion winners, L-R: Gary Kelly, Randy Larson, Lawrence Wilcox

United Rentals 24Hr Safety

KAP Project Services

Scott-Macon Equipment

Page 12

South Texas Construction News • Apr 2016

Women power!

or one week in March, women in the construction industry are annually feted for their many and varied contributions to the construction industry. Women in Construction (WIC) Week is one of the National Association of Women in Construction’s (NAWIC) most anticipated events and the NAWIC Corpus Christi Chapter couldn’t wait to get going and started WIC Week a little early. On Feb. 23, Mayor Nelda Martinez

and the Corpus Christi City Council gave a Proclamation for WIC Week to Nawic Corpus Christi #4 during the city council meeting. On March 6, the chapter held its second annual Hard Hat walk. They started on Shoreline Drive and walked for oneand-a-half miles. On March 10, the women dropped off clothes they collected at Dress For Success. –cw

At the proclamation, chapter members are, L-R: Julia Smith, PSI; Darlene Lee Omana, CCA, CIT, CRRL, Gill Roofing; Patricia Livas, Turner Industries; Mayor Nelda Martinez; Kristy Garza, Edgen Murray; Virginia Garcia, Skid-O-Kan; and Lisa Huerta, CBT, Kendall Erosion.

Participating in Dress for Success were, front, L-R: Cathy Colomo Riojas, Dress for Success; Julia Smith, PSI; Virginia Llanas, Valero Refinery; and Darlene Lee Omana, CCA, CIT, CRRL, Gill Roofing; back, L-R: Michelle Patton, Maverick Engineering; Patricia Livas, Turner Industries; and Lisa Huerta, CBT, Kendall Erosion.

On the walk were, L-R: Julia Smith, PSI, and her daughter Sophia; Lisa Huerta, CBT, Kendall Erosion; Teresa Salmans-Smith, St. John’s Church; Darlene Lee Omana, CCA, CIT, CRRL, Gill Roofing; and Amanda Kirchoff, RSK Trucking.

Engineering a win

he Nueces Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers hosted an awards and scholarship banquet on Feb. 19 at Holiday Inn Marina in Corpus Christi. Guest speaker was James Bass, executive director of TxDOT. Two high school students who plan to study engineering, Trent Wilson of Calallen High School, and Claudia Flores of W.B. Ray High School, were presented $1,500 scholarships. Congrats to the winners! –cw

Engineer of the Year Larry White, PE, left, and Anthony Gavlik, president Nueces Chapter TSPE, right.

Engineering Student of the Year – TAMUCC, Codey Massey, left, and Anthony Gavlik, right.

Young Engineer of the Year Michael York, EIT, left, and Anthony Gavlik, right.

Engineering Student of the Year – TAMUK, Sharam Santillan, right, and Anthony Gavlik, left.