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www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 14 H Number 12 H DECEMBER 2017
No place I’d rather be
American made
The Perez brothers, L-R: Steven, Fabian and Adrian, are third generation masons.
Bill McKeans (far front left) with the Metalink team.
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abian, Adrian, and Steve Perez grew up in Austin. During their childhood, the three brothers would go to jobsites with their father and help out anyway they could. Sometimes they would help unload trucks, one brick at a time, and sometimes help get equipment off the site. That is until they were big enough to do more. When Fabian was about 19 years old, he moved to San Marcos for a few years and then later settled in Seguin where he met his wife. After the couple married they decided to move to Georgetown. Little did they know, Adrian and Steve were settling down also, and they too decided to settle in Georgetown. Fabian started doing subcontract
work for himself when he was in his mid20s. Steve would soon come to work with Fabian as well as Adrian. Following the footsteps of their father and grandfather, they became third-generation masons. Having been introduced to the trade at such an early age, they just seemed to have an eye for it. And thus, the story of Perez Masonry begins. Established in 2007, the company started out doing high-end residential until an opportunity arose giving the company an opening into the commercial market remodeling and renovating a chain of Starbucks. Today, the company’s main focus is commercial. “It’s such a sense of pride to drive by continued on Page 14
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nly six months into retirement, Bill McKean found himself getting back into the workforce. But he would not return to the path of semiconductors and travel that had guided his career most of his adult life. No, he would venture on a new and unknown path – fencing. Eighteen months ago, McKean became the new owner and president of Metalink, a fencing supply, fabrication and installation company with deep roots in Austin. Coming from a long line of steel workers of some form or fashion, McKean was fascinated with the idea of working with American steel. “I wanted to build something that would sustain and last,” says McKean.
Not knowing anything about the industry or the business, he went to work learning the business and familiarizing himself with the products and customers his new company would service. In learning the business, he discovered that the first thing he needed to do was keep his employees. Upon discovering what his employees needed and what the company needed to grow, he was soon about to start making tracks. “If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, we’ll still build fences. But if that same bus hits these folks around here and in my shop, we’re in trouble. I believe that to my core. The best marketing tool any company has is its employees.” continued on Page 14
IE2 helps classic favorite go modern
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restaurant offering a modern twist to a traditional cuisine needs an equivalently cool but timeless setting, so the new Mexican food cafe, ATX Cocina, features an abundance of natural light, neutral tone palette and carefully selected finishes from the floor to the ceiling. Located at 110 San Antonio Street in downtown Austin, the project’s general contractor was IE2 Construction Inc., and the architect was Christy Taylor with Michael Hsu Office of Architecture. The owner is ATX Cocina, LLC. Just over 8,000sf in size, the space has a contemporary, open concept design with full visibility of the kitchen. Dining vignettes include two bar spaces, a chef’s table, two private dining rooms and a large shaded patio. Offsetting the sights and sounds of food preparation and mingling diners are natural aesthetics that are both internal
and external to the eatery. Looking out, guests can take in a view of Lady Bird Lake. When they look up, custom wood ceilings will certainly impress. “The volume of specialty ceiling work and schedule coordination presented a challenge to the builders. Simultaneously, however, the same ceilings are the project’s most distinct element with one focal point featuring a catenary barrel vault,” said Fey Carroll, ATX Cocina’s project manager. Furthermore, throughout the restaurant there are more than 40 custom millwork features from seven different species of wood. “The incredible ceilings, metal work and amazing attention to detail really showcase collaboration between (design and fabrication firm) Drophouse Design and the architect and the talent and the time that went into this design,” Carroll says. ATX Cocina offers Mexican cuisine with a modern twist in a modern setting in Downtown Austin.
continued on Page 14
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Austin Construction News • December 2017
NerD alert!
Construction News Nerds of SA! Some of the employees dressed up for Halloween. Others were out trick-or treating L-R: Buddy Doebbler, Terri Adams, Carol Wiatrek, Reesa Doebbler, Dana Calonge Nerd winner was Dana.
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Texas-sized vision
akerTriangle’s investment in a vision five years ago is starting to pay off for Texas construction. The company joined the StoPanel affiliate program dedicated to building panel systems that adhere to consistent standards. It then opened a stand-alone prefab plant in Dallas focused on manufacturing pre-finished exterior wall panels. The division, BakerTriangle Prefab, is the only DFW market-based affiliation and serves a 500-mile radius, which includes its Austin, Houston and San Antonio branches. “I think our leadership team, led by Bryan Baker and Steve Baker, are vision-aries, not only in our market here in DFW but visionaries within the drywall and acous-tical industry nationally. They fly at a 5,000 ft. view and are always looking at what’s coming,” Preston Pressley, BakerTriangle’s vice president of Exterior prefabricated metal panels are business development and marketmanufactured in BakerTriangle Prefab’s Dallas plant, but are used throughout Texas, ing, says. “Several years ago, they saw such as the Austin Aloft Hotel project. that European markets were starting to do things a little different, and I think they really latched on to prefabrication. They made a heavy investment to try and get ahead of the curve and get started with that here locally in Texas.” Prefabricated panels offer Texas builders several benefits. The panels are built in a controlled manufacturing environment versus unpredictable field condi-tions, guaranteeing a higher degree of product quality and sidestepping unexpected schedule delays due to weather. If prefabrication is introduced early enough in the design process, the building façade can be fully constructed, finished, shrink-wrapped and put on a truck ready for install prior to a shovel ever hitting the ground. Dry-in is positively impacted and scaffold-ing use can be drastically reduced, if not eliminated. It’s also an attractive option to use in a labor-strapped industry. “With as much work as we cur-rently have going on in Texas, we just don’t have the field resources that we used to have,” Pressley explains. “When we look at prefabricated methods, we see a parallel to reduc-tion in man-power needs, which are getting harder and harder to find in these loaded markets.” “We also feel like it’s a strong benefit to our clients and to their clients. They’re getting a product that has gone through a very strin-gent quality control process,” he adds. “Every phase of prefabrication is checked, verified and scanned so that we know we are building to correct standards. We feel owners are getting a streamlined, consistent product that allows us to work alongside our general contracting partners to help deliver them their building in a timelier manner.” The initial challenge was educating the industry on the benefits of prefabricated exterior panels. “The industry is not necessarily used to or comfortable with it, so we have invested a lot of resources in marketing and raising awareness of what prefabrication is and when it can be applicable to projects. We constantly have people come through the fabrication facility and talk with them about methods and constructability. We have personnel that explain the vision, not only to general contractors but also to architects, owners and development groups. “I think we’re just now starting to see the industry gravitate towards this investment,” he continues. “Especially moving into 2018, it’s really starting to pick up steam in our Texas markets, and not only with our clients (contractors) but also with architects and owner groups. We are seeing them mandate prefabrication methods into their master specifications as standard practice moving forward. We are excited to be delivering a unique process to this great industry, and look forward to latching on to this wave of momentum we are seeing towards prefabrication.” BakerTriangle PreFab was launched under the umbrella of BakerTriangle, which has nine Texas locations. –mjm
Austin Construction News • December 2017
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Industry FOLKS
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Hugo Zarate Project Engineer Ford AV Austin, TX
People not keeping their word. JR Ketter, JBK Electric
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ever an ordinary day for a project engineer, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. Hugo Zárate, a project engineer who works for an AV integrator company in Austin says, “When the opportunity opened up I was more than willing to do it. “ Zárate was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and came to Laredo, TX when he was 6 years old with his family. He is proud of his heritage and as you’d guess is very fluent in Spanish. During his years in college at the University of Texas in San Antonio he received his bachelors degree in electrical engineering with a concentration in systems and controls. There was no stop and go traffic with this engineer’s route. He began working in March 2015. “As a project engineer I’ve learned the value of different traits working together, especially when it comes to construction,” he says. Before his current position, he worked at IBC Bank where he met his wife Gloria. The newlyweds were married this past August. With no children crawling into bed with them, they care for their miniature schnauzer named Jake. Zárate says they love to spend time traveling and watching fútbol. Vamos Chivas! His recreational hobbies are playing soccer and football. He also enjoys programming. Zárate adds, “I like to program my own micro controllers in
my spare time. I’m always fidgeting with something. I’m always trying to make something work with something else. It comes naturally to me.” Then when it’s back to work Hugo says what he enjoys about his job are the challenges within the challenges. “As an AV integrator we are always part of new construction in some way or another.” His role has taken him to various jobs all over the world including, Hungary, Budapest, Singapore, Mexico City and various jobs in the US. Project engineers skip the repeat button and go straight to the next one. Zárate mentions not doing the same thing every day, “One day I’m configuring a mixer, the next day I am programming a control process for a concert and the next day I can be in a church configuring the sound system for the church.” The dedication and passion he has for his line of work wouldn’t be anything without his mentors. The company he works for provides a mentoring program to make sure everybody is on track. Zárate looks to the other engineers and his boss for guidance. Looks like this project engineer has his hands full. -lv
LEXIE VELASQUEZ, Editor Austin Construction News (210) 308-5800 Lexie@ConstructionNews.net
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f you are a construction-related company in the Austin area and would like an article aboutyour company and personnel, call Lexie 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, contact Buddy Doebbler, Publisher, at our home office, (210) 308-5800.
Austin
What is your biggest Pet Peeve?
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Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol Wiatrek Production Manager . . . . Helen Greenwood Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terri Adams Account Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Dana Calonge Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.ConstructionNews.net If you are a construction-related company in Travis, Hays,Bastrop, Burnet, Blanco, Caldwell or Williamson counties and are not receiving a free copy of the Austin Construction News, please visit our website and select “Subscribe.” ConstructionNews.net
The Austin Construction News (ISSN 15477630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba Austin Construction News, and distributed by mail to constructionrelated companies of record in Austin and 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 Austin 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.
©2017 Construction News, Ltd.
Loud chewers. Emily Jaster, JQ Engineering
People that don’t return shopping carts to the cart returns. Brian Langhorst, Procore Technologies
Bad spelling.
1-I really hate it when the kitchen trash is overflowing and everyone just walks by and won’t take the trash out 2-Rude people, whether it’s waiting to get your order taken and you are not acknowledged, or waiting in traffic and someone forces their way in front because waiting two or three seconds in line behind you is going to get them there sooner Stan Rothman, Blueline Rentals
I’m easy going, nothing bothers me. Life goes on…think positive. If small things bother you then you’re on the wrong planet. I say look on the positive side, there’s always some reason for it, and you just haven’t figured it out. Don’t get stuck with the small little idiosyncrasies in life. Abdullah Kurwa, Express Interiors Inc.
Congress won’t get anything done. Andy Tewell, Central Texas Equipment Getting
transferred phone calls. Darren Payne, We Rent It
People not doing what they say they are going to do, when they say they are going to do it. David Johnson, CenTex IEC People asking me what my pet peeve is. Billy Hunter (Wing nut), Tedford Distributors Dishonesty. Stephen Coffee, Conquest Demolition Inc. My biggest pet peeve is when somebody will argue the point to be wrong. Instead of just accepting that maybe they were wrong, so that they could gain wisdom from the truth. Mario Williams Lone Star Commercial Roofing
Karen Vasquez B&G Surveying
When you reach out to someone with questions and/or information(sometimes multiple times) and get no response. I understand being busy, but you can still respond with “I am really busy but will get back with you as soon as possible.” Communication and acknowledgment that you received a correspondence is a must. My pet peeve is the proverbial black hole. Julie Petri DIRTT Austin/San Antonio Customers not having their model and serial number when they want to order parts. Thomas Kurowski Central Texas Equipment People not doing what they say they are going to do. Nash Welling Tradesmen International
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Austin Construction News • December 2017
Finders keepers! Benefit options to attract and keep good employees Leann Ussery, CPA, Tax Manager Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates, P.C. Universal City, TX
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any companies in the construction industry are experiencing increased difficulty in attracting and keeping good skilled laborers. One way to edge out the competition is to offer better employee benefits. One employee benefit becoming more popular with construction companies is offering retirement benefits to employees. For the purposes of this column, we’ll explore four basic retirement plan options, but there are other options available. • Any size company may set up a tradiSimple IRA • A Simple IRA is arguably the least com- tional 401(k) plan although the higher plicated and least expensive plan to set cost tends to prohibit this option for small companies. up. • Plans are available only to companies • Eligible employees can contribute up to with 100 or fewer employees and no oth- $18,500/year (for 2018), on a tax-deferred basis through payroll deductions. er retirement plan. •Eligible employees can contribute up to • Eligible employees over 50 can contrib$12,500/year, on a tax-deferred basis ute an additional $6,000/year. • Matching the employees’ elective deferthrough payroll deductions. • Eligible employees over 50 can contrib- rals (up to 25% of compensation) is an ute an additional $3,000/year if the plan option, but not a requirement. • Traditional 401(k) plans may also allow allows. • Employers can either elect to match up for employer discretionary profit-sharing to 3% of the employee contributions or contributions which might be a better fit can make non-elective contributions of if net income varies year-to-year. • Unlike Simple IRA’s or SEP plans, vesting 2% of the employees’ annual salary. • Eligible employees are established by of the employer contributions is not necthe plan documentation, largely at the essarily immediate, but may specify a discretion of the employer. You may vesting schedule after a certain period of choose to include all employees without time or years of service. restriction or you may limit to those who • Plans must meet nondiscrimination rehave earned at least $5,000 in compen- quirements and require annual testing. sation in any two calendar years preced- • Matching contributions are not taxable ing the current year or who are reason- income to the employee until distributed ably expected to receive $5,000 in com- but are a tax deduction for the company subject to certain limits. pensation during the current year. • Matching contributions are not taxable Safe-Harbor 401(k) income to the employee until distribut- • Safe-harbor 401(k) plans function just ed but are a tax deduction for the com- like traditional 401(k) plans except that employer contributions are required, pany. generally at no less than 3% of compenSimplified Employee Pension (SEP) • SEP plans are easy to establish, have low sation, and are immediately vested. administrative fees, and are available to • For many employers, this option is well worth the additional contribution reany size company. • There are no employee contributions/ quirement because there is no annual deferrals. All contributions are at the dis- discrimination testing. For this reason, cretion of the employer, made by the it’s one of the fastest growing plans for small businesses. employer for all eligible employees. • Employer elects to contribute an equal Regardless of type of plan chosen, earpercentage 0% to 25% of each eligible ly distributions (before age 59½) are employees’ annual salary (maximum typically subject to penalties. Every employer has a different contribution of $55,000 for 2018). • Eligible employees must include all threshold for costs of employee benefits over the age of 21 with three years of and plan costs vary greatly depending on employment in the company. Plans may your employee base and desired contriallow for additional employees at em- butions. Contact your tax professional for an individual in-depth analysis of variployer discretion. • Like Simple IRA’s, contributions are not ous retirement plans, their costs, and potaxable income to the employee until tential tax savings. Leann Ussery, CPA is tax manager of cordistributed but are a tax deduction for porate/partnership returns and focuses on the the company. tax needs of small-to-mid sized entities, including entities with multi-state tax issues. Leann Traditional 401(k) • More complex to establish with higher joined Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates, PC in 2008 after graduating from Angelo State Uniadministrative fees, but allows for more versity with an MBA in Accounting. She can be customization. reached at 210-658-6229.
Driven to distraction Lauren Allen, Vice President-Sales BrookStone Insurance Group Dallas, TX
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istracted drivers are everywhere and are the single largest contributing factor to traffic accidents today. Consider this: during the 5 seconds it takes to read a text, a vehicle traveling 55mph will move approximately 250 feet down the road, or nearly the length of a football field. Because drivers are often preoccupied when driving, employers must evaluate the potential risks involved in the operation of both company-owned and non-company-owned vehicles (non-owned vehicles are those owned by others, including vehicles owned by employees). This is especially true when considering the U.S. legal doctrine of respondeat superior (Latin for “Let the master answer”) as the employer is liable for the injuries caused by an employee who is working within the scope of his employment. Employees who use their own personal vehicle to travel between worksites, drop off paperwork at other offices, or run a quick errand to the bank, can put their company at risk. Additionally, the utilization of independent contractors could impose liability on the employer for these individuals’ actions should an auto accident occur while they are conducting business for the company. To effectively assess your company’s risk, it is imperative to evaluate current non-owned vehicle use. In collaboration with FCCI insurance, consider the following: • Determine the number of employees utilizing their personal vehicles for business use; • Identify the frequency of this type of driving; • Recognize the area(s) where this driving will occur; and • Be informed on the minimum auto liability limits in the state. (In Texas, these limits are $30,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident).
• Develop a workplace driving policy. Tip: require that all drivers are included in the company’s defensive driver training sessions, and establish rules regarding cell phone use and the number of passengers an employee can drive at one time. • Set vehicle standards. Tip: utilize the same vehicle maintenance standards for both company-owned and non-company-owned autos, including periodic inspections and records of maintenance reports at designated times. • Obtain valid certificate of insurance from independent contractors. Tip: recheck coverage at various intervals – 45 days (as many cancellations for nonpayment occur after 30 days), and at various intervals before the contract anniversary. • Establish minimum required limits of liability insurance. Tip: consider minimum limits of at least $100,000 if dealing with a handful of non-owned drivers (for more employees consider increasing the limits to $300,000). Also request that non-owned drivers’ auto policies not have a business exclusion clause. • Understand rental car agreements. Tip: develop a business relationship with a rental car company and set parameters for car types and accessible features. Also ensure employees understand which insurance coverage to accept and which to waive.
If these limits are exhausted due to an employee’s negligent act then liability could shift to the employer, and if the company does not possess non-owned auto coverage then the employer could be on the hook.
Do not slip into a false sense of security when an employee drives a personal vehicle for company business. If an employer allows an employee to use his/her personal vehicle for business purposes, this is considered a non-owned auto exposure risk, and the consequences could be devastating should an accident occur.
Once the company has assessed its risk regarding non-owned vehicle use, the next step is learning how to mitigate and implement proper safety controls: • Establish an approved driver list. Tip: those included on this list must possess valid driver licenses, and the employer should review each driver’s Motor Vehicle Records (both at the time of hire and annually thereafter).
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
Golfing for solutions
120 golfers and sponsors came out for Baker Triangle’s CC4C tournament held Oct. 9 at River Place Country Club raising $43,000 for the community of families and children with rare or undiagnosed conditions. -cmw
Austin Construction News • December 2017
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JOB SIGHTS Texas Supreme Court clarifies standard for suits against design professionals Tracy Galimore, Senior Counsel Peckar & Abramson Austin, TX
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he Texas Supreme Court recently considered two cases seeking to clarify the meaning of and standards in Tex. Civ. Prac. Rem. Code Ch. 150, which requires suits against design professionals to be supported by a sworn affidavit known as a Certificate of Merit (“COM”). When the plaintiff’s claims arise from the defendant’s provision of professional services, a COM must be furnished by a similarly licensed third-party expert who shall attest the design professional’s negligent acts, errors or omissions. The purpose of the law is to deter and quickly dismiss non-meritorious claims. The statute requires the third-party lenged the COM submitted by East Rio expert hold the same license as the de- Hondo’s expert on the grounds that it did fendant design professional, and also be not contain sufficient factual support for knowledgeable in the defendant’s prac- each of the plaintiff’s claims. The Court tice area. If the plaintiff fails to file a COM rejected Melden’s interpretation of the in compliance with the statute, the court statute which would require the COM to shall dismiss the claim and the plaintiff substantiate the plaintiff’s legal theories may be prevented from filing suit again. for suing the engineer. According to the In Levinson Alcoser Assoc. LP v. El Pisto- Court, the statute only obligates the lon II, Ltd., the Court considered whether plaintiff to furnish a COM attesting to the the COM filed by El Pistolon, the devel- defendant’s professional errors or omisoper of a shopping center, sufficiently sions and their factual basis. The Court complied with the statute when the also determined the third-party expert third-party expert listed only his license could reserve his/her right to modify the as his relevant experience. The Texas Su- opinion if additional information is made preme Court held the requirement that available, noting the COM statute does the third-party expert be knowledgeable not require the plaintiff to disclose all its in the practice area cannot be satisfied evidence at the start of the case. simply because the expert holds the These opinions offer clarification for same professional license as the defen- those seeking to file suit against licensed dant. The COM must include the specific architects, engineers, surveyors and illustrations of the expert’s familiarity or landscape architects and the interpretaexperience with the practice area at issue tions provided should be closely heeded in the litigation. In this case, the plaintiff’s to avoid a complete dismissal of claims expert should have detailed his experi- against these professionals. ence designing shopping centers in the Tracy Galimore is Senior Counsel in COM. The faulty COM resulted in the de- Peckar & Abramson’s Houston office. A veloper’s claims against the architect be- Board Certified Construction lawyer, she ing dismissed. represents contractors, sureties, owners, In Melden & Hunt v. East Rio Hondo and developers in construction related Water Supply, East Rio Hondo sued transactions and disputes. She can be Melden, the designer of its water-treat- reached at 281.953.7706 or tgalimore@ ment plant, for defective engineering pecklaw.com. and project supervision. Melden chal-
Cornerstone Site Services employees, (L-R) Jacob Sommers and Kasey Carter, prepare to do a survey layout for additional buildings at Heritage Crossing in Pflugerville. Raymond Construction is the general contractor for the project. - ke
(L-R) Jesus Herrera, Rafael Escalante, Mario Sosa and Angel Loredo step outside for supplies as they work on the interior of the new Candlewood Suites on Pecan Park Boulevard in Austin. Mclenco Construction Services is the general contractor for the project and the men’s employer. - ke
NAWIC’s new leadership
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n Aug. 30, Beth ciation as the association’s Brooks, CAE first full-time executive took over the director. A decade later, role of executive vice she served as CEO for Texas president of the National Society of Association Association of Women in Executives for 15 years. Construction (NAWIC), a Brooks, who will oversee continuation of more her duties from NAWIC’s than 30 years of leaderFort Worth headquarters, ship for the Certified is excited about her new Association Executive. role in the women’s asso “Professionally, I have ciation and its future. been in association man “Our board has noted agement my whole this is a very exciting time career,” she says. “This is Beth Brooks for NAWIC, and it is one of my fourth association and my third as an the reasons they hired me; executive director, executive vice presi- they’re looking for change and to grow dent or CEO.” this organization,” Brooks says. “It is very Involvement in one’s community exciting to me; I’m very honored to be a was a value instilled early in Brooks’ life. part of this.” “Both of my parents were huge “NAWIC has a strategic plan, and one volunteers within the community; I was of the pillars of the strategic plan is to assess raised in a service-oriented environment,” and create the infrastructure of the organishe says. “I never gave it much thought zation,” she continues. “One of my first big throughout college, but I was always a goals, and it will take months, is to look at volunteer, such as serving as president of the infrastructure of the staff, our processes, my sorority, so I guess it was in my blood.“ and streamline what we’re working on, as Upon graduation from Texas well as review and update the governance Lutheran University, Brooks began her structure of this organization.” career in association management, In her free moments, Brooks enjoys working as director of communications spending time with her husband of 35 for the Texas Dental Association, coor- years, her 22-year-old son and the family dinating annual conferences for 7,000 dog, Buddy. She also enjoys traveling, attendees as well as the TDA’s publica- swimming, the ice sport of curling and is tions and membership. After 10 years, an inaugural member of the long distance she joined the Texas Pest Control Asso- walking initiative EverWalk. –mjm
Jake Pohl, assistant superintendent with Oden Hughes, said they are ready to begin building North Burnet Gateway, a 328-unit apartment complex and six-story parking garage at Burnet and Braker Lane. - ke
Carmelo Perez, Mario Lujan and Marco Lujan with Kumar Electric ready transformers for a new gas station at 200 Tradesmens Park Dr. and SH 79 in Hutto, TX. Motiv Construction is the general contactor for the project. -cmw
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Austin Construction News • December 2017
with all the processes, all the change that was happening for the positive.
Neale van Streepen Managing Partner Concrete Raising Corporation Austin, TX
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here are you from originally? I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.
How did you get to the United States and Austin? I ran the South African office of a California-based software company. I got promoted to the head office in San Rafael, and my wife and I moved to the San Francisco Bay area with our daughters in 1997. A little later, I started my own software business and sold it in 2001, but stayed on to work for a while for the company that bought it. We moved to Austin in 2005, and have not looked back. Do you go back to visit Johannesburg? We used to go every few years but we’re putting our resources toward our kids now. One graduated from college 18 months ago and the other is in college. They both played volleyball for Lehigh University (Pennsylvania), so we have been spending time and money on education as well as going to watch them play. Tell me about your family. I’ve been married to my wonderful wife, Mandy, for 25 years. She is currently director of marketing for McCombs Properties and the “general manager” of our family. We have two daughters. Jade is 24 and an environmental engineer with a master’s degree in management. She works for Deloitte. Natasha is 21 and a senior at Lehigh studying behavioral neuroscience. She wants to go into pediatric oncology.
What did you learn from it? It’s kind of weird. I look back on the whole South African socio-political thing and I know apartheid was terrible, but there was a lot of law and order. It might have been apartheid law, but there was the rule of law. Now, it’s so corrupt – the cops, the politicians and the businessmen. That leads to people not doing their jobs. The police aren’t doing their jobs. They’re not stopping the crime. Today (Oct. 30) is called Black Monday in South Africa. The whole country has come to a standstill because they’re protesting the murder of the farmers. People are going out to the farms and killing the farmers. A lot of it stems from what happened in Zimbabwe where the thought was that the farmers own all this land and if they kill the farmers they can get their land. But those people that killed the farmers don’t know how to farm, so there’s no food. Today, years later, they have to import 90 percent of their food. We were sort of “brainwashed” into apartheid, but a lot of young African people are being brainwashed. They think that if they kill a farmer, they can have his land and they can be rich because they’ve got land. But land without crops is nothing. Everywhere there seems to be so much misunderstanding about what it takes to be successful. Do you think people are prepared to make the effort it takes? I have a story. I don’t remember where I heard it but it’s called the bacon and egg scenario, whereby it’s the difference between being involved and being committed. The chicken is involved, but the pig is committed. You don’t want to be a chicken in business. You want to be a pig because even though you’re going to get slaughtered, you’re committed to what you’re doing.
What is your educational background? I attended Vaal University of Technology near Johannesburg and graduated in the ‘80s as an industrial engineer with a minor in electrical technology.
Has that story helped you as a businessman? Absolutely. Some say that most small businesses fail within five years, but most of them fail in the first or second year because the people don’t understand the commitment, the perseverance it takes to get you through those first years when you start from scratch. Bruce, my initial partner, and I started from scratch. There was no market in Austin for concrete raising; nobody was doing it. Basically, CRC went out and created the market for slab leveling and mud-jacking in Austin.
Counting back time, it sounds like you were in South Africa when there was a lot of unrest due to its apartheid policy? Yes, my generation was right in the middle to the end of apartheid. It was so nice to be involved with the changes over those years. Apartheid ended around 1990. We were deeply occupied
How did you get started in the construction industry? My father owned a large construction company in South Africa and I worked with him on the engineering side for quite a while in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, so I have a lot of general construction experience.
Managing Partner, Neale van Streepen of Concrete Raising Corporation Why and how did you choose the concrete raising business? I was tired of the technology and software industry and, Bruce Dickey, one of my partners, approached me about starting a concrete repair business in Dec. 2009. After doing some research, we found that there was a gap in the market for concrete raising and slab leveling. Within the first year we started contacting the cities. The city of Pflugerville was the first one to hire us to do sidewalks. It took quite a while to get in with the city of Austin, and now we’re into our sixth year with them. We started with a pilot project on Harris Ridge. Was it difficult getting started? It was really tough. We started in 2010 which was in the middle of a recession. We had to bring in another partner, Steve Bartholomew. An initial challenge to doing the work was finding CDL drivers that wanted to work as well as drive our trucks. There seems to be a large turnover of drivers in that they move around a lot. It’s difficult to keep training new people who leave to go work in the oil fields or other jobs. Finding the right staff and keeping them is a battle. We’re lucky to have a few good people working for us now and we hope they will grow with us. You said there had been some changes in your industry since you started and you have expanded your services. Initially, we were only doing concrete raising and void filling using cement slurry, otherwise known as “mud-jacking.” More recently there has been increased interest in using Polyurethane foam to perform essentially the same function. We knew that we would have to invest in Polyurethane technology at some time, so last year I took some time in evaluating the equipment and chemical vendors to see what equipment would be best for our market and what vehicle to use and then also which brand of Poly-
urethane was the best and what type of support the vendor provided. We bought a trailer-based unit with Graco equipment and partnered with NCFI – Terrathane on the chemical side. So far, we have been very happy with both decisions. Now we have a mud-jacking crew and a foam crew. We’re the biggest company in Central Texas that focuses on slab raising using cement slurry and foam. We give our clients the option for either product. There is obviously a cost differential between the two. The foam is more expensive but the process is a lot a cleaner and we can do interior work a lot easier. There are pros and cons to both systems. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? Spending quality time with family is priority number one. Our family is very sports oriented and we enjoy watching, playing and attending multiple types of sporting events. I’m especially pleased that rugby is now a mainstream sport in the USA and that Austin has a professional rugby team. Is there anything that has been meaningful to you, either professionally or personally, that you would like to share with our readers? One of the best quotes I heard from a mentor back in South Africa is, “You have one name, don’t throw it away!” I believe that if you have this in the back of your mind and apply it to both personal and business dealings you will do just fine. Concrete Raising Corporation is a commercial subcontractor providing trip hazard and slab raising and leveling services for both private and public projects in Central Texas. - ke
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You
Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com
Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!
Austin Construction News • December 2017
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Your perfect fishing destination by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Diawa Reels, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, ForEverlast Fishing Products, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, and AFTCO Clothing.
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ost of us avid anglers take what we have in our own backyard for granted. I’m talking about the entire Texas Gulf Coast bays and estuaries that line our state from the Gulf of Mexico to Louisiana. Believe it or not, Texas has a world class fishery that many of us don’t realize. With over 360 miles of coastline and more than 3,360 miles of tidal shoreline, Texas has been a premier destination for many years. One of the most popular fishing destinations in the state is the Laguna Madre and, in particular, the Baffin Bay area. Anglers from all over the state and gulf regions of the U.S. visit these waters during winter months in search of one trophy – Trophy Speckled Trout! Wintertime remains one of the best times to target large specks. Speckled trout feed less during winter months, but eat larger portions to conserve energy.
Josh Aljoe of San Antonio caught this fat 24.5-in. speck that weighed nearly 5 lbs. fishing the boat hole last week with Steve Schultz Outdoors.
Most of the bays along the Texas Gulf Coast have access guts and channels into the Gulf of Mexico which allow these fish to migrate to open water. Baffin Bay is virtually a closed bay system which traps a large portion of the fish throughout the year. These resident fish learn to adapt to harsh conditions such as rapid temperature changes, hyper salinity conditions and lack of food source. Needless to say,
these fish become warriors and learn to survive or be devoured. Big trout are scarce but, fortunately, they are more common than monster bucks and you don’t have to pay to get behind a high fence to have a chance at one. Learning where these fish live and their habits determines your success in catching these big girls.
Fishing for these big girls is an easy task; however, knowing where to catch them is the question most anglers ask. Many factors play a part in knowing where to fish on any given day. Being on the water daily takes a lot of guess work out of the equation. Another challenge to your day on the water is choosing the right bait to throw. There are thousands of baits to choose from, some that are new and popular, and then there are those that have been around for many years and have a proven record. It all boils down to preference and having confidence in what’s tied on the end of your rod. I will be splitting my time this season between Baffin Bay and Port Mainsfield this winter. Baffin trips will depart from Marker 37 marina. Port Mansfield trip will include accommodations in a luxurious 5-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 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. My calendar is starting to fill for these winter trout fishing trips, so don’t hesitate to call and get yours booked before these dates are full. 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. Good luck and Good Fishing.
Submitted to Construction News
One big hog
Don’t forget to send us your company Christmas photos
Tina Reeves, The Reynolds Company, shared this photo of a hog her nephew Cory Hall shot on Nov. 11 in Kimble County outside of Junction, TX. -cmw
Email to Lexie@ConstructionNews.net Send photo and caption
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Austin Construction News • December 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 after a drought. Winter fishing is a little iffy because of the frequent “cold” fronts that pump through, but we also have some of our best fishing weather of the year. We encourage fishermen to get their trip on the books and cross their fingers that the weather will cooperate. If all goes well they are in for a treat. Sometimes the weather can fool even the most experienced fishing guide. I remember one afternoon when the weather turned off really bad. We had 31 degrees and 25 mph winds and pelting sleet. We also had a fishing trip scheduled, but never could reach the folks to cancel the fishing trip. Long story short, the fishermen showed up at the dock and piled out of their pickup looking like the little brother from the Christmas Story movie. They were so bundled up with a mix of camo hunting coveralls and snow skiing gear they could hardly bend their arms and legs. We loaded up and pointed the bow of the boat into that icy wind and went fishing. In 45 minutes we were back at the dock…LIMITED OUT! The moral of this story is that winter fishing can be awesome! It may not be a shorts and flip flops and sunscreen kind of trip, but I promise the fish won’t laugh at you fishing in your camo hunting clothes. In fact, you’ll be the one laughing and having a good time. If you are in the Hill Country to go hunting, or have out of town guests to entertain for the holidays, give us a call and we can get you on the water. A nice fish fry and a good time might fit just fine into your plans this winter!
Winter fishing is here
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inter is almost here, or at least what passes for winter in Texas. The weather forecasters are saying that we are in for a generally warmer and drier winter this year, with a few little cold hiccups here and there. That means we are in for a lot of nice fishing weather the next few months. If you read up on stripers or have fished for them very much, you know how important water temperature is to their behavior. The “perfect” water temperature for them is 55 – 68 degrees. This explains why things go bad for the stripers when we get to the end of summer and sometimes see water temps in the high 80s or low 90s. That’s over for now and we are back in cool water again. Cool water gets the stripers back to feeding well again and schooling up. They are all about getting fat and sassy ready to spawn next spring. We also get into some really nice bluecats in cool winter water. We have been doing striper fishing charters for many years and have noticed that while the winter fishing is still just as good as ever, we aren’t seeing as many people taking advantage of it. I really think that this is still just a holdover from all the bad press and bad experiences with our lakes from the drought. It always takes a while for people to rediscover the lakes
Gene Tramp catfish
Austin Construction News • December 2017
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HALLOWEEN
Classic SNL characters – Baker Triangle Austin
L-R: Chad Reilly, Zachary Cortez, Parker Gresak, Nancy Gresak, Nikki Hillin and Megan Ochoa, Triton Stone Group -cmw
Amy Hageman, Big Red Dog Engineering | Consulting shared this photo of the Austin civil, MEP and structural team from their first company-wide costume contest. -cmw
Spider-man, Spider-man, does whatever a spider can…Rolando Mims with Biggs Plumbing Co. Inc. on the job dressed as Spider-man. -cmw
Hull Supply Co. Inc. shared these photos of their “Justice League” crew. L-R: Tina Davila, Matt Campos, David Campos, Gabriel Zuniga, Melinda Gonzales and Michelle Horner. -cmw
Barlett Cocke Genreral Contractor and ISEC employees hand out treats at the Children’s Hospital. L-R: Sergio Sigala, Jason McGarvie, ISEC and Alicia Marqwuez -cmw
Hull’s “Monsters Inc.” crew gets the screams. L-R: Javier Lopez, Joe Davila, Emily Merritt, Kenny Ames and Tonia Sherman. - cmw
L-R: Gypsy private Terri Fleming and Alice in Wonderland Cassidy Emens dress up at Rogers-O’Brien Construction. -cmw
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Austin Construction News • December 2017
Entering construction
Construction News ON LOCATION
Two birds, one stone
Foundation Building Materials located in Pflugerville, TX hosted a customer appreciation and mini-tradeshow Nov. 7. -cmw L-R: Sales Representative Ken Kiger and Operations Manager Brian Kuehn.
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ive months ago, ACM Tractor Sales decided it was time to get into construction. Although the company had been entertaining the idea for several years, they wanted to do their research. Having started out in business as a body shop in 2000. Owners Sandra and Allen Berry expanded their company’s services to agricultural equipment in 2003 while still providing bodywork which included fleet truck painting. Now ACM is proud to offer new and used commercial equipment. “We have been entertaining the idea for several years, but we wanted to do our research so we could offer a good, reliable product. We just opened with skid steers five months ago and went with the Gehl line because they offer a good, reliable product, and they are Americanmade and a well-known brand,” says Brian Kuehn, operations manager.
With the expansion of the Gehl line, the company is looking into further expansions of growth. “We have track loaders, skid loaders, mini-excavators and excavators right now, but we are looking into telehandlers, forklifts, and articulating loaders,” says Ken Kiger, sales representative. The company is also expanding to provide a service division to ensure they can meet all their customers needs. “We are just getting in to the rental market,” says Kuehn. “We just got our membership with the American Rental Association and working on necessary insurances and licensing.” ACM is currently 25 employees strong including the company’s body shop employees. Twelve of the company’s employees are committed to the construction equipment division. ACM Tractor Sales is an equipment supplier located in San Marcos, TX. -cmw
Austin Construction News • December 2017
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THIS TH MON Jan: Construction Forecast Mar: Construction Education May: Concrete Industry July: Electrical Industry Feb: Construction Safety Apr: Women in Construction Jun: HVAC & Plumbing Aug: Service Providers
Cautiously Optimistic Brian P. McGuire, President and CEO Associated Equipment Distributors Schaumburg, IL
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usiness is good on the construction equipment side of things according to AED members and most are optimistic about the future. However, we still face challenges. Many report business is up or at least consistent with last year, though margins remain slim. Hot button issues include what’s included in the tax reform bill (H.R.1) working its way through congress. While H.R. 1 has provisions beneficial to AED members, there are also some troubling portions. We are particularly concerned with Sec. 3303, which prevents the use of like-kind exchanges (LKE) for personal property starting in 2018. While the provision doesn’t apply to an exchange if (A) the property disposed of by the taxpayer in the exchange is disposed of on or before Dec. 31 2017, or (B) the property received by the taxpayer in the exchange is received on or before Dec. 31,
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2017, eliminating personal property LKE from the tax code will create uncertainty and could detrimentally impact capital investments. One challenge facing the industry includes lack of action on a federal infrastructure bill. Everyone in Washington says they want a long-term bill, but so far we’ve seen nothing. We are anxious for Congress to take responsibility for maintaining and improving infrastructure, which are the backbone of our nation and a prime driver of jobs and the economy. This is one place Congress needs to be bold.
station or GPS with your Android phone or tablet. Say good bye to propriety file formats and expensive software maintenance agreements. Lead the pack with innovation and cut costs. Tour XPAD WinCE or Android ver-sion by downloading the app from Google playstore. Or contact: Phoenix Geosystems Survey Supplies, 12746 Cimarron Path Ste. 117 210.451.5995 for demo and pricing.
Genie
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enie continues to round out its Super Boom product family by announcing the new Genie® SX-150 telescopic boom lift. Offering uncompromising productiv-
Sept: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment
Another constant challenge is workforce education and training. Finding technicians and employees in general in the construction industry is difficult. That’s why AED and the AED Foundation invest heavily in promoting our 32 Accredited Programs at colleges and universities across North America. Not all technicians are created equal. The AED Foundations Certified Technician Program allows technicians to earn a professional industry certification by successfully passing an online technical assessment. An AED Certification is widely considered to be the “Gold Standard” in the industry. Finally, as we all know, financial challenges continue to squeeze margins including the cost of equipment and labor and the cost of acquiring capital. AED members are dealing with this by getting leaner and making better use of technology. Speaking of technology, the emergence of telematics is a key shift in our industry. Telematics allow our members to stay ahead of the game in maintenance, which reduces down time. It also affords them the ability to properly utilize resources, thereby reducing idle time. Another major shift in our industry is the move from equipment sales to equip-
Geomax
eoMax Positioning provides a comprehensive portfolio of quality construction and surveying instruments, and software. Easy-to-use GPS/ GNSS instruments, total stations, software, lasers, levels and accessories. As a part of Hexagon Corporation; a global technology group with strong market positions within measurement technologies, GeoMax has access to state of the art development and production facilities worldwide. A prime advantage and unique to GeoMax instruments is the flexibility that the open sourced operating platform provides. Leading the market with software innovative and intuitive technology advancements. As the first to integrate Android technology Geomax XPAD software has a simplified graphic user interface which operates the full range of GeoMax precision measurement equipment. Prefer Windows? XPAD WinCE is also an available operating system. Choose your data collector and choose your software from multiple options. With either platform; WinCE or Android, the end user has the flexibility to choose from a variety of data collection devices and an assortment of software applications that are suited to the end users unique job requirements. Yes you can use your android phone; all the rage in Europe now available in the United States. Utilize the full advantage of Android technology and operate your total
Construction Equipment ment rentals. This is partially due to the lack of a federal infrastructure bill. Our equipment is too valuable and construction firms don’t want to make large investment and have the equipment sit idle, so they rent it when they need it. Unfortunately, the risk is that when things really start to boom, they may not have the equipment they need. All in all, our industry remains a very rewarding place to work. Our members provide good paying jobs, in demand careers, and the opportunity for advancement. Plus the satisfaction that comes with building and rebuilding America and strengthening our economy. In closing, how do we remain successful? By educating our workforce, staying ahead of the technology curve, and investing in people and the communities we live and work in. As an association, AED is committed to providing the tools necessary for our members to thrive. Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) is an international trade association representing companies involved in the distribution, rental and support of equipment used in construction, mining, forestry, power generation, agriculture and industrial applications. -cmw
Case
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ore power. More productivity. More value. Introducing the C Series, CASE’s expanded line of mini excavators that now includes six models from 1.7 to 6.0 metric tons. These compact excavators are ideal for use in tight spaces and applications such as general and residential construction, landscaping and utility work. C Series mini excavators provide parallel, unobstructed operation near obstacles, tree lines and foundations thanks to their zero, short-tail or conventional swing design and independent center swing boom that can be offset left or right within an operating range. Offered in zero tail swing, short-radius or conventional configurations, C Se-
tion, maintenance, telecommunications, gas and oil refineries, chemical maintenance, and large utility applications. Offering excellent productivity benefits, the SX-150 boom lift reaches its full platform height of 151 ft in under three minutes. The boom offers four programmable height settings of 150 ft, 135 ft, 120 ft and 100 ft for rental versatility, and a 10 ft horizontal and vertical rotating jib allows for quick local repositioning of the platform. With a horizontal outreach of 80 ft, this boom also offers 70 ft of outreach at 120 ft of platform height. The SX150 provides unrestricted ROM with a lift capacity of 750 lbs for a maximum of two people. A standard 7.5 kW on-board genity, reliability and serviceability, this boom erator powers tools, including welders. lift provides industry-leading capacity Weighing 50,700 lbs, with a tail swing of 3 through the full working envelope. The ft 6in and ground clearance of 15 in, the new SX-150 boom lift is a fit for construc-
ries mini excavators feature an adjustable boom with the ability to offset left or right to work closer to buildings and obstacles. The CX17C features a variablewidth undercarriage and adjustable blade capable of passing through most common gates and for working on confined jobsites, close to buildings and in developed areas. C Series mini excavators provide parallel, unobstructed operation near obstacles, tree lines and foundations thanks to their zero, short-tail or conventional swing design and independent center swing boom that can be offset left or right within an operating range. Contact ASCO for more information at 800-687-0008 or ascoeq.com. boom lift is transportable on a standard trailer; no over-size permits are required. The boom uses an identical, fieldproven chassis design to the SX-180 and ZX-135 boom lifts. External sensors and manifolds are protected under steel covers that are easily removed providing excellent service access. The unit uses a Deutz® Tier 4 final engine with no regen or DPF. The rotating jib worm drive reduces backlash while increasing reliability and offers 60 degrees of horizontal motion for increased working area. The SX-150 boom lift contains hydraulic hard lines wherever possible to increase durability while a four stage hydraulic filtration system ensures cleanliness. For more information contact H&E Equipment Services at 877-700-RENT.
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Austin Construction News • December 2017
NEXT TH MON Kidd Roofing
Construction Forecast
If you would like to represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact your Austin Editor for an Interview Kim Estes (512) 807-8010 AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net
Bobcat
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ew Bobcat T595 compact track loader boasts the most horsepower in its size class. The new 74-horsepower Bobcat® T595 compact track loader features increased horsepower and performance for pushing or digging applications, without the need for operators to move up to a bigger machine. With a 2,200-lb rated operating capacity and improved lift force, the T595 compact track loader can help increase jobsite productivity, plus it can move or carry more material with an attachment to increase jobsite efficiency. At 68 in. wide with a standard bucket, the loader’s compact size allows it to work in confined spaces, move confidently within a congested worksite or travel between homes. Its rubber tracks cause minimal ground disturbance for fewer repairs to established lawns when a project is complete. The Bobcat T595 compact track loaders come with standard controls (hands and
feet). The Advanced Control System (ACS) and Selectable Joystick Controls (SJC) are available as options. Available on the new T595 is a 2-Speed travel option that allows operators to choose between low and high travel speeds to better match the jobsite conditions and tasks. A best-in-class travel speed of 10.4 mph in high range boosts jobsite productivity. This option will become available during summer of 2016. With the introduction of the T595 compact track loader, Bobcat Company now offers its customers 10 unique compact track loader models to choose from. Bobcat Company introduced its first compact track loader — the 864 — in 1999 and has since made significant refinements to the machines, including a new undercarriage in 2015, to increase the machines’ performance and jobsite productivity. Log on to www.bobcatcce.comfor more details or to contact a sales rep!
YANMAR
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he ViO35-6A is our most popular model and the most innovative, fuel-efficient excavator YANMAR has ever built. The advanced technology zero tail swing ViO35-6A features an electronically controlled Tier 4 engine and dramatically evolved hydraulic system. It also comes standard with ECO and Auto-Deceleration modes for even more operational efficiency. All of which means the ViO35 delivers up to 20% less fuel consumption than previous models, without sacrificing any of the legendary Yanmar power that’s made it the most productive digging, lifting, do-anything excavator you can buy. Advanced Operation Control System The digital Smart Assist Remote control system comes standard on The ViO35-6A. This system allows you to monitor up to three months of operational history. Because this state-of-the art system centralizes control of machine operation information and maintenance support infor-
mation, it’s never been easier to maintain a timely, efficient service process. Quick Coupler System The standard hydraulic Quick Coupler makes changing buckets fast and easy. With the exception of fitting and removing the safety lock pin, the entire operation is performed electronically while you’re seated in the comfort of the cab. Less hassle. Less downtime. More productivity. Easier To Service Than Your Car The innovative design puts virtually every major component – engine, hydraulic system, starter, generator, battery – right at your fingertips. Because routine filter and grease fitting checks are easier and quicker, you can perform them more often, extending the life of and improving the durability of your machine. For more information contract H&E Equipment Services at 877-700-RENT.
Caterpillar
Cat 259D Compact Track Loader Unmatched Performance & Comfort
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o matter the size or model, every Cat® Compact Track Loader features a suspended undercarriage for superior traction, extra comfort, exceptional stability, longer track life, & lower ground pressure. Easy-to-use pilot-operated controls keep you more productive throughout the work day. Our high performance powertrain, and advanced hydraulic system, can handle the toughest working conditions. The Cat® 259D CTL with the reliable
Cat® C3.3B turbocharged engine delivers solid performance & requires no diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). When coupled with this powerhouse & the suspended undercarriage your operators will sit in the finest work station available to make long days seem shorter. HOLT CAT® has a large inventory of new and used Cat machines, Cat certified technicians and 24/7 Parts availability. Call today for special financing 877-7054619 or visit HoltCat.com.
MEC
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EC Aerial Work Platforms, a name synonymous with robust, unique, innovative, state-ofthe-art lift designs for over 40 years introduced its new Micro Scissors line recently which included a 13 foot platform height, lightweight, low cost, feature rich scissors lift that literally took what was long considered a commodity product line and generated new excitement and enthusiasm! ‘Rock Star’ has been the term used by tradesman to describe this versatile little Red machine. The smooth, quiet, precise, infinite proportional controls combined with a very short wheelbase, super tight turning radius, extension deck, and two person capacity has made it a requirement on big jobs where protecting the vertical surfaces and door mechanics is mission critical, like hospitals and laboratories. The fact that the machines utilize Direct Electric Drive, dramatically increases operating cycle efficiencies while reducing hydraulic oil, fittings, and the risk of environmental hazards – including sealed, maintenance free AGM batteries. With the 1900 lbs. weight and super compact dimensions it can fit into elevators and, together with options of an on-board inverter, take productivity to the next level – literally. MEC has responded to customer demand to take this concept to the next higher class and as a result the Micro 19
has been introduced! The Micro 19 has kept the original concept of lightweight, extremely low floor load pressure, high efficiency, and super compact dimensions. It has the same works-in-a-drawer chassis component layout and, in keeping with the 13 foot machine, uses a construction duty, scissor linkage that puts the rigidity in a whole different league to a mast machine. Couple this to a platform that has enough space for two workers in real life not just on paper and you have a machine that can do the work of a conventional 19 footer yet fit into so many more tight places. For more information contact H&E Equipment Services at 877-700-RENT.
Austin Construction News • December 2017
Page 13
Association Calendar
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC
Associated Builders & Contractors
Dec. 6: Christmas Party, Abel’s on the Lake, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. For more info, call 512-719-5263
Link Belt
ACEA
ough Terrain Crane 75ton | 70 mtRemarkable control, reliability and capacity performance For more information contact HOLT Crane and Equipment 877-275-1520 or visit HoltCrane.com
IEC CENTEX
Independent Electrical Contractors Central Texas
Austin Contractors & Engineers Assn.
Dec. 8: Christmas Party & Casino Night, Norris Conference Center, 2525 W. Anderson Ln., 6-10pm. For more info, call David Johnson at 512-832-1333
AGC
National Assn. of the Remodeling Industry
Dec. 14: Monthly Luncheon, Dave & Busters, 9333 Research Blvd. For more info, call 512-836-3140 or contact avery. ambrose@aceatx.com
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the Domain, 10910 Domain Dr. #100. For more info, Wendy Lambert at 512-2556373
Associated General Contractors
Dec. 12: Holiday Party, Zach Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd., 5:30-9pm. For more info, call 512-442-7887
NARI
Dec. 6: Social, Durango Doors, 2112 Rutland Dr. #178, 4-7pm. For more info, contact Kayvon Leath at 512-375-2601 or kayvon@austinnari.org NAWIC
AGC
Associated General Contractors of Texas
Dec. 12: El Paso Christmas Party, 6-8pm. For more info, call Danielle Kraus at 512478-4691 AGC
Associated General Contractors Heavy Highway
Dec. 4: Holiday Party, The Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., 6-10pm. For more info, call 512-478-4691 or email kogden@agctx.org
National Assn. of Women in Construction
Dec. 6: Chapter Dinner Meeting, Big Daddy’s Burger & Bar, 9070 Reseach Blvd., 5:30-8pm. For more info, contact Taryn Ritchie at taryn.ritchie@ryancompanies. com SEAoT
Structural Engineers Assn. of Texas
Dec. 7: Maggiano’s Little Italy, 10910 Domain Dr. #100. For more info, call 512-3012744
CTSA
Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.
• • • • • • •
38’ - 142’ (11.6 - 43.3 m) FIVE SECTION FULL-POWER BOOM BOOM LENGTH AND CAPACITY OUTREACHES/OUTLIFTS ALL COMPETITION SIMPLE OPERATION – 2 BOOM EXTEND MODES LINK-BELT PULSE 2.0 – a 10 IN FULL COLOR TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY WITH TOTAL CRANE OPERATING SYSTEM V-CALC (VARIABLE-CONFINED AREA LIFTING CAPACITIES) AND TELEMATICS FULL LED LIGHTING PACKAGE WITH 3 ON-BOARD CAMERAS TRANSPORTS AT UNDER 99,000 LBS | 44 905 KG
NEXT TH MON
Dec. 12: Holiday Dinner. Maggiano’s in
Construction News ON LOCATION
Tough stuff
Construction Forecast
A safer Texas
I
n 1991, the Texas Legislature took a stance on the skyrocketing workers’ compensation rates that affected Texas companies in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.This company originally known as the Texas Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund, would later become known as Texas Mutual Insurance. On June 5, 2001, Governor Rick Perry changed the company’s name by signing into law HB 3458 and authorizing the company to operate as a domestic mutual insurance company. The bill would maintain constitutional mandates that the company remain a competitive force in the marketplace, guarantee the availability of workers’ compensation insurance in Texas, and act as an insurer of last resort for those companies unable to find coverage elsewhere. Since 2007, Texas Mutual began to utilize a program created within its safety department called the Work Safe Texas Award Program to recognize policyholders whose commitment to employee safety sets them apart. “We wanted to recognize our customers who were providing outstanding safe-
ty services for their employees. We recognize these companies on an annual basis. Currently, we insure about 68,000 policyholders across the state and we recognize the top 200, so these are the best of the best,” says Regional Manager of Safety Services for the Austin region, Stacy Rose. “As a company, safety is a core value in our organization and we are very pleased that we are able to have this recognition reward program each year to highlight and bring the best of the best up to forefront and recognize them. It’s about keeping the workers safe so they are able to come to work and go home every day safely.” The award is handed out usually in the fall and this year, Selma based Alamo Crane Services Inc. is one of 45 companies of the 200 to receive the top safety award, the Platinum Safety Partner Award. Texas Mutual Insurance is workers’ compensation provider across the state of Texas. -cmw
Bobcat of Austin staff members on hand to help and provide service to customers are (L-R) Scott Tulloch, Jason Smuts, Bill Giessregen and Michael Stuart. - ke
Construction News ON LOCATION
Pride & joy
Service Rep. John Jasek; Parts Mgr. Thomas Kurowski, VP of Sales Bob Henry; and Parts Rep. Fernando Ugarte show off their equipment at Central Texas Equpment located in Pflugerville, TX. -cmw
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Austin Construction News • December 2017
FAKE NEWS W
hile working as a general laborer on a jobsite for a local contractor back in 2015, Justin Thyme answered the call of nature and headed straight to the nearest port-a-potty he could find. It was during that fateful visit that Justin was reminded of the horrors of the typically overused and underserviced relief stations that contractors are forced to endure. “I’m not sure if it was the odor or the visuals that prompted me to realize it, but I just knew that there must be a way to make this a more enjoyable experience while relieving oneself during working hours and forced to remain on site.” Thus, Squatter’s Right Services was formed, giving birth to the movement for a more luxurious temporary restroom adventure. Dedicated to making it a more comfortable stay while you go and knowing the strain that doing his business would do to his bottom line, Justin committed himself to doing all of the grunt work needed. He just kept pushing hard until he was able to produce a product that he could be proud of. The latest model comes complete with cushioned seat warmers, rear exhaust fans and TV monitors showing non-stop fishing, hunting and sports shows as well as sporting dry-erase walls, enabling graffiti to be wiped clean easily. “Business barely trickled in for the first year or so,” Justin adds. “But we’ve seen a streaming flow of new orders piling up recently.” In fact, Justin boasted that he just dropped off another big load just last week at a new project down south.
“In less than two years, we’ve grown to the second largest local supplier of portable toilets for commercial jobsites,” Justin explains. “Next year we are shooting to be number one but, for now, at least, we’re more than happy to be sitting in the number two position.”
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agic Hammers will soon be releasing their innovative new line of hammers on Dec. 1. What could possibly be new about hammers you ask? Well, these revolutionary hammers are made of recycled plastic and microchips that can detect the users strength in conjunction with the material in which the force of the strike is to be applied to. Instead of three to five strokes to hammer a nail, it can be done with one swing of the hammer, thus speeding up any job.
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ust Boots has introduced for the 2017 Holiday Season its holiday line a construction footwear ideal for the hardworking construction worker who wants to show his holiday spirit while still in compliance. This unique line of footwear offers curled steel toe boots complete with jingles attached, lit heels and furlined cuff. And, in case you are one of those individuals who like to coordinate your shoes with your belt, Just Boots also has a variety of stylish fur-lined tool belts to match.
continued from Page 1 — No place I’d rather be and see the projects that you have been a part of. I remember growing up and looking at the skyline. It’s very different now, knowing that my dad, my uncle and grandfather were a part of that change. I remember swelling with pride and I knew I wanted to be a part of that. I’ve always wanted to have my footprint on the city,” says Fabian. “My dad always said if you aren’t going to do it right, it’s not worth doing.” “I get real nostalgic about it. Seeing things that my dad built is just so impressive, not everybody can do that. It’s like doing it with style. There’s a lot that goes into it. There’s a technical side of it. It’s not just stacking bricks,” adds Adrian. “Driving in from Georgetown to S. Lamar this morning, I noticed the Starbucks we did, and as I drove I saw another and another. ‘Wow, we did that.’ It was such a great feeling driving by and seeing our work,” adds Steven. Fabian says he has always had an infinity towards art, and masonry to him is
art. Anybody can stack bricks together, but you have to have a true passion for it and an inclination for it to be artistic. Art is discipline and passion. You have to feel it to get that look you are trying to achieve and masonry definitely has that aspect to it,” says Fabian. Truly a tight-knit family, the three brothers live within miles of each other. Their children all are around the same age. Fabian has a 4-year-old and a 2-yearold. Adrian has a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old and Steven has a 5-yearold and a 3-year-old. “In construction there is always ups and downs, but being with them makes it bearable,” say Steven. “Working with family can be a little intense,” says Adrian. “But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It feels like home. This is where I’m supposed to be.” Perez Masonry is a specialty subcontractor in Georgetown servicing Austin and the surrounding areas. –cmw
continued from Page 1 — American made Taught the value of a strong work ethic at an early age, the value of being honest, doing the right thing and respecting everyone is something McKean holds dear to him. Within the first three months, the new owner and his partners targeted a handful of key customers to rebuild relationships using the values that were handed down to him. Building the relationships within those companies has enabled Metalink to grow and expand. The company has nearly doubled in revenue through the commitments it has made to their customers. “I tell my customers, everyday I will continue to earn your business.” As a result, Metalink was recently presented the 2017 Preferred Partner award from White Construction, and according to McKean, “it validated to me that we are on the right track. This solidifies what we want to be. We want to be one of the most reputable fence companies there are, period. We want people to say ‘we really
enjoyed working with them, they do great work. They’re committed to the customer. They do what they say they will do.’ We will do what we say we will do.” McKean’s vision is to provide a quality American made product crafted with pride. “I take a lot pride in offering a product made of American steel. I ran external manufacturing for 15 years. I took US manufacturing from the states to Asia and it bugged me every step of the way. Now I have the opportunity, in a small, way to produce a product with American made steel. Yes, we could purchase material cheaper from Asia or outside the U.S., but I prefer American made steel. We want to continue to build a great company, built with American made products and built right here in the U.S.A.” Metalink is a Texas HUB vendor, manufacturer, supplier, and installer of quality steel products in Austin. -cmw
continued from Page 1 — IE2 helps classic favorite go modern
On the left, one of two bar spaces in ATX Cocina.
The $2 million project was completed within seven months for its opening on July 17. Carroll notes, “We forged a great relationship with the owner and architect throughout this project. Not only were we committed to meeting the owner’s schedule and budget, but we were invested in bringing life to the vision the architect had of this space.” Elaborating on the relationship dynamics, Carroll says that IE2 established trust with the architecture team and took requested design modifications in stride and worked diligently to incorporate those ideas into the project with as little impact to the budget and schedule as possible. “In the end, the architect’s vision came to life and the result is a beautiful space,” she comments. The appreciation was mutual as Taylor adds, “Fey Carroll was receptive to design changes that came up fairly late in the game, and she had successful strategies for
implementing these changes during construction.” Also from IE2 were Steve Forehand, senior superintendent, and Alicia Cole, assistant project manager. IE2 Construction Inc., Austin, is a general contractor specializing in projects in health care, interiors, ground-up, multi-family, Austinpolitan (high-end finishes, restaurants, breweries) and public works. - ke
ATX Cocina features an open concept space.
Austin Construction News • December 2017
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It starts with
Summer job blessings
L-R: Dustin Cooper, Christian Rosa and Owner Aaron Reeves. -cmw
L-R: Employees Julie Petri and Megan McCray, at DIRTT Environmental Solutions.
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apitol DIRTT – stands for (D)oing (I)t (R)ight (T)his (T)ime. Doing what right? Well, interior construction of course. DIRTT uses its proprietary 3D gaming software ICE, to design, manufacture, and install fully customized prefabricated interiors. Megan McCray, manufacturer’s representative for Austin and San Antonio, explains how DIRTT provides levels of customization and flexibility as well as faster, cleaner construction. McCray has been with DIRTT for 12 years. DIRTT was formed in 2004 Her and her colleague Julie Petri, business development at DIRTT, just returned from Phoenix. While recalling their non-DIRTT days, Petri takes us back 23 years ago where she was working in architecture and interior design. She remembers the frustration within the whole construction and design industry.
“I was fortunate to go out to Calgary in 2016. I was familiar with DIRTT, but that trip blew me away,” Petri adds. “It excited me enough that I was ready to leave a 23-year career.” Petri joined DIRTT in Feb. 2017. In 2005 DIRTT planted their seeds in the Austin area. Today, Workplace Resource is their exclusive partner both in Austin and San Antonio. McCray also says Workplace Resource has philanthropic outreaches including Austin Gives, a non-profit program. Steve Visser, the president of Workplace Resource is a chair for Austin Gives, reaching out to local business and partners, while giving back 1 percent profit back to community programs. DIRTT Environmental Solutions is an interior construction design service in Texas. -lv
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rowing up in Florida, you would think that a young man would spend his summers at the beach, basking in the sun, checking out the bikinis, catching a wave, etc. Not Aaron Reeves. He spent his summers doing framing work. After he graduated he jumped right into the workforce doing what he knew best, framing. Jumping from job to job learning different aspects of the construction business, Reeves began working for a home improvement company that saw his potential and soon he became an estimator for the company. In 2002, Reeves decided to jolt into an enterprise of his own. The home improvement company he had worked for gave him the extensive knowledge he needed to start A & A 1st Choice. After a few years in business, Florida was hit by a hurricane, creating massive damage to homes, condos and apartment complexes. Reeves had more work than he needed. His company was growing at a steady rate. Unfortunately, Reeves would find out that nothing
lasts forever and the economy in Florida, as with the rest of the nation, was devastated by the 2008 economic down turn. A & A 1st Choice lost 80 percent of its business that year. Reeves parents had moved from Florida to Texas in 2000. Speaking regularly with his dad, his father would tell him about Texas and how the market seemed to be booming and how great the big state of Texas was. It didn’t take much convincing. In 2010, Reeves packed up and moved to Texas introducing A & A 1st Choice to the Austin market. “Getting started in Texas was much harder. I didn’t know anyone. I started doing some work for a local home improvement center, introducing me to more and more people. Now we are going strong. I want to build long-lasting relationships with my clients. We will take care of everything from finish-out to maintenance.” A & A 1st Choice is an interior finish-out subcontractor servicing in Round Rock servicing Austin and the surrounding area. -cmw
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Austin Construction News • December 2017