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CONSTRUCTION
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Number 7
H JULY 2019
Yesterday doesn’t count
A real two-fer
Gary Raesz, owner of Raesz Custom Floors & Lighting
Belinda and Steve Payne, owners of Gemini Mechanical
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orn, bred and Austin lover Gary Raesz has witnessed the ebb and flow of the Capitol City during his time. As namesake of Raesz Custom Floors & Lighting, Raesz has weathered the dot.com bust of the 2000s and has played an integral role in building Austin up. “We’ve done some of the finest highrise condos downtown,” he said. Not to mention banks, schools, high-end homes, country clubs, medical facilities, public buildings, etc. Raesz could rest on his laurels but does not. “Whatever we did yesterday was yesterday,” he said. “Today is a new day.” In other words, if Raesz Custom Floors & Lighting gave great customer service on Tuesday, that doesn’t mean a thing to a
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tructure Tone Southwest (STSW) was originally founded in 1977 in Dallas as Constructors & Associates by Senan “Fitz” Fitzmartin. Constructors & Associates joined the STO Building Group, known then as the Structure Tone Organization, in 1987 and changed their name to Structure Tone Southwest in 2010. Structure Tone Southwest is a fullservice general contracting firm providing a complete range of construction expertise since 1977. They have offices in Texas’ major business centers of Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. For more than 30 years, Structure Tone Southwest Austin has been involved in some of the city’s most iconic projects, including the Frost Tower, Bob Bullock Museum and the renovation of the Texas State Capitol. Nationally recognized for their expertise in mission critical facilities, including several projects in the Austin market, they are proud to contin-
new customer on Wednesday. Raesz likens it to a music concert-goer: that person expects the performer to have his/her A Game on when he goes to the show. “Floors have changed so much over the years,” Raesz said. He remembers when carpet and vinyl tile was the rage. “Now, the number one item in any home is hardwood floors,” he observed. Case in point is a home in El Paso his company recently did that was 19,000sf of hardwood flooring. “The tile industry had to change gears because it lost so much business to the wood people,” he said. Raesz travels all over the globe for the best wood products. “We bring in the finest French woods you can imagine,” he proudly stated. continued on Page 14
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teve and Belinda Payne started Gemini Mechanical in April 2000. One might assume that the name “Gemini” refers to the two of them. But one would be wrong. It’s named after their twin girls. (Fooled ya.) Actually, Gemini Mechanical is the second version of the Payne’s Gemini ventures. Steve had Gemini Enterprises, a custom deck and patio business, in the few months previous to Gemini Mechanical. Steve had been doing HVAC since he was a kid with his father. Before the deck and patio business, Steve had worked as a project and operations manager for other large HVAC companies, and, “Honestly, I was a little burnt out with the industry. I didn’t want to do it.” Thus, he exited HVAC and started pa-
tios and decks. However, Steve was still getting calls from friends and contacts to do some HVAC work for them. “I got weak and did a couple of jobs,” he said. Belinda is more blunt: “We were broke,” she laughs, and told Steve, “You might as well go ahead and do that one [HVAC job]. We’ve got this deck coming up and it won’t interfere with the AC.” “The next thing I know I’m doing all air conditioning and no decks and patios,” Steve said. Belinda added, “20 years later, here we are.” For Gemini Mechanical, Steve and Belinda are co-owners, but Belinda is the majority owner by one percent. By being a woman-owned, Historically Underutilized Business, this gets Gemini a foot in continued on Page 14
Customized facility ue contributing to the built environment and the community of this dynamic city. Specializing in both ground-up, new construction and interior renovations for a variety of sectors, including specialized markets such as data centers, STWS was the ideal fit for the construction of the new FS Builder Resources Regional Headquarters and Distribution Facility. STSW led the new construction and interior fit-out of over 271,000sf across 15 acres to create FS Builder Resources’ new regional headquarters and distribution center in Pflugerville. Phase One consisted of the new tilt-wall shell building for office, showroom, and warehouse space. The building encompasses a total of 187,414sf including the shell building, 2nd floor office mezzanine structure and 2nd floor IBS mezzanine and warehouse shell. Site work and grading for Building 2 and future Building 1, paving, and landscaping were FS Builder Resources Regional Headquarters and Distribution Facility, Pflugerville, TX.
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Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
Rough times to smooth wood
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BBQ cookout
Dan DeVos, owner of DeVos Custom Woodworking
ver turn a bad situation into something good? Dan DeVos did after serious medical complications and multiple surgeries sidelined him for around two years of hospital stays. “I was going nuts and needed something to do,” he said, “so I bought a table saw,” read lots of books on woodworking and watched tv shows. When DeVos moved from Minnesota to Austin, due to his wife’s job, he practiced his new hobby. “I made the world’s worst bookcase,” he said, but managed to sell a table he made at a friend’s flea market booth. “Around ’97, I probably knew what I was doing, then made it a full-time business,” he said. Now, DeVos Custom Woodworking employs eight other folks to make one-of-a-kind pieces for both residential and commercial clients, some of whom are so high-end that DeVos isn’t even allowed to photograph the piece he made for them, in order to maintain their anonymity. DeVos specializes in wood countertops. He says that in the beginning, he had to often sell people on wood being a viable
material for a countertop, as it involves water being near. “What matters is proper construction and proper finishing products and proper finishing techniques,” he said, “and that’s what makes the difference.” Despite the fickle nature of trends, DeVos simply states, “I just try to keep my customers happy and from making mistakes. If they want a bright red countertop and I can’t find a reason to talk them out of it, that’s what they get.” DeVos has shipped his custom pieces world-wide but admits he doesn’t know where his work ends up as he works with designer houses and brokers who do the shipping. “I love wood and furniture design,” DeVos said. After his medical issues, “I found something I’m really good at and I have passion about.” Sounds like DeVos has made some really good lemonade, too. DeVos Custom Woodworking makes individually, hand-crafted wood pieces, based in Dripping Springs. -dsz
Guests enjoy target practice at This Old Wood’s barbeque party.
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his Old Wood held their first ever barbeque cookout May 11. The event was quite rainy at noon which got the Old Wood folks off to a slow start. Around 1pm guests started rolling in! A target board for knife and ax throwing was set up which turned out to be the hit activity of the event. “We had several bulls-eyes and lots of fun,” says Laramie Wilkins, This Old Wood marketing intern. Guests were treated to smoked burgers, hot dogs and cold drinks. Designers, friends and wood lovers were in attendance and all together talking about different projects, getting to know each other and even worked on some small side projects during the party. -cmw
Guests get to know each other and discuss different wood projects.
Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
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(Trim)built to last
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What is your biggest pet peeve?
he year 1984 may not have been a good one for literature, but it was a great year for construction. Scott Trim started a “small drywall company” that has left its mark on Austin ever since. To celebrate Trimbuilt Construction Inc.’s 35th anniversary, the company hosted a full-contact, no-holds barred barbecue cook off. With the Debonaires providing the hot music on a warm afternoon, the wonderful aroma of barbecue filled the grounds on June 7 as various friends of Trimbuilt were in it to win it. It was a great day for the company Trim founded. Can’t wait for the next big bash in 2054! -dsz
Politics and social media and tweeters and tweets and Instagram this and Instagram that and there’s no civility left. I’m oldfashioned but it’s not a good way to live. Dan DeVos, DeVos Custom Woodworking
Ozone Layer was adopted in 1987. We have been working on this for over 30 years! Customers should not be surprised, and contractors should be fighting this. Allison Hale, SOS Mechanical
Ribs: 1st: GSC Architects 2nd: Allied Fire Protection, LP 3rd: HR Marc
Being rude to service industry people. There’s no place for that. Dianne Bangle, Real Estate Council of Austin
My biggest pet peeve our liars and people who don’t do what they say they are going to do! Craig Janecka, Custom Crete a US concrete Company
Chicken: 1st: FireTron, Inc 2nd: GSC Architects 3rd: Capitol City Janitorial
Chef’s Choice: 1st: Commercial Flooring Systems, Inc. 2nd: GSC Architects 3rd: Beckwith Electronic Systems, LLC
Last minute turns.
James Wallington, Central Texas Refuse
Nails on the chalkboard and people smacking their gum. Angie McDaniel, Liquid Waste Biggest pet peeve would have to be inconsiderate drivers. I’m on the road all day, and it drives me nuts when people drive aggressively and don’t let others merge. How much time are you really saving by doing that? Tami Lee, SERVPRO Hyde Park
Mike Massey runs the Trimbuilt sign-in table
When people don’t do what they say they’re going to do. That’s probably my biggest pet peeve. Carlos Ruiz, Granite Radiance Probably the phones. When I’m on the phone, I like a warm voice; I don’t want to go through the prompts. I’m old school. Gary Raesz, Raesz Custom Floors & Lighting My pet peeve is R-22. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Kincl Mechanical Services knows how to beat the heat
The gang from Allied Fire Protection is ready in case their grill goes up in flames
The Debonaires are getting down with their bad selves.
Austin
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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My biggest pet peeve is when someone lies. I may not always like the truth, but I can still work with it. I do not work well with lies. Belinda Payne, Gemini Mechanical My biggest pet peeve for sure is telemarketing calls regarding car warranties and credit card protection plans breaking up my day for no apparent reason. Wade Turner, Texas Disposal Systems People who play music on their phones in public places. I don’t want to hear your music. It drives me insane. Meghan Wilson, Trane My biggest pet peeve is lack of communication... that can be across the board and in a relationship. If we all learned to communicate better, we would all be in a better place in life. Sommer Holcombe, Trimbuilt Construction Inc. Country music.
Robin Park, Central Texas Refuse
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Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
Are you fully utilizing your financial statements?
Active shooter events: Simple actions can save lives
Lance Trammell, CPA, Partner, Assurance Services Lane Gorman Trubitt LLC Dallas, TX
Jim Greaves, Associate Partner & Risk Management Experience Director Catto & Catto LLP San Antonio, TX
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ow effectively are you using your financial statements when making decisions? At the project level, contractors know just how important planning, and job monitoring is when it comes to the performance of the project. Plans and project estimates are carefully prepared prior to the start of a project and are continuously monitored throughout the term. Monitoring helps ensure that timely decisions can be made with regards to scope and the profitability of the project. If we step back to look at the big picture, are we doing the same thing for our company as a whole? Are we taking the information in our financial statements and using it to effectively plan and monitor our financial success? It is not just about cash in the bank and the bottom line… As decision makers, we cannot make sound decisions by just looking at the first line of the balance sheet and the last line of the income statement. The entire set of financial statements provide key insight into what we have to look forward to. For instance, our receivable and payable balances can help forecast some of our major cash inflows and outflows for future periods. As contractors, the cost/billing in excess accounts are indicators of how well we are estimating and billing out our contracts in process. The income statement provides us information on our current performance with regards to profitability and being able to cover our expenses; while the statement of cash flow shows us how we have generated and used our cash resources. Performance analysis/benchmarking Ratio analysis and benchmarking are great tools to incorporate into your financial statement analysis. Growth indicators such as month to month or year over year comparisons are good performance measurables. Comparisons of month to month can help us spot trends throughout the year so that we can better plan for cash flow in future periods. Simple analytics such as calculating general and administrative (G&A) expense categories as a percentage of contract revenue or gross profit can help identify what non-contract related expenses are consuming our profit dollars, as well as having a significant impact on the bottom line. We should also be calculating ratios that are used by our external users such as liquidity, profitability, and leverage ratios. Performing these calculations alone is should not be the endpoint of our analysis. We need to make sure that we are interpreting the results and that they are in-line with expectations. Additionally, taking the results and performing benchmarking allows us to see how we measure up against others in our industry and can clue us in on the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations.
In conclusion Financial statements provide a roadmap of where the company has been and a good indicator of where the company is going. Establishing performance measures and monitoring them is integral to staying on top of company performance. Your financials are trying to tell you something, so make sure you are listening. Contact your CPA, whenever you need assistance in understanding or setting up any analysis that will enhance your measurables within your financial statements. About Lance: Lance Trammell joined Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLC (LGT) in 1999 and has nearly two decades of experience working with a diverse portfolio of clients, particularly in the construction, real estate, and manufacturing/distribution sectors. A specialist in large-scale project management, Lance oversees the delivery of quality service to clients needing assurance, review, and compilation solutions by supervising staff on engagements, reviewing documentation, and preparing financial statements. Lance’s insight is frequently sought by members of the construction industry, and he has been involved in expert witness preparation and testimony for construction-related disputes. Lance is also well versed in compliance and HUD-related matters, and frequently presents on topics unique to the construction industry. Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLC 2626 Howell Street, Suite 700 Dallas, TX 75204-4064 Phone: (214) 871-7500 Fax: (214) 871-0011 Email: askus@lgt-cpa.com Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter
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t seems like we cannot turn on the television, read the newspaper or go online without hearing about another tragic mass shooting. With a majority of active shooter events occurring in the workplace, safety professionals are looking for guidance in helping their organizations plan for, respond to, and recover from them. Construction job sites have not been a major target for active shooter events, but the number of incidents has risen dramatically in the United States in recent years. The Department of Homeland Security defines an active shooter as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. Unlike most safety hazards, active shooters cannot always be identified through a simple assessment, even though warning signs may be recognizable in some cases. They come from every occupation, industry, economic situation, education level, background, and race. What can be done to help an organization assess and control the active shooter risk? Safety professionals should conduct a Threat Assessment to identify areas of opportunity and implement the steps needed to fill any gaps in preparation or response. A thorough Threat Assessment involves an evaluation of areas such as: • Risk & Vulnerabilities – Review any prior assessments – Current involvement with law enforcement – Number of building exits and monitored status – Criminal activity in the area and more • Emergency Action Plan – Is there a plan in place? – Do you conduct drills? – Does your plan address active shooter? – Does your plan address construc- tion sites? • Prevention – Do you know what the law enforce- ment response times are in the areas of your construction jobsites? – What are your contractor controls? – What are your perimeter and access controls? – Training and Education While not an all-inclusive list, the following are some additional tips worth your consideration: • Give law enforcement as much heads up as possible. In addition to preevent planning, on-scene information about the facility is critical. Employers can place lock boxes in the front entrance containing blueprints and key cards for additional responders. • Plan for reunification of workers, keeping in mind that law enforcement may have occupied usual emergency gathering spots. How do your workers contact their employer to let their employer know that they are safe? Do you have a call in number? • In addition, prepare for family members and media personnel to be present on scene. While law enforcement may handle access control, employers can plan in advance and make the process more effective.
• Create a reunification location where family members can reunite with their loved ones away from the shooting scene. Also prepare and have a plan in place for family notification so that they know to head to the reunification location. • Let law enforcement speak to media early on in the event. The organization’s communications team should work with law enforcement. In any emergency situation, it helps to have a policy indicating that media communication should come from assigned company representatives; employees should be instructed to defer to those representatives. • Once a law enforcement investigation is complete, media communications will transition to the organization. In the meantime, internal communications to workers should come from the organization. • Have a plan for getting work done. Because law enforcement will essentially close the building for days after an event, it’s important for employers to have a contingency plan, keeping in mind that many employees will have quickly left the scene without computers and other items needed for work. • Plan for post-incident counseling. The goal is to normalize emotions, helping workers get back to a routine. Provide HR staff with appropriate training so they are able to assist, and bring in trained professionals to provide counseling. • Training for employees must include options instead of just traditional lockdown procedures. Use Department of Homeland Security’s “Run, hide, fight.” Law enforcement recognizes that many employers are not comfortable telling workers to fight. However, if employees can fight back, even with something as simple as throwing a book or yelling, the action can disrupt the shooter enough that stronger measures can be taken. Remember prior planning and simple actions can have a significant impact on all involved in the event of an active shooter situation. As a working Director for Catto & Catto, Jim Greaves handles risk management and safety programs for non-profit, social service, educational and healthcare related businesses throughout the state of Texas. He is closely involved with the Risk Management team members to ensure that clients receive exceptional risk management, safety and claims consultation services. Jim Greaves Catto & Catto LLP 210.222.2161 x 239 jgreaves@catto.com
INSURANCE • RISK MANAGEMENT • SURETY BENEFITS • WELLNESS
Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
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Artificial intelligence: Poised to benefit the construction industry J.D. Holzheauser, Associate Peckar & Abramson Austin, TX
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enerally speaking, artificial intelligence (“AI”) is the use of machines to imitate human learning and problem-solving skills with algorithms and data. The algorithms process data input into the system and considers all potential outcomes through trial and error. Ideally, it will recognize the best course of action based on the data provided. There are many ways in which the construction industry will utilize AI. Some examples include: • AI could predict constructability issues for a project • More efficiently manage materials and inventory • Optimize scheduling, or identify safety risks and provide real time solutions These are only a few of the ways AI will be used in the construction industry. But what about the use of AI in construction from a legal perspective? In what ways could AI be used on a legal front, and what new issues may arise because of increased AI in construction? One of the ways a construction company could benefit from AI is in contract review and analysis. A contract is full of obligations, rights, contingencies, and other requirements. And for most large projects, the size of the contract documents can make it impossible to review and understand without the assistance of a lawyer. But AI document review technology that allows for patterns in contracts to be recognized enabling a user to understand the context and content of a document is a real possibility. Also, the ability to review a contract and identify the rights, obligations, and liabilities of the contracting parties is possible using AI. These types of tools can be used by contractors to identify variations in contract documents that are largely the same from project to project and compose a comprehensive list of the contractual requirements. The information gathered from AI document review can then assist contractors when they seek the assistance of an attorney. It will also assist the attorney to provide a better contract negotiation/liability assessment for the contractor. AI could also assist in document review for a construction project when it comes to dispute resolution. If a project gets to the point where the parties resort to arbitration or litigation, AI could assist in providing the company’s attorney with the information necessary for proper representation. Traditionally, the attorney would have to review the contract documents and correspondence to get to that point. The application of AI could cut out a significant portion of review time by using algorithms to identify relevant information and cull out the rest. This document review application of AI would also be useful in the litigation discovery process for the same purpose.
based on search terms, and AI, is that AI has the ability to learn as the process runs. While the document review process will still need a human element to assure the results of review and address problems or other issues, the use of AI in document review has the ability to ease the time requirements for document review. While the utilization of AI in construction can be beneficial, there are still unknown aspects as to how AI will affect issues of liability and how legislative and regulatory bodies will address AI. A paramount concern is how insurance liability could be affected by introducing AI into aspects and phases of construction that traditionally relied on people. Also, as a construction company relies more on AI for pre-construction, scheduling, quality control, etc., it will expose itself to a higher risk of online attacks against the AI systems controlling those tasks. This could be a problem, especially if proprietary or confidential data is used to feed those AI algorithms. As AI becomes more prevalent within the construction industry it will become imperative for contractors to focus on cybersecurity to ensure safety of Personal Identifiable Information (PII) and the integrity and/or security of their data systems. Also, for public projects it will be necessary to consult legal counsel regarding governmental cybersecurity requirements before implementing any AI program. There are unlimited ways in which AI can be utilized by the construction industry in the future to make construction more efficient and profitable for all parties. Using AI to assist in better assessing contractual risks so those risks can be recognized, accounted for, and minimized, is just one way that AI can be used by contractors to provide a benefit throughout the life of any project. Construction Attorney J.D. Holzheauser is an associate in the Austin office of the national construction law firm of Peckar & Abramson, P.C. He represents contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, and suppliers on a diverse range of construction matters, including dispute resolution. He may be reached at: jdholzheauser@pecklaw.com.
The difference between traditional document review programs that are
Happy
4th
Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
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mergency Evacuation is the immediate and urgent movement of people away from a threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. These threats may include explosions, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, hazardous/toxic material releases, radiological and biological accidents, civil disturbances and workplace violence. Deciding whether to shelter-in-place or evacuate to safety (i.e., get away from a threat or hazard) is among the most important decisions that must be made during an emergency. Employers should understand and plan for both scenarios. Many disasters are no-notice events, meaning that there is no warning before they occur. These types of events do not allow time for people to gather even the most basic necessities. Therefore, preplanning is critical. Workers may need to be trained to respond differently to different threats. For example, workers may be required to assemble in one area inside the workplace if threatened by a tornado or on an adjacent highway if threatened by a chemical spill. Moreover, a fire may require workers to evacuate to a pre-determined exterior location. When developing an emergency action plan, it is important to determine: • Conditions under which an evacuation would be necessary • Conditions under which it may be better to shelter-in-place • A clear chain of command and designation of the person in the workplace authorized to order an evacuation or shutdown • Specific evacuation procedures, including routes and exits • Specific evacuation procedures for workers in buildings (including high-rise buildings) • Specific evacuation procedures and responsibilities for employers in buildings (including high-rise buildings) Specific evacuation procedures on construction sites or non-fixed facilities • Procedures for assisting visitors and
workers to evacuate • Designation of which, if any, workers will remain after the evacuation alarm to shut down critical operations or perform other duties before evacuating • A means of accounting for workers after an evacuation • Special equipment for workers, such as appropriate respiratory protection An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a written document required by some OSHA standards to help facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. See https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/checklists/eap.html for more assistance in developing an EAP. • Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) • Procedures that address special needs workers, such as those that may have physical limitations • Any special actions for evacuation during an active shooter or other dangerous intruder situation The emergency evacuation plan should identify the different types of situations that will require an evacuation of the workplace. As mentioned before, these may include explosions; earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters; releases of chemical, radioactive, or biological agents; and civil disturbances and workplace violence. The extent of evacuation may be different for different types of hazards. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232
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Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
take me over to visit Joe at the muffler shop. Joe started teaching me how he welded, cut metal and even did auto upholstery work. Just as I learned one thing, there was always something else I needed and desired to learn to complete a project, such as needing to paint the bicycle frames. My cousin who I looked up to and got to visit in Houston helped me learn a lot of things, including paintwork. Upon returning to Austin, I learned I would need good quality automotive paint.
Keith Kubosh
Owner Kubosh Kustomz LLC Elgin, TX
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eith Kubosh has always depended on family and the kindness of strangers to help him get his start in the welding industry. More than that, the founder of Kubosh Kustomz LLC has depended on his own ambition and desire to create through welding, even as a teen. How and where did your passion for welding and fabrication start? I believe my talents and desire were God-given and I learned through the help of a few generous people and hours upon hours of blood, sweat and tears trying. Here I was, just 12 years old in Austin, and all I wanted to do was build something, but I lacked the funds to buy anything or get the tools. I couldn’t get a job because I was a minor, and we weren’t in an agricultural environment where I could legally be hired. Then one day, I went into HEB at the Hancock Center and I saw a bicycle magazine dedicated to customizing bicycles. I was looking through it and realized that I had some bike frames and that this was something I could do on a very small budget, as it was pretty inexpensive. How did you find a way to customize bicycles? At that time, there was a guy, Rene, who had an auto mechanic shop nearby. I often would go by and see what he was working on and I was always eyeballing a small wire feed welder in the shop. One day, I got the courage to ask if he would let me borrow the welding machine since I had things I wanted to weld at home. He looked at me, a 12-year-old kid, and asked if I knew how to weld. I said my grandpa had taught me, which was bending the truth quite a bit! I had been shown how to stick weld horseshoes together once, but I didn’t really know how to weld or had ever touched a wire feed welder before. He loaned it to me; little did he know I would be taking that little wire feed welder to the back patio of an apartment complex on the corner of Airport Blvd. and 51st to start making modifications to bike frames and building all kinds of things. My grandma reminded me just the other day how my grandfather was a nervous wreck thinking that one day I was going to burn the apartment complex down welding on the patio. After I took the machine back to him, I still needed help welding and cutting things. I called several welding shops in Austin and nobody would give me the time of day. Then a guy named Joe who worked at a muffler shop on Burnet Road answered my call. He said I could bring my bicycle stuff by after he was done with his work for the day and he would help me with it. About once a week, Grandpa would
How did you get automotive paint when your resources were limited? I got my grandparents to take me to Gladwin Paint Company that I had looked up in the Yellow Pages; I had no money, but I would look around and ask questions. They told me they had paints mixed for body shops that weren’t the right tint and they could sell me those for a lot less than the new paint. My grandma or grandpa would buy me one or two quarts each trip. I would I come back to a makeshift paint booth at the apartment where I lived and painted away until I ran out of compressed air. I didn’t have money for a “real” air compressor, but my grandpa had a little air compressor to air up flat tires. I would plug that into the car’s cigarette lighter, air up a portable air tank, take it to the apartment’s back patio, and paint until I ran out of air, which was often. That’s what I did because it was all I had. I painted bicycles at first, chairs, or just about anything it would stick to. As I got better, I then did some really cool air brushing on some remote-controlled hydroplane boats for people. Then we moved to Elgin in 1999 when I was 16. I got a job, started buying tools and grew from there. What work did you find when you moved to Elgin? First, I started making lamps, shelves, and different things out of wood and metal. I took them to the hardware store on the highway and asked if I could sell these things there. They looked at me, a 16-year-old kid, and said – thankfully that I could put my stuff on an aisle in the front of the store. Honestly, in a small town, I didn’t sell much. I built several things that won the Grand Champion for the FFA auctions during my high school years. One of those is in the local Classic Design Cabinets office and another in the First National Bank of Bastrop. Just down the street, I saw a red ’69 GMC truck that had a bed full of metal. Every day after school, I rode my bike there and I looked in the bed. After 10 to 15 times of going over there every other day and knocking on the door, somebody finally answered. That’s how I met Steven. We talked and, thankfully, he gave me the opportunity to start helping him do metal work at his shop. He started showing me the skills that he possessed. That transferred into me working with him for many years and gaining experience upon which to grow. What motivated you to start your own business? Around 2009, I wanted to start my own official business, Kubosh Kustomz LLC, where I could dedicate the time to perfect each job I was hired to do and be close to my aging grandparents in case they needed help. My grandparents helped me put a small shop on their property so that I could get started. The little 25ft. by 25ft. shop was way too small almost immediately for what I was trying to do. As soon as I made some profit, I would purchase more tools and machinery. At one point, I purchased a 70-ton Piranha Iron working machine.
Keith Kubosh and family, of Kubosh Kustomz, LLC There was no room in the shop for it, so it sat in the driveway with two tarps over it to protect it when not in use. Then I got a CNC Plasma table; when I needed to cut things on the CNC, I had to take my forklift and move the table from the outside storage area to inside the shop, do the cutting, and move it back to the storage area. When I needed to start bending things more precisely, I bought a large metal rolling machine; it sat outside and had a cover over it, too. The machinery just started growing and the shop went from looking like a little shop at home to a small factory. I did more work out of that little shop than most could ever imagine. When did you move to your current facility? In 2016, a shop in downtown Elgin came up for sale. It is a 3,500sf building with a fenced-in yard that had previously been a machine shop that closed. I purchased it and its contents to add to my business and desire to do machining and more precise and specialty work. What are your favorite projects? My pride and joy is the RE/MAX Realty Capital City office building in Round Rock. It was one of my first big jobs, and it took about eight months to complete. There was a small group of us working on it, but I physically welded 90% of every weld in that building and there are miles of welding in it. We built about 260 steel-framed windows, staircases and stainless-steel cable railings inside and outside of the building. I’ve also done a lot of work for Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre and local downtown businesses in Austin. I have done lots of custom steel and glass windows in their projects. There is a really unique large steel-framed window that I did at Lavaca Street Bar in the Domain that is the focal point of the front of their business as well as one at the owner’s personal house. Since I added the machine shop to my business, I have started doing more repair and maintenance work on food preparation equipment. Meyer’s Smokehouse in Elgin has been a big customer the last few years. When they have a machine that is 40-plus years old that needs to run 24 hours a day and it goes down, they know that they can count on me to show up, evaluate, fabricate and machine whatever it takes metal-wise to not only get them back in service as quick as possible but to make it better than before. What do you enjoy most about your work? I love the ability to take raw material and transform it into something very
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complex. It is always something new and challenging. For example, going from working on a multimillion-dollar vacuum chamber used to manufacture solar panels to welding and machining parts for a 60-year-old escalator at the University of Texas. Most of this work is so labor intensive, but at the same time it is almost like meditation for me. I once had a customer in the medical field contact me about welding some 15 thousandths-thick stainless-steel parts. They said they had had no success finding someone to weld these parts by hand. I told them I was not sure if it was possible by hand, but if it was, I would do it. It took some time to get the set up right for fabrication and welding the joints, and the outcome was a success. I did a small batch of parts for them several different times. It was extremely nerve wracking, but the satisfaction to overcome the challenge was worth it. What lessons have you learned on this journey? I’m 36, so essentially, I have been welding professionally for 18 years. Starting young and getting people to take me seriously was a challenge. I had skills but my skills were nowhere near the quality of today. I feel that the only way that you can get better is through handson experience. You have to do the work and put in the hours. I don’t know too many people who pick a welding machine and the first weld they make is amazing or the first part comes out square and straight. Learning to control and manipulate warpage in welding is probably the single biggest challenge that took years of experience to get to the point that I am happy with. All of these factors got me to a point where I am today in providing high-end handcrafted work. What future plans do you have for the company? I plan to sell the commercial location where we are currently and relocate my business to a larger private location, [where I will see clients] by appointment only. That way I can focus on the highend jobs that really push my capabilities and skill while allowing me to spend more time with my family. My son is about to turn 3 years old this month and every day is the biggest blessing to spend time with him. I plan to keep this business going until my son is my age and then it will be his to continue, sell or whatever he desires. This is my passion and I want to pass that on to him while leaving a fingerprint of quality work wherever I have been. Subcontractor Kubosh Kustomz LLC offers custom welding services for commercial projects. –mjm
Texas Style
★ ★ ★ ★
Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston San Antonio
Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
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Summer fishing at its best 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
The Sharron family brought their A-Game with them on a fishing excursion with Steve Schultz Outdoors. No limits but a solid box of fish for sure.
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ummer has arrived in the Coastal Bend, and this means our waters are fixing to get crowded. As many of you fishermen know, the weekends are the most popular days on the water. Saturdays are the worst!! Starting early morning on any given Saturday you can expect long lines at the boat ramp, bait stands and a mad rush getting to your favorite fishing spot. You can cut the tension at the dock with a fillet knife as you arrive and see the crowds trying to find their guide while others scramble to get their bait, ice and last minute necessities for their day on the water. As you ease out of the marina, your anxiety level drops as you lower the throttle on your outboard and the cool morning breeze hits your face. A slight smile comes across your face thinking everything is gonna be alright when you start fishing. Then that anxiety reappears when someone is already sitting in your favorite fishing spot catching fish. Go to plan B and finally start fishing and catching a few fish.
“BOOM,” some yo-yo just ran across your fishing lines and here we go again. That’s just a little taste of what happens on the water on any given Saturday on our bay. Here are some tips and ideas to help plan your day when fishing on those crowded day. First of all, try to pick a day
other than Saturday. I rarely fish on Saturdays unless it’s early spring or late in the fall. Most tournaments are held that day and every Saturday throughout the summer there’s at least two or three going on. Sundays make for a much less crowded bay and you can still get off the water earlier enough to get back home and cook your catch. Pick fishing areas that leave other boaters no choice to run behind you. If wading, position your boat to block the waters you intend to fish. Other ideas is run further from the crowd. Most fishermen like to stay close to the marinas and don’t like burning excess fuel. Fishermen that make the long runs
typically are savvy on boat and fishing etiquette. Last but not least, make sure you do all of your preparing the evening before and leave early. Lately, the bite has been early in the morning, so we have been leaving the dock in the dark. Limits of trout have been a daily norm while redfish seem to be a little more challenging. Live croakers are the go-to bait but I’ve seen several good boxes of fish hit the dock with live shrimp and soft plastics. Whatever your preference is, the fishing is on fire along the Coastal Bend and summer is in full swing. There are a few holes in the remainder of my summer months, so don’t hesitate in booking your fishing trips. Here are some open dates available in July 22 & 29 and August 9, 15,19,20,21,22,29. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail him me at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail. com. Good luck and Good Fishing.
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Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
Ken Milam’s Fishing Line Since 1981, Ken Milam has been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country, You can hear Ken on the radio as follows: The Great Outdoors: 5-8 am Saturday on 1300, The Zone, Austin and The Great Outdoors: 5-7 am Saturday on 1200 WOAI San Antonio The Sunday Sportsman: 6-8 am Sunday on 1300, The Zone, Austin All on iHeart Radio
Well finally!
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he topsy-turvy, weird and wild weather has started letting us get some fishing done! As far as weather goes in Texas, no two years are alike. This year has really been a challenge for anybody needing to work outdoors. We have had late cool fronts, lots of rain, crazy wind and wild storms that ran us off the water lots of days this spring, but now summer’s here we are getting on some really good fishing trips. In general, it seems most of the state is reporting that the seasonal patterns for most fish are running about a month later than usual because it has stayed a little cooler and we’ve had lots of rain. The arrival of good weather is just in time too. School is out and the kids have some free time to share with you. I hope you can find a way to help your kids spend some good time in the outdoors this summer, and not just on the ball fields. Each year it seems like we are seeing fewer and fewer kids getting to come fishing. It is concerning to us not just because they are our future charter customers, but they will be buying the fishing licenses and supporting the hunting and fishing industries that will help to nurture and protect our outdoor resources in the coming years. If we drop the ball and don’t find the time to help them experience the world outdoors, who will care about the well-being of the parks that are there for us to explore? Will they have the experience to safely spend time on the lakes? Will they even notice when animal species we cherish and protect now start to disap-
pear. For all of our sakes, I hope they will. We owe it to them to give them the gift of the world outside, if for no other reason than to have a place to go to slow the pace of life and find some peace in our noisy, clamoring world. Now the hope is that we don’t get too much hot weather too fast. I hope we can keep seeing some cloudy days with light winds and a few rain showers here and there to keep our water temperatures down enough to keep the stripers active. We will have to wait and see I guess, but then there are always catfish to be caught, and Lake Buchanan is raising some really nice blue cats and we are seeing more yellow catfish coming in again. Of course, there is a lot of fun to be had just jerking perch on a hot summer day. Those little jewels have fearsome appetites and can be just as much fun on a creek bank or stock tank or lake. They give you fast action that keeps kids coming back for more! I hope you have a great summer this year! Don’t put off having some summer fun too long now. Get moving before you get caught in the end of summer panic with everyone else!
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!
Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com
Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
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Simply radiant
A “chilling” prospect
Carlos and Sandy Ruiz, owners of Granite Radiance
Amber and J.C. Sohl at Eutech Services LLC
hicago native Carlos Ruiz drove through Austin coming back from a vacation one day. That’s all it took for him to say adios to the cold Windy City and holla to Texas’ much warmer capitol in 2004. “We started the company [Granite Radiance] about six years ago,” he said, but we’ve been doing remodeling since the mid ‘90s.” Ruiz’s family owned several apartment complexes, and he was forever working in them between tenants, fixing them up. “I really didn’t have summer breaks,” he said. Ruiz’s brother runs two other Granite Radiances back in Illinois, while another one runs the Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, operation. Ruiz’s three sons work with him as well. Ruiz’s wife Cassandra co-owns and operates the store with him. “Everything that I do, she does,” he said. “She handles everything. I don’t know if this company could run without her.” Even though the word “granite” is in the company’s title, Ruiz said that “We do everything that has to do with the kitch-
en and bathroom. We remodel everything from the ground up.” “We do a lot of commercial” as well as residential, Ruiz added. The list includes wineries, the Omni Hotel downtown, several Holiday Inn Expresses and coffee shops. Ruiz sees two very interesting trends. One, people are removing the bathtub in the master bathroom to make one larger shower. “Every 10 houses we do, maybe one of them keeps the tub,” he said. Two, people are having him remodel their homes even though the house is brand new. The homeowner can save thousands to get the very basic look from the builder, then have Ruiz come in to gut it and then remodel to the homeowner’s specifications, even prior to moving in. Business is booming for Granite Radiance. The move to Texas has paid dividends for Ruiz. Work is booked out for months and life is good. He doesn’t miss the cold at all. Granite Radiance does complete kitchen and bathroom remodeling, based in Leander. -dsz
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hen the HVAC system in J.C. Sohl’s truck failed the summer between high school and college, he didn’t know that getting it repaired would change his life trajectory. “I started talking to the repair guy about it and got a brief intro to it,” J.C remembers. “I decided I was interested in it and I started pursuing it.” J.C. attended Waco’s Texas State Technical College and later worked at residential HVAC companies. He soon moved to Round Rock, where a college friend recruited him for a commercial HVAC company in Austin and J.C. continued adding to his HVAC expertise. Twelve years later, J.C. and his wife Amber Sohl established Eutechic Services LLC. Together, the couple has expanded the HVAC company’s services to include split systems, package equipment, chillers, boilers, chilled and hot water systems, steam systems and controls/building automation. “We’re completely willing and capable to work on everything from a window unit to a centrifugal chiller,” J.C.
says. “I’ve gotten more into the specialized field, like working on chillers for MRIs and processed chiller equipment. I’ve found a little niche and it’s worked out well so far.” These days, J.C. likes being the one people turn to when HVAC help is needed. “I like dealing with the customers a lot and working on all of the different types of equipment we are working on,” J.C. says. “I especially enjoy the more specialized equipment many people are afraid to work on. It’s great to get calls from potential clients who tell me no one else can fix something, and I can.” J.C. hopes to grow Eutechic Services LLC and pass on what he has learned to others interested in the industry. “I have two guys, and I would like the company to get to the point that I can teach and/or coach the technicians and we will all have a good work/life balance,” J.C. says. Subcontractor Eutechic Services LLC in Hutto offers HVAC service and maintenance solutions. –mjm
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Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
Construction News ON LOCATION
Designing a paradise
W hat’s Trending in Lighting & Controls
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A Cascade Custom Pools design consultation. L-R: Superintendent Austin Olsen and Co-owner TJ Thompson. -tnp
Ubaldo Parra, General Manager LED Electric + Lighting Contractors
echnology moves forward at a blazing pace. We interact everyday with hardware devices and apps that make our lives easier. As consumers we have grown increasingly accustomed to having everything at our fingertips. In the past not much thought was given to how we interacted with the buildings we occupy at work or the residences we live in. Everything has now changed. More and more customers are now inquiring about how to interact and manage the lighting systems of the buildings they come in contact with. Hardware devices such as occupancy sensors have been around for years and they certainly bring convenience to our lives. It is much easier to walk into your office for example and have the lights automatically come on than to physically turn on a switch. However, more than just convenience is the fact that those same sensors can now be networked and provide data analytics about building usage and allow us to more efficiently use spaces. Networked Lighting Controls The days of the simple toggle switch that can be purchased at a local hardware store are fast approaching an end. Today’s switches come in a wide variety of colors, finishes and options such as push button controls, touchscreens and even integrate motion sensing technology. What’s more fascinating is that no longer is a 120V or 277V connection required. New technologies such as computer cable, CAT5e or even wireless control are now options to consider! The logical next step for these devices in a building to talk to each other. They can each have an individual IP address just like your computer has and can respond to commands from a remote location. Automated Lighting Controls Is it possible to have lighting systems learn our patterns and automatically anticipate when and how long lights should stay on? This certainly is something capable of being designed and implemented on a small or large scale. Networked lighting controls allow the user to manage a software and set certain parameters then let the system take care of the rest. With minimal effort a system can make more efficient use of the energy and also report back if there are any problems or lights out. Time and personnel can now be more efficiently deployed to address
other maintenance issues in a building. Color Changing Technologies No doubt we have all attended a concert and have been mesmerized by the light show and production. This is a big factor that adds to our enjoyment of the event. This same type of technology that allows stage lights to change color is now available to the consumer. Relaxing one evening sipping on a glass of wine is not quite the same experience under bright white lights. Enjoying a Friday night football game and cheering for your favorite team as they make a last minute touchdown would just not be the same if it was played under dim yellow lights. Lighting intensity affects our mood. Studies have shown that it also affects our productivity, learning abilities and recuperation. Healthcare and education are two big areas where this is being implemented. Don’t be surprised if next time you’re in the classroom or hospital lighting changes it’s hues according to the time of the day! Going Green Resources on earth are not infinite. Will we be good stewards of these resources? This is the question that must be answered with regards to energy. Certainly a lot of natural light is available everyday to help us with our daily tasks. Natural light also inherently has a lot of benefits over artificial light. While it is true that LED’s bring us a lot closer to natural light than traditional incandescent lighting, nothing can ever replace what nature provides. Who can disagree that we all wish we had a corner office with a big window? This is where daylight harvesting sensors play a vital role. These devices can help us automatically dim down the amount of artificial lighting we need conserving energy and maximizing the amount of natural light we use. The Sky is the Limit The above mentioned technologies and trends are not all inclusive of all the products currently available on the market. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, technology moves forward at a blazing pace and we can all agree it will continue to move forward. In the next few years we can be assured that more and more technology will permeate our lives and the buildings and living spaces will continue to become smarter. The Internet Of Things is here to stay!
13119 Lookout Ridge San Antonio, TX 78233 210.802.8320 San Antonio 956.568.4330 Laredo
Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
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Association Calendar
Mayday - need AC!
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ACEA
Greater Austin Contractors & Engineers Assn.
Jul. 11: Membership Luncheon, Norris Conference Center, 2525 W. Anderson Ln., 11:30am-1pm. For more info, go to www.aceatx.com or call 512-893-7067.
DACA Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Assn.
Jul. 25: Membership Meeting, Maggiano’s The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, 11am. For more info, email eddie@dacaaustin.org ECAT
AGC Associated General Contractors
Jul. 31: TopGolf Networking Event, TopGolf, 2700 Esperanza Crossing. For more info, contact Toni Osberry at 512-4427887
Earthmoving Contractors Assn. of Texas
Jul. 18-24: Annual Meeting, Holiday Inn Northwest at Sea World, 10135 SH 151, San Antonio, TX. For more info, visit www. earthmovingcontractors.com or call 325340-8370 or 325-977-8372.
AGC
Associated General Contractors Heavy Highway
Jul. 8: Membership Luncheon, Hyatt Hotel. For more info, call 512-478-4691 ASCE
MCA Mechanical Contractors Assn.
Jul. 24-28: Annual Meeting & Products Show, J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort, 23808 Resort Pkwy., San Antonio, TX. For more info, call 281-440-4380
American Society of Civil Engineers
Jul. 12-14: Leadership Development Weekend. For more info, visit www.texasce.org CTSA
NAWIC National Assn. of Women in Construction
Jul. 10: Dinner Meeting, Pappasito’s Cantina, 6513 I-35 N. For more info, contact Toni Osberry at tonio@agcaustin.org
Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.
Jul. 9: Beers & Bites, Austin Beerworks, 3009 Industrial Tier, 5-8pm. For more info, contact Wendy Lambert at 512-2556373 or email wendy@ctsaonline.org or visit www.ctsaonline.org
SEAot Structural Engineers Assn. of Texas
Jul. 25: Chapter Meeting, Maggiano’s Little Italy, 10910 Domain Dr., #100. For more info, call 512-301-2744
Construction News ON LOCATION
Bright faces
L-R: Guillermo Gonzalez and Stephanie Precido are the bright faces of Ketih Barker ROOFING and SOLAR. -cmw
★★★
★★★
Allison Hale, general manager of SOS Mechanical
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es, when the old air conditioning goes out in Texas in the summertime, that’s when one sends up the distress signals and calls for help ASAP. Enter SOS Mechanical Air Conditioning, Heating & Controls and general manager Allison Hale. Hale’s father, Steve Osteen started SOS in 2000. He’s been in the HVAC world since his shop days in high school. Originally from Tulsa, OK, he moved to Austin to marry Round Rock ISD teacher Amy in 1984. (Don’t worry, football fans – these guys root for OSU, so moving to Longhorn country wasn’t a problem.) Hale was a fashion design major at OSU and wanted to branch away from the family business. But, after some time working in the fashion world in Dallas (Panhandle Slim, Dickies and even the Dallas Cowboys), Hale found herself back in Austin when her husband’s job brought them there and she went to work at SOS. Hale jumped in with both feet. She started as a dispatcher, then on to residential replacement sales, and just about everything else to finally GM. “While I love the personal side of inhome sales and getting to meet so many customers,” she said, “it was all consuming and I wanted to focus on running a business, not making every sale. So, I hired my first Comfort Consultant and I came back into the office.” Hale continued: “I have continued to implement processes for every aspect of the business,” Hale said, “taking a handson roll with the financial side, and really found my calling in the marketing and brand management side. I also help with all aspects of customer communication such as email, texting, and outbound calls.”
Hale specifically oversees the the residential side of their operations, which encompass a good 90 percent of their business. Meanwhile, dad runs the commercial side and some of the in-the-field tasks. Osteen has found out that handing over the basic nuts-and-bolts of running a company to his daughter has been a good move. He doesn’t miss it. Even though father and daughter have on rare occasion not seen eye-toeye, Osteen has for the most part agreed with the changes Hale has instituted, which have resulted in positive growth for the company and an increase in its influence in the community. SOS Mechanical specializes in the Trane HVAC systems, and at the present time has seven employees. “I could easily hire three more if I could find the right people!” Hale said. “I would love to see more women technicians in the field and doing in-home sales. There are so many soft skills that go with this business and customers are expecting a full-service experience. I would love to be the company that really provides that in our area.” Hale said she gives herself 10 years at SOS Mechanical to evaluate where things go from there. She has two young sons and as of now there are no plans for a third generation to run SOS. Currently, things are going great guns. What we do know for sure is when the Mayday signal goes up in Round Rock due to an AC failure, SOS Mechanical will respond with either a new Trane or fix the existing unit. With former fashion designer Hale running the show, chances are good that everyone is colorcoordinated with killer accessories too. SOS Mechanical Air Conditioning, Heating & Controls is an HVAC contractor in Round Rock. – dsz
Landing the Eagle
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wo local contractors were awarded the prestigious Eagle Award at the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) National Convention held Mar. 24-28. The national convention was held in Long Beach, CA launching a merit shop movement to celebrate, collaborate and connect. -cmw
Exteriors: All Other Finishes - Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, Querencia Balcony Repairs
Institutional $25 to $100 Million: American Constructors, Austin Community College San Gabriel Campus
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Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
THIS TH MON Jan: Construction Forecast Mar: Construction Education May: Concrete Industry July: Electrical Industry Feb: Construction Safety Apr: Women in Construction Jun: HVAC & Plumbing Aug: Service Providers
Parking downtown Sandra Johnson, President Edge Electric Inc. Buda, TX
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ncorporated in 2009 by two native Austinites, Edge Electric Inc. is proud to take part in the growth of their eccentric city. Over the past 10 years, they have taken time to build a structured environment and invest in a quality team, which has afforded them the capability to complete high profile projects within required budgets and timelines. Maintaining the “quality over quantity” mindset has allowed Edge Electric to build strong customer relations, creating an exceptional reputation for themselves in Central Texas. How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? Running a construction business in one of the fastest growing cities in the country is hectic, overwhelming… and a little brutal sometimes. It’s dog eat dog out here! Have you experienced an increase or a slowdown in business? We’ve definitely seen an influx in business. We’ve grown by 50 percent since this time last year with margins reflecting the same 50 percent growth. Obviously, this means 50 percent more headaches to go along with it, ha! What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? What’s the statistic? 55,000 people are moving to Austin each year. Unfortunately, Austin hasn’t been able to stand by the “build and they will come” motto. We’re overwhelmed with new residents who need places to work and live. Investors and business owners are jumping on
this opportunity to serve the newcomers. For us, this means get it done and get it done FAST! The majority of our projects have a strict 12-week deadline. What are the “hot button” issues in the electrical industry? Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) governs electrical licensing. A long-lasting rule has been that on a job site each electrician must have a valid electrician’s license in their possession. Furthermore, for every five apprentice electricians on a construction site, there must be at least one master or journeyman electrician on site. Failing to abide by this rule puts businesses at risk for expensive fines. Repeat offenders can face suspension or revocation of their Texas Electrical Contractors License, which is required to run an electrical contracting business in Texas. TDLR has recently initiated a “sting”, sweeping jobsites all over Austin looking for this kind of exposure. What is the most significant challenge
Enjoying the ride Mike Varnum, General Manager Good Electric LTD. President, Independent Electrical Contractors San Antonio, TX
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or 33 years Good Electric LTD has been operating and serving the San Antonio market. “We strive for success for our employees and customers. Honesty and integrity are of great importance to us. Our motto, ‘ Dedicated To Excellence’ truly means what we try and achieve,” says Varnum. How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? The construction industry is strong right now. Companies and industries are moving into more government friendly environments. Have you experienced an increase or a slowdown in business? I definitely experienced an increase in business over the last couple of years.
What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? Lower taxes and the relief of a lot of restrictive regulations have contributed to increased investment and construction. What are the “hot button” issues in the electrical industry? Changes in technology, code compliance enforcement and lack of a skilled workforce are the “hot button” issues in the electrical industry.
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY Sept: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment
the electrical industry is facing? (i.e. labor shortage, other) Austin’s construction in progress far out-weighs the number of skilled tradesman available. This creates high demand, which calls for premium labor rates and yet another challenge for obtaining and retaining employees. A secondary and much less troublesome issue is parking downtown. About three years ago we started seeing a decrease in margins and higher than expected labor hours… after much research I came to find that my employees were spending, on average, one-plus hour per day making trips to their car to replenish the parking meter. In some instances, there is a three-hour time limit on parking, so employees must find another spot to park. The time spent making these trips to the meter cost our company nearly $175,000 in non-productive labor expenses in just ONE YEAR, plus $45K in parking fees. Discovering this, I started purchasing garage and surface lot parking permits, $265/month (on average). This was perfect! They always had a spot available and there was no wasted time clocked for replenishing meters. However, as of late 2018, garages and lots stopped accepting us. I have reached out to City of Austin Small Business Development, City Council and Parking Enforcement to propose a plan with no positive response. I feel there is a simple solution, but I can’t seem to get it in front of the people who matter. Allow businesses in the construction industry to purchase parking permits that allow the construction vehicle to be parked at any meter or designated area between 5am and 5pm. I would be willing to pay $200-$300 per month for each permit. Just from my business alone
this would bring in $60,000 - $90,000 per year rather than collecting $45,000 in meter fees per year. The additional money could be used to offer rebates to large businesses who shuttle in their employees from outside of downtown. It would be a win /win/win for all parties. There must be a solution – we just have to find it!
What is the most significant challenge the electrical industry is facing? (I.e. labor shortage, other) Making sure other trade crafts are not overlapping into electrical work like HVAC contractors, maintenance personnel and appliance installers. Labor shortages for specific skilled trades continues to be a challenge. We have come to learn that we will have to build a workforce with green personnel and bring them up through the trade in order to start filling the voids we are experiencing.
ees can struggle to maintain life styles going forward after such booms.
Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area? Yes. We see outside contractors when market and industry building is in demand. We are also seeing a lot of new, up start small businesses. This can also drive up wages and can promote poaching of employees from other companies. This is good for them until the economy takes a negative turn, and it will again, then it creates some real problems for employers and small businesses that can no longer afford the high labor costs when work starts drying up. When the outside contractors have moved on to the next boom town it can leave employees and employers with some real hard choices. What are cost increases affecting the electrical industry? I would have to say insurance costs, from workers comp to health insurance. Insurance costs increase every year and are a real challenge for businesses to keep up with these costs. Also, stated previously, inflated wage rates due to the economic boom. I am all for paying the best wages and offering the best benefits possible, but if economy has a down turn employ-
Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area? I have seen more electrical contractors go out of business in the last year than I have seen in the last 10 years. The blessing of the booming Austin market is a double-edged sword for new or small businesses. There is SO MUCH work available, it’s hard to turn down. But taking on more work than you can handle is a surefire way to drown. What are cost increases affecting the electrical industry? Although for a good cause, tariffs have been a trigger for increased costs. Luckily, that increase impacts us all so competitively speaking it doesn’t have much effect when it comes to bidding. Also, as previously mentioned, there is a shortage of skilled tradesman, which has caused a labor rate increase. Technology is expensive as well, but consumers are happy to pay the price for the latest and greatest. Almost all lighting packages we install now come with comprehensive controls for efficiency, security or simply ambiance. What are keys to being successful? Don’t ask me! Just kidding! After 10 years in business, the best advice I could give is to find what you’re best at and focus on it, be prepared for the long haul and don’t bite off more than you can chew. -cmw
What is on the horizon for the electrical industry? (Changes in technology; equipment; other) Technology is always changing and we in the electrical industry welcome the challenges. With these challenges come new, innovative tools and equipment to help us do our jobs. I know most of our field personnel love seeing the latest and greatest tools for our trade and saving up to get the best as they are introduced. Are there any significant code changes / regulations in the past year affecting the electrical industry? There are not too many code changes that I think had a real impact, but some local government choices, like the “paid leave act” will have a big impact on all companies doing business in San Antonio. What are keys to being successful? Reinvest in your business. Always be diligent and keep a sense of urgency. Communicate with your customers and employees. Do what you say you will do. Save a little for that downward time. Take care of your employees. Practice integrity and fairness at all times. Prioritize by adverse consequences. Maintain and practice with mutual respect. “Good Electric LTD has been in operation for 33 years now. We strive for success for our employees and customers. Honesty and integrity are of great importance to us. Our motto, ‘ Dedicated To Excellence’ truly means what we try and achieve,” says Varnum. -cmw
Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
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More efficient energy practices
stalling, how it works, not just having them as pre-fab installers.
Matt Rokovich, President
Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area? I have seen an increase in electrical contractors traveling outside of their area ever since the licensing changed from regional to statewide in 2003. It is fairer this way and not political as it was before 2003 but yes, that was when the tide changed, and the number of travelers has increased year to year.
Allied Electrical Contractors of Houston Inc.
Houston, TX
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llied Electric in Beaumont was formed in 1975. When Matt Rokovich was 16 years old, he went to work there and started out as a shop/delivery driver. Allied Electric later branched out to the Houston market. Rokovich became a co-owner alongside the person that trained him who passed away in a tragic helicopter accident in 2012.
How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? So far in 2019 there has been modest growth in varying sectors of the construction industry with increases anywhere from 1 to 4 percent but overall, I believe when the dust settles on 2019 it will be a mirror image to 2018 with not much of increase or decrease. Have you experienced an increase or a slowdown in business? I have seen work staying constant from 2018 through 2019. What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? From 2012 to 2018, there have been
great increases but with interest rates and material costs rising versus the US economy overall it has counter balanced out which has been the reason for the status quo for 2019 from what I have seen. What are the “hot button” issues in the electrical industry? The “hot button” is that the great majority of our youth coming out of grade school are not interested in doing trade work as a career anymore and it creates a shortage of workforce. I have to continue to improve the skills of my existing workforce and couple it with attracting new talent. I train from within, preach, and teach the National Electrical Code. I employ and empower electricians that understand what they are in-
Resurrecting HS training Keith Bell, State Representative Dist. 4 CEO/President Intex Electrical Contractors Inc. Forney, TX
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4th generation Texan, State Representative Keith Bell resides in Forney, TX. Before being elected to represent House District 4 in November 2018, Bell served as a trustee on the Forney ISD School Board for 20 years; elected as president 14 times. He has been in the electrical field since 1976 and founded Intex Electrical Contractors Inc. in November 1983 and serves as CEO/President. A serial entrepreneur, he has owned and operated numerous businesses in several industries including KB Land and Cattle Company LLC. How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? The construction industry is on pace with 2018 revenues, though tariff related issues seem to have put a damper on some of the private commercial, industrial and residential projects. Labor shortages and tariffs are having inflationary pressures on construction costs. Have you experienced an increase or a slowdown in business? Only in the high-end residential sector due to delayed starts have we seen a slowdown. This is due to the wet weather. We’re very diversified, so these weather-related slowdowns have been offset by increases in other divisions.
What factors are driving this increase/ slowdown? Our area has been booming for several years, beginning with a very business friendly tax structure which has led to businesses relocating to our area. Additionally, many of these employees and their families have followed these jobs. It’s led to growth in all sectors of construction in office/warehouse, office, institutional and residential projects. What are the “hot button” issues in the electrical industry? Tariffs have been a huge concern for the last year. The uncertainty has been keeping some projects on the sidelines due to inflationary pressures. The risk to subcontractors is trying to curb margin erosion due to rising wages and material
Electrical contractors positioned to thrive David Long, Chief Executive Officer National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Bethesda, MD
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lectrical contractors are well positioned to thrive in today’s economy, but there are additional challenges to overcome in the years ahead. An overarching issue facing the electrical construction industry is a protracted worker shortage at all levels due to market demands. Challenges of innovation and generational change are forcing contractors to adjust to a shifting landscape. As a result, they have employed a variety of approaches to minimize their impact, including increased recruitment, pre-fab, technology adoption, pre-ap-
prentice programs, college partnerships and training programs around specific skill sets. I am proud that the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
What are cost increases affecting the electrical industry? The trade war with China is our biggest obstacle right now. Different parts of LED’s that are manufactured in China affect our budgets and estimates that have been submitted to our clients. We have had to rush order light fixtures to curtail these threats of price increases. What is on the horizon for the electrical industry? (Changes in technology; equipment; other) The trend will continue to shift to more energy efficient practices. More jobs will require knowledge of installing renewable energy technology and other alternative power sources. I predict this
industry will be used in the future to retrofit existing buildings and to improve their energy efficiency. There will be more and more complex, integrated electrical and communication systems. I also see a need for more charging stations in homes and businesses for electric vehicles. Are there any significant code changes / regulations in the past year affecting the electrical industry? NFPA received 4,012 public inputs recommending code change and 1,235 first revisions resulted. There were 1,513 public comments submitted, with 559 second revisions. Nine new articles were proposed, and five new articles published in the 2017 NEC. The changes were diverse. However, the most significant change to me is the listing of “elementary and preschool facilities” as needing the requirement for tamper resistant receptacles for all 15 and 20 amp, 125 and 250volt receptacles. What are keys to being successful? Do not oversell and overextend your company’s resources and sacrifice quality to achieve quantity. Allied Electrical Contractors of Houston Inc. is a full-service electrical contractor. -cmw
costs on long term projects.
ment structured price increases.
What is the most significant challenge the electrical industry is facing? (i.e. labor shortage, other) Currently, our biggest challenge is finding enough qualified electricians. We abandoned HS trades programs and have pushed high school graduates toward college for years. This created a significant workforce development disconnect in the skilled trades. Fortunately, this has been recognized and these programs are being resurrected. We are working to recruit people to the construction industry through the IEC Apprenticeship Program, partnerships with high school CTE programs, military outreach and internships, all part of our Intex University.
What is on the horizon for the electrical industry? With the rollout of LED lighting and Power over Ethernet, there have been numerous changes that affect electrical wiring and installation. Because digital electricity is not currently governed by the National Electrical Code and Class 1, 2 and 3 signaling circuits are exempted from the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act – there is a risk that unqualified Individuals can perform these installations without the knowledge to properly size wiring and over current protection based on connected loads.
Do you see an increase in the number of outside contractors coming to the area? We’ve seen several new contractors come to the area because of the demand. However, this industry is relationship driven! We have maintained longstanding relationships from years of consistent quality service and creating value for our customers. What are cost increases affecting the electrical industry? Rising labor costs and salaries. Copper and steel are constant factors causing fluctuations in commodity prices. Additionally, the tariff threats have caused some lighting manufacturers to impleplays a pivotal role in the growth of contractors every day. First and foremost, safety is of paramount interest to our thousands of electrical contractors and their employees across the country. NECA participates with many federal agencies and consensus organizations in the development and implementation of safety-related requirements. They include the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Advisory Committee on Construction Occupational Safety and Health (ACCOSH), the Small Business Administration Safety Roundtable, the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) A-10 Committee on Construction and Demolition Operations, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) National Occupation Research
Are there any significant code changes / regulations in the past year affecting the electrical industry? The NEC has a three-year cycle and it is my hope digital electricity is addressed in the next revision. What are keys to being successful? Our keys to being successful are focusing on employee satisfaction, maintaining the diversity of our markets, a keen focus on customer service and prudent risk management. We are constantly striving to stay at the top of our game; learning and growing continually while putting that to work to create value and solutions for our customers. Intex Electrical Contractors Inc. is a fullservice electrical contractor. -cmw Agenda (NORA) committee. We are also a key partner on the Electrical Transmission and Distribution (ET&D) OSHA Strategic Partnership (OSP). This partnership consists of utility contractors, trade associations, labor organizations, electrical utilities, and OSHA representatives. It is the oldest and only national OSP that OSHA has in place. NECA also delivers continuing education both locally and nationally throughout the year. We stage the largest convention and trade show of its kind for the industry every fall. We will hold our annual event this September in Las Vegas, where in-depth education covers topics such as technology, leadership, communications, business development, and succession planning. Whether it’s continued on Page 14
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Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
continued continued from Page 13 — Electrical contractors positioned to thrive learning about code changes or implementing a safety update, NECA provides support to members at every level of the industry. The new NECA Learning Center offers a wide range of educational programs to help NECA’s contractors grow, such as state-approved code courses for CEUs as well as courses in project management, project controls and project contracts, general business, and line foremanship fundamentals. Advocacy is a central part of NECA’s mission. To help ensure a climate that is conducive to business growth, NECA has a strong presence in Washington, D.C. We represent the electrical industry on Capitol Hill and the White House and interact with policymakers on both sides of the pollical aisle. NECA supports the passage of a significant infrastructure investment package, the permanency of tax code changes enacted in 2017, and the modernization of the multiemployer pension system. One of NECA’s top legislative priorities, allowing 529 savings plans to be used in apprenticeship programs, passed through the House of Representatives in May and is now before the Senate for consideration. NECA’s focus on advocacy extends to industry codes and standards. Since the founding of NECA in 1901, we have had direct involvement in the development of requirements in the National Electrical Code (NEC). The NECA Codes and Standards Committee provides effective representation of electrical contractors in the rulemaking process. Many changes in the 2020 edition of the NEC address new and emerging technology and industry trends
while maintaining effective relevance of the NEC each three-year code development cycle. A few revisions that have a broader impact on electrical construction and system installation will cover installations providing shore power to watercraft in marinas and boatyards, including monitoring leakage current and installations used to export power from electric vehicles to premises wiring. In addition, the 2017 edition of the NEC has been revised globally to specifically include rules related to the use of reconditioned equipment. Lastly, a key area of focus is business development. Our goal is to help NECA contractors get more work from current and prospective customers through programs like the NECA Service Network. They help members prepare for opportunities in new markets such as renewable energy, smart cities, electric vehicle, and the Internet of Things (IoT) through programs like NECA’s Energy and Conservation Performance (ECAP) platform. Of course, we are always trying to draw attention to the cutting-edge work our members do every day, and that’s why we are proud to present our annual NECA Project Excellence Awards to best-inclass projects in 12 different categories. Changes in the electrical industry have affected every aspect of contractors’ work from technology and workforce development to budgeting, estimating, project management and much more. NECA helps members understand and embrace disruptions in a manner that aids them in becoming the source that brings value to their customers. -cmw
Staying grounded
continued from Page 1 — Raesz Custom Floors & Lighting Vinyl composition tile has been replaced by luxury/plank tile. People still desire hardwood as their first choice. Raesz got his start in the flooring industry right out of high school. When the company in which he was working went under in 1989, Raesz said, “I decided I want to do it myself” and formed Raesz Custom Floors & Lighting. A very good thing to happen to not only his business but all of Austin around that time was a tiny little new company called Dell Computer. Raesz is clear when he credits Michael Dell’s company with having a major impact on Austin. “The big boom happened when Michael Dell got going after the ‘80s bust,” he said. “All the houses we were doing, they were working for Michael Dell. The big high-end homes were because of Michael Dell. Austin is what it is because of that gentleman, hands down.” After Dell’s appearance in Austin, other software and computer-related jobs came in. And once moving to Austin, Raesz said, the city’s charm, ambiance, rolling hills, culture (food and music, etc.) have caused many folks to make it their new home. Raesz not only has an uptown showroom - “We have the finest studio in the United States” - he is also a distributor of flooring products all over the country.
And, he is the largest antler/deer lighting seller in Texas. Raesz invites one and all to come by his Custom Floors & Lighting facility. “It’s a jaw-dropping experience to see what we do,” he said. One thing that has helped Raesz and his team (some of whom have been with him his whole time) is a lesson he learned while playing football at Crocket High School: read, recognize and react. By doing this, they are prepared when a surprise happens and can act accordingly. Raesz has seen plenty of yesterdays but is excited about all the tomorrows. “I’m going to stay in this business” he said. “They’re going to have to carry me out. This is my passion.” The bottom line, however, isn’t the bottom line on the ledger. It’s taking care of the customer in such a way that is a win-win for both parties. “It’s not about the success we have,” Raesz said, “but about the lives we have impacted through success. That’s what it’s all about.” Looks like Austin will have a lot more good tomorrows. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Raesz concluded. Raesz Custom Floors & Lighting is a commercial and residential floor and light contractor in Austin. -dsz
continued from Page 1 — Gemini Mechanical the contracting door. “HUB status gives you the opportunity to bid jobs that other people might not get that opportunity, because the government gives perks for using HUB vendors,” Belinda said. Steve added: “When you come to contract time is when you have to prove a percentage of minority, women-owned business got invited.” Belinda said that being a woman-owned business is no guarantee, “but it gives us a ticket into the race.” And in the race Gemini is. As vice president and operations manager, Steve “bids on an average two-three projects a day,” he said. Gemini’s 50+ employees couldn’t do all the projects if they won all the bids. The goal, and one of Steve’s main priorities, is to coincide the bids/projects with their schedule. “We get a lot of requests and a lot of times the answer is no, simply because the time that job is scheduled to be done,” he said. “We say no nearly as much as we say yes.” As president, Belinda is the financial overseer of Gemini Mechanical. “I always do the books and finances,” she said. “That’s my role in it,” even if she has no formal accounting background. Prior to Gemini Mechanical, Belinda stayed home with the twins and a son. “God has graced me with the ability to
understand numbers,” she said. Even during the earlier and leaner times, Belinda is proud that “we pay every bill that comes in. We never hang anybody out to dry.” In looking back on their start, Belinda said that “I did not believe that Steve and I would be in a position where I did not flinch at writing hundred thousanddollar checks.” In the early days, she said, that would have floored her. Belinda and Steve are a good team. “Steve and I stay in close contact,” she said, in both finances and in the field. “It’s important for both of us to be aware and knowledgeable.” With 19 years under their belts, the Paynes have built up Gemini Mechanical with a great team that knows how to perform. “Steve and I don’t have to be here all day, every day, anymore,” Belinda said. While the pair isn’t ready to ride off into the sunset yet, they have plans in place should anything happen to one of them. “I still enjoy what I do,” Steve said. In other words, he and Belinda have no plans to revisit decks and patios, part two. In this case, “Gemini” refers to their one-and-only family business. Gemini Mechanical does commercial HVAC work, based in Round Rock. -dsz
continued from Page 1 — Structure Tone Southwest
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The Ground Up’s office administrator Julie Martin, owner Gregg Martin and project manager James Riley
regg Martin didn’t have to start a business to get clients. All he had to do was work on his own homes. “I always liked working with my hands,” Martins says. “As I was doing work on my houses, my friends would come over and ask who did the [tasks] for me. I told them I did it and they would want me to do it at their houses.” Fortunately at the time, Martin worked as a printing company manager and had a schedule that allowed him four days off a week. “I started taking odd jobs because so many people needed smaller projects done but couldn’t find anybody to do them,” Martin says. “I decided that I enjoyed doing that more than I enjoyed managing the printing company, so I started out on my own doing odd jobs as a handyman in 1999.” His business, The Ground Up, originally included landscaping (hence the name), but Martin has retired that service in favor of strictly restorations and renovations. “It has evolved over time and has
grown,” he says. “I moved to Austin after two years and started doing commercial work with my brother-in-law. I did that for about two years and then went out on my own again here and started doing trim out for a real estate company in Austin. It just escalated from there; before I knew it I was doing remodels.” Word of mouth brought in so many clients that Martin hired a project manager to oversee his subcontractors. He’s happy to have the help: The Ground Up is expanding into the commercial market as a general contractor and is currently working on a large project in Round Rock. Large or small, Martin still treats every project like he’s working on his own home and a friend might see it. “Every project I’ve worked on, I’ve been really pleased with,” he says. “If I’m not, I’m not walking away. It has to make me happy before my client. Usually if I’m happy, my client is ecstatic.” The Ground Up is a residential and commercial remodeler and renovator located in Georgetown. –mjm
also included in this first phase. Phase Two included building an 84,040sf facility to house FS Builder Resources’ in-house stone countertop fabrication. Similar to the process in Phase One, this phase involved managing the construction of a site-cast concrete tilt-wall and structural steel structure facility. This new state-of-the-art facility provides a way for FS Builder Resources to consolidate their efforts in the region, recruit new talent and remain an industry leader. The project was primarily constructed of site-cast concrete tilt-wall with structural steel. Inside, the building showcases FS Builder Resources’ own products. During preconstruction, the STSW team, including Project Manager Chris Shackelford and Project Superintendent Kory Lyons worked with architectural firm, Pross Design Group to analyze different methods and schedule situations to provide the best quality and most effective delivery method. The most economical approach to earthwork was water injection, which came with added risk to the team and schedule control inefficiencies. Structure Tone Southwest’s preconstruction staff recognized the less costly site work technique would ultimately add 42 days to the critical path and, instead, assessed a superior moisture conditioning process, allowing operational and management costs to be credited
back to the owner. Thinking outside of the box shaved weeks off the projected schedule and saved over $540,000 for the client. That saved time, however, proved valuable as 2018 was an extremely wet year for the region, resulting in over 80 days of work impacted by weather. This project was a unique opportunity to manage the site work, new construction and interior fit-out of a large complex that blends office workplace space with a more industrial, warehouse use. What’s more, the project gave the STSW team the opportunity to do what they do best— think creatively to find not simply the least expensive approach, but the one that would offer the client the most value and the level of quality they expect. The stateof-the-art facility is a showpiece for FS Builder Resources to consolidate their presence in the region, recruit new talent, and remain an industry leader. Structure Tone approached this 15acre, greenfield project as a partnership with the client, architect and owner’s representative right from the start. The interior element was also extremely important to the client and, therefore, required close communication and coordination throughout. The success of this project would have never been realized without these relationships. Structure Tone Southwest is a fullservice general contractor. -cmw
Austin Construction News • JUL 2019
JOB SIGHTS
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Industry FOLKS Tami Lee Sales and Marketing SERVPRO of Hyde Park/ Central Austin
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L-R: Nelson Melendez and Jordy Figueroa with Jose Soto Construction install siding trim at the Goodnight Commons project in South Austin. Weber Group is the project general contractor. -cmw
Construction News caught up with Diego Rioz of Scorpio Mechanical before heading out to lunch at the Goodnight Commons project in South Austin . -cmw
ami Lee has found a home in Austin, but because she was an Air Force dependent, the journey here took her around the world. Lee was born in the Philippines, then moved to Oklahoma, Panama (she was there during Noriega’s time), Arizona, Florida, then finally Ohio, where her mother retired. After this, Lee moved back to Phoenix to finish high school and go to college. “I loved it,” she said, of her time in the military. Lee was a computer science major and employed as a web designer. However, the out-going, peopleperson Lee wasn’t cut out for life behind a computer screen. As Fate would have it, she was laid off as a web designer in 2009. After taking a year off to decompress and sort things out, Lee ventured to Austin to visit one of her sisters. She was smitten by the capitol city’s friendliness and fun atmosphere. That’s all it took for the world traveler to find a home. Lee discovered marketing when she answered an ad for a water restoration company. “At the time I didn’t know what it meant,” she said. “I thought it meant, ‘water purification.’” After working there for a couple of years, Lee moved over to SERVPRO
of Hyde Park/Central Austin in 2017, and “I absolutely love it,” she said. Lee also “absolutely loves karaoke!” She is a regular at the Baker St. Pub for Thursday’s karaoke. “They play live music and sing backup for you,” she said, “and make you feel like a rock star.” When she’s not at the pub, Lee can often be found soaking up the sun on any of this area’s bodies of water. “Summertime is definitely my favorite season,” she said, “and I spend as much time in the water as possible.” With SERVPRO, Lee describes her job as “relationship management,” as she likes to visit at least 10 clients a day to make sure everything’s going well. Her very first day on the job saw her dealing with a water leak on the 18th floor of a high rise that filtered down seven floors. But damage also comes from fire and smoke, mold, sewer issues and more. “We kind of do it all,” Lee said. From the jungles of Panama to the deserts of Arizona, to finally the barbecue, music and water of Austin, Lee is enjoying life, people and some good old karaoke. -dsz
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Austin Construction News • JUL 2019