San Antonio Construction News June 2019

Covering the Industry’s News

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The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 22 H Number 6 H JUNE 2019

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Reasons to celebrate

New supplier in town

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

L-R: Wayne Kotzur and Scott Shaver

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

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ince 1987, Parnes Construction has been serving South Texas and the San Antonio market. The familyowned general contracting company founded by Grant Parnes specializes in remodeling, tenant improvement and new finish-outs of commercial interiors.

As a general contractor, Parnes Construction has occasionally spread their scope of work beyond the limits of interiors and performed exterior renovations and ground-up new construction of buildings. The company’s competitive advantage comes from their ability to keep overhead costs to a minimum and long-standing relationships with their suppliers. Combined with decades of experience, these factors were the perfect recipe for Julie Hatfield, owner of the Westover Hills Birth Center.

Founder/Lead Superintendent Grant Parnes and the family business’ second generation, Colton Parnes, managed

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 Department 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 continued on Page 21

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onestar Electric Supply was founded in 2015 by a group of gentlemen who were former owners in the electrical distribution industry. In just over 3 1/2 years, they were able to open four locations in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Austin markets.

When Scott Shaver and Wayne Kotzur were given the chance to be partners in opening in San Antonio, the fifth location, they felt it was a great opportunity to be the independent distributor this market needed. Shaver stated, “We were humbled by the team of associates that have come to join us and our vision to becoming one of the best suppliers to our customers. Our people drive the success of our business.”

“Our sales staff has over 250 years

combined experience in electrical distribution in the San Antonio market. Our company goal is to provide the very best service and quality in our business,” adds Wayne Kotzur.

“We are not just a distributor. We are a partner to our customers. We provide solutions and bring added value through differentiated services,” continues Shaver.

Lonestar Electric opened in San Antonio on Mar. 18 in their 56,000sf facility complete with 27 employees, sales counter, a customer coffee bar and 3.5 million dollars of inventory. They are located at 4036 BinzEngleman in suite 208 across the street from the SAMMC parking garage.

Shaver and Kotzur agree and state that Lonestar wants to earn the San Antocontinued on Page 21

Alternative birthing

Westover Hills Birth Center birthing room.

and supervised the finish-out for the new Westover Hills Birth Center. The $350,000 project took approximately four months to complete, start to finish. This included permitting and plan review plus winter holidays, allowing three full months to construct the 3,500sf facility.

The facility is an alternative for women who don’t want to give birth in a hospital and is metal-stud constructed with LVT floors, LED lighting, and acoustic/lay-in ceilings.

One of the biggest challenges was meeting the customer’s deadline. This was accomplished while working with the City of San Antonio to satisfy the city that this is not a clinical/medical/hospital-type facility where “patients” are being “treated.”

Rather, it is a place where mothers can naturally give birth without the use/aid of drugs or surgical procedures and equipment, and thus still meet code requirements without going over budget. continued on Page 21

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Cinco de appreciación

lamo Iron Works (AIW) showed their appreciation to their valued customers May 2 at their 2nd Annual Cinco de Mayo Customer Appreciation Event and vendor fair. The invitation only event was held for the first time in 2018 with such a success that AIW decided to make it an annual affair. “It’s our way of saying thank you,” says Marketing

AZTECA’s revival

& Communications Director, VMI Operations Manager Stacey Reynolds.

Customers and guests were treated to free Mexican food, margaritas, beer and live music. Over 300 customers from as far as Austin and Corpus Christi shared in the festivities. Customers were given the opportunity to visit with vendors and an opportunity to win great door prizes. –cmw

S Alamo Iron Works team members welcome customers and guests.

Tony and Cecilia Castellano, owners of AZTECA Designs Inc.

ince 2006, Cecilia Castellano dreamed of owning her own building for her thriving business AZTECA Designs Inc. As her business flourished, she and her husband, Tony, began laying the groundwork for a facility to call home.

They purchased land to build their dream building, secured an architect and even secured the financial loans needed to begin the process of building the new home of AZTECA Designs Inc. Little did Cecilia know fulfilling her vision would not be so easy. She did not have the foresight to know that the architect she hired would leave her high and dry.

“I gave my design and vision to an architect. I gave him two deposits. Two down payments that he needed, that he requested and he left with my money,” says Cecilia.

Although that was devastating, it did not keep Cecilia down. You see, Cecilia is a very spiritual person. She put her dreams in God’s hands. She began letting Him direct the company’s path. And then it happened: One day, Tony told her they should move AZTECA to their ranch in Somerset. After prayer and guidance, this move became their focus.

Not wanting to have any more setbacks, Cecilia contacted Bexar County to get all the information she needed for their new location upfront. Following the list of items, Cecilia set out to get all the necessary permits, and with each permit came an unforeseen obstacle and unforeseen expenses. Again, feeling frustrated, she put her faith in God.

On Dec. 26, AZTECA Designs Inc. was up and running at their new location and Phase One was complete; Phase Two is currently in progress which is the con-

struction of their new warehouse. While Cecilia is grateful to have finally gotten into their new facility, she has not forgotten the obstacles she had to overcome, the expenses she endured and the fees her small business had to assume.

According to Cecilia, AZTECA is considered a Tier II company. They are small, established and thriving, and ready to get to the next level, but how?

Based on those experiences, Cecilia began laying the foundation to help other small businesses that are established, thriving and ready to move to the next level. She reached out to county commissioners and city council to determine what programs are in place to help small business.

She told them, “We are considered Tier II companies. We are still small, but we are growing and thriving. There is nothing for a young teenage company. What do we need to do to implement a program to help small businesses grow and be ready to compete against the big boys?”

AZTECA is planning to have a grand opening, which the Lord has shown her will be a business revival.

“It’s called AZTECA’s Revival in August,” she says. “He showed me it would be on Aug. 7 at exactly 3:20pm.

August is the eighth month of the year.

Eight is for New Beginnings; seven is for completion and 3:20 is for Ephesians 3:20 for overflow. He gave me all that. I said, ‘Okay, but it’s going to be so hot, God, seriously?’ That’s the date, that’s the month and that’s the hour. We are in the planning stages and we are hoping to have everything done by that time.”

AZTECA Designs Inc. is an interior finishout subcontractor with a division providing mowing services in Somerset, TX. -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

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hh, the aroma of meat cooking on the grill – there is nothing better. Pits of every shape and size filled the Helotes Fairgrounds May 9-10 for the American Subcontractors Association’s (ASA) 2019 Subfest.

Participants camped overnight in hopes of taking home top awards for the best barbeque this side of the Pecos. The industrywide event welcomed over 500 attendees with plenty of activities including a washer tournament, face painting, live auctions, raffles and door prizes. -cmw

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Subfest 2019

2nd Place Mystery Meat: Texas First Rentals 3rd Place Mystery Meat: Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing 2nd Place Ribs: Geo Solutions 3rd Place Ribs: Western States Fire Protection 2nd Place Brisket: Dulaney Exterior Solutions

Winners 2nd Place Chicken: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

3rd Place: ESC Safety Consultants

3rd Place Brisket: Texas First Rentals 1st Place Chicken: Joeris General Contractors

1st Place Mystery Meat: T&D Moravits

1st Place Ribs: Texas First Rentals

Best Camp: ESC Safety Consultants

Best Bloody Mary: JR Ramon Demolition

1st Place Brisket: Ridout Barrett

Washer Tournament Champions: Comfort Air Engineering

Grand Champion: Geo Solutions

Father’s Day Sunday June 16

Reserve Grand Champion: Texas First Rentals

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Florida in Texas

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Passionate pre-cast

General manager of Florida Tile San Antonio location, Bonnie Bennett-Smith, displaying tile samples

long-time tile corporation, Florida Tile, has been manufacturing and distributing tile since 1954. What started in Florida has developed into more than 20 Florida Tile branch locations throughout the U.S. Its headquarters is in Lexington, KY and all manufacturing is produced from Lawrenceburg, KY. The company is proud to be completely U.S.-made.

Bonnie Bennett-Smith started with Florida Tile 22 years ago. She was a showroom sales associate and worked her way up to managing. In 2017, a new Florida Tile location opened up in San Antonio, TX and Bennett-Smith was assigned to run the store. Packing up her belongings from North Carolina, she made the move to Texas for her promotion. She has been running the San Antonio location since day one where she holds the title as general manager.

Currently, Florida Tile is held in two Texas locations: one in San Antonio and the other in Dallas. Bennett-Smith’s store usually serves anywhere from north of Austin to the southern tip of Texas. In San Antonio, there are various showrooms

that carry Florida Tile products. Some nearby locations include Atlas Floors, CW Floors and O’Krent’s Abbey Flooring. As a way to support their floor dealerships and customers, Bennett-Smith and staff participate at various flooring events.

Florida Tile sells an unlimited supply of tiles such as porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, glass and much more. Metal tile pieces consist of solid metal and stainless steel. Customers love the wood-look tile pieces. New selections this year are the Tuscan Villa (a worn stone look) and the 8x48 porcelain wood plank. The trend is the larger pieces, for most, the bigger the better where there are less creases. The company is now an authorized distributer for a boutique-oriented tile product line, Jeffrey Court.

Bennett-Smith is grateful for her career and where she ended up. She has always been interested in art and design, and tile is exactly that. It also brings her joy being able to develop relationships and friendships. “I don’t ever get tired playing around with pretty things.”

Florida Tile is a tile manufacturer and distributer nationwide. -tnp

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NAPCO team proudly accept the Texas Mutual Platinum Safety Award.

aime Iragorri, one of the pioneers in the precast concrete industry, along with key employees such as Jay Miller and Larry Hammer, founded NAPCO Precast in 1995 in San Antonio, TX.

Iragorri was responsible for building and running seven precast concrete facilities throughout the United States, including the largest precast plant in North America (and second largest in the world). He has been credited with the creation of the 12-ft-wide double tee, the horizontal lite wall system, the vertical vista wall, the introduction of the pretopped double tee in Texas; and the creation of the 5' 0" x 13" pilaster column.

NAPCO made its initial mark in the insulated wall panel market with the introduction of the 2-2-2 panel.

As with every company, safety has become the focal point of NAPCO’s operations. NAPCO was awarded The Platinum Safety Award by Texas Mutual Insurance Company, one of 200 businesses out of 71,000 policyholders across Texas

to receive the award.

While the safety of NAPCO’s employee and customers is the company’s primary focus, NAPCO puts further concentration on their employees and the communities it serves. “We value our hard working employees by providing Kona Ice once per month during the summer, a company-wide barbecue and Christmas party.

“Our employees are all about giving back to the community and we are passionate about sponsoring the “New Beginnings Children’s Home” on a permanent basis. We are dedicated to supporting these kids from all walks of life by meeting their physical and emotional needs. We want each child there to know we care and they matter to us. Every child on their birthday receives a card with money (all donations from employees) and a planned outing with the kids,” says Suzanne Price, Director of Human Resources.

NAPCO is full-service manufacturer and installer of pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete products in SA, TX. -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

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Making a blank canvas

Tracking Fox

Commander Clearing team member, Luke Luce, conducting demolition services in Reagan Wells, TX.

Fox Commercial Services van.

s a landowner, Joey Whelan had to haul materials and clear out his ranch on his own. Shortly after, a friend in the oil business needed the same type of service, mulching a clear path side. Whelan helped and realized that he was actually good at it. Why not establish a full-time residential and commercial land clearing business?

In 2013, Whelan founded Commander Clearing and continues to serve as the company’s owner and demolition operator. Whelan and the company reside in the San Antonio, TX area but serve a large range in central and southern Texas.

Commander Clearing has provided services in Georgetown, Del Rio and everywhere else in between.

With close to 20 different types of demolition machinery, the company is able to clear out acres of land and large debris.

The 250,000 lb. Trencor is a must for major commercial jobs. Many demolitions Whelan conducts are for the purpose of restorations. Common restorations are for

businesses, farms and ranches. The company is currently working on the grounds of a community college in San Antonio, TX assisting with expansion of the school. Other demolition services include rock mining, tree removal, hauling and debris clean up.

Since the business is continuously growing, Commander Clearing plans to subcontract out their machinery in the near future. Whelan is grateful for his large supply of trucks and is eager to assist in the demanding field of demolition.

Land clearing is a skill and career that Whelan has grown to love, “It is just like art. It is about making a transformation.”

The team of 12 is able to stay busy and complete a variety of demolitions on time.

Whelan’s nephew works for the company and is also training for the Olympics. They happen to share the same name, Joey Whelan. For team bonding, the crew participates in crawfish boils and have company get togethers.

Commander Clearing is a land clearing contractor in San Antonio. –tnp

Beautify concrete

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unting for Fox? Don’t get confused; there are two to track.

“In March 2018, Fox Service Company sold off Fox Commercial Services; we removed ourselves from the residential portion of the business and fully concentrated inside the commercial realm of the business,” explains Fox Commercial Services electrical branch manager Eddie Fischer.

Both companies continue tradition by referencing a fox in their names and logos, but each has adopted very different looks. Fox Service Company continues to serve residential clients with orange Foxes on their service vehicles, while Fox Commercial Services display sleek lime green and black graphics to catch commercial clients’ attention.

Fox Commercial Services is a full electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractor, with a corporate office in Austin and a second branch in San Antonio. Fischer helms the San Antonio branch, which boasts a 24-strong team that is excited to support their clients.

San Antonio

Editors

AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net DFWeditor@ConstructionNews.net HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net San Antonio Area Counties Atascosa, Bexar, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties

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isabled veteran, woman-owned minority business, Jacqui owns the majority of Ultimate Concrete Finishes. She is partnered with her husband, Todd Butler. Both are retired from the air force and met while stationed in Guam. Jacqui is from Texas and Todd is from Minnesota. Before starting Ultimate Concrete Finishes in 2014, they started another company together, which is still going strong. In 2011, they became owners of Sparkle Wash, a pressure washing company. It is how they were introduced to the world of concrete.

Ultimate Concrete Finishes is stationed In New Braunfels, TX and serves all of San Antonio and anywhere in between central Austin. Services include “beautifying indoor and outdoor concrete.” This is done by staining designs and color to already established concrete, new or old.

People have the option of bringing in an already desired design and color idea or choosing from the company’s gallery.

The business social media accounts also display a variety of designs of completed

projects to browse from.

Todd enjoys being able to make an immediate transformation for customers.

He is able to make old, dull concrete stand out and look like new. Other services include stamping, polishing and epoxy flooring. A highly requested service includes outdoor concrete staining.

Completed commercial projects include several strip malls, a kid’s barber shop, jewelry store and a gym. At a Gold’s Gym location, the company restored concrete in the locker rooms and bathrooms.

As they stay busy with many residential and commercial projects, the company does have plans to open a shop in the future. The Ultimate Concrete Finishes showroom will provide sales and services, showcasing many decorative concrete pieces. The store will make their business more accessible, reaching out to those who are unfamiliar with concrete decorative services.

Ultimate Concrete Finishes is a polish and staining decorative concrete contractor in New Braunfels, TX. -tnp

“We are top-line competitors; we want to be able to provide the best for our high-value clients,” Fischer says. “We swim at the top where they live and so do my technicians. We want to create the best working environment. We want to give the best service.

“We see great works coming out of San Antonio,” Fischer continues. “We want to be able to maintain what San Antonio is building. Being the service provider that we are, we also do projects as well, and those projects range from tenant finish-outs to LED change upgrades. Those are the opportunities that we are looking at right now, and we do not want to stay stagnant in one area.

We want to develop those niche areas of our construction phases that we are in, whether it be mechanical, plumbing or electrical. We want to be able to offer our customers everything that we can do.”

Fox Commercial Services is a full-service electrical, mechanical and plumbing subcontractor located in San Antonio and Austin. –mjm

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

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Ultimate Concrete Finishes applying stain to a 13,000sf driveway in Canyon Lake, TX. L to R: DeVante-Patrick Blincoe, Randall Stout and co-owner Todd Butler

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

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

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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 s

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.

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

Skanska USA is pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Lyons to Vice President of Business Development. Lyons joined the Skanska team in 2014 and will continue leading business development activities, sales and marketing efforts on behalf of Skanska USA in Central Texas. -cmw

Round-Up Submissions

Submit Info & Photo:

Dan Green has joined the Sundt Construction Inc. family as project manager. Green brings 25 years of experience to his new role. He holds a Bachelor of Construction Management degree from Colorado State University and is a Design-Build Professional and Certified Professional Contractor. -cmw Brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows.

SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net

(210) 308-5800

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

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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.

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

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Material breaches of contract: What they are and why they matter West W. Winter, Attorney The Winter Law Firm, PLLC San Antonio, TX

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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.

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.

Safe tree care Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

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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 company 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

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Mary Lozano Jenkins Owner and Founder The Jenkins Interior Design Group Inc. San Antonio, TX

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ary Jenkins started her interior design business in the early 80s in Corpus Christi, TX. She is based in San Antonio but also travels around the U.S for all of her clients. Completed projects include many commercial businesses, such as hospitals, restaurants and corporate offices. There is an endless list of residential clients as well.

Her two daughters, Jessica and Jennifer, are also designers for the company.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in south Texas in Kingsville.

Why did you leave there?

I started my design business in Corpus Christi, TX in 1981. I lived there for six years. I transferred to San Antonio, TX because I was managing designers for a national design company, TransDesigns.

They needed managers in the San Antonio area. I moved here to build my design business and to recruit and train women in design.

Have you always been interested in design?

Yes, growing up I designed, sewed and cooked. In high school I took many home economic classes. That was where I learned to sew and do color boards.

I started working at a young age.

When I was 13 years old, I worked for one of my uncles that owned a shoe repair and boot store. I sold cowboy boots, belts and buckles. It provided me experience in sales and customer service.

During college I worked for a music department all through my college years about 20 hours a week. I gained a great amount of office skills, especially for writing professional letters. After I graduated college, I taught home economic classes for five years. I then started my own interior design business, The Jenkins Interior Design Group, INC. Who helped you in the beginning stages of your business?

I had an assistant who already had design experience. Even though she was my assistant, I did learn a lot from her as well. We learned from each other.

Where do you design?

I go anywhere in the country. I have clients who pay for my travel expenses, so I can design for them. I still design for my clients who move away. Lately, I have been to Arizona designing in Sedona and Casa Grande, also in Nashville, TN. Since you travel a lot, what has been your favorite destination?

It has been a while, but I love going to Europe. I plan to go again. It is on my bucket list.

What are some interior decorating services that you provide?

We are a full-service company. We do everything from adding a few finishing touches to a “magical make-over” for every type of room. We even do holiday and seasonal make-overs. My interior designing includes flooring, painting, windows, granite, fans, furniture, lighting, upholstery, and much more.

How do you complete your heavy-duty interior services, for example floors and counters?

Our company takes care of ordering the materials. We have trusted subcontractors that have worked with us since 1998. We know them very well after working with them for all these years. We have residential and commercial contractors for everything that has to do with interior, even electrical and plumbing.

What types of commercial projects have you completed?

I have designed hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants, financial businesses, dental facilities and corporate offices. For example, City Public Service, Santa Rosa Hospital and Church’s Chicken. A 2017 project that I really enjoyed designing was for San Antonio Auto Association. I consulted during construction and furnished the brand new building. We carry over 7,000 different vendors and visit different markets like Las Vegas, High Point, Houston and Dallas.

What types of projects do you particularly enjoy doing?

To do a complete full-service furnishing/decorating for a business or home, especially when I am given little direction and need to step in with lots of creativity and ideas.

Do you spend your leisure time designing too?

Of course, I have a craft room in my home. I like to scrapbook, card make, sew, embroider, crochet, knit and all those types of fun activities.

What is it about your job that you love?

For me it is meeting and establishing relationships with my clients and seeing them happy. I love working with my daughters. I have a special feeling when I see them becoming a success in design.

They amaze me and make me very proud!

Can it also become challenging at times?

Your degrees give you many career opportunities. What other jobs have you had?

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I want to please all my clients and schedule them in within a reasonable time frame. I want to fit everyone in as soon as possible. At times it can be a challenge to keep up with demand of projects.

A past challenge in my life is when my husband of 25 years who worked with me in the business as an accountant and installer had passed in 2007. My assistant Tina was there to help me in the business and as a friend to get me through those difficult times. My two daughters were there to help me with my youngest son. It was a difficult time because I had over 100 clients on the board.

How has your life changed since?

Years later I met my current husband.

I remarried in 2014. He is also a great support for the business.

Who all works for the company?

My two daughters work with me, Jessica and Jennifer. They have been working full time since 2009. It has been a blessing to guide them and have them with me designing. My assistant in the office is Tina Harper. I love her; she is a great friend and great assistant.

How do you all work together?

The great thing about our company is that we have three different designers.

We all have our own clients and projects going on. At the same time, we assist each other and are able to bounce off ideas with one another. Whenever one of us needs a specific type of furniture, the other usually knows exactly where to get it.

The Jenkins Interior Design Group Inc. is a residential and commercial design and remodel company in San Antonio, TX. -tnp

What did you study in college?

I attended Texas A&I University. I have a degree in home economics with a minor in microbiology and educational supervision. A Bachelor’s degree in science and Master’s degree in psychology.

I am a licensed designer in the state of Texas.

local dog kennel recently benefitted from an unusual donation of leftover materials from a nearby construction site. Skanska USA, managing construction of the new Alamo Colleges District Support Operations campus on N. Alamo Street, donated some large corrugated plastic tubing to Green Dog Kennels, providing muchneeded recreational equipment for the doggy daycare and boarding company. -cmw

Mary Lozano Jenkins

Unusual donation

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 9

Girls wanna have fun

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he 13th Annual Girls Inc. RockIt Into the Future Science Festival was held May 11. The fun-filled event aimed to empower girls to take a look at their future in STEM and took place at Mission County Park. Community allies, educational institutions and corporate partners came together for the free event for families in and around San Antonio.

The day was filled with hands-on, minds-on activities in science, technology, engineering, arts and math and introduced our future women opportunities in STEM. -cmw

Young Women Leadership Academy at Girls Inc.

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Putting it to the TESS

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Gambling & golf

here’s nothing better than spending the day trying your luck on the course hoping to beat your best golf score, and then topping the day off trying your luck at the tables. That’s what members and guests of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) did on Apr. 4 when ABC hosted their 9-Hole Golf Scramble & Casino Mixer. The event was held at SilverHorn Golf Club and was a phenomenal success.

–cmw

Texas Electronic Systems Specialists (TESS) L-R: Vice President Ramiro Hernandez, President Michael Snellgrove, and Vice President Jeff Koenig

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ichael Snellgrove and Ramiro Hernandez crossed paths when they both worked for a security company that serviced the banking industry. When it seemed the company was going to be sold, Snellgrove and Hernandez established their own security company, Texas Electronic Systems Specialists (TESS) in 1998.

In the 21 years since, TESS has grown in every way. Not only did Snellgrove and Hernandez welcome another partner, Director of Technology Jeff Joenig, but it also expanded its services, team and office space. The biggest change came when TESS became a factory certified dealer for some of the world’s largest security manufacturers.

“We were slowly able to build a resume with our own work and by supplying those products. As we grew, and got more of our own work and our own customers, we were able to provide more benefits and secure more talented individuals,” Snellgrove says.

Today, TESS boasts a 24-person strong team in San Antonio and Houston and strong subcontractor relationships.

“We have a service department that includes service technicians, coordinators and managers,” Snellgrove says. “We have an installation department with installers, project managers and an installation manager. We do our own CAD. We have become a complete integration where we can do everything – access control, security, fire alarm – and incorporate those systems into a comprehensive system.”

TESS services the entire state of Texas as well as areas of Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“We are very hopeful that our growth continues,” Snellgrove says. “It has been organic, and it has been slow but steady.

We want to expand that customer base and grow by talented individuals.”

Texas Electronic Systems Specialists Inc. (TESS) is a subcontractor and dealer specializing in security and fire alarms. – mjm

50/50 Raffle winner Nick Martinez, Harvey Cleary

Tournament winners: 1st Place Front Nine: Yates Construction Team - Carlos Elizondo, Danny Homan, Mark Williams and Nick McIlwain 2nd Place Front Nine: Ryan McBride and Tristan Hernandez

1st Place Back Nine: Terracon Consultants Team - Casey Sierer, Howie Eickenhorst, Jerry Nelson and Steve Kosub 2nd Place Back Nine: Joeris General Contractors Team - Michelle Seward Davis, Ryan Doege, Tom Smith and Wade Mayfield

Team SpawGlass - Dave Charest, Russell Jenkins, Rex Cody and John Devaney

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 11

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

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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 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

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

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, 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

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

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Ken Milam’s Fishing Line

Mmmm, Catfish!

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

By Max Milam

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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.

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.

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.

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! Now, that’s a catfish!

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

The big hunt

Mike McGinnis, Allen & Allen Company took Debra Benke on a Trophy Oryx hunt at the Corazon Ranch in Bracketville. Benke bought this hunt at an auction Allen & Allen donated to the Boy Scout Shoot Out. -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 13

Scholarship fishing

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iznik Concrete Contractors hosted their annual Mr. & Mrs. Big Trout Tournament May 3-4. The live fish scholarship tournament was held at Doc’s located under the JFK Causeway in Corpus Christi, TX. E-Z Bel Construction Intern Sayge Flores sponsored by Michael and Cheryl Rodriguez was the recipient of the $6,000 scholarship. -cmw

1st Place Amateur – Stringer, Trout and Red: SAECO

1st Place Women Pro – Stringer, Red and Trout : Mrs. Big Trout

1st Place Flounder Women Pro: Water Loo

1st Place Trout: Texas South Pump

1st Place Women Amateur Stringer: Crocker Stroker

1st Place Amateur Flounder: Off the Hook

1st Place Flounder Men Pro: Beer Money

1st Place Red Pro: Release In the Grease

1st Place Stringer Pro: Precision Ready Mix

Mrs. Big Trout team member Pattie caught the biggest red.

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Industry appreciation night

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he ladies of San Antonio’s chapter of the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) met on May 1 for their annual Industry Appreciation Night.

The conversation was lively, the camaraderie strong and the food tasty as NAWIC recognized several women for their contributions in the local construction industry.

Photos courtesy of Stephanie Garcia. -dsz

Membership Award: Kari Wirth, Mauze Construction

STEP UP Award: Lorraine Rushing, Connally Law

NAWIC Chapter President presents Ridout Barrett Club Sponsor Award. L-R: Susan Hailey, Ridout Barrett, NAWIC chapter president Becky Rodriguez, Turner Construction and Lisa Good, Ridout Barrett

Membership Award: Dawn Holmes, Workplace Resource

Membership Award: Stefanie Shanahan, Alterman

Membership Award: Lisa Good, Ridout Barrett

Membership Award: Dana Calonge, Construction News

Above and Beyond Award: Kari Wirth, Mauze Construction

Rising Star Award: Kathy Bower, The Blue Book

Hard-to-find, no problem

The Faucet Parts team Front Row L-R: Lupe Ellsworth, Victor Torres, Maressa Taylor, Priscella Esquivel. Back Row L-R: Pat Villarreal, Simon Cardenas, Jon Rodriquez, Mike Morales and Nacho Villarreal

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eing a plumber has been a life-long career for Ignacio Villarreal. He started working for a plumber when he was a young lad of 16. When plumbing work was slow, he worked for a small mom and popshop next door to the plumber’s shop that supplied plumbing parts.

Villarreal made it his goal to get out and see what he could do about finding these hard-to-find parts. While doing so, his plumbing work became a part-time gig and began civil work full-time. By 1992, he and his wife, Patricia, decided it was time for Villarreal to pursue his true interest on a full-time basis and on May 1, Faucet Parts was formed.

“We had a little building right in front of where our building is now here on Fresno. It was just one of those small typical houses that you see on Fresno. He gutted into a sales counter and converted all three bedrooms into supply room with shelves everywhere, says Patricia Villarreal, who oversees sales and marketing for the company.

“In 2004, we built the building that

we are in now. It is such a huge building coming from that tiny 1,000 sf facility. It has just grown incrementally steady to where we are today,” continues Patricia.

From a staff of two to a staff of eight, Faucet Parts as grown with the DIY phenomenon offering classes on plumbing repair. They even have a designated text phone line for customers to take a picture to find that special hard-to-find part.

After all a picture is worth a 1,000 words.

Recently, Faucet Parts has undergone an expansion featuring a new showroom, the “Faucet Room,” with a ready-to-purchase inventory and special order dept. “We have had so many compliments from sales reps who are amazed at the transformation. We have special order area, but for the most part, if it’s on the wall, we have it on the shelf. We think we have faucet parts figured out and now we’re trying our hand at having faucet available if you want to come in and buy a faucet.”

Faucet Parts is a supplier of hard-to-find plumbing repair parts in San Antonio. –cmw

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 15

Bohmfalk’s back

Rent a lift

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Converse Industrial Equipment owner Mariano Pasquel with his available scissor lifts for sale/rent.

ow do buildings and roads appear?

It takes a hardworking team with their tools and heavy machinery.

Workers need to be able to reach those hard-to-get places and move those thousand-pound structure pieces. This is where Mariano Pasquel comes in. He has all the machinery needed to get those light and heavy-duty jobs completed.

Pasquel learned about machinery use from his father and brother.

Monterrey, the northern part of Mexico, is where Pasquel was both born and first exposed to the field. His father sold forklifts in Mexico and taught his sons how to manage machinery. Pasquel’s brother used his experience to become a forklift dealer in Laredo, TX, where Pasquel spent a year to help his brother’s business.

Pasquel originally left Mexico when he was 5 years old to live in Grand Rapids, MI. In 2001, he moved to San Antonio, TX to be closer to family in Mexico. For a short time, Pasquel explored other career options and worked for ATT, but that wasn’t meant to be his lifelong line of work.

“I always knew I wanted to be in construction and be a business owner.”

He decided it was time to fulfill his destiny and, in 2017, Pasquel became founder and CEO of Converse Industrial Equipment. Following in the same pathway as his father and brother, Pasquel rents and sells construction machinery. Work machinery entails scissor and boom lifts to reach those tight or high places. Forklifts and telehandlers are used to transport heavy loads. Skid steers and mini excavators are needed for scooping and working with terrain materials. Some name brands available for use include Clark, CAT, Nissan, Toyota and Mitsubishi. The company has a wide selection of individual parts to purchase to maintain proper-functioning machinery.

Following Pasquel’s personal edict, “We rent out to any customer,” anyone who needs to borrow or purchase a machine are the ideal customers. Even Joe from down the street who wants to complete his first backyard overhaul on his own is welcomed to rent machinery.

Of course, the company protects itself by requiring customers complete the proper forms to prevent getting stuck with damaged equipment. Machines have installed GPS trackers to keep track of inventory.

There is not a specific target customer for Pasquel. He is happy to help and provide assistance to anyone needing to complete a project. The variety of customers consists of general and subcontractors. Business also comes from individuals, such as electricians, welders and painters. Aerial equipment,

which Pasquel said, “is needed for so many construction professions,” can be used anywhere, and for light duty jobs, too. An example is a department store needing to use a lift to change a light bulb in a high ceiling.

San Antonio area is booming when it comes to construction, so Pasquel knew it was the right location for him.

“Our city is growing so fast. There is construction going on during any part of the day, any part of town.”

Rentals are distributed within San Antonio and surrounding areas like San Marcos and Floresville. For selling machinery, the company expands in service area and delivery service is available. Pasquel has even shipped to Mexico.

Every day, Pasquel reflects on his business and is always motivated to improve even when the business is at its best. The company focuses on carrying the highest quality equipment at the best available price. To Pasquel, customer satisfaction is the highest priority, and he is proud to make a positive difference in his city.

“I love driving by a building or construction site and knowing that my business helped make that happen, that I am able to help and contribute to my city.”

Converse Industrial Equipment is a sales and rental construction machinery company in San Antonio, TX. –tnp

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Robert Bohmfalk, of Bohmfalk Plumbing

ohmfalk is a get-‘er-done type, and he comes by it rightfully.

“My dad was a master plumber with his own company in Texas and I started working for him as a kid,” Bohmfalk says. “He was a get-it-done-and-get-itdone-right kind of guy. No matter what the timeline was, it had to be done right.”

Robert adopted that same attitude when he decided at age 20 to become a plumber. After earning his master plumbing license, he started Bohmfalk Plumbing with his brother, Ronnie Bohmfalk, in 2008. The brothers went door to door to drum up business, and achieved early success. Working with family and the stress of the recession began to take a toll on the brothers, however, so Robert eventually gave Ronnie the business and looked for other ways to do the work he enjoyed.

“I went to work for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2012 as a maintenance supervisor for plumbing.

It was a different area and I learned so much about that type of plumbing; I really enjoyed that,” Robert says. “Then, I left and I had the opportunity to work for the military at Fort Carson. I absolutely jumped on board with that.”

Little did Robert know that he would soon return to the helm of Bohmfalk Plumbing after his dad fell ill, Ronnie passed away and Ronnie’s wife sold Bohmfalk Plumbing to a new owner.

Robert was not pleased when he saw what happened to the company he and Ronnie had started.

“The new ownership had changed the name but weren’t doing as good of a job,” Robert says. “So I came back, and told everybody I was back! The employees all remembered me and I bought my business back. Word finally got around last year.”

Robert immediately got to work to make the business what it used to be. He began by focusing on what he feels made the company stand out: customer service and fair pricing. Robert says he and his two employees tackle everything, from commercial to residential to repair to new construction.

Robert has also concentrated on growing the company’s service area.

“We’ve expanded to San Antonio, Uvalde, Bandera, Divine, Vital, all of those cities,” he says. “I’d really like to get going well in San Antonio.”

For Robert, it’s good to be back and doing what he loves.

“I enjoy that every day is a different thing. It’s plumbing but you’re not working on the same thing every day,” he says. “Also, the customers are great. I enjoy seeing other people and interacting with them.”

Robert is also pleased to be carrying on the plumbing legacy for his dad and his brother.

“I’m second-generation; I grew up in it,” Robert says. “I enjoy it and I hope the company becomes big.”

Subcontractor Bohmfalk Plumbing in Hondo offers commercial and residential plumbing services. –mjm

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

What is your Favorite Snack?

A Dwyer duty Popcorn: cheese, butter, certain kettle.

Otherwise, just plain old butter. Orville Redenbacher’s Tender White.

Adrienne Ford-Mann, Braun Intertech All kinds of chocolate.

Cynthia Hernandez, Allegiance Floors Anything with potatoes--French Fries, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes.

Lauralynn Arellano, ISEC Chocolate on anything. Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream is my very favorite.

Rebecca Young, Lone Star Construction Trades Training

S

Dwyer Restoration owner, Dan Dwyer

outh Texas is the place to be to get away from the blizzards up north.

That is exactly what Dan Dwyer did after graduating from Alfred State College in New York (not to mention that the taxes are cheaper in Texas, too!). Dwyer was first introduced to the construction field from his father who was a framer and owned his own business. Learning many trades in construction growing up, it benefited Dwyer in the long run. Framing and waterproofing was his initial skill set. He worked for a framing company and became a general manager elsewhere for eight years.

Dwyer Restoration, founded and owned by Dwyer himself, is a restoration insurance construction company. Dwyer credits his business as being able to identify hard-to-spot damages that most general contractors overlook. Another set-apart-from-the-rest plus is customer service. The company believes in keeping customers informed every step of the way by “communicating on a daily basis through the entire construction process.”

Many jobs are associated with insur-

ance claims due to natural disasters. The staff in San Antonio, TX, sets up consultations with clients, handles claims and repairs damages. The silver lining for clients is that repairs end up better than ever.

“There is no job that we complete that ends up in lesser condition.” Renovations for indoor and outdoor upgrades without insurance claims are also available.

There is a showroom filled with a variety of materials. People are able to select the designs they want. Dealing with property damage is stressful, but a perk is being able to customize a desired look.

When Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast in 2017, Dwyer Restoration was one of the first contractors permitted in to start repairing condominiums and homes.

It was a satisfying experience for Dwyer having the opportunity to help so many in need. Working in restoration is an interesting field for Dwyer because he is able to gain new experiences every day.

Dwyer Restoration is a restoration and new construction contractor in San Antonio, TX. -tnp

Brotherhood of golf

T

he International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union #60 Retirees Club held their 7th Annual Benefit Golf Tournament on May 4 at the Pleasanton Country Club in Pleasanton, TX. Taking 1st place were Scott Goetz, David Goetz and Michael Ackel. The fourth member of the team, John Anaya, was unavailable at the photo session. -cmw

Tortilla chips and any salsa.

Darci Brennan, Lone Star Construction Trades Training Buttered popcorn, just plain and put a lot of butter on it. Not too salty.

Martha Simpson, Mauze Construction Corp Chips and queso is my favorite. Chuy’s happens to be my favorite place to eat chips and queso.

Kathy Bower, The Blue Book I am not much of a snack person. Late at night sometimes I will eat Mexican sweet bread with a glass of milk.

Ramiro Sepulveda, Ramiro’s Roofing, Siding and Repairs Chocolate chip cookies. I have a sweet tooth and will take sugar over salt any day and I don’t like candy. Chocolate chip cookies are just perfect.

Stacy Reynolds, Alamo Iron Works Granola bars.

Albert Cortez, Tentex

Candy bar wise, it’s a Payday. Nutritionally, it is strawberries.

Jordan Reed, Lincoln Electric My favorite snack is almonds.

C’Leste Villarreal, Triple S Dynamics My favorite snack is probably barbecue potato chips. They have that salty, savory thing working.

Matt Rapata, DeWalt Tools Cheez-Its. It’s comfort food.

Mike Castillo, Capitol Cement Nachos, bean and cheese nachos.

Danny Miller, JSR Inc. Movie theater popcorn is my favorite snack. That’s the reason for going to the movies.

Patrick O’Leary, GTT Fabrication I like healthy snacks like cheese and crackers or salmon with crackers.

Mary Lozano Jenkins, The Jenkins Interior Design Group INC Italian ice cream.

Todd Butler, Ultimate Concrete Finishes Pepperoni Pizza.

Adam Richards, AR General Contracting

Beef Jerky.

Dan Dwyer, Dwyer Restoration

Cashews or peanut M&Ms. Bonnie Bennett-Smith, Florida Tile German Chocolate with hazelnuts. I was raised on it.

Heidi Majek, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

T

Page 17

It keeps getting better

he Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) San Antonio Chapter held it’s 40th Annual Banquet on May 2 and the event just seems to get better each year.

Close to 1,800 people made their yearly visit to the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall to eat, drink, be merry and pur-

chase or win some fantastic items. This local fundraiser always brings in huge dollars and this year was no exception with gross revenue for the event topping $1,000,000.

The variety of raffles, an amazing silent auction, two live auctions and the stuffed “Ice Chest” make this an evening

to remember each year.

CCA was founded in Texas in 1977 as the Gulf Coast Conservation Association, whose mission is to educate and advise the public on marine conservation and to insure the protection of our coastal resources so they will be there for future generations. - bd

Page 18

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

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

Meeting customer’s needs 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 experi-

HVAC & PLUMBING 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.

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?

enced 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

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 a plumbing subcontractor in San Antonio, TX. -cmw

right after Hurricane Harvey when Houston had such devastation from the flood waters.

What are the cost increases relating to your industry?

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.

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

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 19

THIS TH MON

HVAC & PLUMBING

To represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact SAeditor@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-

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 affected 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 in-

dustry 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, 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.

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.

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 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,

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

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

Page 20

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

W hat’s Trending in

Industry FOLKS

Decorative Concrete

Adrienne Ford-Mann Staff Engineer Braun Intertech

New Trend in Flooring Metallic Epoxy Coatings

A

drienne Ford-Mann lives in the ultimate Texas mixed marriage: she’s a Dallas Mavericks fan while her husband is a San Antonio Spurs fan.

Ouch.

Ford-Mann is from Tyler, from whence she became a Mavs fan. She played basketball herself from age 9 through high school.

Ford-Mann always enjoyed school. “I liked going to school,” she said. “I’m an only child, so it was a social thing for me.”

Good thing she liked school, because she went to three different colleges starting with Texas A&M, then moving on to Prairie View A&M, finally graduating from UTSA with a civil engineering degree in 2005.

Ford-Mann moved from Prairie View to UTSA for a simple reason her husband did. And, going through college was even more of a challenge since she had her first child while a student.

The Mavs/Spurs thing really became evident when she was in labor, as the two I-35 rivals were playing each other in the playoffs, and FordMann’s labor nurse left her to go to the game!

Fortunately, Ford-Mann was able to get a job in her field immediately upon graduation from college, in part to some good advice from a friend: “You need to know somebody.” She had a friend at UTSA who knew another UTSA grad, who knew

M

yet another UTSA alum, and these connections helped her secure a job.

It’s not what you know, but whom you know, right?

The Mavericks fan likes San Antonio.

“East Texas is a country thing,” she said. “Here is more of a Spanish flair.”

Of course, Ford-Mann had to learn about this “Spanish flair” thing: “When I moved here, I didn’t know what a breakfast taco was. I called it a burrito.”

As a civil engineer with Braun Intertech, Ford-Mann goes out into the field with a driller, and they take soil samples the proposed building will go on. She then takes the sample to the lab to examine its composition.

According to the national codes, the foundation cannot move more than one inch, even if the soil swells or shrinks.

The size and even shape of the foundation will determine if FordMann needs to take more than one sample in case there are variations from Spot A to Spot B in the soil.

Ford-Mann enjoys her work and life in the Alamo City. Her husband works for UPS in Memphis. Let’s just hope he doesn’t become a Grizzlies fan. –dz

April meeting

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embers of the Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA de SA) held their April Meeting/Mixer at Holt CAT on Apr. 17. The camaraderie of the members filled the air as they exchanged business cards and handshakes while enjoying appetizers and refreshments. –cmw

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

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Page 21

Association Calendar

continued from Page 1 — Lonestar Electric Supply nio market’s business. “All we ask is for the opportunity to earn your business with our commitment to supply and service your needs with hard work, expertise and inventory like no other. We have nothing to sell but service.”

Lonestar welcomes you to come by anytime to see their facility and see what they have to offer and enjoy a cup of coffee while you’re there.

“Our logo says it all, ‘WE MAKE IT HAPPEN,’” says Shaver and Kotzur and they are passionate about it.

Shaver and Kotzur have 79 combined years’ experience in the electrical distribution industry and look forward to continuing to serve the San Antonio market.

Lonestar Electric Supply is an independent distributor of electrical products owned and operated in San Antonio, TX. -cmw

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC

Associated Builders & Contractors Inc.

Jun. 5: Breakfast Club, Alamo Café, 14250 San Pedro Ave., 7:30-9am.

Jun. 13: Summer Shindig, Blue Bonnet Palace, 17630 Lookout Rd., Selma, TX, 4-6:30pm. For more info, contact Alissa Miller at alissa@abcsouthtexas.org or 210-342-1994 Associated General Contractors

Jun. 19: Driver Training Awareness, AGC Office, 10806 Gulfdale, 11am-1pm. For more info, contact Kelly Wilson at 210349-4921 AIA

American Institute of Architects

Jun. 4: WiA Networking Meeting, Travis Tile Design Center, 2420 N. Main Ave., 5:30-7:30pm. For more info, email info@ aiasa.org

continued from Page 1 — Bartlett Cocke General Contractors 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 promotions 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 contrac-

tor 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

ASA

American Subcontractors Assn.

Jun. 13: BPI Breakfast, Gardner Law Firm, 745 E. Mulberry Ave. #500, 8:30am.

Jun. 13: Summer Shindig, Blue Bonnet Palace, 17630 Lookout Rd., Selma, TX, 4-6:30pm.

Jun. 18: FLSA Lunch & Learn, RSM, 19026 Ridgewood Pkwy #400, 11:30am.

Jun. 21-22: ASA Fishing Tournament, Drifters, 4401 TX-35 BUS., Rockport, TX. Jun. 25: General Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr., 6pm. For more info, contact Jennifer Swinney at 210-349-2105 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 GSABA

Greater San Antonio Builders Assn.

Jun. 7-8: Saltwater Fishing Tournament, Port Aransas Civic Center. For more info, email fmorin@sabuilders.com HCA de SA

Hispanic Contractors Assn. de San Antonio

Jun. 19: Monthly Meeting/Mixer, The Quarry Golf Club, 444 E. Basse, 6-8pm.

For more info, call Dave Sanchez at 210444-1100 or go to www.hcadesa.org IBEW Local 60

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 60

continued from Page 1 — Parnes Construction

Jun. 7: IEC Graduation, Norris Conference Center, 6:30-8pm.

Jun. 21: IEC Sporting Clay Fun Shoot, San Antonio Gun Club, 12-6pm. For more info, contact Julie Tucker at 210-431-9861 or email jtucker@iecsanantonio.com MCA-SMACNA INC

AGC

Lonestar Electric Supply delivery truck

IEC

Independent Electrical Contractors

Jun. 12: Monthly Meeting, 5:30pm. For more info, email admin@ibewlu60.org

Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Assn.

Jun. 12: Regular & Associate Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr., 11:30am.

Jun. 26: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA office, 12500 Network Blvd., #410, 11:30am. For more info, call Sandee Morgan at 210-822-3763 NARI

National Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Jun. 19: Remodelers Roundtable, Pro Source Wholesale, 12919 Flagship Dr., 11am-1pm. For more info, visit www.remodelsanantonio.org NAWIC

National Assn. of Women in Construction

Jun. 5: General Meeting – New Board Vote/New Member Inductions, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 6pm. For more info, contact Rebecca Rodriguez at 210-639-2489 or email rjrodriguez@tcco.com Jun.27: 2nd Annual Burger Bash, MacArthur Park, Pavilion 4, 1611 NE Loop 410, FREE Admission, 4:40 pm, contact Heather@memcostaffing.com PHCC

Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors

Jun. 13: PHCC Plumbing Apprentice Graduation, St. Philips College – SW Campus, 11am. For more info, call Heidi Trimble at 210-824-7422 or go to www. phcc-sanantonio.org SAMCA

San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.

Jun. 20: Golden Trowel Awards Ceremony, Sunset Station, 1174 E. Commerce St. For more info, contact Debbie at 830606-5556 TACCA

Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.

Greater San Antonio

Jun. 3: 30th Annual Golf Tournament, The Club at Sonterra, 901 Sonterra Blvd.

Jun. 13: Summer Shindig, Blue Bonnet Palace, 17630 Lookout Rd., Selma, TX, 4-6:30pm. For more info, call Dawn Thompson at 210-901-4222 TSPS

Texas Society of Professional Surveyors

Jun. 22: 14th Annual Hook, Line & Surveyor Fishing Tournament, Redfish Bay & Boathouse, 322 Huff St., Aransas Pass, TX For more info, visit www.tsps.org

Crawfish depot

E

quipment Depot hosted a crawfish boil in conjunction with their one day only sales event and open house on May 23. Guests were treated to crawfish and door prizes along with an opportunity to tour the Equipment Depot facility and used equipment.

-cmw

Receptionist/administration

Birth centers are not common in San Antonio; you can count them on one hand.

Westover Hills Birth Center is a unique facility and business in our community.

“Parnes Construction has worked with The Jordan Group and Ed Monaco, P.E. on many projects before and there has always been synergy. Everything is always handled as a team effort, and nothing is ever someone else’s problem,” says Business Development Lead/Chief Estimator, Colton Parnes.

Parnes Construction is a commercial General Contractor based in San Antonio. -cmw

Waiting area

Representatives from Green Mountain Construction enjoy a pan of crawfish.

General Manager Kevin Medford greets guests while savoring some crawfish.

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

Grand opening and crawfish

T

T

Viva fiesta ASA/AGC

he American Subcontractors Association (ASA) and the Association General Contractors (AGC) joined forces to kick in the 2019 Fiesta season. The two associations and their members gathered together for a fun filled evening at Beethoven Maennerchor on Apr. 18. -cmw

Chester Drash cuts the ribbon at TTL’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

TL Inc. has much to be excited about these days. On May 6, TTL held a ribbon cutting ceremony at their new 20,000+sf office building. District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, Commissioner Wolff, TTL architects, engineers, lenders and others who played a part in the building of their new office facility were on hand for the ribbon cutting followed by a tour of the new facility.

Keeping with the festive vibe, TTL hosted their third annual crawfish boil at their new facility. Over 350 guests gathered together to celebrate the new grand opening of the new facility, participate in TTL’s second annual cornhole tournament while enjoying great music, crawfish, fried fish, hushpuppies, french fries and all the trimmings. -cmw

F.A. Nunnelly General Contractor: L-R: Sheila Olsen, Garrett Wheat, Cynthia Delgado, Alejandra Tomas and Robert Herrera

L-R: Ridout Barrett’s Tony & Karen Ridout and Greg Wiatrek, Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing

Baker Triangle: L-R: Mike, Kari and Jacob Sireno

L-R: Adam Matthys, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing; TJ Rogers, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors; Lauralynn Arellano, ISEC; Shana Egolinsky, ISEC; and Zach Buck, Cadence McShane L-R: Blake Beran, Skanska USA; ➤ Chip Goode, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, Matt Bonham, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, and David Brewer, Skanska USA The cooks - The Coleman Family

L-R: Chris Beard, Lone Star Materials Inc. and Audrey Ethridge, CCA

L-R: Bill Wurzbach, CFC Engineering; Comfort Air Engineering/Primo Plumbing’s Debra Kraft and Andrea Wurbach

San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019

JOB SIGHTS

L-R: Doug Milligan and Dalton Cook of AC Electric get supplies from their van at the INS Building Renovation project in Windcrest, TX. -cmw

Lee Ramos, Maximum Demolition & Dismantling oversees demolition work at the INS Building Renovation project. TABCO Enterprises is the project’s general contractor. -cmw

Installing exterior sheating at the new sports complex Saint Thomas Moore Episcopal Church and School is L-R: Fausto Quiroga and Michael Migura with Keller-Martin Construction. -cmw

Co-owner of Ultimate Concrete Finishes, Todd Butler, staining a 13,000sf driveway in Canyon Lake, TX. -tnp

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San Antonio Construction News • JUN 2019