San Antonio Construction News February 2019

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The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 22 H Number 2 H FEBRUARY 2019

Beyond the green stuff

Greatest generation marble

Justin Hitchcock, president/CEO of JTEX Contracting Incorporated

L-R: Rey McMunn (head of installations); Mark McMunn (head of operations); Joe Centeno (head of production) of M&M Marble

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ometimes people refer to hydro seeding as “spraying out the green stuff,” but Justin Hitchcock didn’t know what that “green stuff” or the technique was until he came across it during a trip to Mississippi. The discovery occurred when he was visiting his then-girlfriendnow-wife Freda’s father, who was involved with large civil engineering projects for the Corps of Engineers.

“There was a guy hydro seeding and people referred to it as spraying out the green stuff,” Justin remembers. “I asked [Freda’s dad] what they were doing and he said he was hydro seeding – where you mix the seed, fertilizer and mulch all together – and he’s applying it to the levee that we built.”

What was said next, took a turn

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ince 1989, David Bandy’s insistence on quality service, hard work and responsiveness to client needs remains the company’s credo and has led to Bandy Constructors’ success in a competitive industry. Bandy has grown to be one of the most respected general contractors in Central Texas, with a continually expanding roster of successful projects and loyal clients.

Bandy created the company with a belief in old school values of integrity, openness, and responsibility, and with a desire to create a business built on lasting relationships with clients, architects, employees, subcontractors, and local communities. Regardless of the situation, they have preserved what has always been important to their company. To them, these are not values that change from situation to situation or person to person, but rather they are the foundation of their company culture.

toward opportunity.

“[Freda’s dad] told me, ‘Can you believe it? I’m paying that guy a million dollars to do that,’” Justin recalls. “I said, ‘Well, I could do that.’”

A year later, Justin found himself back in Texas researching erosion control, hydro seeding and the machines used to do so.

Justin’s “could do” turned into “would do” in 2008, when he established the familyowned-and-operated company JTEX Contracting Incorporated. Justin is the current president and CEO. “Fast-forward to 11 years later and we’ve got three hydro seeding machines, two tractors, a drill seeder and two bail processors. We just kept growing and rolled with it,” he says. continued on Page 21

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om Brokaw wrote a book called The Greatest Generation. It’s about those who came back from World War II and built so much of post-war America.

William McMunn, Sr., was one of them. He enlisted in the Navy at age 36 in 1942. Despite his age, the Navy needed skilled craftsmen to serve in the Seabees (construction battalion).

After his training in Rhode Island, McMunn’s Seabee unit was sent to Iwo Jima in February 1945. Their mission was to build the runways and infrastructure for the B-29s used on the bombing runs over mainland Japan. But first, the Marines had to capture the island.

The Marines landed around 0900. The Japanese didn’t attack right away (they were waiting until the beach was clogged

with people and equipment with no place to run or dig in), so the Seabees were sent ashore. McMunn was on this first wave when the Japanese attacked.

The battle of Iwo Jima raged for over a month. Armed with only a .45 caliber pistol, McMunn somehow survived and returned to San Antonio to work for the Vermont Marble Company after the war, the company for which McMunn worked prior to enlisting.

Vermont Marble decided to decrease its footprint in Texas, but still needed folks to install the products they made back in Vermont.

Sensing the opportunity, McMunn started M&M Marble in 1950, the other continued on Page 21

In time for school Specializing in all types of commercial general construction and construction management in both the public and private arenas, the Dr. Linda G. Mora Elementary School was a good fit for Bandy.

The new construction project was approximately 101,000sf with a footprint of 81,000sf. The ground-up project included new infrastructure, utilities, site work, playscapes and a complete landscape and irrigation package. Mora Elementary School also included a complete commercial kitchen, elevator and specialty gymnasium equipment. Bandy’s workforce performed 15 percent of the work on this project.

With work beginning in March 2017, the project was completed in August 2018 in time for the 2018-2019 school year at a cost of $22.465 million.

The structure was comprised of a pier supported slab-on-grade; elevated Dr. Linda G. Mora Elementary

continued on Page 21

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San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

First, he saw it

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Green Wood Milling Co. owner Attie Jonker

ttie Jonker is originally from South Africa and his wife hails from San Antonio, so after they met in Africa they decided to marry and reside in San Antonio. Little did Jonker know that in Texas everything gets bigger – including people’s visions – and it was while he was living in San Antonio that Jonker met a gentleman who owned a sawmill.

“He was out towards Fredericksburg Road. I was infatuated with the operation,” recalled Jonker. “Then I had a bigger vision for it.”

In the year 2010, Jonker became the owner of Green Wood Milling Company.

The urban sawmill company collects trees out of San Antonio and often repurposes them.

“We will pick up the log, mill the log, dry the lumber, make the furniture and it goes back into people’s homes,” explained Jonker. Green Wood Milling also sells lumber and Jonker says the company’s sawmill services entice people to bring in their logs for cutting.

Jonker has enthusiasm for the city’s trees, so he thought it was crazy when he noticed people cutting trees out of their properties and taking them to the landfill. All wood that Green Wood Milling repurposes is out of San Antonio, which Jonker said is the real story.

“That is the pinnacle of what I hinge my business on; it is the story of the wood, where it comes from and what happened to the tree,” said Jonker. In fact, just a few months ago, Jonker and his crew picked up a “ginormous Red Oak” from the King William residential district. The tree was slowly dying and the city had condemned it. It was the homeowners of the Red Oak who called Jonker.

“We went over there and it took three trucks to get it out. This tree was 40-plus inches in diameter. I loved it because it came out of a historic district.”

Jonker and his crew, aside from making stuff, like to attach the story of where the wood came from.

Green Wood Milling does not do in-

stallations, but they do offer deliveries.

As they typically do everything in house, Jonker likes networking with people.

“There are some metal guys I work with and we combine different elements,” said Jonker.

Today, Green Wood Milling employees six, which can fluctuate depending on project size. Jonker takes pride in networking with other businesses, and shared that his latest hire was at one point a client.

“We are after people that love what they do and want to have a workplace where they can be free to express their gifts,” said Jonker. The company’s busiest time is typically in February through June. Still, he makes sure the work environment they’ve established stays focused on a healthy culture, with freedom of expression and talent.

Commercial projects they have worked on are popular San Antonio venues, such as the San Antonio DoSeum on Broadway, the Witte Museum and the Zoo School as a subcontractor for general contractor Guido Construction. Recently in Leon Valley, Jonker and his crew made 20 park benches. Their service area is mostly in and around San Antonio, but they can ship anywhere.

“Anything further than two hours is kind of hard for us to go get a tree and bring it over here; it gets expensive,” explained Jonker.

Jonker’s “bigger vision” of what a sawmill can do came true, but he still has a bigger vision. He and the company are trying to turn their space into a retail space, where people can come in and pick the slab of wood they want as well as metal bases. Jonker and his team want to have a friendly environment, one with face-to-face client interactions. Just like the one Jonker once had with that gentleman who had a sawmill. Jonker saw what it really was and today nothing goes unnoticed at the Green Wood Milling Company.

Green Wood Milling Company is an urban sawmill subcontractor located in San Antonio, TX. –lv

A valued trade

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L-R: John Cox, owner of Cox Tile Inc. and his son Cody Cox.

t age 12, John Cox was taught how to read a set of blueprints by his father, an ironworker. Cox and his father at one point built a 3,000sqft house together from the ground up.

“I learned a lot of skills that have transferred into what I do through that experience,” said Cox. During Cox’s early college years – and before he was owner of San Antoniobased Cox Tile Inc. – he had wanted to be a wildlife biologist.

“I went to Stephen F. Austin when Nixon was president. There were a lot of grad students that didn’t have jobs because there was a freeze on all the government jobs,” explained Cox. After Cox asked the dean what his chances were in finding a job within his field, the Dean confirmed his chances were slim.

Cox moved back to San Antonio and enrolled in San Antonio Community College while figuring out his next move.

Meanwhile, Cox’s mother was working for a homebuilder.

“I asked her while I was attending SAC, ‘Can you ask some of the guys in the trades if they will hire me to help as a part timer?’ She said the tile guy would hire [me].”

Cox then found himself working for a father-and-son tile contractor.

“In between that, I had become friends with a builder. He would call me for small side jobs,” added Cox. The same friend giving Cox work asked him why he didn’t start his own business.

“I was dating my now wife at the time and said, ‘What’s the worst that can happen? If I don’t make it, I’ll go back to work for someone.’ That was in 1981 and I haven’t looked back since.”

Thirty-eight years later, Cox and his charismatic personality are still running things at Cox Tile. Cox especially thanks his wife Lori, who from the inception of the business has been his rock and support system and what Cox calls “a part of the Cox Tile story.”

Cox Tile is a primarily high-end residential tile, stone and marble contractor.

The company prides itself on doing

things the correct way by following the Tile Council of North America handbook.

They also take pride in the fact that they still do mud work on walls in bathrooms and floors, and they even provide linear drains. Cox Tile staffs around 12 employees, with 50 percent consisting of installers who are not subcontractors. They also sell comfort with their radiant floor heating, something Cox has sold for 20 years.

“We are selling comfort. We are not selling it as a primary heat; we are selling it as a comfort product,” said Cox. Cox Tile has also worked on highprofile jobs such as the murals at the Briscoe Western Art Museum and Witte Museum.

“It was cool because both tile murals depict how the water evolved all through the history of San Antonio.”

Cox’s thorough tile knowledge originated when he attended seminars and workshops at a very early age. In his 20s, Cox joined The National Tile Contractors Association.

“When I joined the association, I became very involved and moved up to being on the Board of Directors. I was president in 2009-2011. I am still on the executive committee. That is the single best check I have ever written towards my business because it elevated my confidence,” shared Cox. Cox instilled that confidence to his family of two daughters and son, Cody Cox, who works at Cox Tile.

The company is also big on giving back to the community. Cox Tile donated its services for Operation Give Back, Gary Sinise Foundation and the Eddie Moreno project in San Antonio.

Cox wants the company to continue to give great value to their clients. This year will certainly be another valued year.

The couple’s common phrase at the office is, “Fulfilling a request, performing a task – that’s commonplace. Crafting and ambiance, stimulating awe – that’s creativity.”

Cox Tile is a tile contractor located in San Antonio. –lv

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

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An accelerator for growth

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Lenny Rajunov, president of Crédito Real

nspired by the recession of 2008, Lenny Rajunov and his father, Fermin Rajunov, were heavy in real estate development. It was through real estate development they saw the need for distributing capital more efficiently during the construction cycle. A solution for helping contractors stay afloat during that time quickly began to form. In 2010, the two partnered together to form a finance company that catered to the construction market.

As the business grew and the market was established, they were approached

by Crédito Real, a publicly traded finance company from Mexico, to partner and grow the business. They jumped at the opportunity to partner with such a world-class organization. In 2017, they joined forces to create Crédito Real USA Business Capital.

Being from Mexico and knowing the Hispanic culture, many of Rajunov’s clientele tend to be Hispanic contractors. They saw a huge need and lots of future products to introduce.

“We buy contractors’ accounts receivables so they can get cash right away

instead of waiting for clients to pay because sometimes getting paid can take up to 30-60 days. Invoices don’t stop, bills have to be paid and payroll has to be made. We allow clients the ability to keep functioning until they can collect.

“We are an excellent financial resource for contractors, subcontractors or anyone involved in the construction industry. We make all of our underwriting decisions in house. We are extremely easy to deal with and at the end of the day our success is tied to our clients’ success.

“We know a lot of hard working people that do great work but are unable to catch that break, especially from a traditional financial institution. We see ourselves as a platform to get more access for more stability or to create a business.

We are an accelerator for growth.”

The dream that started in 2010 with just Rajunov and father has since flourished with millions in funding and many new exciting products on the way.

Crédito Real is a construction financial company in San Antonio. -cmw

On a hot Fry roof

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L-R: Rachelle Cervera, Don Fry and Clara Rodriguez

young man working his way through college, Don Fry, worked part-time in the roofing industry installing clay tile roofs. He loved it so much, he decided he was going to do it for himself. So, at the tender age of 22, Fry went into business for himself and started Fry Roofing Inc. specializing in metal and clay tile roofs.

Initially, Fry only did residential roofing, but over the years has become successful in the commercial arena as well.

“Business has been very good for us. We do 50 percent commercial and 50 percent high-end custom homes,” says Fry. In 1981 when Fry first ventured out on his own, the business was small. Four short years later, Fry was able to purchase some property north of town, build a nice shop and has been there ever since.

“Back then, we were the only ones out here.”

Fry prefers doing business the oldfashioned way, he says. “Developing personal relationships with customers that turn into long-term partnerships is Fry’s

secret to success. They in turn tell a friend…and then, they’ll tell a friend… and, well, you get the picture. A good reputation and word of mouth is the way to go. ”We work in a market where if you do good quality work and treat your customers in a professional, respectable, honest manner, your rewards are great.”

Fry Roofing is now a family business.

Fry, the father of three, is proud to have one of his sons, Chris, come on board.

“Chris came on board about 12 years ago, straight out of college. He thought he would give it a go and is now overseeing our commercial side of the business.”

According to Fry, Fry Roofing stays within a 100-mile radius of San Antonio.

“We do a lot of work in the hill country and Fredericksburg. A lot of people don’t want to go there because of the drive, but for us it’s great because there is no traffic, it’s relaxing and the scenery is breathtaking.”

Fry Roofing Inc. is a residential and commercial roofing contractor in San Antonio. -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

Choc full of potential

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Back to his first love

Maverick Construction Services team L-R: Jimmy Martinson (sitting), Robert “Red” Gawlik and Edward Mata.

immy Martinson’s general contracting business, Maverick Construction Services, recently finished its flagship project, Kilwins Chocolate, in downtown San Antonio. It was a project the company could really sink its teeth into, but there was a downside …

“They did not pay us in chocolate,” Martinson says with a laugh. “The owner probably would have liked to!”

There is something sweet on the horizon for the company, however; Maverick Construction Services opened its waterproofing division last year. Martinson says he actually got into waterproofing “through the backdoor,” thanks to his company and what he has learned growing up in the industry.

“My dad was a general contractor in San Antonio for 35 years. I grew up on job sites and have been around the construction industry my whole life,” Martinson explains. “About four years ago, I started Maverick Construction but before that, I was in the construction industry, primarily in the waterproofing industry. I worked for a couple of different companies, heading up their waterproofing divisions and helping them run their operations and their businesses. I’ve seen such a value in that industry and the demand for it that I wanted to try my hand in that industry and that’s what we did.”

“It was an easier fit for me to want to tap into that market since I’m familiar with it,” Martinson continues. “I came across a superintendent that I’ve worked with in the past and he was looking for an opportunity to make a change. I felt like that was a good time for me to strike out into the waterproofing industry. With his knowledge of the field and industry expertise and mine combined, I think we make a formidable team. We are excited about getting into the industry and the opportunities.”

Eventually, Martinson would like to separate the waterproofing division into its own entity, but first, he knows he has some work ahead for him.

“We’re targeting management companies that handle commercial buildings in San Antonio and offer them our services for the interior and exterior.

When we present our services to these companies, I narrow down that we primarily focus on waterproofing, interior finish-out and remodeling of these spaces or buildings,” he says.

Even though his company and the new division keep Martinson busy, he is happy to spend so much of his time in construction.

“It’s the only industry I’ve found that has been able to provide my family with support and help me build a reputation that I’m confident in,” he says. “I enjoy the end result of projects; the finished product makes it all worthwhile. You go through struggles and hardships, but when it’s all said and done, you can look at what you’ve accomplished. There is a lot of satisfaction in that.”

Martinson is also taking satisfaction in making future plans for the company.

“One of my goals this year is to hire an estimator for the waterproofing division and in five years, I would like to hire a couple of more estimators,” he says. “I’d like to see my company expand. I don’t have the desire to be a big contracting firm, but I feel like you never want to be comfortable because you lose that edge. There are so many days I wake up and would love to roll over and go back to sleep, but there’s that something in me that says, ‘You’ve got to get up and you’ve got to go!’”

He’s right! Those sweet, droolworthy projects won’t build themselves.

General contractor Maverick Construction Services is in San Antonio. –mjm

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Gary Christenson, co-owner of C-Squared Casework

-Squared Casework is the commercial side of Gary Christenson’s work. The residential side is Christenson Woodworks.

Together with wife Paula, adding this commercial division was a logical as well as pragmatic move.

Simply put, they are two separate animals with distinct qualities. The residential cabinetwork that Christenson does is wood-based, whereas C-Squared deals with laminates and other manmade materials. Commercial work comes to Christenson with every detail planned, like color, material, shape and size. A homeowner may not have any idea what he/she wants for their new kitchen to-be.

Further, the two divisions require different talents. Christenson spent years as a general contractor, and he didn’t want someone who did residential cabinets to work on his commercial projects. “The skill set is different,” he said.

Christenson’s journey began in San Diego. “My whole family is in construction in some form or fashion,” he said. He got his first taste of sawdust when he was in high school. “My very first job was in a cabinet shop.”

He left home and got connected with a general contractor operating out Kansas City, MO, but was doing work in Galveston.

As a union carpenter, Christenson moved to Texas to work. He acquired a family, but the economy went south and Texas became a Right-to-Work state. He found work as a non-union carpenter, but the pay per hour was substantially less.

In order to make ends meet, Christenson worked longer and harder, moving up the construction ladder as a foreman, supervisor, project superintendent, and then finally becoming a general contractor.

As a GC, Christenson started doing the various cabinetry work himself, instead of getting another contractor, getting back to his first love of being a carpenter. This grew and grew, and he and Paula opened up the residential woodworking business.

He started C-Squared a few years ago because he knew that GCs don’t want residential cabinetmakers doing their commercial products. Now, Christenson’s customers are so loyal that he says his repeat work is “phenomenal.” Many GCs just ask for him directly, although he will competitively bid when required to.

“We’re consistent,” he said. “I can honestly say I can’t remember the last time we missed a deadline.”

Christenson sends his crews all over the country to install the work they make for such companies as Amazon, UPS, the Border Patrol, Burlington Coat Factory, Sprouts, and TJ Maxx. They make counter tops, display cases, receptionist desks, cabinets, etc.

“Our cabinets are 100 percent put together,” he said. All his team has to do is put the cabinets together to complete the whole project.

“Most of all our commercial work is word-of-mouth,” he said. “We have relationships with general contractors and clients that we do nothing but commercial work for.”

C-Squared has shipped its products to New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Kansas City and Kentucky.

Christenson spends “probably 80 percent of my time programming and doing shop drawings” on the computer, while his able team man the various machines in the shop.

Another benefit to having both commercial and residential businesses is Christenson knows any economy can fluctuate; he’s seen it before. Thus, if one side of his work experiences a downturn, he has the other side to perhaps stay robust. “We’re banking on the future,” he said.

Indeed. From the looks of things, it appears that the future looks bright for CSquared Casework.

C-Squared Casework does commercial fabrication from its location in San Antonio. -dsz

Correction In January’s edition, we had an incorrect headline shown as “Not Hispanic, don’t worry about it” which should have read “Not Hispanic? Don’t worry about it.” We regret the mistake. -rd

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

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Page 5

Shingling with the locals

Starting the year with a merge

Kimberly and Alejandro Lopez

L-R: Jim Filipowicz and Frank Jones shake hands as the merger of their companies become one.

lejandro Lopez and his wife Kimberly Lopez call their business Kendall County Roofing “Your Hometown Roofer” for sentimental reasons.

“We call ourselves that because we’ve lived here in Kendall County our whole lives,” Kimberly says. “We’re both from Boerne and our families both come from Boerne. We’re invested in the community and want the best for it. We just really enjoy working here.”

Alejandro started the company in 2016, after 17 years working and learning at another roofing business. Feeling he had achieved as much as he could at that company, he took two leaps of faith. The first leap required leaving his job and establishing the business. Alejandro took the second leap of faith when he convinced Kimberly to leave her longstanding job at Humana and come run the office side of his business.

“Working with my wife is probably the best decision I ever made and at the same time, it’s also stressful a little bit,” Alejandro acknowledges. “Still, knowing

that it’s for us, that the headaches are our headaches, that I’m not out there busting my butt for somebody else –­ that’s the thing that I really enjoy.”

“The two of us work well together; we make a good team,” agrees Kimberly.

Altogether, a team of five works at Kendall County Roofing, and Alejandro says he hopes to increase that number.

“We’re in the process of growing and I definitely want to grow more and expand,” he says. “As young as we are, I think growth is the biggest goal, along with owning our own place.”

The company is already growing in reputation. Two years ago, Kendall County Roofing earned a bronze in “The Best of the Best Roofers in Boerne.” Last year, the company took home the gold.

With a good team, accolades and work in a hometown they love, Alejandro and Kimberly hope to continue to keep roofs over Boerne residents’ heads.

Subcontractor Kendall County Roofing is located in Boerne and also services surrounding areas. –mjm

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he energy is high at the offices of Jim Filipowicz & Associates Restoration & Construction and Cavalry Restoration & Construction as the two companies have become one.

Jim Filipowicz & Associates Restoration & Construction is a San Antoniobased company. Cavalry Restoration & Construction hails from Houston with offices in Dallas and San Antonio. The owners, Jim Filipowicz and Frank Jones, have been friends for years A couple of years ago, Filipowicz and Jones began discussing merging companies. Months later, the talks were set into motion. As of Jan. 1, Jim Filipowicz & Associates Restoration & Construction is now Cavalry Restoration & Construction, which celebrated 30 years in business this year.

“We have very similar operations.

Over the years we have had a really good cooperative relationship. We share clients, we share subs. If he can’t get to something, he’ll call me to see if I can cover it and vice versa. What’s cool about it is, our clients are different than their cli-

ents. We are not canceling each other out. I expect that our clients will be able to be better serviced in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. It just makes sense,” says Filipowicz.

Cavalry San Antonio will be moving in with the Filipowicz operation having just added 600sf to their office space.

“Now we have good size offices, big offices in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. We kind of have the triangle covered,” says Filipowiscz. “I really love what the possibilities and potentials are. I really just couldn’t be any happier.”

“The transition has been a lot better and smoother than I had anticipated. Our two cultures are merging quite well. It’s all good,” says Jones.

Through the merger, the company is 60 employees strong. There will be a transition with jobs in progress, but Filipowicz and Jones feel they should be totally merged in six months.

Cavalry Restoration & Construction is a general contractor in San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. – cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

Passing down your family business

Third Party Over Actions required by written contract

Steven Bankler, Owner Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd. San Antonio TX

Charles E. Comiskey Sr. Vice President Brady Chapman Holland & Associates, Inc. Houston, TX

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ast month we talked about retiring from your business and the succession planning it requires. This month, I’d like to focus on keeping the business in the family. Is it your dream to pass your business down to a son, daughter or another family member? Maybe your dream is for several heirs to one day run the business together?

There are ways to do it, even if some heirs are active in the business and others aren’t. The trick is to institute safeguards that maximize the probability of the business succeeding after your exit. Those details can be outlined in a succession plan that can be crafted with a professional.

Let’s discuss the following hypothetical situation: Your daughter works in the business and plays a special role in keeping the business thriving on a day-to-day basis while your son has a career outside the business. You believe that you want to pass the business to them both. However, you should consider the following first: 1. Should the daughter (the active heir) have full authority for “normal business operations” but allow the son to have input on major business decisions?

2. How will she be compensated?

Depending on the business structure, an active owner or “operator” of the business may prefer to be paid wages which may allow her to qualify for employee benefits or to take a distribution priority, which might be taxed at a lower rate due to the new Qualified Business Deduction.

3. If the two owners, then, are paid differently, will the wages and benefits paid to the “operator” be fair and reasonable?

4. When and how is the son (the passive heir) rewarded for business success? What is his contribution to that success? If he’s capable of performing services for the company and can be compensated for his efforts, can the company still succeed and incur these additional expenses?

5. Who is going to be the “controlling” shareholder? If they are both 50% owners, decisions may be stalled if there is a difference of opinion. If that happens, how do you protect the minority owner from the possible tyranny of the majority owner? Do you establish a Board of Directors to oversee the operations and protect the interest of the shareholders?

6. Sooner or later the heirs will want

to sell (maybe at retirement, maybe sooner). Is the business organized in an efficient way to maximize the proceeds of a sale? Who can make these decisions and how will they decide? Will there be a buy-sell option so either heir can buy the other out fairly?

7. Is the business protected from the heirs’ creditors? Most owners organize a business to prevent business creditors from going after their personal assets, but the reverse can happen, too.

Personal debt and divorce can complicate matters very quickly, putting the business at risk.

Then there’s this realization: What if none of your heirs want, or are capable of taking on, the business? A well-planned succession plan can cover that scenario, too. You could suggest a CEO or a management company/partner (depending on your business structure) from outside the family, with your heirs maintaining ownership. Many family businesses have found that executive leadership from outside the family is the glue that holds the business together.

These and numerous other issues need to be confronted, discussed, and included in a comprehensive exit plan. You don’t have a crystal ball but, with the assistance of qualified professionals who are knowledgeable about exit planning, your succession plan can be a safety net that can help guide the business through a successful transition.

Steven Bankler has more than 40 years of experience in the accounting industry.

Steven’s expertise lies in consulting, planning, tax, and asset protection as well as exit strategy services for closely held businesses. He also provides litigation support (both as a testifying expert witness and a consulting expert), business negotiations and estate planning. Visit www.bankler. com for additional tax strategy tips and to learn more about Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd.

hat is one of the most common types of construction claim arising from on-going operations? It’s called a “third party over action”. As an example, subcontractor’s employee is injured on the job, makes a workers’ compensation claim, but is dissatisfied with the benefits provided. Subcontractor’s employee is prohibited from suing his/her employer due to the exclusive remedy rule of workers’ compensation, so that employee sues the upstream contractor. As the lawsuit is against the upstream contractor only, this is by definition an allegation of sole negligence. That does not mean that the upstream was solely at fault, but is the only party being sued.

Contractor’s agreement with subcontractor states that subcontractor will defend, indemnify and hold contractor harmless for injuries to subcontractor’s employees, so contractor forwards the lawsuit to subcontractor to answer and defend. Where is the coverage for this petition potentially provided? Under the subcontractor’s general liability coverage.

In a standard GL policy, subcontractor’s general liability insurance says: “This insurance does not apply to (e) Employer’s Liability, ‘bodily injury’ to an employee of the insured arising out of an in the course of employment by the insured”.

So coverage is excluded, right? But the coverage form goes on to state: “This exclusion does not apply to liability assumed by the insured under an ‘insured contract’” (a series of definitions in a GL policy). This exception to the exclusion does not provide coverage for the injury to the employee, but instead provides coverage for the contractual assumption of this risk.

What if the form instead said: “This insurance does not apply to (e) Employer’s Liability, ‘bodily injury’ to an employee of any insured arising out of and in the course of employment by the insured”?

Did you catch the change? It’s subtle, just substituting just one word – “any” instead of “the” – but hardly insignificant.

The effect is that coverage for a third party over action is no longer provided to any insured.

Not as subtle but equally devastating, many insurance companies simply delete the exception to the exclusion, again resulting in a loss of coverage for a third party over action for any insured. In either case, now both the upstream contractor and the downstream subcontractor have real problems and are headed toward litigation.

There are also two standard exclusions that may affect coverage for the as-

San Antonio

sumption of risk in any indemnity agreement. The first is called an “Amendment of Insured Contract Definition”, which limits coverage by referring to “that part of any other contract or agreement pertaining to your business … under which you assume the tort liability of another party to pay for the ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ to a third party provided the ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ is caused, in whole or in part, by the [the Named Insured] or those acting on [the Named Insured’s] behalf.”

The effect? Contractual liability coverage is now provided only to the extent that the subcontractor was wholly or partially was negligent. Coverage is no longer extended to the upstream contractor for its independent sole actions, again eliminating coverage for a third party over action lawsuit. This is ISO CG 24 26 04 13 and should be avoided if the transfer of sole negligence is required.

The second standard endorsement affecting the contractual assumption of liability is called a “Contractual Liability Limitation Endorsement”, and “limitation” is an understatement. This completely deletes that portion of the definition of “Insured Contract” that provides coverage for the assumption of negligence in a construction agreement. This is ISO 21 39 10 93 and is one of worst endorsements in the insurance industry.

Endorsements like these limit the coverage provided for the contractual assumption of liability in spite of what the construction agreement may require.

This may lead to the downstream party being found to be in breach of contract, for which no insurance is provided.

Charles E. Comiskey, CPCU, CIC, CPIA, CRM, PWCA, CRIS, CCM, CMIP Sr. Vice President Brady Chapman Holland & Assoc., 10055 West Gulf Bank • Houston, TX 77040 713-688-1500 Charles.Comiskey@bch-insurance.com

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

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Carol Wiatrek Lexie Velasquez

Daniel Zulli Reesa Doebbler

Contributing Editors

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San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

Page 7

Emerging risk—Misappropriation of pay application proceeds under a factoring agreement Gregory Franklin, Construction Litigation Attorney Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. Austin, TX

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he explosion of factors in the construction industry has exposed a legislative gap in the Texas Construction Trust Fund Act (the “Act”). The Texas Legislature created the Act as a remedial measure to ensure that contractors, subcontractors, and materialman are paid for their work to improve real property. The Act imposes a fiduciary duty on contractors and subcontractors who are paid directly under a construction contract. These contractors and subcontractors are trustees who must hold payments in trust for the beneficiary—the artisan, laborer, mechanic, contractor, subcontractor, or materialman who labors or furnishes material for the construction or repair of real property.

What happens when the trustee misappropriates trust funds by assigning pay application proceeds to a factoring company? What is the legal recourse for the beneficiaries? The Act provides civil and criminal penalties for trustees who misappropriate funds under the Act. However from a practical standpoint, it may be very difficult for the beneficiary to recover the funds it’s owed. Factors are often lenders of last resort for contractors who are in immediate need of capital. By the time the beneficiary files suit for the breach of fiduciary duty, the contractor/trustee will likely already be defunct.

The beneficiary will be tempted to recover the funds from the factor. Thus far, such attempts have been unsuccessful. Texas courts have been reluctant to allow the beneficiary to recover from the factor under the Act. Consistently courts have reasoned that factors do not step into the shoes of a contractor/trustee by virtue of the assignment. The Act limits the fiduciary duty to a contractor, subcontractor, or to an officer, director, or agent of a contractor or subcontractor. The fiduciary duty does not extend to factors. Nonetheless, the courts understand that this limitation frustrates the purpose of the Act. Until the Texas Legislature amends the Act to fill in the statutory gap, unpaid beneficiaries under the Act remain at risk of nonpayment when the trustee misappropriates trust fund proceeds by assigning them to factors. An amendment to the Act imposing a fiduciary duty on factors will likely have unintended consequences such as drying up funding sources for contractors who are unable to access funds from traditional sources.

However, a contractors’ ability to secure funding from a factor should not come at the increased risk to those who should be protected under the Act. At a minimum, the Texas Legislature should consider imposing a notice requirement

whereby factors are mandated to disclose pay application assignments to beneficiaries of the Act. Disclosures detailing the assignment’s impact to the beneficiaries’ ability to recover funds under the Act will allow the beneficiaries to take the necessary steps to mitigate their risk.

Consult with your lawyer prior to signing a construction contract if you are beneficiary under the Act and you suspect that the contractor may not be adequately capitalized. This will allow you to be proactive in protecting the proceeds from your pay applications. Although incorporating anti-assignment clauses for pay application proceeds may be void under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, there are other contractual mechanisms to help protect your interest. Consider incorporating a contractual provision requiring disclosure for pay application proceeds assignments. It would also be good practice for a beneficiary to require a third-party guarantor if the pay application proceeds are assigned and the contractor defaults on its financial obligations.

In summary, the Texas Legislature has not kept up with the realities of the current construction industry where contractors have increased their reliance on factors to supplement capitalization. The Act’s current statutory gaps leave beneficiaries at risk without recourse when a contractor/trustee assigns pay applications proceeds to a factor. Until the gap is closed, beneficiaries will have to be proactive by implementing contractual safeguards to help mitigate their financial risk and improve chances of recovery in case of default.

Gregory Franklin is an attorney in the Dallas office of Munsch Hardt. His practice focuses on construction litigation and his primary focus is to help his clients solve problems that threaten their business in a practical and efficient manner.

PHCC new leadership

Introducing the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Association 2019 board of directors: L-R: 2018 Past President & 2019 Secretary Randy Hunter, REC Industries; 2019 President Sherill Stanush, S&S Plumbing Contractors; Loy Thompson, AllisonThompson Insurance & Risk Management; Spencer Ramzel, Benchmark Plumbing; Joel Kempf, Moore Supply; Jason Stewart, Stewart Plumbing; and Colton Bolin, Bolin Plumbing. Not pictured Treasurer Norwood Bishop, Texas Plumbing Diagnostics; James Beyer, Beyer Plumbing; Clay Saliba, George Plumbing and Vice President Patricia Ramirez, A-Ram Plumbing. -cmw

OSHA electronic injury reporting Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

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n 2017, OSHA began collecting OSHA 300A data from employers that are required to maintain the OSHA injury illness log and have 20 or more employees. Employers in certain NAICS codes who must submit data electronically are listed here: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/NAICScodesforelectronicsubmission.html OSHA is currently accepting OSHA 300A submissions for calendar year 2018 data. March 2, 2019, is the deadline for electronically reporting your OSHA Form 300A data for calendar year 2018. OSHA began collecting electronic submissions on January 2, 2019.

OSHA is only accepting the OSHA 300A Summary of Occupational injury and Illnesses data. OSHA is not collecting the OSHA 300 log data or the OSHA 301 data, as was initially proposed in the changes to the recordkeeping rule in 2016.

OSHA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend its recordkeeping regulation to remove the requirement to electronically submit to OSHA information from the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report The online reporting injury tracking application can be accessed on the OSHA website at: https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/

OSHA requires employers with more than 10 workers in certain industries to maintain the OSHA 300 injury and illness log and record their occupational injuries and illnesses. At the end of the calendar

year, employers total the columns on the OSHA 300 and prepare the summary form, the OSHA 300A. The OSHA 300A form does not include the injured worker’s names, but does include the total number of cases, the total number of days away and restricted days, and the total hours worked by all employees. The records must be maintained at the worksite for at least five years. Each February 1st to April 30th, employers must post a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded the previous year. Also, if requested, copies of the records must be provided to current and former employees, or their representatives.

OSHA has downloadable versions of the OSHA recordkeeping forms at: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/ RKforms.html

If an employer is unsure whether an injury meets the criteria for entry on the OSHA 300 log, a handy web application was developed to walk employers through the process: https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/ osharecordkeeping.html natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

Page 8

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

How did you get to Dallas?

I was married for 20 years. He was a stockbroker, and I started my business there. We lived downtown in a high rise, right next to Crescent Court. We had a beautiful view of all downtown. It was gorgeous.

What were you doing during this time?

Just playing mother to two girls. Taking care of them was heart-felt, full-time job.

Carrie Pollock Owner Pollock Construction Cleaning San Antonio, TX

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fter about 20 years in Dallas, Carrie Pollock now lives in the neighborhood in which she was raised, off Nacogdoches, near 410. From her home office, she runs her post-construction cleaning business with exacting standards for cleanliness. She stays centered with yoga and meditation after a hard day’s work, all the while keeping negative people as far away as possible.

Where are you from?

I’m from San Antonio, born and raised. I was born in Alamo Heights, over on Davis Court. My parents are life-long San Antonian. My mother was born in Palestine and my dad was born here. He grew up in Alamo Heights. They didn’t have a sports team, so he went over to Jefferson High School, and that’s where he met my mother.

Where did you go school?

I went to St. Pious Elementary School.

Then I transferred to Garner, which was a public school. Classes were small, like 12 people in my class at St. Pious. Going to public school was a whole different operation.

What was this area around Nacogdoches like when you were little?

Completely different than it is now.

Now it’s congested, like every part of the city. It was vacant lots and it was a daydream. It really was. It was beautiful. I remember when 410 was going in. But this was dirt roads and we had a horse at home that pulled a buggy - great fun!

What about your college career and plans?

I graduated from UTSA with a degree in biology. I was contemplating medical school, but it never came to fruition.

How did you start your own business?

I had a friend in Dallas and our daughters went to school together and she needed a partner. She asked me to go with her and I thought, “I don’t know anything about construction work.” I went on a few projects with her and introduced myself at construction sites and got to meet all the different construction companies. I loved it from the get-go. It was fun and interesting. From there I transitioned here.

Did you start your own business up there?

I did. That was in 2007, in post construction cleaning. Believe it or not, there aren’t a whole lot of competitors up there. It was a fun little niche.”

How long did you work with your friend?

About three years, before I started my own company.

How did you decide to go solo, on your own?

She was kind of flaky. I decided, “I can do this!” And I did.

Did you find owning your own business satisfying?

I did, and do. It was intriguing. And every job was different and it still is to this day.

Were there a lot of opportunities up in Dallas?

Yes, a lot of business. When I transitioned here, San Antonio had just taken off too.

So when you moved down, you just brought your company down with you, correct?

I transitioned from Dallas to San Antonio but I segued right into work. My first job was Max’s Wine Dive at the Quarry, with Metropolitan Construction. I started out with good companies and I just got lucky. I transitioned well and I just got right to work here.

How did you find your employees to

Carrie Pollock, owner of Pollock Construction Cleaning

start with here in San Antonio?

I started with the Texas Workforce Commission, and I interviewed about 20 people and they all said they had post construction cleaning experience. I got to the jobsite and I had, like, two people show. So I called on an old friend and he staffed me quickly and we got the ball rolling.

It is a resort on 2,000 acres; beautiful, absolutely exquisite. Everything is high end. Beautifully appointed. Right now I’m just doing the million dollar homes.

What is it like being a business owner?

I’m not a bossy person, but I like things a certain way. When I go into a place, they have to know my standards and can’t veer from them. I run the show but I try to be as affable as I can.

How do you bid?

Primarily it’s based on square footage, but if it’s a smaller job, then I do it a little differently.

How did you get to be so meticulous?

My mother was very meticulous. My grandmother and grandfather were very meticulous. He had his garage perfectly coordinated with jars for everything. My mother was very orderly. She was always cleaning and purging. I got that from her.

When you’re short-manned, do you have to roll up your sleeves and chip in?

I have certainly done that. I’m not above anything. If I have to do it, I have to do it. Bottom line is my reputation. I’m always under a timeline. If I tell my client I can do this in three days, I have to have it done. I’ve never let anyone down - never, ever, to the best of my knowledge.

What are the steps to post construction cleaning? “

It just depends on the type of job. If it’s a large job it’s usually multi-phasic, so it’s the rough clean, a final clean and what’s considered a powder puff clean.

Tell me about the job in Fredericksburg.

How do you get your cleaning jobs?

I get invitations to bid, but if I see a jobsite that interests me, I’ll stop and meet with the contractor.

How does the floor material impact your bid?

It all makes a difference. If I have to strip and wax, that’s a whole different detail and basically a different bid.

What kind of satisfaction do you get when a job is done?

It’s fun because you see something come to fruition from the ground.

What’s the difference between the final clean and the powder puff clean?

The powder puff would be when the subcontractors come in and finish off their punch list, and I just basically tie up all the loose ends and make it sellable.

Are there any differences in the contractors you work with?

Absolutely. I can tell a good contractor from the moment I walk in the door and see how they’re keeping their jobsite.

Have you done any government jobs?

I do a fair amount of government work as well. I did the Special Forces building on Lackland.

What do you do to unwind apart from the job?

I spend a lot of time at home, with my animals: Charlie (my female shepherd), Brother (male cat) and Pink (female cat) - all rescues. I cook almost every night, enjoy wine and friends. I have a workout area in my backyard. I strive to keep my life as simplistic and drama-free, as possible!

Any good adventures lately?

I took Cape Air from Boston to Rockport, ME. My sister lives in South Thomaston, ME, half the year. We visited Camden (where another sister has a home, Rockland and Rockport, where I learned the story of André the seal. There is a statue of him at Rockport Harbor. We ate at Primo’s in Rockland and The Waterfront in Camden. My sister’s neighbor, who is a lobsterman, brought steaming lobsters over one night for dinner. It was a beautiful, placid, tranquil trip that I will cherish for years to come!

What does the future hold?

I kind of live in the moment. The moments are good and life’s very good.

Pollock Construction Cleaning specializes in post-construction cleaning in San Antonio. - dsz

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

S

Page 9

Concrete PDQ

Upon this rock

Brent Barnard, owner of Express Metered Concrete

Cody Willey (center), owner of Iron Rock Concrete, with wife Courtney and some of his crew

ometimes a good business is started quite by accident; i.e., the person starting it sort of fell into it without any planning or forethought.

Not Brent Barnard, owner of Express Metered Concrete (EMC). “I’ve been in oil field construction for quite a few years,” he said, “and I just transitioned to commercial and residential construction.”

That transition included doing his homework before taking the plunge two and half years ago.

“After doing extensive research in the College Station/Houston/Dallas - Fort Worth market,” he explained, “I determined that the concrete supply market was underserved in the I-35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin, and so I started this business with two trucks. We now own five trucks and we do a variety of commercial and residential concrete supply.”

EMC is a family affair. Barnard’s wife Lisa handles all the office work of payroll, accounts receivable, etc., while daughter Lindsey helps with marketing.

Barnard chose the south side of New Braunfels for EMC’s location. This strategic spot allows him to go all compass points, like to Seguin and Bulverde.

Barnard also plans on opening a second operation this spring, this time on the west side of San Antonio. Military City is growing incredibly toward the northwest and Barnard wants to strike while the iron is hot.

“I feel the biggest growth potential for San Antonio will be on the west side,” he said.

In addition, Barnard will be adding two more trucks to handle the workload.

In doing his research, Barnard was able to fill a need based upon a problem

he identified in the construction industry.

“In researching the concrete market,” he said, “a lot of the issues that contractors have with the supply side is on-time delivery. We built our reputation on being dependable in addition to providing a quality product [and] being there when we say we’re going to be there.”

When EMC began, Barnard had to go out and drum up the business. He didn’t use a fancy marketing scheme, rather “a lot of old-fashioned business development work,” he said. Simply put, Barnard met with prospective clients and explained how he could benefit them.

“We’ve done hundreds, if not thousands of projects over the past year,” he said. “We do everything from swimming pools to underground utilities to home slabs. It’s a big variety of stuff we do.”

When a new subdivision is being built, it’s the utility infrastructure that goes in first, and that requires a lot of concrete.

“We can do the form and finish work and pour the concrete, Barnard said.

We’re basically a one-stop shop.”

Barnard realizes he won’t compete against the big guns in the industry. But he has filled a need in a certain niche of the construction world. With his seven employees, five trucks and soon second plant, Express Metered Concrete is poised to deliver its goods deep in the heart of Texas and the clients who call upon him.

The best part: they don’t have to wait for it. Barnard jokes when he says, “I wish I had called it, ‘Pronto,’ but ‘Express’ works!”

It works PDQ.

Express Metered Concrete specializes in delivering metered concrete, located in New Braunfels. -dsz

AFSA new leadership

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he American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has a new leader. Debra McGuire, MBA, IOM, CAE has been selected as the association’s fourth President and first female Chief Executive Officer since the association’s inception in 1981.

McGuire has 30 years of association management and has held a variety of leadership positions. Most recently, McGuire was CEO of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians and Executive VP for the Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan.

“She is well-known and respected in association leadership circles. AFSA members and the fire sprinkler industry will benefit greatly from her experience, leadership, and commitment to the mission of AFSA,” says former AFSA President Steve Muncy, CAE. “Fire sprinklers save lives, and I am honored to have been selected by the American Fire Sprinkler Association Board of Directors as its new President and Chief Executive Officer,” said McGuire.

McGuire is a graduate of Honors College at Michigan State University where she completed her undergraduate studies on a track scholarship. In addition, she

Debra McGuire

is a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management (IOM) at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN and Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI where she earned her MBA. -cmw

C

ody Willey basically learned about the construction industry by osmosis. His grandfather and father were both contractors, as well as other members of his family. Whenever the family gathered together, Willey overheard all the shop talk, learned it, and knew he’d end up in construction as well.

“I started on construction jobsites at 5-years-old, just helping out on the weekends,” he said.

However, Willey also knew that one day he’d have his own company. After doing remodeling and most every construction trade, he took the plunge and started Iron Rock Concrete in March 2015.

Why “Iron Rock?” Even though he uses a lot of steel in his work for the rebar, Willey didn’t like the way that sounded: “Steel Rock.” Since his two kids like the comic book action figures, especially Iron Man, he liked the way that sounded: “Iron Rock.”

Plus, being a faith-based company who uses Psalm 16:3 as their world view (“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”), this is the real Rock for the company.

“With everything we do, we want to do in the image of God,” Willey said. This is what drives their customer focus and desire to be the best company they can be. “Everybody in the company is on the same page.”

Iron Rock Concrete has been rated as one of the best concrete contractors by Expertise three years in a row. Not bad for a company that’s only been in existence less than four years.

In the beginning, Iron Rock was like most new businesses. “Obviously, it was slow here and there,” Willey said. But within six months, the work was coming in.

“I really think it’s about earning a

good reputation and keeping that close relationship with your customers, “ he said. It’s the repeat customers who give most of his referrals.

Iron Rock Concrete does both commercial and residential work. On the commercial side, it does everything from parking lots, to building foundation, retaining walls, pad sites for generators and pumps, etc.

On the residential side, Willey does driveways, patios, porches and sidewalks.

About 20 percent of his residential work is the decorative, or stamped, concrete. A tamper that has the pattern on the other side does the patterns. When the concrete has hardened a bit, the worker stands on the tamper and embosses the pattern. Then the color and sealer are applied, requiring multiple trips out by Iron Rock.

“What I like about working for the homeowner is no job’s the same,” Willey said.

Going from construction worker to construction owner was daunting. “It was really taking the leap on it,” Willey said.

“I’ve never worked this hard in my life. Being in this position now, I have a lot more respect for all the other bosses that I’ve had previous to this.”

Willey puts on 700 miles a week on his truck, going to and from the twothree projects he has going on daily. With wife Courtney’s help running the show (and a lot of divine enablement), Iron Rock Concrete would like to keep its good rating by Expertise an annual thing and become a household name when it comes to one’s concrete needs.

Like a rock.

Iron Rock Concrete specializes in residential and commercial concrete services . -dsz

Page 10

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

W hat’s Trending in Cabinetry

Things to consider before making cabinet decisions Edmund Noel

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s with all aspects of construction, each year we start seeing new market trends in cabinetry design involving everything from materials to finishes to hardware. Changes in cabinetry trends evolve at a slower pace than other areas like color trends but are yet identifiable. Due to the investment involved with cabinetry, many property owners don’t plan on altering their cabinets every few years in order to stay current. It is our responsibility as cabinet manufacturers to stay up to date on what is happening in the current market in order to provide our clients with long lasting designs. These are some recent areas we have seen changes.

New Design Construction With new cabinet design software programs, many cabinet companies can offer design options that were once only provided by larger companies and design firms. For example, we have been asked to customize drawers that fit specific printers, cabinets built around machinery specifications, and custom appliance pull outs. All of these customizations are not only for residential clients but also commercial clients. It is an excellent way for companies to effectively utilize their space while keeping the style of the cabinets in line with the overall aesthetic of the project. Additionally, many aspects of residential cabinet design can also be seen in commercial cabinetry.

This is evidenced through the market trend of creating furniture style pieces and combining these with the utilitarian aspects of typical commercial cabinets.

The key being bringing in an elevated sense of finish with a higher customization at minimal expense.

clean lines, are also finding their way back in to modern residential kitchens. To complement this cabinet style, minimalistic hardware like hidden hinges and thumb pulls are being used. This clean line aesthetic is trending not only for cost conscious clients but for high end contemporary homes as well.

Forefront of Color Color trends are ever changing in de-

sign. Warm natural colors are being used more frequently in place of cool greys.

Additionally, dark and heavy wood tones have made way for medium tone stains to add a modern feel to professional environments. Subsequently, this has changed the materials and finishes of the countertops and hardware. The current warm color palettes are allowing for the use of different metals, like brass in place of nickel, as well as a variety of quartzes in place of grey and white marble. The cabinet hardware is as important to your finished look as the paint color. Recent years have seen a resurgence in brass fixtures and hardware. This is not the old shiny brass from the 1980s, but instead is reminiscent of classic architecture seen throughout Europe, filled with unlacquered brass that patinas with age. The classic feel of unlacquered brass, combined with current color trends allows for a long-lasting design.

Although changes in trends may seem overwhelming, utilizing new technology to create custom cabinets to fit one’s specific needs will always result in a timeless product. Colors and hardware will evolve and change but functionality for the end user never goes out of style, so we believe it is essential to build cabinetry that can withstand the test of time.

Clean lines for Sophisticated Products Commercial cabinetry has always taken a more modern approach, utilizing frameless design and high performance formica or melamine products. Residential construction has seen a recent resurgence in this aesthetic in kitchens and bathrooms. Where we were once doing lots of ornate columns and crown molding, there are now simple shaker doors and inset cabinets. The use of Formica and Malamine, with their durability and

Author Edmund Noel is President of Memorial Cabinetry in Houston Texas. Memorial Cabinetry specializes in custom cabinetry for commercial and residential builders. Their design department and manufacturing facilities utilize cutting edge software along with time tested construction techniques to provide a superior product.

10801 Hammerly Blvd., Suite 118 Houston, TX 77043 832-453-2366 edmund@memorialcabinetry.com

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

Page 11

Staying focused: Key to success

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Shoalwater Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Shimano Reels, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing, ForEverlast Fishing Products, PowerPro, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, JL Marines Power-Pole, AFW and AFTCO Clothing.

W

inter fishing can be both agonizing and rewarding. It takes a special dedication to wake up on a cold winter morning, get out of a warm bed and prepare yourself to brave the harsh elements on the water for a chance to catch a fish or perhaps even get a bite. February is considered to be one of the coldest months here on the coastal bend. Grey skies, stiff north winds and sometimes light mist can makes this captain wonder if a nine to five job isn’t a better option. Not a chance!!! I live for days like this because the rewards far outweigh the displeasures.

Every angler knows that the winter months yield some of the biggest speckled trout of the season in the Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay complex. I’m not saying that’s the only time we catch trophy quality specks. However, they really tend to weigh more than midsummer and fall fish. However, the trophy is in the eye of the beholder. Many avid anglers talk about 30-in. trout being a trophy.

Yes, I agree on this unless I have a client

This time of the year you can expect to catch quality fish on lures like this 27” speck.

Staying focused and having confidence in your plan is key to your success.

This trout was released after photo by Steve Schultz Outdoors.

that catches a 28-in. or 29-in. trout that has never caught anything close to this size, and deemed his personnel best. To me, that’s truly a trophy in his case. I’ve fished with may clients that regret mounting their first trout that fell a little shy of the 30-in. mark. It’s your fish that will hang on your wall, so it’s your call.

Enough said!!

For the remainder of January and the month of February, I certainly will be keying on catching some of these big girls.

Typically, these days are long, especially on colder mornings where it can take several hours for water to start warming up enough to get these fish motivated to eat. Every cast of your lure on every wade can produce a bite that might be the fish you are looking for. Some days we may have to grind it out more than others but that’s part of the game. Staying focused and having confidence in your ability is key to your own success.

New for 2019 is the addition of Shimano and G-Loomis to the sponsor list of Steve Schultz Outdoors. These companies have been around the fishing industry for many years and are considered the cream of the crop. Shimano has what this writer/captain believes are the best reels on the market, by far. They’re selection of baitcast reels is so diverse, there is a reel for every application and every price point. They also have the smoothest and most durable spinning reel on the market that holds up to the harsh saltwater conditions we face. G-Loomis also came aboard and offer some damn fine fishing stix. I am honored to have them on my boat with some of my other key sponsors like Fishing Tackle Unlimited and ForEverlast Fishing Products. Looking forward to fishing with all my fine customers and letting them try these fine products for the 2019 season.

My 2019 fishing calendar is now open. 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 trip give Capt.

Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or email him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@ gmail.com.

Good luck and Good Fishing.

Page 12

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

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

Here comes spring time!

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an you feel it? That sweet little warm breeze on sun warmed skin, the excited twitters and chirps of the birds beginning to move back in and call for mates and the evening sunsets coming later mean winter is losing its grip and spring is near! We will still have a few more cold spells to come, but they won’t bite so much or stay as long.

We are in for a wonderful spring this year. This is one of those increasingly rare years when there has been plenty of rain to fill lakes, restore rivers and ponds and periodic continuing rain to nourish the wildflowers to maturity. Any day now you can see a few bluebonnets in more protected areas start to bloom, leading off the parade of color to come.

Now I’ll cut to the chase. It’s going to be a BUSY year for travel and recreation this year in Texas and you better be making any reservations for trips you want to make this spring and summer NOW! Spring break is coming soon and that is usually the kick off for people to start getting out and about again.

We usually see our regular customers start to book cabins and trips right after the first of the year because they understand getting on the books early for the best availability of dates. This applies to everything from hunting and fishing guides, to lodging, space in the parks and just about anything you want to do.

If you are the do-it-yourself type, you need to get ready too! Don’t wait until you try to unload your boat at the ramp to discover it won’t run. Don’t learn you should have respooled your reels with new line when you hear your line snap as you lose a nice fish. You have some time

to get the boat checked out and tuned up as needed before the rush and a good excuse to go tackle shopping.

Your recreational time is precious and it’s worth it to invest a little time and planning to make the most of it! It might be a good idea to be sure your vehicle and trailer and other such equipment are up to snuff too. You don’t want down time or extra unexpected expense when you could be getting away from it all!

Do remember that springtime in Texas can be a bit of a wild ride sometimes.

The only bad thing about spring is that the weather can do some crazy things and it doesn’t care what you have planned. You can plan for the best, but it never hurts to also learn about alternate activities in an area you want to visit, just in case the weather has a hissy fit. Most guides and outfitters will do what they can to accommodate you, but if they tell you that conditions are just too windy or rough or unsafe and unproductive, you need to trust their judgement. Chances are they have been caught out in weather like you never want to experience and they hope to never see again!

Springtime in Texas is time to get up and go! Hope to see you soon!

Looking forward to sprink break

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!

The parade of color to come

Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com

Nine-point beauty

Jace Preston, son of Phillip Preston with Alderson and Associates, poses proudly with the 9-point whitetail buck he shot.

Congratulations Jace, he’s a beauty! -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

I

Page 13

Point out the way

t was a hunting good time in south Texas when Iron Rock Concrete set out for a company hunt. –lv

Cody Willey and Ryan Peters are seen with a white tail deer.

Cody Willey really enjoys hunting.

Check out this south Texas black hog also referred to as black hog down.

A

Bonding time with dad

llen & Allen Co.’s Jeremy Simpson has triplet girls. Each time he goes hunting, he takes one of his girls with him. This time he took Madison who shot her second deer and a small pig in Sabinal. Way to go Madison! – cmw

Madison Simpson shows off her second deer.

Madison shows did her part in controlling the wild pig population.

Send Us your Outdoor Photos of your Outdoor Adventures Sporting • Hiking • Travel • Racing • Fishing Cycling • Hunting • Hobbies

Email To: meditor@constructionnews.net

Elk luck correction In our January 2019 issue last month, we misidentified Paul Daniec. We apologize for this error.

Victor Daniec, owner of Benchmark Utility Contractors, sent photo of sons.

Victor and Jan Daniec, with this massive elk Jan shot during an October elk hunting trip in Utah. The younger Daniec also had the good fortune to shoot a nice cull elk during the hunt (photo unavailable).

Page 14

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

May I help you?

Front Desk, VBX Home Office, San Antonio L-R: Delilah Coker and Marissa Chambers

JOB SIGHTS

Construction News caught up with Martin Renteria with Maverick of Texas Construction as he prepares to refill his bucket to continue concrete finish work at the Davita Judson Dialysis Center. -cmw

L-R: Danny Laque, Foreman Kelvin Tademy and Jeffrey Kelly with Longhorn Lot Maintenance were hard at work replacing the drive-thru approach at Dunkin’ Donuts when Construction News paid them a visit. -cmw

Jose R. Romero with J.E. Travis Painting Inc. makes sure the area around the steel columns at the Autism Treatment Center addition project is dust free before painting the columns. -cmw

Whitetail in Medina County

Rudi Rodriguez, CEO of EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering shot this 9-point whitetail deer Dec. 24 at his family ranch in Medina County, Rancho Colorado del Norte. –cmw

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

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Page 15

Food fight champions

Biblical business

L-R: Atlas Floors’ Debbie Patterson, Veronica Despres, Sandy Cheatham and Tessa Burns, Emser Tile

Southwest Exteriors’ Leadership Council: front row (L-R): Ann Rathbun (HR); Angela Parks (Accounting); Ana Garcia (Installation); Jim Sublousky (Installation). Back row (L-R): Ryan Houchen (Sales); Ryan Shutt (Marketing); Steve McNary (Team Leader)

on’t get into a food fight with the ladies from Atlas Floors. They were the big winners at Food Fight 2018. This was their first year competing.

The event has been held at Ferguson where the kitchens were operational so food could be made to order and kept warm at each station. This year, the event was held at Expression Home Gallery.

Making it a bit challenging, there were not operational kitchens at each station.

Although the venue was amazing, the food had to be cooked and prepped off site.

“We did have one large area for all seven teams to use, but that was congested. So we made everything at my house in Boerne and semi-assemble buns, then dress with condiments on site.

I marinated the pork belly Tuesday, slow

roasted it for three hours on Wednesday and pan seared with a glaze on Thursday before the teammates came over to prep and assemble,” says Sandy Cheatham, team head chef.

“My vision of our design was a retro Tiki theme since I knew the typical Hawaiian luau was going to be done.” The team wore matching Hawaiian retro dresses. Tiki mugs and many décor items were ordered online to add to the overall look of their display. Debbie Patterson had shells from her Tahitian travels and Veronica Despres’ crafting skills came in handy to add to the unique look of their display. The icing on top, according to Cheatham, was playing Hawaiian music to set the mood of the surfing tiki retro vibe. I think you’re right Sandy. It looks like it worked. Congratulations ladies! – cmw

S

outhwest Exteriors (SWE) has a reputation for being very good at what it does. It was the first replacement siding contractor in San Antonio to feature the new James Hardie fiber-cement siding. It’s also celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. SWE is a very successful company.

It is also a Christ-centered company.

One of its guiding principles is “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Col. 3:23).

“I believe that the purpose of my life is to glorify God,” explains Scott Barr.

Normally, his title would be “owner,” but since a biblical worldview guides SWE, his official title is, “steward.”

Their 38 employees are called, “team members.” They are not managed by supervisors, but rather led by “team leaders.”

“2018 was the 10th anniversary of when we converted from a traditional business model to a ministry model.” The traditional model has the owner/operator as the hub of a wheel, from which everything flows out of, which are the spokes.

As the steward, Barr said he is “in a supporting role to the team leader and Team Leadership Council,” which makes the decisions. “If Steve McNary, the Team Leader, needs input, he comes to me,” Barr said.

Barr first came to SWE in May 1990, then called Southwest Remodelers. Its founder, Steve Bonahoom, decided to go into another business venture and sell Southwest. Barr bought it in 1992.

Today, the breakdown of their services are 45 percent windows and doors, 45 percent siding, and 10 percent garage floors, which came into the company in 2017.

The autobiography of famed earthmover R. G. LeTourneau, Mover of Men and Mountains, heavily influenced Barr.

LeTourneau was also a devout Christian who used biblical principles in his company. “He built his business to be an eco-

nomic engine to fund ministry,” Barr said.

“That’s what inspired us. What we’re doing is really a combination of social enterprise and discipleship rolled together.”

The ultimate bottom line for SWE is “to advance God’s kingdom in San Antonio,” Barr said. “Our desire to live out an authentic faith.”

And, in following Jesus’ injunction to love God and love others, SWE’s two core principles are love and excellence. “I’m a fanatic about exceeding our client’s expectations,” Barr said. Because of such good service to its customers, the company is profitable. But Barr doesn’t want to sacrifice profit for growth. It’s the long-term, eternal perspective he has in mind, not short term.

Barr said that the goal for the next 20 years is to “build a community of eight to 12 home contracting businesses in San Antonio, sharing the same business model as well as shared services: HR, legal, accounting, marketing, training - - anything that can be shared between home contracting businesses. It’s a 30-year plan and we’re 10 years into it.”

“We believe to build a healthy, highperforming team, you need to have healthy, high-performing people,” Barr said. This is important, because “We’re blessed with a really healthy market with a lot of demand.”

Barr became involved with marketplace ministry in 2000 when he was introduced to Biblical Leadership Excellence, a San Antonio-based ministry. “That’s what got me started in terms of living out my faith in the workplace,” he said.

When the faithful steward took good care of his master’s property, he was told, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master” (Matt.

5:21). That’s what Barr wants to hear.

Southwest Exteriors is a residential replacement contractor, serving the San Antonio area. -dsz

Page 16

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

Association Calendar

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION?

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

Feb. 6: Texas Legislative Day, Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave. Feb. 22-23: Agriculture Mechanics Show Feb. 13: Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament, Greater SA Builders Association, 3625 Paesanos Pkwy. #100, 6-11pm.

AGC Associated General Contractors

Feb. 28: Salsa Taste-Off Mixer, FSG Office, 3003 NE Loop 410 #130, 5-7pm. For more info, call Kelly Wilson at 210-349-4921 AGC TBB

Associated General Contractors – Texas Building Branch

Feb. 26: TBB Legislative Day, Texas State Capitol, 1100 S. Congress Ave. For more info, contact Kelly Wilson at 210-349-4921 AIA American Institute of Architects

Feb. 12: Architect’s Day, Texas Society of Architects, 500 Chicon St., Austin, TX. For more info, contact Torrey Carleton at 210-349-4921 or email jaylouden@gmail. com Feb. 25: Chapter Meeting, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl., 11:30am-1pm. For more info, contact Torrey Carleton, Belinda Sanchez or Laura Smith at 210-349-4921 or email jaylouden@gmail.com Feb. 26: WiA – Exhibit Opening, AIA San Antonio, 1344 S. Flores St., 6-8pm. For more info, email aperry@travistile.com, aline@pflugerarchitects.com, virginia.santiago@cbi-office.com, meminor@aii.edu, dora@twcmouldings.com, maryminor@ mac.com, sandra.arenas@vsstudios.net ASA

American Subcontractors Assn.

Feb. 1: Subs on Ice, AT&T Center, “Caliente Zone” Side Suite, 7:30pm.

Feb. 26: Lunch & Learn, The Petroleum

We support your world . . .

www.ConstructionNews.net

Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 11:30am.

Feb. 28: 24th Annual Excellence in Construction Awards, Pearl Stable, 307 Pearl Pkwy., 7pm. . For more info, call Jennifer Swinney at 210-349-2105 MCA-SMACNA INC

Mechanical Contractors Assn.

Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.

Feb. 13: Regular & Associates Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr. For more info, call Sandee Morgan at 210-822-3763 Feb. 27: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA office, 12500 Network Blvd., #410, 11:30am. For more info, call Sandee Morgan at 210-822-3763 NAWIC National Assn. of Women in Construction

Feb. 6: General Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 5:45pm. For more info, call Becky Rodriguez at 210-639-2489 or email rjrodriguez@tcco.com PHCC Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors

Feb. 14: PHCC Monthly Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr., 11am. For more info, call Heidi Trimble at 210-824-7422 or go to www.phcc-sanantonio.org SAMCA

San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.

Feb. 27: Membership Meeting, Pappadeaux Restaurant, 76 NE Loop 410, 12pm. $30/person. For more info, contact Debi Solis at 210-347-2423 TACCA

Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.

Greater San Antonio

Feb. 12: NFIB Small Business Day at the Capitol & TACCA Legislative Walk, Texas State Capitol, 1100 S. Congress Ave. For more info, call Dawn Thompson at 210901-4222

Help support ours

Advertising 210-308-5800

I like cruises. I would probably go to the Bahamas. I’ve never been to the Bahamas.

Ronald Koby, R K Construction Co. Dream vacation? That’s easy. Traveling through Greece with my wife, drinking wine and sailing.

Richard Mendez, Allied Fire Protection My dream vacation would be two months paid, traveling Europe and Asia.

Nehemias Moreno, Setien Group That is quite a question, the answer depends on the time of the year, but if I had to pick one place that isn’t too far, it would be Turks and Caicos.

Ricardo Navarro, Crédito Real USA Business Capital I would be happy to go anywhere that has water and or a beach, but the biggest dream, is Greece!

Lucy Filipowicz, Cavalry Restoration & Construction Taking an Alaskan cruise would be my dream vacation.

Steve Gooden, Quality Steel Fabrication To go to Bora Bora, Tahiti or the Maldives and wake up every morning in an overwater bungalow for 10 days. No cell phones, just the serenity of a very beautiful island.

Nadia Noel-Anglade, Beldon Group of Companies My dream vacation is simply being with my family…the destination really doesn’t matter.

Mark Eichelbaum, Cram Roofing We’re connected to the Young Life ministry, and they have a division called Young s

Life Latin America. This summer we’re going to Costa Rica. It’s a combination of a family vacation and a mission trip. To me, that’s the best of all worlds.

Scott Barr, Southwest Exteriors A trip to Antarctica would be my dream vacation.

Amy Martin, Amy Arts I was in the Navy, so I’ve been all over the world already. If I could go anywhere again, I would go back to Australia. It’s awesome over there.

Rudy Oliva, Koetter Fire Protection of San Antonio LLC Africa, so I can do the safari thing.

Brent Barnard, Expressed Metered Concrete My dream vacation I think I would like to go to Hawaii. I love being out by the beach.

Jim Duarte, Jim’s Professional Concrete It would be New Zealand to go on a red stag hunt.

Cody Willey, Iron Rock Concrete Anywhere but here!

Jack McKinney, Voges Drilling Company Glamping in Glacier National Park in Montana.

Jacqueline Roberts, Plastic Supply of San Antonio Inc. I’d take my wife and two sons, go to a rustic cabin on the shores of Lake Tahoe and go fishing and boating for a month.

Mark McMunn, M&M Marble

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

Embrey Partners Ltd. has a new Vice President of Development, Jeremy Williams.

Williams comes to Embrey Partners with over 20 years of experience as an architect, senior design manager and vice president of development. He is a licensed architect and a graduate from Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture. -cmw

Round-Up Submissions

Sarita Akin, CPA has joined the Ridout Barrett family as their new Tax Director. Akin has more than 25 years experience in public accounting and industry. Her expertise is in the preparation of individual, partnership, fiduciary, estate and corporate tax returns. A Certified Public Accountant, Akin earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. -cmw Brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows.

Submit Info & Photo: SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net

(210) 308-5800

Construction News ON LOCATION

Stay safe

Tom Dodson, with Security One Inc. stopped by Construction News for a fire inspection.

Thank you! Security One Inc. is based in Universal City. –lv

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

Industry FOLKS

Rona Freire Marketing and Advertising

Freire General Contractor LLC San Antonio, TX

A

fter Rona Freire tumbled down Alice in Wonderland’s rabbit hole, she fell into construction.

“My dad, Robert Freire, has always done construction; he’s always had an eye on fixing things,” Rona says.

“When he first started Freire General Contractor LLC, I was in junior high school. He had someone help build a home and my dad had noticed the home was really crooked, like it was out of Alice in Wonderland! There was a really big storm during that time, and it knocked down the home’s second story. My family had to rebuild everything. I learned how to tape, do plumbing and do yard work through him.”

Rona’s dad remembered her hard work during that critical moment, and later recruited her to handle his business’ publicity side two years ago.

“He said I was really social media savvy,” she says. “He would say, ‘You know how to take pictures. You know how to talk to people. You have a bubbly personality. This is what I want you to do.’ He built a business Facebook profile and put me on that to do advertising and talk to people.

That’s how I started doing it.”

Rona has learned that, unlike rebuilding a crooked house, marketing and advertising are much less work, especially with her upbeat outlook.

“I love networking with people,” she says. “Everyone has a story that makes them them. We have our story, and that’s what makes our company us; we started from the ground up and there was no in-between. I love networking with other people and hearing their stories, connecting with them, building friendships with them, and having conversations. I love talking, I guess!”

She also loves her job’s flexibility.

Her workday begins and ends on the phone with her dad planning everything from schedules to the commercial the company is shooting. In between, she enjoys quality time with her 10-year-old son Lucas, 3-year-old daughter Brooklyn, and 17-month-old daughter Juniper.

“I work from home much of the time,” she says. “My days are easy and I wouldn’t change it. I love being able to work from home while watching my babies.”

Rona also loves the time it gives her in the kitchen.

“I love to cook,” she says. “It’s one of my favorite things. I love to look at recipes but I don’t always follow them – I think I can always perfect it my way! I can cook any kind of food – Mexican, German, Filipino, Chinese, and French – but I get the most applause for my Filipino food. I can’t seem to master cupcakes, though; I cannot bake for the life of it! When you’re cooking, you can throw in extra garlic, salt and spices, but when you’re baking it has to be precise, and I’ve never been a precise person!”

Still, Rona’s baked goods are probably much safer to eat than the ones Alice tasted!

Freire General Contractor LLC is located in San Antonio. –mjm

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San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

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

Safety, it must be implemented!

Mike Grendell, Branch Manager Midco Sling & Cable Co. San Antonio, TX

M

ike Grendell has been with Midco Sling (MS) for 38 years. He started in the shop making slings and cutting wire rope. At one point, he would answer the phone, figure out what the customer needed, write out a work order, and then go fabricate the order.

Over the years, time has changed the way people communicate and do business. For Midco, their commitment to customer service and quality has remained one of their top priorities. One of their main objectives is to treat their customers the same way they would like to be treated.

What kind of safety service/training does Midco Sling & Cable Co. of San Antonio provide?

Midco Sling provides rigging awareness training along with fall protection awareness for our established customers.

We also provide training services for Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) and have supported the San

Antonio Area OSHA office during Safety Stand Down Week and other events.

How does construction safety impact a company?

A good safety plan can make or break a company. Injury related costs you don’t prepare for are the ones that really hurt your bottom line. Falls are one of OSHA’s “Fatal Four.” MS works closely with our customers to ensure the correct rigging and fall protection is being used.

It goes back to having the right tool for the right job. Having a good safety plan is not enough. It must be implemented!

What can be done to increase safety awareness?

Creating a safer jobsite is creating a

Education meaningless, if not applied Oliver Auston, Chief Innovation Officer Pure Safety Group Houston, TX

A

uston has dedicated his career to the Height Safety industry since 2001. He is the Managing Director at Checkmate Lifting & Safety located in the United Kingdom. Checkmate is the UK’s leading innovator, designer, manufacturer and trainer of lifting and height safety equipment. He served as the Chairman at Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) and the Technical Committee Chairman supporting and developing Technical Guidance Notes (TGN) at Working at Height Safety Association (WAHSA). His passion for product development is reflected by his involvement/leadership with more than 70 patents ranging from basic soft goods to the more complex engineered products.

What is the most significant safety challenge in the construction industry?

In a word: education. Safety itself is largely meaningless when workers are not aware of potential hazards or don’t have the means to protect themselves or their workers from those hazards. Raising the safety education of all workers will likely be the biggest challenge companies will face over the next decade.

Hand-in-hand is imbuing workers with

the idea that jobsite safety is not someone else’s responsibility – it is their responsibility – each worker, day in and day out. Safety must be as necessary as the hammer to the builder or the pen to the architect.

What is on the horizon for construction safety?

Much deeper integration of technology into jobsites, from equipment inspection and asset databases, to calculators designed to help select the proper equipment for a given hazard. Mobility and interconnectivity via the Internet has also increased the demand for online training that is dynamically responsive to changes in the industry and other best practices.

The regulatory standards changes we’ve seen in under a decade are simply astonishing – and all for the better.

What is new in the way of safety apparatuses and equipment?

We are making significant advancements in low fall clearance applications.

Safely arresting a fall is much easier when you have plenty of room below the work-

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

safety culture within your company. It all begins with upper management.

In order to increase safety awareness, communication is essential. Toolbox talks, JSA’s, pre-construction meetings and reporting near misses are just a few tools.

How important is a good safety record in the construction industry?

Having a good safety record is extremely important. People want to do business with safety-oriented contractors.

Who wants a low bid with a bad safety record? All that does is create risk and added liability. You get what you pay for.

What is the most significant challenge the safety industry faces?

Challenges in the safety industry are not going away. Continuing education and training personnel and finding folks that want to learn construction trades are vital. There are organizations that are working at the middle and high school levels to recruit students interested in different aspects of construction, as well as safety.

What kind of training is available?

There are many construction organizations that offer training at an affordable cost. OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour

er. Arresting falls from a lower level requires balancing a short arrest distance with safe arrest forces (among other things), which taxes engineers and equipment to the max. This condition is doubly complex with leading edge self-retracting lifelines (SRLs) and foot-level anchor tie-offs due to the increased amount of free fall permitted.

Also, our understanding of post-fall rescues continues to increase as we develop new methods, tools, and techniques to effect rescues from any possible situation. Ascenders/descenders, SRLs with recovery functionality, and remote attachment devices are all under constant refinement.

How does construction safety impact a company?

Proper safety practices protect a company’s most valuable asset: its people. It might be better to view this through the lens of how a lack of construction safety impacts a company – the impacts then become immediately apparent. Too often, a safety program is seen as a financial drain, or an inconvenient regulatory hoop to jump through – it is neither. A safe workforce is a productive workforce, and investment in up-todate safety programs should be as essential as the latest tool or other technology.

What can be done to increase safety awareness?

Increasing safety awareness should be seen as a continuum, not a series of disparate events interspersed over the course of time. The only way to achieve this is to make safety part of every moment of every day. In addition to proper formal education, an excellent trend we see are daily pre-work safety meetings which allows safety managers to issue reminders, introduce new procedures, or to discuss other safety-related events.

www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news

classes, trenching and shoring, and boom lift training are only a few. San Antonio has a great network of safety professionals. Get involved and contribute to the organizations your company is involved in. The training they offer is there to ensure everyone and every company has the resources they need to keep you safe.

What is new in the way of safety apparatus and equipment?

Some of the latest safety news in fall protection involves “Leading Edge“ retractable devices. If your company does elevated work and uses these devices, make sure you are using them correctly and to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

I enjoy helping people when they have a rigging issue or a fall protection situation. I never know what the question is going to be, but I will find a resolution.

I have been very blessed in my career and life to surround myself with so many good people. You know who you are.

Midco Sling & Cable Co. is a full service provider for fall protection equipment and manufacturer of wire rope, synthetic and chain slings, hoists and rigging equipment in San Antonio. –cmw

What are the major risks in construction?

The current low levels of true competency-based training must be addressed.

Without increased education across the board, nothing changes, and that is perilous for our workers and the industry at large. Falls from low-level structures continue to be overlooked, when in fact they represent the most dangerous type of hazard due to the prevalence of work at lower levels – not everyone works on a high-rise.

Leading edge hazards also remain a challenge. The amount of information regarding leading edge hazards, while growing, is still behind where it needs to be.

Additionally, the idea of profit ahead of people is as much a potential harm as any physical risk. You can’t raise safety awareness and reduce physical risks to workers when you are unwilling to invest in the very things needed to do both.

Companies often hyper focus on a direct dollar-for-dollar ROI without considering the value of the humans doing the work – this needs to change.

What kind of safety training is available?

We have a suite of instructor-led theory and hands-on classes from authorized and competent persons to confined space entry and rescue. The online training space is also growing as technology allows us to make classes available in places where physical classrooms don’t exist or to people who are unable to travel.

Sadly, training still tends to be too reactive and not proactive as it should be.

We often see greater interest after tragic events or serious fines – both of which can be largely prevented when safety takes a priority. There’s a lesson in that, I think.

Pure Safety Group is a provider of fall protection equipment and training based in Houston, TX. -cmw

Texas Style

★ ★ ★ ★

Austin Dallas/Ft Worth Houston San Antonio

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

Page 19

THIS TH MON

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY

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

NEXT MONTH (MARCH) CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION

Safety never stops Rick Segura, Senior Safety Manager Harvey-Cleary Builders Austin, TX

A

s Senior Safety Director, Rick Segura holds a number of safety certifications to include SSH, CSHO, CHST and UTA authorized trainer.

What sparked your interest to work as a safety director?

At the time, I was looking to be hired as a superintendent with the company.

There were no positions available, but they were looking for a safety coordinator. I decided to apply for the position.

Unsure what it would entail, I took on the challenge. It was a blessing in disguise as I was able to help others understand the importance of safety and how it could be beneficial for them as well their families.

That was nine years ago and I continue to enjoy working in the safety department at the company. I have completed numerous certifications and training over the years to ensure that I am providing our employees with the most valuable knowledge available.

How does construction safety impact a company?

The construction industry is always undergoing great changes with how

projects are being built and managed and how implementing safety programs helps companies stay competitive. Strengthening safety procedures at construction sites reduces the risks of injuries and increases the productivity as well as the quality that is delivered. Finding the worker with the right construction skills is the first step. Getting workers to understand and exercise them daily is the next step.

My perspective is that accidents are preventable; they occur for a variation of reasons. The prevention starts from the top. Without the support and commitment from upper management, the possibilities of success are null. The safety culture then streams down to the employees in the field through our project managers and superintendents. It takes time and dedication for all to be commited to making safety an important factor. The projects are more efficient when there are no injuries or accidents to take the team away from building a quality space.

Putting the wheels of safety in motion Lisa R. Robinson, CFLE Senior Program Manager National Safety Council Austin, TX

T

oo often we read stories like these: On Oct. 9, a construction worker was killed and another critically injured after a steel beam fell 30 feet and hit them while they worked in suburban Evanston, IL. Later that same month, a worker died after a wall collapsed on him at a New Jersey construction site.

On a typical day, 12 people die from preventable injuries in the U.S. while doing their jobs. Countless others are affected by these losses, including coworkers, friends and loved ones.

Let’s examine causes of some incidents and discuss safety solutions. In the construction industry, about 1,000 workers have died and another 80,000 have been injured each of the last three years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction sites can be dangerous, in part because of machinery and motorized vehicles.

From 2015 to 2017, Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates an average of 2,440 construction workers were hurt in roadway incidents and an average of 251 were killed in motor vehicle crashes each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 90% of crashes are the result of human error. The most common errors include missing road hazards or detecting them too slowly; choosing the incorrect defensive driving action; and driving in a distracted or altered state, such as having inadequate sleep, being distracted by a phone or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Employers of all kinds are impacted by driver behavior, which is best addressed through ongoing education and training efforts. All employees should receive the same training and education.

Data tells us that those who occasionally drive as a part of their job die in crashes

at higher rates.

Backing up, coupling vehicles and uncoupling vehicles are three common hazards truck drivers encounter. Safe backing starts by setting a G-O-A-L: Get Out and Look. Do a 360-degree walk around the vehicle. Never back up unless you have to, and eliminate unnecessary backing by planning your departure upon arrival. Park in areas where you can pull out going forward.

Also, watch your mirrors and use a spotter. Remember, today’s vehicle technologies are meant to assist drivers, not replace them, and rear-view camera lenses can become obscured.

In some ways, construction site drivers are no different than the rest of the driving public, but there are inherent risks that come with their jobs. A variety of motorized vehicles operate on construction sites, and this fact alone can raise the risk of incidents.

Most construction incidents involve the “Fatal Four.” In 2017, while construction workplace deaths and the industry’s fatality rate declined, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows 389 construction workers were killed and 24,160 were injured in falls, slips or trips, historically the leading cause of construction worker deaths. If you are working at 6 feet or higher, you need fall protection. Conduct regular safety training sessions and develop rescue plans. Strictly follow guidelines to prevent falls from elevations,

What can be done to increase safety awareness?

People have to lead by example and not just manage. Motivating employees to participate and demonstrating why safety matters makes a huge difference.

When they are doing it correctly, the culture will change. If not, then it will become a struggle for the rest of the team members to buy into.

policy and procedures. I schedule and manage the monthly training for our field employees to keep them up to date with safety regulations. I also assist the superintendents with training workers, resolving safety issues, and conducting preconstruction meetings. In the case of an accident, I work closely with medical clinics to manage treatment of the injured worker.

What are the major risks in construction?

There are many risks in construction that can lead to potential injuries such as unknown site conditions, lack of training and faulty equipment. Being able to recognize and assess risks can ensure success on your project from having accidents. Make a self-assessment before starting a project, asking yourself: Do we have the right people with experience to do this kind of work? Do we have the experience for work of this magnitude? Do we have experienced site supervision to run a project of this type and size?

These are questions that should be asked within a company before committing to a task. If you can honestly answer yes to these questions, you can mitigate the major risks listed.

What is on the horizon for construction safety?

Looking to improve oneself in the construction industry never stops. There are many avenues to be observed that will assist us to become leaders in safety. A few examples are training employees to work safely all the time; implementing the use of new technology; assessing the effectiveness of our training program; and identifying topics of interest that will benefit the company and its team members.

What are your daily responsibilities as a safety director?

My responsibilities vary from project visits to employee training. First of all, I ensure that everyone is complying with the OSHA Standards and our company

making use of harnesses, lines and safety nets. Eighty-five construction workers were killed when struck by an object, including falling objects and equipment.

Another 17,890 were injured. Inspect power tools and be sure protective guards are in good working condition.

Steer clear of nail guns and their sightlines to avoid risk of taking an inadvertent hit.

Seventy-one construction workers died and another 360 were hurt from exposure to electricity. Provide education on potential hazards. Develop safe work practices and make use of insulation, guarding, grounding and electrical protective devices.

Sixteen construction workers were killed and 3,200 were injured after being caught-in or compressed by equipment or objects. Be familiar with equipment.

Shut down equipment before performing repairs. Use chock wheels on equipment that could move or roll. Never work under equipment.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is the ability to help others reach their goals in safety while striving to reach my own goals. Quality, scheduling, budgeting, and safety are the four major elements of a successful project. All these work together to build strong leaders and allow everyone to go home to their families every day.

Harvey-Cleary Builders is a full-service general contractor. -cmw

To further ensure construction site safety, be sure employees are outfitted with proper equipment, including brightly colored clothing and protective eyewear. Officials at several companies have shared with me how they require new employees to wear a different color of hardhat for a period of time. This allows others to identify them and enables peers to assist in their safety training and education.

Just like the rest of us, construction workers deserve to make it home safely – every day.

Robinson serves as a subject matter expert and spokesperson within the employer and transportation communities including state government agencies on influencing change in behavior and policies to reduce motor vehicle crashes.

The National Safety Council is a 501 nonprofit, public service organization promoting health and safety in the United States of America. -cmw

2019 Hispanic contractors leadership

The Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA de SA) kicked off the New Year with the installation of their new board of directors. The event was held at their monthly membership meeting at the Quarry Golf Club. Retired Judge John Specia swore-in the 2019 board of directors as the full house of members looked on. Their 2019 board of directors are: President Edward Pape, Vice President Yvette Robinson, Treasurer Manuel Villa, Secretary Daniel Salinas; Board Members: Christian Cortes, Estela Garcia-Perez, Fernando Keller, Francisco Ruiz, Steven Garza, Henry Villareal, Jose Trevino, Leonard Flores, Lisa Casarez, Noe Garcia, Tessa Benavides and Tom Quintero. -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

SA RODEO COOK-OFF

he annual BAR-B-QUE COOK-OFF & FESTIVAL put on by the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo was bigger and better than ever this year. The event was held Jan. 25 & 26 at it’s permanent venue close to AT&T Center. Many companies and associations from the construction industry came out to show all THEY were the best at cooking. -bd continued on pages 22-23

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

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continued from Page 1 — JTEX Contracting Incorporated

JTEX concentrates a lot of their business on large hydro seeding, drill seeding and silt fence projects. Those are the three focuses the company services that are structured around large projects, meaning 30 acres plus.

“We’ve been real successful in this specialty unique business that really wasn’t very popular at the time 11 years ago,” Justin says. “What we’ve had success in is a lot of the landscaping companies that are here in San Antonio and Houston, who have subcontracted us.”

JTEX is located in San Antonio, but much of JTEX’s work can currently be found in the Houston area, as they are completing hydro seeding for levees.

They also do work in Louisiana and Mississippi. Justin says the unique part about the job in Houston is it is out on an island called spoil tips.

“They are basically trenching the Houston ship channels. They have to pump that material onto an island, which is what they call a spoil tip. Once they’ve pumped that material, the civil engineering companies that we work with go in to shape and build levees,” explained Justin, who notes that those levees can range from 30 to 100 acres. “When they are done, they have to put grass on them to keep them from eroding. We go out

there and grass them on the islands, so we are barging our equipment out of ship barges, taking boats back and forth.”

Justin points out that the company has been successful in the endeavor, and that there are not a handful of people who could do it. Then again, Justin is someone who takes a “could do” scenario and turns it into a “would do.”

Justin never thought the company would be where it is today, yet it continues to provide to the construction industry the popular hydro and drill seeding method. While Justin runs the overall business tasks, his brother-in-law, Travis, helps run operations while Freda is in charge of bookkeeping. There are a total of eight employees, all of which are close friends or family to Justin and his brotherin-law.

Justin, along with Travis, also plays a role in the company’s name JTEX Contracting. J stands for Justin and T represents Travis, but what about the letters E and X? Well, the E is for erosion and the X is for experts – “Justin, Travis erosion experts.”

Justin has come a long way from witnessing “green stuff” being sprayed to now being an erosion control expert.

JTEX Contracting Incorporated is an erosion control contractor in San Antonio, TX. –lv

continued from Page 1 — M&M Marble two original employees were his wife Hattie and son, William, Jr. “M&M” stand for McMunn and McMunn - the husband and wife team.

(In a case of déjà vu all over again, William, Jr., had to serve in the Korean War, missing about two years from the company.)

William Sr. held the reigns until Valentine’s Day 1967, when he suffered a stroke and died two weeks later. The company went to Hattie and William, Jr. Hattie continued to work for M&M until 1986.

William Jr. ran the company until 2007. He is still listed as the president.

Enter the third generation of McMunn: William’s son Mark.

The UTSA grad planned on going into banking since he was a finance major. Several other family members worked there, as did Mark during time off from school.

After a slow economy in the late 1970s and early 1980s, things picked up nationwide. San Antonio businesses could afford having marble everywhere, which bode well for M&M.

Mark’s banking plans were changed to now work for his grandfather’s family business in 1984. He entered at the ground level, doing the grunt work that comes with installing marble.

“I enjoyed working with my hands,” he said.

Now, as the vice-president, Mark continues the legacy of William Sr. who taught them, “No matter what price you give the client, he always expects a first class job.”

M&M’s clientele is 70 percent commercial and 30 percent residential, and has an impressive litany of work, it’s done not only locally, but also hither and yon.

A 42,000-sf “house” in San Antonio is not too shabby. Neither is the 27,000-sf mansion of famed uranium king Charlie Steen, built in 1965 in Reno, NV.

M&M can name USAA, Trinity University, Northstar Mall and Incarnate Word as former clients.

“We’ll go anywhere,” Mark said, although there is plenty of work in San Antonio to keep M&M busy.

Mark’s older brother and sister also work for M&M. As do two of his nephews, who have shown a real interest in making it a career, perhaps someday becoming the fourth generation of McMunns to head the firm.

From the greatest to the latest, M&M Marble continues to hit the beach with its line-up of stone products and be a part of building San Antonio.

M&M Marble is a granite/marble fabrication/installation company in San Antonio. -dsz

THIS TH MON

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY continued from Page 19 — Construction Safety

Understanding the “Duty of Care” Kraig Kyle, CSP, CHST, CHSP Vice President

CORE Safety Dallas, TX

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that risk and liability.

n brief, this article discusses the duty of care businesses may create when hiring and controlling a subcontractor or independent contractor and ways to mitigate

Contractors often hire subcontractors or independent contractors to perform additional scopes of work on their behalf. Often businesses do so without understanding the liabilities or significant risk associated by control-generated actions that create a duty of care. Even when a contactor imposes contractual obligations, they often create a duty of care though unintentional and often-unnecessary safety management actions.

Common law found in §414 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts (ALI, 1965) states: “One who entrusts work to an independent contractor, but who retains the control of any part of the work, is subject to liability for physical harm to others for whose safety the employer owes a duty to exercise reasonable care, which is caused by his failure to exercise his control with reasonable care. (ALI, 1965)”

The key extract of this law is the extent by which a contractor has control and the amount of reasonable care the prime contractor must take. Each are open to interpretation, vary by situation and require a strategic balancing act. For example, the prime contractor may overextend in their role by exerting too much control and directly managing its subcontractor’s safety obligations. On the other hand, the prime contractor can also fail to meet its obligations to provide the appropriate amount of reasonable care by not prequalifying its subcontractor or by not providing sufficient oversight.

There are various strategies for mitigating these risks and it is important for companies to recognize their responsibility for ensuring the correct amount of reasonable care is exercised with its subcontractors without crossing the line of owing a duty of care. Our clients have benefited from consulting with their insurance provider, legal counsel and their

safety representatives to develop and implement an effective subcontractor safety management strategy to limit their liability exposures.

Tips for properly exercising reasonable care includes: • Complete a safety pre-qualifica tion review of your subcontractors that includes evaluating safety re cords and experience modification rates.

• Clearly define subcontractor re sponsibilities within subcontract agreements for safety and company employees.

• Ensure subcontracts contain strong indemnification language and that a certificate of insurance is estab lished listing the prime contractor as additionally insured.

• Ensure the subcontractor has es tablished a formal written safety program and is implementing its policies and procedures.

• Avoid directly managing or con trolling the safety obligations of your subcontractor. This doesn’t mean avoiding oversight or taking necessary actions for violations that occur.

A graduate of Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health and Safety Management, Kyle serves as the Vice President of CORE Safety Group and has over 15 years of practical safety management experience that includes developing and managing corporate safety programs and advising client leadership on best management and loss control practices. He has experience in loss control such as worker’s compensation, general liability, and claims management. These experiences include effectively developing and implementing safety and claims management strategies on billions of dollars of wrap-up insurance programs. -cmw

This particular school was the third one built using a prototype design by Noonan Rittimann Architects, LLC. The previous two had been delivered in 2013 and 2015 utilizing the CMAR delivery method. For the Dr. Linda G. Mora elementary, NISD decided to utilize a competitive sealed proposal process. Of the three, this was the only prototype design delivered utilizing this delivery method.

This was also a CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) project and Bandy completed all necessary documentation and management practices to ensure the CHPS program was successful.

Project Executive Robert Harrell, Project Manager Scott Hilston, Project Superintendents Rodney Harrell and Anthony Zuniga along with Project Architect John Rittimann, Noonan Rittimann Architects LLC, maintained a great

working relationship with the NISD board, administration, and the Facilities and Operations Department.

“Principal Jill Holmes and her entire team played a significant role in making the transition from construction to a functioning academic building a smooth and seamless process. This was our first opportunity to work with Noonan Rittimann Architects, and we could not have found a better partner in John Rittimann.

The quality of the design prepared by John and his consultants, along with their high standards and willingness to work as part of the team, was a crucial component in the overall success. We are better for the experience in having worked with John and his team,” says Harrell.

Bandy Constructors is a full-service general contractor in San Antonio and Central Texas. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — Bandy Constructors concrete structure for the gym and cafeteria; pan slab construction for the twostory academic wing; and beams and joist structural steel package for the roof framing systems. The project also included a four-line hydronic mechanical system, an electrical package including energy management and plumbing and technology packages. The building finishes included paint, architectural casework, wood trim, tackable wall surfaces, platform curtains, VCT and ceramic tile.

After commencing site and excavation operations, it was determined that, for a portion of the building, the required bearing stratum was not at as originally indicated by preliminary site borings. To achieve allowable soil loads, approximately 8,400cy of additional excavation was required along with approximately 5,500cy of additional imported select fill.

Working with NISD and their design team, the Bandy team was able to reuse almost 5,800cy of the existing soils in non-structural fill areas of the site, thereby reducing the amount of imported fill and saving the district taxpayers almost $135,000. This additional work added approximately two weeks to the overall construction schedule.

The Bandy team also experienced a delay in getting water service to the site when it was discovered that the existing CPS main was dry. This delay in obtaining the required fire protection water held up the necessary vertical construction aspects of the project for one month.

With significant support from their construction team partners, they were able to overcome these scheduling obstacles and complete the project for the start of school.

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San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019

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continued from page 22

Grand Canyon Christmas

Industry FOLKS Angel Whitley

Project Administrator Rhino Design Build San Antonio, TX

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L-R: Carrie, 15 year-old Ethan, 18 year-old Lindee, 10 year-old Kenlee and Kyle Fielder.

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hat could be more special than spending a family Christmas together? How about spending it together at the Grand Canyon?

The day Christmas Kyle Fiedler of Turner Roofing Co. drove to his family’s final destination of Williams, AZ. From Williams they took a two and half hour ride on a restored pre-war train to the south rim. “Unfortunately, it was snowing heavily all day and we couldn’t see a thing.

The train ride was fun, but still a disappointment.” The next day was bright, sunny and 14 degrees. “My wife, Carrie, is originally a Yooper from Marquette, MI. She refused to be shut out, so we drove the 50 miles back to the same location. It turned out to be a beautiful site. The canyon with snow on it is breathtaking. If we hadn’t scheduled in an extra day, we wouldn’t have been able to see it.”

–cmw

ou can’t get much more Texan than Whitley. She was born in Houston and grew up in San Antonio.

Her family moved here while she was still a baby. She graduated from Alamo Heights High School, after which, she attended the University of the Incarnate Word. She ran cross county for UIW and graduated with a business management degree.

“I love San Antonio, it’s all I’ve ever known. My kids are the third generation in the same school district and we have four generations that grew up here. I like that it feels like a big small town, even though that’s changing!

“I have been married for almost 18 years to my amazing husband Jeremy.

He is the Executive Director of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in downtown San Antonio. Before that he was an executive at USAA for 15 years.”

Together, they have two children.

Emily is 16 and is a junior in high school. She is an athletic trainer for all the sports teams. Her son Mason is 14.

He is in eighth grade and loves playing football and building computers.

Whitley got her start in the construction industry as a client who ended up being an employee. She and her husband hired Rhino Design Build to renovate their home. Sometime during the renovation process, Whitley, whose career background is running small businesses, began speaking to her now boss about the needs of his business. “I ended up asking if I could send him my resume, and here I am! I am thrilled to be working on the admin side of the business and being in front of the customers. Communica-

tion is so important in this line of work and I enjoy making sure it’s happening consistently and promptly for our clients, subs and vendors.

“I love that my job and my boss challenge me everyday to be the best I can be for our clients. There are so many moving parts in construction.

It’s important to me that I always keep our clients up to date, informed, on budget and on schedule. I love walking our clients through the process of their renovations. It’s a privilege to be able to work closely with them on something so dear to them - their homes.”

Over the years, Whitley says she has had many mentors, but by far, her husband is her biggest mentor.

“He is such a support and has had an amazing executive career. He has helped me sharpen my work skills in so many ways over the years. I am so grateful to him for his continued and enduring support.“ Quite the “dog mom” as Whitley puts it, she enjoys running with her dog Tabitha (Tabby) when not working. Tabby is a rescue dog and a big part of her family’s life.

“She’s my running buddy and such a joy to have! We have always had dogs and always will.”

In addition, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

“We love to be outdoors and we really enjoy football season!” -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • FEB 2019