Dallas/ Fort Worth Construction News June 2019

Covering the Industry’s News

Texas Style San Antonio H Austin Dallas/Fort Worth H Houston

P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290

PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT #1451

Change Service Requested

Dallas/Fort Worth

CONSTRUCTION

™

The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 17 H Number 6 H JUNE 2019

L

Led by the hand

Paint to the third power

Harrison Construction owner, Lonnie Harrison

Amin Shahim, owner of Patch Plus Paint

onnie Harrison can trace his construction career all the way back to a fateful volleyball game that shattered his pinky, breaking it in four places.

“Yeah, it’s funny how things evolve in life,” Harrison, Manager of Harrison Construction in Fort Worth, says. “Out of high school, I went to work for a hardware store/warehouse in a small town in Illinois. I worked there for seven years and then I broke my pinky and had to have pins in it. My boss would not let me work in the warehouse, so I was sent home. I had a friend who had a construction company that framed houses. I started going to work with him and the next thing you know, I’m finding great enjoyment framing houses, learning and having a skill.”

F

or over 20 years, Homeland Construction has been providing quality projects with integrity and an attention to detail.

Branden Cook, owner of Homeland Construction, began his construction career while remodeling a bar and grill that he co-operated. His attention to detail gained Cook attention he never dreamed of. He has become a well-known player in the ground up and remodels construction. His work spans from decorative concrete to decks, barn-dominiums to custom homes to restaurants.

Austin City Taco Company owner Cameron Powell knew just who to get to build his new restaurant, calling Cook and Homeland Construction to build and bring to life his vision.

Austin City Taco Company is a first of its kind in downtown Fort Worth. Before Cook and Project Superintendent Jacob Densmore could begin work on the con-

Two years later, Harrison was working full-time building houses for a general contractor and then for a carpenter’s union. In 2000, he married and moved to Texas. Harrison worked for Beck-Ford Construction in Houston and then served as a project manager for Cooper General Contractors in Dallas, building for national restaurant accounts.

Harrison’s career was gaining serious steam, but the blow of the recession in 2008 caused him to consider his options.

He took a step back and helped his wife operate day care centers before construction came calling again.

“Amazingly enough, I had customers come back to me that I had built for who wanted me to build their restaurants,” he continued on Page 16

A

min Shahim owns Patch Plus Paint, which could be shortened to P3. Actually, we could call it P4, as Shahim is from Persia. He came to the Metroplex in 2003 with only limited English capabilities. But by 2013, he was able to open his very own business.

“I started working my way through retail to this,” he said. Shahim doesn’t have a construction background, but his working journey took him through small stores to eventually Home Depot and a painting store. It was at these locations, and via helping customers, that Shahim learned about paints and textures and colors. Also, he met enough painting contractors and tapped into their expertise to where he felt confident to go this direction.

“To be honest, it was a little bit tough

to get situated and get going,” Shahim said, of the early days of P3. Fortunately, he had a good friend who helped mentor him in the ways of American business.

“Tax paperwork is the biggest thing,” he added. “I’m still struggling with it.” (Welcome to the club.) Still, “Once you get going, it’s not too bad. It’s better than working retail and working for someone else.”

All in all, Shahim looks back at his time in retail as a great learning time for his work now. “Working in retail was a good background to get me going,” he said.

Shahim does mostly residential work but has done some small and light commercial jobs, like offices. He has several crews of subject matter experts to do the work and Shahim credits them for his succontinued on Page 16

Family friendly, yet trendy struction of the new 3,000sf Austin City Taco Company, the existing structure on the project’s site had to be demolished.

Once the demolition was complete, the task of bringing to life a new edifice began complete with custom interior work, landscaping and paving.

The building’s exterior was comprised of steel, wood beam, brick and stucco. The custom interior featured concrete, custom millwork, tile and brick accented by the aroma of fresh made tacos and in-house-made sauces, illuminating a cozy feel with a contemporary vibe.

The weather was Homeland’s biggest foe. Despite major rain delays, the project was completed in a timely fashion. The Homeland team also ran into some challenges with the geotechnical data. But that obstacle was short-lived as the experienced team was able to think on their feet to find a solution.

Austin City Taco Company, 517 University Dr., Fort Worth, TX. Photo courtesy of Brittany Jenson.

continued on Page 16

Page 2

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Acoustical aspiration

H

A plumber’s education

RBDG design principal, Richard Schrag, working on a current studio project

e achieved success and continues his success because of career goal aspiration. Richard Schrag has been interested in architectural acoustics as an applied science before college. Forty years ago, that particular degree route was not common. Schrag had to leave his farming community in South Dakota to follow his dream. It was a narrow path, but it was what he wanted. Schrag graduated from Iowa State University. He obtained a Bachelor of science in electrical engineering, as well as a Masters of science in engineering mechanics.

After college, Schrag was a consultant for an acoustical consulting firm in the early 1980s. This particular position was in Dallas, TX, so he needed to make another big move. It was definitely an interesting transition, moving from a small rural community to a busy, large city in Dallas. As Schrag recalls, “Each of those transactions was something like a 50-fold increase in population size, so I sometimes look back and wonder how I got here.”

Within the Dallas acoustical consulting firm, Schrag had met Russ Berger. It was destined for them to meet because it impacted their future careers for the better.

Working at the firm together for nearly a decade, they were and still are a great team.

They eventually left to start their own design and consulting firm.

Russ Berger serves as president and Schrag as design principal at Russ Berger Design Group (RBDG). The firm’s expertise is in architecture and acoustics. Many jobs are for television, radio, broadcasting and recording studios; for example, National Public Radio and Univision. In addition to commercial services, RBDG has also provided and installed a variety of residential media rooms for home owners. Many other technical services are provided for learning environments, theatres and corporate production spaces.

Having completed projects from all over the country, Schrag has experienced many unique, challenging designs and in-

stallations. He has been fortunate to have been involved with major names such as, NFL Films and Sweetwater. The company has designed over 80 public radio stations from all over the country. They are based in Texas, but most work is done out of the state. The company stays productive attending to 30-40 requests at a given time.

Schrag has met and worked with various recording artists to provide them their perfect studio. In Arlington, TX, a new studio was recently designed for gospel artist, Kirk Franklin. Schrag has seen local auto dealership ads featuring this artist, “It is fun to be watching TV and see your work, particularly when it involves a best-in-class artist like Kirk.”

Currently RBDG is working on a recording studio in downtown Dallas. Schrag is excited to be able to do something great for the kids at Booker T Washington High School, “It is great to see how such talented students will be able to use that space to create the kind of recording projects and audition materials that might launch major careers.”

A fun and creative yearly tradition is during Christmas; it started from the very beginning. A local artist came in and created a customized holiday card, which included the staff at RBDG. It is different each year, and everyone looks forward to it from clients, colleagues and friends. Each card has been posted on the company’s main webpage under the resources tab.

The busy atmosphere, “changing hats minute-to-minute and keeping all the spinning plates in the air,” is what Schrag enjoys most. Throughout the day, he is juggling multiple clients and projects during different phases, but Schrag would not have it any other way. Schrag utilizes his acoustical talents in his spare time as well. He is an amateur pianist and transcribes jazz piano solos from admired artists.

Russ Berger Design Group (RBDG) is an acoustical and architectural design firm in Dallas, TX. -tnp

“So if I twist this thing hard enough…”

S

teve Harris learned about the business world from his father and his business associates. He learned about plumbing from a friend, going back to 1981.

“A friend had a plumbing business and I needed a job,” Harris explained of how it all started.

Formerly, Harris didn’t go far in school, quitting in the eighth grade to go to work. However, he worked hard and learned plumbing well enough to get his master’s license in 1991, ten years after beginning in the trade. In order to get his master’s, Harris had to get his GED first.

Harris had a good reason for doing all this: he started Harris Plumbing in 1991, after working for other plumbing outfits for the past 10 years. It was time to work for himself.

“I enjoy the independence of it,” he said.

When he started, Harris advertised in the Yellow Pages and handed out business cards. But being in a small community made things easier to get going. While he does both commercial and residential work, resi-

dential service is his “bread and butter.”

A major benefit to owning his own business is, as Harris puts it, “I can’t fire myself and I can’t quit myself.” Can’t argue with that.

Since the early days, communication is one thing Harris mentioned as being different. The speed in which he gets a call and then responds is so much faster nowadays. Harris said the materials used in plumbing are better today as well.

Harris doesn’t like to go - and doesn’t need to go - more than a 50-mile radius, as he picks up new customers virtually every week. His repeat customers have been with him for years.

Harris will slow down some day and leave Harris Plumbing for his sons to run, but he won’t be going fishing anytime soon.

“I’ll never quit working,” he said. “As long as I can work, I’ll work.”

He will pick and chose his plumbing jobs. Since 1981, Harris has learned the trade of plumbing as well as anyone.

Harris Plumbing is in Terrell. -dsz

50 never looked better

ATSSA’s new programs director Bryan Watson presents SAWS inventors Justin Kropp, Shane D. Howell and Michael Merrell with the 1st place innovation award for SAWS with the help of ATTSA chairman Juan Arvisu

D

allas Lite & Barricade Inc. had a milestone birthday this year, and has never looked better. Proclaimed by the company as “the longest standing 100% family-owned barricade house in Texas,” Dallas Lite & Barricade Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It also is on the move – literally – and boasts a new, innovative product.

Dallas Lite & Barricade Inc., opened in 1969, is owned by Shane D. Howell and Billy Don Howell. They oversee nearly 150 employees, have over 100 trucks on the road daily and offer traffic control safety services to Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding counties. Being in business for 50 years has given the company plenty of time to grow. That’s why the company is packing up moving boxes.

“We just moved into a new facility in Haltom City for our Fort Worth operation,” says operations manager Justin Kropp.

“We’re super excited about that. We are also currently in the process of building a new operations building and headquarters building right down the street from our

current office in Dallas. We really outgrew our current facility many years ago so all of the estimators, the accounting team and the executive team will be in their own headquarters office where we will meet customers for big projects and things like that as well as new customers. Then, the operations building will be where all of the daily rentals and sales go in and out of.”

Shane, along with Kropp and technical manager Mike Merrell are especially excited to offer a new product in its safety arsenal: Solar Advanced Warning Systems (SAWS), a new system they invented and patented to improve roadway safety across the country. Using a microwave detector on a radar trailer, drivers are alerted when a vehicle exits a work zone, advising drivers to yield to the merging work vehicle. Recently, SAWS was named 1st place winner of the 2019 ATSSA Innovation Awards.

With so many exciting things going on for the company, turning 50 isn’t slowing Dallas Lite & Barricade Inc. one bit.

Dallas Lite & Barricade in Dallas and Fort Worth offers traffic control solutions. – mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 3

You say it’s your birthday?

W hat’s Trending in Decorative Concrete New Trend in Flooring Metallic Epoxy Coatings

M

Two of Star Foundation Repair’s guys really getting into their work on a home.

M

irella Garza has no difficulty remembering what year she and her business partner Johnny Rubio started their business Star Foundation Repair.

“I know it was 20 years ago, because it coincides with my daughter’s age,” Garza remembers. “She was born in 1999, and that’s when we opened the company.”

Both Garza’s daughter and Star Foundation Repair have grown up together. Today, the company offers foundation repair, general contracting, French drain installation, retaining walls and more for commercial and residential clients.

There was a time, however, when the clientele was much more specific. In the beginning, Star Foundation Repair only took on projects for retired police officers and firefighters. After it was decided to advertise to different types of customers, business boomed. Garza and Rubio now employ a team of six to deliver quality work to the D/FW area. Work volume

continues to be strong for Star Foundation Repair but Garza and Rubio keep the company’s growth in check.

“The business has really grown,” Garza acknowledges. “We started off very small and we want to keep it small.

We don’t want to be a company that overcharges because they have a lot of overhead. We want to be in the middle. I don’t want to get in over my head because I like having a family company.”

Speaking of family, a special someone has a birthday approaching!

With Garza’s daughter soon celebrating her 20th year, that means Star Foundation Repair will be blowing out 20 candles as well. Does this mean Garza might be hosting a double birthday party?

“I haven’t even thought about it! In the past, we’ve only thought of my daughter’s birthday. Maybe I should tell her that this year, instead of celebrating her birthday, we’re celebrating the company’s!” Garza jokes with a laugh.

Foundation subcontractor Star Foundation Repair is located in DeSoto. –mjm

From microchips to metal

A

Mark Thorne-Thomsen (third from left) with his team at Metal-Craft Doors

fter Mark Thorne-Thomsen took an early retirement from Texas Instruments, it didn’t take him long to get back to work as the third owner of Metal-Craft Doors.

“It was a big jump to go from semiconductor manufacturing to sliding doors,” he said. Thorne-Thomsen looked at several businesses post-Texas Instruments, but liked what Metal-Craft Doors does. “It’s a niche business that we have,” he said.

Metal-Craft Doors was founded in 1946 by Jim Malone, who kept the company to around 2003. The second owner only had it until 2006 when ThorneThomsen saw it as up for sale. The struggles to close on it have been worthwhile, because “My whole time I’ve owned the company,” he said, “we’ve never been this busy.”

Metal-Craft Doors does about a 5050 split between businesses and schools to residential projects. When it’s added all up, however, “90 percent of what we do is custom,” Thorne-Thomsen said.

Metal-Craft Doors will build, for instance, trophy case doors that line a hallway in a school, or a teller/receptionist window

for a fast-food restaurant or bank.

“We’ll build anything within a 16th of an inch,” he said. From its facility in Dallas, Metal-Craft has shipped to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, even to Maine.

“We usually work through a glass shop,” he said, “and they will work with the builder.”

“For a small business,” Thorne-Thomsen added, “we have a lot of inventory. As a small business owner, he said he does “a little bit of everything.” He admits that he knows enough about AutoCAD now to be competent.

Thorne-Thomsen’s wife Gloria is the office manager, as well as assisting with Hispanic customers and contractors.

“She keeps tabs on things,” he said.

Thorne-Thomsen isn’t sure how long he’ll be in his second career. While sometimes stressful, the retired mechanical engineer from Texas Instruments is still having fun.

“It’s been great,” he said. The golf course will have to wait.

Metal-Craft Doors builds metal and glass sliding doors, based in Dallas. -dsz

etallic Coatings may look exotic, but they are installed similarly to a typical epoxy coating or overlay system.

Their eye-catching appeal comes from the chemical makeup of 100% solids epoxy and metallic pigments. The application method can be quite different depending on the artistic nature of the contractor applying the coating. The marbleized look that a metallic coating achieves is a complement to any residential room or commercial building.

What is a metallic epoxy coating?

Metallic Epoxy Coatings are 100% solids, two-component epoxy specially formulated with a metallic pigment. A typical coating will consist of a primer coat, metallic 100% solids basecoat with pigment that can be applied in a vast array of methods, and a clear coat that is either glossy or satin. The finished look is a smooth glass-like metallic finish that has a unique and subtle sparkle. No two floors will ever look the same. The threedimensional appearance provides illusions of craters, ripples and swirling rivers of metallic-looking lava. Depending on the level of artistic creativity and capability of your contractor, metallic floors can have glitter added to them or even glowin-the-dark pigment for that extra flare.

The benefits?

What are the benefits of having this metallic coating applied to your floor?

They have lasting strength from several layers of epoxy coatings and typically a urethane topcoat. They have beautiful color movement that is almost impossible to duplicate. If a high-gloss topcoat is chosen, the floors are highly reflective and will enhance the lighting of your home or business. Some clients want the subtle beauty and select a simple mattefinish. These floors are typically seamless and offer effortless maintenance for easy cleaning.

How are these coatings applied?

First, begin by preparing your surface substrate for application of a primer coat: As when applying any coating, you should make sure the concrete is clean, dry, and free of grease, paint, oil, dust, curing agents, or any foreign material that will prevent proper adhesion. To aid in bonding, the concrete should also be roughened, or profiled, until it feels like 50- to 80-grit sandpaper, using methods such as grinding, shot blasting, scarifying, or water blasting. Also make sure that concrete is level, since any high or low spots will distort the final look.

Step 1: Select your vapor barrier base coat color. A primer base should always be used not only to improve coating adhesion but also to provide a solid background color for the iridescent metallic pigments.

Step 2: Select one or more of the metallic color options to be mixed with a 100% solid epoxy coating system. Most metallic coatings are two-part 100%-solids epoxies, and simply require mixing Part A, Part B, and the metallic pigment.

Often the pigments are sold separately so you can experiment with different color effects. Because epoxy coatings are flowable and somewhat self-leveling, you can spread them on the floor surface easily with a trowel, roller, or squeegee in a random back and forth motion. Every contractor will develop his or her own unique application method.

Step 3: Select your topcoat (sealer) 2 options; polyurethane or polyaspartic topcoat, for a one-of-a-kind, long lasting

solution. Then once you pick out what top coat you want to apply to the floor roll out each section and after each section make sure you back roll it so it won’t contain any roller lines.

What’s it perfect for?

Metallic coatings are generally not recommended for outdoor surfaces because they may discolor when exposed to direct sunlight. However, these types of coatings are certainly used inside residential and commercial buildings that want to achieve a high-end unique contemporary floor. Since metallic coatings have a dazzling glossy look finish or subtle matte finish these coatings are often used as focal points in high-end retail stores, lobby areas, hair salons, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and offices.

Submitted by Brian Bradford, Owner Tanner Felsing, Lead Artisan Metallic Epoxy Coatings Artistic Impressions 591 Meridan Drive New Braunfels, Tx 78132 830-609-7217 nbconcrete.com

Page 4

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Steve Buyers

Founder/Co-Owner

Shelba Buyers Owner/President Buyers Barricades Richland Hills, TX

A

fter experiencing poor customer service from a barricade company, Steve Buyers started Buyers Barricades with a 1965 Chevy pickup, a 16ft. trailer and a dog. Today, his company has over 400 trucks and a few dogs as well, but one of the best additions to the company has been his wife, Shelba Buyers. Together, they make sure their customers receive the kind of customer service Steve deserved all those years ago.

How were you introduced to this industry?

Steve: I was the coordinator for a Walker Construction, a very large general contractor and we had barricades leased from a local company out by DFW Airport.

The inspector called me and told me that the barricades weren’t up to snuff and need to be serviced. I called the company we had them leased from and they said they would put me on the docket and get to me. About three days went by and

that same inspector told me that I still had to get that stuff straightened up. I called a second time and they assured me I was on the roll and they would get to me as quick as they could. Another four days roll by, and the inspector is pretty upset. He called me and told me I had 24 hours to fix it or he would shut the job down. I called the company, and I was a little upset, and the woman who answered the phone said, “I don’t have to put up with this,” and she hung up on me. I grabbed the Yellow Pages and I looked up “barricades” and under it there was only one company, and that was the one that I had rented the barricades from.

So I decided it was about time they needed competition. I registered the name and within 24 hours, I was in the barricade business.

Back then, I had a 1965 Chevy pickup, a 16ft. trailer and a dog. I still have the truck and the trailer, but I have a new dog!

Shelba: We got together in 2001 and I started working there out in the yard and that’s when we built barricades.

I worked my way from doing that to actually setting jobs up and starting to see customers. Then, I had to go into the office and start learning our books.

What was it like those first few years of running the business?

Steve: It was tough, and everything was built out of wood so that was a challenge; now, everything is made out of plastic. The first few years of the company, I had a nail gun but I didn’t have a compressor, so I hand-drived every nail. Just to build a single Type 1 it took 114 nails. I was driving a lot of nails.

When I finally got enough money to where I could buy an air compressor, I was tickled to death because I could finally use my nail gun. Then I realized I didn’t have enough money to buy the nails!

How did the business evolve?

Buyers Barricades’ Steve Buyers started his business with a 1965 Chevy pickup and a dog.

Steve: We started out in the yard of James Brown who owns Brown Excavators in south Fort Worth. He had two little 20ft. by 8ft. shacks. One was my office and one was my warehouse, and it’s what I worked out of my first three to four years. I finally got enough money to where I could lease a warehouse and worked out of it for 12 years. Finally, I got enough money to where I could buy a building. Once we outgrew that, we built the facility that we’re in now in Richland Hills. We now have well over 200 employees.

Shelba: And we’ll be growing some more.

Steve: I hope before my demise that our company is in every state in the Union.

How did your services evolve?

Shelba: Our son, Blake, thought he was going to be a History teacher and he already had the job, but he wanted to come and work with us and he was out there working in the yard for a while, so Steve said he needed to come in [to the office side]. Blake put us in a different mode, especially with the drawings.

Steve: That’s one of the things Blake brought to the table was his computer skills. My computer skills are very limited; I’m a caveman when it comes to computers. Blake really helped us get into the 21st century with his ability on the computer and his knowledge of books.

What have you learned over the years?

Steve: If you get up early and work hard, you get real lucky.

Shelba: What I’ve learned is that I go out on the job sites more, so I’m not here with all of the people and we take pictures and send it to our customers now. I’m more involved with that now rather than being in the office.

You mentioned that you still have the original truck, Steve. Does it still run?

Steve: Oh yeah. We take it out to see customers and it has been in several parades and car shows. I delivered the first barricades in that truck, and now I have around 400 trucks.

Shelba, it is well-known that you are an animal lover. What animals are currently in your menagerie?

Shelba: We have a border collie, Foxy, who is my baby. We have Brandy, who is a rescue dog I picked up that had Parvo and no food and water; she’s awesome and should have been a service dog. She can open any door; she’s a genie! We also have a new dog …

Steve: She’s three-quarters Timber Wolf and part Husky.

Shelba: We used to have rabbits, and a skunk, who had his own room. She passed away from old age. I used to bring it to the office and let it run around here.

Customers would come in and say, “Is that a skunk?” We were driving home a month ago after a big rain, and there was a ravine and a baby skunk coming up. I told Steve to stop the car so I could pick it up. I thought he would stop because there was a red light but he just went on!

He said three skunks in a lifetime was enough!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Steve: We like to travel. We have a lot of friends who like to travel, too. We have plans next month to South Africa for a couple of weeks. Then we have plans to go down to the Dominican Republic for a week. Next year, we have a trip scheduled for an Alaskan cruise. We like to go to Vegas once a year; we love the shows out there, and then we spend at least one night downtown Vegas just walking through the streets.

Share about your family.

Steve: Through Blake, we have two grandkids. It’s great to be a grandparent!

We can spoil them rotten and send them back home.

Shelba: When I have my grandbaby – because at her house, it’s study, study, study – when she gets to my house, we have things like tortilla fights or get in ketchup and mayonnaise and mustard fights. Kids can get into that [study] mode but it’s okay to play and get dirty.

Steve: They also love to come over and get into the pool.

Who has mentored you during this journey?

Steve: I would say my dad, who I lost in 2002. From him, I got my work ethic.

He was a very staunch person and a man of his word. If he told you something, you could put it in stone. Dad always taught me that if you can’t trust a man’s word, you can’t trust him for anything.

Shelba: I’ve looked up to Steve. I’ve learned almost everything from him.

Steve: From Shelba, I’ve learned patience!

Do you think you’ll retire from this?

Shelba: Oh, no, we’re not going to retire!

Buyers Barricades, which offers traffic control and equipment, has locations in Richland Hills, Spring and San Antonio. – mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 5

Architectural golf

BBQ cooking & wire-off

T

he American Institute of Architects (AIA) Fort Worth Chapter along with the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) hosted their annual joint Acme Brick Golf Tournament. The two-flight event was held at the breathtaking Waterchase Golf Club on May 2. Golfers and guests enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow architects, contractors and clients alike. -cmw 2nd Place Flight winners: 1st Flight: RWLA 2nd Flight: Bennett Benner Partners

T

he Fort Worth Chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) hosted their barbeque cook-off and wireoff competition May 4. The fun-filled event was held at United Rentals in Fort Worth. The winner of the wire-off competition will go on to compete at the national level. -cmw Wire Off Winners: 2nd Place: Matthew Sloan, Cassady Electric, Inc. 3rd Place: Bradford Langley, The Brandt Companies, LLC 4th Place: Christian Loza, JMEG, LLC 5th Place: David DeRider, JMD & Associates, LP BBQ Winners: 1st Place Beans: Eco-Staff Inc.

2nd Place Beans: Cable Electric, Inc. 3rd Place Beans: Trade Star Electrical Solutions 1st Place Chef’s Choice or Other Meat: Acme Electric Company 2nd Place Chef’s Choice or Other Meat: Trade Star Electrical Solutions 3rd Place Chef’s Choice or Other Meat (Tie): Hicks Lightning Protection and Basecom Inc. 1st Place Ribs: Hicks Lightning Protection 2nd Place Ribs: Bonded Lightning Protection Systems LTD 3rd Place Ribs: Walker Engineering, Inc. 1st Place Brisket: Hicks Lightning Protection 2nd Place Brisket: Leviton Manufacturing 3rd Place Brisket: Walker Engineering Inc.

1st Place 1st Flight: Yates Construction

Barbeque Cook-off Grand Champion – Hicks Ligthning Protecton. L-R: Mitchell Clearman, Luke Mohon, Matt Barnett and Octavio (O.T.) Torres

1st Place 2nd Flight: Ridgemont Construction

WE DON’T MAKE THE NEWS, WE MAKE IT BETTER Call Construction News for Advertising 210-308-5800

Father’s Day Sunday June 16

Dallas H Fort Worth

1st Place Wire-off Competition: Michael Sauer, Basecom, Inc.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol Wiatrek Production Manager . . . . Helen Greenwood Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terri Adams Account Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Dana Calonge Editors

AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net DFWeditor@ConstructionNews.net HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net DFW Area Counties Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties.

Add’l Counties for Digital Subscriptions: only Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker & Rockwall.

Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.ConstructionNews.net

Visit our Website to sign up for a free monthly Digital Subscription www.ConstructionNews.net The Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News (ISSN 1547-7657) is published monthly by Construction News Ltd., dba Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction related companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space-available basis.

Construction News, Ltd., dba Dallas ★ Fort Worth Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error.

Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time. ©2019 Construction News, Ltd.

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS GO TO www.ConstructionNews.net Select “Subscribe” and choose city(s).

Page 6

W

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Crawfish tradition begins

Reasons to celebrate

ith the crawfish season in full swing, Big City Access hosted their 1st Annual Crawfish Boil since opening their Dallas branch in Oct. 2017. The event was held Apr. 25 at the company’s Irving locaton, 1336 S. Irving Heights.

Big City Access put on a great event showing their appreciation to friends, family and customers. Cole Degges & Band, featuring Big City Access owner Barbara Robert’s husband, Steve Roberts on guitar, provided live music as everyone enjoyed crawfish prepared by Captain Mark’s Bastrop Marina. –cmw

B Big City Access welcomes guests at their 1st Annual Crawfish Boil.

L-R: James Anderson and T.J. Rogers

artlett Cocke General Contractors is not only celebrating 60 years of business this year, but is also celebrating the promotion of James Anderson to company President and T.J. Rogers to Executive Vice President.

Anderson began his career at Bartlett Cocke as an intern in 1994 and full time after graduating from Texas A&M University with a Construction Science degree in 1996. Anderson went on to serve as Senior Project Manager on the company’s largest and most complex projects and was promoted to Vice President of Operations before his promotion to President this year.

Rogers, a Texas Tech grad who holds a degree in Construction Engineering Technology, worked in other regions of Texas for large GCs prior to starting at Bartlett Cocke 15 years ago as a Senior Estimator. In 2008, he was promoted to Vice President of Estimating and managed the estimating efforts of the company’s offices. In his new role as Executive Vice President, he currently oversees, among other things, the Estimating Department, the Safety De-partment and Risk Management.

“The succession planning for us is really a plan that is deeply embedded in the culture and the history of Bartlett Cocke General Contractors,” Anderson explains. “There is a clear vision and longterm plan that we’ve put in place. We’ve focused our efforts on developing talent and that continues to move the company forward and allows for smooth transitions in leadership. Our company is an employee-owned organization with leadership that encourages growth and stability.”

“Changes similar to this have occurred in the past – changing leadership roles and responsibilities are planned so that our company’s values and culture remain consistent,” Rogers adds. “We are always planning for future leaders of the company and these changes are strategically aligned with them. As leaders begin to plan for their retirement, our succession planning allows us to continue bringing the service that our clients demand.”

Anderson and Rogers say their pro-

motions will not create change within the company, as they intend to maintain their focus on delivering quality work and continuing the company philosophies that previous leaders set in motion before them.

“I think a project that starts on time with a well-communicated plan will finish on time with a higher level of quality.

We’re going to continue to focus on the objectives of a sprint start and a strong finish on each project. This is something that has always been important to our organization. As our industry changes and we adapt, we will remain focused on the fundamentals of project planning, quality control and customer service,” Anderson says.

“I continue leading the company to be the most recognized general contractor throughout the state. We are focusing our efforts on bringing regional consistency throughout all of our offices, winning great projects that bring lasting value to the communities that we build in, and building strong relationships with the clients, design teams and specialty contractors that we work with across the state,” Rogers says.

As Anderson and Rogers gain more traction into their new roles, they express gratitude to the company’s 600 employees and their part in making the company successful for the past 60 years.

“It’s still fundamentally building upon what our previous leadership has built over many years and that is to stay focused on our clients and to understand that one of our business strengths is being employee-owned,” Anderson says.

“As such, this company is not about people sitting in a corner office, who is related to whom, family relations or tenure.

It’s about each employee having a personal stake in the success of the organization and staying focused on our job, and that’s to serve the customers’ needs, making fair and just decisions and to construct quality facilities that bring lasting value to our communities.”

Bartlett Cocke General Contractors is located in Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Baytown. –mjm

Golfing with the ladies

M

other Nature gave the Fort Worth Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) a break just in time for their 35th Annual Tournament.

The event was held on Apr. 29 at the beautiful Diamonds Oaks Country Club. –cmw 1st Place: Hackett Bonds 2nd Place: Ridgemont Commercial/

Southwest Construction Services 3rd Place: CBS Mechanical

NAWIC volunteers

Team DMI Mechanical having fun on the course.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 7

Determining the value of your construction company Paul Seibrasse, Principal RSM US LLP San Antonio, TX

T

he right business valuation can assist in facilitating a variety of business decisions for the construction industry.

Construction company owners may need a business valuation for a variety of reasons, a possible transaction being the most common.

Others include gifting of stock, starting or continuing an employee stock ownership plan, funding phantom stock plans, issuing options to management and transferring other ownership interests. While each of these situations is unique, a proper business valuation is an important part of each.

Determining the appropriate value of a construction business is not an exact science and can be difficult. Often, company owners feel a connection to the business beyond its monetary returns, having grown it from nothing or operating it over a long period. Accordingly, owners commonly benefit from the services of an independent appraiser since their disconnection from the business enhances objectivity and eliminates both actual and perceived conflicts of interest.

Approaches to valuation

There are different standards of value that can be assigned to a company: Liquidation value: the price at which the assets of the business would sell at if an orderly liquidation or fire sale were to occur Fair market value: the price that a business would transact at given a willing buyer and willing seller Fair value: the price at which the business would transact at between hypothetical market participants

Investment value: the value assigned by a particular investor, which is not necessarily what others in the market would pay for the company, but what a single investor perceives the value to be The requirements of the valuation will dictate the standard of value. For example, tax reporting is typically performed under a fair market value standard whereas financial reporting is often performed on a fair value basis.

Traditionally, there are three primary approaches that appraisers consider when valuing a business:

1. Income-based An income-based valuation relies upon a company’s expected cash flows in assessing value. This method is often applicable for contractors with a small fixed asset base, but a strong reputation or history of success. Income-based approaches include the discounted cash flow method and the capitalization of earnings method. The discounted cash flow method uses forecasted income statements, working capital and fixed assets for some discrete future period. The appraiser then refines the forecast so that future cash flows more reasonably represent what a prospective buyer may realize. As the next step, the appraiser reduces the future cash flow amounts to a present value amount using a rate of return commensurate with the perceived riskiness of the company’s future cash flows. The higher the perceived risk, the lower the company’s present value. As an alternate method, the capitalization of earnings relies on a singular normalized annual cash flow estimate, based on the assumption the company grows at a stable rate over time.

Clearly, the capitalization of earnings method is the simpler of the two methods because it only requires one cash flow estimate. However, it may not always be applicable because a company’s expected cash flows may substantially change.

2. Market-based

A market-based valuation infers company value using data from known transactions of either its private or publicly traded peers. For example, price to earning indices are a common metric by which appraisers estimate a company’s value after comparing its performance to that of its peers. The appraiser often makes additional adjustments to the metrics to account for differences between the subject company’s operations and the peer group.

3. Asset-based

An asset-based approach relies on an assessment of the necessary costs to recreate, reassemble, redevelop, and/or redeploy all of the company’s assets using date-specific prices. A company’s estimated equity value is the total assessed asset costs minus its liabilities. Appraisers typically use this method to value holding companies or companies whose assets are worth more separately than combined (i.e., the company consistently struggles to yield positive cash flows).

Additional considerations regarding the construction industry

There is a unique and complex set of considerations required in appraising a construction company. Reasonably reliable company cash flow forecasts are central to any meaningful income-based valuation results. Developing reliable forecasts is difficult, but not impossible, given the wide array of industry factors (such as lending rates, consumer and producer confidence, labor rates, material prices) that can change seemingly overnight.

Further, a construction company’s value beyond its tangible asset value—its machinery, equipment and real estate—is directly dependent on its ability to create persistent and meaningful cash flows.

This ability is often tied directly to a construction company’s reputation for service, finish quality, on-time delivery and worker-friendly policies. This could mean focusing all of the company’s energies on a particular strategy or niche market that may result in above average profit margins. Clearly, there are a variety of ways a construction company can maximize its marketplace reputation, and regardless of the method(s) chosen, sound management is the key to making that happen.

Impact of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law in December 2017, brought about primary changes that affect valuations: Reduced corporate tax rates, limitations on the deductibility of interest expense, limitations on net operating losses and accelerated depreciation.

The implications vary for each of the different valuation approaches.

Due to the short- and medium-term application of the act, there are significant changes to the forecasted cash flows and expected rates of return. The TCJA also affects the metrics used in the market approach, as lower tax rates have bolstered market values of many companies.

Ultimately, it is important to look at the guidelines closely before making a conclusive decision regarding what metric to use in the valuation.

The TCJA has several components beyond a lower corporate tax rate, such as net operating losses deduction and repatriation liabilities, that will affect a company’s final value. The impact of the TCJA will vary by industry and company; therefore, business owners’ best response is to have a conversation with their tax advisor to closely assess how the TCJA can help or hurt their company’s valuation.

The construction industry is a competitive and challenging market. While the valuation of a company is ultimately the financial value a buyer and seller can agree upon, there is much within the control of the business owner that can be done to positively—or negatively—affect the company’s value.

Safety in work zones Stan Gregory, Safety & Risk Consultant INSURICA San Antonio, TX

T

he Texas Department of Transportation statistics indicate that there were 184 crashes and 202 fatalities on Texas roads in work zones during 2017. This was an increase of 9% from the previous year and leads all other states. One reason is that Texas has as many more road miles than any other state. Many of the deaths were attributed to occupants were not wearing seat belts.

All work zones on major Texas roads fall under TxDOT and their MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices). In this manual in defines the planning, speed limits, traffic control devices and location of such for the various types of work to be done depending on the length of project and time of day aimed at reducing the potential cause of accidents.

These Traffic Control Plans are designed and engineered to help both TxDOT and the contractors who are working on their projects to select and implement a well-designed plan to manage and reduce injury to both the workers and the general motoring public. The plans do include human behavior studies on speed, visual perception and amount of time the project will take in general.

What they can’t always anticipate is what the motoring, walking or cycling public will actually do while in this “work zone”.

Our contractors in the Texas must comply with these rules and are generally monitored and reviewed by TxDOT on these projects. However, drivers are still having crashes with most occurring from distracted driving, speeding or just not focused on the job of driving.

To reduce injuries to workers in the Work Zone and indecisions on the part of drivers, “flaggers” must be trained and certified. Accident information gathered from crashes have indicated that flaggers were not clear as to their intent in some cases and these individuals are the first to assist motorist in negotiating a required

lane change. Additionally, many work zones are also not active at night, thus the signage, cones/barrels and barriers and attenuator vehicles that help the public from accessing the areas under construction. To reduce claims against you in the event of a crash, the contractor should take pictures/videos of the sight as they left it in case of a crash while no one was on site, at the end of each work day. This will help the claims process when a claim is filed due to your work on this road. Besides the human behaviors there are good rules for everyone to remember; when you see an orange sign, look out for road work up ahead; slow down and be prepared to stop; observe others around you as not all see what you may see.

National Work Zone Awareness is great way to support and get awareness out to the public and is generally the first week of April each year. Buckle up Texas!

About Stan Gregory Stan brings more than three decades of experience to his current role as Safety and Risk Consultant on the Risk Management Services team at INSURICA. He provides risk management solutions for customers in all industries, with a special emphasis on behavioral safety solutions.

Stan’s primary focus is working with large employers to improve their risk profiles and implement custom-tailored safety and risk management plans. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and has been a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) for 25 years.

Page 8

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Safe tree care

Material breaches of contract: What they are and why they matter

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

West W. Winter, Attorney The Winter Law Firm, PLLC San Antonio, TX

T

he area of construction law is complex, wide ranging and encompasses many different areas of the law (such as torts, contract law, property law, and common law). One construction law concept about which every contractor should have some awareness is the concept of material breach of contract and how material breaches may impact respective duties, obligations, and remedies in a contractual relationship.

What is a Material Breach A material breach of contract is the non-performance of a contractual duty that is so significant that it discharges the non-breaching party from its duties under the contract. Whether a breach is material is a question of fact. The Restatement of Contracts lists five circumstances significant in determining whether a failure to perform is material: (1) the extent to which the injured party will be deprived of the benefit which he reasonably expected; (2) the extent to which the injured party can be adequately compensated for the part of that benefit of which he will be deprived; (3) the extent to which the party failing to perform or to offer to perform will suffer forfeiture;

(4) the likelihood that the party failing to perform or to offer to perform will cure his failure, taking account of the circumstances including any reasonable assurances;

(5) the extent to which the behavior of the party failing to perform or to offer to perform comports with standards of good faith and fair dealing.

Although dependent upon the facts involved, some common examples of material breaches of contract include significant delays, failure to pay for work properly performed, and wrongful termination.

Material Breach By a Contracting Party Excuses Further Performance by Other Party

It is well established that when one party to a contract commits a material breach of that contract, the other party is discharged or excused from further performance. In many construction contract disputes, one party will terminate the contract or refuse to pay due to alleged breaches by the other party. In these situations involving competing breach of contract claims, juries can and do commonly find that both sides failed to comply with the contract. In the face of competing material breach of contract claims, it should be determined which party committed the first material breach, which such first material breach acts to discharge the other party from further performance under the contract.

In the Texas Supreme Court opinion Mustang Pipeline Company, Inc. v. Driver Pipeline Company, Inc., Mustang, a pipeline owner, sued Driver, the pipeline builder, for breach of the construction contract due to delays in construction, and the builder asserted counterclaims for wrongful termination. Both parties asserted that the other’s material breach as an affirmative defense. The Texas Supreme Court reversed the lower court rulings and held that, since time was “of the essence” and a material element of the contract under the facts involved, the builder’s delays constituted a material breach of the contract. The Court stated: “At the point at which Mustang terminated the contract, there was virtually no chance that Driver would be able

to cure its breach and complete the construction on time.” Because of Driver’s material breach, Mustang was thereafter discharged from its duties under the contract, and the findings on Driver’s wrongful termination counterclaim should have been disregarded.

Election to Continue After A Material Breach

However, when one party materially breaches a contract, generally the nonbreaching party must elect to either terminate the contract and cease performance (as Mustang did in the above referenced court case) or treat it as continuing and thereafter continue its own performance. If the non-breaching party treats the contract as continuing and demands performance from the other party, then the non-breaching party must fully perform as well, because the contract continues in force for the benefit of both parties. Stated differently, a party who elects to treat a contract as continuing, after a material breach, deprives itself of any excuse for ceasing performance on its own part.

By way of example and as set out in the recent holding in C&C Road Construction, Inc. v. Saab Site Contractors, L.P., C&C was confronted with an alleged material breach by Saab, and it had to decide whether to continue with Saab or terminate and replace Saab. C&C contended that the contract had a “time is of the essence” clause and that any delay by Saab was a material breach as a matter of law.

But in this case, when C&C was aware of Saab’s alleged delay, C&C elected to require Saab to complete the contract rather than terminate. The evidence showed that Saab tried to walk off the job for nonpayment, but C&C prevailed on it to return to the job. The court stated that C&C might have used any nonperformance issues by Saab as a basis to offset what it owed, but it could not declare its obligations to Saab extinguished because of a pre-existing material breach.

Get Help

You are encouraged to consult with your construction attorney in the event any breach of contract arises or is alleged. Legal counsel is also strongly encouraged when making business decisions which are impacted by these concepts.

B

efore beginning any tree care operation, employers need to:

Assess the work site for fall and falling object hazards. Assess the sloped ground where ladders or equipment will be used to prevent falls from equipment overturns and ladder slippage; nearby overhead objects or structures; and weather-related hazards.

Have a qualified arborist survey the worksite and identify the types of trees involved and possible hazards related to tree structure. The qualified arborist would identify fall hazards and falling object hazards due to tree condition.

Determine if rigging is necessary and, if so, that workers can use it safely.

Determine if workers will need to climb or use aerial lifts Identify and provide without cost properly fitting personal protective equipment to protect workers from fall and overhead falling object hazards, and ensure that the workers use the equipment and are trained in its proper use.

Only use climbing equipment approved by the manufacturer for tree care work, including climbing lines, safety lines, personal fall protection equipment, and inspect all equipment for safe operation before starting work; remove damaged, defective, or worn equipment from service.

Ensure that all workers at a tree care operation are trained in hazard recognition for falls from elevation and falling object hazards, and the use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, to protect against injury from overhead falling objects.

If workers cannot remain at least 10 feet from electric lines to perform tree care operations, contact the utility com-

pany to de-energize and ground the lines.

Take the following steps to protect workers from falling object hazards: (1) Establish and mark drop zones with equipment, such as cones, where there is a hazard of objects falling; (2) ensure that all workers receive training on procedures for entering the drop zone; (3) ensure that ground workers maintain a distance away from the tree-felling operations that is at least two times the height of the tree; and (4) when using a rope to fell a tree, workers must be at a distance of at least one-and-a-half times the height of the tree being felled.

Establish a visual or audible communication system between overhead workers and workers on the ground before starting rigging operations for piecing out the tree.

Provide traffic and pedestrian traffic control around the jobsite prior to the start of the tree care operation.

Have emergency procedures in place prior to the start of the tree care operation. Determine if the worksite location has cellular telephone coverage and verify that every worker knows the address of the worksite in case they need to summon emergency services to the site. Establish a retreat path for ground workers so they can escape from falling trees. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

Drywall golfing

T

he Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Association (DACA) held their 3rd Annual DACA Austin Golf Classic on May 2. The event was held at the esteemed Falconhead Golf Club where members and guests enjoyed a fabulous day of golfing and friendship. Proceeds from raffle tickets sold during the tournament went to The Refuge, an organization that helps and houses victims of sex trafficking trade. -cmw

4MC Enterprises

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.

Clyde Clardy, DACA’s Treasurer presenting Monica Hinkle of The Refuge with check from the raffle proceeds.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 9

you’re in the right area also. Port Aransas and the surrounding areas offer some of the best offshore fishing in the Gulf. Billfish, tarpon, snapper and tuna are just a few of the many species you can catch not far off the coast. Depending on weather and sea conditions you can access these waters in your bay boat if an offshore boat is not in your budget. I’ve been 40 plus miles offshore in my bay rig on a nice summer day. Possibilities are endless fishing in Texas!

My summer months are filling fast so don’t hesitate in booking your fishing trips. Here are some open dates available in July: (4,8,12,22,28,29) To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@ gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Texas best fishing

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

B

y the time all of you are reading this article, we will be in our summer patterns. It’s been a slower than usual start this season with some rocky weather and stubborn cool fronts that seemed to keep coming in later than I can remember. These conditions have really made patterning fish pretty difficult and kept most guides puzzled catching fish one day and not the next. I’m looking forward to some warmer and more consistent weather for the next few months.

I’m sure by August I’ll change my tune and be wishing for cooler days.

Summertime offers a variety of fishing possibilities around the coastal bend.

For the most part and perhaps the most common is the inshore or bay fishing in our local bays and estuaries. The entire coast from the Rio Grande river to the Louisiana state line is protected by a barrier island which protects our bay from the Gulf of Mexico. We have one of the best fisheries in the world in our backyard loaded with plenty of opportunities to catch a wide diversity of fish. Most

Nicole Plata holds her flounder she caught with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Flounder have been showing up lately! Nicole was fishing on a team building outing with Crazy Horse Construction

Jess Gates had no problem catching her limit of speckled trout last week with Steve Schultz Outdoors.

common are speckled trout, redfish, flounder and black drum. These fish can be caught year-round in our bays using live or natural bait or artificial lures. Hiring a guide is probably the most logical means of catching fish if you are new to the area or don’t on a boat. Even if you are a boat owner, using a guide will help you navigate a specific area you are not familiar with, and you will learn techniques to help you when on your own.

Many anglers use kayaks or wade off of

shorelines accessible by vehicle. There are also guides that use kayaks if that’s your preference. Another area and one that is almost exclusively just allowed in Texas is surf fishing. Texas, to my knowledge, is one of the only states left that allows driving on the beach. There are hundreds of miles of pristine beaches that offer fishing for the same species mentioned above and a wide variety of larger class fish.

If blue water is your preference,

Page 10

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 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

Mmmm, Catfish!

By Max Milam

I have started to see a trend over the last decade. More and more of my clients do not want to eat the catfish they catch while targeting stripers. This is just mind blowing to me because, as I was growing up in Texas, catfish was a staple food for family get-togethers, fundraisers, and especially catfish Friday, but now more people are looking down upon catfish and seeing it as a second-class fillet.

What many people do not realize is that most catfish are not bottom feeders.

Blue catfish and especially flathead catfish are predatory catfish and will mostly eat others fish. Even when they are younger, they have similar diets to crappie and bluegill, and we know how tasty those are. Channel catfish are one of the more prevalent and easy to catch types of catfish in our state, and they are an omnivorous fish that feeds on mussels, crustaceans, plants, and other fish.

Now that we settled some of the misconceptions about catfish, let’s talk about why they are worth catching. Catfish are

one of the most reliable types of fish to target. This is because catfish are eating machines with a sense of smell that could put a bloodhound to shame. The “whiskers” they are known for are called barbels, and they are covered in taste buds and special olfactory sensors that allow them to find food in dark and muddy waters. This means they can easily be chummed into the area that you want to fish with fresh-cut chum, soured grains, or even range cubes. Then follow up with a bait that can easily be found. My preference is fresh-cut gizzard shad or a good punch bait because they release a lot of scent into the water to entice the bite.

The bottom line is that catfish are healthy, delicious fish that can be caught in almost any waterbody in the state.

They have gotten a bad reputation because of the variety of foul-smelling baits made to catch fishermen and not necessarily fish. Yes, they look different than their scaly counterparts, but they are some of the best table fare in our waters and can easily be caught by the coolerfull with a good guide or just a little leg work to chum out a honey hole. So go ahead and give catfishing a try this weekend, and maybe even take a kid fishing with you.

Catfish is a very versatile fish in the kitchen. Most people think that it can only be fried, but it is excellent smoked, grilled, baked, blackened, and even made as ceviche. The trick to making it top of the line table fare is how it is cleaned. Just like striper and redfish, if you do not trim the bloodline, you’re not getting the best-tasting fillet. The bloodline is not as bright as in the above mentioned fish, nor is it as strongly flavored, but take it out and you will be amazed just how tasty catfish can be.

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!

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

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

E

Page 11

Fishing TEXO

njoying beautiful weather, 105 teams representing both the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) and TEXO fished on Lake Fork for the 2019 ASA/ TEXO Foundation Bass Tournament. The event was held at the East Texas lake Apr. 26-27. –cmw Top Winning Teams: 1st Place: Team #8, BakerTriangle - Jared and Jason Smith, Total Weight: 9.63 lbs.

2nd Place: Team #20, Brandt - Daniel Brock and Shawn Kelsey, Total Weight: 9.06 lbs.

3rd Place: Team #14, BakerTriangle - Chris Newton and Mitch Keys, Total Weight: 8.74 lbs.

Big Bass Pot: 1st Place: Polk Mechanical - Terry Rhoades and Randal Harris, Total Weight: 2.26 lbs.

2nd Place: Prism Electric - Clinton Fiddes and Steve Fields, Total Weight: 2.17 lbs.

3rd Place: Austin Commercial - Jeff Baugus and Bob Gross, Total Weight: 2.15 lbs.

Combo Pot: Winners: Team #8, BakerTriangle - Jared and Jason Smith & Team #78, Rogers‑O’Brien - Clayton Arnold & Don Hampton

T

Tom Jones golf

he Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Fort Worth Chapter hosted their annual Tom Jones Memorial Golf Tournament on Apr. 11 at the Texas Star. 214 members and guests participated with two tournaments, morning and afternoon. Proceeds from the event will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation and the IEC Foundation. -cmw Morning Tournament 1st Place Winners: 1st Flight: JD Via, Manuel Gonzales, Randy Magers and Bob Comeau

2nd Flight: James Neyman, Phil Bonds, Morgan Good and Val Tidlock 3rd Flight: Spencer McDonald, Monty Worley, Bordy Hackler and Gerald McDonald Afternoon Tournament 1st Place Winners: 1st Flight: Todd Bockenfeld, Kevin Williams, Rob Novonty and Donnie Griffin 2nd Flight: Bowen Welsh, Josh Campbell, Derek Newman and Benjamin Dodgen 3rd Flight: Johnny Walker, Randy Evenson, Steve Hague and Steve Yuhass

Jeff Wolfa, Humphrey and Associates

ASA Traveling Team Trophy - Brandt

Wes Shahan, Fox Electric Ltd. and Melissa Lesch, PCL Contract Bonding Agency

TEXO Traveling Team Trophy – Baker Triangle

Page 12

I

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Not sitting on the fence

Apartment-alizing his life

Blake Lepper (2nd from left), owner of Custom Fence & Pergola, with some of his team

Norman Construction Inc. owner, Mike Basler

n 2011, the large commercial/residential fence and patio company employing Blake Lepper broke some bad news to him and his colleagues: the business was folding. Lepper, for his part, absorbed the news, and then acted fast.

“I had a meeting with all of my installers out in the parking lot and went that day, got a DBA and then applied for an LLC,” Lepper says. “I basically haven’t looked back since.”

Lepper was confident that he could make a go of his new company, Custom Fence & Pergola LLC, because of his construction industry upbringing.

“My family has been in the construction business forever; my dad had a commercial and residential painting and construction company and my mom worked for a custom homebuilder for several years,” Lepper says. “In college, I welded and then I was hired on with that large commercial/residential fence and patio company in 2006.”

Custom Fence & Pergola LLC offers pergolas, arbors, patio covers, fences, screen enclosures, patios and carports and concrete pouring. Both the company’s services and service area population have grown, and Lepper has changed with the times.

“When I first started, Midlothian wasn’t as booming as it is now, so we were travelling all over, driving 45,000 to 50,000 miles a year giving bids all over the place,” he says. “The last three years, we’ve focused on South 20. I have a guy who handles everything up north.”

Lepper doesn’t regret his quick decision to start the business one bit.

“I thoroughly enjoy what I do. I get to meet new people every day and I’m at several new locations a day,” he says.

“After the job is done, it’s just a really good sense of gratification.”

Lepper still wastes no time. At age 35, he has plans to retire at 40, and brings son, 8, and daughter, 10, to work, hoping that, one day, one of them will want to take over the business.

Subcontractor Custom Fence & Pergola is in Midlothian. –mjm

E

xcept for four years of service in the Marines Corps, Mike Basler has spent his adult life either building or rehabbing residences. After graduating from Oklahoma State with a construction management degree, Mike built homes for four years for Plantation Homes. He then went on to work as a superintendent for an apartment ownership group, grew his apartment rehabbing skills and began working as a subcontractor.

Mike developed his skillset so much that he decided to establish Norman Construction Inc. in 1997.

“First, it was just me, a couple of guys and a truck, with us doing the work ourselves,” Mike remembers. “Then it got bigger and I had 20 guys. I had these guys who worked with me so long that I just turned them into subcontractors and that was able to free me up to sub bigger work. In 2005, I just went straight to a subcontract basis. Now, I have 20 project managers in my main office in Grapevine and in Houston.”

The company specializes in multi-

family rehabilitation, renovation and maintenance, as well as capital improvements, and fire remediation services. In its more than 20 years of operation, Norman Construction Inc. has served Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, Missouri and Louisiana.

Mike says helping others begin their own careers has been satisfying.

“I enjoy working with my guys and teaching them,” he says. “I enjoy hiring young guys, bringing them up and watching them grow.”

There is one young person in particular that Mike is excited to help.

“My son, Michael Basler, just graduated from college and he’s working at a management company. I think after he gets some experience, I’m bringing him in here and letting him take over this company,” Mike says. “But, I probably won’t retire for another 10 years. I enjoy what I do!”

Multi-family rehabilitation, renovation and maintenance subcontractor Norman Construction is in Grapevine and Houston.

–mjm

TSM for DFW

The rest of the guys at Custom Fence & Pergola

W

Alejandra Martin (center) with some of her team members at Alside

hen Alejandra Martin experienced Hurricane Katrina when she lived in New Orleans, she saw first-hand how neighbors took care of each other during the rebuilding. This was important, as “There was mold of every color” in her house, she said.

Taking care of folks is what Martin is all about. She is the Territory Sales Manager (TSM, for short) for Alside Exterior Building Products, the company that invented aluminum siding in 1947.

“I cover all of DFW,” she said. Martin moved to the Metroplex from the Big Easy (yes, she is a member of Who Dat? Nation) a year ago to look for a better job opportunity. She looked into several companies but settled on Alside, an important reason being its emphasis on customer service.

“In order to have good service,” Martin said, “you have to have good communication within a team environment.” She said at Alside, “Everybody matters. Everybody plays an important role” in taking care of the customer.

Martin works with general and sub-

contractors who do siding, windows and exteriors for single family, multi-family and light commercial structures, such as doctor and dentist offices. A trend in her area is turning former residential homes into small businesses.

“I wanted to work somewhere where service is a number one priority,” Martin said. “We are an industry that sometimes lacks it.”

Martin often travels to Alside’s corporate headquarters in Akron, OH, for training. She gets around the Metroplex a lot as well, establishing and maintaining good customer relationships.

“I try to take care of my customers and service them the best that I can,” she said. Martin handles both remodeling and new construction work.

Martin likes the Dallas area. She had to spend time here while evacuated from New Orleans. She loves working for Alside.

The TSM in DFW will take care of all her customers, even if they are Cowboys fans.

Alside Exterior Building Products is based in Akron, OH, with a regional office in Mansfield. -dsz

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 13

THIS MONTH 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

Longest economic expansion Shawn Murray, President Murray Plumbing San Antonio, TX

M

urray Plumbing was established in 2005. Murray’s family service in the plumbing industry spans over 100 years. Understanding the requirements of the trade and their customers are sewn into the fabric of who they are.

“My late grandfather James M. Murray and father James R. Murray worked their whole life in this industry. Their persistence and strong work ethic grew this company and provided a sustainable foundation to build on.”

Murray moved up in the business/ industry and recently took over the company in 2017 while acquiring his BBA. With the dedication and hard work of Murray and the employees of Murray Plumbing, they now do about 1,000 homes a year.

How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms?

San Antonio’s construction industry is flourishing in both commercial and residential. Murray Plumbing specializes in new residential track and custom homes.

Have you experienced an increase/ slowdown?

The company has experienced strong/ healthy growth over the past year. This is credited to growth with existing builders and acquiring additional customers.

What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown?

According to census data, Texas is experiencing a population boom. San Antonio is also one of the fastest growing cities in the country. San Antonio’s home market is still affordable in comparison to other large cities in Texas. I believe this contributes to high demand for entry level homes.

Residential land development is strong and busy. The residential industry as a whole is working hard to keep up with the demand.

Commercial Observation: You can see an increased number of construction

How has this increase/slowdown affected your company and how you conduct business?

The increase has pushed us to become more efficient and produce the desired output. My team works diligently day in and day out to provide the best service possible to all our builders. We are always striving to improve in all areas of the business. We do this by creating new procedures, utilizing technology and investing more in our labor. Through continuous improvement, we are able to effectively accommodate our builders’ needs.

What are the “hot button” issues in your industry?

I believe the hot button issues right now are labor and quality control. The combination of this being the longest expansion period our economy has seen and the large age gap between apprentices and licensed plumbers. It is imperative to continuously stay on top of the workforce and keeping quality standards high. We strive to control growth off quality. You cannot cut corners just to satisfy high demand. Reputation is everything.

Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area?

publishing the industry’s news

Heather Kelly, President Dominion Air & Heat LLC Houston, TX

F

a Texas Real Estate License.

or over 15 years, Kelly has been a management professional and is a majority owner of Dominion Air & Heat LLC. She is actively involved in the Woman Contractors Association (WCA), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC). She also holds

How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms?

Overall, the state of the construction industry in Houston is great. There was more new construction in 2018 than we have seen in past years.

Have you experienced an increase/ slowdown?

Although we had seen an increase in new construction, in 2019 we experienced a slowdown for the first few months. Our project log is beginning to increase which will make this a good year.

What factors are driving this slowdown?

One factor for the slowdown is the rain that Houston has experienced this year which has slowed or stopped projects in some cases by months.

How has this slowdown affected your company and how you conduct business?

We have utilized the slowdown to increase our customer relation efforts and marketing campaigns.

What are the “hot button” issues in your industry?

The main hot button issue in our industry is primarily the issue of non-payment or delayed payment by general contractors.

What is the most significant challenge

your industry faces?

The most significant challenge our industry faces Is the shortage of skilled labor. We are seeing more trade schools now. However, our experience has been that the younger generation wants an office job where they can soak up the A/C instead of installing it. In my opinion, our country is in trouble due to the lack of interest in blue-collar work.

How are you dealing with these challenges?

Our company struggles with this. In recent years, we have hired a few young men right out of high school and trained them on the job. This has been challenging and rewarding at the same time. The added benefit is that we have been able to teach them from the beginning to have integrity and do quality work. These two attributes are what I contribute our 30 years of success. Dominion is known and recommended for our honesty, integrity and quality workmanship.

Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area?

Yes, I see can the increase in outside contractors coming to our area. Especially right after Hurricane Harvey when Houston had such devastation from the flood waters.

What are the cost increases relating to your industry?

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

cranes in downtown just in the last few months. It seems like a new building is popping up every few weeks.

www.constructionnews.net Meeting customer’s needs

HVAC & PLUMBING

Yes, I do see more out of town builders coming to the San Antonio market.

What are the cost increases relating to your industry?

Tariffs are affecting the cost of raw material. I have experienced multiple increases over the past year. Labor shortages are also driving cost up.

What is on the horizon for your industry? (Changes in technology; equipment; other)

Technology’s role in every industry is growing at an exponential rate. I’m excited to see how it can continue to be beneficial as the years go on. It is very important to stay up to date.

What are the rewards of the industry?

Being able to form meaningful relationships with people with common views and working together to provide a quality product to the public is one of the most rewarding aspects of this industry.

What are keys to being successful?

Be honest! Consistently deliver a quality product and take pride in your craft. Say what you are going to do, follow through and deliver. Most of all, treat people how you would like to be treated.

Murray Plumbing is plumbing subcontractor in San Antonio, TX. -cmw

Texas Style

The cost increases in our industry have been freon, piping, steel and sheet metal.

What is on the horizon for your industry?

The most obvious change is the rise in the use of VRF systems which entails higher construction cost and the use of significant amounts of refrigerant that is a concern to some.

How has the R-22 refrigerant phase out affected the industry?

The R-22 refrigerant phase out has caused the Freon 22 to skyrocket in cost. To change freon now, you must retrofit the system in order to revert to 410A which is now the new refrigerant typically utilized.

Is copper theft still an issue? How has the theft of copper affected pricing?

Copper theft is an ongoing problem.

The price of copper has been steadily increasing.

★ San Antonio ★ Austin ★ South Texas ★ Houston

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

Yes, energy regulations to improve the efficiency of HVAC equipment.

What are the rewards of the industry?

Personally, the most rewarding part is meeting our customers’ needs and exceeding their expectations. In this industry, customer service is key; everyone needs air-conditioning and heat.

What are keys to being successful?

Always maintaining good key people in the workforce. It is important to educate and train a good workforce to provide excellent customer service. Also, communication and relationships with your clients and customers is very important to success.

Dominion Air & Heat LLC is a full-service HVAC/mechanical contractor in Houston, TX. -cmw

Page 14

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

THIS TH MON

HVAC & PLUMBING

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

NEXT MONTH (JULY 2019) ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

People make for success Brent Bertrand, Senior Vice President Dynamic Systems Inc. Austin, TX

D

ynamic Systems, Inc. (DSI) is a world-class leader in the fabrication and installation of sophisticated process and high purity piping systems, process exhaust, HVAC piping and sheet metal, and plumbing systems. Their projects include the higher education, healthcare, hospitality, commercial laboratory, life sciences, microelectronics, and mission critical construction markets. DSI has branch locations across Texas and in various other areas of the country, employing approximately 1750.

How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms?

The market is extremely strong in the Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas in both private and public sectors.

Have you experienced an increase/ slowdown? What factors are driving this increase/slowdown?

We have seen increases in the abovementioned markets with slowdowns in the Houston and Bryan College Station areas.

The Texas economy and friendly state laws and taxes are driving the increases as they have for years. The slowdown in Houston revolves around the oil industry and the lack of capital investment into that market. Too, the regions of the state go through business cycles and Houston and the surrounding counties are coming off an extremely strong period of construction. As we and other contractors have worked through our backlog of work in Houston, we and the industry are preparing for an increase in

construction demand over the next twelve months.

What are the “hot button” issues in your industry?

Getting paid in a timely fashion is paramount. From our perspective, we have seen 60-day pay be deemed acceptable, and it is absolutely NOT. Self-performing Specialty Contractors (SC) have very large payrolls that must be paid “every week”.

The withholding of retention is another critical cash flow item for self-performing contractors. If an SC has a consistently good reputation in the industry, they should not have a retention higher than 5%. And a significant portion of the retention should be released for payment at 75% complete, if the SC is performing appropriately. We have experienced many jobs where the balance of retentions is not paid/stalled until the first-year warranty period has expired. Another “hot button” if securing enough “qualified” skilled craftsman. It is been a struggle in the hotter markets for the last few years.

What are the major changes in the in-

dustry in recent years relating to the type of work you do?

The rapid advances in technology, tools, equipment and most everything related to the construction industry. It can overtake your company if a proper vetting of the advancement is not performed. And we have been cautious once we start a new initiative to NOT change to the next new shiny software or tool to hit the market. Continuous change can be frustrating on your personnel. We have stepped back at times to say to ourselves, “Let’s remember we are builders, so let’s go build things and not analyze them to the minute detail”.

What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? How are you dealing with these challenges?

Securing enough “qualified” skilled craftsman. There has definitely been a shortage of those that are “truly skilled.”

We are using non-traditional methods of recruiting for the construction industry. An example would be social media and the targets range from experienced skilled workers to new apprentices with perceived abilities.

What are the cost increases relating to your industry?

Material costs have increased somewhat controllably, but the tariff situation could change that. Labor costs have increased because of the need to draw qualified labor to the more demanding and sophisticated projects.

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

The industry is working with the Texas Legislature at present on the future of the State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news

The way to no college debt Garrett Hart, President/Master Plumber Hart Plumbing Southwest Inc. Sugarland, TX

H

art spent his summers working in the field of his family’s company. He earned his bachelor’s and then his master’s degree, to take a leading role in the company.

Armed with a tremendous degree of education and his experience in plumbing, Garrett has been leading the company for over 10 years.

How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms?

I can’t speak for the entire construction industry but multi-family is booming right now, in major metroplexes like Houston, especially.

Have you experienced an increase/slowdown?

There has been a large increase in multi-family construction.

What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown?

I believe the increase is due to more jobs that have become available in Houston, creating more demand for apartments and new living spaces. More people are also trending towards apartment living over home ownership lately.

How has this increase/slowdown affect-

ed your company and how you conduct business?

We have increased our office staff and field staff, almost by double over the past few years. It’s very difficult finding good skilled plumbers that are capable of building 400 units of apartments in a year’s time.

What are the major changes in the industry in recent years relating to the type of work you do?

There is so much work going on that general contractors are just throwing bodies at the jobs to man them and a lot of the time they don’t know what they are doing.

Very inexperienced superintendents and project managers create headaches for all the subs working for them and so on down the chain.

What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? (i.e. labor shortage,

The Board regulates the application of codes and the licensing of plumbers.

There is a move to dissolve the Board and merge the responsibilities into the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

We are concerned about this, for the impact that the move could have on the Board’s mission to protect the public water supply. Too, the plumbing industry in Texas today accepts the use of either the International Plumbing Code or the Uniform Plumbing Code. Our industry universally embraces the Uniform Plumbing Code as the preferred Code. There is a piece of legislation that we are opposed to that would prohibit the use of the Uniform Plumbing Code in Texas.

What are the rewards of the industry?

Being able to actually see the fruits of your labor. It is rewarding to drive by significant projects like a large Children’s Hospital knowing that is a project you were a part of that is saving lives or making them better. Another example would be a higher education laboratory that we have built where scientists are finding cures for cancers and diseases. An additional reward is having a very successful safety program.

We truly want ALL of our employees to go home at the end of the day in the same physical condition as they arrived at work that morning. It is a culture of safety, not just a bunch of rules that must be followed.

What are keys to being successful?

One word - “PEOPLE”. It is a must to have talented personnel in EVERY part of your business – and not just the guys hanging ductwork or installing medical gas piping. Draftsmen, shop fab teams, estimating and pre-construction, accounting, safety, quality control, etc. etc.

All of these departments must have talented and dedicated PEOPLE. -cmw

Texas Style

other) The biggest challenge would be the lack of skilled trade workers. There aren’t as many people going into trades as there are going into colleges and it shows. Spending four years to become a journeyman plumber while getting paid and accumulating no college debt can get you a huge head start on a career.

How are you dealing with these challenges?

We are dealing with the labor shortage challenge by offering as many incentives as we can – bonus packages, 401ks, health/ dental/vision insurance, gym memberships, company parties and trips.

Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area?

Absolutely. We just bid a job for a general contractor from Fargo, North Dakota.

What are the cost increases relating to your industry?

Skilled workers are demanding more money – and rightfully so – if they are good at their jobs. Uncertainty with the issues in China and tariffs doesn’t help either because a lot of our fixtures come from there.

What is on the horizon for your industry?

Getting all foreman equipped with smart phones and tablets is a must these days. We’ve also recently upgraded our

★ San Antonio ★ Austin ★ South Texas ★ Houston

office phones to Avaya IP and our estimating software as well.

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

New energy codes popping up have affected our costs quite a bit. Lower flow fixtures, increased insulation requirements, and changes in more efficient water heaters have all effected the bottom line.

What are the rewards of the industry?

As stressful as it can be, it’s a unique industry and fun to be in most of the time. Fishing/hunting trips from vendors and for customers are quite common. We participate in charity events like the calf scramble at the Houston Rodeo and quite a few charitable golf events like the one we do for Norah’s home which is a place for people waiting for organ transplants in the medical center.

What are keys to being successful?

Hard work and constant communication with both customers and employees. I think what tops the list is having a good relationship with your team and vendors, though. If you can take care of them then the customers will reap the rewards.

Hart Plumbing is a multi-family plumbing construction company that has been laying foundations for apartments for more than 62 years. -cmw

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 15

Brother framers

Digging a way in

Quality Craftsman Inc. owner, Tim Stevens with wife Danielle, enjoying their vacation.

B

oth brothers, Tim Stevens and Scott Stevens, learned the work of framing from their father. Their dad was a builder in Fort Worth, TX back in the 1970s. The art of building is “in the blood.”

Tim and Scott became heavily involved in framing throughout college. Scott became a real estate broker and Tim was a profit and loss manager for several years.

In the early 2000s, the brothers started updating homes in old neighborhoods.

They bought and gutted out homes, fixing them up and selling them again.

Open houses were done “religiously”, every single week. It was also an opportunity to receive honest feedback from their renovations. The brothers took the suggestions seriously.

One time they received a couple of statements that the inside was more appealing than the front; there was no curb appeal. So, windows were added to the front elevation, and the property was sold in less than a month. Over time, the Stevens brothers met many faces and began receiving requests for renovations. This led to Quality Craftsman Inc. where Tim Stevens holds the title as owner and Scott Stevens as marketing director.

The business serves Dallas, TX areas, mostly north of the city. Indoor and outdoor renovations and add-ons for every room are provided. The business primarily serves extreme renovations and feel they are more of a value to those type of projects, “the more complex, the better.”

The designs are done within the business and are engineered outside the firm.

On larger projects, the company works with a trusted architect who specializes in custom designing. Quality Craftsman Inc. assists clients with the selection stages and manages the construction process from start to finish. They make the entire construction progression as painless as possible. They update clients every step of the way and are upfront about details and deadlines. They also like for clients to be upfront about desired deadlines so that everyone involved is on the same page.

As a “user-friendly service,” the company

T

goes beyond for their customers.

“We jokingly tell our clients that we are fun guys, but we are not fun guys after six months!” Tim said. “Point being that we want to get in and knock out the job quickly, so they can get back to their lives and enjoy their living space.”

Quality Craftsman Inc. consists of a large experienced team. There are trusted architects, designers and subcontractors.

There are five full-time employees with various expertise that facilitate projects.

Tim and Scott have over 30 years of experience, and the crew are highly experienced as well.

The core of the business is updating and adding space to properties when moving is not an option. The renovating option saves money and time as well.

There are many circumstances that arise for the reason of adding onto space and Quality Craftsman Inc. finds a way to make it work.

“Some have a need for a separate living space for their teenage children. Some have a need for multi-generational living like a mother-in-law suite,” Tim explained.

“The challenge is fitting all the required features into a finite footprint and making it aesthetically pleasing so that is does not look like an extra box added on.”

Tim and Scott both enjoy every step of the construction process. The exciting part is once the framing is done and there is a set shape to work with. In the business of customer service, they look forward to working with clients and listening to their ideas. The planning stage is a fun part for clients too because they get to select the styles and the designs they have always dreamed of. Of course, the best part is when the project is complete and listening to the client’s excitement. Quality Craftsman Inc. receives their business from word of mouth and referrals. That is why their reputation is so important to them; they want to maintain being known for providing quality work and customer service.

Quality Craftsman Inc. is a renovation construction contractor in Dallas, Tx. -tnp

Painting, decorating & golf

he Painting and Decorating Contractors Association (PDCA) Texas DFW Council held their spring golf tournament on Apr. 26. 124 golfers representing PDCA contractor and associate members and their customers enjoyed a gorgeous day of golf at the beautiful Bear Creek Golf Club. –cmw

1st Place Team L-R: Jeff Wright, Austin Commercial; Mike Sutton Lynn Gibson, Shahan & Son and Zack Denison, Austin Commercial.

U

Back row, L-R: Marco Balladares (owner), Samuel, Paul, Francisco (supervisor) José of Tunneling and Trenching

ntil four years ago, Marco Balladares knew more about truck driving as a career than trenches and tunneling. His cousin Geraldo, however, owned a tunneling and trenching business in Louisiana, and was more than happy to come to the Lone Star State and teach Balladares all he knew. Fortunately, Balladares was a fast study, and in 2015 the cousins formed a partnership to established Tunneling and Trenching Company in Garland.

“I really appreciate that God has given me this opportunity to form this business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area,” Balladares says. “It’s a big responsibility, but I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned how to become an owner of a company and to do a lot of business.”

A year ago, when Geraldo decided to return to Louisiana and concentrate on his trench and tunneling business there, Balladares and his wife Xenia bought out Geraldo’s share of the company. Now, with a team of nine employees, two trucks and two trailers, Tunneling and

A

Trenching Company completes projects for companies including Mr. Rooter and Blue Frog Plumbing.

Tunneling and Trenching Company offers commercial remodels, residential damage repairs and everything in between, including accessing holes and concrete penetration.

“We do tunnels for plumbing repairs under houses and trenches for the plumbers and French drains,” Balladares explains. “We offer great service to make sure everything is done correctly and that the customer is satisfied.”

Now that Balladares has four years of experience under his belt, he and Xenia feel confident in planning for the company’s future, starting with shopping for something with a little more power.

“Everything that we do now is by hand,” Balladares says. “My plan is to become bigger and start using bigger equipment, like excavators.”

Excavation subcontractor Tunneling and Trenching Company in Garland offers commercial and residential services. –mjm

Iron entrance

family owned business, Venom Iron Doors, brings people their dream iron door. The company provides customers with a fulfilled experience every step of the way, from handshake to years of warranty. Christin Myers runs the business with her husband and kids. With 20 years of experience in design and construction, Myers and her team continue to succeed.

As the master designer, Myers has always had an interest in art and design. Years ago, she noticed iron doors becoming more popular. To utilize her talCustomized iron door from Venom Iron Doors ent, she enjoys designing custom-made iron doors. There is not a specific tive or for functional use. Myers also designs gates for gardens and patio favorite design for Myers; she loves them all.

Dallas and Fort Worth is where Venom entryways.

Venom Iron Doors is a design and Iron Doors are installed. The main location is in Fort Worth. Recently, the business expand- installation contractor in Fort Worth, TX. –tnp ed into Granbury, TX with a new shop.

On the website, there are many door designs to look through and choose from, although it is fun to customize a new one. Myers is there for consultations. She examines the door structure and plans the design with the customer. There are so many details that go into customization, choosing from glass, color, style and hinges. It can be overwhelming at times, but Myers is there to make the whole process at ease.

Myers looks forward to every design and consultation learning about the customer’s style and preferences, “Every single time that I have drawn a design for someone, it is intense.

It is like waiting for a baby to arrive. I am just as excited as the customer to see the final product.” Most installations are fully completed within a day once the door is made and ready.

It is rare for the installation process to exceed over one day.

The company provides services to both residential and commercial, indoor and outdoor. These iron doors can be used as decora-

Page 16

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

What is your Favorite Snack?

I have a lot, but I have to say they are the hot Cheetos puffs.

Jessica Aguirre, Aguirre’s Tile Services Beef Jerky, there are a lot of varieties everywhere.

Tim Stevens, Quality Craftman INC I love sunflower seeds that are not shelled. People around here hate it when I do it. It allows me to keep focused. I read in a magazine that eating sunflower seeds will keep you awake when you drive. It works.

Mark Thorne-Thomsen, Metal-Craft Doors s

Right now, I’m missing good ole crawfish season with some potatoes and mushrooms from back home [in New Orleans] with a daiquiri. But on hot days like this, a strawberry snowball from Sunny’s Ice Cream shop in Kenner, Louisiana. I used to go there when I was a kid and it’s my kids’ favorite spot to go as well.

Alejandra Martin, Alside Exterior Building Products Thin Mint Oreos, especially in the middle of the night.

Scott Stevens, Quality Craftman INC

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

Steve F. Cunningham has joined the TDIndustries family as their new Chief People Officer. He will support the growth of the company through talent acquisition, employment compensation, benefits, training, succession planning and safety to develop a diversified workforce. He comes to TDIndustries with more than 20 years human resources experience.-cmw

Ken Loose has been promoted to Associate witt VLK | Architects. Loose joined the VLK team in 2012 and has added increased value to the VLK brand and the firm’s mentorship and architectural profession. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Houston. -cmw

Brett Skyllingstad has joined the Structure Tone Southwest family as Business Development Director.

Skyllingstad will support new and longtime client relationships and help develop growth strategies in the company’s Mission Critical and healthcare sectors. –cmw

Kimberly Burke has been promoted to Vice President of Business Development for Skanska USA. Burke joined the Skanska team in 2013. She will continue to lead business development activities and help lead sales and marketing efforts for Skanska in North Texas. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — Harrison Construction says. “My wife and I opened up Harrison Construction in 2011 and started doing that; it was just me and a superintendent that I hired. Five Guys Burgers and Fries was still growing so we reestablished our relationship with them and started to build for them in Texas. We have continued to base our business structure on restaurants and now we’re doing retail, shopping centers, and shopping center remodels. Those are our core businesses that are products we can produce and be profitable.”

As his company achieves impressive success, Harrison stays true to what drew him to construction.

“In my heart of hearts, I am still a superintendent,” Harrison says. “That’s what I enjoy doing most is actually running the day-to-day of a project – although I don’t always get the time to do that as much as I would like to. I enjoy making something from nothing or taking something that is unattractive and making it into something new for customers to be able to use and for business owners to be able to make profit from. I still enjoy the fulfillment of building.”

As Harrison Construction celebrates its eighth year in business, Harrison is making plans to take his company to the next level. He and his four-man crew are focusing on remodels for a national gas station chain. He is concentrating on increasing his project size from $400,000 to $750,000 as well. Harrison also wants to expand into building medical construction, something he spent five years doing when he worked for a general contractor.

Finally, growing his company’s facility service side is another goal Harrison hopes to achieve in the near future.

A broken pinky may have got him into construction, but he has six other reasons to stay.

“We are a family-owned business; it is solely owned by me and my wife Mindy,” Harrison says. “We have six kids ranging from 17 to 6. One of the reasons we own our own company is because we wanted to have a family. In the construction industry, you are either gone or you are working 80 hours a week. So, this allows us to be in the business together.”

Harrison Construction is a general contractor located in Fort Worth. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Patch Plus Paint cess. “All the good reviews I have,” he said, “is because of them. I’m grateful to have them.”

Shahim stays within a limited radius and territory of the Plano/Frisco/McKinney/north Dallas area. He says that’s where the business is in terms of building and money to spend on remodeling. “If the job is too far and will take up two, three hours of my time, I just won’t go,” he said.

Shahim does all the bidding and overseeing of his crews, as well as all the social media marketing by taking all the photos and posting them. 95 percent of his business comes from his strong online and social media presence.

P3’s niche is not just painting but fixing any crack that may be in the drywall or ceiling. A crack can come from a variety of reasons: the normal settling of the structure in the ground; someone walking on the ceiling at the higher level; someone punching or damaging the wall; or from a foundation issue. When Shahim sees a crack, he’ll ask the homeowner if they have had the root cause of it examined by a foundation specialist. He knows that merely patching and painting over a crack can merely be a band-aid covering but does not address the root cause. But, Shahim said, that could be what the homeowner wanted to do in order to sell the

house and let the next buyer fix the problem when it resurfaces later.

Shahim is still learning in his trade.

“Every job, every day we learn something new,” he said. “Every job has its different challenges.”

Since he started P3, Shahim has noticed the changes in styles. People are getting away from the wilder looks to simple, clean colors and accents. However, he said that gold and brass fixtures are coming back in again.

For the future, Shahim wants to expand into full remodeling: kitchens, bathrooms, tile work, counter tops, etc. He will hire more sub-contractors that specialize in those skills when that time comes.

“As of now, I’m in a good comfort zone,” he said, assessing Patch Plus Paint.

“It’s been fun and productive, for the most part. It has its ups and downs, but I can’t complain. It’s been good.”

Also, when Shahim takes a break, he wants to see more of America, like the Grand Canyon. “People here in the States are very patient and they don’t mind teaching,” he said. He’s obviously learned enough about the painting business (taxes aside) to run a company that is making the north Dallas area look better.

Patch Plus Paint is a painting contractor in Frisco. -dsz

continued from Page 1 — Homeland Construction

Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Brittany Jenson.

This project, designed by Plan B Group, is the first location of what is sure to be a staple to the community for its family friendly yet trendy atmosphere.

The interior finish is completely custom and architecturally unique for its use of metal, wood and masonry. The menu is very creative and the owners, management and crew are great to work with.

Cook had this to say about the project and owner, “This has been one of our favorite projects to build to date. The owner Cam Powell was very realistic in his expectations, teamwork oriented and polite. Anytime we have a chance to build a true working relationship with a client we would love to. This building was built with care and it shows!”

Homeland Construction is a general contractor located in Weatherford, TX. -cmw

A view inside Austin City Taco Company.

Photo courtesy of Brittany Jenson.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 17

Association Calendar

Golfing at Coyote Ridge

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News AIA

American Institute of Architects Dallas Chapter

June. 12: WiA, June Lunch Meeting, A D EX, 325 N. Saint Paul St. #150, 12pm. For more info, email sche@aiadallas.org or call 214-880-1508 ASA

American Subcontractors Association

Jun. 7: 2019 Awards Night, Union Station, 400 S. Houston St., Dallas, TX, 6pm.

For more info, call Beverly Reynal, 972365-9015 APWC

Assn. of Profession Women in Construction

Jun. 19: Happy Hour, Republic Texas Tavern, 12300 Inwood Rd. #170, Dallas, 5:30pm. For more info, visit www.apwc. us or email info@apwc.us ASCE

American Society of Civil Engineers Dallas Branch

Jun. 10: ASCE Dallas Branch Meeting, Vouv Meeting & Event Space, 4445 Sigma Rd., 11am. For more info, go to www.dallasasce.org ASSP

American Society of Safety Professionals

Jun. 9-12: Safety 2019 Professional Development Conference & Exposition, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans, LA. For more info, contact Blain Krage at 847-768-3416 or email bkrage@assp.org CEF

Construction Education Foundation North Texas Chapter

Jun. 13: CEF Graduation, Westin Hotel, 4545 W. John Carpenter Frwy., Irving, TX. For more info, contact Lori Purviance at lori@ntcef.org or call 972-575-5200 CFMA

Construction Financial Management Assn.

Jun. 20: Monthly Meeting, Hackberry Country Club, 1901 W. Royal Ln., Irving, TX, 11:30am-1pm. For more info, contact Kelly Dando at cfmadfw@gmail.com CMAA

Construction Management Assn. of America

Jun. 11: Young Leaders Mixer, Craftcade, 615 S. Jennings Ave., Fort Worth, 5:30pm.

For info, visit www.cmaanorthtexas.org CSI

Construction Specifications Institute Dallas Chapter

Jun. 6: June Technical Lunch, Dave & Buster’s, 9450 N. Central Expw., 11:30am-1pm.

Jun. 20: Awards Reception, Addison Conference Center, 15650 Addison Rd., Addison, TX. For more info, email rpopp@ division7.com DACA

Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Assn.

Jun. 13-15: TLPCA Convention, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, TX. For more info, email eddie@dacadfw.org ICRI

Center Vandergriff Park, 2800 S. Center St., Arlington, TX, 6:30-8:30pm.

Jun. 20: IEC Night at the Races, Lone Star Park, 1000 Lone Star Pkwy., Grand Prairie, TX, 6-10pm. For more info, contact Jo Britt at 817-496-8422 I-LinCP

Aug 8-9: Texas Public Owners Conference, The Bridge Over Troubled Waters Project Delivery to Operations. Contact Charli Valadez 512-263-5521or go to www.i-lincp.org NAWIC

National Assn. of Women in Construction Dallas Chapter

Jun. 5: Annual NAWIC Dallas Golf Classic, Texas Star Golf Course, 1400 Texas Star Pkwy, Euless, TX. For more info, go to www.nawic-dallas.org NAWIC

Jun. 20: Monthly Meeting, Diamond Oaks Country Club, 5821 Diamond Oaks Dr. N. For more info, email Lori Donnell at lorid.nawic@gmail.com NUCA

National Utility & Excavation Contractors Assn. - North Texas Chapter

Jun. 14: OSHA Roundtable – Second Quarter, 1:30pm. For more info, email lisa@nucatexas.com PDCA

Painting & Decorating Contractors Assn.

Jun. 12: Get to Know PDCA Webinar,1pm.

For more info, contact Chris Shank at cshank@pdca.org or call 314-900-2016 RHCA

Regional Hispanic Contractors Assn.

Jun. 13: RHCA Meeting Luncheon & Orientation, Goodwill Industries of Dallas Inc., 3020 N. Westmoreland Rd., 11:30am1pm. For more info, visit www.rgionalhca.org or call 372-786-0909

Independent Electrical Contractors Fort Worth/Tarrant County

Jun. 13: 2019 Graduation, Bob Duncan

Not set in stone

SAM

Jun. 6: Construction Bonds, The Keg, 859 W. John Carpenter Frwy., Irving, TX, 11:15am-1pm. For more info, contact Carrie Edomm at 972-438-1110 TEXO

The Construction Assn.

Jun. 8: TEXO Softball Tournament, Hurst Athletic Complex, 2104 Precinct Line Rd., Hurst, TX, 8am. TEXO members only.

Jun. 20: Colleagues + Cocktails, HG Supply, 2008 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX, 4:306:30pm. TEXO Member $25; Non-Member $40; Walk-ins $45. For more info, call 972-647-0697 Jun. 27: 3rd Annual Raymond L. Critchfield Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament, Coyote Ridge Golf Club, 1640 W. Hebron Pkwy., Carrollton, TX. $500/Team; $600 Hole Sponsor; $25 Per Person Awards Luncheon Only. For more info, call 972647-0697 TLPCA

Texas Lathing & Plaster Contractors Assn.

USGBC

IEC

L-R: Longest Drive: Jad Soufan and Closest-to-the-Pin: LPCA2

Subcontractors Assn. of the Metroplex

IEC

Jun. 20: Night at the Races, Lone Star Park, 1000 Lone Star Pkwy., Gates Open 5pm.

Jun. 6: Graduation Ceremony, Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, 500 Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX, 6:30pm. For more info, call 972-550-1133

2nd Place: Texas Stucco Supply/BASF

National Assn. of Women in Construction Fort Worth Chapter

Jun. 12-14: 6th Annual Convention & Tradeshow, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, TX. For more info, call Yvonne Shelton at 817-461-0676 or visit www.tlpca.org

Independent Electrical Contractors Dallas Chapter

pring is in the air and so is golf. The Texas Lathing & Plastering Contractors Association (TLPCA) held their 11th Annual Spring Golf Tournament on Apr. 11 at Coyote Ridge Golf Club in Carrollton, TX. Enjoying a beautiful day of golf, The Thermafoam team finished the tournament taking first place. –cmw

Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects

Jun. 14: 5th Sporting Clay Classic & June Membership Meeting, Dallas Gun Club, 3601 S. Stemmons Fwy., Lewisville, TX. For info, email ntx.icri.board@gmail.com

International Concrete Repair Institute

S

U.S. Green Building Council

Jun. 20: Interactive Case Study | Reclaimed Building Materials, Babe’s Restaurant, 6700 NE Loop 820, North Richland Hills, TX. For more info, visit wsww. usgbctexas.org UMCA

United Masonry Contractors Assn.

Jun. 11: 30th UNCA Golden Trowel Awards & Banquet, Texas Motor Speedway Club, 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth, TX, 6-9pm. For more info, Lindsey Geeslin at umcadfw@gmail.com

S

ucharita Reddy has a wealth of knowledge and resources to tap into as she runs Omega Natural Stone, a company that imports natural granite, marble and quartzite. After all, her father owns a natural stone business and she had previously formed another similar business in 2007. Still, Reddy never feels like she can rest on her laurels.

“I learn every day,” Reddy says.

“Basically my business is directly affected by the construction industry and real estate booms or crashes. Also, there are a lot of new ideas constantly coming into the picture; the way people decorate their houses, it is constantly changing. Based on that, I feel I am learning every day. I feel I’m all set and then something new comes along and I find I’m doing something new! Definitely, it’s not easy; it’s challenging.”

Despite this, and the challenges imposed on her business in the three years since its establishment, Omega Natural Stone has thrived.

“The business has definitely grown,” Reddy, who hails from India, says. “But last year was quite difficult due to changes which happened because of the U.S. and China trade war. A lot of engineered stone comes from China and we were affected because of the tariffs that were imposed by the U.S. government on China. A lot of companies had already planned their projects based on the [supply] and then it was not available for the same prices or it was too expensive, but it’s coming back to normal now.”

Sucharita Reddy

Reddy and her seven employees operate out of a 30,000sf facility that houses 2,000sf of office space with the rest dedicated to showcasing stone from Brazil, China, India and Spain. She hopes to secure more space in which to sell stone to interior designers, fabricators and remodelers.

“We are constantly offering different things,” Reddy says. “If it goes well, I would like to expand. I would like to move into a 50,000sf space or something a little bigger in a year or so.”

Supplier Omega Natural Stone is located in Dallas. –mjm

Page 18

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Safety stand down 2019

F

atalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 366 of the 971 construction fatalities recorded in 2017 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.

The Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA) held two safety training events at the association’s Day of the Construction Worker Event on May 18. -cmw

OSHA National Safety Stand-down 2019 group photo.

Attendees look on as demonstrations are being presented.

RHCA welcome attendees.

Fall protection demonstration.

2019 Day of the construction worker

C

onstruction workers and their families were invited to the Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center – Fair Park on May 18 to be celebrated and to take care of themselves and their families’ futures. Hosted by the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA), the event recognized more than 100 construction worker nominees for excellence. -cmw

Lifetime Achievement Award & RHCA $1,000 Prize: Fernando Gutierrez, Archer Western Herzog

Excellence in Safety Construction Worker of the Year: John Cairasco, Turner Construction

RHCA celebrates Day of the Construction Worker.

Construction Female Worker of the Year Award & RHCA $1,000 Prize: Guadalupe Rodriguez, Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company

RHCA DCW Winners Group

Foreman of the Year: Sheri Johnson, Archer Western Herzog

Excellence in Safety Professional of the Year: Edgar Beltran, Kiewit

Superintendent of the Year: Arnold Favela, ANDRES Construction Services

Construction Male Worker of the Year Award & RHCA $1,000 Prize: Juan Castaneda, Kiewit

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 19

Keeping him busy

A

JOB SIGHTS

Manny and Jessica Aguirre, owners of Aguirre’s Tile Services

fter working for his brothers installing floors for several years, Emmanuel “Manny” Aguirre told his wife of 10 years that it was time to do something more fulfilling.

“He wanted something more,” Jessica said. Further, Jessica had been laid off from her sales job, “so we were both basically without jobs,” she recalled.

The Aguirres started Aguirre’s Tile Services in March 2017. Jessica was “very worried,” as any wife with three girls would be. “My job was trying to get him jobs,” she said. She would post regularly on Craigslist, calling contractors and doing her best to find the customers.

Her hard work has paid off. Now, with referrals and online reviews playing a big role in their company, the Aguires are getting more business.

“We’re still not there, but it’s better than two years ago when we had nothing,” Jessica said. “Now, it’s a little easier because people are referring.”

Manny started doing masonry work at first, but his brothers encouraged him

to come join them. He did, merely as a helper at first, but he wanted to set tile.

But after 10 years of working with them, it was time to move on.

Jessica’s day-to-day operations are easy: “I have to make sure I keep him busy,” she said. “That’s mainly my job. If he’s not busy, I’m not doing my job.”

The Aguirres would like to eventually open their own store where customers can come in for full service, and not merely hire Manny to be their installer.

“That’s something we want to do in the future,” Jessica said.

Manny does mainly kitchen backsplashes and shower areas, but would like to be able to hire steady helpers for bigger jobs some day.

Manny has plans for their three daughters as well. He’s already picked out their future jobs in their showroom.

They should have jobs too, because Jessica said that “Slowly, it’s going up.” Her efforts at keeping Manny busy are definitely paying off.

Aguirre’s Tile Services is in Forney. -dsz

MAREK employees L-R: Edgar Grimaldo, Neptali Moreno, Horacio Grimaldo, Mario Esquival and Isael Fonseca at the Dickies Arena jobsite in Fort Worth, TX. -cmw

L-R: Benjamin Ortiz and Hermillio Martinez with Wilks Masonry LLC set stone on the south elevation of the new University of Texas at Dallas Science Building. -cmw

Page 20

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUN 2019