Dallas/Fort Worth February 2017

Covering the Industry’s News

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Volume 14

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Number 2

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FEBRUARY 2017

FCS celebrates 70

The good fight

Paul Holden proudly stands next to a portrait of his father, Bill Holden, who helped make FCS a successful family business.

AEE’s Demetrus Harris receives boxing training from John Garcia, who is also his company employee.

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he United Tile Company may have been born in 1947, but it became a living, breathing thing when William “Bill” Holden came on board in 1953. Having returned from tours in World War II and the Korean War, Bill, a Southern Methodist University graduate with four years experience at Owens Corning Insulation, joined the company, ascending to president, board chairman and major shareholder in 1978.

During those years, he helped establish the drywall and architectural woodworking divisions, oversaw the company’s name change to Facility Construction Services and two company relocations. He also made the business a family affair: Bill’s sons Paul, Neal and Tom be-

gan working for their father at a young age. Paul remembers he began working for FCS in the 9th grade, creating shop drawings, painting and hanging drywall, with one of his first jobs being the DFW Airport.

“I enjoyed it and I thought about doing it as a career,” he says. “I studied and got my degree in architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, probably because I had the background in construction. I didn’t really think about it too much until I got out of school and then I decided I didn’t want to go straight out to work for my dad. I went to work for Beck for four years, then my dad offered me a job and I thought it sounded like a pretty continued on Page 18

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rowing up as one of seven kids in a tough Georgia neighborhood, Demetrus Harris thought his hair cutting skills might help him own a barbershop someday. But a 9th grade construction class changed his mind.

“Then, in 10th grade, I wanted to try the electrical class,” he says. “I enjoyed the excitement of making something work and the excitement of electricity. In 11th grade, I knew I wanted to do electrical because it was a passion of mine. I’ll never forget wiring something up, plugging it in to test it and seeing that light shine. I worked in the summer in an apprenticeship program, and by the time I was a senior, I was teaching the class, going to competitions and

winning second in state. I said to myself that one of these days, I was going to have my own company.”

By age 24, he was the youngest employee at an electrical company wiring major projects, but needed a raise to support his young family. When he didn’t earn a promotion even after earning his Masters license, and a job at another company didn’t work out, he knew he had to strike out on his own.

“I had no job, a house and kids. I went from job site to job site just trying to find work,” Harris says. “Being broke doesn’t bother me though. I come from a tough neighborhood, so when times are continued on Page 18

A trend in LEED

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ore and more, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is inspiring contractors and building owners to plan, construct, maintain and operate buildings in an environmentally conscious way. To earn LEED certification, projects must earn points across multiple sustainability categories; based on the number of points earned, a project qualifies for a Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum rating. More than 58,000 commercial and institutional projects currently participate in LEED, comprising more than 10.7 billion sf of construction space throughout the U.S and in more than 140 countries.

RDO Equipment Co. recently achieved LEED certification for its McKinney location – the first of the company’s 78-store dealer network to earn the designation. The store, however, was not originally intended to be built as

a LEED-approved facility; in order to secure the site on which to build, RDO Equipment Co. had to promise the city that the project would achieve LEED certification.

RDO Equipment Co.’s architect and construction manager, Tim Curran, AIA LEED AP BD+C, and general contractor Satterfield & Pontikes both had experience with LEED projects. However, the team had to overcome challenges almost immediately. The city wanted to ensure that the property, which was considered a gateway into McKinney, was used in an aesthetically pleasing way. The zoning process took longer than anticipated.

“The big challenge for us was that our typical design that we build across the U.S. is a pretty simple building type,” Curran explains. “It is efficient for our service shop space, and we typically RDO Equipment Co.’s McKinney location was not originally intended to become an example in LEED.

continued on Page 18

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Flooring fetes

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Gateway keeper

Vincent Acoustical Company Inc. superintendent Dwain Ware supervises his crew’s work at the Gateway Central project in Benbrook. Steve Hawkins Commercial Construction serves as the general contractor. –mjm

Construction News ON LOCATION

Getting second wind in air

Former postal worker Jordan Muzechenko has worked as a driver for Precision Air in Seagoville for only two months, but could talk for days about the joys of his new job and working for employer Jimmy Weaver, and his new schedule which allows him more family time and more sleep! –mjm

Corporate Floors’ Thomas Holland has two big reasons to celebrate in 2017.

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orporate Floor Holdings has two occasions to celebrate. The first is the flooring installation and maintenance company’s 20th anniversary.

The second is that its maintenance division is splitting off into its own brand, APEX Surface Care.

The decision to split the two services was made to avoid confusion and permit each brand to provide better service to clients, who have different needs. The company undertook a yearlong rebranding project that closely examined how Corporate Floors serves its clients. Commercial contractors needing product and installation services will be serviced

by Corporate Floors, while APEX Surface Care will serve commercial facility and property managers with complete surface care at the local, regional and national level.

CEO Thomas Holland says the new

maintenance division, APEX Surface Care, handles stone, metal, wood and carpet cleaning services, and will offer additional services, such as white glove housekeeping service and overhead structure cleaning. The flooring installation division will continue to operate under the Corporate Floors brand.

“We are excited about the separation because it brings clients increased resources and focus and allows for greater growth opportunities for our team members,” Holland says.

With that accomplished, Holland and the team can now focus on finalizing plans for the company’s anniversary celebration, which is scheduled for April.

Full service flooring contractor Corporate Floors has offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio and provides services nationwide. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

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A concrete will

Industry FOLKS Ann Busker Human resources coordinator Rogers-O’Brien

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hree days a week, Ann Busker goes to the “The Spa” – a good-natured name for the clinic where she receives dialysis. Busker’s family has a history of Polycystic Kidney disease, which impacted her grandmother, her aunt, and her dad, who received his third transplant in January. Busker has known since the age of 18 that she might fight the disease too, and recently learned she is in Stage 5 Renal Failure.

“That is when the screening began to be placed on the transplant list,” Busker, a human resources coordinator for Rogers-O’Brien Construction, says. “I was told I am the perfect recipient. The surgeon told me that I will probably be a case where I don’t realize how bad I have felt until I don’t feel that way. He said I will probably be in the recovery room ready to run a marathon.

“I was officially put on the [United Network for Organ Sharing] transplant list Sept. 23. That means that as I move up the list, the phone call could come at any time with an available kidney from a deceased donor. I also had two surgeries on my left arm to create the fistula to start dialysis. I started dialysis in October and am feeling much better, even though I didn’t think I felt bad before.”

Afterward, she emailed an update to several people.

”I wanted them to know that I was

okay; so I cracked a joke at the end of the email stating, ‘I don’t know God’s plan, but we just need to watch it play out. In the meantime, if anyone has an extra kidney lying around, I have an application for you to complete!’”

Five people soon stepped forward, with a fellow church member identified as a match. If the woman passes the screening process, Busker could receive a kidney in early 2017.

The screening process is complicated, however, and Busker accepts that anything might happen. Still, she maintains a sunny attitude and a desire to help others.

“I think spreading the word is great to help others in need,” she says.

“I have read several things and heard a talk on the radio that if more living donors stepped forward, the wait list could be cut by three quarters with a much shortened wait time.

“When all of this started, I asked God to use me to bring people to Him or closer to Him. If I can help or support anyone else going through this now or in the future, that is the goal.”

–mjm

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L-R: The Tiseo Family: Art’s son Art, Jr., daughter Sylvia, wife Rose, Art, daughter Cathy and son Louis

hen Arthur “Art” Tiseo won a paving contract in 1981 for the stretch between Midway Road to Royal Road, he moved his successful Michigan-based business and family to Dallas to complete the work. Art knew he would have to prove his ability all over again, but didn’t know it would be so soon. As he and 15 employees began tackling the job, a rival contractor complained to the City of Dallas offices and insisted that more workers be added to the project.

But the rival underestimated Art, who had immigrated to the U.S. at age 17 to work and send money to his family in Italy. Art had quickly risen in the ranks to become a general superintendent at a Detroit cement contractor. He then established Tiseo Construction Company with brother-in law Anthony Serra, Natale Tiseo and Natale’s son, Joe.

Three decades later, the road is still in great condition, and no one is less surprised than Art.

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Art built a Texas division in 1981, eventually bought out his partners in 1994, closed the business’ Michigan operations and rechristened the company Tiseo Paving Co. Focusing his attention on the booming Dallas economy, Art built his business to include more than 100 employees, many of whom are longterm and even second generation.

Art’s sons, Louis Tiseo and Art Tiseo Jr., help run the family business now, which bids on projects between $1 million and $50 million. The company, which only does paving, bids as a general contractor and subcontracts the project’s related work. Tiseo Paving Co. also runs three concrete batch plants as well as a truck fleet and heavy equipment for large government jobs. Projects of particular pride for the company include Singleton Blvd., the Park and Preston intersection and The American Airlines Center.

Mesquite-based Tiseo Paving Co. is a general contractor specializing in concrete street improvement projects. –mjm

Building on Berry

Sweet 15

Ramon Franklin’s Enrique Rubio installs a soffit at Fort Worth’s 2000 W. Berry Street. The former Ewell Fuel Co’s Diagnostic Clinic is being remodeled as a 9,000sf, two-story mixeduse development. Transwestern serves as the lead contractor on the project, designed by VLK Architects. –mjm

FairClaims Roofing and Construction celebrates 15 years in business in early 2017.

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n 2002, Justin O’Neal decided to break off and team up with a former co-worker to start FairClaims Roofing and Construction.

Fifteen years later, the company has exceeded his expectations with nine branches throughout Texas.

“This is where we wanted to be but it is beyond our expectations,” O’Neal said.

“At the time, we wanted to be successful and get to a point where we are doing certain amounts of volume. My expectations, at least, aren’t where we are now.

By year four or five, my vision was along the lines of where we are now.”

FairClaims was started with the idea of providing quality to its customers along with treating the employees to what they deserve.

“My partner and I were a part of another company and things weren’t going the way we really wanted. It just wasn’t working well,” O’Neil said. “My partner actually left the company several months

prior, and I had an opportunity to partner up with Ray Phillips in April of 2002 with the vision of doing things differently and creating a name for ourselves.

“It comes from the way I was raised, really. I was taught to do things with pride, excellence and integrity.”

Recently, the company has expanded its services to include siding work, patio, window replacements and deck additions to go along with its roof work.

The bulk of the business is in residential reroofing, but offers commercial services, as well.

Brandon Phillips heads up the Dallas/Fort Worth area out of McKinney.

Down the road, O’Neal would like to add a metal shop to fabricate his own materials as the company grows.

“The metal roofing that we use is still made at a metal shop, so one of my goals is to eventually build a shop and fabricate our own metal.”–cs

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Keith Lyles President Classic Superoof Hurst, Tx

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t would be easy for a company president or a guitar player in a band to bask in the attention that may come his way. But Keith Lyles, president of Classic Superoof, is quick to divert the attention to a power bigger than him, as well as the credit for a life he loves.

Tell me a little about your background.

I was born in California; one day my mom counted how many times we moved between my birth and my high school graduation, and she realized we had moved 42 times. I lived in California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas.

That’s amazing! Were you a military family?

No, but everyone always asks that!

My dad was a fish biologist and I was raised on fish hatcheries most of my life.

When I lived in Tennessee, we lived on a 10,000-acre game refuge and we raised rainbow trout at one hatchery we lived.

My little brother and I would go in the woods in the morning and we came out at night. We lived in the woods – certified hillbillies! We would catch crawdads in the creek and build a fire, make a rotisserie and roast them on the fire.

That sounds like a wonderful way to grow up. Where did you finally graduate?

I graduated from high school from Haverford High School in Ardmore, PA. When I was 17, a week after I graduated, I went in the Marine Corps because I was trying to get away from authority! My dad was a Marine so I had to keep it in the family.

I was in the air wing in the avionics department and we had fighter jet squadrons. I got to go to Japan; it was right at the end of the Vietnam War, so our squadrons were stationed in Thailand. We were dropping bombs in Cambodia and Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. Then I came back from being overseas and became an ambulance operator for crash rescue and was an EMT. I got out of the Marines in 1975 and worked for a few years and that’s actually when I got into roofing.

I got a job framing houses; I was a framer and then I started sheet rocking houses and then roofing them. I then got into school at Abilene Christian University and got a degree in business marketing. I was working for a company in Fort Worth in the early 1980s and a guy offered me a job selling roofs after a big hailstorm. So I started selling roofs in 1981. I sold roofs for several different companies and started Classic Superoof in 1992.

I’m just a steward of it and of all of the people that work for us. I would never ask them to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself. It’s a service business so we go above and beyond to try and provide a quality service. When it all boils down to it, there’s a huge lesson in trust that has to go with operating your own business. You have to surround yourself with people that are really better than you are. I choose to hang around people that I really honor and respect. I have guys that have been working for me for 15 years. I try to treat them right; they’re really family when it gets right down to it. You have to have that team attitude and there is no “I” in team.

When it’s slow, others in the industry ask, “Why are you so busy? Nobody else is,” and I told them that I’m a tither, and they ask what that is. God owns this business and I’m just running it for Him and He’s helping me. It’s just kind of as simple as that.

One of my policies for doing business is roof that house like you’re roofing your mama’s! I tell all of my crews that. It always works; it kind of keeps it simple, but it keeps it right.

What do you enjoy about what you do?

The best thing that I enjoy is taking a sow’s ear and making a silk purse out of it. Plus, you’re taking responsibility for everything that that person has worked for their whole life, is under that roof. We don’t take that lightly. Once they hire us, we go into protection mode and we try to perform from start to finish. What I get out of it is when I’m able to step back off of the curb and look at that house and say, “That’s the icing on the cake.”

Tell me about your employees.

The guys who work for me are just outstanding. My sales guys, my production guys, the office help – they’re excellent. I say I prayed them in. I said, “Lord, I need a certain person and I’m depending on you,” and the next thing you know, the right person comes along and you just know that’s the one.

After 25 years in business, what new ideas are you trying out to keep interest in the business fresh?

Last year, we set up a YouTube channel and posted a bunch of drone videos of our work. We just did the Burleson Boulevard Baptist Church, where we roofed their school and a church building. We will add it soon, and people can see our work.

Are any of your family members involved in the business, or are there plans for family members to become involved in it?

No. I don’t know about involving family members in the business. I haven’t even thought about that. I’m only 63 and by the grace of God, I don’t even take any asprin.

If and when there comes a time, I will likely pass it on to my employees. I feel that, because my employees have been with me and with the company for so long, they can take ownership of it. I’ve always told them that if they took care of the company, the company would take care of them. If it gets to the point where I can’t climb a ladder anymore, I probably

Cindy and Keith Lyles

will pass it on to the employees.

My wife, Cindy, has her own business breeding Australian Shepherds and selling them all over the United States. Cindy and I have been together 15 years this year. We have three [grown] daughters, Kylee, Shawna and Tiana, and all three of my girls are knock-it-out-of-the-park kids; I didn’t have any duds. I can’t take credit for it; the Lord just blessed me. I also have two granddaughters – one who is a student at Parker Chiropractic, and one who will be 2 in May. Are you enjoying every minute of being a grandfather?

There’s nothing like it. I learned how to love a new way all over again. It’s amazing.

How do you enjoy your spare time?

I have two Harley Davidsons, and we have a toy hauler on the back of our camper. We like to go camping and take our Harley to the Hill Country or up to Nashville and Arkansas. One of my Harleys has a sidecar on it so I can take the dogs with us. The other one is a trike, so they are both three-wheelers. I don’t have to worry about fogetting to put my foot down at the stop signs and falling over. I feel a lot safer and we take the dogs on the three-wheeler too. When the dogs hear the Harley starting, they start spinning and barking as if to say, “I’m getting to go! I’m getting to go!”

We have a place in Haslet, and we’re like a zoo. I have five deer living in my front yard, four horses, ten chickens, three cows and 20-something dogs. You can’t sneak up on us!

Do you have any collections?

I collect guitars; I have been playing guitar since I was 10 living back in Tennessee. I had a good sense of rhythm; I was always the kid drumming on the dashboard while mom drove to the grocery story and driving her crazy.

Do you remember your first guitar?

Those rainbow trout that we used to raise, I used to gut them when people would catch them. They used to pay me a nickel for every one that I gutted, and I

What motivated you to establish your own company?

Really, most companies I worked for didn’t treat the salesmen right. I always excelled as a salesman. I would sell a bunch of jobs and they would lay me off and keep my commissions. I decided that the only way to keep that from happening was to have my own company.

What lessons have you learned in business?

The best thing I learned from having my own business is that it is not really mine.

Lyles (second from left) with his band “Sons of Thunder”

could gut four a minute and made 20 cents a minute. Since there are 60 minutes in an hour, I made $12 an hour, and in 1963, that was good money! I finally got enough and told my mother I wanted to go to Nashville and buy a guitar. She took me to pick it out and I still have it. It’s a Harmony acoustic with the F holes, so it’s like a big violin. It’s just an acoustic guitar that I still play, but I play bass now.

Which guitar is your favorite?

That’s like asking which of your kids is your favorite; I like them all!

There were some folks who wanted to pay me for installing a sound system in their church. I said not to worry about it, that I was going to sow it as seed in the ministry, but they wanted to do something for me. They had a guitar that somebody donated to the church that was in a closet and they wanted me to have it. I told them that if they felt led to give me that guitar, I wasn’t going to rob them of their blessing. I took the guitar home and looked at it a couple of days later. It was this gorgeous guitar, and it had a note that said, “This has been an idol in my life. I want to give it up.” A couple of years ago, I took the guitar to the guy who made it, and he valued it at $27,000.

Wow! I would count that one as a favorite. Is there a guitar you use most often then?

It depends on which one I need to match my outfit!

Spoken like a true rock star! You must play in a band.

I play in a band called “Sons of Thunder” and we’ve been together since 1993.

Last Saturday night, we played for around 400 homeless men at the Union Gospel Mission in Dallas. We’ve been doing that on the first Saturday of every month. A couple of guys I’ve been playing with have been doing that since 1988, but we started doing it in 1995. We have done prison ministry and I’ve played in just about every prison in the state of Texas.

It’s amazing when we’re having church services to see a change come over somebody when they finally open the door of their heart when the Lord is knocking on it. I’ve seen many miracles happen before my very eyes.

The guys that I go do these events with, we’ve all been called “outside the gates.” I’ve been going to Gateway Church in north Fort Worth for 10 years, and I’ve been a youth pastor and a music minister before, but there is something satisfying about going to where there is no one who is saved. There is a field out there that is ripe for harvest, and I love going out there. I’m an old Marine, so I don’t have a bone in my body of fear. I will go to the deepest, darkest places that exist and play my guitar for God.

Classic Superoof is a roofing installer and distributor and is an Owens Corning preferred contractor, a stone coated steel Master Roofer for Gerard Roof Systems and an IB Roof System factory trained technician. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Page 5

Staffing across the state

In memoriam Joe Gregory Cooper, 68, passed away Nov. 24, 2016. Cooper was born on Jan. 30, 1948 to John Randall and Winona LaQuey Cooper in Garland, TX. He graduated from Garland High School and attended the University of North Texas. Cooper owned concrete construction company Garland Concrete and was also a co-owner of redi-mix concrete company Cooper Concrete. Cooper is survived by his wife of 46 years, Betty; daughters, Leslie Cooper and Abby Curley (Kevin) of Allen, and two granddaughters, Leah and Ava Curley. A memorial celebration of Cooper’s life was held Nov. 30 at the First Baptist Church of Garland.

Submitted to Construction News

All on board!

Team members at MEMCO’s Dallas office, which was the construction staffing service’s first location outside Houston, celebrated the company’s 20th anniversary recently.

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ith the ebb and flow of a construction workforce, Marek Bros. started Marek Employment Management Company, best known today as MEMCO, to help meet the demand for labor on its own jobs.

With 20 years under MEMCO’s tool belt today, the company is providing labor for Marek Bros. and many other construction companies.

Casey Wenzel, Western Division manager, says that MEMCO grew organically. As Marek Bros. used MEMCO to staff jobs as needed, other contractors on its jobs began asking if they could hire a few laborers. Friendly competitors and other friendly companies started using MEMCO’s services. Today, MEMCO services about 300 commercial construction companies and pay approximately 4,000 employees in the State of Texas.

Since starting at the flagship office in Houston, following clients to areas where there was a need for its services has led

to the opening of many MEMCO locations. The first satellite office was in Dallas where the Dallas Cowboys Stadium was its cornerstone project there.

It’s first office, Houston, has also become the first in the State of Texas, to operate a modified duty facility called MEMCO Fulfillment where they can provide injured employees on modified duty with work that is within their restrictions.

Though the company explored other staffing industries when the construction market slowed in 2008, MEMCO continues to focus on construction, and Wenzel observes it’s because there is a great deal of loyalty that comes from construction customers. “In construction, people value relationships,” Wenzel says.

In Texas, MEMCO provides construction staffing and payroll services in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, College Station, Pasadena and Spring. MEMCO also has offices in Atlanta and Denver as well as opening a Nashville location. –mh

New beginnings

SAM’s outgoing executive Pete Snider and incoming executive director Carrie Edomm

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he ringing in of 2017 brought new beginnings for both Pete Snider and Carrie Edomm.

Snider kicked off the New Year with his retirement as executive director of the Subcontractors Association of the Metroplex (SAM). Snider, who was one of SAM’s three founding members in 1991, served as executive director for the past five years and was active on the association’s board for more than two decades. With his guidance, SAM has expanded to nearly 70 members. The retirement is sort of a second one for Snider, who hung up his hat as owner of Alco Glass in 2011.

“Time goes by very fast; it really does,” Snider says of his involvement in SAM. “The most pride [I have from my time with SAM] is seeing the growth and seeing subcontractors getting involved.

The beauty of all of this is all of the trades coming together. We’re building up enough to where we’re making an impact on the industry.”

Snider’s contributions were honored at the monthly SAM meeting, held Jan. 5 at Dallas’ MCM Eleganté. Members cele-

brated Snider with a toast, a good-natured “roast” and fajita dinner. He says he looks forward to traveling with his wife and devoting more time to Spectacular Senior Follies, a “Zeigfeld Follies Style musical theater review with singers and dancers 55 and older.”

Edomm, who has served as the association’s treasurer for the last two years, is assuming the role of SAM’s executive director. Edomm, who works for Astro Sheet Metal, is a second-generation SAM leader and is following in her father’s footsteps as a SAM board member. –mjm

Snider was sent off on his happy trail with a parting gift and well wishes.

Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) held a swearing in ceremony for its 2016-2017 officers at the 2016 Texas Civil Engineering Conference in San Marcos in September. L-R: President Craig B. Thompson PE; Past President Audra N. Morse PhD, PE; President Elect Larry D. Goldberg PE, VP; Educational Brett A. Pope PE, VP; Educational Elect Russell R. Carter PE, VP; Professional Travis N. Attanasio PE, VP; Technical Oscar Lopez PE; Treasurer Anthony D. Buonodono PE; First Year Director at Large Dora E. Marin-Robles PE; Second Year Director at Large Kate S. Osborn PE; First Year Director at Large Adarsh Menon PE; Senior Director at Large Tyler P. Dube PE, VP; Technical Elect S. Brent McNeme PE. –cw

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Why you should keep a close eye on your estimates

OT rule blocked by Federal Court

Lance Trammel, Lane Gorman Trubitt LLC Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

James Christ, Rodney Christ and Terrell Taylor Christ Taylor Insurance Houston, TX

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think everyone would agree with the statement that a strong foundation is key to a successful project. In constructing the foundation you have to consider many factors ranging from the ground it is being built on to the load it must help support. For contractors, a strong foundation is analogous to strong project estimates. Solid estimates on a project consider the scope of work to be performed and proper budgeting of costs. Not only is it important to develop solid estimates up front, but it is also important to keep a close eye on the estimates throughout the project. If you aren’t careful, you might just find yourself cutting into your profits.

Fixed price or approximate estimates?

The first thing to review when looking at your estimates is how they’re being generated. Estimating methods tend to fall into two categories: fixed price and approximate.

Because they incorporate detailed information, fixed-price estimates are typically the most reliable method. However, the contractor bears a bigger portion of the risk than the owner does because the job is set at a fixed price, even if costs increase.

Many contractors prepare fixedprice estimates on a lump-sum basis. Estimators will compile a job’s price after closely analyzing drawings, specifications, and other bidding documents.

They then calculate the costs of materials, labor, equipment, subcontractors, overhead, and other job-related expenses before applying a markup to the total cost to obtain a lump-sum estimate.

You may also produce fixed-price estimates on a unit-price basis. Here, you submit the bid based on the individual line items. As with a lump-sum estimate, the result determines the total project cost. Your estimator, however, segregates expenses according to each line item’s unit price.

The second method, an approximate estimate, is a shortcut that gives you only a rough idea of a project’s cost. Estimators primarily look at expenses derived from previous jobs, refining their figures as they learn more project specifics.

Are your estimations accurate?

Estimates are just “guesstimates” unless you take the time to understand the scope of work and cost out the project realistically. There are multiple variables going into costing a project so the more complex the calculation, the more likely it will account for the many variables involved. Failing to apply an evolving profit margin calculation can reduce the value of jobs over time.

For example, if you estimate profitability on a flat, 10 percent sales price across most projects, you could lose money as changes and delays occur. To avoid this scenario, many contractors today rely on estimating software.

Construction-specific estimating applications reduce errors and create a historical database to help you refine procedures and generate more accurate data for future projects. They can also relieve much of the chore associated with routine, repetitive and time-consuming calculations. So make sure your software is up to date.

Other ways to keep an eye on things.

Your first and last line of defense in generating accurate estimates is the people doing the job. When reviewing estimators’ performance or when hiring new ones, make sure you’re employing professionals who can visualize project phases in great detail. They should also have good organizational and communication skills; a thorough knowledge of construction materials, processes and software; and the ability to understand today’s more detailed drawings and specification documents.

To help ensure accurate reviews of estimates, encourage estimators to work transparently; you must know how he or she arrived at the quoted job price. Project managers are a great resource here.

Since they are going to be accountable for the job performance, they should have some input on the estimate. When reviewing estimates, verify that the projected gross profit of each job is in line with your profitability objectives and the current bid market.

During the project, hold recurring performance meetings to monitor the job as it progresses. After you complete projects, go back and compare estimates with your actual job costs. Investigate projects that went under or over the original estimates to find out what went right or wrong and to learn from the process.

Remember, the more accurately you estimate projects, the more precisely and profitably you can quote prices for quality workmanship.

Lance Trammell joined Lane Gorman Trubitt LLC in 1999 and has nearly two decades of experience working with a diverse portfolio of clients, particularly in the construction, real estate, and manufacturing/ distribution sectors.

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Head of the glass

When a car runs through the front of a convenience store, it means Felipe Vazquez of A&B Glass in Fort Worth has a busy day ahead. The glazer preps the front of Benbrook’s MYT-MART for glass installation to make the storefront as good as new. –mjm

L-R: James Christ, Rodney Christ, Terrell Taylor

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n Nov. 22, 2016, a federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction halting the enforcement of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new overtime rule until further notice. The rule, which was set to take effect on Dec. 1, 2016, would have increased the salary threshold for the “white collar overtime exemptions" to $47,476 per year.

The judge’s ruling gives employers across the country a reprieve from having to raise salaries for exempt employees to the new threshold or pay them overtime.

However, an appeal of the ruling is possible. The DOL said in a statement that it was reviewing the court's order and considering any next steps.

Action Steps

Employers should continue to watch for new developments related to the overtime rule, as some uncertainty remains. Until a final decision is reached in the case, employers can rely on existing overtime exemption rules.

Employers that have already made adjustments to comply with the new rule may find it difficult to reverse any changes. However, employers may decide to postpone any changes that have not yet been made.

Christ Taylor Insurance will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates as necessary.

DOL Rule on White Collar Exemptions

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage and overtime pay protections for many workers in the United States. However, the FLSA exempts certain workers, such as white collar employees, from these protections.

The white collar exemptions apply to certain executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, computer and highly compensated employees.

To qualify for the executive, administrative or professional exemption, an employee must meet a salary basis test, a salary level test and a duties test.

Federal Court Cases

In September, a coalition of 21 states and a number of business groups filed

two separate lawsuits challenging the new rule. These two lawsuits were combined in October. On Nov. 16, 2016, the court held a hearing on whether to grant an emergency injunction blocking the implementation of the rule. The judge presiding over the case issued his written ruling granting the injunction on Nov. 22, 2016.

The Future of the Overtime Rule Supporters of the rule remain committed to what they describe as fair increases in the overtime exemption salary threshold. However, the DOL may be facing an uphill battle in implementing changes to the overtime exemptions.

In his written ruling, the judge suggested that he would side with the parties challenging the rule when resolving the case. He stated that, in issuing the rule, the DOL “exceeds its delegated authority and ignores Congress's intent by raising the minimum salary threshold such that it supplants the duties test.”

However, further steps need to be taken in the court process before the rule is permanently struck down.

It is also possible that Trump could take executive action to block the rule, but it is not clear at this time what approach he would take to change or undo the rule. If the court strikes down the rule, further congressional or executive action may be unnecessary.

Other Issues for Employers Although the changes to the overtime exemptions may not take effect for some time, if ever, employers must continue to comply with current regulations.

In preparing for the rule change, many employers have discovered that employees may have been misclassified, which is an issue that must be addressed to avoid violating the current FLSA regulations.

Please contact Christ Taylor Insurance if you need additional information on how to properly classify employees under the current exemption rules.

Christ Taylor LLP is an independent Houston based Employee Benefits and Insurance brokerage firm doing business in Southeast Texas.

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Slow and steady …

Texas Motor Speedway recently had new LATICRETE floors installed in the speedway’s two garage areas and tech bays. Intertech Commercial Flooring employees carefully embedded more than 90 ft. of custom logo in the resinous coating. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Page 7

Is your teaming agreement enforceable?

Elizabeth H. Connally Connally Law PLLC San Antonio, TX

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ontractors often seek strategic alliances with other contractors to complement their capabilities and increase their chances of winning a contract. In forming such alliances, it is important to use the type of agreement that best fits your needs to ensure it’s enforceable and not just an agreement to agree.

Joint Venture or Teaming Agreement Contractors generally use either a joint venture agreement or a teaming agreement to accomplish their business arrangement. When two or more companies jointly form a separate entity to act as the potential prime contractor, this is a joint venture. This article focuses on the second type of arrangement – the teaming agreement.

A teaming agreement is a tool for contractors when a prime contractor desires to work with one or more subcontractors to pursue a contract and requests the subcontractors to perform specific work on that contract, if it is awarded to the prime contractor.

Unlike a joint venture, a teaming agreement allows the companies to remain as independent entities while working together to prepare the proposal and be successful in obtaining the contract award. Many times the parties are very anxious to pull together the proposal and proceed, thinking they only need to put the basic terms on paper and can work out the details of the subcontract agreement later if they win the contract. It is unlikely this will be an enforceable teaming agreement, for without details regarding the terms of the subcontract agreement, it is merely an agreement to agree.

Unenforceable Teaming Agreement The Cyberlock Consulting, Inc. v Information Experts, Inc., 2013 WL1395742 (E.D. Va. 2013) case exemplifies why it’s important to state in the teaming agreement the terms which will ultimately be incorporated in the subcontract agreement.

In that case, Cyberlock Consulting, Inc. (“Cyberlock”) entered into a teaming agreement with Information Experts, Inc. (“IE”), wherein IE would be the prime contractor if awarded the contract for security services. The teaming agreement said if the parties were successful in getting the prime contract awarded to IE, then IE would enter into a subcontract with Cyberlock. The teaming agreement included general terms which described each company’s anticipated scope of work, but it did not include, as an exhibit or attachment, the actual subcontract agreement the parties intended to enter

into. In addition, the teaming agreement stated that either party could terminate it if the parties were unable to negotiate a subcontract agreement in good faith.

After IE received the contract, the parties attempted to negotiate a subcontract agreement without success. IE then terminated the teaming agreement, and Cyberlock sued to enforce it. The court determined the teaming agreement stated only a framework for negotiating a subcontract agreement sometime in the future and was, therefore, unenforceable because it was merely an agreement to agree. Thus, it is very important that the teaming agreement include not only the parties’ intentions regarding the teaming agreement but also the subcontract agreement which they intend to sign on award of the contract to the prime contractor.

Checklist for an Enforceable Teaming Agreement: The teaming agreement should: 1. state its purpose and specify the proposal that the parties are responding to; 2. describe each party’s role, not only with regard to proposal preparation but also the resulting subcontract agreement when the prime contract is awarded;

3. provide protection for the proprietary information and intellectual property of both parties; 4. set forth indemnification provisions; 5. state the term of the teaming agreement; and 6. incorporate, as exhibits, the request for proposal, each party’s proposal responsibilities, the subcontractor’s scope of services and the form of the subcontract agreement.

Ms. Connally is the managing shareholder of Connally Law, PLLC, San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Connally is licensed to practice law in OH, DC, HI and TX and is a former warranted Contracting Officer for the U.S. Dept. of State (“DOS”), where she handled contracts for the DOS’ largest procurement office in Frankfurt, Germany. Ms. Connally’s email address is ehconnally@eclegal.biz.

OSHA’s new law on Beryllium Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

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n construction and shipyards, exposure to beryllium primarily occurs when metal slags that contain trace amounts of beryllium (<0.1% by weight) are used in abrasive blasting operations. In these operations, significant beryllium exposures may occur because of the high dust levels generated despite the low beryllium content.

What are the health effects associated with beryllium exposure?

Workplace exposure to beryllium and beryllium compounds can result in the following:

Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) is a serious pulmonary disease that can cause serious debilitation or death.

Lung cancer is associated with occupational exposure to beryllium by inhaling beryllium containing dust, fumes or mist.

The rule reduces the Permissible Exposure Limit for beryllium to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) averaged over 8 hours, and establishes a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for beryllium of 2.0 μg/m3 over a 15-minute sampling period. Employers with a beryllium hazard, would typically be required to conduct air sampling to determine worker exposure to beryllium. Based on the level of exposure, additional protections may be required such as respiratory protection and engineering controls (such as ventilation controls.) Employers must use engineering and work practice controls to prevent excessive beryllium from becoming airborne where workers can breathe it in.

• Employers must limit access to high-exposure areas, provide respiratory protec-

tion when necessary, and provide personal protective clothing when high exposures or dermal contact is possible.

• Employers must assess exposures, develop and implement written exposure control plans, and provide workers with training specific to beryllium.

• Employers must offer medical examinations to certain exposed workers. If a specified beryllium-related health effect is identified, they must offer additional workplace accommodations to the worker to reduce beryllium exposures.

The rule provides staggered compliance dates to ensure that employers have sufficient time to meet the requirements and get the right protections in place.

Employers have: • One year after the effective date of the rule (March 12, 2018) to implement most provisions of the standard; • Two years after the effective date (March 11, 2019) to implement the requirements for change rooms and showers, and; • Three years after the effective date (March 10, 2020) to implement the engineering control requirements.

Additional information on OSHA’s beryllium rule can be found at www. osha.gov/beryllium. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

Construction News ON LOCATION

He has the site stuff!

Assistant department manager Lorin Blevins stacks inventory at SiteOne Landscape Supply’s Benbrook location. –mjm

Submitted to Construction News

Green retreat

Construction News ON LOCATION

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC – Texas) members enjoyed sharing ideas at the North Texas Regional Council Board Retreat, hosted Jan. 14 in Irving. –mjm

Gregg Wong in Milestone Electric’s Grand Prairie office is ready to fix any security problem in a flash. –mjm

Flash drive

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Service to others

Paving the way

Lasaro Pinarez works on the drive of the upcoming doctors office being built on Carrier Parkway in Grand Prairie. Aerofirma acts as general contractor of the nearly 2,600sf project. –mjm Thanks to NTRCA member donations of money, materials and labor, the church had a new roof in time for Christmas.

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fter years of tragedy and sadness, a local church is looking forward not just to this new year, but many more, thanks to some generous North Texas roofers. Members and staff of the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA) removed and installed a new roof on Fort Worth’s Greater Progressive Church of God in Christ as its 2016 Community Service Project.

The church fell on hard times in the past few years, beginning when Navy veteran Dr. J.L. Johnson, the church’s pastor for 57 years, experienced a series of devastating blows. Pastor Johnson’s wife Alma was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, and was left bedridden from a mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Her life was claimed shortly afterward by a house fire, which left her with third degree burns over 90% of

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Beaming up

her body. After her death, Johnson struggled with both prolonged depression and financial hardships, culminating in a debilitating stroke in 2013. In the wake of these events, members began leaving the church, and when the building’s roof began to leak, the church could not afford to repair it.

Upon learning of Pastor Johnson and the church’s struggle, NTRCA members and staff teamed up to adopt the project, gathering member donations of materials, money and labor. The team worked quickly to ensure that the congregation could celebrate in time for Christmas services.

With the church restored, the now 91-year-old Pastor Johnson and the congregation are excited that years of services can be hosted. –mjm

L-R: Jose Retana and Meño Mendoza of Lone Star Framing & Construction LLC in Dallas replace cedar rafters on a property on Alta Mere in Fort Worth. –mjm

Surveying their options

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hen Scott Mackinnon and Matthew Broderick established GEONAV in 2009 as a quality resource for scanning, mapping and professional land surveying services, their previous experience had been in the oil and gas industries. However, “The Texas Growth Machine” of 2008 and 2009 increased L-R: Scott Mackinnon and Matthew Broderick the need for surveying professionals in the construction industry and made “Howard has over 19 years of surveying them rethink their approach. In order to experience and has built a team of dediservice the need for surveying and high cated professionals who come to work definition scanning, they decided to ex- with a chip on their shoulder every day.” pand GEONAV’s outlook towards the “It’s one of the only careers that comcommercial/civil boom. bines state-of-the-art technology with

Today, GEONAV continues to provide old-school detective work to uncover clients with a cost-effective surveying so- facts an retrace history,” Mattice explains. lution providing value throughout the “Surveyors are the first people on any construction life cycle. The company is construction site, measuring and mapcomprised of one registered professional ping the land. Upon completion of a projland surveyor (RPLS), three survey tech- ect, we take great pride in knowing our nicians, three office managers and eight work was completed efficiently and accusurveying crew. GEONAV’s chief RPLS rately.”

Chris Howard serves as the senior vice Within the month, GEONAV will expresident who oversees GEONAV opera- plore yet another new direction: The tions, while the survey technicians man- company will be adding to its technical age the drafting and crew scheduling. work categories by announcing its TxThree office managers handle the mar- DOT certification. The addition will allow keting, accounting and human resources GEONAV to service a greater range of cliroles. ents and provide an additional line of rev Even when the Texas weather makes enue fostering continued growth. for miserable working conditions, GEO- Originally focused to assist the seismic NAV can be found on the job site ready to and oil/gas community, GEONAV has bedo their best work. come a multi-disciplinary firm with the in “The word that comes to mind is pas- troduction of construction and engineering sion,” GEONAV’s Kevin Mattice says. clients. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Page 9

and don’t get caught up fishing your same old spots. Knowing the bays and the structure beneath you plays a big part in your success. Pay attention when you get a bite or catch a fish and try to pinpoint the draw for that fish to the area.

Keep a close eye on your depth chart and water temperature indicator to help you with the analysis. Using that info, you can apply it to other areas of the bay system to hopefully produce similar results.

ents that became friends and all of the great sponsors that have helped me along the way, I owe you my deepest thanks to my success. I’m really loving what I do, and doing what I love!

Fishing early in the season requires a bit of preparation. It’s not like fishing in the summer where everyday is pretty much a carbon copy of the previous five days.

Knowing what the weather is going to do, what direction and how hard the wind is going to blow are a few of the things that will help you choose the best day to go. Couple that, with knowing major and minor feeding times and moonrise and moonset times even better the odds in your favor. Theses are some of the tools that are at your disposal. Do your homework, choose the best days and give it your all when you’re out there is all you can do. The rest is up to the cooperation of the fish and the boss upstairs.

If you are thinking for wetting a line in the next several weeks or anytime in the month of February, be prepared for some harsh weather. Typically this time of year brings the nastiest weather. Plan your outing either before a cold front or a day or so after the front passes through.

Be prepared to grind througout the day

I have already started to fill the calendar for the upcoming 2017 season. Don’t wait until all the good dates are gone! To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Cold Weather Outings

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, E-Z Bel Construction, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, ­­­ForEverlast Fishing Products, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, and Columbia Sportswear.

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ell I can honestly say that I’m going to spend more time this month in the boat instead of the brush. The deer and other game are now safe for the year until November rolls around again. Many hours were spent looking through the binos and spotting scope the last several months, and lots of game were harvested. I really

Mark Afram displays a nice 5lb. trout caught on the KR shoreline using a KWigglers balltail shad in bone diamond color. Photo by Steve Schultz Outdoors.

enjoy the time off the water during hunting season, but I can assure you I am ready to be back on the water full time.

Everyone needs a little time to recharge his or her batteries and mine are sitting on full as we speak.

This season starts my nineteenth year as a fishing guide. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be still doing this for this long. I must say that I have been truly blessed by all of the people I have met along this journey. From friends that became clients, to the cli-

Have an ice trip!

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exas gal Jodi Davis, a sales and marketing specialist at Braun Intertec in Arlington, returned from a company trip last month, and shared her cool – make that cold! – experience with Construction News: “Recently, I ventured to the Great White North to participate in the annual Braun Intertec Ice Fishing Trip, a longstanding tradition the company organizes for its employees. The event is held at Arnesen’s Rocky Point Lodge near Roosevelt, MN on the southwest shore of the Lake of the Woods.

As a warm weather angler, I had yet to experience ice fishing, and thought it sounded like an adventure worth trying out – at least once! I won’t lie – it is cold up there, but fortunately the fish houses are heated with propane to keep you toasty and you don’t spend too much time out in the elements. Pretty much, if you wear enough layers, you are good – even in -27º temperatures (that’s what it

was the first morning).

The fishing was great – our little foursome caught a good variety of walleye, sauger and perch. My personal highlight was a 12.25 in. perch (normally things are bigger in Texas, but apparently that does not apply to perch). Minnesotan Kelly Rafferty was bringing in the fish like crazy. She had more experience than the rest of us, and I definitely benefitted from her fishing advice.

What’s cool about the lodge is you have the option of cleaning your own fish or having their staff do it for you. You can even have them fry it up for you for dinner, which is what we did with our first day’s catch. There is nothing like eating your own catch for dinner the same night as when you catch it – awesome!

It was definitely a unique adventure.

It is breathtakingly beautiful out there on the ice, the camaraderie with coworkers is great and catching northern fish is very addictive.” –mjm

L-R: Braun Intertec’s Jodi Davis, Kelly Rafferty, Stephanie Wilder and Jason Gross

Many layers made a warm ice fisher out of Jodi Davis.

Page 10

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

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 the radio as follows: The Great Outdoors: 5-8 am Saturday on 1300, The Zone, Austin and The Great Outdoors: 5-7 am Saturday on 1200 WOAI San Antonio The Sunday Sportsman: 6-8 am Sunday on 1300, The Zone, Austin All on iHeart Radio

My secret Valentine…Fishing!!!

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alentine’s Day will soon be upon us.

That’s when we show our love and appreciation for the special people in our lives. Go ahead and have a nice romantic dinner and indulge in the giving and receiving of candy hearts and flowers. You can do it. You see it makes it easier to get to go fishing later!

It is probably a good thing that fishing seems to wind down during the late fall and early winter. If it didn’t we would have all kinds of holiday conflicts with fishing. Might be tough to have holidays at all if the fish were biting in addition to hunting season!

Valentine’s Day is the kick off of fishing season!

Most people don’t think about fishing this early in the year, but catfish are going about their business, ready to be caught by now. Weather permitting, some nice blue catfish are being brought in.

At or around this time the white bass should be running hot and heavy up every lake and river. They are in a mad Valentine’s party of their own as they run upstream in concentrated numbers to spawn. It makes for a fisherman’s dream!

They are easily caught and tasty to eat.

Stripers and hybrids will migrate upstream a bit too, but their spawn will come later in the spring. They like to “help” the white bass chase shad because it’s easy food as they pick up anything that will fit in their mouth.

Crappie and bass are beginning to use the warm days to look for places to nest, and feeding hard to get ready for

need to be.

However you choose to get on the water, be sure your equipment is in good shape. Go ahead and use those gift cards you got for Christmas to restock your tackle box or get a good rod and reel! Be sure you have the boat running good and new line on the reels. You don’t want to miss any fishing time to fixing stuff!

Of course the very best scenario is if your Valentine loves to fish too. Then you can celebrate the holiday together by going fishing! Heck, pitch a little heart shaped box of chocolates in the tackle box and come on!

Reminder: Spring break fishing trips are booking up fast! If you want to get the family out for a guided fishing trip in mid-March, you need to be reserving them now with the guides of your choice.

With the lakes and rivers in such good shape this should be a great year to get out and enjoy it. The wild flowers here in the Hill Country should be spectacular this year too. Come join us!

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST! the upcoming spawn too. This is when you need to be at the right place at the right time. Since every species of fish has

their own preferences for timing and location, the services of a guide can be especially useful in getting you where you

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

Submitted to Construction News

A bass act

Ryan Koons of HOLT CAT’s Irving office caught this 6-lb. largemouth bass in December on Lake Helen at the K-Bar Ranch outside of Clifton, TX. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Page 11

Starting strong

Puppy love

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hen you have a spouse who breeds dogs, every day is a “dog day!” Cindy, wife of Classic Superoof president Keith Lyles, breeds toy and mini Australian Shepherds, but there are a few pups in his immediate family, “Tootie,” “Abby,” “Colt” and “Smiley,” that get top billing in his life. He takes them for rides in his Harley sidecar, includes them in holiday photos and says that an usher at his church reserves a spot for Smiley every Sunday.

If Keith ever wants to add dogs to his family, he knows whom to ask. Cindy has a few who would love to wag their way into his heart! –mjm Hounds for the holidays: Keith and Cindy pose with “Tootie” and “Abby”

Wong starts a Strongman with the max circus dumbbell event, in which he performs a onearmed press of 145 lbs.

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regg Wong works as a security service manager for Milestone Electric, but he looks more like a member of an elite security team. The 31-year-old’s bulging muscles are the result of his recent training and participation in Strongman competitions.

“It’s the same thing that’s on TV with “World’s Strongest Man” but it’s more of an amateur level event,” Wong says.

“Strongmans are starting to become a more popular sport or strength event; there are several events in this area.”

The Jan. 7 Metroflex Strongman competition in Plano was Wong’s first United States Strongman show. Although smaller than the Kazmaier Strongman Classic he participated in the month before, the competition followed the same five-event structure.

The event began with a max circus dumbbell, a one-armed press with a plate-loaded 13-inch dumbbell (Wong’s weighed 145 lbs). From there, Wong tackled his strongest event, the trap bar deadlift for reps, in which he hoisted 500 lbs. 17 times in one minute. Next, Wong lifted a 540 lb. rectangular frame and carried it 30 feet in 6.5 seconds (scoring second place to a good friend who beat him by .47 seconds). The hand-over-hand sled pull event then had Wong dragging a 600 lb. plate-loaded sled for 30 ft.

Wong was most prepared for the last event, the stone series, but still struggled.

The platform holding the first 200 lb. “stone” was perched on a high platform that 5’9” Wong had trouble reaching. He compensated by “throwing” the stone, a technique he practiced before the competition. Overall, Wong scored second in his class qualifiying him to compete nationally – quite impressive for someone who competed in the event for fun without too much preparation.

A former high school football player, Wong has long been interested in strength sports but only became serious about training and competing in the past year. ”One of the benefits of working for Milestone is that they pay for a gym membership,” Wong explains. “I used to work in our Garland office, and there was a Crossfit right next to it. When I started getting more into the conditioning aspect of it, I weighed about 280 lbs.; I was

a lot heavier. I took competing pretty seriously and dropped my weight.”

At the moment, the 220-lb. Wong says he is the lightest he’s ever been as an adult and is enjoying better strength, energy and a whole new wardrobe. Because Strongman is controlled by weight divisions, Wong has to “make weight” which means he pays attention to eating well.

“You have to eat right, and eat a lot,” he concedes. “[But my diet’s] not much different than anybody that follows a fairly decent diet template. I eat a lot of protein. I don’t eat a lot of processed foods – not that I’m against that, it’s just mainly so I am consuming the right amounts of food.”

Wong says he has adopted his diet and training as a way of life.

“I train four days a week, which means I’m in the gym for probably 1½ to 3 hours each training session. I’m in the very beginnings of becoming a strength and conditioning coach as well. I’m in the gym a lot. You have to take care of yourself and your mobility. It’s a lifestyle more than anything,” he says.

No matter how sore Stongmans make him, Wong looks forward to coming into work: In addition to a gym membership, Milestone treats its employees to monthly massages as well. –mjm PHOTO CREDIT: Malena Lewellyn

Along for the ride are “Colt” and “Smiley”

Cindy’s mini and toy Australian Shepherds

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

International language of building

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lem Lesch of PCL Contract Bonding Agency and his wife Pauline have explored nearly every corner of the world together, with their most recent trip being to Dubai. The couple flew to the United Arab Emirates’ most populous city in December, and found that the construction boom in Dubai might just give the North Texas construction boom some competition.

“Construction everywhere!” Pauline exclaims. “High rise, low rise, commercial, residential, retail, hotels, industrial, public works ...”

Dubai is home to some of the world’s most innovative modern architecture,

and the pair was treated to a truly spectacular skyline. One treat was the world’s tallest skyscraper, the 160-story Burj Khalifa (“burj” means “tower”), rocketing past the area’s other skyscrapers. The tower’s elevator most impressed the pair (“One elevator from bottom to top, such a smooth and quick ride!” she says.) Pauline also captured a shot of Clem in front of the Burj Al Arab at Jumeirah Beach close to the palm artificial islands.

Even though the pair couldn’t help noting the many cultural differences between Dubai and their homeland, the international language of building was the same. –mjm

The Etisalat Tower, the fourth tallest building in Dubai upon completion, features a giant sphere that remind many of a golf ball.

Clem poses in front of the Burj Al Arab at Jumeirah Beach

Construction in nearly every sector is booming in Dubai.

Buildings of all shapes, sizes and styles coexist happily in this bustling city.

Construction in nearly every sector is booming in Dubai.

The night view from the top of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.

These buildings, including the twisted “Cayan” building in the front, are in the New Dubai area.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Page 13

A big move for the earthmovers

L-R: Carl Englerth, former executive secretary, recently retired and passed the torch to Charles Frerich, ECAT’s new executive secretary.

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s of this month, the Earthmoving Contractors Association of Texas (ECAT) has moved. ECAT is now based where its new executive secretary, Charles Frerich, is located.

The association’s new address is: Earthmoving Contractors Association of Texas Inc., P.O. Box 36, Rowena, TX 76875.

The new contact number for Frerich is 325-340-8370 and the new email is 1ecat. tx@gmail.com.

This change, affecting the association statewide, came about because Carl Englerth, former executive secretary of 16 years, who is based in New Braunfels, retired Jan. 31.

After working for the USDA for about 37 years, where Englerth worked with a lot of the contractors and landowners to carry out soil and water conservation practices, he was invited to work for ECAT in 2001.

Now, at 78, he and his wife, Cynthia, want to take the time to do the things they’ve always wanted, including spending time with their two daughters and traveling across the U.S., to Alaska and

the British Isles, where his wife spent much of her childhood.

In planning for his retirement, Englerth has been training Charles Frerich, who has taken over his position and is based in Rowena. Frerich’s family was a charter member of ECAT with their business, Frerich Land Improvement Contractors.

Today, his brother, John Frerich has his own company, Mobile Crushing & Screening, and is the president of ECAT. When their father passed away, Charles came with his mother to the ECAT meetings and got to know the members. He currently works for the Natural Resources Conservation Service but will retire in August, when he turns 60.

“Our people are big into conservation, and conserving our natural resources is what it’s all about,” says Charles, who wants to promote the association, adding that ECAT can help its contractors network, grow and even offers scholarships for high school and college graduates. –mh

Looking ahead

A panel including Michael Buckley FAIA, Walt Mountford, Terry Montesi, Joseph Pitchford and Neal Sleeper discussed “Today’s Hot Products & Hot Markets vs. Tomorrow’s Opportunities” for the construction industry. The 2017 American Institute of Architects (AIA)/TEXO Economic Outlook was held Jan. 12 at 3015 at Trinity Groves. –mjm

Toying with ideas

Corgan Associates Inc. vice president Helen Danby acted as a volunteer docent for the Dallas Center for Architecture exhibit, “Building Toys and Toy Buildings: Architecture through a Child’s Eyes.” The annual exhibit, featuring a timeline of toys that have inspired – and are inspired by –architecture, ran though Jan. 21. –mjm

Page 14

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Submitted to Construction News

Construction News JOB SIGHT

Helping hands

Restaurant to retail

Electrical contractor AEE Inc. CEO Demetrus Harris and electrical foreman John Garcia wire up an electrical panel at 6540 Camp Bowie in Fort Worth. The former Chinese buffet restaurant is being remodeled as an Advanced Auto Parts store. Southwestern Services serves as the project’s general contractor. –mjm

Submitted to Construction News

Changes a’coming L-R: E4H Environments for Health employees, such as Mytron Smith and employees’ significant others, including Patricia Clark’s fiancé Matt Hadad, supported E4H’s effort to purchase and package more than 20,0000 meals for Haiti’s hurricane survivors. E4H teamed up with international hunger relief organization Numana Inc., donating $6,000 for food, packaging and shipping. –mjm

The American Society of Safety Engineers’ Southwest Chapter (Dallas) members have big changes in the works! President Nick Huser announced that, beginning in March, ASSE SW will cease meeting at the Boy Scout of America Headquarters and meet at Anna Mia’s in Plano. Watch for a new Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter page too! –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Page 15

Construction Safety Safety isn’t accidental Paula Bailey, President Bailey Safety Consultants Fort Worth, TX

T

he construction industry accident fatality rate stands at more than double that of the all sector average – more minor accidents are almost incalculably more.

Put simply, construction sites are a health and safety nightmare – almost every conceivable hazard exists within this constantly changing working environment.

Falls:

Working at height: The construction of buildings – or indeed, demolition works – frequently requires tradesmen to work at height. Fatalities and injuries involving height related factors account for many accidents each year.

Construction sites can get quite hectic what with the sheer volume of constantly moving vehicles and tradespeople – overhead lifting equipment shifting heavy loads, supply vehicles, dumper trucks everywhere, maneuvering around an usually uneven terrain.

Slips, Trips and Falls:

When you consider the diverse range of activities going on at a construction site at any one time it seems hardly surprising slips, trips and falls happen on an almost daily basis. Construction sites are a mish mash of holes in the ground, buildings at various stages of completion, scaffolding, stored materials and equipment. You really do need eyes in the back of your head at times.

Material and Manual Handling Materials: Equipment is being constantly lifted and moved around on a construction site, whether manually or by the use of lifting equipment. Different trades will involve greater demands, but all may involve some degree of risk. Where employees’ duties involve manual handling, then adequate training must be carried out.

Where lifting equipment is used, then adequate training must also be carried out,

but may involve some form of test to confirm competency. Records of training must be maintained for verification.

Electricity: On average, three construction industry workers are electrocuted each year during refurbishment work on commercial and domestic buildings. People working near overhead power lines and cables are also at risk. There are also a growing number of electrocutions involving workers who are not qualified electricians but who are carrying electrical work, such as plumbers and joiners and decorators.

In summary, nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites across the nation on any given day. The fatal injury rate for the construction industry is higher than the national average in this category for all industries.

Potential hazards for workers in construction include: • Falls (from heights) • Trench collapse • Scaffold collapse • Electric shock and arc flash/arc blast • Failure to use proper personal protective equipment • Repetitive motion injuries Six Workplace Safety Tips for Implementing a Safe Work Culture Implementing a culture that honors safe work practices is not something that happens by accident or by default. It is something that leaders and managers in the construction industry must purposefully impact in order to affect change and then maintain their respective cultures.

Leaders and executives who are working to affect change in a positive and long-term way within their organizations can use the following six tips to improve their safety culture.

Safety at forefront of industry Randy Reiley, vice president of operations Keller-Martin Construction San Antonio, TX

I

n 2015, there were 13,900 constructionrelated injuries and 124 on-the-job deaths in Texas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Injuries are unavoidable in the construction industry, however that does not mean it is acceptable.

Keller-Martin Construction Randy Reiley handles the safety aspect of the business, including scheduling weekly classes on different areas of safety at the workplace.

“We have a consultant, IBTX, who does the training. We have a training schedule set up to get the guys certified on the lifts and bobcats and equipment,” Reiley said. “More and more subs have more focus on safety and safety training.

We are trying to intensify our training in different areas of safety. It’s broken down now where you can have training sessions on 20 different topics.”

Safety classes have become a standard in the industry since technology has

made it easier to convey information.

“The technology may change as far as the types of tools, but it’s still drills, hammers and saws,” Reiley said. “There’s not a lot of change in the construction side but there’s more of a change on the design phase. There’s more technology in the training. We can use PowerPoint to show pictures and videos of accidents instead of just a lecture on the job site.”

Job-site accidents vary in severity and types, but are problems for companies for many reasons.

“You always have the fall issues: falling off roofs and scaffolding,” Reiley said.

“There is also moving equipment. There is the minor stuff, which isn’t minor: the cuts and smashes with saws and hammers and hand tools. Those are what you worry about.”

Companies not only care about the people they employ, but they have to worry about the bottom line.

1: Make people and their safe work practices a part of the company’s core values.

It is important to establish a list of core values for your company. Core values are those cornerstones that the company has been built on and around. They are the “non-negotiable” building blocks of the employee and employer relationship. Core values stipulate how the company does business with the expectation that all team members honor these values, and if not, they can be asked to leave.

2: Make safe work practices a part of the company’s onboarding process.

Begin educating new employees on the company’s safety policies and procedures from their initial onboarding. Do not allow bad habits to take root. By emphasizing the importance of safe work practices within the company from the outset of employment, the new employee will be set on the right path and in the right direction. Allowing a new employee to onboard without emphasizing safe work practices can allow bad habits to form, which may be difficult to break at a later time.

3: Find a champion for safety within the company.

Executives and leaders have a difficult time completing all of their tasks and responsibilities. In order to overcome this, it is recommended that someone within the company/outside safety consultants with a passion for safety be assigned as the safety manager. Allow that person to find the cause of safety within the company and on project sites. The process of implementing new policies and procedures disrupts the current culture of the company. By establishing a safety program, there will be an advocate who can help lead the change process.

4: Educate/train the company’s employees.

Educate the workforce on safe work practices including OSHA standards. Invest in OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 training.

Make the employees aware of their role within the company and how they affect the safety performance of the overall organization. Train the employees on the

proper use of equipment. Have them use the safety equipment in a controlled training environment so that they learn the proper methods for using the equipment.

5: Monitor and coach your ongoing field operations.

All personnel, no matter their experience, have a tendency to grow complacent over time. “I will be okay this time” or “I have done this a million times” are uttered often just before accidents occur.

Accountability is an important feature of a culture of safety. You can trust, but you need to verify they are complying. Site visits and the process of accountability also offer the opportunity to coach and guide employees to correct poor behaviors before they become bad habits and ultimately result in an injury.

6: Thank your people for working safely.

You need to incentivize and recognize the behaviors that you want to see.

In many cases, a simple “thank you” can be the only incentive someone needs to continue to perform their job well. Thanking a team member for wearing their hard hat or for going that extra mile to set up fall protection may be just the level of recognition they need to continue that habit. As they say, a simple thank you goes a long way.

An abbreviated definition of culture is “the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent.” What is regarded as excellent in the construction industry is that employers and employees recognize that they must work together in a collaborative environment to create a safe work environment. When both work together to evaluate risk and create solutions to mitigate that risk, the culture of the construction industry will begin to make a positive change.

Since 1997, Paula Bailey, president of Bailey Safety Consultants, has provided organizations with workplace safety consulting services that have reduced workplace injuries and fatalities through customized occupational safety and health training consultant services. –mjm

“It’s important to me for cost. Your insurance rates go up if you have claims.

The margins are tight in our business so you have to save money where you can,” Reiley said. “For me, personally, as much as it is the costs, you worry about the guys. I worry about our guys. I have my son working for us, and my friends’ sons working for us. You worry about it from that point of view. The owners are more informed and more intelligent in different forms of construction. They have more knowledge of contractors and don’t want contractors with safety issues.”

Keller-Martin has been an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Gold Level Recipient for Safety Training and Evaluation 10 times since 2002.

“To me, since I’ve gotten into the business, there is more of an awareness about it,” Reiley said. “For me, it seems like people are harping on training so the guys are aware of the hazards, but also the training on how to make the job safe.

Do it the safe way, not the fast way. Companies are making sure people are trained and have the tools to do it safer instead of faster.”

The safety equipment is still the same as far as glasses, gloves, earplugs and other personal gear, making the biggest challenge in workplace safety with the employees on the job.

“It’s just getting the guys thinking

about it and being aware of it,” Reiley said. “Guys will be doing something and instead of putting on a pair of gloves, they will just pick up a piece of sharp metal and cut their finger. That’s the biggest challenge: getting the guys to slow down and think safety. They know how to do it but just get in a hurry. They take risks they shouldn’t take.”

Implementing safety into your daily plans on a site should not cause a dropoff in work.

“If you plan your work and work your plan, and you plan safety into it, it’s just as efficient to do it safely,” Reiley said.

“The issue comes in when you don’t plan it. When someone gets hurt, that slows you down. It stops. It’s hard for me to think of a situation where it’s any better or any faster to not be safe.

“The subs do a better job each year with in-house safety. They have their own training and it’s become a lesser issue each year.”

Zero is an important number for Keller-Martin. They aim for zero injuries every day and every year.

“That has to be your goal,” Reiley said. “It’s one thing for a guy to cut his finger, but it’s different when a guy falls off a ladder. Our guys take it personal when guys get hurt on their job. They take it as a reflection on them. We are doing our best to get to that zero.” –cs

Page 16

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Construction Safety Training pays off in safety plans Jason J. Puckett, Safety Director Patriot Erectors Inc. Dripping Springs, TX

J

ason Puckett is well known in the construction industry for his knowledge, certifications and awards in the construction safety arena.

As safety director for Patriot Erectors Inc., Puckett earned safety professional of the year by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Austin Chapter. He’s also a Certified Health and Safety Technician. His passion is to make sure Patriot’s employees make it home safely every day after work.

He’s been a union iron worker for 23 years and knows first-hand the possible safety issues confronting workers – he started as an apprentice and worked his way up through the ranks.

What are your thoughts on safety in the construction industry and at Patriot Erectors?

Training and education are the keys to success. Either by going through the

local union hall, where I am an instructor; or as a partner with 3M; and/or as part of the Center to Protect Workers Rights.

A lot of the training programs that we use come with those partnerships and memberships. The training is top quality training.

It’s usually off-site training.

What are some possible accidents confronting workers and why is it so important to make sure they are well trained?

Common accidents can be summed up in three words: slips, trips, falls.

The number one impact of accidents and avoiding them is the workers and their families. Nobody wants an employee to get hurt – it’s paramount.

Other issues include trying to train and replace a well-educated and welltrained employee who has been hurt.

It also affects a company’s Experi-

ence Modification Rating (EMR), Days Away Restricted in Transfer Rate (DART) and Total Recordable Incident rate.

The focus is to keep your EMR as low as you can. If your EMR goes above a 1, you may not be eligible for bidding certain projects.

What kind of training do Patriot’s employees have?

Individuals that we hire have to have an OSHA 10 before they are hired. That’s 10 hours of OSHA safety training in basic safety.

All supervisors are required to have OSHA 30.

Before any employee works at heights, they must be trained in authorized user fall protection and understand their equipment.

Prior to work in a confined space, all employees are required to go through a confined space program.

There’s also material handling safety, which would cover rigging.

What kind of tools do employees have to help maintain their safety?

It’s a constantly changing environment in the field, so we use the acronym SLAM: stop, look, access and manage hazards.

It’s common knowledge that any person can stop anyone else from doing an unsafe act at any time.

We also have a program called Raise

the Bar. That program is set up to recognize employees who see someone doing something unsafe and stop them and report them or counsel them.

They can fill out a card about the incident, but the card is only good if they actually do something to mitigate the hazard. Just observing a hazard and not acting is not acceptable. See something, say something.

Every Monday morning we have mandatory safety meetings for all the workers and supervisors. We cover topics based on what time of year it is and we review the past week.

Seasonal topics are sometimes tied to OSHA safety stand downs: they have materials and training for heat and fall safety stand downs and we participate in those.

What are some tips for workers in the heat?

Summer safety tips include heat stress training, including ensuring all workers and locations have access to cool drinking water and mandated breaks.

Train employees to recognize if they or other employees around them are exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion: pale skin, excessive sweating, nausea.

If they stop sweating and start acting different or confused, it could be heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. –cw

Top tips for improving safety training Ashok Sharma Warriors 4 Safety Texas City, TX

E

veryone knows safety training is important. Everyone also knows that there are other things they’d rather be doing. Safety training takes workers off of the job site and that can be costly, as well as a distraction, affecting information retention and reducing the effectiveness of your training sessions.

The remedy isn’t longer sessions or more thorough testing. The solution is more effective use of class time. By placing an emphasis on engagement and changing simple things about the way instructors present training information, you can help employees focus on the importance of safety training and the work in front of them while realizing that safety doesn’t end with training sessions.

Whether you use training management software, classroom learning or a combination of both, engagement plays a key role in information retention for your employees. Increased retention means the lessons paid for in the class-

room can help your employees cut loses and reduce injuries on the job site increasing your organization’s return on investment.

The first step in training engagement begins before class starts. In order to engage employees and give them confidence, instructors need to view training as a dialogue built around a safety-oriented corporate culture. Have management set an example for employees and show them that goals, like having zero incidents are worth striving for. This way management can set and test limits on performance while showing employees that there’s no excuse not to meet safety standards. It is always more effective for management to show this with their actions instead of just words.

Setting an example for employees is just the first step in creating a culture of safety around your organization. Invest the time and money into developing training tools and programs that will

speed up the transmission of information and learning. Personal safety equipment is a valuable tool for employee protection and almost always presents a positive return on investment; the same can be said of safety training. In many cases, an employee learning management system can be the perfect tool to support your message delivery. By investing in a variety of training materials, like video and interactive exercises, employees will see the value you are placing in their training and will give lessons more attention according to that perceived value.

Slides, interactive exercises and animated videos may be more expensive to develop than text-based training methods, but they also increase learning retention and keep classroom sessions fresh by segmenting information and helping time pass more quickly. Using a number of different training methods will accommodate a variety of learning styles in your workforce and help ensure that everyone clearly understands the lessons being presented. Taking breaks is important, as well, to compartmentalize training session information. This improves retention and employees’ willing-

ness to interact.

Another way to increase engagement and provide variety to classroom sessions is to bring in expert speakers.

Many are affordable and provide industry insight not readily available to safety training staff. Benefit from an expert’s experience by playing out emergency situations and recounting personal stories.

These exercises will help employees contextualize information and increase retention.

The most important part of safety training invariably ends up being how information is reinforced once classroom and e-learning sessions are over. Create regular safety meetings that showcase good work. Emphasize hazard identification and provide incentives that will keep workers interested and committed. Make use of evaluations when training is over and at frequent intervals to reinforce important topics. It’s all about embracing a safety culture that will reduce workplace incidents and keep your employees’ heads in the game - and protected.

Check out http://www.warriors4safety.com for more tips on construction safety.

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Page 17

Association Calendar AIA - Dallas

RHCA

American Institute of Architects

Regional Hispanic Contractors Assn.

Feb. 23: Young Professionals Network and TEXO Mixer, 6pm Feb. 28: Latinos in Architecture Happy Hour, 6pm

Feb. 17: Pillar Awards Luncheon, OMNI Fort Worth Hotel, 1300 Houston St., Fort Worth, 11am

AIA - Fort Worth American Institute of Architects

SAM Subcontractors Assn. of the Metroplex

Feb. 7: Advocacy Day, Austin Feb. 18: 2017 Awards Banquet, Kimbell Renzo Piano Pavilion, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 10am Feb. 22: 2017 Building Science Expo, TCC South Campus, 5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth

Feb. 2: Meeting, MCM Elegante, 2330 West NW Hwy., Dallas. Topic: “Sales Tax.” Steven H. Oberle, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts will discuss how to calculate sales tax and what to do in case of an audit. Cost is $35 members, and $45 for non-members. Details can be found at www.sam-dfw.org.

ASCE - Dallas

SEAoT - Dallas

American Society of Civil Engineers

Structural Engineers Assn. of Tx.

Feb. 16: 2017 Engineers Week Awards Luncheon, Plano Centre – Collinwood Ballroom, 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, 11am Feb. 19-25: Discover Engineers Week

Feb. 21: Meeting, Maggiano’s Little Italy.

North Park, 11:45am

ASCE - Fort Worth American Society of Civil Engineers

Feb. 21: Branch meeting, 11:45

ASA North Texas American Subcontractors Association

Feb. 9: ASA/TEXO TopGolf Tournament, TopGolf, 3760 Blair Oaks Dr., The Colony, 6pm registration.

Feb. 23: Membership meeting, Las Colinas Country Club, 4400 N O’Connor Rd., Irving, 11:30am

SFPE Soc. of Fire Protection Engineers

Feb. 6: Meeting, Double Tree Hotel, 4099 Valley View Ln., Farmers Branch, 11:30

TACCA – N. Tx. Texas A/C Contractors of America

Feb. 23: Member meeting

TEXO The Construction Association

Feb. 20: ASC/TEXO Region V Student Competition, Crowne Plaza Dallas, 14315 Midway Rd., Addison, 8am

TPWA-NCTB

ASPE – D/FW

American Public Works Assn. - N. Tx.

American Society of Plumbing Engineers

Construction Financial Mgmt Assn.

Feb. 9: TopGolf TPWA NCTB Event, TopGolf, Dallas Feb. 21: Branch meeting and luncheon, Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, Botanical Garden Blvd.’s Redbud hall, 11:45

Feb. 16: Membership meeting, Hackberry Creek Country Club, 1901 W Royal Ln, 11:30am

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Feb. 23: Fort Worth lunch

CFMA

CSI – Fort Worth Construction Specifications Institute

Feb. 22: 2017 Building Science Expo, TCC South Campus, 5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth

TSPE - Dallas Feb. 16: 2017 Engineers Week Awards Luncheon, Plano Centre – Collinwood Ballroom, 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, 11am Feb. 19-25: Discover Engineers Week

TSPE - Fort Worth

ICRI - NT

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Int’l Concrete Repair Institute

Feb. 16: 2017 Engineers Week Awards Luncheon, Plano Centre – Collinwood Ballroom, 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, 11am Feb. 19-25: Discover Engineers Week

Feb. 9: Membership meeting

NARI- Dallas Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Feb. 11: Casino & Auction Party, Plano’s Courtyard, 1700 Country Club Dr., Plano, 6:30pm Feb. 23: Blue Mesa Grill, 14866 Montfort Dr., Dallas, 11:30am

TSPE - Preston Trail Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Feb. 16: 2017 Engineers Week Awards Luncheon, Plano Centre – Collinwood Ballroom, 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, 11am Feb. 19-25: Discover Engineers Week

Feb. 20: Dinner meeting, Wyndham Garden Dallas North, 2645 Lyndon B. Johnson Fwy., Dallas, 6pm

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

NAWIC - Dallas

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

Feb. 16: Chapter meeting, Diamond Oaks Country Club, 5821 Diamond Oaks Dr. N, Fort Worth, 5:30pm

NUCA Nat’l Utilities Contractors Assn.

Feb. 3: Casino Night, The Westin Dallas/ Fort Worth Airport, 4545 W John Carpenter Fwy., Irving, 7:30pm

PMI - Dallas Project Management Institute

Feb. 9: Dinner meeting, Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green, Farmers Branch, 6:30pm Feb. 21: PMI Dallas Meetup, 6:30pm

RBCA

TSPE Feb. 4: Regional MATCHCOUNTS Competition, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, Feb. 16: 2017 Engineers Week Awards Luncheon, Plano Centre – Collinwood Ballroom, 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, 11am Feb. 19-25: Discover Engineers Week

TSPS – N. Tx. Tx. Soc. of Prof. Surveyors

Feb. 20: Membership meeting, Fort Worth Feb. 24: TSPS 2017 Symposium, South Padre Island, TX

UMCA United Masonry Contractors Assn.

Feb. 7: Meeting

USGBC - N. Tx.

Regional Black Contractors Assn.

U.S. Green Building Council

Feb. 9: Membership meeting, 2627 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dallas, noon

Feb. 22: Building Science Expo, TCC South Campus, 5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth Feb. 28: State Advocacy Day 2017

Round-Up VLK Architects announces the following new principal elections: Lauren Brown AIA LEED AP BD+C began her employment at VLK in 2000.

As project director, she served education clients including Fort Worth ISD, Crowley ISD, Rockwall ISD and White Settlement ISD. Brown’s notable projects include TCC Northwest Campus Indoor Firing Range, Arlington ISD’s CTE and science labs at Denton ISD’s Braswell High School. She also led the development of VLK’s science laboratory designs and ensures current laboratory codes and guidelines are met. Brown graduated from Norwich University.

John Klein AIA LEED AP is a 25-year employee of VLK. Klein has served as a project director for clients such as Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth and Keller ISD as well as VLK’s Fort Worth office’s director of production for nine years. His achievements include authoring many of the firm’s construction document processes and developing and administering bond assessment protocol, which led to the current program management role in VLK’s El Paso office. Klein is a graduate of Texas A&M University.

Ross Rivers AIA has worked at VLK for 16 years, and recently served clients including Aledo ISD, Midlothian ISD and Plano ISD as project director. Rivers served as director of operations for the Houston office and has been actively involved in strategic planning in his role as senior associate. His key projects include Aledo ISD’s Bearcat Stadium and Keller ISD’s Caprock Elementary. Rivers earned a bachelor of science in Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Clinton Schiver AIA NCARB LEED AP is a 12-year employee of VLK. During that time, he has served as project director for clients such as Keller ISD, Denton ISD and Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD. He has been responsible for projects such as Aledo ISD’s Don Daniel Ninth Grade Center and renovations to Keller High School. He has served as VLK’s IT manager, developing and maintaining IT protocol. Schiver earned a Masters of Architecture and a bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University.

BIG RED DOG’s Dallas office has hired Stephen Glenn, PE, as the Dallas office’s first mechanical engineer.

Glenn earned both a Bachelors of Science and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M. Glenn’s past work includes K-12, government, municipal, healthcare and water treatment projects.

Matthew W. Gould RPLS, has joined McKim & Creed Inc. as the new office manager. Gould will be responsible for managing all survey options within the Dallas office’s region. He brings more than 25 years of land surveying experience and a track record of successfully managing multi-million dollar contracts to his role, which includes leading surveying business development, marketing and personnel management efforts.

To support its special products division, MYCON General Contractors appointed industry veteran John Leverette to lead the company’s corporate group and Rick Dubec to oversee MYCON’s retail group.

Leverette’s group will operate out of MYCON’s headquarters in Dallas, and Dubec’s group is positioned at the company’s new College Station offices.

Round-Up Submissions

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

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

Email info to appropriate city issue, with “Round-Up” in the subject line: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– San Antonio saeditor@constructionnews.net Austin austineditor@constructionnews.net Dallas/Ft. Worth dfweditor@constructionnews.net Houston houstoneditor@constructionnews.net South Texas STeditor@constructionnews.net

Page 18

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Betting on a great year! ????????? ????????

T

hey resolved to start 2017 off right! The American Subcontractors Association’s (ASA) North Texas chapter hosted a casino night Jan. 13 at Omni Dallas Park West.

Members enjoyed a buffet dinner, casino games and prizes and a winning start to another year together. –mjm

PCL Contract Bonding Agency’s Melissa Lesch, Encore Mechanical’s John Reynal and PCL Contract Bonding Agency’s Eric Lesch

Dale and Teresa Payne of Prism Electric

continued from Page 1 — FCS celebrates 70 good deal.”

Bill’s hopes to keep FCS as a family business were fulfilled. Today, Neal serves as company president, Paul acts as vice president and Tom is FCS’ chief financial officer. Working with family has “its pluses and minus,” Paul jokes. “But it’s worked for 23 years. We’ve gone through some tough [economic] years in that period and we’ve come out of it okay.”

As the company celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, Paul says the most satisfying part of working at FCS is seeing the finished product.

“We do a lot of high-end, high profile projects. It’s really neat to step back and tell your kids, ‘Hey, I built that hotel,’ or ‘I built that office building.’ We’ve worked on the W Hotel, Cowboys Stadium and we’ve done a lot of work for Harlan Crow and Crow Holdings. We worked at most of the condominiums downtown: One Arts Plaza, Museum Tower, Ritz Carlton, Azure Tower, the Nasher and Klyde Warren Park.”

Paul says FCS is comfortable in its wheelhouse.

“I think we’ve found our niche –highend architectural woodwork and cabi-

nets,” he says. “We do high-quality finish and that’s a big deal because not every shop has a finish department. That’s where we shine is our finishing and our craftsmanship. We install it too, and I think that’s where we really differentiate ourselves. Also, our field people are the best. They can fix any kind of problem that we might run into and make it smooth for the customer.”

Paul says FCS’s business has ramped back up after the recession, which has left the Holdens little time to consider who will take over the business.

“We haven’t discussed how we’ll do a transition down the road, but there are some really great long-term employees who have already started stepping up.

Our employees are it; they do all of the work. If we don’t have them, we don’t have a company, really.

“We’re going to work with the customers we know, although we may have to broaden our customer base a little bit more,” he says. “But I don’t see much changing. We’re just going to stay in our little comfort zone, which is North Texas.”

–mjm

continued from Page 1 — The good fight MEMCO and Mobile Modular

Potter Concrete and City Wide Mechanical

tough, that’s when I’m at my best.”

He met a contractor who had fired his electrical contractor and who promised Harris more work if he supplied a fair bid and did a good job. Harris bought a book on estimating, creatively stretched his last $300, and founded Atlanta Electrical Experts Inc. Harris got the jobs, and maintained his “get tougher when times get tough” attitude through the recession. In 2008, he took on a major auto parts client and, when the client’s store construction moved to Texas, he moved his wife Emily and his business last year to McKinney.

As he searched for a trustworthy employee, he started frequenting a gym and discovered he shared the same value system as its owner. He ended up hiring John Garcia, the owner’s son, who worked graveyard shift for a wiring company. Harris is imparting his trade secrets to Garcia, and Garcia is training Harris to be the next boxing sensation.

Raised by Jehovah’s Witnesses, Harris was not allowed to compete in childhood sports. But after injuring his foot as an adult, he reasoned he could still use his hands. He learned to box in Atlanta, and when he met Garcia’s dad, an “old-school, by-the-book boxer,”

Harris signed on as the gym’s only fighter.

At 36 years old, Harris knows he is getting a late start, but at 6 ft. 4 in., with an 81 in. reach, long arms, short torso, long legs and good health, he believes he has a shot.

“Everything I do goes back to how I approach my electrical work,” Harris says.

“I practice. I work my behind off.”

Harris has amassed an impressive Instagram following as well as fans.

Harris’ rate of speech accelerates as he describes, Mohammed Ali-style, the thrill of facing his rivals. His first fight, the “Tough Man” competition last year in Oklahoma, was a success. Three fights in, the Oklahomans stopped booing the Texan and started cheering him.

“For the first time in my life, to stand in that ring, for them to hold my hand up and call my name out to the cheering crowd, to see my wife and children in the audience, I’m now like a shark in the water tasting blood,” Harris says. “I want to take it to the next level. I’m ready to make my pro debut in February. I’m not going to let anyone tell me I can’t do something.” –mjm PHOTO CREDIT: Finally Focus Photography

continued from Page 1 —A trend in LEED have a small office area that skirts two sides of the pre-engineered portion of the building. We do dress it up with some EIFS and some architectural metal panels, which is still the same concept we used in McKinney, but [the city’s planning and zoning department] did not allow our standard materials selection for the pre-engineered portion of the building. When they approved our building site, they said that we had to have brick or stone on a certain percentage of the building and that required us to clad the whole preengineered portion. We ended up going with a brick product for that material cladding system versus our standard metal panel that we would [normally] use.”

Adhering brick to the metal building cladding required coordination meetings early on between the contractor and pre-engineered building manufacturer to reach a solution.

Materials selection was also a challenge because it differed from RDO Equipment Co.’s standard. Eventually, carpet, wall coverings and floor tile made from recycled content were chosen.

Low-emitting materials, paints, coatings and adhesives were used throughout the building to improve indoor air quality.

Water-efficient landscaping with native plants reduces water use by 50%. RDO Equipment Co. also adopted a Green Cleaning Policy, which specifies that only environmentally friendly cleaning products be used at the store.

“It kind of made us think outside the box, but at the same time it was a good process to go through because, regardless of it being a LEED project or not, we’ve carried those specification upgrades from the greener products and morphed those into our future construction spec for any building we’ve done since then,” Curran says.

“I think people appreciated the aesthetic created by our different material selections, even though our form and function are essentially the same as other ones we have built throughout the U.S. Overall, the reaction has been positive and the fact that we designed a LEED building, people are very appreciative, especially employees,” Curran says.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Feb 2017

Page 19

Yippee – ki - yay!

T

he Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo galloped into town Jan. 13. Local construction-related companies moseyed on over to showcase their equipment, products and services for thousands of attendees. –mjm

Mueller Inc.

Woodbridge

Cre8tive Stoneworks

Landmark Equipment

HOLT CAT

Bobcat of Fort Worth

Zimmerer Kubota & Equipment

Ag-Power Inc.

Bob Davis Fences

Swinger Gate Company

Page 20

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News â&#x20AC;¢ Feb 2017