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Volume 19
Number 2
FEBRUARY 2017
Running the mill
Family transition
John Rodriguez Jr. opened a millwork shop with his initials on the door nearly four years ago, and the business has grown every year.
L-R: Darren Gerloff, Derek Gerloff, Dustin Gerloff and James Gregory run Gerloff Company, Inc., which is in the early stages of transitioning to new leaders of the company.
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hough John Rodriguez Jr. got his experience working for his father, John Rodriguez Sr. now works for him at JR Millwork, the company he started in April 2013. “He likes to work,” Rodriguez says of his dad. “But he got tired of actually running a business. He had a partner that handled more of the business side and he did more of the work side, and he was just ready for a change.” Carlos Hernandez rounded out the core trio of JR Millwork as Rodriguez started out and has built the business. Rodriguez notes that they don’t have titles – they’re all family. With three full-time employees, including Rodriguez, and two part-time
employees, JR Millwork has done projects including several WellMed Clinics, the most recent one being in San Marcos, and a full-service auto parts business in Victoria. Rodriguez says that though they usually like to stay within the San Antonio area, they do some projects outside the city. Born and raised in San Antonio, Rodriguez graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2004 and worked in the trade for about nine years before venturing out on his own. Though he describes the first year as having been a little rough, things picked up in the years after, and this year, so far, has been off to a good start. If business goes well this year, he continued on Page 25
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hen disaster strikes and families are left without homes, schools or their businesses, Gerloff Company Inc. responds to get people’s lives back together. Gerloff Company is a catastrophe management company that cleans, repairs and rebuilds homes and commercial buildings that have experienced a fire, flood, storm or any catastrophic event. The company was started in 1985 by owner Darren Gerloff after working on a home that was affected by a fire. At the time, Gerloff was looking for a way to transition out of new construction due to the economy. “I started my first company in high school, and in the early ’80s had built it
up,” Gerloff said. “We had built the business up from building cabinets to building condominiums in Canyon Lake and expanded to San Antonio and Austin. I ended up selling the company after the economy took a slight down turn. “A friend of a friend was an insurance adjuster, and he asked me to bid on a fire loss that he was adjusting for his USAA client. I submitted a bid for the project, and I was actually awarded the job. The project ended up being successful and it ended up turning a good profit, and I saw that I could do this with no employees.” A few years later Gerloff brought on former co-worker James Gregory, who is now the president of the Gerloff Company. continued on Page 25
Features highlight new complex
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n a competitive apartment market, Concept Builders’ 335,000-sf apartment complex at City Base Landing is set to be a standout with its extra amenities. Co-project manager Christian Gross said with the growing apartment industry in San Antonio, complexes are coming up with new ways to attract customers. “I know one thing that separates this from the other buildings we have done are the new amenities,” Gross said. “I think in the apartment world, amenities have really been a selling point for renters.” While things like pools and dog parks are the new standard, the new Vantage at Brooks City Base will have a car wash-like dog washing station. “It’s kind of a kiosk dog wash,” Gross said. “Basically, you go up like you’re taking your car to a car wash and select what
Vantage at Brooks City Base was completed in January under general contractor Concept Builders.
options you want, select your options and put your dog on this table for so many minutes to clean your dog. “They also added dog fitness obstacles. It’s little things for them to run up and down and hoops to jump through.” The gated complex also features a half-mile private jogging trail, a grass volleyball court and a two-acre outdoor activity area. The project budget was roughly $25 million, and will include 13 apartment buildings, a clubhouse, a maintenance building, three storage buildings and 11 garage buildings with a total of 64 garages. Concept Builders is the general contractor and is sticking to its regular selection of subcontractors to get the project done in a timely, efficient manner. “We try to stick to the same guy and if their price point is in line, we’d like to continued on Page 25
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Submitted to Construction News
Submitted to Construction News
Wearing steel on their sleeves
Happily married with a new name
The team at Wilborn Steel Co. dressed to show pride in their company at their Christmas luncheon. –mh
Yvette Garcia and Kurt Robinson, co-owners of Robinson General Contractors, tied the knot on Oct. 8, sealing their partnership in life as well as work. Now, Garcia is officially Yvette Robinson. Photo by Raul’s Photography –mh
Submitted to Construction News
Construction News JOB SIGHT
They helped save Christmas
Rock solid
Along with RTB Law Group, RCO Construction donated toys from its second annual Toy Drive to the Battered Women and Children's Shelter after toys intended for families in need were stolen from the shelter just before Christmas. –mh
Lundberg Masonry puts up the exterior on a building on 110 Chichester. The structure will have two dentist offices when it is complete. –cs
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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Moving and improving Walls
Industry FOLKS Daniel Crago Project Manager The GFP Group
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hen Daniel Crago, a project manager for The GFP Group, started work on Building 100, better known as the Taj Mahal, at Randolph Air Force Base, he had no idea that he had a familial connection to the project. Crago posted on his Facebook that he was working on the project, and his great uncle commented to let him know that he had worked in that building around the late ‘80s, during his time in the Air Force. In his comment, his great uncle mentioned his old office, and Crago realized that he had just completed renovation work on that exact office. Having grown up in San Diego, Crago’s parents, along with his younger sister and brother, relocated to the island of Kauai, and as a junior in high school, he had to choose if he wanted to go with them or stay in San Diego with his older brother. While living in Hawaii was tempting, life on a small, beautiful island was no match for the life and friends he had in San Diego. So, he remained in San Diego to finish high school, sleeping on his brother’s couch. Throughout high school, Crago worked for his uncle, a custom homebuilder, doing odds and ends and learning carpentry. His uncle taught him a lot about the building process from beginning to end. After several years working for a few different flooring companies in San Diego, he moved to San Antonio in 2010. His wife, Stacey, is originally from the Alamo City, but the two of them
met in California and have known each other since elementary school. With all of her family still here, the couple decided to relocate to San Antonio when construction slowed in San Diego. Crago enjoys the challenge and organization of doing government work, noting, “I’ve never been in the military, but I like that I’m supporting our military in some way by building things for them.” Last month, Crago, 31, and his wife celebrated their 10th anniversary. The couple has three boys, Dylan, 9; Ethan, 5; and Jackson, 2. Stacey stays home with the little ones, but she’s also part owner with her mother and sisters in Vista Vocational Resource Center, which helps the disabled with job placement. In 2014, the couple decided to get healthy and started running together. Since then, Crago has lost almost 85 pounds and his wife has lost about 90 pounds. Now within their physical comfort zone, they still run races together, including 5Ks, 10Ks and 20Ks, the San Antonio Rock ‘N’ Roll Half Marathon, and in June, they returned to San Diego to do the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon. –mh
L-R: At Walls Across Texas, Bob Lynch, president, and his son Sam Lynch, estimator, have the walls of their new office decorated with some unique touches, such as this scrabble board lettering, designed by Lynch’s wife.
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fter spending more than two decades in the office on Tesoro, Walls Across Texas relocated to 10203 Kotzebue, Suite 120, last year, and now the company is enjoying more space and a whole new atmosphere. Though the new office has taken some getting used to, Bob Lynch, president, says he likes it. He particularly likes having their own warehouse since they did not have one at the old location. The owners of their former building wanted to expand and the other businesses, including Walls Across Texas, who were leasing the space had to find new locations. Walls’ new home is 3,000sf with about 2,000sf of warehouse and has a reception area, a break room and offices for Lynch, his superintendent, and Lynch’s son, Sam, who came into the business as an estimator three months ago. Sam’s office is affectionately known as the “Aggie
Room.” As he has been learning how to read plans, he’s also taking OSHA classes online to handle safety. Once they found the space, Lynch’s wife, Mandy, helped them make it their own. Mandy does commercial and residential decorating as a hobby on the side. For Walls’ new office, she added faux brick columns, and took photos of one of Wall’s jobs at the Pearl to adorn the walls of Walls Across Texas. She also added creatively repurposed touches for items such as the light fixtures and desks. Today, with about 30 people working for Lynch, he believes he will probably work a few more years, and hopes to have his sons take over the business in the future. Walls Across Texas does drywall and acoustical jobs, including recent renovations of the Karnes County Courthouse as well as work on the Bexar County Justice Center and several dialysis clinics. –mh
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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Sweet 15
Staffing across the state
FairClaims Roofing and Construction celebrates 15 years in business in early 2017.
The San Antonio team, including Casey Wenzel pictured right, of MEMCO recently celebrated the construction staffing company’s 20th anniversary.
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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. Randy Spradlin provides services for San Antonio out of the Round Rock location, and FairClaims does have an office in San Antonio. 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
Construction News ON LOCATION
Tooth and nail
RC Page Construction works on the second floor of a building that will feature two dentist offices at 110 Chichester. –cs
San Antonio
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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 pays 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
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Paul Daniec Benchmark Utility Contractors
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t 41, Paul Daniec has been running his own underground utility and site work company for almost 20 years. Having established Benchmark Utility Contractors with a partner in January 1998, Daniec bought out his partner and incorporated a year after opening the business. Since he has gotten into real estate investment, Benchmark builds the subdivisions for his development projects as well as other projects. All the lessons Daniec learned in his enterprising youth as well as those gathered from working for his father have brought him to where he is today.
What was your previous experience before starting Benchmark? I had done some general contracting. I built a few state-leased office buildings down in South Texas for my dad. That’s how I got into construction. I’m only 41. So, when I started the business [Benchmark], I was 22. What were the challenges of starting out on your own that young? It wasn’t really all that challenging. I had my first business at 12 years old. My dad always had a job working for somebody, but always had some sort of side business. His dream was to one day be self-employed. Tell me about your parents. I’m first generation American. My parents came here from Poland in either the end of ’74 or the beginning of ’75, because I know that I was conceived in Poland but born in the states. My dad was a mechanical engineer by trade, and when they moved here, they moved to New York City. My dad’s first employment was pumping gas at two gas stations in New York City. He was a mechanical engineer in communist Poland, and when he came to the U.S., his English was not the best. Sometime before I was 1 year old, they ended up moving to Carlsbad, NM, where my dad got a job as a draftsman for a company that builds underground mining equipment. That was his first job that had anything to do with his education. And then, I think around ’79 or ’80, we ended up moving to Texas. My dad got a better job offer as a draftsman at a company called Reynolds Manufacturing. They used to build scraper buggies, like earthmoving equipment and heavy attachments for bulldozers and things like that. That’s what brought us to Texas, and that’s pretty much what I remember. I don’t remember New York. I don’t really remember New Mexico. I remember being raised from kindergarten on. What was that first business you started at 12 years old? It was a comic book store. I sold comic books and baseball cards. I started it in the summer of sixth or seventh grade, and I kept it through the
school year, but then I got bored, and I was too young to have the drive and the work ethic to want to do it on a daily basis. I went to school, and I was open Saturday and Sunday, and at some point, nine months into it, the kid in me was like, “I want to go outside and play with my friends. I don’t feel like going and opening the little comic book store.” And it was an actual store. At that time, my dad still had a job. He was still working for somebody, but [my parents] owned a Laundromat in Edinburg, TX. Inside, 80 percent of it was Laundromat with washers and dryers, but off to the side, there was one room that was the office and right next to that was a little bit bigger room that my dad had built out, and there used to be a barber or hair stylist in that space. They would sublease space inside the Laundromat, and what got me into this idea of the comic books [store] was that little space had gone vacant. So, my dad had this room – it wasn’t a big room, 10x10 or 10x15, a one-man barbershop room. It was empty, and so I asked my dad, “Can I use that room and try to sell some of my old comic books?” It turned into a business by accident. I had a collection of comic books, and as you collect more and more of these comic books, you start becoming picky about what ones you like and what ones you don’t. You end up with this big collection of comic books, but 80 percent of them no longer interest you. My motivation was to sell my used, unwanted comic books so that I would have money to go out and buy new comic books or comic books I wanted for my collection. How did things go with your own comic book store? As I started selling these comic books, I put out one of those plastic signs that said “Comic books for sale” and an arrow pointing toward the Laundromat. It went really slow, but people did start slowly coming in and looking at my comic books, and they bought a few of my old ones. Then, somebody asked, “Do you have any new comic books?” And I said, “Well, no, but I can see if I can get some.” So I ended up going to a real comic book store in McAllen, which was about 15 minutes away. I asked them about ordering T-shirts and posters, and the guy behind the counter just gave me the catalog from his supplier, saying, “Whatever you want in there, I can order for you.” Well, smart Paul, all he had to do was look at the back of that catalog and get that 1-800 number – and when I got home, I called saying, “I want you to send me one of your catalogs, because I want to be a distributor and sell your products.” They sent it to me, and I could order direct from the warehouse – comic books, posters, T-shirts. People that are into that type of stuff, you’d be amazed, and now it’s even worse! There’s all kind of memorabilia, toys, figurines, posters, Tshirts… Oh, I know. I collect some of it [laughs]. So, you know. And then, somebody came in, looking at comic cooks and said, “Hey, do you have baseball cards?” And I said, “No, but I can get them.” [laughs] At that time, my parents had a membership to Sam’s Club. In the beginning, [Sam’s] was really more set up for business owners, and so my parents would go to Sam’s to buy soap, bleach and cleaning supplies for the Laundromat. And I remembered that at Sam’s, they used to sell entire boxes of baseball cards at wholesale prices. So, the next time, I went with my mom. At that time, it was around $20 for a box, but it had 40 or 50 packs in it. Each pack cost you 50 cents, but you could retail them for $1 or $1.50. So [the comic book store] just kind of grew from a little hobby to a somewhat real little part-time business, but I was just too young. How long did you have that business? Just for about a year, and then I was
Paul Daniec, president and owner of Benchmark Utility Contractors, with his fiancé, Priscilla Moya
just a normal kid going to school until maybe 16, 17. I got into washing and detailing cars, and I started at my parents’ house. I did that for about a year until my dad started complaining that every Saturday and Sunday, I had two or three strangers’ cars in the driveway, and I was hogging the driveway, using his water and his electricity. He said I needed to get my own place. So, by 17 or 18, I rented a real shop. I moved my car detailing business and actually had an employee. I did that until I was 18 or 19, and then I thought, “Do I concentrate on school? Do I want to wash cars for a living?” And after two years, I decided I needed to be a normal 18, 19-year-old kid and go to school. I got an associate’s degree in building construction technology at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. When I was 21 or 22, while I was going to school, I built two office buildings for my dad. At that time, my plan was to finish school and finish building these offices, and then see if I could convince the old man to go down to Frost Bank with me and co-sign for a loan, so I could become a spec homebuilder. That’s what I thought was a viable option. Why did you leave that plan behind? Around 1992, my dad was self-employed. He had gotten into real estate development, going out and building residential subdivisions. He would buy a piece of land, hire an engineer and a surveyor to design the subdivision, hire a contractor – like what Benchmark is today – to go and put in the water, the sewer, the drainage and put in the street, and then he would turn it around and sell finished residential lots to people. When I was finishing school, my parents went on vacation, back to Poland, for about a month, and I was the only one who stayed behind. I have two younger siblings. My dad asked me to keep an eye on this one subdivision that he was building, because the contractor that was building it was dragging his feet and taking a long time to get it done. My dad noticed that some days he would drive by and there would be no equipment and no activity going on. My dad asked me to keep an eye on these guys and try to keep them working on that jobsite. During the course of doing that, I became friendly with the employees and the superintendent for that little company. I would stop by every day, and after a while, they spilled the beans and told me that this little construction company had another subdivision that they were building about five miles away. And there would be three guys with a backhoe and they might be putting in a water line, and they would come to my dad’s subdivision on Monday or Tuesday, and then Wednesday and Thursday, they’d be gone. So, the guy was trying to build two subdivisions
with one crew. I would try to catch them and get them to come back to my dad’s subdivision. Over the course of doing that, we became friends, and I started asking – because I was very much interested in this type of work, because compared to the general construction work I had done, it was much less detail-oriented. When you do building construction as a general contractor, the fit and the finish, the final product is usually what people look at – the paint, the paint color, the quality of the trim. One thing I didn’t like at that time about being a general contractor is you’re basically at the mercy of your subs. I had times where the foundation guy was ready to pour the slab, but he can’t do it, because the plumber didn’t show up to finish the plumbing underneath the slab. So one sub is holding up the next sub, which is holding up all the other subs. So, what I liked about utility construction was the idea that I could get a couple of pieces of equipment and hire three or four guys. I’m basically the general contractor building the subdivision, but I don’t sub anything out. It’s all done by us with my employees and my equipment. You have a lot more control over the process, and I like that a water line buried deep underground, nobody looks at it and says, “I don’t like the color of that water line.” It’s just a different line of work. What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I love to travel. I probably travel way too much. I’ve been to 30-plus countries. I’ve been to Africa, Asia, all over Europe, Central America – I’ve cruised a lot. I think I’m on cruise [number] 12 or 13. I’ve traveled a lot in general, but cruising has been a big thing. I’ve done Alaska, Hawaii, the Mediterranean several times, and two trans-Atlantic cruises. When I’m here and I’m working, I could work 6, 7 days a week, but I’ll work for a month, maybe two months, and then I’ve got to escape for a week or two or three. Do you have a family of your own? I was married for 14 years and got divorced, but I have two kids, a 10-year-old daughter named Julia and a 15-year-old son named Jan. Hunting and fishing are more his hobbies than mine. I got him into it, but I’m too lazy to get up at 5 in the morning and go sit in the deer blind. I prefer to go hunting if I can combine it with a vacation, like we’ve done safaris in Africa in 2013 and 2015, and we plan on doing another safari this summer. He likes hunting, but I like to travel, so I try to combine the two so everybody’s happy. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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In memoriam
imothy Dean Word Jr., a partner in the Dean Word Co., passed away on Christmas Day. He was born in 1929 in La Grange to parents T. Dean and Eunice Carl Word. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers in Korea after graduating from Texas A&M and Harvard Business School. Upon his discharge from the Army in 1954, he became an active partner of the Dean Word Co., a highway and heavy construction firm founded by his grandfather in 1890. He assumed management of the company in 1965, continuing to work alongside his father and his uncle, Bryan Carl, for many years. He married Suzanne Zachry in 1958. She survives. Other survivors include sons, Dean III, Forrest, Patrick and Bryan; daughter, Amber; and 11 grandchildren. –mh
What was your favorite food as a child? Macaroni and cheese. I really like cheese, and I guess I miss it more now that I try to eat healthy. JR Trevino, Treco Enterprises I’m going to have to say pizza, because it’s delicious. As a kid, it was always probably the homemade pizza, because we’d have family pizza night where we’d all make it. Casey Wenzel, MEMCO I’d have to say Taco Bell was my number one place to eat. I remember my mom asking me where I wanted to eat, for like my birthday, and I would always say Taco Bell. Daniel Crago, The GFP Group I think my favorite food was a chicken drumstick. That was my favorite part of the chicken. It wasn’t dry, and it was meaty and it was plentiful. Growing up, we didn’t have a lot, but my grandmother always made sure there was a chicken drumstick left for me. Joe Monroe, Consolidated Installation Service I have no idea. I’m an eater in general, so there’s lots of things that I like. I don’t want to lie to you and say I have a favorite, because I don’t think I do. Paul Daniec Benchmark Utility Contractors I’m not a person of favorites, but if I had to pick one, I would have to say fried bologna. My dad would fry up bologna because it’s just what we had, and for some reason, I love the taste of bologna and especially fried, and I remember I would bug him a lot to make a fried bologna sandwich or for him to just fry the bologna, and I would eat it just like that. Eloina Benavides, Arts & Advertising I guess I want to say strawberry cake. My grandmother always made a good strawberry cake, and I always liked that. John Chaney Baird Foundation Repair I love Chinese food. I always have and I always will – the flavors, lots of vegetables. There was a place where I grew up, and it was just always a staple, and you have it once a week. James Hiebert South Texas Solar Systems
Don’t forget your sweetie on Valentine’s Day Tuesday, Feb. 14th
I think donuts were my favorite food. And why? I’m imagining it’s the sugar rush that I got. I remember growing up there was a Kroger near my high school where I’d stop by and instead of getting one donut, I’d get a dozen, and whatever I didn’t want, I would share with my classmates. Jose Eduardo de la Garza WestEast Design Group Probably my mother’s chicken pot pie. It was completely homemade, and there’s just something about mom’s food. Wade Mayfield Joeris General Contractors Rice, beans and chicken. That’s a typical Puerto Rican dish, and my mom – I don’t think anybody can beat her on that. Alex Ocasio, Cross Branch Survey Calabaza con pollo. It’s a Mexican dish. It’s basically squash and chicken, but my grandmother used to make it. I tried to make it myself and I had my mom make it, and it just never came out as good. Whenever I think of my childhood, I think of that as far as meals. Rudy Bazan, Terracon My aunt made the BEST spaghetti and meatballs. It was a recipe from an old Italian lady in Chicago. We only got to eat it maybe once a year, but I can still remember the taste! My aunt never let anyone know the recipe, she took it to her grave. Sue Johnson, Construction News
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San Antonio 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.
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.
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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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
Past issues of Construction News can be downloaded at www.ConstructionNews.net
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Diversity in construction
TGIF the 13th
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ith February being Black History Month, this is a good time to celebrate the diversity that strengthens our local construction community. “It's a proud time, because the construction industry is important to the history of our communities,” says Barbara Hawkins, I.C.E. Construction Services, of what it means to her to see – and be a part of – the black community in construction today. “Building the community is a major factor in ensuring a community is growing and prospering. I hope to be a part of a movement that will grow and get more young people engaged in the construction industry so we can build a pipeline of tradesmen. “Black History Month reminds all of us about the construction industry and our responsibility in building quality structures, serving as role models and making sure young people are exposed to the industry.” Speaking in terms of the future for black contractors, she adds, “I'm very hopeful as I have seen firsthand how some of the larger general contractors are embracing more participation from black contractors and how they are mentoring and including them on some fairly large jobs. I'm also thankful that the leadership of AGC [Associated General Contractors] is making strives toward building a stronger contractor network.” The Black Contractors Association (BCA), which started up again under the administration of the AGC San Antonio Chapter, has been a big step in a positive direction to help minority contractors connect and grow. “Black Contractors Association's mission is to advocate for and advance the development and growth of AfricanAmerican-owned businesses and their capacity,” says Sherrika Arch, vice chair of the BCA and owner of Straight Line Man-
Barbara Hawkins
Lynwood’s Kenny Perkins, right, waves while John Gomez, left, cooks for the hungry attendees.
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Sherrika Arch
agement. “This contributes to and participates in the self-determination, economic growth and prosperity of African-American communities in the San Antonio area, thereby creating a strong economic base that develops, empowers and supports the ongoing success of these communities and our businesses at large. Increasing the number of successful African and minority businesses by helping them gain access to procurement opportunities and capital is an ongoing process. “As one of the board members of the Black Contractors Association, I am excited about the possibilities of enhancing the business opportunities of my peer firms. I believe in leveraging the strengths of each individual company making the sum of our collective organization much stronger than any of us individually.” –mh
riday the 13th was a lucky day for hungry contractors stopping into Lynwood Building Materials last month. In November, Chris Christians IV initiated a monthly customer appreciation event, which had been a breakfast until January when they decided to do a
lunch instead. Martha Larson says, “We got a new griddle and wanted to put it to work.” And they did, serving sausage wraps to well over 100 guests. They will welcome hungry visitors again on Feb. 10 for the next one. –mh
Team members from Cox Tile grabbed some lunch while stopping by Lynwood during the company’s customer appreciation event.
Joy to the mechanical world
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ore than 110 members of the Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MCA-SMACNA) of San Antonio gathered for the annual Christmas party Dec. 21 at Oak Hills Country Club. Guests enjoyed their meals as well as the chance to win door and attendance The highlight of MCA’s Christmas party was the presentation prizes. –mh of the Legacy Award to Paul Tezel, Tezel & Cotter A/C, and Louis Mosel, L.C. Mosel Company, for their many years of service to the association and the San Antonio mechanical industry. L-R: Louis Mosel, Paul Tezel, Kyle Pennington
The Christmas party included the passing of the gavel from Roger Ford to Kyle Pennington.
L-R: Brad Bright and Roger Ford
L-R: Kurt Mosel, Kyle Pennington, Bill Monier, Jay Rohan
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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Out of this Solar System
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hough James Hiebert misses playing professional hockey, he’s very happy that his business, South Texas Solar Systems, has been growing significantly in the last three years and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Part Mohawk, Hiebert grew up in a very small town called Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in Canada. His father was a general contractor, so Hiebert did a lot of roofing, siding and other construction work. With his hockey career bringing him to the U.S., Hiebert played for teams all over the country, including the Fort Worth Brahmas, the Laredo Bucks and the Manchester Monarchs, which being AHL, would have played against the Rampage. Knowing he couldn’t play forever, he decided to start South Texas Solar Systems in Laredo in 2007, and then he opened the office here in San Antonio, where he met his wife. He intends to
open an office in Austin this year. Hiebert also has an office in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, which goes by the name Endless Green Energy or Living Skies Solar. He notes that in Canada, solar is a new and emerging market, and a lot of his old teammates are just getting out of hockey. So, he’s bringing them down to train them. Hiebert and his wife, Lauren, have two children, Joseph and Aaron, and he spends his time working or with his family. Time spent with the 20 employees he has on payroll includes group work and teambuilding. The San Antonio team has worked on projects such as the Astro Bowl, with about 700 panels on the bowling alley, and both Columbia Realty buildings on West Avenue. South Texas Solar Systems does residential and commercial solar installation, ground mounts, battery banks, specialized battery kits for off-grid, demand control and load control. –mh
Signs of change
Paula Casiano, a sales rep at Arts and Advertising and the sister of owner Eloina Benavides, sits at the front counter of the store’s new 1,000-sf sales area.
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he storefront looks very different at Arts and Advertising, which operates under the dbas One Day Signs, Alamo Stamp and Engraving and Creative Ideas. Located at 11930 Starcrest Dr., the store underwent an interior expansion and remodel over the Christmas break. When owners Eloina Benavides and her brother, James Kee, first purchased the business, they had the whole building, which is 8,000sf, but they decided to give up 1,400sf of it to cut back on expenses. The shop that was occupying the space unfortunately did not make it, but fortunately for Arts and Advertising, the company was able to take the suite over again. “We decided to make it our new storefront,” explains Benavides. The new sales area is 1,000sf with an area for customers to wait comfortably while lettering is put on their vehicles. Also, there are more displays featuring promotional products and signs showing customers exactly what the company can do. The former storefront is now the print area, and since moving everything around, they’ve been able to streamline their production. Benavides notes that customers will see faster service and improved customer service. Benavides notes that they also kept mementos from the previous owners and her mentors, the Kindalls. “I still have Jim’s model airplanes up, and we have a little sign that says ‘The Kindalls.’ Jackie Kindall passed away this past July, and so it’s kind of like trying to keep the memory alive with little mementos.” Benavides’ role in the company is changing this year as she switches from
production management, which Kee will take over, to focus on running and building the business as well as sales. She has also stepped up her role in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) to serve on the San Antonio Chapter’s board of directors this year. –mh
Members of the South Texas Solar Systems team have been busy lately. L-R: Isaac Bazan, Nick Hoy, Cory Maccherone, James Hiebert and his brother, Joseph Hiebert
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Catamount has come far
Industry FOLKS Ann Busker Human resources coordinator Rogers-O’Brien
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The San Antonio team at Catamount Constructors, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, donated $2,000 worth of toys, clothes, gift cards, books and other items to the Battered Women & Children’s Shelter.
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his month, Catamount Constructors is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Reflecting upon this milestone, Scott Reynolds, president, says, “We have come a long way from working out of a tiny garage in Denver, CO to a $250M, nationwide construction firm.” With 40 employees, the San Antonio office has done many high-profile projects in the past six years, including a large expansion to the UPS San Antonio HUB facility, the conversion of an old dorm to a classroom building at Antonian High School, a retrofit of an industrial building into an Amazon sorting facility, and a 280-unit multi-family project at Brooks City Base. Going forward, Rebecca Mansfield, director of client relations, who is based in the San Antonio office, observes that the markets Catamount specializes in are all going very strong in the Alamo City. “The overall Urban Core in San Antonio (residential, retail, hospitality, medi-
cal, office, educational) is changing on a daily basis,” says Mansfield. “New construction is everywhere, as well as adaptive reuse of historic buildings, remodels/ additions of educational facilities, facelifts and upgrades to medical facilities, and conversions from old uses, like industrial or office, into residential or hospitality.” In addition to its general contracting and construction management services, Catamount does sustainable construction, design-build, cost estimating, conceptual budgeting, scheduling and value engineering. The company’s markets include multi-family, energy, retail, industrial, office, healthcare, interiors/renovation, automotive and government. Catamount Constructors is a privately held general contractor and construction management company. With 2,400 projects completed across 48 states, the company has offices in Atlanta, San Antonio and Lakewood, CO. –mh
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
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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Be prepared to grind througout the day 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.
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 enjoy the time off the water during hunting sea-
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.
son, 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.
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!
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-
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.
www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news
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. 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.
Texas Style
San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston
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San Antonio 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 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 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!
Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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Submitted to Construction News
A worthy trip JC Jr. and David Stoddard headed to the Lone Star White Tail Ranch in Tilden recently and came home with these two nice bucks. They are the sons of Curt Stoddard and nephews of Favorite Aunt Trichia Stoddard, both of JC Stoddard Construction. –bd
Right: JC Stoddard Jr.
Left: David Stoddard
Submitted to Construction News
Submitted to Construction News
Christmas gift
A walk in the snow
Carrying his snowboard on his shoulders, Keith Breen, Primo Plumbing, took a hike off trail at Steamboat Springs, CO. –mh
Craig Noto, president of Quality Fence and Welding, bagged a 12-point buck two days before Christmas for an early gift. The deer was shot in Cotulla and is one of the best in Noto’s 30 years of hunting. It scored 174 3/8 and weighed 185 pounds. –cs
Winter fishermen
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ith family joining in on the fun, the Benchmark Utility Contractors team, headed out on the water for a recent fishing trip at South Padre Island. – mh
Have an outdoor photo you’d like to share? Send to: San AntonioEditor@Constructionnews.net or call Mary at 210-308-5800
Elsa Chavez, wife of Ernesto Chavez, vice president, with her catfish catch
Linda Nichols, office manager, with her son and husband
Paul Daniec, president, with his son, Jan Daniec
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Submitted to Construction News
Her island Sundays
A buck for Christmas
The town square decorated for the holidays
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Mike Helmke, an architect and contractor who runs Helmke + Associates, was proud of his son, Mike, who harvested this 160-pound buck on Dec. 23 at their lease at Los Novios Ranch near Los Angeles, TX in LaSalle County. Young Mike had just turned 18 the week before he got his shot at this 10-pointer, which scored 159-1/2. –mh
Submitted to Construction News
Eastern getaway
or Kristi Villanueva, HJD Capital Electric, the opportunity to explore while off the coast of Portugal for a very special project was the chance of a lifetime. “All [construction] work and no play is no way to live,” says Villanueva, noting that while their staff worked 12-hour-plus days, 6 days a week, they played on Sundays. “If you ever find yourself in Ponta Delgada, Azores, you will quickly notice the old town feel and friendly atmosphere,” she says. “The streets are still lined with cobblestone, and fences are made from volcanic rock. A great meal will cost you 20 Euros on average and a top-notch beer or bottle of wine is never hard to find for around 5 Euros. All the benefits without the price.” –mh
Kristi Villanueva was able to spend her offhours on an overseas project exploring a little island off the coast of Portugal.
Paul Daniec, president of Benchmark Utility Contractors, has traveled all over the globe. This picture was taken in Thailand while traveling with his fiancé, Priscilla Moya. –mh
Villanueva, left, took a four-hour horseback ride through the country.
San Antonio Construction News â&#x20AC;¢ Feb 2017
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Changing of the guard
Construction News ON LOCATION
A holiday Vision
Vision Construction Co. held its Christmas party at its new office, 4242 Woodcock Dr., where they have been operating since July. –mh
L-R: Jason Smith is taking the lead as president at the SpawGlass San Antonio office as Chuck Calvin retires from the position he has held for more than a decade.
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fter serving 12 years as San Antonio division president for SpawGlass, Chuck Calvin is retiring, and Jason Smith, most recently the operations manager for San Antonio, is taking the reins as its new president. With the company for 39 years, Calvin says that he started “as low as you could start with a company” and that SpawGlass gave him opportunities to better himself and his family. On Mar. 5, Calvin’s 60th birthday, Calvin will be officially retired. In his retirement, Calvin is really looking forward to spending time with his two granddaughters, 3 and 1-and-ahalf. He is always building something for them – the next project is a bed. He also intends to travel, including plans to play golf in Scotland and Ireland. “I’ve been blessed to be here, to have so many friends in the industry from our subcontractors to our architects and engineers and even to competitors,” says Calvin. “It’s a small world, and I’m just thankful for all the friends and support
that I’ve gotten throughout my tenure as president.” For the last year, Smith has been working closely with Calvin to make the transition as seamless as possible. Since coming to SpawGlass as a field engineer 17 years ago, Smith has led projects such as the AT&T center, from the first shovelful to the day they played the first basketball game there, and current projects such as Texas A&M’s science and technology building and two service centers for the City of San Antonio. Originally from South Louisiana, Smith came to San Antonio as a military brat in high school, and this has been home ever since. He and his wife have two teenagers and live in La Vernia. They are all big baseball fans. As Smith steps up as president, John Devaney, who has 29 years with the company and has served as a superintendent and project executive, has been promoted to operations manager for San Antonio. –mh
Building up local support
Joe Monroe, president of Consolidated Installation Support (CIS), with San Antonio City Councilman Ray Lopez
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hen Joe Monroe was getting ready to retire from the U.S. Army, he started his own business, Consolidated Installation Support (CIS), and this year, he is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his company. “I think our sustainment is that we took out time at the beginning to put certain certifications and registrations in place as a foundation for the business to grow,” says Monroe. “This 10th year means a lot, because it has been a long time coming and a lot of hard work.” A service-disabled veteran-owned small business, CIS made a mark on history in 2014 by becoming the first African-American company to win a bid with the City of San Antonio as the primary contractor. The job was Tom Slick Park, and they’ve done more work with the city since then. CIS has done a lot of park renovations for the city as well as work for the VA and Randolph Air Force Base. Though it’s just two full-time employees right now,
Monroe believes this will be the company’s most prosperous year, and adds that he hopes to hire five or six more full-time employees in the future. Originally from North Carolina, the military is what brought Monroe to San Antonio. He has five children, one of whom just graduated from West Point and is serving on active duty, his youngest just entered West Point, one son just graduated OCS (Officer Candidate School) at Fort Benning, and his twin girls are in their junior year of college. He and his wife, Regina, have been married for five years. She is a general manager for a government contracting company. Aside from CIS and his family, Monroe is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a board member of the David Scott YMCA, and president of the Psi Alpha Scholarship Foundation. Consolidated Installation Support is a general contractor that does mostly commercial and government work. –mh
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To the year ahead
Industry FOLKS JR Trevino Vice President of Business Development Treco Enterprises
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aving grown up in the construction business, JR Trevino enjoys giving back to the community. The desire to contribute has led him to take on two new leadership positions to serve the industry that provides his livelihood and the city where he lives. Having just turned 30 in October, Trevino is the youngest councilmember in Castle Hills, after been elected to that position in May. In this role, he’s encouraging the council to reevaluate the processes that have been in place for a long time to determine if they are really the most efficient ways to do things. As a councilman, or alderman in Castle Hills where he resides, Trevino finds the interactions with local businesses and stakeholders interesting, listening to what they have to say and trying to help them since they contribute so much to the city. After serving six years on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Contractors Association (HCA) de San Antonio, Trevino has stepped up to president of the HCA this year, where he aims to help the companies that contribute to the industry. “I want to be able to help more people,” says Trevino. “One of the things that we really pride ourselves on is our training, and I think that’s one of the things we do best, but I want to be able to train more people.”
He’s also working to help start one-day training for OSHA 10. Though the HCA has typically done OSHA 10 training over the course of two days, Trevino believes that this will alleviate some of the burden on the companies by having their employees trained in one day instead of two, and it will alleviate some of the burden on employees, ensuring they have one less day away from work or their families. Born and raised in San Antonio, Trevino sees his family often. His father, Edward, is president of Treco Enterprises and runs operations in the field, while his mother, Alma, runs the office. Eager to join the family business, Trevino graduated from Baylor University in three years with a double major in marketing and management. He observes that those skills he learned in college help him at work and in his two service leadership positions. Though vice president of business development is what his Treco business card says, he notes, “I do everything, but that sounds a lot more professional than Jack of all trades.” While his spare time is very minimal, he enjoys biking and has done the Bike MS ride two years in a row, which allows him to give back while also challenging himself. –mh
Running with the cool crowd
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ith this winter much milder than usual, the American Subcontractor Association (ASA) San Antonio Chapter found a way to get everyone to bundle up – by taking them to chill out in the “Caliente Zone” ice-side suite at a hockey game. Attendees got front row seats to the action as the San Antonio Rampage took on the Iowa Wild on Jan. 13 at the AT&T Center. –mh
L-R: Kenneth Moore, KCM Cabinets; Beth Moore; Nicole McCoy; Vince McCoy
Jennifer Swinney, ASA executive director, and “Big John” Leifester, Dedicated Landscape Solutions Greg Wiatrek, Alpha Insulation & Waterproofind, took his wife, Sheri, and their son, Grant, to the ASA Subs on Ice event.
Jordon Brown, Quality Fence, and Zach Knerr, Davila Electric Company
Sandee Morgan showed her hockey allegiances lie with the “original” Mighty Duck.
L-R: Sherrika Arch, Straight Line Management; Mike Kaiman, Turner Construction; and a member of Arch’s team from Straight Line
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he Black Contractors Association (BCA) hosted mixers in December at Tony G’s Soul Food and on Jan. 13 at Smoke “The Restaurant.” With free food and drinks, new and prospective members turned out to dine, mingle and hear what the association has in store for 2017. –mh
L-R: Jarvis Moore, JMI; Henry Boone, Turner Construction and chairman of BCA; Earl Greenwood, Earl Greenwood Construction; Booker Arradondo
L-R: Joc and Sherrika Arch, Straight Line and vice chair of BCA; Joe Linson, Tony G’s; Booker Arradondo, Booker’s Tree Service
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Submitted to Construction News
All on board!
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
Submitted to Construction News
Houston holiday
Though its corporate office is based in San Antonio, VIP Staffing hosted its holiday party in Houston. –mh
Submitted to Construction News
Green retreat
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
Submitted to Construction News
Taking office
The Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC) San Antonio Chapter elected their 2017 board officers. L-R: Heidi Trimble, executive director; Randy Hunter, REC Industries, president; Sherill Stanush, S&S Plumbing Contractors, vice president; Norwood Bishop, Texas Plumbing Diagnostics, treasurer; Perry Beyer Jr., Beyer Plumbing, secretary –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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Construction Safety Safety at forefront of industry Randy Reiley, vice president of operations Keller-Martin Construction San Antonio, TX
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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.
Safety isn’t accidental Paula Bailey, President Bailey Safety Consultants Fort Worth, TX
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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, the 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.
“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
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
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Construction Safety 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.
Training pays off in safety plans Jason J. Puckett, Safety Director Patriot Erectors Inc. Dripping Springs, TX
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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-
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
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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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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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A legacy forged in steel
Banquet for the new board
The Hispanic Contractors Association (HCA) de San Antonio inducted its 2017 board of directors at the Installation Banquet Jan. 18 at Aggie Park. The new board includes JR Trevino, Treco Enterprises, president; Leonard Flores, Civil Engineering Consultants, vice president; Edward Pape, Vaquero Group, treasurer; Rafael Llera, SHORM Consulting, secretary; Roland Gonzalez, Cokinos Bosien & Young; Henry Villarreal, Turner Construction; Jesse Torres, CPS; Lisa Casarez, Emergency Service Restoration of Texas; Stephanie Tovar, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors; Vernon Haney, HEB; Joe Ramos, Paychex; Earl Roberts, DES; Tom Quintero, IBTX; Yvette Robinson, Robinson General Contractors; Estella Garcia-Perez, Fairway Landscape & Nursery; Josh Hill, Hill Bros. Construction, ex-officion. –mh
Round-Up Pat Beal has joined Sundt Construction as its new San Antonio area manager for the transportation group. Beal joins Sundt with more than 25 years of experience and will support the San Pedro Creek Improvements project as well as other projects and pursuits in and around the San Antonio area. Beal was previously a project manager on several major freeway projects across Texas. His experience includes the reconstruction of the US 75 North Central Expressway in Dallas and the Loop 410 in San Antonio. Most recently, he worked on a $900 million, design-build construction of State Highway 99 Grand Parkway in Houston. Beal graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in civil engineering. Kristian Pearson joined Guido Construction in the newly created role of COO. His most recent experience was as a vice president of innovation and integrated construction. Prior to that, he led teams as the vice president of preconstruction, project manager and project architect. His certifications include Assoc. AIA, DBIA, LEED AP, and he has been involved with the AGC, AIA, DBIA, SAME, Lean Construction Institute, USGBC, ACE and A4LE. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Texas Tech University. Tyler Fleming has joined Cram Roofing as managing director of business and development. He spent the last four years at Beacon/Roofing Supply Group where he was instrumental in building a national account team and acquiring several national accounts. Chris Carruth has joined Metropolitan Contracting Company as its new strategic development officer. With 35 years of commercial construction experience, he will provide expertise in marketing, business development and strategic planning and be responsible for the growth of the firm in partnership with the CEO and corporate leaders to achieve the company’s strategic vision and goals for growth and performance.
Wiss, Janney, Elstner (WJE) Associates announced the following: Craig Quadrato has joined the firm as a senior associate. With more than two decades of experience in civil/ structural engineering, he served more than 25 years as a U.S. Army engineer officer, serving his last six years as a professor in the U.S. Military Academy’s Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, his master’s in engineering management from the University of Missouri, his master’s in structural engineering and construction engineering from Stanford University, and his PhD in structural engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Daly Yates has joined the firm as an associate I. Most recently, he was a field engineer at Kiewit Building Group where he worked on projects for the Texas Facilities Commission, NASA Johnson Space Center, and Texas School for the Deaf. He earned his bachelor’s degree in construction science from Texas A&M University.
Frank Castillo, founder of Casteel Manufacturing, thought of the company as another child, and he had three of his own at home, too. L-R: Alex, Frank, Patty and Carlos Castillo
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onths after celebrating the 35th anniversary of Casteel Manufacturing, president and founder Francisco “Frank” Castillo passed away, but his legacy lives on in his company and employees. Suzanne Walker, who has officially worked for the company for more than 28 years and did payroll and accounting for five years prior to that, has been overseeing operations since Castillo’s passing. Alex Castillo, Frank’s son who was also a business major, has been helping out with some of the corporate decisions for the company. As they look for the right person to buy the company, they keep operations running. Alex says that, most importantly, his dad would want to make sure his employees kept their jobs. Frank moved here from Monterrey, Mexico at the age of 12, not knowing a word of English – though by the time he passed at age 74, he spoke English very
well. After learning his trade in high school, Frank served three years in the Air Force Reserves and went on to work for another company for about 12 years, until they restructured and he was laid off. He elected to start his own business, which he did while his wife worked for HEB. He had three children; Alex, Patty and Carlos. Today, his children have their own career paths, but Alex and Patty both worked for their father at one time. “I did work for him for probably over 15, 16 years of my life,” Alex recalls. “I started off cleaning toilets. My dad never allowed me to call him ‘Dad’ at work. He didn’t want me to be treated any different than the rest of the employees. I had to call him Frank at work.” Casteel Manufacturing does sheet metal work, including kitchen equipment and stainless steel for Taco Cabana, control panels for Kinetic Concepts (KCI), and numerous kitchen renovations for USAA. –mh
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
Association Calendar ABC Associated Builders & Contractors
Feb. 1: Breakfast Club; speaker Mayor Ivy Taylor; Alamo Café off 281; 7:30-8:30am; for more info, email Ruby Trejo at ruby@ abcsouthtexas.org Feb. 8: 2nd Annual Casino Mixer, Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA) Office; 3:30-6:30pm; for more info, email Ruby Trejo at ruby@abcsouthtexas.org Feb. 14-17: Excavation, Trenching & Soil Mechanics; ABC office; 8am-5pm; for more info, email Chris Preetorius at chris@abcsouthtexas.org Feb. 21-25: OSHA #510 OSHA Standards for Construction; ABC Office; 8am-5pm; for more info, email Chris Preetorius at chris@ abcsouthtexas.org Feb. 22: Happy Hour; Little Woodrow’s; for more info, email Ruby Trejo at ruby@abcsouthtexas.org Mar. 1: Breakfast Club; Alamo Café off 281; 7:30-8:30am; for more info, email Ruby Trejo at ruby@abcsouthtexas.org
AGC Associated General Contractors
All events are held at AGC office unless otherwise stated. Feb. 8: BCA Workshop, 5-7pm Feb. 13: Beginner Scheduling Workshop with Computer Applications, 8am-5pm Feb. 22: National Purchasing Partners Lunch, noon Feb. 23: Salsa Taste-Off Mixer; Alterman office, 14703 Jones Maltsberger Rd.; 5-7pm; to submit an entry or be a sponsor, call 210-349-4921 or email kwilson@ sanantonioagc.org; deadline to enter salsa is Feb. 20 Feb. 27: Advanced Scheduling Workshop with Computer Applications, 8am-5pm
AIA American Institute of Architects
Feb. 2-6: Annual Ski Trip Feb. 3: Shadowing Day Reception
Feb. 6: Latinos in Architecture Meeting; President & President-Elect Grassroots Feb. 7: Advocacy for Architects Day Feb. 9: SA2030 Member Forum - SAWS Chilled Water Loop, Commercial Rebates and Smart Flow Meeting Feb. 10: AIA CE 4x4 Feb. 24-26: The Texas Society of Architects Sixth Annual Design Conference, “Clarity” in Marfa, TX
ASA American Subcontractors Association
Feb. 1: Walk on the Capitol, Austin, 8am Feb. 21: General Meeting, Petroleum Club of SA, 6pm Mar. 2: Excellence in Construction Awards, Pearl Stable, 6pm
ECAT Earthmoving Contractors Assn. of Tx
Feb. 4: Winter Board of Directors Meeting; Holiday Inn Express meeting room, 714 Corazon, Marble Falls; 3:30pm; planning for the 2017 legislative meeting in Austin in April and hearing other reports relative to the earthmoving business and the association; 2017 scholarship program has been announced and applications are available on the website; all members and prospective members are welcome to attend the 4th Quarter Board Meeting; for more info or business with the board, call the executive secretary at 830-629-1620 visit www.earthmovingcontractors.com
HCA de San Antonio Hispanic Contractors Association
Feb. 15: Monthly meeting/Mixer; Launch SA (Downtown Library); 6pm; presentations by SMWBE Program, Heritage & Parks Dept., Facilities Dept., Public Works Dept./ Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, Bexar County – Jobs & Job Order Contractors, and Purchasing Dept.; free for members, non-members $10; for more info, call Patty at 210-444-1100
Feb. 15-16: OSHA 10 Spanish; HCA office, 101 W Euclid Ave.; Feb. 15: 8:30am5:30pm, Feb. 16: 8:30am-12:30pm; to register, call 512-804-4610
IEC Independent Electrical Contractors
All events are held at IEC office unless otherwise stated. Feb. 1: Journeyman/Master Prep Class, 5:30-9:30pm (class 1) Feb. 8: Journeyman/Master Prep Class, 5:30-9:30pm (class 2) Feb. 13: Continuing Education Meeting, 5-9pm Feb. 15: Journeyman/Master Prep Class, 5:30-9:30pm (class 3) Feb. 18: Foreman Training Class, 8am5pm; Electrical Maintenance Technician Class, 8am-5pm Feb. 22: Journeyman/Master Prep Class, 5:30-9:30pm (class 4) Mar. 1: Journeyman/Master Prep Class, 5:30-9:30pm (class 5) Mar. 8: Journeyman/Master Prep Class, 5:30-9:30pm (Masters only class 6) For more info call 210-431-9861 or visit www.iecsanantonio.com
MCA–SMACNA Mechanical Contractors Association Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assoc.
Feb. 1: Butts on the Bus/Walk on the Capitol, Austin Feb. 8: Regular & Associates Meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am Feb. 15: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am
NAWIC Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Feb. 1: General meeting; Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels Ave.; networking 5:30pm, meeting 6pm; for more info, visit www.nawicsatx.org
SDA Society for Design Administration
Feb. 9: Monthly Networking Meeting, DBR Engineering, noon-1pm Feb. 23: Monthly Chapter Meeting, La Fonda on Crownhill, noon-1pm, focusing on Marketing – Proposal Database For more info or to attend, email Tina Falcon at tfalcon@ms2-inc.com
TACA Texas Aggregates and Concrete Assn.
Feb. 14: Capitol Day for 85th Texas State Legislative Session; Capitol Legislative Conference Center, 1100 Congress Ave., Austin; event includes team meetings and a Concretes Social (frozen custard concretes) with state legislators and their staff, recognition in the House and Senate Chambers, for more info, visit http://bit.ly/2jLE7DN
TACCA Tx A/C Contractors Assn.
Feb. 16: General Member Meeting; Old San Francisco Steakhouse; 11:30am-1pm; RSVP required; first member attendee is included with membership, additional attendees and non-members $20 each; for more info or to join, visit TACCAGreaterSanAntonio.org, or contact Dawn Thompson at 210-901-4222 or dawn@ taccagreatersanantonio.org
TSPE Tx. Society of Professional Engineers
Feb. 21-25: Engineers Week Feb. 21: Proclamation Breakfast Feb. 22: ASCE/ASCE YM Movie Showing – Dream Big, Sporting Clays Tournament, SEAoT Scholarship Social Feb. 23: Past Presidents Luncheon, SMPS Happy Hour Feb. 24: Golf Tournament Feb. 25: Family Fun 5K Walk/Run, Engineer of the Year Banquet & Casino Night; for more info http://www.bexartspe.org/ content/index.php/engineers-week
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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continued from Page 1 — Running the mill may implement an internship program next year, wanting to help high school students get a feel for the trade. Since shop class was being phased out when he was in high school, he feels this will expose them to building things and working creatively with their hands. He and his wife, Amber, are celebrating their second wedding anniversary this month. They have a daughter, who is almost 2, named Kya, and a son, who just turned 3 months in January, named Zayne. Amber was a personal trainer, and the couple met at the gym. They are very into working out and have a gym in their house. They try to spend time working out whenever they can, but they don’t
have a lot of spare time. “Unfortunately, with this trade, one of the drawbacks is that your schedule is always changing. It wasn’t uncommon for me to start every day at 5am working until 6pm, depending on how busy we are,” John says, noting that he’s been fortunate that business has been going well enough for his wife to stay home with their children. “We try to make time for them as much as we can. As long as we’re together, it doesn’t really matter what we’re doing.” JR Millwork does plastic laminate millwork, including countertops, wainscoting, and half walls, for commercial projects such as high-rise buildings, offices and clinics. –mh
Submitted to Construction News
Nearly 60 years of service
continued from Page 1 — Family transition “Darren and I went to high school together,” Gregory said. “We grew up in the construction trades, and I worked with him when he started his first company. Twenty-eight years ago he asked if I would join him in his new venture, and I have been here ever since. It’s been a great ride.” Now, 32 years later, Gerloff’s sons, Dustin and Derek Gerloff, who became shareholders at the end of 2016, are in a transition process to take over the company in a few years. “The boys have been involved with the business since the day it was started,” Darren Gerloff said. “Back when they started going to college, we had a family meeting and they decided they wanted to carry on the business. The Gerloff Company has been around a long time and we wanted to keep the tradition going.” Derek has been involved in the company since he was young and has 16 years of experience working in some form at the company. “I went to Texas A&M for a construction science degree and it led me back to here,” Derek said, “My brother and I both started working on the crews in the field and worked our way up through the ranks.” Dustin took a less direct path, working on his own before deciding that the family business was the way to go. “I always wanted to work on my own and I worked for other companies after graduating from Texas A&M,” Dustin said. “I had my own small company for a summer and did everything I could do to not go to work for dad, but being that I always worked around San Antonio, I heard nothing but good things about the Gerloff Company. After seeing and hearing such good things on the streets for so long, I realized I’d be stupid to not come back.” Gregory knows the company is in good hands because of how Darren raised Dustin and Derek. “I’ve known the boys ever since they were born and it came time that if they wanted to be here, it was time to bring them in,” Gregory said. “It’s exciting. We’re excited to pass the baton to them.
“These boys weren’t given anything. You hear horror stories about second generation owners, but these boys were raised working from the ground up and learning how to do it the right way and doing the right thing.” No homeowner or business owner wants to see Gerloff come to their property because of the line of work they are in. However, they are needed and realize that it is a delicate situation. “Residential wise, (the hardest part is) working with the homeowners emotions,” Dustin said. “They’ve been through a traumatic event. The actual work is hard work but the most difficult thing we struggle with day-to-day would be working with someone who had a traumatic event. They weren’t planning on having that fire. Nobody is excited when we show up. If they’re doing a remodel project, on the other hand, they’re excited because they get a new kitchen, bathroom, etc. We’re there because they experienced a catastrophic event that they were not planning on.” When it comes to the process, the remediation phase is the first thing to be taken care of. The remediation division makes sure the property is clean, dry, and/or deodorized and make sure that any initial demolition is taken care of. They also work with the insurance adjuster to see what, if any contents can be cleaned and or salvaged. From there, the construction division takes over and begins rebuilding the property to its pre-loss condition. “Once a scope of repairs is agreed upon with the insurance adjuster, we can start working on the permitting process,” Derek Gerloff said. “Once we get the permits, it becomes our goal to get the project completed as quickly as possible to get our customers back to their normal life. We treat every project with that sense of urgency, no matter if it is a simple repair or a multi-million dollar project. After we have completed the repairs, the remediation division moves back any contents that have been cleaned and salvaged.”-cs
Submitted to Construction News
Supporting their troops
For the second year in a row, Sundt Construction was ranked high on the list of military-friendly employers by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse magazines. The company ranked No. 5 this year in the employers $500 million to $1 billion category. John McKelvain (left), a pre-construction manager and Navy veteran, is one employee among several who helped out on the Soldier’s Angels volunteer day, packing and delivering food to veterans in need in San Antonio. –mh
John Frerich, president of ECAT, recently presented a distinguished service award to Lawrence and Louise Krause, along with their son, Clint, of L.D. Krause Construction Company in New Braunfels, for being the longest serving member on the board of directors and being the surviving charter member of ECAT. The couple started their earthmoving business shortly after they were married in 1958 with his wife managing the office. Lawrence has been on the board for many years until the last ECAT annual meeting when he stepped down from his position as director of District 9. Clint was elected to fill his position; he has also served as a director-at-large for many years. –mh
continued from Page 1 — Features highlight new complex use them,” Gross said. “Every so often, the price doesn’t work so we have to use someone different. We do our homework, make phone calls and call other contractors they have worked for. “Communication is key. Having guys out in the field being able to relay information back to you in the office is always good.” The framing work is being done by Triangle Framing, the painter is Parker Painting, the masonry work is being done by Central Texas Lath and Plaster and Jimmy Evans is doing the dirt work while Tri Star is in charge of the utilities. Skidmore Plumbing did the plumbing work, while Cappadonna Electric handled the electrical work. The project finished in January and was completed on time, something important to Gross and the owners. “I think our owners are going to be very proud of the final product,” Gross said. “There’s apartments going up all over town, and it’s a competitive market. This particular job we are proud of because we were able to get it done within the year. “This has been an unprecedented year for rain. In April and May, we got pounded by rain. It really slowed a lot of projects down. We have a project in Corpus Christi that is about 30 days behind
schedule.” Concept Builders is very proud of its latest project and hopes to use these projects as a selling point going forward. “These Vantage projects that we have been doing for this developer is at the top of our resume,” Gross said. “They’ve been great projects for us.” With its newest project in the books, Concept Builders has a busy 2017 planned, including a job in Florida. “2017 will be one of our busiest years yet, which is good,” Gross says. “We have a project with the same developer, Vantage at Waco and we got one in Boerne. We just started those and started moving dirt now. “(In Florida) you have to comply with all the windstorm requirements because we’re on the coast line. You need different windows and doors to withstand the storms. There are things that are different from here in San Antonio.” Concept Builders was founded in 1982 as Mark Gross Construction Inc. After 10 years of building luxury homes and ranch estates, the company began to move toward building several apartment complexes in the 1990s. Concept Builders went on to make nearly 5,000 multi-family units. Mark Gross in the president of the company and Sheila Mayo is the vice president. –cs
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
A letter to the CAKC board
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t the first board meeting of Construct A Kid’s Christmas 501 (c) 3 on Jan. 13, 2017, we learned of the departure of Karen Ridout as our president. Karen was one of the original organizers of the non-profit four years ago. She has helped us grow the Gala to an even bigger event than we ever thought possible. We are grateful for her tireless work for the foster kids and we know in her new endeavor she will bring the same efforts. Buddy Doebbler, Vice President Sandee Morgan, Secretary
Submitted to Construction News
Marking their miles
January 13, 2017 Board of Directors, It’s been a pleasure serving with you on the Board and as the President of Construct A Kid’s Christmas. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 4 years since we formed the 501(c)3. In reviewing the bylaws recently, I realized that they state that any office shall be held for a maximum of 3 years. I’ve held the office of President since our inception, so, I’ve inadvertently over-served the term limit. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun. After careful consideration, I’m writing to you to let you know I have decided to resign as President and from the Board, effective January 31, 2017. Please let this letter serve as the official notice of my resignation to be effective as of that date. I’ve given this much thought, as you can imagine, because I have loved working with you and our wonderful construction industry community these past years on this very special project and have learned so much from serving with you. However, as we start a new year and I assess my priorities and where I can make the most impact, I now feel called to other areas.
At RVK Architects, two employees recently celebrated big milestones. Andrew-Michael J. Staskavage has been with the firm for 25 years. A senior associate who attended the University of Texas at Austin, he serves as a project designer/project manager. Christina Davis has been with the firm for 15 years. Also a senior associate with her bachelor’s degree in interior design from UTSA, she serves as an interior designer/project manager. –mh
Submitted to Construction News
Their time to shine
As you know, I am very involved in the special needs community and serve on boards as well as gala committees. I’ve learned over the years, but have felt especially compelled lately, that this is where my heart is and where I want and need to devote my time. It is in order to pursue this passion of mine more fully that I am leaving Construct A Kid’s Christmas in your more than capable hands. Serving with this board and on the gala committee has been an experience that I am very grateful for. I’ve seen the support we are able to give the Friends of Bexar County Child Welfare Board grow from year to year and am proud to be able to say that I was a part of this. As this board and gala committee continues to grow I know that the Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala will continue to bring the construction industry together to do what they do best and that is to give back to our community. I’m looking forward to many more years of being able to be a part of this fabulous event as I will continue to support this worthy cause. I thank you for these wonderful years serving with you, and I wish the Board and Gala Committee continued success in the coming years. Sincerely, Karen Ridout
The Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MCA-SMACNA) of San Antonio recently installed its 2017 Board of Directors. L-R: Matt McGeehan, Hughes Supply, associate director; Kyle Pennington, AJ Monier Service Co., president; Matt Summerville, Brandt Companies, vice president; John Gargotta, Service Mechanical Group, secretary/treasurer; Roger Ford, Dynamic Systems, immediate past president –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
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Guiding principals
Industry FOLKS
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Wade Mayfield Superintendent Joeris General Contractors
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s Wade Mayfield is working as superintendent for the biggest project that Joeris has ever done, John Marshall Harlan High School, he is also taking on the first ever Ag Mechanics Marketplace Auction at this year’s San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. “This will be the first one in the State of Texas and maybe the country,” says Mayfield of the Marketplace Auction. “We don’t know of any show that does an exclusive Ag Mechanics Auction. I know we’re the first in Texas.” He explains that the goal is to attract kids who might not have participated in the stock show by giving them the opportunity to compete against kids from across the state in another arena. With 30 teams entered as of late January, the Marketplace Auction is set to take place the last weekend of the Stock Show, Feb. 25-26, at the Morris Activity Center. All student projects – including livestock and farm equipment, trailers and wildlife categories – entered in the sales competition and marketplace is for sale to the general public, and the top placing teams from the sales competition will go on to the auction on Sunday. As a life member of the San Antonio Stock Show and subcommittee chairman for the Ag Sales & Marketplace, Mayfield is also heavily involved with the general livestock auction. He’s also involved in the Gerlach, Bexar
County, Houston and Fort Worth stock shows. With Mayfield’s father big into stock shows, working for both Houston and San Antonio, Mayfield grew up in and around the show ring. He says that once he got old enough, it was time to give back and help the kids. Growing up in Pipe Creek, he raised and showed heifers as a kid, but Ag Mechanics was his favorite. Now, he’s a judge in Fort Worth and Houston and the auctioneer in Gerlach and Bexar County. He met his future wife at the Gerlach Stock Show. She was buying on behalf of Frost Bank, where she is the vice president of commercial lending. The couple is getting married next month. After graduating from Bandera High School, he went to Tarleton State University. From there, he worked for Texas A&M University for two years with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Then, he went on to be an Ag science instructor at Bandera High School. Then, he went to work for a steel company in Pipe Creek. Eventually, he wound up starting at Joeris as a carpenter helper, and as of last November, he’s been with the company for 13 years. –mh
Built on a foundation of family
Melanie and John Chaney took over the family business, Baird Foundation Repair, three decades ago.
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his year marks a couple of milestones for John and Melanie Chaney. They are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary, and it’s the 30th anniversary of them taking ownership of Baird Foundation Repair. “It’s a sense of accomplishment to be able to serve San Antonio and continually run Baird,” says John. “It’s just a good feeling to be able to survive the storms along the way.” Melanie’s father, W.H. Baird, started Baird Foundation Repair in the early 1960s. John began learning the trade from his father-in-law in 1980. Unfortunately, the company’s patriarch passed away in 1983. In the years following Baird’s death, John helped his mother-inlaw run the company, and then she decided to sell to John and Melanie in 1987. Today, Melanie is CEO, overseeing the office and accounting while John oversees the overall operations of the business. This summer, John is hoping to
be moved into their new facility, which is currently being built on Hot Wells Boulevard. Originally from Oklahoma, John came to San Antonio fresh out of school and looking for work. Now, at 58, he and Melanie have a son, Will, who just completed his high school football career as a senior at Alamo Heights. They also have two older daughters, Jessica and Jade, who work in Dallas. Jessica is in advertising, and Jade majored in business. Outside of work, John and Melanie are also very active in their church, helping with projects and fundraisers for the disabled and causes of that sort. Baird Foundation Repair does residential and commercial foundation repair with residential accounting for approximately 75 percent of its workload. With about 30 employees, they have done work for the Archdiocese all around the San Antonio area as well as thousands of homes over the years. –mh
s WestEast Design Group (WestEast) celebrates its 20th anniversary, owners Katherine and Christopher Kimm have promoted José Eduardo de la Garza to president. “As with families, companies need to have a next generation to continue,” explains Katherine. “Without someone to continue the next generation, that company’s principles will not survive. José Eduardo has demonstrated a commitment to service and quality of work, which are the founding and driving principles of WestEast.” Having joined the firm seven years ago as a designer and risen to his new position in the company, de la Garza hopes to be at WestEast to celebrate its 40th anniversary. “I feel fortunate for the trust that I have gained in the past seven years,” he says. “These past couple of years, I’ve dealt with the business part of the practice equal to, if not more than, the architectural design portion of it. In doing this, I’ve noticed the effort and dedication that was provided by Chris and Katherine. And now to be provided a major leadership role means that our values and visions were somewhat parallel.” His vision for the future of WestEast includes focusing on the federal, higher education and healthcare sectors, noting, “Moving forward, we need to make our presence stronger in these market sectors for us to be able to expand within them.” He’s also focusing on questions that guide him on a day-to-day basis, such as “How do we keep everyone excited and challenged? How do we become a more efficient company?” These and other questions guide him going forward as part of WestEast’s leadership and future. José Eduardo moved to San Antonio
José Eduardo de la Garza, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is now president of WestEast Design Group.
from Austin to pursue his bachelor’s degree in architecture at UTSA. He went on to earn his master’s in architecture. After starting at WestEast with projects such as the One Stop at Texas A&M University at Kingsville and Fire Station No. 50 for the City of San Antonio in 2011, he began managing Alamo Colleges as a client, and in 2013, he became the special ops director after taking on several atypical federal projects. Currently, WestEast is working on the Fort Jackson Medical Facility Master Plan in Columbia, SC, and the Alamo Colleges District Support Office Building. WestEast Design Group is an architectural firm based in San Antonio that does projects in various markets, including healthcare, higher education, federal and municipal government, and retail and hospitality. –mh
Submitted to Construction News
A-board the leadership train
The Associated General Contractors (AGC) San Antonio Chapter brought its new board into the station, Sunset Station, Jan. 9 for the General Membership and Installation of Directors Luncheon. More than 160 guests attended. The new board of directors includes Michael Sireno, Baker Triangle, president; Blaine Beckman, F.A. Nunnelly Company, vice president; Albert Gutierrez, Guido Construction, secretary/treasurer; Luis Berumen, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors; Jeff Bryant, Joeris General Contractors; Hilda Ochoa, 8A Electric; Chris Thiel, Alterman; Eric Hedlund, Sundt Construction; Bill Roberts, T&D Moravits & Co.; Fernando Figueroa, Cude Engineers; Mike Kaiman, Turner Construction Company, immediate past president and chairman of the PAC. –mh Photo by Mary C. Haskin Photography
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San Antonio Construction News • Feb 2017
My funny Valentine
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ne of the best parts of being in love is having someone to share the good times. You laugh together. You have fun together. You can be silly and goofy around one another. It’s those moments and memories that can make the bonds of love that much more special. Here’s some of the people in the industry who have significant others who bring those smiles to their faces. –mh
Lauren Guido Tew, Guido Construction, and Bryan Tew just celebrated their oneyear anniversary on Dec. 31, but have known each other since high school. “Go Churchill Chargers!”
Valentine’s Day 1986 was the first “official” date for Kari and Michael Sireno, Baker Triangle.
Yvette and Kurt Robinson, owners of Robinson General Contractors, just tied the knot in October of last year, but they were together eight years before their walk down the aisle.
Jordon Brown, Quality Fence & Welding, and Zach Knerr, Davila Electric Company, got engaged at last year’s ASA Subfest.
Mary Hazlett, San Antonio editor for Construction News, has had her husband, David, to keep her laughing since they met four year ago. This photo was taken outside of the McNay Art Museum where they were married two-and-a-half years ago.
My husband Jay Hutchison is the sweetest, most lovable and handsome guy I know. I adore him! Happy Valentine’s Day to my only valentine! Cyndi Wright, Construction News
On a whim, Billy Wurzbach, CFC Engineering, and Andrea Wurzbach, Comfort Air-Engineering, took a ride on a beautiful spring Sunday and wound up at their house in Canyon Lake. “We ended up spending the rest of the day on our deck enjoying the view. Too pretty to leave!”
Andrea Wurzbach also sent this photo of her parents, Marilyn and John Freund, Comfort-Air Engineering. “They’ve been married 61 years and can act just as silly as these youngsters!”
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