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The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 22 H Number 9 H SEPTEMBER 2019
A new legacy chapter
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TRTF board members and Allen & Allen Co. leadership
llen & Allen Co., an 88-year-old San Antonio legacy company founded in 1931 by Howard Allen and his son, Lynn, is starting a new chapter of its legacy with TRTF Community House. Allen & Allen Co. will remain focused on providing the construction industry in San Antonio, south central Texas and Mexico with superior service and products. Allen & Allen Co. outgoing President & CEO, Buzz Miller and Vice President Coddy Pena said this is a celebratory time for their families as they have found a clear path for the future with a group whose values are deeply aligned with their own. “We both share the goal of wanting Allen & Allen Co. to remain for many years to come,” says Miller.
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Texas Research & Technology Foundation (TRTF), a non-profit, was formed to enhance the San Antonio community by acquiring regional companies to help create a legacy plan for family businesses experiencing a generational transition. TRTF Community House is committed to retaining the Allen & Allen Co. business name, management team, employees and most importantly, Allen & Allen Co. will stay in this community for the continued benefit of San Antonio. As the idea of retirement approached, Miller and Pena strategized about the future of the company. With a desire to keep the Allen & Allen Co. name, its legacy and most importantly, its employees, TRTF Community House’s acquicontinued on Page 21
Concrete whisperer
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Rick Watson with the Surmac crew
ick Watson, owner of Surmac Inc., spends most of his days traveling around the country – by request. The word got out that he could solve just about any problem with concrete, performing miracles. He became known as the “concrete whisperer.” Since 2003, Surmac has become an industry leader in nationwide building rehabilitation and restoration services. They routinely perform exterior restoration work on historic, high profile and noteworthy buildings. One of Watson’s interesting projects was the Saturn 5 Rocket and The Apollo capsule requested by NASA. In 2004, Surmac restored the largest piece of the Titanic brought to the surface (30 ft long by 12 ft high). This large piece of the Titanic
is displayed at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. Then, he met Hugh Hefner when he went to Los Angeles to restore various areas of the Playboy Mansion. Another project includes the old U.S. Mint in New Orleans. In San Antonio, past projects include the Rose Window at San Jose Mission, the Majestic Theater, Menger Hotel, Bexar County Courthouse, the Steve’s Homestead, the Spanish Governor’s house, and Joske’s. They also restored the roof of the Waco hangar where Raytheon builds spy planes for the U.S. This is the airfield where Air Force One was stored when George W. Bush was president and going to his ranch in Crawford. In addition to Surmac, Foxfire USA is continued on Page 21
With growth brings renovation
t’s been 22 years since SpawGlass moved into their office in Selma, TX. Over the years, renovations have been made to the 13,000sf facility, but the latest renovations to the Selma office were all encompassing. The new space, designed by RVK Architects, features glass walls, bright colors and new lighting. Meeting spaces include two conference rooms that can be combined into one training space complete with dry-erase walls and large monitors plus a new main conference room that seats 12. The meeting spaces are equipped with BlueJeans video conferencing technology for seamless communication among the company’s jobsites and 10 Texas offices. Work spaces throughout the building include both private offices and shared workspaces. An expanded and renovated kitchen/break room provides more room for team members to unwind.
Twenty-one parking spaces were added to the facility’s parking lot. A new monument sign was erected, and renewed landscaping was incorporated. A 4,800sf welding and fabrication shop was erected in the laydown yard behind the office building for the company’s San Antonio Building Services group. This space provides a safe, efficient environment for team members to provide self-perform prefabrication and fabrication services for clients and project teams. The renovated office space was spurred by an increase of team members. The relocation of the company’s C-suite to New Braunfels also freed up space in the Selma office to accommodate the company’s marketing and team member resources (human resources) teams. Renovation of the office building and new construction of the welding and SpawGlass, Selma, TX new monument
continued on Page 21
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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ark your calendars for the biggest and best gala in town. The Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala is scheduled for Dec. 5 at Expo Hall C at the Freeman Coliseum. In less than just three short months, it will be time to hit the stores in search of the perfect gift. Keep the Construct A Kid’s Gala and annual toy drive in mind. From 2018 Gala, $45,000 was donated to the Friends of the Bexar County Child Welfare Board and $20,000 to CASA from Gala proceeds. This brings the total cash donations to $830,000 since the Gala began. Another way to help is with donations, which are needed for the silent and live auctions, including but not limited to: hunting and fishing trips, golf packages, vacation packages, spa packages, sports tickets, construction tools, jewelry, and art. For the past 18 years, hundreds of members from the construction industry have banded together to help the Bexar County Welfare Board make its foster children’s Christmas dreams a reality through the Gala and toy drive. Additionally, the Gala is a fun,
cost-effective company Christmas party, too. This year, the evening will have a sweet candy cane Christmas theme with full buffet, live music, dancing, casino games, raffle prizes, auctions and the famous Grand Gala Raffle. Early registration/payment pricing for sponsorship is: Diamond $2,750, Corporate $1,750, Gold $600, Program $275. A table for 10 is $800, and individual tickets are $90 each. Early registration prices are only available until 10/31/19. Also available are $1000 beverage and $1000 casino sponsorships. Unwrapped toys are collected at the Gala and the next day, Friday, Dec. 6, at the toy drive at the Construction News office. Last year, toy donations from the two events totaled 1,889. Trade associations participating in this year’s Gala are the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Associated General Contractors (AGC), Black Contractors Association (BCA), Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA de SA), Mechanical Contractors Association Sheet Metal & A/C National Association (MCA-SMACNA), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC), the Surety Association of South Texas (SAST) and Texas Air Conditioning Contractors of America (TACCA). –cmw
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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Doggett acquisition
“Here for the long haul”
L-R: Jay Elizalde, the new president of Santex Painting and Construction, and Gerry Elizalde
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or the last seven years, Jay Elizalde has worked by his dad’s side at Santex Painting and Drywall Inc. learning the ins and outs of the business. Founded in 1977, Jay’s dad, Gerry, started Santex Painting and Drywall Inc. out of his garage. On Jul. 1, Gerry retired, leaving Jay in charge. “I’ve been around this business my whole life. I grew up here in this shop. I can remember hanging out here with my sister during the summers and getting into trouble,” says Jay. “Then of course, as I got into high school and college I was always on jobsites with the guys. Dad kept me busy for sure. Nothing much has changed since then.” Well, that is not exactly true. While Jay wants to keep things “business as usual,” one of Jay’s first acts as the new president of Santex is to change the company name – just a bit. Santex will now be known as Santex Painting and Construction. “We were Santex Painting and Drywall for 42 years. The idea behind the name change was to reflect the evolution of our company over the years with our clients. We have the experience and ability
to take on full interior remodels. I wanted to reflect that with our clients. We do flooring, drop-down ceilings, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. We can handle it all and we are insured to handle it all. “Really, this is a testament to my dad’s hard work. Over the years, he has built great relationships in the local construction community that we’ve been able to partner with in order to offer these services to our clients. I feel like our new name, helps deliver that message. “I am confident in our team’s abilities and our work speaks for itself. The other thing that’s important to note is, it’s the same team, the same trucks that you’ll see, everything stays the same. The name changed a little, but we are here for the long haul.” Jay is excited about his new role and carrying on his dad’s legacy and has ambitions to grow the company organically. He is especially excited for his dad and wants his dad to enjoy his retirement and travel. “He deserves this!” Santex Painting and Construction is an interior contractor in San Antonio. -cmw
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Doggett Truck Group’s location in San Antonio, TX
ouston-based Leslie Doggett Industries, through its newly acquired Truck Enterprises Group, has expanded into the trailer business with the acquisition of a privately-held Great Dane Trailer distributor/dealer. Doggett has locations throughout Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas including Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas. This acquisition comes on the heels of Doggett’s acquisition of Truck Enterprises Inc. two weeks ago and Doggett’s acquisition of the Freightliner dealerships throughout the State of Arkansas in 2018. The addition of Great Dane complements Doggett’s existing Freightliner and Western Star dealerships as they will now sell and service flatbeds, dry freight and refrigerated vans with their over-the-road truck offerings. SVP of the Doggett Truck Group, Paul Burk, said, “The addition of Great Dane products to Doggett’s world-class lineup allows Doggett to further partner with trucking companies and truck dealers on a measurable and meaningful basis. We are very proud to be partners with Great Dane and expect to have extraordinary growth with their products just as we have had extraordinary growth in our
truck (Freightliner), tractor (John Deere), forklift (Toyota), crane (LinkBelt) and auto businesses (Ford).” Doggett is a Houston-based diversified heavy equipment dealer for seven first-tier manufacturers (www.DOGGETT. com) that are either number 1 or 2 in their respective industries: John Deere construction and forestry equipment (17 dealerships), Toyota Industrial Equipment - forklifts & material handling (7 dealerships), Freightliner and Western Star onhighway and vocational trucks (9 dealerships), Link Belt Cranes (3 dealerships) , a Ford auto and truck dealership and now Great Dane Trailers (3 dealerships). About Leslie Doggett Industries and its Doggett Equipment Services Group: Doggett, founded by Leslie Doggett and Brady Carruth in 1993 with 17 employees, was ranked by the Houston Chronicle in 2019 as Houston’s 12th largest private company with annual sales exceeding US $1 billion and 1400+ full-time employees including 500+ factory trained and certified, highly professional technicians. Doggett is a family-owned heavy equipment, highway truck and automotive dealership group without outside investment of any kind. -rd
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Bringing ‘em in
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he Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association (TACCA) Greater San Antonio Chapter brought their members in from the summer heat for their Summer Member Mixer. The event was held at Walk On’s Bistreaux on Jul. 18. -cmw
Beyer Mechanical
San Antonio
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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Seretta celebrates new facility
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An Ahern appreciation
hern Rentals has been supplying the rental needs of the construction industry in San Antonio since 2008. On Jul. 25, Ahern hosted an open house and customer appreciation luncheon. Ahern customers, employees and friends were treated to hot dogs and hamburgers with all the trimmings. President Mark Brown, COO Bob Bonacci, Chief Sales Officer Anthony Buttshaw and Vice President of Sales Carl Radomski flew in to meet and mingle with Ahern employees and customers. -cmw
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Seretta Construction’s new location in Austin, Tx
n the mid ‘80s when the construction industry was experiencing a downward spiral, concrete tilt wall pioneer Richard McPherson, PE realized he needed to find someplace other than Texas to work. A structural engineer by trade, McPherson had been designing and constructing concrete tilt wall structures since 1963 when tilt wall construction wasn’t an industry yet. With the plunge of the Texas economy, McPherson moved his family to Florida where work could be found yearround. In 1987, he founded Seretta Construction in Apopka, FL. His son Andrew McPherson would join the company a short time later. Seretta Construction, one of the original companies and second to qualify as a certified company by the Tilt-up Concrete Association (TCA), an international association, opened its second location in Charlotte, NC in 2001. Andrew took over the reins as owner of the company in 2004, carrying on his father’s legacy. In 2009, Seretta Construction opened its third location in Austin. It did not take long for this concrete tilt wall contractor to find that their Burleson Road location in Austin was too small for the growing company. “When we go into a market, it is a long term thing. We don’t just move in when times are good and shut down just as fast.” Andrew soon purchased property to build a permanent facility for its Texas branch, but it would be several years before the facility would be constructed. Now, celebrating 10 years in Austin, Seretta Construction celebrates by moving into their new state-of-the-art facility. “We should have been in this facility about three years ago, but it was just one thing after another. But we finally got it pushed through and done. It is a stateof-the-art facility. Everything about it from the construction technique with its insulated concrete tilt walls, low-flow water, high energy efficient lights and appliances. It is greescaped with all native plants. It’s not a LEED building because I didn’t go through the process, but it
would easily qualify. It has the most efficient AC, the best glass, and insulated tilt walls. We have expansive cement in the floors which is an unheard of thing except for huge distribution centers, so we don’t have any control joints or saw cuts in the floor. For longevity, it’s much better. We’ve just done everything we could do including the right roof.” The new facility consists of a two-story office space, warehouse and a separate building for their laser screeds and curb machines. Seretta Construction performs work all over the country. “We try to stay in our general areas, but we do travel quite extensively with clients,” adds Andrew. “We do work basically in just the private sector. No public and no government work. We do distribution centers, multi-story tilt-wall (four- or five-story), office buildings, cold storage facilities for beer, beverage, food and we also do some heavy industrial facilities for companies like Caterpillar. We do some retail work as well if it’s the right size for us. We will do pretty much anything in the private sector that is out there. “We’ll do work anywhere from as small as 10,000sf to our largest to-date of 2,000,000sf. We have the capability of handling anything at all.” While the Austin location tries to stay in the Central Texas area, they have worked anywhere from McAllen to Laredo to Amarillo, Odessa, Midland, Lubbock and anything in between. “We try to stay in the Central Texas market with a radius of 150 miles around the Austin/ Round Rock area, but again, will go where our clients dictate.” Andrew McPherson is a native Texan. He was born and raised in Houston, attended The University of Texas before his father called him back to Houston to help in the family business where he graduated from the University of Houston before moving to Florida. “Texas is home. While our headquarters are in Florida, I’m so happy to have a part of me back in Texas.” Seretta Construction is a commercial concrete subcontractor specializing in tilt wall construction and specialty slabs. -cmw
Ahern Rentals team members pose for a group photo.
Wilcox Metal Fabricators team members enjoy the Ahern hospitality.
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Creating cyber warriors from employees
Managing Certificates of Insurance
Lee Ann Collins, Managing Partner Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLC Dallas, TX
Jillian Duzan, Certificates Tracking Services Mgr. Catto & Catto LLP San Antonio, TX
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recently sat down with our IT professionals to have a discussion about what types of cyberattacks are out there and how we can protect the company we love. This lead to me staying up late that night reliving the numerous ways that a malicious attack could impact a business. I am the leader of a company that supports many families, not only our employees and their families, but also our clients and their employees. Being well-informed is the first step to a stronger cyber defense. Unfortunately, cyberattacks are not so obvious. They can often happen quietly in the background, and you won’t know it’s a problem until your information is breached and available to the public. Also, many companies don’t understand how important it is to be vigilant until it’s too late. Below are statistics, compiled by Varonis, about cyberattacks and its impact on businesses, individuals, and our nation. • In 2017, 147.9 million consumers were affected by the Equifax Breach. The total population of the United States is currently 329.09 million adult consumers. • In 2017, cybercrime costs accelerated with organizations spending nearly 23 percent more than 2016—on average about $11.7 million. • The financial services industry will spend, on average, $18.3 million to resolve a cybercrime. The loss of data represents 43% of to - tal costs. • Ransomware attacks are growing more than 350% every year Ransomware damage costs will rise to $11.5 billion in 2019, and a business will fall victim to a ransomware attack every 14 seconds. • The United States and the Middle East spend the most on post-data breach response. Costs in the U.S. were $1.56 million and $1.43 million in the Middle East. • 21% of all files are NOT protected in any way. (https://www.varonis.com/blog/cybersecurity-statistics/) All of these are terrifying, and they don’t just affect large corporations. According to Smallbiztrends.com: • 43% of cyber-attacks target small businesses • 60% of companies will go out of business following a cyber-attack • Most cyber-attacks are the result of a negligent employee or contractor (https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/01/cybersecurity-statistics-small-business.html) How can your business be attacked? The goal of every cyberattack is to gain access to your system. It can be malicious like we saw with the 2016 Mirai Botnet, which attacked the service provider Dyn and ultimately shut down a large section of the internet including Netflix, Twitter, and CNN. In May, the City of Baltimore was one of several municipalities that were attacked by ransomware this year. Hackers demanded that the city pay almost $80,000 in bitcoin to release the city’s servers that control everything from email to billing. This attack prevented city employees from accessing the system for more than a month and the city was unable to distribute the June utility bills. Just to recover from this attack the city had to set aside $10 million in emergency funding. Remotely accessing internet-connected devices is not the only way your network is at risk. Physical in-person attacks can be just as harmful. In fact, an unattended workstation with a USB port is a prime opportunity for malware and keystroke logging to be introduced to the network.
Once they are connected to your network, malicious individuals can bombard your servers with information causing them to shut down, called a denial-ofservice attack. Your network can also be held captive by ransomware that sections off access to data until an undetermined amount of money is paid to the “bad guy”. Unfortunately, there is no assurance that once the ransom is settled that the information will be restored. How do you prevent it? Turn your employees into cyber-warriors for the company. Train them on how to identify threats within emails and websites. Explain proper password procedures, and institute a multi-factor authentication process when vital information is being accessed. Protect your physical assets by creating a visual database that is regularly maintained so that employees are easily identified. A visual database can be anything from photo ID badges to a seating chart with headshots on your local intranet. The best defenders for your company are the people that work for it, but former employees who left on bad terms can become also malicious agents. When an employee is terminated or leaves the company for another opportunity, protect your information by immediately removing access to any system and changing their passwords. I know that your company is as important to you as Lane Gorman Trubitt is to me. Empowering your employees with training and tools to defend the company they work for is the best line of protection. To better safeguard your business, it is always good practice to contact your local security firm. If you require any additional cyber security information or resources, you can always check out the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) website. About Lee Ann: A long-time authority in the construction industry with more than three decades of experience in public accounting, Lee Ann Collins is the managing partner at Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLC. During her tenure with the firm, she has collaborated with clients of all sizes consulting on business planning and taxation strategies, financial analysis, and the preparation of compiled, reviewed, and audited financial statements. Lee Ann often serves on boards of industry organizations working toward effective solutions for members, and she is a frequent speaker on financial reporting and taxation matters within the accounting community.
nderstanding risks is a crucial part of operating a successful business. Certificates of Insurance (COIs) from subcontractors, vendors and suppliers help reduce risk by ensuring that insurance coverage is in place and that it meets the requirements outlined in subcontract agreements. Collecting and checking COIs to ensure compliance standards have been met—reviewing for key endorsements and dangerous exclusions—is a tedious but necessary task. There are four common endorse- and coverage is excluded by their insurments that are considered essential: Ad- ance carrier, the reality is that as the hirditional Insured, 30-Day Notice of Cancel- ing contractor you would ultimately be lation, Waiver of Subrogation, and Prima- held liable. ry & Non-Contributory. Additional Insured status provides coverage to other The task of monitoring certificates individuals/groups that were not initially can be overwhelming. Employees are exnamed on the policy. If you are endorsed hausted by the tedious process of screenas an Additional Insured on a vendor’s ing COI’s and endorsements for complipolicy, coverage will be extended to you ance and the time consuming communion their policy so that you will be covered cations needed to resolve compliance isif a claim arises. A 30-Day notice of can- sues. They may not have extensive cellation endorsement is crucial, because knowledge of insurance language, and it’s important that you are notified when there is little margin for error. Even the a policy lapses. Even if you have marked simplest oversight can lead to financial a subcontractor compliant, that doesn’t repercussions. guarantee that coverage will remain in effect until the expiration date. There are Catto & Catto’s concierge certificate many scenarios in which policies are can- tracking service is designed to protect clicelled midterm. A Waiver of Subrogation ents while simplifying certificate manis a provision in which the insured waives agement. Our professionals handle comthe right of their insurance carrier to seek pliance reviews and communicate directcompensation for losses from a negligent ly with subcontractors’ insurance agents third party. A Primary and Non-Contribu- to address non-compliant certificates. tory endorsement is used to determine Clients can check compliance statuses the order in which policies will respond if and reports online integrate this data there are multiple policies involved in the into their accounting software. same loss. If this endorsement is applied, Renewals are also important to monthe vendor’s policy must pay before any other applicable policy without seeking itor. In the construction industry, many contribution from other policies. The insurance policies are written through Waiver of Subrogation may sound similar Excess and Surplus lines, in which case to the Primary & Non-Contributory en- policies do not renew automatically. dorsement, but there is a major differ- Once a policy expires, coverage is not ence between the two. Waiver of Subro- bound for renewal unless payment has gation prevents the insurance company been made. Our cloud-based automated from seeking reimbursement from the communication tool allows us to start reAdditional Insured’s policy after a claim is questing renewals through the system handled, while the Primary and Non- 30 days prior to policy expiration, giving Contributory endorsement prevents the the agents plenty of time to submit upAdditional Insured’s policy from contrib- dated certificates. uting towards the payout during the The system that we use is also helpclaims process. ful to keep track of subcontractor’s insur In many cases, there can be exclu- ance information to prevent a failed ausionary language within policies that can dit. If an audit occurs either on your Genprevent the policy from paying out in the eral Liability policy or Workers Compenevent of a claim. Policy exclusions are not sation policy, you will be asked to provide listed on a Certificate of Insurance, but verification that any subcontractors you they can be detrimental to your organiza- used were adequately insured. If you tion. A few major examples of exclusions cannot show proof, the insurance comare: Subsidence and Earth Movement Ex- pany will have a right to charge additionclusion, Silica or Silica-Related Dust Ex- al premium to cover their work under clusion, and Residential New Construc- your policy. Our system allows you to tion Exclusion. If you subcontract con- refer back to documents and communicrete work, the Subsidence and Earth cations with subcontractors and their Movement Exclusion can be very harm- agents for up to 10 years. ful. If there is shifting and settling of the foundation after construction is complet- Improper management of certified, this could wreak havoc on your com- cates could ultimately result in costly litipany’s finances. A Silica or Silica-Related gation, out of pocket expense, and an inDust Exclusion can be harmful anytime crease in your own insurance premiums. you are working with construction mate- Being proactive in the management of rials like sand, stone, concrete, brick, and certificates of insurance can help prevent mortar. If workers cut, grind, drill, or crush these costly situations. Having your cermaterials containing silica, dust particles tificates reviewed by licensed and experiare created. It has been proven that re- enced professionals provides an added spiratory exposure to Silica can lead to peace of mind so you can rest assured lung disease or lung cancer. If a bodily that compliance reviews are completed injury claim is filed against your subcon- accurately and efficiently. tractor due to silica exposure, a silica or silica-related dust exclusion could be a Jillian specializes in commercial lines nightmare. Residential New Construc- and surety, and also has a vast knowledge tion Exclusions can vary with regards to of personal lines. Jillian is currently pursuwhat is excluded. In some cases single ing the Commercial Lines Coverage Spefamily homes are excluded, or perhaps cialist (CLCS) designation. Her role as part multifamily projects such as apartments of the Risk Management team is to assist or condominiums can be excluded. If the Commercial Lines clients by providing exunfortunate event occurs in which you pert management of certificates. have a claim for a subcontractor’s work
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Page 7
Risk management strategies for cost plus contracts in Texas
Personal protective equipment
Name, Brandon L. Rutledge Peckar & Abramson Houston, TX
Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
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he release of the AIA A102™–2007 Cost of the Work Plus a Fee with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (“AIA A102™–2007”) marked a turning point for cost-plus construction contracts by formally standardizing a guaranteed maximum price (“GMP”). The change followed an inauspicious trend of owners reallocating risks for cost overruns back to contractors. Consequently, today’s most common cost-plus contract forms all but guarantee that owners pay the lesser of the final GMP or the actual costs of a project plus a negotiated percentage-fee. However, several cases in recent where courts in other jurisdictions found years beg the question: How much risk that an express fiduciary relationship exdid the AIA A102™–2007 shift to con- isted between a contractor and an owner, they often focused on these exact tractors? Across the country, courts in other ju- words. Yet, courts across all jurisdictions risdictions, including states such as Okla- seem to believe that this language does homa, Louisiana, and Mississippi, have modify the typical contractor-owner reruled that certain cost-plus contracts lationship, though the degree of such a vested contractors with an obligation to change varies significantly depending on protect an owner’s financial interests and the jurisdiction and the facts of each to keep costs to a minimum. Courts in case. For instance, while some states these states largely based rulings on lan- treat this language as imposing as a duty guage found in Article 3 of the AIA A102™– on contactors to reasonably control or 2007 and the AIA A102™–2017, which pur- minimize costs, other states interpret this ports to establish a “relationship of trust language to merely obligate contractors and confidence.” In other states, several to keep owners aware of cost overruns. The Texas Supreme Court has never courts have construed the language in Article 3 to impose even stricter “fiducia- addressed whether this language creates ry” duties on contractors. This develop- a fiduciary relationship under Texas law. ment should serve as a cautionary tale to However, on one occasion, in a case inTexas contractors who frequently operate volving a residential construction disunder cost-plus contracts. A fiduciary pute, the Austin Court of Appeals treated duty involves far more than just an obli- contractual language creating “a relagation to avoid committing fraud. Name- tionship of trust and confidence” as formly, the imposition of a fiduciary duty car- ing a fiduciary relationship. In that case, ries with it a legal obligation to always act the owner claimed that the contractor in the best interest of another party— owed a fiduciary duty and breached that even when an action entails negative duty by overstating the amount of a draw consequences for the fiduciary. As a re- request. The issue on appeal was not sult, the imposition of fiduciary duties on whether the contractor owed a fiduciary Texas contractors could effectively pre- duty under Texas law but whether sufficlude contractors from obtaining any cient evidence existed to support the jury’s finding that the contractor did not benefits at the expense of the owner. Would Texas courts actually im- breach that duty. Therefore, the case is pose this type of harsh and far-reach- not instructive of how Texas court will decide future cost-plus fiduciary duty ing obligation on contractors? The AIA A102™–2017 Standard Form claims. of Agreement between Owner and Con- Given the prevalence of Constructractor, the contract most commonly tion Management at-risk and other costused in the construction industry, does plus type contracts, particularly in conrecognize an obligation on the part of nection with public projects, this issue is contractors to not act solely in their own likely to come to the forefront in conself-interest. Specifically, the section de- struction law. As a result, contractors scribing the relationship of the parties, should keep in mind the following suggestions for managing some of this risk in Article 3, states, in relevant part: The Contractor accepts the relation- cost-plus contracts: ship of trust and confidence estab- 1. Contractors should consider lished by this Agreement and cove- striking the above-referenced contract nants with the Owner to cooperate language during contract negotiations, with the Architect and exercise the which could help remove any doubt Contractor’s skill and judgment in should a fiduciary duty be alleged by the furthering the interests of the owner. Owner; to furnish efficient business 2. Accounting records, including administration and supervision; to job cost details and backup documents furnish at all times and adequate may be subject to production in discovsupply of workers and materials; and ery. For this reason, contractors should to perform the Work in an expedi- be mindful and maintain consistent and tious and economical manner con- accurate job cost records. This means keeping clear, accurate, and itemized resistent with the Owner’s interest. cords that account for the supplies and Article 3 not only expressly establish- labor expended on every cost-plus projes a “relationship of trust and confi- ect. dence”, but also references the “owner’s interest” twice—first stating that a con- Brandon L. Rutledge is an Associate in tractor must exercise judgment to fur- Peckar & Abramson’s Houston office, ther the interests of the owner, and sec- where he focuses his practice on litigation ondly directs the contractor to perform matters, complex commercial transactions, work in a manner consistent with an and construction law. He may be reached owner’s interest. In fact, in instances at: brutledge@pecklaw.com
Hello September
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ersonal protective equipment, or PPE, is designed to protect workers from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Besides face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, and safety shoes, protective equipment includes a variety of devices and garments such as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators. As an employer, you must assess your workplace to determine if hazards are present that require the use of personal protective equipment. If such hazards are present, you must select protective equipment and require workers to use it, communicate your protective equipment selection decisions to your workers, and select personal protective equipment that properly fits your workers. You must also train workers who are required to wear personal protective equipment on how to do the following: • Use protective equipment properly, • Be aware of when personal protective equipment is necessary • Know what kind of protective equipment is necessary • Understand the limitations of personal protective equipment in protecting workers from injury • Put on, adjust, wear, and take off personal protective equipment and • Maintain protective equipment properly. Hard hats can protect your workers from head impact, penetration injuries, and electrical injuries such as those caused by falling or flying objects, fixed objects, or contact with electrical conductors. Also, OSHA regulations require employers to ensure that workers cover and protect long hair to prevent it from getting caught in machine parts such as belts and chains. In addition to foot guards and safety shoes, leggings (e.g., leather, aluminized rayon, or other appropriate material) can help prevent injuries by protecting work-
ers from hazards such as falling or rolling objects, sharp objects, wet and slippery surfaces, molten metals, hot surfaces, and electrical hazards. Besides spectacles and goggles, personal protective equipment such as special helmets or shields, spectacles with side shields, and faceshields can protect workers from the hazards of flying fragments, large chips, hot sparks, optical radiation, splashes from molten metals, as well as objects, particles, sand, dirt, mists, dusts, and glare. Wearing earplugs or earmuffs can help prevent damage to hearing. Exposure to high noise levels can cause irreversible hearing loss or impairment as well as physical and psychological stress. Earplugs made from foam, waxed cotton, or fiberglass wool are self-forming and usually fit well. A professional should fit your workers individually for molded or preformed earplugs. Clean earplugs regularly, and replace those you cannot clean. Workers exposed to harmful substances through skin absorption, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful temperature extremes will benefit from hand protection. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Tim Wilson President
Patty Wilson
Vice President Mr. Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. San Antonio, TX
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im Wilson and Patty Wilson are approaching the 20th anniversary of the start of their business, Mr. Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning. Over the years, they have grown as individuals, as a couple and as business owners and look forward to celebrating for years to come. Tim, share about your background and introduction to HVAC? Tim: I got started in the vocational trades in high school. My father was an apprenticeship coordinator for many of the trades in San Antonio, including bricklayers, sheet metal workers, plumbers, pipe fitters, electricians; he was involved with union contractors. He talked to me one day about different trades, their pay scales and what would be a good fit for me, and he thought plumbing and pipe fitting would be a good fit. In high school, I took heating and air conditioning courses my junior and senior year. My father was involved with adult night school classes, so I was taking air conditioning classes at night twice a week for quite a few years. What path did you take after graduation? Tim: I applied and was admitted into the plumbers and pipefitters local union 142. In 1979, I began a four-year apprenticeship school; large construction was during my workday and then Tuesdays and Thursdays were school nights. It was exactly where I wanted to be. I completed the apprenticeship program in 1983. I became a journeyman, got a license in plumbing. During that
same time, my current employer was Kleck Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Company. I was taken in by a gentleman that wanted to teach me air conditioning and put me in service. At that time, I did not know much about electrical. It was an adventure for me, but I was more so guaranteed that I would be a full-time employee instead of finishing one major job and waiting for the next job to start I stayed there full-time for 12 years and then I merged with Friesenhahn Heating & Air Conditioning –Friesenhahn worked with the first company I worked with – and I worked with him until 1999. During that time, I met Patty and, in 1994, married her. What motivated you to start a business? Tim: Friesenhahn was an owneroccupied company and with new changes in the company, I decided it was time to venture out on my own. With all good graces and no burning of bridges, I left and became Mr. Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning in 2000. Patty, how did you become involved? Patty: Our daughter was born in 1998, so when we started our company in March 2000, I began by assisting with creating and maintaining the books. Tim was in the field and I worked the office side. Seven years later, we moved to a shop around the corner where I could still work daily and be able to be at my daughter’s school activities. We built the company from customers that loved Tim, from the Yellow Pages and word of mouth, and it just took off. Did you feel ready for such a big leap? Patty: We took a lot of risks. We jumped off the edge, buying a home, starting a company and having a baby! Tim: It was scary but I was ready to do it. I basically wanted to start a business to provide for my family and it grew into me providing for many families. There are times over the 19 years where there have been some ups and downs with learning to grow a bigger business and manage-ment skills. All of that has brought on new meaning. How has the business evolved? Tim: We started out with referrals and the phone book both doing residential and commercial. We did mostly repair service. Replacements were always done by myself and a technician. As we’ve grown, we’ve been heavier on commercial some years and heavier on residential other years, but we’ve had nothing but a continual slow growth
Patty Wilson with daughter and husband Tim Wilson
through the 19 years. We have 10 employees, we now have an install department, we’ve become paperless and we have bought the top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art equipment where we can be involved in the troubleshooting from the office. The days of the old hoses and gages are also now the past for us. We’re doing more and more air performance tests and diagnosing homes with existing systems. We’re making drastic improvements that can mean up to 30% savings to those customers without them having to purchase a new unit. It has been fun to see it as part of the ‘why‘ of what we do. Being able to make those changes has been a treat to me. What did you learn on this journey? Patty: I’ve learned to be flexible. I’ve had to wear many hats: bookkeeper, manager, wife, mother, room mom and coordinator of all of our daughter’s activities. I’ve learned to balance a family-owned business with family life. I like to be involved in everything so as the company grew, I had to learn to delegate. Really, it’s been a journey for us. I look back and I would never want to give that up because we’ve grown a lot as business owners, and we’ve learned a lot through bumps in the road. We’ve learned the hard way, that’s for sure. Tim built it from the ground up and we have learned everything from experience, so those are the things that I value the most from having our own business. Tim: I learned through two contractors before I started my business. Through the years, I’ve met employees that have come from many different shops who contributed new ideas and helped me learn new things. It’s been a growing experience as the whole company has also grown. It’s actu-
ally me growing as a leader, being responsible for these families and taking that home with me in the slower seasonal times of the year. We try to gear up and keep our employees happy; it’s a big priority. Today, we’re still growing and still learning. What strengths does your spouse bring to the business? Patty: First of all, Tim brings his humor. He can always make you laugh in a hard situation. He brings optimism. I’m the pessimist and he’s the optimist, especially in winter when we’re kind of using the silo of the hay we’ve made during the year. I’m usually overreacting and he’s the one that says it’s going to be alright. I’ve always felt he’s had this halo over him. It’s amazing that we’ve done so well through the years and I do credit that to his optimism. He’s also a hard worker and he’s very good with customers. He’s very caring and will do whatever it takes to make that customer happy; that’s really our company’s foundation. I think everybody enjoys working for us because of our culture. Tim has blessed our company with what he believes in throughout our whole culture and I think that’s why it has led to our longevity with many of our employees. Tim: [Naming Patty’s strengths] could take up the rest of the hour. She’s been quite involved with this. It’s been a blessing. The fact that she’s here during the day and helps with the team is just a big asset, comfort and relief to me. She’s endless with what she does here. She does all things related to customer service and our employees. She also became very involved with TACCA, served on the board and Expo chair and networking with others in our industry. She’s been with me every step of the way. We are quite proud of this lady. What do you hope the future holds? Tim: For the company, I hope to continue to provide a good place to work and a challenging environment for our employees. For our customers, providing a “wow” experience for my family, and more time at our Port Aransas house. After the devastation of Harvey, we can finally enjoy it again. I enjoy barbecuing a lot. The competition side of it might be a retirement thing for me and my wife to do. Also, we look forward to seeing what the future holds for our daughter. Making retirement decisions might be based on where she might move to. She’ll be 21 in a few weeks and we are looking forward to the next chapter. We’ll see where her career goes. We’re excited, we’re quite proud of her, and she’s very supportive of us. Patty: Our daughter has her own career vision, so I don’t think passing our company on to her is a viable option for us. Although retirement would be nice, we still have years of hard work, growth and change we want to see happen. Our company turns 20 years old next year, which is hard to believe. Can’t wait to see what’s in store by year 25! HVAC subcontractor Mr. Wilson Heating & Air is in San Antonio. – mjm
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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River City’s new digs
Industry FOLKS
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iver City Bolt & Screw opened its door at their new location for a customer appreciation day and open house. A variety of vendors were on hand with great deals for the occasion. -dsz
Justine Carroll Senior Marketing Manager HOLT CAT San Antonio, TX
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Ray Hegwer and Donny Perez at River City Bolt & Screw’s counter
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ustine Carroll loved growing in San Antonio. This is where she was born and raised in a big family. Her weekends were filled with sleepovers at her cousins and family barbeques at her grandparent’s house. Carroll and her brother would spend their free time playing sports both at home and at school. After graduating high school, Carroll left her beloved San Antonio to attend school at The University of Texas at Austin where she studied and earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations. Going to UT was an incredible experience says Carroll. “In addition to learning inside the classroom, I also learned about myself. I was more independent than I ever knew. Being away at college made me grow up quickly and become a responsible adult. College was a great experience for me and I’m proud to be a Longhorn!” Carroll’s interest in public relations was sparked as a young girl after seeing a PR professional, a sports team director, on TV. “I thought that job looked like so much fun! It’s something I thought would fit well with my skillset. While I never worked for a sports team, my professional positions were all in the marketing/public relations field.” She is a single mom of identical 10-year-old twin girls, Isabella and Sophia, and a 13-year-old boy, Evan. Needless to say, they and their Chihuahua/ Terrier mix who loves to climb trees, keep Carroll extremely busy. Prior to working at HOLT CAT, Carroll was in the oil and gas industry. “It was a natural and seamless transition from the
oil and gas industry to HOLT and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” As a member of HOLT’s marketing team and the senior marketing manager, Carroll is responsible for HOLT’s marketing campaigns. “The atmosphere at HOLT is incredible. The corporate culture is one that abides by our values. We take pride in our work, do the right thing for each other and our customers are committed to our community. It’s really second nature to everyone here, it’s very refreshing. “ Reflecting on people who have inspired her, Carroll reflects on the friendship she has been blessed with such as good friend and mentor, Omar Garcia. “He has been a part of my life since I moved back to San Antonio. He has guided me through really difficult times in my life, encouraged me, provided me honest feedback. He is a fearless leader, teaches through example, allowed me to grow and even allowed me to make mistakes. I am more confident in myself and my skills since knowing him. He will continue to be an important part of my professional life and beyond that, he is a great friend.” She enjoys spending time with her kids and extended family. “We try to get to as many Spurs games as we can, and I am ready for some Texas Longhorns football! I’m happy just sitting on a patio during a barbecue and talking with friends. If I surround myself with my amazing friends and family, good times always follow.” -cmw
Owners Ray Hegwer and Donny Perez stand outside their new storefront
Ray Hegwer meets with customers in the back supply room
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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and October 7,9,14,15,21,24,25,28,29,30. 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.
The fishing line dilemma by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Shoalwater Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Shimano Reels, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing, ForEverlast Fishing Products, PowerPro, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, JL Marines Power-Pole, AFW and AFTCO Clothing.
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ne of the biggest debates in the fishing world often plays out between monofilament and braided fishing lines, between the old veterans who have been using mono all their lives to the up-and-coming anglers who claim that braided fishing line breeds better catches. Certainly, both types of lines have their pros and cons and you will have to decide which is best for you based on your own fishing preferences and on what characteristics are most important to you in a line. On one side of the spectrum, there is a monofilament fishing line, which has been around for considerably longer and is what many of us grew up with. For many, mono lines are also still the more user-friendly option and the best type of line to learn on. For one thing, monofilament lines are significantly easier to knot. Teaching a kid to fish with a braided line can become a frustrating process because, in order to be a successful braid fisherman, you need to possess a much wider arsenal of fishing knots than you need if you are utilizing a more tradition-
My dear friend and client, Dr. Leggett of Houston, had his hands full with this 42-inch redfish. The fight lasted approximately 15-20 minutes and it’s still up in the air which one was most exhausted. Fish wad released successfully after photo.
al monofilament line. Knowing how to tie a wider variety of knots is never a bad thing, and may come in handy in any number of situations over the years. But if you don’t want your child to spend most of his or her fishing time mastering every knot in the book, then monofilament lines may be the better place to start. With all that said, braided fishing lines have a lot of benefits that outshine those of monofilament lines for many anglers. For one, braided lines have smaller diameters than monofilament ones, making it easier to fit more line on your reel and giving you a greater casting range when you are out on the fishing boat. Many anglers consider that boost in range an invaluable advantage for catching more fish, and they certainly have a point. In many situations, scoring a trophy catch with a braided line is simply a less strenuous affair. Of course, you pay for what you get, and braided line is considerably more expensive than monofilament line. If you are an angler looking to keep all of your purchases in the most economical range possible, you will likely be seduced by the more budget-conscious costs of monofilament line. However, you should also keep records of how frequently you are buying new line. Traditionally, braided lines have been known to be considerably more durable than monofilament, and if you find yourself replacing your mono line every few weeks, you may
consider making the switch to braided line just as an experiment to see which line is indeed more economical. Finally, if you are an angler who has grown accustomed to fishing with monofilament line but want to see what all the fuss is about in the braided world, be aware that you are going to need some time and practice to get used to the new line. Braided lines boast a completely different feel than monofilament lines, thanks largely to their lack of give and stretch. While this difference can make the transition difficult, it’s well worth it. If you are interested in discussing this topic in detail, feel free to book a fishing trip with me. Here are some open dates available: September 3,5,10,19,25
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 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
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Trophies!
ne of the most notorious characteristics of a fisherman is that he almost certainly lies. At least that’s what the common wisdom says. You gotta have proof. You need to at least have a picture, but even better, you need to have your trophy fish on the wall! There is no better proof than that! Just look at that baby! One of the funniest trophies I can remember belonged to my mother-in-law. One day she was taking old friends on a sight-seeing boat ride to the scenic upper end of Lake Buchanan. Just for kicks on the way back home she wanted to show them what a trot-line was and how it worked. She stopped by one of our best old trot-lines and pulled up the pickup jug and she could feel the trot-line start moving the whole boat around. There was a real good fish on the line. Finally after an extended bout of tug of war she decided to just go for broke and she got the old fish up close enough to just throw both arms around him and fall back into the boat with him. That’s when he gave one last hard flop on top of my mother-in-law and spit the hook out of his mouth. She was tired, beat up and stinky, but the lady had just landed a seventy-four pound yellow catfish! In those days there was no such thing as replica fish mounts. All taxidermists did skin mounts of fish. Catfish were difficult to make trophies out of because of all the oil in them. My mother-in-law simply plopped the massive head of her trophy into a large plastic bag and dropped it in the freezer. Every time she told her fish story it meant a trip to the freezer and out she came with that beast’s frozen head under her arm. And that is pretty much how I remember meeting my future mother-inlaw. She was this sweet, outgoing little lady with a dead fish head under her arm. (I should have taken that as an omen!)
Deciding to mount a fish as a trophy is like gambling. A good taxidermist’s fish mount can be a little pricey, so it is an investment. A fisherman looks at the fish like this. How special is it? Should he wait and see if he catches a bigger one? It is an agonizing decision, and one that we as guides often see being fretted over at the cleaning table while we have a knife poised over the fish awaiting an answer. Some people just see “big fish = big fish fry,” while other people can just see that fish on the wall. That trophy decision is all yours folks, but I can tell you this. I have more than once seen a guide almost cry as he starts to cut into the biggest fish that ever was landed on his boat! It doesn’t really matter what your trophy is. It could be a three-inch perch dangling from a kid’s Snoopy fishing pole, a crumpled old photo or a
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straightened out hook from the one that got away. The important thing is that those trophies remind us of good times had. Have you got your trophy yet?
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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Broken clays = scholarships
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he 30th annual Shootin’ for Scholarships kicked off Aug. 10 at the National Shooting Complex. Doug and Cindy Niznik of Niznik Concrete organize the shoot every year to raise money for scholarships. Hosts for the event were Johnston Industries, Lynwood Building Materials, Inc., T&D Moravits and Niznik Concrete Contractors. Construction companies in various trades sponsor youths ages 18 and younger to participate in the shoot. This year, the shoot raised $60,000 net with 150 participating shooters. Three Alamo College students were presented scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each. Two of the scholarships were made available from last year’s proceeds. The third scholarship was provided Traugott Inc. Painting & Decorating and T&D Moravits. –cmw.
Joaquin Gomez-Carillo, Scholarship Winner
Joel Hernandez, Scholarship Winner
1st Place Youth Lewis Class C: Ridge Neri
1st Place Ladies Class A: Madison Brown
1st Place Youth Lewis Class A, High Overall Youth Shooter: Sam Waldrop
1st Place Youth Lewis Class B: Avery Felton
1st Place Ladies Class C: Yvette Reyes
Adan Garcia, Scholarship Winner
1st Place Ladies Class B: Morgan Kite
1st Place Open Division Class A: Bruce Culver
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Eagle represents excellence
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t was the 27th year of the Excellence in Construction Awards banquet hosted by the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter. The prestigious event was held at the beautiful Security Services Federal Credit Union Events Center on Aug. 8. Eagle awards were presented to 17 companies in 22 construction categories along with 29 Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) awards and six chapter awards. -cmw 2019 Bronze STEP Awards winners: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors Joeris General Contractors Jordan Foster Construction SpawGlass
Specialty Contractor Electrical Commercial $2 - $10 Million: Central Electric Ent. & Co. – COSA SE Service Center
Specialty Contractor Electrical Industrial Less Than $2 Million: Central Electric Ent. & Co. – FEISD Food Warehouse
Specialty Contractor Mechanical Commercial $2 - $10 Million: TDIndustries Inc. – HCA Methodist Stone Oak
Special Projects $2 - $10 Million: Teal Construction Company – Stinson Municipal Airport Traffic Control Tower
2019 Diamond STEP Award Winners: Harvey-Cleary Builders Metropolitan Contracting Co. LLC MK Marlow Company LLC Southwest Electrical Contracting Services Ltd. Structure Tone Southwest LLC
Specialty Contractor Exteriors All Contract Amounts: Baker Triangle – Alamo Colleges District Support Offices
Renovation $4 - $10 Million: Central Builders Inc. – NISD Boone Elementary
Institutional Less Than $5 Million: Alpha Building Corporation – IDEA Public Schools Carver Academy Classroom Additions
Specialty Contractor Electrical Commercial Less Than $2 Million: Central Electric Ent. & Co. – Bulverde Fire Station #3
2019 Silver STEP Award: Moore Erection LP 2019 Gold STEP Award winners: BETCO Scaffolds Keller-Martin Construction MAREK Marksmen General Contractors Sabinal Group The Koehler Co. Yates Construction 2019 Platinum STEP Award winners: A/C Technical Services LLC Alpha Building Corporation Central Builders Inc. Garney Companies Inc. Keystone Concrete Placement Middleman Construction Company LLC Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company Smithers Merchant Builders LP TDIndustries Inc. Teal Construction Company
2019 Industry Professional of the Year: Stephanie O’Rourke, Cokinos
2019 Volunteer of the Year: Jason Harmon, Metropolitan Contracting Co. LLC
Residential Multi-Family Projects & Condominiums: Galaxy Builders Ltd. – Champions Gate Apartments
2019 General Contractor Member of the Year: Jerry Graeber, Leonard Contracting Inc.
2019 Supplier Member of the Year: Steve White, Americrane Rentals
Historical Restoration Less Than $2 Million: Metropolitan Contracting Co. LLC – LPA San Antonio
Healthcare Less Than $10 Million: RogersO’Brien Construction – Peterson Health Hospice & Home Care Offices
Specialty Contractor Interiors All Contract Amounts: MK Marlow Company LLC – Frost Tower Project
2019 Subcontractor Member of the Year: Stacy Gunderson, MAREK
Historical Restoration $2 - $10 Million: Alpha Building Corporation – The Stegman Building
Institutional $25 - $100 Million: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors – Cornerstone Christian Schools
2019 Chairman’s Award: Jon Fisher, ABC of Texas
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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continued from Page 14
Commercial $10 - $25 Million: Joeris General Contractors – Bexar County Public Works
Historical Restoration $10 - $100 Million: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors – Center for Health Care Services Paul Elizondo Adult Behavioral Health Clinic
Institutional $10 - $25 Million: The Koehler Company – Atascosa County Justice Center
Public Works Environmental All Contract Amounts: Pesado Construction Company – Montana Pass Floating Groun Storage Tank
Specialty Contractor Other Specialty Construction Commercial Less Than $10 Million: Big City Access Holdings LLC – City Public Service Bravo Energy Project, 500 McCullough
Commercial Less Than $2 Million: Harvey-Cleary Builders – Siena Parking Expansion
Commercial $25 - $100 Million: Joeris General Contractors – Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union Administrative Services Center III
Renovation Less Than $4 Million: Jordan Foster Construction – San Antonio Zoo Animal Hospital Expansion
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Living the good life
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Leif Benavides, owner of Good Leif Plumbing
eif Benavides is living proof there is no rule that one’s work has to be drudgery. “I’ve been doing this for so long, it’s not even a job anymore,” he said. “It’s my hobby; it’s what I like to do. I get up every morning and I’m ready to go.” Benavides has never had another job other than plumbing. “I knew when I was teeny-tiny I was going to be a plumber. I started plumbing when I was 13 years old with my grandfather,” he said. Thus, Benavides is living the good life. (His first name is pronounced “Life.” He was named after the actor Leif Erickson,
who starred in The High Chaparral, a western that ran from 1967-71. When Benavides was being born and his dad was in the waiting room, which fathers did back then, The High Chaparral was on the television, and his dad saw Leif Erickson on it.) Benavides started Good Leif Plumbing only a year and change ago at the age of 45. He took the plunge after a work situation with a family friend didn’t work out. He got his official start in plumbing when he was 15 and was a hired hand at a plumbing company. One day, a plumber came in and said his helper didn’t show
up. Benavides’ boss volunteered him to go with the plumber on his job. After high school, Benavides did his apprenticeship with a local union for four years and continue with other plumbing companies. Eventually, he got his masters and Responsible Licensed Plumber (RLP) certification and was ready to go when he decided to go out on his own, much to his wife’s surprise. He thought to himself: “I’m 45 years old - why not try it?” Being in Adkins, Benavides sees two things: plumbers around there like to go to the “big city” of San Antonio to do work, and plumbers in San Antonio don’t want to go out to the smaller, outlining areas outside town. His philosophy is simple: “I’ll take care of you. Just call me!” “I love working with people,” Benavides said. “I love being around people. In this line of business, you never know what you’re going to see.” (Some things he described can’t be printed. Trust me.) “I’ve seen all kinds of stuff,” he said. “I’ve come across a little bit of everything.” Starting his own business at 45 was a challenge. Benavides said, slightly tongue in cheek: “I used to have hair and I used to have a dark mustache. Now, everything is either balding or going white.” Be that as it may, Benavides added that
“with word of mouth and being extremely honest and reliable, it’s keeping me busy.” “I go all over,” he said. “Wherever they call, I go. I’ve learned that if you’re nice to people, it will always come back.” With a good deal of houses being built in his area Benavides is trusting that a house built today will have a plumbing problem tomorrow. Hence, he will gladly take the call. While other construction trades can have jobs booked for weeks and months, Benavides said he’s at the beck and call of the homeowner and said “a lot of prayers” are used regularly. “You have to have faith in your God that you’ll get the call,” he said. “This is not a job,” he said. “I have fun. I wake up and can’t wait to go to work.” Benavides has no intention of taking his foot off the gas pedal. His 16-year old son works with him during school breaks and he wants to leave his business for his kids and grandkids. “That’s the future of Good Leif Plumbing,” he said. “Every day is an adventure,” he said, “so how would you not like to get up and go to work because you never know what you’re going to find.” “I’m not doing it to get rich or be a millionaire,” he added. “I’m doing it to help people.” This sounds like a very good life indeed. Good Leif Plumbing is a plumbing contractor in Adkins. -dsz
CDS Muery has new leadership
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fter 31 years, CDS Muery (CDSm) has changed ownership. The civil engineering and surveying firm was launched in 1988 by Kenneth (Kenny) R. Rothe, PE, CFM; Bill H. Ethridge, Jr., R.P.L.S and John T. Kubala, R.P.L.S. They established their corporate headquarters in San Antonio and have grown the firm to over 100 employees with 13 licensed professional engineers with registrations in Texas and 11 other states. They have nine licensed professional land surveyors registered in Texas and seven other states and 15 field survey crews that cover projects throughout Texas, Oklahoma and adjacent states. Serving numerous markets in both the public and private sector in engineering, surveying and mapping and 3D Laser Scanning, they have expanded their capacity with an office in Oklahoma City, OK. In June CDSm employees John E. Rothe, PE, CFM; Russell E. Morkovsky,
The new leadership team of CDS Meury L-R: Russell Morkovsky, PE, CFM; Derek Snoga, R.P.L.S.; John Rothe, PE, CFM and Jarod Cain, PE, CFM
PE, CFM; Derek Snoga, R.P.L.S.; and Jarod M. Cain, PE, CFM have taken over the reins as the new principals of CDSm.
“We want to thank Kenny, Tommy and Bill for their commitment to making CDS Muery the reputable engineering
and surveying firm that it is,” says Morkovsky. Past President Kenny Rothe assures they and the new principals will continue to work closely with their clients to ensure the transition process is as smooth as possible. CDSm will continue to function the same and CMSm clients should see no change in their services and quality of work. “Kenny, Tommy and Bill will have daily involvement and management of the firm. They will serve on the Board of Directors in advisory capacity,” adds Morkovsky. “Tommy, Bill and I have no doubt that John, Russell, Derek and Jarod will continue the strength and enormous growth opportunities for CDS Muery, as well as the business direction of the firm,” adds Rothe. CDS Muery is a civil engineering and surveying firm. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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Diversity awards
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he Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA de SA) celebrates their 10th year of presenting awards recognizing the diversity excellence in the construction industry. This year’s event was held on Jul. 19 at the Phoenician Ballroom. The fun-filled event, complete with live music, casino games, cigar rolling and raffles in addition to the awards was bittersweet as Executive Director Dave Sanchez announced his departure at the end of July. -cmw
Project Owner Over $10 Million: Alamo Colleges District
SMWVBE Subcontractor of the Year: Bolero Ventures
Professional Services Provider of the Year: IBTX
Project Owner Under $10 Million: Alamo Colleges District
SMWVBE Supplier/Vendor of the Year: Caprice Productions
MWVBE Prime or General Contractor of the Year: Robinson General Contractors
Diversity Advocate of the Year: SAWS-San Antonio Water System
General Contractor Under $10 Million: SpawGlass
Corporate Sponsor of the Year: H-E-B
General Contractor Over $10 Million: Joeris General Contractors Hispanic Contractors Association
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Celebrating 20 Years of Success!
1999 - 2019
Diversity Champion of the Year: George B. Hernandez, Jr. Safety Program of the Year: Turner Construction
HCA de SA Volunteer of the Year: Estela Garcia-Perez
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 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
Environmentally responsible building Matt McCaffrey, P.E., LEED AP Project Executive Skanska USA San Antonio, TX
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att McCaffrey, P.E., LEED AP, joined Skanska USA in 2003. A key team member on healthcare, high-rise office, and entertainment projects across Michigan and Texas, he is currently the project executive overseeing the construction of a renovation project in downtown San Antonio. What is “green building?” In general, I think “Green Building” represents the design and construction of buildings that are environmentally responsible by limiting the impact the building will have on the surrounding environment in the short and long term. Skanska USA is on the leading edge of green building practices, supporting the evolution of existing standards. From office buildings and schools, to transit lines and highways, our team is well-versed in the green standards that are helping build resilient communities.
al local and federal government initiatives (including the Energy Star program). With the establishment of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), there is a formal rating system for buildings which owners, architects and contractors can use as a guide. Over the past 25 years, the LEED program has evolved, as has our understanding of how building affects the environment. While LEED is still the overwhelming standard, there are now other ratings systems and certifications (WELL, Living Building, etc.) which approach the concept from different perspectives.
What is the history of green building in the U.S.? At some level, green building has always been a part of the design and construction fields, as energy and water use are large drivers of the cost of building operations and cost savings are always in demand by building owners and developers. However, the “green building” movement didn’t formally begin until the early 1990’s with the founding of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and sever-
How has the “going green” trend affected the construction industry? I think “going green” has affected the construction industry positively. There is now a focus not only on what we are building, but how we are building it. Every aspect of the construction process is now looked at through the lens of sustainability and it has also slowly impacted the supply chain. It is no longer sufficient to just make a product which meets codes and performs well. The product
Economic benefits of green Allan Throneberry, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, DMI Technologies Fort Worth, TX
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hroneberry leads the sales and marketing efforts for DMI Technologies. He began his career in the early ’90s with a regional telecommunications company and has spent the last 20 years in various leadership roles for Telecom and Software companies. How would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? Have you experienced an increase in business? Slowdown? We can’t speak for the state of the national industry, but I can tell you that construction is big business in Texas right now. The industry has never been stronger, and we are seeing more projects every month. DMI and many other companies in our market are experiencing a major growth cycle this year that should trend into late 2021.
What are the economic benefits of green or sustainable building and development? The economic benefits of sustainable buildings are truly hard to capture. There are many studies that show the benefits of cost savings on utilities for buildings that are developed to be green. What DMI is interested in however, is harder to capture. Our focus is on the actual use of the building and its inhabitants. How can you capture the happiness of an employee who benefits from daylight harvesting technology? Is it possible to trace how many extra
Green Building
Sept: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment
now needs to be efficient or renewable. With the number of projects either achieving green building certifications or designing to the standards, a product that is not compliant will be overlooked immediately. From Skanska USA’s perspective, it has forced us to look at ways to reduce waste. This includes more adoption of prefabrication and modular construction to reduce things like “packaging” and transportation costs. The focus on green building is having an effect on not just sustainability, but also productivity and safety by pushing us toward more efficient ways of construction. What are the benefits of green building? Constructing a building that is efficient will result in lower cost of operation over the life of the building, which is often an easy sell to owners. However, “green building” is also related to the user experience and buildings that have embraced this are typically more favored by occupants. How is green building related to smart growth and sustainable development? All of these go hand in hand. There has to be a commitment from all parties in order to truly produce a sustainable building. As more data becomes available, we are beginning to see more quantitative information about the benefits of sustainable buildings, and this will further inform decisions being made at the master planning and development stages of projects. Is there federal or state legislation related to green building? Please explain. While building and energy codes are including more stringent standards for energy and water use, most local, state
kilowatt hours of energy can be used in urban shelters due to a drop in usage of the commercial building next door? These are the hard questions, and I think that as the industry can learn to grasp these measurable items and present them, we can then start to see real growth in sustainable development. Where can I find more information about the components of green building, like energy efficiency or reduced waste? There are many local chapters dedicated to green building technology. Agencies such as LEED or USGBC provide readily available information on how green buildings are scored. Alternatively, many consumers are reaching out to their construction tradespeople and product manufacturers for this knowledge. How do buildings affect natural resources? In every way imaginable. Every brick, stick, cable, and piece of glass used in construction is derived from some natural resource. Most people realize this, but
and federal projects now require some level of LEED (or other) certification. What are the economic benefits of green or sustainable building and development? Costs associated with energy and water savings over the course of the project are obvious benefits. However, that can be eroded somewhat by the cost for additional equipment or more expensive products to achieve certification. Less obvious and quantifiable benefits are the impacts on the supply chain. The requirements for material certification are forcing companies to reduce shipping and transportation (and cost associated with both) and utilize more renewable materials to be competitive. How are buildings certified as green in the U.S.? There are many rating systems, most of which use a point-based system which dictates a level of certification. Examples include LEED, Envision, Living Building Challenge and WELL Certifications. The selection of one or more of these certification systems is often driven by the experience of the owner or architect. Achievement is completed by documenting compliance with credits and submitting that documentation for review and approval. Upon completion, a number of credits or points are achieved indicating the level of certifcation. Skanska USA has constructed hundreds of LEED certified projects and is a platinum member of the USGBC. Skanska USA is a full-service general contractor specializing in building construction, civil infrastructure and developing self-financed commercial projects. - cmw
many overlook the use of natural resources by just choosing a location for the development. Any time that the environment is changed, even in a small way, there is a change to the local ecosystem. Clearing dirt for a mid-rise building, for instance, changes the natural flow of rainwater run off for an area surrounding that development. This is a major reason that development planners must be aware of and care about sustainability in their project. What standards exist for green building? Standards for green building can be found in multiple places depending on the part of the world you are developing. In the U.S. there are standards published by the USGBC that outline specific building requirements for gaining accreditation and LEED Point. DMI Technologies is a woman-ownedsmall-business and is a provider of network infrastructure, security and smart building technology located in Ft Worth, TX. Their mission is always to deliver the highest quality of connectivity through the use of innovative solutions. -cmw
Largest graduating class
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ver 550 people were in attendance at the Independent Electrical Contractors’ (IEC) 2019 graduation ceremony. It was the association’s largest graduating class with 49 graduating apprentices. The event was held at the Norris Conference Center on Jun. 7. Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography. -cmw IEC San Antonio class of 2019
Scott Seger will be representing IEC San Antonio and competing at the National Apprentice Competition in St. Louis in October.
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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T H NEOXN T M
Specialty Contractors
To represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800
Green building in the United States of America is a victim of its own success Omar David Land, MEP Systems Manager Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, San Antonio, TX
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lash back to 1894: refrigeration systems dedicated primarily to producing large blocks of ice, have begun to revolutionize the way that industrial processes function and have opened incredible new ways to preserve and transport food. Engineers decide that a committee should be formed to standardize and regulate these systems and the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE) was founded. In 1902, a commercially viable air conditioning system for commercial buildings was invented, and by 1959 these systems and their derivatives were so widely adopted that ASHAE joined with American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE) to form the now internationally influential American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). As one might expect with a new technology, the focus of these groups was primarily on safety, comfort, reliability, and maintainability for building occupants, owners, and service providers. Energy efficiency was readily sacrificed in favor of these more immediate considerations. In the early 1990’s in response to growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Environ-
mental Protection Agency’s “Energy Star Program” were formed. While Energy Star focused on consumer goods and residential construction, the USGBC formed with a broader ambition of “promoting sustainably focused practices” in the construction industry. By 1998, the USGBC strategically launched a program to achieve this objective by providing awards to developers and institutional owners who could design and construct buildings that operate 10%, 20%, 30% efficiently than the code standards promulgated by ASHRAE and/or the International Code Council. The USGBC program was known by the acronym LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED certifications for buildings and for construction and design professionals alike became a badge of honor synonymous with all things positive in
Designing responsibly with green in mind Robyn Popa, AIA, LEED AP, Partner Pfluger Architects San Antonio, TX
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obyn Popa, AIA, LEED AP,is a Partner at Pfluger Architects’ San Antonio office. Her experience includes master planning, facility assessment, programming, design, production and construction administration. She is currently President of the Association for Learning Environments’ South Texas chapter. What is the history of green building in the US? Green building has been around since humankind first built and inhabited shelters. The early shelters used local materials, were sited/positioned to maximize the natural environment (shading, prevailing winds, etc.) and reused resources wherever possible. In that sense, “green building” is nothing new. What is new is addressing the negative impact that construction has had on the environment. The invention of building systems, such as indoor heating, cooling and plumbing, has allowed us to build wherever and however we wanted. As a result, now we have to refocus on responsible design and construction to build smarter, conserve resources and consider lifecycle impacts on the environment. How has the “going green” trend affected the construction industry? “Going green” has prompted the entire construction industry to be more conscious of their trade and the resultant impact the built environment has on resources. There is more scrutiny on material and product selection to source renewable, regional resources that won’t negatively impact the building occupants. There is more oversight and quality control — for example, more control
over where waste goes, or what products are used in construction, etc. More monitoring is required in material production to control the environmental effects of the manufacturing process. How has “green building” affected the type of work you do? Primarily, we are more thoughtful of and selective through all aspects of design. As architects, we feel a sense of obligation to design responsibly, even for clients or jurisdictions that don’t require any level of “green building.” We also look more critically at the act of construction—how we can minimize waste, reuse building elements, and how the systems can be efficiently and environmentally maintained, etc. Is there federal or state legislation related to green building? Explain Legislation varies from state to state; however, most jurisdictions require architects and engineers to adhere to specific building or energy codes. These codes have evolved to emphasize green building for energy savings, efficient systems and enhanced performance. Most entities require that architects and engineers demonstrate that the design meets the applicable building code’s requirements by using the US Department of Energy’s COMcheck program. Building codes, COMcheck and other
the design, development, and construction world. Buildings proudly displayed LEED certification badges in lobbies, “LEED Accredited Professional” was exuberantly added to the signature block of professionals throughout the design and construction industry. From 2003-2009 the LEED program was enjoying broad growth and acceptance; but the LEED program’s inclination toward a broad holistic approach to “green” design and construction pushed it beyond a mandate for energy efficiency, and into the realm of urban planning, material sourcing, and waste management. The result was occasionally buildings that were impractical or unwieldy from a maintenance perspective, or that lacked optimal functionality from the user perspective. The proverbial pendulum swung from sacrificing efficiency for comfort, to something quite the opposite in some of these LEED certified buildings. Concurrently, in the year 2000 the International Energy Conservation Code became a part of the prescriptive package of codes adopted not only by the major municipalities in the United States, and several other countries around the world. Recognizing the surge in green building and responding to demand for standards requiring that buildings operate more efficiently, ASHRAE and the International Code Council started to significantly increase the requirements for energy efficiency in the baseline building codes and by 2009 the standards were so stringent, that many municipalities de-
ferred adoption of a code update until 2012. A review of construction costs during this time will reveal construction costs rising at a rate that is significantly faster than the rate of inflation and much of this can be attributed to these code changes. Frustrations with the earlier versions of the LEED program, in conjunction with the increased requirements of the baseline code, have cause many owners to strike what might be the best balance between the two options, incorporating what they perceive as the best of LEED standards and requirements to build sustainably and produce an energy efficient project, without pursuing the actual LEED certification and thereby mitigating the expense associated with the administrative costs of obtaining a formal certification. Aided by changes in federal, state and municipal law, building codes, and technology the USGBC has been so successful in their mission to make buildings more environmentally friendly, that exceedingly few buildings pursue the actual LEED certification anymore. This isn’t bad news however for the USGBC or for the construction industry; the USGBC’s World Green Building Council is pursuing similar success in countries around the world, and the IECC and ASHRAE continue to refine the building codes in the United States to strike the right balance between green building and meeting the needs of business decision makers. Bartlett Cocke General Contractors is a full-service general contractor headquartered in San Antonio, TX. -cmw
codified requirements don’t address all aspects of green building though. They are tools and resources that only focus on building system performance. It is the designer’s responsibility to address the project’s green building goals.
collected during the entire course of design and construction, and even after the owner has occupied the building. Other location-based certifications are available through local jurisdictions such as the Austin Energy Green Building program for projects for the areas in and around Austin, Texas. Ultimately, any project designed to current building codes of IBC 2015 or higher has achieved some level of “green” through its building systems and envelope requirements, although there is no explicit certification for that. Pfluger Architects has long incorporated principles of environmentally responsible design into their projects using the latest standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program to achieve the highest possible levels of health and wellness for their clients. -cmw
How are buildings certified as green in the US? Buildings can be certified “green” based upon location, how “green” they are and how vital certification is to the owner or architect. The most familiar certification program is the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, or LEED. This program requires thorough documentation from all parties involved in the project, including the architect, engineers, contractor, subcontractors and the owner. This program also requires documentation to be
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Ribbon cutting in His name
First family photo
Associated General Contractors (AGC) Member Services Director, Kelly Wilson, gave birth to twins girls, Riley Lynn and Lauren Pauline, on Aug. 5. Riley was born at 11:21pm weighing 4 lbs., 10oz. with twin sister Lauren following behind two minutes later weighing 3 lbs., 15oz. Congratulations Kelly and Tim Wilson!-cmw
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Following opening prayers and statements, the Castellanos and family cut the ribbon at their new facility in Somerset.
aving overcome multiple obstacles to get into their new facility and as commanded by God, Tony and Cecilia Castellano held the Azteca Designs Inc. Business Revival 2019 and ribbon cutting of their new facility on Aug. 7 at precisely 3:20pm. Never losing faith in His word, the Castellanos knew God would show them the way and He did. So on Aug. 7 at 3:20pm precisely, the owners of Azteca Designs did as they were commanded.
Why Aug. 7 at precisely 3:20pm? Cecilia explained to the multitude in attendance that He spoke to her, “My child, you are to rise up and have a business rival. Revive my people, those that I have put into leadership…have them bring Me in their places of business. He showed me it would be on Aug. 7 at exactly 3:20pm. August is the eighth month of the year. Eight is for New Beginnings; seven is for completion and 3:20 is for Ephesians 3:20 for overflow.”-cmw
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
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Association Calendar
continued from Page 1 — Allen & Allen sition of Allen & Allen was a no brainer. “First AT&T left, then Tesoro, Vision Source, Gunther, Pioneer Flour Mill and now Whataburger. We said we can’t wait. We can’t lose any more businesses and their legacies,” says Randy Harig, TRTF CEO. “We are excited and thrilled to be the first TRTF Community House company. Coddy and I have had the tremendous honor of owning and operating Allen & Allen Co. since Pat Knight purchased the company from the Allen family back in the early 80s. Our commitment to the core values on which the company was founded in 1931 has yielded great success with our employees, customers, vendors and in developing a culture that revolves around a solid work ethic, a focus on people and doing the right thing,” adds Miller. The acquisition of Allen & Allen Co. is a win-win for the company, its employees and the San Antonio Community. “Allen & Allen Co. will continue to provide superior service and products. It will be business as usual,” says Wade Payne who was named President and General Manager of Allen & Allen Co. with this transaction. Allen & Allen Co. has always been known for its community involvement. The Millers and Penas, as well as the employees of Allen & Allen Co., have always given back to the community and ac-
cording to Payne, “those things will not change. We are going to focus on keeping it business as usual while we still try to improve and enhance so we can continue to give back to the community in a much bigger way.” “As the company continues to prosper, any funds that flow to what is considered excess revenue will then be put back into the community, either by building buildings or helping support organizations that need to expand, but don’t have the money,” adds Harig. Although Miller steps down as president and CEO, he will not be far away as he will be sitting on the TRTF Community House board and have a first-hand look at the continued success of the new Allen & Allen Co. as a TRTF Community House company. -cmw
ABC
Associated Builders & Contractors
Sept. 13: Fall Golf Tournament, TPC on the Oaks Course, 23808 Resort Pkwy., 8am Shotgun start. Sept. 26: Happy Hour, The Rustic at The Rim, 17619 La Cantera Pkwy. #204, 4:306:15pm. Sept. 28: Dove Hunt, Howell Crane Ranch, 3422 Sandy Elm Rd., La Vernia, TX, 12-8pm. For more info, contact Leah Villarreal at leah@abcsouthtexas.org or 210342-1994 AGC
Associated General Contractors
Sept. 6-7: Construction Cup Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament, Rusty Lyons Softball Fields, 6300 N. McCullough Ave. For more info, contact Kelly Wilson at 210349-4921 or email kwilson@sanantonioagc.org AIA
American Institute of Architects
Randy Harig, Buzz Miller and Wade Payne
continued from Page 1 — Surmac Inc. Watson’s family-owned manufacturer of specialty concrete densifiers, chloride and contaminant purgers and alkali enhancers. These products are sold under the name of Matrix Pro, which has been extremely successful in solving problems relating to vapor transmission, salt contamination and corrosion passivation in concrete. Surmac captured the ICRI 2004 Award of Merit for its Lanark Distribution Center project. The 156,000 sf industrial warehouse was in terrible shape. Surmac’s techniques solved the problem and saved the owner $100,000. One project very special to Watson was the 250,000-sf, five-level Broadway Lofts parking garage. This project captured the ICRI 2016 Award of Excellence. Concrete restoration of the parking garage was deemed a “lost cause.” The owner was told it can’t be fixed because
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
it would take a miracle. Engineers recommended demolition and to build a replacement. So here comes Surmac. This project saved the owner an estimated $5 million for the garage which was falling apart. “It has been a great time to be in business – all the friendships made, seeing the changes in construction and the advancement of products to enhance construction. One of the things he has enjoyed the most is sharing his knowledge with the future generation of young contractors. Hopefully this will help assure the continuation of this honorable service business and help these young contractors avoid some of the pitfalls he’s experienced and at the same time, introduce them to the state-of-the-art products and equipment. Surmac Inc. is based in Schertz, Tx. -rd
Sept. 9: CAN Opener of CANstruction, North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro Ave., 5:30-8:30pm. Sept. 9-21: CANstruction Open to the Public, North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro Ave., 5:30-8:30pm. For more info, call 210226-4979 ASA
American Subcontractors Assn.
Sept. 5: BPI Breakfast, Gardner Law Firm, 745 E. Mulberry Ave. #500, 8:30am. Sept. 24: Lunch & Learn, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr., 11:30am. Sept. 26: ASA Pour Off & Texas Hold’em Mixer, Aggie Park, 6205 West Ave., 6-9pm. For more info, call Jennifer Swinney at 210-349-2105 GSABA
Greater San Antonio Builders Assn.
Sept. 19: Membership Mixer: Bjorns Audio Video Football Theme, Bjorns, 14123 Hwy. 281 N., 5:30-7:30pm. For more info, call 210-696-3800 HCA de SA
Hispanic Contractors Assn. de San Antonio
Sept.18: Monthly Meeting & Mixer, The Quarry Golf Club, 444 E. Basse Rd., 6-8pm. For more info, call 210-444-1100 or go to www.hcadesa.org IEC
Independent Electrical Contractors
Sept. 9: IEC School Year begins, IEC Training Center, 5511 Ingram Rd., 5:30pm. Sept. 21: 19th Annual Golf Tournament, Olympia Hills Golf Course, 9am. For more info, contact Julie Tucker at 210-431-9861 or email jtucker@iecsanantonio.com Titanic before restoration
Playboy Mansion project
continued from Page 1 — SpawGlass fabrication shop were performed by SpawGlass with support from local subcontractors and suppliers. “One of our co-founders, Louis Spaw, stated, ‘We don’t just build buildings; we build people’,” said San Antonio Division President Jason Smith. “It’s important that we provide a safe, efficient and professional work environment for our team members who provide our clients with the absolute best construction experi-
MCA-SMACNA
Mechanical Contractors Assn. Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.
Sept. 11: Regular & Associates Meeting, ence. The San Antonio office renovation and new Building Services shop do just that.” Building in San Antonio since 1977, SpawGlass was named General Contractor of the Year by the San Antonio Business Journal at the 2019 Building San Antonio Awards. Founded in 1953, SpawGlass is a commercial and civil contractor with locations throughout Texas. -cmw
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NARI
National Assn. of the Remodeling Industry
Sept. 19: 2019 NARI Annual Golf Tournament, Silverhorn Golf Club, 1100 W. Bitters Rd., 11am-6pm. For more info, email Angela Parks at angelas@southwestexteriors.com NAWIC
National Assn. of Women in Construction
Sept. 4: General Meeting & New Board Installation, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels. For more info, email Rebecca Rodriguez at rrodriguez@tcco.com NECA
National Electrical Contractors Assn.
Sept. 14-17: NECA Convention & Trade Show, Las Vegas, NV. For more info, contact Les Moynahan at 210-226-6331 PHCC
Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors
Sept. 5: Plumbing Apprentice Orientation, SPC, 6 pm Sept. 9: First Week of PHCC Plumbing Apprentice DOL School Sept. 12: Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr. , 11am Sept. 28: PHCC-San Antonio Chapter 25th Annual Fishing Tournament, Rockport, TX. For more info, call Heidi Trimble at 210-824-7422 or go to www.phcc-sanantonio.org RCAT
Roofing Contractors Assn. of Texas
Sept. 18-20: 2019 RCAT 44th Event, Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center For more info, visit www.rooftex.com/ events SAMCA
San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.
Sept. 26: Mixer/Auction Fundraiser, Tycoon Flats, 2926 N. St. Mary’s, 6-9pm. For more info, contact Debbie at 830-6065556 or email thesamca@gmail.com TACCA
Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn. Greater San Antonio
Sept. 13-14: TACCA Greater San Antonio 26th Annual Fishing Tournament, Doc’s Seafood & Steaks, 13309 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX. Sept. 19: Membership Mixer, Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara. For more info, call Dawn Thompson at 210901-4222
Submitted to Construction News
Round-Up
Tindall Corporation is proud to welcome Mike Pardy to its Texas Division as its newest sales engineer. Pardy will establish and grow customer accounts throughout northern Texas. He will focus on structural precast concrete product lines and will also aim to exceed customer expectations and business plan objectives from each project’s inception to completion. -cmw
Round-Up Welding and fabrication shop
The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr. Sept. 18: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA office, 12500 Network Blvd., #410, 11:30am. Sept. 25: 42nd Annual Hunter Symposium, Bexar Shooting Range, 15391Bexar Bowling, Marion, TX 1pm. For more info, call Sandee Morgan at 210-822-3763
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Chris Hillyer has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Preconstruction in the Central region. Hillyer, an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience, joined the firm in 1996. He will oversee preconstruction efforts throughout Skanska USA’s Central region, which includes Texas, Arizona, Tennessee and the Ohio markets. -cmw
Brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows.
SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net
(210) 308-5800
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Industry FOLKS
Ruby Trejo Marketing Coordinator/ Red Hawk Contracting
Circle “C” Millwork San Antonio, TX
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rowing up, Ruby Trejo always wondered why criminals committed crimes, so she decided to go to school to get a better understanding. Her goal was to become a criminologist. Sitting through her final semester of major courses, Trejo realized her emotions would not allow her to realistically become a criminologist. Trejo was born and raised in El Paso, TX and says, “It was great growing up in El Paso. El Paso is a small city in West Texas that is very family oriented. It is a very close-knit community.” She graduated from Del Valle High School, “Go Big Bad Blue,” before attending St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. “College life was great. It was nice moving to a city that is as diverse as Austin is. The campus was beautiful and very close knit as well. The best four years of my life were spent at St. Edward’s.” After graduating from St. Edwards with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, Trejo went back to El Paso for a short spell, working for a company where she learned about social media marketing. She later enrolled at The University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX where she earned her Master of Business with a Concentration in Marketing degree. After moving to San Antonio, to help pay the bills, Trejo took a job with a temp staffing agency who placed her in a temp position with Association Builders & Contractors (ABC) as a marketing and events coordinator. She would work at ABC a little over three years. During that time, Trejo got to know a lot of people in the construction industry and decided working in the construction industry was where she wanted to be, and credits ABC President Steve Schultz as her mentor. “I’ve been able to learn so much about the industry through his guidance.” Having decided she wanted to stay in the construction industry, Trejo found herself wanting to be more involved in the day-to-day aspects of construction and went to work for Red Hawk Contracting. “I am the marketing coordinator and project manager assistant. I manage the company website, social media channels and handle all marketing. I also assist our project managers with their administrative work. “I enjoy my co-workers best about my job. At Red Hawk Contracting we are like a family.” Fitness is a huge interest for Ruby. She has always enjoyed going for long runs to relax. Recently, Trejo picked up powerlifting. Being able to lift heavy weights is the best way I destress after a long day. “I’ve become so intrigued with powerlifting I hope to compete next year.” In addition to the highs of powerlifting, Trejo enjoys seeing live bands perform. She relishes her time with her friends going to the movies and meeting for dinner. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019
Page 23
Lo, it was good
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L-R: Joel (vice president) and Ron Turney (owner) of Turney Lighting & Electrical
urney Lighting & Electric hasn’t been around since the beginning even though it may seem like it. Ron and Debbie Turney started their company out in the oil fields area of Midland in 1983, dealing in only ceiling fans at that time. “I’ve installed 8,000 to 10,000 ceiling fans,” Turney said. Soon after the Turneys started their company, however, the oil industry hit a bust, so they packed up the kids and moved to San Antonio. “A big bulk of our business is with developers,” Turney said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have worked with a lot of good builders over the years, a lot of good guys,” he added. Son Joel is Turney Lighting & Electrical’s vice president and IT guru. The Taft High School graduate started working in the family shop when he was a senior enrolled in the work-study program. He runs the electrical division out of Helotes. Joel’s wife Liz is the company treasurer. “It’s family owned and operated with a lot of good people,” Turney said.
“We are a full-blown electrical contractor,” he explained. They run eight trucks daily. “We buy direct from the manufacturer,” Turney said, so there is no middle man, which makes them “very competitive” in price. Turney Lighting & Electrical is also registered with CPS as a solar panel installer. “We jumped on board with that,” Joel said, of the opportunity in 1999. Joel is also a member of the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Turney has seen repeat customers who have bought from him even 20 years ago. When that happens, “You love hearing that,” Turney said. “That’s gratifying.” “It all boils down to customer service,” Turney said. “If you don’t have it or strive for it every day, you won’t be around like we have for 36 years.” What began in 1983 is still going strong. And, lo - that is very good. Turney Lighting & Electrical is a showroom and electrical contractor in San Antonio. -dsz
Molding for next 15 years
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Robert Livar, Sr. and Joseph Weyel
orty-five years ago, Robert Livar Sr. began his career in construction as an electrical apprentice with IBEW Local 60 on his 20th birthday in 1974. He has had a tremendous career in the electrical field including a 25-year term career with Corbo Electric. It is during that time that Livar had the insight to see that cabling was about to skyrocket and encouraged Mr. Corbo to start a separate division just for cabling. The timing could not have been better as that was the beginning of the “dotcom” phenomenon and Corbo Datacom Incorporated (CDI) was established. Livar would oversee CDI for 10 years before buying the division with partner Joseph Weyel from Mr. Corbo in 2004. Morphing the company into CDI Ventures, the company does business as CDI Technology Services specializing in low voltage cabling and technology solutions. With Livar as president and Weyel as Vice President, the company grew from three to 65 employees in three short
years. Now celebrating 15 years, CDI is stronger and bigger than ever, operating with 80 employees. The staff includes 12 BICSI certified technicians as well as three RCDDs: Livar, Weyel and Jacob Arocha. “RCDD is the communications designers certification acquired through BICSI. “To acquire your RCDD certification, you have to pass an extensive test,” adds Livar. “I got my certification in ’96, Joseph in ’09 and Jacob got his in 2016. That test is really, really tough. It was tough even in ‘96 and it just got harder and harder. RCDD is an international certification. “We have all our minority certifications through SMWBE including the SWMSDC (Southwest Minority Suppliers Development Council) certification,” says Livar. Livar adds that he is preparing for retirement as he and Weyel continue to mold CDI for the next 15 years. CDI Technology Services is an electrical subcontractor located in Port San Antonio. -cmw
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San Antonio Construction News • SEPT 2019