Houston Construction News April 2019

Covering the Industry’s News

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The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 17 H Number 4 H APRIL 2019

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Rob’s righteous rigs

Art imitating life

L-R: Caleb Rundle, Rob Neace (owner, Rob Rigs Welding Services), Eric Poovey and Dustin Rogers

L-R: Jim Farris (owner), John Fife and Jose Dozal, of Jim Farris Cabinets

ouston native Rob Neace, frankly, “had no idea” what he wanted to do for a livelihood when he was 18. Good thing he stumbled up welding, “by accident, honestly,” he admits.

Neace was working in a plant as a laborer when he saw some guys tacking some things. He gave it a try, but that was it.

When Neace left there to work in a fabrication shop, he and two other new guys were asked who had any welding experience.

The other two guys hadn’t, while Neace said he had done it a bit. But that was enough for the boss man to make Neace the welder and the two other guys helpers.

Without the benefit of formal schooling, Neace learned on the job, eight hours a day for an oil field company, to be able to pass the test.

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During his 20s, Neace joined the pipeline welder’s union upon advice from his shop foreman and did a lot of traveling to Alaska, Minnesota, and Florida. The pay and benefits were great, but with caring for two young daughters, the traveling took its toll.

Thus, he returned to Texas started Rob Rigs Welding Services in 2010.

Unfortunately, that happened to be the time in America when the pipeline industry took a noticeable turn downward. Neace said that union welders would go many months between jobs.

While Rob Rigs Welding stayed on as an official business, Neace decided to take a break from welding and further his education by enrolling in the University continued on Page 14

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he work of Jim Farris, owner of Jim Farris Cabinets, inspires people to go deep with their feelings.

“I had a client one time tell me – and it was the ultimate, ultimate compliment – ‘I can see Jesus in every thing that you do,’” Farris recalls. “Another time, one of my professors in college made the comment, ‘Your art and my art are very much alike; we both do large-format, abstract art. My art is about death and dying, but I look at your art and your painting and they say to me that you’re painting about life and living.”

To me that was very profound, especially as someone who has a Christian worldview.

Even in what we do, like a drawing or painting, that shines through.”

Farris’ creativity bloomed early.

“I could paint and draw and had very

good spatial visualization,” Farris remembers. “I studied painting, sculpture, and composition, and 3-Dimensional conception came very easy to me. I drew abstract landscapes.”

Farris parlayed that creativity into construction gigs while studying art at the University of Houston.

“One of my best friends from church offered me a job; he was trimming new homes with another man,” Farris says. “I was introduced to cabinets and trim working with wood to construction in homes, on the finish carpenter end, not framing. I worked for him for six months and was hired by somebody else.”

It was then that Farris realized he was using his own truck and tools to work for continued on Page 14

State-of-the-art collegiate sports facility

urrently celebrating 100 years in Houston, TX, Turner Construction Company completed their first Houston project in 1919 for Humble Oil (now ExxonMobil) at the Baytown Refinery. Henry Turner founded the company in 1902 based on the core values of teamwork, integrity and commitment. Today, the company’s reach is global, upholding its founder’s vision to provide valuable services to clients, build partnerships in the community, and deliver important resources such as schools, hospitals, workplaces, and social and cultural centers.

Turner Construction began renovating The University of Houston Fertitta Center in March 2017 and completed renovations by Dec. 1, 2018.

The dramatic re-visioning of the University of Houston Fertitta Center transformed the 200,000sf arena into a stateof-the-art collegiate sports facility, creat-

ing a brand-new experience for fans, student-athletes, coaches, staff, and students. It also supports recruitment and retention of players and staff while increasing revenue generation opportunities for the university.

Exterior renovations included replacing the existing exterior panels at each corner of the long-span structure with a new curtain wall that introduces natural light, transparency and a true sense of arrival for visitors.

Concourse improvements transformed the fan experience. Large entry lobbies at the northeast and southwest corners provide visual connectivity from outside the building and into the seating bowl. These “fan zones” feature a concentration of food service options and flexible gathering spaces.

The reconfigured bowl moved midcourt seating locations closer to game The University of Houston Fertitta Center

continued on Page 14

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Houston Construction News • APR 2019

Free to build

Bringing indoors out

One of The Deck and Patio Company’s slick-looking back yards.

L-R: Owners Rob and Katherine Douglass of Texas Custom Patios, with project manager Steven Schell

artin Sullivent admits that he ”didn’t really plan on starting a business,” but when all the subcontractors with whom he had been working until the 2008 crash kept asking him for work, “I just decided to roll the dice and start my own thing.”

That “thing” was Sullivent Services, Sullivent’s backyard, patio/deck/pergola business, which started in 2010. The construction company for which he was a carpenter folded then, due to the crash.

Sullivent got his start in construction with his stepfather, a brick mason, in San Antonio, saying, “I came to like it as a kid.”

When he was in junior high school, they moved to Houston. As an adult, Sullivent connected with a friend doing carpentry, eventually working his way up as a construction manager for the company that folded in 2010.

That’s when he started his own company, hiring the guys who asked him for work. “I figured it was worth a shot,” he said.

The first year was hard, as it normally takes a good year to build up the referral base, upon which so many construction companies depend.

Going from labor to management was an interesting transition. Sullivent likens it to being a parent.

“Being a business owner, you become aware of faults you didn’t know you have,” he said. “As a business owner, you have to adapt and learn as opposed to getting everybody to do things my way.”

“Being an owner of a business means that you are a perpetual learner,” he added, while admitting that he learned he interrupts people. “You have to learn things that you didn’t even know you needed to learn.”

Sullivent loves being on the jobsite and working with the customer but he always knew he needed help running a business. For years, he had known San Antonio resident Jed Mowell who had experience running several businesses.

Sullivent knew Mowell had the talent he

needed and finally convinced him to move to Houston.

“It took me a while, but I finally found someone worth bringing in,” Sullivent said.

Mowell signed on as co-owner on November 1, 2018, and Sullivent Services became The Deck and Patio Company, going from a DBA to an LLC.

“He’s a go-getter with a positive attitude and great work ethic,” Sullivent says of Mowell. “He manages the office and the advertising and the business side, which frees me up to that which I’m better at, which is interacting with the customer and ensuring the customer gets what he wanted.”

Sullivent still works with the same subs he has known for years, basically full-time. The paid staff for The Deck and Patio Company are in the back office, including a CAD expert, office manager, bookkeeper and a salesman, and, of course, Mowell. This frees up Sullivent to manage all the jobs and projects.

“If you want to do a good job designing a project,” Sullivent said. “You have to be careful not to design what you want. It starts with asking the questions and then listening to the answers.”

“It’s not hard to make the customer happy if you put his interests first,” sums up Sullivent.

He must be making a lot of customers happy, having 5 to 10 projects on any given day during the slower winter months, and around 20 a day during the peak months.

What pleases Sullivent the most is taking a muddy mess of a backyard that is never used and turning it into a space that the family makes full use of and enjoys. It’s the before-and-after pictures that are the proof, along with the customer’s approval.

What makes it fun, Sullivent said, is “just being part of that transformation.”

With Mowell running the office, Sullivent is free to build.

The Deck and Patio Company is in Spring. -dsz

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utdoor living: what a concept. All over Texas, people are moving outdoors to spend time in custom built, whiz-bang living spaces. Robert Douglass has a simple plan: “Our goal is to make it their favorite room of the house.”

Douglass and wife Katherine started Texas Custom Patios in June 2004 (Houston office) and January 2015 (Dallas office).

These spaces are far more than your average screened-in back porch, but high-end, personalized places in which a person or family can cook, entertain, watch TV, read, or just plain chill out.

They are outdoor kitchens, room additions to the house, totally separate spaces from the house, either entirely enclosed or open. They are what you want them to be.

“We love when somebody calls and already has something in mind,” Douglass said. But he’ll also probe their minds to see not only what they want but why.

“What are you trying to accomplish?” he’ll ask. “It’s a guided discussion, based

upon our experience, of walking into a back yard, knowing what we can do.”

Katherine and her two assistants run the office, making the initial contact with folks, processing all the invoices and finances, and tracking marketing trends. The Houston office has eight sales folks, while Dallas has five. While Houston is the fourth largest city in America, the DFW Metroplex is far bigger geographically. “We’re growing that office as fast as we can,” Douglass said. “We’re doing great there.”

Much of Texas’ outdoor living is fall to spring, with football season playing a big role in moving to one’s outdoor space. Having a pool can be a factor.

“We’re creating a space that’s going to be one of the most memorable things about that home when people are coming to look at it,” Douglass said.

Even with living in hot Texas, having a whiz-bang outdoor living space can be a really cool thing.

Texas Custom Patios specializes in building outdoor living spaces, with its headquarters in Houston. -dsz

H&E Acquires We-Rent-It

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H&E Equipment - Austin, TX.

n Feb. 4, 2019, H&E Equipment Services Inc. (NASDAQ: HEES) announced the completion of its acquisition of We-Rent-It (WRI), a nonresidential construction-focused equipment rental company in Texas. The acquired assets include six branches serving the growing central Texas market and approximately $75 million of inventory.

“With the WRI acquisition, we expand our coverage to 22 branches in Texas and improve our ability to better serve the healthy markets in the central portion of the state,” says Brad Barber, H&E Chief Executive Officer and President.

“We are pleased and eager to welcome another strong group of equip-

ment professionals into the H&E family.

The WRI team has tremendous industry experience, with talented leadership and highly trained employees at all levels,” adds Shaun Bergeson, H&E Regional Vice President. “The location of these six new branches is the absolute perfect complement to our existing footprint, allowing us to better serve customers throughout the Austin, San Antonio, and Bryan/College Station areas. With the addition of WRI, we now have three branches in the San Antonio market, four in the Austin area, and one in Bryan.”

Established in 1961, H&E Equipment Services is a full-service equipment company, providing rentals, sales, parts, and service. -cmw

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

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Bankrolls, blackjack and fun

An HVAC life

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t may not have been a big casino in Vegas, but for the members of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC) it might as well have been. Once again, PHCC members gathered at the Cadillac Bar & Grill for their annual casino night for an evening of great food, camaraderie and lots of fun. The event was held on Feb. 8 with members anticipating next year’s event. –cmw

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All-American Tile & Remodeling playing Blackjack

Milton Frank Plumbing

Milwaukee Tool’s Matthew Munnicks with Modern Plumbing’s Josh Hance and Josh Hollub

Randy Vance, owner of Vance Air Conditioning & Heating

andy Vance’s father’s career in HVAC goes back to the 1950s in Tennessee. Vance remembers coalburning stoves and learning the trade from dad.

Vance said, “I really got serious about it when I first got out of the military [in 1977].”

The economy was better in Texas, so Vance moved to Houston in 1981, and worked with larger HVAC contractors in just about every capacity (sales, territory manager, etc.), with all the major carriers.

Putting all these experiences together led Vance to begin his own company, Vance Air Conditioning & Heating, in July 1997.

“It’s basically all I know,” Vance said.

He’s passing all this heritage on to his two sons who assist him, and hopes his grandson will be the fourth generation in the trade.

Vance says of his early days as a business owner, “It was a learning experience, to put it lightly.” He did everything, from the selling to the installing. “I started out

as me, myself and I,” he said. “When I started out, I did everything I tell my guys not to do.”

Even with his knowledge of the trade, Vance is still learning and growing, especially in an ever-changing field. “We are now at the point where we got it half way on the right track,” he said. This attitude keeps Vance from getting complacent. “We look at it like we ain’t made it yet.”

Vance is keenly aware of some of the less reputable or fly-by-night contractors.

He makes an extra effort to give the customer the most bang for his buck. He says some of the new guys coming into the business don’t know how to run one.

He does 10 percent light commercial, and 50-50 new residential installs to service. Vance can service or sell any brand.

The old Army vet from Tennessee has seen plenty of changes in HVAC, but is still willing to learn, adapt, improvise and overcome.

Vance Air Conditioning & Heating is an HVAC contractor in Rosenberg. -dsz

Insulation winners

Vossler Plumbing group

Dorothy Gurka, Gulf Coast PHCC Executive Director and Glenn Fuller, Texas Plumbing Supply

Milwaukee Tool’s Jared VanVleet and ESR’s Tabitha Miranda help out at the raffle table.

Construction News ON LOCATION

An excavating visit

The Southwest Insulation Contractors Association (SWICA) held their 2019 Expo & Craft Competition on Feb. 7 at the Pasadena Convention Center. Petrin LLC won the Bryron Sadler Craft Competition for Cryogenic and Rigid Insulation Contests for 2019. L-R: -Jay Bridgewater, Jesus Ojeda, Jose Hidalgo, Felipe Serrato and Thomas Loredo. -cmw

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Houston Construction News • APR 2019

Why the construction industry needs cybersecurity

Workers Compensation Texas Workforce Commission

Denise Bendele, Partner RSM US LLP San Antonio, TX

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t’s no secret that cybercrime is costly. According to a study by McAfee and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the cost of cybercrime to the global community reached record levels in 2017, totaling between $445 and $608 billion.1 By 2019, the global cost of data breaches is expected to increase to $2.1 trillion. 2 The risk of unauthorized access for middle market companies is growing. According to the RSM US Middle Market Business Index, significantly more middle market companies (13 percent versus 5 percent) contend they experienced data breaches than they did only three years ago.

One significant reason for this increase is the growth of ransomware. In fact, the FBI stated that ransomware victims paid approximately $209 million to recover stolen files just in the first quarter of 2016—a profound increase from the $24 million in ransom payments made in 2015. 3 Middle market companies are the most vulnerable Cybercrime isn’t slowing down, and all businesses are at serious risk of data hacking. But perhaps more than any other industry, the construction industry is known for its sluggish adoption of new technologies—including technologies that could help prevent (or at least deter) hackers. That makes contractors extremely vulnerable to cybercrime threats, especially smaller and midsize companies that don’t have the resources of larger companies. According to the NetDilligence 2017 Cyber Claims Study, 88 percent of claims that year were from organizations with under $2 billion in revenue.4 Furthermore, companies with less than $50 million in revenue were the most affected, accounting for 47 percent of claims. In 2018, these middle market companies are seeing an increase in data breaches, with 13 percent reporting incidents in just the first quarter of the year.5 ––that’s compared to just 5 percent in the same period three years ago.

Contractors are at risk High-profile breaches at companies such as Cambridge Analytica, Equifax, Yahoo and Uber demonstrate that just one breach is all it takes to cause serious financial havoc and potentially irreparable reputation damage. That’s why construction companies must take the risk seriously. These companies have what hackers want: bank account information, payroll and accounting systems, financial reports, intellectual property, and customer data.

In addition, construction companies often have points of entry that can be easy to hack. There are a number of significant and common risks for a breach: Phishing is an approach whereby an unsuspecting employee opens an email attachment or clicks on a link that he or she believes is safe and yet actually downloads malware.

Fake websites, where victims share their credentials, allow thieves to access private company information.

Ransomware can evade security software and require a company to pay ransoms to regain access to their own information.

Balancing technology and risk There are ways that construction companies can take advantage of the benefits of technology and still mitigate their cyber risk.

Understand the potential threat:

Before a company can put a plan into place, it must first understand the risk.

Contractors must educate themselves about the potential risks and acknowledge that putting together a comprehensive safety plan is vital to protecting their company.

Conduct a risk assessment:

How can a network be protected if a company does not have a full scope of what that network includes? To put a plan in place, a company must first take inventory of its systems, hardware, software and data, then conduct a full risk assessment to pinpoint any areas of vulnerability. As part of the risk assessment, companies also need to consider any third parties that have access to the company’s network.

Implement layers of security:

While small and midsize contractors often do have budget limitations, there are many cost-effective ways they can defend against cyberattacks. For example, encypting laptops and external storage drives is a relatively inexpensive way to reduce the chance of exposure in the event a laptop or other device is lost or stolen. Another inexpensive safeguard is properly disposing paper records and controlling how they are accessed. Yet another is making sure employees use strong passwords for their devices.

Companies should regularly update their firewall and antiviral software. Siloing (or dividing) information can help minimize the access a hacker can get to company data. Investing in cyber liability insurance is also recommended.

Educate employees: The difference between a breach and safety can literally come down to the click of one employee. It’s important for contractors to train employees regarding the threat of cyberattacks and how to safely defend against such threats. Employees with access to company information should be properly trained regarding the rules of device usage and what to do in the event of breach.

The time to prepare is here

The frequency of cyberattacks is increasing, and every business around the globe is vulnerable to this serious threat.

Contractors are no different. They must act now to put the proper cyber security in place to protect against becoming the next big breach.

1 D. Bisson, “Global Cost of Cybercrime Exceeds $600 Billion in 2017, Report Estimates” (Feb. 23, 2018) Security Intelligence.

2 R. Simpson, “How to Improve IT Security in the Construction Industry” (July 5, 2016) Gray.

3 D. Bisson, “Global Cost of Cybercrime Exceeds $600 Billion in 2017, Report Estimates” (Feb. 23, 2018) Security Intelligence.

4 S. Renshaw, “Combatting cyberattacks: 5 steps to managing cyberrisks” (Nov. 10, 2017) RSM US LLP. 5 “Hackers increasingly target upper middle market companies” (March 20, 2018) RSM US LLP. RSM US LLP 19026 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400 San Antonio, TX 78259 210-828-6281

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exas, unlike other states, does not require an employer to have workers’ compensation coverage.

Subscribing to workers’ compensation insurance puts a limit on the amount and type of compensation that an injured employee may receive - the limits are set in the law.

Being a “non-subscriber”, i.e., going “bare” or without coverage, leaves an employer open to personal injury lawsuits from employees who are injured on the job - the damages and attorney’s fees are almost unlimited - in addition, certain defenses available in most personal injury lawsuits, such as assumption of the risk, contributory negligence, “last clear chance”, and co-worker negligence, are not available to a non-subscriber in a job injury case.

At hire, notify each new hire of coverage (Notice 6 (PDF)) or non-coverage (Notice 5 (PDF)) and post the same notice along with other required workplace posters - also, let each new hire know that they have five days to elect to waive their right to workers’ compensation benefits and retain their common-law right to sue the employer for a work-related injury - the notice must let the employee know that if they give up workers’ compensation, they give up the right to receive medical or income benefits under the workers’ compensation law (the Division of Workers’ Compensation at the TDI has a form available for that purpose at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/forms/dwc/ newemployeenotice.pdf (PDF)).

If an employer discontinues its workers’ compensation coverage, it must inform employees and the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Texas Department of Insurance as soon as possible via a Form DWC005 (PDF).

Under workers’ compensation law, an injury or illness is covered, without regard to fault, if it was sustained in the course and scope of employment, i.e., while furthering or carrying on the employer’s business; this includes injuries sustained during work-related travel.

Injuries are not covered if they were the result of the employee’s horseplay, willful criminal acts or self-injury, intoxication from drugs or alcohol, voluntary participation in an off-duty recreational activity, a third party’s criminal act if directed against the employee for a personal reason unrelated to the work, or acts of God. Injured workers must file injury reports within thirty days of the injury, must appeal the first impairment rating within 90 days of its issuance, and must file the formal paperwork for the workers’ compensation claim within one year of the injury. If the work-related nature of the injury or illness was not immediately apparent, those deadlines run from the date on which the employee should have known the problem was work-related.

Three main types of benefits: medical benefits, income benefits, and death benefits - each type is statutorily defined and limited.

The law places a heavy emphasis on return-to-work programs, since all studies show that recovery is faster and more efficient if an employee has some kind of useful work to do.

An employee’s refusal of suitable light-duty work can stop the payment of workers’ compensation benefits.

A job injury can involve other laws as well, such as the FMLA and the ADA in multiple-law situations, whatever law provides the greatest protection should be applied (see “Medical Leave-Related Laws”).

Chapter 451 of the workers’ compensation law prohibits discrimination or retaliatory action against employees who have filed workers’ compensation claims or are somehow in the process of doing so - stray remarks can be harmful to a company’s legal position in a Chapter 451 lawsuit, so never let anyone with your company be heard talking about a claim in terms of it being a problem, since any negative remarks can be twisted and spun to make the employer look as if it intended to retaliate against the claimant.

Design your paid leave policies to avoid “benefits stacking”, i.e., the combining of workers’ compensation and leave-related benefits in such a way that the employee ends up getting more than 100% of his or her regular wage each week - for a sample policy, see “Limits on Leave Benefits” in “The A to Z of Personnel Policies” in this book.

Employees on workers’ compensation do not have to be allowed to continue accruing leave or other benefits, but should be treated at least as favorably as other absent employees in that regard.

Loss of health insurance benefits while on workers’ compensation leave is a COBRA-qualifying event.

If a workers’ compensation claimant files an unemployment claim, he or she will be disqualified from unemployment benefits unless the workers’ compensation benefits are for “permanent, partial disability”, which translates to “impairment income benefits” under the current law - in addition, the claimant’s medical ability to work would be in question and should be raised by the employer as an issue in its response to the unemployment claim.

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

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Recovery of attorney’s fees in construction disputes: The devil is in the details West W. Winter, Attorney The Winter Law Firm, PLLC San Antonio TX

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he long held general rule of law in Texas regarding the recovery of attorney’s fees is that attorney’s fees paid to prosecute or defend a lawsuit cannot be recovered in that suit absent a statute or contract that allows for their recovery. For more than 100 years, the Courts of our great state have held that they do not have the authority to require a losing party to pay the prevailing party’s fees unless a statute or contract provides for an award of attorney’s fees. This established rule, that a party is ordinarily required to bear its own attorney’s fees, is known as the “American Rule”.

Statutes Allowing for the Recovery of Attorney’s Fees

In the construction law context, some of the Texas statutes utilized by litigants to avoid the impact of the American Rule and recover attorney’s fees include: the Prompt Pay Act in Chapter 28 of the Texas Property Code (providing that the court may award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees as the court determines equitable and just); Section 53.156 of the Texas Property Code (providing that in certain proceedings involving lien and bond claims, the court shall award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees as are equitable and just); and very often, Chapter 38 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code (providing for the recovery of attorney’s fees, in addition to the amount of the claim and costs, from an individual or corporation if the claim is for, among other types of claims, rendered services, performed labor, furnished material, or an oral or written contract).

Details, Details Since construction disputes often involve competing breach of contract claims, it would be a simple conclusion to draw that Chapter 38 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code allows the prevailing party to recover its attorney’s fees from the losing party. And there is a common misconception that Chapter 38 allows all litigants to recover fees whenever the claims involve breaches of contract. Unfortunately, the courts have strictly construed the specific language within the statute in such a manner so as to strictly limit its applicability to claims against “individuals” and “corporations.” As such, many Texas courts hold that Chapter 38 does not allow a prevailing party to recover attorney’s fees against other common entity forms such as partnerships and limited liability companies. The illogical result is that in a lawsuit between an LLC and a corporation where both sides allege material breaches of contract and the sole basis for recovery of fees is Chapter 38, the LLC would be legally able to recover its attorney’s fees if it prevailed against the corporation. However, in this same example, the corporation would not be able to recover its attorney’s fees if it prevailed against the LLC. Pending Legislation May Provide Relief Pending legislation set forth in House Bill 790 seeks to amend and clarify Chapter 38 by making it broadly applicable to claims against state agencies, political subdivisions, and all “organizations” as that term is defined in the Business Organizations Code.

This legislation, if enacted into law, would expand the application of Chapter 38 and allow litigants to also recover attorney’s fees in breach of contract claims against partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts, and other types of business organizations. As of the writing of this article, House Bill 790 remains pending in committee.

Texas Supreme Court Decision Negates Attorney’s Fees for Trust Fund Claims Commonly known as the Texas Construction Trust Fund Act, Chapter 162 of the Texas Property Code mandates that construction payments and loan receipts are trust funds if they are made to or borrowed by a contractor or subcontractor under a construction contract.

Pursuant to the express provisions of the Trust Fund Act, those who furnish labor or material for the construction of the improvement are the beneficiaries of the trust funds and have a civil cause of action against a trustee who misapplies the trust funds. Whether a party to a lawsuit can recover attorney’s fees under the Trust Fund Act has been an open question.

But last year, the Texas Supreme Court in Dudley Construction, Ltd. v. ACT Pipe and Supply, Inc., settled the open question when it held that attorney’s fees are not recoverable under either the Trust Fund Act itself or Chapter 38, when the claim is pursuant to the Trust Fund Act. Significantly, Dudley Construction, Ltd. v. ACT Pipe and Supply, Inc. involved a claim amount of $143,714.19 and an additional attorney’s fees claim of $131,823.99. The Court held that the Trust Fund Act does not provide for the recovery of attorney’s fees, and Chapter 38 does not list the Trust Fund Act as a cause of action to which it applies. The Supreme Court accordingly reversed the $131,823.99 in attorney’s fees awarded for ACT’s Trust Fund Act claim.

Shore it. Slope it. Shield it.

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

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renching and excavation work exposes workers to extremely dangerous hazards. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) data, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 130 fatalities recorded in trenching and excavation operations between 2011 and 2016. The private construction industry accounted for 80%, or 104, of those fatalities. An alarming 49% of those construction fatalities occurred between 2015 and 2016.

As a result of the danger of unprotected excavations and trenches, OSHA has initiated an emphasis program to address this hazard and is directing OSHA inspectors to initiate inspections whenever they observe an open trench or an open excavation, regardless of whether or not a violation is readily observed.

OSHA generally requires that employers protect workers from cave-ins by: ■■ Sloping and benching the sides of the excavation; ■■ Supporting the sides of the excavation; or ■■ Placing a shield between the side of the excavation and the work area.

One of the requirements for safe digging is periodic inspection of the excavation. Trenches and excavations must be inspected daily by a competent person.

Trench/excavation inspections shall be conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections shall also be made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. A competent person is an individual, designated by the employer, who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to workers, and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. Under the Excavation standards, tasks performed by the

competent person include classifying soil, inspecting protective systems, designing structural ramps, monitoring water removal equipment, and conducting site inspections.

The Excavation standards require a competent person to classify soil and rock deposits as stable rock, Type A, B or C soil. OSHA has a free training video on soil classification located at: https://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction/soil_testing_fnl_eng_web. html

OSHA also has a free video on excavation safety located at: https://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction/soil_testing_fnl_eng_web. html

Before starting work, the Excavation standards require employers to determine the approximate location(s) of utility installations including sewer, telephone, gas, electric, and water lines. One common industry practice is to call 811, the “Call Before You Dig” number, to establish the location of any underground utility installations in the work area. In Texas, the law requires 48 hour notice to utilities prior to digging. To learn more about notification prior to digging, visit: https://www.texas811.org/ natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

Excellence in Ethics

Lessons Learned

Since attorney’s fees in construction disputes are typically significant and can equal or even exceed the amount in controversy, litigants and their attorneys should fully analyze the causes of action and the types of entities involved to ensure that they have a right under prevailing law to recover attorney’s fees. Furthermore, it would be very wise to negotiate all contracts on the front end to mandate an award of attorney’s fees and expenses to your business if it is the prevailing party in any dispute.

Ensuring that your business is entitled to an award of attorney’s fees by contract is an exception to the American Rule which should provide protection without regard to applicable statutes or organization type.

West W. Winter, a LEED Green Associate, serves on the board of the Construction Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association and has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in San Antonio for Construction Litigation. The Winter Law Firm represents general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, in all phases of the construction process, from contract formation through dispute resolution, litigation, and collection. West may be reached via email: west@thewinterlawfirm.com.

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Group photo of ASA Certificate of Excellence in Ethics winners.

oles Incorporated, EyeSite Surveillance Inc. and HaleyGreerInc., were three of 14 construction subcontracting firms to earn the American Subcontractors Association’s (ASA) Certificate of Excellence in Ethics. The awards were presented on Mar. 8 during a ceremony in Nashville, TN in conjunction with ASA’s annual national convention, SUBExcel 2019, the premier education and networking event for subcontractors, specialty trade contractors and suppliers in the construction industry.

The ASA Certificate of Excellence in Ethics is presented to subcontractors, specialty trade contractors and suppliers in recognition of their commitment to ASA values like quality construction and a safe and healthy work environment. ASA Task Force on Ethics in the Construction Industry Chair Shannon MacArthur, MEMCO, Spring, TX and Walter Bazan Jr., Bazan Painting Company, St. Louis, MO, a member of the task force and an ASA past president, announced the awards. -cmw

Page 6

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

Steve Williams

Owner Houston Water Heaters Sugar Land, TX

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teve Williams is two things (at the very least): a very hard worker and a very interesting person. He could give the Dos Equis man a run for his money. Williams started Houston Water Heaters about 10 years ago after a wild and crazy career in plumbing and just about everything else.

Where do you hail from and what was it like there?

I’m from Port Arthur and went to school there. Janis Joplin was about 4-5 years ahead of me. Everybody knows her there.

In fact, there’s a museum for her there now. That’s Port Arthur’s claim to fame.

My first job, I was 11 and working in the school cafeteria for my lunch. When we were 13/14, we were working on ships, mucking them out when they came in, to get the rust out of the bottom. We’d be breathing gasoline fumes like you wouldn’t believe. OSHA would not let you near that today, but we did it in those days. It’s amazing I still have lungs. Then we’d load the food on them for the trips.

We’d skip school to do it.

What were your early career goals or experiences?

Port Arthur was a refinery town. The formula was: you got out of school. You got a job at the refinery with someone you knew. You had to have a connection with someone who worked there. It was a union operation. So you got the job at the refinery. You got married and you had kids. And you stayed there until you retired 30 years later with the gold watch and a pension. And it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t want to wind up like that. I didn’t like the refineries; you could smell them for 30 miles away back then. And I wanted out of the town so I knew that was not my path.

When I was in the ninth grade I was in Mr. Weldon’s science class. We had the windows opened (this was before air conditioning) and a garbage truck pulled out front. Guys hopped off and started emptying the cans. Mr. Weldon stopped what he was doing because it was noisy,

F

rancis Debelo, Jr., started Pro Metal Products in 2016, but, as he says, “I’ve been welding pretty much my whole life.”

Debelo has a varied career, being a machinist at one time. He was a manufacturing engineer manager as well. His fatherin-law had the welding company, and when he passed away, Debelo assumed his gear and got into welding full time.

It was rough going at first. “I started in a metal building in my back yard with a small CNC plasma table and a welding machine,” he said. Debelo has since expanded into a bigger building and has a better CNC. His five-year plan is to move into an even bigger facility not in his backyard.

Pro Metal Products has Debelo’s father doing sales and his wife doing the accounting. When it comes to the welding and running the business, Debelo laughs and says he does “anything and everything.”

Debelo does light industrial, oil field, commercial fabrication and privately com-

and he said, “See this, boys? You stay in school and finish and get your diploma and you’ll never have to do that kind of work.” I noted that. I graduated in ’72. My first job out of high school, I was a garbage man. It’s ironic that was my first job.

It was the hardest work I’ve ever done in my life. If we got our work done, we could go back to the shop and play dominos.

But to do this, you’ve got to run to accomplish that. You’re flying just as fast as you could go. We’d fill that truck up twice.

So it was hard, hard work in the hot summer. But it helped develop my work ethic.

[The garbage collector job] was a necessity type of job that I drifted into accidently, and it became my future. I stayed on it for nine months, After moving to Groves, Texas, what happened then?

I met a guy who taught me plumbing while I worked for the city, and we would go to people’s houses, and if it wasn’t the city’s problem, we’d tell them we’d come back at lunch and do it on our time and charge $20, or whatever. That’s how I started learning plumbing; he was a pretty good plumber. He taught me how to talk to people. Often times we’d make more money at lunch than we did the whole day at the job.

Was there a problem doing this?

It was known. It was overlooked because it didn’t interfere with our work.

How did your time working for the city of Groves go?

I worked there five years and this plumber I worked with told me, “Steve, Get out of here. If you stay here another five years, you’ll never leave the city and you’ll be like me - 60 years old and still working here and it’s a dead end.” I took his advice and in ’78 I moved to Houston.

When you moved to Houston, that’s when you started working as a plumber?

I considered myself a plumber. I got a job at Buckshot Plumbing with B.T. Harding. He had one eye and a patch over his eye like a pirate. It was my first real plumbing job. I was so excited - I got to take home a plumbing truck. I think I made $8 an hour. I quickly found out that I didn’t know diddly about plumbing. I had moved to the big city where there was real plumbing, and the little stuff I knew was nothing compared to what I needed to know. Nonetheless, I stuck with it and learned it and eventually got a plumbing license, then a master’s license. I hated plumbing; always have. I still do.

So why do plumbing?

It’s been good to me. It’s paid the bills. I did it to make a paycheck. And I like people. There are two kinds of plumber: There is the construction plumber where they go to the same job every day, and I have done some of that, like St. Joseph’s Towers here in Houston. I was on the cop-

Steve Williams, owner of Houston Water Heaters

per crew. I would solder pipe for eight hours a day, and it’s so boring you’d just want to kill yourself. The kind of work we did was service work, and when you do service work, which I love and did most of in my career. You go to people’s houses, or businesses, and they have an issue or problem and you have to solve it. Sometimes it takes quite a bit of detective work.

It’s kind of fun; you get to travel the city and you’re never in the same place twice.

How was your sense of job satisfaction?

I had a saying at the time, which I now reject, but thought at the time: You’re only as good as your last job. You can have a good job and leave the customer happy and your boss liked it and everything went well. Or, you can have a bad day and you would go home feeling that way. I have since learned that you’re the same person regardless of the job you had today.

Have you done anything strange while working as a plumber?

I’ve done it all. I’ve gotten the diamond ring out of the bathtubs. I’ve gotten false teeth out of toilets. I was called to the Astrodome one night: an old man had vomited in a toilet and his teeth were in there and I had to get them out.

I worked at Roto Rooter in the ‘70s.

They had an actual dive suit and you could check it out if you needed to crawl under the houses that were on beams.

When the sewer stopped up, it flooded underneath the house, and you had to crawl under there to get the cable in the line. And you’d check out the suit, zip it up and swim through the waste and do what you had to do to get the line open.

It’s a tough life.

I never was a big fan of plumbing, but it did what it had to do for me and I made the best of the situation I had.

Tell us about your other work experiences prior to Houston Water Heaters.

I’ve been in business for myself since ’91. I had a company called Centerline

No amateurs allowed

L-R: Francis Debelo, Sr. (director of sales), Francis Debelo, Jr. (president), and Nina Debelo (vp of finance), of Pro Metal Products

Plumbing, and it was just me and a truck.

I got laid off and only had $35 in the bank, but I had some friends in the business who pushed some work my way. Then I went to work for Lowe’s. That’s where I saw that the money was in the product, not in the labor. The big-ticket item at Lowe’s was water heaters. I decided one night to open a water heater company.

What was it like, starting your own company?

It’s very difficult to tear yourself away from a safe place. Having a plumbing job and working for someone, then having your own business, is scary. I can’t deny it.

When did you start Houston Water Heaters?

Early 2009.

How did you do when you first started?

No one else had a strictly water heater company when I started. I was the first in Houston, and I think, in the country.

The first year we did a half a million dollars. But we’re doing over two million a year now.

How is life now and what are your future plans?

I started late in life with children. My youngest is 9 years old and I’m 65. I’m going to be dragging the stone for another 10 years at least, and I’m looking forward to it. As long as you have your health, you’re in good shape, and I do have my health right now. I’m in pretty good shape.

I’m so blessed; my life couldn’t get any better. I’m old enough to retire; I could do it. But I love to work. I’d be bored to tears sitting home. I could go another 10 or 20 years. At some point, I’d like indulge the other side of my personality, which is the arts. I like music and writing and reading. I’d like to be sitting on a beach somewhere with a book.

Houston Water Heaters sell and installs water heaters, with its headquarters in Sugar Land. -dsz

missioned pieces like signs, smokers, fire pits, lettering, etc. He says the modern welding machines are far superior to the older ones, enabling him to do finer, more artistic pieces with faster speed and higher accuracy. “It does take a certain level of experience,” he said, “to draw it [the project] in a way that will still resemble what you want. Everything has to be connected. You can’t have pieces floating in space.”

He added, “We have the artistic side as well.” Debelo will draw the project out in CAD or other software.

Pro Metal Products sticks to a 75mile radius, but will gladly ship products done in the shop further out. Debelo can aid in the design, but “It just depends,” he said. If it’s an engineered product, he sticks with the plans.

Word-of-mouth is the main way Pro Metal Products gets its jobs. With his experience, cool machines and flair for the artistic, Debelo, is the pro’s pro.

Pro Metal Products runs its shop in Tomball. -dsz

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

Page 7

per 60s and near the 70-degree mark, anglers tie on their favorite top water plug and wade the shorelines and reef of Baffin Bay in search for trophy sized specks.

Some of the best lures to use are the Top Dog series from MirrOlure. They make an assortment of lures in different sizes and sounds for any water situation. My favorite is the She Dog lure because of the high pitch sounds that it creates. Another favorite plug I’m growing attached to is the Coltsniper series made by Shimano.

These surface lures come in an assortment of styles and colors. They also make an assortment of sinking, jerk and subsurface lures that you should take a look at. As you know, Shimano is the leader in reels in the industry and their lures have amazing color patterns and realistic eyes making them a must have in your tackle box. Check out all the Shimano products at shimano.com.

My 2019 fishing calendar is starting to fill up now, so don’t hesitate in booking your fishing trips. I still have a handful of dates for the month of April. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361813-3716 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Spring into action with Steve Schultz Outdoors

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.

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ell, I can honestly say that I am ready for some warmer weather.

Had some decent weather days on the water fishing in February down in Port Mansfield, but most of March has been interrupted by windy, cold weather or foggy days on the water. Needless to say, these conditions have hampered our attempts to fish lately. Typically we get cooler weather in March. However, this year it seems to be a bit more extreme.

As we enter into our spring months, our weather should start warming day to day. Winds will increase from the southeast, and with that direction, we should see some water temperatures increase and that will definitely help us pattern these fish more consistently. Our spring tides should arrive this month bringing in a migration of brown shrimp with other baitfish that will supply our estuary. Typically, following this migration and also coming inshore with our spring tides is a run of speckled trout most anglers refer to as tide runners. These specks are usually easy to identify due to their stout body and yellow mouth. They will make their way through the passes along the coast and seek refuge in our bays for the summer. During this time I keep a keen eye out for bird activity on the water.

Speckled trout following this migration will push this bait towards the surface

Topwater action should be heating up in the month of April. This fish was caught on a Shimano Coltsniper surface plug in knee deep water by Capt. Steve Schultz.

Fish was released after photo.

and waiting seagulls, terns and brown pelicans will seize the opportunity to feast for themselves. This is a great way to fill the box and it doesn’t take rocket science to figure it out.

Later this month, we will be making the long run to the land cut as we try to catch the specks that make their way through the Lower Laguna Madre via the

Mansfield jetties. This area confines these trout to the edges of the channel making easy pickings when you can find where they are hanging out. Staying on the move is key to this fishing technique.

For those of you that like to wade, this is your calling. Everyone knows that spring times means topwater fishing.

When water temperatures reach the up-

Page 8

Houston Construction News • APR 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

If this weather confusion is so hard for us to cope with in spite of our big old brains and weather men, just imagine how all the wild things feel. Just as the longer days and a few warm afternoons start to get the fish and fowl in the notion continued page 9

Chaos: Texas fifth season

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think in addition to the usual seasons most folks have, Texas has Chaos. It doesn’t have a set time on the calendar, it just pops up at random times throughout the year and teaches us there is really no such thing as “normal” weather in Texas.

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips

Texas weather can be a mean joke this time of year. It can look so nice out, until the wind almost knocks you over.

One day you get a sweaty crash course in summer in the high 80s, but hold on – we’re up for a killing frost in the teens tomorrow! This time of year you don’t dare set foot out of the house without checking out the day’s forecast!

Every horizontal surface in my house is covered with a constantly shifting pile of jackets, sweaters, overalls, hoodies and windbreakers. We don’t dare put any

All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST! of it away just because the calendar says that winter is over – ‘cause this is Texas!

I had one group of fishermen arrive from Austin’s 75-degree morning and find the

temperature 42 degrees and falling here at the dock. Shorts and flip-flops didn’t cut it that day!

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

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

Page 9

continued from Page 8 — Ken Milam of feeding, nesting and spawning, then wham comes a cold spell that tells them to go back to bed or crawl back under a rock because winter’s not done yet.

Usually striper fishing is good during cold weather. So far this year they’ve been getting a late start. I believe it’s just because there hasn’t been much of a real trend either cold or warm, just chaos. We have a few nice days and the lake temperature starts rising and the fish start to school up and we get all excited because they are fixing to turn on, then it gets COLD again and the fish just seem to say “Never mind!”

The good thing is that this will have to end sooner or later. The days are getting longer and we are moving closer to the sun. Soon the spring days will out-

number the mean old days of winter.

Even if we do have one of those notorious “Easter Spells” that usually mark winters last gasp, we’ll turn the corner into spring. When we do, you better just be ready. Everything out there with a ticking biological clock will be all about procreation and the urgent need to feed to support their reproductive process. Fish will be hungry, turkeys will be foraging and deer will need nutritional support from your feeders for their growing fawns .

Pay attention to the weatherman for whatever insight he can give you and try not to cuss the wonky weather too much.

Just remember what July and August are like, when the weatherman could go on extended vacation and not be missed because the weather never changes – just hot and dry, over and over again!

Sunrise departure

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Law from the inside

hen John Warren is called into a construction-related dispute, let all parties involved hear this: don’t try to pull a fast one on him. Warren is one of the few attorneys around that also has an architectural engineering degree and has worked in construction.

Warren is a principal for the Cokinos | Young Law Firm and specializes in construction cases, representing whichever side calls him first. He also began his career as a project manager for a construction firm, so he’s been on both sides of the construction fence. He knows the lingo, thus making it impossible to snow him.

“I realized that there might be a niche for somebody who had experience in construction to be able to practice construction law,” he said.

Cokinos | Young handles everything from pay disputes to site conditions, to contracts.

In this 30th anniversary year of the firm, Warren said one of the biggest problems, especially in Texas, is often times work is done on the handshake principle.

While that in and of itself is not wrong, nonetheless problems can and do arise when something goes amiss and it turns into a he-said/she-said type of situation.

What Warren prefers is “preventive law,“ as he likes to plan for the unforeseen. Absolutely,” he agreed. “We like to be involved at the project’s inception, preferably at the time of contract drafting.” While litigation can pay well, the goal is to avoid litigation for just that reason - it’s very expensive. Often times Cokinos | Young is called in too late in the game and litigation is unavoidable.

In the earlier days, business was all

John Warren, principal at Cokinos | Young Law Firm

done over the phone and fax machines.

Now, with email (and other electronic media), what has changed in the law business is the plethora of correspondence that must be reviewed. “When we get involved with a lawsuit, there is a ton of electronic data that we have to sift through,” Warren said. “Email has the privacy of a post card and the longevity of styrofoam,” he said. “It hangs around and never goes away.”

Warren loves his work. “It’s a good, healthy practice that keeps us on our toes.” In his case, those toes used to be covered with steel-toed boots.

Cokinos | Young Law Firm specializes in construction law, with its headquarters in Houston. -dsz

Page 10

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

W hat’s Trending in Interior/Exterior Surfaces

2019 Home Design Trends: 10 That are Hot! s a new year comes around, it’s always fun to speculate on what trends-- from clothes to food and especially home design - will be showing up on Pinterest and high-end magazines.

While good taste never goes out of style, some interior design trends represent changes in how bigger issues such as the environment, technology and family time are perceived. This has never been truer than what can be expected in 2019.

Sustainability Is a Megatrend

According to Domino magazine, “Sustainability is a movement that is becoming more widespread than ever, especially as it pertains to design—and come 2019, it will be an overarching theme that will be all too present. The concept of living a more eco-conscious lifestyle has become ingrained in the methodology of many designers, especially when it relates to how they approach their craft.” Design experts note that the definition of sustainabilty has broadened. “Our approach to the things we surround ourselves with is shifting towards a longevity-focused one,” says Muuto’s design director, Christian Grosen, “prompting us to buy designs that will last for years into the future, both in their quality and aesthetic.”

Nordic Is New...Again

Scandinavian design has been hot for several years and in 2019 it will be the same, only different. Designers suggest that this minimalistic, streamlined design will evolve into bold new details. “We are working a lot with earthier and tertiary pigments in our collection for a nice

A

color mix that can fit into a multitude of environments, and pair with both simpler and more eclectic hues,” noted Grosen.

The 2019 IKEA catalog, he said, “emphasizes spaces filled with different shades of the same color or color family. The result is a lively, eye-popping collection of rooms that, hopefully, inspires you to take some colorful risks in your own space.”

Cooking Up Bold Kitchens What was once a whiter shade of pale is becoming more colorful. The kitchens pinned on Pinterest and seen in

publications such as the IKEA catalog are full of darker shades, distinctive accents, and backsplashes that move beyond subway tile.“HGTV has really popularized the idea of the open concept and, because of this, we have begun seeing

large indoor kitchen areas that open into living rooms and dining rooms,” said Jacob Embry, sales representative for Acme Brick in Houston. “Kitchen islands have become larger and more uniquely shaped than they were in the past.

Fire Features Will Be Hot Indoors or outdoors, fireplaces and fire features are a definite must-have for 2019, according to Housetrends magazine. These features can serve as a cozy nook or focal point for a large room or outside entertainment area.

Here Comes the Sunroom A trend that began last year will continue, according to Freshome magazine. Sunrooms, featuring large windows and great views, are a very popular feature for any home.

Mix and Match The new rule in the types and combinations of interior building materials is simple: There is no rule. For example, combine rough-hewn wood with brick or stone for walls, along with

slate floors and large, wooden beams on the ceiling to make a bold statement.“I have also noticed that builders are adding very tall fireplaces in living rooms,” said Embry. “These fireplaces are dramatic when constructed of brick and reclaimed wood.”

Welcome Home to Your Office “The blurring of live-work boundaries and changing social needs are affecting the kinds of homes buyers want, especially as more and more people work remotely or are selfemployed,” writes the Vancouver Sun.” This creates a need for work spaces in the home, whether it’s a home office space or a live-work unit.”“The loft look continues to be sought after for both inner city and suburban residents,” added Jacob Embry.

Go Organic with Natural Finishes “Brick, stone, reclaimed wood and even bamboo are being incorporated in more and more new homes because these elements give the room a warm and cozy feel,” Embry said. Freshome adds, “Whether it’s finishing the fireplace with smooth river rock or using real wood for a kitchen butcher block, it’s all about bringing the calm and serenity of the outdoors inside.

Living Rooms are Going Unplugged With family time at a premium, technology - in the form of the internet, portable tablets, and interactive gadgets - is being banished from the living room for “time out” in 2019.

Bathroom Mirrors Will Make a Statement The bathrooms of a home continue to evolve, and Housetrends magazine predicts a change in the mirror above the lavatory. The publication notes, “It’s not just a rectangle. It’s the centerpiece of the room.”

Author, Art Young, Independent Content Developer, Dallas, TX Britt Stokes, Director of Marketing Acme Brick, Fort Worth, TX (817) 390-1540 britt@brick.com

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

Page 11

All in the wrist

Industry FOLKS Alan McVicker Regional Sales Manager

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Houston, TX

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arden City, CO was a great place to grow up. It had a small town atmosphere and you got to know most everyone in town.

Growing up, McVicker’s family members were farmers and ranchers in southwest Kansas and southeast Colorado. His father also had an auction company selling mainly AG equipment and real estate in the area. Later he got into auctioning construction equipment as well. So you could say, McVickers has been around the auctioning industry most of his life.

He is the regional sales manager for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in Houston. Ritchie Bros. is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets.

They help thousands of people around the world appraise, sell, inspect, buy, refurbish, ship and finance heavy equipment, trucks and other assets every month. They offer multiple onsite and online selling platforms with a commitment to first-class customer service, and is trusted worldwide because they make buying and selling easy, efficient, fair and transparent.

As regional sales manager for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, McVicker enjoys meeting people. “Having been in the business for over 40 years now, I can honestly say it is meeting so many great people from all over the world.

Every day is different and we also get to work with all kinds of equipment, not just one make or model so it is a

learning process each and every day.”

He credits his father for bringing me into the business and teaching me how to auctioneer at a young age. Dave Ritchie taught him the importance of customer service and allowed him to auctioneer all over the world. Additionally, he credits Roger Rummel for helping him with his transition from being an auctioneer to being a manager of a business unit and managing people.

McVicker is married to Angela, a very kind, big-hearted person who loves spending time with their grandkids. They met through mutual friends and have been married 20 years, which they just celebrated.

They have three grown daughters.

Each of their daughters has two children. Daughter Alexis is 36, Haley is 31 and their youngest daughter, Katie, is 26. Alexis is busy in the assisted living business. She has a daughter and a son. Haley has her masters in elementary education and teaches fourth grade along with caring for her two young sons. Katie is in between jobs just having just had a little boy. She also has a daughter in the first grade.

McVicker enjoys golf, hunting and spending time with the family. He likes to cook. “It makes me stay focused and get my mind off other issues.” Additionally, he just enjoys hanging out with family, friends and co-workers laughing, relax and having fun. -cmw

Love is in the air

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embers of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) felt the love in the air at their annual Valentine’s dinners held on Feb. 2 in Houston and Feb. 11 in Beaumont. –cmw

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Bree Wristers, owner of BREE the Mural Girl, next to her Peter Pan mural

ree Wristers is one of the lucky ones who is making a living doing what she totally loves doing. As BREE the Mural Girl, Wristers takes her artistic skills to promote businesses and enhance people’s lives in their homes.

Wristers is mostly self-taught, although she has had plenty of art camp and other type of training. Fifteen years ago, she took a break from teaching to “become the artist I wanted to be.”

In order to become business savvy, Wristers read up on the subject of running a business and talked to folks who were self-employed.

Wristers took the plunge and started BREE the Mural Girl in 2010 and finally opened her own studio in 2016, moving her supplies out of her home. Wristers names MC Escher and Thomas Kincaid as big influencers on her work, although her style is so varied as to not show any one influence.

Wristers does about 60 percent residential and 40 percent commercial. For big commercial jobs, like doing a logo

and lettering on a side of a building, Wristers will rent a cherry picker lift. She will draw everything out on a small scale so she knows precisely where things will go.

A big benefit of much of her residential work (she does a lot of children’s bedrooms) is Wristers gets to stretch and let her creativity show. She’ll work with clients and show them a variety of styles until one is picked. She can go total shaded painting, as if on a canvas (she works in acrylics), or flat colors as if it were a cartoon.

As the child grows older, Wristers doesn’t mind doing the room over again to reflect the child’s changing tastes. And if the house goes up for sale and the owner has to paint over her work, it “doesn’t bother me at all,” she said.

For the future, Wristers wants to “continue doing what I love to do,” she said. “I take the jobs where the clients are really appreciative” of her work.

BREE the Mural Girl’s work starts in the heart, but it’s all in the wrist.

BREE the Mural Girl is a custom painter in Cypress. -dsz

Industry FOLKS Guadalupe Vasquez Territory Manager

Houston Shell Houston, TX

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L-R: Steve Whitehead, Bronco Electric; Keith Brown, Bronco Electric; Leslie Whitehead and Jaime Brown.

Wayne and Julie McDonald, Fisk Electric Co.

Dean and Tanell Henderson, C.W. Henderson Electric

Linda and Wayne Brinkmeyer, Britain Electric Co.

Ted and Catherine Robertson, Fisk Electric Co.

uadalupe Vasquez can’t help but remember the reaction she received as a young girl visiting a jobsite, and the message it sent.

“In my childhood, my dad was working out in the field in masonry, and you wouldn’t see females; the only reason I was there was to go with him to pick up his paycheck or something like that. It was weird in that I was always the daughter with the dad and not with the mom [on the site]. Even then, it was “What is she doing here?”

From my perspective, [the inclusion of women in construction] has definitely changed for the good of the industry.

It’s more balanced now.”

Vasquez has strived to become a part of that balance. For the past five years, she has worked at Houston Shell as a territory manager. She previously worked in the home mortgage industry, but a layoff motivated her to visit a staffing agency to explore her options.

“I went to an interview at an agency, and I was asked about my experience to try and find a fit,” Vasquez remembers. “The woman looked through her binder of open jobs to find something that matched my experience. When she reached one of the pages, she said that I wouldn’t be interested in the job on there; it was related to construction and building materials, so she told me about other opportunities. It turns out that, when I left, another staffing agency called me and asked me if I would like to interview for the same position that the first

agency thought was not a fit for me. It turned out to be Houston Shell.

“As I got more involved with Houston Shell, I realized that it was definitely something I wanted to do,” Vasquez continues. “Construction to me has always been a strong, tough, get-it-done industry. I think that is a very good description of who I am.”

Vasquez has been fortunate to find mentors everywhere on her journey and hopes to keep growing with Houston Shell’s support. She also hopes to support other women who work – or want to work – in construction.

“I am the first-generation college graduate in my family,” Vasquez says. “I inspire those younger girls who are behind me – my nieces and little cousins – and they perceive me as a very strong woman. One day, I visited my niece and she was wearing a safety vest when I expected to see her playing with dolls. I said, “Wow! What made you pick that little safety vest?” and she said, “I want to be like you, Tía!” I showed her pictures on social media of what I do, and that inspired her to grab a safety vest at the store. So how many more women can we inspire? There are so few women in the industry and I feel like we can make a great impact.”

Houston Shell is a global building materials company. –mjm

Page 12

Houston Construction News • APR 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

Just do it!

Brianna Wright, Executive Director, American Subcontractors Association – Houston Chapter Houston, TX

B

rianna Wright, LEED AP, Executive Director, American Subcontractors Association-Houston Chapter (ASAHC), has been with the organization since 1997.

As the only staff person at ASA-HC, she is responsible for all aspects of running the organization, including working directly for the board of directors, financial administration, membership fulfillment, committee management, education programming, event coordination, all communications inside and outside of the organization, serving as liaison to industry organizations, and managing public relations. With more than 25 years of association management experience, Wright provides ASA-HC with the leadership, experience and knowledge needed for it to continue its path of success.

What is your background in the construction industry?

While I haven’t worked directly for a

company that does construction, I’ve served construction companies and the construction industry for more than 22 years as the executive director of the American Subcontractors Association – Houston Chapter.

Why did you choose a career in the construction industry?

I didn’t choose it. It chose me.

Through a string of fortunate events, I found myself working for ASA-HC in the summer of 1997 and I haven’t looked back since.

What are the benefits of women pursuing a construction career?

For the industry, the benefit is the overwhelming number of women looking

Believe in yourself Becky Rodriguez, Senior Project Manager, Turner Construction Co. President, National Association of Women in Construction, San Antonio, TX

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or Becky Rodriguez, being a mentor to future female construction leaders is her inspiration and driving force.

She is an active member and current president of the San Antonio Chapter of National Association of Women (NAWIC). Getting involved in associations and networking helped her meet other women in the industry and provided her with personal and career growth. “If it doesn’t scare you a little, you’re not challenging yourself.”

What is your background in the construction industry?

I began my entire career with Clark Construction and worked with them for 18 years in Texas, California, and Louisiana. I relocated back to San Antonio and worked for Zachry Construction for five

years in their building division. Currently I am a senior project manager at Turner Construction in San Antonio.

Why did you choose a career in construction?

Construction chose me. I was attend-

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

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

for a place they can thrive. For women, construction is an industry that offers opportunities in a tremendous number of areas and at every skill level. So whatever it is she is looking for, it most likely can be found in the construction industry.

field is starting to no longer be a “novelty” and companies have begun to realize it’s an untapped market of highly competent individuals who are willing to learn and are looking for the opportunity to show what they can do.

Are more opportunities opening up for women in the construction industry?

Absolutely! The industry is finally realizing there is an untapped, highly-motivated, hard-working, reliable group of individuals looking for a place to make a good living, feel accomplished and share their knowledge – and that group is women.

From a woman’s perspective, has the construction industry changed over the years and how?

Without a doubt. When I first started 22 years ago, I was typically the only woman in the room at our association meetings, and when I wasn’t, there were only one or two others. Now, it’s very rare that I’m in a meeting with all men and occasionally I’ve looked around the table at a business meeting and the women out numbered the men by a lot.

Is this due to the overall shortage of construction professionals and workers?

I do believe that is/was part of it. I think in the beginning, it was more like companies were willing to “take a chance” on hiring a woman. Now though, I think the cat is out of the bag that women are extremely successful in the construction industry.

What areas do you see the most increase in jobs for women?

Jobs in the office and in management are where I’ve seen the most increase. However, hiring women for the

ing school for accounting, while working full-time as a temp for a general contractor.

I appreciated that each day brought on new challenges. Three months later, I was hired full-time and quickly decided this is where I wanted to be. I changed my major to construction while working as a field office manager. I later moved into project management as I continued college on a part-time basis. I have never regretted changing my major and I look forward to what each day brings.

What specific challenges have you faced?

Through my construction career, being in a non-traditional industry for women, there were challenges that as a female I faced that males in this industry do not have to face.

How did you overcome those challenges?

Overcoming some of these challenges was not easy. I reached a point in my career where I realized I did not have to be like the guys to be successful and that being a female in this industry has its strengths.

Instead of focusing on the challenges, I shifted my focus to my own strengths and on improving my leadership skills and knowledge on the technical side.

In your experience, are more opportunities opening up for women in the construction industry?

There has been an increase in the number of women in construction from when I started in the industry. There has been an increase in middle management; unfortunately there is not many women in upper management positions. I would love to see those percentages increase.

What advice can you offer women who want to pursue a construction career?

Do it! It’s an exciting industry with opportunities in every aspect of the business of construction. Whether you want to be in an office, work with your hands in the field, or run a crew, there is a place for you in construction.

The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) is a national membership trade association of construction specialty trade contractors, suppliers and service providers. -cmw

What areas in construction do you see the most increase in jobs for women?

Women work in all facets of the construction industry. However, this is only comprised of approximately 9.3 percent of women according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The most increase has been on the project management side, but there needs to be a push to see more growth in field management and in the trades.

In your opinion, which is more important for a construction career - education or experience?

In my personal opinion, experience is more important, with education closely following. Having one without the other can potentially stunt your career growth.

As a female working in a male dominated industry, experience is a must!

What are the rewards of the construction industry?

Completing projects on time, within budget, turning over a project the owner loves, and knowing that you were an integral part of building that project.

What advice can you offer women who want to pursue a construction career?

Believe in yourself and believe that you know what you are talking about.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t stand in the background and always take your seat at the table. Always remember you worked hard to be in the position you are in and that your voice matters.

Turner Construction Company is a fullservice general contractor.

National Association of Women in Construction is a professional networking association for women in the field of construction. -cmw

Happy Easter Sunday, April 21

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

Page 13

CONCRETE INDUSTRY

NEXT TH MON

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

Changing the industry Krystal Atcheson, STS-Construction® Assistant Superintendent, Skanska USA Building Inc., Dallas, TX

Brandi McDowell, Field Administrator/ Assistant Project Engineer,

Skanska USA Building Inc., Dallas, TX

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tcheson grew up in the construction industry and went to her father’s jobsites. She has worked on numerous projects through the years as well as advanced in her career to be an assistant superintendent at Skanska.

With a background in psychology and theater, McDowell uses these skills to accomplish her day-to-day tasks on the jobsite.

Cook grew up around the Wylie community and is now back as an adult constructing a building that will leave a lasting and positive impact on her childhood home.

Why did you choose a career in construction?

Krystal: My dad encouraged me to work in construction. He knew there was a great opportunity there for me to not only find a job, but make a career out of construction because of the abundance of construction projects, my early exposure to jobsites and interest in the industry.

Brandi: For me, joining and working in the construction industry was an unexpected surprise. I was motivated to find full-time employment, instead of continuing to freelance write and direct, so I could adopt my son. I submitted my resume to Skanska and haven’t turned back.

Lucy: I went into college planning for a career in engineering until I realized what engineers do, and I decided that was not the path for me. I was offered an opportunity to go into construction management, which has nearly equal pay for women and endless opportunities for advancement, so I decided to pursue a career in the construction industry instead.

What specific challenges have you faced?

Krystal: My challenges are similar to my young, male counterparts – trying to prove myself and be taken seriously while making a name for myself.

Brandi: My biggest challenge has been overcoming the fact that I have a different educational background than most of my coworkers. My degrees are in psychology and theater, so I’ve had to learn on the job versus what my colleagues have learned in the classroom and through internships.

Lucy: The biggest challenge I’ve faced is communicating with upper level management and stepping into leadership positions.

How did you overcome those challenges?

Krystal: Through perseverance and the hope that I am being a maverick in this industry. My work is helping to pave the way so future generations of women can enter this industry.

Brandi: Good, old-fashioned hard work and an eagerness to learn and succeed.

Lucy: By being my own advocate and developing relationships with coworkers who advocate for me as well.

In your opinion, which is more important for a construction career - education or experience?

Krystal: Experience, 1,000 percent.

While education gets your foot in the door, experience is what will help you succeed long term. Arming yourself with technical knowledge is the best thing, in my opinion, to further anyone’s construction career.

Brandi: While education will help,

Put your hard hat on & go for it Ashlyn Holt, Project Manager’s Assistant Alterman Austin, TX

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rom architectural firm to electrical field, Holt enjoys watching projects blossom while setting small, obtainable goals, mastering them and setting new ones.

What is your background in the construction industry?

I have been in the industry since 2013. I worked for an architectural firm in San Antonio where I was able to build the foundation of my knowledge in the construction industry. From there I switched gears and moved into the electrical contracting world where I’ve been able to apply the “whole picture,” knowledge and hone in on a single trade “whole picture” process.

Why did you choose a career in construction/construction-related industry?

I grew up in the industry. My dad is a project manager now and was in the field when I was little. Getting to go to his job-

sites always fascinated me, so when an opportunity arose for me to get started in the construction world, I took it!

Do you have (or have you had) a mentor? Please explain I have never had a mentor; I have, however, had people along my path that have heavily influenced my work ethic and beliefs along the way. I had the pleasure of working with an architect named Kent Niemann for four years. Kent’s reputation comes from his meticulous attention to detail and focus on delivering quality work. Kent has since retired and I have moved onto Alterman but I still ask myself every day, “What would Kent do?”

His expectations for quality were second to none and I still find myself striving to

Lucy Cook, Project Engineer, ➤ Skanska USA Building Inc., Dallas, TX

nothing will ever top daily experience on the jobsite, learning from seasoned professionals in the field and just gaining allaround exposure to the construction industry. I have become a field administrator, and I aspire to become a project engineer through hard work and experience.

Lucy: Experience. While education makes it easier for you to get your foot in the door and makes you hirable, construction is learning on the job. A bachelor’s degree in construction science is important, but the on-the-job training and knowledge is what sets you apart from everyone else.

What advice can you offer women who want to pursue a construction career?

Krystal: Go do it! I would research and find either a technical college or university and learn a skill or trade. Whether that’s joining a union or taking construction management classes, the opportunities to make a better life for you are out there. You just have to go look for them and then pursue them.

Brandi: Do it and do it your way.

There are so many opportunities beyond the construction jobsite.

Lucy: Pursue your career relentlessly.

There are more than enough jobs in this industry and a high demand for women to fill these roles.

From a woman’s perspective, has the construction industry changed over the years?

Krystal: The construction industry is changing because of the presence of women. It’s no longer just a “boys” club.”

Leaders are slowly realizing that they have to change the way the industry operates if they want to continue to see women join and work in construction. reach that level of excellence.

What are the benefits of women pursuing a construction career?

As a female, pursuing a career in construction can be a daunting decision. Often I am the only female in meetings, and I am most certainly the only person wearing a pink hardhat onsite, but it’s worth it.

The construction industry is booming.

There is unlimited growth, potential and endless learning opportunities.

What do you enjoy most about your career?

I always say that my job is like building the biggest LEGO structure ever. I love watching a project go from an idea composed of a few words on paper, through schematics, design and finally construction. When I walk a project for the final time, it’s the same feeling as putting that final LEGO brick on your structure. It’s a very accomplished feeling.

What specific challenges have you faced?

Oh, where to begin? For starters, working for an electrical contractor without any formal electrical training is a challenge every day! There is not one day that I do not learn something new. There are so many components and terms to learn

Brandi: Construction is actually seeking women to join the different ranks, especially here at Skanska. From field work to leadership roles, more and more females are contributing to the construction industry.

Lucy: There are more women coming into the construction industry. It’s gone from maybe one other woman in the entire office to having three women within Skanska working on just our project site. I definitely foresee more working in this industry in the coming years.

What are your goals for the future in the construction industry?

Krystal: Overall, I would love to see the construction industry look more like 50/50.

Brandi: I aspire to grow and reach the project manager level.

Lucy: I would like to see an increase of women in leadership roles across the industry and to continue promoting equal opportunity and growth. Skanska is very excited to be hosting a “Day of Discovery” at the Collin College Wylie Campus in partnership with Wylie Independent School District. This event will bring high school girls in vocational programs to the site for a tour, lunch and Q&A panel with female leaders in different positions to help expose the students to the various options in the construction industry.

For myself, I eventually want to be either a project manager or pursue opportunities to work on the business development side, which is essentially winning new work and working with potential new or repeat clients.

Skanska USA Building Inc. is a full-service general contractor. -cmw

about the electrical trade. It can seem overwhelming at times, but I love tackling new challenges.

How did you overcome those challenges?

I am very fortunate to work with an incredible group of people. I share an office with three project engineers who are always willing to teach me and guide me through obstacles I face. We also have an awesome group of project managers who go out of their way on a daily basis to make sure I succeed in everything I do as a part of their project team.

What are your goals for the future in the construction industry?

I decide and tackle my goals a little differently. I set small attainable goals for myself. Once I reach or master those, I set my next goals. I feel that this keeps my future constantly evolving into something bigger and greater. I never want to reach the point where I must ask myself, “What now?” My goal is to always be asking, “What’s next?”

In your opinion, which is more important for a construction career - education or experience?

Experience is the golden egg in our continued on Page 14

Page 14

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

continued from page 13 industry. Experience is what is going to give you the education you need to succeed in this industry. I don’t think this should be a deterrent for young professionals in our industry, but an avenue to learn from experienced colleagues. The advice and direction I have received from my colleagues who have been in the industry has been a defining factor in my career path thus far.

What advice can you offer women who want to pursue a construction career?

Put your hard hat on and go for it!

Construction is a different world than most. It’s collaborative and engaging, but fast-paced and stressful. Your job will be different every day and the solutions you come up with today can sometimes be your hurdles for tomorrow. Don’t let the fact that it’s a male-dominated field keep you from pursuing a career in the industry. The opportunities are in abundance and the business is booming!

Alterman is a full-service electrical contractor. -cmw

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News AGC Associated General Contractors

Apr. 8: AGC/AIA Annual Golf Tournament benefitting Ace Mentor Houston, Champions Golf Club, 13722 Champions Dr. Apr. 9: Advocacy Breakfast, The Houstonian, 111 N. Post Oak Ln. For more info, call 713-843-3750 CSI Construction Specifications Institute

Apr. 23: Chapter Meeting, United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr., 5:30pm.

For more info, call Alex Bernard at 713407-7866 or go to www.csihouston.org FPA Foundation Performance Assn.

Apr. 10: Meeting, Alena Mikhaylova, Hess Club, 5430 Westheimer, 4pm. For more info, call Vicky Bonds at 713-699-4000 Apr. 10: Meeting, Brian Baillie PE, Hess Club, 5430 Westheimer, 5pm. For more info, call Vicky Bonds at 713-699-4000 HAGA Houston Area Glass Assn.

Apr. 11: HAGA Annual Golf Tournament, Houston National Golf Course, 16500 Houston National Blvd., 11am. For more info, call Dorothy Gurka at 281-849-8293 HARCA Houston Area Roofing Contractors Assn.

2pm. For more info, contact Tori Barrett at 713-869-1976 or email mbrdir@iectxgc.org MCA Mechanical Contractors Association

Apr. 12: 14th Annual Shotgun Invitational, Greater Houston Gun Club, 6700 McHard Rd. Apr. 29: MCA Texas Southwest Pipe Trades Labor/Management Meeting, Location TBD, Fort Worth, TX. For more info, call 281-440-4380 NAWIC National Assn. of Women in Construction

Apr. 5-6: NAWIC Forum, San Antonio, TX. Apr. 9: Membership Member, Maggiano’s, 2019 Post Oak Dr., 5:30pm. For more info, contact Kathleen Cernosek at 281890-1880.

NECA National Electrical Contractors Assn.

Apr. 4: C3 Career Fair Apr. 5: NECA Sporting Clays Shoot, Lumberton, TX Apr. 15: NECA Affiliate Member Golf Tournament, Houston, TX Apr. 25-27: IBEW-NECA 7th District Apprentice Contest. For more info, call SETX NECA at 713-977-2522 PHCC

Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Gulf Coast Chapter

Apr. 10: Golf Tournament, Longwood Golf Club, 13300 Longwood Trace, Cypress, TX, 11am-5pm. For more info, email Sarah Burns at sarah.burns@rooftex.com

Apr. 10: Monthly Meeting, Churrasco’s Memorial City, 947 Gessner Rd., #B-290, 2nd Flr., Free parking Gateway Garage 2nd & 3rd Flrs. For more info, call 281-702-2955

HCA Houston Contractors Assn.

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Apr. 5: Clay Shoot, Westside Sporting Grounds, 10120 Pattison Rd., Katy, TX, 8am.

Apr. 25: Luncheon, 11am. For more info, contact Emelie Englehart at 713-3499434 or emelie@houstoncontractors.org IEC Independent Electrical Contractors

Mar. 20: General Membership Meeting and Safety Rodeo, IEC Auditorium, 10am-

TSPE Apr. 9: Meeting, HESS Club, 11:30am-1-m.

For more info, call 281-589-7257 or visit www.tspehouston.org WCA Women Contractors Assn.

Apr. 4: WCA April Luncheon, Location TBD, 11:30am-1pm.

For more info, contact Dana Parker at 713-807-9977 or email director@womencontractors.org or dana.parker@inservio3.com

What is your dream/fantasy job?

What I’m doing; making people smile. I really like what I do.

Bree Wristers, BREE the Mural Girl I would be an off-road truck racer. That’s always been my dream.

Francis Debelo, Jr., Pro Metal Products Since the time I was 8 or 9 years old, I always thought I would end up playing football in the NFL. I played running back and linebacker.

Rob Neace, Rob Rigs Welding Services I’m doing it, actually. I own a company and I run it the way I want to run it. I enjoy the heck out of the relationships I have

with my employees, as well as the adventure. Everyday is an adventure. I then get the satisfaction knowing that I’ve created something that not only supports me but 10 or 12 employees.

Steve Williams, Houston Water Heaters PGA tour, easy. Traveling around and playing golf on weekends - that would be my dream job.

John Warren, Cokinos | Young I always wanted to be a linebacker in football. You have to smart and you have to be quick.

Martin Sullivent, The Deck & Patio Company

continued from Page 1 — Rob Rigs Welding Service of Houston as a chemical engineering major. Since being a pipeline welder had paid so well, Neace only had to bartend on the side for spending cash.

When the pipeline business improved, Neace re-entered the oil field welding business in early 2018, picking up Rob Rigs Welding where it had left off.

This time, however, business was very much booming and Neace left his studies 28 hours short of earning his degree.

“The work came in so fast and there was so much of it,” he said, that continuing with his degree didn’t make sense.

Still, Neace added that “there [are] not a lot of welders out there who went to school for chemical engineering.”

“The pipeline industry is great for the economy,” he said. Neace has one full-time welder under him to go out into the field, and one semi-retired welder who stays back at the shop, doing in-house work.

“The economy’s amazing right now,” he said. Neace’s short-term goal is to get some more mobile welding rigs out to where the action is. His long-term goal would be to beef up his in-shop business and ship out the products. Neace said that, while mobile welding will never go

out of style, it’s the shop welding that produces products faster, cheaper and much cleaner than out in the field.

“The mobile part,” he said, “will always be a part of the company, but I would like to get into bigger stuff where I actually build high-pressure piping [in the shop].”

The only negative aspect of this is the welder must be retested and recertified every three years, and the cost of the books he must buy in order to prepare for the test, as well as the test itself, are very expensive.

At one point when he was younger and still searching, Neace’s mother suggested that he explore underwater welding. He gave it a go but found out that welding on the land paid as well as doing it underwater. Plus, he just didn’t like it.

From there, he stumbled upon dry land welding, and, except for the years he was enrolled at the U of H, has never looked back.

Rob has his righteous rigs ready to ramble down the road and repair, rehabilitate and reform whatever is requested.

Rob Rigs Welding Service is a mobile welding contractor in Alvin. -dsz

continued from Page 1 — Jim Farris Cabinets others.

“I said, ‘I can do this on my own! No fear!’” he says with a laugh.

He quit college after three years and founded Jim Farris Cabinets in 1976. He says his naiveté then still amazes him.

“It was a long time before I was making as much money as I was making working for the other guy,” Farris says ruefully. “But I set my own agenda and early on I did anything we could get. My wife Chris worked with me in the shop and kept the books. About my third year into it, I was busy enough to hire a helper; for years, I ran with just a helper. I started off in 700sf, moved to 1,250sf, then 2,000, then 4,000 and now 8,000sf.”

Today, Farris staffs two full-time employees, John and Jose (Chris still helps with the books). He has also become more discerning about the level of work he produces. He now opts to deliver higher-end cabinetry, trim and finish work in domestic and exotic woods, veneers and laminates.

“It became a conscious decision to pursue craftsmanship and quality in both construction and design how something looks as well as how it functions,” Farris says.

“A lot of my clients have become close friends and we have a very good relationship with our clients,” he says. “In

any business, the repeat and referral business is your best advertising. That’s how we have made it all of these years; we get the best referrals.”

Farris stepped up his creative game nearly three years ago when he purchased a CNC router.

“Despite all of the stuff I had seen made with routers, I didn’t know how we were going to incorporate it into our dayto-day work,” Farris admits. “It was pretty incredible how quick we were making things on the router and using it on every single project on some level. It doesn’t replace every other machine we have in the shop, but it augments and compliments the machinery that we had and are skilled at using. This has become a new avenue for us.”

It just goes to show that, 43 years after Farris started his business, his work is still about life and moving forward.

“Some guys, when they get older, they’re just stuck,” Farris says. “I’m always looking for something new and interesting and I thrive on a challenge on a project. That’s part of what makes it so satisfying. To design something, build it, see it in its end use and also to get feedback from clients is very rewarding.”

Jim Farris Cabinets is a custom cabinet shop in Pasadena, TX. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Turner Construction Company action with floor-level seating opposite the team benches for students. More than 700 premium seats were developed to give fans luxury seating options. Renovations also included a new audio system, sports lighting and video boards as well as new concession stands and expanded restrooms.

Resinous epoxy flooring, exposed ceilings and steel framing were the interior’s primary construction materials. Exterior materials comprised of aluminum metal panels, brick, anodized aluminum storefront and pre-manufactured wood siding.

Because of the project’s accelerated schedules, Turner incorporated procedures to assist team communication and to mitigate schedule risk. Turner utilized ‘Pull-Plans’ in order to utilize subcontractor and design team expertise. The team focused on portions or sectors of the project and met with trades involved as well as designers/consultants to schedule the project from the milestone finish backwards to the present. Despite Hurricane Harvey, as well as increased scope, the project still managed to open one month ahead of schedule.

Turner also focused on schedule communication with the University of Houston. The Turner team reviewed the project schedule updates monthly with the UHFPC team in detail, reviewing

monthly accomplishments, updates, critical paths and schedule floats. The threeweek look-ahead was reviewed weekly for updates in the day-to-day activities.

The original Hofheinz Arena was completed over December of 1969 and was reopened on the 49th anniversary.

The building layout and many of the previous building materials were unique.

The project consisted of a complete remodel in order to improve the Cougar fan experience, while maintaining the legacy of the historic building and UH Basketball. There were numerous parties and end-users involved who were dedicated to completing a successful project while maintaining a challenging construction schedule to open on time.

AECOM, PGAL, Turner and the University of Houston made an agreement early in the project committing to work together as one team for a successful project. Knowing challenges would arise, Turner Project Executive Tung Nguyen, Project Manager Ross Cromer and Project Superintendents Carl Mouser and Tyler Bergin maintained open, transparent communication in order to create a collaborative environment across the board.

Turner Construction Company is a fullservice general contractor with 46 offices nationwide including North and Central Texas and Houston. -cmw

Houston Construction News • APR 2019

Page 15

Celebrating women in construction

Bi-folding success

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t was a busy week for women in the construction industry as they celebrated WIC (Women in Construction) Week Mar. 3-9.

Members of the National Association of Women in Construction kick-off their WIC campaign with activities throughout the week. –cmw

The women of Morgan Group ➤

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NAWIC members and women from Morgan Group at Pearl Marketplace Midtown project during WIC week.

Final day was a crawfish boil event held and planned by Gralan Enterprises. L-R: NAWIC President Pareena Trochesset, Grace Alvarado, Sarah Evans, Lisa Williams and Tracy Shoemaker.

H

rom farrowing crates for sows, snow blowers, farm trailers, tile plow and something called the Schweiss Chicken Plucker, Schweiss Doors has come a very long way.

Almost 40 years after developing his first bi-fold door that measured 12 x 12 ft., Mike Schweiss and Schweiss Doors continue to make strides.Through the years, they have manufactured doors of all shapes and sizes. They literally listened to their customers, and presto, they made it happen.

Schweiss employees look forward to taking on the challenge of satisfying their customers and fulfilling their requests.

There are no cookie-cutter doors at Schweiss Doors. The office personnel have stepped up to handle the designer door requests. They enjoy working on these one-of-a-kind customer doors, spending many hours designing and engineering each door.

The Hydraulic lifting porch hangar door drew national attention by television networks. It gave new meaning to

Construction’s cuties

Sadie and her friend Emma building their castle!

the term “hangar home.”

“Your door is only as good as its hinges,” says Promotions Director Patrick Schmidt.

More recently, when the Schweiss team was asked about greasable hinges, the team quickly went to work. They didn’t just wrap their heads around heavy-duty bi-fold hinges; they went a step further and engineered a robust, user-friendly hinge with a removable hinge pin. “We didn’t have any greasable hinges on our doors and customers kept asking about it so we put greasable bearings on our bi-fold doors. It went over so well that we put them on our hydraulic doors. Now they can just stand under their doorframe and take a grease gun hit the various spots. It doesn’t take any time nor do you have to be up on a ladder. You no longer have to remove the top rubber seal,” adds Schmidt.

The 65-employee company, with its one location, just keeps growing and selling doors, which are what they like doing best.

Schweiss Doors is an over-header door manufacturer. -cmw

Welding’s lit!

udson Building Systems Ltd. shared these photos in recognition of Down Syndrome Day which was Mar. 21. medical terminology for Down syndrome is Trisomy 21 or three pairings of the twenty first chromosome... 3-21, which is why it is celebrated Mar. 21. -cmw

L-R: Keith Blahuta, Hudson Building Systems project manager and 5-year-old Sadie Blahuta posing for Construction Week at school.

Schweiss hydraulic door, Cape Canaveral hangar

M

CJ and Benesha Jones, of CJ Welding & Fabrication

aybe his response is different when a firefighter poses the question to him, but when asked what he loves about welding, Chris Jones doesn’t hesitate.

“We’re lighting stuff on fire! I mean, come on!” Chris, President of CJ Welding & Fabrication Inc., says enthusiastically.

The fire in his belly for the welding trade ignited when he worked at a billboard company. He welded for nearly six years before studying welding fundamentals at Lincoln College of Technology. Chris then worked a few years in the oil and gas field before he and his wife Benesha started CJ Welding & Fabrication Inc. in their garage in 2015.

“I’m just the type of person who is more of an overachiever,” Chris says of launching a welding business. “I’m very ambitious and I like to push. If I’m going to push and work 100 hours a week, I’d rather put it in my pocket versus someone else.”

After the birth of the Jones’ first child, Benesha sensibly helped out in the office rather than work elsewhere and

pay for daycare. Chris is grateful to Benesha, as well as his welder and welder/ helper; because of them, he has time to bid jobs. He’s also thankful that he has a yard full of equipment, a CNC plasmacutting machine and an on-site welding room, all of which are used for a variety of projects. He says he enjoys welding anything that “brings in a check” but admits he prefers the cleanliness of aluminum and stainless projects.

“We do a lot of different things,” Chris says. “Right now, we’re building stainless oil reservoirs for John Deere. In November, we did benches for a bar in Sugarland that came out amazing. We specialize in high-end welding, so we can weld almost anything. ” It seems the fire has spread. Chris’ youngest child, his 16-month old daughter, recently visited his shop (when no welding was taking place, of course), As she “helped” Chris turn wrenches, thought he saw a spark in her eye.

Subcontractor CJ Welding & Fabrication Inc. is located in Spring. –mjm

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Houston Construction News • APR 2019