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www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 19 H Number 10 H OCTOBER 2017
Painting relationships
Standing by our word
Father and son, Gerry and Jay Elizalde of Santex Painting and Drywall Inc. are ready for another 40 years.
L-R: Paula Frost, CEO and Steve Frost, founder and operations manager of Frost Geosciences.
aised in a construction family and being around construction his entire life, it was only natural that Gerry Elizalde, president of Santex Painting and Drywall Inc. would pursue a career in construction. “Right after high school I went to San Antonio College for a few years. But life happens and I had a new family to support. I had no choice but to quit and it was a natural decision to go back into construction. I had a few odd jobs here and there but I couldn’t make ends meet,” says Elizalde. He knew he did not want to be a mason like his father, but wasn’t sure which direction to go. His brother was a painting contractor at the time so he decided to give it a try. As it turned out, it was the right fit for him.
In 1977, 40 short years ago, Santex Painting and Drywall Inc.. was established. “We started out of nothing, just hard work and dedication. In the beginning, it was a couple of guys and myself. We were painting for custom home builders and eventually for bigger home builders, all the while working out of my house. We did that for about two years until the neighbors started complaining because all my workers were parking in front of their houses. That’s when I decided to buy this place.” Elizalde says it was difficult getting started. “When you’re new, you don’t have the opportunities you have when you’re established because you don’t have the reputation. You don’t have the ability to open accounts at supply stores because you have no continued on Page 20
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ifteen years ago, Frost Geosciences opened its doors in San Antonio. Since then, the company has been progressively growing. During 2008 through 2010, the company, as did many, experienced a slowdown in business. While trying to figure out how to get through the economic slowdown and survive it, Steve Frost, founder and operations manager, says “We learned how to lean up. We made a special effort with the employees and they made a special effort back. That solidified the relationship between the company and the employees that I couldn’t have asked for and we’ve been sailing forward since. We got through that period and built a really unique sense of trust and relationship that we have with each other.
I can honestly tell you that I have never worked with better people in my life anywhere or in anything that I’ve ever done. I love working with these people. “Our philosophy is simple. We just want to do what is right and be the best. It doesn’t always mean we will be the most profitable, and it doesn’t always mean we are the best or that it was the best business decision, but at the end of the day, we all agree it’s the right decision. We try to give recommendations as if it was our property and we were spending our own money. I always tell people, all the simple properties have already been developed. Everything that is left has little ‘willeyboogers’ in them, which means sometimes we have to give bad news.” continued on Page 20
A fast-track success
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he Compass Rose Academy is a new open enrollment, tuition-free, 6-12 grade public charter school in San Antonio located in the Brooks community on Outer Circle Road. The academy opened its doors for the fall school year, August 2017. What was to be a 90-day renovation project became a 30-day fast-track project. Robinson General Contractors (RGC) began the renovation on July 1, 2017 and was successfully completed on July 31, 2017. “We met the deadline and customer’s expectations,” says Vice President Kurt D. Robinson, Robinson General Contractors. He is a seasoned engineering and project manager with 15 years of experience in the commercial construction industry on behalf of both military and civilian contracts. In 2010 when Kurt Robinson founded RGC alongside Yvette Garcia-Robinson, his wife and president of the company,
the pair sought to bring quality and care back to the commercial remodeling business. Yvette has expanded RGC beyond San Antonio completing several groundup projects in commercial and federal markets. She has gained six certifications with SCTRCA (WBE, DBE, MBE, ESBE, HABE, SBE) as well as certification with the State of Texas as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) and has also obtained SBA 8(a) certification. This project consisted of a renovation on a fast-track time line, converting an existing building into a useable school in 30 days which required all new floors, paint, walls, electrical, lights, safety and accessibility upgrades, plus metal stud framing, drywall, VCT, carpeting, solid wood doors in HM frames, new lighting packaging and controls. Compass Rose Academy
continued on Page 20
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Summit 40
L-R: Robert De Anda and Ruben Ortega, Summit Electric Supply at 2401 Brockton Drive, San Antonio. -cmw
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n Aug. 15, Summit Electric Supply celebrated 40 years in business. For four decades, Summit has been providing electrical supplies to the construction industry in five states with 25 locations, 15 of which are in Texas - Abilene, Austin, Beaumont, Bryan/College Station, Clute, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Irving, LaPorte, Midland, San Antonio, Victoria and Waco. In addition, the 40-year-old company also operates a service center in Dubai, UAE and has divisions dedicated to marine, EP&C and international sales. “Victor Jury, Sr., David Meredith and Victor Jury, Jr. founded Summit Electric Supply in 1977 in Albuquerque, NM,” says Robert De Anda, customer service representative supervisor. The three opened Summit with a small business administration loan and two employees. From that day on, the basis of their business has been built on core values and a commitment to provide every customer with truly outstanding service.
Although Summit has not been in the San Antonio market for 40 years, it has been servicing San Antonio since 1995. Summit San Antonio employs 26 people, just a fraction of the company’s total employee count of 600. Summit San Antonio services all of San Antonio and the surrounding areas up to San Marcos, New Braunfels, and Boerne and down to Rio Grande Valley. “Fourty years is a big deal for any company and we are definitely excited about being part of this legacy that Victor Jury started. We have a great group of people here and throughout the company and a good working relationship with each other,” says De Anda. The San Antonio branch celebrated their the company’s 40th anniversary by providing a barbeque lunch for all their employees. Summit Electric Supply is an independent electrical distributor supplying a complete line of electrical products, supplies and tools. -cmw
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Hometown perspective
eing successful means many different things to as many different people. This is about a seemingly successful person, Baron Houser, who has a different take on what success is. “I’m a product of the ‘big boys’ having spent 20-plus years in the big leagues as an RVP and division president in San Antonio. In 1999 I decided the corporate world was no longer where I wanted to be because I never got to do what I’m doing today. I never got to meet people; it was always black ink and white paper. I was just miserable.” In 2000, Houser established what he considers a boutique company. “It is not meant to be a number one anything; it’s meant to do exactly what God gives us,” said Houser. Baron Houser, Owner/President of StoneHouse This family business is StoneBuilders in Boerne, TX House Builders in Boerne, TX. Houser is owner/president. His wife, son and cousin are part of this hometown Houser also says margins are thin, built business where Houser grew up. He but that doesn’t mean their values can’t knew a lot people to include those in the be high. It all has to balance out. city governments and school districts. “We have a wonderful city manager, The company focuses on homes in a great mayor, a great city council, and the $300,000 to $1,000,000 range with they’ve got the vision, a 10-year plan. We light commercial as well as remodels, in- have our ‘historic mile’ which is downcluding the remodel of the Chamber of town and pretty iron-clad – you don’t Commerce. “The chamber remodel for mess with downtown. But you take care me is a way to give back to the business of our historic buildings.” community,” Houser explains. Houser says that he sees a significant Houser says they take care of historic portion of their business portfolio from buildings with close attention paid to the people not from here, such as Chicago, style going back to the 1800s. Washington, Houston and Corpus Christi. “We haven’t experienced any real In summary, Houser says they are slowdowns, maybe a bump in 2001-2002. there to provide a service in a very basic You have to pay attention to what is go- level from a hometown perspective. ing on around you. You cannot live in the StoneHouse Builders is a contractor for glass bubble. One has to be flexible and both homebuilding and light commercial. move with the environment.” –cmw/rd
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
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The next generation
Jay Dishman, Owner of Medina Glass
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hen Jack and Debbie Dishman moved to Devine in 1984, they knew they wanted to make a living for themselves they could be proud of and possibly hand down to their children. With the help of Debbie’s parents, Jean and Wayne McBride, they were able to embark on a journey that would become a success story that their son, Jay Dishman would someday take over. In Oct. 2013, Jay Dishman would become the new owner of Medina Glass, a company his parents started in 1986 through hard work and dedication. Dishman grew up in Devine. He knew the people and they knew him. The familiarity with his customers proved to be something that the small community of Devine seemed to really appreciate. “Familiarity just makes things easier for everyone. Our customers and clients appreciate knowing they are going to see and speak to the same people any time they need us,” says Dishman. The transition into the family business came naturally for Dishman. He recalls helping out in the summers during his high school years. Before taking over the family business, Dishman was able to do certain things that would prove to be valuable for his future and the future of his family’s business. “I had a lot of great people around me who took a chance and mentored me. I’ve truly been blessed in that respect.” Dishman attended and graduated from UTSA. While attending UTSA, he interned with Pulte Homes. After graduating from UTSA in 2006, Dishman lived in San Antonio for about eight years and worked for Meritage and Pulte Homes as a superintendent. He had also worked with Texas Farm Bureau as an insurance adjuster for
several years, which would pay off for the auto glass and insurance companies he would later do business with. Wanting to be a teacher and a coach, Dishman got his degree in interdisciplinary studies because his first love and hobby was to play sports, but things change and they changed quickly after working with the homebuilders. “I have no regrets at all. I know I would love teaching and coaching, it would be a great honor. I’ve done some little league things and it’s something that I would definitely not have a problem doing as well. Most of my family is in the teaching profession and they’ve pretty much all told me to hold off on teaching for awhile and try something different.” Dishman says he has been fortunate to have the same employees who have been with him since day one. “They’re all here; they’re all very knowledgeable. I believe the first person a customer calls should be very knowledgeable and answer any questions they might have. My secretary is very good and able to answer many of the questions our customers ask. It gives me the freedom to make sure that the job we do is done right the first time. thereby saving us a great deal of time. The guys in the field know what needs to be done. They are very reputable, presentable, young and aggressive guys that are willing to learn and try different things.” When not working, Dishman loves to be outdoors. “I play golf and run. It’s just a great way to relieve stress. I like to fish and hunt, but you kind of have to pick one or the other.” Medina Glass is a family-owned specialty subcontractor and supplier in Devine, TX. -cmw
CAROL WIATREK, Managing Editor Construction News / San Antonio (210) 308-5800 SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net If you are a construction-related company in the Austin area and would like an article about your company and personnel, call Kim for an interview in person or over the phone. There is absolutely no charge for interviews, articles and photos. All content is free. If you are interested in advertising in any of our 4-city papers, contact Buddy Doebbler, Publisher, at our home office, (210) 308-5800.
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Christmas Around the World
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
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es, that’s this year’s theme for the 17th annual Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala to be held on Dec. 7 from 5:30-11pm at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall in Exhibit Hall C. The event will be bigger and better that ever and the Grand Gala Raffle will be back. The prizes this year will be many and, again, it is WINNER TAKE ALL. Hunting trips, a utility vehicle, a drone, numerous get-a-way trips and many other fantastic items will make everyone want to buy those raffle tickets. The more tickets sold means the more donations Construct A Kid’s Christmas can give to the foster kids in Bexar County so they can have a merrier Christmas. The raffle winner will be drawn during the evening and the winner does not need to be present to win. For a more complete listing of prizes, see the ad on page 28 of this issue of Construction News. “The Grand Gala Raffle is a one-of-a kind raffle,” said Buddy Doebbler, president of Construct A Kid’s Christmas, 501(c)(3) and publisher of Construction News. “Last year people kept coming up and asking what they could win and, when they found out, they would win it all, they just couldn’t believe it. Well, they believe it now, and this year, folks, get another chance to be the winner like Elizabeth Connally was last year.” “The Christmas Around the World theme will let us present and serve the food differently this year,” says Jennifer Swinney, co-chair of the Gala. “I don’t want to give too much away right now so you will have to attend and be surprised. “The casino area was expanded last year and it really helped as did the location of the silent auction,” continued Swinney. “What really makes this event special, beside the fact it allows us to give lots of dollars to benefit the foster kids, is the Gala Committee and volunteers who make it happen,” said Doebbler. Jennifer Swinney and Sandee Morgan as co-chairs put in many, many hours into this project. They oversee the
entire event and work with all the committees. The committees and the people on them are the best. So many have been involved for years and it shows; makes a huge difference. Lots of people with a lot of heart are behind this event.” Unwrapped gifts, toys and gift cards are collected at the gala and the annual Construct A Kid’s Christmas Toy Drive, held the next day, Dec. 8, from 10am2pm. at the Construction News office, 4047 Naco-Perrin Blvd. The gifts benefit the Friends of Bexar County Child Welfare Board, which distributes the unwrapped toys to the Bexar County foster kids. The Gala is now able to support both the annual Christmas present project and provide an additional financial donation to CASA (Child Advocates of San Antonio). For 39 years, CASA has provided court-appointed volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children and youth while advocating for services and placement in safe and permanent homes. Pricing for early registration/ payment for sponsorship before Oct. 31 is: Corporate $1,650; Gold $550; Program $275; Table for 10 $700; Individual Tickets $65. After that date, pricing changes to: Corporate $1,850; Gold $650; Program $325; Table for 10 $775; Individual Tickets $75. Associations participating in the 2016 gala include the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Associated General Contractors (AGC), American Subcontractors Association (ASA), Builders Exchange of Texas (BXTX) Education Council, Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), Construction News Ltd., Hispanic Contractors Association (HCA), Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MCA-SMACNA), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC), Surety Association of South Texas (SAST) and Texas Air Conditioning Contractors of America (TACCA). –bd
Plenty of room to grow
L-R: Steve Wright, president ASCO, Courtney Vanderham-ASCO, Carl Gustaf GöranssonGlobal President, Case Construction Equipment, John Wright-ASCO, Scott Harris, VP North America, Case Construction Equipment, Chase Key–ASCO, Brax Wright-CEO ASCO and Tommy Calvert-Bexar Country Commissioner Precinct 4.
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t was a perfect morning for a ground breaking on Sept. 6 as ASCO Equipment principals, employees and other dignitaries celebrated the kickoff of their new location. The new facility located at 1920 S. E. Loop 410 will give the company much needed space to service the San Antonio and South Texas markets. Set on 27 acres, the front 16 will be used for equipment display, parking and a 45,524sf of building area for sales/rental showrooms and offices, shop and service bays and warehouse areas. According to Kyle Smith, branch manager, the remaining 11 acres in the back will be used to demonstrate the CASE equipment they sell. Rinny Johnson, ASCO area vice president, acted as master of ceremonies for the event and introduced the ASCO leadership including the third generation of the Wright family to come into the
business along with other special guests. Brax Wright, CEO of ASCO, informed the attendees on the company history and other comments about the new location. The event had an international flavor as Carl Gustaf Göransson, Brand president for Case Construction Equipment and New Holland Construction Worldwide, was here from Munich, Germany, and spoke at the gathering. He was joined by Scott Harris VP of CASE Construction Equipment, North America. Both men were touring ASCO facilities throughout Texas. Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert was also on hand to praise the company for their investment in the community. ASCO Equipment with 23 locations in Texas and New Mexico was founded in 1960 in Lubbock, TX.-bd
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
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A Reminder on Contractor Best Practices in Disaster Remediation Construction Projects
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n light of the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, we want to remind builders and contractors of certain best practices and of the laws that apply to the industry as a whole and specifically for disaster remediation contractors performing work in Texas. In 2011, wildfires ravaged over 40,000 acres of Texas land located in Bastrop and Grimes counties. In addition to those wildfires, Texas experienced tornadoes, hail storms, floods and hurricanes on a regular basis. As a result, residential, commercial and industrial properties and structures required construction remediation. While many honest and hardworking Texas construction companies were there to help, some communities were plagued by unscrupulous contractors, referred to as “storm chasers,” who took money up front and failed to perform services as promised. In response to the misdeeds of these storm chasers, the Texas Legislature enacted the Disaster Remediation Contracts Statute which affects contractors who engage in remediation construction projects stemming from a natural disaster. A new law was passed in 2011 by the Texas Legislature and was included in Chapter 58 of the Texas Business & Commerce Code. The law applies to disaster remediation contractors, which are identified as those engaged in the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, reconstruction, or other treatment of improvements to real property performed because of damage or destruction to that property caused by a natural disaster. A natural disaster is defined as widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property related to any natural cause, including fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, or wave action, that results in a disaster declaration by the governor. This means that any construction remediation project related to a natural disaster falls under this new law. After Hurricane Harvey landed, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared at least 43 counties as disaster areas. As such, the law impacts a significant and large area of Texas and the contractors that are in and near these counties. The statute requires any agreement for disaster remediation work be reduced to a written contract. Contracts for disaster remediation projects must contain a disclosure statement with specific language outlining the statute’s prohibitions in boldfaced type of at least 10-point font: This contract is subject to Chapter 58, Business & Commerce Code. A contractor may not require a full or partial payment before the contractor begins work and may not require partial payments in an amount that exceeds an amount reasonably proportionate to the work performed, including any materials delivered. The requirements and legal effects of the statute cannot be waived by any party through contract or other means. Additionally, any violation of the statute is also considered a violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act which allows for the recovery of attorneys’ fees and multiplying damages in certain instances.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween Y’all
Ian P. Faria, Partner Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Law Firm
The law also provides that a contractor may not require a full or partial payment before the contractor begins work and may not require partial payments in an amount that exceeds an amount reasonably proportionate to the work performed, including any materials delivered. Therefore, a contractor cannot require a down payment, draw or other form of payment until work begins. The law does not apply to remediation contractors if they maintain a physical business address in the county or a county adjacent to where the work is to be performed for one year prior to the date of contracting. This exception allows “local” companies to continue business as usual. However, the best practice would be to have your contracts and business practices set to comply with this law so that you can be ready to help in the event the next natural disaster is more than a county away. This new law affects all contracts entered into on or after Sept. 1, 2011. Additionally, contractors would be well served to follow the regular and normal industry procedures. It is recommended that they always have a written contract executed by both owners/ homeowners to ensure that you do not waive your lien rights on the homestead. Moreover, the scope of work needs to be clearly outlined and the liabilities assumed clearly defined in the contract. For instance, a contractor should be careful to avoid assuming mold testing and mold remediation when it is only performing reconstruction services. Another recommended practice is to ensure that a good escalation clause is included in any contract. It is currently unknown what will happen to the price and supply of building materials (such as concrete, sheetrock, insulation, etc.) but the pricing could radically increase based on demand. Additionally, labor and manpower may be scarce. It is recommended that strong independent contractor agreements be used and insurance programs verified before retaining any laborers or subcontractors. Also, strong and repeated communication with the owners and/ or homeowners is encouraged. Clear communication on timelines and scope of work can manage expectations and mitigate against disputes. Finally, depending on the area, careful attention should be taken with respect to permitting and inspections. There are other good practices to consider in remediation construction projects, and therefore contractors are encouraged to contact their attorney or trade organizations to obtain guidance. Ian P. Faria is a partner in the Construction and Government Contracts Practice Group and managing partner of the Houston office of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings. He focuses his practice on commercial, industrial and residential construction law and also has broad experience in real estate law. He can be reached at ifaria@bradley. com.
Effects of the Hurricanes on the San Antonio Construction Industry
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etting aside the countless personal tragedies created by the recent hurricanes, we are starting to better understand the effects of Harvey on the local commercial construction industry. The oft reported and long lamented workforce shortage will only be made worse by the devastation. AGC of America recently released the results of its Texas Workforce Survey. Not surprisingly, firms reported trouble filling electrician, concrete worker, and cement mason positions. Firms are also having a hard time finding laborers, plumbers, and carpenters. The immediate demand for fuel, trucks, and plywood, like the floodwater itself, has receded. Now, we are beginning to take the full measure of the repair and replace work ahead. For commercial contractors based in San Antonio the situation is not as uncertain as it seemed just a few short weeks ago. Naturally, the impact on residential and commercial construction will be felt differently. Homebuilders will be on the front lines in Texas and in Florida which was hit by Irma a few days after Harvey on September 10. Materials such as PVC, copper, and drywall which are used in both types of construction are expected to cost a little more. It’s also possible those materials may take longer to ship and receive. And since some construction trades work in both fields, we should anticipate a slight uptick in labor costs, especially if some workers are promised higher wages in Houston and along the Gulf Coast. While overall construction spending is not likely to change much in the months ahead, there will be an increase demand for flood control infrastructure and new single and multifamily housing for years to come. In mid-September House Speaker Joe Straus asked three House committees to wade into issues related to Hurricane Harvey, specifically the scope of damage to schools and how to help districts absorbing students displaced by the flooding. More important, state leaders will focus more on “the role of regional entities in developing projects to control flooding, both through new infrastructure and enhancing existing infrastructure.” Meanwhile, the hurricanes and persistent labor shortages will continue to push the back-to-the-future move toward prefabrication and the off-site construction of building components. Re-
by Doug McMurry. Executive Vice President Associated General Contractors, San Antonio
member the H.B. Zachry Company and the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel Project? In 1968, the hotel’s room modules were pre-cast from light-weight structural concrete. Before arriving on the construction site, each room was fully decorated. The 496 rooms were famously placed by crane in 46 days. The entire project was finished in only 202 days, becoming a hallmark of modular building in the process. Now, what’s old is new again. Productivity will increase as bathrooms, MEP systems, and exterior walls are built in a factory and transported to future construction sites. Lean Construction and Building Information Modeling (BIM) will not only further enable prefabrication and modular construction, but provide practitioners in the industry a competitive advantage. Lean Construction is based on the manufacturing model of continuous improvement aimed at minimizing costs and maximizing value. The benefits to a construction project are significant and long lasting. BIM is an intelligent model-based process that provides architecture, engineering, and construction professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, and build projects. Longer term, if the ferocity of storms increases as predicted, weather could be very disruptive to the industry and the broader state economy. While the hurricanes have passed, the recent loss of life, homes, and businesses should not be viewed as isolated, easily forgotten events. –rd
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Kenneth Moore President KCM Cabinets Inc. San Antonio, TX
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an Antonio native Kenneth Moore found his niche in life. Building cabinets isn’t just a way of life, it’s a passion, as is the construction industry in which he has made a name for himself. Where were you born? I was born and raised here in San Antonio. I grew up on the south side of San Antonio, I-37 and FM1518 back in the day, Loop 1604 and the Hardy Road area. There was no Bill Miller’s out there then. Where did you go to school? I went to Southside High School and graduated in 1978. Did you go to college after high school? I went to college for a while until I decided it was time to go to work. After I left college, I moved to Bandera, TX and went to work for a cousin who was running heavy equipment. I was running dozers and helping cleanup after the flood. Then I went to work for a gentleman named Joe Hearn doing remodeling and home construction. I got married in 1982 to my first wife. How did you get started in the cabinet business? When I was working for Joe, he was contacted by H-E-B and we started building cabinets for H-E-B out of his shop there at his house. I worked for him for about two and a half years before I got married. I was very fortunate because he taught me a lot and I was always willing to learn. After I left there, I went to work for a company named Hussmann, here in San Antonio. That’s when the store fixture in-
dustry was really big – doing convenience stores and jewelry stores. I worked there for a long time, from New Mexico to Oklahoma, Arizona to Mississippi and all over Texas building and installing cabinets. Then I went to work for SK Enterprises for about 12 years. We were probably better friends than we were as employee-boss. He taught me the business side of the company. After SK Enterprises, I went to work for another company where I met some of my key people that I now have here. I didn’t believe in that company’s business tactics. I was uncomfortable with the way they did business, so when I got THE call it was a no-brainer. When did you start KCM Cabinets? I started KCM Cabinets in May, 1998. I was the only employee. The phone was ringing off the wall. People wanted to pull contracts from the former company I had worked for and were calling me. I had to tell them that I was the only employee and couldn’t take on more than I could handle. I just sat at my desk and asked myself, “What did I just do?” I had just taken x-amount of dollars out of our savings to start this company. What made you decide to go out on your own? My ex-boss from SK Enterprises called me up when he was ready to retire and asked me if I wanted the business. We had many discussions during my time with him about the business so I was a little leery. He told me he was done and he wanted $30,000, plus he had two working contracts with contractors that I knew from the past that came out to about $36,000 worth of work. I was told if I took it over, they would give me the work and change the contracts over in my name - that was the call. Was it rough in the beginning? I would do all my bidding and estimating during the day. I had friends that would come help me at night and we would work until about midnight. The next day, I’d start all over again. What is your secret to being successful? I won’t say it was I. It’s the team I put together. My philosophy is treat people the way you want to be treated. Even though I’m the owner, I don’t feel like the owner. I have my job to do just like they do. I don’t micro-manage. I let my employees do their job. They
Kenneth Moore, President, KCM Cabinets Inc., San Antonio, TX
know what to do and how to do it. I don’t promise things we can’t deliver. That’s how I look at things. I basically took my company from one employee to 30-plus employees and they are great. They are a bunch of individuals that take pride in what they do and how they do it. How long have you been married? I just got remarried two years ago to my second wife, Beth. Do you have children? I have a daughter, Andrea and a son, Bradley. Bradley is actually working for me now until he goes back into the police academy. I also have a stepdaughter, Tiffany, and with Beth have two 13-yearold grandchildren. Are you involved in the construction community outside of KCM Cabinets? I’m going on my second year as president of ASA (American Subcontractors Association). We are going in a great direction and my plate is full. What do you do outside of work? I volunteer at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. I’m chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. February is a busy month. I pretty much live on Gembler Road for the 18 days of the rodeo. I feel very fortunate to be a part of such a great organization that can help so many kids. I’ve been to scholarship presentations and to see the smile on these kids’ faces and, not just the kids, but also the parents knowing that you’re helping them with their education. It’s just the most rewarding feeling one can experience.
How long do you think you will volunteer at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo? I’ve been chairman of the Hall of Fame committee for six years. I’m thinking my time is close to handing over the torch, but I will continue to volunteer. I’ll always do something in some capacity. Is there anything else you do in your spare time? I finally got my place finished in Rockport, and then the hurricane hit. I was really lucky though. I had a broken window on my trailer, lost a building that we had just finished the Wednesday before the hurricane hit and a tree fell on my gate. However, my metal building withstood Harvey. All the metal is intact and I don’t have a screw one missing. We got the gate back up and everything cleaned up down there. Are you planning to retire in Rockport? Right now that is where I am leaning. I like it down there. It’s pretty simple in Rockport. I’ll be happy retiring in an RV. When I do retire, I want to have a good life. I don’t want to have struggles. I’ve actually started taking off on Fridays to go down there. I stopped playing golf. I used to play golf all the time and was a pretty decent player. I think I have only played three times this year. I don’t think I will every totally retire because I think I would get bored. I figure in about 10 years, I might think about it. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Page 7
Construction News ON LOCATION
Industry FOLKS
Circles of smiles
Joe Ochoa General Manager
Bear Readymix San Antonio
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got involved in the construction industry through my original job training in the U.S. Army as a technical engineering specialist. This led me to my previous employer where I worked for 15 years and learned how to be manager and business leader. In February of this year, I transitioned from one family-owned company to another and have enjoyed being here at Bear. Working directly with the owner, our employees and customers have been great. I was born and raised in San Antonio. My mother immigrated to the U.S. from Denmark in the early 1970s and settled in San Antonio. My father, a Vietnam veteran and longtime law enforcement officer in Bexar County, was raised here in San Antonio. They have both passed, my father in 2000 and my mother in 2009. Growing up, I had a couple of mentors, one being my high school JROTC instructor, retired LTC Bennie Boles. He provided direction to a young guy at a crossroads and led me in the right direction. To this day, I don’t know if he truly understood the impact he had on me and thousands of his students at Highlands High School. Another mentor was my grandfather Martin. He was the epitome of selflessness and service to others. As long as I could remember growing up, he was legally blind. He was a master electrician and had retired before I was born. Even blind, he would help others with small engine work, fixing applianc-
es and general electrical work, all done cheap or free. He has since passed and is buried at Fort Sam Houston (Korean War veteran) along with my father, my uncle and my daughter, Destiny. After serving in the Army Reserves in Iraq, I became a volunteer firefighter. I found volunteering helped fill the void after completing my time in the Reserves. I am a San Antonio Spurs fan, a Houston Texans fan, and a closet Cowboys fan, as my wife says. My family is very important to me. I am married with four beautiful children, three sons (Brian, Jacob and Jered) and a 16-year-old daughter, Destiny, whom we lost in March of last year to epilepsy. Since then I began volunteering for the Epilepsy Foundation, helping with fundraising and helping other parents at the counseling center who have lost children to this terrible affliction. We help them cope, just as others helped us. I am now on the Board of Directors for the Epilepsy Foundation, Central and South Texas. Giving back to the community is very fulfilling. I became vice president of the St. Hedwig Fire Department Board, as well as being a volunteer firefighter. After Hurricane Harvey in Houston, I went there to help wherever I could. That is a shocking story. (See page 10 for that story) -rd
L-R: Circle C Services Inc. Office Manager, Ali Walker, Caitlyn Pompa and Roxanna Powell visit with Construction News at their offices at 1545 SH 173, Devine, TX. -cmw
Breaking ground
Groundbreaking ceremony held on Sept. 13 for the Champion Food Services Inc. new distribution warehouse, located at 15323 Watson Rd., Von Ormy, TX General Contractor is TCiano Construction LLC, and the Project Manager is Russell Flores. -rd
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Entity Selection and Changes Leann Ussery, CPA, Tax Manager Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates, P.C. Universal City, TX
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hether you set out to build a construction empire or started picking up odd jobs in your spare time, at some point, you made a decision about the type of entity you wanted for your business. What you chose when starting out may not be the best option for you now, but the good news is you are not locked in.
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here are four basic types of entities for tax purposes: Subchapter C Corporations, Subchapter S Corporations, Partnerships (General or Limited Liability), or Sole-proprietorships. Below are some key characteristics of each: Subchapter C Corporations • C-Corps are formed at inception or when an S-Election is terminated. • C-Corps offer limited liability to directors, officers, and shareholders. • The primary advantage of C-Corps is the ability to “grow” your business through the sale of stock to an unlimited number and type of investors. • The most notable tax disadvantage is the double taxation that occurs when earnings within the C-Corp are taxed at the entity level and taxed again as shareholders take dividends from the corporation. In addition, because income is taxed at the entity level, there is no deduction on each shareholder’s individual return for any losses realized within the corporation. • Ownership transfers when stock is sold and produces gain or loss at the individual-level for the related shareholder. Other shareholders are not affected in most cases. Subchapter S Corporations • An S-Corp is formed when either a CCorp or an LLC timely files Form 2553 SElection, choosing to be taxed as an SCorp. • S-Corps offer limited liability to directors, officers, and shareholders. • The primary advantage to an S-Corp entity is the ability to limit the amount of income that is subject to self-employment tax for closely-held businesses. Owners can pay themselves fair wages, subject to payroll taxes, but can also take tax-free distributions of earnings, subject to certain limits. • Though the S-Corp is required to file its own income tax return, income is not taxed at the entity level, but at the owner/shareholder-level. • Use caution when selecting S-Corp status since the entity does not allow for special allocations of income, loss, or distributions; certain types of owners are prohibited; and the number of shareholders is limited to 100. Violation of any of these may terminate the S-Election. • Losses are limited to each individual shareholder’s at-risk investment. Partnerships (General or Limited Liability)
• Partnerships are formed when multiple individuals or entities come together with a profit motive. This is also the default entity selection for multi-member LLC’s. • General partners are personally liable, but limited partners have limited liability. • Partnerships are also pass-through entities where income is taxed at the owner/partner-level rather than at the entity level. • The primary advantage of partnerships is that income, loss, and/or distributions may be specially allocated. • General partners are subject to selfemployment tax on all income or on income designated as guaranteed payments if applicable. Limited partners who have no role in management will recognize their share of partnership income, but do not earn income subject to self-employment tax. • Losses are limited to each individual partner’s at-risk investment. Sole Proprietorships • This is the default entity selection for unincorporated businesses, single-member LLC’s, or multi-member LLC’s owned by husband and wife filing jointly. • LLC’s have limited liability, but for other sole-props, there is no separation of business assets from personal assets for liability purposes. • The primary advantage of reporting as a sole-prop is that there is no additional tax form required. All activity is reported directly on the individual tax return. • The most notable disadvantage is that all income earned by a sole-prop is subject to self-employment tax. Losses are generally not limited and are deducted at the individual level. Entity selection depends on a variety of characteristics specific to each business, so contact a tax professional and legal counsel to make an informed decision based on your particular situation whether just starting out or growing your business. Leann Ussery, CPA is tax manager of corporate/partnership returns and focuses on the tax needs of small-to-mid sized entities, including entities with multi-state tax issues. Leann joined Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates, P.C. in 2008 after graduating from Angelo State University with an MBA in Accounting. She can be reached at 210658-6229.
Holy Shift! What Happened to the Workforce? Lauren Allen, Vice Present-Sales BrookStone Insurance Group Dallas, TX
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hile the days may seem long the years go by fast, and in the blink of an eye America’s workforce is changing dramatically. Instead of one identifiable demographic, the workplace now spans four generations: baby boomers, generation X, millennials, and post-millennials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, 42% of the workplace was aged 45 or higher, and by 2050 this age group is projected to encompass nearly 50% of the entire labor force. So what does this mean for you? Plan now or your company could pay for it later. To manage your company’s maturing workforce risk, it is imperative to review your current work environment and company policies. In collaboration with FCCI Insurance, consider the following when conducting an internal assessment: • Reaction Time Changes – As age increases so do reaction times. Tip: Implement regular training opportunities, employee performance reviews, and development of employee “soft-skills” (I.e. selfawareness and self-regulation) to help your workforce maintain and enhance their safety procedure habits. • Vision Changes – Maturing workers are faced with common age-related vision changes, including the need for more light, changes in color perception, problems with glare and depth perception, and decreases in peripheral vision. Tip: Regularly evaluate the work assignment, structure and exterior lighting on each project for employee safety and quality control. For high risk exposures (I.e. crane operators, forklift operators, and truck drivers), consider implementing annual eye exams for these employees. • Hearing Changes – Some degree of hearing loss is almost inevitable as we age. The most common age-related problem relates to changes in the auditory nerve, which can lead to difficulty in clearly hearing high-frequency sounds. Tip: Evaluate current communication methods for all employees as verbal commands may be more difficult for a maturing workforce. Consider various way to communicate (E.g. verbal, written, and/ or hand signals). In an effort to avoid increased hearing loss, properly monitor employee noise exposure, provide the proper hearing protection to employees, and keep records regarding the level of noise exposure employees are subjected to on a regular basis. • Physical Changes – With increased age comes changes to balance, muscular function and gait, which can lead to an
increase in workplace falls and overall injuries. Tip: Utilize non-skid surfaces and the addition of handrails to prevent slips and falls. Proper footwear, adequate lighting, and “safety yellow” paint can assist in increased awareness of safety concerns. Limit activities that involve high repetition and force to avoid increased stress on joints and certain body parts. To properly manage your workers’ compensation costs, it is important to understand your company’s loss experience and determine which areas are driving loss frequency and severity. The harsh reality is that workers’ compensation claims cost more when an older employee is injured on the job, which is mostly attributed to the presence of additional chronic diseases in the worker. Incorporation of the above considerations into company policies as well as implementation of company wellness activities, which can merge the gap between safety and health for employees, and return-to-work programs for injured employees can help employers meet the needs of their entire workforce while ensuring they are managing their total cost of risk. With a maturing workforce comes a plethora of experience, leadership, and problem-solving skills, which is immeasurable to a company’s sustainment and growth. According to AARP, “By 2022 nearly a quarter of people 70 to 74 will be working – double the figure in 1992.” Companies must adapt their policies to properly meet the safety needs of their workers as the maturing workforce is here to stay. Lauren Allen is a licensed attorney in the State of Texas and the Vice President of Sales at BrookStone Insurance Group. She focuses on collaborating, innovating and delivering risk management plans tailored to her clients’ specific needs. She can be reached at lallen@brookstone-group.com
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Page 9
Review of 85th Legislature on the construction industry JD Holzheauser, Associate Peckar & Abramson Austin, TX
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he Texas Senate and the House of Representatives (the “Legislature”) meets every two years. The Legislature convenes on the second Tuesday in January of every odd numbered year. The session ends 140 nights later. The Legislature is required to pass a state budget for the next biennium. But the Legislature also addresses issues that are important to industry in Texas, the construction industry in particular. The 85th Texas Legislature adjourned sine die on May 29, 2017, and the Legislature is not scheduled to reconvene until the start of the 86th Legislature in January 2019. So a review of some of the important issues addressed by the 85th Legislature is important to keep the construction industry informed and involved. House Bill (“HB”) 2121 relates to the recovery of attorney’s fees by a contractor in a lawsuit against the state. A contractor may receive attorney’s fees from the state if the contractor prevails on its breach of contract claim pursuant to Chapter 2260 of the Government Code and if the breach of contract claim is valued at less than $250,000. The word “may” is important because that indicates that awarding attorney’s fees is at the discretion of the administrative law judge. HB 3021 relates to indemnity provisions in architectural and engineering contracts. Essentially, the law prohibits broad and intermediate indemnity provisions against architects and engineers in contracts with state agencies. A “state agency” is defined in section 2052.101 of the Government Code. HB 3270 clarifies the requirements for mandatory background checks for persons working on school construction projects. Some people who meet certain requirements in the law are not subject to background checks. Senate Bill (“SB”) 807 changed Chapter 272 of the Business and Commerce Code. It stated that certain choice of law and venue provisions were voidable if the provisions are in a contract “principally for the construction or repair of an improvement to real property located in [Texas].” This wording created confusion among practitioners, so, in an effort to create more clarity and predictability, this bill strikes “principally for construction or repair” and broadly defines the term “construction contract.” Now the treatment of choice of law and venue provisions is clearer for everyone.
SB 1877 relates to notifications from TxDOT related to notifications of proposed contracts. A law allowing individuals to sign up for notice from TxDOT of proposed contracts already existed. But this bill expanded that law to allow those same notices to be received via e-mail if the so indicated on the form filed with TxDOT. Those bills represent the highlights of what the passed into law out of the 85th Legislative Session. But there are some other bills of equal importance that did not make it to the finish line in 2017. HB 2343 would have allowed a contractor an opportunity to investigate and cure any alleged construction defects on one of the contractor’s projects before the property owner could file a claim to recover damages for the defect. Chapter 38 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code says that a party who prevails in a breach of contract claim against an individual or corporation may receive attorney’s fees from that individual or corporation. However, its application in breach of contract lawsuits for contractors has been affected by recent appellate court decisions that have held that LLCs, LLPs, and LPs are not “corporations.” That essentially means a contractor who wins a breach of contract lawsuit against a LLC, LLP, or LP cannot receive attorney’s fees under Chapter 38. The House tried to fix that loophole through HB 744 and HB 2457, but failed. Mechanic’s lien law in Texas can be confusing and time consuming, especially for subcontractors. Several bills were filed in 2017 to change the mechanic’s lien law. HB 2668 and 2073 would have changed language in the lien law regarding retained funds. And HB 3065 and SB 1506 were identical bills that were wholesale revisions of the mechanic’s lien law. None of these bills made it to the Governor’s desk. Despite these failures, the bills that did not pass represent important issues in the construction industry. Therefore, it is likely they will reemerge in the next legislative session.
Construction News ON LOCATION
Friends in the industry
D.A. Murry and Paul Murry with Mesa Equipment Co. visit with Construction News at their Helotes office at 10120 Braun Rd. - cmw
OSHA delays crane operator certification requirement & monorail hoist Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
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nder OSHA’s standard for cranes and derricks used in construction work, crane operators are to be certified by November 10, 2017. Until that date, employers also have duties under the standard to ensure that crane operators are trained and competent to operate the crane safely. The Agency is proposing to delay the deadline and extend the existing employer duty to ensure that operators of equipment covered by this standard are competent to operate the equipment safely for one year to November 17, 2018. OSHA has also changed policy on monorail hoists coverage under the crane rule. The policy change was made in response to comments from stakeholders and in recognition that a monorail hoist – which is attached to a fixed monorail mounted on equipment such as trucks, trailers, or scaffolding systems – is significantly different from other cranes and derricks in construction. Some monorail hoists can be extended and contracted in only a fixed horizontal direction. They do not rotate, swing on a hinge, or boom out much farther than the equipment on which they are mounted. They are often used in construction to hoist precast concrete components, storage tanks, and mechanical equipment. Under the new policy, the agency will not cite employers for failing to meet the requirements of Subpart CC if they meet the requirements of the overhead hoists and general training standards. However, it is clear that monorail and overhead hoist systems present recognized workplace hazards, including those addressed by 29 CFR 1926.554 (Overhead hoists), ASME B30. l 7, and various manufacturers’ recommendations. For the reasons discussed above, and until the application of the cranes standard to monorail hoists is revisited through rulemaking, OSHA intends to exercise its enforcement discretion by not citing employers for
failing to achieve full compliance with the cranes standard when monorail hoists are used, if the following conditions are met to protect employees: (1) Compliance with 29 CFR 1926.554 (Overhead hoists). OSHA notes that its Overhead Hoist standard requires the use of outriggers and other supports whenever prescribed by the manufacturer. (2) Operators of this equipment are trained in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.21. (3) The employer has determined that each operator is qualified to safely operate that hoisting system per 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(4). (4) When monorail hoists are mounted on equipment such as work vehicles, utility trailers, scaffolding systems (including mast climbing), and various other mobile or stationary support systems, the employer must also comply with all other OSHA construction requirements that are applicable to each supporting vehicle, equipment, and structure. Should an employer operating such equipment fail to comply fully with all of the requirements described, the requirements of the cranes standard would apply. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
San Antonio Hurricane Harvey Relief Bear Readymix
Raba-Kistner Consultants Inc.
L-R: Susan Blanchard, area manager Ian Perez, and Amy Jimenez of Raba Kistner Consultants Inc. volunteer at the New Braunfels food bank to help out families that were impacted by hurricane Harvey. -cmw
NAPCO Precast, LLC Joe Ochoa, general manager at Bear and volunteer firefighter, loaded up his flat boat and went to the Houston area to help wherever he could. “Seeing the flood was tough to grasp. The enormity of the emergency struck me. Another San Antonio firefighter, Robby Vosburg, owner of Triple V Custom Homes and Construction, had posted on Facebook about heading to Houston to help with his boat. I called him and got guidance about where to go.” After picking up his boat, Ochoa met up with two friends, TJ Walsh, a fire academy classmate and a friend, John Kauffman. “We spent two days in the Katy area ferrying people to dry ground
with the assistance of local, state and federal authorities. I’ve never seen any flooding like that in my life. It was surreal driving down residential streets in a boat in five ft. of water literally stopping at traffic lights and stop signs for cross-boat traffic.” Ochoa said the American and Texas spirits were on full display, strangers helping strangers, neighbors helping neighbors. This along with the first responders and military personnel. “I’m proud to know all of these guys and am glad we made a difference in the lives of many. We operated in the Kelliwood area of Katy as well as by Franz Elementary for two days, helping anyone we could.” -rd
PeopleReady PeopleReady (trades labor placement) set up an office dedicated to Harvey disaster recovery in San Antonio and mobilized a workforce to the affected regions. Work crews were loaded onto busses at 4am for safe transportation to and from the Gulf, after a 10-hour workday. Large numbers of both skilled workers and general labor associates will be available for the restoration efforts in the months and years to come. The hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and churches are the backbone of these communities. The sooner they can get everyone back to business as usual, the faster they can take care of their community. -rd
NAPCO Precast, LLC came together and provided donations to those affected by Hurricane Harvey. They donated $1,000 to the American Red Cross and an employee is driving to Port Aransas to provide non-perishable food items, hygiene products, baby diapers, food, and water to those in need.
Beyer Boys Plumbing
Two box trucks filled with essential materials headed to Rockport. One truck went to Primera Inglesia Baptista in Aransas Pass, half of a truck load went to First Baptist Church in Taft, and a pallet of water went to the volunteers with Samaritans Purse. Donations were given to one of Buyer’s ex-employees who lives in Rockport, along with additional donations given to her community. -cmw
Quality Fence & Welding
Craig Noto, left, delivering a truck bed full of items to DR Horton Home Builders or Hurricane Harvey Coastal Bend Donations.
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Page 11
Carrying on
L-R: Longhorn Construction Office Manager, Heather Lieck and Owner, George Lieck
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n 2008 when the economy started to take a downward spiral, George Lieck and good friend Larry Acosta of Texas Interior Construction decided that it was becoming too hard to feed two families out of one company. The two friends would decide to part ways and go off separately on their own. “I had a better relationship with these guys and he had a better relationship with those guys and so we made a mutual agreement - I’m not going to solicit these guys and you aren’t going to solicit work from those, and that is pretty much how we went about it,” says Lieck. In 2008, Lieck started his own company, Longhorn Construction. Located in Devine, TX, Longhorn Construction services San Antonio and South Texas. “We do all metal stud framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, doors and hardware.” Business has been good for Lieck he says having not really experienced any true slow downs in recent years. With a
steady backlog, he is optimistic about the future. Longhorn Construction is now 35 employees strong. “I have a really good group of guys working for me. They are skilled workers and great at what they do.” The company recently relocated from their facility by the San Antonio Stockyards to 109 W. Benton Ave. in Devine, TX. “We live in Devine, we have always lived in Devine, so it just made sense to buy this building.” Lieck has been married for 30 years to his wife Amy. They have two children, a son, Wade, and a daughter, Heather, who is Longhorn’s office manager. They also have a 9-year-old grandson Caden. Lieck and his wife Amy enjoy traveling and spend many vacations in Mexico. Lieck also enjoys fishing, hunting and shooting sporting clays. Longhorn Construction is subcontractor specializing in drywall and interior finish-out in Devine, TX. -cmw
Recognizing opportunity
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L-R: Wyatt Bernard, grandson, Bernard Brothers V.P. Jake Bernard, and Owner/President Robert Bernard
njoying your profession is great, and having fun at the same time is even better. That is what Robert Bernhard says. Bernhard was a framer for 17 years until the recession hit and he had to shut down his framing business. He got a job offer and decided to go to work for a concrete contractor in San Antonio and learned the finer points of a new business. He did all the form sets and ran crews. One day one of the companies he had done work for called Bernhard directly and offered him their concrete work. He saw an opportunity to go on his own and became owner and president of Bernhard Brothers Concrete Contractors Inc., in Boerne, TX. And the rest is history. “We have been very fortunate and had reached a point where I was comfortable,” says Bernhard. “I believe in a handson operation and have fun doing what we do. We’ve have a great group of clients that keep us busy.” Bernhard said he’d been through
three recessions since he started the business and didn’t want to see a fourth one. But with each one, he learned from it. “One of the biggest things I’ve learned is to set aside something so you can keep going if times get tough.” The company is truly a family operation. His son, Jake Bernhard, has been involved in the company since he was about 12-years-old. Jake got his degree in drafting and is still involved in the business. He oversees the outside operations. Bernhard is big on quality control. He always visits his jobs to make sure things are running smoothly and there is no slacking. Outside of the day-to-day business, Bernhard enjoys fishing and a little golfing. He also enjoys his gardening out back – how handy that is for taking a break. He currently has no plans for retirement. Bernhard Brothers Concrete Contractors Inc. is a concrete contractor in Boerne, TX serving the South Texas market. -cmw
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Finding that passion
Construction News ON LOCATION
Holes, trenches & more Kristen Parisher, owner and president of Alliance Plumbing
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Central Backhoe & Utilities Ltd. Owner Mike Sanders poses for a photo by one of his rock saws at his yard in Helotes, TX. -cmw
Construction News ON LOCATION
Making time
L-R: Danny Rodriguez and Branch Manager Brandon Hatch take time to visit with Construction News at Elliott Electric Supply located at 9707 Broadway. -cmw
eople say it is very rare a new business will make it to their fifth year. There is a reason why people say that says Kristen Parisher, owner and president of Alliance Plumbing. “Between the stress of what is going on with each job, the stress of the office, field items, and insurance, there is no wonder people don’t last five years. Maybe it’s burnout or they ran out of money or made some bad decisions. My first goal is to hit that five-year mark. I’m approaching my fourth year and I’m more excited now than ever.” At just 30 years of age, Kristen Parisher wanted something she could build and pass down to her 9-year-old son, Landon. “I’ve had my vacations and I’ve traveled around so now it is all about providing for him.” With a B.S. degree in mathematics from Texas A&M San Antonio, with a minor in education, Parisher thought she wanted to be a teacher. “I quickly realized, I did not! I thought I did, but also thought I wanted to be nurse, a rocket scientist, a singer, a veterinarian, and a few other things. Math is what really stuck with me. I am a very mathoriented person. I can see numbers and they just click, and there is a lot of math in plumbing.” Parisher began working for her father’s plumbing company in the office for a few years and got bored. She decided she wanted to get into estimating. After a few weeks she moved into project managing, realizing there are so many things people were doing that just didn’t look right. After her first project, she got a second, and decided she wanted to do that one on her own. She wanted to hire her own crew, be in charge of her own guys, doing her own purchasing and pretty much took the reins. And once again, she got bored and decided she wanted to plumb. “With the help of my foreman and one of my inspectors, I basically learned how to plumb, got my hours, did all my school requirements, took my test and
got my journeyman’s license. I’ve had my journeyman’s license for two years and I’m waiting another two years to meet the State’s requirements to take my masters. I’ve already passed the master’s prep course, and got my responsible master’s certification ready to go.” Before her father retired and closed his plumbing company, he allowed Parisher to take over. After paying off the accounts, all change orders, and everything left over from his company, she was able to use money left as starting capital. Anything that came about after that would be set up in her account. All the employees from her dad’s company had the choice to leave or come to Alliance. They all decided to stay with her. “It was great to have a group of people that were already established and some jobs in progress. “My dad is my RP and so he is still involved in that aspect. I also have my Back Flow certification through TCQ. I’ve taken every plumbing course available, so now I’m taking business courses. “My father gave me a list of things to check off to make sure I was doing everything by the book; things like coming up with a company name, logo and the paperwork necessary to file with the state. I’ve had at least two companies come to me who said the state told them they couldn’t use their company names without getting permission from me. I had filed the correct paperwork first. Even though they may have been in business longer, they hadn’t filed. Had I not had these people to guide me, I could have been in the same boat.” “It’s only because of the guidance and help that I got from other people that I was able to figure it all out so fast. Other women in the industry literally bent over backwards to help and guide me. We need more women in construction. “I love plumbing. You can’t live without water. One of my goals is to protect the public’s health and safety.” Alliance Plumbing is a small, minority, woman owned, and HUB certified subcontractor in San Antonio. -cmw
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Ready to help
L-R: Clemente Luna, outside sales. and Sarah Schroller, inside counter, pose for a photo at Parker’s Building Supply, Devine, TX. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Page 13
Picking up the pieces by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, 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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ell, things are slowly getting back to normal down here in the Coastal Bend after an ending to an August I will never forget. Almost everyone was affected by one of the most damaging hurricanes this area has seen in over 30 years. Hurricane Harvey skirted just north of the Corpus Christi area and caused some major
T.W. Wheat and his group had steady action on a recent fishing outing with Steve Schultz Outdoors shortly after the Hurricane.
damage to some of the communities north of the city. Most of the damage was power lines, trees and fences down in the city of Corpus with several of the marinas receiving a bit more extensive damages. For the most part we were spared the brunt of the devastation that the cities to the north were not. Most of these towns from Port Aransas north to Port O’Connor were left in ruins. The rebuilding process will take years to complete and many folks lost everything. Needless to say, the fishing business has been rather slow as people try to get through the
shock of the storm Mother Nature brought ashore. A little closer to home, and just before Hurricane Harvey arrived, I was mourning over the loss of a dear friend and client. Randy Wyatt passed away the week prior to the storm and left many people, including this writer, with an emptiness that could not be explained. Randy had become one of my closest friends over the past 12 years and I was introduced to many other great people through his friendship and fishing/hunting trips. He was very well known around the fishing community in this area and
those who knew him will agree that he was one-of-a-kind and will be greatly missed. On to Fishing…. After several weeks off due to the hurricane, I finally got back on the water on Sept. 8. Fishing was challenging for the first week because of higher than normal tides, but things are slowly getting back to normal. Fall patterns should begin to set in as we start getting some cool fronts blowing in. Redfish and speckled trout will be the species most targeted with black drum and some occasional flounder rounding out the cooler. It’s still warm enough to wet wade and that might be the best bet to getting on some trophy trout before old man winter arrives. Speaking of trophy trout, winter is just around the corner and I will be booking some wade fishing trips in between my hunting trips. Most trips will be in the Baffin Bay complex and I will also be guiding some trips in the Port Mansfield area. If you are interested in either, please give me a call or shoot me a text. With all the high tides and great water conditions, I’m looking forward to a stellar winter for the big girls. I still have several open dates for the October 2017 season. I will also be offering some management deer hunts in South Texas if you are interested. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or email him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@ gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.
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San Antonio Construction News • October 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
Whatcha doing today?
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f you are lucky enough to have a day off in the fall in Texas, you are a lucky son of a gun! The tourist high season is mostly passed so the best places to go and things to do are suddenly easier and less expensive. The weather is finally feeling nice again. Summer heat is slowly receding and winter isn’t close enough to hurt anything yet. Sunrises and sunsets get a magical soft red glow that makes you want to stop and stare. So what can you do with a fall day in Texas? You can hunt! There are several things you can hunt right now, but most people are going after dove and whitetail deer. Bow season starts, you’re out sweating in a t-shirt and ends with you looking for your longhandles. It may be hard to stand hunting in the heat at first, but to get first shot at the new parade of bucks we will have this year is so worth
it. It just gets better as the fall wears on because rifle season for whitetail isn’t far away, and then there is turkey, and the list goes on! Fall fishing is nice too – once summer stops baring her fangs we get a lot of nice days on the water. Temperatures are
milder as the water starts to cool off which benefits fish and fishermen alike. We usually don’t have the turbulent weather we can get in the spring, just temporary weather changes brought about by the return of cold fronts. But at least you can see them coming on the weather map.
Those cooler water temperatures are what we are always relieved to see after summer passes. We get tired of the heat and run inside to cool off, but the fish are just stuck with water that is hard to tolerate. Hot summer water doesn’t hold oxygen as well, so they end up mostly just laying low waiting for things to get better, and fall is better. All of a sudden the fish find it easier to breathe and have energy to chase schools of bait fish. They feed hard to make up for doing without during the last weeks of summer. Fish are driven to feed heavily during fall and winter to prepare for spawning time in the spring. That means all a fisherman needs to do is get to the water with some tempting bait. It doesn’t matter if you bank fish or boat fish, you can probably find some fish that’s happy to see you! If you’d like to chase stripers and hybrids with us, call us at 325-379-2051! If hunting and fishing aren’t your cup of tea, then how about a road trip, or a visit to some of our amazing parks? Just check out the list of state parks on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s website and you will find parks you may not even know about. The same goes for national parks and local parks. If you have some time to get outside, we have the places to go. Fall is a big deal in the parks. The trees are getting their fall colors, the night skies are getting clearer and many of them host holiday events that are worth checking out too! The only bad thing about a day off this time of year is figuring out which way to go!
Autumnal heron - sunrise
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
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What kind of outdoor are you?
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ver since we began our first Construction News paper in October 1998 for the San Antonio area, the center of the paper has always been devoted to outdoor. Each paper after that in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston has followed the same path. The folks in our industry work hard and play hard and The Great Outdoors
section is a place to show your peers just how much fun YOU are having and making them a little jealous is okay too. Hunting, fishing and other types of outdoor adventures are always welcome. Don’t be shy and there is never a cost. So contact your Construction News editor and be a part of the Great Outdoors. -bd
Send us your photos and stories. Outdoor activities and sports Fishing • Hunting • Biking • Racing Hobbies • Crafts • Entertainment
In San Antonio: SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net Submitted to Construction News
Fun in the sun
Sam Sitterle, Metroscapes Landscaping and Green Grow Organics spending time at the coast fishing this summer in Port O’Connor, San Antonio Bay (31-incher)
Carol Wiatrek 210-308-5800
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Combining living with the great outdoors
ew Braunfels is a hot spot for living, shopping, water activities and events. And then there’s the historic area, Gruene, a quaint area partially located on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Recently, the city had moved up on the charts as one of the fastest growing (small) cities in the U.S. New residential and commercial areas have sprung up, and on-going construction and renovations are visible. Thousands visit New Braunfels every year from other cities and areas of Texas, especially in the summer to enjoy the water sports – Guadalupe and Comal Rivers, Canyon Lake and Schlitterbahn. The most frequented is the Guadalupe River for camping, swimming and especially for tubing. The banks of the Guadalupe River offer a variety of scenic views – restaurants,
camping areas, green spaces, and cliffs. A new development is underway on one of those cliffs. Michael Flume, GC/Developer of Cotton Crossing, has completed Phase I which is a commercial and residential development near historic Gruene. Phase 2 is currently on-going and encompasses river front property on a segment of the Guadalupe River. The other property in Phase 2 have the same style residences as Phase 1 – small to larger quaint style homes on small lots.
Entrance to the commercial area
Photo taken from the partially finished patio overlooking the Guadalupe River. This is located 70-ft above the river. Pathways and steps can be taken for these residents to walk down to the river front.
On the river front property area of Phase 2 is a new, larger style of home overlooking the Guadalupe River, on the cliff. Now residents will be watching the tubers for a change! Most of these homes are two-story with winding patios and decks, some with pools, overlooking the river, at approximately 70-ft above. This is true combined living and enjoying the great outdoors, year ‘round. Cmw/rd
Front entrance of two-story home on the river front. These homes overlooking the Guadalupe River start at about $1.2 million.
GOOD NEWS!
Call us for a Company Profile (210) 308-5800 All content is free!
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
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The right way
L-R: David Ehlinger, Owner; Erich, Operations Manager; Jason Ehlinger; Travis Ehlinger, Tech; Daniel Ehlinger, Tech; and Austin Ehlinger, Tech
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hen David Ehlinger retired from the Navy, he had a hard time finding a job doing what he did in the Navy. He landed airplanes onto flight decks. He would eventually get a job with Beyer Boys, learning a trade he would grow to love. One day, while sitting at the dinner table, David’s dad said, “David, you need to take these boys of yours and start your own company.” At the time, his oldest boy was only 10-years-old. Ehlinger would continue to work for Beyer Boys and then C&J Air Conditioning. Then he went to a technical school called Everest Institute and started teaching air conditioning for about five years. It was while he was teaching that he decided he would take his dad’s advice and, for about two years, he taught air conditioning during the day and worked in the evenings. After getting his license and only $200 in the bank and a large family to feed, Ehlinger left teaching and focused on his own company, Golden Rule Air Conditioning & Heating. The motto behind the company is to honor the name of Jesus Christ in everything that they do. Everyone involved is committed to obeying the Golden Rule which is scripted on their website and business cards. While all of Ehlinger’s five sons worked for the company at one point in time, only four are still involved with the company. One of Ehlinger’s sons, Erich Ehlinger, who is also a pilot, is the company’s operations manager. Travis, Daniel and Austin Ehlinger are the techs out in the field. Krista Ehlinger, wife, mother and the company’s dispatcher, recalls the company’s first install her husband did with their boys, and laughs at the length of time it took. She says through patience and understanding, they have a really good work
ethic and are quite proficient now. Kandace Ehlinger, Ehlinger’s, eldest daughter, oversees the books and office administration of the company. The company has a total seven employees, six of which are family members, says Krista and Kandace. “We have one helper, Eric Guerro. He has been with us for two years now and he has really become a big part of our team,” says Krista. The family of nine is a close-knit group. They all have dinner together once a week under one roof - sons, daughters, wives, husbands and grandchildren. They enjoy helping one another and others in need. They’ve already been down to Houston and Rockport to help families that have been affected by Hurricane Harvey through Samaritan’s Purse. In addition to their once-a-week family dinner time, when time away from work allows, the family also tries to go camping together. And if they can’t go camping, they just enjoy spending time together outside helping one another. A few of the clan are part of the local volunteer fire department. Erich, the pilot, gives flying lessons. Travis loves working with horses and training them. Austin keeps bees, and Daniel is a welder and very mechanical. He can fix anything. “Ever since he was 10 he could fix things. I remember when he was 10. My lawn mower was broken and all the big kids were gone, and he looked up at me and said, ‘I can fix it.’ And he did, at 10 years of age.” Kandace says in closing, “We try to treat our customers the way we would want to be treated and apply God’s word in everything we do with honesty and integrity.” Golden Rule Air Conditioning & Heating is a subcontractor in Devine, TX servicing Devine and the surrounding areas. -cmw
New semester, new facility
Electrical apprentices have a new home to learn their trade with the capability to school 160 apprentices a night at the new Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Training Center located at 5511 Ingram Road. Commemorating the new facility, IEC hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening. -cmw
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Blast from the Past – 10 years ago, October 2007! Construction News ON LOCATION
Construction News ON LOCATION
Familiar site
Powerful work
L-R: D.A. and Linda Murry, Danielle Martinez and Paul Murry take time out on a busy Thursday for a photo at Mesa Equipment Co., Inc. on Braun Rd. Mesa handles site work, excavations and asphalt paving. –kf
Construction News ON LOCATION
Mmm . . . good floors
C.D. Lewis III, store manager at City Electric Supply (CES) in Seguin, has the Court St. location stocked for the construction industry. –kf Construction News ON LOCATION
Hill country
The staff at Campbell Floors, Ltd. took a break from a busy day in Seguin to pose for a Construction News picture. L-R: Pat Evetts, Gordon Rockett, Shauna Seiler, Dodie Bastarache, Pete Campbell, Judy Campbell and William Young. –kf
Construction News ON LOCATION
Office duty
L-R: James, Joel, Kevin, Elder, and Glen prepare for a busy day at Rocky Hill Equipment Rental on N IH 35. Rocky Hill specializes in heavy construction equipment. –kf
Construction News ON LOCATION Tracey Patton keeps up with the office duties at Tri County Plumbing in Seguin. Tri County handles commercial, industrial and residential work. –kf
Ready to help
Bob Dill, owner of Stampcrete, sells tools and supplies related to decorative concrete. –sj
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
JOB SIGHTS
Apolonio Jacobo, Victor Cervantes, and Geronimo Sanchez with South Texas Steel Construction Inc. perform steel work at the Somerset Elementary School Cafeteria project in Somerset, TX. D. Wilson Construction is the general contractor for the project and LPA Inc. is the project architect. - cmw
Construction News caught Rocky Garcia with Seguin-based Santos Electrical getting supplies from his truck at Parker’s Building Supply in Devine, TX where he was adding and changing lights in the bays and signs. -cmw
L-R: Joe Hernandez and Joe Vasquez with JLV Stucco are busy plastering the Bandera Jalisco Taqueria & Restaurant Expansion at 14320 Nacogdoches. -cmw
Jonathan Grover and Ernesto Gonzalez with Tristate of San Antonio perform concrete work at the new SpringHill Suites by Marriott Hotel at the corner of Schertz Parkway & IH-35 in Selma, TX. QPM Enterprises is the general contractor for the project - cmw
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
continued from Page 1 — Painting relationships record. You have to start from ground zero. “We worked long hours and weekends. Thank God, I had the drive to keep going. Being raised by my dad, we were never afraid of hard work. I remember when I was a child I would go to work with him and mix the mortar. It was hard work but it helped me to be able to do what I needed to do.” The ‘80s slow down opened another door of opportunities for Elizalde. He would begin venturing into commercial painting in some of San Antonio’s high rises and has been going fast and furious ever since. “We do some residential, which I love, but now mostly commercial.” Jay Elizalde, Gerry’s son and vice president, has been around the business since he was a small child. Although Gerry never pushed Jay to join him, Jay would eventually decide he wanted to be a part of his father’s legacy and help keep it going. After graduating from high school, Jay got a degree in real estate finance from UTSA. After working a few years in commercial real estate, he approached his dad about joining the business and went on-board. “Real estate was great. I learned a lot about business, myself, and how to manage client relationships. At the time I was working for a company based in Austin and I was their San Antonio guy. I was renting an office from my dad in the back and observed how he did business and thought I might add some value to the team. It was just a natural fit.
“I love what we do. We are very much a niche contractor. We really get to know our clients well. They become our friends and I think that is very unique in the business world or any business when you build relationships like that,” adds Jay. When asked if Jay was ready to carry on his father’s legacy when he retires, Jay says he’s up to the challenge. “I absolutely feel I will carry this on for another 40 years. This company put my sister and I through college. We are very much a family here with our employees. Some have been with us for 20-plus years. We have the loyalty of our employees and our clients. We are very selective on who we bring on board because they have to mesh well with the other guys. They have to be technically good at their trade. It’s sometimes hard to find good people, but we take the time to vet them. I think that is very important as we move into the future and lean on those guys that have been with us and create new teams. I am up to that challenge.” When not working, they are hunting, fishing and enjoying the outdoors. They even take time to enjoy reading the many articles in Construction News. “We enjoy reading the Construction News and about all the companies and everything going on in the construction industry.” Santex Painting and Drywall Inc. is a subcontractor specializing in painting and complete finish-out in San Antonio. –cmw
continued from Page 1 — Standing by our word In 2014, the company did some restructuring. Steve’s uncle, Jack Frost, acquired the majority shares of the company. The company was restructured into a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business company which opened a lot of doors for them in terms of military and government contracts. In Dec. 2016, Jack passed away from a heart attack. It was a big blow to the company. After Steve’s dad had passed away, Jack had become a second dad to him. At that point, Jack’s wife, Paula Frost, inherited his shares of the company and became CEO. Paula had already been working for the company as the office manager and doing the majority of the day-to-day operations. The company then resubmitted and got approved as a
woman-owned business and is now certified as a WBESBE company. Steve has no regrets moving into this line of work he says. “I love it. I like jigsaw puzzles, it’s like every property is a mystery. We investigate to find out if there are any problems with them. We provide information, answers and options for our clients so they can make well-informed decisions about their properties and part of that is unraveling the jigsaw puzzle. “I’m proud of how honest and hard working we are. Our clients know they are going to get what they ask for and that says everything,” says Paula. Frost Geosceinces is a geologic and environmental consulting firm in San Antonio. –cmw
continued from Page 1 — A fast-track success
“All projects are unique in their own way, no two jobs alike,” says Kurt. “This one, like any other, had its challenges. Condensing a three-month job into a single month – converting a loading dock into a cafeteria and infilling dock levelers – every challenge was met with professionalism and determination. We found a solution way before it became a problem in the schedule. “Everyone at Brooks and PBK Architects were wonderful to work with. The lines of communication were always open to help achieve such a large project in such a small amount of time. We all worked together as a team to pull this project in on time for this customer.” He added that construction is not as easy as it looks. With the help of the management team at Brooks and RGC, along with the considerable expertise of
all of our subcontractors involved made this project happen. Kurt continues, “Without the cooperation from everyone involved, we could not have done it. We would like to send a special ‘Thank you’ to all of our subcontractors on this project: CRI Electric, Leon Guerrero Concrete, TexDoor, Allegiance Floors, Painting by Martin, Allied Fire Protection and Consolidated Service Company.” Key personnel includes Project Manager Kurt Robinson (RGC), Project Manager Dave Reynolds (Brooks), Kent Brittain, AIA (PBK Architects), Assistant Project Manager Steve Collier (Foster Group), and Paul Morrissey, founder of Compass Rose Academy. –rd Compass is now home to more than 150 sixth and seventh graders with plans to expand to grades 6-12 by 2023. -rd
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
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THIS TH MON Jan: Construction Forecast Mar: Construction Education May: Concrete Industry July: Electrical Industry Feb: Construction Safety Apr: Women in Construction Jun: HVAC & Plumbing Aug: Service Providers
Keeping you insulated Henry Schmueckle, President Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing Inc. San Antonio, TX
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lpha Insulation & Waterproofing (AIWP) was established in 1982 and currently has eleven offices in seven states performing all types of insulation, spray fireproofing, waterproofing, fire stop, spray foam and spray insulation on signature projects across the southeast and Midwest regions of the United States.
How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? The construction industry is currently healthy and provides great opportunity. We are still in the early innings of this cycle. Due to the state of the construction industry, has there been an increase or a decrease in business? We have experienced an increase in business over the past several years. Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming into the area? General contractors have been branching out and servicing a larger geographic area, followed by some subcontractors following their customer base as well.
How has this increase affected Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing and how AIWP conducts business? The expansion of our business has required Alpha to have stronger procedures and processes in place. What are the “hot button” issues in the insulation & waterproofing industry? The “hot buttons” for the insulation and waterproofing industry is staying educated on the building codes. Air barrier, life safety and insulation requirements have been rapidly changing over the past few years. How do you stay up-to-date in your industry? We stay up-to-date with changes in our industry by participating in various trade organizations. We also do extensive training with our manufacturing partners.
On top of roofing relationships Bernard Boling, Owner Boling Roofs and Sheet Metal Kyle, TX
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ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? Austin is booming! I think it’s booming all over the state. How has Boling Roofs and Sheet Metal benefited from this “boom?” We’ve been growing, especially in the last four years. It’s just been nonstop. Have you had slowdowns in the past? If yes, how did you handle them? We did experience slowdowns during the drought, and there was also a sort of economic downturn from 2009-2011. We were a young company and smaller during that time, so it was a great trial by fire. When I started in the roofing industry in ’94, a metal roofer was hard to find. It’s not that way anymore. That is a good thing. To survive economic downturns, we branched out into other services. What factors are driving Austin’s thriving construction economy? I think things are set up in Texas better than other places. Central Texas is a place that is friendly and open to people and businesses starting out. There are also a lot of people trying to work. Texas is a ranching, working state. Anytime you have people connected to the land, willing to work with their
hands, it goes a long way. It affects everyone’s attitude. Specifically, how has the economy affected Boling Roofs and Sheet Metal and how you conduct business? We’ve had to expand our number of employees and crews and get more certifications because we have expanded our services. Also, I’m now working in the role of an owner mostly. I’ve had to step out of installing full roofs myself, and I’m directing others. It is a different viewpoint, but it’s a good problem. What are the “hot button” issues in the roofing industry? Scheduling. When there’s a lot of construction going on, and you are waiting on other trades to finish their part, scheduling gets hard, and I worry about over commitment. I try to treat everybody with respect. You have to constantly be working toward quality and integrity: quality, integrity, and timeliness. Start with achieving those and you don’t have problems.
SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS Sept: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment
What are the major changes in the construction industry relating to the type of work you do? The major change in the construction industry over the last 10 years has been the emphasis on safety. All aspects of safety have gone up tremendously from PPE, certified training, overall awareness and jobsite enforcement. We welcome this change and it has only made the industry stronger across the board. What is the most significant challenge the insulation & waterproofing industry faces? Labor shortages? Cost Increases? The most significant challenge facing Alpha is an aging workforce and the ability to attract and retain a younger workforce. How is Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing dealing with these challenges? Alpha has created a cloud-based training program that is available to all employees. The Alpha U can be used to train new employees or be used as a preparatory tool before scopes of work begin on projects. We have developed in-house training videos to address how to install the scopes of work we perform. Alpha has a fulltime staff constantly addressing these training issues.
Rain is a big deal, too. You get better at predicting the weather than the weatherman. What have been the major changes in the roofing industry in recent years? Mainly, the popularity of metal roofing and also the rise of the TPO flat roof system. No particular type of roof is the “go-to” roof anymore as shingles and modified once were. What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? Mine is, again, scheduling issues. But more broadly, if a tradesman doesn’t honor their commitments it makes construction workers in general look bad. People develop low opinions of trades. What it comes down to are relationships. That’s a short sentence, kind of a cliché, but achieving it is a daily process. What are some of the cost increases roofers are incurring now? Shingles keep going up; metal goes up more slowly. Labor and insurance costs have gone up, too. You always have fluctuations, and once they go up, they don’t come down. How are you dealing with these challenges? You bid the cost into the job. I think people understand. I have great relationships with my suppliers, and that helps. We get the job done regardless. What is on the horizon for the roofing industry? Are there changes in tech-
www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news
What advice would you give to a young person who wants to work in your industry? My advice to a young person wanting to work in the industry is to get a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management; any of the outstanding universities offering this specific type program is a good start. What are the cost increases related to the insulation & waterproofing industry? Over the last five years, there has been a dramatic increase in wages and benefits. We have experienced an increase in materials, but the labor issues far outweigh the material issues. What are the rewards of the insulation & waterproofing industry? The industry is rewarding because it provides great opportunity for personal advancement if you have the “right stuff.” In addition, it is rewarding to pass signature projects you have been a part of and knowing you’ve played an important role in developing the city. What are the keys to success in the insulation & waterproofing industry? The keys to success are attention to detail and rewarding your employees. -cmw
nology, codes, ordinances, and laws forthcoming? I think there are going to be changes, but I don’t know exactly what. Austin has built up a lot and continues to grow. That affects laws and codes and the people already here, including the people in construction. I think that also gives us opportunities as well. What are the rewards of the industry? There’s always a lot to learn in roofing – new techniques and materials - it changes and challenges you. Roofing is exciting! It’s about helping people. We’re not first responders, but when a tree falls on someone’s house, it’s important to them to find someone to help them and to be quick about it. It’s also a big deal when you can solve a problem for someone such as a builder or homeowner. What are keys to being successful in the roofing industry? Growing as a person and working on relationships and communication with my customers and the people I work with every day. Roofing is essentially taking something challenging and working through it. I’ve seen a lot, but I don’t think I’ve seen it all. Roofers deal with weather, physics, and logistics. But for me, it’s definitely been learning how to work with people, get agreements and work through the disagreements. Boling Roofs and Sheet Metal specializes in custom metal and roofing. They serve Central Texas, North Texas, and Oklahoma. - ke
Texas Style
★ ★ ★ ★
San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
NEXT TH MON Kidd Roofing
ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING
If you would like to represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact your Austin Editor for an Interview Carol Wiatrek (210) 308-5800 SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net
Opening the door to success Michael Famolare, Division Manager ACME Architectural Hardware Houston, TX
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ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general? The construction industry has always had its ups and downs. We have seen significant growth over the past four or five years and everything points to at least a few more years of similar performance.
Have you experienced an increase in business, or a decrease? We have been blessed with significant growth over the past seven to eight years, especially in the service and installation division. We see this trending through our specialties division as well. What factors are driving this increase? We believe the demand we are seeing in our service division is fueled by a shortage of quality door technicians who take pride in the work they do. We have a large, loyal customer base from our distribution business that is looking for help with installing the products we sell. How has this increase affected your company and how you conduct business? Our growth is directly limited by the quality and experience of the leadership
team we have empowered to build each of our areas of focus. We are constantly looking for those individuals that fit in with our team and bring something to the table that can help us reach our goals. What are some “hot button” issues in your industry of construction? It seems like every area of construction that we are involved in has an increased sense of urgency. They are looking for products and services and they need them immediately. Price will always be most important to certain customers, but the demand for quality products with a quick response turnaround is shared by most. What are the major changes in the industry in recent years relating to your sector of construction? We have seen that technology has
taken the lead with many of the hardware manufacturers we represent. Being primarily involved in the renovation side of the industry, we find ourselves late to the party sometimes with implementing the latest technology. We realize that as our customers’ needs change, we have to be prepared to help. As an example, a short time ago we found our customers asking for certain specialty items - toilet partitions and restroom accessories. Because of this, about 18 months ago we began offering those items to our customers. As time went by, more and more existing and new customers wanted these and more specialty items. Today our customers can choose from a wide variety of Division 10 and 11 products from the industry’s leading factories. What is the most significant challenge your industry is facing? Our greatest challenge is centered on hiring, training, and motivating our people. Putting the right people in the right positions has worked well for us. Have there been any cost increases for your company? If so, how are you handling this? Price increases have always been a part of our business. With the manufacturers’ calling the shots, we have to step up our game to justify the increases.
What is on the horizon for your sector of construction? With increased focus on the need for security across all industries, the advances in technology are certainly providing new solutions. Keeping our people trained and aware of the latest changes in technology can be quite challenging. Possible immigration reforms could potentially add to the complexity of finding technicians for the entire construction industry. What are the rewards of your industry? Our greatest rewards come from the feeling we get when we help a customer solve a challenging problem, and that reward is shared when our people have worked as a team to provide the solution. What is the key to being successful in your industry? Sometimes we tend to over-analyze our keys to success. It seems to continually come down to figuring out what our customers want and then simply doing what you said you would do. If you can accomplish success doing those two things, many times the rest will fall into place. ACME Architectural Hardware is a commercial door and hardware distributor. They install Division 10 and 11 specialty items, as well. - te
Uninsured, low bidders a problem Lee Houston, Owner WreckHouse Demolition LLC Forney, TX
H
ow would you describe the construction industry in general terms? We’re definitely in an upswing for sure; we’re definitely moving a lot of construction in the DFW Metroplex. Have you noticed more “out of town” demolition businesses popping up in our area, or newly established demolition businesses? Yes, definitely. I’ve noticed a lot of new smaller demolition companies coming into North Texas, but not a lot of big ones. They’ve definitely shown up in the last couple of years. Do you see anything on the horizon for your industry? I see new technology, and it’s really neat. We’re integrating technology right now from the office all the way down into the field. We’re definitely using technology to take our business to the next level. With the construction industry so far behind in technology, I’m definitely trying to get a jump on that and get ahead of it. The upcoming technology corrects a lot of errors and helps us out on the jobsites for sure. I can now measure building jobs with my phone. I can send estimates, bids and invoices and send clients photos from my phone also, which is wonderful. We’ve had the lasers on tractors for two years now, but they’ve been improved and now attach to the machines to keep the levels, grades and
Does it price you out of getting jobs? It’s a fine line between having to raise your prices and still be competitive. We have some good customers and friends, and they understand that and don’t try to get [the price] down too low. elevations tighter. The errors that crews were making when they were doing it before with a telescope and a stick are gone. What else has been a focus of your business? We have stepped up our safety to cover us as well as our general contractor clients. We do a lot more training. Because we do projects for TxDOT, we have morning trainings and safety meetings every other week. I know the trend has gone that way – the hard hats, the safety vests – but it’s always been mandatory when I worked for my dad’s construction company. Whether or not we need them on the job site, we always wear them. Have you noticed any fluctuation in business costs? Pretty much everything has gone up except the pay! Landfills have definitely increased in price; we used to pay $10 a ton [to dispose materials at a landfill] and now I am seeing prices as high as $35 a ton. The prices in the trucking industry are getting up there a little bit. Of course, diesel prices definitely fluctuate but are down compared to what it was, and that helps out a lot. Labor is harder to find now at a good price, but we use Craigslist, we find a lot of our CDL drivers through indeed.com, local newspapers, referrals and we have a pretty good following on social media.
What is a major challenge your business is facing? Low bidders are making it tough on us. Many have no insurance and are lowballing the bid. There’s one on almost every job we bid. Sometimes, it’s too low, and they’ll be thrown out if it’s understood why they’re able to get that price so low. The low bidders come in and throw out a number that is so low, I don’t even know how they could do the job and make a profit, since I know what my cost is on some of these jobs. I have tried to tell people [about this situation] at the beginning of jobs, but they hire the lowest bidder anyway. Then, I will get a call from the general contractor saying that that company has left in the middle of the job, or has stolen all of the copper out of a job, or they didn’t have insurance. I tell general contractors that if a demolition company does not have insurance to watch out, because if someone from that company is injured, the general contractor could be sued. I try to give them as much information as I can so they can avoid these situations, but some take the chance. It’s tough to bid against some of these business owners who get their bid so low, but we’re making it. What are the keys to being successful in this industry? As they say, it’s not how much you make, but how much you keep, and that’s been our goal over the last year. I’ve been trying to keep our costs down and our
overhead as low as possible so I can compete with some of these low bidders and big companies too. The larger companies have all kinds of equipment that can keep their costs down. Since we’re getting a lot of larger jobs now, I’m just trying to lower our overhead. That’s also where the new technology comes in; it decreases man hours when we can draw up bids and send them instantly instead of having to run them through a couple of people. We can save on costs a little bit and keep on growing. Other than that, we have our name out there pretty well. When I first started, it was about getting our name out there and getting established. Do you think the recent hurricanes will affect how you conduct business at all? So far up here, all of our truckers seem to be staying around. Other than our diesel and the gas shortage for a while, I don’t see a lot from it right now but it could take a month or two to see some of the repercussions. As of right now, it hasn’t affected the local demolition business too much – we’re still swinging and rolling in it. What are the rewards of the industry? The people we get to work with are the rewards; we have the opportunity to work with some amazing people – general contractors, excavation companies and land developers. We meet some pretty cool people. WreckHouse Demolition LLC is a commercial and residential demolition and excavation company. –mjm
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
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Trick-or-treat
Getting ready for Dove Season
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t was a beautiful, yet warm day Aug. 24. 170 shooters gathered together for a day of sporting clays at the National Shooting Complex. The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) hosted the event. Red Course Winners: Yellow Course Winners: 1st Place Division A: Charles Poole, All- 1st Place Division A: Brooks Holzhausen, brite Construction QMC Services 2nd Place Division A: Stephen Ethridge, 2nd Place Division A: Rudy Bazan, RC Frost Bank Page Construction 3rd Place Division A: Wade Mayfield, Jo- 3rd Place Division A: Rue Ferguson, RC eris General Contractors Page Construction 1st Place Division B: Jimmy LaGrange, Alamo Crane Services Inc. 2nd Place Division B: John Warnke, Ridout Barrett 3rd Place Division B: Brian Ohlenbusch, Alamo Crane Services Inc.
H
ave you ever wondered how Halloween came about? Or, when the fun of getting dressed up and walking around your neighborhood got started? Halloween, a contraction of All Hallows Evening, is a celebration in a number of countries on Oct. 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallow’s Day and Reformation Day. It is believed the many Halloween traditions originated from Celtic harvest festivals that may have had pagan roots. Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Dressed in costumes from scary to simply adorable, children go from house to house asking for treats like candy, or in some cases, money. “Trick or Treat” – Trick implies a threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or their
property if no treat is given. This is believed to have roots in the medieval practice of mumming. Traditionally, costumes worn have been modeled after the supernatural figures such as vampires, monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. In more recent times, fictional characters have been more readily introduced. Dressing up in costumes or going “guising” was prevalent in Ireland and Scotland at Halloween by the late 19th century. By the early 20th century, costuming became popular for Halloween parties in the US for adults as well as for children. The first mass-production of Halloween costumes appeared in stores in the 1930s when trickor-treating was becoming popular in the United States. -cmw
Shoot ‘n’ skoot
1st Place Division B: Rick DiFilippo, Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing Inc. 2nd Place Division B: Joe Rodriguez, Tejas Premier Building Contractor Inc. 3rd Place Division: Joe Cielencki, M & M Metals
Leading Lady: Kathy Culver, Martin Marietta Materials –cmw
Red Course Top Team: Frost Bank, score 7743
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t was a great day for the shooters attending the 8th Annual Shoot N Skoot on Aug. 4 at the National Sporting Complex hosted by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). -cmw
The winners were: Blue Course: Team: Terracon Consulting Engineers Inc. Best Male Shooter: Bailey Welch Best Female Shooter: Cayce Carly Red Course: Team: CDS Muery Best Male Shooter: Derek Snogo Best Female Shooter: Inez Mai Yellow Course: Team: Guido Construction
Best Male Shooter: Steve Thode Best Female Shooter: D’Anna Wallace Brown Course: Team: LPA Architects Best Male Shooter: Brian Gottardy Best Female Shooter: Carolyn Ramon Green Course: Team: IMEG Corp. Best Male Shooter: Edward Ortiz Best Female Shooter: Michelle SewardDavis Yellow Course Top Team: RC Page Construction, score 7760
Yellow Course Winners: Guido Construction
Blue Course Winners: Terracon Consulting Engineers Inc.
Red Course Winners: CDS Muery
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Association Calendar
ABCs of golf
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News AGC Associated General Contractors
Oct. 7: Safety Fair & BBQ Cook-off, Helotes Fairgrounds, 12210 Leslie Rd., Helotes, TX. For more info, call 210-349-4921 Oct. 12: YouthBuild Graduation, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale. For more info, call 210-349-4921 Oct. 12: CLC General Membership Meeting, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale. For more info, call 210-349-4921 Oct. 19: New Member Happy Hour, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale. For more info, call 210-349-4921. Oct. 26: View From the Top, The University of the Incarnate Word Student Center, 4301 Broadway, CPO #306. For more info, call 210-349-4921
AIA American Institute of Architects
Oct. 12: Platicas, An AIA Latinos in Architecture Event. For more info, contact Adrianna Swindle at 210-679-2304 Oct. 14: 20th Anniversary Homes Tour. For more info, contact Belinda Sanchez at 210226-4979
ASA American Subcontractors Assn.
Oct. 4: 2nd Annual Safety Summit, Alzafar Shrine Temple, 901 N. Loop 1604. For more info, call 210-349-2105 Oct. 17: Golf Tournament, TPC Golf Course – Oaks Course, 23808 Resort Parkway. For more info, call 210-349-2105 Oct. 26: Tailgate Mixer, Alamo Tees & Advertising Parking Lot, 12814 Cogburn Ave. For more info, call 210-349-2105
ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers
Oct. 16: ASCE General Meeting, Anne Marie’s at Devonshire. For more info, call 210375-9000
ASSE American Society of Safety Engineers
Oct. 4: 2nd Annual San Antonio Construction Safety Summit, Alzafar Shrine Temple, 901 N. Loop 1604. For more info, email: info@southtexas-asse.org Oct. 12-14: ASSE Leadership Conference, Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Rd., Rosemont, IL. For more info, email: info@southtexas-asse.org
CFMA Construction Financial Management Assn.
Oct. 20: Golf Tournament, Canyon Springs Golf Course, 24405 Wilderness Oak. For more info, contact Tom Whitney at 210649-9900 or tom.whitney@worthaminsurance.com
GNBHBA Greater New Braunfels Home Builders Assn.
Oct. 12: Fall Golf Tournament, The Bandit Golf Course, For more info, contact Terry McFadden at terry@deltagranite.com
GSABA Greater San Antonio Builders Assn.
Oct. 11: Battle of the Builders, Raymond Russell Park, 20644 I-10 West. For more info, call 210-696-3800
HCAdeSA Hispanic Contractors Assn. de San Antonio
Oct. 13: 18th Annual Golf Tournament, The Republic Golf Course, 4226 SE Military Dr. For more info, call 210-444-1100 Oct. 18: Monthly Mixer. For more info, call 210-444-1100
IEC Independent Electrical Contractors
Oct. 24-28: IEC Con 60th Anniversary, Phoenix, AZ. For info, call 210-431-9861
MCA-SMACNA INC Mechanical Contractors Assn. Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.
Oct. 4: Regular & Associates Meeting, DoubleTree Hotel, 37 NE Loop 410, 11:30am. For more infor, call 210-822-3763 Oct. 18: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA Offices, 12500 Network Blvd., Ste. 140. For more info, call 210-8223763
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ith the cooler temperatures, ever so slight, come opportunities to enjoy the outdoors without melting away. Golfers came together Sept. 18 for the Associated Builders & Contractors Inc.’s (ABC) fall golf tournament held at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort & Golf Club. -cmw
1st Place Low Gross winners: Casey Sierer, Terracon Consultants Jerry Nelson, Terracon Consultants Derek Woodruff, Alpha Consulting Engineers Mark Jackson, Alamo City Consultants 1st Place Low Net Winners: Martin Thomas, Aerohead Mechanical Craig Jendrusch, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors Russell Syma, Joeris General Contractors Kristian Pearson, Guido Construction 2nd Place Low Net Winners: Tom Smith, Joeris General Contractors
David Shear Joeris General Contractors Roger Martinez, Beicker Consultants Frank Wagner, Allegiance Floors Lakes Course Winners: Straightest Drive: Derek Woodruff, Alpha Consulting Engineers Closet-to-the-Pin: Brayton Maier, Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company Ltd. Creeks Course Winners: Straightest Drive: Andrew Gehring, Central Builders Inc. Closest-to-the-Pin: Nick Mcllwain, Yates Construction –cmw
NAWIC National Assn. of Women in Construction
Oct. 4: Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels. For more info, call 210-639-2489 Oct. 20-21: Annual Fall Conference, Embassy Suites, 1022 S. Shady Grove, Memphis, TN. For more info, email Patty Wylie patricia.a.wylie@jci.com
NECA National Electrical Contractors Assn.
Oct. 7-10: 2017 NECA Convention & Tradeshow, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA. For more info, call 210-226-6331
PHCC Associated Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors of San Antonio
Oct. 12: PHCC Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels. For more info, call 210-824-7422 Oct. 26: PHCC Member Fall Mixer, Galpao Gaucho, 2318 N. Loop 1604. For more info, call 210-824-7422
L-R: Casey Sierer, Jerry Nelson, Derek Woodruff, Mark Jackson (not pictured) and Golf Committee Chair Ernie Mora, Central Electric. 1st Place Low Gross
TACCA Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.
Oct. 4: 2nd Annual Safety Summit, Alzafar Shrine Temple, 901 N. Loop 1604. For more info, call 210-901-4222 Oct. 20: Chapter Meeting, 10223 Sahara Drive. For more info, call 210-901-4222 Oct. 27-28: 24th Annual Fishing Tournament, Doc’s Seafood & Steaks, 13309 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX. For more info, call 210-901-4222 SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.
Oct: 26: Mixer/Auction Fundraiser, Tycoon Flats, 2926 N. St. Mary’s. For more info, contact Debbie at 830-606-5556
L-R: Jerry Nelson, Martin Thomas, Craig Jendrusch, Russell Syma, Kristian Pearson (not pictured) and Golf Committee Chair Ernie Mora 1st Place Low Net
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
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Color the world
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The end of summer
hat better way to end summer than with a slow-pitch softball tournament? The 2nd Annual Construction Cup was held on Sept. 8-9 at The University of the Incarnate Word. Twelve teams participated in the construction-sponsored tournament hosted by the Construction Leaders Council (CLC) of Associated General Contractors (AGC) -cmw
M
Patrick and Esther Flores, owners, Rainbow Painting
ost everyone wants a pleasant environment, both to live in and work in. The colors of the rooms in your homes and the offices where you work can affect your moods and thoughts. Many of us may not spend a lot of time thinking about it, nor know how. Fortunately creating an environment can be accomplished simply and inexpensively with paint, especially if there is someone to assist you with color and color combinations. “I love painting color into the world, like being a chef – presentation, tasteful. When you walk into a room you want to feel something. Color does that for people. I love helping people color their world.” Those are the words of Patrick Flores, owner of Rainbow Painting Co. who was introduced to painting by his dad. In his youth, he learned he could make some money on the side and on his own. He moved to Virginia Beach and began painting houses in a culdesac. His pricing was reasonable and he was mak-
ing money. It was there he decided to call himself Rainbow Painting. Six years later, Flores moved back to San Antonio and began working on large projects for a general contractor. Then later became superintendent at Randolph AFB, troubleshooting and solving problems. Rainbow Painting is now servicing San Antonio and surrounding areas, to include a large ongoing job in Laredo. Flores and his wife, Esther, who manages their office, have three children plus two daughters from his previous marriage. Since they work many hours, they enjoy spending time together – movies, local outings, etc. Flores says he’s blessed for the opportunities that came to him and the paths he’s taken and thanks God for the lessons HE has taught him and the gift HE has given him. He loves building relationships with his customers and ‘coloring their world.’ Rainbow Painting is a residential, commercial and industrial painting subcontractor in San Antonio. -cmw
Architectural Division 8 – 1st Place
Bartlett Cocke General Contractors – 2nd Place
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Construction News ON LOCATION
Privacy, beauty, security
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Before the storm
he threat of Hurricane Harvey didn’t stop shooters from enjoying the beautiful “pre-weather” of Hurricane Harvey at the San Antonio Gun Club on Aug. 25. The 3rd Annual Paloma Primer was hosted by the Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA de SA).
L-R: Robert Gilbert (owner), Edgar Flores and Brenda Bertram of Superior Fence of San Antonio, take a moment for Construction News under a nice shade tree. -cmw
1st Place Team: All Texas Electrical Services
Construction News ON LOCATION
What you need
L-R: Leo Hernandez, Steve Rivera, Ralph Chavez and Joe Hitchcock are the counter sales guys for Hill Country Electric Supply located at 13403 Western Oak Drive, Ste. 2 in Helotes, TX. -cmw
Patty Cardenas, HCA de SA was awarded the Most Room for Improvement award.
San Antonio Construction News • October 2017
Page 27
Teeing up for fall
1st Place Net Team: Gunn Chevrolet
S
aturdays are a great day to finish up that honey-do list or relax after a long week. The Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) did just that, hosting their fall golf tournament Sept. 16 at Olympia Hills Golf & Event Center.-cmw
Winners included: 1st Place Gross Team: Premier Electrical Staffing 2nd Place Net Team: Crawford Electrical Supply 3rd Place Net Team: Bell & McCoy Longest Drive: Brandon Stoppelmmor Closest-to-the-Pin: Josh Hook –cmw
New Board Elect
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he newly elected Board of Directors for the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Back Row L-R: Ish Gonzalez, Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing Inc.; President Kenneth Moore, KCM Cabinets Inc.; Paul Brennan, NAPCO Precast; Adam Matthys, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing; Vice President John Leifester, Dedicated Landscape Solutions; Historian Greg Kanning,
Dumas Hardware. Front Row L-R: Dustin Michalak, RidoutBarrett; Chapter Attorney Tom Walthall, Gardner Law Firm; Secretary - Debbie Hannasch, Fire Alarm Control Systems; Ted Dunnam, Engineering Safety Consultants; Treasurer Mike McGinnis, Allen & Allen Co.; Chapter Attorney Bethany Thompson, Gardner Law Firm and Chris Christians, Lynwood Building Materials. –cmw
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San Antonio Construction News • October 2017