San Antonio Construction News November 2017 by Construction News

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Part science, part art

Celebrating 50 years

The Joeris staff outside their San Antonio office.

eo Joeris got his foot in the construction door when he went to work for his brother Joe after the war. After getting some valuable experience he became an acoustical ceiling contractor before going back into the general construction side of working for William Matera Construction. Leo and Raymond Klaus along with a handful of people worked for William Matera Construction until Matera was killed in a plane crash. “After his death, Dad finished up all their work and started bidding work as Joeris & Klaus Construction Company,” says Gary Joeris, CEO of Joeris General Contractors. “My dad and Raymond Klaus started the company in 1967 focusing on some private work, but mostly school work, churches and public work.”

traddling a jet-ski style car, racing out over a man-made lake, then launching 60 ft into the air through banks and turns along 2,600 ft of track sounds like a thrill-seekers dream come true. For Casias Construction LLC and Morganti Texas Inc., the Sea World Wave Breaker Roller Coaster was just that. The Wave Breaker Roller Coaster had an original construction time frame of nine months but given the actual start date of construction, this would have meant a completion date at the end of summer. “In a joint effort with Sea World of Texas, our subcontractors, suppliers, and our staff we successfully completed the project two and one half months early and Sea World was able to open the ride for the summer,” says Frank Casias, Owner of Casias Construction. The Wave Breaker Roller Coaster was designed and created to further the Sea World mission of providing awareness to

L-R: Owners, Trevor Broyles, Jenni Urbanczyk and Scott Anderson at their yard, 137 W. Specht Rd.

Working through the summers during high school and college, Gary worked for the company as a carpenter, helping out in the office, running errands and estimating. He joined the company fulltime in 1978 after graduating college as a project manager. By the early ‘80s, when Klaus decided to go out on their own, Joeris continued on as Joeris General Contractors and Gary was named vice president of the company. He would continue in that capacity until 1990 when he took on the role as president. His father continued to support and guide him until he retired in 2000. “Dad was pretty good about relinquishing control and, of course, I went to him for advice. We were a good team. He continued on Page 21

cott Anderson and Jenni Urbanczyk owned a tree service and wood shop in Utah before coming back to Texas. Scott would source all the materials by hand from riverbeds, mountains and the deserts that surrounded them. The trees he was asked to remove would supply their sawmill and the sawmill would feed his wood shop. In his wood shop he would create items that people needed from signs to tables to chairs to decorative art. Nothing was wasted. “I was making things and taking trees down for free for all the wood. When all the tree services in the area collapsed, it just made sense to go into the land clearing and soil business. I had the equipment and insurance,” says Anderson.

Two years ago, the two sold their business in Utah to their employees and started a land clearing and soil business here in San Antonio, Urban Land Clearing, Soil & Compost with co-partner Trevor Broyles. Unlike their previous company where they focused on hazard removals in terms of trees and other materials, now they are fully integrated into not just tree protection, but necessary tree removal, tree trimming to full land clearing prior to construction and the recycling of those commodities. All the resources that are removed are then turned into useable by-products. Nothing is wasted. “We make several different kinds of soils and most have to meet certain continued on Page 21

Enjoy the ride!

Aerial view of The Wave Breaker at Sea World

their Animal Rescues and Educational platforms. Each roller coaster train is comprised of eight cars (two riders per car) that mimic a jet ski going down the track side by side. Designed to bring the exhilarating rush of a roller coaster and the educational aspect of animal rescues, the ride traverses through new buildings where people get a visual experience of real animal rescues and culminate in over 2,600 ft of thrills and fun that take the rider over an existing man-made lake. Primary construction materials consisted of 309 ride footings in a variety of sizes and depths with an accuracy requirement of +/- two millimeters to accept the ride columns. Construction of the ride also included a structural steel, two-story main launching facility which contains the ride’s gift shop, an arched metal building where the rescue theme of the ride is enhanced, and a structural steel building with exterior sheathing continued on Page 21

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

Countdown to the gala

he clock is moving fast toward the 17th Annual Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala. When you read this article there will be only 37 days until the fun begins. The Gala Committee Members have been working for months to make sure this will be the biggest and best Gala ever. The event will be held on Dec. 7 from 5:30-11pm at the Freeman Coliseum in Expo Hall in Exhibit Hall C. Enjoy the evening with food, beverage, casino, live band, silent and live auc-

tions and the WINNER TAKE ALL Grand Gala Raffle. People just can’t believe they can walk away with 15 great prizes including hunting and fishing trips, get away trips, his and hers boots and pistols and a Can Am Defender utility vehicle. Win the raffle and your Christmas Shopping will be done. You will also find you have more friends and family than you thought. The more tickets sold means the more donations Construct A Kid’s Christ-

mas can give to benefit 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 complete listing of prizes, see the ad on page 28 of this issue of Construction News. Unwrapped gifts, toys and gift cards are collected at the gala and the annual Construct A Kid’s Christmas Toy Drive, which is held the next day, Dec. 8, from 10am-2pm. at the Construction News office, 4047 Naco-Perrin Blvd. The gifts benefit the Friends of Bexar County Child Welfare Board, who works with Child Protective Services to distribute 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. Associations participating in the 2017 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 -bd

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

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Welcome to SA!

San Antonio Chamber of Commerce welcomes Structura to San Antonio and presents the leadership team with a plaque prior to the ribbon cutting.

fter years of working in the construction industry, Rusty Morgan and Kevin Jones decided to branch out on their own. They did just that and began building relationships in the construction industry under their own company, Structura. Just ten years later, Morgan who is President and CEO and Jones, who is Vice President and COO, have opened their third branch office here in San Antonio. “We had been looking at San Antonio for years. Ever since we opened our doors in Austin 10 years ago, we have had at least one or two projects every year here in San Antonio,” says Jones. “Over the last few years, we’ve had quite a few clients asking if we were in San Antonio, and we would tell them we can go there. But they would ask if we had an office there and we realized that in San Antonio, you’re either from here or you’re not. If you want to get in, you have to have a presence.” Wanting that presence resulted in bringing Gerry Albanese up as regional leader for San Antonio. Albanese had been overseeing construction projects in the San Antonio area since 2006. “I’m proud to represent Structura San Antonio in my Business Development role” says Connie Phillips, Regional Marketing Manager. “We’ve built a culture based on relationships. We focus on key relationships and not bidding every project out there. Building a client base that appreciates

Connie Phillips is caught reviewing a copy of Construction News between visits.

what we bring to the table. One that is fair to us, so when we over perform their expectations, they keep calling us back,” says Morgan. The San Antonio office currently has eight employees but has plans to grow at a steady pace according to Morgan. “We are very excited about being here in San Antonio. We’re also excited that we made the San Antonio Business Journal’s Top 25 companies. It’s been great and we are looking forward to building more relationships along the way,” adds Morgan. Structura is a general contractor with locations in San Antonio, Houston and Austin, 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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The San Antonio Construction News (ISSN 1547-7630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba San Antonio Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction-related companies of record in Bexar and 7 surrounding counties. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space available basis. Construction News, Ltd. , dba San Antonio Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time.

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

tems. Having an electronic background help me understand the fire system installations and allowed me to advance in the company. While working for Simplex, it got to a certain point where you could see all these changes and big corporate America and things coming down. I left and went to work for a guy I worked with at Simplex here in San Antonio, Bill Cavin, at Fire Quest.

Duane Hannasch President

Joe Ebrom

Vice President Fire Alarm Control Systems Inc.

veryday in the construction industry, paths are crossed, new relationships are developed and new friendships are formed. That couldn’t be truer for Duane Hannasch and Joe Ebrom. Where are you from? Joe: I was born and raised in Karnes City. I live in Floresville now and have lived there since I got married. Duane: I’m from San Antonio. I grew up here. I live in Bulverde. How did you meet? Joe: We met through the industry. The Texas Fire Alarm Association brought us together. I was on the board of directors for years and I’d see Duane and Jim at the meetings. We would be coming from the same place and started talking. We were competitors, but good friends. How did you get started in the fire alarm business? Duane: My dad was an electrician. He owned Shamrock Electric. His shop was next door to Hockstadt Inc., a fire alarm business. Jim Hockstadt started Hockstadt Inc. in the mid ‘70s. I had already been an electrician for years. Jim came over one day and said ‘Do you want to do something else?’ Considering that my dad, my uncle, and several cousins were all in the business, I said yeah, ‘why not.’ So I moved next door and started learning the fire alarm business. Joe: My dad was a radio and TV repairman. I thought that was the business I would pursue. After I went to school and got my associates degree in electronics, I went to work in Corpus Christi in the radio and TV repair field. Back then (1976), I could see the writing on the wall. That industry was really changing so I answered an ad in the paper for Simplex Time Recorder who were big in the time recording business at that time and had recently bought a division of IBM for school clock systems and fire alarm sy-

You said you started out as an electrician. How difficult was it to learn the fire alarm side of it? Duane: The transition from electrician to fire alarm was pretty easy. I already had my journeyman’s license for six or seven years. At the end of the day, electricity is electricity. You’re either dealing with 120 volts or you’re dealing with 24 volts. It was simply learning the supervision and the way the circuits go together in the fire alarm panels. Jim did a real good job of going over that with me. Then I went through the manufacturer’s training schools to learn more. We send our technicians to training schools as well. When was Fire Alarm Control Systems Inc. started? Duane: When Jim was getting ready to retire he wanted to find a good way to transition. He didn’t know if he wanted to keep the company or have a part of the company. The easiest way he could come up with was for us to start a new company, Fire Alarm Control Systems. In Feb. 1995, we finished up all the work on the books for Hockstadt Inc. and anything new which came in went to Fire Alarm Control Systems. In the beginning, there were only four of us; Jim, a secretary, a draftsman and myself. Military work was our main thing with an occasional commercial job. Joe, when did you become a part of the FACSSA team? Fire Quest just wasn’t growing and I always wanted to grow a company into a successful reputable company. That’s when I started talking to Duane and Jim about coming on board. We have known each other for years. They knew I had worked with big companies and was doing a lot of commercial work. After coming on board, It didn’t take us long to start growing. We installed whatever we sold ourselves because there weren’t that many people in the business. We went from four or five employees to 20. Duane: Joe came on board in May 1997 and it worked out perfect because his customer base was totally separate from our customer base. He did commercial systems, AT&T systems and school projects. We were mainly smaller commercial and military. Business has been good, then? Joe: Company growth was unreal from what the original company was do-

L-R: Duane Hannasch and Joe Ebrom look over a set of plans.

ing when we branched out. We branched out into so many things. If you don’t stay ahead of the competition, they’re going to run you out of business. So we got into intercom and mass notification. Duane had the military work, and I had the AT&T work. You always had to look for an avenue because your competitors get cheaper and cheaper all the time. How did your company become so successful? Duane: We have a little higher requirement for our technicians. When doing military work, you have to be nationally certified. We push our guys to do that. And we have a good core of guys. We have one guy who got his NICET IV. Level IV is the highest level you can get. You have to have 10 years’ experience before taking the NICET IV. Joe: We have about five to seven NICET IIIs or NICET IVs in our company. I’m a NICET III and Duane is a NICET IV. By doing this, it has separated us from the competition. Tell me about your wives and children. Duane: I’ve been married to my beautiful wife Debbie for 37 years. We got married in 1980. We have one daughter, Amanda, and a grandson. Joe: Marilyn and I have been married for 35 wonderful years. We have two children, Matthew and Amanda, and one granddaughter. Are any of your children involved in the business? Joe: My son worked here for a while until he became a police officer. I had hoped he would get involved and stay with it, but he always wanted to be a police officer. Do you have any hobbies or do anything for fun when you’re not working?

Duane: About 30 years ago when we first started FACSSA, we moved to Bulverde. It was all volunteer fire departments back then. One day I walked down to the local volunteer fire department and asked if they needed volunteers because I’d been designing fire alarm systems for years and thought it would be nice to see how smoke moves in buildings. They took me under their wing and gave me an expanding knowledge in helping me with designs seeing how things work. I volunteered for close to 20 years there. The fire department started responding for EMS because they were two separate departments at the time. I got my EMT Basic, advanced to paramedic and for about 15 years I was volunteering every Sunday night for EMS on a paramedic shift. When they got a training center, I was one of the instructors to help teach some EMT basics once they got some classes up and going. I’m also a volunteer on the medical committee for the Stock Show and Rodeo. I like to do some hunting, fishing and just good outdoor stuff at the end of the day. We had a lease down south, but now I just do one-week hunts in New Mexico for elk hunting with a group of guys. One of them used to be my regional sales manager for FCI. My son-in-law has a friend with a place he manages in West Texas near Sabinal. It’s easier not to worry about a deer lease anymore. I just do a one-week hunt and I’m done with a lot of meat. Joe: I have a second business. I raise show cattle for FFA and 4-H projects. I have cattle in Floresville and Panna Maria at my wife’s property. Now with my granddaughter, I’m raising something for her to show. What breed are you raising? Joe: Half-blood Brahma. We show them as Brahmas in major shows. I just purchased several new full blood Brahman cattle. I also sit on the parish building board in Floresville, and on the building committee for our condo association in Rockport, TX. I like the outdoors and going hunting and fishing. I hunted for 27 years in Laredo and I miss it. It’s been two years since I’ve hunted. My kids all grew up hunting in Laredo. I have a condo at the coast; my son and I fish a lot. When I first came on board, Duane and I did a lot of fishing with our clients to build a customer base. It was a little easier back then. Technology has changed things; people just don’t want to get away. We went fishing at least every two weeks in the summer with our customers. We did a lot of that and the customer relationships that we built have stuck with us all these years. I wish we could fish like we did back then, but business has grown such much, you have to spend more time to run it. -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

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Horses, planes and doors

A picture worth a thousand words

Pilots arrive at Schweiss Doors Friday for fun, food and a Schweiss factory tour.

ike Schweiss is one focused individual. Rather than devoting time and energy to a wide variety of activities and undertakings, he finds fulfillment in two areas of interest - doors and horses. From his point of view, everything else is pretty much a diversion. It's been that way for much of his adult life. Doors are Schweiss’ first passion. “I just can’t stop thinking about them. From the time I get up in the morning until I go to bed at night, doors are on my mind.” This obsession is a good thing. He’s the founder of Schweiss Doors, one of the world’s premier manufacturers of bi-fold and hydraulic doors. Doors weren’t on his radar screen in his early working life. After graduating high school, he worked on the family dairy located about two hours west of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Over the next several years he began manufacturing numerous farm and ag-related products. The moment that changed his life forever came in 1980 when a friend told him he was good at making things and why not make a bi-fold door. Schweiss replied,“What’s a bi-fold door?” He couldn’t stop thinking about this idea. A few months later, he designed his first door, a 14-ft x 14-ft for a utility shed owned by the local county highway department. Through the 1980s, he zeroed in on making bi-fold doors for farms and agricultural-related businesses. And the rest is history.

Schweiss designed a system that relies on nylon straps rather than cables for operation. He developed new markets over the next two-plus decades, to include aviation. In addition to bi-fold doors, he developed hydraulic doors. One of the larger doors is a 94-ft x 62-ft for SpaceX at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Schweiss’ most recent success story is Hurricane Harvey’s havoc on the South Texas Coast. The aftermath of the hurricane at the Aransas County Airport in Rockport, TX was devastating, hangers were destroyed. That is, except for the hangers that had the Schweiss doors which helped to support the buildings. Those were still standing according to Mike Geer, Airport Manager. Geer chose to ride out the storm in the airport terminal, a probable staging ground for relief and recovery efforts. He wanted to be there to assist first responders. “It was like having a 747 with parking brakes on a full throttle just outside the door; it was incredibly loud. We had hurricane force winds for 13 hours,” said Geer. Creating tremendous interest within the construction and architectural industry is the Schweiss Hydraulics. Builders like the clean and trending styles, yet rugged design of these products. Heavyduty hydraulic cylinders provide super stability. As one builder commented, "Hydraulic doors with the Schweiss name, it doesn't get any better." -rd

Kevin Butts poses with camera and a drone before take off.

banker with an expensive hobby can be a recipe for disaster, unless, you find a way to utilize your talents. Kevin Butts had been a banker for many years and he did have an expensive hobby, flying. He soon realized after getting his pilot’s license it was too expensive, and had pretty much quit flying. One day, while looking over a loan request for a shopping center which included the usual financial statements, plans and specs, demographics, projected operating statements and some aerial photos, it clicked. While looking at the photos, Butts thought to himself, “I can do better than this. These photos are terrible. They were blurry, crooked, and the cut was wrong. Even though I didn’t know anything about photography, I just knew I could do better.” While sitting there, the light bulb came on he says. He went home and was playing around with one of those 30-day trial websites wondering what it would look like. Hours went by as more and more ideas kept popping into his head. Before long his wife, Kari, asked what he was doing and simply told him no. Not fighting her, as he knew she was right. They had a young family to take care of and he had a good career. He walked away. About six months later he came home to find an email from someone looking for aerial shots. He borrowed a camera, rented a plane and that is how Red Wing Aerials got started.

Within six months, Butts’ part-time business overtook his banking job in terms of revenue. His wife finally told him, “I’m the last person in the world that ought to say this but I think you should quit your job and do this full time.” In 2005, he leveraged his 401k, bought a plane and hasn’t looked back. “We have three photographers, six pilots, three fixed-wing aircraft and three drones. We also have four helicopters in my hangar we can access whenever we need them, but most customers don’t want to pay the premium for a helicopter. The airplane is the most economic out of the three platforms – helicopter, airplane and drone.” Red Wing Aerials provides aerial photography services to the commercial construction and real estate industries for predevelopment, construction progress, marketing and mapping needs. “We’ll do photos on the front-end for a developer. The general contractor will call for monthly construction progress photography. Once the project is complete, we’ll have a commercial real estate broker call. If it’s retail, they want photos with a lot of cars in the parking lot. Black Friday is our biggest day of the year,” says Butts. Construction clients who most often call are general contractors and roofers and, occasionally, the owner who is geographically removed from the project. “Photos help everybody get on the same page.” Red Wing Aerials is San Antonio service provider. -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

A new identity

Ideas that work

Lone Star Materials’ San Antonio team members pose by their new company sign.

ypsum Management and Supply (GMS) founded in 1871 is a major independent distributor of drywall products in the U.S. and the parent company of Hill Country Materials of San Antonio, Lone Star Materials of Austin, and Rio Grande Building Materials in Laredo. As of August 1st, after 35 years, Hill Country Materials was merged with Lone Star Materials and Rio Grande Building Materials to become Lone Star Materials. “It was decided a couple of years ago to merge the three companies for cost saving purposes and for recognition in each market; everywhere in Texas we were a different name,” says John Clifton, General Manager of Hill Country Materials of San Antonio. Yards in Houston, as well as yards in Dallas/Fort Worth markets have also merged. “We looked at the Lone Star name in comparison to the Hill Country name and the Rio Grande name. Hill Country Materials is not really in the Hill Country here in San Antonio. Lone Star in Austin is more in the Hill Country than we are and it just made sense being in Texas (Lone Star State) to be called Lone Star Materials,” states Clifton.

Clifton says he fought to keep the Hill Country Materials name for a while because it is the oldest yard of the three companies, adding that Joe Tucker started Hill Country Materials in 1982. “It was not easy for me to see the name change. I started with Hill Country Materials in 1983 and have been running it since 1989. I’ve had a lot of customers tell me we’re losing its market recognition, but I think we took care of that.” The merger did not affect the status of any of the employees. Clifton stated that upper management in Atlanta made it very clear from the beginning that no one was going to lose any jobs from the merger. In addition, he stated the transition has been fairly smooth with just a few minor snags here and there. “We definitely have expansion plans. We are looking at opening a few more operations. I don’t know yet when, where or how. We have goals and some targets set. We have three yards now and I’ll say we will probably have four within a year. I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t have six operations within the next five years, all under the Lone Star name.” Lone Star Building Materials is a gypsum and drywall supplier in San Antonio, Austin and Laredo, TX. -cmw

s ear with tors!” Y “20 ealing ntrac o of d ral C ne Ge Metal Studs Drywall Acoustical Insulation

The San Antonio Memco team proudly poses for a photo inside their training room.

tarted in 1996 in Houston, TX with the intent to be an internal staffing mechanism for the Marek drywall operations, Memco (Marek Employment Management Company) was never thought to be an outside profit center. It was intended to be a cost saving device for the drywall company. “The constant build up and tear down of the workforce that is associated with the construction industry triggered the idea. The thought was if we could keep a finger on the work force that we built up and farm them out to friendly competitors between projects it would serve to benefit everybody. There would not be this train them and then let them go between jobs issue,” says Casey Wen-

zel, general manager. “But what started happening is other trades on the jobsites started asking to use some of our laborers for a few days here and there.” Memco began with one location in Houston and now have three in the Houston area. Memco also has locations in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta, Nashville and an outpost in Denver. Memco’s San Antonio branch has been in San Antonio since 2010 and has experienced a tremendous growth. When they first opened, the company had 20 employees; today they employ over 300 skilled tradesmen. Memco is a service provider in San Antonio providing skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. –cmw

Roofing reliability

WA L L S ACROSS

9018 Tesoro Suite 101 San Antonio, Texas 78217 (210) 826-4123 Fax (210) 826-5801

Luis Aranda, owner of Fasteel

or over 20 years, Luis Aranda sold metal coils in Mexico. He spent his first six years doing export sales. As the company he worked for grew, the company opened offices throughout Latin America and here in the United States. As the company continued to grow, so did Aranda’s reputation. The company moved him to Chile. He would spend eight years in Chile selling metal coils. Finally, there came the day that Aranda decided he did not want to be in Chile anymore and left the company that had taught him so much and came to San Antonio where he would start a business of his own, Fasteel. “I got tired of selling coils in Chile. I said, I quit. I want to work for myself,” says Aranda. But it would not be easy for the new entrepreneur. “Getting started was complicated. No body wanted to give me credit, not one single penny. In Chile I had all the credit I wanted. So I asked a creditor there to invest in materials and coils,

which he did. But I had no customers. The customers I had 20 years ago have grown so much they are now my suppliers. I buy from them and I’m getting credit from them. “Everything was beginning to move. I have the materials, suppliers, and the knowledge of the material. But zero customers. The first two months were tough. Nobody knew me. They did not know if I was reliable.” Once he got his first customer, word of his knowledge and integrity began to spread. By word of mouth, Fasteel was on its way. “I have heard my customers tell me that they hear ‘he knows the materials, or I had no problems with him. He helped me solve problems.’ That kind of thing gave me the reliability in the market I was needing to get going.” Fasteel manufactures, supplies and installs galvalume and pre-painted steel coils for metal roof panels in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

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Diversified fun

More than just walls

elebrating 25 years, Terracon Consultants Inc. hosted their 6th annual client appreciation party and casino night on Oct. 5 at Aggie Park. In addition to black jack and craps tables, guests were treated to dinner, cultural desserts celebrating diversity, drinks, and photo booth fun for lasting memories and a souvenir and chances to win door prizes. –cmw

L-R: DEA Specialties President, Greg Uhlig and Owner & CEO, Diane Alberthal L-R: Melynne Wulff, Terracon Consultants Inc.; 1st Place casino winner Alan DeLeon, Jose I. Guerra Inc.; 2nd Place winner Jessica High, EP Energy; 3rd Place winner Flavio Robles, Dannenbaum Engineering, and Chuck Gregory, Terracon Consultants Inc.

L-R: Rudy Bazan, Tanner Jason and Warren Dean with Terracon prepare for a drone demonstration as guests arrive.

Waiting for the gaming to begin.

Are you in?

Seriousness at the black jack table.

tarting out of their home with just one line of partition wall products, Diane and David Alberthal found their place in the construction industry. It did not take the Alberthals long to become well known. “Marriott River Center was our first major project. That project put us on the map,” says Diane Alberthal, Owner and CEO of DEA Specialties. Founded in 1984 as a husband and wife operation, the company has grown significantly over the past 33 years. In 2014, DEA acquired the product lines of a fellow competitor along with some of its employees. As a result of that acquisition, the company grew 63% in terms of revenue and grew to a staff of 30 employees. Between 2014 and 2016, the company grew 30%. “Four years ago we were operating in 68 different counties with one specifiable product, now 162 counties in Texas with at least one product in

each of those counties,” says Greg Uhlig, DEA president. “Operable walls are what started this company. We went from one specified product to four. Today we market, sell and install operable walls to restroom partitions to fire protection to laundry and trash chutes to handrails,” says Alberthal. “Acquiring those additional product lines has been a really good thing for us,” adds Uhlig. Alberthal states that their philosophy is to hire the best people, complete all projects with the precision of a craftsman, share the rewards with their employees, all with the intended goal of delivering high quality work. The company has never wavered from that vision and today, the strategic objectives are the same DEA Specialties is a Division 10 Specialties subcontractor in San Antonio. -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

Potential payroll pitfalls

Game of drones

Leann Ussery, CPA, Tax Manager Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates, P.C. Universal City, TX

Lauren Allen, Vice President-Sales BrookStone Insurance Group Dallas, TX

our focus is your company’s growth, but you might be jeopardizing that growth if you’re not aware of various payroll pitfalls. Voluntary compliance with IRS regulations can save hours of time and thousands of dollars in penalties and assessments in the event of an audit, so it’s important to understand how to avoid these issues before that happens.

Contractor vs. Employee Be sure to properly classify your employees and contract laborers. Work responsibilities vary significantly from company to company, so there is no clear definition of who is an employee and who isn’t, but there are some general guidelines. • Contract Laborers are hired by the job, not the hour, with no expectation of on-going employment. They generally have their own tools and frequently have other employment. • In contrast, employees are subject to more control by the employer in terms of when and how they work; tools are generally provided by the employer; and they receive benefits such as paid time off, training, job evaluations, and/or expense reimbursements. • The IRS is suspicious of classifications showing any individual as both an employee and an independent contractor, so avoid this red flag whenever possible. • Payroll reporting is a hassle, yes, but filing Forms 1099 to your employees is not a substitute. An employer who misclassifies employees as independent contractors bears the risk of employment taxes, penalties and interest. • To correct classification errors, the Voluntary Classification Settlement Program is available to offer some relief. Eligible participants pay just 10% of applicable payroll taxes without penalties or interest and are no longer subject to employment tax audits regarding reclassified employees on any prior years. Partnership Compensation If your business files as a partnership, partners should not receive traditional wages except in rare cases but could receive guaranteed payments as outlined in a written partnership agreement. • Guaranteed payments are compensation to partners for services or use of capital or property. Amounts of these payments are determined without regard to partnership income and are generally fixed. Payments should not include any payroll withholding but will be taxed as self-employment income on the partner’s individual income tax return. • Cash payments to partners designated as distributions of earnings are not deductions for the partnership, nor do they increase taxable income to the partner.

S Corporation Owner Wages If your business files as an S Corp, your shareholder-employee compensation is of great interest to the IRS since it is the only portion of your income that is subject to the self-employment tax. • Under-paying yourself may be considered unjustified tax avoidance if the shareholder-employee is also taking taxfree distributions of earnings. Shareholder wages are paid in the same way other employee wages are paid, net of applicable withholding. • If S Corp income is significant and shareholder wages are not comparable, the IRS may recharacterize any distributions and levy payroll taxes and penalties. To reduce risk, use industry standards to determine shareholder wage rates. Auto Allowance and Other Taxable Fringe Benefits Providing an auto allowance to employees for business use of their personal vehicles is a fringe benefit that provides incentives to employees and a tax deduction for the company. Other taxable fringe benefits include adoption assistance, dependent care assistance in excess of federal limits, unsubstantiated expense reimbursements, and educational or mileage reimbursements in excess of standard federal rates. These fringe benefits paid to owners or employees should be treated as additional compensation to the employee, subject to payroll tax. If paid to independent contractors, the total amount paid including fringes should be reported on Form 1099. Classification issues, owner-compensation, and taxable fringe benefit reporting are just a few of the potential dangers of payroll, so contact your payroll professional for help in navigating payroll tax compliance and reporting. 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, PC in 2008 after graduating from Angelo State University with an MBA in Accounting. She can be reached at 210658-6229.

hat do the U.S. military, Super Bowl LI, Texas Dept. of Public Safety, Austin City Limits Music Festival and the construction industry have in common? All have utilized drones to enhance the activity at hand. From search and rescue operations to documenting artistic performances to monitoring projects for safety and quality control, commercial drones (also known as “unmanned aircraft systems”) are becoming an increasingly predominant tool to ensure operational success. While the use of drones in the construction industry may not seem like an everyday occurrence, the FAA estimates that by 2018, over 7,500 small commercial drones will be used by general contractors and tradespeople, with most of the usage occurring on construction sites. Think about the benefits: surveying large project sites, inspecting dangerous or difficult to reach locations, creating aerial maps, and providing live video feeds of the job site to ensure adherence to safety protocol. Drones have the capability of completing certain tasks with significantly less risk than a human. But practical and cost benefits aside, it is imperative to consider the full gamut of risks associated with drone usage. Incidents of a drone running out of power, the operator losing control, or in some cases reckless operation can lead to destruction of property and/or medical injury to others. While not as prevalent, hackers have developed tools to interfere with GPS systems, which could lead to liability issues. And one of the most concerning issues when operating drones on a construction site is the type of imagery drones may capture when flying close to the borders of private property, which can lead to claims of invasion of privacy. To be protected, the proper amount of insurance coverage must be in place, and likely your current commercial general liability policy contains an exclusion that prohibits aviation coverage (yes, the FAA now includes drones in its definition of “aircraft”). Therefore, do not assume that your company is covered for drone activities. In its efforts to quickly adapt to the increased usage of drones, the Insurance Services Office (ISO) has issued endorsements to better clarify the coverage applicable to commercial drone use: the Unmanned Aircraft Exclusion (CG 21 09) and the Limited Coverage for Designated Unmanned Aircraft (CG 24 50). These endorsements, which focus on bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury, allow the insurance market to either exclude or include coverage for drone activities. Additionally,

several insurance carriers have stepped up to the plate and now offer drone-specific policies with varying degrees of coverage, including both “owned drone” and “non-owned drone” coverage. When determining whether drone usage is right for your company, consider a few of the FAA’s regulations: • The drone must be registered with and approved for commercial use by the FAA; • Drone operators must be at least 16 years old, pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test/obtain a remote pilot airman certificate, and be vetted by the TSA; • The drone must weigh less than 55lbs and adhere to FAA regulations, including maintenance regulations; and • Drone operation must occur during daylight or during twilight hours, assuming there are running lights on the drone, and the drone must be in the visual line of sight of the operator. As the insurance world adapts to the integration of drones into the construction industry, it is important to establish and implement risk management strategies for drone activities. Always vet drone operators regarding their training and qualifications, and establish specific flight plans for drone usage on job sites. These tactics can both assist in mitigating the risks associated with commercial drone use and make the company more desirable in the insurance marketplace. The use of drones in the construction industry can lead to exciting new ventures and business successes. Ensure that your company is properly protected with the right insurance coverage and policy limits to safeguard your risks. 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 214-301-3333 or lallen@brookstone-group.com

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

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Taking cover after the storm

Improper use of extension and flexible cords Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

he normal wear and tear on extension and flexible cords at your site can loosen or expose wires, creating hazardous conditions. Cords that are not 3-wire type, not designed for hard-usage, or that have been modified, increase your risk of contacting electrical current. The most commonly found defects are: Wet Conditions 29 CFR 1926.405(j)(1)(v): Strain Relief 29 CFR 1926.405(g)(2)(iv): When a cord connector is wet, elec To reduce hazards, flexible cords tric current can leak to the equipment must connect to devices and to fittings in grounding conductor, and to humans ways that prevent tension at joints and who pick up that connector if they proterminal screws. Flexible cords are finely stranded for flexibility, so straining a cord vide a path to ground. Such leakage can can cause the strands of one conductor occur not just on the face of the connecto loosen from under terminal screws tor, but at any wetted portion. Limit exposure of connectors and tools to excesand touch another conductor. Cord Damage 29 CFR 1926.405(a)(2)(ii) sive moisture by using watertight or seal(I): A flexible cord may be damaged by able connectors. door or window edges, by staples and fastenings, by abrasion from adjacent How Do I Avoid Hazards? materials, or simply by aging. If the elec- • Use factory-assembled cord sets. trical conductors become exposed, there • Use only extension cords that are 3-wire type. is a danger of shocks, burns, or fire. • Use only extension cords that are Durability 29 CFR 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(J): The OSHA construction standard re- marked with a designation code for hard quires flexible cords to be rated for hard or extra-hard usage. or extra-hard usage. These ratings are de- • Use only cords, connection devices, rived from the National Electrical Code, and fittings that are equipped with strain and are required to be indelibly marked relief. approximately every foot along the • Remove cords from receptacles by length of the cord. Examples of these pulling on the plugs, not the cords. codes are: S, ST, SO, and STO for hard ser- • Continually audit cords on-site. Any vice, and SJ, SJO, SJT, and SJTO for junior cords found not to be marked for hard or extra-hard use, or which have been modhard service. Grounding 29 CFR 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(C): ified, must be taken out of service imme Extension cords must be 3-wire type diately. natarajan.joann@dol.gov so they may be grounded, and to permit 512-374-0271 x232 grounding of any tools or equipment connected to them.

Industry FOLKS Michelle White Office Manager Leonard Contracting Inc.

eing a single mom is no easy task, but neither is being an office manager for a busy construction company. Michelle White, however, seems to have them both under control. White was born in San Antonio. Six weeks after she was born, her father, an active member of the U.S. Air Force would move her family from state to state as many military families do. She lived in numerous states across the U.S. as well as in Italy for two years and England for seven. “My parents liked England so much, my dad kept extending our stay.” Her family returned to the U.S. when White was in the seventh grade. “I graduated high school in Abilene. After I graduated, we moved back to San Antonio where I attended and graduated from San Antonio College with an Applied Science in Word Processing degree.” Michelle is the proud mother of her only child, Brooke, who will be graduating from Texas A & M Galveston in December with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology. “Before I came to work for Leonard Contracting, I worked for a roofing company in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Coming to work for Leonard Contracting was a perfect fit for me. There

Angela A.L. Connor, Associate/Houston office Peckar & Abramson Austin, TX

his hurricane season is on track to be one of the most active seasons of record. Hurricane Harvey hit a vast portion of the Texas coast and affected numerous construction projects. A hurricane of this magnitude results in delays and added costs to projects. As projects get back on track after Harvey, contractors should re-review their contracts to ensure compliance with all notice and documentation requirements, if there is a time and/or cost impact caused by the storm. A hurricane and other “acts of God” are usually known as force majeure events. A force majeure event is an unavoidable circumstance beyond a contractor’s control. Depending on the contract language, if a force majeure event occurs, a contractor may be entitled to additional time and/or costs. Notice In a typical construction contract, there are notice requirements to receive time and money for delays not caused by the contractor. It is critical for contractors to immediately review the contract’s notice requirements to ensure compliance. Contractors should also check the contract to make sure the notice is sent in the correct form, to all required recipients, and contains all necessary content. The notice should explain the cause for the delay and reserve rights for time and money. It is important to note that time delay is not only the actual period of the storm. Contractors need to take into account the limited access to the project site, changes conditions at the project site (e.g. muddy conditions), and demobilization and remobilization time. Additionally, contractors should consult with their subcontractors and suppliers. A shortage of labor, materials and/or equipment would likely cause more delay than the actual storm. By now, contractors likely know the full effect of the storm’s aftermath to their project schedule and costs. Contractors will now need to send a supplemental notice detailing the additional time and costs. Under the AIA Document A201TM – 2007 General Conditions (“A201”), an extension of time and additional costs are altered by a change order.1 This means documentation is required. Documentation AIA recently released the 2017 version of the AIA Documents. This article focuses on the 2007 version because most ongoing projects are contracted under the 2007 version.

isn’t anything I don’t like about my job. No two projects are the same. I love the people here at LCI; they are my second family.” White has been with the company for 15 years. As office manager, White handles the company’s accounts payable, accounts receivables and payroll among other necessary duties. She also serves as the company’s safety director. An active member of Parkhills Baptist Church, she enjoys teaching 3-year-olds about the gospel for Parkhills’ Sunday school program. In addition to teaching, she also enjoys working in the Kitchen Ministry and volunteers at “Taking it to the StreetsBoerne,” an organization that provides dinner for the homeless every Saturday night downtown. A big fan of NASCAR, White enjoys watching and attends NASCAR races every chance she gets. She has also recently taken up golfing and enjoys fishing and a wide range of other outdoor activities. -cmw

In memory of

ames Leroy “Jimmy” Beicker of J.L. Beicker Company passed away Oct. 10. A memorial service celebrating his life was held Oct. 16 at Faith Lutheran Church. He was married to his wife Mary Molberg Beicker for 42 years. Together they had two daughters and seven grandchildren. –cmw

To be entitled to time under the A201, the contractor must show there was a delay or delays to the project’s critical path. If time is requested due to adverse weather conditions, the contractor must also submit “data substantiating the weather was abnormal for the period of time, could not have been reasonably anticipated and had an adverse effect on the scheduled construction.” Examples of backup would include NOAA reports and other data showing the actual rainfall at the project site and flooding in the area. A revised schedule should also be submitted along with the adverse weather data. To receive additional cost under the A201, the contractor must submit a complete itemization of costs, labor and materials. A contractor should submit time sheets, payroll records, source documents for costs, and have their subcontractors submit the same itemized documentation. The more documentation a contractor can include the better chance they have of getting additional time and money. Lastly, there are usually time limits to submit the documentation for change orders. It is imperative for contractors to scrutinize their contracts and determine the applicable time period to submit the documentation. While hopefully we will never see another storm like Harvey again, there will be future force majeure events. Complying with all notice requirements and submitting detailed documentation will help prevent a disaster to your bottom line. Angela Connor is a construction lawyer in Peckar & Abramson, P.C.’s Houston office. She represents a wide range of construction industry clients and focuses her practice on construction-related disputes and contract negotiations and drafting. Angela can be contacted at aconnor@ pecklaw.com or 281.953.7705.

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

Family masters electricity

L-R: Gary and Annette Weddle, president and vice president of Masters Electrical Services Ltd.

s a teenager, Gary Weddle started working for an electrician at nights, on the weekends and during the summer. After graduating from high school in Seguin, he found himself working in Austin for another electrician. As a matter of fact, he worked for electricians his entire life until he decided he wanted to work for himself. On July 1, 2006 Weddle became the president and co-owner of Masters Electrical Services Ltd. “My partner, Rick Reiley, and I had known each other for years. When Rick decided he was going to leave Anderson, a door opened and presented an opportunity for us to purchase Anderson Electric. They had an existing client base and equipment which was something we had wanted, so we utilized it. “In 2014 Rick came to a crossroads and decided he wanted to do something else. My wife Annette and I are now running the company,” says Weddle. Truly a family-oriented company, the Weddles’ two sons, Justin and Dylan and daughter Alyssa Spaw, are all involved in the company as well as their son-in-law Josh and his dad, Rick. “Our goal is to have our kids take over the business some day. That is why I have them spread out doing what they are doing. We have lots of relatives and cousins and other people that work here. We have learned that you can always trust family and it has really worked out well for us.” Masters Electrical Services Ltd. is a subcontractor in Seguin, TX. –cmw

In memory of

oe Pena, a long time friend and valued employee of Allen & Allen Company passed away Oct. 2. Born Jun. 25, 1956, Joe lived a full life. He was married to the love of his life, Ruby, for 34 years and the proud father of three children Mary, Anna and Joseph. He was a loving and affectionate grandpa of three, Christian, Ava and Aubrey. Joe’s celebration of life was held Monday, Oct. 9 at 4:00pm at Mission Park Funeral Chapels & Cemeteries, 3401 Cherry Ridge Dr. –cmw

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trips. If you are interested in either of the winter wade fishing packages don’t hesitate to give me a call to discuss rates and packages. I still have several open dates for the 2017 season, and my 2018 calendar is also open for bookings. Don’t hesitate in booking your fishing trips because my dates usually go pretty quick, especially during the more popular months. I’m also offering some trophy and management deer hunts in South Texas if you are interested. Please call me for specifics and pricing. 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 e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com.

Don’t overlook winter fishing 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

y the time you this article, I am hoping we will be in some sort of fall weather pattern. These hot days are getting old and this writer is ready for some cooler weather. The last few months have been a struggle for everyone in the Coastal Bend as we are still trying to get on our feet after Hurricane Harvey. I’m looking forward to some winter wade fishing for trophy trout in the upper and lower Laguna Madre. Our fishing report lately has been rather sporadic with the extreme high tides we’ve had for several weeks. Water levels have been elevated at least two feet above average and that makes fishing not so consistent. Everyday seems to be a challenge staying on fish because they are so scattered throughout our bay system. What you do one day may not necessarily work on the next day, even though all conditions remain the same. Needless to say, we are covering a lot of water each day, including water that typi-

David Biesenbach of San Antonio had a stellar day fishing last month with Steve Schultz Outdoors. David managed to catch his limit of trout up to 27 in. and a limit of slot redfish.

cally we could not get to earlier in the year. Trout and redfish are still our primary target fish and black drum when they are available. I’m hoping for some colder weather so we can possibly target some flounder also. Bull reds are still being caught with schools of 100-200 fish in the 34 to 48-inch range. These schools when found can test your equipment and stamina as there is no giving up in these fish. Recently, we boated 16 bull reds in a morning before my clients threw in the towel. Looking into the winter months, and I’m talking about January and February, I

will be offering wade fishing trips in both the upper and lower Laguna Madre. These trips will be primarily targeting trophy trout with artificial lures while wading. As most of you know, this is the best months for targeting big sow trout for the wall. If you’re looking for a single day trip or a multiple day trip I can accommodate either. The Port Mansfield trip will include accommodations in a luxurious five-bedroom house that will sleep up to 10 fishermen. The Laguna house has all comforts of home with a large outdoor deck and cooking area to entertain clients and guests. A two-day minimum is required for the Lower Laguna Madre

Good luck and Good Fishing.

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San Antonio Construction News • November 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

Fall & Winter Fishing by Max Milam

ooling water temperatures start a feeding frenzy. The fish are starting to develop eggs and need to eat more to get ready for the spring spawn. In terms of striper and white bass this means huge schools of feeding fish slowly migrating towards their spring spawning areas. With a little experience and some good electronics a fisherman can capitalize on some of the best and most overlooked fishing of the year. I know it’s also time to be out in the field hunting Buckzilla, but what can beat spending a Friday night in the hunting camp frying up some fresh fish with good company? Fall striper fishing is some of the most exciting fishing, hands down. The cold fronts can make it a little tricky to get a comfortable day on the water, but can also trigger some of the best feeding frenzies of the year. The cooling waters and ample forage fish from the spring and summer bait spawns create some of the best schooling top water action the year has to offer. I have seen schools up to three acres feeding on the surface in late October into mid-November. The stripers are usually easy to find this time of year, even when not feeding on top.

The easiest way is to find a wind-

blown bank. Then look for a submerged structure that offers an ambush point for the fish to take advantage of – remember they are predators. I like to look for ledges, humps, and long points with fast drops. Anything that offers a fast change in depth has the potential to hold both quality fish and large numbers of fish. If you don’t want to spend the time needed to locate the fish, and you just want to spend some time on the water, just call your favorite fishing guide. White bass are one of the most popular fish in our area, but they are often not targeted much in the fall and winter. Spring time is not the best time to catch white bass. Winter white bass fishing is one of my favorite types of fishing. On any given day from November through February I can typically take the boat out for an hour or two and have a limit of nice fat white bass. They are easy to find and tend to follow similar patterns to the stripers, but they usually are found further up the river system than the stripers. They tend to stage around the mouth of the rivers they spawn in during the spring, and can be found using electronics. My favorite way to catch white bass is to drop jigging spoons to the depth that the fish are holding at, and then hang on. You will know when you’ve got the right bait at the right depth. Once again if you don’t have time, between work and chasing Buckzilla, then give your favorite fishing guide a call and they can do the leg work for you.

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You

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Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!

San Antonio Construction News â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

A new generation of painting

atricio Cuellar taught his boys at an early age how to become hard working individuals with a good work ethic by getting them involved and teaching them a skill that might someday benefit them. “I used to go out to the jobsites with my dad during the summer, at nights or weekends and he would teach me and my brothers. It didn’t matter if we went out and had a good time with our friends or not, dad made sure we were up and out there working and learning. That mentality really paid off,” says Andres Cuellar.

When the recession hit the San Antonio market, Andres Cuellar told his dad he was going to start doing some sub work. He started doing that in Boerne with Smith Painting, saved up some money and before long he was in a position to start a business of his own. “I saved up some money, got a website up and running and from there I just kept going,” says Cuellar. “I started with a lot of residential jobs. Slowly, I began getting some commercial work. This year, especially, I have had more commercial work than ever.”

Andres Cuellar, owner of Texas Professional Painting

Cuellar was 24 years old when he started his own painting company, Texas Professional Painting. Now at the age of 33, he looks back with pride and adoration at the opportunities his dad set in motion for him. “Learning the commercial side of business is like the science of painting. It is about as difficult as you can get, I think. Did it help me, yes, because my dad did a lot of commercial. For a guy to just jump into the painting industry without some kind of background would not be easy. “Harold Radicke retired from Triangle Painting and came to work for my dad as an estimator because he wanted to stay busy. My dad told him, ‘teach Andres, show him what he needs to know.’ So he did. After I graduated from St. Mary’s, he taught me how to read blueprints. He would take me to job meetings. He had me reading all the specs, ordering the materials, cost analysis, price per square foot, everything I needed to know. He became my mentor.” Cuellar is married with 4-year-old twin girls. He, his wife Ashley and the twins Emma and Olivia spend every Sunday with his parents. He also does Cross Fit five to six times a week and says it is an additional stress relief for him. “I have no regrets whatsoever going into the painting industry. I like what I do.” Texas Professional Printing is a painting subcontractor in the S.A. area. -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

New address

In April 2017, KGC (Krueger General Contracting) Construction Services relocated to their new offices at 11718 Warfield. On Oct. 12, KGC hosted an open house to show off their new facility. –cmw L-R: KGC team Lucas Nadeau, Steve Mathwes, Rudy Chavez, Jay Rose, Cindy Herrin, Joe Riddle, and Aaron Krueger

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

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

Promises in design Aaron Dahl, Co-founder & Partner Acuform Architecture San Antonio, TX

elebrating ten years in practice, Acuform Architecture prides themselves on referrals and repeat clientele, assisting clients with all aspects of private sector commercial work and aiding in the process from initial site selections and securing governmental approvals through getting doors open and processing warranty claims. The hallmarks of their service include their candid, sometimes blunt, communications, and their ability to remain accessible to their clients throughout the entire design and build process. Describing the construction industry as healthy, Dahl says “San Antonio has been well-positioned to take advantage of the growth specifically with regards to military, medical, and housing. I am confident that the recent growth in this market will domino into other areas of construction and we will have several years to come of steady continued work. “Business activities have increased over the past twelve months. The growth has been good for businesses’ bottom line, but general contractors are having an extremely difficult time getting subcontractors to even look at projects. Subcontractors are unable to find talented workers, leading to increased construction costs and less-than-perfect construction. “The business community, like Wall Street, is bullish about the future. The environment in Washington is more favor-

able for businesses small and large, and organizations that were holding steady for the longest time are now moving forward with plans for expansion. Another factor we’re starting to see is some new faces emerge as decision makers in key markets as the baby boomer generation continues to move into retirement. This younger generation is more willing to take on capital debt to secure a better future than their predecessors.” Maintaining the level of service and quality that their clients have come to expect has been challenging. Owners are putting more pressure on design professionals and contractors to get things done faster - the QA/QC tends to take a back burner in the interest of getting the doors open. “My partner, Shawn Willis, and I find ourselves spending our weekends redlining drawings, reading field reports and

Bringing engineering home David Eastwood, President

Geotech Engineering & Testing Houston, TX

ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? Have you experienced an increase in business? Slowdown? In our experience, the construction industry started off slow, but started to stabilize towards the second half of the year.

What factors are driving this slowdown? One of the most notable factors for us relating to a decrease in business is the Petrochemical Industry slowdown. How has this slowdown affected your company and how you conduct business? Some of our major clientele include homebuilders and land development companies. With oil and gas being so

vital to our city’s economy, if there is a slowdown, the result is less people moving to Houston, which in turn means less houses are being built. What are the “hot button” issues in your industry? The “hot button” issues in our industry mainly consist of qualifications and speed in which we can deliver our services to the client.

Architecture & Engineering Sept: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment

prioritizing tasks for the coming week.” The “hot button” issue in the architectural/engineering industry is sustainability. “Unfortunately, this term has been commandeered by the green building people, but it’s more than just selecting efficient mechanical systems and renewable materials. Clients expect their buildings to last 70-80 years. Clients who already own and operate existing facilities are keenly aware of how much it costs to operate and maintain an older building. We are constantly trying to remain abreast of current technologies in order to provide our clients a durable, low maintenance facility for not just years, but generations to come,” adds Dahl. Major changes in the industry, in recent years are the rapid adoption of sustainable design principles. This has driven design like never before. Many items that used to be part of the LEED(R) requirements have been adopted by the International Code Council and are now required by law. It seems like every three years designers have a whole new layer of sustainable design elements that are required by code. Design professionals and contractors are continuously educating clients who are always seeking a good value. Some elements with a short payback period are defensible, but there are a lot of things required by code that don’t make much sense for most owners. In addition, labor shortages continue to be the most significant challenges in the industry. “Clients are willing to pay for what they need, but across the design and

build industries we simply cannot find the right talent to fill the positions out there,” say Dahl. Designers are starting to see some influences of the sharing economy on design. For years, clients have been looking for adaptable spaces, but now even large organizations are recognizing the value a small portion of their building may have for other organizations or small businesses. Much as houses are now being designed with Airbnb suites, “owneroccupied” buildings are considering ways to partially separate new facilities to accommodate small tenants. All design professionals must offer a value proposition to their clients in the form of a better-built environment at a lower upfront and ongoing cost. “We achieve this through creative design solutions tailored to our clients’ specific needs that utilize practical and cost effective construction systems. The trademarks of our service are working as a team with the Owner and the Contractor in order to produce the most successful result possible.” In conclusion, Dahl says, “The greatest reward is a referral from a client we worked with five or ten years ago. It’s a testament to our skills and foresight that a client from several years ago continues to appreciate their facility and recognizes the role that Acuform played in getting it built.” Acuform Architecture is a full-service design firm focused on private sector commercial work. –cmw

What are the major changes in the industry in recent years relating to the type of work you do? A high increase in new companies entering the Houston market would probably be the major change in our industry. This makes it so much more competitive in attracting business.

sideration for vendors with pricing becoming so stringent.

What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? Labor shortages? Cost increases? The most significant challenge for this industry is still the constant fluctuation of our economy. What are the cost increases relating to your industry? Cost increases include the cost of labor, and parts and maintenance for our rigs has constantly increased over the years. How are you dealing with these challenges? Vetting of suppliers is a common practice of ours now, as well as the con-

www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news

What is on the horizon for your industry? Multiple advances in drilling equipment and engineering software has helped expedite our processes and procedures. Incoming changes in qualification requirements for city jobs will also help in selecting a more broad variety of companies. What are the rewards of the industry? The feeling of assurance that people’s foundation will be well designed and the soil will be accounted for. What are keys to being successful in the industry? I think it is most important to focus on various sector markets to explore, as well as keeping up with our company’s reputation of working adequately, quickly, and affordably. Geotech Engineering & Testing specializes in geotechnical, materials testing, environmental, and forensic engineering services. - te

Texas Style

★ San Antonio ★ Austin ★ South Texas ★ Houston

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

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NEXT TH MON

Construction Equipment

If you would like to represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact your SA Editor for an Interview Carol Wiatrek (210) 308-5800 SAEditor@ConstructionNews.net

“Robust environment of work” Rob Welker, President and Partner Hoefer Wysocki Architecture Dallas, TX

hat are the “hot button” issues in your industry? • The client profile – Each client requires a different type of service from our firm. This demands that we be flexible and adaptable to meet stringent requirements on the government side, tight budgets on the private sector, and a performance driven environment at an institutional level. What are the “hot button” issues in your industry? • Beyond the building – Architecture is our craft, but it is not all about building. As a result of our strategic approach on performance, we are looking for ways to create value for our clients. This complex process culminates into inspiring and engaging environments that affect our quality of life. • Economy – We are at a great point where there is great opportunity for designing and constructing new facilities. It is also a good time to focus our energy into meaningful and impactful engagements. For this reason, we provide a fully integrated service for each of our clients, which allows them to make the most educated decision that will allow them to be successful while creating graceful architecture that reflects their ambition. • Work force – The ability of skilled workers, because of economic demand, has created a robust environment of work. This leads to confor-

mity and over inflation in delivery of projects. Our focus on performance identifies key driving issues that help our projects navigate the complexity of the construction environment. • Construction cost escalation – Difficult to control costs, AE fees are at risk • Urbanism – More people are moving to the city unlike their parents. The younger work force are interested in city living and the amenities. This will continue putting pressure on how we provide enough supply of housing/ schools/retail to the increasing pollution of the urban core. Public transportation is a must. What are the major changes in recent years relating to the type of work that you do? Implementation of technology and more accurate digital models have allowed the opportunity for more robust communication at the conception of a project all the way to construction administration of a project. As we make early decisions of design, we can now look in real-time the impact on energy consumption, budget,

Opportunities are up in architecture Michael Malone, FAIA Past President, Texas Society of Architects Austin, TX

Founding Principal Malone Maxwell Borson Architects Dallas, TX

ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? It’s wonderful! The level of activity and optimism is fueling tremendous opportunities. Has the architectural industry seen an increase in business or a slowdown? There’s a palpable increase since the recession, and it’s understandable in terms of increased projects, challenges finding qualified staff in a strong job market and the ability to build backlog and security. What factors are driving this increase? For our firm and clients, the primary driver seems to be the attractiveness of Texas, and Dallas specifically. The continued influx of people has created opportunities for growth in virtually every sector of professional services. How has this increase affected the industry and how you conduct business? It has allowed us to expand our staff, offer them better benefits and upgrade

our office environment and technology. It has made us more selective about the work we undertake, demonstrated in more appropriate fees and more satisfactory business relationships. What are the “hot button” issues in your industry? With all of this growth, there are negatives: lack of available qualified staff, higher construction costs and the impact on the environment and quality of life this much building represents. What have been the major changes in the architectural industry in recent years? The continuing impact of technology in the way we practice and the inherent ways it allows services to be commoditized are the main changes we see. This has been an ongoing issue, and we don’t know yet if the result is less thoughtful and less-carefully made buildings. What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? I believe it’s the commoditization of

timeline and overall experience. Predictive analytics has allowed us to test in real-time that potential outcome of functional decisions in planning and design. We are seeing a shift from an evidence-based design approach to a results-driven approach that takes into account current and relevant data that is customizable and unique on geographical location. Public/Private/Partnerships (P3) are gaining acceptance to fund for revenue generating projects. What are the most significant challenges your industry faces? One challenge is integration in project delivery to assure functional and performance results that add value to our clients. A growing list of threats happening nationally and internationally – from the wrath of Mother Nature to local and global sponsored terrorism, is causing a void of much-needed regional suppliers to the new/immediate buyers. Labor shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry is impacting cost and timely building turnover. The construction industry is reaching out to educational institutions like high schools and community colleges to create partnerships with them to ensure future supply of skilled labor. What is on the horizon for your industry? • Rearrangement and reorganization of financial approach to project delivery. Partnering with industry leaders to advance healthcare delivery, creating better educational models that meet today’s demands and think big when it comes to urban design to reassure social equity and resilience.

professional services, the idea that everyone does the same thing and offers the same product. Differentiating yourself and your firm in the present environment is very challenging but increasingly necessary. What are the costs increases related to your industry? Salaries go up in strong construction markets, but beyond that, the largest costs continue to be in the areas of staff support and benefits. How are you dealing with these challenges? As a firm, we’re committed to a certain level of salary and reasonably generous benefits for all our staff. We build our business plan for the year with these costs (and associated overhead) as the basis for what we need to do and how we need to perform. Once we know we have these costs covered, we’re able to plan for profitability and additional expenses. We invest heavily in technology when we’re busy knowing we can’t afford this when times are leaner. What changes are on the horizon for

• Filling the gap between the millennials’ wants to the baby boomers’ needs. Designing and delivering flexible spaces and finding creative ways to give everyone flexibility. How does this affect how you conduct business? First and most of all it affects our people by creating an emphasis on intellectual capacity more so than production. It also makes sure that our studio structure is a catalyst for good ideas and a vehicle for our stellar design leaders to make an impact in their communities and our business. What factors do you feel are driving this? Technological advancement in rapid prefab, 3-D printing and augmented reality will continue to impact how buildings are designed and built. With the rise in labor cost and shortage of skilled labor, these technologies will be the future. Right now, we are reaching the tipping point to move more into the highly automated building construction industry. Increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption and impact on the environment will shape how buildings are designed and built. More strict regulation will force the construction industry to reinvent itself. Hoefer Wysocki Architecture is a full-service architecture, planning and interior design firm with offices in Dallas and Kansas City. The firm focuses on healthcare, commercial, retail, hospitality/entertainment/multifamily, government, judicial, education and urban and master planning projects. –mjm

your industry? We’re always sensitive to changes in the economy and ready for it to retrench or slow down. Regardless, we feel certain Texas will do as well or better than the rest of the country, and that gives us comfort. We do wish the state were more focused on issues of educational quality and appropriately funding it for the long-term benefits it promises. We see this lack of coherent educational policy and the disparities in funding and outcomes as a potential long-term issue for the state, perhaps the greatest issue. What is rewarding about working in your industry? Creating the built environment is a gift and a privilege. To work with clients and contractors to create and build something is the most rewarding thing in the world. The Texas Society of Architects, with 15 regional chapters and 7,000 members, is one of the nation’s largest organizations for the architectural profession. It is headquartered in Austin. - ke

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

Construction Industry Events

Where are the clowns?

ome one. Come all. The circus has come to town. Well, not technically, but as far as the Associated General Contractors (AGC) were concerned, it did as that was the theme for AGC’s 24th Annual Safety Fair & BBQ Cook-off which was held on Oct. 7 at the Helotes Fair Grounds. -cmw

1st Place Chicken: Crownhill Builders Inc.

1st Place Brisket: Alterman Inc.

1st Place Ribs Bartlett Cocke General Contractors photo courtesy of Mary Haskin

1st Place Showmanship Architectural Division 8

29 teams participated in the barbeque cook-off and the winners are: Category I: Chicken 2nd Place: Comfort-Air Engineering Inc. 3rd Place: Gavin Steel Fabricating Inc. Category II: Ribs 2nd Place: Alpine Contracting 3rd Place: Comfort-Air Engineering Inc.

Category III: Brisket 2nd Place: Tri-Tech 3rd Place: Young Bros. Fire Protection Inc. Showmanship 2nd Place: Baker Triangle 3rd Place: Galaxy Builders Ltd.

Safe Specialty Contractor of the Year Alterman Inc.

Safe General Contractor of the Year – Category I Zachry Construction Corporation photo courtesy of Mary Haskin

Safe General Contractor of the Year – Category II Sundt Construction Inc.

Larry Westbrook Safety Superintendent Award David Winkelmann, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Never forgotten

L-R: Mike Grendell, Midco Sling of San Antonio; Ted Dunnam, ESC Safety Consultants listen as OSHA Area Director, Alex Porter reads the names of jobsite fatalities.

afety is a priority on every jobsite, regardless of construction value. More than 170 industry professionals registered for the 2nd Annual Construction Safety Summit Oct. 4 at the Alzafar Shrine Temple. Committee Chair Ted Dunnam of ESC Safety Consultants originally conceptualized this idea two years ago after watching the construction fatalities in San Antonio increase. OSHA Area Director, Alex Porter, discussed the continued importance of safety in construction before taking a

moment of silence as he read the list of names of those who died in jobsite accidents in the past two years. The seven-hour event hosted by the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), ESC Safety Consultants, Midco Sling, OSHA, and Zachry, and incorporated three sessions on various safety topics, including an owner’s session with Alex Porter. The goal of the event was to assist companies in embracing a safety culture. –cmw

Registrants listen and learn during one of the three sessions held at the 2nd Annual Safety Summit.

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

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Hosted by Construction Industry Associations

Braving the elements

espite the on-going drizzle, more than 150 individuals participated in the 40th Annual Hunter’s Symposium Sept. 27 at Bexar Community Shooting Range in Marion, TX. Long-time member, Louis Mosel, LC Mosel Company celebrated his 90th birthday at the event. The event was hosted by MCA-SMACNA. Photos courtesty of Mary Haskin photography. -cmw Bullseye winner: Adam Vega Guest Rifle Division winners: 1st Place: Matt Landrum, NEISD 2nd Place: Rick Barrera, IMEG Corp 3rd Place: Ian Vohwinkle, MS2 Consulting Associate Rifle Division winners: 1st Place: Chuck Baumgarten, PMI 2nd Place: Frank Tuttle, Texas Air Systems 3rd Place: David Bugge, PMI Member Rifle Division winners: 1st Place: Chuck Clark, Service Mechanical Group 2nd Place: Scott Braune, The Brandt Co. 3rd Place: Mark Zinsmeister, Service Mechanical Group Ridiculous Rifle winner: William Wilson, Tezel & Cotter Expert Trap winner: Hayward Decker, AJ Monier

Terrible Trap winner: Jim Rodriguez, James T Rodriguez Consulting

Cards & more

salsa taste-off, a pour-off and a Texas Hold’em tournament makes for a great time with great people. The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) held its annual Pour-off, Texas Hold ‘em & Salsa Taste-off Sept. 21 at Aggie Park.

2nd Place Salsa: MEMCO 2nd Place Best Non-Frozen: KCM Cabinets Inc. 2nd Place Best Frozen: KCM Cabinets Inc. 2nd Place Best Bar Set-Up: RidoutBarrett -cmw

1st Place Best Salsa: KCM Cabinets Inc.

1st Place Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament: Jack Magee, KCM Cabinets Inc.

1st Place Best Frozen Drink: RidoutBarrett

1st Place Best Non-Frozen Drink: Fire Alarm Control Systems

Expert Skeet winner: Justin Odom, Performance Contracting Guest Skeet Division winners: 1st Place: Brian Keller, Cleary Zimmermann 2nd Place: Clint Uhlman, Spaw Glass 3rd Place: Michael Arreguin, CBRE Associate Skeet Division winners: 1st Place: Aaron Caldwell, Texas Air Sys. 2nd Place: Scott Hutcheson, Texas Air Sys. 3rd Place: Kenner Coon, Texas Air Products Member Skeet Division winners: 1st Place: Richard Schmidt, The Brandt Co. 2nd Place: Darrell Hagendorf, The Brandt Co. 3rd Place: Deborah Wertheim, LC Mosel Shoddy Skeet winner: Jim Knight, Siemens Industry

Guest Trap Division winners: 1st Place: Roy Jackson, Retiree 2nd Place: John Scott, Retiree 3rd Place: Phillip Allen, Christus Santa Rosa Associate Trap Division winners: 1st Place: Ken Brothers, Siemens Industry 2nd Place: John Cook, Mechanical Reps 3rd Place: Andrew Rodriguez, Texas Air Products Member Trap Division winners: 1st Place: Jeremy Jones, M&M Metals 2nd Place: Mike Bachofer, LC Mosel Co. 3rd Place: Joe Cavicchi, The Brandt Co.

1st Place Best Bar Set-Up: National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Antonio Louis Mosel poses for a photo in front of his 90th Birthday cake

Photos by Mary Haskin Photography

Paul Tezel, Tezel & Cotter, pops out of Louis Mosel, LC Mosel Company’s 90th Birthday cake

1st Place Member Rifle winner Chuck Clark, Service Mechanical Group

1st Place Associate Trap: Ken Brothers, Siemens Industry

1st Place Associate Skeet: Aaron Caldwell, Texas Air Systems

1st Place Member Skeet: Richard Schmidt, The Brandt Companies

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

Construction make-up

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC Associated Builders & Contractors Inc.

Nov. 9: BBQ Cook-off, 5am–5pm, National Shooting Complex, 5931 Roft Rd. For more info, contact Ruby Trejo at 210-342-1994 Nov. 9: Sporting Clay Shoot, 1–6pm, National Shooting Complex, 5931 Roft Rd. For more info, Ruby Trejo at 210-342-1994 AGC American General Contractors

hen you are new to an area and just purchased a new home and can’t find a landscaper to do anything for you, what do you do? The only logical course to take is to purchase a franchise. That’s exactly what Ruben Losoya with Losoya Industries LLC did when he moved to Boerne from Houston, TX. “After we bought our house in Boerne, we could not find a landscaper. One day I called up US Lawns and purchased their San Antonio franchise. It was an existing franchise owned by Valley Crest. They are well-known for doing Disneyland and other high profile hotels and resorts,” says Losoya. Purchasing this franchise could not have happened at a better time. As it turned out, Valley Crest had just taken over the install for the La Cantera Mall project. Valley Crest who used to be in San Antonio was now in Austin and the only thing they had in San Antonio was the franchise Losoya had just purchased. Talk about luck!

“We were the main installer for the project, doing about 80 percent of the install. The thing I remember most about that contract was it was the hottest I had ever experienced, 115 degrees with a heat index of probably 120 degrees.” From there it was gang-busters for Losoya. Not only was he doing installs, but also he was venturing into landfills and land erosion control which was all part of the franchise’s scopes of work. In addition to that, the company started moving into trash pickup, highway mowing, guardrails, asphalt patching, culverts, concrete work for sidewalks and curbs, irrigation and water features, which opened even more doors. After six years of operating under the US Lands franchise, Losoya left the franchise in 2010 and continued on as Losoya Industries LLC . Losoya Industries LLC is a specialty subcontractor servicing San Antonio and the surrounding areas. -cmw

IEC Independent Electrical Contractors S.A. Nov. 8: Quarterly Luncheon, The Barn Door,

Nov. 16: Casino Night & Construction Industry Awards, The Club at Sonterra, 901 E. Sonterra Blvd. For more info, 210-349-4921.

8400 N. New Braunfels Ave. For more info, call 210-431-9861

AIA American Institute of Architects

MCA-SMACNA INC Mechanical Contractors Association Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Association

Nov. 29: People + Place Celebration, AIA San Antonio Design Awards, ZaZa Gardens, 723 S. Flores St. For more info, contact Belinda Sanchez at 210-226-4979 Ruben Losoya in one of his water features for the 54th Street restaurant chain.

Nov. 2: Associate Appreciation Casino Night, GSABA Ballroom, 3625 Paesanos Parkway, #100. For info, call 210-696-3800 Nov. 17: Building Believers Military Thanksgiving Luncheon, GSABA Ballroom, 3625 Paesanos Parkway, Ste. 100. For more info, call 210-696-3800

ASA American Subcontractors Association

Nov. 2: Trenching Safety Day, CPS at Perrin Beitel. For info,Jennifer Swinney at Jennifer@asasanantonio.org or 210-349-2105 Nov. 7: Speed Networking, Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Dr. For more info, contact Jennifer Swinney at Jennifer@asasanantonio.org or 210-349-2105 ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers

Nov. 10: ASCE 17th Annual YM Golf Tournament, Olympia Hills Golf & Conference Center, 12900 Mount Olympus. For info, contact Anna Leija at asceym.sa@gmail.com ASSE American Society of Safety Engineers

Nov. 7 – 8: ASSE Future Leadership Conference, Westin Lombard Yorktown Center, 70 Yorktown Center, Lombard, IL. For more info, email: info@southtexas-asse.org CFMA

Construction Financial Mgmt Assn

Nov. 28: Breakfast Roundtable, Location TBD. For more info, contact Janet Bridger at 210-572-6118 or janet.bridger@rsmus.com GSABA Greater San Antonio Builders Association

Nov. 1: Regular & Associates Meeting, DoubleTree Hotel, 37 NE Loop 410, 11:30am. For more info, call 210-822-3763 Nov. 15: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA Offices, 12500 Network Blvd., Ste. 140. For info, call 210-822-3763 NAWIC Nat’l Assn of Women in Construction

Nov. 1: Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels. For more info, call 210-639-2489 PHCC Associated Plumbing, Heating, Cooling\ Contractors of San Antonio

Nov. 9: PHCC Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels. For more info, call 210-824-7422 SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn

Nov. 29: Membership Meeting, 12-1pm, Pappadeaux Restaurant, 76 NE Loop 410. For info, contact Debbie at 830-606-5556 TACCA Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn Greater San Antonio

Nov. 16: Member Meeting, Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Drive. For more info, call 210-901-4222 TSPE Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Nov. 6: Chapter Meeting, Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Dr. For more info, call 210-494-7223

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

Page 21

continued from Page 1 — Celebrating 50 years was always open to my opinions and suggestions and I certainly listened to his opinions and suggestions.” The biggest changes for the company came 17 years ago, when Joeris started the strategic planning process for the company. “My aspirations were to grow the company. You have to keep it growing in some form or fashion to be relevant in this market. We started this strategic planning process and identified goals for the next two to three years. We set goals for getting better; goals for the kind of manpower we would need, what positions we would need people in, and we worked very deliberately in making those goals happen. “I could not have achieved any success without our people. They are the key ingredients. My best blessing was having some really good people to start with from my dad, and we continue to bring in high quality, high caliber folks with good character.” Celebrating 50 years in business, Joeris General Contractors has been cel-

ebrating all year by hosting quarterly fundraising events to give back to the community they love so much. “We hosted a clothing drive to benefit CAM Ministries. We also hosted a can food drive for the San Antonio Food Bank and in August we hosted a school supply drive to benefit CASA, the advocates for San Antonio’s foster children. And just this past weekend we did the Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society with John Casstevens, our president, as chairman. In conjunction with the Light the Night Walk we are also doing a teddy bear drive for young leukemia patients in the hospital,” says Angela Cardwell, chief marketing officer. The company commissioned a painting to honor their workers at their 40-year mark and will have a sculpture commissioned in their honor for the company’s 50th anniversary. Joeris General Contractors is a general contactor headquartered in San Antonio with offices in Austin, Dallas and Houston. - cmw

continued from Page 1 — Part science, part art specs. We also do custom blends and manufacture the soils and products landscape architects need. Going even more full circle, the city of San Antonio is on course to be a green city and there’s also a nationwide push to remove organics out of landfills so we are not just a manufacturing company, we are a recycling company. “We take in manure waste, brush and vegetables and provide a service to vegetable packaging companies so their waste is not dumped in a landfill. We provide a land service to dispose of organic waste at a lesser cost and turn it into usable products that will eventually turn into saleable soils and materials for landscapes,” adds Broyles.

Urban Land Clearing, Soil & Compost is certified by the US Compost Council and are required to follow the rules and guidelines set forth by the Council. “It’s part science, but part art too. There’s the look of it, the feel of it, and the smell of it. Simple things like the weather can affect everything,” adds Broyles. Anderson oversees the operations of the company. Broyles oversees the material side and sales for Urban and Urbanczyk is Urban’s marketing director. “At the end of the day, we just want to recycle and be kind to our earth,” says Urbanczyk. Urban Land Clearing, Soil & Compost is a manufacturer, specialty contractor and supplier in San Antonio. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — Enjoy the ride!

Close-up view of The Wave Breaker jet skis seats

and metal roof that serves as the electrical building to house the vast amount of electrical components that control the ride and a pre-engineered maintenance building. There were several challenges that had to be overcome during the project. First and foremost was the extremely short construction schedule. Like most entertainment parks, Sea World gets most of its park attendance during the summer months. Due to the award and start date of the project it was a major challenge to open the ride in June of 2017 especially considering that also included the time to commission, test and certify the ride before the public could start to enjoy it. Secondly, each pier had to be drilled in solid rock and had to be spot-on to ensure each column supporting the ride was in the exact location required. With pier diameters between 18 in. and 60 in. and depths between 24 and 48 ft, the speed required for drilling in rock – with the accuracy mandated by the ride manufacturer made this a nerve-wracking experience to say the least. Next, the design team was almost entirely based outside of the San Antonio market. This meant that countless hours of online communication was required to get answers that were desperately needed in the field when conflicts arose. Finally, like most entertainment-based owners, as it became evident that we were going to finish the ride in time for the summer crowds, Sea World’s entertainment sectors added scope to enhance to the ride

for its customers. This took an already abbreviated construction schedule and mounted additional challenges. In the end, it took round-the-clock shift work to accomplish everything. The uniqueness of this roller coaster that travels over a man-made lake in simulated jet-ski cars designed to give the rider the thrill of the ride and yet showcase the parks larger mission of animal care is the first of its kind ride in the Continental United States. This project in large part was successful due to the great working relationship with the magnificent people who work at Sea World San Antonio. Larry Giles Vice President for Busch Gardens at Williamsburg, Virginia was sent to San Antonio to be Sea World’s on site project manager. He brought over 20 years of ride construction experience and provided valuable leadership to the team. Key players included Morganti Texas VP of Operations Joe Kummer, Frank D. Casias; Sr. PM Paul E. Lindsey; Preconstruction Mgr. Thomas S. Johnson; Asst. PMs Frank D. Casias III and Daniel Santos; Gen. Superintendent Carlos Torres; Superintendent Steve Chavez; Asst. Superintendent McKenzie Faulkner; and Proj. Admin. Audrey P. Casias. The architectural firms on the project were FORREC Ltd. and Alonzo Alston with Sol Studio. Casias Construction LLC, a General Contractor founded in San Antonio in 2003 and Morganti Texas Inc. established in 1990, established the Morganti Texas/Casias Joint Venture in San Antonio in 2011. –cmw

All in the family

ometimes great ideas come to you through the most unusual means. Vinyl siding for instance; who would think vinyl siding would change the drywall industry. In the late ‘60s, Joe Koenig, Sr. was in the vinyl manufacturing business when he started manufacturing vinyl J bead out of his garage. Designed to replace metal bead used by drywall contractors to finish rough drywall ends under doors and window encasements, vinyl J bead would be the very first product for Trim-Tex Inc., the company Koenig would start in 1969. Koenig and one employee manufactured enough vinyl J bead to fill a semitruck trailer. They would fill the back of Koenig’s station wagon with boxes of vinyl J bead, and he would drive around the Chicagoland and Gary, IN areas selling vinyl J bead to the gypsum supply yards out of his car. And the rest is history. Fast-forward 48 years, Trim-Tex designs and manufactures a full range of rigid vinyl drywall beads and accessories out of their state-of-the-art 220,000sf facility in Lincolnwood. Trim-Tex has a network of distributors all over the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe. “All of our products are made with a 70% or higher recycled content. We like to say we were green before green was cool. We recycle everything from paper to metal, anything that comes in or out of our

Three generations of Trim-Tex. L-R: Joe Koenig, Jr; Katie Koenig Zornow; and Joe Koenig, Sr.

facility is recycled,” say Sales & Regional Account Manager Don Dathe. Although Koenig has long since retired, the company remains a familyowned business. Joe Koenig, Jr. is the second generation of the company and serves as the company’s CEO. Third generation is Katie Koenig Zornow, who is Koenig, Jr.’s daughter, the company’s marketing & sales specialist while her husband, Kiel Zornow, is national architectural representative for the company. Michael Garcia is vice president of sales and is married to Koenig’s niece. Trim-Tex Inc. is a manufacturer of drywall products. -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

Going orange for hunger

orth Star Mall hosted the 12th Annual CANstruction design/build competition as one of San Antonio’s Food Bank’s SA Goes Orange for Hunger campaign. Ten teams representing San Antonio chapters of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Society for Design Administration participated with only 12 hours, beginning Sept. 10, to defy expectations, logic and gravity as they assembled these amazing sculptures using approximately 30,000 cans of food. –cmw

Chomping Our Way Out of Hunger RVK Architects and Lundy & Franke Engineering Inc. 6,500 cans

Jack and the Bien Stein Mustard Design Architects 2,520 cans

Best Meal: NOTABURGER PBK Architects / Kimley-Horn & Associates Inc. 3,500 cans

Openings San Antonio College 1,920 cans

Paleta Power! Put Hunger on ice in 2017 Smithdish Architecture and Rubiola Construction Company 1,425 cans

Best Original Design: Mr. Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man (“Ain’t Afraid of No Hunger”) Luna Middleman Architects 6,100 cans

Structural Integrity: COMBating Hunger Alamo Architects + Turner 2,694 cans

The Best Use of Labels The Mobile Cantina Merrick & Co. 2,831 cans

La Enchilada AIAS @ UTSA 1,587 cans

Best Use of Orange: “WhataCAN” Ford, Powell, & Carson and Cleary Zimmermann Engineers 4,520 cans

San Antonio Construction News • November 2017

Page 23

November 11 A day to say Thank You to those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces

bserved annually, Veterans Day honors military veterans. This day originated as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War 1. Veterans Day gives special thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime. Often, Veterans Day is confused with Memorial Day, the day to honor those who served and died while in military service.

Giving thanks

hanksgiving began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the previous year. We can trace this holiday tradition to meagerly documented celebrations at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts held in 1621 and one held in Virginia in 1919. It has been an annual tradition in the United States by presidential proclamation since 1863. On Dec. 26, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress. This resolution changed the national Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the fourth. He had try to achieve this change two years earlier by presidential proclamation, arguing an earlier celebration of the holiday would give the country an economic boost. Historically, Thanksgiving kicks off our “holiday season.” “Harvest” today probably has a different meaning than it did in 1620. We have so much to be thankful for. Let us not forget all the many blessings that we have, not just in the food we put on our tables, but the many things that allow us to obtain our “harvest.” -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017