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Volume 19
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Number 3
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MARCH 2017
Wilson carries on
Taking heroic action
Brandon Wilson and his late father, Les Wilson, shared a bond in and out of the office, and today, Brandon continues Les’ legacy at Alamo Waterproofing.
Bill Thompson founded his own company last year, MWT Construction and Remodeling, which bears the initials of his son, Matthew.
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n 1969, Les Wilson and his wife, Landis Wilson, founded Alamo Waterproofing, and today, their son, Brandon Wilson, is continuing their legacy in honor of their memories. “My father, mother and I worked together for nearly 18 years, each day growing closer and closer, which I thought was a blessing for the three of us,” reflects Brandon, who bought his parents out about five years ago. “All three of us worked, breathed and dreamed about waterproofing every day and now that my two best friends have passed on to a better place I plan to continue my father’s legacy by continuing the family business.” Landis passed away Jan. 23, 2016 and Les passed away Jan. 11 of this year.
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“Les missed Landis enormously but he was a fighter and wanted to survive for his children,” he says. “The Les Wilson I know would never give up for any reason! It was cancer that took both of them.” Brandon describes Les as one of the hardest working men he has ever known, saying, “Les was an excellent decision maker and businessman, always negotiating and making things happen. Les was one of a kind all the way from crash landing a single engine plane near Austin while looking over a job to being in business with Leo Joeris back in the day before he started Alamo Waterproofing. “He was a self-made man, and I’m extremely proud to be his only son! Even continued on Page 24
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s a Christian man, Bill Thompson, owner of MWT Construction & Remodeling, thinks of himself as being very blessed, but he doesn’t think of himself a hero. Most likely, the driver he helped rescue from burning alive after an accident might disagree. On Jan. 27, Thompson and his helper were on their way to pick up some sheet rock for a repair job when a crash occurred directly beside his truck. By Military and I-37, traffic was slowed and being diverted due to an existing accident when his truck was shaken by a charter bus blowing by him and crashing into a truck in the next lane over. He describes a big ball of fire going up in the air as well as the truck.
“It was just like a little toy up there, being thrown, and went over into the guardrail,” recalls Thompson. “I saw that and I just put my truck in park, turned it off, turned the hazards on, got out and ran over there. It just wasn’t really a thought as to whether or not I want to get involved in it.” The fire was spreading, and Thompson burned his hand as he and another Good Samaritan pulled the driver, who was also on fire, out of the truck to safety. When a doctor ran over, Thompson offered any help he could. Last he heard, the driver was in the ICU at SAMMC but was stable. “It would be a very hard thing to do continued on Page 24
Delivering a grocery pick-up facility
ith HEB rolling out its Curbside service, making it easier to get your grocery shopping done, Central Builders Inc. (CBI) recently completed the San Antonio-based grocer’s third Curbside location in the San Antonio area. Construction ran from early September to late December, and this Curbside opened at the beginning of January. CBI has been building Curbside facilities for HEB in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Austin and Waco, and there are many more to come. With HEB doing all of the shopping for its Curbside customers, all the customer needs to do is come pick it up at the designated time and park in the designated space to receive the order. The Curbside facility houses all of these orders until they are picked up. The third location in the Alamo City to feature Curbside service is the HEB at 281 and Evans Road, SA 45. Greg Lawson,
Central Builders Inc. built one of HEB’s new Curbside facilities at SA 45, which is the store located at 281 and Evans Road.
project manager for CBI, says that some Curbside facilities are converted from existing portions of buildings or lease space, but in this case, like some others, CBI did an actual expansion of the building. “We took a portion of the Texas Backyard – where they have all their plants and lawn equipment – and they took about half of that and used that area to convert for the expansion of the Curbside facility,” explains Lawson. The addition was 1,500 sf, and required an 8,000-sf drive and parking area. There was an existing road that runs alongside the building, and CBI cut the drive-through so that customers can drive up to the facility, park to pick up their order, and go out the other side. De La Garza Fencing took down about 250 linear-feet of wrought iron fencing to make room for the new drivecontinued on Page 24
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
A job for mother and son
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Dealing with power
The Dealers Electrical Supply on Freedom Drive in San Antonio is one of 64 branches, and last year, the Waco-based company celebrated its 70th anniversary. The local branch has 23 employees and they’re looking forward to the new year. –mh
Mother-and-son team Pamela and Andrew Glenna have embarked on a new construction adventure together with their company, EverGuard Sealant.
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s the founder of EverGuard Sealant, Pamela Glenna says the work she does is a “two-man job,” which is why she went into business with a partner, her son, Andrew Glenna. “He does the primary set up when we’re preparing the floor,” explains Pamela, noting that they work as a team and the jobs go much faster that way. “We just work very well off each other. I work in the field, too. I love all of the physical parts of it. I love being there with the customer. I love the wow reaction. I love working with people.” Before starting the business, Pamela had been taking care of her grandson, but her grandchildren moved to Vietnam with her daughter and her son-in-law, who teaches English there. For years before taking care of her grandson, she was an administrative assistant, and when Pamela’s daughter and her family moved, she wanted to fill that time with something she enjoyed.
There she goes again!
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Meanwhile, her son, Andrew, who has an architectural engineering degree, has been working in design and construction, including working for Lone Star State Construction for a time. Today, mother, who is 53 years old, and son, 29, work together in the field, cleaning and refinishing hard surfaces. They trained in July with the equipment and with their primary product, MicroGuard, before starting the business in August. Pamela and her family are very active in their church. Since she is an administrator for a camp program for teenagers at her church, it was important to her that her schedule would be flexible enough that she did not have to give that up. EverGuard Sealant does residential and commercial refinishing and resurfacing of tile, natural stone, brick, concrete and other hard surfaces on both interiors and exteriors. The company has also done color sealing and pressure washing. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Page 3
Happy hour on the patio
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he San Antonio Happy Hour was held Jan. 26 at Alamo Café on 281 in its new open air space, Patio 81. The event, which welcomed around 70 attendees, was co-hosted by several commercial companies in – and related to – the construction industry. Fox Service Company, Greater Texas Landscape Services, FSG, JPM Building Systems, Texas Fifth Wall Roofing, Texas Parking Lots, JPM Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, Gateway, McKenzie Rhody, Guard Texas and Accurate Pest Control invited their customers, mostly contractors, engineers, and property managers from across the San Antonio area, to mix and mingle while enjoying food and refreshments. –mh
L-R: Darren Rogers, Texas Parking Lots, and Wyatt Stevenson, FSG
L-R: Scott Curtright, Fox Service Company; Brian McBride, Greater Texas Landscape Services; David May, PM Commercial Floor Maintenance; Jim May, PM Building Systems
L-R: Melissa Coo, Gateway, and Michelle Bolt, Texas Fifth Wall Roofing
L-R: Randy Smith, Transwestern; Frank Estrada, Endura; Louis Vega, Transwestern
L-R: Darren Rogers, Texas Parking Lots; Jim May, JPM Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning; Sandra Rogers, Texas Parking Lots; George Stuckey, Fox Service Company; Sara Fuentes, Guard Texas; Eddie Fischer, Fox Service Company; Michelle Bolt, Texas Fifth Wall Roofing Systems; Scott Curtright, Fox Service Company; Patty May, JPM Building Systems; David May, JPM Building Systems; Jill Nathman, McKenzie Rhody LLP; Ricky Herbert, Accurate Pest Control; Shane Rasco, Greater Texas Landscapes; Melissa Coo, Gateway Office Supplies & Printing
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Busy like a Fox
L-R: Eddie Fischer, Scott Curtright, and George Stuckey enjoyed a busy service year in 2016 at Fox Service Company, and in 2017, they’re hitting the ground running. They’re working a lot of projects for the City of San Antonio, and they’re hoping to relocate and expand this year. –mh
L-R: Shane Rasco and Chad Reid, Greater Texas Landscape Services
L-R: George Stuckey and Eddie Fischer, Fox Service Company; Delia Estrada
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
A vigilant eye in the sky
Wesley Johnson, area sales manager for Cameras Onsite, is bringing the company’s monitored security systems to more jobsites in San Antonio.
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s the new area sales manager for Cameras Onsite in San Antonio, Wesley Johnson has the unique perspective of having been a customer of the site security company. Prior to joining Cameras Onsite, Johnson retired from his position as director of risk management at Joeris, where jobsite security was one of his responsibilities. In his 13 years with the general contractor, he notes that jobsite theft had been a continuous problem. Johnson was dissatisfied with other companies they were using because intruders were getting missed, resulting in vandalism and theft, despite surveillance being present. “When I found this company, they were spot-on with their detection,” says Johnson. “If we had a vehicle or a person show up on site, they caught it. That impressed me. I added more jobsites with their service, and within the first two or three months, we actually had an arrest using this company. In the first nine
months, they had arrested four thieves at two different jobsites. I was not getting that type of results with the other companies out there.” After 19 years with Bexar Electric (IES) and 13 years with Joeris, Johnson searched for something that offered him flexibility of schedule so he could spend more time with his seven grandchildren. With Cameras Onsite looking to grow in the San Antonio market where the company had a few existing clients, the opportunity was a mutual fit. At 62, Johnson is happy that he is still working within the construction industry, having built relationships over his career of 30-plus years as well as serving on the AGC board and the ABC and AGC Safety Committees for over a decade and participating in every industry golf tournament he could enter. Based in Houston, Cameras Onsite also provides monitored jobsite surveillance and security solutions in San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. –mh
A team forged in steel
Veterans of the Vestal Steel Specialties team L-R: (back row) Kevin Vestal, operations manager; Gerald Kosub, general manager; Tony Pena, shop supervisor; (front row) Walter Vestal, president; Betty Addie, office manager; David Padalecki, vice president
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ith 37 years and 2,025 structural steel buildings under his belt, Walter J. Vestal’s company, Vestal Steel Specialties, has come a long way from his first job on his own, the parking structure at the San Antonio Airport. Now, that structure has been torn down to make way for the CONRAC facility, but Vestal’s legacy started there and continues today. “We have done everything from most of Sea World, a lot of Fiesta Texas, a lot of San Antonio Airport,” recalls Vestal, 63. “I built the tower that’s on the top of the Tower of the Americas right now. We rebuilt the courthouse when they remodeled it. I rebuilt the municipal auditorium when it burned down, and we just did the GE Oil & Gas Test Facility out here in Schertz and the City of San Antonio District 2 Library.” After establishing the business in 1980, Vestal and his growing team were working out of a 4,000-sf shop on a small half-acre lot on Seale Road with no room
to expand. As jobs got bigger and bigger, Vestal ended up moving to Schertz where he now has a 20,000-sf plant on an 8-acre lot. With about 30 people working for him today, Vestal notes that the people in his office are outstanding and have mostly been with the company for more than 25 years. David Padalecki, vice president, came from steel sales, but he and Vestal have known each other since working together at a little icehouse on Rigsby in high school. Tony Pena, overall foreman; Betty Addie, bookkeeper/ secretary; and Gerald Kosub, who purchases all the material, round out what Vestal calls “a magical team.” His nephew, Kevin Vestal, a graduate of Texas A&M, has also joined the company as operations manager and is Vestal’s heir apparent to take it over one day. Vestal Steel Specialties does structural as well as miscellaneous and custom steel fabrication, shearing, forming, plate rolling, pipe bending and CNC cutting. – mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Page 5
Skidmore and relationships
Submitted to Construction News
Representing remodeling
Members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) San Antonio Chapter attended the Feb. 8 grand opening of the new Floor & Décor location on San Pedro. L-R: Carin Bryant, Sandoval Contracting; Martha Bizzell, CROSS and NARI executive director, Alyssa Bowholtz, CROSS and The Front Door Company; Gracie Hoyer, The Front Door Company. –mh Lynn Skidmore, founder and owner of Skidmore & Company, is a single parent to his granddaughter, Ashley, whom he adopted as his daughter when she was 4.
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orking in the plumbing trade since he was 19, Lynn Skidmore is now 64 and still running Skidmore & Company, the business he started on his own in October 1989. “I grew up in Childress, which is West Texas, about 90 miles southeast of Amarillo,” recalls Skidmore. “My family moved from Childress when I was a junior in high school and I started working for this one company, a year out of high school, which was TD Industries in Dallas.” After working in the industry for more than a decade-and-a-half, Skidmore set out on his own and built his company with relationships he had formed during his tenure in the trade. Staying focused on those relationships, the company still has a lot of the same customers it started out with, but it also has long relationships with it employees. For example, estimator and designer Lincoln Teichelman has been
there for 27 years, and Skidmore says four of his seven foremen came over to his company with him from his previous job. Outside of work, Skidmore has a very important relationship with his granddaughter, Ashley, whom he has had possession of since she was 6 months old. He adopted her as his daughter when she was 4 years old. Today, she is 16, and all of his days off are set aside for her, since he is a single parent. He notes that Ashley has loved horses since the age of 7, and is very big into photography, piano and art. Skidmore & Company is a plumbing contractor that does design as well as installation of plumbing systems, mostly for multi-family ground up construction, including apartments, student housing and hotels. Based in New Braunfels, Skidmore does work in San Antonio, Austin, New Braunfels, Corpus Christi and Waco. –mh
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All the way up
Sanchez Metal Roofing puts a roof up on a building on Austin Highway. The company is located 9207 Marbach Road. –cs
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
that he was either building or maintaining. So, I learned at an early age what construction was about and how to paint a house as an elementary-age child, growing up with my brother in El Paso. It was what got me interested in the construction part. We even poured and finished about 25 cubic yards of concrete while I was in high school. My brother, who had a couple of degrees in mechanical engineering, was very good at what he did.
George Vaughn President RVK Architects
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ne year after architect Ken Rehler established RVK Architects in 1971, George Vaughn joined the firm. In the time since then, his name was added as the second initial, the V in RVK, to the company where he has spent his career of nearly four-and-a-half decades. Shortly after Rehler’s death, about 12 years ago, Vaughn became president of the firm. Turning 68 in May, Vaughn says he has been blessed with good health and enough energy to keep going at work and in his pursuits outside work. He doesn’t live far from the office because he likes being close to work. Where did you grow up? I grew up in El Paso, TX. Although I was born in Austin, I moved to El Paso at about 3 years old. I went through high school in El Paso, and then went off to Texas Tech in Lubbock to obtain my bachelor’s of architecture degree. In 1972, I received that degree and came to San Antonio to look for a job. I was the first full-time employee of Ken Rehler at that time. His initial is still on the firm – RVK. He had two part-time San Antonio College students, and I was the first full-time graduate to go to work for him. I’ve been with the firm now almost 45 years. So, I’ve spent my entire architectural career in the same office. Was Ken Rehler your mentor? Certainly, he was one of the mentors that I was blessed to have, starting out with, but there have been other people who have worked for the firm that I would consider important mentors as well. I think everybody grows based on the people you’re working with and this is a collaborative business, and so I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great folks. In 45 years, you come in contact with a lot of people that you can learn something from. What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned? Certainly, that this is a business based on relationships. So, I would say it’s the relationships with clients, the relationships with contractors, the relationships with your employees and the relationships with other professionals and consultants. I think that’s the thing I’ve enjoyed the most out of architecture – it’s actually the relationship part of it. What sparked your passion for architecture? I enjoy drawing and artwork, and I enjoy construction. So, it seemed fitting that I get into architecture. It seemed to be the perfect blend of both interests. Tell me about your parents. My mother is still living. She’s 96 years old. My dad has been deceased now for about 30 years. My mother taught school for many years, and I think that kept me on track in school. I was thankful for that. My dad had several jobs. He was a chiropractor by profession, but he also always had rental property
Are you married? Do you have any family of your own? I’ve been married twice now. My first wife of 38-and-a-half years died of cancer. I was very blessed that two years after she died, I remarried a woman, who interestingly enough, I met on her 60th birthday, and she had never been married. So, I’ve been doubly blessed. My first wife’s name was Carol, and my second wife’s name is Carolyn. That was an interesting thing, and I’ve been married now almost seven years to my second wife. She’s fit into our family situation perfectly. She’s very much a part of my family, and they are a part of hers. I had told Carolyn when I first met her that the name Carol or Carolyn was really important in my family, because my dad was named Carroll. That became my brother’s middle name. My roommate in college was Carroll, oddly enough, but then I have cousins on both sides of my family and aunts whose names are either Carol or Carolyn. So, it just seemed natural that when Carolyn came along, she would fit in. What does she do? She’s a retired schoolteacher. She taught special ed for 37 years in three different school districts. She’s enjoying retirement. What about your children? My son, Greg Vaughn, is in the construction industry as the chief estimator for F.A. Nunnelly Co. He’s been with them a couple of years now. My daughter, Shelly, lives in Boerne. She teaches at Geneva Christian School in Boerne. She has a son in the eighth grade who attends Geneva School. My son and his family live in Seguin, and both my children enjoy living close to San Antonio in smaller towns. My son happens to work in San Antonio. He has three kids. My oldest grandchild is about to turn 20 in March. And my youngest grandchild, a granddaughter, is 13. I have four grandchildren in all. In your 45-year-career with RVK, what are some of the things that have changed since you started in this business? Well, obviously the thing that’s changed the most is technology, and that is how we produce the work we design. We’ve gone from everything being done by hand drawings to total computerization of everything that’s drawn, using BIM and Revit for the basis of most of the work we do now. That technology change has certainly impacted the way we deliver our projects and what we do. Technology has greatly impacted the design and construction industry as a whole. I would say, too, the ups and downs of the economy obviously affect the construction and architectural community. I’ve seen a number of cycles from low to high. That’s always an interesting cycle, mainly because it affects our capability to employ people. Obviously, when there’s a downturn, we have to tighten up, and when there’s a boom, we’re adding staff. I think that economic cycle is probably one of the things I don’t necessarily enjoy or appreciate that much about architecture. I wish it were a little steadier, but I’m thankful for the work we have and being able to stay busy most of the time.
George Vaughn has been a part of RVK Architects since before the firm bore his V among its initials, and for more than a decade, he has served as the firm’s president.
What projects stand out in your long career? I’ve been blessed to be able to work on a lot of projects in San Antonio through the years and throughout South Texas. Certainly, a number of projects come to mind. Being involved in a lot of the Valero work, one building of which is now occupied by San Antonio Water System. I’ve been involved in the NuStar headquarters – so, a number of large corporate campus projects have been particularly exciting to be a part of, because they’re a visible part of the growth of San Antonio. We’ve been able to design some of the buildings that have created some of that growth. I certainly enjoy doing a lot of church projects, most recently completing the new worship center for Oak Hills Church out on I-10. We’ve been involved in some very large church projects – also Community Bible Church and some others. Are you involved with your church? As an elder at Oak Hills Church, I’m very much involved. I’ve been at that church now about 18 years. I am also in the leadership of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), which is an interdenominational Bible Study that’s headquartered in San Antonio. They conduct and organize Bible studies for over a half a million people around the world. I think they’re in about 40 countries. I’ve been involved in BSF for 17 or 18 years. My wife has also been involved with BSF for that long – in fact, we met at a BSF event. I’ve been blessed to be married to two very Godly women. I also serve on the board of a Christian youth camp in New Mexico called Pine Springs Summer Camp. Are you involved in any other organizations? I’ve been a member of the American Institute of Architects and other professional organizations throughout the years. I’m also a member of the Alamo Heights Rotary Club. Do you have a plan for your retirement from RVK? More or less. I trust the Lord will show me when the proper time is, but my partners have been very helpful. Even though I’m the president, our firm, like many architectural firms, is run by an executive committee. Primarily, Judy Zimmerman and David Bomersbach are the executive members of our firm who work with me to make policy decisions and changes in direction and so on – David more from the architectural operations standpoint and Judy more from the overall business operations. In addition to heading up our interior design group, she’s a very astute businesswoman and certainly a very capable leader as well.
Both of them came up through the firm. They’re both longtime residents of San Antonio. Judy grew up in Iowa and David grew up in the Victoria, TX area. What are your plans and goals for yourself in the future? What are you going to do after you retire? One of the activities my wife and I really enjoy is traveling. So, each year that we’ve been married, we try to take a couple of trips, and that’s worked out very nicely. I hope to continue to do that as long as my health allows me to. I certainly enjoy traveling anywhere and everywhere all over the world. We’ve been very fortunate and very blessed to be able to go to China for a couple of weeks. We’ve been able to go to Europe on several terrific trips, and to Israel on a great trip. There are more places we’d like to see and visit. This summer, we’re hoping to take a riverboat cruise down the Danube River from Prague to Budapest through Vienna. That’s one of the trips we’re talking about, and we’re still hoping to go to Spain and Portugal sometime in the near future. What are some of the things you like to do in your spare time? Somebody told me once, that as a Texan, I was a very religious person, because I believed in the holy trinity of Texas – that’s hunting, fishing and golfing. I enjoy all three. I don’t get to play near as much golf as I would like to, but one of my young grandsons is an aspiring golfer. He’s very, very good. So I’m getting to play some with him. I enjoy fishing any time I have the opportunity to fish. And really, it’s any kind of fishing, whether it’s fly-fishing in the mountains, coastal fishing or just fishing on somebody’s stock tank. My favorite activity though is probably bird hunting. I enjoy mostly dove and quail. Pheasant is certainly one of my favorites as well. I occasionally shoot a turkey, some ducks and geese. Any time I have the opportunity to go bird hunting, I take advantage of it. Once, about 10 years ago, I was blessed to go to Argentina to shoot dove, and I’m hoping to take a second trip to Argentina sometime in March. Argentina probably has the largest dove population in the world, and it’s certainly a great venue to go bird hunting – it’s a special treat. One of my little known interests – when I was in high school, my brother and I built a Model A roadster with a Chevrolet V8 engine in it. So, I still have a latent interest in street rods and hot rods. I don’t own one. The amount of investment that it requires is not appealing to me, but I certainly enjoy seeing well-built street rods. I will occasionally attend a national car show of some sort just to keep in touch with what’s going on in that world. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Page 7
New roles at Baker
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Catching some solar rays
L-R: Bryan Baker and Steve Baker
akerTriangle’s Steve Baker and Bryan Baker took on new challenges in the New Year. Beginning Jan. 1, Steve Baker became chairman of BakerTriangle and Bryan Baker was promoted from president of the Fort Worth division to CEO. The upward shift in leadership is the latest in the 43 years since BakerDrywall and Triangle Plastering were founded. Steve has dedicated more than four decades to the wall and ceiling industry – all at BakerTriangle. He started out at Triangle Plastering in 1975 after earning a business administration degree at Texas Tech. He bought the business from his father in 1983, managing and expanding it for 23 years. In 2005, Baker Drywall merged with Triangle Plastering, which was owned by Steve’s brother Brad, and Steve became CEO of BakerTriangle in 2006. Bryan began his career at Baker Drywall as an estimator after graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a business administration degree. He went on to oversee the Fort Worth office for nine years. Under their direction and with the help of more than 1,300 employees,
BakerTriangle has contributed to a range of projects, including hospitality, healthcare, education, sports facilities, retail and worship and has built a reputation for being safety-focused. “We at BakerTriangle are excited about the recent promotions and succession plans put in place over two years ago,” Steve says. “Our strategic plan (over 10 years ago) included an emphasis on developing our leadership to succeed our long-term senior managers. Part of this plan involves keeping the senior leaders, many with over 35 years in the business, engaged with the new leadership. BakerTriangle has experienced tremendous growth within the state of Texas, including the manufacturing of prefabricated finished panels for multiple hospital and hotel projects. I am excited about Bryan’s leadership and his focus on customers, employees and innovation.” BakerTriangle, an award-winning wall and ceiling contractor specializing in drywall and plaster, has six Texas locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and a recently opened office in College Station, and also has an office in Tulsa, OK. –mjm
Building stacks of chips
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he Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter hosted its second annual Casino Mixer Feb. 8 at the Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA) building. With approximately 90 attendees, this year’s casino event was even bigger than the first. Guests floated between tables offering Roulette, Blackjack, Craps and Texas Hold ‘Em and enjoyed food and refreshments. –mh
L-R: Dee Bhakta and Andrew White, Yates Construction; Angela Villarreal, Marikka Strunk and Michael Blount, Trade Management
L-R: Vicki Towery, Firetrol Protection Systems; Nicole Krueger, Williams Scotsman; Christopher Cherniss, Catto & Catto
L-R: Edie Broman, Keystone Concrete Placement; Thomas Steele, Mobile Mini; Patti Oviatt, Cokinos Bosien & Young
L-R: Kathy and John Bagley, Matt and Bryan Ehrlich, Central Builders
The sun wasn’t shining over San Antonio much in January, but South Texas Solar Systems was keeping very busy doing residential and commercial solar design and installation. L-R: Nick Hoy, lead installer; Cory Maccherone, installation manager; Selina Angel, operations manager –mh
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
A new name for a new focus
Nelly Cabrera and Orlando Hernandez in the remodeled showroom at Kinetry.
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he showroom – and the name on the door – at 2420 Freedom Dr., Suite D, has been updated in more ways than one. Last summer, owner Orlando Hernandez rebranded his company as Kinetry and remodeled his showroom to reflect his new focus, modern kitchen cabinetry. Formerly Orlando’s Custom Cabinets, Kinetry still does all kinds of cabinets for any space, but Hernandez feels that the trend, especially among his younger customers, is moving towards a modern look that uses rigid thermal foil (RTF) at mid-range and acrylics on the higher end. Though the business bore his name and that of his 16-year-old son, who works for him sometimes, Hernandez changed the name of his company as well as the types of products he makes to grow with the flow of what he believes to be the future of the market. With the rebranding, the space of his shop was renovated to feature the more
modern style cabinets, which he feels are most durable at 3/4-inch. Hernandez feels it is important to be happy with the finished product for everything he does, and emphasizes to customers and potential customers that cabinets should be done right the first time, because it’s very difficult to fix them if they aren’t done or cared for properly. With two employees, he notes that he strives to find the right people to make cabinets that meet his standards. With 90 percent of his business coming from referrals, his jobs are primarily in the San Antonio area. Personally, he’s very happy, feeling he is accomplishing his goals, adding that, since he is a believer, he feels God is with him. Kinetry specializes in modern cabinetry for the residential and commercial markets. The company’s work is 90-percent residential and the majority of its jobs are new construction, but Kinetry also does remodels. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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What movie, book or TV show would you recommend? Fox News. It’s about all I’ll ever watch. It’s informative. Greg Lawson, Central Builders Inc. I enjoy going to movies very much, and I’ve got so many that I would recommend, but probably one of the more recent ones that I thought was very compelling was “Hacksaw Ridge.” It’s certainly a gruesome war film, but the story is incredible. George Vaughn, RVK Architects I would have to say a movie, and it would have to be “Tombstone,” because it’s just a good movie. I can recite it verbatim. It is absolutely a favorite. Walter Vestal, Vestal Steel Specialties I think my favorite book of all time is “The Hiding Place.” It is the most inspirational book I’ve ever read. Corrie ten Boom, who wrote the book – they just lived an exemplary faith and the things that happened in their lives were miraculous and inspirational in some very difficult times. Pamela Glenna, EverGuard Sealant It’s called “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, and I’m a huge Jim Collins fan. The reason I’d recommend it is because basically what he says in this book is to figure out what you do better than anyone else and focus on that. Chris Edelen Sterling Home Technologies I would have to say “The Shawshank Redemption,” the movie. I think it’s the best movie ever made. Bart Randolph Tex-Crete Countertops & Designs The Bible. Anything Biblically related. It should be the foundation of every family. Faith King, You Name It Specialties
I really like “Stranger Things.” It’s kind of about the same time and period as I grew up in, and I’ve always liked sci-fi stuff, and I really like that series so far. Zach Tschirhart Marksmen General Contractors There’s an old movie that I like to watch called “Being There.” It’s with Peter Sellers, and he’s a guy that’s been secluded and then he gets out and sees the world for the first time, but he’s only seen everything through TV. Roberto Gonzalez, GGC Engineers Movie would be “Pure Country.” It’s funny, because with my family, we’ve all watched it probably a hundred times it seems like, but it’s something about how things get crazy, and then how you have to reel them back in just to get back down to the basics. Georgette McCue Metropolitan Contracting The book that I’d recommend is “Atlas Shrugged.” While it’s a fictional story, there’s a lot of real world applications. Josh King, You Name It Specialties I watch Fox News, because I think they’re fair and balanced in their presentation. Rudi Rodriguez EPI Electrical Fencing & Engineering Any John Grisham books. I love his books and I think a lot of it is so true to life as how the judicial system works. Jan Meuth, You Name It Specialties I’ve got twin girls who are about 4, and we’ve been watching “Finding Nemo” an awful lot lately. It’s good for kids. Steve Barrett Marksmen General Contractors
Submitted to Construction News
Branch on the survey tree
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hen the surveying company that Alex Ocasio and Barbara Bruce worked for went out of business due to the economic downturn, they decided to go into business for themselves as Cross Branch Surveying. Now, counting Ocasio as president and Bruce as office manager, they have eight full-time employees, including a registered surveyor and a drafter. But they have two unofficial members of the staff in their office that greet everyone at the door – Angel and Sweetie. “We rescue dogs,” says Ocasio. “That’s kind of our pastime. I have a soft spot for pit bulls. I always believed that they’re misunderstood to a certain extent.” Having always had pit bulls, his last one died of cancer about two years ago after 11 years with him. “She was the office puppy, and we needed to rescue another one. So, I got Angel.” Though she was saved from being euthanized six times, Angel was never adopted because she was a bait dog and a momma dog. But when her kennel was opened, she came out and laid down at Ocasio’s feet. It was the same with Sweetie, whom he saw several times under the highway on the Broadway turnaround. When he opened his truck door, she jumped in. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Ocasio attended Puerto Rico University before deciding to join the Army, where he served as an infantry medic. He was going to join the Reserves, but he didn’t speak any English and wanted to learn. The sergeant suggested that if he really wanted to learn, he should go active, and he did. The Army sent him to learn English for six months at Lackland Air Force Base. From there, he went to Missouri, then Fort Sam Houston, and then he was stationed in Germany for three years.
Alex Ocasio, Cross Branch Surveying, has spent the last seven years building his company.
When the conflict in Bosnia broke out, his unit was deployed there for a year-and-ahalf. When his tour ended in Bosnia, he was sent back to Germany, and then to Fort Hood in Killeen. When he got out, he came across a surveying company, and after giving it a chance, he built his knowledge of surveying from the ground up over the next 11 years until the business closed. He bought equipment from the owner, and slowly built up the business. Today at 41, he has a lot of new projects on his plate, including a job doing pipeline staking in the oil field. Cross Branch has also done the Gunn Nissan dealership, Wheatley Courts, and the renovation on the river behind the Witte Museum. Cross Branch Surveying does commercial and residential construction surveying all over Texas. –mh
Submitted to Construction News
The graduates
Guests of the BBQ stations
Members of the San Antonio staff at Big Red Dog Engineering recently came to the office sporting clothes that represent their alma maters. –mh
L-R: Charli Valadez, Barker Structural, was invited to the Pre-Rodeo BBQ night as a guest and mingled with other ladies in construction at the Cleary Zimmermann Engineers booth, including, Melodye Tomsu, SpawGlass; Crista Reed and Joyce Fienman, Cleary Zimmerman; Maggie Seay and Audra Allen, Emerald Fox. –mh
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Soggy numbers: 6 common accounting mistakes to avoid
Five important issues to monitor in 2017
Landon McAfee, CPA, Assurance Services Partner Lane Gorman Trubitt LLC Dallas, TX
James Christ, Rodney Christ and Terrell Taylor Christ Taylor Insurance Houston, TX
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ou’re probably familiar with the term “crunch the numbers.” Well, in a tumultuous industry like construction, it’s all too easy to let crisp, timely financials go soggy with outdated data and flat-out mistakes. Here are six common accounting errors to avoid. 1. Inaccurate allocation of overhead For contractors that use the To develop a realistic picture of your percentage-of-completion (POC) methjob costs — and, therefore, the profit- od to account for jobs, estimated job ability of your projects — you need reli- costs is a key factor driving revenue able methods for allocating overhead recognition. Errors may be caused by: among jobs. Overhead generally refers to • Poor estimating or forecasting, indirect costs that benefit more than one • Inaccurate recording of actual costs, or job. Examples of costs which may qualify • Mishandling of change order accounting. as overhead to be allocated to projects Among the best ways to avoid the efinclude rent, depreciation, salaries for fects of estimating errors is to reconcile actexecutives and clerical staff, insurance, ual to estimated costs on a monthly basis. payroll taxes, and fringe benefits. 5. Failure to recognize loss contracts Construction companies often allocate Construction companies that use the overhead among jobs based on direct labor POC method sometimes fail to consider costs or direct labor hours. But, in some whether a job is likely to generate a loss. cases, this approach causes over- or under- Under such circumstances, Generally allocation of overhead, which creates a Accepted Accounting Principles require distorted picture of job profitability. them to fully recognize the loss at the For example, if your projects tend to time it’s determined. be equipment or material intensive, rather If you’ve encountered this issue in than labor intensive, it may make sense to the past, be sure to stay informed. allocate overhead based on one of those Regularly review each project’s job cost costs or perhaps some blend of direct job schedule. In the event estimated costs costs. The key is to develop a method for exceed the contract amount, be prepared allocating overhead costs to the jobs to accrue a loss. based on the activities that drive them. 6. Improper treatment of joint 2. Improper cutoff of job costs ventures Many construction businesses use Joint ventures, like change orders, the accrual basis of accounting, which are potentially valuable opportunities means they record revenues when that come with their own accounting earned and expenses when incurred. rules. Without going into detail, the Cutoff errors occur when expenses which manner in which costs and profits are are incurred but unpaid are omitted from shared among the participants depends a period covered by a financial statement on the way in which the joint venture is — typically, because invoices aren’t structured and on the terms of their received until after the period is closed. agreement. Are you susceptible to this problem? To avoid errors, leave nothing to If so, consider implementing a voucher chance. Be sure you and the other party system or some other mechanism to agree on the proper accounting ensure costs are recorded as liabilities or treatment before starting work. From accrued costs in the period in which there, implement procedures to ensure they’re incurred. that the venture’s activities are properly 3. Erroneous change orders documented. Change orders represent both great Numbers matter opportunities and potential pitfalls for Construction is characterized by thin contractors. What’s more, the accounting profit margins and a high degree of rules for dealing with them are complex uncertainty. So accurate financial and can lead to errors. reporting is important not only to For instance, if you’re overly operating successfully, but also to optimistic that a change order will lead to looking good in the eyes of sureties, additional revenue, you may overestimate lenders and other stakeholders. And to profits — resulting in profit fade as the make the challenge even greater, job progresses. This may happen if you contractors should begin to prepare for begin out-of-scope work before the new revenue recognition rules that take change order is approved, or if you and effect in 2018. the owner agree on scope but leave Landon McAfee joined LGT in 1993. He discussions of price for another day. has extensive expertise in the construction 4. Inaccurate job cost estimates industry.
L-R: James Christ, Rodney Christ, Terrell Taylor
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ew administrations bring new challenges to the professional realm, and the Trump administration is no exception. Many of the former administration’s health care initiatives are being rolled back or halted. This leaves employers in an uncertain place in regard to compliance regulations and reform laws. The following are five important issues that should be closely monitored in 2017: 1. Unraveling of the ACA and ensuring employees are educated health care consumers: A new administration is now in office and President Donald Trump is vowing to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The first wave of this dismantling came in an executive order that directs federal agencies to waive, delay or grant exemptions from ACA requirements that may impose a financial burden. Health care consumerism will likely only increase under this administration, so focusing on employee education is a must. 2. Employee retention and engagement: Employee retention and engagement is more difficult now than ever. With millennials projected to make up the dominant demographic of the workforce by 2020, employers need to rethink their company culture. To underscore the importance of fresh retention ideas, 44 percent of millennials say they would quit their jobs within two years if given the chance. Sixty percent say they wish to leave their current jobs by 2020. Now is the time to consider new retention and engagement initiatives. 3. Paid family and medical leave: Paid family and medical leave is an important and enticing package for employees. In the United States, over 88 percent of private sector employees do not have paid leave options, according to the Department of Labor (DOL). And of the few that do have access, over 33 percent
believe taking leave would put their jobs at risk. States like California, New Jersey and Rhode Island all have paid leave laws in place, with other states working on their own legislation. This staggering gap in benefit offerings makes paid leave packages especially appealing for younger workers. 4. EEO-1 form update: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has formally adopted modifications to the Employer Information Report (EEO-1), effective March 31, 2018. Beginning at this time, employers will need to report their total number of workers, their gender and race, their pay grade and job classification. The EEOC says this will help it more effectively investigate discrimination claims and pay disparities. 5. I-9 and E-verify updates: The latest version of the I-9 form is now effective, as of Jan. 22, 2017. This means that employers must use the latest version for all new employees or face steep penalties. The form is not required for existing employees. The main changes include marking “N/A” in fields that would previously be left blank, verifying employment for individuals in person (not remotely via a webcam, for instance) and using a large blank field to leave notes instead of putting them in the margins. As history shows, when there’s an administration change, employee benefits change as well. There will certainly be new legislation in the coming months, as promised by President Trump. Business management needs to lead the way in communication and make adjustments to adhere to any new requirements. Christ Taylor LLP is an independent, Houston-based employee benefits and brokerage firm doing business in Southeast Texas. Find them at http://christtaylor.com.
Submitted to Construction News
Surprise soiree
Jennifer Swinney, formerly of ESC Consultants and currently executive director for American Subcontractors Association (ASA) San Antonio, along with the staff of ESC threw a surprise party for Ted Dunnam, vice president, celebrating his 25th anniversary with the company. All of his ESC “family” and friends were present at the Feb. 6 event using the Flemings Wine Tasting that ESC won during the Construct A Kid’s Christmas (CAKC) Gala live auction. Dunnam’s family came in from Dallas, Austin and Houston for the soiree where Dunnam was presented with a plaque and other gifts commemorating the milestone. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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Sports’ world provides guidance for the construction project file
Stairways Used During Construction
Elizabeth H. Connally Connally Law PLLC San Antonio, TX
Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
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adly, football season is over. As we lament what our team’s season could have been and dream about what next year’s season will bring, we can apply two quotes from the sports’ world to the construction industry – specifically to the construction project file to support claims for changes: 1. “It starts with complete command of • Emails, texts & other correspondence the fundamentals.” – Jesse Owens with owner, architect, subcontractors 2.“The best defense is a good offense.” – & suppliers Vince Lombardi • Shop Drawings • Photographs and videos “It starts with complete command of • Schedules the fundamentals.” • Time records With every construction project, • Material delivery and receiving changes can occur. But regardless of reports whether it is a change to the design or • Progress reports specification or just a change due to the • Payment records effects of weather, for a contractor to • Change Orders request time and/or money for that • Job cost account records change, the project file will need to • Bids from subcontractors support the request. For the successful • Chronology of events recovery of a claim, it is critical the • Inspection reports contract file supports the fundamentals • Minutes of meetings of the contractor’s claim. These fundamentals can be boiled down to two “The best defense is a good offense.” words – notification and documentation. Up-to-date, well-maintained Carrying out the proper notification documents in the project file are, by far, procedures of a claim and preserving all the best defense for a contractor. Not necessary documentation can bring only can a well-organized and faster resolution of the claim and may documented project file enable a even prevent the issue from escalating to contractor to quickly respond to a minor arbitration or litigation. dispute in the field and, hopefully, The contract between a contractor prevent the issue from escalating, it can and an owner will likely have a provision also provide the best supporting relating to notice requirements. The evidence in the event of a claim. The purpose of notice requirements is to enable documents should also include copies of the owner to assess the scope of the any timely notices to the owner of problem and determine the course of changed conditions when the contractor action the owner wants the contractor to believes it is entitled to additional take. Further, it establishes a record of the compensation and/or time to perform dates and facts of the claim situation while the work. It is much easier to prepare the issue is still fresh in everyone’s mind. As requests for additional time and money you gather the facts to prepare the when the project file can clearly execute notification, also take the time to ensure the “plays” for the contractor’s claims. the project file contains sufficient However, if the contractor attempts to documentation of the events that took prepare a claim at the end of the project place on the project that support the claim. but has few documents to support the The contractor should prepare the claim, it is likely the contractor will be left project file in a manner that the with an expensive penalty – the inability documents will speak for themselves. to recover the time or additional This means that even if the people on the compensation. project change, the project’s history is Ms. Connally is the managing easily discerned from the documentation shareholder of Connally Law PLLC. in the file. Fundamental project file Ms. Connally is licensed to practice law in documentation should include: OH, DC, HI and TX and is a former • Contract documents warranted contracting officer for the U.S. • Geotechnical reports Dept. of State, where she handled • Daily reports contracts for the DOS’ largest • Requests for information procurement office in Frankfurt, • Phone logs (note: follow-up phone Germany. Ms. Connally’s email address is calls with emails to document ehconnally@eclegal.biz. discussions)
Submitted to Construction News
Capitol representation
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he following requirements apply to all stairways used during construction:
Stairways that will not be a permanent part of the building under construction must have landings at least 30 inches deep and 22 inches wide at every 12 feet or less of vertical rise. Stairways must be installed at least 30 degrees- and no more than 50 degrees- from the horizontal. Variations in riser height or stair the stairs are fitted with secured temptreads and landings. tread depth must not exceed 1/4 inch in rary any stairway system, including any foun- Note: Temporary treads must be dation structure used as one or more made of wood or other solid material and installed the full width and depth of the treads of the stairs. Doors and gates opening directly onto a stair. The following general requirements stairway must have a platform that ex- tends at least 20 inches beyond the swing apply to all stair rails: Stairways with four or more risers or of the door or gate. Metal pan landings and metal pan treads rising more than 30 inches in heightwhichever is less- must be installed along must be secured in place before filling. Stairway parts must be free of dangerous each unprotected side or edge. When the top edge of a stair rail system also projections such as protruding nails. Slippery conditions on stairways must be serves as a handrail, the height of the top edge must be no more than 37 inches corrected. Workers must not use spiral stair- nor less than 36 inches from the upper ways that will not be a permanent part of surface of the stair rail to the surface of the tread. the structure. Top edges of stair rail systems used Temporary Stairs as handrails must not be more than 37 Except during construction of the inches high nor less than 36 inches from stairway, Do not use stairways with metal pan the upper surface of the stair rail system landings and treads if the treads and/or to the surface of the tread. Stair rail systems and handrails must landings have not been filled in with con- crete or other materials unless the pans be surfaced to prevent injuries such as of the stairs and/or landings are tempo- punctures or lacerations and to keep rarily filled in with wood or other materi- clothing from snagging. als. All treads and landings must be re- Ends of stair rail systems and handplaced when worn below the top edge of rails must be built to prevent dangerous projections, such as rails protruding bethe pan. Do not use skeleton metal frame yond the end posts of the system. natarajan.joann@dol.gov structures and steps (where treads and/ 512-374-0271 x232 or landings will be installed later) unless
Construction News ON LOCATION
Architects meet on Mulberry Street
L-R: At RVK Architects, Michael Pena and Heath Wenrich were planning ahead after receiving notice to proceed into the design development document phase for a K-12 project. –mh
Submitted to Construction News
Serving the community
Members of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) San Antonio Chapter, the Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MCA-SMACNA) and the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC) San Antonio Chapter participated in a “Butts on the Bus”/Walk on the Capitol Feb. 1. The event brought 24 members from all three associations to the Austin Capitol Building to visit with 17 San Antonio senators and representatives regarding their needs in the industry. Here the group stands on the steps of the Capitol with Rep. Lyle Larson. Photo by Capitol House Photography –mh
Big Red Dog Engineering team members volunteered at the Jimenez Dinner, helping to provide seniors and the less fortunate with food as well as a warm and friendly dining experience for the holidays. –mh
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Good luck, Chuck!
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ore than 200 people gathered at Blue Bonnet Palace Feb. 2 for the retirement party SpawGlass hosted for Chuck Calvin, the company’s outgoing president of the San Antonio Division. –mh
Members of the SpawGlass team, current and retired, gathered to bid Chuck Calvin a fond farewell after 39 years with the company.
Cheers for the engineers
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he holiday season is long over, but Terracon hasn’t lost the spirit of giving back. The engineering firm’s San Antonio office started the year with lots of local community involvement. San Antonio’s Terracon team members volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, building a home for a family in need, assisting in handing exterior soffits, window frames and caulking joints. The Terracon team made and handed out more than 700 breakfast tacos at the
first-ever Bexar County Cowboy Breakfast at the request of a Bexar County Commissioner. And through the Terracon Foundation, the firm granted $5,000 to Alamo Colleges for a sustainable shipping container home at Eco Centro. “Giving back to our community is a core value of our company,” says Chuck Gregory, regional manager for Terracon. “The genuine appreciation demonstrated by the recipients of our efforts makes it even more rewarding and special.” –mh
L-R: Wade Cleary, Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, and Louis Rowe, Jacobs
Terracon volunteers helped build a place a needy family will call home. L-R: Pete Keener, Casey Sierer, Terri Keener, Michelle White, Laura Nelson, David Ramos, Jerry Nelson, Mary Borrego, Steve Borrego, and (in front) homeowners Joe and Kim
L-R: Joel Stone, CEO of SpawGlass; Chuck Calvin and his son, Justin Calvin, building services manager for SpawGlass; and Jason Smith, the new president of the San Antonio Division Terracon presented a check to Alamo Colleges. L-R: Dr. Robert Vela, president, San Antonio College; Dr. Yvonne Katz, chairwoman of the board of trustees; John Strybos, PE, associate vice chancellor of facilities operations and construction management; Chuck A. Gregory, PE, regional manager, Terracon; Casey Sierer, materials project manager, Terracon; and Dr. Bruce Leslie, chancellor
L-R: Ben Davis, Beck Readymix; Kathy Acock, Alpha Building Corporation; Jerry Turman, Corky Richardson, Richardson Tile & Plaster
L-R: Nick Hamilton, Rudy Bazan, Warren Dean, Audrey Frayre, Julio Aguilar, Billy Ruff and Jonathan Guilbeau toughed out the cold to give a hot breakfast to guests celebrating the kick-off the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
Submitted to Construction News
Safety working with sheet metal
Cherie Foerster, the new safety manager at Cram Roofing, was conducting a little safety training for some of the company’s sheet metal employees. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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What’s cooking, San Antonio?
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undreds of teams turned out for the San Antonio Pre-Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook-Off & Festival Jan. 27-28 at its new location on the Salado at 2201 Pace Picante Place (Google address: 1723 Creekview Dr.), and the local construction industry was well represented with plenty of contracting and industry-related businesses supporting the rodeo and stock show by cooking up something special. –mh
“Big John” Leifester, Dedicated Landscape Solutions and ASA board member, bea out more than 300 other teams to win 1st Place in the Ribs Category.
Sunbelt Rentals
Collier Custom Homes
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Trout fishing in early spring by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Diawa Reels, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, ForEverlast Fishing Products, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, and AFTCO Clothing.
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ince mid-January, I have noticed an unusual amount of boats on the water. It may be because we have had a Chamber of Commerce winter and water temperatures have not fallen low enough to drive our fish into deeper areas, or maybe because fuel prices are back to an affordable rate so folks can enjoy a day of recreation without having to apply for a small loan. Whatever the reason, it sure is nice to see that the economy is starting to turn around and people are starting to enjoy the outdoors. I’m sure some of you folks are waiting for warmer weather before getting on the water, but if you’re serious about catching trophy size specks, now is the time to be looking for that fish for the wall. Forecast for the months of February and March looks promising for those who don’t mind grinding out days in subpar conditions for bruiser specks. I’ll be wading every chance I get for the next few months throwing every type of lure known for tricking these elusive giants. Slow retrieving, walking the dog, jigging
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worms off the bottom or live shrimp under a cork are some of the techniques one must be familiar with. Fishing this time of the year can be very challenging. Hours without a bite can drive a man to insanity and wonder why he’s wasting his time on fish that won’t eat or that are not even in the vicinity. All I can say is be confident with your efforts and your determination will payoff with great rewards. If you’ve been browsing the isles of your favorite tackle shop or flipping the pages of some of the popular fishing magazines like I have, you will notice all of the latest lures and color combinations out there. One of the hottest on the water this time of year is the slow sinking soft plastic mullet imitation such as the Brown Lure, Devil Eye or Flappin Devil. Whether fishing these lures weedless or with a jighead they can be deadly on a slow retrieve over Baffin structure. Another proven favorite of mine is the MirrOlure Corky and the Corky Fat Boy. These lures can be custom altered by shaping them to dive or stay shallow simply by binding the internal wire up or down. It takes a bit of patience fishing this baits so if you’re not willing to stay put and work the area, best leave these lures in the box and stick to soft plastics. With this warm winter water temperatures don’t over look a slow twitching topwater plug. Sunny days after a strong northern can warm shallow waters where trout can recover quickly. A Super Spook Jr. is a perfect size plug to cast up shallow, work shorelines and shallow structure. A presentation of slow twitches and frequent pauses usually triggers lethargic trout to attack the wounded bait imitation. When you start your day always pick a lure you have done well with and have great confidence in, then venture to other baits you have been dying to try. Remember the key to catching during winter months is confidence and patience. 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 361813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors @ gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.
Monkeying around
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ary Hazlett, San Antonio editor for Construction News, along with her husband, David, and mother-in-law, Martha, recently took her 4-month-old daughter, Loxley, to the zoo for the first time. –mh
This little guy was up to some monkey business. He grabbed a lollipop that someone had dropped outside the fence and then climbed up a tree to enjoy his stolen treat.
Daddy and baby checked out the bush dogs as well as the lions, giraffes, leopards and monkeys, at the San Antonio Zoo.
San Antonio angler Josh Aljoe put a smack down on a limit of trout and reds last week fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Fish were caught using Kwigglers bone diamond and Brown Flappin Devil soft plastics.
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 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
Do you have a crappie problem?
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f you are a fisherman, or know people who like to catch a fish or two, then you probably know someone who has a crappie problem. Crappies are tasty little freshwater morsels that are loved for their flesh and their fast bite. No matter what kind of fisherman you are, if you have ever had a crappie cross your dinner plate, your ears perk up at the first mention that the crappie are biting! I know a fellow who doesn’t see Christmas trees in people’s front windows. He sees which neighbors he needs to offer to help dispose of said Christmas trees in order to get his hands on some good quality cover to sink in the lake for crappie to hide in. He has a crappie problem. He can hardly stand it when they cut the cedar out of the highway right of way if they chip it up with the grinder before he can get his hands on it. He can’t pass the lake without wetting a hook to see if the crappie are biting. Even on days when they shouldn’t bite, they will surprise you and bite anyway. If they bite, all plans for the day are
put on hold until they quit. He’s a good solid worker and friend as long as the crappie don’t bite. The crappie freak will try live minnows, lures, jig and grubs. He will use them on cane pole, Zebco rigs and or fly rods, often on the same day. If he finds some funky little critter that the crappie can’t resist, then he’s off to the tackle shop to buy every single one like it they have in stock. The better to become the Crappie King. He counts as one of his most prized possessions, years and years of wall calendars given to him by his Grandfather. These calendars hold the crappie fishing history of dates, weather and catch. This is priceless information because it seems crappie addiction is highly hereditary. The little notations on some days like, “Too damn cold”, and “Henry caught 4 more crappie than I did!” make it just like being in the boat together again. And then there is the weird Lake Record phenomena. If you look up Texas Parks and Wildlife records for crappie on most bodies of water you might be surprised at how small the record fish are. It’s not that they don’t get big. I know of a 19 inch crappie someone caught. Is it in a record book somewhere? No, it got eaten. The crappie fiend in our family has
Max Milam crappie record
eaten three lake records already this week before he finally got one weighed and certified for the record books. In case you hadn’t already figured it out, Lake Buchanan is coming on strong after the drought. All the amazing lakebed brush has created the perfect crappie habitat now that the lake is back. I bet there are lakes like that all over the state too.
Hand held crappie
If you like crappie fishing and especially if you have a crappie problem too, this is the time to get out there and scratch that itch. Go get ‘em while they’re hot!
Submitted to Construction News
Closing in on his target
Rudi R. Rodriguez, CEO of EPI Electrical Enclosures, shot this 8-point buck at his family’s ranch, Rancho Colorado del Norte, in Medina County. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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The Hill Country is Golden
he Golden-Cheeked Warbler is back in town this month. With the return of the endangered birds’ breeding season Mar. 15 through Jun. 1, Rudy Bazan, a biologist at Terracon, will be busy conducting GoldenCheeked Warbler (GCWA) presence/absence surveys. As a permitted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, Bazan can conduct the GCWA surveys that are required by federal regulation. He can do presence/absence surveys during the nesting season. “In the San Antonio area, it really applies to the area north of 1604 from Highway 90 all the way to Interstate 35,” explains Bazan. “That is basically considered an area of potential GoldenCheeked Warbler habitat. “Any type of development that their calls and is often able to spot them. occurs within that area, especially When he does spot them, he marks their towards the Hill Country, Fish and Wildlife location with the GPS. Warbler sightings does have the authority to make sure must be reported to Fish and Wildlife. that the habitat assessment has been Bazan notes that the probability of completed, or if there is habitat on the warblers being near Camp Bullis or site that’s being developed, that a Government Canyon is greater because presence/absence survey has been done that’s where the better habitat is. While and determined if any species are being he says that it depends on the topography, taken – basically if the habitat is being he emphasizes that finding and reporting destroyed, it’s considered taken.” habitat or warblers does not necessarily The warblers migrate north from mean a project can’t go forward. Mexico during this time of year and they “Usually Fish & Wildlife has a 300-ft use the big Ashe Juniper or large cedar buffer from areas that are habitat,” he trees to make their nests, utilizing the says, adding that every situation is strips of bark on the cedar trees as nesting different, and there are also mitigation material. options, but the warblers’ presence If someone calls Bazan believing doesn’t mean contractors and developers they might have habitat, he goes to the can’t build. site and does a habitat assessment, and if “From our standpoint, it’s about he determines habitat is present, he will balance. We want to help development do a presence/absence survey, which occur and we want projects to happen,” requires five site visits, each spread five he states. “We want them to implement days apart. He documents any auditory best management practices for the or visual evidence of warblers. He knows species as well.” –mh
The Golden-Cheeked Warbler
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Monuments to the American dream
sked to oversee two federal construction projects, Kristi Villanueva, was recently in Washington D.C. for the annual task order review visits on the HJD Capital Electric projects. “For a female in construction, these projects are both exciting and challenging,” she says. While in our nation’s capital, she took time to explore the sights, including the National Mall. “This was my first visit to the monuments, which meant a great deal to me,” she says. “After reading several of the passages throughout the building and watching the reactions of a multitude of visitors, I had a new perspective on the American Dream.” –mh
Kristi Villanueva stands in front of the larger than life Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
“On my last day in D.C., I couldn’t resist stepping out to watch the sun set over the National Monument from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial,” Kristi said.
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continued from Page 13 PreRodeo Cookoff
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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Get growing – grow greener
Sam Sitterle in the planning stages
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herever you go or wherever you are, how can one not notice and appreciate beautiful, healthy landscaping? Since 1991, Sam Sitterle, owner of MetroScapes Landscaping Inc., has been transforming or creating beautiful and unique settings for residential, commercial and industrial clients. His landscape design-build company can both design and install hardscape, including brick, stone and boulder retaining walls. Sitterle also designs and installs low voltage lighting systems. Project types range from private clubs, entry gates, clubhouses, private estates and atriums to storage units and rangeland restoration. In 2012, Sitterle founded Green Grow Organics, Inc. to provide an all natural, 100 percent organic lawn care service, designing a custom truck rig with aerators and custom sprayers to keep the active bacteria and fungal elements alive for delivery to the site. Sitterle states that, “Over the years,
the South Texas landscape has been depleted of soil nutrients by periods of drought and excessive use of chemicalladen products. The solution to this problem is actively-aerated liquid biological amendments and our naturallyderived compost tea.” He says the compost tea, as well as their dry application of minerals, have endless benefits. Results have been measured and recognized by gardeners, horticulturists as well as turf managers. Compost tea is derived from a proprietary blend of compost steeped in oxygen-rich water, resulting in a custom balanced for-mula that restores individual ecosystems. Sitterle is working with policy makers and the construction industry to demystify the chemical-free project delivery method. Our process has proven ROI on water and soil conservation so vital to our region. MetroScapes Landscaping and Green Grow Organics are working hand-inhand to save the world, one organic landscape at a time. -rd
Industry FOLKS Georgette McCue Senior Project Assistant Metropolitan Contracting
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efore she started at Metropolitan Contracting, Georgette McCue went to work for Tim Swan at Aequus when he was doing property management part-time as well as Metropolitan. Then, when he went over to Metropolitan full-time, McCue moved over with him. At the time, there were only three admin in the office, and so, McCue recalls, they were Jacks-of-all-trades, doing work orders, purchase orders, supporting the project managers, a little bit of front desk – a little bit of everything. Now, she has been with Metropolitan 23 years. Born and raised in San Antonio, McCue graduated from Churchill High School. She and her husband, Roy, a master electrician for TxDOT, have two daughters. Magen, who is 29, is a sound engineer and finishing her second degree in communications at UTSA. Jodie, who is 22, will be graduating this year with a degree in public health. McCue and her husband are involved with the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. As vice chairman of rodeo contestant hospitality, she helps provide 250 to 300 meals per day for the actual rodeo contestants that compete in the San Antonio Rodeo. “The people that we meet, the lives that we really touch are what I enjoy about being part of this,” McCue says. Roy is involved in the rodeo too, and they are also in charge of organizing a huge crowd favorite for the rodeo – mutton busting.
Since connecting with the founders of an organization called Ropin’ Dreams, she and Roy started volunteering with them too. They helped at their fundraisers, and then were asked to be directors. As a director with Ropin’ Dreams, McCue is able to help provide wishes to special needs children in San Antonio and throughout Texas. “Hence the name – Ropin’ Dreams – the founders of it are very involved in roping and rodeos,” says McCue. “So we’ll do anything from taking children out to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, taking them to one of the local rodeos. We’ve done day trips out to Sea World, Spurs games – just to be able to give the child and their family a time to get away from what they may be dealing with in day-to-day life.” At 51, McCue and her husband have been involved with Ropin’ Dreams for about three years now, and they’ve been working with the San Antonio Rodeo for about 15 years. They’re also very active at Community Bible Church and enjoy bay fishing in Rockport. –mh
Cap it off
Employees of Alterman Electric and guests were recently spotted taking a lunch break at Capperelli’s Restaurant. –cw
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Opportunity knocks at Southwest
The VIP experience
HOLT CAT is providing internships to juniors and seniors at Southwest High School. The inaugural program is starting with 19 students in three areas: the trade, business and IT.
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hanks to HOLT CAT, students at Southwest High School now have the opportunity to intern at the heavy equipment company. Partnering with Southwest ISD, HOLT CAT is providing the paid internships as part of the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program. Bert Fulgium, senior vice president for HOLT CAT, says that this partnership benefits both HOLT CAT and Southwest. He explains that five years ago, the company started making a concerted effort toward growing and filling the pipeline for technical positions at HOLT CAT within its 118-county Texas territory. At the same time, juniors and seniors from Southwest will have the opportunity to explore a career path in the trade as well as HOLT CAT as an organization. “We interviewed 19 of their students, juniors and seniors, and we offered 19 – 100 percent – an opportunity to intern with us, and I believe they all accepted,” says Fulgium, adding that the application and interview process with these first
interns from Southwest spoke volumes about their process, preparing these students very well for real life and the workforce. “We were thoroughly impressed.” This internship program marks another first for HOLT CAT, offering not only trade internships, but internships for business and IT as well. This opens the interning opportunities to students who do not want to pursue a technical career. While the fifth generation Holts, Corinna Holt Richter and Peter John Holt, have been encouraging everyone to be dynamic, which is one of the company’s core business values, they realized that they absolutely need trade and craft professionals, but they also need business and IT professionals. So they opened this internship up to those areas. Fulgium observes that HOLT CAT has had approximately 115 students come through its internship program, stating, “Many of those interns are working here at HOLT CAT today.” –mh (Photos by Roger Campos, Southwest ISD)
Bert Fulgium, senior vice president of product support for HOLT CAT, addressed the crowd as the heavy equipment dealer announced its partnership with Southwest ISD at Southwest High School.
Some of Peters’ team from Lone Star State Construction stopped by the grand opening, too. L-R: Kristy Cyr, Steven Hunt, Melissa Vasquez, Vincent “Julio Iglesias” Garza
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fter two-and-a-half years of work, everything came together for D. Michael Designs to host its grand opening at 10740 Hillpoint Dr., Suite 7. Dave Peters welcomed a couple hundred contractors and customers into his company’s showroom of high-end modern residential materials, appliances and amenities, floating cabinets and a kitchen island countertop that houses a bar. The architectural design-build company also does some commercial projects. Attendees also toured the mobile showroom for Sky Factory and had the chance to visit with several of D. Michael’s subcontractors. Guests enjoyed a selection of food, beer and wine. –mh
Austin Jones, Sterling Home Technologies, demonstrated the audio-visual capabilities of home automation, including an in-wall HD TV.
Dave Peters presented Marilyn Gwosdz, a big Spurs fan and a customer for whom D. Michael Designs designed and built a whole home remodel, with a surprise gift – a Jersey signed by Becky Hammon, the team’s assistant coach.
Anthony Tijerina, Modern Day Concrete, shows off the concrete floors in D. Michael’s showroom.
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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Talking to the next generation
On Job Shadow Day, Angelica Coronado and Juan Valenzuela, Tejas Premier, spoke to the the students about what it’s like to work in their positions.
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ith continuous efforts to engage the next generation in construction, SA Works Job Shadow Day Feb. 2 was the perfect opportunity for the Maestro Entrepreneur Center to host 30 high school students from Warren High School and educate them about the industry, design and the trades. “We are home to several small businesses who are part of our accelerator program,” says Irene Chavez, executive director for the Maestro Entrepreneur Center. “These minority and womenowned businesses [were] featured during the day in an effort for students to see the potential careers that exist in the realm of construction, architecture and engineering.”
Students heard presentations on the various jobs in a general contracting business from members of the Tejas Premier Building Contractor team, including owner Julissa Carielo as well as Andrew Wallace, chief estimator; Angelica Coronado, proposal writer; John Cayton, operations manager; Colby Ogletree, project manager; Roxane Higareda, controller job costing; Gilbert Hernandez, general superintendent; and Mark Guerrero, equipment manager. Others who addressed the students included Rocky Lopez, principal of Lopez Salas Architects; and for the “Working in the Trades” panel, Hilda Ochoa, 8A Electric; Adam Cantu, C2Plumbing; Uvaldo Martinez, Arkitectural Glass. –mh
Lone stars
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ased on feedback from more than 100,000 employees, Fortune Magazine recently released its annual “50 Best Workplaces in Texas” list. Several construction-related companies ranked on the 2017 list, and were distinguished by their ability to create a “Great Place to Work for All” regardless of gender, race/ethnicity, job role or other personal characteristics. –mjm 7: David Weekly Homes (Houston headquarters, offices in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio) 12: TDIndustries (Dallas headquarters, offices in Austin, Fort Worth and Houston and San Antonio) 13: Transwestern (Houston headquarters, office in Dallas) 16: Kimley-Horn (office in Dallas) 26: Granite Properties (Plano headquarters, offices in Houston and Dallas) 33: Power Design (office in Houston) 50: Power Home Remodeling Group (offices in Houston and Dallas)
A bear-y happy Valentine’s
Reesa Doebbler, publisher of Construction News, received a big cuddly surprise for Valentine’s Day, from her husband and co-publisher, Buddy Doebbler. The 4-foot-tall teddy bear kept her company in the office as production on the March issue kicked into high gear. –mh
Return to Alamo City
L-R: Hector R. Martinez, AIA, San Antonio; Steven L. Burch, RID, San Antonio; Joseph N. LaRocca, AIA, LEED AP, Austin; and Stephanie Briseño, RID, IIDA, NCIDQ, San Antonio, recreate the famous Abbey Road image.
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hough GSC Architects has a long history in Austin, the firm returned to San Antonio in 2015, 14 years after closing an office here. “We have big plans for San Antonio,” says Tom Cornelius, AIA, president and CEO. “We want to become local again, and we want to do it with respect.” Leading the re-establishment of the local office is Steven Burch, registered interior designer, director of interior design and operations manager for San Antonio, and a San Antonio native. He is one of five in the office, noting, “All of our voices matter.” Burch has been with GSC since starting the Alamo City office up again. Before that, he opened an office for another Austin-based firm and was with them for about five years. Prior to that, he was director of interior design for Marmon Mok here in San Antonio. “We had started seeing a lot of interest in existing clients wanting our services in San Antonio,” explains Burch.
“It’s important to have a homebase in order for people to consider you for opportunities in our industry. So, weighing those options, we felt it was really important to open up an office here and have a presence that could service them on the level that we feel is important.” In the last two years, GSC has done the Maruchan noodle plant as well as seven buildings in the Legacy Oaks development at Medical Center. “As a firm, we’re highly involved in the community, and so we participate in the MS and the diabetes walks,” Burch says. “We do Big Brothers Big Sisters and Make A Wish. It’s always volunteering on our own time, and we try to serve on a board so that our voice is heard in addition to giving our time.” Headquartered in Austin, GSC Architects currently has its only other office in San Antonio. The firm does government, corporate, healthcare, education, civic and industrial work. –mh/cw
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Woman behind the scenes
Thinking inside the box
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Johnson received the creative materials necessary to help keep her busy in her retirement.
apers don’t just put themselves together. Someone labors tirelessly to take the stories all the editors write and submit to the production department and make them look good. At Construction News, Sue Johnson helped put the papers together every month as production manager, but as of Jan. 31, she has officially retired. “It is just amazing how quickly the time goes by,” says Buddy Doebbler, publisher. “It only seems like yesterday when Sue came to work for us. But it has been 13 years. She started as our receptionist but wanted to learn more about the graphics/layout side of the business. She worked her way up to production manager and was the force behind getting the papers out each month. She will be missed by our entire staff.” Johnson started part-time in 2002 and became full-time in 2003. Through her work at Construction News, she met many members of the construction community. During the early years in her tenure here, she often attended events in San Antonio as well as expos in Houston and Dallas. “Since 2004, Sue’s been my partner in production,” says Reesa Doebbler, publisher. “I very much enjoyed working with her but, more importantly, is the friendship we developed along the way. We’ve been through a lot of good times together over the years. The good news is she’s still around here and there, and all of us here at Construction News know where to find her!” In retirement, Johnson says she will
be organizing to stay busy, and she and her husband look forward to traveling often. “I loved not only doing the layout and design for the papers each month, but I also liked reading about the people in construction all over Texas and meeting them,” says Johnson, who adds that she appreciates Buddy and Reesa taking a chance on her 13 years ago. She loved putting in the content and doing the layouts as well as working with everyone. “Everybody was a great team.” –mh
s EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering celebrates its 50th anniversary, Rudi Rodriguez, CEO, reflects upon the business that he owned and operated with his father for over three decades. “I guess many things could be said about what you’ve done right to still be in business 50 years later,” says Rodriguez. “But one of the other things in my mind is the partner that I had for almost 35 years of my time here and that was my dad, Ted Rodriguez. “His conservative approach and steady hand really helped contribute to the success of the business model that we developed along the way. Being able to work with him for that period of time as a mentor was obviously very important to me and the development [of the company].” Rodriguez explains that the business started as a sheet metal shop operation in 1966 and was then incorporated by one of the original founders in 1967. His father joined the company in 1969 in the role of management consultant. Ted was given one-third of the stock, and then in 1974, his son, Rudi, joined the business as vice president of sales and product development as well as becoming a corporate officer. In 1975, Rudi and his father bought out the last remaining shareholder to claim 100 percent of the stock. Ted retired about eight years ago, and has passed away since then. Today, Rudi is the sole owner. Partnering with large companies in the industrial and utility industries among
L-R: Rudi Rodriguez and his father, Ted Rodriguez, helped bring EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering to the milestone it has reached today.
others, such as GE and Westinghouse, gave EPI the opportunity to diversify and develop its products. They manufacture enclosures from as small as 4x4x4 to a 10,000-amp entry bus secondary, which is 102 inches wide, 8-ft tall and 4-ft deep, that they did recently for a customer service center in Arlington. EPI has done enclosures all over Texas, including the Alamodome in San Antonio. They’ve also done work for Southwest Research Institute that included manufacturing products to protect the wires and programmable controllers on the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Based in San Antonio, EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering designs, develops and manufacturers electrical enclosures, wireways and bus secondaries as well as custom designs. –mh
Building for fellow veterans
As part of her farewell party, Sue Johnson received a shirt signed by all of her co-workers at Construction News.
L-R: Brad Morris, G. Morris Homes, Bulverde; Lucas Cifka with his son, Wyatt, and Chris Kuban, Gary Sinise Foundation, during the Walls of Honor Ceremony for Cifka’s new smart home.
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s Brad Morris, president of G. Morris Homes, builds the third specially adapted smart home for a severely wounded veteran, he merges passions for veterans’ causes and home building. Aligned with the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) Program, his company recently began work on a home for U.S. Army Sgt. Lucas Cifka (Ret.) in Canyon Lake where he has two neighbors whose lives have also been changed by the efforts of the Gary Sinise Foundation and G. Morris Homes. “Our whole goal is to give them the independence and dignity that they deserve in giving them a house that they can completely function and be independent in,” says Chris Kuban, Gary Sinise Foundation. “I’m a veteran myself,” says Morris, who graduated high school early to go to boot camp. “I am a former Marine. I was deployed in 2004 to Iraq and actually
served in the Battle of Fallujah in November of 2004. I was attached to an infantry company as an artillery forward observer.” Cifka was on a foot patrol in Afghanistan in 2013 when he was struck by an improved explosive device (IED). As a result, he lost both of his legs. This smart home features automation so that he can control a wide variety of things, including the HVAC, audio and door locks, from an iPad. He can even see who is at the front door without having to leave his bed. Morris notes that they took measures that typically adapt the master area a step further and adapted a secondary bathroom so that Cifka can have proper turning radius in his son’s bathroom and be a dad, giving his son a bath. “All of those little things that all of us take for granted on a daily basis –those won’t be barriers for him anymore, at least in terms of the home,” says Morris. He expects the single-level, 3,000-sf home to be completed in June. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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Chili weather
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he Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA) hosted its SABPAC Chili Cook-Off Jan. 27 at Raymond Russell Park. –mh Winners
1st Place – Showmanship and People’s Choice
Cook-Off Chili 1st: Icynene/Williams Insulation 2nd: Chesmar Homes 3rd: DR Horton
People’s Choice: Chesmar Homes Washer Tournament 1st: Grant Dodson, Perma Pier, and Jason Hunt, Cedar Creek 2nd: MJ Claussen and Mike Riff, Chesmar Homes 3rd: Chris Quante and Matt Quante
Showmanship 1st: Chesmar Homes 2nd: Hart Lumber 3rd: Sitterle Homes
1st Place – Chili
1st Place – Washer Tournament
In memoriam
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ames Dermont Williamson Jr., head project estimator at Traugott Inc., passed away peacefully at the age of 60 while surrounded by his loving family on Jan. 22. Born Jul. 10, 1956 in Mobile, AL, he moved to Texas in 1966. A graduate of Marshall High School, he attended San Antonio College and the University of Texas. He met his wife, Carolyn, in 1976 and they were married two years later. His construction career spanned 30 years, serving the last 21 years at Traugott Inc. His hobbies included fishing, weightlifting, barbecuing and cooking his famous lasagna. He cherished time with his family and will be remembered for putting others’ needs before his own. Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Carolyn; son, James; daughter,
Marilyn; grandchildren, Emilia, Logan and Faith; sister, Karen Dorner; and numerous other family members, nieces and nephews. –mh
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Breakfast comes to the South Side
continued from Page 1 — Wilson carries on
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he inaugural Bexar County Cowboy Breakfast was held Jan. 28 at 3505 Pleasanton Road. Local construction and engineering companies volunteered to cook all of the free tacos that drew hundreds upon hundreds of hungry visitors to the South Side rodeo breakfast. Different companies were assigned a particular taco to serve to the public. HJD Capital Electric made chorizo and egg tacos. KFW Engineers and GGC Engineering teamed up to make bacon and egg tacos. Dannenbaum Engineering made brisket tacos. And Tino’s Welding and Fabrication made sausage and egg tacos. Terracon also made hundreds of tacos. Kristi Villanueva, Capital Electric, commented that after working straight through from 6-11am and serving more than 1,500 tacos, they had to turn away about 100 guests at the end. –mh
Landis and Les Wilson founded Alamo Waterproofing in 1969, working hard together in the office on jobs and at home raising their family.
though we butted heads sometimes, we were always best friends and loved each other with all that there was! He was my father, mentor, teacher and friend, which I valued highly.” He recalls that the topic at dinner every
single night was the business. Even if it didn’t start that way, it ended up that way. Brandon describes Les as one of the hardest working men he has ever known, having taught him a work ethic he keeps with him still to continue Alamo Waterproofing. His father had him working in the field from high school summers to after he graduated from college with his degree in business administration. Brandon began working inside the office in 1997, and today, he is president. Alamo Waterproofing Services is currently working on the Peter Holt Headquarters building and the Security Service Federal Credit Union headquarters training facility among many others. –mh
continued from Page 1 — Taking heroic action
L-R: Kristi Villanueva, Mo López and Tyler King, Capital Electric, served up some free food at the first-ever South Side Cowboy Breakfast.
The Capital Electric team had to break some eggs to make their breakfast tacos. L-R: Donovon Rodriguez, a volunteer from Sen. Menéndez’s office; Ronnie Villanueva, Capital project manager; Tyler King, Capital’s accounting department.
to sit there and watch that man burn to death, because he was semi-conscious and he was making noise, and he only had a few seconds left in that truck,” he remembers. “That’s something that would haunt me forever, to hear something like that, to think that I could have done something and didn’t. “I would hope somebody would do the same for me. And to me, it’s not an act of heroism. It’s just a human thing to do, that we help one another out.” Thompson grew up in a very small town called Elmo, east of Dallas. Having grown up with family in construction, he followed the same path. While working at Joeris, he earned his GED in order to enroll in the Associated Builders and
Contractors (ABC) carpentry apprenticeship program even though he was already a journeyman carpenter. After working for Joeris for a number of years, he decided that he needed a change and wanted to start his own company. In July of last year, he established MWT, naming it after his 3-year-old son, Matthew Wayne Thompson. He also has three daughters, Isabella, 10; Indee, 9; and Haley, 5 months. He and his wife, Ariana, have been married two years and together almost six. MWT Construction & Remodeling does mostly residential remodeling, including framing, drywall, trim, siding and interior doors. The company also does some commercial work. –mh
continued from Page 1 — Delivering a grocery pick-up facility
Greg Lawson, project manager, says that the drive-through area was a fairly substantial space and portion of the project. L-R: Kimberly Drake, Eduardo Soto and Omar Espinosa, of the KFW Engineers team, worked on their assembly line of tortillas.
L-R: Ed Belmares, KFW Engineers, and Roberto Gonzalez, GGC Engineers, served up some hot comfort on this cold morning from the KFW Engineers booth.
through area. About 200 linear feet of the fencing was pulled out, and about 50 linear feet of fencing was relocated. Also because of the drive-through, CBI had to completely reconfigure the irrigation system and new landscape. While the drive-through was a substantial portion of the project, the biggest challenge was expanding a tilt-wall building. “To do the addition, we took out several of the tilt-wall panels, which are the structural panels of the side of the existing building,” he says, noting that McMullen Custom Welding did the demolition and structural erection for the job. “We had to bring a crane out and pull three of those panels out to have access into this new curbside facility. We installed a temporary wall where those panels were taken out until we could get our structural steel in place. And we had to shore up the roof area.” Also, about 50 percent of the facility is cold storage for food, while the other half is room temperature storage. Bryan Ehrlich, vice president of CBI, notes that one of the things that makes SA 45’s Curbside unique is that it’s built out of cooler panels, which are traditionally used for freezers, not a sales-occupied space. CrownTonka installed the cooler panel system for this prototype facility. Ehrlich mentions that this is an area where CBI has to work with the municipalities to ensure that these facilities meet all of the energy code
requirements. He says that there is a quick timeframe to open each of these Curbside facilities, and there’s a lot of coordination with the cities, working hand-in-hand with the municipal entities, to satisfy each jurisdiction, especially with the incorporation of this paneling system. Having completed more than 10 of these Curbside facilities to date and having a long history of working with HEB, Ehrlich says that this kind of grocery pick-up service is where the market is going, and they are happy that HEB trusts CBI to get the facilities done as quickly as possible. CBI also built the first HEB Curbside in San Antonio at 1604 and Bandera Road, and the second one at 1604 and Culebra Road. The superintendent on the project was Clyde De La Cruz. Fernando Garcia with Shawn Kaarlsen & Associates, SK&A, was the architect. Stantec was the civil engineer, and Beicker Consultants was the structural engineer. Eldridge Electric did the data and electrical. Other subcontractors on the job included Guerrero Concrete, Allegiance Fire Sprinkler, American Roofing, Biesenbach (EMS), TESS (FA/ Security) and Waterloo Plastering. Central Builders Inc. is a commercial general contractor that also does construction management and design build. While the company is based in San Antonio, CBI also has offices in Denton, TX and Lordsburg, NM. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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Construction Education Controls in the classroom Greg Schulmeier Automation Project Manager/Instructor Texas Chiller Systems/UAPP Local 142 San Antonio, TX
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tudents coming up through apprenticeship programs in various trades will have to deal with building automation systems (BAS) at some point in the field, especially as they become more common, explains Greg Schulmeier. As an instructor for UAPP Local 142, he has enjoyed passing on what he has learned in the industry over the past two decades, as well as seeing several apprentices become journeymen who were so interested in his BAS class that they decided to go into that field. With more people wanting to control various aspects of their building or home digitally, HVAC especially and lighting and door access as well as other trades are affected. How do you teach students about building automation? And what are the most difficult aspects of teaching it and for the students to learn? Since the BAS industry is so diverse and you have different vendors, I try to teach more of an open, overall [view of] how everything kind of ties together. I don’t teach the specific vendor, like a Honeywell or Johnson – we strictly do Honeywell [in his work], but I try to show everything there. I try to show them the programming
of what’s behind the scenes, what’s on the computer as far as the programming and the graphics. And I think the hardest thing for them to understand is the actual programming of it and how that’s done and how that links with the graphics that the user ends up manipulating on a dayto-day basis. Is that something that they need to know for their jobs or does that help them to understand it better? I think nowadays, with as much diversity as there is coming as more and more companies are going with the BAS, I think it’s something that they need to understand. A problem we have in the industry is that a service technician who is not familiar with BAS goes out on a service call and as soon as they see a BAS, “Oh, it has to be controls.” So, they’re passing that on to somebody else, and I’m trying to teach them that instead of seeing that and getting worried about it, understand what’s going on. Maybe you can look at that, and you may not be able to understand everything about the system, but maybe you can go in there and troubleshoot and realize, “It isn’t the program. It is a mechanical problem.” Because we have a lot of times
Bright future in electrical training Kim L. Allen, Training Director
North Texas Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund Grand Prairie, TX
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escribe the apprenticeship and training program. The North Texas Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund trains people, who have no experience or a little experience, how to do electrical work. We take them from the very beginning and get them qualified to take the State of Texas electrical exam. It’s an official registered apprenticeship program with the Department of Labor. It’s a standard program where we start school every six months, in July and in January, and rotate the classes. A student goes through all five years and then becomes a journeyman at the end. Every other week, apprentices take a day off of work and come to school. Although they don’t get paid for that day, the rest of the time they are out making money, working for the contractors sponsoring our program. The instructors are all electricians, are all at least journeyman or master electricians, have at least an Associates degree in electrical instruction and also
have teaching certificates. We’re very strict on time; we get paid by the hour; every minute is money. We’re also very strict on grades; 75 is our minimum score and we hold our people to a very high standard. How is technology helping educate your students in this program? We are offering more homework online. It gives instructors more time during the day to do more hands-on training than we’ve had the chance to do in the past. Have you seen an increase in training costs over the last few years? Definitely yes; it just goes with the cost of everything [increasing]. The books cost a little bit more money and tuition costs a little bit more money. We’re a nonprofit organization; our contractors give us donations basically for all of the work our organization does. That’s what keeps the lights on and pays the salaries. We charge exactly what the
where a service tech will be out there and say, “It’s controls.” And we go out, look and say, “No, the controls are just fine. It’s a mechanical issue that needs to be fixed,” and now the mechanics side has to go back out there again. That’s the biggest issue we’ve seen in the industry when it comes to [BAS] – people who don’t understand how it works. Is the training for building automation especially important or widespread today? Will your service techs be dealing with this so often that they will need this training? I think they’re definitely going to need it. I’ve been doing this for a while, and when I first started doing this, BAS, as far as computer-based was more of a luxury, an option. And nowadays because of energy conservation and stuff like that, more and more buildings are moving away from the older pneumatic styles and are going to the computer digital control field. I think the more that an apprentice is going to be in this field, he’s going to see this more and more. And it’s becoming more and more prevalent than it was 5, 6 years ago. So instead of them being able to work on pneumatic controls – which if you know pneumatics, you don’t need to have any special training – whereas nowadays, because everyone is going to [BAS] and it’s becoming more of a necessity, they’re going to see that a lot more in their industry. What have you seen evolve in building automation in your 20 years working in this particular field? The biggest change I’ve seen is how open everything is becoming, whoever the vendor is, and how everything is
books cost us. We’re associated with the Dallas County Community College district so our students can get an associates degree in construction if they would like to, although that is not a requirement. With that, they do have to pay tuition, which is set by the state legislature. The cost has gone up, but not nearly as much. Over the course of five years, our program costs roughly $5,600 – about $550 a semester for 10 semesters. The apprentices do have a little bit of a cost because, if you get something for free, you don’t appreciate it as much as if you worked for it. What areas of education need to be improved to better serve the industry? Our program is really math oriented, so a good math background is very important. We have a “math refresher class” because we have people straight out of high school and we have people in their 50s entering our program for a career change who maybe haven’t done math in a long time. We do the math refresher class to refresh everybody’s memory on basic math skills. We also get into a little bit of geometry and trigonometry because in bending conduit and doing calculations, they’ll be using that. What are reasons for the declining interest in the construction industry? It’s hard work. We are held to a different standard than a lot of other people; if you’re in construction and you’re not going to work, you’re not getting paid. Also, we work in all kinds of
starting to become more and more communication-friendly between different vendors. When I first started doing this, it was very proprietary. Now, I’m seeing it become more and more open because vendors are actually building stuff that communicates with each other. Why is hands-on training important in automation? Most of the manuals that we get are very vague. I build a small project there in the classroom, all computer-based, and I give them each a laptop that the school supplies, and I let them go into that system that I built and develop their own program so they can see how to control or how this is controlled, so they can see how the program coincides with what they’re actually controlling. What areas of education in BAS do you feel need improvement to better serve the industry and customer? I think one of the biggest things is computer skills. The biggest problem I have when I’m teaching this to people is they don’t understand how a computer works. They get kind of swamped being on the computer, but I think, for our industry, we need [to teach] basic computer skills, because there are mechanics that work with their hands – they’re using tools, pipe wrenches – but when it comes to a computer, the biggest obstacle I have is getting them to feel comfortable behind the computer and [teaching them] how to work with a computer. Greg Schulmeier has been automation project manager with Texas Chiller Systems for two-and-a-half years. He has been an instructor at UAPP Local 142 since 2005. –mh
weather conditions. We work inside and outside. Do you visit high schools or colleges to educate young people about this program? We visit a lot of high schools, but don’t normally go to a college unless someone specifically asks us to come and teach. Vocational classes are the best ones we like to talk to people at; those people have a little bit of background. You usually get people that want to work. What are ways to attract young people to the industry? Educating them, helping them to know that there are other avenues besides going to college. Of course, we would love it if everyone could go to college, but not everyone is cut out for college and not everyone can afford to go. We have so many kids who go to college, get a degree in something that is not what they want to do, have $60,000 to $100,000 in student loans that they have to pay back and are looking for a job that pays them $15 an hour. If you look at statistics – and I don’t know the exact number – a large percentage of college freshman never make it past the first semester. Out of that percentage, a larger percentage never even attempt to go back and finish college. Those people need to make a living at a decent job and construction gives them that. Even an electrician working out in the field may someday become an electrical contractor and own their own company or corporation. –mjm
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Construction Education Redefining success Kirstyn Quandt, Communications Manager National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Alachua, FL
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rom the time we are young, parents, teachers and even society’s most opinionated strangers encourage the pursuit of a college education. Students have been taught that a four-year degree symbolizes a critical, expensive stepping stone on the model pathway of achievement. With such heavy influence coming from numerous sources, the future workforce is presented with one, uniform image of success and few variations in the course to get there. Unfortunately, what is absent in predetermined curricula and standardized testing is the option of non-traditional career pathways. Careers in the construction industry are not presented on the cookie-cutter, sampler platter of ideal majors to pursue. If you were to ask a class of high school seniors to identify the many benefits gained from enrollment in career and technical education programs or the numerous opportunities for employment in the construction industry, you’d be greeted with a mixture of intrigue and confusion. While today’s most popular media portrays doctors, detectives and corporate tycoons as America’s most successful professionals, it is the men and women who build society’s infrastructure that make modern life possible. Students everywhere crave a career
that combines happiness and professional growth; however, they are often not provided with enough information or the proper guidance to achieve just that. One study in Butler University’s The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal reported that of the 20-50% of students entering college without a designated course of study, 75% switched their major at least once before graduation. While today’s education tends to focus heavily on teaching to college admittance exams, it fails to prepare students for the skills and insight necessary when the timer stops and pencils go down. We all remember the routine: sit in class, learn, memorize and repeat. With this
Spreading the word Byron Parffrey Builder’s Academy Houston, TX
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uilder’s Academy has come a long way from its humble beginnings of just five students as a consumer advocate training for owners in 1994. Now the education center has over 85 students taking a 40-hour, six-week class. “It was a part-time, six week homebuilding course and now it’s a full-blown career changing entrepreneurship with internships available,” founder Bryon Parffrey said. The classes allow students to obtain licenses for home inspection and commercial properties. The students also learn home building and renovation in the different
teaching style, it’s difficult to forge the connection between textbook material and real world application, leaving many unsure of their next steps after graduation. Education needs to incorporate a greater hands-on approach where learning is no longer confined to a desk or limited to a word count inside the lines of a spiral bound notebook. NCCER’s Build Your Future (BYF) initiative focuses on enhancing public perception of the construction industry and encouraging the inclusion of career and technical education (CTE) programs in secondary schools across the country. CTE programs have shown that when academic learning is combined with hands-on, real world application, students are undoubtedly developing a skill set built for success. According to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), 6 in 10 students are planning to pursue a career in the CTE area they are exploring in high school. When this level of assurance is viewed alongside the alarming statistics of new high school graduates actively pursuing degrees unsure of their major or career path, it is clear that rote memorization and high-pressured testing is no longer the most effective way to educate and train our future workforce. As an industry, we must recognize that successful learning is more than es-
say writing and mathematical equations. Effective education and professional growth stem from on the job experience and a refined skill set. Our industry is one of few capable of tailoring one’s passions to the task at hand and as a result, our workforce reports extremely high job satisfaction. According to the 2015 Best Industry Ranking Report published by TINYpulse, 34% of those in the construction industry say they work with great people, which is the number one indicator of job satisfaction. Students must be made aware of the vast opportunities for employment, growth and happiness that accompany a career in construction. Only when we effectively recruit, train and place these individuals, will our construction workforce grow, thrive and continually surpass our own standards of excellence. It is the responsibility of industry leaders, educators and everyday influencers to create a new, all-encompassing image of the successful, young professional. Then, with full insight and confidence in their designated career path, students will pursue majors, crafts and careers that speak solely to their passions and eliminate any semblance of bias from others. Through effective education and enhanced recruitment efforts, we can revolutionize the construction industry and redefine success, making four-year degrees merely one option amongst many.
programs that are offered. “Today, thousands are quitting their jobs and building, not only homes, but townhome projects, pocketing $100,000 a year in home profits,” Parffrey said. Some of the challenges facing construction education are getting people involved and the correct education. “The I-don’t-have-time-for-classes type who think they can watch a TV program and become a pro builder or inspector watching TV,” Parffrey said. “Many end up here after a major problem on site. They need education and experience.” The Builder’s Academy has a mix of classroom and hands-on approach to give a complete education.
“In class, online and onsite and in our building and inspecting offices, you learn, see and take part in the real deals and experiences like no other,” Parffrey said. “Ask any student and graduate; it’s an eye opener and life changer. High schools and colleges should have a course in building and basic knowledge for all.” Going forward, Parffrey wants more ways to connect with the students and different ways to learn. “We will be adding more radio shows, podcasts and tubes as well as webinars to help many build on solid foundations and careers,” Parffrey said. With all the construction projects and construction companies in Houston, graduates from the program have a chance to find jobs or start their own companies after graduating. “We had the greatest deal (in Houston),” Parffrey said. “Land and labor was cheap compared to rest of nation, not so much anymore. We do have a great supply of labor. We just weed through to find the quality.”–cs
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Page 27
Construction News ON LOCATION
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Taking the floor on the road
To the rescue
The mobile showroom was out and about, but Leon Perez-Luna, design associate for Floor Coverings International, was in the office. He has been with the company for three months, and he notes that the company, though only in San Antonio for about a year now, is currently adding more people. Though they mostly do residential work, 30 percent of their business is commercial, such as local projects at a daycare center, a pharmacy and a few offices. –mh
Resfloor Concrete Solutions of Austin was called in to help out at the Finish Line store at La Cantera in San Antonio after another company’s epoxy work failed. Not to worry! Juan and Miguel came up with a creative way to remove the middle tape without stepping on the newly installed epoxy. –cw
Construction News ON LOCATION
Built for Biltmore
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Making way for improvements
Jim Moore, Teresa Smith, Howard Smith, Butch Gerfers stand proudly outside the new home of Biltmore Construction & Development at 4722 College Park. –mh A crew with Bartek Construction, prepares to pull conduit under the San Pedro Creek channel on Dolorosa Street near City Hall to facilitate utility relocation. Bartek is a subcontractor to the Sundt-Davila Joint Venture. The San Pedro Creek Improvements Project, a partnership between Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority, aims to transform San Pedro Creek into a world-class linear park with the first portion scheduled to be completed in time for the tricentennial celebrations. –mh
Construction News JOB SIGHT
A high and dry walkway
A field crew for RCO Construction installed a concrete drive and culvert for a low water crossing area at Helton Nature Park in Floresville. –mh
Construction Education
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Page 28
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Association Calendar
Round-Up
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
Mar. 1: Breakfast Club; Alamo Café off 281; 7:30-8:30am; for more info, email Ruby Trejo at ruby@abcsouthtexas.org Mar. 8: Annual Chili Cook-Off and Great Gun Raffle; Shrine Auditorium; 3:307:30pm; for more info, email Ruby Trejo at ruby@abcsouthtexas.org Mar. 28-31: OSHA #500 Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for Construction; ABC Office; 8am-5pm; for more info, email Dana Hickman at dana@abcsouthtexas.org Mar. 29: Happy Hour, Little Woodrow’s off 281; 4:30-6pm; for more info, email Ruby Trejo at ruby@abcsouthtexas.org Apr. 5: 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 the AGC office unless otherwise stated. Mar. 7-9: AGC of America Convention, Las Vegas; for more info, visit http:// meetings.agc.org/convention Mar. 15: OSHA 10-Hour, 8:30am-4pm Mar. 16: OSHA 10-Hour, 8:30am-3pm Mar. 22: CLC Hard Hat Tour: University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) Student Engagement Center, UIW, 4:30-6:30pm; Texas Building Branch’s Legislative Day, State Capitol Mar. 23: Lean Unit 1: Variation in Production Systems, 8am-noon Mar. 24: Lunch and Learn: Stormwater, noon Mar. 27: Annual Golf Tournament; The Club at Sonterra; registration begins at 11am, shotgun is at 12:30pm; deadline for player entries is Mar. 22; for more info on playing or to sponsor, call Kelly at 210349-4921
AIA
MCA–SMACNA Mechanical Contractors Association Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.
Mar. 1: Regular & Associates Meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am Mar. 8: Joint Labor/Management Meeting Sheet Metal, MCA-SMACNA Office, 11am Mar. 15: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am Apr. 6: 24th Annual Golf Tournament, SilverHorn Golf Club
NARI Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry
Mar. 22: Mixer w/NKBA, Cox Tile, 5-7pm
NAWIC Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Mar. 4-11: Women in Construction Week Mar. 4: CPR & First Aid Certification; members $30, non-members $35 Mar. 6: Painting with a Twist, $35 per person Mar. 7: Gear Up Fore Golf Mar. 8: Warren HS CCA Mar. 10: Annual Golf Tournament Mar. 11: Wine Down For more info on these events, visit nawicsatx.org
American Institute of Architects
Mar. 17: Spring Product Expo, Center for Architecture; for more info, call Laura Smith at 210-226-4979
ASA American Subcontractors Association
Mar. 2: Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet; The Pearl Stable; 6-10pm; $95 per attendee; to RSVP, email jennifer@asasanantonio.org Mar. 15-18: SubExcel in Denver, CO; for more info, visit www.asaonline.com Mar. 21: General Meeting; The Petroleum Club of SA; networking 6pm, Dinner 6:30pm; members $35, non-members $45; to RSVP, email jennifer@asasanantonio.org Mar. 31: Annual Golf Tournament; TPC Golf Course; Shotgun Start 7:50am; early bird registration $225 per player or $850 for team of 4; for more info, email Jennifer at jennifer@asasanantonio.org
HCA Texas Aggregates and Concrete Assn
Mar. 2: Casino Night; Aggie Park; for more info, please visit www.hcadesa.org Mar. 22: Monthly Meeting/Mixer; members free, non-members $10
IEC Independent Electrical Contractors
All events are held at the IEC office unless otherwise stated.
PHCC Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
Mar. 9: Luncheon Meeting, National Shooting Complex, 11:30am; Sporting Clay Tournament, National Shooting Complex, 1:30pm Mar. 23: CSST Trac Pipe Training, 7:30am
SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.
Mar. 30: Annual Golf Classic; The Republic Golf Club; 1pm shotgun start; $125 per golfer, $25 per non-golfer; for more info, call Debbie at 830-606-5556
TACA Texas Aggregates and Concrete Assn.
Mar. 2-3: Short Course, Calvary Court Hotel, College Station; events include speaker sessions, golf tournament, sporting clay tournament, Messina Hof Winery & Resort private tour/tasting; for more info, visit https://www.regonline. com /builder/site /default.aspx? EventID=1926817
TACCA Texas A/C Contractors Assn.
Mar. 23: Sporting Clay Shoot; National Shooting Complex; lunch & Registration 1pm, Shoot 2pm, awards dinner immediately following; $140 per shooter; for more info or to register, call 210-901-4222 or visit TACCAGreaterSanAntonio.org
s ear with tors!” Y “20 ealing ntrac o of d ral C ne Ge Metal Studs Drywall Acoustical Insulation
RVK Architects announce the following: Gabriel H. Herrera has been promoted to associate. With the firm for 10 years, he is currently taking the state Architectural Registration Exams. He is currently working on the Security Service Federal Credit Union corporate campus. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from UTSA. Denise M. Valentine has been promoted to associate. With the firm for nine years, she is currently taking the state Architectural Registration Exams and is working on various healthcare projects. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from UTSA. Don Weiss has been promoted to associate. With the firm for nine years, he is a Texas Licensed Irrigator, and he is currently working on the Security Service Federal Credit Union corporate campus and various corporate, education healthcare and religious projects. He attended the U.S. Air Force School of Applied Aerospace Sciences.
Jason E. Puchot, AIA, ACHA, EDAC, LEED AP, has been promoted to senior associate. He leads the healthcare studio in medical-related projects. He is a board-certified Healthcare Architect, 2017 presidentelect of the San Antonio Chapter of AIA, and holds a certification in Evidence Based Design. He is currently working on various acute care projects around the State of Texas. He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental design from Texas A&M University. Charles Dayton has been promoted to principal. With the firm for 10 years, he has more than 30 years of experience in financial and business management. He manages the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of the firm and oversees accounting, finance, forecasting, strategic planning, legal, and regulatory compliance. He earned his executivemaster’s of business administration from UTSA.
Bartlett Cocke General Contractors announced the following: Nathan Olson has Sergio Sigala has been promoted to been promoted to vice president of superintendent. Prepreconstruction. Previously an assistant viously director of superin-tendent, he preconstruction serhas been with the vices, he has been company more than with the company for two years and has more than 12 years more than three years with 17 years of experience in the experience in the industry. He uses this experience to industry. He has successfully helped to anticipate a broad range of potential deliver multiple types of facilities, project factors and provides solutions to including healthcare and K-12. He earned project challenges. He earned his his bachelor’s degree in construction bachelor’s degree in construction science science and management from UTSA. from Texas A&M University.
Submissions
Associated Builders & Contractors
Mar. 1: Journeyman/Master Prep Class, 5:30-9:30pm (Class 5) Mar. 8: Journeyman/Master Prep Class, IEC Office, 5:30-9:30pm (Masters Only Class 6) Mar. 13: Continuing Education Meeting, 5-9pm Mar. 18: Electrical Maintenance Technician Class, 8am-5pm Mar. 24-25: 17th Annual IEC Barbecue Cook-Off & Apprentice Competition, Helotes Festival Grounds For more info on these events, call 210431-9861 or visit www.iecsanantonio.com
Round-Up
ABC
This is a monthly section for brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Email (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month, for the next month’s issue (published 1st of each month). Email info to appropriate city issue, with “Round-Up” in the subject line: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– San Antonio: saeditor@constructionnews.net Austin: austineditor@constructionnews.net Dallas/Ft. Worth: dfweditor@constructionnews.net Houston: houstoneditor@constructionnews.net
Construction ConstructionNews NewsJOB JOBSIGHT SIGHT
The power to make tacos
WA L L S ACROSS
TE
AS
9018 Tesoro Suite 101 San Antonio, Texas 78217 (210) 826-4123 Fax (210) 826-5801
Benjamin Buck, apprentice, and Ben Trevino, foreman, Absolute Power Electrical Contractors, were pulling wire, running the power for the signs, plugs, the special equipment, and all the cookware for the new Taco Bell off I-35 on Seguin Street. Struthoff Company is the general contractor for the job, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-March, with Brad Rich as project manager and Eric Scott as superintendent. –mh
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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Automation location
Taking stock of Specialties
In its 14th year, Sterling Home Technologies is on a significant growth path, adding more people to better serve the San Antonio area.
L-R: Jan Meuth, Josh King and Faith King are the new owners of You Name It Specialties, aiming to keep the YNIS family going and the business growing.
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he woman behind You Name It Specialties (YNIS), Becky Beck, has passed the torch to a trio of new owners, Jan Meuth and Josh King, and his wife, Faith King, who is the majority owner. They emphasize that nothing has changed at YNIS aside from who owns the company. Business is continuing as usual and everybody remained, including Terry Beck, Becky’s brother. Preserving and protecting the YNIS family was a primary goal of the new owners. “This is not a team of three; this is a team of 20,” says Josh, who has been in the commercial product industry a little more than 20 years and joined YNIS about 11 years ago. “And I really look at the people that I work with not as my employees but as business associates. The people in this office are the reason that we purchased this business. They’re what makes this business great.” When they heard Becky was looking to retire, they approached her about
taking over the business to maintain the good thing that they have there. Through a stock purchase, the new ownership became official on Jan. 1. Jan started with Becky just six months after she started the business and worked for her while living in Corpus Christi, and then she moved to California and then to San Antonio when Becky decided to expand. “So at one time, Terry and I were basically working out of Becky’s house, and Terry and I would fight for the phone,” Jan recalls, laughing. “We’ve grown, and we wish Becky the best. She put a lot of time in here. It’s been 25-plus [years].” Coming from a background in accounting and new to the YNIS family on the inside of the business, Faith will be working office administration and bookkeeping in the background. Together, they hope to grow YNIS by adding more people and expanding into other regional markets. –mh
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aving worked as a head of industrial automation for an international company, Todd Jarvis and his wife, Carol Jarvis, founded Sterling Home Technologies about 14 years ago. Today, Jarvis does for homes what he did for large plants and facilities. A little over a year ago, Jarvis decided he wanted to focus on the technical side, so he brought in Chris Edelen as Sterling’s new president to run the business side of operations. Edelen spent about 15 years working in the home improvement and remodeling industry. Jarvis is still very much involved in the business, leading the company’s technical operations. Sterling has always had its home in Boerne, since its founders live nearby, but when Edelen joined the company, he noticed that the potential for more work in the core of San Antonio was there. So, Sterling opened a second office at
Northwest Military and Lockhill-Selma. The new location allows them to meet with homebuilders or homebuyers closer to the heart of San Antonio. The space they occupy at their second office is part of a garden office complex, which they also wire for one of their builders. Edelen notes that they do both wired and wireless systems, but emphasizes that even today, wired is still a far better product and produces a better signal. He says that on new home construction, everything Sterling does is wired, but on remodel and retro work, they do as much as possible wireless to prevent having to rip out walls. Sterling Home Technologies does home automation, including pre-wiring for new construction, lighting design and control, home networks, audio and video, climate control, energy management, motorized shades and window treatments, and security systems. The company does residential and light commercial. –mh
Construction News ON LOCATION
Quick on his feet
Sparking a beginning
Keeping on the go with projects for a lot of homebuilders and some commercial jobs, Phillip Butcher has been the San Antonio branch manager for Quick Roofing for 11 years. The company is based out of the Dallas-Fort Worth area with offices in Houston and Austin as well. –mh
With two decades of experience, John Martinez, pictured right with his wife, children and grandchildren, is heading up his new company, Acme Electric and Solar.
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fter 20 years working for other companies, John Martinez started Acme Electric and Solar over a year ago. Since then, Martinez has been adapting his new role in charge of the company. “I was still working for other people and teaching at the Lamson Institute,” Martinez said. “After my mother passed away, I just didn’t feel it anymore and went out on my own. “I’ve been an electrician for over 20 years and a master electrician for 10. Up until last year, I had always been in the field. Being on my own now, it’s a totally different road. I don’t want to say I wasn’t ready for it, but it’s something I didn’t know was so in depth as far as paperwork.” Acme does commercial and residential work that includes service and installation. “Some of it is replacement as far as breakers and circuits,” Martinez said. “It’s
probably 50/50 maintenance to installation work.” Being a new company, Acme is in the process of getting endorsed by CPS Energy to make its approved vendor list for solar work. While his business is new, Martinez has big goals planned for his business that has six employees as of now. “People laugh when I say this but I want to have 40 to 50 employees and rival some of my old contractors I used to work for,” Martinez said. “One of the things I have learned is that it’s hard to find good help.” Having worked for different companies, Martinez can pick various things from them to help grow his business. “There’s certain things that I’ve seen from the field aspect,” Martinez said. “A lot of this is a learning process for me. Everything about it is new.” –cs
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
Heading in a new direction
Marcus Garza is a sales consultant for Caesar Perez’s new company, Alamo Valley Geosystems, dealing in surveying supplies.
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aving celebrated the completion of its first year in business on Jan. 1, Alamo Valley Geosystems has been building up business on the experience of its founder, Caesar Perez. “I started in the industry at the beginning of 1990 selling architectural
drafting supplies for Duderstadt Surveyors Supply in Corpus Christi,” says Perez. “My last position [before going out on his own] for what is now Sokkia Corporation was Latin America sales manager. “The idea [for his company] was born
after reintroducing myself back into the San Antonio area in 2014. After looking at key indicators, which all pointed to growth in the construction industry, a plan was put into place to start Alamo Valley Geosystems. “We were lucky to have a few customers to start with, retail and wholesale, on local, state and national levels. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of support we have received from our customer base.” Since establishing the company in 2016, Perez has had one key employee, Marcus Garza. “Marcus left the active Army in 1996 and began his journey in this industry,” Perez explains. “He started as a service technician for Sokkia San Antonio and has remained in the business till the present, juggling deployments with the National Guard and business till 2014. He retired from the National Guard and became full-time sales and service for Alamo Valley Geosystems.” Perez’s new company has already been a part of highway projects for TxDOT, including new construction layout and leveling, subdivision staking and power line routes. Alamo Valley Geosystems provides land-surveying instruments and construction lasers, including GPS, total stations and handheld data collection for surveying and construction layout. –mh
A family art form
Norma Garza and her brother-in-law, Felipe Garza, accepted an award from Lone Star State Construction honoring Alamo Stone Art as its Subcontractor of the Year in 2015.
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s Alamo Stone Art is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Norma Garza, daughter-in-law of Jaime Garza, the company’s founder, has been part of the family-owned business for four years now. Norma says that Jaime lived in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico before he moved to Laredo, TX. At the time, there was a lot of construction, and because Jaime had some contacts in Mexico, he began importing granite. After starting in the business, he found local suppliers in Laredo, and eventually, his jobs prompted his next move to San Antonio. Today, Jaime; his son, Felipe Garza, who is the main installer; and Norma are the three family members running the business. Depending on the size of their workload, they usually have about seven or eight employees helping with production and installation. Norma’s sister-in-law previously held her position, but she needed to spend more time with her family. So, they asked Norma to step into the role. In her sales role, Norma works with the contractors and homeowners, which is part of what she enjoys most about the job. She notes that it’s a very satisfying experience to hear from clients who are very happy with their new kitchens, which is where they do the most work. “The challenge nowadays is to educate the client that a remodel is not just about price,” Norma explains. “It is about service and quality of the product. We [see] the economy clients are selecting cheap options and then they call us asking for help to fix what [was done] wrong.” Before coming to work for her fatherin-law at Alamo Stone Art, Norma worked for H&R Block during tax season. Her husband, Jaime’s son, Jesus Garza, is an architect, whose work is mostly federal. The couple has two daughters, ages 10 and 12, and they enjoy spending time with their girls at the movies or outdoors, perhaps camping. Alamo Stone Art does stone countertops, using granite, marble and quartz for residential and commercial projects. The company has done banks and hotels in San Antonio and apartments in Kerrville, among many other local jobs. –mh
St Patrick’s Day
Friday, March 17
San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017
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A garden of their own design
Chamberlin celebrates 120
L-R: Donald Pittman: AP teacher, Theodore Roosevelt High School; Steve Barrett, assistant project manager/safety director, Marksmen General Contractors; Misty Belmontez, biology teacher, Roosevelt; Greg Hilburn, COO, Marksmen; Tina Finley, biology teacher, Roosevelt; Melvin Echard, principal, Roosevelt; Cynthia McKinney, biology, AP environmental teacher, Roosevelt; Katy Philbrick, architectural design teacher, Roosevelt; Mark Baublit, president/CEO, Marksmen; Mandy Baublit, business development, Marksmen
Members of Chamberlin’s Austin and San Antonio staff
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tudents at Theodore Roosevelt High School are helping Marksmen General Contractors design the school’s sustainable garden. Marksmen’s owner, Mark Baublit, worked on the renovation of the Roosevelt campus with his former company and currently serves on the education foundation for Northeast ISD, and now his company will build this new garden according to the students specifications. “This was an opportunity to give back to the community and get the kids involved in something,” says Steve Barrett, assistant project manager and safety director for Marksmen. He explains continued fundraising allowed for additional paths to be laid, leaving the initial student garden design in need of updating. They decided the students should come up with the design. Barrett met with the students who
would be doing the design, mostly AP students ranging from freshmen to seniors, and put forth the criteria the contracting team and faculty developed. “Ultimately, we left it open,” he says. “They’re only limited by their imagination.” He adds that the criteria the school established included a Texas native garden area, a vegetable garden area, and a decorative flower area with planter beds that are handicap accessible. As a bonus challenge, they also told the students that if they wanted to put in additional features, such as a waterfall, they will have to figure out how to power it and make it work. Barrett credits Misty Belmontez, a biology teacher, with being the catalyst behind the community garden project and frontrunner on this student redesign competition. Once the students presented their designs, Marksmen was set to start work on the new gardens.
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he year was 1897, and John Chamberlin had a patent for one of the country’s first metal weather stripping products and a dream. When he incorporated Chamberlin Metal Weather Strip Company in Detroit (later renamed Chamberlin Company of America), could he have imagined it would grow to 100 branches nationwide in 120 years? Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing was an extension of that dream. After the company established a Missouri office in 1967, current president John Kafka opened Chamberlin’s first Texas office in Houston in 1978. With great momentum, Chamberlin then opened Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and two Oklahoma offices. Chamberlin has no plans to stop growing; last year, nearly 100 new team members were added. Vice president Adam Matthys and executive vice president Art Canales oversee the San Antonio office, which has eight office and 28 field employees. Among the fun things the office does is a clay shoot, which it held last year for its customer appreciation.
In February, the Austin and San Antonio offices were reconfigured. The operations team remains in the San Antonio office, while the remaining San Antonio office staff joined the entire Austin staff in Buda. The company will continue to serve both markets. The San Antonio office takes enormous pride in its work as well. Major projects include the San Antonio Botanical Gardens in 2007, University Health System Sky Tower, Frost Bank and Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. This milestone is not lost on those who have been a part of the company’s journey. “We are very excited to be celebrating our 120th anniversary,“ executive vice president David Neal says. “Chamberlin has a rich history. I believe our values and the team we have developed have been the keys to our success. I look forward to seeing Chamberlin continue to evolve and grow in the years to come.” Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing offers roofing and sheet metal, waterproof-ing and caulking, building and garage restoration and roof maintenance and leak repair. –mjm
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San Antonio Construction News • Mar 2017