Austin Construction News June 2020

Covering the Industry’s News

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Father knows best

Challenge accepted!

L-R: Daughter-father duo Lani Davis and Wes Davis of HFG Maintenance and Construction

L-R: Trinity Pool & Spa’s Garrett Gray and Jake Koziel enjoy cool pool building challenges.

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ani Davis well remembers her frustration from her days working for a property management company. It was always the same problem: an inspection report would be due during an option period, the clock would be ticking toward a tight deadline and she would be searching high and low for quality subcontractors.

“We were having a hard time finding trustworthy maintenance people to come in these apartments,” Lani recalls.

“You only had a certain amount of time. It was so hard to get qualified people in a timely manner, but you had to meet with so many [subcontractors].“ Lani’s dad, Wes Davis, had worked overseas in construction for more than 15 years. He naturally knew the solution to

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C Surfaces Inc. enjoys helping Austin-area customers find their creative center.

The building materials supplier, fabricator and installer opened its Cedar Park design center at 1701 Hur Industrial Boulevard in October 2018. The 20,000sf built-from-the-ground-up facility is comprised of a 10000sf warehouse, 2000sf office space and an 8000sf showroom.

“MC Surfaces has been in business for nearly 30 years and it’s always been a vision of the owner to have a space builders, designers, and retail customers alike to come and create their vision seamlessly,” says MC Surfaces’ Statewide Director Jennifer Dwire. “We began in the tile business and evolved over time into multiple other services and offerings.

“We offer several products turnkey making it effortless for builders, designers, and retail customers to get a quick turn-

his daughter’s problem.

“He said I should start something where I did all of that, where I go in and make one bid and line everybody out,” Lani says. “There’s only one person doing the bid and there’s only one appointment I would have to make.”

And like any good father would, Wes came home to help Lani in any way he could.

“We started HFG Maintenance and Construction in 2018,” Lani says. “Wes was ready to come home which is what HFG stands for: ‘Home for Good.’ It all just kind of fell into place.”

Lani quit her property management job and went to work with Wes full-time, managing HFG’s marketing and business continued on Page 11

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arrett Gray and Jake Koziel aren’t building pools to allow people to walk on water, but some of Trinity Pool & Spa’s projects are sure to amaze.

“We love the challenging and unique build,” Gray, Partner at Trinity Pool & Spa, says. “We had a customer request that we create see-through acrylic walls for his pool, to include a custom stainless-steel corner post and a powerful swim jet.

Challenge accepted, and the pool turned out to be one of the best projects we’ve completed recently.

Koziel mentions, “We have pools in construction that incorporate polished concrete slides, infinity edges, vanishing spas, and multi-level pools where water spills from the top pool to lower pool and allows people to slide from the upper

pool to the lower pool.” “We have a pool going in now that has a sunken fire pit on the inside of the pool itself. You walk out into the fire pit and the pool surrounds you, putting you at eye-level with those in the pool. We love building those types of pools where people want unique features. We love that kind of challenge.”

For inspiration, Gray and Koziel draw from a combined 36 years of construction industry experience. In addition to Trinity Pool & Spa, Gray owns a custom homebuilding company G. Gray Services and Koziel owns and operates Commercial Door Resource.

Trinity Pool & Spa is part of Trinity Services which focuses on HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, and Pool & Spa construccontinued on Page 11

Center of creativity

MC Surfaces 20,000sf design center in Cedar Park provides custom flooring, countertop fabrication and installation.

around on pricing, service and install,” she continues. “The turnkey offering includes all flooring applications, countertops, sinks, tile work, cabinetry, cabinet hardware and appliances. We also display lighting, plumbing, window coverings, exterior stone options and paint so clients can make us their one stop for all their selection needs.”

Dwire says that, at this time, their regular customers include production builders, custom builders, general contractors, designers and retail/remodel clients.

“We offer everything in one place for the client to make the process faster and easier when designing their new home or remodeled space. Again, being turnkey, we do the hard work for you. We also remain flexible on process with our clients – we never want them to feel they have to fit into our box.”

MC Surfaces helps its customers through appointments only in order to continued on Page 11

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Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

Helping employers during COVID-19

hen the workers’ compensation rates skyrocketed in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Texas Legislature created the Texas Workers’ Compensation Fund. Years later, Former Governor Rick Perry, changed the fund’s name to Texas Mutual Insurance Company by signing into law HB 3458 authoring it to operate as a mutual insurance company.

Committed to building a stronger, safer Texas, they exist to protect businesses, promote safe environments and help ensure Texas workers get home safely to their families.

As Texas and the rest of the world navigate through the unique situation that the coronavirus is posing, Texas Mutual stands strong in their commitment to those who count on them by supporting their policyholders; stepping in for their communities; helping their agent partners; and keeping employees safe.

For the past 22 consecutive years, Texas Mutual has distributed dividends to reward policyholders who contribute toward keeping employees safe and losses low. When an employer purchases a policy at Texas Mutual, they are not just buying financial security for themselves and their employees. They’re also becoming owners of Texas Mutual. As a policyholder, you can improve your chance of qualifying for a dividend by prioritizing safety and putting a return to work program in place.

Texas Mutual paid $330 million in dividends to 57,000 eligible policyholders in April 2020, bringing the 22-year payout total to over $3.1 billion. Paying the dividends two months early put funds into the hands of Texas employers when our economy needed it most. Dividend distribution has been at the heart of consistently rewarding their policyholders for sharing in their mission of

building safer workplaces.

Texas Mutual has also committed $2 million in grant funding for nonprofit organizations across the state that are vital to COVID-19 relief and recovery.

Furthermore, a number of nonprofit organizations that received workforce development grants from Texas Mutual earlier this year have been released to use those grants not just on specific programs but for meeting the needs they have now, whether that is payroll for staff or supplies to serve those in need.

Texas Mutual has also helped employers settle into new remote work environments by providing tips and safety guidance. As employees have been working remotely from their homes, most people don’t have the same type of workstation in their homes as they do at the office. The following tips are recommended best practices to help you work productively and safely at home.

Choose a dedicated workspace: D e s ignate a spot in your home for working. It should ideally be a space you don’t relax in so there’s a separation of work and play.

Define a beginning and finishing time: Pick a definitive start and end time each day to establish a clear balance.

Dress the part:

Dress like you’re going to the office; it helps keep a sense of routine and keeps you focused.

Have a plan:

Keep a more structured daily schedule than usual to help you avoid distractions and maintain productivity.

Think about how you’re communicating:

Be conscious of how you’re communicating and the different communication methods you’re using.

Take clear breaks:

Remember to take breaks when you need to and use this time to get up, stretch and move around.

Consider lighting and space when setting up your workstation:

Make sure you have enough lighting and space to work comfortably.

Ensure walking paths and doorways are unobstructed: This will help prevent slips, trips or falls and keep paths clear in case of an emergency.

Don’t place computers near heat sources: Computers and other hardware can overheat which could lead to malfunction and could even start a fire.

Maintain a clean and clutter-free workspace:

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, many counties and cities are implement-

ing stay-at-home orders. While you are home and sharing space with your family members, be sure to sanitize your workstation and continue frequent handwashing. You should also keep your space free of trash and other hazards that could cause you to slip, trip or fall.

Use power cord ties: Cord ties can help you keep your cords organized, preventing trip and fire hazards.

Utilize surge protectors: Without a surge protector, a power surge can easily damage your computer, effecting your data or your system.

Keep liquids away from electrical equipment:

This includes on the ground and on your desk. You can also keep a coaster on your desk and a lid on your cup to help prevent any spills.

Prevent cybersecurity risks:

You can practice good computer security by utilizing a secured VPN and WiFi, keeping up with company-approved computer updates and being vigilant of phishing scams through email and phone.

Stay hydrated and remember to give yourself a lunch break: Keep these things in mind as working remotely affects your normal office routine.

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors: It’s likely that you will already have these in your home so be sure to check their batteries and test them regularly. continued on Page 11

Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

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ince 1909, the Covert name has been synonymous with auto and truck dealerships in Central Texas. Five generations have led and continue to carry on this iconic family legacy. Let’s take a ride down the Covert pathway of success.

Frank M. Covert, a real estate and insurance businessman, opened the first automobile distributorship in Central Texas in 1909. His son, Clarence Covert, Sr., joined him a three short years later to form the Austin Buick Sales Company.

Austin Buick Sales Company became the foundation for Covert Buick Inc., the oldest Buick dealership in the state of Texas today.

The Covert family business continued to thrive as sons Frank Covert, Jr. and Clarence led the path as the second generation.

Frank Jr.’s only son chose not to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps and went on to become a surgeon.

Clarence’s three sons: Dan, Clarence, Jr. and George H. Covert all became active members in the family business as the third generation from 1936 to 1981.

In 1981 a new generation of Coverts took over the reins. Dan’s three sons: Rox, Duke and Danay Covert became the fourth generation of owner/operators of

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Five generations strong the family-owned dealership until 2012 making way for the fifth generation with the guidance of Rox, Duke and Danay.

The fifth generation are the sons and son-in-laws of the three brothers. They are Dan Covert, Kenny Covert, Chance Covert, Brad Elliott and Philip Robinson.

Covert Buick Dealership 1955, W. 5th & San Antonio.

Today the Covert family of dealerships have five locations in the Austin area – Cadillac/Buick/GMC in Austin; Ford in Austin; Chrysler/Dodge/Ram/ Jeep in Austin; Chevrolet/Ford in Hutto; Chevrolet/ Buick/GMC in Bastrop and the start-up construction on the Buick/

Fourth generation of the Covert family L-R: Rox, Duke and Danay Covert.

Covert Used Cars 1956, 5th & San Antonio

GMC/Cadillac, Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/ Ram on Hwy. 71 West in Bee Caves.

In 1938, the Covert family contributed to the permanent heritage of the Austin community through its donation of land at Mt. Bonnell to Travis County as a park to be enjoyed by citizens and visitors alike. Their generous spirit continues to support Austin and its community.

They played a major role in the restoration of the Carrington/Covert House. It is a large limestone home where the Covert family resided from 1903 to 1936, located at 1511 Colorado Street in Austin, and currently serves as the headquarters for the Texas Historical Commission.

Covert is the oldest Buick dealership in Central Texas. -cmw

Clarence Covert, Sr. and Clarence Covert, Jr. – August 1917

Covert Automobile Company 1911, Congress Ave.

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Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

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Maravilla @ The Domain

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hen DCO Commercial Floors began installation at Maravilla @ The Domain, Austin’s newest retirement community, the project turned out to be three jobs in one.

“It had three towers installing at the same time,” explains DCO Commercial Floors’ Vice President ReDonna Martinez.

“So being able to provide a large amount of manpower was key.”

To meet this increased need for manpower, DCO provided multiple installation crews with specialized skill sets and a full-time Site Superintendent to oversee project strategy and success.

The team included Account Executive Chris Saye, Project Manager Jonda Sedlack and Site Superintendents Dan Beard and TJ Morgan. Together, they oversaw the installation on the 268,736sf

Contemporary carpet cozies up this communal area.

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Function meets fashion in this stylish hexagon tile floor.

DCO installed carpet and tile in the three mid towers of retirement community Maravilla @ The Domain.

property located at 11001 Austin Lane.

“The project was fast paced with numerous types of flooring unique to this job,” Martinez says. “We used VE options for tile settings, unit bath tile, unit and common area base, and provided material mix options to get the project in budget (i.e. less tile, more carpet).” Products used in the project include Mapei, Daltile, Emser, Shaw, J & J, Johnsonite, Ergon, Mid America Tile, Virginia Tile, Crossville, Ragno, The Tile Gallery, Creative Materials, Ceramic Technics, Artistic Tile, Salado, Mats Inc., Mannington, Mohawk, Altro, Forbo, Sienna, Flor, Masland, and Patcraft.

Besides the project being spread out among three separate buildings and encompassing various flooring materials,

DCO’s installation also involved a high level of skill and attention to detail.

“The project is unique because the carpets had large scale patterns to match, mirrored glass tiles at bar areas and patterns with multiple tile sizes on the floors,” Martinez says. “It also encompassed fireplaces with large format thin tile panels, 4ft by 8ft., in full pieces and cut to fit.; that is specialized and very few flooring contractors can do [it] successfully.”

The project, which began in October 2018, was completed in March. The client is pleased with DCO’s flooring installation at Maravilla @ The Domain and residents can now enjoy walking around their new community.

DCO used a combination of carpet and tile to delineate different areas for Maravilla residents.

Maravilla @ The Domain DCO Commercial Floors Austin, TX

Electrical system in Domain Tower 2 Built by general contractor E.E. Reed Construction LP, Domain Tower 2 is a ground up 319,295sf 10-story office building that will stand on top of a 397,449sf, 13-level garage and lobby level. Construction broke ground in October 2019 and is expected to last 30 months.

“When this project is complete, it will be the tallest building in the Domain,” George Picken, CapStar Electric’s Managing Member, says. “It will bring a new level of class A office to the area.”

The tower, which utilizes podium construc-tion, a cast in place structure and glass walls, boasts floor-to-ceiling glass on all office levels. It includes a generously sized lobby, several outdoor terraces, and impressive city views. While many would assume the sheer size of the project presented the greatest challenge to the CapStar Electric team, it wasn’t.

“COVID has created new challenges on all construction projects,” Picken explains.

“Keep-ing our employees and all fellow construction workers safe is CapStar Electric’s number one priority.” –mjm

ustin’s high-density office retail and residential center recently got a jolt! Commercial electrical contractor CapStar Electric was hired to install Domain Tower 2’s complete electrical system, including a 250kw generator, fire alarm system and the Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS). CapStar Electric is installing two 4,000-AMP services along with an electrical room on each floor which will include multiple branch power and lighting panels, and a large amount of energy-saving LED fixtures, both indoor and outdoor.

CapStar Electric installed the tower’s complete electrical system.

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Domain Tower 2 is currently being erected and will be the tallest building in the Domain when completed in Fall 2021.

Both indoor and outdoor light ing fixtures, the fire alarm system and the EERCS were part of CapStar’s scope of work.

Electrical system in Domain Tower 2 CapStar Electric Austin, TX

Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

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Retaining wall for Georgetown homebuilder

ometimes, the perfect materials for a project are right under your … feet, as Austin Block Company and sister company, Beebe Construction Inc., recently proved. The company created a one-of-a-kind retaining wall for a Georgetown homebuilder with 100% natural stone extracted straight from the site’s ground.

A team of workers achieved balance and beauty by positioning upright large stones of various sizes and shapes for the wall’s base. Within the jutting edges of these bigger rocks, smaller stones were stacked as tall as 9 feet, creating the bulk of the wall. Stone steps were also installed up the height of the structure so that residents could access their home’s porch. The tiered design was topped off with well-constructed capstones to refine the retaining wall’s rustic look.

“We strive for one-of-a-kind, unique designs,” says Joel Beebe, Owner of Beebe Construction Inc. and Austin Block Company. “Natural stone walls are fun because you get to have ideas come to life and design it to fit different needs. You never know what kind of stone you are going to pull out of the ground. We have a fantastic crew who can help, including Lori Drake with Beebe Construction

A base of large upright stones and smaller stones, topped by capstones, provides both a rustic and refined effect.

Workers built the unique retaining wall with a rock extracted from the site itself.

as well as Eze L Iheanacho with Austin Block Company.”

Natural stone retaining walls don’t only benefit residential design. Thanks to these walls’ designer, they cater to a range of applications and benefits that make it an ideal choice for a multitude of projects such as commercial structures, storefronts, residential developments and much more.

“Natural stone walls are an attractive and functional addition to any landscape design,” she says. “Whether you have a naturally-sloped property, or are contouring your landscape to create visual interest, retaining walls will create a clear delineation between property levels, can be used to create flat, usable terraces and will help to prevent erosion.”

Retaining walls are the Austin Block Company’s specialty; Beebe Construction Inc. specializes in design management trades, providing the owner with turnkey project delivery and contract management.

“With our own heavy equipment, surveyors, architects and engineers, we provide full-service land clearing, demolition, concrete and underground utilities from the

ground up,” Drake says of Beebe. “We offer land clearing, earthworks and demolition, as well as concrete, road base, river walk, crushed granite, limestone and aggregates.

Since we are also a supply company, we have all the stone needed from concrete blocks to cave blocks to our gorgeous charcoal blocks, along with all filling needs.”

The homebuilder was thrilled with the result, and both companies can credit their wide range of project experience for their success. Beebe Construction Inc., which services San Antonio to Waco and all the surrounding suburbs, has managed the state of Texas with projects such as Granger Dam, business parks and residential subdivisions. Beebe Construction’s impact is starting to gain recognition from parties other than their clients: The company was recently recognized in the Austin Business Journal’s “The List” for 2020 in the #24 slot.

Beebe Construction in Georgetown provides commercial, residential and government project services. Austin Block Company supplies natural stone, stone cutting and retaining wall construction. –mjm Retaining wall for Georgetown homebuilder Austin Block Company and Beebe Construction Georgetown, TX

Stone steps lead the way to the home’s porch.

Das Rec

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asters Electrical Services Ltd. is proud to have served Seguin, New Braunfels, San Antonio, and other surrounding central Texas areas for over 15 years. The company owners have over 40 years of experience in the electrical and construction industry.

As a local electrical contractor, Masters Electric was thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with Byrne Construction Services in helping to build the newest recreation center in New Braunfels. This all came together with the approval of a $20-million bond in 2013, and thus Das Rec was born.

This new innovative facility blends modern designs and technology with the traditional New Braunfels German heritage. Contractors incorporated modern LED fixtures, and state-of-the-art lighting and lighting controls for optimal energy efficiency. They have also helped integrate several floors for the 77,000sf facility for maximum performance and functionality.

Some of those amenities include a childcare center, fitness floor, gymnasium, walking track, and Olympic sized swimming and leisure pools. Tradition is also weaved throughout Das Rec from the name of the facility down to the apparel available for purchase that plays off of classic German phrases.

Masters Electric’s owners, as well as numerous employees and their families, are all members of Das Rec and highly recommend this facility if you take pride in family values. Their staff is extremely welcoming and helpful which seamlessly ties into its family friendly environment.

From basketball courts to fitness classes and equipment, to the indoor tot splash zone and waterslide, all ages are sure to find themselves thoroughly entertained. All of these outstanding amenities make maintaining a healthy lifestyle for you and your family a huge hit for this city!

Masters Electrical Services provides a diverse range of commercial, industrial, large residential and oil field electrical contracting services. This project was made possible by Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects, Cleary Zimmerman (engineer), Byrne Construction Services (general contractor), and the City of New Braunfels. Our company is honored to have been included in the construction of this project.

Master Electrical Services Ltd. is a full-service electrical contractor in Seguin, TX. -cmw

Das Rec, New Braunfels, TX

Exterior view

Fitness floor ➤

Leisure pools

Gymnasium

Das Rec Master Electrical Services Ltd. Seguin, TX

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Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

Richard Reed President

Urban Structure Austin and Dallas, TX

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ichard Reed’s interest in architecture and engineering began at an early age, and it eventually spurred him to start his own structural and civil engineering consulting firm, Urban Structure. While he faces and overcomes the everyday challenges the industry brings, he has also overcome his own personal challenge.

Share about your background.

I was born and raised in Dallas and graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1986. I then went to the University of Texas at Austin, where I earned my architectural engineering degree in 1991.

What, or who, inspired you to study architectural engineering?

I was always good in math, and I always liked to build things. I took four years of drafting in high school, back when high schools actually used to offer that. My high school drafting teacher, who I think did drafting at some point during his early years, was probably my biggest influence. I really enjoyed it and thought it might be something I would like to do. I love to figure things out and solve problems.

How did your career in the industry begin?

I went to college and worked for a small roofing consultant for about a year before I got an opportunity to actually go into structural engineering, which is what I really wanted to do. Because of the economy at the time, I had a tiny interim in between going straight from college into business. Then, I started in structural engineering. I worked for a Dallas company for 17 years and then decided to go out on my own.

During those years, you experienced an issue with your health. Would you please share about that?

I was working for my previous company when I learned I had a brain tumor. I was 32 years old at the time. I was training for the Dallas White Rock Marathon, now known as the BMW Dallas Marathon. I

had gone on a 20-mile, Saturday morning training run about a month before the marathon; it was to be my last long run before the actual marathon. I was fine; I had a great run.

The next morning at 5 am, I was throwing up everywhere, and my head felt weird. The doctors initially thought I had an inner ear infection; it took them several months to figure out what was going on. They finally sent me in for a CAT scan and eventually an MRI and that’s when they found the tumor.

Fortunately, the tumor was benign. It was pushing on my brain enough that it was backing up the brain’s spinal fluid flow, and that is what was causing me the head issues. I had a seven-hour surgery and three or four weeks of recovery and everything settled back down. I’ve been fine ever since.

Mentally, how do you get through an experience like that?

I don’t know. I think it was harder on the people around me – my wife and my family – than it really was for me. I just felt bad and I was just ready to do what it took to feel better. For me, the hard part was going into something like that because I didn’t know if I was going to get through it or not.

But there are so many people with worse conditions than the one I had. I was fortunate to find it. It was a blessing that I was pushing my body that hard with the running; it triggered some symptoms. Oftentimes, people go a long time with that type of tumor without knowing until it’s too late, because it doesn’t cause any symptoms for a while. I was pretty fortunate in that regard.

Share how you started Urban Structure.

I actually started the firm with a partner nine-and-a-half years ago; he retired five years ago. At that time, I think we were a company of eight people; now, we have 27 employees in two offices. We also started a civil engineering department in the Dallas office about threeand-a-half years ago.

Did you feel prepared to start your own business?

Yes, I did. I felt like I had learned everything I was going to. I always had thoughts of being my own boss. It seemed like it was the right time and the right situation for me to do that. I enjoy it.

I know a lot of people in my industry of engineering and architecture don’t really enjoy the business side of things, but I actually like it.

In what ways have you changed by being your own boss?

My wife would disagree with this, but I probably have more patience than I used to. I don’t expect everybody to put forth as much effort as I do. You kind of learn that everyone is different, and you have to treat them different. You have to approach them differently based on their personalities. I think I’ve learned a lot

Urban Structure’s President Richard Reed (far right) and his family at their Colorado property

about how to handle people to some degree, based on the situation and who the person is.

What advice would you give to others who want to work in this industry or start their own business?

Put in the effort, put in the work. It takes a lot of confidence in yourself, and a lot of effort and sacrifice.

You have to learn to be rejected sometimes. You’re not always going to walk in the door or make a phone call to a person and they’re immediately going to accept or hire you. You have to earn a reputation – a good one, hopefully.

Our business is built on trust. People trust us to do things to keep them safe.

You have to build that trust, and trust comes from a good reputation. There’s a lot of hard work to it. There’s also a lot of good rewards if you can persevere and be successful at what you do.

What do you enjoy about your work?

It’s a different challenge every day.

Every building is different. People are always pushing boundaries to have a different design. Every job during construction has its own challenges. It’s a lot of problem solving and to me, that is the core and key to what we do as engineers is trying to solve problems.

What notable projects has your company completed?

The first Urban Structure project was the 707 apartments and complex around the Broken Spoke. Now, we’re doing a lot of housing development projects, apartments and mixed-use development in east Austin. We’ve done a lot of development in and off 6th and 7th St. and East Austin and 5th. We’ve done the Arnold, Arnold II, and the Indie – they’re all right there together. We’re working on The Groves projects now.

How has your company been affected by the pandemic?

Austin

We were already set up for all of our staff to be able to work remotely from home when needed, so it was a pretty easy transition for us. I know there are some people jonesing to go back in and we have a few here and there, but we’re not full bore. We’re waiting to see. We don’t want to put anyone in harm’s way that doesn’t need to be.

What do enjoy in your free time?

Soccer is one of my big passions. I grew up playing in Dallas, played for the university and played a little bit in Europe.

Now, I just play for fun. Up until the pandemic, there was a standing “old man’s soccer game” on Friday mornings.

We have guys as young as 20, and our oldest participant is 68. Whoever shows up, plays. Soccer has always been my passion; I still love watching it.

I love to fish as well. My wife and I have a house in Colorado that will be our retirement home someday; right now, it’s our vacation home, and we are spending the summer there. It’s where we’ve been during the pandemic.

What are your goals for the future?

I want to get my two boys through school and hopefully get them set in their careers. My wife and I have a target date not that far off in the future for retirement. I set this business up in that I hired people that I wanted to pass the business on to, so we will make a transition when the time comes.

My wife and I will then move to Colorado and enjoy travel. We love to hike and be outdoors. We have a goal to visit every national park. I’m down to only two states left: Hawaii and Alaska. Of course, Alaska has 19 of the national parks so it’s going to take a little time.

Then, we hope to one day have grandkids, and just be Grandma and Grandpa.

Urban Structure is a structural and civil engineering consulting firm with offices in Austin and Dallas. –mjm

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Industry FOLKS

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Cuauhtemoc “Tem” Trevino VRF Piping Superintendent

Truform Metal Service Austin, TX

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espite growing up with three uncles in the construction industry, Cuauhtemoc “Tem” Trevino didn’t think he would follow the same path. It wasn’t until his stepmother’s brother-in-law – an air conditioning company owner – asked him to help out that he reconsidered.

“I’ve always been good in math, and in construction, if you can read a measuring tape, you’re golden. I took to it pretty easily,” Trevino says.

He briefly left the residential AC industry in 1994 to serve in the Army. He returned to the trade after his military occupational specialty – starter, alternator and generator repair –­ became obsolete.

He got into light commercial, and by 2000, had moved into commercial and industrial work.

In 2003, the Kingsville, TX native moved to Bryan/College Station and met his wife. He also started building his resume over the years, working as a foreman, assistant project manager, project manager, multi-family estimator, mechanical project manager, and mechanical sales estimator for different companies. Along the way, he made a true blue (and now Truform) friend, Nelson Poorman. The two met when Poorman, who was MAAMECH’s regional vice president, hired Trevino. Wherever they landed in their careers, they kept in touch. When Trevino needed a job this spring, Poorman, now Truform Metal Service President, offered Trevino a VRF Piping Superintendent position.

“I will be responsible for the layout

and verification that the design works for the VRF systems,” Trevino explains. “I’m working on a project called 48 East, a 33-story, multi-family apartment high rise.”

The opportunity excites him, especially in the midst of COVID-19.

“No matter what, life is going to throw us curveballs,” he says. “We’ve just got to be prepared for them.”

Once, a curveball left Trevino unemployed for seven months. He addressed his fear by writing Conquer Fear One Day at a Time, a devotional about the use of the word “fear“ in the Bible. He penned it in 90 days and self-published it in 2017 (it can be purchased through Amazon).

“It was to comfort and help me get over this fear of not being able to provide for my family,” he says. “I researched the different forms of ‘do not be afraid’ that the Bible uses. According to the Bible, fear is basically submitting your authority to whatever you’re afraid of. I included 365 days of a scripture and a commentary explaining that verse, but in context, to meditate on and conquer that fear.”

He’s now writing a children’s book and pursues his passion for competing in barbecue cookoffs. Trevino is also studying for his Project Manager Professional certification.

“I just want to become the biggest asset that a company has as possible,” he says. –mjm

Family bond

s many celebrate their fathers this June, Eric Schmalz reflects on the man who was the greatest influence on his life and surety career.

“My dad was a Marine officer in Vietnam and then he transitioned those leadership skills into success as a surety company executive,” Schmalz says. “Having my father’s example laid out in front of me, I knew I wanted to be in business. I learned a lot from him about being a leader and working hard.”

Honolulu-born and Philadelphiaraised, Schmalz earned an Economics degree from the University of Delaware in 2000. He worked for a mutual fund company before asking his dad, who ran a large surety company, for a chance to learn the business from the ground up. His dad agreed, and Schmalz began as an underwriting trainee in a Los Angeles field office.

Three years later, he moved to Colorado and over the following 12 years, progressed through the underwriting ranks to branch manager. Meanwhile, he dreamed of working more closely with contractors and building a business, which meant establishing his own agency.

“I always admired contractors as strong individuals and risk takers,” Schmalz says. “I enjoyed interacting with contractors as an underwriter and becoming an agent would allow me to be an influential partner in their business.

“I knew I had to start the agency in Texas because it’s such a strong market for business and a great place to raise a family,” he adds. “I transitioned out of underwriting in 2017, spent a couple of years in real estate development, moved here and formally started the business.”

His agency, Schmalz & Associates Surety Bonds in Liberty Hill, focuses on construction and offers the full range of surety bonds.

Schmalz & Associates Surety Bonds’ Eric Schmalz

“I offer only surety so I can focus and provide value from that expertise standpoint. I can help with any type of bond that a business needs. I support contractors needing their first bond, to established contractors who want to maximize their bonding capacity and ensure they’re getting the most competitive terms in the market. I can provide guidance in the planning and goals process. My underwriting background gives me insight into what a surety wants to see and how they interpret risk factors and financial reporting.”

Schmalz, who recently became a father himself and is also “Dad” to his dogs “Rowdy” and “Cookie,” continues to set goals like his father taught him to.

“I would ultimately like to become the largest surety-only agency in central Texas,” Schmalz says. “That’s an aggressive longterm goal since we have some great bond people here, but that’s where I would like to be.” –mjm

The Resource Guide Service Providers

Truck & Equip Dealers

Subcontractors

Suppliers

List your Company for Reference For Info, Contact: Dana Calonge Dana@ConstructionNews.net Buddy Doebbler Buddy@ConstructionNews.net

Page 8

Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

Just Fishing – No Masks Needed

by Capt. Steve Schultz key factor to keeping your croakers alive is to make sure that the salinity in your bait will match the salinity in the tanks of the marina that sold you the bait. Now comes the hard part - knowing where to go to catch fish with your croakers.

I tell people all the time that the key to finding fish is finding bait on the water.

Where there is bait there will be fish. During the summer months we key on grass beds with sand pockets and windblown shorelines that keeps bait pushed tight against the bank. Rock piles and spoil island points are other go to places to cash in on specks and reds. The key is staying on the move and fishing during major and minor feeding times. Don’t get caught up watching the boats around outdo you for they may be fishing a structure that you cannot see.

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.

H

ey folks, here’s what’s going on down on the coast. As far as I’m concerned, this whole COVID-19 has been blown totally out of proportion by the media and no longer is a topic for discussion in my household. Fishing is my day-to-day life and in my opinion there’s no safer place to be than on a boat in the middle of the bay. Businesses and restaurants are fully open, and hotels are now excepting reservations in Corpus, Port Aransas and Rockport. There’s still time to plan your summer vacation and fishing outings. Fishing has been on fire this last month and I predict it will

Fishing has been on fire lately with a variety of species making it to the cooler as displaced by William and Jess Womack. Call Steve Schultz Outdoors at 361-813-3716 to book.

stay strong throughout the summer months. Don’t hesitate and don’t be scared to grab your rod and reel, pack a bag. and go fishing.

Last month, I brought the highly anticipated yellow flag to the marinas. Live croakers have become the choice of bait

for most guides and recreational fisherman. Fishing these small fin fish is tricky and there is a technique that you must master to make these baits effective. The other factor is knowing where to go for the best opportunities to make these expensive suckers’ payoff. Did I say expensive? Hovering around the $12/dozen mark makes this one of the most expensive purchases for your day on the water.

This is why you must have the right equipment to keep them alive and healthy. The use of oxygen has faded in the past few years and been replaced with air bubbler’s with ceramic stones to keep you live bait from dying. Another

With the summer months being the most popular for fishing, I would not hesitate in call your favorite guide and scheduling your next outing. People are ready to get out of the house and get some fresh air, and the freshest air blows right in the coast from the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing is fun but catching is what make memories.

Here are some dates open in the next few months. July 9,30,31 August 3,10,11,12,14, 19,20,21,25,26,27,28,31. Fall dates are also available. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail. com. Follow me of Facebook and Instagram at Steve Schultz Outdoors.

Good Luck and Good Fishing.

Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

Page 9

Ken Milam’s Fishing Line Since 1981, Ken Milam has been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country, You can hear Ken on the radio as follows: The Great Outdoors: 5-8 am Saturday on 1300, The Zone, Austin and The Great Outdoors: 5-7 am Saturday on 1200 WOAI San Antonio The Sunday Sportsman: 6-8 am Sunday on 1300, The Zone, Austin All on iHeart Radio

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s we slowly start to open our world up again, we have sure seen some changes haven’t we?

When we meet someone now, handshakes and hugs that were once so automatic won’t work anymore, so what should we do? Please, someone just come up with a standard greeting, so we can stop with all this elbow bumping and shoe tapping and bowing and stammering! I feel like a little kid peeking around my momma’s skirt when I meet somebody. To mask or not to mask?

Aren’t you standing a little too close?!?

We have so much confusing data that everyone interprets differently!

One thing I do know is that we have seen a lot of people coming to the lakes to get a break. At first it was just family groups putting in their boats to spend an afternoon of extreme social distancing on the lake. It was good to see folks getting some relief from their worries in a place where they could get some sun and fresh air.

We did have to stop running charter trips for a few weeks, but are running trips again now. We are trying to respect social distancing as much as possible, and following other protocols to make our outings as safe as we can.

Fishing is good too. All those fish we left in the lake during the time we couldn’t go fishing are still there and ready to grab a bait. I think that is what I like about fishing. No matter what has happened to our way of life, nothing has

On the boat again! changed as far as the fish go. How do you greet a fish? With a baited hook, a returned jerk on the line, a nice fight and the scoop of the dip net. Pleased to meet you Mr. Fish!

It has been a pleasure to see how many families with kids have come fishing this spring. With school out and the absence of all the organized sports and activities kids are usually busy with, I think a lot of families have had the chance to slow down their routines and get back in touch with each other and come fishing.

The best part is when you catch your fish yourself you know how fresh they are!

You know that only you and your guide have handled and dressed your fish before he came to your kitchen. That is one less thing to worry about while we are seeing the problems the meat packing industries have had.

I hope we can successfully find our way back to a more normal way of life as we learn to live in a post Covid 19 world. It wouldn’t hurt for us to become more aware and appreciative of each other and stop behaving like a wild herd of folks crowding into every event. We could do with becoming more self-reliant and deliberate about being ready to take care of ourselves in case of emergencies. Maybe we have learned some good things.

It may be harder to find a table at your favorite restaurant because there are fewer tables and such, but you can always come fishing!

Stay well!

Page 10

Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

If you teach a kid to fish …

Industry FOLKS Shellie Perreault Systems Specialist Climatec LLC – Central Texas Austin, TX

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Aguirre & Fields’ Arturo Terrazas volunteers at Williamson County’s Learn to Fish event.

A

rturo Terrazas PE remembers wistfully glancing at two fishing poles in his family’s backyard shed as a child.

His dad, an agronomy engineer, would sometimes work on properties with small lakes, and during breaks, opportunities to fish would present themselves. Unfortunately, growing up in Juarez didn’t present Terrazas with the same fishing opportunities, and he never had the chance to use either rod.

It wasn’t until Terrazas moved to Austin and began working as a Project Engineer for engineering firm Aguirre & Fields that his “gone fishing” dreams were realized.

“My company is very involved in the community, and they always encourage employees to volunteer,” he says. “They are a sponsor of Williamson County’s Learn to Fish event and look for volunteers to help with stations. I thought teaching fishing to kids would be fun to do, but I also wanted to see what I could learn from it.”

Free and open to the public, the event teaches children of all ages fishing tips and techniques. Before he could instruct the kids, however, Terrazas had to learn fishing

basics himself. Park rangers guided him and other Aguirre & Fields employees on how to best explain basic tackle, bait selection, knot tying, boat casting, conservation ethics and outdoor and water safety to the kids. Using stuffed animals, kids are shown the kindest way to handle caught fish. Then, catch-and-release techniques are practiced at a small pond.

Terrazas has volunteered at the event for the past two years. The Mar. 28 event was postponed this year due to COVID-19, but he encourages people to check Williamson County’s website and social media for the rescheduled date.

“Especially right now, fishing is a good bonding activity. It’s relaxing, but it teaches patience,” he says. “As you start kids earlier and teach them how to do it correctly, they get more of a love for fishing, get involved more with nature and respect it.”

Terrazas is now hooked on fishing.

“I’ve never caught an impressive fish, though, maybe a small bass,” he says with a laugh. “I do want to do open sea fishing someday; that would be fun.” –mjm

hellie Perreault will tell you, with pride, that she was a bit different as a young girl. Lego was her go-to building material. TV secret agent MacGyver was her hero. And when the Girl Scouts approached her about attending an Alabama space camp, she had to inform them that she had attended as a sixth grader, had run the flight team, and had earned the camp’s highest score at the time.

“I just had no sense in my mind that this was something girls weren’t into yet.

This was the early 1980s, when math and STEM subjects were just starting to be pushed for girls,” she says. “But I was so into it and already doing it. Anything that was focused ‘for girls,’ I immediately dismissed. It felt condescending, and I thought I was being coddled.”

Perreault’s rocket scientist dreams were crushed when she failed her AP Physics class’ electricity and magnetics unit five times. In college, she studied bioremediation and even took civil engineering classes but was resigned to never being an engineer. She majored in Arabic, earned a Linguistics degree from Wayne State University, spoke four languages and moved to Austin to pursue a Ph.D. as a McNair Scholar.

“One day, I woke up and couldn’t remember any of the languages. I went to the doctor, who said I hadn’t had a stroke,” she recalls. “I couldn’t get out of grad school, and I ended up drowning in student loans for a skill that I had lost.”

Perreault leaned on writing gigs, secured a real estate license, and toiled in

low-paying jobs. Fed up, she posted a one-paragraph plea on Craigslist.

“It was like, ‘Listen. I’m educated up the wazoo. I’ve run my own and other people’s businesses. But I hate office work. I’ll do anything else, just please train me! I don’t want to sit in front of a computer!’”

A Time Warner subcontractor offered to train her. On the third day, strug-gling to carry her 80lb., 32ft. ladder, she realized she loved the work.

“This was the first time since elementary school that I could be hands-on and troubleshoot things. This was it. I was a field supervisor within six weeks.”

She moved on to work in security systems, building automation and electrical contracting services. She also earned an electrical apprentice license in 2016. Perreault is now enjoying her work as a Systems Specialist for Climatec LLC. “I help the more experienced technicians do start-up testing, documentation and trouble-shooting. I’m also commuting to San Antonio; the company has a massive project at the joint base to upgrade those bases for energy savings and monitoring.”

Perreault is now passionate about recruiting women into the construction industry. For someone who says she is different, the industry has been a perfect fit. -mjm

Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

Page 11

continued from Page 1 — HFG Maintenance and Construction relations. Her role has evolved into taking over the general contracting and leadership roles, handling bids, providing quotes, and overseeing jobs, as well as managing their two full-time crew members, admin and subcontractor crews.

“When we started, I think he and I thought it would be maintenance, handyman and odds-and-ends jobs and handling realtors’ inspection reports,” Lani says. “It has now grown into major remodels, demolitions, and additions. I think we always knew we wanted to get there, but I don’t think we realized it would happen so quickly! Wes pretty much knew everything [about construction] and was very comfortable doing it, whereas, even though I have a real estate license, I had to learn!”

Even though HFG’s growth was more rapid than she anticipated, she is grateful

for the chance to exceed so many customers’ expectations.

“I highly enjoy meeting with a client and talking about what they have envisioned for the project, and then, when it comes to life, they say it’s better than they ever pictured,” Lani says.

Lani hopes that HFG’s momentum continues and that she and Wes have the chance to serve clients for years to come.

“Eventually, we would love to get into new construction; we’ve kind of steered away from that at this time,” Lani says. “We want to keep growing, expanding, get a bigger crew going and make a bigger name.”

General contractor HFG Maintenance and Construction is in Bastrop. -mjm Photo credit for HFG article: Jodi Cockrell, High Pines Media

continued from Page 2 First-aid kit:

Accidents can happen at any time so be sure you can quickly find first-aid essentials in your home.

Fire extinguisher: Familiarize yourself with the fire extinguisher in your home so that if a fire occurs you are prepared to react quickly.

Prevent awkward postures and eye strain by making your workstation setup more ergonomic:

Eliminate sources of glare behind the monitor and try not to face directly into a window.

Follow the 20-20-20 rule by looking

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News

continued from Page 1 — Trinity Pool & Spa tion and services. Trinity Services employs its own operators, plumbers, electricians and other craftsmen that allow them to offer customers just about every aspect of a build in-house. Outdoor living spaces, kitchens, pool houses, and other construction projects can be completed simultaneously through one company.

The Trinity Pool & Spa team is located in Marble Falls, TX, but service an area within about a 70-mile radius, including

Lampasas, Johnson City, Fredericksburg, Llano, Spicewood and Liberty Hill.

“We really want to build the most premier pools in Central Texas” Gray says.

“Our goal is to build a quality product that people are going to enjoy and make memories with.”

Trinity Pool & Spa offers pool installation, service, renovation, design, service and maintenance. –mjm

continued from Page 1 — MC Surfaces Inc.

at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

Keep your shoulders relaxed with your elbows at your side.

Do not overreach for your keyboard or writing tools.

When in seated position, your hips should be level-to-slightly-higher than your knees.

If your feet don’t touch the floor, use a box or footrest to prop them up.

Your elbows should be even or slightly lower than your keyboard.

If possible, use an external monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Take regular stretch breaks throughout the day. -cmw

ABC

Associated Builders & Contractors

Jun. 30: Emerging Leaders Group Happy Hour, Mean Eyed Cat, 1621 W. 5th St., 4:30-6:30pm. For more info, call Tracey Littlefield at 512-719-5263 or email tlittlefield@abccentraltexas.org ACEA

Greater Austin Contractors & Engineers Assn.

Jun. 11: Membership Luncheon, Norris Conference Center, 2525 W. Anderson Ln., 11:30am-1pm. For more info, contact Silvia Pendleton at 512-893-7079 or email silvia.pendleton@aceatx.com AGC

Associated General Contractors

Jun. 3-Jul. 1: Project Manager Development Program (PMDP) via zoom. Wednesdays, 8am-5pm. $1295 Member, $1695 Non-member includes textbooks. For more info, contact Toni Osberry at 512442-7887 ASCE

American Society of Civil Engineers

Jun. 16: ASCE General Meeting, Phillips Event Center, 8140 Exchange Dr., 11:30am1pm. For more info, call 512-472-8905 or visit www.texasasce.org

CTSA

Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.

Jun. 3: Roundtable Zoom, 10am.

Jun. 10: Roundtable Zoom, 10am.

Jun. 17: Roundtable Zoom, 10am.

Jun. 24: Roundtable Zoom, 10am. For more info, contact Wendy Lambert at wendy@ctsaonline.org or go to www.ctsaonline.org RCAT

Roofing Contractors Assn. of Texas

Jun. 24-27: 17th Annual Fishing Tournament, Woody’s Sports Center, Port Aransas, TX. For more info, call 800-997-6631 or 512-251-7690 or visit www.rooftex.com TSPE

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Jun. 3: TSPE Travis Online Meeting, Zoom Webinar, 12-1pm. For more info, visit www.tspe.org TSPS

Texas Society of Professional Surveyors

Jun. 5-6: 15th Annual Hook, Line & Surveyor Fishing Tournament, Marker 37 Marina, 13317 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX. For more info, contact Jeremy Wood at 210-349-3271 or email jwood@ vickreyinc.com

New president at TACA give clients one-on-one attention without distractions or interruptions. In addition to Dwire, Design Consultant Kimberly Roberts and Design Consultant and Marketing Head Cassidy Stamper are available to assist clients with their design needs.

“We’ve gotten amazing feedback about our process and clients have loved our open concept showroom,” Dwire says. “We have made it our mission to keep the showroom clean and open, and not commercial or retail, and that has come across clear according to our success.”

MC Surfaces Inc. is helping other Texas cities find their creative center as well. The company opened its Houston showroom last November and is slated to open a San Antonio showroom this fall. It is also making more design options available to its clients.

“Our owner believes the sky is the limit and we are adding new products to

our turnkey lineup often in all of our showrooms across the state,” Dwire says.

“Stay tuned!”

Serving the entire Texas building industry, MC Surfaces Inc. provides custom flooring, countertop fabrication, and installation to clients. –mjm

MC Surfaces’ dedicated team is available, by appointment only, to assist customers with their design options.

J

osh Leftwich has joined the Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association (TACA) as its new President and CEO. Leftwich succeeds David Perkins and will step into his new role Jun. 15.

Leftwich brings more than 20 years of experience in mining and energy sectors. He previously served as Manager of Business Development, Environmental and Safety for the Southern Division of Knife River, one of the country’s largest construction materials and contracting companies. He also oversaw Knife River’s environmental programs for its operating sites and led safety and business development teams. Over the span of his career, he has also directed projects at Govind Development LLC, Cameco, Uranium Energy Corp and Mesteña Uranium LLC. In addition to his work experience, Leftwich will draw on his years of participation in state and national trade associations. He has served on TACA’s Board of Directors and Executive and s

Governmental Affairs Committees and has been active in several other associations including the National Mining Association, the Associated General Contractors, the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. –mjm

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

WSP USA is pleased to announce Brian Everett has been named regional civil transportation Technical Excellence Center lead for Texas. Everett will lead the civil team responsible for project management, design, coordination and delivery of transportation projects for public and private clients across Texas while focusing on staff development, resourcing, efficient project delivery, quality and growing the civil transportation practice. -cmw

Page 12

Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

Don’t Fall for COVID-19 Money Scams Steven Bankler, Owner Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd. San Antonio, TX

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illions of dollars and valuable personal information have been lost to money scams and the problem is only increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re a business owner, you need to be extra careful right now because scams involving federal stimulus money and relief loans are increasing by the day. Criminals are counting on fear and compassion—two powerful emotions that are in large supply during a crisis—to trick you. Your best defense is to be vigilant and arm yourself with the latest news. Be on the lookout for the following common scams: Fraudulent PPP and emergency relief loans With the trouble businesses have had securing PPP and other Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, fraudsters have stepped in to fill the void.

Many of these scams show telltale signs that they aren’t what they seem. Offers appear to come from the U.S. Treasury Department or SBA offering loans or grants in exchange for your personal financial information. But here’s what happens: They take that information and apply for the loan on your behalf, while you A) are on the hook to pay it back and B) lose your one chance to apply. Other scams promise a faster or guaranteed loan for a fee.

As the federal government opens additional funds for loans, it’s important to note: these loans don’t cost anything and they can’t be fast-tracked or guaranteed to go through. Your safest course of action is to work with a financial institution you know or with whom you already have a relationship.

COVID-19 PPE scams

Getting crews back to worksites involves securing additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment—from masks to contactless thermometers and hand sanitizer—to protect them. Scammers have emerged by the thousands to take advantage of businesses needing these supplies. The FBI warns of several schemes involving PPE procurement that borrow from old scams, including a requirement for wired funds upfront and email phishing scams spoofing legitimate company email addresses to secure payment information.

Be on the lookout for unapproved vendors and those that are difficult to verify. If the seller contacts you, verify with the manufacturer that the seller is a legitimate distributor of their product.

Don’t overlook unusual payment terms or a sudden request to reroute payments. Follow your instincts and ask questions.

Social Security scams The IRS is warning taxpayers to be on the lookout for a new twist on a scam related to Social Security numbers. The scam usually originates with a caller claiming to be able to suspend or cancel the victim’s Social Security number due to an overdue tax bill. Don’t fall for it.

First, your SSN is not affected by your tax bill, and it doesn’t need to be reactivated or confirmed to remain valid. The immediacy of the call is also a red flag. The IRS would never threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have a taxpayer arrested for not paying. Plus, the IRS would never demand taxes be paid without allowing the taxpayer to question or appeal the amount owed. A series of letters will almost always arrive before any other form of communication is initiated.

Charity fraud around major disasters

Unfortunately, criminals often strike along with major disasters like fires, floods, and outbreaks like COV-19.

According to the IRS, these fraudulent schemes usually start with unsolicited contact by telephone, social media, email, or even in-person. Bogus websites or phone number masking might make the soliciting “nonprofit” appear legitimate. The scammers may even claim to be working for or on behalf of the IRS to help victims file casualty loss claims and get tax refunds.

Be careful when being generous.

Research the organization and get their legitimate contact information from the Tax Exempt Organization Search at IRS. gov or through a charity evaluator like CharityNavigator.org. Never give or send cash (it’s better to give in a way that’s traceable, like a check or credit card), and don’t give out personal financial information to anyone who contacts you for it.

Fraudulent tax reminders Last summer, the IRS detected a new email scam with subject line variations that include “Automatic Income Tax Reminder” or “Electronic Tax Return Reminder.” The emails have links that show an IRS.gov-like website with details that appear to be about the taxpayer’s refund, electronic return or tax account. The emails contain a temporary or one-time password to “access” the files. But when taxpayers click through, it turns out to be a malicious file. The malware allows the imposters to gain control of the victim’s computer or secretly download software that tracks every keystroke, eventually giving them passwords to sensitive accounts, such as financial accounts.

The golden rule here is to not click on links within unsolicited emails. The IRS never initiates emails about tax refunds or sensitive information like PINs, passwords, or similar access information.

Protect yourself from these scams.

Hang up the phone, don’t click on the email, do your research. If it’s the IRS that’s supposedly contacting you, log in to your account at IRS.gov, call the IRS back directly (don’t use the number the solicitor gives you), or contact your CPA to find out if it’s legitimate. The same actions can be taken if the person contacting you claims to be from your bank or financial institution. In these cases, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Out of work? Here are some options for your health insurance.

John Schuler, President Time Insurance Agency Austin/San Antonio, TX

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he economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic have led to historic level of job loss in the United States. Between the months of March and May, more than 31 million people have filed for unemployment insurance. Nearly 1.6 million Texans have lost access to employer- sponsored health insurance because of job losses related to the coronavirus pandemic. Eligibility for health insurance coverage for people who have lost employer-sponsored insurance depends on many factors, including income with working and family income while unemployed, state of residence and family status. Some employers may temporarily continue health insurance coverage after job loss, but this coverage is typically limited to short periods.

People who have lost employersponsored insurance (ESI) due to furlough or layoffs often can elect to continue their health insurance for a period of time through COBRA or may become eligible for subsidized coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces including Medicaid and marketplace subsidies. Given the health risks facing all Americans right now, access to health coverage after loss of employment provides important protection to Americans during these crazy times.

What coverage option is best for you or your employees?

COBRA

Cobra is a federally mandated insurance continuation program that employers in most circumstances are required to offer employees who have been terminated. It is required by your company to send you information if you qualify. If your company has under 20 employees, or if you work for a government or religious institution, Cobra likely doesn’t apply. Cobra is typically quite expensive (employees are responsible for 100% of the health-benefits premium plus an additional 2% administration fee) but it allows you to keep the same coverage you had when you were working. If you chose to enroll in COBRA, you are generally entitled to 18 months of continuous coverage. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Labor and Treasury Departments have temporarily extended the enrollment period to 60 days after layoff or furlough.

Medicaid

Some people who lose their jobs and health coverage may become newly eligible for Medicaid if their income falls below state eligibility limits. Medicaid eligibility is determined by income calculated based on other income in the family plus any state unemployment benefit received (the $600 per week federal supplement payment available until the end of July is excluded). Since the State of

Texas has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, eligibility is generally limited to parents with very low incomes or adults who fall into the “coverage gap” that exists for those with incomes above Medicaid limited but below poverty.

Marketplace Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage is available to legal residents who are not eligible for Medicaid and do not have an affordable offer of employeesponsored insurance. Unlike Medicaid, marketplace eligibility is determined by annual income for the calendar year and any federal unemployment benefits (including the $600 per week federal supplement) received. Advanced subsidies are available based on estimated annual income, but the subsidies are reconciled based on actual income on your following years tax return. People who have lost their ESI due to job loss qualify for a special enrollment period for marketplace coverage as well.

Short-Term Plans Short-term plans are also a potential option for people who have lost their employer-sponsored insurance. These plans are offered for up to one year and can sometimes be renewed under revised rules from the Trump administration.

Short-term plans generally carry lower premiums than COBRA or ACA-compliant coverage because they often provide more limited benefits and usually deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

John Schuler is the president of Time Insurance Agency. Time Insurance is a locally owned second generation Insurance Agency serving Central Texas since 1961. John has over 35 years’ experience in both insurance and surety bonds. Finding the right insurance policy does not have to be complicated. Visit our website www.timeinsurance.com for more information or purchase a surety bond online in seconds at

www.onlinebond.com

Cook who’s back!

Steven Bankler has more than 43 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. Trimbuilt Construction President Larry Puckett (right) cooked up some “Welcome Back!” burgers for his team, who recently returned to the office after working remotely due to COVID-19. Audrey Gray (left) helped season the burgers with a sprinkle of social distancing. –mjm

Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

Page 13

Steps to Correctly Wear an N95 Respirator at Work

Cokinos | Young

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

J. Shannon Gatlin Senior Counsel, Labor and Employment Law

F

ollowing these simple steps will help you properly put on and take off your respirator, and keep you and everyone else safe.

M. Wilson Stoker Principal Labor and Employment Law

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Rebooting Employment Law Compliance Efforts in a COVID-19 World

e are only weeks removed from the grand reopening of Texas, and although the construction industry was largely spared from stay-at-home orders by virtue of being considered an essential business, it has hardly been business as usual. COVID-related issues have dominated businesses time and resources and changed the business landscape for the foreseeable future.

The strongest companies are taking the pandemic and turning it into an opportunity to improve and streamline their businesses. Construction firms can take this opportunity to focus on to-do lists that will protect them in the “new normal,” whatever that may be. One such opportunity lies in the realm of employment law compliance, particularly if your company does not already have an established practice of regularly reviewing and updating its practices and policies. With an economic downturn, there is little doubt that employee claims and issues will arise, as they already have. A proactive approach to employment law compliance is the best way to protect your company from being disrupted or even crippled, by a disgruntled former employee.

There are many reasons that a proactive approach to employment issues makes business sense. For example, according to 2014 research by insurance data provider Advisen, the average cost to defend an employment lawsuit ranges from $200,000 to $300,000, and the litigation can be expected to last an average of almost two years. If a construction firm has 100 employees, it can expect to be hit with an employment law claim once every three years on average. Meanwhile, in 2019, the ten largest wage-and-hour class actions involving private plaintiffs resolved for a total combined $449.05 million in settlement value. Suddenly the idea of devoting $5,000 to $15,000 to make sure your house is in order seems a lot more palatable, doesn’t it?

While firms have been focused on COVID-related policies and procedures, certain gaps in policies may have become obvious in areas such as leave or discipline. Even if no obvious gap is known, now is the time to scan your operations for compliance. If you revised your employee handbook recently (and kept up-to-date with COVID-19 legislation), then a full review of those policies may be unnecessary; if you don’t have an employee handbook, then developing one should be a high priority (more on this below). Assuming there are no obvious areas of immediate need, three categories that provide good starting points are (1) self-audits; (2) handbook/policy review; and (3) employment law training.

A self-audit is a methodical approach for employers to determine their exposure to employment lawsuits and to minimize potential liability by taking preventative action. Self-audits are valuable tools for employers to discover and correct any issues before a governmental agency or plaintiff’s attorney. The term “self-audit” is somewhat of a misnomer because, to shield the findings of a selfaudit under the protection of attorneyclient privilege, an attorney should be

substantively involved in conducting the audit. For growing businesses, the first step will be to determine which laws apply to the company. Some of the most important items for construction firms to self-audit include classification of 1099 independent contractors and employees; use of confidentiality and non-competition agreements to protect proprietary information, application of leave of absence policies, and medical inquiries and retention of employee medical information, as well as a review of job descriptions and proper classification of employees as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Texas Labor Code.

The second category of proactive compliance efforts is handbook and policy review. If your company does not currently have an employee handbook, developing one should be a priority. A company without a handbook is not positioned to properly manage employee issues or defend against employee claims. A well-written handbook is the first step of a successful defense of claims.

In fact, before an employee issue escalates to a lawsuit, the handbook policies will allow a company to properly manage and discipline employees correctly, to avoid misunderstanding and legal exposure. If an issue turns into legal action, those employment lawsuits many times hinge on consistent treatment of employees and/or ensuring that employees were on notice of important company policies and procedures. The applicable handbook policy, as well as the signed acknowledgment form, should be critical to the defense employee claims. Certainly, you can expect that these documents will be exhibits in any litigation and can help you win or at least minimize damages. A handbook tailored to your business reflects how you conduct business can show judges, juries, and investigators your expectations and values. Alternatively, a company without a handbook simply does not appear competent.

Finally, one often overlooked but valuable preventative measure is employee training. Training management on employment law issues saves companies money – period. Although a Foreman or Superintendent doesn’t need to be a legal scholar, they need to know the basics of subjects like wage-and-hour and discrimination laws because it allows the company to manage employment issues in accordance with the law and, perhaps just as importantly, it provides defenses to the company that would not otherwise be available. Therefore, in addition to anti-harassment training – which should absolutely be conducted on an annual basis – management-level employees should be trained in how to address employee requests for leave or workplace accommodations (especially now!) or an unannounced jobsite visit by a government agency. Management serves as the mouthpiece of the company for many employment law purposes, and therefore you want to be sure that mouthpiece doesn’t say something that creates liability. In addition, regular training of your full workforce on avoiding discrimination and harassment shows a continued

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Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol.

Inspect the respirator for damage. If it appears damaged or damp, do not use it.

Cup the respirator in your hand with the nosepiece at your fingertips and the straps hanging below your hand.

Cover your mouth and nose with the respirator and make sure there are no gaps (e.g., facial hair, hair, and glasses) between your face and the respirator.

Place the strap over your head and rest at the top back of your head. If you have a second strap, place the bottom strap around your neck and below your ears. Do not crisscross straps.

If your respirator has a metal nose clip, use your fingertips from both hands to mold the nose area to the shape of your nose.

Place both hands over the respirator.

Inhale quickly and then exhale. If you feel leakage from the nose, readjust the nosepiece; if leakage from the respirator edges, readjust the straps. Repeat until you get a proper seal. If you can’t get a proper seal, try another respirator.

Avoid touching the respirator while using it. If you do, wash your hands.

The following steps apply to removing and disposing of the respirator:

Wash your hands. Remove the respirator from behind. Do not touch the front. If the respirator does not need to

be reused because of supply shortages, discard it in a closed-bin waste receptacle. Wash your hands.

Note: If you reuse your respirator, wear gloves when inspecting and putting on the respirator. Avoid touching your face (including your eyes, nose, and mouth) during the process.

OSHA has allowed several flexibilities due to N95 respirator shortages including decontamination and reuse guidelines, annual fit testing, allowing N95 respirators approved in certain other countries to be used, and some very limited use of expired N95 respirators. Whenever respirators are used utilizing these flexibilities, workers must perform a user seal check each time they don a respirator.

Employers should not permit use of a respirator on which the worker cannot perform a successful user seal check. Visually inspect, or ensure that workers visually inspect, the N95 to determine if the structural and functional integrity of the respirator has been compromised. Over time, or as a result of the decontamination process, components such as the straps, nose bridge, and nose foam material may degrade, which can affect the quality of the fit and seal. OSHA’s enforcement flexibilities regarding N95 respirators are located here: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/ news_updates.html natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

If you could go back in time, what time period would you go to?

I would go back to 1810-ish. I’m fascinated with kind of the mountain man persona. I like that can-do, got-to-do-it-yourself attitude, where if you make it, it’s on you and if you don’t make it, it’s on you.

Ryan Taylor, Trinity Pool & Spa I don’t know that I would survive in any other time period. I’m such a big mouth that they would tie me to a chair and dunk me in the river or use medieval torture techniques on me! There is this pull to want to go back to the 1980s; that was the last decade of innocence. If you go back and watch the old ‘80s movies, the world was completely carefree.

Shellie Perreault, Climatec LLC I definitely would go to the 1980s or the 1950s. I feel like that would have been my time. [I love] the fashion. Also, in the 1980s, it seems like it was so calm and easygoing.

Lani Davis, HFG Maintenance and Construction I would probably go back to the post World War II era in America, when we had good-faith effort toward compliance to investigatory agencies and juries, not to mention the general public.

Now that businesses across the state are resuming, Texas is eagerly seeking a fresh start. It’s a great time to give your employment law compliance efforts a fresh look, too.

About the Authors: J. Shannon Gatlin is Senior Counsel in the Houston office of

such an incredible optimism, an incredible work ethic and dreams for the country.

The middle class had tremendous pride in simpler things like owning a home, having a family and working hard every day. I think the country was incredible at that time – the growth and ingenuity. I would have loved to have been a part of that.

Eric Schmalz, Schmalz & Associates I would like to travel back in time (mid1400s to early 1500s) and meet and have a conversation with Leonardo DaVinci. He was so talented in so many different things.

He must have been a brilliant person. Not only was he an artist, but an inventor. I’ve been fascinated with how many different things he was involved with.

Richard L. Reed, Urban Structure I would have liked to have lived during the ‘80s. I love ‘80s music, and it seems this was a fun time. Also, technology as we know it was not available back then, and I would like to see that transition.

Arturo Terrazas, Aguirre & Fields LP Cokinos | Young and is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Gatlin can be reached at (713) 535-5504 or sgatlin@cokinoslaw.com. M. Wilson Stoker is a Principal in the Austin office of Cokinos | Young and also Board Certified.

Mr. Stoker can be reached at (512) 6158573 or wstoker@cokinoslaw.com.

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Austin Construction News • JUN 2020

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In memoriam

R

alph S. Marek, co-founder of Marek Brothers Company, has gone to meet his Lord and Savior on Apr. 25. He was 95 years old.

Marek was born in Yoakum, TX on Apr. 25, 1925 to John A. and Hermina Marek. He was raised in a Czech community and spoke the native language.

He didn’t learn English until beginning school. Marek’s family lost their farm to foreclosure in the midst of the Great Depression which he never forgot.

He was well known as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He had a heart for caring about people, always seeing the best in them regardless of their circumstances or background. This is evidenced by his unrelenting desire to build a thriving business where the employees were considered its greatest strength. Because of the poverty he and his family had experienced growing up during the Great Depression, he spent his life working to improve the lives of the less fortunate. “The good Lord has given me and my family many blessings,” Marek said on many occasions and he felt, “It is my job to share those blessings with the less fortunate.”

In 1941, Marek graduated from high school at the age of 15. He moved to Houston to join his brothers, John and Bill, who were in the process of founding Marek Brothers Company.

With the onset of WWII, the three brothers put their business on hold and went to service their country.

Upon their return from serving their country in WWII, the three brothers picked up where they left off and the Marek Brothers Company became the largest interior contractor in not only Texas, but in the south with branches in Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Harlingen, and Atlanta, GA. In addition to Marek Brothers Company, he and his brothers founded Bell Place Builders, a residential rental company and Stanley Construction Company which developed several subdivisions and built homes in Harris, Montgomery and Waller Counties. These companies were built on the founders’ credo that the customer and the employees of the company came first.

Until recently, Marek served as the Chairman of the Board of the Marek Family of Companies which now employs in excess of 5000 skilled craft workers.

Marek had a rare spiritual life.

After attending a weekend retreat at the Holy Name Retreat House on Bunker Hill in 1950, Marek began a spiritual partnership with the Holy Spirit through the rest of his life.

Believing that a relationship with the Holy Spirit would help him in making decisions in both his personal and business lives, Marek’s partnership with the Holy Spirit grew his involvement with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This led to the building of the Vincentian Service Center on the Gulf Freeway in Houston, TX, assisting countless people and organizations with food and financial support.

Marek was the driving force behind the Marek’s involvement in the Circle Lake Retreat Center, a 45-acre facility which is now owned by the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston, as well the construction of the Bonita House of Hope, a 200-bed facility on Parker Road that provides transitional housing to women with substance abuse problems and their children.

The Holy Spirit also led to the Marek family’s decision to donate their homes on Marek Road to the Missionary Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa on Marek Road. This compound includes a 12-bedroom retirement facility.

Marek’s house will now be donated to the Carmelites. Ralph also gave the Holy Spirit credit for his and his brothers decision to form the Marek Family Foundation which provides grants to organizations that assist the poor.

Marek spent countless hours helping the less fortunate in personal ways that he saw as part of his calling from the Holy Spirit. Through his relationship with the Holy Spirit, Marek could see that he could not only help others monetarily but spiritually as well and encouraged his relatives and friends to build their own relationship with the Holy Spirit earlier rather than later in their lives. He author- ed a book about his relationship with the Holy Spirit and has distributed over five 5000 blessed Holy Spirit medals over the last 15 years. It is his wish that all who attend his memorial service be given his book and a Holy Spirit medal if they do not already have one.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society svdphouston. org. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions there will be no funeral. A celebration of Ralph’s life will be held later this summer. -cmw

JOB SIGHTS

Jenfrin Caceres with Allied Fire Protection at the KIPP project in Austin. -cmw

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Austin Construction News • JUN 2020