San Antonio Construction News October 2019

Covering the Industry’s News

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

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

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

Change Service Requested

San Antonio

CONSTRUCTION

™

The Industry’s Newspaper Page 5

J

Patriotic plumbing

Together in tile

Jessie Santibañez (third from right) owner of Old Glory Plumbing, with his team

Carrillo Tile Inc.’s Linda and Joe Carrillo

essie Santibañez owned a bar when he was 22, probably thinking this was a good gig to have. But when one of his customers asked him to help out with a plumbing job, and when Santibañez saw how much money this guy made from this job, that’s when he knew he wasn’t going to be San Antonio’s version of “Cheers.”

(The bar business didn’t work out anyway because Santibañez said he didn’t have the business savvy needed to run it. Plus, he was imbibing too often with his customers. Oh, well…)

“This is definitely where I want to be,” Santibañez said of his Aha! moment with plumbing. He worked with this guy for a while but moved on to another plumber when the first one developed a

L

www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 22 H Number 10 H OCTOBER 2019

ocated near the Mission Trails area, just south of Downtown San Antonio, Stinson Municipal Airport is the second oldest continually-operated airport in the United States. The original airport control tower, built in the mid ‘30s, was renovated and expanded between 2006 and 2008, and did not achieve the required standards of the FAA, thus the birth of the construction of a new airport traffic control tower.

The construction of a new airport traffic control tower at the historic Stinson Airfield was the culmination of many years of funding, designing and obtaining community support. Teal Construction Company was honored to be part this 5,865sf, $4,208,000 project which took 18 months to complete, bringing pride to the Stinson Airport personnel, surrounding community, City of San Antonio and the Stinson family.

The control tower is constructed of a

drug problem.

This second mentor told Santibañez to learn the trade well and stick with it as plumbing could provide a good living.

He became a journeyman and worked with this guy for four years before moving out to San Diego to be with his wife who was in the Navy. While in San Diego, he applied for his master’s license, came back to Texas to take his test and passed it.

When Santibañez moved back to Texas in 2010, he decided to work for himself. That’s when he started Old Glory Plumbing. His Navy wife suggested that name.

For the first several months, it was just Santibañez. “I would take on any sercontinued on Page 21

I

t’s fitting that tile brought Linda and Joe Carrillo together. Well, actually, Joe’s little sister played Cupid, but tile did play its part. In fact, Joe was installing tile on a jobsite when his sister brought Linda by to meet him in 1993.

Linda was a dental assistant and Joe had just put his dream of a film industry career behind him to return to construction – but a life in tile was not a leap for either of them. Linda’s three brothers all worked in tile in the Houston area. Joe’s grandfather worked with marble in Mexico City and his father was a master mason, meaning Joe spent his childhood working for his dad.

Joe considered working for his dad again when film school didn’t work out, but although the two men shared a close

personal bond, their personalities were too similar for them to work together. So, Joe went to work for his father’s friend.

“I found tile work really easy so I caught on really well,” Joe says. “I kind of just took off from there and I dedicated myself to doing tile.”

Business began to slow, however, and Joe needed to find more work. He placed an ad in the paper and the projects came in, enough to easily support him and his helper. When he got engaged to Linda in 1994, Joe had enough business to establish Carrillo Tile as a dba. The garage of the Carrillo’s first house served as a home base for the business; it eventually moved to a small storage unit and then the beautiful showroom the continued on Page 21

Cleared for takeoff deep socketed foundation with precast concrete panels to a height of nearly 100ft. above grade level. Atop the concrete panel is a steel framed cab, which houses the air traffic controllers’ stations.

While the use of precast concrete panels is not uncommon, it is not common to stack several panels atop one another to achieve the final precast panel height of 99ft-9in. This required in depth coordination to ensure the panels could withstand wind pressures at the design height along with the additional forces added by the wings attached to the exterior of the tower structure. The wings were constructed of a steel frame that was wrapped with a tensile membrane. The control tower’s cab was constructed with a conventional steel frame with heavy gauge metal stud infill and a stucco exterior finish system.

The cab includes a 360-degree curStinson Municipal Airport’s new traffic control tower

continued on Page 21

Page 2

R

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Running a tight ship

Round-the-year-safety

Some of the shooting targets made by Rod Hill of Tight Angle Sheet Metal

365 Workplace Safety Executive Director Sierra Dwight (white shirt) and HJD Capital Electric employees

od Hill started Tight Angle Sheet Metal in 2016. Being an owner of multiple businesses before has given Hill good savvy when it came to running a tight ship now.

The reasons for starting Tight Angle were twofold: (1) Hill is a commercial roofer full time, working for another company not his own. But he was always having to search high and low for the metal trim and pieces he needed. Thus, why pay someone else when he could get the metal parts from himself? “We had a need for the product,” Hill said, “and I went and started the business.”

(2) Hill’s younger brother has brain cancer, and this was going to force his father to quit his welding job in order to help care for him. Since Hill was looking to start a business anyway, he got with a partner and physically built Tight Angle on his father’s property so he could run it and also tend for his ailing brother.

Hill explains the name, “Tight Angle,” thusly: “A lot of what we fab in our shop is metal trim. So, having correct angles of your angles being tight and right making the metal fit better is where the name came from. A lot of what we make in the shop is corner trim and gutters and downspouts and coping trim and air conditioning duct work and stuff along those lines.”

Hill learned his craft from his father.

“Ever since I was a kid my dad has always welded and built stuff out of metal,” he said. “I learned how to weld from my father when I was probably 10 or 11 years old.”

“I’ve always believed with a cut and torch and a welder, you can make anything you want out of metal,” he added.

When it comes to the scope of his work, “I would say 99 percent of my business is for commercial application,” Hill

said. “Most of what I do for the AC guys is for commercial use and, yes, most of it is going to be custom built for their needs.”

Tight Angle Sheet Metal does not do any installations. They are “strictly a fabrications and production shop, that’s it,” Hill said.

“I ship literally all over the country,” he added. The companies for which he supplies metal products are nationwide and every time they need metal, no matter where it’s at, I ship it to them.

“Being in that market, I understand their needs. I’ve been in the field half my life.”

At the shop are his father and three other guys. “It’s really hard to find true tradesmen or craftsmen in any trade, I don’t care what it is,” Hill said.

Hill’s big emphasis for the future of Tight Angle Sheet Metal are steel shooting targets. They have several advantages over traditional paper targets. “They literally last forever,” he said. He has targets he’s made that have taken thousands of shots.”

“We manufacture steel shooting targets that are made out of AR500 abrasive-resistant steel,” he said. “It’s a very hard steel.”

Hill and his two young daughters are avid shooters. With his steel targets, the shooter can hear instantly if he’s hit the target and not have to look up or go up to the target if it’s far away to see if he’s hit it.

“I ship targets all over the lower 48,” Hill said. They have also gone to Canada and Hawaii.

Bottom line: Hill runs a very tight ship.

Tight Angle Sheet Metal is in Sulphur Springs. -dsz

E

nsuring workplace safety has never been more critical. The construction industry’s fast pace, however, makes it hard for business owners to keep up with the latest in safety regulations and products.

365 Workplace Safety is changing that. The non-profit, internet-based organization is dedicated to improving workplace safety for its members. 365WS members have round-the-clock access to online resources, such as professional human resource consultants and safety and risk management information.

Members also receive discounts on safety products through approved vendors, thanks to 365WS’ purchasing power.

365WS works to assist members in lowering their accidents and helping to control their insurance costs as well. UFG (United Fire Group Insurance Company) sponsors a popular benefit in which qualifying members can participate in a dividend on their insurance premiums if the program generates profitable results.

“Most of our members are small businesses where one person may wear several hats,” 365WS Executive Director Sierra Dwight says. “The resources we bring to them make their jobs so much easier. Once a person goes through one of my short webinars on the services available, they are amazed how much easier we can make their workloads.”

365WS was established in late 2016, and currently has more than 200 members statewide.

“The reaction to 365 has been very well-received, once we get people to understand what we have to offer,” Dwight says. “Our major push is to try to get people to go through a little webinar

with us and learn how to access all of the various things that we have available to them. Once they see that, most people are really excited about how it’s going to save them time and make things better for their company.”

Recently, Dwight traveled to San Antonio to demo a new ladder extension product that allows users to enter and exit roofs by going through – rather than around – the ladder. Viewing the demonstration are employees of HJD Capital Electric.

“Ladders are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in the construction business,” Dwight explains.

“Even a fall from the first rung of a ladder can cause serious injuries. But, getting on and off the ladder at the roof line is the most serious exposure because it is a long way to the ground. When we came across this product, we wanted to field test it before recommending it to our members, and what better way to field test it than to have members test it for us.

Then, our goal is to see if we can get them a discount using the purchasing power of our membership.”

Future ladder demonstrations will be conducted in Austin, utilizing local 365WS members. 365WS also plans to introduce a traffic safety program to address safety for drivers of company vehicles.

HJD Capital Electric expressed an interest in adding additional ladder extensions to their inventory and was pleased to learn 365WS has a source that gives discounts to members.

365 Workplace Safety in Dallas is an internet-based, non-profit organization promoting employee safety. –mjm

Salsa competition

The American Institute of Architects held their 2019 Salsa Competition Jul. 26 and the big winner was KFW Engineers with their mango hangover salsa.

Danielle Salvador with the 2019 Salsa Taste Off Champion Mortar. -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Page 3

General Contractors Subcontractors

Announcing our new Resource Guide

Resource Guide Suppliers

Associations

Don’t be invisible to the Industry

Buddy Doebbler Buddy@ConstructionNews. net

Service Providers

Service Providers Service Providers

Suppliers

For Info Contact: Dana Calonge Dana@ConstructionNews. net

Truck & Equip Dealers

Associations

General Contractors

Page 4

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

SA brings home nine

T

he Associated General Contractors (AGC) Texas Building Branch (TBB) hosted an elegant evening for the presentation of the AGC TBB Outstanding Construction Awards. This year’s event was held at the Georgetown Sheraton Resort and Conference Center on Aug. 22. Thirty-four awards were presented to AGC members for their outstanding construction projects across the state. -cmw

General Contractor – Specialty Construction: Guido Construction, Will Smith Zoo School

General Contractor – Building 4: Joeris General Contractors Ltd., Bexar County Public Works

General Contractor – Building 6: Turner Construction Company, San Antonio International Airport Consolidated Rental Car Facility

General Contractor – Health Care 2: JT Vaughn Construction LLC, Mays Cancer Center Renovations

General Contractor – Historic Renovation: Bartlett Cocke LLC, Paul Elizondo Adult Behavioral Health Clinic

General Contractor – Health Care 1: Skanska USA, Methodist Hospital Surgery and Imaging Renovations

General Contractor – Interior Finish-Out 4: Turner Construction Company, Four Seasons Hotel Modernization

General Contractor – Health Care 3: Skanska USA, Methodist Hospital Women’s Central Bed Tower and Lobby Expansion

www.constructionnews.net publishing the industry’s news

San Antonio

General Contractor – Design Build 1: Grit Design Build LLC, Texas Aircraft

Texas Style

H H H H

San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

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

AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net DFWeditor@ConstructionNews.net HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net San Antonio Area Counties Atascosa, Bexar, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.ConstructionNews.net

Free Monthly Digital Subscription www.ConstructionNews.net The San Antonio Construction News (ISSN 1547-7630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba San Antonio Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction-related companies of record in Bexar and 7 surrounding counties.

All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing.

Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space available basis.

Construction News, Ltd. , dba San Antonio Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time. ©2019 Construction News, Ltd.

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

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Keeping it simple

V

A new chapter begins

Page 5

Victor Campbell, owner of Vic’s Drywall, in front of a friend’s 1925 Chevy.

ictor Campbell isn’t a complicated guy with a bunch of fancy electronic toys. “All people want is for you to show up and do what you say you’re going to do,” he declared.

Despite being in the drywall business and owner of Vic’s Drywall, Campbell got into this trade quite by accident for two very simple reasons: drywallers worked inside and not in the elements and his first job never paid him.

The Fort Worth native got a job working as a carpenter right out of high school. “When I finished high school,” he said, “I didn’t have the opportunity for college, so I knew I was going into the workforce. The first job I got was doing some carpenter work.”

Being the newbie, Campbell found himself on the third floor of an apartment complex, fully exposed to the elements.

When he looked down and across the street, he could see some guys hanging sheetrock inside a building.

The deciding factor to leaving carpentry work was not getting paid for it.

“My first job didn’t last long because I wasn’t getting paid!” Campbell said.

He found work as a drywall installer through Texas Work Force.

Campbell left the Metroplex for Bandera when he needed to make some changes in his life. “I’ve always kind of been independent and on my own,” he said. He got his big break when the guys hired to sheetrock a big house walked off the job in the middle of it, and he took it over.

Campbell worked unofficially as Victor Campbell Drywall until 2004, when he became the registered Vic’s Drywall.

Campbell said, “I’m trying to get into this computer age,” of his efforts to get modernized. He does about 60 houses a year and another 80 miscellaneous drywall projects a year.

Campbell said, “The best advertisement is just word of mouth,” even though a marketing expert could probably think of 100 high-tech ways. Campbell, however, just keeps it simple.

“I can probably do what I’m doing for 20-25 years from now. It depends on my health, of course.”

Nothing complicated about that.

Vic’s Drywall is a sheetrock contractor in Bandera. -dsz

H

Joeris General Contractor President, Kenny Fuller

e has been in construction his entire life. Starting out as a subcontractor working for his dad, eventually moving over to the general construction side of the construction industry, Kenny Fuller has been named the new president of Joeris General Contractors.

Fuller has been part of the Joeris team for more than 20 years. Most recently, Fuller served as the company’s Executive Vice President. He succeeds John Casstevens, who announced his departure from Joeris after 24 years on Sept. 4.

With a career focused on client services and project management, Fuller’s client-focused philosophy will steer the company through this transition and continued growth in the market as the company deepens its values-based leadership. “To get the message out of who we are, especially the new values-based leadership piece portion. I don’t go very far without talking faith inside of what I do. Today’s values-based leadership becomes very easy to talk about inside of that arena. We have some amazing peo-

ple that we work with here and we’re just going to put the pieces together that allows them to voice their opinions and be what they can be.”

“The values are very much faith-based values. It’s been a part of who we have been since Leo Joeris started this,” says Fuller. “Our values are something we have reinforced within our mission statement.”

Fuller is very excited to be leading the charge with the company’s new values-based leadership. It allows him to work with people across all different parts of the company. Prior to Fuller’s new post, he had been primarily concerned with the private side of what Joeris does. Now he can embark into new arenas.

“We are excited about this next chapter at Joeris and look forward to continuing our Joeris Journey, providing the highest level of service to our customers, trade partners and Joeris team members,” says CEO Gary Joeris.

Joeris General Contractors is a full-service general contractor. -cmw

Page 6

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Five IRS audit mistakes to avoid

Non-Owned Vehicle Risk Management

Steven Bankler, Owner San Antonio, TX

Mark Gaskamp, Sr. Vice President Marsh Wortham Austin, TX

T

E

he IRS audits about one million taxpayers each year.

While the agency is understaffed, that doesn’t mean you’ll slip through the cracks. IRS software automates the selection process now by flagging returns that show abnormalities: Perhaps the return deviates from what’s normally filed, or it’s been linked to a family member, investor, or business partner who is being audited. Also, the more money you make, the more likely you are to be audited.

An audit may consist of a simple letter from the IRS or, when the stakes are higher, you may need to meet with an auditor in person. In either case, common mistakes can almost guarantee you don’t come out on top. They include: 1. Ignoring IRS requests and deadlines Failure to respond to IRS requests for information won’t stop the agency from taking action. The IRS has the power to request your tax information directly from financial institutions (banks, brokerage houses, credit card companies, etc.). If it’s an audit of a personal return, they could contact your employer. If it’s an audit of a business, they could contact both customers and vendors. All of these powers arise when the taxpayer (or authorized representative) fails to communicate or respond to the IRS’s Information Document Request (IDR). If the audit proceeds without your cooperation, the IRS can and will issue a Revenue Agent’s Report (RAR) and finally a Statutory Notice of Deficiency. Generally, you will have 90 days to file a court petition to The US tax Court. Again, failure to respond to this notice can cause the taxpayer to forfeit appeal rights. The IRS then begins collection procedures, which can include filing federal tax liens, wage garnishments, and levies. In Texas, we have a “homestead” protection - ordinary creditors cannot seize and sell your homestead. However, the IRS is no ordinary creditor. They HAVE the POWER to seize and sell your residence to pay your tax debts. Missing an IRS audit appointment could start you down this path.

2. Not filing past-due returns

One of the first steps in addressing an audit is to make sure you have filed all tax returns that are overdue. Don’t let the fact that you may not be able to pay the taxes affect the filing. Late filing penalties accrue at the rate of 5% per month, while late payment of the taxes incurs penalties of 0.5% per month plus interest. If you failed to file at any time in the past, the IRS can prepare and file those returns for you as a Substitute for Return (SFR). Those returns, however, will not include the deductions and credits you may be entitled to receive. The IRS will begin collecting the tax due shown on these returns (which may be inflated due to deductions and credits having been omitted). If these returns indicate you may be owed a refund, there is a limited amount of time that refunds will be returned to the taxpayer on late filed returns. You could also risk losing Social Security benefits as well as your ability to obtain home, business, or education loans.

3. Lying

verybody’s got one, some larger than others, some are not even owned, but they still create a risk for the organization. Construction operations have so many worker safety (OSHA) and liability issues (construction defect, mold, silica, etc… ) they often neglect addressing one of the greatest risks to the organization, vehicles and safe driving. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the largest source of workplace fatalities in the work place.

This includes not only the owned trucks and other vehicles owned by the company, but also the use of personal vehicles on company business.

The most common tax-related lies are underreporting income (usually income received in cash or received outside the U.S. as foreign income) and claiming false deductions, both of which can trigger heavy IRS penalties, fees, and interest. And then there’s tax evasion and tax fraud, which can be criminal offenses that could land you in prison. When an auditor uncovers a cardinal sin like substantially underreporting your income or failing to report foreign bank and financial accounts, you may be heading down a long, dark path that could cost you dearly.

A serious auto accident involving an employee driving on company business is one of the few exposures that can result in a first party, property damage claim, second party workers compensation claim, and a third party liability claim.

Each can result in significant financial loss depending on the nature of the accident.

It is such a critical workplace safety issue OSHA, in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, has dedicated resources to develop a guide & resources to help show the importance of fleet safety. https://www.osha.gov/ Publications/motor_vehicle_guide.html

4. Not contesting when there’s a good reason.

The most important component of any fleet safety program is defining who is allowed to drive on company business.

Not just who is assigned a company truck, but who is allowed to drive their personal vehicles on company business.

This “non-owned” exposure can create a significant risk for any organization. The liability exposure for anyone operating a vehicle on company business ultimately falls upon the company, and can create as much liability as owned vehicles. Each year, our office sees multiple claims over $1MM involving “non-owned” drivers, so it is critical to make this a part of any fleet safety/ risk management program.

Don’t be intimidated. The IRS promises a right to professional and courteous treatment as well as the right to appeal disagreements. Utilize those rights when it makes sense. For face-to-face audits, you can speak to the auditor’s manager if you don’t like the way the audit is being handled. After an audit concludes, you can still contest it with the IRS Office of Appeals and have the decision reviewed.

If the appeals officer agrees with the auditor, you can go through the court system.

5. Not seeking expert help A qualified CPA can represent you before the IRS in a tax audit. This help is critical because you need someone on your side who knows not only tax laws but also IRS procedures. They’ll know how to present your case to both IRS Appeals and/or Tax Court. In addition, they could determine whether your penalties should be contested. When all else is said and done, a qualified CPA can help you negotiate payment of the tax bill, including applying for an installment agreement, and/or an offer in compromise, which allows you to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount.

Take IRS audits seriously because the IRS certainly does. If you don’t take control of an audit from the beginning, you lose your power to file, contest, or appeal on your own terms.

Steven Bankler has more than 42 years of experience in the accounting industry.

Steven’s expertise lies in consulting, planning, tax, and asset protection as well as exit strategy services for closely held businesses. He also provides litigation support (both as a testifying expert witness and a consulting expert), business negotiations and estate planning. Visit www.bankler. com for additional tax strategy tips and to learn more about Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd.

The other aspect of controlling who is driving on behalf of the company is to ensure there are clear rules for the use of vehicles by non-employees and for nonbusiness use. Insurance coverage follows the vehicle, so if a 16-year-old kid hops in the superintendent’s company truck over the weekend and has a serious auto accident injuring a third party, the company will be responsible and the commercial auto policy will respond. Clearly defined rules for utilization of company vehicles can help reduce this exposure.

Once the list of individuals allowed to operate a vehicle on company business is identified, the next step is to determine the qualifications each driver must maintain in order to drive on company business. Failure to properly screen drivers will create potential “negligent entrustment” exposures for the organization and negative financial consequences should an individual with a poor driving history be involved in an accident.

Most insurance companies use the guideline of no more than three moving violations or at fault accidents in the past three years and no more than two violations or accidents in the past year as their guideline for an “acceptable” drivers. In addition, there are single events which should result in the driver being excluded from any driving privileges such as a DUI, driving without a license, or vehicular homicide. We encourage our clients to not rely on the insurance company to manage their drivers. It is best for new hires to provide their own driving record during the interview process and check motor vehicle record checks annually for your own staff rather than have an insurance company tell you who can and can-

not drive for your organization.

It is also a good risk management practice to require individuals to maintain personal insurance if they are driving on behalf of the company. These really need to be more that the state minimum limits of $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 property damage, as they are not adequate to protect the individual or the company from a significant collision. Requiring a $300,000 combined single limit will help insulate the company’s auto policy and reduce the risk of the individual being personally responsible for damages beyond these state minimums (depending on the type of vehicle this might cost from $50-$100 per year for 10 times the coverage). The mileage reimbursement rates account for this level of insurance. Per the IRS mileage calculations, over 10% of the current .58 cent reimbursement rate is to pay for adequate insurance.

Managing drivers and fleet safety should be an important part of any risk management program. It can take some time to develop policies and procedures specific to your operations and maintain the records for company car drivers, but this is time well spent in order to reduce potential liability exposures for the organization.

Mr. Gaskamp is responsible for developing partnerships with clients to implement risk control strategies to reduce the organization’s overall cost of risk. He has over 25 years of insurance and risk management experience and is very active in the safety and risk management community. He is a national faculty member of the National Alliance Certified Risk Manager’s program and serves on the safety committees for the Association of Building Contractors, Association of General Contractors, Texas Aggregate, Concrete Association (TACA) and the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Construction Specialty Practice. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Finance degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Mark can be reached at mark. gaskamp@marsh.com

Marsh Wortham, a division of Marsh USA Inc., was formed in 2018 upon the combination of Marsh and Wortham Insurance, and consists of Wortham offices in Texas and Marsh offices in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Our parent company is Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), the leading global professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy, and people. With 75,000 colleagues worldwide and annualized revenue approaching $17 billion, Marsh & McLennan Companies also include global leaders Guy Carpenter, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman.

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Page 7

Rethinking the recovery of attorney’s fees as a means to save costs

Maintenance versus construction

R. Carson Fisk, Shareholder Andrews Myers, P.C. Austin, TX

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

I

O

n a construction dispute, settlement often makes a lot of sense based on fundamental matters such as certainty of outcome and conservation of time and cost. In fact, as a matter of public policy, the State of Texas encourages “the peaceable resolution of disputes” as well as “the early settlement of pending litigation.” But in many construction disputes—particularly those involving a couple hundred thousand dollars or less—the recovery of attorneys’ fees can be a major factor as to whether settlement is realistically achievable.

This is generally because in litigation or arbitration, the legal costs can quickly add up and, in some instances, become a disproportionately large number when compared to the actual principal amount in dispute. It is not uncommon for parties to spend $20,000 or more on attorneys for a $50,000-$100,000 dispute simply to reach a point where settlement negotiations might be productive based on the merits of the parties’ positions. This has the tendency to entrench parties in their positions given the need to recover attorneys’ fees’ in order to “be made whole.”

So while settlement often makes sense— so much so that it is reflected in statepolicy as codified by statute—does the ability to recover attorneys’ fees promote settlement or hinder it?

In the American judicial system, the recovery of attorneys’ fees in litigation is generally governed by what is known as the “American Rule.” Under this rule, each party bears its own attorneys’ fees, meaning that a party cannot recover such fees from the other party even if it prevails.

The rule applies unless there is a statute authorizing the recovery of attorneys’ fees or such recovery is permitted by the terms of a contract. Thus, in a straightforward negligence case (e.g., a case involving a slip-and-fall, car accident, etc.), a party does not have the right to recover attorneys’ fees from the other party.

However, in the construction context, a party often does have the right to recover attorneys’ fees. This is because multiple statutes apply—sometimes uniquely—to construction-related claims that permit the recovery of attorneys’ fees.

For example, statutes addressing mechanic’s and materialman’s liens, prompt payment, breach of contract, and the declaration of contractual rights all authorize a party to recover attorneys’ fees under certain circumstances. Additionally, many construction-related contracts provide the winning party the right to recover attorneys’ fees from the losing party.

With the recovery of attorneys’ fees routinely being an issue in construction disputes, the issue turns back to whether such a right of recovery is a help or hindrance to settlement.

Under one theory, the ability to recover attorneys’ fees promotes settlement. The focus of risk assessment is on the potential for an expanded negative result—the fact that the losing party might not only have to pay an adverse judgment or arbitration award, but also the attorneys’ fees incurred by the winning party. This increased risk motivates parties to take a more reasonable position in settlement negotiations. This often emboldens a party with the stronger position (or perceived stronger position).

But there is risk even for the winning party. Often the fact finder is not necessarily obligated to award the full amount of attorneys’ fees incurred, but rather what might be subjectively considered fair, just, reasonable, necessary, or a combination of these. So, while a winning party may have incurred $100,000 in attorneys’ fees, it may ultimately be awarded much

less. This, of course, makes a “win” less of one. And, as is often the case, each side may view itself as the party with the stronger position, presenting additional challenges.

Under another theory, the ability to recover attorneys’ fees hinders settlement. The focus of risk assessment is on the merits of the dispute, without attention to added-on costs such as legal expenses. If this approach is preferred, often parties generally must contractually agree that neither side has the right to recover attorneys’ fees or, in arbitration, that the arbitrator does not have the power to award attorneys’ fees. This approach can be particularly effective for early stage resolution of “smaller” disputes, such as those involving a couple hundred thousand dollars or less. It is at the early stage of a dispute where the parties have the best chance at a costsaving resolution, avoiding the steep and ongoing legal costs and associated commitments of time (generally resulting in additional, less tangible losses to the parties). But it is also the point in time where the parties know the least about their respective strengths and weaknesses in a case. Such information can be obtained, but only after spending money on attorneys’ fees—such fees not being recoverable. Thus, there is an increased incentive to settle earlier than later to avoid sunk costs. Conversely, parties may be inclined to adopt harsher or unreasonable approaches knowing that their exposure to attorneys’ fees is lessened or non-existent.

Neither approach is perfect under all scenarios, and unfortunately a decision on which approach to adopt generally has to be made well before any dispute is at hand. But owners, architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers who leave the recovery of attorneys’ fees to chance are doing themselves a disservice. Thought should be given to the philosophy underlying any given approach, whether it be aggressive recovery or pragmatic resolution. Certainly state policy supports early amicable settlement, but the reality is that parties often feel strongly that the party who wins should recover all costs, including attorneys’ fees, from the party who loses. These theories and approaches should be considered, while keeping a party’s principles in mind, when drafting agreements.

R. Carson Fisk is a construction attorney, mediator, and arbitrator and shareholder at Andrews Myers P.C. in Austin, Texas. He may be reached at cfisk@andrewsmyers. com.

SHA has both construction and general industry regulations. Construction activities fall under 29 CFR 1926, and maintenance activities fall under OSHA’s general industry regulations codified at 29 CFR 1910.

Though the OSHA regulations for construction and general industry frequently agree, there are some differences. OSHA’s regulations define construction work as “construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating.” Section 1910.12(a) further provides that OSHA’s construction industry standards apply “to every employment and place of employment of every employee engaged in construction work.”

Unlike construction work, there is no regulatory definition for “maintenance,” nor a specified distinction between terms such as “maintenance,” “repair,” or “refurbishment.” “Maintenance activities” have commonly been defined in dictionaries as making or keeping a structure, fixture or foundation (substrates) in proper condition in a routine, scheduled, or anticipated fashion. OSHA has stated that maintenance involves keeping equipment working in its existing state, i.e., preventing its failure or decline.

Construction work is not limited to new construction, but can include the repair of existing facilities or the replacement of structures and their components. For example, the replacement of one utility pole with a new, identical pole would be maintenance; however, if it were replaced with an improved pole or equipment, it would be considered construction.

Additionally, the scale and complexity of the project are relevant. This takes into consideration concepts such as the amount of time and material required to

complete the job. For example, if a steel beam in a building had deteriorated and was to be replaced by a new, but identical beam, the project would be considered a construction repair rather than maintenance because of the replacement project’s scale and complexity. If a bridge was to be stripped and re-painted, that would be considered construction work even if the repainting were done on a scheduled basis. Replacement of a section of limestone cladding on a building, though not necessarily a large project in terms of scale, would typically be considered construction because it is a complex task in view of the steps involved and tools and equipment needed to do the work.

Work that is anticipated, routine, and done on a regularly scheduled/periodic basis to help maintain the original condition of the component will be suggestive of “maintenance,” although this must be considered in light of the scale of the project. If the work consists of repair as opposed to replacement, a key factor is whether those repairs are extensive. If the work consists of removal and replacement of equipment, an important factor is whether the new equipment is of an improved type. For both cases of repair and replacement, a key factor is the scale of the project, including the extent to which other equipment or structures must be moved or altered. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

JOB SIGHT

Bolero Ventures employees L-R: Jarett Costilla, Joseph Doherty, Efrain Murillo, Rodolfo Trevino, Jacob Mireles and Adolfo Rodriguez getting ready for a 4am concrete pour at the Via Centro Plaza project. The general contractor is the Vaquero Group. -cmw

Page 8

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Colton Parnes

Business Development/ Project Management Parnes Construction San Antonio, TX

C

olton Parnes grew up around construction, thanks to his dad, Grant Parnes, who started Parnes Construction more than 30 years ago.

Today, Colton helps his father bring the company into the future, while enjoying the benefit of his father’s wealth of experience.

Share about your background and your introduction to construction.

I’ve actually only lived in San Antonio.

My family is small, and they are all also from here. In fact, there is a point in time when both of my grandparents, my dad, my mom and myself lived in a two-mile radius of each other!

My dad’s dad worked for the homebuilder Morton Southwest. During summers in high school, my dad, Grant Parnes, was a roofer. When he graduated from Texas State University, a contractor he worked for encouraged him to do contracting on his own. So, my dad started doing construction projects and founded Parnes Construction in 1987; that’s what he’s been doing since.

My parents are divorced, and my mom would take me to school in the morning then my dad would pick me up in the afternoon. So from 3:30 to 5, I would ride around to job sites with my dad. I was exposed to his work from a young age.

Did you think construction might be a future career?

I didn’t really think about it much at all, to be honest with you. I went through a series of things that most kids want to do, such as be an astronaut or the President. When I got to junior high school, I thought about being an aerospace engineer. Then in high school, I considered being a lawyer and specializing in constitutional law, but

while in college, I realized being so combative for a profession wasn’t for me.

My general advisor was a professor in the economics department, and she suggested I take more economics classes.

I ended up really enjoying those. By the time I got to my junior year at Trinity University, it was really easy to add a business major because there was an overlap in departmental requirements.

I had several friends whose families had family businesses, which they were going to join when they graduated. I thought that sounded appropriate, especially since I graduated in 2013 at the end of the recession.

I saw people many classmates struggling to secure a job. I figured if I was going to struggle to make money, I might as well do it on my own terms.

My dad asked what I was going to do when I graduated. My mom has worked for Valero for 35 years, and Dad asked if I was going to interview there. I told him I liked what he did more; working for himself, answering to himself.

Was your dad receptive to the idea?

He told me I could work with him, but that he was not going to hire me. He said, if I wanted, after graduation I could make some phone calls, find new customers we hadn’t worked for, and they could be my clients, so that’s exactly what I did. One of my grandad’s friends from his development days worked for a commercial property company here. He helped organize some new contacts for me and sent some work my way. I met a few people from his office, and when they left his office and went to work for other companies, they introduced me to people at their offices and a few calls later…

Did you find that making connections came naturally to you?

In some ways, I’m a people person and in some, I’m not. It depends on the other person. I get along with people easily if someone is able to have a conversation. Some people were easier to relate to and have that conversation with than others. There’s the saying “it’s not personal, it’s just business.” People like to compartmentalize and separate the two.

But in reality, business is incredibly personal. It’s the people you relate to the most who become your best customers.

What is it like working with your dad six years later?

Now, my dad and I each have about the same client base. About 50% of the work we do is on my side, and about 50% of the work we do is on his side. On dayto-day tasks, we team up and help each other complete jobs.

Parnes Construction’s Colton Parnes

We don’t sit around in sports coats in an office anywhere. My office is in my house, his office is in his house. When you call me, I answer, not a secretary. My morning time is for computer work and paperwork; things I need to get done before 5 o’clock in case I’m not back at my desk before then. About 10 o’clock, we meet up and go deliver materials, check on jobs, look at new jobs together, do walk throughs, pick up and drop off plans, and fill/dump our job site trash trailer. We’re both really hands-on. It keeps our overhead really low, not having an office or staff. We try to do as much stuff as we can ourselves because, what else are we going to do; plus “if you want something done right, do it yourself.” It just makes sense.

Do you and your dad complement each other?

My dad and I make a pretty good team. Overall, we have very similar directions and goals. I might be a little more of a go-getter in getting new work, but then he still has other traits where, having done it for so long, he’s still better at. I’m probably better with keeping things up to date and/or bringing them into the future.

On the other hand, he can walk into a building and just see things and realize that’s not the way it should be done. He also has this really funny knack where he can remember people’s phone numbers without using a phone’s contacts feature.

No one can do that anymore! But then, I’ll catch him double checking he attached a file to an email correctly. We tease each other a lot.

Also, when it comes to getting paid or negotiating, I try to give people the benefit

of the doubt if they are running late on a payment. After a while, at a certain point I can be very direct with people. My dad is just direct up front. It’s a good balance to have both perspectives on a team.

It’s fun to work with my dad. People ask me if I like working for him, but I remind them that I work with him. I don’t think I could work for him (or anyone else, honestly), but I really do like working with him. We work very well together.

What do you enjoy about your work?

I like the flexibility in being the only person telling me what to do. I could be irresponsible and just not go to work. I wouldn’t be fired, but I wouldn’t be successful. I like waking up knowing there is no limit to what I can do. It’s great motivator. I think that is the quintessential “like.” That’s what is great about America: you can work for yourself and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. It’s a choice either way. No one made me work for myself, but at the same time, I didn’t have to work for someone else. I think that’s what this country was founded for.

What do you enjoy in your free time?

In the beginning of my mom’s job at Valero, she worked at the corporate hangar at San Antonio Airport where the company kept its business planes. When I was around my mom at work, I was around airplanes and I thought that was so intriguing. That started there and stuck; I’ve always liked planes as long as I can remember. One of these days when I’m not so busy with my other hobbies, I’ll try and get my pilot’s license. I already have several hours.

Aviation and outdoors activities seem go hand-in-hand, and I can’t think of the last time I flew on a plane and didn’t have a rifle with me. Every time I go somewhere, I’m going hunting. That’s something my dad and I do together outside of work. He’s not as big of a hunter as I am, but wherever I want to go, he doesn’t want to miss out on it. He wants to be a part of it even if he’s not going to pull the trigger on something. It takes up a big chunk of our free time. I was in Cameroon in February and Mozambique about a month ago and we’ll be in Alaska in a week. I think it’s gone past a hobby; it’s an obsession! I have a list of things, a lengthy list of things, I would like to go and hunt. It’s a fun goal to have.

In short, my life is really simple: it’s either construction or hunting or fishing.

What are your future plans?

I don’t think my dad has plans to retire soon. I think he’s happy with what we’re doing. He doesn’t mind me trying to grow the business and do more work. He’s not going to prepare the charge, so to speak; that’s up to me, but he’ll assist me in any way he can. Eventually, I would like to hire more project managers so that we can do more work. I aim to keep doing what we’re doing, but on a bigger scale.

San Antonio general contractor Parnes Construction offers pre-construction consulting, commercial remodeling and commercial new construction. –mjm

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Page 9

Industry FOLKS

60th anniversary

Anthony Gilbert

T

he 2019 Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) Texas Conference and Product Show marked the 60th anniversary of MCA of Texas. The event was held Jul. 24-27 in San Antonio, TX at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort. This event is the annual meeting of the association. The educational offerings at the event featured motivational speaker Jim “The Rookie” Morris, leadership speakers Dr. Andy Neillie and Jim Whitt, and economist Dr. Alan Beaulieu. -cmw

Wholesale Sales Manager

Carrier Enterprise San Antonio, TX

G

rowing up in Waco, Gilbert spent most, if not all his time at the local little league fields down the street from his house. Every weekend, he and his friends would grab a cooler and walk to the fields and play ball. “We would play all day until we dropped. I loved growing up in Waco.”

Gilbert enrolled at McLennan Community College after high school but quickly figured out that he would rather take the hard road and go the school of hard knocks.

Gilbert is married to his beautiful wife, Amber. They met at a mutual friend’s birthday party and celebrated their one year anniversary in September. “Amber has a big heart. She is a wonderful mother and always puts others before herself.

“We have three children. The oldest, Taylor, turns 11 this month. His No. 1 interest right now, unfortunately, is Fortnite. I think this game was created by the devil because he turns into a demon when playing it! Aside from that, Taylor is a very talented baseball player and a straight A student.

“My second oldest, Aeson, turned 9 this past June. He also has quite an interest in the Fortnite craze. Aeson also delivers straight A’s in the classroom and is giving his older brother a run for who’s the most talented baseball player. And of course, there is the future heartthrob of America, my daughter Raylyn, who is a spitting image of her mother. She turned 1 this past May. Her interests include Momma, Momma, and then more Momma.

When she is not attached to her mother, she is batting her pretty blue eyes at Daddy to do her bidding.”

After working a number of different jobs right after school, Gilbert found one that he liked above others. He started working as a yard associate at McCoy’s Building Supply.

Gilbert eventually changed career paths and joined Carrier Enterprise.

“My current role with Carrier Enterprise is wholesale sales manager. Specifically, I am a coach, mentor and supervisor for six branch managers San Antonio, New Braunfels, Corpus Christi, Brownsville and Pharr.

“The thing I like most about my job is that every day presents a new challenge. When I was younger, I worked overnight at a warehouse doing the same thing day after day. On top of that I had no daily interaction with people. I found out very quickly that I enjoyed working with customers both internal and external.

Gilbert gives credit to current supervisor Leon Tates for influencing his career the most. “Leon was responsible for encouraging me to go into management at a very early age. At one of my lowest points in my career, he looked out for me when no one else did. I’ve seen all the things I would like to see in a mentor from Leon: Integrity, compassion, change and something a lot of leaders don’t do - listen.”

When Gilbert takes the time, he enjoys a good game of golf, fishing, running, lifting weights or basically anything else that’s quiet and allows him time to be in his thoughts. “I always look forward to family night where we play games or watch a movie.” -cmw

The MCA Texas Board of Directors L-R: Houston Director - Jimmy Graves, Graco Mechanical; San Antonio Treasurer - Matt Summerville, The Brandt Companies LLC; Dallas Immediate Past - President Randy Bradshaw, MIINC LP; Austin, President - Jeff Henkener, Dynamic Systems Inc.; Dallas, Director - Kevin Oeding, Dynamic Systems Inc., and Glenn Rex, MCA Texas, Houston EVP.

Page 10

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

W hat’s Trending in

E

Epoxy Floors

poxy floor coatings are becoming the new trend. The two most popular systems would be metallic epoxy floor and epoxy flake floors. The benefits range from hiding flaws in the concrete to creating beautiful and unique one-ofa-kind masterpieces.

EPOXY FLAKE

Epoxy flake flooring is a high- performance coating that has generally been reserved for commercial and industrial use but is now being installed in many homes. It adds value to your home while giving it an updated, refreshed look that will last many years.

This coating is applied over concrete and can hide small cracks, flaws, stains and many other types of damage that have occurred over time or through construction. Epoxy flake floors can be resistant to so many everyday occurrences such as chemical leaks, stains, cracks scratches and even has a tire rating. Epoxy has much higher adhesion capabilities when it comes to coatings, unlike big box stores material. Flake epoxy floors can also have the added benefit of slip resistance. Slip resistance can be beneficial for

kitchens, garages, indoor commercial buildings, bathrooms and so many more places. When it comes to epoxy and flake, you can choose from a full broadcast or partial broadcast. The full broadcast floor consists of your selected chip colors broadcast to cover all the epoxy, and then encapsulated with a urethane topcoat.

Partial flake floors differ only in the amount of flake that has been put down.

With a partial broadcast, you will see the pigmented epoxy coating with flocks of your chip distributed evenly over the surface. When selecting your desired look, you will have the opportunity to choose your size of flake – from 1/16 inch to ¼ inch. Next, you move on to selecting colors of flakes. A typical floor will consist of two to four different colored flakes blended to create your desired color scheme. These flakes are then broadcast into your selected color of epoxy and expertly encased into a coating of polyurethane. A wonderful advantage to multicolored systems is the ability to camouflage dirt and debris, all while keeping a streamlined terrazzo-like floor. When these floors are installed, they become an

EPOXY FLAKE

almost seamless monolithic surface, which can eliminate grout lines in tile flooring and gaps that occur in panel flooring. These cracks and crevices can be a haven for debris and germs to form and build. Once there is a buildup, it can

become almost impossible to properly clean and sanitize to the fullest extent.

You can achieve an urban feel or go for more bright pops of fun colors. With an endless selection, you can achieve a highly customized look that still fits your budget.

METALLIC EPOXY

Metallic epoxy floors are truly the ment. Once the epoxy has hardened, the most unique and one-of-a-kind artistic metallic pigment becomes locked into coating you could choose for a floor. the epoxy coating. The installation techPeople will usually see photos of a beau- nique used determines the look of the tiful sleek, distinctive floor, or maybe floor when it is completed. This floor is they saw one in a high-end restaurant. then sealed with a urethane in order to Some may be trying to figure out what create the chemical resistant durable slip material could possibly be used to create resistant long lasting floor, while still this work of art, and if it’s right for their looking like a work of perfected artistry. specific needs. Like the flake floor, metal- Metallic epoxy floors can look like lic epoxy has the ability to withstand a marble, or can be an eye-catching pop to great deal while still managing to be ele- draw attention and be your showpiece.

Metallic epoxy is not limited to the floor, gant.

A metallic consists of three coats – it can also be a wonderful kitchen counprime coat, body coat, and topcoat. Each tertop coating. With its three- dimensionof these coatings pay a key role in creat- al appearance you can create something ing your floor. The prime coat is put that looks like quartz, granite or marble down to allow your metallic pigments to without the cost. With so many different stay true to color once applied in the styles, colors and installation exports to body coat. It also allows the pores to be- choose from, the possibilities are endless. come filled allowing the body coat to So, whether you’re building a new flow over as slick as glass. The body coat home, refurbishing an old one, or have a consists of an almost glitter-like pigment business, these types of floors can be being mixed with epoxy and resin, then made to fit every need for everyday life poured onto the floor and expertly ma- across all industries. neuvered creating jaw dropping moveWes Vollmer, Decorative Concrete Specialist (210) 771-7451 WesVollmer@gmail.com

METALLIC EPOXY

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Page 11

Fall fishing possibilites

boaters on the water typically enhance the experience overall.

If you are interested in fishing this fall, feel free to give me a call or shoot me a text. There are some open dates available in October 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 at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing.

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Shoalwater Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Shimano Reels, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing, ForEverlast Fishing Products, PowerPro, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, JL Marines Power-Pole, AFW and AFTCO Clothing.

W

hen people think of saltwater fishing, most think of shorts and performance t-shirts in 90 degree weather. While we do love getting out on the boat in those summer months, there is also some incredible opportunities to cash in on saltwater fishing in the fall months as well. Fall fishing in our neck of the woods can actually be the best time of year for speckled trout, redfish, and other inshore species. The falling water temperature creates a feeding frenzy for these fish as they are gorging themselves on shrimp and baitfish that are stacked in the guts and sloughs in preparation for the coming winter.

An added bonus to fishing the fall in our area is the incredible opportunity for sight-fishing redfish. This time of year, the fish begin to school up. These groups that can sometimes be over 200 fish and our water becomes very clear. The thrill of pulling up on a flat and seeing a group of redfish pushing along is enough to get any angler’s blood pumping and an accurate presentation of an artificial bait or natural bait is usually all it takes to get a bite. At times, these schools are moving along the shallow water demolishing everything in their path and will actually

Angler Sam Boatright was successful landing the 21-in. flounder and two 27-in. trout on his recent fishing outing with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Both trout were released after photo.

race to get your bait before one of the other fish can beat them to it.

Another alterative to fishing for reds in the fall is fish for black drum. There is an abundant population of black drum in the Texas Coastal Bend. The black drum is often overlooked as a primary game fish by sport fishermen, but is highly valued as table fare by many locals. The commercial fishing industry in Texas harvests over 1.5 million lbs. of black drum annually which illustrates the demand for its flaky white meat.

Even though they get huge, the ideal black drum for dinner is typically under 5 lbs. A drum this size compares very favorably to its cousins – the red drum (redfish), the speckled trout and other highly sought game fish of the Coastal Bend in terms of flavor. Breeding stock drum over

30 in. have been nicknamed the Big Uglies for their relative unattractive features compared to all of their drum relatives like the red drum, speckled trout, croaker and whiting. Their high arching back and propensity to develop deformities as they grow large leave them without the streamlined torpedo shape of their cousins. Typically, their meat begins to get wormy and more coarse.

Thanks to its abundance and wide distribution around our bays and beaches, fishing for black drum along the Texas Coastal Bend is a year ‘round activity that is available to virtually anyone that wants to fish.

Most importantly, enjoy your time on the water. The fall and winter months can be some of the most beautiful times of year in the Coastal Bend and the lack of

And the winner is . . .

Early morning limit

Mike Brown, the Grand Prize Raffle winner at the Niznik 30th annual Shootin’ for Scholarships. -cmw

Early in the morning on Jul. 27, three buddies hit their favorite bait shop near Tiki Island.

Ready to hit the water, they loaded their rods, beverages and snacks into the boat.

All prepared for a full day of laughter and fishing, they sped off into the bay to hit their favorite fishing holes. By 10am the trio were calling it a day. They had reached their limit in speckled trout at the first honey hole they came to. L-R: Stan Rothman, Ahern Rentals and buddies Orlando Alvarez and Shaun Karimullah. -cmw

Page 12

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 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

Vote “YES” for Prop. 5 on Nov 5

I

hope by the time you read this we will finally be done with all of the one hundred plus degree days that we’ve had this year! It’s time to get into fall and start to enjoy it! Football is back! Hunting seasons are opening and fall fishing is just getting started. But there is one more thing we get to do this fall. We get to vote!

I know, everyone has their attention focused on the big picture, the main event election that comes in 2020. We have a whole year to get all wound up about that one, but if you hunt, fish, or go to the state parks to camp and play and explore, you need to be aware that this upcoming election on November 5th is what matters today!

Texas did something good for our outdoors in 1993. The 73rd Legislative Session replaced cigarette tax funding for state parks with a portion of revenues

September morning departure derived from the sales tax on sporting goods via House Bill 706. Between 1993 and 2017, the state has collected nearly $2.5 billion in revenues from sporting good sales tax, but only 40% of those funds have made it to the state parks of Texas. The trouble is that the money must be appropriated by the Legislature every two years. This makes it almost impossible for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to plan ahead for long-term capital improvements and open new parks such as Palo Pinto State Park.

Our state parks have over 10 million visitors every year and attendance continues to increase. Most of the parks are over 30 years old and are in need of repair. Hurricane Harvey alone did $50 million in damage to the parks. Most of the playgrounds are in urgent need of replacement and restrooms badly need renovation.

This is how you can help. Vote “YES” for Prop. 5 on November 5, 2019!

Prop. 5 is a constitutional dedication of revenue from the existing sales tax (called the Sporting Goods Sales Tax), so those dollars can only be used by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission on public parks and historic sites, and not for any other purposes. Best of all, this requires no new taxes or fees. A YES vote on Prop. 5 on

Nov. 5 will be sure that our parks get the money they are due to protect Texas’ natural areas and historic sites, so we don’t lose the very things that make Texas a special place in which to live.

You can learn more about Prop. 5 at www.SupportTexasParks.org

Help us get the word out so this important matter gets noticed amid the noise and confusion of the daily news.

We can’t help a lot of the things we see happening our world, but your vote can help us protect those places we love to escape to when the world just seems too loud.

I’ll hop off my stump now and wish you a HAPPY ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 5th.

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

T

Page 13

You name it, this is fishing

erry and Diane Beck, You Name It Specialties (YNIS) along with great friends Richard and Hazel Russell traveled to Cabo San Lucas Mexico for a relaxing vacation. While there, they booked a fishing trip with Captain Martin. Together with his deck hands, David and Toopock of the fleet Fin Addict, they managed to get into some really outstanding fish and made L-R: Richard Russell and Terry Beck finally boat their guests from Texas this 254lb. yellowfin tuna. work a little hard. Richard managed to land a 130lb. striped marlin and soon after, Diane landed a 90lb. sailfish which were both released after the catch.

Terry wanted a tuna and Martin was committed to finding one.

About mid-morning they put the kite out with the artificial flying fish and ten minutes later Terry and Richard were in for the fight of their lives. Together, the team managed to boat this giant 254lb. yellowfin tuna. It was a fish of a lifetime. Needless to say, many pounds of tuna did find its way back to Texas and will be enjoyed by many friends and family. -cmw L-R: The Becks, Terry & Diane and the Russells,

Richard and Hazel, pose for a photo with Terry and Richard’s giant tuna.

Diane Beck poses with the 90lb. sailfish she caught before releasing it.

Richard Russell holds on tight for a quick photo of the 130lb. striped marlin he caught before releasing it.

C

Return to Africa

olton Parnes, Parnes Construction, returned to Africa for another hunting expedition. This time, Parnes went leopard hunting in northern Mozambique in the Niassa Reserve. Unfortunately, Parnes was unable to score a leopard, but he did shoot two waterbuck for bait. Additionally, he shot a Reedbuck and Chobe Bushbuck as trophies. -cmw

Page 14

J

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Sensible safety

ody Vance got his start in the safety equipment business right out of high school in 1987, working in the warehouse of Lone Star Safety in Dallas, where he “pretty much did it all.”

Vance progressed through the ranks and up the ladder for Lone Star, until Ritz Safety bought it out and moved him to San Antonio around 2010 to get this location geared up and be its district manager.

What Vance has always liked best is the “customer interaction,” he said. Ritz’s three main markets are construction (commercial and residential), manufacturing and the oil/gas industry.

Ritz Safety also has offices in Dallas and Houston as well (with others throughout the country).

When it comes to territory, however, these three locations don’t worry about turf wars. “We work together,” Vance said. “There’s an incredible amount of business to be had here,” especially considering the explosive growth of the past few years. “All the markets are firing down here,” he added.

An ongoing emphasis in safety is fall protection. Vance said that residential construction seems to be a harder nut to crack when it comes to educating their workers.

Vance also sees an emphasis on hand safety, with new materials making gloves and hand protection more fire and impact resistant, to include cut and chemical protection.

“Rule #1: Engineer it out if you can,” Vance said. “If you can’t make it go away,

Tool kits for teachers

O’Connell Robertson joined the Medina Education Foundation for the Foundation’s first Medina Valley ISD Convocation Week to welcome teachers back after a long summer break. Teachers were welcomed back with tool kits of new supplies to help expand their classroom resources. The tool kits consisted of donated items such as pens, pencils, scissors, etc. which can help up to 30 or more students each. -cmw

A lunar night how is the worker protected so as to safely get the job done?”

With companies investing heavily in acquiring and training skilled workers, losing them to injury just isn’t smart. “It makes sense to keep everyone safe and happy,” Vance said.

Vance’s job is to grow Ritz Safety’s San Antonio office. “This will be it until I’m done working,” he said. “I probably got another 10-12 years left in me.”

The Dallas transplant (and Cowboys fan) makes it easy to make sense of safety here in the Alamo City.

Ritz Safety is family owned and has its corporate headquarters in Dayton, OH, with an office in San Antonio. -dsz

Mary Lupe Arana, GFP Group received the Lifetime Achievement Award at The Regional Hispanic Contractors Association’s (RHCA) Luna Awards held in San Antonio. The event was held at The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts on Aug. 22 recognizing achievements of women in the architecture, engineering and construction industries. -cmw

Happy hour, fun hour

M

embers of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) had a great time at their 2nd Annual Happy Hour.

The event held at the IEC offices kicks off the upcoming apprentice school year and allows members to reconnect in a relaxing atmosphere.

Members and guests engaged in a silent auction, ring toss, cornhole and lots of great conversation. -cmw

Jeff Hicks, Win Supply is presented a participation sash by IEC Executive Director, Julie Tucker.

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Page 15

Hard work, not luck

O

Appreciation through clays

n Aug. 14, RSM US LLP tested the mettle of their clients and guests at the National Shooting Range for their 2019 Skeets & Eats sporting clay shoot. The fun-filled event is the firm’s way of showing appreciation to their many clients and friends in the industry with an opportunity to get a little practice in for the 2019 dove season.

Regular skeet, sporting doubles and instruction skeet were available options for individuals wishing to participate. Travis Mears, an award-winning shotgunner, gave an action-packed shooting demonstration, entertaining guests with a variety of trick shots with an array of targets. -cmw

C

L-R: Hunter Electrical Service LLC’s Colby and Shannon Hunter

olby Hunter says he was always driven to be more than a “dime-adozen” electrician. He has helped his carpenter dad on jobs since he was little, performed electrical work since he was a high school senior, and has worked for electrical companies in Salt Lake City and San Antonio. Each time, he built a network of connections from scratch. But when his work for the company officed in San Antonio proved unsatisfying, his wife reminded him that he had what it took to create his own business.

“My wife Shannon said, ‘You’re a nice guy, people like you, go start your own business,” Colby remembers. “I said I had never worked for an electrician in Texas. I don’t know anybody here and have zero network in the electrical business here.

Nobody knows who I am.’ She said, ‘That’s fine. Just do it.’ She pushed me for about six months.”

Together, they established Hunter Electrical Service LLC in Shannon’s name. The first year was lean, but Colby is grateful for what it taught him.

“We were starving,” Colby says. “We didn’t have an investor; we were completely self-funded. We weren’t wealthy by any means. That first year, every single penny counted and there were times where we would ask if we were going to eat like normal people that week and take a paycheck, or if we were going to forego that and buy a tool. I wouldn’t change it for anything. The struggle was fantastic and there was a lot of personal growth and self-discovery that went into that and development of my business acumen.”

Struggle soon gave way to success, and their second year brought a sizeable thermostat installation contract that necessitated the hiring of 20 employees.

In five years, Colby and Shannon, a former nurse who now is the company’s office manager, have built Hunter Electrical Service LLC from an out-of-the-truck operation to a success story. Colby would be the first to admit that he has been blessed to meet the right people at the right time at life’s critical points but says that drive and hard work have steered his career.

The Witch is back!

“[One could say it’s] good luck, but it comes down to being a good, honest, and fair person who people like and can trust. That’s who I am and that’s how the opportunities come,” Colby explains.

“Honesty and integrity, being able to communicate well, and being clean cut have been in my formula from Day One. The lessons have come in learning how to communicate that sense of trust so that customers choose me over somebody else.”

Now that the business has reached the five-year milestone, Colby, who serves as company president, has no intention of changing his formula.

“I’m going to do the same thing I’ve always done: stay prepared and when the right people come along, hire them and grow as slow as you have to make sure you have a solid core foundation,” Colby says.

“I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve had some really great people who are on board now.

I’m not a project person – I will always be a service person – but we have project people now. We’re putting the processes in place so that we can have a solid projects group that can chase new construction and some planned spec work or valued engineer work.”

Much in the way his wife reminded him that he had what it took, Colby reminds those coming into the field that they do, too, can use their drive to succeed.

“Go to school right away. Be a frontof-the-class kind of person. The rest of the class sitting behind you are going to wash out. Ignore them. Do your homework. Keep your head down and take your lumps. Get some thick skin. In four years, you’re going to come out making more money than everybody else and the world is yours,” Colby says.

Subcontractor Hunter Electrical Service LLC in San Antonio provides commercial and residential electrical services. –mjm

L-R: Ryan Rummel, Ashley Ripps, Becca Deisseroth, Matt Lagema and Justin Kanas visit during the RSM Skeets & Eats shoot.

L-R: Roger Albert, Denise Bendele and Kelly Durham.

Travis Mears prepares for his entertaining shooting demonstration.

L-R: RSM’s Cyndi Mergele, Mary Clare Kaiser and Nathan Sharp.

Page 16

s

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Submitted to Construction News

If you could retire anywhere, where would it be?

Round-Up

Pape-Dawson Engineers is pleased to announce the promotions: Trey Dawson, PE has John Tyler, PE, RAS been promoted to Sehas been promoted nior Vice President. He to Vice President and will be responsible for will continue to lead overall management, transportation planplanning and staffing ning and roadway proof the firm and take a jects across Texas. Tyformidable role in straler earned a Bachelor tegic growth of the of Science in Civil Encompany’s footprint. gineering from Texas Dawson holds Master of Science and Bach- Tech University in 2004. He is a registered elor of Science degrees in Civil Engineering professional engineer and registered acfrom Texas Tech University and is a regis- cessibility specialist in the state of Texas. tered Professional Engineer in the State of -cmw Texas. -cmw Haley-Greer proudly announces the appointment of Jason Wroblewski as the company’s new executive vice president. Over the past 15 years, Wroblewski has successfully spearheaded multi-million dollar projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and an international studies certificate from Indiana University. -cmw

JQ is pleased to announce the addition of: Henry C. (Tres) Casal, Jr., RPLS joins the team as survey manager and has more than 25 years of experience as a professional land surveyor in all aspects of land surveying, including topographic, boundary, construction, as-built, TxDOT and ground control for photogrammetric surveys. -cmw

If I could go anywhere and just relax at places I’ve seen, I’d have to say it was Hawaii. We went to Kuai because it’s one of the least inhabited ones and not as commercialized as, like, Maui. It’s laid back and not overcrowded.

Deryck Zellner, Zellner Electric San Antonio is always my home so I would definitely retire in San Antonio but hoping to travel to different parts of the country and the world.

Jessie Santibañez, Old Glory Plumbing No particular place, but just with our family.

Krista Ehlinger, Comfort Commander HVAC I’ll never leave the Lone Star State. How about Rockport, TX? Jody Vance, Ritz Safety My gut wants to say Alaska because it’s like an outdoorsman’s playground, but it’s so remote. It would be cool for a little while but then you would see the same

people every day. So, it’s a cool place to visit, but I don’t know if I would live there.

My official answer is that I would like to retire somewhere in Montana around Yellowstone. There is a show called “Yellowstone” on Paramount Network, and if I could retire in a place that looked like that but still had access to get into town for convenience’s sake, that would be really cool.

Colton Parnes, Parnes Construction If I could retire anywhere it would be in the San Antonio area because this is home and most of friends and family are here.

Kenny Fuller, Joeris General Contractors It would be a big ranch right here in Texas.

I grew up in the north most of my life and you would never get me to move back where there is winter. I don’t like the snow.

Rod Hill, Tight Angle Sheet Metal Linda and I want to retire to South Padre Island. It’s beautiful, in Texas and it’s close to the rest of our family.

Joe Carrillo, Carrillo Tile Inc.

In memoriam

T

he construction industry has another angel in heaven. Vincent Gillette Sr., founder of Gillette Air Conditioning, went to meet our Lord and Savior Sept. 7.

He was a founding member of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. He donated his time to his kids’ endeavors including Boy Scouts, coaching CYO teams and volunteering with the Junior, Special and Senior Olympics. He was a mentor, friend, and sounding board to many in both business and personal lives.

Family was everything to Vincent who was always willing to lend a hand.

He enjoyed sharing his passions with family and friends. He loved traveling and seeing new places, pinning maps to mark all the place he and his beloved Margie visited on their travels.

He and Margie started Gillette Air Conditioning in 1959, where he displayed his pioneering spirit by leading the industry with many firsts, including the first air-conditioned service truck in the city. His philosophy was that when you have a passion for what you do, you never work a day in your life.

A visitation and rosary was held on Sept. 10 at Mission Park North with a funeral mass on Sept 11 at St Matthew’s Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to St. Matthews Catholic Church, St. Gregory Catholic Church, Hospice or a charity of your choice.-cmw

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

S

Page 17

Clay shoot at the National

ubcontractors and their comrades gathered at the National Gun Club on Aug. 22 for the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) annual clay shoot. Shannon Young, Robles1 Demolition, walked away with the Leading Lady title, while Priscilla Contreras, The CC Group, Gave it Your Best Shot. -cmw Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography

Top Team Yellow Course: RC Page

Top Team Red Course: RSM US LLP

H

Paloma time

unters everywhere are getting warmed up for the 2019 Dove Season. To offer a helping hand, the Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA de SA) hosted their 4th Annual Paloma Primer at the San Antonio Gun Club on Aug. 30. -cmw

Winners included: 2nd Place Team: Reynolds - score 179 3rd Place Team: JSR - score 169 Bent Barrel: Chris Valdt, CBI Top Male Shooter: Rue Ferguson. -cmw

1st Place Team: IBTX, score 195

Top Woman Shooter: Tricia Kocurek

Page 18

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 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

The 2020 National Electrical Code Ryan Jackson, President Ryan Jackson Electrical Training Salt Lake City, UT

T

his September, the 55th edition of the National Electrical Code® (NEC®) was published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). As always, we find new Code rules to address new technologies and newly discovered hazards, revised requirements, clarifications, and even deleted sections and articles. The 2020 NEC adds four new articles (Article 242 Overvoltage Protection, 311 Medium Voltage Conductors and Cables, 337 Type P Cable, and 805 Communications Circuits), but it also deletes four as well (280 and 285 were combined into the new Article 242, 328 was moved into the new Article 311, and 553 was moved into 555). The 2020 edition experienced a similar number of changes as the 2017 edition, although most agree that the changes in 2020 are much more farreaching and impactful, regardless of which facet of the industry you are involved in.

Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) were first put into the Code in 1971, and every edition since then has seen new GFCI requirements. The success of GFCIs in preventing shocks from becoming fatal is without argument, and Consumer Product Safety Commission has the data to prove it. The 2020 NEC requirements for GFCI protection in dwellings were expanded as never seen before, with GFCI protection now required

for all receptacles (not just 125V, 15A and 20A) in the areas requiring the protection, such as laundry rooms, bathrooms, and basements—and not just “unfinished” basements, but all basements, regardless of whether they are “finished” or not. Additionally, all outdoor equipment in residential settings, other than lighting, must now be GFCI-protected as well.

This would include air-conditioners and water heaters, as well as RV receptacles.

Turnkey enclosure Keith Myers, General Manager IWR North America, Southwest Division

➤

Garland, TX

Michael Smalley ➤

Director of Business Development

IWR North America

St. Louis, MO

S

ince 1940, IWR North America has been providing turnkey building enclosure and custom specialty metal design services coast-to-coast. Headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., IWR North America is one of the longest-standing specialty contractors in the nation.

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

Keith: It’s great. It’s labor intensive, obviously, but there’s so much going on.

Texas is definitely ‘open for business.’

There’s a large amount of opportunity and growth going on. Dallas is growing quite extensively. The business climate is good, and Dallas offers an advantage by being so centrally located. Its business climate is conducive to getting a good foothold in the market.

Michael: On the national level, there are a few cities across the country that are growing quite a bit; Nashville is one of those. However, there might be some

drawbacks from the industry on the commercial side of things. The sectors of business vary, but commercial, healthcare and automotive are all rising, due to geographic areas, municipalities and corporate advantages. North Carolina, Nashville, etc. are seeing growth in most commercial sectors. Some cities and regions are developing incentives to get steady and continued growth.

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

Keith: For the Southwest, while we haven’t been open very long, we have had clients that are ready to find new partnerships and relationships with the offerings we provide. Our dedication to accuracy and strict project management has been well received. We know what our clients need, and where we fit in within the larger construction puzzle.

One of our first clients in the area inquired if the job was a ‘one-off’ or if it was the beginning of a new relationship, to

Adapting for success Ray Gurley, Jr., Owner/Partner 3G Drywall Liberty, TX

T

hirty-seven-year-old, father of two, Ray Gurley, Jr. is a busy man. He and his wife (Jennifer) are expecting their third child and he still remains very active with his family as well as his business, 3G Drywall, a 3 plus-year-old company that performs commercial metal stud framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, and doors and hardware.

What is the most significant challenge faced by the drywall industry?

We feel like there are three significant

challenges in the industry right now.

One: Labor/manpower. Currently there is more work than workers. This has been a

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

Changes in Article 230 for services include new requirements for an outdoor emergency disconnect for first responders, but only for one- and two-family dwellings. The allowance of two to six disconnects has been removed in many applications as well, and not just in residential. This was done to increase the safety of electricians working on the equipment. Whole-house surge protection is now required, and tamper-resistant receptacles are now required in more locations as well. While these changes will all increase safety, they will all increase cost as well. On the other side of the spectrum, the archaic and inflated load calculations of Article 220 were extensively revised, resulting in significantly lower load calculations for commercial and industrial facilities. These decreases could save a substantial amount of money.

Ten years ago, it is doubtful that anyone would have predicted that the NEC would ever have a new Part of Article 410 to deal with marijuana growing operations, yet here we are with Part XVI of that article doing just that. Ten years ago, few would have predicated energized ceiling grids and Power over Ethernet lighting either, but both of those technologies may be taking a bite out of the average electrician’s wallet if we refuse to keep current and evolve with an evolving in-

dustry. When solar PV systems started gaining in popularity, many in the industry rolled their eyes and waited for the trend to pass, the same way previous generations rolled their eyes about home computers.

Not only has Article 690 turned into one of the largest and most complex articles in the Code, but we now have energy storage systems, power management systems, standalone systems, and even dc microgrids to learn about. We can choose to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that these fads will all go away, but the fact is we are doing more things with less energy than ever before. The critical circuits of a building are no longer connected with branch circuits and feeders, they’re connected with twisted pair and optical fiber. Changes to the latter chapters of the Code reflect these quickly changing technologies.

As is always the case, dealing with change is a difficult part of our lives. In the electrical industry we change with the times or we get left behind.

Ryan Jackson has written and edited several books covering the National Electrical Code and has taught the subject in several states for trade associations, companies, government agencies, and contractors. He can be found online at www.ryanjacksonelectrical.com or on Facebook at Ryan Jackson Electrical Training. -cmw

which we showed how we forge partnerships that create lasting relationships.

The hot button would be creating the sense of longevity that many other contractors neglect in going from client to client, project to project.

Michael: We have a hot-button issue regarding availability of qualified workers in the field. It’s all about finding quality workers that can do the job right the first time. That is an issue across the construction industry everyone is seeing right now. IWR is focusing on actively growing a pool of leadership and developing the talent of these skilled workers.

Unions are wonderful at helping to get talented team members with a great number of resources.

ed that help to streamline processes of design and fabrication. It’s a large amount of front-end preparation that helps to change the industry for the better.

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

Keith: There has been a change in philosophy in the industry and a change in the relationships of the contractor base. There’s a growth in scope of what IWR can do. We are being relied upon by companies and partners to get a job done by finding creative solutions to problems that arise with a ‘can-do’ attitude.

Michael: We have grown our scope.

We are doing things today that we didn’t do five years ago--the use of technology both in administration and in the actual building side of things. We have been able to utilize new methods to make things happen more efficiently than ever before. Different tactics have been creat-

What are the rewards of the industry?

Keith: It’s great to work with interesting, great and compelling people and businesses. It’s a moment of pride to build relationships that will last a lifetime, and to see exceptional projects come to fruition that I can be proud to say, ‘I helped to create that.’ We like to have a high retention rate with our clients and are proud to say that we have so many clients that come back for projects time after time.

We are proud to be a first-class company built for longevity. We are selective about who we bring in because we strive to hire the best, so that we can be the best and offer the best. We are excited to continue growing in the Dallas market.

IWR is a subsidiary of MHS Legacy Group, a national holding corporation with roots back to 1895. -cmw

trend for the past few years. We meet about this topic weekly among the team.

Two: General contractors are doing more in-house self-perform drywall. This has been a challenge that we cannot really control. General Contractors are opening up a separate self-performing drywall division.

It has different pros and cons for everyone.

Like everything in our industry we adjust to these things in order to be successful.

Three: Younger/older generation integration. Taking the younger generation and merging them with the older generation has been a challenge for all construction companies. The younger side wants to try all the new advances in construction with tools and software. The old genera-

tion wants printed blueprints. They are set in doing things the same way, and they write everything down with a pencil and paper. So the challenge is taking the best of these two generations and merging them into a middle ground. It takes an in between with some give and take for everyone to be successful. Be open minded, but also understand the system and process in place. Most importantly, work as a team and always remember what is in the best interest of the company.

What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? Labor shortages?

Cost increases? Other?

Keith: Labor shortage is the short, quick answer. Construction does not have a good reputation historically when it comes to the ‘Top Jobs in the Country’ and while that is changing currently, it won’t happen overnight. It takes time to change this attitude, both in managing and in completing the work. Until that change takes hold, there will be a continued labor shortage.

How has insurance and workers’ compensation rates affected your industry or business? continued on Page 19

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Page 19

NEXT TH N O M

Architecture & Engineering

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

Painting with guidance Johnny Perry, Owner HIS Professional Painting Houston, TX

J

ohnny Perry has always had a passion for painting. “I realized my calling after God sent me to help out a church whose pastor was out of town,” says Perry. While visiting the parish, he painted the church giving new life to parish facility.

Perry has been painting for over 20 years and started his own business in 2016. According to Perry, as an active pastor, not only does he paint, but he anoints his projects with God’s blessings.

What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? Labor shortage?

Cost increases? Other?

There are many factors and challenges we face in this industry, but some of the most significant includes labor short-

age and cost increases.

Labor shortage is a major challenge because it does take a certain skill set to do this work. It’s hard to find loyal and skilled workers.

Cost increases are also a challenge.

We are affected by fuel costs, insurance premiums, materials and labor increase.

Unfortunately, customers are not aware of these factors, and we lose money in the end.

Exploring new avenues Mike Kotubey, President North Texas TDIndustries Dallas, TX

M

ike Kotubey leads TDIndustries’ North Texas operations including mechanical construction, facilities maintenance and service. Kotubey is a proponent of Lean construction, prefabrication and integrated project delivery. When not in the office, he enjoys reading, learning and spending time on the golf course.

What is the most significant challenge your industry faces?

Like most other contractors, finding enough skilled labor is increasingly difficult. This has led us to further accelerate our fabrication efforts and explore new equipment and processes to better equip our partners (employees) to be more productive and safer.

Beyond labor, our industry must continue to embrace new techniques and processes to produce better outcomes for our customers. While technology can give efficiency a boost, early collaboration and project involvement can lead to even greater cost savings, shorter schedules and

improved safety onsite. The net is greater value to the building owner through the elimination of waste and duplicated effort.

What are the cost increases relating to your industry?

Tariffs have had both a direct and indirect effect. Many materials (valves as an example) come from China so we have seen an 11-24 percent increase in these costs. Additionally, some companies are using tariffs as an excuse to raise prices even though they may have not been directly affected. The net result is their profits are increasing and the end users are bearing those costs while gaining no value on their projects.

How has your industry changed over the past five years?

The changes in our industry happened due to the advancement in paint products. For example, we have reflective paints that are used to reduce heat.

Another example are aerial painting drones which can be used to save time and money.

work to go around, bringing more companies and homes into the area.

What is your workload like now compared to years past?

Our workload compared to the last five years has definitely increased. We have extended our reach into the commercial and industrial side, so when the work comes in, it’s more of a larger scale with more demanding deadlines.

Has the “Going Green” push affected your industry? How? The “going green” push has influenced our industry but in a positive way.

The new lifestyle of going green is awesome, it simply means “reduce, reuse and recycle.” It helps bring awareness to our earth and I’m all for that.

Has your industry become more competitive with the recent Texas population explosion? How has it affected your business?

Yes, the industry has become more competitive because Houston is a largely populated area and there is plenty of

What is the most rewarding aspect of our business/trade?

The most rewarding aspect of my business/trade is knowing that I was chosen to bring forth my customers’ vision.

HIS Professional Painting is a full-service painting contractor. – cmw

What is on the horizon for your industry?

In North Texas, the next decade will see increased acceptance of design-build delivery methods. We will continue to practice other deliveries, but owners who embrace design-build will find additional value – nimble project delivery; earlier collaboration; designs that incorporate fabrication and modularization; staged design and installation to match the construction schedule; and designing to budget so that costly redesigns are eliminated. Another benefit that design-build offers is the ability to design, coordinate and fabricate using a Revit model.

A byproduct will be the elimination of the many hand-offs between architect, engineer, and contractor, and the duplicated, wasted resources that process requires.

in less than 2 minutes. As more cities look to improve fire safety in high rises and large warehouses, we anticipate these becoming commonly required.

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

Firefighter Air-Replenishment Systems (FARS) aren’t new, but we are starting to see more Texas cities adopt codes in accordance with the International Fire Code. These systems bring breathing air to firefighters who are actively battling blazes, allowing them to refill their tanks

What is on the horizon for your industry?

In my opinion, our industry will see more products directed to DIY projects, encouraging everyone to have the ability to paint like a Pro.

What advice would you give someone wanting to enter the mechanical industry?

As a career, there is unmatched opportunity. Very few industry segments offer a person the opportunity to be an integral part of building or rebuilding the infrastructure of America. We offer a level of support and training that can propel a young person’s career so they can grow and prosper in a very short period and become a significant contributor to a vibrant part of our community.

What are keys to being successful?

Communication skills, a desire to learn, always look for a better way, Lean thinking, a willingness to invest in themselves to learn and grow as a person and professional, humility, an appreciation of the contributions that a diverse workforce can bring and strong collaboration skills.

TDIndustries is a full-service mechanical contractor. -cmw

continued from page 18 — Adapting for success

There has been a small increase cost wise in the past few years, however nothing too significant. We work with certain clients that require specific insurance requirements. We continue to invest more into training to help prevent injuries and to ensure we can always meet the project or client requirements. At the end of the day this added cost is not as important as everyone going home to their families.

Is timely payment and final retainage by general contractors an issue? How does this affect your industry/business?

This has and probably will continue to be an issue in our industry. There are a

lot of variables that we do not control that prevent retainage payments. It forces some companies to struggle a lot more than they should. For us, it affected us more in year one than year three obviously. We tend to lean on our banking relationships, our CPA, and our overall relationship with our clients to ensure that this risk is as limited as possible in these situations. This issue essentially affects your cashflow and this sometimes leads companies to turning down work or not growing and expanding. Some clients have adapted and created an APP program for all payments, and it can really be helpful at different times in a project.

How has the cost of materials affected your industry and your business?

We feel like material costs have their ups and down throughout each year. Similar to us, they have to have field workers to either make the material or handle the material and it is not easy when the demand is so high. So they are constantly trying to communicate and find newer and faster ways of getting material in and onto the job sites. The overall costs have been increasing. This is due to growth and demand.

Are you expanding the services you provide? If so, what are they and why?

We are always looking to add new things.

www.constructionnews.net

publishing the industry’s news

We are doing more specialty stuff all the time such as EZO Panels, specialty wood ceilings, Filz-Felt, Turf, Baffles, etc. Anything that we feel can help the general contractor and the owner client, we are willing to try. This also helps us get some projects when we are always willing to try new things. The industry keeps changing and we have to change with it.

However you also have to know when to say no on specific items that you are not very knowledgeable about. We want to eventually have a separate specialty division in the future. -cmw

Texas Style

★ ★ ★ ★

Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston San Antonio

Page 20

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

The good old days

M

Fishing masons

asonry contractors launched their boats for the San Antonio Masonry Contractors’ (SAMCA) annual fishing tournament held Jul. 12-13. The event was held at Redfish Bay Boathouse where members and their guests enjoyed exchanging fish stories, good food and lots of fellowship. -cmw

Randy with some of his friends Ryan Wyatt of Aggregate Haulers, son of the late Randy Wyatt, has restored an ‘84 Suburban to replicate the one his dad owned.

Planet Pickup was glad to be a part of this important project for our good friends, the Wyatts.

1st Place Open Boat Trout: Curtis Hunt Restorations

The good new days

Heavy Guided Stringer: Rick Stone Masonry

L-R: Ryan Wyatt with Tom Bonham

Heavy Stringer Open Boat: Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing

1st Place Guided Redfish: Champion Glass

1st Place Guided Trout: Best Block

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Page 21

continued from Page 1 — Old Glory Plumbing vice people would call me on - any hour, any time of the day, any day of the week,” he said. Because of this hard work ethic, “I started building a strong clientele.”

While some plumbing contractors have specialized niches in the trade, such as residential service only, Santibañez has none. “I’m all over San Antonio,” he said.

“We do it all.” Old Glory Plumbing does service, new construction, custom homes, residential, commercial and utilities. He’s gone from New Braunfels to Castroville and everywhere in between.

“We’re pretty busy,” he said, but “still trying to get to the next level.”

At present, Santibañez works out of his mother’s former house near the AT&T Center but hopes to soon have his own shop. Despite having to deal with the traffic from Spurs’ games and other activities at the AT&T Center, it’s a good location to be able to respond from in any direction.

Old Glory Plumbing has had up to 10 employees before, but now runs things with five.

One thing that has restricted growth a bit is not taking on some of the bigger jobs. Big contracts sometimes pay 30 or 60 days after the fact, which makes it harder for a smaller company to operate.

Santibañez learned how to manage things when he was the foreman at his

plumbing company in San Diego. He had to oversee the projects, handle the crews, do paperwork and work the schedule.

“That was good training for me,” he said.

Still, he admits that becoming his own business owner wasn’t all smooth sailing. “There is a learning curve and I’m still learning,” he said. “I have to learn with the growth of the company.”

With providing a wide variety of plumbing services, Santibañez gets the most satisfaction from simply having a satisfied customer at the end of the day.

Old Glory’s motto is: “We pledge to take care of our customers.” Santibañez says, “If we don’t do it right, we go back and make sure it’s right.” While mistakes are rare, they do happen.

“Service is what I enjoy most,” he concluded.

For the future, Santibañez said he wants to pay off some of his equipment and then get bigger projects and then more employees. His two nephews and son work for him, and the plan is for them to be have part ownership of Old Glory Plumbing.

Just as our nation’s flag has remained steady through thick and thin, Old Glory Plumbing wants to do the same for its customers.

Old Glory Plumbing is a plumbing contractor in San Antonio. -dsz

continued from Page 1 — Carrillo Tile Inc. couple purchased 10 years ago. When the business was incorporated as Carrillo Tile Inc. in 2005, Linda assumed the role of company president.

Today, they oversee nearly 20 employees. The couple marvels that the business Joe started out of his truck has evolved to demo and installation, design, architectural stone, counter tops and fabrication, glass block, patios, fireplaces, bathrooms and kitchen backsplashes.

“It is all by the grace of God,” Joe says. “If you would have asked us 20 years ago, we never would have pictured this.”

Through it all, the Carrillos have accomplished it together and appreciate each other’s contributions.

“Joe is the face that everyone sees, and I’m the face that nobody sees and that’s okay with me!” Linda jokes. “He’s the one who meets clients to take measurements and scope out jobs and goes to client meetings. He’s very important to us; he’s a calm spirit and a gentle face and really easy on the eyes.

He oversees all of the labor work and keeps track of what everyone is doing every day and what their responsibilities

are. He pretty much runs the jobs.”

“Linda great at dotting our i’s and crossing our t’s,” Joe says. “She’s very adamant about having everything straight and being responsible across the board, with our kids. That comes into play really great with everything she does here in the office. She wants to make sure everyone in the office is taken care of and that no one is missing anything. In her attention to paperwork, she really gets it done and is very thorough about it.”

The Carrillos are now in together in tile with their children as well.

“Our 30-year-old daughter, Teressa Thomasino, is involved in the business now, and our 21-year-old son, Matthew Carrillo, helps me out in the field, and he really wants to stick to it. Our hope for the future is that they appreciate it and love it. We hope to continue to do good work for the next 20 years and beyond for San Antonio, that Linda and I can grow old doing this business together and our children will too if they want to.”

Subcontractor Carrillo Tile Inc. is in San Antonio. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — Teal Construction Company tain wall system, allowing full view capability of the flight controllers. The glass for this system was required to meet strict FAA guidelines for clarity, distortion and blemishes. The majority of the cab structure, curtain wall system (with glass installed) and exterior finish system was completed at grade level before the entire cab was erected and placed atop the precast panel shaft. This ‘cab rising’ required careful planning and coordinating as there was a tolerance of only 1/8 inch with the cab structural members and the previously erected precast panels.

The tower has 11 floors: eight were installed, six finished out, and three are planned for future installation as the need arises. The six finished-out floors include offices, a breakroom and one floor strictly for computer and FAA equipment.

Redondo Manufacturing, Architectural Division 8, Garden Ornamental Design and Urban Concrete were an instrumental part of the success of this project.

The surrounding airport property is classified as historically significant and environmentally sensitive. These cultural

areas include several sites on the property where there are unmarked graves dating back to and before the establishment of the Stinson Airfield. The construction and staging area was also surrounded by a protected tree canopy. During the design phase, the owner and the city implemented plans to increase vegetation along a nearby creek. Teal was required to plant plants and live roots along the creek without disturbing existing vegetation and historically sensitive areas. This was a large undertaking since the area needed to be planted without the use of equipment and vehicles.

The importance of the Stinson Airfield to the aviation history of the United States cannot be understated and Teal hopes that this new control tower will serve to be an icon to this importance and this historic area of San Antonio and pleased to have received a 2019 Excellence in Construction Eagle award for the completion of the project.

Teal Construction Company is a General Contracting and Construction Management firm specializing in the construction of commercial projects. -cmw

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC

Associated Builders & Contractors

Oct. 11-12: Fishing Tournament, Rockport, TX. For more info, contact Leah at Leah@abcsouthtexas.org or 210-342-1994 AGC

Associated General Contractors

Oct. 5: 26th Annual Safety Fair and BBQ Cook-off, Helotes Fair Grounds, 12210 Leslie Rd., 10am-4pm. For more info, call 210-349-4921 AIA

American Institute of Architects

Oct. 3: HcKg: Working with the State, AIA San Antonio Center for Architecture, 1344 S. Flores St., 11:30a,-1pm.

Oct. 7: WiA: Saskia Lecture Equity by Design, San Antonio Center for Architecture, 1344 S. Flores St., 6-8pm.

Oct. 10: LiA: Platicas, Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., 6-7:30pm.

Oct. 12: Home Tour Oct. 30: Jeff Goldstein, AIA, Location TBD, 6-8pm. For more info, call 210-2264979 ASA American Subcontractors Assn.

Oct. 2: 4th Annual Safety Summit 2019, Alamo Colleges Workforce Center of Excellence, 203 Norton St., 7:30am-4pm.

Oct. 8: Fall Golf Tournament, TPC Canyons Course, 23808 Resort Pkwy.

Oct. 23: TCCI Event, Freeman Expo Hall, 3201 E. Houston St. Oct. 29: General Meeting, Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 6-8pm.

For more info, call Jennifer Swinney at 210-349-2105 or email Jennifer@asasanantonio.org ASCE

American Society of Civil Engineers

Oct. 14: General Branch Meeting, Anne Maries at Devonshire, 12475 Starcrest, 10:30am-1pm. For more info, go to www. saasce.org ASSP

American Society of Safety Professionals

Oct. 16: Networking Mixer, 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

Oct. 2-5: IEC National Conference, St. Louis, MO Oct. 9: October Luncheon, IEC Training Center, 5511 Ingram Rd., 11:30am-1pm Oct. 23: TCCI Career Day, Joe Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St., 9am-3pm.

For more info, contact Julie Tucker at 210431-9861 or email jtucker@iecsanantonio.com MCA-SMACNA INC

Mechanical Contractors Assn. Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.

Oct. 4: Annual Administrative Luncheon, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr., 11:30am.

Oct. 9: Regular & Associates Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr., 11:30am.

Oct. 20-23: 2019 SMACNA Annual Convention, JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. 2nd St., Austin, TX. Oct. 23: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA Offices, 12500 Network Blvd., #410, 11:30am. For more info, call Sandee Morgan at 210-822-3763 NAWIC

National Assn. of Women in Construction

Oct. 2: Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels. For more info, call Eloina Benavides at 210771-4973 or email tonecustomsigns@ gmail.com PHCC

Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors

Oct. 10: Member Mixer & Cornhole Tournament, Ruben’s Backyard, 13838 Jones Maltsberger, 5pm. For info, call Heidi Trimble at 210-824-7422 or go to www. phcc-sanantonio.org SAMCA

San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.

Oct. 15: Regular Meeting, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Rd. 11am-1pm. For more info, go to www. southtexas.asse.org

Oct. 30: Membership Meeting, Pappasitos Restaurant, 10501 IH-10, 12pm. For more info, contact Debi Solis at 210-347-2423

HCA de SA

Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.

Greater San Antonio

Hispanic Contractors Assn. de San Antonio

Oct. 11: Golf Tournament, The Republic Golf Club, 4226 S.E. Military Dr.

TACCA

Oct. 01: Member Mixer, Location TBD. For more info, call Dawn Thompson at 210-901-4222

Page 22

I

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Builders go fishing

An electrical extension

t was a busy weekend for the Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA) Jun. 7-8 as the association and its members hit the coast for the association’s Saltwater Fishing Tournament. The fun-packed event was held at the Port Aransas Civic Center. -cmw Guided Division winners: 2nd Place: Homeworks, 22.38lbs.

3rd Place: Church Foundation Repair, 18.06lbs.

Unguided Division winners: 2nd Place: Quality Fence & Welding, 25.1lbs.

3rd Place: Urban Concrete, 20.36lbs.

W

1st Place Guided: Guido Materials, 25.2lbs. and Most Spotted Red Fish

1st Place Unguided: First Choice Lending Group

Heaviest Trout: Greenhaven & Builders Interior Products (Tie) and split the pot for $300 each.

Deryck Zellner, owner of Zellner Electric

hen Deryck Zellner was in the Army, he knew that he represented his branch of service and his country to the public, especially when he was overseas in Bosnia.

Now, as owner of Zellner Electric, his employees must do the same when they make a house call.

“If they don’t make me look good when they’re out,” Zellner said, “then those people aren’t going to call me back. So, my employees really have to be an extension of how I deal with my customers and how I treat them.”

Zellner started his company in 2011.

He had worked for another electrical contractor for a spell in sales, not knowing the trade himself. The owner wasn’t well versed in the art of sales or customer interaction, so while Zellner taught him that, the owner taught Zellner how to be an electrician. From this experience, Zellner started his own company, bringing all his toolbox set of skills into his new venture.

“I learned in the field, hands on, with somebody teaching me,” he said. “Everything I’ve done in the past has helped me get to where I am today.”

When it came to not just being an electrician but a business owner, Zellner said, “It wasn’t too hard. It kind of came naturally. I got my time under my belt and my master’s license, and I went out on my own.”

Because of Zellner’s experience in sales and customer interaction, people knew him, thus making being a new company easier. “I’ve done well with word-of-mouth advertising,” he said.

Zellner Electric employs five other electricians in the field and one person in the office. That person happens to be his mother. Zellner laughs when he says, “She’s retired but I put her back to work.”

Zellner’s territory is New Braunfels in the center but reaches from Austin to San Antonio. He has gone as far as Corpus Christi, but that was only for a regular customer who had a second home there and he requested Zellner personally.

Zellner Electric’s workload is 90 percent residential and 10 percent commercial. “On the commercial side,” he said, “it’s more service related than it is new construction. I don’t have the manpower to take on a school or really big commercial projects - they take up too much time.”

Zellner also doesn’t do new residential construction except for people he knows who might be building a custom home.

When it comes to service work on older homes, Zellner said, “It’s not surprising what we see anymore. We see a lot of stuff that’s not how it’s supposed to be, even then.” Zellner’s guys will also do holiday lighting.

“Anything we do is about relationships,” he said. “I treat customers in a way that they’ll call me from here on out.”

When it comes to the future, Zellner wouldn’t mind getting a little bigger, but not at the expense of the personal touch.

“I really don’t have a desire to have 30 electricians in multiple cities,” he said. “I like being small and being family-oriented.” If he does get a few more folks, Zellner has thought of having an audio-visual branch to do home theater installations.

Zellner likes to take care of his employees as much as he does his customers, such as taking them to a Cowboys game this month.

“I just enjoyed it,” he said of starting his own electrical company. “I’m out in the field probably more than I should be.”

By using all his learned skills and experiences, Zellner and his team are extending their electrical savvy to grateful customers.

Zellner Electric is an electrical contractor in New Braunfels. -dsz

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019

Page 23

The AC tie that binds

F

David Ehlinger (r) with his team at Comfort Commander.

or Krista Ehlinger, wife of Comfort Commander’s owner, David Ehlinger, their business is all about their family, and their family is all about their business.

David is a Navy retiree whose job it was to guide the jets safely to land on the deck of the aircraft carrier. But he separated at 20 years even in 1995 to come back home and give his family a stable place in which to grow up and live.

“We wanted our kids to know their grandparents,” Krista said. “That was real important to us.” The Navy life is not conducive to stability.

David was working for the Beyer Boys HVAC company when, one evening at the family table, his father challenged him and said, “You need to get those boys of yours and start an air conditioning business.”

The Ehlingers has five sons and two daughters. Krista has home schooled them all. The idea of having their own business made sense to everyone. “I don’t like being bound by corporations,” she said. “We were all behind him.”

Comfort Commander began in 2007.

In the Navy, David was an E-8 (senior chief). Now, he was the captain of his own ship, his own commander.

David tried to run the operation by himself but soon found out he couldn’t.

Krista and their two daughters enlisted to help guide their ship by taking the calls, doing the scheduling and all the other logistics. Daughter Kandace learned accounting and bookkeeping on her own to help with the books. Krista would home school in the morning and work for David in the afternoons. She even incorporated many business aspects, such as math, into the kids’ lessons.

A big driver in having their own HVAC business was to give the five boys not only time with dad, but also direction in life. “Our goal was to use the air conditioning business and kind of catapult the guys into what they are interested in,” Krista said. She wanted to help the boys get to where they would go.

While Mom would love it if all the sons worked for Dad, one has gone on to be a pilot and another is a rancher.

Two of their sons - Daniel and Austin

- have taken to all things HVAC. The plan now is for Daniel to take over the helm of the ship in a few years when David retires again.

One factor in having their own business is David and sons have the opportunity to share the Gospel with a customer if it’s possible. Whenever they do a new installation, they give the customer a new Bible as a thank you gift and will ask if they have any prayer requests.

It fluctuates from year to year, but this year has seen an increase in the residential side of their business. It’s about 80-20 percent residential to commercial.

The housing boom in their area has factored into this.

The seven kids are all grown now.

Krista has educated them all and David has trained them. Now, it’s time for the grandkids to occupy their time. “We wanted this company to be generational,” Krista said.

The company is doing well. Daniel is the project manager and is essentially running things. “He knows all the ins and outs,” Krista proudly says. A daughter-inlaw designed their logo. It’s time for the sons to take their new sons (and daughters) along in the world of HVAC to give them their starts in life.

Looks like the Comfort Commander’s ship is steady as she goes, and the jets are cleared for landing.

Comfort Commander is an HVAC contractor in Devine. -dsz

David and Krista Ehlinger, owners of Comfort Commander

ABC apprentices graduate

The Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter held their 2019 Apprentice Graduation ceremony on Jul. 20. Family, colleagues and employers gathered at Dave & Busters to celebrate the 11 graduates’ completion of their four-year program in the carpentry, electrical, plumbing and sheet metal trades. -cmw

Page 24

San Antonio Construction News • OCT 2019