Covering the Industry’s News
Texas Style
P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290
PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT #1451
Change Service Requested
San Antonio H Austin Dallas/Fort Worth H Houston
Dallas/Fort Worth
CONSTRUCTION
™
The Industry’s Newspaper Page 19
A
www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 16 H Number 3 H MARCH 2018
Crisscross
Betting on better
Cleo Armstead, public relations and operations manager with owner Bryan Waddle of Cross Timbers Equipment
Trinity Drywall & Plastering Systems’ Brad Bryant
“construction humor Monday” is something we could all use. Every Monday Cleo Armstead, public relations and operations manager at Cross Timbers Equipment, is making folks laugh out loud on social media with their jokes and favorite Internet finds. What was once a one-man band is now a tag team duo. Bryan Waddle, the company owner, brought Armstead on board in June. “He has always maintained relationships with customers, so I’m just jumping in and helping maintain,” she says. Armstead hit the ground running and loves it. Bryan accidentally came into the construction industry when it found him, but there is no accident with the company’s success. “I had a career change sev-
eral years ago and I started a website selling equipment and it evolved from there.” Waddle and Armstead are both alumni from the University of North Texas. Armstead found it appropriate to represent their company with the mean green. “Before Cleo came along it wasn’t quite this green,” Waddle admits while laughing. “She’s taken the green to a whole new level. All I had was a green shirt.” Attending the same university isn’t the only thing in common these two have. They both enjoy sporting events and have had the pleasure to attend Dallas Stars and Mavericks games together. continued on Page 18
B
rad Bryant knew he could bring “better” to his industry, and it motivated him to establish Trinity Drywall & Plastering Systems in 2006. “I had spent 15 years with a small drywall contracting company and later provided leadership for a large drywall company in the Metroplex,” Bryant says. “I decided to leave because I thought there was a better way for a drywall company and a plaster company to be integrated into one team.” The general contracting community seemed to agree and welcomed Bryant’s venture with open arms. “We had small goals in our first full year of business. We put in place about $30 million worth of work, which is a lot faster than I anticipated,” Bryant, who is
president and CEO of the company says. “Things were going along very well, and we were trying to get the right people to the right places doing the right things. Then the great recession hit [in 2009]. My goal is that when things are bad, be prepared for when things get better, and when things are good, be prepared for when things get bad. So when things were bad in the DFW construction market, we tried to work on our people and our processes to make them ready for whenever things turned around. When it did, we were able to capitalize on it.” Although Bryant’s company has thrived since it survived the recession, he has been continued on Page 18
Senior high-end living
I
f you’ve been driving in Collin County on The Dallas North Tollway over the past few years you’ve seen plenty of cranes and construction sites in the Plano Legacy area. But if you drive even further north you will suddenly find that the construction doesn’t end in Plano. Next up is Frisco’s $5 billion dollar mile. One of the areas that make this $5 billion dollar mile special is the highly anticipated Wade Park. Wade Park is a 175acre mixed-use development that seeks to redefine upscale elegance in a contemporary, eclectic setting. A recent project finished in the Wade Park area sits The Aspens at Wade Park, a 162-unit, three-story, 139,670-sf senior living facility, as well as a 5.77-acre site development. This is an attractive high-end independent living apartment complex with clubhouse, courtyard and pool, garages and carports. Other features included in
the project: a full commercial kitchen; wine bar; salon; exercise room; study; theatre; dog wash station and library. Aspens Senior Living decided to use Spring Valley Construction for the project due to their prior experience with senior living facilities. The company has worked with several other clients like Aspens Senior Living so they were great for the job. This isn’t one of your senior living facilities of the ‘80s and ‘90s says Spring Valley’s Jim Archer who is the CEO and has a 40+ plus leadership role with the company. What made the project special is that the logistics plan required beefing up the slab leading into the courtyard from the parking lot in order to create a corridor to transport material to the courtyard. The engineer-approved redesigned layout was drawn in order for the trusses to withstand the span needed for heavy The Aspens at Wade Park, Frisco, TX
continued on Page 18
Page 2
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
A great addition
Protection from above
Michael O’Hara and Kelly Smith
K
elly Smith has always loved math and science. As a kid, she relished helping her dad, who owned electrical contracting companies, work on drawing take-offs and estimates. As an adult, it also made her a perfect fit to take over the family business, All Tech Electric LLC. After graduating from Ohio State University with an electrical and computer engineering degree, Smith worked as a substation engineer for a local power company and managed multi-million dollar IT projects from large corporations. Still, her dad, Michael O’Hara, never pushed her into joining his company, even when Smith relocated to Texas for a job and he established his company’s third branch in McKinney. When O’Hara’s partner decided to exit the business, it was Smith who proposed that she join her dad in running the company. Dallas’ booming economy, opportunities for women in construction, her electrical background and her corporate experience made her a natural
fit, and her dad agreed. Smith soon became majority owner and she will take full ownership within 5 years pending her father’s retirement. Since joining, Smith has transitioned the company’s headquarters from Ohio to Texas, strategically quadrupled the McKinney staff, and secured HUB and WBE certifications. The company also recently formed a joint venture with a respected name in the energy industry. With the McKinney office’s 5-year anniversary and the company’s 15-year anniversary this year, Smith anticipates more good things to come. “Obviously growth is a main goal and we want to be very strategic about it. Building relationships is important to us as well as finding customers that appreciate our quality of work and highly-skilled electricians that we have on our team.” All Tech Electric LLC, an electrical and energy services company serving commercial and industrial customers, is located in McKinney. – mjm
Top L-R: Scott Fillebrown (Head of Business Development), John Bryant (General Manager) and Randy Barber (Owner); Bottom L-R: Christian Landers (Head of Finance), Brad Davis (Head of Operations) and Bill Chinners (Visionary/Partner).
S
ince he was a teenager repairing roofs on homes and apartments, Lone Star Roofing, Welding & Construction (LSR) partner and president Bill Chinners says working in construction is “all I’ve ever done.” “In 1992 we started our business, and we worked mostly in the multifamily world. In the multifamily world, some people consider it commercial, some call it residential — it’s kind of in between, where there are large structures, many with flat roofs that you’ll find on commercial buildings,” Chinners added. Now Chinners is the head of a large Van Alstyne-based company supplying rehab and restoration services throughout Texas and surrounding states. About 8 years ago, LSR added “Commercial” to their name as more retail buildings (big box and small box stores) and industrial warehouses were added to their portfolio. Chinners is at the top of the organi-
zational chart at LSR. With offices in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, he relies on his general manager and team leaders over business development, finance, and operations to oversee the company. He says his official title is president, but he modestly admits that at the office they call him “The Visionary.” Building good relationships is very important to him both professionally and personally. When he is not busy leading LSR to new heights, he is building good relationships with people in his ministry where he makes plans for and mobilizes construction teams to build homes for families in a remote village in rural Guatemala. He and his teams have made two trips to the village so far, and they are leaving on their next one in late February. “There is a lot of physical poverty there… but we are starting to build a relationship, a little bit of trust,” Chinners reports. -alk
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Page 3
Concrete suits her
Uplifted
Ashley Altum makes sure her Ashley Concrete crew has fun on their jobsites.
F
rom high heels to hard hats, Ashley Altum, the former CEO of Worlds of Wow, who manufactures kidsthemed environments, has had to change a bit. When the company sold in 2017, Altum bought the assets of a residential concrete company. Full of ambitious plans, she made a hard shift to become a commercial concrete contractor, targeting some of DFW’s top general contractors. “We want to work with people we can trust, people we can partner with to turn out a high-quality product as a team, every single time,” Altum says. “I have sat with management teams in some incredible organizations and told them why I felt Ashley Concrete was a good fit,” Altum continues. “We work on a specific project size. We know what we are good at, how we do it, and why we all do it. We are working on fewer projects for fewer people so we can do them better.” One year in, Altum has had to prove herself in the industry, both as a newcomer and a woman. Although she struggles to locate fellow female construction business owners, Altum intuitively navigates challenges. She relies on the expertise of industry veterans, including company vice president James McWhorter and general superintendent Paul Stewart. She doesn’t tolerate jobsite negativity, insists on equal treatment for all employees, asks every question she can think of and personally goes out to job sites to address any client concerns. To keep a lean-running operation, she wears many hats, putting her Masters degree in business administration and CPA license to good use. Sometimes compared to the Energizer Bunny, Altum admits she “intimidates people” with her energetic positive approach, but says, “I won’t stop. Our crews have fun on the jobsite. We are different; we care about one another, we trust each other to do what is expected of
Dallas H Fort Worth
a top-performing company.” She says almost every other commercial concrete contracting company is owned by someone who worked in the field, has a construction degree or is a laborer who worked their way up to their position. “The difference is that I come from a financial background,” Altum explains. “Strategy, planning, watching numbers, knowing where we are on every project through financials, metrics, policies, procedures, safety, the actual health of the organization – that’s what I think makes us different. I can hire smart concrete guys with degrees who know the things I don’t know. I can offer them the financial background to try and make our projects better every single time.” While Altum hopes to grow the company, she has her eye on quality, not quantity. “Our plan is to grow our revenue and brand very strategically in size and profit, but I don’t care about being the biggest. I want our reputation to be – financially and operationally – as a top performer in our industry. We’re going to give clients what they ask for every single time. It has really made people take a hard look at us. I think that’s what people are looking for in concrete, somebody who actually performs to the standards they say they can. “We are caregivers; we’re not trying to be the ruler,” she adds. “Ashley Concrete cares about our customers, our people and our projects. Without successful, long-lasting relationships and a track record of success in the field, we are no one. I want to thank every single customer, employee, vendor, and friend who has been there to support and navigate us through this incredible and challenging journey.” Ashley Concrete is a turnkey concrete contractor in Grapevine. –mjm
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
If you are a construction-related company in the DFW area and would like an article about your company, your personnel or your event, call us for an interview. There is absolutely no charge for interviews, articles and photos.
Call 210-308-5800 or email information to: AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol Wiatrek Production Manager . . . . Helen Greenwood Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terri Adams Account Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Dana Calonge Editors
Carol Wiatrek Lexie Velasquez
Daniel Zulli Reesa Doebbler
Contributing Editors
Melissa Jones-Meyer Ann Keil Jesse Abercrombie DFW Area Counties Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties. Add’l Counties for Digital Subscriptions: only Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker & Rockwall. Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.ConstructionNews.net
DFWeditor@ConstructionNews.net SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net Visit our Website to sign up for a free monthly Digital Subscription www.ConstructionNews.net The Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News (ISSN 1547-7657) is published monthly by Construction News Ltd., dba Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction related companies in the Dallas/ Fort Worth metropolitan area. 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 Dallas ★ Fort Worth 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. ©2018 Construction News, Ltd.
Augie Arreola, Karla Arreola, Jorge Martinez and Austin Arreola
T
raveling to Florida for a convention, there is always wiggle room for a visit to Disney World. Then there will be a company trip to Vegas in April. Jorge Martinez, general manager of Dock & Door Systems Inc. looks forward to the Vegas shows. The company is family-owned. “We’ve been in the industry for over 30 years and the fun fact is we are family and we get together now more often than ever because of the business,” says Martinez, brother-in-law to the president. The president of the company Augie Arreola started back in 1988 while going to college part-time. He worked parttime for a dock equipment company. Headquartered in Pharr and located in Grand Prairie, the company has grown to more than one location. The other location is in Mexico. The company name in Mexico is Dock & Door Systems de Mexico. Arreola says the company is still growing. “We continue to look for talented people that have been in the industry for a long time and can help us move in the direction that we want.” Arreola says they all look forward to continuing to learn about the new trends and what else they can provide to their customers. With family behind the door, the future plans of opening a new company called, Over Head Door of South Texas, looks hopeful. Arreola says they look to open up in Laredo. There are also plans to expand to San Antonio and Houston in the near future. Martinez shares that they have come a long way. Even though this is a new experience for him, the support from his family and coworkers keeps everyone working hard. With all the hard work the company and crew continue to do, Arreola shares his motive for the work environment. “I
like to see everybody with a smile on their face. The environment that we work in is so much fun. You have to have a passion for what you do.” The family-oriented folks stay cultural with keeping the company and its employees passionate. The office environment is relaxed, easy going and customer oriented. “There is no pressure, you know what you have to do to get things done. People come through and get it done.” A family who works together also grills together. The company will get together for a cookout at the warehouse. There is one guy who does the grilling and his name is Bam-Bam. He’s a good cook. He’s also good at fixing things with a sledgehammer. “We call him Bam-Bam because he likes to bam everything. He’s just that type of guy,” says Arreola (laughing). You guessed it; they call Arreola the jokester at the office. The family also shares similar hobbies. They enjoy racing cars and motorcycles, even fixing up old trucks. Arreola has some toys he’s currently working on – a ’72 Chevy pickup that he’s restoring. That one is fun to drive. “I’m also working on an ’86 Chevy pickup that I will start restoring in the next couple months.” After 30 years of experience, his takeaway for others who relate to the industry is keep making sure you work at what you want. “Make sure you dot your “I”s and cross your “T”s. Don’t overlook anything and keep an open mind. Never say I can’t do it and always try your best to be the best at what you do.” He adds that is what will separate you from the rest of the guys. One thing that won’t be separating is this family. Dock & Doors Systems Inc. is a sales, service and installation company. –lv
Page 4
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Jeff Schuessler Owner
Ben Wallace Owner Site Barricades Fort Worth, TX
F
riendship, a solid business partnership and their valued team of employees are the keys to success for Jeff Schuessler and Ben Wallace, the owners of Site Barricades. Their approach seems to be working; their company is rapidly growing and is even being recognized in their community. How did you team up and start your company, Site Barricades? Jeff: Ben and I have both worked in the industry in different aspects – although not in barricades – for a while, and act-ually had worked together for a couple of years prior to starting Site Barricades. Ben owned a cabinet manufacturing facility, so he was on the residential side. I pursued other ventures in the construc-tion industry for several years, and decided that the barricade business was the next venture I wanted to become involved with. Ben and I had kept in touch after I left his business and we decided to go into business together. I pitched the idea to Ben, since he had previous small business experience as a company owner. We planned for about a year and a half and formed Site Barricades in 2014. Even though you had each other to help you through any challenges, was starting this new venture what you expected it to be? Jeff: In certain aspects, absolutely, and in other aspects, no. There is a joke that Ben and I often make, that we both are a CEO and a project manager and a janitor, wearing all of the hats – that part we expected when we started. Something that surprised me, and I’m sure Ben as well, is that just answering your phone, being where you say you’re going to be when you’re going to be there, and doing the basic things has proved to be the most valuable business practice we’ve had. Ben: Yes, it was what I expected, although the day-to-day administrative
tasks soon became overwhelming, so we learned early that we had to get help with that. In my previous experience in the cabinet business, I had already gone through a lot that Jeff hadn’t experienced, so that part to me wasn’t quite as much as a surprise as it was to Jeff. One of the things I didn’t expect was the growth rate. We were in a bit of a “hurry-up” mode when it came to hiring just to keep up with the business that we were getting. We were getting that rapid business growth because we were doing what we were saying we were going to do and getting a great response from all of the people we were talking to. We were making sure the opportunities we were getting weren’t just opportunities but the beginning of relationships. With every customer, we do our very best to treat each customer like they were our first. Three and a half years later, we still have personal relationships with a large majority of our customers. What do you feel the other partner brings to the table in this business? Ben: Jeff and I have commented multiple times, “Can you imagine us doing this without a partner?” We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the partnership side of it. It requires so much trust, so much time and so much energy where we can divide and conquer. What Jeff brought to the table was the experience side of this specific industry and simplifying it not only for me but simplifying it for everyone that works for us. Jeff: Ben leans on me for different aspects of business, and I lean heavily on Ben for his business acumen. He’s had the experience in running a small business. It doesn’t matter if he’s selling widgets or barricades; he applies his previous experience with it and brings a lot to the table in knowing what to expect starting out. I echo Ben on what he said about the partnership: There is no way we would be where we are today if I had started this by myself, or if Ben started this by himself. It’s been a true partnership. Ben: One thing is that we both brought good relationships to the table. Everything that we do and everything that we touch, we rely on our relationships that we either currently have or that we can go get. We want our customers and clients to know that we value our relationship with them more than we do the business. Ben: We also value our employees, especially our management staff. We would not be here without them. We were really fortunate to find the right group and we’re still going to build on that. Jeff: It’s clear we wouldn’t be here without our employees. We have the best employees in the barricade industry. Without them, it doesn’t matter how smart Ben and I are, what kind of contacts we have or what kind of relationships we have. We wouldn’t be here without them and their loyalty.
Together we network
Members of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) North Texas Chapter and TEXO gathered together for a fun-filled tournament at TopGolf on Feb. 15. L-R: 1st Place Winners: Beverly Reynal (ASA NTC), Matt Strong, Chad Holt, Jason Burrhus, Stephen Leask, Mehdi Ben-Ayed, Zepp (dog), Cameron Smith, and Meloni McDaniel (TEXO). -cmw
Site Barricades’ Ben Wallace and Jeff Schuessler
What advice would you have for someone who wants to start a business in the construction industry? Ben: The difference between a small business owner’s success and failure is too broad to say. But I would say, with apologies to Nike, if you’re not going to do it, quit talking about it. Jeff: Bring your work gloves and lunchbox to work every day. Also, be prepared to do whatever it takes to get your business off of the ground. Whether it is picking up a hammer or punching a calculator, be prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Ben: And know every aspect of your business.
Ben has a wife and two kids, so most of our time outside of work is spent with our families, whether it is baseball or basketball or coaching. That’s what the bulk of our time is spent on. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing anyway. As far as clear-the-mind-get-away kind of stuff, Ben and I both like to hunt, and Ben spends a lot of time in the outdoors. Ben: My family is the same as Jeff’s; when we get off of work, I don’t have many things to do that don’t include my family. It revolves around whatever they are involved in. I spend a lot of time in the outdoors with my two kids and teaching them that aspect of it as well as being involved in their sports activities.
What do you enjoy about your work? Jeff: Every day is truly different. We don’t have a typical day, a typical job or a typical customer. Every customer needs something different and every job requires something different. I guess that’s what I like most. Ben: What I like most is the uniqueness of each day and the relationships that we build, not only with our customers but also with our employees. Jeff: We really don’t see our employees as employees as much as we see them as co-workers.
What is your goal for Site Barricades? Jeff: The goal is to build something sustainable that is going to be around for a long time and for generations, for our kids and for our employees’ kids. We want to create a family-type environment where we treat this as a true family business, outside of just Ben and me, as something that is going to be around for a long time. Ben: We want to create an environment and a place to employ families. We have 25-30 employees; that is 30 families that we care about, and with the average family being three people, that is 90-100 people that we are trying to feed through this. We want to be able to do it more and continue to get better. It keeps us feeling like we need to do the work, and it eliminates the complacency.
With the company growing at such a fast rate, do you have time to have fun and bond with your employees? Jeff: All of the time! In fact, we probably do it to a fault. Whether it’s cookouts, going to the rodeo, hunting trips, concerts, parties at the office, or the soccer game we had last weekend in the yard, we do our best to build and maintain the morale within the different facets of the operations side. With so much work to do, and so much fun to be had in the office, what do you do when you have time outside of the office? Jeff: I have a wife and three kids, and
Do you have exciting news to share about Site Barricades? Jeff: On Feb. 20, we are one of three finalists for “Small Business of the Year” for the city of Fort Worth. After only three-and-a-half years in business, we weren’t anticipating that. It’s a big deal, and we’re really excited about it! Site Barricades in Fort Worth is a full-service traffic control and barricade company. – mjm
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Page 5
Air today, heat tomorrow
A
Dave and Amie Butts
ir Today Heating & Cooling got a fresh start on two fronts: it was a new beginning for owners Dave and Amie Butts, who bought the company 2 years ago. With that, the firm itself got a new business model with a more customer-focused outlook. Dave was in the IT trade, but grew tired of some of the out-sourcing that came with it. Thus, he set his sights on owning his own business. With his background in mechanical engineering, the HVAC direction was where he wanted to go. “I said, ‘Go for it,’” Amie laughed. “Little did I know I was going for it too!” So off into the world of HVAC they went. Air Today Heating & Cooling is a slight name change from the former company, but the Butts’ gave it totally new emphases. They have a new logo, new website and do a lot more marketing. The personal touch in marketing is a very important component in getting their word out. “Dave and I believe in networking and finding that trust with people,” Amie said. Air Today’s new direction also involved a “mission-based structure,” where they “do the right thing for the customer.” “We want to be known as a company with integrity,” she added. Before acquiring Air Today, Amie stayed at home with her three under 10-year-old kids for the previous 6 years.
Before that, she worked in executive management for the Aldi grocery chain. Despite being relatively newcomers to the world of HVAC, the Butts’ have 25-year HVAC veteran Kevin Robin heading the service department. Amie’s current role with Air Today is holding down the office front while others do the estimating and actual jobs. Amie “wears a lot of hats,” to include accounting, HR, customer service and hiring and firing. “All the fun stuff,” she said. Juggling all these varied responsibilities makes Amie feel the Mom of the company, even having to give the dreaded “Mommy look” when it’s needed. Speaking of being the mom, their three kids take up almost all available free time. The two boys are involved with scouting and pre-scouting, which results in a lot of camp outs, while their daughter participates in gymnastics and dance. Air Today’s 11 employees supported the neonatal ward at Plano Hospital this past Christmas. The company plans to be more involved with other civic and charity events in the future. Amie Butts’ advice to anyone wanting to enter into this business is to “believe in yourself. It’s hard work but worth the reward.” Air Today is an HVAC contractor in Plano, TX. -dsz
Now, bury the crane and we’ll have people wondering for years!
Page 6
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
BONDING Beware the payroll tax quicksand pit!
Indemnity Agreement: The worst contract ever?
Kathleen Dvorak, CPA RidoutBarrett San Antonio / Austin, TX
Eric Lesch, Principal/Bond Producer PCL Contract Bonding Agency Irving, TX
I
f an employer gets in deep with past due payroll taxes, especially if in excess of $24,999, it can be difficult to claw out of the quagmire. Getting back into compliance can be time consuming, labor intensive and expensive. The employer often needs assistance from a tax professional and penalties and interest can be very high. The IRS is strict when it comes to unpaid payroll taxes. They often see it as theft from employees’ paychecks (the employer withholds taxes from employee paychecks but keeps the money rather than pay it to the government on the employee’s behalf). The IRS does not take kindly to corporate owners claiming withholding on their personal tax returns for payroll taxes never submitted to the IRS.
vided is accurate. The Revenue Officer examines these records and determines how much the business and the owner (using IRS allowable standards for living expenses) can afford to pay. The IRS will investigate and research such things as asset ownership, equity in homes, social media and lifestyle in order to determine ability to pay. They will look for assets recently transferred or sold and want to know what became of the sale proceeds.
In addition to the business being held liable for the employee and employer payroll taxes, any individual the IRS determines to have been a responsible party, may also be held 100% personally liable for the Trust Fund Penalty. The Trust Fund Penalty is the Income Tax, Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from employees’ pay but not remitted to the IRS. In determining to whom they may assess Trust Fund Penalty, the IRS will interview everyone who had signature authority, paid bills or signed payroll reports. Unlike corporate shareholders, sole proprietors and partners in a partnership may be held personally responsible for both employer and employee taxes, rather than for just the Trust Fund Penalty.
A taxpayer will receive many IRS notices before the case goes to a Revenue Officer. These notices should never be ignored. Taxpayers should respond and express the desire to come into compliance, or retain a tax professional for guidance and to represent them before the IRS. Ignoring the notices may result in levies on bank accounts or on revenues owed from customers. The “final Notice of Intent to Levy” is an indication that it’s being assigned to a Revenue Officer for aggressive collection.
Unpaid balances of less than $25,000 may be eligible for the IRS Streamline process in which an installment payment plan can be established quickly and avoid having to provide the IRS with financial information. For balances of $25,000 or more, a Revenue Officer, whose primary job is collections, gets involved. Here’s where the quicksand grabs hold with ferocity. A tax lien is usually filed against property. This can be especially problematic as vendors and potential customers become aware of the lien. The Revenue Officer requires the taxpayer to provide a huge volume of financial documents on the business and its owners including financial statements, federal tax returns, lists of venders and customers, bank statements, loan documents, asset lists, lease agreements and more. The taxpayer is required to sign under penalties of perjury that the information pro-
The employer should avoid continuing to fall behind on current payroll taxes. The IRS refers to this as “pyramiding”. In order to negotiate a payment plan, the IRS will want to see that current payroll taxes are being paid. Collection action stops when a payment agreement has been reached, but the IRS may want the lien to remain in place to protect their interest. Penalty and interest continues to mount on unpaid balances and, although less severe, they will continue to accrue after an installment payment plan has been established. Employers are well advised to remain current and avoid getting sucked into the payroll tax quicksand pit! Kathleen Dvorak obtained her CPA license in 1988 while working in private industry. Kathleen went into Public Accounting in 2001. In 2005 she joined RidoutBarrett, an accounting firm with offices in San Antonio and Austin, and became a Shareholder in 2011.
A
s a bond agent, indemnity of the surety company by the contractor is typically one of the most difficult items we deal with and unfortunately the purpose of which is commonly misunderstood. Using it properly is important for setting yourself up for success when using
bonds to secure work. One of the main components in the foundation of a surety relationship is the contract between the contractor and the surety called the general indemnity agreement (GIA), or general agreement of indemnity (GAI). Indemnity is the guarantee to protect the surety from loss and reimburse the surety for any costs they may incur in the process of bonding. If you have had the pleasure of signing a GIA then you have probably gone through the various stages of disbelief and frustration as you read it. You think things like “What kind of sane person would sign this?”, “They must think I’m an idiot!” and “No way, I’m not doing it!” Then you get to the signature portion and realize, “My spouse has to sign this, too?” The GIA has language that gives the surety complete control and access to everything that a company or individual owns. As a contractor, it will likely be the most one-sided contract that you will ever sign. So then, why would anybody agree to it? The reason is a very simple one; you won’t get bonding unless you sign it. Ok, but do they really need personal indemnity? Typically, the answer to that is “Yes.” The primary purpose of personal indemnity is to keep your attention on your bonded projects. As the owner, you are likely the most qualified person in your business and if you disappear when times get tough the surety is going to have a very hard time investigating and completing the project without incurring a substantial loss. Personal indemnity is the best way to keep you involved in the process. The surety is not a contractor, they can lose money very quickly on a bad project and having you around to reduce their loss is a huge benefit to them. So much so, that a very smart and cooperative owner can greatly reduce the likelihood of a surety even coming back to them to collect for losses. Also, having personal indemnity allows them to worry less about the boundaries between your personal and company assets. With every person or entity that signs, more assets and worth can be brought to the support of the bondability of your business. The also means that you have more freedom in how you use your assets because they don’t have to be kept solely in the business. I promise to stick around and meet my obligations. Why do they need my spouse’s personal indemnity? Partly to make sure your spouse
knows what you are signing and partly because your spouse will likely gain control of your ownership in the event something bad happens to you. It also helps protect the surety from things that may have been withheld like other companies or trusts. Does everybody have to do personally indemnity with their spouse? Having personal indemnity of all owners, including spouses, is the standard way of getting indemnity in the surety business. Nearly all contractors receiving bonds, more than 95% of them, have full personal indemnity with spouses included, so it is very, very common. Does the surety really take over my business and my personal assets as it says they could at any time they wish? The agreement is very one-sided and does appear to give the surety very broad power to do many things that would be very bad for you. However, our experience with highly rated and professional surety companies is that they give you every chance to fix the problem and can provide very substantial help if asked. Remember, the GIA is intended to keep you willingly involved. Many of the things they have reserved the right to do are there for people that refuse to participate. So, do you just close your eyes, hold your nose, and sign it, or do you try to find a way around it? Well, that depends on your bargaining power. The main factors that give you leverage are your financial strength, past performance and hunger of the overall surety market. Your agent can pair you up with the best surety and help you determine what options you have. There are many options that range from full indemnity to just the indemnity of the company with no personal or outside indemnity at all. There are pros and cons to each and the right answer is not always the complete removal of all personal indemnity. Having full indemnity gives you the most bonding flexibility, while having no personal indemnity gives you the least exposure, but limits your bonding flexibility the most. If you are considering the sale of your business then the handoff from current owner to new owner can be tricky when bonding is involved. If you do a lot of bonding then it is crucial to the value of your business. Talk to your surety professional about it to see what makes the most sense for you.
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Page 7
Beware: Limitation of Liability clauses can be enforced
Is 911 your Confined Space Rescue Plan?
West W. Winter, Attorney The Winter Law Firm, PLLC San Antonio, TX
Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
C
O
onstruction contracts increasingly contain clauses which seek to limit one party’s potential liability or damages to the other. Such clauses may include express waivers of claims, rights or damages, no damages for delay clauses, waivers of consequential damages, and clauses which limit or cap a party’s available legal claims or potential monetary damages. While these clauses may seem unfair, particularly if the clause is being used against your company, Texas courts routinely recognize and protect the broad freedom to contract and will generally enforce these clauses. Texas courts also typically view participants in construction contracts as “sophisticated parties” who know the consequences of their contractual actions. Such clauses can have catastrophic consequences if your company is on the wrong side of a bargain where you have agreed to waive claims, rights, or damages or otherwise have agreed to a limitation of your opponent’s liability. Accordingly, the best time to address and mitigate the potential impact of these clauses is during the negotiation phase of your contracts before you have signed away your rights. Be aware that many of these clauses may be buried within other contract language or contained under contract headings which do not give adequate notice of the rights being compromised. It goes without saying that blindly signing any agreement without first reading and understanding all of the provisions contained therein or otherwise consulting with your attorney, could have significant adverse consequences for your business. If you find yourself on the wrong side of one of these clauses, there are some arguments, in addition to the standard defenses to contract enforcement, that can be asserted depending on the circumstances. While not an exhaustive list, these include that the clause is unenforceable because of public policy concerns, unconscionability, or ambiguity. For certain types of clauses, it may also be a defense to enforcement that the other party acted wrongfully or that the damages are not of the type which have been waived. Be aware that any time a party to a contract is attempting to avoid the consequences of such clauses, it will be an up-hill battle because, as stated above, courts routinely recognize and protect the broad freedom to contract. When a “no damages for delay clause” is in issue, Courts have recognized some exceptions to enforcement when the delay: (1) was not intended or contemplated by the parties to be within the purview of the provision; (2) resulted
from fraud, misrepresentation, or other bad faith on the part of one seeking the benefit of the provision; (3) has extended for such an unreasonable length of time that the party delayed would have been justified in abandoning the contract; or (4) is not within the specifically enumerated delays to which the clause applies. Courts have also recognized an exception “based upon active interference” with the contractor or other wrongful conduct including “arbitrary and capricious acts,” “without due consideration” and in disregard of the other parties’ rights. As it relates to a waiver of consequential damages, what constitutes “consequential” versus “direct” damages can be very fact specific. Legal precedent is also wide ranging and much confusion persists in the courts regarding the subject of consequential damages. This landscape allows for arguments to be made on both sides of most disputes which involve consequential damages. If you have agreed to a limitation of liability clause which the other side is attempting to enforce, it is advisable to consult with your construction law attorneys to determine whether any basis exists to defend against the enforcement of such contract provisions which adversely impact your ability to fully recover. West W. Winter, a LEED Green Associate, serves on the board of the Construction Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association and has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in San Antonio for Construction Litigation. The Winter Law Firm represents general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, in all phases of the construction process, from contract formation through dispute resolution, litigation, and collection. West may be reached via email: west@thewinterlawfirm.com.
We live in your world
Advertise in ours
210-308-5800 ★ www.ConstructionNews.net
SHA has developed a standard for Confined Spaces in Construction (29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA) for any space that meets all of the following criteria: Is large enough for a worker to enter; Has limited means of entry or exit; and Is not designed for continuous occupancy. One provision of the standard re- required confined spaces as well as the quires employers to develop and imple- ability to respond and conduct a rescue ment procedures for summoning rescue in a timely manner based on the site conor emergency services in permit-required ditions and is capable of conducting a confined spaces. An employer who relies rescue if faced with potential hazards on local emergency services for assis- specific to the space. Such hazards may tance is required to meet the require- include atmospheric hazards (e.g., flamments of §1926.1211 — Rescue and emer- mable vapors, low oxygen), electrocugency services. tion (e.g., unprotected, energized wires), OSHA recognizes that not all rescue flooding or engulfment potential, poor services or emergency responders are lighting, fall hazards, and chemical haztrained and equipped to conduct con- ards. The rescue service must also agree fined space rescues. When employers to notify the employer in the event that identify an off-site rescue service, it is the rescue team becomes unavailable. critical that the rescuers can protect their Employers must also inform the emeremployees. The emergency services gency responders of potential hazards should be familiar with the exact site lo- when they are called to perform a rescue cation, types of permit-required confined at the worksite; and provide emergency spaces and the necessary rescue equip- responders with access to all permit-rement. quired confined spaces. Such access may Calling emergency responders to include information on access routes, provide rescue services can be a suitable gates or landmarks, a project site plan if way of providing for rescues in a permit- necessary, and GPS coordinates if in a rerequired confined space. Preplanning mote location. will ensure that the emergency service is Additionally, employers should encapable, available and prepared. sure that the most efficient means to Prior to the start of the rescue work contact emergency responders is availoperation, employers must evaluate pro- able; any changes to the project site conspective emergency responders and se- ditions are communicated to the rescue lect one that has adequate equipment service; and emergency responders are for rescues, such as: atmospheric moni- willing to visit the site and conduct a joint tors, fall protection, extraction equip- training exercise with the employer. ment, and self-contained breathing apnatarajan.joann@dol.gov paratus (SCBA) for the particular permit512-374-0271 x232
Industry FOLKS José Flores Manager/sales Express Ready Mix Dallas, TX
W
hen José Flores talks about the long and winding road, it’s not just about his personal journey thus far; it’s about how he and his wife Patricia like to see the U.S. José’s story began in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, where he got his college degree in geology. From there the next step was the oil and gas fields of West Texas and New Mexico, where he specialized in hydrocarbons as they apply to drilling. This information is invaluable in oil and gas drilling. But José desired to expand his opportunities and he became interested in the construction business, looking into the concrete side of it. Setting his sights on the Dallas area, he and his wife Patricia bought some trucks and away they went. Thus, José went from working on all things under the ground to putting down concrete above the ground. Of course, it didn’t hurt things that their daughter Cynthia married a man who owns some concrete pumps. This makes a business one-stop shopping. It’s a family affair with Patricia handling sales and advertising and Cynthia taking charge of all the administration, like insurance and banking. Not only does son-in-law Ivan run the pumps, he is the in-house mechanic for the firm, keeping the trucks ship-shape and ready to roll. José runs the safety program and drums up sales for the firm.
When not laying concrete, José and Patricia like to drive on it. Thus, the journey takes them all over these United States to see wherever the roads lead. Not necessarily with a plan either; the duo sometimes like to just wing it and go and let the open road dictate their destinations. José and Patricia are fond of hitting Orlando and Miami on the east coast, then the pristine air and scenery of New Mexico out west. José’s favorite road trip and destination hot spot, however, is Viva Las Vegas. Now, José didn’t say exactly what he likes to do in Las Vegas, or if what he does in Vegas really stays in Vegas, but when he saw the Hoover Dam, he wished he could have gotten that concrete contract. That would have kept his pumps and trucks busy for a good long while. If not on the open road, having two other daughters and a former-Marine son and a total of nine grandchildren keep José hopping. They all live in the Dallas area and have weekly gettogethers. Patricia loves to cook for the crew. Family time is a top priority. Whether it’s pouring concrete or driving on it, José Flores is constantly on the go—and loving every minute of the ride. –dsz
Page 8
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Time to expose
O
nce again it was time for the annual Dallas Build Expo. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center opened their doors on Feb. 7-8. Exhibitors presented their services and products to the construction industry in both commercial and residential. Plenty of networking, relationship building, good food and learning opportunities occurred. –lv
Blanca Hopper and Trent Lacefield with RL Murphey Commercial Roof Systems, LLC
Tina Coleman and Brittney Hennigar with Walton Signage
Sharon Murphey and Traci Davis with NAWIC Dallas Chapter
Roger Harle, Billy King and Brent Larivere with Sunbelt
The Extreme Post It crew
Brad Vievnow and David Henry with Sitech
Floor & Decor north region know how to strike a pose.
Dave Wells with Alliance Fabrication & Assembly
Scott Turnage with Uretek
Ryan Jones, Sabine Fritz with Holt Cat and Brian Cochrane with Texas First Rentals
Mike Pollok and Russ Reynolds with AirFasteners Industrial and Construction Supplies
Hank Strittmatter, training director with Independent Electrical Contractors-Fort Worth/Tarrant County Chapter
LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMPANY STORIES, EVENTS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND PHOTOS
CALL: 210-308-5800 EMAIL: AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Page 9
many options of fishing in the spring. Sometimes I can’t decide which fishing spot I want to go to first. One of my most preferred methods of fishing in spring is wading with top water plugs over the prehistoric worm colonies that were formed more than 3000 years ago in the
Baffin Bay complex. These worms are called serpulids (after the family of tubebuilding worms, Serpulidae), much like coral reef-building animals, and make their tube homes out of calcium carbonate. Over time, these tubes build up into very large rock-like reef structures. These
Spring action on surface plugs by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Shoalwater Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Diawa Reels, Simms Fishing, ForEverlast Fishing Products, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, and AFTCO Clothing.
T
hey say the older you get, the faster time goes by. I can’t agree more with that statement because we are staring March in the face. February was a very busy month for me and really turned out a lot better than I anticipated. Our wade fishing trips in Port Mansfield were very productive and, although we did not catch trout over 10 lbs, we were able to produce some personall best fish for a few of our anglers. I’m really looking forward to spring weather patterns and warmer weather this month and will certainly be searching for some Baffin Bay wall hangers. Spring on the Laguna Madre is one of my favorite times of the year to fish. The weather starts warming up, flowers start to bloom, shrimp start migrating into our bays and it seems that everything starts coming to life. We have so
Chris Jones of San Antonio had a successful wade fishing outing down in Port Mansfield several weeks ago with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Limits of trout and reds with several trout in the 6-7 pound were caught on corkys and soft plastics.
structures hold tons of baitfish and, in turn, hold plenty of predator species also. Wading gives you the advantage of getting close to these structures without spooking the fish. When I pull into an area I am going to wade, there are certain things I’m looking for before I just bail in the water. Bait in the area is the first sign that gives me hope in catching fish. Where there is bait, there will be fish. They may not be eating, but they’re there. On a top water morning I really like seeing lots of surface bait on the water. This is small mullet, shad or perhaps a flicking shrimp going across the water. Seeing these signs is definitely a place to throw surface plugs. I like spreading everyone out across the area to have a better chance locating where these fish are holding. Long cast walking your lures side to side, pausing at times or perhaps small bursts of speed will help you find the right rhythm it takes to catch the big girls. I really get focused and into a zone when fishing surface plugs. I really like to pretend I’m pulling my lure through a minefield, waiting for the explosion. The anticipation is something that drives me to work harder and harder when fish are playing hard to get. Some of my favorite top water plugs are the mirr-O-lure Top Dog series, like the He Dog and She Dog. When fish don’t seem to be too interested or I’m not getting the hook-up, I’ll downsize to a Top Pup. Also, don’t overlook a floating corky or a super spook. My 2018 calendar is now open for bookings throughout the year. Don’t hesitate in booking your fishing trips because my dates usually go pretty quick, especially during the more popular months. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting adventure 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.
Fetch this Not such a “woof” day when it is bring your dog to work day. Check out Rocky Duron & Associates, Inc. employees let loose with their dogs. –lv
Ms. Taylor and her dog Thor.
Gabriel and his dog Snicker.
Office pals Thor and Talia.
Snicker has his eye on you.
Lacy and her dog Talia.
Page 10
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
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
Are you suffering from the end-ofhunting-season blues?
Y
ou don’t have to suffer you know. We are real lucky to live in a place where there are good opportunities for sportsmen to indulge their habits year ‘round. Just think, you can hunt a little, then go fishing and hunt some more. By the time deer season gets here again your skills will be sharper than ever! Yes, we do have spring turkey season coming up soon, but have you ever been hunting for exotics? Just think about it. Year ‘round you can book a trip to hunt exotics. Imagine being out in the pasture on a fine Hill County morning and hearing an elk bugle in the mist. How about watching buffalo graze beneath a sunset sky. How strange to see a nilgai from India browsing along right here in Texas. There are all kinds of exotic animals available for hunting. Species like axis deer, black buck, nilgai, and elk are readily available and there is no telling what else is out there in the pastures today. The trophy potential of these animals and the experience of hunting them is exciting enough, but many of them are also just delicious! Maybe best of all is the fact that you can hunt when it is convenient for you. You are only limited by your schedule, not by a specific hunting season. If you prefer to hunt in warmer seasons, you are all set! You don’t have to contend with
crowded pastures and it is easier to plan around available vacation time. Now of course you will want to get in some fishing with all that hunting. Here is your fishing outlook for this spring. On Lake Buchanan as well as most other area lakes, the white bass are headed up river on their spring spawning run. Trolling with diving lures works great for whites but Fleflys, jigs and spoons do well too. Stripers and hybrids are roaming the lakes in big schools looking for shad, but your bait or lure will work just fine. Spring is often when the larger stripers and hybrids are taken. Catfishing is picking up on trotlines and jug lines, especially along the bluffs and tree lines. Rod and reel fishing with live bait or cut shad should get you a good catch too. Crappie (the tastiest fish in Texas freshwater!) are moving into the shallows to spawn. They can be easily caught with live minnows or jigs. You don’t have to suffer the blues all the way till next November! All around you are convenient, hassle-free opportunities to get outdoors to fish and hunt. You can go hunting for something completely different without having to set up, feed and maintain a hunting lease – just go exotic! You can go fishing without having to clean up, tune up and trailer a boat to a good spot – just hire a fishing guide! Spring is here! Come on outside and as always don’t forget to get the kids outdoors too. They are the future of our Texas natural resources!
Lake Buchanan
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!
Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Page 11
10 Years ago this month, March 2008 According to Schwab Building Company Vice President Andrew Erickson, great employees deserve to be rewarded. He says the company is a strong believer in treating their employees to a variety of activities.
in La on the slopes Schwob Team
ke Tahoe
Employees taking a dip in the pool.
CALL US OR EMAIL YOUR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND PHOTOS (COMPANY OR INDIVIDUALS) 210-308-5800 DFWeditor@ Construction News.net
Annual employ ee Playa de Ca
rmen, Mexico
Gary Barks, president of Wallco Retaining Walls, is an avid hunter. He says it’s just been that way for a very long time. “I’ve been hunting since the mid ‘80s. I was a teenager when I harvested my first deer. I’ve been hunting ever since. I like to fish also. I’ve been fishing since I could cast a line,” said Barks. Barks recently enjoyed another round of hunting with old friends fromhis teenage years. L-R: Gary Barks, Shane Woodwick, Scott Clinton and David Hoggard
vacation
Page 12
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Page 13
Play ball
Movin’ on up
Rocky Duron & Associates, Inc. L-R: Jhorleny Martinez, Fernando King, Taylor Walls, Marcus Duron (President & CEO), Lacy Alejandro and Amory Duron
L-R: Wayne Wooten, Elanor Gach, Laura Trujillo
W
hen he was a young kid he played baseball for Rocky Duron, founder of Rocky Duron & Associates Inc. Fernando King, vice president of the company, was once at a standstill. Then one day when he was taking his son to basketball practice he ran into Rocky. “I had just lost my job about three weeks before and I got to talking with Rocky. Turns out they were looking for somebody to come in and run the warehouse and that’s how I started.” King has now been with the company for 26 years. King’s greatest takeaways are learning techniques for selling, installing and networking with general contractors. Plus, learning how to mingle with everyone has been a big positive for him. The company just celebrated their 31st anniversary. With 15 employees and 20 installers, they’ve all enjoyed working with each other. A memorable project to them was the George Bush Library. Marcus Duron, president of the company,
GOOD NEWS!
You always look good in Construction News, Guaranteed! Call us for a Company Profile (210) 308-5800
actually graduated from Southern Methodist University, which made it a very special project for everyone. With hard work come solid rewards. The company has outings all the time. “We have events where everybody in the company can bring their families,” says King. They are big on sporting events and have treated the employees to Ranger games, soccer games, Frisco RoughRiders and basketball games. Gabriel Sanchez, a project manager has been with the company for a year. He says it’s a family-oriented workplace. It also just so happens that his hobby is baseball. A Rangers game is what he enjoys the most. “I’m actually a Yankees fan, but I support baseball and whatever team,“ Sanchez admits with a chuckle. Sanchez is originally from El Paso, but supports his new home team. Rocky Duron & Associates Inc. is a division 10 commercial subcontractor in Dallas, TX. –lv
I
t’s not just the Jeffersons who can say they’ve moved on up, Wayne Wooten, general manager of Empire Disposal, can say it too. When he looks back at his and the company’s beginnings, he marvels at how things have gone. “I started in 2002 with the company,” he said, “and then the general manager and a couple of others quit, so I’ve just kind of moved on up through the ranks.” Empire Disposal is an offshoot of Empire Roofing. But when the roofing business couldn’t get adequate waste removal from other companies, Sandra and Ronnie McGlothlin formed their waste disposal firm in September 2000. “We started out with two trucks. Now, we have 20 trucks and three frontloaders,” Wooten added. They were doing 18 loads a day in the beginning; now they do 100 loads a day. For Wooten, the fun part of his job is
meeting their customers, taking good care of them, then seeing how far they’ve come. He lives by the creed of taking care of his customers and they’ll take care of you. “If you service them right, you’ll have them for life,” he said. The company of 30 employees have a real family atmosphere and have numerous civic involvements. They recently took place in the Wreaths Across America project at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, placing wreaths on all the gravesites. They’ve also participated in the March for Babies and the Parade of Lights in Fort Worth. Wooten said that the employees “take a lot of pride in what they do to represent the company.” From humble beginnings, Wooten can not only say Empire Disposal has moved on up, but he has as well. Empire Disposal LTD is a waste disposal business in Fort Worth. –dsz
Page 14
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Page 15
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
The Trades in high schools & beyond Jerry Thomas, CAE Executive Director Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Dallas, TX
I
n days past, one could find a trades program in almost every junior high/senior high school in America. Remember shop class?
Then the “everyone should attend college movement” came along and trades courses went to the wayside. Over the years, we found many people were either not prepared for nor had no business attending college. The entire period of “everyone attends college” helped, I believe, in part to create a void in the blue-collar workforce. Apprenticeship programs during that time trained and graduated fewer experienced workers while most workers depended on more experienced craftsmen for training. As those with less skills, education and experience entered the workforce, the trades suffered and shortages grew. As craft worker numbers declined, an age gap was created between today’s young people and the “veterans” of the trades - those in their late 40s and beyond. I’ve seen figures, for example, of electricians where the average age of a
Journey-level electrician is 48 years of age. The huge gap between high school age graduates and today’s tradespeople will need narrowing if we’re to have adequate numbers of trades people to satisfy workplace demand. To begin the replenishment phase of the trades, the Texas Legislature in 2015 decided it was time to bring other opportunities into high school that would satisfy graduation requirements. This move allowed trades courses, among others, to once again be offered to high school students. It benefits those not wanting to go to college but pursue work in the trades or other fields. The options to choose an apprenticeship or vocational program upon graduation from high school should help to narrow the age gap already mentioned. But it won’t happen overnight. Today, our associations and other groups are working closely with high
Focus on programs and scholarships Charlene Anthony, Senior Director, Construction Futures and Education Associated General Contractors of America Houston, TX
What does the AGC Houston chapter offer in the way of construction education? We have a very robust safety and education program at AGC Houston. The bulk of our construction education courses are designed to train commercial construction professionals, from superintendents to CEOs. We offer professional development rather than skills-training classes. Regarding safety education, AGC Houston partners with the University of Texas at Arlington to offer OSHA classes. AGC Houston is the largest OSHA training facility in the country according to 2017 statistics. We now offer evening OSHA classes as well. Our core curriculum classes run the gamut from First Aid/CPR/AED to Contract Law. All of our classes are taught by industry professionals.
We also offer AGC of America national curriculum programs, such as the Project Manager Development Program, Building Information Modeling or BIM education and the LEAN Construction Education Program. AGC of America also offers a credentialing program in the BIM and LEAN programs. We are a national testing center for those who want to earn the Certificate of Management in LEAN or BIM. Have you seen an increase in enrollment or interest in these construction education programs? We are a membership organization, so we do our best to offer courses, programs and seminars that meet our members’ needs. With respect to nubers, it’s hard to say. We’ve seen some courses with participation increase, and in some courses, we’ve seen participation de-
Construction Education Sep: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment
schools to put in place an introduction to the trades in 9th and 10th grades. Students may then choose a trade they want to pursue in the 11th and 12th grades and upon graduation, enter an apprenticeship or other training program while working full-time in that trade. Additionally, with our IEC program, high school students are earning college credit hours and on-the-job experience in the electrical trade. Upon graduation, they enter our electrical apprenticeship school where they earn additional college credit hours upon graduation. From there, graduates will be able to finish a few courses at the community college to earn their Associates degree. The high school to apprenticeship program is a huge win-win for the student, high school and our industry. Hopefully, with enough high schools participating, we can meet the evergrowing demands of America’s marketplace and trades. It’s way past time for all of us to “talk shop”. It’s time for action. Looking for educational opportunities after high school, many trades have bolstered apprenticeship with expanded programs of newer technologies in their standard apprenticeship programs. These new technologies attract young people who like the challenges presented in higher mathematics and science disciplines. Studying to become an electrician for example fills the challenge these students need.
Electricians are highly skilled and significantly compensated for their unique knowledge and abilities. They require up-to-date training as new technology emerges, creating more opportunities for the electrician to improve upon their skills. Enrolling in a four-year apprenticeship training program combines the on-the-job training and formal related technical instruction one needs to prepare for this high-demand field. This means a person gets paid to work while receiving a top-notch education in the electrical field. This type of apprenticeship training provides the student knowledge, technical skills and practical experience necessary to succeed in today’s trades. Students have an array of great apprenticeship and educational opportunities in the trades today that offer good pay and training and a fulfilling career. Carpentry, plumbing, sheet metal, steel worker, pipefitter, glazier, bricklayer, AC/ Heat are just a few of the trades along with electrical that offer young people today a challenging, rewarding, well-paying career. We must encourage these folks to consider the trades as a career if we’re to continue building America. -cmw
crease. It depends on many things – economy, market conditions, government oversight, etc. – especially as technology has evolved and changed the way people learn and do business.
AGC scholarships in the past, and it is exciting to have these people come back to help us with this program. We also have AGC student chapters on the campuses of the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State, Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University. We have relationships with all of these schools because they all have very unique construction programs. The whole point of it is that we want to bring people back into the industry.
How is the AGC Houston chapter overcoming these challenges? We try to focus on the programs that are most needed and most attractive to our members. For instance, we used to offer monthly brown bag luncheons designed for Human Resources professionals that offered programming specific to the construction industry. Our members asked us to create a forum in which they can share industry best practices and talk about new regulations that affect their businesses. We begin this in 2016 and it has been extremely successful, and proven to be a great member benefit. How do you recruit young people? We have a very robust modern scholarship program – and I say modern because our records date back to mid‘90s to the present. We have given away about a half-million dollars to about 140 people. It is intended for students who are members, dependents of members or who belong to an AGC Student Chapter. This year, we received approximately 40 applications. We have a very active committee comprised of our members, a few of whom have received
www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news
Does the AGC Houston chapter offer programs that are focused on young professionals? I manage a young professionals group, the Construction Leadership Council. I also manage our Leadership AGC group, which is a program developed by young leaders for young leaders. The program is for mid-level employees who work in the greater Houston commercial construction industry and have the potential to become a future leader within their organization. We will kick off our fifth class later this fall. Since 1923, AGC Houston has supported local commercial construction through the advancement of issues important to the industry, and offers education and professional development, safety training, market data resourcing and member networking. –mjm
Texas Style
★ ★ ★ ★
San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston
Page 16
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
NEXT TH MON
Women in Construction
If you would like to represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact us for an Interview DFWeditor@ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800
Noble work John Landwermeyer, Managing Principle, Austin Operations Arias Geoprofessionals Austin, TX
H
e’s never met a superintendent who wasn’t as smart as a whip. If you are a general superintendent you must know about earthwork, concrete, framing, mechanical, electrical, etc. The list is endless because it is an industry that rises from the ground to the final punch list.
Yes, construction has a rough, loud and dirty reputation, but it’s the knowledge that overpowers all of it. “If you think that it is easier than going to get a college degree in engineering; then I’d disagree with you. It’s extraordinarily difficult.” Why aren’t people getting into the industry? Partly, because it’s a lot harder than people imagine. These guys have to get up before the sun and work through the night. It’s literally sweat, blood, tears, dirt and rust. They are not walking into a chrome glass building. What does the industry need to do to attract the youth?
You have to get a taste of it when you are young. And because of its reputation, we don’t allow young people to get exposed to it. If Jesus Christ were growing up in Austin today, he wouldn’t be a carpenter because nobody would let him swing a hammer. Construction has made tremendous strides in safety improvement. People in the business should be free in saying, ‘Hey put on your hard hat and follow me.’ We need to let them shadow. I see interns on job sites, such as civil engineering and architecture students. When you’re in school and in college, especially as a freshman, you’re taking calculus, chemistry, and physics; you have no idea what you are going to be getting into.
Appealing to a new generation Tamara Schmoekel, Workforce Development Director Associated Builders & Contractors San Antonio, TX
A
ttracting new generations to the construction industry requires a creative approach. They are more selective than their parents were when job hunting. They want a career that pays well, fulfills their need for happiness, creativity, and purpose. The Safety Committee and Workforce Development Committee at Associated Builders and Contractors are using maverick approaches for safety training, leadership training and community outreach to focus on the needs of this new generation in addressing the labor shortage. ABC is founded on the merit shop struction Education and Research (NCphilosophy and is profoundly committed CER) apprenticeship program that offers to a culture of safety that is serving the on-the-job training while they learn new betterment of our members, companies, skills. Our leadership training courses adand community. It is these very qualities dress the needs of companies concerned that attract new employees to our mem- about succession and introduce new skill sets that favorably affect their image and ber companies. A 2015 industry poll stated that men- productivity. torship and opportunities for growth at- Employees stated that another imtracts and retains employees. Investing in portant factor for recruitment and retenemployees’ training shows that you be- tion was safety. They felt a company lieve in their ability and support their shows it cares about its employees by growth in the company. Many of our emphasizing safety practices. ABC’s Safemembers support their employees ty Committee has dedicated itself to through the ABC National Center for Con- safety education by raising money to of-
Does Arias Geoprofessionals have an intern program? We have hired interns. One of our large commercial projects had an on-site intern from Texas Tech and she was a freshman. She was out there all summer long and as best as I can tell she was walking around catching the disease. That’s what happened to me. I was studying civil engineering and I had no idea what I was going to be doing. I got the pleasure of working on a remodeling job here in Austin. Construction is construction; you go out there, convert and you build something. What are the takeaways? Overall the takeaways interns receive from any company add up to their realization of what role they want to play in the industry. We get college degree applicants for entry-level jobs and I know that their potential is too high, that they will likely move on. All the better if we can get students exposed to entry-level work, so they can make informed career choices after graduation. How have the women who’ve joined the business helped educate the industry?
fer free safety training to its members. A culture of safety is emphasized with the S.T.E.P. program, a systematic guide and educational tool for implementing and maintaining a culture of safety. Community outreach is at the forefront of our members’ commitment to South Texas. Our partnerships with local schools increase public investment in building the skills of the next generation. This collaboration supports the collective effort to alter the community mindset of the construction industry with a longterm focus on recruitment. In identifying and developing programs for community outreach, companies adjust their own strategies to invite opportunities for young workers. One company initiated a mentoring program. They partner with the craft teachers as guest speakers and mentors for students showing interest in construction. Another success story is the industry tours hosted by ABC’s cohort of members. They invite, principals, teachers, and counselors to view the construction process from conception to completion with opportunities to talk one-on-one with industry professionals about the opportunities for a successful career in construction. This type of one-on-one engage-
With women joining the business we have to clean up our act a bit. Us guys can’t run this place like a dorm room with ladies in our presence. The women I know in this business are super smart. Some of the most admirable women I know work in this business. They may not spend two hours putting on their makeup in the morning, but they are making a real difference in the world. So, what have we learned? You need to get out there and get those hands dirty. Ask questions to anyone with a pair of ears. When it comes to the youth who crave a taste, give it to them. There are still high schools that provide workshop courses. Of course, in college, you can enroll in construction-related courses as well. Here’s a fact. Robert Arias founded the company out of his garage in 1996. Today the company is 22 years old and has grown to about 100 employees. They are in five cities, Austin being the fifth. Mr. Arias has established a culture of investing in and entrusting employees to take care of clients. The clients, in turn, take care of us. It’s a relationship-building cycle that gets stronger and stronger. –lv
ment with students, parents, schools, and the community is the catalyst necessary for radical change in the mindset from construction as a low skill/low wage job, to construction as a phenomenal opportunity for a rewarding career without all the college debt! High schools students can graduate with NCCER certificates earning a higher wage than their peers. Apprentices can take advantage of continuing education through member safety and leadership training opportunities in their quest to climb the career ladder. This is only one of the many opportunities available to build a career in construction. Kids all start out fascinated by construction with their toy cranes, bulldozers, and hard hats. They even build miniature metropolises with their Lego sets. So when do they lose that passion and what can we do to reignite it? It is no secret that the industry is afflicted with an undeserved reputation reinforced by commercials saying there is a plumber in all of us. Combating that image is not possible without the collective effort of industry and community working collaboratively to build successful careers for our community and a better future for our industry. –cmw
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
s
Page 17
Submitted to Construction News
Round-Up
JQ Engineering is pleased to announce the promotion of Josh Bronstad, PE, ENV SP and Jennifer Ridd, PE to associates with the firm. Bronstad is an eightyear veteran with JQ and serves as a senior project manager in the infrastructure group. He holds a Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a Structural Emphasis from Texas A&M. -cmw
Ridd joined the JQ team in 2014 with 14 years experience and serves as a senior project manager in the buildings group. She holds a Masters of Science in Architecture Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. -cmw
Cadence McShane Construction is proud to announce the additions of Brad Westbrook to the firm as vice president of preconstruction and Patrick Dailey as project executive. Westbrook will lead the preconstruction staff, mentor team members and provide insight from his many years of experience in a variety of markets. He will deliver managerial over-sight of estimating, preliminary budgeting, bidding processes, prequalification of subcontractors, value engineering and project buy-out. -cmw
Round-Up Submissions
Dailey’s new role will provide leadership, oversight and direction for a selected group of projects teams in Dallas as well as provide managerial support to senior project managers, project managers, superintendents and project staff. -cmw
Brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows. Submit Info & Photo: AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net (210) 308-5800
Gotcha covered
L-R: Division managers Adam Carranza, Gigi Amurao, Christian Santarelli; Crest owner Todd Goodwin.
T
odd Goodwin, owner of Crest Painting, was born in New Jersey, raised in Chicago, went to college in Philadelphia and now lives in Dallas. Therefore, the $64,000 question is: Which football team does he follow? Answer: Da Bears. When he’s not following the Monsters of the Midway, Todd has his hands full running a schedule-packed painting company that services customers all over the Metroplex. The business major at Villanova had no idea what he was going to eventually get into. He had no background in construction at all. After moving to Dallas where family was, he went to work for a large paint company in sales. But like many others, Todd decided to go into business for himself. With an already-established client base of 4,000 customers, Crest Painting was born in August 2009. Todd chose the name “Crest” because he wanted something different with a “high-end” sound and look. With the good weather in Texas, work is steady with indoor and outdoor jobs all year-round, but March through November are the busiest times. One recent big job was the stately Co-
lonial Country Club in Fort Worth, site of an annual PGA invitational. Crest Painting doesn’t have any regular employees per se; rather, all of Todd’s sales people and paint crews are sub-contracted out. Since Todd’s background was in sales, he prides himself on out-selling all his sales people and challenges them to out-do him. The most rewarding thing about running his own company is “making my own hours,” he laughs. Despite rooting for the Bears and not the Cowboys, Todd’s paint business is doing just fine. His 4,500-plus customers keep him on the go. Thus, Crest is “growing non-stop,” he said. So much so that he has little time to golf with his regular foursome, which used to be a weekly routine. But, he added, “It’s fun to grow the business. It’s a good problem to have.” Indeed. Still, Todd and his wife Elizabeth recently took their longest vacation in 18 years, hopping all over the Hawaiian Islands for a well-deserved break. When it comes to paint and not football, Crest Painting has you covered. Crest Painting is a subcontractor in the Dallas area. –dsz
Association Calendar
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News AIA American Institute of Architects Mar. 29: Celebrate Architecture. For more info, email khowell@aiadallas.org or call 214-880-1504 ASA
American Subcontractors Assn.
IEC – Fort Worth
Independent Electrical Contractors
Mar. 8: Annual Meeting, City Club Fort Worth, 301 Commerce St. For more info, contact Jo Britt at 817-496-8422 NAWIC – Fort Worth
National Assn. of Women in Construction
Mar. 22: Monthly Membership Meeting, Las Colinas Country Club, 4400 N. O’Connor Rd. For more info, call 817-6408275
Mar. 4-10: Wic Week For more info, call Lori Donnell at 817937-9565
ASCE
National Utility & Excavation Contractors North Texas Chapter
American Society of Civil Engineers Dallas Branch
Mar. 12: ASCE Dallas Branch Meeting, Vouv Meeting & Event Space, 4445 Sigma Rd. For more info, go to www.dallasasce. org ASCE
American Society of Civil Engineers Forth Worth Branch
Mar. 1-3: CI Summit, Hilton Fort Worth, 815 Main St. For more info, go to www. fwasce.org Mar. 15: OPAL Awards Gala, Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, 2800 S. Potomac Ave., Arlington, VA. For more info, go to www.fwasce.org Mar. 18-23: ASCE Week, Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, Orlando, FL. For more info, go to fwasce.org DACA
Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Assn. Dallas/Fort Worth
Mar. 21: Membership Meeting, Grapevine Courtyard Marriott, 2200 Bass Pro Dr., Grapevine, TX. For more info, email eddie@dacadfw.org Mar. 24-28: AWCI Convention, Orlando, FL. For more info, email eddie@dacadfw. org
NUCA
Mar. 6-9: National Convention, Wyndham San Antonio River Walk, 111 E. Pecan St., San Antonio, TX. For more info, contact Deana Butorac at 682-402-4293 Mar. 8: Texas Annual Meeting, Wyndham San Antonio River Walk, 111 E. Pecan St., San Antonio, TX. For more info, contact Deana Butorac at 682-402-4293 NTRCA
North Texas Roofing Contractors Assn.
Mar. 14: Lunch & Learn Meeting, Texas Star Golf & Conference Center, 1400 Texas Star Pkwy. For more info, call 817-7348373 NUCA
National Utility Contractors Assn. North Texas Chapter
Mar. 6-9: NUCA Annual Convention & Exhibit, Wyndham Riverwalk, 111 E. Pecan St. For more info, contact Deana Butorac at 682-402-4293 or email info@nucanorthtexas.com Mar. 8: Texas Annual Meeting, Wyndham San Antonio River Walk, 111 E. Pecan St. For more info, contact Deana Butorac at 682-402-4293 or email info@nucanorthtexas.com
Page 18
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Hit me
A
ll bets off or were they? Members of the North Texas Chapter representing Utility & Excavation Contractors Association (NUCA) were rolling the dice and playing for high stakes at association’s casino night held Feb. 2 at the Westin DFW in Irving. –cmw
continued from Page 1 — Crisscross While in the high five line, Armstead got the chance too high five Dirk Nowitzki. “I don’t think I washed my hand for a week,” she jokes. They also attended a Cowboys game this past season. No high fives were given there, maybe except to each other. Armstead acknowledges how the company is growing for a two-person company. She’s noticed the innovation of the construction industry and has seen a lot of people jump into things. “I think we’ve taken things from traditional and moved it to online. It’s fantastic to see where Bryan started and how far we’ve come.” Success is no fun without a few laughs. So, Waddle shares what he finds funny about getting to work with Armstead. “I’ve gotten used to getting up and getting on the phone at 11pm at night because 11pm here is like midday to me. But we have to talk about things. You have to trade that off and know there is a generational difference there, whether we like it or not. You really have to learn that age is just a number.” Indeed, it is. Another funny story he shares is lis-
tening to Armstead learn the different types of equipment. “Not yet, has she figured out what a motor grader is and that’s one of the easiest things to identify. We need to do visual tests with index cards,” he teases. Armstead admits she’s learning. The advice she shares for any young newcomer is that it’s different for every person. “I’ve come up with ideas based on what Bryan gives me. He is such a solid person on what his company is, so he’s been giving me ideas to grow.” Waddle adds they’ve received calls that they were not getting before and he’s sure it’s a result of the social media and what she’s done. The highlight of their work is shown with their excitement when they drive by the highway for instance and notice that’s their machine out there. Armstead says, “To be such a small company and see our logo everywhere is satisfying.” These two are going places and meeting new faces. Cross Timbers Equipment is a sales and rental contractor in Denton. –lv
continued from Page 1 — Betting on better careful to not take unnecessary risks. “We’ve been very protective of our brand and have tried to stay focused on our core business, which is commercial drywall and plaster,” Bryant says. “We haven’t opened up any new offices or any other endeavors, although in our plaster division we do have a growing renovation side of our business. We’re under new leadership in that division now, and it’s been very positive. We’re positioning ourselves to prosecute that type work.” Currently, Trinity Drywall & Plastering Systems’ landmark projects include Fort Worth’s new Dickies Arena with Beck and the Pioneer Natural Resources corporate campus with Austin in Las Colinas. The company shows no signs of slowing down. “We have a five- and a ten-year game plan, and are considering adding another division to our company to expand our repertoire and to continue to grow market share in the DFW area,” Bryant says. As Trinity Drywall & Plastering
Systems thrives, it shares its good fortune with the community. The company donates work and products to various churches associated with its employees. Besides seeing his company succeed, Bryant’s greatest enjoyment is spending time with his nearly 500 employees. “We do a lot of Topgolf events,” he says. “A couple of times a year, we’ll have company-wide dinners for the office staff. This past year, we took all of our foremen to Lake Tawakoni, and the year before, we took all of them skeet shooting. We’ve taken the entire company to a Ranger baseball game. We try to do a few fun things like that along the way. “I enjoy the people the most,” he continues. “It’s fun to come to work with like-minded people that want to accomplish big goals. The most rewarding thing is to see people grow as leaders and achieve their career goals.” Subcontractor Trinity Drywall & Plastering Systems is located in Fort Worth. –mjm
continued from Page 1 —Senior high-end living equipment to pass through the corridor daily without interfering with the integrity of the structure. The phasing and turnover of different sections of the three-story building was unique in that the clubhouse and surrounding units were occupied while the remainder of the project was wrapping up the punch phase of construction prior to additional new tenants moving into the facility. The SVCC project team communicated with and adhered to the fire marshal regulated building code to accommodate the 55-year-old and up residents looking forward to the move into their new residence. Some of the materials used for the project included imported Italian marble in the foyer and reclaimed lumber in the reception area. Aspen logs were also brought in from Colorado and installed in the main foyer of the clubhouse entrance. Now it wouldn’t be a project if it didn’t have its share of challenges to overcome. The Spring Valley project team had to overcome and plan accordingly to the extremely tight schedule of The City of Frisco’s officials regarding inspections. Due to the high demands of numerous high-profile developments surrounding Wade Park, the City of Frisco could only offer one inspection per day which could not exceed an hour. The Spring Valley project team stayed in constant communication with the MEP trade subcontractors and had back-up plans in place should an opportunity be missed with requesting and receiving necessary inspection. The courtyard also flooded easily and often and drying it out was a
lengthy process. The project was a completed in August 2017 with a final contract amount of $19,868,000. The superintendents and project managers for The Aspens at Wade Park include Allen Grimes, senior project manager; Joe Sebold, superintendent; Blake Helm, assistant project manager; and Mike Jackson, assistant superintendent. “One of our biggest concerns was the necessity to begin leasing and occupying the units ahead of completing construction. Spring Valley Construction Company was the driving force behind ensuring that the various phasing plans were delivered timely. In addition, SVCC’s attention to detail and insistence on quality and workmanship resulted in the construction quality exceeding our expectations,” says Barry Metcalf, principal, Aspens Senior Living. –ja
Interior Foyer
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018
Page 19
Worth the wait
J
anuary 30 was the day HOLT CAT owners and employees have been waiting to attend for over two decades. This special day the ground was broken on the new 85,000sf facility in Georgetown. City officials, Holt employees and other dignitaries came out for their first view of the site and renderings of the new facility to be constructed across from the Georgetown Airport. Corinna Holt Richter, HOLT CAT’s president, began the ceremony and welcomed all attendees. Georgetown mayor Dale Ross and city manager David Morgan shared their comments on how great it was working with the HOLT team and their city team who made this project a reality in a very short time-frame. CEO Peter J. Holt gave the final comments before the customary turning of the earth. “We are hopeful we can get construction completed by mid-year 2019,”
said Mr. Holt. We knew we needed to be here in Central Texas on the north side of Austin and Georgetown has been the perfect partner to get us here. “Finding this site and finding really good partners with the City of Georgetown made it all come together. “The economy is booming, the I-35 corridor is booming and the growth is here. The location is perfect and it is dead center in our territory and growth. We couldn’t be more excited. “I do feel pretty quickly both locations will be full. Meaning the growth is so apparent and the demand so high I just have a feeling that pretty quickly after we open, we will have close to double our employment in the overall Austin area that we have today.” Hooker Contracting Co. Inc. of San Antonio is the general contractor for the project. -bd
L-R: Peter J. Holt, city manager David Morgan, mayor Dale Ross and Corinna Holt Richter turn the first shovel of dirt.
HOLT CAT employees enjoying the ground breaking.
Rendering of the new 85,000 sf facility.
The write stuff
D
an Zulli is the new staff editor/writer for Construction News. It only took a 30-year career in the Air Force to get him there. “Writing has always been in my blood,” he said. “It’s really fun to finally realize this passion after such a long and varied journey.” Originally from Oak Ridge, TN, Zulli’s family moved to the Springfield, MA, area when he was 10. When it came time for college, he wanted to go into commercial art. “My mother told me to go into journalism,” he said. “I should have listened to her. I’m a better writer than I am artist.” After 3 years at Springfield College (where basketball was invented), being an art major didn’t work out. Since Zulli’s dad had
been in the Air Force, that seemed like a viable option to finding his place in life, at least for the next 4 years. “I wanted to get into a graphics-related field, but ended up instead as security policeman, guarding planes on the flight line.” “After my first 4 years as a cop,” Zulli explained, “I cross-trained into audio-visual and extended 2 years. During this time, I decided to separate and go into the ministry and go back in as a chaplain.” Zulli and new wife Cindy moved to Dallas to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. During the summers, he was a chaplain candidate, then was commissioned as a reserve chaplain after graduation. Now with two little girls, they moved to southwest Oklahoma to pastor a “very country church” while being a reserve chaplain at Altus Air Force Base. Dan Zulli, USAF (Ret.)
After 3 years there, Zulli applied to go back on active duty and an ascensions board selected him in 1993 to come back on. Twenty-three and one half years later, the journey ended in July 2017 back where it all started at Lackland Air Force Base, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. During his Air Force career, writing had been a staple of Zulli’s everyday life. “People’s careers depend upon how well we write their annual appraisals. We have to be able to write well and fast,” he said. Zulli also writes on the side, doing a complete autobiography project for his kids, and even writing historical fiction novels. “My first book should be out this summer,” he said, “and the sequel about next year. The first one is already available on the Apple iBooks website.” Now he writes for Construction News, coming full circle from what his mother told him years ago. “When people say God works in mysterious ways,” Zulli said, “I’m Exhibit A. But it’s been a fun, wild ride and I wouldn’t change a thing.” Whether guarding airplanes, preaching sermons, or writing news articles, Dan Zulli has always had the “write stuff.” -cmw
St. Patrick’s Day Saturday March 17
Page 20
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • MAR 2018