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CONSTRUCTION
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Volume 19
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Number 7
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JULY 2017
Over land and sea
95 years of integrity
As Overland Partners celebrates three decades, CEO Rick Archer helps work on the designs that they do for clients across the world.
F.A. Nunnelly Company is celebrating 95 years in business in San Antonio. L-R: Greg Vaughn, Philip Nunnelly, Blaine Beckman, and Doug Nunnelly Not pictured: Scott Nunnelly
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ince its establishment Apr. 1, 1987 by four friends from the University of Texas, Overland Partners has grown to 72 people at its 30th anniversary. Though Overland has evolved in many ways, big changes in the firm’s structure and expansion into new areas have come recently in its three-decade history. Rick Archer, CEO and one of the original founders, notes that Overland was formerly a founder-led firm and had not previously had a CEO, but he has held the position for over a year now. The title came with a significant change in how the firm’s leadership was organized. “As we looked toward the future, the founding principals said, ‘We really need to set a structure in place, which will allow others in the organization to grow
up into leadership,’” recalls Archer. “And so the founding principals became the board of directors, and we are raising up younger leaders who are really playing a significant role today and into the future. My job as the CEO is to help shepherd that transition toward future leadership who will be able to continue Overland’s mission into the future.” The new executive team includes the vice president of operations, Michael Rey; the vice president of administration, Becky Rathburn; and the vice president of client development, a title first held by James Andrews. In this transition, Tim Blonkvist, who is also a founding principal, became chairman of the board. This year, they’ve also brought in two continued on Page 20
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s F.A. Nunnelly General Contractor celebrates its 95th anniversary, the organization is preparing to transition its legacy to a new generation of leaders by the time of the 100th anniversary. Current principals and third-generation owners Philip Nunnelly, president; Scott Nunnelly, vice president; and Doug Nunnelly, secretary/treasurer, have found the next generation that will run the company beyond its century milestone. Blaine Beckman, vice president of operations, and Greg Vaughn, vice president of preconstruction, have already been helping manage the company for the past year and will continue a gradual transition over the next six years. Both Beckman and Vaughn stated that it is an exciting time to work at F.A. Nunnelly.
“Stable company growth paired with abundant opportunity for not only the organization, but for every employee has led to an amazing company culture,” says Beckman. They have already begun the gradual transition and are honored to take the torch from the Nunnelly family and continue their 95-year legacy in San Antonio and the construction community. Floyd Arthur Nunnelly Sr. founded the company in 1922 according to the company bylaws, though the Nunnellys have reason to believe the company may have been established in 1917. As one of the oldest companies in San Antonio, integrity is a running theme among its current and future leaders. Philip, Scott, and Doug Nunnelly have continued on Page 20
A little lot of land goes FARR
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ith the vision that would develop a small plot of land no one seemed interested in improving, FARR Builders turned an infill property into a highly desirable place to live in Highland Park, two miles south of downtown, off of I-37 and Fair Avenue. Nopal Street Villas was a unique project that brothers Steven and Daniel Garcia developed as Ciano Properties and built as FARR Builders. The construction of 10 apartment units on the half-acre lot took approximately eight months, but the preparation to begin construction took two years. As the owners and builders of the multi-family property, Steven and Daniel faced multiple challenges from both sides. Located at 2335 Nopal St., the property sits on the street right behind FARR’s office and it had remained untouched. Since Steven and Daniel would be involved in the development and
construction, it made it feasible for them to purchase the property and bring new life to it. The first big hurdle was zoning, needing to go from R4 to MF-18 to be able to fit 10 apartment units. The Garcias earned the support of the local community and the Highland Park Neighborhood Association. Then, when they applied for the re-zoning, they already had support for their plan for the property from the community and District 3, having met with Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran. Next came the parking variances. The property would need to incorporate head-in parking to meet the requirement for 15 parking spaces – 1.5 spaces per unit. The Garcias made the case that the property sits on a side street, and following a traffic count, they were able to meet the low-traffic requirement and were allowed to include the head-in parking. continued on Page 20