Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News July 2019 by Construction News

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H Volume 17

Number 7

H JULY 2019

Build of dreams

Pave of the future

Jerry Buck, director of sales for Anton Cabinetry

North Texas Paving LLC has grown and taken many roads since its start 25 years ago.

rom its humble beginning in 1974 as Southwest Cabinet Corporation and its 2,000sf space, to its current 80,000sf facility, Anton Cabinetry has come a long way, baby. John Anton’s “little small shop,” as director of sales Jerry Buck called it, has morphed from doing mostly residential jobs to mega-commercial ones. The move to the commercial world occurred in the 1980s. Back then, the average home makeover was pretty much the same with what was trending at the time. The commercial arena is far more diverse and dynamic. “We’re 100 percent custom,” Buck said. “There is nothing that sits in inventory on a shelf somewhere.” Buck used to own his own cabinet

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business but has been with Anton Cabinetry for the past 13 years, also working as the chief estimator. “We have a very niche market that John was able to get into in the mid ‘90s,” Buck explained. Anton Cabinetry still does some residential work, but it’s very select and usually very high-end. However, commercial work has its own benefits: it usually runs smoother from start to finish, as opposed to the homeowner who gets an “inspiration” halfway into a project and wants to change things. And, it stands to reason that a commercial job brings in more income than a residential one. Anton has done some big projects, too. Buck enters into the conversation continued on Page 14

n 1994, North Texas Paving LLC started out patching a pothole here, doing a little seal coating there. Today, the company does so much more than just a little of anything. “We have really grown over the years,” company founder Allen Buchanan says. “We’re a full-service paving company. We do pothole patching, seal coating, overlays, new construction, chip and seal, concrete, energy, and subdivision developments. In the past three years, we have gotten really deep into subdivision developments. We also have a growing list of cities and small municipalities for which we have begun to do street repairs and road developments as well as road and street repairs for utility contractors.

We have a pretty good list of developers that use us and in the last three years have probably done 50 extremely large subdivisions that we’ve covered with asphalt and chip and seal. We have a very good client base, a lot of Fortune 500 companies that we have continuously done work for over the past 25 years.” North Texas Paving LLC has grown to nine employees, runs two full-time crews and has offices in Aubrey, Forney, Fort Worth, Pilot Point and Weatherford which serve clients within a 200-mile radius of the D/FW area. In six months, North Texas Paving LLC will move its headquarters, which are currently in Forney, to a new facility in Canton, TX (the Forney location will still be in operation). continued on Page 14

Online retailer calls Plano home

ince 1946, Bob Moore Construction has delivered outstanding commercial, industrial, and multifamily construction projects in Texas and around the United States. Moore completed his first project in 1946. Expansion capabilities from grain storage to more complex buildings such as offices, retail and industrial buildings began to take flight by the 1950s. During the ‘70s, tilt-up wall construction became an expansion of Bob Moore Construction’s capabilities, becoming the first general contractor to be certified by the Tilt-Up Concrete Associations (TCA). “Our projects have been recognized for construction excellence and safety on the international stage. Any company can say they build projects ‘on time and in budget,’ but Bob Moore Construction has the reputation and experience to back it up,” says Philllip Bell, CEO of Bob Moore Construction.

Signazon.com facility, Plano, TX.

Experienced in private-only work, whether it be commercial, industrial or multifamily construction, the 30-employee Arlington firm made a perfect fit for the construction of the Signazon.com project, an online retailer and manufacturer of signs, banners and marketing materials. Project Manager Tray Hardin and Superintendents Stacy Langston and Edgar Valles oversaw the construction of the new 56,000sf multi-use office, warehouse and manufacturing facility in Plano, TX. From start to completion, the project was constructed in eight short months accounting for rain days with an approximate construction cost of $5M. It was a fairly smooth-running project. The only real challenges faced by the Bob Moore team were some weather delays. The project was built using tilt-up concrete walls with steel framed interior office space. continued on Page 14

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

Meeting it in the middle

Rolling out the relaxation

Pam Thompson with her crew.

The Contractor Direct Metal Supply team.

amela “Pam” Thompson couldn’t have been further removed from the construction industry when she discovered it as a career midlife. “I was 30 years old but had not been in anything to do with construction,” Thompson admits. “In fact, I previously worked in a drug store! I wasn’t looking to be in the construction industry at all. I happened upon this job in 1992 when I went to work for Anderson Asphalt & Concrete Paving’s sister company. I started out with typing and light payables, went on to be a controller and then into production. I would take on more responsibility a step at a time. I worked directly under Ron Anderson, who taught me sales and production.” With Anderson, Thompson founded Anderson Asphalt & Concrete Paving in 2008. She says when Anderson retired, “he looked at who might be a good replacement, saw me and took me under his wing. I’ve been fortunate to work with great people over the years.” The people are why she has worked in the industry for nearly three decades.

“The people in construction are good, genuine people,” she says. “If you need something, they’re there to help you. That’s what drew me to it, although I never intended to stay.” Stay she has. Last year, she became the majority owner of both Anderson Asphalt & Concrete Paving and its sister company Anderson Paving. The former has evolved into a $6 million-a-yearpowerhouse, boasting paving projects such as the FedEx in Mesquite. Thompson has found her calling in construction. She served as a board member and secretary for the National Association of Women in Construction’s Dallas chapter. She’s a member of the American Public Works Association, American Subcontractors Association, and Subcontractors Association of the Metroplex. The Women’s Business Council - Southwest, of which she is also a member, recently awarded Anderson Asphalt & Concrete Paving a WBE award. Subcontractor Anderson Asphalt Concrete & Paving is a certified womanowned business in Dallas. –mjm

atalie and Rick McCall make sure that when their employees and customers walk into Contractor Direct Metal Supply (CDMS) each day, their stress levels go down, not up. “Our metal fabrication shop is on our farm in McKinney,” Rick says. “We have four-wheelers, all kinds of animals and we even shoot guns out there. There are times when everybody ends up there, either picking up material or checks or finishing up the week. We have a fire pit and a nice porch with rockers on it and we’ll all sit down.” Rick says customers also relax as they sense his employees’ tight bond. The McCalls fostered this by supporting employees in quickly and transparently resolving workplace conflicts. “Our employees are very comfortable and work together really well,” Rick says. “We provide such a better front to our customers because we don’t have things festering inside.” Natalie, the company’s owner and operator and Rick, the CFO, know how to bring out the best in the many companies

they have established and currently run. CDMS, which they started in 2011, has expanded to offer custom sheet metal fabrication, job site roll-forming, commercial and residential seamless caps, chimney caps, flat sheet and coil supply and more. The McCalls are content, but look toward the future. “I would like to see at least two or three times the volume we’re doing now. In order to employ more people, I think that is relatively attainable in the next few years,” Rick says. “We also are looking to leave legacies in all of the businesses we own. We’re a couple of years from our last child leaving the house and we would like to untether from the day-to-day grind. We have groomed and handpicked those we want to bless with leaving these businesses. I feel like we are not only working on our future but helping to create new entrepreneurs, opportunity and success for those people we are involved with every day.” Supplier Contractor Direct Metal Supply is in McKinney. –mjm

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

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Linking up the industry

Latinos n’ clays

he Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) hosted their 2019 LiA Sporting Clay Classic on May 17. The fourth annual Latinos in Architecture sporting clay classic was held at Elm Fork Shooting Sports. Participants and guests enjoyed a half day of fun, barbeque and target practice. -cmw

LiA Sporting Clay winners: 2nd Place: WRA 3rd Place: Callison RTKL Best Individual Shooter: Charlie Dodson, CallisonRTKL

Carol Warkoczewski, founder of (I-LinCP)

arol Warkoczewski, MSOLE, AIA compares the Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects (I-LinCP) to Switzerland. That’s because her nonprofit organization dedicated to building leadership, excellence and predictability in capital project planning, design, delivery and operations isn’t biased. “We link people together, hold this neutral position in our industry and hold everybody as equal partners,” Warkoczewski, I-LinCP’s founder and chief vision officer, explains. “For a project in which we are facilitating, we bring together all key project stakeholders, designers, architects and engineers, the end user, the project owner and the contractor. We discuss communication, team values, project goals, mission, lessons learned and rocks in the road. We hold this special position in the middle and help to bring all of these groups together.” Warkoczewski developed the idea for I-LinCP (pronounced “I Link Up”) in 2008 while facilitating project partnering and team building through her business Synergy Builders. In February 2009, the first leadership and capital projects forum was held in Austin to such positive response that she formed I-LinCP and held two more conferences that year. “I had this really strong background and desire to help project teams be successful, and from an organizational development side as well,” Warkoczewski, who also is a City Architect for the City of San Antonio, says. She has since established an I-LinCP team, including executive direc-tor Carla Bingaman and Mike Lackey, who has been instrumental in program coordination. San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas chapters have formed, and I-LinCP hosts a retreat and networking events. I-LinCP also started “Circles of Excellence, which provides opportunities for smaller teams to focus on particular areas of interest. “Something I am very proud of that I

Dallas H Fort Worth

think will continue to grow and gain momentum is our ‘Circle of Excellence’ called ‘Invest in Women,’ which has an annual women’s forum and is helping to put together a leadership certification program called ‘Leadership in Collaborative Project Delivery.’ It is open to all genders, but we include topics around effective communication, equity, and diversity in the workplace. “Looking forward, providing good programs is one of the things that we will continue to do, and we have really good ideas that we want to implement in different circles,” she adds. “One thing we will do to help I-LinCP be sustainable is grow Circles through the financial investment of major underwriters. We have one major underwriter, SKANSKA, that supports the ‘Invest in Women Circle.’ Their donation helps fund this program’s curriculum development.” One I-LinCP event, a Texas Public Owners Conference with the theme “The Bridge Over Troubled Waters: From Project Delivery to Operations,” is Aug. 8 and 9 at Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel. She says the conference is “an opportunity for facility owners and public owners to share information with other public owners, but we also bring in other partners, designers, architects, engineers and contractors. It’s an opportunity to learn from each other.” I-LinCP has met such a need in the industry that Warkoczewski has received requests to start chapters beyond Texas. “My goal for five to ten years is to have chapters outside of the U.S. I believe that the values, goals, mission and vision that I-LinCP has is something that can be taken internationally. The construction industry can show people in other countries and industries that we have to work together in spite of contracts that put us at odds. If we can do it, anybody can do this,” she says. –mjm

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Visit our Website to sign up for a free monthly Digital Subscription www.ConstructionNews.net The Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News (ISSN 1547-7657) is published monthly by Construction News Ltd., dba Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction related companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space-available basis. Construction News, Ltd., dba Dallas ★ Fort Worth Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time. ©2019 Construction News, Ltd.

1st Place Team: CallisonRTKL

Barbeque cooking team made up of Frank Dale Construction and Suffolk.

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Dallas/Fort Worth 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

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 indus-

try 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

The Eagle comes to TDI

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 construction sites? • Prevention – Do you know what the law enforcement 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.

TDIndustries received the prestigious Eagle Award in Mechanical Commercial Less Than $10 Million. L-R: ABC National Chairman Tony Rader, Superintendent Randy Smith and Project Manager Richard Bain. -cmw

• 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

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

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Artificial intelligence: Poised to benefit the construction industry

Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

J.D. Holzheauser, Associate Peckar & Abramson Austin, TX

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.

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 con-

struction 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

Play ball!

lay ball! Twenty-four teams from around the construction community bought out their heavy hitters to the 2019 TEXO Softball Tournament held on Jun. 8. Despite every team and every player swinging for the fences with hopes of hitting home runs, running the bases, stealing bases, and a desire to outfield their opponent, it proved to be a great day of fun and friendship. -cmw

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.

3-PEAT Champions, Burleson Electric

The difference between traditional document review programs that are

Happy

4th

Burleson Electric reacts to winning the 2019 TEXO Softball Tournament.

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

construction-related projects, I chose the civil engineering major. I met my wife, Sarah, at Texas Tech and following graduation we were married and moved to Dallas.

Stuart A. Markussen PE, RPLS, LEED AP President/CEO RLG Consulting Engineers Dallas, TX

knack for math and science led Stuart A. Markussen to discover civil engineering in college and, as he pursued it after graduation, he soon discovered RLG. Now serving as the President and CEO of RLG, Markussen looks forward to taking the 65-year-old company into the future. Share about your background. As a kid growing up, my family moved about every four years due to my father’s work. I experienced a lot of the country from the northern Midwest to the deep South. What path did your life and career begin to take during and after high school? My junior year in high school, we moved from a small town in the northern Alabama hills to the flat lands of Lubbock, TX. This gave me the opportunity to attend Texas Tech, one of the nation’s best engineering schools. Since my academic strengths were in math and science and my interests were in

How and what year were you introduced to RLG? I interviewed with several firms in Dallas when I graduated from college. I took a position at a firm that had an extensive history in Dallas. Through the boom and bust of the ‘80s, I competed against RLG for projects and clients. I developed a great respect for the firm’s history, expertise and capabilities. Describe the trajectory of your career with RLG. In 1996, I joined the firm to lead the civil and survey departments. Within two years, I became a shareholder and moved into a firm leadership role. In October of 2018, I became the President and CEO of the firm. How has the company evolved since it was founded in 1953 by Mr. Goodson? Founded in 1953 by Raymond L. Goodson, Jr., RLG Consulting Engineers started out as a civil and surveying firm with three employees. Since then, RLG has grown to over 70 employees in three offices and also provides structural engineering and forensics. RLG is recognized as one of the top engineering firms in Texas for our ability to attract and retain a talented, experienced team, known for their reputation for thorough and meticulous work. Describe the company’s current scope of services. We specialize in civil engineering, structural engineering, surveying and forensics. Describe the company culture. We are committed to creating enriching careers for our employees. We want our employees to be passionate

RLG President/CEO Stuart Markussen and his wife

about the work they do and have made a concerted effort to create a social environment for our staff. We started as a family-owned business and we want to carry over that foundation with our staff today. What lessons have you learned in your construction career? I have learned that communication, coordination, and planning are key to successful construction projects. I feel it is important that design professionals develop a relationship with the construction team to ensure their designs are efficient and constructible. This is also key to eliminating or minimizing misunderstandings, errors and mistakes. What do you enjoy about your work? I enjoy being a part of the process of creating new developments. This includes meeting with the owner, design team, the city, and the contractor early in the project to identify possible issues that may come up. Proactively addressing these issues, instead of being reactive, is key to a successful project.

Project Manager for CBRE. They are truly the most responsible and dependable young adults we know, and we are very proud of them. They both live close to us which has been great. I spend most of my weekends working with them on their home remodel and improvement projects. Every project has proven to be an opportunity to purchase a new tool. They both have learned how to create value in their homes and the pride in making it happen. My son and his wife have also blessed us with three of the most precious granddaughters grand-parents can have. They are truly special. My other hobbies include building furniture, shooting shotguns and long-range rifles. Do you think you will retire doing this work or do you have other plans? I love what I do and plan on working as long as I can, or as long as my wife will let me. RLG is a Dallas-based civil engineering, structural engineering, surveying and forensics company. –mjm

What plans are in place for the future of the company? The company has been in business for 65 years and is in its third generation of leadership. Two years ago, we started planning the transition to our current group of leaders. This included rewarding talented employees with ownership opportunities and the ability for them to provide continued growth for the company.

Markussen cherishes spending time with his granddaughters.

Please share about your life outside of the company. My outside interests are centered around family and friends. My wife and I have been married for 35 years and we have two grown children. Our daughter is a schoolteacher with Richardson Independent School District and our son is a

Love for math and science led Markussen to civil engineering.

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

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ly 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.

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

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 final-

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.

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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Dallas/Fort Worth 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!

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 see-

ing 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 disappear. 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!

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

ASA turns 50

he American Subcontractors Association (ASA) North Texas Chapter hosted their annual awards banquet in a big way as ASA also celebrated the association’s 50th anniversary. The black- tie affair was held at Union Station on Jun. 7. ASA staff and members from across Texas were present to take part of this golden celebration. Members and guests enjoyed a fabulous dinner and a prestigious awards presentation, followed by an evening of dancing. -cmw 2019 Safety Awards winners:

Subcontractor Under 1 Million Man Hours: HaleyGreer Inc. Subcontractor Over 1 Million Man Hours: GMI GC Division: Austin Commercial 2019 Subcontractor Gold Award Winners: $0-$1 Million: Polk Mechanical Company - MDMC Boardroom, Foundation & Case Management $1-$5 Million: KPost Roofing & Waterproofing – The Statler Hotel $5-$10 Million: Striland Construction – The Marq Southlake Champions Club $10-$15 Million: Polk Mechanical Company – Medical City of Dallas, Women’s Hospital Expansion, Dallas, TX $15+ Million: Walker Engineering Inc. – Houston Methodist Hospital, Paula & Joseph (Rusty) Walter III Tower

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2019 General Contractor Award Winners: $0-$2 Million: Novel Builders – Plano Orthopedic $2-$10 Million: Novel Builders – Aqua Terra $10-$25 Million: Cadence McShane Construction Company - McKinney High School Performing Arts Center Addition and Renovations $25-50 Million: Rogers-O’Brien Construction - Texas Oncology – Fort Worth Cancer Center $50+ Million: MEDCO Construction - Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research at The Star

Subcontractor $1-$5 Million Category: NTD Mechanical – TEXRail Equipment Maintenance Facility

Outstanding Philanthropy Award: Johnston Products of Dallas Award: Thomas Feldman & Wilshusen LLP

General Contractor $10-$25 Million Category: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors LLC - Mansfield Independent School District - Dr. Sarah K. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners

Architect of the Year: HKS

General Contractor $2-$10 Million Category: Rogers-O’Brien Construction – 6080 NCX Garage, The Crossing Phase 1

General Contractor $50 Million + Category: Balfour Beatty - Park District

General Contractor $25-$50 Million Category: Balfour Beatty -3100 Olympus

General Contractor $0-$2 Million Category: Skiles Group – Methodist Dallas Medical Center Boardroom

Engineer of the Year: WSP Engineers

Subcontractor $0-$1 Million: RL Murphey Commercial Roof Systems – Hillwood Heritage Commons

Subcontractor $10-$15 Million Category: Kent Companies – Arlington Automotive Center

Subcontractor $15+ Million Category: Walker Industrial Inc. – Liberty Mutual Regional Office, Legacy Campus

Beacon Award: Kyle Hamlin, MEMCO

Subcontractor $5-$10 Million Category: GMI – Ardan West Village

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

A ‘high landing’ business

W hat’s Trending in Lighting & Controls

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

The Gordon Highlander team with owner, Greg Gordon (front row, middle)

company that works together like family is at Gordon Highlander Corporation. The team consists of a variety of experienced project managers, superintendents and estimators. Every person adds their own knowledge and value into the company. Owner and founder Greg Gordon strives to “continue extending great leadership and creating an environment where people can thrive.” One way he shows his appreciation is by having regular company lunches and events. The company is growing in both services and employees. Recently, the business development department expanded and welcomed two new members. Gordon started his commercial business in 2007. Before he started on his own, he had worked for another company in the same industry for nearly a decade. He knew he was more than ready to take on and manage his own company. Gordon moved to Dallas, TX as a child and has stayed ever since. He was born in Baltimore, MD. Services include construction of all

interior commercial facilities. They specialize in designing and creating the perfect space for property owners and tenants. Typical projects include office interiors, industrial warehouses, manufacturing facilities and showrooms. Overall, there has been a completion of over 3,000 projects exceeding over $300 million in value. The numbers continue to grow. Gordon prefers major overhauls that are challenging and complicated, “The more complicated, the better.” For example, a golf simulator was designed and installed in a high-rise corporate office. The company also successfully completed a big, time-crunching project at Chewy’s 800,000-sf distribution center. When Gordon has time away from the office, he enjoys the simple things in life like being with family. He has his hands full with two sets of twin boys and a baby girl. They spend time around the water at the coast and lake. Gordon Highlander Corporation is an interior construction contractor in Dallas, TX. –tnp

KIDstruction at its best!

Heath, Justin and their wives teamed with Anthony, his parents and two siblings at Building Site #8 to create Anthony’s dream home.

uring the first week of April, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing participated in KIDstruction Week. KIDstruction Week is an opportunity for the North Texas regional architectural, engineering and construction industries to join together to build strong tomorrows for kids by supporting the Children’s Health mission to make life better for children. For the first time this year, KIDstruction Week held a LEGO build event on Mar. 2 at Children’s Medical Center Plano. Teams constructed of employees, Children’s Health patients and their families raced against the clock to build a LEGO creation. Heath Lenert and Justin Holiman, both Waterproofing and Caulking Project Managers in Dallas, each donated an additional amount to participate in KIDstruction Week’s Inaugural LEGO Building Competition. They were paired with a Children’s Health patient, Anthony, and his family to build a LEGO creation based

on the child’s dream home. “He had quite the imagination with wanting a garden on the roof,” recalls Lenert and Holiman. The two project managers found this amusing as they have both worked on waterproofing green roofs on some of their recent jobs. For Anthony’s home, they also built a Lego generator in case his house “lost power.” You have to hand it to the imagination of a child. Sometimes they see things we as adults do not. While they did not win the competition, they all had a great time building Anthony’s dream house and making lasting memories. One hundred percent of the funds raised benefit Patient and Family Support Services at Children’s Health. “I can’t imagine the battles these families face on a regular basis. It was just a pleasure to share a fun, carefree morning with them where it was all smiles,” says Holiman. -cwm Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing is a specialty contractor. -cmw

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

Page 11

Association Calendar

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News AIA

American Institute of Architects Dallas Chapter

Jul. 9: Digital Toolsets, Archtiecture & Design Exchange (AD EX), 325 N. St. Paul #150, 12-1pm. Jul. 15: Ardhitecture on Tap, For more info, go to ntxsustainableshowcase.com For more info, email sche@aiadallas.org APWC

Assn. of Profession Women in Construction

Jul. 17: Happy Hour, Location TBD. For more info, visit www.apwc.us or email info@apwc.us ASA

American Subcontractors Assn.

Jul. 18: Bowling Tournament, Bowlero, Euless, TX. Jul. 25: Monthly Membership Meeting, Las Colinas Country Club, Irving, TX. For more info, call Beverly Reynal, 817-6408275 CFMA

Construction Financial Management Assn.

Jul. 18: July Membership Meeting, Hackberry Country Club, 1901 W. Royal Ln., Irving, TX, 11:30am-1pm. For more info, contact Kelly Dando at cfmadfw@gmail. com DACA

Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Assn. Dallas / Fort Worth Chapter

Jul. 17: Membership Meeting, Courtyard Marriott, Grapevine, TX, 11am. For more info, contact Eddie McCormick at eddie@ dacadfw.org

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 NARI

National Assn. of the Remodeling Industry Dallas Chapter

Jul. 16: July NARI Night, Sub-Zero South Central Showroom, 3707 Lemmon (Between Oak Lawn & Turtle Creek), 6-7:30pm. Jul. 27: NARI at Four Bullets Brewery, Four Bullets Brewery, 640 N. Interurban St., Richardson, TX, 3-6pm. For more info, call Kim Savelsbergh at 214-943-6274 NAWIC

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.

Jul. 16: Annual Free Summer Mixer, Pinstack Las Colinas, Bowling+shoes, beer, wine & appetizers included, 5:30-7:30pm. For more info, contact Lindsay Lauderdale at llauderdale@brasfieldgorrie.com

IEC

Jul. 18: General Membership Meeting, Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Commerce St., Fort Worth, TX. For more info, call Jo Britt at 817-496-8422 I-LinCP

Aug. 8-9: Texas Public Owners Conf. The Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Project Delivery to Operations. For info, contact Charli Valadez at 512-263-5521 or go to www.i-lincp.org

Patrick Clay, Trinity Insulation Co. Design & Construction

Cash flow financing.

Greg Burciaga, Magna Specialty Contractors

My biggest pet peeve is people who don’t follow through on their word. Melissa Lesch, PCL Contract Bonding Agency

NUCA

My pet peeve is when drivers don’t use their turn signals. It’s literally by your left hand … TJ Horny, Crawford Electric Supply Hard to pick just one thing that pops in my mind, but [my biggest pet peeve is] the lack of common sense these days. I

NAWIC

Jul. 18: Monthly Meeting – Industry Appreciation Night, Diamond Oaks Country Club, 5821 Diamond Oaks Dr. N. For more info, email Lori Donnell at lorid.nawic@ gmail.com National Utility Contractors Assn.

Jul. 11: TopGolf at the Colony, For more info, contact Lisa Ferrand at lisa@nucanorthtexas.com. RHCA Regional Hispanic Contractors Assn.

Jul. 1: RHCA Golf Classic, Trophy Club, 500 Trophy Club Dr., 7am-2pm. For more info, contact Yolanda at 972-786-0909 SAM Jul. 11: 3rd Annual TopGolf and Silent Auction Event, TopGolf Dallas, 5-8pm. For more info, contact Carrie Edomm at 972-482-6677 or email execdir@sam-dfw. org TEXO The Construction Assn.

Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects

People that record me.

National Assn. of Women in Construction Forth Worth Chapter

Subcontractors Assn. of the Metroplex

Independent Electrical Contractors Fort Worth/Tarrant County

A big one for me is indecision and lastminute changes. You would think a $140$200 million-dollar hospital that’s been planned for three or four years, would actually be built instead of calling you out to remove stuff off the wall and relocate it or change the design. Last-minute changes and indecisions just drive me crazy. Jerry Buck, Anton Cabinetry

National Assn. of Women in Construction Dallas Chapter

ECAT

Earthmoving Contractors Assn. of Texas

One of the few things we have in life is our word. So it would be people breaking their commitments. When you give your word, you need to do it. Gordon Highlander, Gordon Highlander Corporation

Jul. 25: Colleagues + Cocktails, Wild Salsa, 300 Throckmorton St., Fort Worth, TX, 4:30-6:30pm. TEXO Member $25; NonMember $40; Walk-in $45. For more info, contact Emily Baker at emily@texoassociation.org.

Construction News ON LOCATION

Checking out the Landmark

Gary Lyle and Bret Wesolek with Landmark Equipment talk business in front of a New Holland B95ctc Loader Backhoe in Irving, TX. -cmw

know I have some moments but … The other thing is how unprepared the tech schools turn out people. Even when I got out of school. I had an incredible eyeopening experience once I was out. Obviously, some schools are better than others, but everyone I’ve interviewed I would have to start [training] from scratch. J.C. Sohl, Eutechic Services My biggest pet peeve is] when people do not pull over for emergency vehicles to get by. All it takes is a brief moment to look and see where they may be coming or going, pull over, let them pass and then go about your day. Those few seconds can make a big difference when someone’s life is on the line. Keith Kubosh, Kubosh Kustomz LLC I guess one of the biggest things that irritates me is when someone says they can do something, and they can’t. It seems like everyone has a good talk but can’t walk the walk. That’s my No. 1 irritant. Josh Fritze, BBX Excavation & Hauling My biggest pet peeve is when people don’t take responsibility for their actions. So many people don’t do what they say they are going to do. As humans, we’re not perfect people, but you have to make every effort. If you’re not going to do what you say you are going to do, at least say that you can’t do that. In the world we live in today, people don’t care. Allen Buchanan, North Texas Paving

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

Skanska USA is pleased to announce the promotion of Amie Kromis as the first national director of vendor diversity, a newly created position enhancing the practices and procedure across the U.S. Kromis will be responsible for administering Skanska’s DBE Compliance Program and oversee the firm’s regional vendor diversity managers, outreach coordinators and support their group functions. - cmw

KWA Construction welcomed back industry veteran Richie Keene to the KWA team as Executive Vice President. He has 25 combined years of experience in the construction industry and will be overseeing KWA’s daily operations. -cmw

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Dallas/Fort Worth 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

Resurrecting HS training Keith Bell, State Representative Dist. 4 CEO/President Intex Electrical Contractors Inc. Forney, TX

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. Addi-

Parking downtown Sandra Johnson, President Edge Electric Inc. Buda, TX

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!

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!

Have you experienced an increase or a

What factors are driving this increase/

ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

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

tionally, 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 costs on long term projects. 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 indus-

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 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 per-

try through the IEC Apprenticeship Program, partnerships with high school CTE programs, military outreach and internships, all part of our Intex University. 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 implement structured price increases. 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 continued on Page 14

fect! 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! 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

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

Page 13

NEXT TH MON

SERVICE PROVIDERS

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

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

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-

Enjoying the ride Mike Varnum, General Manager Good Electric LTD. President, Independent Electrical Contractors San Antonio, TX

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.

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. 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

Electrical contractors positioned to thrive David Long, Chief Executive Officer National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Bethesda, MD

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. continued on Page 14

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 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 employees can struggle to maintain life styles going forward after such booms. 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

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 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

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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

continued continued from Page 12— Resurrecting HS training 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. 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

continued from Page 13 — Electrical contractors positioned to thrive As a result, they have employed a variety of approaches to minimize their impact, including increased recruitment, pre-fab, technology adoption, pre-apprentice programs, college partnerships and training programs around specific skill sets. I am proud that the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) plays 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 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 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

continued from Page 1 — Anton Cabinetry once the plans and specs are drawn up (“regardless if it’s even doable”) and then figures out a way to make the designer’s vision an affordable reality. For instance, a designer wants a real wood or stone look, but the type of wood/stone may be cost-prohibitive or plain hard to get. Buck will suggest options that will achieve what the designer wants, but at a cost that is more realistic. Buck cites an example of a banker who wanted his bank to be made of real wood, from top to bottom, that would make it resemble the wild west/1800s bank of old. Once Buck explained how much it would cost, the banker allowed him to work his magic and come up with materials that gave the banker the look he wanted but at a price that was within reach. Anton has done several banks for this customer. Buck knows his job, having studied under a gentleman who was old school artisan. “I learned the old craftsman way of doing things,” he said. Anton Cabinetry has done work for: Cook Children’s Hospital, Plano Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, the TCU Brown-Lupton Student Union, the UNT Honors & Legends Dormitory, the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, the Winspear Opera House, Park Cities Presbyterian Church, Stonebriar Community Church, and the

UNT Student Health and Wellness Center. “99+ percent of our work is in the States,” Buck said. The process can take up to 18 months from start to contract signing. When other trades are involved, that generates a more complicated dynamic. For the Park Cities Presbyterian Church job, Anton had to work with stained glass experts. In Buck’s 13 years with Anton, he’s seen a lot of changes. He hardly sees any ash or red oak anymore. “Nowadays, most anything goes,” he said. One receptionist’s desk was particularly complicated, and the owner was having a hard time finding anyone who could build it. Anton rose to meet the challenge because they had done this type of work before. “That’s one of the cool things about Anton,” Buck said. “We invest in technology, equipment, programs. If it can be thought of, we can pretty well do it here. If the money’s there, we have the tools, technology and expertise to do just about anything.” In the Field of Dreams movie, the famous line was, “If you build it, they will come.” For Anton Cabinetry, the motto can be: “If you dream it, we will build it.” Not bad for a “little small shop.” Anton Cabinetry is a custom cabinetry and architectural millwork company, located in Pantego. -dsz

continued from Page 1 — North Texas Paving LLC Buchanan says the company’s success can be directly credited to his team and making sure clients are always informed of the process. “I like to educate my clients,” Buchanan says. “My whole view is that, when you educate a client, it is easier to work for them. I try to explain everything that we’re doing. I don’t leave anything to chance. I educate the clients on the steps that we take, what each step does, and how we’re different from other clients. We’re a very customer service-driven company.” The company’s focus on its internet marketing has also contributed to the company’s success. “We have eased in to the millennial age, I guess you could say,” Buchanan

says. “Our internet presence is extremely strong. We currently have some very strong internet marketing campaigns and we stay on the cutting edge of internet marketing, because that’s the wave of the future. Speaking of the future, Buchanan sees no limit to where the company can go. “We’re growing in leaps and bounds. It’s not an isolated section; I would say 70% of our work is commercial and 30% is residential,” Buchanan says. “We plan to just keep on growing and expanding. We don’t have a limit on what we want to do; we want to do everything. Our slogan is ‘Paving Without Limits.” North Texas Paving LLC is a full-service paving company in Forney, TX. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Bob Moore Construction “It’s exciting to be working with a growing company like Signazon” said Larry Knox, Executive Vice President of Bob Moore Construction. “This project is a great opportunity to showcase our abilities with tilt-wall construction in a multiuse facility. “This project being a mixed-use facility is part of the bread and butter of our business, and we always enjoy working in the commercial sector, especially when it’s with a great developer like Jesse

Pruitt, the team at GFF Architects and a modern company like Signazon.com.” “Working with Anita and the rest of the Signazon team has been a great experience. Building for such an enthusiastic client isn’t something you get to do every day as a Project Manager, so I’m thrilled to be able to work on this project,” adds Hardin. Bob Moore Construction is a full-service general contractor in Arlington, TX. -cmw

Front view Signazon front entrance

Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • JUL 2019

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ALM for DFW

riginally from the Middle East, Qasem (“KC”) Sharif came to the Metroplex in 1980 for school and has made the Big D his home ever since. “Dallas is a great city to live in,” he said. He’s even a solid Cowboys fan. Sharif studied electronic technology while in college but took some classes in environmental studies. That led him to work for another environmental impact company for many years. The last 10 years, he was a subcontractor for them. In good American fashion, Sharif started his own environmental consulting outfit – ALM Environmental Consultant - in 2016. The four pillars of ALM (pronounced “A - L - M,” not “Alm”) are asbestos, mold and lead consulting, and environmental site assessment. Texas and federal laws govern all of these. (Sharif has to stay current yearly on the latest rules and regulations coming down from the EPA, OSHA, etc.) “There are a lot of rules you have to follow,” Sharif said. Company X will call upon ALM when they want to build something, knowing that certain protocols have to be followed per regulation. ALM will then advise in the categories mentioned. Asbestos, for instance, even though not used since 1985 in America, can still come into this country from products made in other countries. ALM will determine if an abatement company has to remove asbestos in order to proceed with the project. Mold is an issue in the moist climate of Texas. “Mold will always be here, forever,” Sharif said. Fortunately, “Mold can be easily cleaned.” Sharif cited the mold that happens after a major storm, such as Hurricane Harvey. Environmental site work comes in

Attitude is everything

ajitas and ritas were all the rage at the PCL Contracting Bonding Agency 35th Annual Attitude Adjustment Party. Friends, family and guests of PCL gathered at La Hacienda Ranch in Colleyville, TX on Jun. 5 where they relaxed to margaritas, fajitas and camaradería. -cmw

The PCL team

Qasem Sharif, owner of ALM Environmental Consultant

three phases: the history of the land (i.e., did a gas station used to sit on this property at one time?), soil samples to test for contamination, and any clean up required. Indoor air quality is ALM’s biggest service. “We service mostly the DFW area,” Sharif said, “but we’ll go anywhere in Texas. The environmental field is so wide.” Sharif’s experience in starting a company in America was smooth: “It’s really easy to start a business in the United States, especially in Texas. Growth is in our agenda, but we’ll grow slow, not fast.” Having ALM in DFW helps keep Texans safer and breathing easier. ALM Environmental Consultant offers a wide range of environmental services, located in Fort Worth. -dsz

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