Houston Construction News July 2018 by Construction News

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Called to masonry

Clean machine

Jason and Teri Mueller, owners of Mueller Masonry

very once in a while, Jason Mueller’s phone will ring – and it isn’t a customer. “I get phone calls from my peers in the industry who want to know what I think it’s going to be like this year,” the owner and president of Mueller Masonry says. “’Do I think the industry is doing well or do I see it slowing down?’ ‘When’s the next downturn?’ I think, without a shadow of a doubt, Houston is a growing city. Just look at all of the traffic everywhere because of all the roads; they’re turning two-lane highways into four- or five-lane highways and it’s all because of the projected growth of the city. With that comes neighborhoods and shopping centers. Shopping centers and office parks – that’s our niche.”

Abdi Rezaei, owner of Sharp Cleaning

Mueller is experienced in observing the markets in which he works. He grew up in a construction family that did everything from masonry to plumbing, and worked on job sites for his dad for “summer money.” While he enjoyed the work, he decided to pursue other interests as an adult. “I actually steered off and went into a totally different direction,” Mueller explains. “I worked in the oil and gas business and I owned my own internet company back when the internet was just getting started.” Boredom began to creep up on Mueller, however, just as those markets began to turn. “At the same time technology and oil continued on Page 14

hen life handed him lemons, Abdi Rezaei made lemon cleaner. After the business he started with a friend didn’t pan out as he had hoped, Rezaei took the lessons he learned and established a completely different business, Sharp Cleaning, in 2011. Although starting and running the business was initially difficult, Rezaei wasn’t afraid of putting in the effort. After moving to the United States from Iran in 2001, Rezaei worked in several Houston restaurants, and along the way met many of the people he would recruit to work for Sharp Cleaning. “It takes a while,” Rezaei admits. “I tell everyone it’s not as easy as you think it is. Every person who wants to see what

kind of human they are or how capable of things they are should own their own business. It was pretty hard. Now eight years later, although it hasn’t been easy, we have made it through our obstacles.” Working in Rezaei’s favor is his predilection for problem solving. “I like challenges,” he says. “My biggest challenge is that I’m dealing with 15 to 20 employees per day and also our customers. I do a lot of commercial postconstruction cleaning including banks, Chick–fil-A, medical clinics, clothing stores like Adidas, a North Face in The Galleria and Victoria’s Secret in The Woodlands Mall. After Hurricane Harvey, we’ve done a lot of post-construction residential as well. I have many clients continued on Page 14

Flood prevention with style

few years before Hurricane Harvey struck, Clear Lake City decided to implement an out-of-the-box, yet simple solution – retrofitting golf courses for storm water detention. And it helped them prevent flooding of more than 150 houses from Harvey’s devastation. In May 2011, the Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA) acquired 178 acres of land that previously served as a golf course. Called ‘Exploration Green,’ the project’s goal was to drain the streets in the community, which experienced problems previously with drainage and flooding during extreme storm events. The idea for this project came directly from the community’s grassroots efforts. The five-phase project features a series of engineered detention ponds designed to withstand a 100-year storm event. The detention ponds will hold the water, slow it down, and allow more time for the water to get back out into a series

of bayous, culminating in the Gulf of Mexico. The first phase of the project began in Nov. 2015 and was completed in April 2018, months after Harvey’s devastating blow at a cost of $4.7 million dollars. Once the entire project is completed in 2021, it will hold half a billion gallons of water (yes billion with a B), the equivalent of 750 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Overall construction of the Phase 1 detention pond required 350,000cy of excavation on a 37.8-acre site that was formally a golf course. Over one mile of hike and bike trails were installed. The new construction provides approximately 114 acre-ft of storm water detention volume which will provide detention for an area that previously did not have anything to reduce the devastation of flooding. LECON Inc., founded by Daniel D. Lloyd in 1988, is a general contractor Exploration Green aerial view

continued on Page 14

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Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

Taking home the trowel t the 2018 Golden Trowel Awards, the Associated Masonry Contractors of Houston (AMCH) recognized excellence in all phases of masonry design and construction on May 30. The Golden Trowel is awarded to an architect, masonry contractor and general contractor demonstrating excellence in their respective contributions to a masonry project. Photos courtesy of Mark Johnson Photography Inc. –cwm

Block: St. James Place Mason Contractor: W.W. Bartlett Inc. Architect: Jackson & Ryan Architects General Contractor: Tellepsen Builders

Sustainable City Award – City of Humble

Residential (Multi-family): Hines Market Square Mason Contractor: Camarata Masonry Systems Ltd. Architect: Ziegler Cooper Architects General Contractor: Austin Commercial

Hardscape/Landscape: Houston Marriott Marquis Hotel Mason Contractor: Camarata Masonry Systems Ltd. Architect: Morris Architects General Contractor: Balfour Beatty Construction

Educational Facility (College/University): SHSU South Residence Complex, Mason Contractor: Camarata Masonry Systems Ltd., Architect: Stantec / SHW Group General Contractor: SpawGlass Contractors Inc.

Educational Facility (K-12): St. John’s School – Great Hall Mason Contractor: W.W. Bartlett Inc. Architect: Curtis & Windham Architects Inc. General Contractor: W. S. Bellows Construction

Governmental/Institutional: St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Mason Contractor: T.E. Reilly Inc. Architect: Turner Duran Architects General Contractor: Fornery Construction and Fretz Construction

Industrial/Commercial: Hotel ZaZa; Mason Contractor: Camarata Masonry Systems Ltd. Architect: Kirksey Architecture, General Contractor: Anslow Bryant

Advertising. A never-ending story. Construction News ON LOCATION

Learning your ABCs

When Construction News stopped by ABC Supply in Stafford, Liz Reyna, Dion Jones, Amber Flores and Wendy Marcia took time for a quick a photo. -cmw

Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

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Cranes and clays

n Jun. 4, the Texas Crane Owners Association (TCOA) held its summer 2018 shotgun invitational at the Greater Houston Gun Club. One hundred members and guests participated in the day’s events. “Our shotgun invitational is a unique event and wonderful for networking and for spending time with friends and customers,” stated Associa-

tion President, Keith McKee, Davis Crane Services, Dallas, TX. –cmw

Blackhorse golf & contractors

erfect weather for a perfect day of golf for the Houston Contractors Association (HCA)! HCA hosted their annual spring golf tournament May 22 at Blackhorse Golf Club in Cypress. –cmw

Annie Oakley individual competition winners: 1st Place - Robert Apo, Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. 2nd Place - Ron Wertz, Davis Crane 3rd place - Mike Tomsula, ICEE Equipment

North Course 1st Place winners Annie Oakley winners L-R: Association Director Calvin Jones, Robert Apo, Ron Wertz, Mike Tomsula and Association President Keith McKee

Maxim Crane (Houston, TX), 1st Place Flurry & Flush Team winners with a score of 161 L-R: Association President Keith McKee, Keith DeSalvo, Scott Green, Chris Johnston, Doug Courts and Association Director Calvin Jones.

South Course 1st Place winners

New training center

Houston

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Melissa Jones-Meyer Ann Keil Jesse Abercrombie Houston Area Counties Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties 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 Houston Construction News (ISSN 1547-7630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba Houston Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction-related companies in Houston and surrounding counties. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space available basis. Construction News, Ltd. , dba Houston 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.

The Associated Masonry Contractors of Houston (AMCH) held their first class of their new training program at their new training center located at 1021 W. Jackson Avenue in Pasadena, TX. -cmw

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Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

Lookback interest Trey Hardy, CPA Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLC Dallas, TX

ith respect to certain contracts, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) requires contractors to compute and pay interest using the Percentage of Completion Method (“PCM”). This article explores why and how the IRS computes this interest.

The IRS obviously wants taxpayers to pay their taxes, but it also wants taxpayers to pay their taxes when the income is considered taxable. If the contractor doesn’t pay when the income is considered taxable, the IRS will impose interest. This “lookback interest” prevents contractors from trying to benefit from delaying the recognition of revenue — and therefore deferring their tax liability — until the end of the contract period. Understanding how contractors recognize revenue under PCM contracts helps to understand the calculation of lookback interest. Under the PCM, contractors’ recognized revenue equals the contract price times a fraction where the numerator is actual costs and the denominator is estimated total costs. Put differently, contractors under the PCM are recognizing revenue based on the costs they incur. For example, if the contractor had no expenses related to a certain contract for a period, the contractor would recognize no revenue related to that contract for that period, and therefore would have no tax to pay related to that contract. This is true regardless of whether the contractor has billed the customer. Lookback interest is computed after the project is complete by looking back at the contract’s life and determining the revenue that should have been recognized (and the tax that should have been paid) throughout the life of the contract. Since this analysis is performed after the project is complete, the IRS bases lookback interest on actual costs per year over actual total costs for the contract. Because lookback interest is computed using actual costs instead of estimated costs, a difference can arise between the amount of revenue recognized by the contractor in a given year and the amount of revenue recognized under the IRS’s lookback interest calculation for that given year. For example, if the contractor recognized less revenue in the first year of a four-year contract using estimated costs than the IRS determines should have been recognized using actual costs, the contractor will owe lookback interest on the underpayment of tax for that first year. Conversely, if the contractor recognized too much revenue for a given year,

the IRS will pay the contractor interest on the overpayment of tax. The same interest rate applies to both situations. In conclusion, the IRS imposes lookback interest to ensure that contractors are using fair estimates for recognizing their revenue (and paying their tax). If the cost estimates for the contracts are close to actual costs, lookback interest should be minimal. If the estimated costs vary from what the actual costs total, there will be lookback interest — either in the form of lookback interest due the Government or an overpayment refundable to the contractor by the Government. As always, please consult your tax advisor in order to confirm that the contractor is subject to the lookback interest calculation and to accurately determine to what contracts the lookback interest calculation applies. After joining our firm, Trey has aligned himself to be an asset to not only our firm, but our tax department as well. Trey specializes his knowledge and efforts within our Construction Group, along with working with manufacturing, distribution, and real estate industries. Some of his current responsibilities include organizing and coordinating clients’ tax data for the accurate, timely completion of individual tax returns and simple-to moderately-complex corporate, partnership, S-corp, and trust tax returns. He also prepares and reviews individual, corporate, and partnership income tax returns, as well as state income and franchise tax returns. Trey’s additional duties include being a member of the tax training committee and the further training and supervision of our lower tax staff.

Under-kicked your insurance coverage Austin Goolsby, Vice President TexCap Insurance Dallas, TX

e’ve all heard the phrase that he or she has “outkicked their coverage” when referring to a significant other. It’s a common expression used to suggest that you, a friend or relative is in a relationship with someone they believe is out of your or their league. The contrary can be said all too often when it comes to your company’s general liability insurance. The commercial general liability (CGL) policy is provided to cover the two basic perils of property damage and bodily injury, and it’s made up of five basic parts. The declarations of the policy outline the basics that tailor’s the policy to meet the needs of your specific company or companies. Those include but are not limited to; the names of all entities insured, the limits of coverage and applicable deductibles, a description of operations divided up into classifications or class codes and list of their applicable locations, policy numbers and everyone’s favorite…premium. The insuring agreement contains the insurance company’s promise to pay on your behalf and defend your company should a claim arise during the policy term. This agreement is a binding contract between your company and the insurance company. Next up are the conditions, which cover the duties and rights of both parties, you and your insurance carrier. This section addresses your obligations to the carrier-i.e., notification of a claim or loss, non-renewals, cancellations, and the territory of coverage to name a few. In the midst of the conditions is where you can find the endorsements. These are the forms that can add or modify coverage that pertain to your individual risk. They also include the necessary forms to comply with today’s contracts like additional insured status, subrogation rights and if a waiver is included, primary-noncontributory status, a thirty-day notice of cancellation and a “per project” aggregate limit. Bringing up the rear are the exclusions, or what is NOT covered. This is the part of the policy that has all the abstract verbiage letting you know what they will not be paying for in the event of a claim. These can be a detriment to your company if they are not thoroughly explained prior to binding coverage and they can ultimately cause a company to close their doors. Some of the basic exclusions pertain to war, suits brought between named insureds (not to be confused with additional insureds), OCIPs or CCIPs, tract home work and violations of disclosing confidential or personal information. Insurance companies include these as a means to protect their liabilities from instances and scenarios

considered financially uninsurable, which are backed by years of case law, some of which is still on-going. Every carrier has their own individual guidelines on how they address specific exclusion forms but some may be able to endorse the policy and allow coverage to accommodate these limitations. Simply put, depending on the carrier, specific perils like professional liability which is commonly referred to as errors and omissions (E&O) or even pollution liability can be endorsed to provide coverage under the general liability. Other common coverages allotted for under the CGL are employee benefits liability (EBL) and employment practices liability (EPL), which are intended to protect the insured entity or entities from potential internal grievances by employees rather than a third party. This basic definition of a CGL policy is a means to educate those that spend billions of dollars a year with their respective insurance companies and insurance agencies. The time of a loss or claim is not the time to read the fine print of the exclusions in your policy. The best practice is to be proactive and look over the CGL forms before your company’s insurance coverage is bound. As previously mentioned and more often than not, a carrier is willing to remove an exclusion or even endorse the policy to include the desired coverage. If not, there are more than enough insurance companies out there that will provide the necessary coverage to operate your business. At the end of the day, we all get what we pay for, and either your carrier is insuring your risk or you are. The difference is knowing. Talk with your current agent and make sure you don’t have any unpleasant surprises at the end of your policy. Austin Goolsby is a Vice President of TexCap Insurance, an independent insurance agency headquartered in Dallas, Texas. He is one of the leading members of the construction division at TexCap Insurance and has over 8 years of total experience in the field, on the building material supply side and insurance aspects of the industry. For more information please visit www.TexCapINS.com or you can contact Austin directly at 972-720-5384 or agoolsby@TexCapINS.com.

A good way to spend the day

In May, JQ Engineering participated with the Casa de Esperanza. A few JQ Houston team members L-R: Akshai Ramakrishnan, Manny Hernandez, Eliud Buenrostro, Tristan Sarremejane, An Le and Brandon Daigle. –lv

Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

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Don’t be scared - Be prepared! Violence issues in the workplace Art Lambert, Partner Fisher Phillips Dallas, TX Scenario: An employee enters the job site wearing camouflaged clothing, carrying a large paper sack. The employee, who speaks to no one, has been acting strangely recently, making threats to his supervisor and fellow employees and making comments about getting even. What would you do and why is this important? Homicide is the fourth-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States, so it is an important issue to deal with. Defining workplace violence: Employers must understand the full gamut of behavior. Generally, workplace violence is any act that creates a hostile environment and/or negatively affects an employee physically or psychologically, including: • Physical or verbal assault • Threats • Coercion • Harassment Workplace violence can be caused by disgruntled employees, jilted lovers, spousal situations, stalkers, the mentally ill, people with substance abuse issues, bullies/racists and instances of robbery or murder at the worksite. Factors that can increase workplace violence: Unsurprisingly, many of the factors that increase workplace violence are stress-related. Additional factors include frustrations from poorly defined job responsibilities, labor disputes, poor management styles (e.g., arbitrary or unexplained orders; over-monitoring; reprimands in front of employees, inconsistent discipline), inadequate security or a poorly trained, poorly motivated security force, a lack of employee counseling, downsizing or reorganization, understaffing that leads to job overload or compulsory overtime. If any of these factors sound like your workplace – definitely read on. Actually, read on anyway. Employer liability for workplace violence: A company can be liable for violence at or related to the workplace if, among other things: • It failed to properly screen employees, resulting in hiring a person with a history or evidence of criminal acts. • It kept an employee after the employer became aware of the employee’s unsuitability. • It failed to provide necessary monitoring to ensure employees are performing duties. • It had inadequate measures to safeguard employees and customers from potential threats. The potential liability can be significant. How to prevent workplace violence: A number of considerations go into keeping a workplace safe. These include: • Screening (if you ask for references, check references.) • Drug testing

• Policies (have and follow the right policies) • Training (employees need to know how to act and managers need to know what to do) • Security (good security – not window dressing) • Searches (reserve the right to search and make sure everyone knows it) • Threat investigation (if you hear of a threat, act on it. If you dismiss a threat and are wrong, consequences can be severe.) • Employee assistance program (consider giving your employees an outlet to express any concerns. Sometimes just being able to complain makes people feel better.) • Discharge (plan a fair and humane termination) • Problem solving (stop and think about what your employees are saying) Common employer errors: Employers often ignore threatening behavior or even escalate risk through confrontational approaches or premature or inappropriate police involvement. Nothing heightens the tension like having a person in uniform around. Employers need to weigh the need. Peace bonds or restraining orders against irrational or desperate people can be of limited effect and may make people angrier. Employers cannot expect employee assistance programs or the like to change an employee’s personality or make all the problems go away. Failing to document misconduct can allow an employee to think he/she is “getting away with it.” Plus, it creates a situation where employees are surprised when disciplined for misbehavior, which should not happen. Develop a workplace violence prevention program: OSHA requires, in many cases, a written emergency action plan, kept in the workplace and available for employee review; however, employers with 10 or fewer employees can communicate the plan orally. Training is key so employees understand their roles and responsibilities in an emergency. An emergency action plan should address issues specific to your workplace. The annual fire drills companies have are shown to be effective when a fire occurs. Why not have a safety drill? It cannot hurt, and look how much it could help. Art Lambert is a partner in the Dallas office of labor and employment law firm Fisher Phillips. He can be reached at (214) 220-8324 or alambert@fisherphillips.com.

Construction News ON LOCATION

Photo bomb

What is Safe + Sound Week? Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

Safe + Sound Week is August 13-19, 2018 A nationwide event to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs that include management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards in workplaces. Participating in Safe + Sound Week is easy. To get started, select the activities you would like to do at your workplace. You can host an event just for your workers or host a public event to engage your community. Below are examples of potential activities and tools to help you plan and promote your events available. After you’ve completed your events, you can download a certificate and web badge to recognize your organization and your workers at https://www.osha. gov/safeandsoundweek/ Management leadership is a demonstrated commitment at the highest levels of an organization to safety and health. It means that business owners, executives, managers, and supervisors make safety and health a core organizational value, establish goals, provide resources, and set a good example. Here are a few ways you can show management leadership during Safe + Sound Week. • Deliver a safety and health message • Establish a visible presence to promote safety and health • Formalize and publicize your commitment to safety and health) • Take your commitment to safety and health beyond your organization) Worker participation is meaningfully engaging workers at all levels in establishing, implementing, evaluating,

and improving safety and health in the workplace. This means workers understand they are a valuable partner in making their workplace safer and are encouraged and able to communicate with management about hazards on the job. Here are a few ways you can engage your workers during Safe + Sound Week. • Show you are listening and ask for feedback • Empower workers with safety and health information •Recognize workers or teams for contributions to workplace safety • Partner for safety and health planning A systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and control sources of potential injuries or illnesses. This means establishing procedures to collect and review information about known or potential hazards in the workplace, investigating the root cause of those hazards, and prioritizing hazard controls. Identifying and correcting these hazards before someone gets hurt ensures that workers go home to their families safe and sound after every shift. Here are a few ways you can find and fix hazards during Safe + Sound Week. • Spotlight hazards and controls • Create challenges, contests, and competitions • Evaluate safety and health processes and systems • Conduct analyses to identify hazards natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

4th of July Celebrating Independence Day A day that represents the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies claimed theirindependence from England, an eventwhich eventually led to the formationof the United States. As of July 2018,the United States is 242 years old.

While taking a picture of Hart Plumbing’s Juan Quintanilla (left) at Morrison Supply, Sammy Washington, inside sales, jumped in the photo. -cmw

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Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

– and when you charge by the square foot, that’s a good thing. The first sacred space I did was the fellowship hall of the synagogue, Emanu El Temple. Then we did a small window at the First Christian Church of Christ right across the street from the synagogue. We did a couple of hospital projects and it grew from there.

Kim Clark Renteria Owner Lighthouse Glass Houston, TX

rom sweaters to stained glass, Kim Clark Renteria has always been creating beautiful works of art. Through her business, Lighthouse Glass, she has brought breathtaking light and color to commercial, residential and sacred spaces and public places for nearly 30 years. Wherever people find her work, it inspires people to look through the glass and to see inside themselves. When did your interest in art and stained glass begin? I’ve always had an interest in art; I majored in art at the University of Denver and graduated in 1973. Afterward, I started designing sweaters, and I had a sweater company that I did in Vail, New York, Toronto, Montreal and Hong Kong. I then just became really interested in stained glass; I saw it in a few homes and I’d always liked it. I was living in Texas where sweaters weren’t [practical], and I also just wanted a change from knitwear; I had been teaching knitwear design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University when I moved. I was teaching art at a Montessori school and also taking stained glass classes and I knew I wanted to do that full time, so I started Lighthouse Glass in 1991. What were those early years as a business owner like for you? I didn’t have a big portfolio and the word of mouth wasn’t out. The first few years it was about developing the business and the clients. I didn’t have people calling me up and saying, “Oh, the bishop has seen several of your windows in these churches and wants to use you for this.” I didn’t have a reputation yet. When did you begin noticing your business starting to take off? I think when we started doing sacred spaces as opposed to friends’ bathroom windows [is when I saw business take off]

With whom do you share your studio? Selena Precella has worked with me for 22 years; we have a great working relationship, which is really nice. We have a studio cat named “Twang”; I named her that because she seems like she came right out of a country and western song. I also have a Chinese Box Turtle that my granddaughter named “Lavender” who lives outside. What would you consider a “dream project” that you would like to be a part of? I’d love to do some public art in an airport; that would be nice. Why do you feel people have strong emotional reactions to stained glass? People do have a really strong response to stained glass. I think it’s because it’s light – some people are really sensitive to light – and it’s also light coming through colors. Also, the way I design is very specific to the people involved; oftentimes, it’s their ideas coming to fruition. Sometimes people don’t know exactly what they want, so we brainstorm and it’s personal for them. Stained glass also changes all of the time. You can see trees moving through it and it can sort of connect you to nature. It’s changing art; it’s never the same. You’ll see it at 8 o’clock in the morning, you’ll see it on a rainy day, a sunny day, and at night. It’s always something new. It twinkles. Do you have stained glass windows in your own home? Yes, I do. I have probably way too much of it! I’ll do something and study it. For instance, I wanted to study what all red stained glass windows with different kinds of reds would look like, so in the living room there are red windows. I’ll do something and put them up and in six years take them down and put up and study something else. I have stained glass in almost every window. Who, or what, inspires your stained glass creations? The clients inspire me, to be truthful. People have ideas and a space that they want done. Sometimes people don’t know what they want and then we start talking and they find out more about their tastes. There are a lot of things that are considered besides what someone likes. It’s controlling the light to the

L-R: Will Clark, Kim Clark Renteria and Fraser Clark

specifications of the project and then the colors and style that go with the people’s taste. It’s very customized. What do people misunderstand about the kind of work that you do? Some people think of stained glass as not a fine art, that it is “hobbyish,” with peace signs and flowers. I think stained glass is a fine art form. Also, people don’t know that we can ship the stained glass anywhere. We’ve shipped windows to France, New York and Guatemala in crates. What has running this business taught you? Just when you think things are not good or slow, something pops up. It’s a fun roller coaster to ride! Do you think you are predominately right-brained because of the stained glass that you do or left-brained because you run a business? I definitely am right-brained. As a matter of fact, when people ask me to [mentor a relative who is an artist], I tell them that before I talk to them, they need to take business classes in college because I had to learn the slow way. Because your job is so creative, I’m curious to know how you unwind in your free time. I love to go to the gym and take spin classes. I go to the opera and the theatre. I love film. I also love traveling, and travel whenever I can. I’ve traveled a lot in Southeast Asia; I lived in Hong Kong for nearly six years. I’m going to Bali this summer, and I went to Tahiti last spring. My parents were Canadian so I would go to Canada in the summers sometimes.

A passionate interaction

e may be the president, but I’m the boss! says Dona Amador, vice president of Interactive Plumbing, declares loud enough for husband Kenneth Amador to hear. Kenneth, retorting that Dona is, in fact, “not the boss,” is used to this kind of fiery exchange. The push and pull of their romance and working partnership has carried its own heat since they met. In 2001, Dona quit her job as a stressed apartment manager to work for the plumbing company servicing her complex. When plumber Kenneth walked in and saw her, he immediately declared to his colleague, “I want her.” Dona, however, was not easily wooed. After Kenneth’s sweet talk attempts failed and his invitations to visit his apartment were rejected, it was sheer boredom that found Dona knocking on Kenneth’s door one day.

Kenneth and Dona Amador, president and vice president of Interactive Plumbing

The rest was amore for the Amadors, who married five years later. Kenneth worked 90 hours a week to set his bride up in a country house, but the lovebirds were often apart (which Dona was sure to

bring to his attention). The couple also came to know their new community, which needed a plumber like Kenneth. That’s when he resolved to make a change. The couple established Interactive Plumbing Sept. 9, 2009. Although they are opposites – “I’m the grunt, and she’s the paper pusher,” Kenneth says – they admit their partnership works. Kenneth enjoys seeing satisfied customers, Dona loves the work’s flexibility. Both enjoy the chance to spend time together. “Sometimes it’s a little difficult …” Kenneth admits before Dona interrupts him to loudly push back on his paper-pushing remark. Then, with tenderness creeping into his voice, he says more softly, “I hit the jackpot with her.” Subcontractor Interactive Plumbing is located in Houston. –mjm

Do you collect anything? Glass, lots of glass! There’s a wholesaler in town that I buy from, and most of it is from the Pacific Northwest, England, France; the Pacific Northwest has quite a few stained glass studios. I do buy Depression glass plates and things that I use in the windows that I get at antique or junk stores. I’ve been doing a lot of fused glass in the last five years and I make dinner plates, platters and functional pieces out of fused glass and that’s exciting. Share a little about your family. I have three sons. Fraser lives in Bend, OR with his wife Michelle and their four children. Adam lives in Houston with his wife Sylvia and my grandson. Will lives in Houston with his girlfriend Eilleen. I just love my grandchildren! Are any of your family members interested in your work? My sons have worked with me but only worked for the money, not the art form. I’ve shown my older grandchildren how, but I think the youngest one, Stefan, who is 3½, might be a stained glass artist when he grows up. He walked up the stairs the other day and said, “Granny, I like the purple and white – he calls the clear glass “white” – and I said, “Good work, Stefan! It’s my plan for him to take over the business. The business can be renamed “Lighthouse Glass … & Stefan”! Do you think you will eventually leave the stained glass business to pursue a different interest, as you did with knitwear? No, I am a glass addict. That’s the story and I’m sticking with it! Subcontractor Lighthouse Glass is located in Houston. –mjm

Happy

4 JULY thof

Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

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here are literally thousands of fishermen that fish the coastal waters of Texas. Each of these anglers may possess their own individual idea of what constitutes the “ultimate fishing machine.” It’s no different than choosing a car or truck to drive. Everyone of them will get you down the road, but some there will take you to places that others can’t get to. This season, I was given the opportunity to run a boat that is not totally new to the waters of the Laguna Madre, but certainly new to this captain’s style of fishing for over 20 years. Since day one in September of 1998, I have chose a V-style bottom fishing platform for my charters. This decision came pretty easy because of the ride and comforts a V-bottom boat produced, and I was conscious about keeping my customers comfortable.

David Biesenbach and Joey Farmer put together a nice box of fish last month fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors.

Needless to say, I was surprised when I launched my new Shoalwater Cat hull early this fishing season. Everyday I push away from the dock, I can’t help but smile as I ease the throttle forward on this awe-

some fishing platform. This boat opened up the entire bay complex for myself and clients to explore, without giving up any comfort or speed. No, my Shoalwater is not the fastest boat on the water, and

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there may be a few boats that have a few more bells and whistles than a Shoalwater, but I can assure you that you cannot find a more all-around fishing platform for the in-shore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. I’ve been fishing for four months now from my Shoalwater Cat and everyone that has been on the boat has been so impressed with the ride, speed and comfort. One of the things that has always been a concern with low profile cat style boats is the ability to stay dry on cross chop conditions. Let me assure you that my 23 Shoalwater Cat is dryer that most of the V-bottom hulls I have run in the past. This is another complement I get when we have to cross Baffin Bay from the north shoreline to the south in the middle of the day. As for the power behind my Shoalwater, it was a no brainer after running the Evinrude G2 on my last two fishing rigs. From the best fuel economy of all the outboards I have run over my 20-year career to the smoothest steering system and the cleanest rigging. Why would you want any other outboard? And that’s not all. In addition to the extreme durability, the engine comes with the industry’s best warranty and maintenance schedule to give you the ultimate peace-of-mind. So I know your probably thinking that I’m full of bull shrimp and I’m only saying this because I get a deal on a boat. Don’t take my word for it. Call me and I’ll take you on a demo ride. Then you will see why the 23 Shoalwater Cat is the hottest boat on the Texas Coast. My 2018 calendar is now open for bookings for the fall fishing season. The months of September and October are truly two of the best months of the year to fish. 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 me at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good Luck and Good Fishing.

Texas Style

   

San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston

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Houston Construction News • JULY 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

Lake life Pioneers

t’s kind of funny to think about because it just seems so natural now, but do you realize that once upon a time here in Texas we really didn’t know what to do with a lake? According to www.brazos.org, there was only one natural lake in Texas, Caddo Lake, and it was formed by an accidental log jam. In Texas the usual way of water is for it to get dumped from the sky and you better catch it quick before it runs off. Here in the Hill Country of Texas in the 1930s, a grand experiment was underway, just like the one in the Tennessee Valley. People always had a love – hate relationship with their rivers. The water brought life, possibility and an avenue for travel and trade. The flip side though was the nasty fact that rivers also brought deadly floods that had a bad habit of washing away towns and anything else that tried to get too close. Finally someone had the idea that it was time to tame the rivers with dams to control the flooding, hold the extra water for dry times and make the water that did pass through churn out a new commodity that the nation was suddenly so hungry for – electricity. Before long a lot of farmers and their families were standing on the shorelines of new lakes instead of in the fields that had supported them for so long. Some of them moved to the cities to find work and built new lives and some stayed put and adapted to lake life becoming a new kind of pioneer. The old boys who didn’t leave knew from living near the river how to build simple wooden boats and how to river fish. The lakes were wider and rougher, but they were learning and newfangled outboard motors were getting more common. It wasn’t long before World War II

In the beginning

ended and our country welcomed home our returning heroes. We no longer needed to manufacture a stream of war planes, but we had companies with aluminum and the workforce who knew how to meld it into the sleek aerodynamic lines for flight. To stay in business and help people keep their jobs, they turned to making boats – wonderful boats that were just the welcome diversion so many servicemen dreamed of enjoying if they ever got to come home to fish again. That is the beginning of the spectrum of boats you see today. Think about what it was like for our lake pioneers. Before them there were no water skis, wakeboards or fancy specialized boats. They were just a bunch of river rat farm boys looking for fun and having to figure out things as they went along. That’s what makes talking to any of these old timers so interesting. Nobody did this stuff before, no one could teach them, it just all started with, “What if we…” Next time you are at the lake with the jet skis whizzing past and the wake boats thumping by and the center-consoles cruising along, think about the humble farm boys who had lost their way of life and found a way to channel their loss and confusion into the boating lifestyles we still love to this day. In Memory of Max Alexander, 1932 2018

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 S&D Plumbing on fishing trip in Taylor, Tx

Double your pleasure

Construction News in the Big Apple

Bubba Tisdale of Impact Fire Services looks ambidextrous with his dual fish catch. -dsz

Construction News’ editor, Melissa Jones-Meyer and son Avery, take in the sights in New York’s famous Times Square.

Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

Page 9

Ride for freedom

pproximatly 800,000 motorcycles rolled into D.C. from around the country for the 31st annual Memorial ride on Sunday, May 27. The ride begins at the Pentagon, through DC, then onto Potomac Park by the Lincoln Monument. Thousands of spectators lined the streets along the route to observe this spectacular event, waving flags and remembering what Memorial Day is all about. It’s a great place to be to celebrate our military veterans and the fallen. Construction News’ Dana Calonge and Reesa Doebbler rode along as guests with our designated escorts. To view a video of Rolling Thunder, go to www. rollingthunderrun.com and scroll down to video.

Doebbler (left) with escort from Michigan and Calonge with escort from New Jersey

That famous Marine who stands in salute during the entire procession. Veterans salute him as they pass by.

Staging at the Pentagon in two parking lots.

A muddy good time

n Jun. 9, Construction News editor Lexie Velasquez said yes to the No Mud No Glory 5k Spartan Race in Laredo, TX. Although she was familiar with a 5k race, the obstacle portion was unfamiliar territory, not to mention the mud. “It felt empowering to push oneself and have fun at the same time,” she said. Her and her team managed to complete each obstacle. –lv

Lexie landing after climbing the military wall.

Shimming across a rope over a pool of mud.

Lexie (right) and her cousin Diandra all smiles after completing the entire race.

www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news

Lexie pushing herself to get through the tire obstacle (and not fall).

Texas Style

★ ★ ★ ★

San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston

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Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

Glazing goals

Made to fit

L-R: Jorge Lopez, Edgar Lopez, Mitch Gilbert and Polo Medrano

Enerspace Modular Group crew and subs working in Texas.

he name is American Glazing Services. The concept of glazing can be overlooked, but it shouldn’t. It wasn’t for Edgar Lopez who owns American Glazing Services. Lopez said the interest for the glazing industry started with his brother who owned his own glass company. Lopez shared that working for his brother used to be his summer, spring break and Thanksgiving job. His interest continued and he was in the industry full time after high school. Now as an owner of his own company, Lopez has led the company into a commercial and residential glass company. “We cover everything and anything that has to do with glass,” he said. He considers them to be an up and coming company having been established in the 2014. Nonetheless, the company portfolio is impressive. Lopez mentions a few recent commercial projects, such as Second Baptist Church on Woodway and Voss. “Our main goal is to satisfy our customer. We go above and beyond. Some-

times it’s not all about the money, but about having your customer be happy with the job that you’ve done,” shared Lopez. The team that stands by Lopez and the company is made of one female running the office and four employees. Lopez has been in the industry for 15 years now. “It’s something I enjoy doing and I see myself doing this for the rest of my life.” Over the years Lopez has learned from the industry that once you get into something and you find yourself enjoying it, “the possibilities are endless in learning.” It’s also taught him how to deal with people. Like he said, “You see things that other people wouldn’t see, wouldn’t have interest in, but since you are in it, everything you see you learn.” The glazing industry may have started way before, but American Glazing Services are here now, ready to treat their clients with the best service possible. American Glazing Services are a commercial and residential glass and mirror contractor located in Houston, TX. –lv

Construction News ON LOCATION

Glamorous floors

Owner Maynor Vego of Glamour Flooring, on S. Mason Rd. in Katy takes time to visit with Construction News. -cmw

hey are all over job sites. No, we are not referring to hard hats, trucks or people. We are referring to mobile offices and prefabricated buildings. Those take construction too, before they make it onto a job site, especially if they are built to accommodate a particular area. Director of Business Development Matt Kramer and his wife are the founders of Enerspace Modular Group, an industrial housing builder. They are licensed in the State of Texas, located in Houston and established in late 2011. Enerspace leases and sells mobile modular offices/classroom buildings, as well as providing repairs and service to third parties. Their services are performed throughout the entire State of Texas and some surrounding states. “We primarily focus on commercial. That is something we’ve focused on since we founded the company about seven years ago,” said Kramer. Kramer has been in the industry since 1999. His wife holds a background in marketing and management. They both dived into the industry together and decided to launch out and prove themselves in the market. Today Enerspace employs three others and subcontract other work, Kramer said. One particular commercial project Enerspace has conducted is with a national propane service company. “We came across them about two and a half years ago. They were looking to put a small building at their facility in Texas,” Kramer said. They learned the company had a branch location in Baytown. So, they asked Enerspace if they could do something similar in terms of modifying and repairing their logistic facility. “We went over the course of going through different proposals and then over the course of that time, there were various storms in the Houston area. I think after flooding, three or four times in their excising facility they made the decision to vacate that location and purchase a location near by. With the flooding that

they had experienced they wanted to see other structures to avoid that issue going forward.” The propane service company came to a decision. Enerspace was going to build a modular mobile office that would be elevated about 3ft above the ground. “We undertook the site utilities including the electrical and waste and plumbing supply of development,” Kramer explained. He also said they undertook the grading and concrete work. In addition, they requested a small warehouse on site, so Enerspace took that on as well. “We really kind of put our arms around the entire property and helped them develop it in addition to providing a modular office structure.” As we first stated, mobile modular prefabricated office trailers and buildings are all over job sites. Concurrency that can occur on a project is to be avoided by the benefits of these prefabricated or modular construction trailers. “Basically, what that does is allow you to control the environment for which the structures are being built offsite,” Kramer explained. In the end Enerspace was able to decrease their cycle time by having the structures fabricated the same time they were developing the property. “So we get a little bit less exposed to weather because of our accelerated time line going,” he said. The Enerspace Modular Group experts have portrayed themselves to be highly knowledgeable in the aspects of the modular building industry. With the ongoing projects Kramer sees the future for Enerspace bringing in new faces. “We are in the process of bringing on board a couple of additional folks to improve our operating process and procedures in terms to procurement,” he stated. Kramer explained that as they are able to engage in more projects they could have the ability to “move a little bit quicker without sacrificing safety or quality.” Enerspace Modular Group is a industrial housing builder contractor located in Houston, TX. –lv

Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

Page 11

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

Programmable switching Kenneth W. Hengst, Branch Manager 4C2 Electrical Associates Houston, TX

native of Houston, Hengst began his electrical trade career in 1974. He became a Journeyman in 1977 and then progressed to a Houston Master Electrician (HMEL 205) in 1990. His career has covered industrial, aviation and commercial installations throughout the greater Houston area, combining hands on and management roles. He is a principle member for the IEC on Code Making Panel 8 and a member of UL STP 5 and 6 along with a number of other committees working to enhance the electrical contracting and installation industry. How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? I would say it is steady, but not spectacular. Health Care is active and new light industrial is slower than the recent past. In my older neighborhood, restaurants and small commercial ventures are very active. Have you experienced an increase or a slowdown in business? We have seen an increase in revenue and backlog, led by capital improvements to existing facilities by our customers.

What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? In my opinion, the increase is due to a better business environment. Higher sales are leading to the confidence to repair or replace aging equipment. What are the “hot button” issues in your industry? There are three “hot button” issues in the electrical industry. The first is maintaining and training a competent workforce. The second “hot button” issue is safety compliance. And third, payment terms which are trending longer.

Current flow of electricity Les Moynahan, Executive Manager National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) San Antonio, TX

s July approaches, I will be coming up on my 22nd year serving as the Executive Manager for the South Texas Chapter. Much has changed over the years but change continues to accelerate at a faster and faster pace. Our chapter remains active in developing research projects through ELECTRI International (our research council). We attended and participated in our recent legislative conference. At the conference, we had dinner with Congressman Henry Cuellar and Senator Ted Cruz who attended our opening reception. The Chapter continues to be an intricate part of Cross Border meetings (this year in Roatan, Honduras). Our relationship with our partners in Labor is also strong and vibrant. 2018 is shaping up to be a great year and the foreseeable future also looks good. How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? Have you experienced an increase or a slowdown in business? I would describe the overall construction industry, as a whole, healthy and areas like infrastructure upgrades might even be described as robust. The past five years have been good and the

work picture for the next three to four years continues to look good. New tax laws, infrastructure upgrades, a strong global economy and a business friendly state like Texas are bolstering our industry. As we all know, Texas is a business friendly state and it continues to draw new business from other states that are not business friendly. Also, there has not been an unusual amount of contractors coming into our market from other markets. In talking with my counterparts around the country, the work picture seems to be good everywhere. What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? There has been a strong interest in apprenticeship programs and with the cost of college being so expensive (and student loan debt being at an all-time

ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

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

What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? (i.e. labor shortage, other) Improving the productivity of our limited workforce is the biggest challenge in our industry. Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area? No, I have not. The local workforce is very competent and while other parts of the country have been lagging, the Houston area is enjoying resurgences of their own. What are the costs increases relating to your industry? Steel conduit and all of the associated fittings have gone up as much as 40 percent this year and many of the commodities we purchase have been affected as well. What is on the horizon for your industry? (Changes in technology; equipment; other) Increasing worker safety in existing facilities by advances in ARC-Flash technology.

While we are in the first full year of compliance with the 2017 National Electrical Code, expanded use of arc-fault devices and the addition of several new articles in the 2020 edition of the Code will require all contractors to stay current with continuing education. With the emphasis on green building, what is the most environmentally friendly change relating to your industry? Programmable switching and the expanded use of LED lighting system controls have to be at the forefront of environmental changes. In addition, advances in the solar power generation are a close second. What are keys to being successful? The keys to success for me are Integrity, a competent workforce and the willingness to practice servant leadership. 4C2 Electrical Associates is a Dallas based company who specializes in installation and maintenance services for industrial. -cmw

Have there been any significant code changes in the past year? Or regulations?

high), this career pathway is drawing interest. High school counselors are finally starting to realize that a college education is not for everybody as are students and parents. Alternatives to college have been missing from the high schools for many years. What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? There is an increased emphasis on increased recruiting efforts, leadership development in the field and office. One of our most significant challenges is finding and retaining skilled workers and particularly skilled supervisory employees. There is a need to focus on training for all levels for the skilled trades. What is on the horizon for your industry? (Changes in technology; equipment; other) Technology is going to be the most important driver for the future of electrical contracting. The internet of things, artificial intelligence, smart buildings, human augmentation and even drones are impacting how we do business and this is only going to come at us at a faster pace going forward. There was a recent article on the MySA website that highlighted the fact that an Austin company is 3D printing small houses in order to provide housing for the homeless. They are able to print these small houses for around

$4,000 per house. Single-story, 600– 800sf homes can be printed in less than 24 hours. With the emphasis on green building, what is the most significantly friendly change relating to your industry? The electrical contracting industry continues to become more and more environmentally friendly. There has been a continuous improvement of energy efficient lighting and controls like LED and development of power over the ethernet to power and control lighting. As systems continue to develop and utilize more “smart building” technology, this trend will continue to improve. What are the keys to being successful? There are several keys that are going to be needed by electrical contractors in order to continue to be successful. Succession planning, leadership development, strategic planning. and adapting to and embracing the latest technology are just a few of those keys. The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is an electrical trade association. -cmw

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Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

THIS TH MON

ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

To represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact Houstoneditor@ConstructionNews.net (210) 308-5800

NEXT MONTH (AUGUST) SERVICE PROVIDERS

Safety is key! David Hittinger, Director of Safety, Codes and Standards Independent Electrical Contractors Alexandria, VA

lectrical contractors work in a very competitive electrical construction industry. Electrical workers must be trained in safe work practices and National Electrical Code (NEC) compliant installations. Jobsite conditions can vary with tight scheduling demands affected by special equipment, such as lighting, generators, and distribution equipment. This special equipment must be timely in tion (NFPA). The primary function of the delivery, which includes planning for NEC is to safeguard people and property weather-related delays that can affect the against electrical hazards. The NEC is one completion date when installing electrical of the most widely used and recognized systems. consensus standards in the world. It is a Regardless of any job challenges, true consensus standard because memjobsite safety is paramount and installa- bers from throughout the electrical intions must meet the NEC minimum re- dustry contribute to its development. quirements. States or municipalities may The NEC is updated every three years to adopt the current 2017 NEC and some reflect current trends in the electrical inamendments may occur. It is recom- dustry. mended to check with the local authority The 2020 NEC has moved beyond having jurisdiction before doing electri- the first draft stage with some significant ideas for change. The next step in the cal work. The NEC is sponsored and controlled process is the public comment stage, by the National Fire Protection Associa- which is when the NFPA will be accepting

Sustainable electricity Don Watson, President/Owner Watson Nunnelly LLC San Antonio, TX

on Watson started in the electrical business in the field as an apprentice at Alterman Electric in 1994 and worked his way up to Project Manager. Three and half years ago Watson decided to start his own electrical business and it has been quite a ride!

“It is amazing how my network of friends and clients that I have built over the years have helped me build this company! It has and continues to be fun to do business with the people you want to do business with and not just bidding every job, but hoping to get something with someone you don’t know. I have been very blessed!”

What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? (i.e. labor shortage, other) The biggest challenge we have is finding skilled labor. We, along with the IEC, are constantly working with local high schools to educate our youth about the construction industry and the benefits of learning a skill.

How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? The construction industry is booming! It’s an exciting time to be in construction.

Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area? I do see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area. With all the construction going on, many companies are coming in to take advantage of the growth. I don’t much worry about them taking our share of the work; they just tend to try to take our manpower offering more money, trucks and promises. At the end of the day, most of these contractors don’t stay and the electricians are back at our door asking to get their old job back.

Have you experienced an increase or a slowdown in business? Yes, I have definitely been experiencing an increase in business. The challenge for me is to not take on more projects than I can manage. What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? We have some of the fastest growing areas in the country such as New Braunfels, Hays County, Boerne, as well as San Antonio. Texas is the place to be in construction right now. What are the “hot button” issues in your industry? Sustainable construction is affecting the construction industry as a whole. The electrical industry is no exception. There has been an ongoing push for energy efficiency and renewable energy and while most of these changes are on the design side of the business, we have to learn to implement them.

What are the cost increases relating to your industry? Steel has doubled in price since the first of the year and copper has increased significantly in the last few months. Projects that I bid a few months ago are no longer in budget. What is on the horizon for your industry? (Changes in technology; equipment; other) The international Energy Conservation Code has been adopted by Texas. This mainly affects lighting and lighting controls in the electrical world. You are seeing more LED lighting, occupancy

comments for the technical committees to act on when they reconvene in late October 2018. Some important topics that were reviewed at the first draft meetings include new language that would address electrical hazards associated with installations supplying shore power to ships and watercrafts, including monitoring of leakage current. The Scope of Article 100 recognizes that definitions are also found in the XXX.2 sections of other articles. There are some new defined terms, such as Bonding Jumper, Supply Side, Inverter Input Circuit and Inverter Output Circuit. The Hazardous (Classified) Locations defined terms will be located in a new Part III in Article 100, including new definitions for Aircraft Painting Hanger, Encapsulation “M,” Intrinsic Safety “I,” Outdoor Spray Area Protection by Enclosure “T” and Unclassified Locations. A correlating committee-appointed task group was assigned to improve the usability of Chapter 7 and 8, specifically the Articles that fall under the purview of Code Making Panels 3 and 16, to remove redundancy within these Articles. Several changes resulted, including a new gen-

eral requirement for Cables and Conductors new section, 110.12(C). A new Article 800 was developed which would relocate numerous Chapter 8 redundant text in one location. All of the proposed changes are subject to public review in the public comment stage that will be available on the NFPA website beginning July 6, 2018, and will close on August 30, 2018. Anyone can help improve the next edition of the NEC by submitting a public comment. V i s i t www.nfpa.org for a complete review of the next edition – 2020 NEC. Want to learn from many more industry experts? Join thousands of electrical and construction professionals at IEC Convention & Expo 2018 in Indianapolis, IN, on September 19-22, 2018. Take your business to the next level with latest products, trends, and business strategies. www.iecconvention.org.

sensing technology and daylight harvesting being designed into our projects. We constantly have to train our team to make sure we are up to date with how these systems function. Electricians are used to light switches that run on 120– 277 volts and turn the fixtures “on” and “off.” Now a lot of the lighting systems are utilizing low voltage controls that are installed with Cat5 cabling. Lights come on as you walk into the room and go off when you leave. Then as the sun comes through the windows the lights dim to the correct lighting that the office needs, utilizing natural light mixed with LED. All cool stuff just new to the industry. I think that is one of things that I like about being an electrician; it never gets stagnant, we are always learning.

changes in the past year? Or regulations? As I have already mentioned, the International Energy Conservation Code is a significant change.

Have their been any significant code

Established in 1957 and headquartered in Alexandria, VA, the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) is an electrical trade association representing more than 3,300 members. -cmw

With the emphasis on green building, what is the most environmentally friendly change relating to your industry? LED lighting has reduced the cost of energy significantly. City Public Service is offering rebates for owners to change out their existing lighting to LED to help reduce the power draw on their system. What are keys to being successful? I truly believe that the key to being successful it to do what you say you are going to do, when you say you are going to do it. Watson Nunnelly LLC is an electrical contractor in New Braunfels, TX -cmw

Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

Page 13

JOB SIGHTS

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC

Associated Builders & Contractors

Jul. 13: Membership Breakfast, Hilton University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Rd., 6:30-9am. For more info, call 713-523-6222 Jul. 19: Membership Mixer, Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Dr., 5:45-7pm. For more info, call 713-523-6222

MCA Mechanical Contractors Assn. Jul. 11-14: Annual Meeting & Products Show, Hyatt Regency Los Pines Resort & Spa, 575 Hyatt Loss Pines Rd., Lost Pines, TX. For more info, call 281-440-4380 NAMC National Assn. of Minority Contractors

ASCE

Jul. 26: Monthly Meeting, United Way, 50 Waugh Dr. For more info, call 281-6166757

Jul. 13: 75th Anniversary Celebration, Minute Maid Park – Astros vs. Detroit Tigers, 501 Crawford St., 7pm. For more info, call 713-261-5156

National Assn. of Women in Construction

American Society of Civil Engineers

FPA

Foundation Performance Assn.

Jul. 11: Meeting, Greg FitzGerrell, Hess Club, 5430 Westheimer, 4pm. For more info, call Vicky Bonds at 713-699-4000 Jul. 11: Meeting, Jerrad Jefferson, Hess Club, 5430 Westheimer, 5pm. For more info, call Vicky Bonds at 713-699-4000

NAWIC

Jul. 20: NAWIC Bowls, Copperfield Bowl, 15615 Glen Chase Dr. For more info, contact Kathleen Cernosek at 281-890-1880 ext. 11 PHCC

Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Gulf Coast Chapter

Jaime Diaz, Northtex Construction LLC steps out of the cab of his excavator at the new subdivision at Cane Islands Parkway & Pitts Road in Katy, TX. -cmw

Jul: Summer Break – No Meeting SWE

Society of Women Engineers

HAGA

Houston Area Glass Assn.

Jul. 12: Summer Bowling Mixer, Willow Lanes, 19102 Texas 249, 6pm. Registration required in advance. For more info, call 281-849-8293 or email Dorothy Gurka at dgurka@houstonglass.org HCA

Houston Contractors Association

Jul 26: HCA July Luncheon, Junior League Ballroom, 1811 Briar Oaks Ln., 11am. For more info, contact Emelie Englehart at 713-349-9434 or Emelie@ houstoncontractors.org HARCA

Houston Area Roofing Contractors Assn.

Jul. 10: Lunch & Learn, Greater Houston Builders Association, 9511 W. Sam Houston Blvd. 11am-1pm. For more info, contact Baily Burns at 512-251-7690

Jul. 23: FHPW Quarterly Meeting, The Norris Conference Center, 816 Town & Country Blvd., 5:30-8pm. For more info, call 713-977-0909 TACCA

Greater Houston Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.

Jul. 20: Bay Bash Fishing Tournament, April Fool Point Marina San Leon. For more info, call 713-781-4822 TSPS

Texas Society of Professional Surveyors

Jul. 21: 13th Annual Hook, Line & Surveyor Fishing Tournament, Redfish Bay & Boathouse, 322 Huff St., Aransas Pass, TX. For more info, contact Chester Varner at cvarner@cectexas.com

George Lopez, Riveria Drywall installs metal framing at the Y Shops @ Greenhouse, 2424 Greenhouse Rd., Katy, TX. -cmw

If you could live anywhere, where would that be and why? Oh , that is easy. I would live in Houston because it has the business conditions that allow me to travel anywhere I want to go, a diverse culture that provides me with meal options every day from Russian to Pakistani to Central American to good old comfort food, and all of the entertainment options I could ask for. I am blessed with a wonderful neighborhood where our neighbors are all friends and we interact on a regular basis. To top it off, I’d live in Texas, a state where any dreams are possible and attainable. God has provided us with every thing we need and more than ample supply of what we want. Kenneth Hengst 4C2 Electrical Associates Puerto Rico. There is a liveliness about the city with all of the colors that pop, relaxation, fun, and culture. When walking on the old cobblestone road you feel a simplicity of what is just to live and enjoy

what is around you. From the food, music, and the beach it truly is a beautiful place. Amber Flores, ABC Supply Co. Inc. That is a very open ended question. Perhaps on top of a mountain or the moon so I can look into the Earth all day long. Maynor Vega, Glamour Flooring I would most definitely be keeping it to the United States of America and most likely the gulf coast of Florida. I love Clearwater Beach, the blue water, sand, beach and access to everything. In Texas, it would be Wimberley. I love the rivers, slow pace, and cool summers. Michael Luck, Locke Solutions I’ll be honest; Texas has been very good to us. Certainly Houston has its challenges with some of the storms. I would stay in the state of Texas. Matt Kramer Enerspace Modular Group

Construction News ON LOCATION

Painting smiles

L-R: Xavier Jovel and Rolando Larios are eager and full of smiles at Sherwin-Williams in Katy, TX. -cmw

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

PBK Architects is proud to announce: Ron Bailey, AIA has been promoted to Partner. He is a registered architect in the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma and is a proud member of AIA both nationally and the local Houston chapter. Bailey received his Bachelor of Environmental Design and his Master of Architecture from Texas A&M University. –cmw

Chief Alan Bragg has joined the PBK team as a Consulting Director of School Safety and Security. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Bragg has a Master Peace Officer Certification and has 45 years of experience in Law Enforcement. He will be focus on establishing best practices and shaping the narrative around safety and security in schools. -cmw

Perkins+Will is pleased to announce: Thomas Newsom, AIA, CDT, LEED AP has been promoted to Associate Principal. Newsom has over 25 years of experience in the planning, design and construction of healthcare projects. He will be involved in all phases of project development and leading his team of architects and designers. –cmw

Gerald vanBenschop has been promoted to Associate Principal as the Director of Global Technology Services. He will support all 24 Perkins+Will global offices, focusing on service and project management of IT deliverables. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston. -cmw

V L K Architects is proud to announce Erin Rose has been named International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Houston City Center Sustainability co-chair. -cmw

Stantec is pleased to announce the promotion of David Irvine to Geographic Leader for the firm’s U.S. Central geography. Irvine graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a B.S. in mechanical engineering, and later earned a masters of biological and environmental engineering from Cornell Univ. and a Master of Business Administration from Purdue Univ.-cmw

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Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

continued from Page 1 — Called to masonry and gas was really struggling, Houston’s construction business was really taking off, so the timing was right for me to make a change,” he says. “I just made one big circle back to where I started and I had an opportunity to start Mueller Masonry in Houston in 2007.” Mueller says he “hit a home run right out of the gate” when the company immediately landed work on the Houston Premium Outlet Mall, one of Texas’ largest retail establishments under roof. The project’s size and duration sustained the new company through the economic downturn that closed other construction companies. With the help of his wife Teri who serves as the company’s vice president/comptroller and his team of valued employees, Mueller has witnessed the company’s quick growth. “We quadrupled our revenue over the past 11 years and we developed some terrific relationships with general contractors in the Houston area,” Mueller says. “It’s exciting for us because we’ve been blessed to have such a good business and good partners in this industry, namely our general contractors. Those guys stir up a lot of work and it’s consis-

tent. Based on the good relation-ships that we have with them, it keeps us busy and we’re thankful for that.” While the years have been good to his company, Mueller is looking ahead to what the next years might hold for Mueller Masonry. “My future plans are to find some really good young people who are smart whom I can groom to manage this business,” Mueller says. “Eventually, I will start to slow down and back away from the business knowing it’s in good hands, and watch it become a blessing to some of these other people that work hard for us everyday. I don’t see myself selling this business. I see myself growing it, hiring good managers to run it and watch it prosper.” With 11 good years behind him and bright years ahead, Mueller has nothing but positive things to say when his phone rings. “Each year keeps on getting better and better and so we’ll take it while we can get it!” he says. Subcontractor Mueller Masonry is located in Houston. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Clean machine from outside of Houston that have projects in Houston and they call up and I do the cleaning.” In addition to managing his employees, he also manages his customers’ expectations of what “post-construction cleanup” really means. “I think people think that cleaners can do magic!” he says. “Some things left by previous contractors cannot be removed by us. So in post-construction, even though we do the cleaning, get the dust out and get the space ready, we can’t get paint off of the floor that has been sitting there for the project’s last six months. This is a misunderstanding some

people have. I try to see a job before I start and I try to be frank with people before I put my hands on it.” Rezaei says his entrepreneurial spark didn’t ignite until he was an adult, but that it is perfect for his current life stage. Now that he has experienced the perks of business ownership, he says he doubts he’ll work as an employee again. “I’d rather work for myself,” Rezaei says. “This business still allows me to do the things that I want to do. If I want to get a day off I can do that. It’s not a store that I must have open every day.” Rezaei hopes more days off are in the future.

“My goal is to not work that much!” Rezaei says with a laugh. “I want to be able to find assistance where the business can manage pretty well so I don’t have to worry. I want to be able to do the marketing and things that I want to do besides managing the business. I’m still kind of struggling with that. “I think every business owner’s goal is to get their business to the point where they can sell it for a good amount,” Rezaei continues. “This is my goal, and then I will start something else. Honestly, I don’t

know what’s in store; I might do something different, but on the other hand, I may do something service-related.” Whatever he does, don’t expect for Rezaei to use his lemon transforming skills to make a frozen treat. “I might do catering events, event planning, or remodeling houses – but I’m not going to change and open an ice cream shop,” he says. “I don’t think that’s something I want to do!” Service provider Sharp Cleaning is located in Houston. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Flood prevention with style specializing in earthwork, drainage and concrete projects, used HDPE pipe, irrigation, concrete and various seed mixes for turf establishment in the construction of phases 1B and 1C. LECON faced some of the same challenges with this project that other contractors face on a daily basis. Weather was the biggest challenge, especially working in an aquatic environment and requiring dry weather to excavate large quantities of material from the project. Project Manager James L. Patton, II, stayed in constant contact with Kelly Shipley, P.E., project manager for design engineering firm, Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. (LAN). “This project experienced, due to Hurricane Harvey and the “Tax Day Flood,” many situations where

our project was under water for an extended period of time. These delays are always costly and when they are extremely adverse, as the situations we faced, they are not expected,” says Patton. “The innovative design to take an existing golf course and change it into an environment and habitat for wildlife, wetlands and an area for the residents to enjoy made this project unique,” said Shipley. “The project has miles of trails and paths around a series of lakes. It’s a great concept and I know the residents are extremely excited about it due to all of the comments we’ve received during construction and after.” LECON is a general construction contractor that specializes in earthwork, drainage and concrete projects. -cmw

Houston Construction News • JULY 2018

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Need paint? You Vette

Solutions in sawdust

Stanley Jean, owner of Jean’s Painting and Remodeling, next to his company truck, not his Corvette

tanley Jean came to Houston from Louisiana in 1971 on a Greyhound bus. Now, the owner of Jean’s Painting and Remodeling rides in style in his 2017 Corvette. The Stingray was always his dream car. He’s on his fifth one now. Jean started painting for his uncle in 1971, sanding and spray-painting outdoor patio furniture for $27 a day. From there, he worked for another painting outfit. One day he was approached to give an estimate on a lady’s house. Then, came more estimates. Finally, Jean decided to go into business for himself. “It just happened,” he said, describing his career path. He “started working out of my car. I couldn’t afford a truck.” Today, Jean has eight employees, but will hire out for larger jobs. Jean’s largest job to date was a 200,000sf chemical plant. He had to subcontract out to a firm that had the cherry lifts that were needed. He’s done commercial work from Mi-

ami to Los Angeles. Jean picked up remodeling along the way and does that as well, such as cabinets and counters and baths. He’s done a lot of Hurricane Harvey relief work, including his own house. Jean had to evacuate, and came back to 3.5 ft. of water in his house. He and his wife parked their RV next to the house and did his own painting and remodeling for the next three months. Jean is amused when recalling how some customers sometimes pick not-sopretty colors. “I’ve painted some ugly colors,” he laughs. He’ll ask, “Are you sure you want this?” But, a job is a job, so paint the colors he will. Jean has won several awards for his customer service. He enjoys cooking Cajun food in his spare time. Business is booming. Life is good. Jean has gone from riding on a bus to driving a Corvette. Jean’s Painting & Remodeling is a residential and commercial contractor in the Houston area. –dsz

Nelson Alexandre (red shirt), founder and owner of AAA Woodwork

or Nelson Alexandre, a problem isn’t an obstacle; it’s an opportunity for a solution. Case in point: When he was a young tyke, he got his toy stuck in a tree. That’s the problem. The solution: build a ladder to get it out. “I didn’t want to get in trouble so I had to figure out a way to get up there.” That was the start of his carpentry career. As the fifth generation carpenter in his family, he followed his father, Albino, who came from the old country of Portugal in 1973. Alexandre worked with dad during summer breaks in high school, eventually starting his own company in 2004. Alexandre now owns AAA Woodwork, where he continues his life-long philosophy in providing solutions, but now for his clients. AAA does more than just wood; it provides metal fabrication, acrylics, resin and glasswork. Alexandre and his crew of eight men have had to educate themselves when a client asks for something they haven’t done before. That’s the solution to the problem. They do this so they can “provide that service to our clients,” he says. The necessity that prompted him to build his ladder back then is used to find solutions today. Alexandre has gone as far as Los Cruces,

NM, to do a job, but prefers to stay close to home. Nor does he want to grow the company too large. “The bigger you are, the easier it is to lose the quality,” he said. As far as the sixth generation following in dad’s footsteps goes, Alexandre doesn’t think that will happen. “[I] can’t force my kids to do what I do.” Alexandre is very hands-on when it comes to AAA’s work. He doesn’t just delegate to his workers. He emphasizes teamwork and cross training so any one of them can do a job in case they have to. That’s all part of the solutions-based carpentry shop that is AAA Woodwork. And if some client out there should ever have anything stuck in a tree, Alexandre knows just what to do to get it out. AAA Woodwork is a wood and millwork business in the Houston area. -dsz

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Houston Construction News â&#x20AC;¢ JULY 2018