Austin Construction News August 2020

Covering the Industry’s News

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Father and son dynamic

Flooring family

L-R: Father-and-son Flynn Construction Inc. team Patrick Flynn and Preston Flynn

Terri and Mark Szeneri are proud of multi-generational wood flooring company Ace Hardwood Flooring’s family legacy.

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or most of his life, Preston Flynn, Vice President of Flynn Construction Inc., has watched his father, Patrick Flynn, build a construction industry legacy. Now, he strives to ensure the legacy continues.

“My father had a structural engineering background and worked for a contractor before he started the company in 1986 in the middle of a downturn,” Preston says. “He started out building fences, doing anything they could get their hands on in the late ‘80s, and really started following Royce Faulkner in the ‘90s. Royce Falkner built a lot of semiconductor clean rooms and we would do the smaller cleanrooms as we got introduced to the semiconductor industry. We were kind of tight knit in that semiconductor

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hile Jimmy R Sanchez’s friends were making post-high school college plans, he had a plan of his own: construction.

“I was 17, and even then I knew that I wanted to build houses,” Sanchez says.

“My influence in construction was my first wife’s dad. He was a master builder and master carpenter who built cabinets.

He taught me construction and got me into this.”

Young, strong and a hard worker, Sanchez voraciously learned the trade. In his 30s, he decided he wanted to be a superintendent, but was told he lacked education and experience. He enrolled at Austin Community College and took classes in construction management, architectural drawing and blueprint reading and got his first break as a superintendent working on a San Antonio hotel project.

For more than 10 years, he worked in that

cleaner industry in the ‘90s and that became our bread and butter, but it moved overseas by the end of the ‘90s.

There was a lot of work for UT in the 2001 downturn and we got more into private, ground up office and healthcare.”

For many of those years, Preston watched his dad navigate the changing markets, and joined the company as a teen.

“I was always in the field every summer and in the office during Christmas break,” Preston says. “I was on a job site every summer since I was 14; I started out as a laborer. By the time I was 17, I was managing safety at UT for a summer and always got to be around really good projects and good people. You learn a lot being hands on more than you do a classroom.” continued on Page 14

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ark Szeneri began his career in the lumber, building, and hardwood flooring industry as an adolescent working alongside his brothers and father, Joseph Szeneri. Joe Szeneri began his career in the lumber industry in 1939 while living in Ohio before relocating to southern California in 1968 to transition into becoming a residential builder.

Under the guidance of his father, Mark and his brothers not only learned the trade but developed a passion for the many aspects of the lumber industry, which has remained in all of them to this very day.

Like most trees that sustain the hardwood flooring industry, the seed for Ace Hardwood Flooring Inc. was planted in

Austin, TX after Mark Szeneri relocated from California to Texas in 1977. Ace Harwood started in a much different and smaller location and has since moved four times.

President and owner Szeneri leads a dedicated team including Management/ Sales Director Tim Dunnahoo, Job Supervisor Manny Casteneda, Accounting Manager Jon Sheppard, Senior Marketing Director Lizbeth Ramirez and 16 subcontractors. Together, they manufacture, install, sand, and finish lumber, flooring, stairways, end-grain blocks, ceilings, backsplashes, and countertops, all with top quality wood.

Ace’s wood selection is endless, including European Oak, Fir, Walnut, Anticontinued on Page 14

Brave new business

For Jimmy R Sanchez, a pandemic is the best time to launch a construction business.

capacity for several companies on projects including the downtown Austin Hilton and the Evangeline.

“I have had a great career and have worked for great companies. I’ve done many big downtown projects and have been involved as an owner’s rep, senior project manager and job superintendent, so I’ve done a lot in construction management.”

Sanchez broke into consulting over a year ago and was doing very well as an owner’s rep overseeing a Midland multifamily project – and then the pandemic hit in March. Sanchez, however, wasn’t caught unprepared. He had paid close attention to past recessions and took note of what successful businesses did.

“I knew it was coming; there were just so many factors. What I learned in 2008 is that everyone who was building something was up to their ass in debt. We continued on Page 14

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

Here to help

Industry FOLKS Jennifer Fox Business Development

Cotton Global Disaster Solutions Austin, TX

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ive years ago, Jennifer Fox was contacted by a recruiter offering to discuss an exciting career opportunity in the commercial restoration industry.

“After learning about the business, it sounded like an attractive opportunity that would fit my skills perfectly. At that time, I was engaging customers over the phone. This new opportunity presented itself as a way to help businesses solve real problems face to face,” Jennifer says. “I really enjoy meeting new people and creating relationships that I normally wouldn’t have if I wasn’t in the industry.”

Her career progressed and Jennifer recently accepted a business development position at Cotton Global Disaster Solutions. Jennifer says her responsibilities are to “enhance existing client relationships, build new relationships, provide world-class customer service, and be the face and voice for Cotton in my Central Texas market.” She has found her new role at the full-service disaster restoration company to be meaningful, and says her goal is to grow.

“What I enjoy most about this industry is that we get to help people.

Whether it is a small loss or a catastrophic event, we help people get back into business in a timely, efficient

manner,” Jennifer says. “I am so grateful to be able to be in an industry that helps people in such a significant way. That’s our job! To help others.

“The small day-to-day water leaks are just as important as the hurricane/tornado losses,” Jennifer continues. “We get to be there from the start with the clean-up and see it through all the way to the reconstruction of the property. Holding people’s hands and walking them through each step is so important and I don’t take it for granted.”

Born and raised in Central California, Jennifer graduated from Abilene Christian University, where she met her husband, Jordan Fox. After a beautiful Malibu wedding, Jennifer moved with Jordan, who is from Austin, back to his hometown in 2018 and bought a house. While her new job will keep her busy, she’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the other recent development in her life: being a mother to her 9-month-old son Kiplan.

“When I am not working, we love showing him new things and new experiences,” Jennifer says. “So far, he is a water baby! He loves the lake and the ocean, just like his parents.” -mjm

Jolsna Thomas (left) of The Rosendin Foundation presents a check to Central Texas Food Bank.

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mportant milestones make some take stock of what is important in life. That’s why in January, Rosendin Holdings, the umbrella for Rosendin Electric Inc. and Modular Power Solutions, created The Rosendin Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation to act as the company’s charitable arm.

“We celebrated 100 years last year and people within the Rosendin umbrella have always been committeed to supporting the community,” says Jolsna Thomas, President of The Rosendin Foundation and Rosendin Electric’s Business Development Manager. “Each of our groups throughout the country gives on an individual basis and we wanted to have a more collective, thoughtful purpose behind our giving. This way, we can be more strategic and make sure we’re making the most impact we can, not just on people’s pet projects but on how better we can affect the community.”

With two annual financial grant cycles up to $50,000, the foundation gives grants to community-focused non-profit organizations in states where Rosendin con-

ducts business. Funding comes from contributions made from employees and retirees, foundation fundraisers and donations by Rosendin Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries.

“The board wanted to do focus areas every three years to concentrate on a targeted need. Our first focus area is health – emotional, nutritional, occupational and physical. We’re looking at the whole body; with the pandemic, it’s a healthcare issue affecting us worldwide,” she says.

To date, the Foundation has given $42,500 to 17 food banks around the nation, five of which are in Texas. Then, through a donation to Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, it focused on its industry’s emotional needs.

“It’s about how we can make the most impact and empower, not just our people, but everyone we’re connected to through the industry, and how can we inspire everyone to think about that community impact and best support our neighbors where we live and work.”

Rosendin Electric is in Pflugerville. –mjm

And the prize goes to …

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L-R: Shahin Khatib Shahidi, owner of Airsheen Services and giveaway winner, with new Barsco Inc. employee Matt Stroh

here’s a lot to like at HVACR supplier Barsco Inc. – and there are prizes for those who “like” Barsco on social media.

The company has long enjoyed hosting giveaways to keep their customers happy, but keeping their customers happy has become THE reason for this year’s giveaways. When the pandemic hit, Barsco decided ramp up their giveaways and spread much-needed cheer throughout their 13 Texas branches.

“We wanted to make sure that people knew we were open during the pandemic, that we were fine and could help where we could. It was really to give the customers another reason to come in and thank them for coming in,” explains Barsco’s Austin branch manager Scot Hirsch. Shahin Hirsch recently had the pleasure of giving away a Barsco/Copeland travel bag to winner Khatib Shahidi, owner of Airsheen Services.

Hirsch says anyone can play and prizes vary by location.

“It’s constantly different. We gave away bags and now we’re giving away a

sleeve you can pull over your face and also a fishing pole and small tackle box if you pose by one of the Airease units you put in and put that picture on social media.”

Barsco’s generosity has earned the company an increased Facebook and Twitter following. It’s also made the days of their customers unexpectedly brighter.

“The guys who won here said that they never win anything,” Hirsch says. “They like it because the duffle bag, fishing pole and sleeve are something they all can use.

They’re thankful for it.”

The giveaway campaign has been so successful in keeping customers’ spirits up that Barsco intends to continue handing out goodies.

“This has just started; Barsco is actually going to do more and more on Facebook and Twitter. It’s a family-owned company here so the owners David and Kevin Jones are very much in the branches talking to the contractors. The owners indicate the the fun giveaways will continue on.”

HVACR Supplier Barsco Inc. has 13 Texas locations, including an Austin branch. –mjm

Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

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Deconstructing the myth

hen most people think of general contractors, they immediately think of constructing services. Although Embree Construction Inc. has constructed spaces for major retail clients throughout the country, more and more lately they’ve had to let clients know about the deconstruction services the company offers.

When COVID hit the U.S., Embree Construction’s Vice President Elizabeth McCracken proactively reached out to clients to let them know that, in addition to the construction services it previously offered them, her company was available to help deconstruct their stores if needed.

“This is becoming part of our landscape. There are so many people that are unfortunately closing half their fleet of stores, which is typical right now. Your two largest retailers in the United States Embree Construction Inc.’s Vice President Elizabeth will both probably reduce their fleet McCracken deconstructs the deconstruction process. by as much as 30 percent to 60 percent.” McCracken says. “There have on Craigslist, which we’ve seen happen. been numerous clients who have called One client we worked for had a unique and said they were being kicked out of a piece of sculpture that they wanted us to space and had 10 hours to get everything ship back to Australia because it was out before the doors were locked. We done by an artist.” mobilize and help them.”

It would seem that the increasing To deconstruct a store, McCracken volume of recent store closings would be and her team must walk a delicate tight- a profitable enterprise for construction rope very fast. companies like Embree, but McCracken

“Many clients don’t know how to go says that isn’t the case, and profit isn’t about doing this. There is a lot of why Embree offers the service. coordination to it, understanding what in “I think that’s a misconception, that a space is rented, where it needs to be there is a lot of profit in what we do,” she returned, how you devalue and move says. “People tend to say there is a lot of everything around, and how, when you profit baked in, but when you’re doing do exit, you make sure that you have a deconstructing, it’s not a hugely profitgood relationship with the landlord and able thing. There are definitely some you leave them with a space that is not areas that are probably really high in creating an issue down the road. I think profit, but there are also other areas there is a little bit of finesse that has to go where it becomes more of a client into that, and I think that’s what clients relationship rather than a true profit. are looking for. Also, with staffs being cut, “Right now, business is not usual, and they’re looking for a more turnkey ap- we focus on customer service; it’s not the proach when they are facing 50 store short-term game, it’s the long term one. closings.”

It’s about being that person for clients While panicking store managers who will not only be there in the good might consider just hiring a demo crew, times but will also stand beside them McCracken warns against that route. when things are tough. When things turn “If a client demos the wrong things around, we want them to think of us first or cause problems with the landlord, you because we there and helping them when can cause longer-term issues,” she says. things weren’t so good for them.”

“Plus, there are things in those stores that General contractor Embree Construcare not just clothing and fixtures. You tion Inc. is in Georgetown. –mjm may end up with all of your mannequins

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hey met over pizza one year ago. Coppera Plumbing & Commercial Services’ office manager Sam Dowdy Jr. played Cupid when he introduced warehouse manager Kim Leitner to Kristin Morris, who ran a Happy Pizza Truck in Saledo.

Needless to say, there were fireworks between Kim and Kristin, which was all the more reason for them to choose July 4 as their wedding date the following year.

“Kristin said, ‘Why don’t we get married on July 4? That way, you won’t forget!” Kim says. “I said that was good!”

Kim, who was no groomzilla, was equally easygoing throughout the rest of the wedding planning.

“She asked me what I wanted for a wedding, and I said, ‘First off, I’m the man so it’s your wedding.

My opinion doesn’t matter! But you and I could just walk over and have your dad witness us exchanging vows; that’s good with me. I’m just easy, whatever makes everyone happy. At the end of the day, no matter what kind of ceremony there is, I get what I want, which is to be married to you. That is all I care about.”

In the end, Kim’s plan was pretty close to how the wedding took place.

“We had a small wedding with just family and a few friends, basically people that were going to be part of the wedding party. We got together with them at the house of Kristin’s father, Rick Morris – he’s a retired judge – and went out to the swimming pool and did the ceremony. It was so nice, relaxed, and very intimate.”

And not without humor.

TACA names new President/CEO

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hen Josh Leftwich was approached about becoming the new President and CEO of the Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association (TACA), he paused for more than a second.

“This was during the start of the pandemic and I thought maybe I shouldn’t be switching jobs right now,” Leftwich says with a laugh.

“But I guess I’ll take a leap of faith, and we’ll make a run of it.”

Although he admits the past few months have been a bit unpredictable and that there is no handbook to guide him in this role during a time like this, he’s taking it in stride and leaning on his years of experience in the industry.

“Before the association, I was in the uranium mining industry,” he says. “I was doing that across Texas and Wyoming where I was the Environmental Health and Safety Manager for various companies, doing a lot of environmental permitting, health and safety of workers for a uranium mining company.”

New Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association President and CEO Josh Leftwich The industry has fascinated Leftwich since a young age.

“Growing up, my dad was in the oil more tons of cement. TACA is working and gas and mining industry, and I lived hard to make sure the state is ready to all over the west. He was working for oil meet the demand. and gas and mining companies so he “We’re also working with several would take me up to mine sites or on stakeholder groups, furthering our envilocation to oil and drilling locations. I had ronmental commitments. We filed a peta love for being around mine sites and ition for rule making with TCEQ that seeing what he was doing. It’s a very incorporates the best management small industry overall and something I’ve practices along the San Jacinto River that we’re working on.” enjoyed being around my whole life.”

Leftwich, who majored in Environ- A top challenge will be keeping mental Science at Texas A&M University, TACA’s members connected and engaged during uncertain times. Annual went to work for Knife River in 2017.

“My boss at the time is a big pro- events and meetings, such as TACA’s ponent of TACA and really supported my annual meeting in San Antonio, have efforts to be involved in the association. I been postponed or cancelled. Still, kind of threw myself into the association. Leftwich remains hopeful for TACA’s fuI chaired the government affairs ture, especially regarding TACA’s succescommittee, was placed on the board of sful Emerging Leaders Academy estabdirectors, and voted on to the executive lished in 2015. committee over the last three to four When he’s not settling into his new role, the father of four enjoys the years. I became really involved.”

Leftwich plans to work diligently to outdoors with his family. address issues facing its nearly 225 “We’ve been mountain biking a lot members, such as securing infrastructure more since the pandemic and getting funding for Texas as the state’s growing out on the lake in the boat,” he says. “We population causes strain. In 10 years, like to enjoy the state of Texas and all of Texas will need 15 to 50 million more tons the things it provides.”

Texas Aggregates & Concrete Associof aggregate, 3 to 10 million more yards of ready-mix concrete and 1 to 3 million ation is in Round Rock. –mjm

There were fireworks!

Fireworks were in the air at the July 4th wedding of Coppera warehouse manager Kim Leitner and his bride Kristin

“Her father is a wonderful guy and he made some jokes during the ceremony. When he started the ceremony, he looked at me and said, ‘Kim, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you – for the rest of your life!’” Kim remembers with a hearty laugh. “I told him later that there are people who know me who would expect me to hear those words from a judge, just not quite the way he said it!”

After the vows were exchanged, the couple enjoyed a reception. Planning a wedding during a pandemic wasn’t easy, but the day was special nonetheless.

“It was not as many people as we would have like to have had, but we had about 40 or 50 people at a reception. We did it indoors and outdoors so we were able to have a few more people. It was quite challenging to keep the numbers down, but fortunately everyone understood. That worked out really nice. Her mother took care of almost all of the reception, and it was just beautiful. It was really wonderful.”

The day ended with a tribute to the feelings the couple felt the first time they met.

“One of her friends bought fireworks, which we watched at the reception. That was the point in us having the wedding so late in the day, so we could have fireworks then.”

Newlywed Kim says he had them most wonderful day with the most wonderful woman.

“It’s really exciting for me,” Kim says. “I’ve been single for over 30 years. I just found the right person.”

Coppera Plumbing and Commercial Services is in Taylor. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

were the two key elements to our vision: we bring particular value to especially complicated development problems and we get to make those solutions beautiful.

My personal journey included great experiences with firms that specialized in schools, hospitals, and then office buildings, retail buildings, music venues, and multi-family communities. I love the diversity of work, and that’s a big part of why we focus our expertise on the complex and not necessarily on a particular project type. There are plenty of other firms for that.

Jeffrey Scott Needles

President Urban Foundry Architecture Austin, TX

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effrey Scott Needles’ passion for architecture was rooted in childhood and nurtured by parents who appreciated his gifts and encouraged his path.

It led him to establish his own architecture firm, Urban Foundry Architecture, in 2013.

Share about your background.

I was born and raised in Texas, although I was a child of divorce and spent summers with my dad in Chicago. I grew up loving to draw, and my father, who always had a fascination with architecture, brought me along around Chicago and in travels, exposing me to incredible architecture by renowned architects, from Frank Lloyd Wright and Thomas Jefferson to Helmut Jahn, SOM, and Mies Van Der Rowe. I had a great childhood and really had such a good balance between spending most of my time with my mom, who’s a teacher and always supporting anything I wanted to do, and my dad, who provided a lot of specific inspiration toward a career in architecture. I studied at Texas Tech and received degree in civil engineering and architecture. I worked doing structural engineering briefly, but it didn’t take me long to realize I had a “need” for the creativity involved in architecture.

How did your love of architecture influence your career path?

Through the influence of my father, and especially being exposed to great architecture in a city like Chicago, I was made aware from a young age that I could use my artistic talents to create architecture of my own. Besides being artistic, I always had a very technical mind – I loved math and especially geometry. Even as a kid, if I decided to draw a house or a building, I also got to solve problems with my art. I think that’s the ultimate attraction for me in architecture is that I get to throw myself into a really complex problem-solving scenarios, and then, I get to figure out how to make the solutions beautiful.

When I started Urban Foundry, those

What motivated you to start your own firm?

I always knew that I wanted to have my own firm – it was just a matter of figuring out how to do it. I started Urban Foundry relatively late in my career, but the advantage I found was that I had a better idea about what I wanted to focus my energies on. I found encouragement and considerable support from my dad and my wife and both of our families. I endeavor every day to make them proud.

How did your firm, and you as a business owner, evolve over the years?

I spent a great deal of time developing the vision for Urban Foundry, from the Mission of Doing Great Design in Urban Places, to our vision for growth and development, to our Strategic Objectives of accomplishing that vision. Along the way, there’s been plenty that I did not foresee, but the Vision for Urban Foundry has stayed pretty consistent with the original vision – although I must admit, we’ve become more ambitious with our intentions over time. I had the advantage of being a partner in another growing firm, so I had some understanding of difficult decisions that need to be made and experience with what works and what doesn’t. In particular, we place a very high priority on employee satisfaction and company culture. Even at the expense of profits, we refuse to be a sweatshop or to take our people for granted. We have a strict “no mean people” policy, and we live it every day. I absolutely love going to work to see all of my friends that I get to work with every day. Even if it happens to be virtually.

Collaboration is critical to what we do, and life is too short to have to work with people you don’t enjoy.

What advice would you have to those wanting to follow a similar career path?

I would say, start your own firm while you’re young and there’s not so much riding on mistakes. Then, I would say, figure out what you’re good at, what you’re passionate about, and what you really want to accomplish. I can’t stress enough the power of having a mission statement that really means something to you, having a vision of where you’re planning to go, and using those tools as a filter for the decisions you make. Then, once you know what’s really important,

Jeffrey Scott Needles

put all of your effort into the quality of those things, and cut everything else out. The rest is unnecessary and only serves as a distraction to your true purpose in life.

What are some Austin-area projects you are most proud to have been a part of?

Recently, we completed a great urban residential project at 10th and Nueces called Celia’s Court, just a few blocks from our office. While I was at Sixthriver Architects, I played significant roles in the development of Austin Music Hall, the headquarters for the Texas Public Policy Foundation at 901 Congress, and in 501 Congress. We worked for some time on a large office campus on the Southwest Parkway called Sunset Ridge and are looking forward to the construction of those buildings. Finally, we’ve also recently completed some great interiors projects including Uber’s Austin Headquarters, Khoros’ International Headquarters (formerly Lithium), and the Austin headquarters for a national student housing developer called Core Spaces.

What are your future plans for the company?

We’re a young company and are just getting started. We’re very excited about what we’ve been able to build in our first seven years, including the establishment and development of three studios with focused attention on commercial, multi-family and interior architecture. Over the next 10 years (if not sooner) we plan to grow by almost three times our current size and plan to hone the quality of our work in Austin and we plan to take our expertise in urban architecture increasingly to other cities where we can provide value to our clients. Other than having projects in almost every city around Austin, we’ve also had projects in San Antonio, Houston, the Texas Coast, and Portland,

Austin

OR, and we look for those opportunities to continue.

What do you enjoy in your free time?

I love mountain biking, and I take just about every opportunity to do it. I live near access to Barton Creek Greenbelt, and I’m astounded at this incredible amenity we have. Literally minutes from my house to the city, I can get lost in nature and enjoy silence, stunning views, and some of the most challenging terrain on a bike that I’ve experienced. I love it and feel so fortunate. One philosophical reason we have for focusing our attention on urban architecture is that we feel it’s the right thing to do – to make efforts to keep nature natural and to help find ways to responsibly densify our urban areas. Our forefathers (and mother – Lady Bird) had such great foresight to realize that if these natural areas were protected, the city would build around them and make this one of the most incredible cities in the world.

What do you enjoy about your work?

As a kid with my dad, I remember being inspired by the places we experienced: sometimes a sense of adventure, an invitation to explore, sometimes a feeling of comfort or safety, and sometimes the element of surprise, encountering something unexpected. I was lucky that my dad helped me have a conscious awareness of how important this is – how the spaces we live our lives in, work in, play in have a continuous and profound effect on us. They affect our moods, our productivity, our positivity, our happiness, and the pride we feel about the cities we live in. My greatest satisfaction Is knowing that I, and the people I work with, can have a positive effect on people going about their days, whether they know it or not.

Urban Foundry Architecture in Austin specializes in urban architecture and interior design. –mjm

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Fired up about refurb

onghorn Fire and Safety owner “We refurbish every kind of fire Matthew Counts hoped to some- extinguisher, from a two-and-a-half lb day offer fire equipment refurbish- dry chemical all the way up to 30-lb high ment, but he lacked one thing: time. The flow dry chemical to CO2s, halons, pandemic fixed that, however, and while halotrons, wet chem, Class K – everything customers fortunately continued to under the sun. If it’s a portable fire stream in, work wasn’t as hectic. Wanting extinguisher, I can sell a refurbished to ensure his employees stayed busy, he equivalent.”

Customers may not know Longhorn saw an opportunity to pivot and provide offers equipment refurbishment, but the a new service.

With his wife and company co-owner Counts’ eight employees are preparing Pamela Counts, he began offering to meet demand – news of saving money refurbished fire equipment in March. It was can spread like wildfire. –mjm Fire protection supplier Longhorn Fire a smart choice at the right time: the full- service extinguisher company could and Safety is in Austin. –mjm refurbish equipment on-site, the work would occupy his employees, it’s eco-friendly, customers receive value and Longhorn would be one of the few local companies doing it.

“Many companies don’t want to offer this service,” he says. “Refurbishing fire equipment is not unheard of, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone in Austin who does it besides us. The reason we didn’t do it initially was because it entails many man hours to service them. Someone might need 100 refurbished extinguishers, and I have to service them. It’s not as simple as buying them from a vendor to resell them. However, I save the money that I would spend with a vendor and I move that into man hours. It costs me time, but it makes sense because it keeps my employees busy. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Customers buying refurbished enjoy a 25% savings versus buying new. Every refurbished extinguisher at Longhorn carries Got refurb? If not, Gabriela “Gaby” Vasquez is one of a full guarantee, and the selection Longhorn Fire and Safety’s employees who is always of stock is impressive. ready to help customers visiting the Austin shop.

CG is spreading

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CG Environmental recently acquired Mid-America Environmental Solutions and Mid-America Waste Solutions

nvironmental services firm CG Environmental (aka “Cleaning Guys”) acquired Mid-America Environmental Solutions and Mid-America Waste Solutions.

In terms of geography and services, the companies evenly match and complement each other. Fort Worth-headquartered CG Environmental is a full-service environmental company headquartered with locations in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, including Austin, and Denver, CO. CG Environmental’s main services include emergency response, hazardous waste disposal, industrial and biohazard (including COVID-19) cleaning, vacuum truck services, roll-off services, confined space operations and petroleum services. Besides its fame as the company that cleaned up Ebola in 2014, CG Environmental is also known for its patented and proprietary “Annihilator” trucks and handheld units. Use of these can get roads and facilities open 15 times faster than with the traditional method of using oil absorbent and can clean 800sf per

minute on a hard surface.

Headquartered in Carthage, MO, MidAmerica is an environmental services company with an additional location in Broken Arrow, OK. Mid-America offers waste transportation and disposal, industrial cleaning, environmental assessments, asbestos abatement, soil and ground water remediation and emergency response. Founded in 1990, the company performs its services through the midwestern United States. Owners Dominic and Melissa Whitley remain as executives in the compared company and will be ongoing shareholders of CG Environmental.

McCallum who says he feels “very blessed and proud” of the acquisition, believes CG can bring some of Mid-America’s services to Texas and Colorado customers, while CG’s strengths such as emergency response and bio-hazard cleaning, can be shared with the Midwest.

CG Environmental offers environmental services through Austin, additional Texas cities and Denver, CO locations. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

Attention, TDS shoppers

Improving customer service

fter a nationwide search, HOLT CAT® has selected Joyce Pingel as the company’s Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Head of Digital. Chosen from dozens of candidates to advance HOLT’s tradition of innovation, an important part of one of the company’s core values of continually getting better, Pingel will be responsible for leading, managing and directing IT and digital functions while providing strategic direction for the information technologies and communication systems at HOLT. Joining HOLT from Des Moines, IA, Pingel spent the past eight years as CIO at Kum & Go / Krause Group HOLT CAT® Chief Information Officer and Head driving the digital strategy and techof Digital, Joyce Pingel nology transformation for 5,000 employees in 400 stores across 11 states. Prior “I am excited to welcome Joyce to to Kum & Go / Krause Group, she gained San Antonio and the HOLT family,” said over 20 years of domestic and internation- Corinna Holt Richter, president and al experience leading technology teams chief administrative officer at HOLT CAT. and innovation in the financial services in- “Under her leadership we will continue dustry at Principal Financial Group and improving customer solutions through Aviva Investors. the use of technology. Her extensive Pingel believes in supporting the knowledge and experience analyzing communities where she lives and works, and implementing innovative IT and digiwhich is In line with HOLT’s Values-Based tal solutions will no doubt transform how Leadership. Through her work as an ap- we do business.” pointed member of the Iowa Governor’s Pingel and her husband Brad have STEM Advisory Council, she helped in- four children and will be looking for a vigorate the PreK-12 talent pipeline to- home in the San Antonio area over the ward STEM careers and advocated for in- upcoming month. creasing diversity and inclusion in the HOLT CAT® sells, rents and services Cattechnology industry, especially for wom- erpillar® machines, engines, generator sets en. She served as a United Way of Central and trucks. -cmw Iowa executive board member for three terms and supported quality learning as a member of Women United and the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Northern Iowa.

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exas Disposal Systems (TDS) doesn’t just dispose of construction roll off. It has an eco-friendly side hustle as “Austin’s best unadvertised garage sale,” according to The Austin Chronicle.

As part of the company’s commitment to divert waste from the landfill, TDS reclaims and repurposes materials dropped off at the Citizens Convenience Center (CCC), Southeast Travis County’s public disposal area. When citizens drop off their items at the location, which is situated away from the landfill’s working face, TDS sorts the items into the landfill, recycling center or its Resale Center.

What some people consider trash when moving or cleaning out storage units, TDS sees as treasure. Furniture, tools, appliances, books, electronics, clothes, toys and knickknacks can all be found for a great price. The company takes care not to put just any old thing in its Resale Center. Items are often tested before being put out for sale, and the public can also test items before purchase TDS’ limited testing areas.

The best part is that bargain hunters don’t have to wait until the weekend to get their garage sale on; the Resale Center operates Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm.

Located in Creedmoor, Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) is an environmentally friendly waste management, landfill, recycling, and composting service for Central Texas. –mjm Interested in dropping off your trash … um, treasures?

• After arriving at 3016 FM1327 in Creedmore, follow the paved roads to the CCC, where staff will help unload your vehicle.

• Cover any trucks or trailers per local regulations before entering in TDS facilities. Loads that are unsecured or inadequately secured may be assessed a fine.

• Tarps, nets and blankets can all be used to tie down materials.

Use bungee cords, ratchet ties, heavy-duty zip ties, s-hook systems, chains, threaded cords or rope.

The Resource Guide Service Providers

Truck & Equip Dealers

Subcontractors

Suppliers

List your Company for Reference For Info, Contact: Buddy Doebbler Buddy@ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800

Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

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What is “Surface Water” and Why Does it Matter?

The Differences between Bonding and Insurance

J. Andrew Scott Attorney Cantey Hangar, LLP Austin/Fort Worth, TX

Eric Schmalz, Principal Schmalz & Associates Surety Bonding Liberty Hill, TX

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s a surety bond agent, I find that many people confuse surety bonds with insurance. I thought it would be good to discuss the important distinctions between the two products.

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ave you ever considered at what point should rainwater be characterized as surface water or ground water or some other type of water? Probably not.

You may be surprised to learn that the answer is not so clear-cut.

Let’s say that you own a vacant parcel of land. Your neighbor also owns a vacant parcel of land. One day, your neighbor decides to build a building on their land. When it rains, the rain water naturally flows to a retention pond behind your land and your neighbor’s building.

Years later, you build a building on your land. Your engineer recommends that your building sit at a higher elevation than your neighbor’s building. To accommodate for rainfall, you decide to build a channel to funnel the rainwater coming off of your building to the retention pond behind your property.

One day, a massive 100-year rain event (10 inches of rainfall over 24 hours) sweeps through your neighborhood.

Your well-designed channel cannot direct all of the water coming off your building. So some of the rainwater enters into your neighbor’s building, thereby causing damage.

The above scenario probably opens the door to a host of causes of action, including negligence, temporary or permanent nuisance, and maybe gross negligence. But there also exists a lesser known cause of action found at Section 11.086 of the Texas Water Code.

Under Section 11.086, “no person may divert or impound the natural flow of surface waters in this state, or permit a diversion of impounding by him to continue, in a manner that damages the property of another by the overflow of the water diverted or impounded.” Put differently, to prevail on a Section 11.086 claim, a plaintiff would need to prove that: (1) there was a diversion or impoundment of surface water; which (2) causes; (3) damage to the property of the plaintiff landowner.

This seems pretty straightforward, right? Some neighboring property owner moved or stored surface water in such a way that caused damage to another property owner. Unfortunately, it is not so straightforward, and all of the uncertainty rests on two words: surface water.

For starters, surface water is not defined by the Water Code, which means practitioners must resort to the Texas courts’ interpretation and judicial definition of surface water. And this is where it gets complicated.

Many Texas courts have focused their attention on whether surface water has been controlled by artificial means or “touched by the hands of man.” In a rather instructive 1987 case, the Austin Court of Appeals observed that water is no longer surface water when it has been altered by the hands of man so that it flows in greater quantities or in a directed manner. Other courts have held that a claim under the Water Code is inapplicable once water is controlled and directed by a watercourse, regardless of whether the watercourse is naturally occurring (e.g., a natural gully) or man-made (e.g., ditches and culverts).

Thus, the majority rule may be best summarized as: rainfall that diffuses across the ground is diffused surface water and remains so until the water is controlled and directed by such devices as swales, channels, ditches, tanks, ponds, or pipes.

If the water is not surface water, a plaintiff cannot recover under Section 11.086 (although they might prevail on another cause of action).

Meanwhile, other Texas courts have questioned or refused the “touched by the hands of man” exception. Namely, a Texas Supreme Court opinion from nearly 100 years ago recognized that a neighboring property owner of a higher elevation may be liable for diverting water onto a lower property if the upper landowner has altered the natural flow of surface water. Similarly, some academics have criticized the judicial definition of surface water.

Why does this matter?

A plaintiff suing under Section 11.086 of the Water Code is suing under a theory of strict liability. This means that a person will be found liable for damages regardless of whether the person found strictly liable acted with fault or negligence.

Therefore, if your property is damaged by a neighboring property owner’s diversion of water, you may be able to sue your neighbor under a theory of strict liability—which means you don’t have to prove your neighbor acted with fault or negligence. Conversely, if you build a swale, channel, culvert or some other drainage device, and that device directs rainfall towards your neighbor, you should be prepared to defend a claim in which the injured party does not have to prove that you acted with fault or negligence.

• As a risk product business that responds to “claims”, the surety bond industry needs a pool of capital to operate and pay losses. This model lent itself to sureties becoming divisions of insurance companies. In many ways, that is where the similarities of bonding and insurance end. Surety is better described as a “credit” financial product with underwriting more akin to banking.

• The insurance industry compiles actuarial data on the frequency and severity of losses that occur in an insurance product. Armed with this data they set the premium rates on a product to cover those anticipated losses. With surety bonding there is an underwriting goal of zero losses. The premium charged is best described as an underwriting fee. Using the example of a construction project, the surety is pre-qualifying the contractor to ensure the project will be delivered as specified by the contract with no performance issues and all labor and material suppliers getting paid. The surety company is not underwriting or pricing the bond expecting a loss.

• An insurance contract is a twoparty agreement between the insured and the insurer, often with the insured as the beneficiary of the policy. Whereas a surety bond is a three-party agreement including the Surety, Principal (contractor), and Obligee (owner). The Obligee is the primary beneficiary of the bond rather than the contractor.

• Sticking with the construction industry as our example, a contractor buys insurance primarily to protect themselves against financial loss – the goal is to transfer risk from themselves to an insurance company. With a bond, it is the owner or entity the for which the contractor is performing work who requires and benefits from the bond protecting their project.

• As insurers expect losses on their policies and recoup much of that loss through the proper premium pricing, they also ‘subrogate’ or turn to the person or entity found at fault for the loss for financial responsibility. With a

bond, based on the premise of underwriting to a zero loss, the surety and principal sign an “indemnity agreement” or promise from the principal to the surety to make them “whole” financially if they sustain a loss.

• Insurance policies, such as general liability, are typically renewed annually and offer coverage across a contractor’s scope of operations. A Performance & Payment bond is also referred to as a “contract bond” as it directly guarantees the obligations of a specific underlying contract. The bond is put in place when the contract is signed and is closed when the obligations under that contract have been met. So, a bond follows the life of the contract and construction project and does not renew annually like an insurance policy.

• With insurance, even if you are deemed a high-risk account or in a highrisk class of business, there are usually options in the marketplace to obtain a policy. But you may have to pay more premium for the policy. This is where the phrase “there are no bad risks, just bad pricing” comes from. With surety bonding, we have options in the market to establish bonding for a contractor with higher risk attributes. Such as lack of financial resources, credit problems, or recent track record of losing money.

That said, there is a limit to what is available and there is time when you just might not be bondable. In these instances, I would recommend working with your surety bond agent. A professional surety bond agent can help establish a plan and goals around what a surety underwriter wants to see and take those steps to becoming an acceptable risk and bonded.

Schmalz & Associates is an agency exclusively supporting contractor’s bonding needs. Eric Schmalz was an underwriter and manager for over 15 years working for Top 10 surety companies and now helps his contractor clients establish and maximize their bonding. Please call 512-6406444, email eric@schmalzsurety.com or visit the website at www.schmalzsurety. com

Cherry jubilee

Andrew Scott is a construction lawyer with the law firm of Cantey Hanger, LLP. He may be reached at (817) 877-2802 or by email at ascott@canteyhanger.com.

In July, Cherry Coatings’ Rafael Chacon was presented with the company’s Safety Award. The Austin division recognizes and awards an employee every month for safety incentives; Chacon earned this honor for his safety practices observed at the Austin FC Soccer Stadium. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

A Unique Disadvantage for the Design-Build Process

OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard

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

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

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esign-build as a project delivery method has a number of advantages. It offers a single source of accountability for the owner, enhanced communication among project participants as they work together actively and collaboratively, and faster project completion times. While there are disadvantages with the designbuild approach, Texas law has evolved in such a way that this particular project delivery method now suffers from a unique disadvantage that should be considered by owners and contractors/design-builders and their subcontractors.

In Texas, for years “the plaintiff” has been required to obtain a certificate of merit—a pre-suit affidavit signed by an appropriately qualified person—in order to pursue a claim arising out of the provision of professional services against an architect, a professional engineer, a professional land surveyor, a landscape architect, or their respective firms. In 2014, the Texas Supreme Court held that a third-party plaintiff—a party generally seeking to pass derivative liability to others (known as third-party defendants) by mechanisms such an indemnity and contribution—need not obtain a certificate of merit as it is not “the plaintiff” and, in any event, requiring such would be illogical. Specifically, in Jaster v. Comet II Construction Inc., the Texas Supreme Court was faced with determining whether a certificate of merit was required of a third-party claimant when asserting claims against an engineer. One argument advanced by the engineer was that “construing section 150.002 [of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code] to allow a party to bring third-party claims or cross-claims without filing a certificate of merit when a certificate of merit would be required if the same party filed the same claim as a separate suit achieves ‘an absurd result’ and ‘thwarts’ the purpose of the statute,” leading to the conclusion that the plain meaning of the statute should not be enforced. In holding that a certificate of merit was not required in the context of a thirdparty claim, the Texas Supreme Court noted as follows: [M]any defendants … deny the existence of any design defect, but alternatively assert third-party claims against a design professional, seeking contribution and indemnity in the event that the plaintiff prevails. It would be far more “odd” to require such defendants to file an expert’s certificate supporting the merits of the plaintiff’s claim, thus requiring the defendants to abandon their denial of the merits.

With the above as the controlling law, where an owner sued a design-builder and the design-builder sought to join its subcontracted design professional (whether an architect, an engineer, or otherwise), the design-builder would not have to obtain a certificate of merit.

Stated differently, the design-builder would not have to obtain an affidavit that the design-builder, through its subcontracted design professional, did something wrong.

However, during the past legislative session, Senate Bill 1928 by the Texas Legis-

lature was signed into law by the Governor, which fundamentally changes the process. Effective September 1, 2019, in SB 1928, references to “the plaintiff” were replaced with “Claimant,” and “Claimant” became a defined term: “‘Claimant’ means a party, including a plaintiff or third-party plaintiff, seeking recovery for damages, contribution, or indemnification.” Thus, with SB 1928 as the controlling law, where an owner sues a designbuilder and the design-builder seeks to join its subcontracted design professional, the design-builder will have to obtain a certificate of merit. In essence, the design-builder will now have to obtain an affidavit that the design-builder, through its subcontracted design professional, did something improperly.

This is the very “odd” requirement that the Texas Supreme Court sought to avoid in Jaster v. Comet II Construction Inc. It will impact litigation strategy and, by extension, every party downstream from the design-builder. Now, if an owner contends that a design-builder did something wrong that implicates the design, the design-builder will be placed in the uncomfortable position of either: (1) defending against such a claim without the design professional as a party or (2) having to obtain an affidavit that the design professional (and the designbuilder by extension) did something wrong in order to join the design professional. The first scenario potentially leaves out a party who is appropriately joined in the case, and may inhibit settlement. The design-builder and its subcontractor may understandably be reluctant to work towards resolving an issue that they believe is at least partially caused by design-related matters in the absence of the architect or engineer.

The second scenario results in the design-builder effectively aiding the owner in proving the owner’s claims against the design-builder.

he Respiratory Protection standard requires employers to establish and maintain a respiratory protection program to protect their respirator-wearing employees.

A respiratory protection program is a cohesive collection of written worksitespecific procedures and policies that, address all respiratory protection elements required by the OSHA law. For example, a respiratory protection program must contain specific procedures describing how respirators will be selected, fitted, used, maintained and inspected in a particular workplace. When respirators are used during operations where exposures exceed OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL), use of properly functioning respirators is essential to ensure that employees are not placed at significant risk of material impairment of health. Respiratory protection is necessary in situations where engineering and administrative controls are insufficient to reduce airborne hazards, in emergencies, in situations in which engineering and other controls are being installed or maintained, in oxygen deficient atmospheres, or for internal structural firefighting.

The OSHA Respiratory Protection law establishes the minimum elements of a comprehensive program that are necessary to ensure effective performance of a respirator. Generally, you are required to establish a respiratory protection program whenever you or OSHA requires your employees to wear respirators.

For example, you may need to establish a respiratory protection program: • If your employees work in situations where the level of oxygen is insufficient or potentially insufficient. • If your employees are potentially exposed to harmful levels of hazardous gases or vapors.

• If your employees are exposed to other

potential respiratory hazards, such as dust, airborne biological hazards, mists, fumes, sprays, and other airborne particles.

You need to supply employees with respirators when all preferred methods of protecting them from breathing contaminated air have been determined to be insufficient to reduce the contamination to nonhazardous levels. You must also consider the potential for emergencies, that is, for reasonably foreseeable emergencies, when evaluating the respiratory hazards in the workplace. These preferred methods include: • Engineering controls, such as: local or general dilution ventilation, change of the work process, isolation or enclosure, or substitution, and • Administrative controls, such as: employee rotation, or scheduling major maintenance for weekends or times when few employees are present.

The type of respirator provided to workers depends on the air contaminant to which they are exposed and the level of exposure. OSHA assigns protection factors to classes of respirators. A half mask respirator has an assigned protection factor of 10. This means that the respirator will protect up to ten times the permissible exposure limit for the air contaminant you are trying to protect against. Other types of respirators have higher or lower assigned protection factors. A respirator is selected based on the level of protection required for the hazard. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

Who is that masked man?

The appropriate approach in one matter may very well be inappropriate for another. And such decisions must be made at the outset of the case to ensure that parties are timely joined. Owners and contractors/design-builders and their subcontractors should tread carefully in these uncharted waters, balancing the advantages of the design-build process with the disadvantages inherent in evolution of Texas law on the subject.

R. Carson Fisk is board certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and may be reached at cfisk@andrewsmyers.com.

PWI Construction’s James Reigle strikes a pose in front of PWI Construction’s San Marcos office. The company’s Director of Client Experience was in to win the “Maskie Challenge” (mask + selfie) in which employees were asked to upload a photo of themselves with their mask to PWI’s internal social network, Yammer. They were then entered to win one of three PWI-branded YETIs. –mjm

www.constructionnews.net

publishing the industry’s news

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H San Antonio H Austin

Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

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up, you can find these fish working their way back to deeper and cooler water. After several hours, I will move to 4 to 5 ft. of water and concentrate over deep grass beds using live croakers and piggy perch.

I will look for moving currents around spoil islands with deep water access during the hottest parts of the day. The key is staying on the move and keeping and eye out for tell-tale signs of feed fish, such as surface bait activity and diving pelicans and gulls.

Extreme Fishing In Summer Heat

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by:

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xtreme conditions are upon us as we prepare for the dog days of summer.

Nothing hits you harder than first thing in the morning when you swing the door open and feel a combination of 80-degree morning temperaturea mixed with 100 percent humidity. It takes the air right of you and questions your judgement on whether those fish are worth the endurance it’s going to take to catch them. When fishing this time of the year, an extra early start will pay off especially if you’re not conditioned to the summer heat.

Before you push off from the dock, it’s important you have a plan or idea on what you’re going to have to do to catch a box of fish. Most importantly, do you have all the things loaded on the boat to accomplish your task at hand. One of the first things I make sure to have is plenty of water and other drinks on ice to stay

Mike Kaiman, San Antonio brought this 23-in. trout to the boat on a recent trip with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Trout limits have been the norm throughout the first half of the year.

hydrated throughout the day. I start off that day with a Yeti cup full of ice water before I leave the house. Throughout the day I probably drink 3-4 large glasses of water. Sometimes I even take a couple of electrolyte drinks such as Pedialyte to provide key nutrients to get me threw the hotter days.

Now that you’re prepared for a hot day on the water, it’s time to locate some fish. I really like to get started early in the morning and work shallow grass and sand flays at first light. Trout will push up shallow late in the evenings looking for shrimp, perch and small mullet to feed on throughout the night. As the sun comes

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Waypoint Marine, Shoalwater Boats, 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.

Michael Traugott, San Antonio pictured with his grandson and a keeper trout for the box while fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors.

Another key to catching fish is to keep in mind the feeding times using a solar/lunar table or app. Solar/lunar table are tables that fishermen and hunters use to determine the best days of the month and times of the day for catching fish and hunting game. Knowing the time of the tides, sunrise, and sunset help fishermen predict when fish are going to bite. I make it a habit to be fishing during these peak times to gain the best advantage possible for catching fish. Google these tables or download an app showing you the best days and times for hunting and fishing. I assure they are right most of the time.

I know there are lots of rumors about Covid-19 virus scaring people, making them alter the daily lives. I assure you that there is no safer place to be than on a boat breathing fresh while catching fish.

If you feel like getting out on the water for a day of fun, give me a shout. I promise you won’t be forced to wear a mask!!

Here are some dates open in the next few months. August 14,19,21,28,31 and Sept. 1,2,3,21,23 and Oct. 2,12,19,26,28. Hunting dates available for whitetail deer also. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip give Capt.

Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or email him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@ gmail.com. Follow me of Facebook and Instagram at Steve Schultz Outdoors.

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

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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t’s hot enough for me. Okay, it’s not fun anymore. I’m ready for October please!

Hot Enough for You?!?

We can also just do jug line trips for bluecats. That way we can go up the lake where the waterfalls and scenery are amazing and have a different kind of fishing trip altogether. We notice that kids really seem to like the suspense of the jug lines, and they can yield a nice mess of catfish too.

That is exactly what our stripers and hybrids on Lake Buchanan are saying too. They have already headed to cooler, deeper water and hung out the “Do Not Disturb” sign. That makes fishing pretty tough on anglers who just want to invite them out to dinner.

This old heat will pass before long and we can all feel a little more lively.

Meanwhile, I think I heard someone say “ice cream!” Catch ya later!

Stripers are not native to Texas waters. They come from the Atlantic coastline of North America from the St. Lawrence River to the Gulf of Mexico as far as Louisiana. Except for the spawning run, any place you find them living in freshwater, they have been stocked there or caught a ride downstream from a stocked water body. In some instances they can even spawn successfully without salt water. In Texas, Lake Texoma is the only place we get a spawn. All the rest of the stripers are stocked yearly.

As long as the water temperature is 80 degrees or less (and the cooler the better), stripers thrive. The problem is that our Texas summers will raise our lake temps up through the eighties and into the low nineties before summer finally passes. Stripers tend to cope by getting as far from the hot sun and wind as possible, slipping into deeper water to try and cool off. That wouldn’t be so much of a problem, except that real deep water that time of year just doesn’t have a lot of oxygen to keep live bait alive or allow stripers to be mobile enough to grab passing bait. Stripers can only seek cooler water and wait until fall temperatures return the water temperature to a more habitable range. The best part of this whole cycle is how hungry they are when fall gets here. When they don’t really feed for several weeks, everything looks tasty! That makes for the great fishing and better chances of top water fish that any fisherman lives for.

So, what to do for now… Our strategy is a mixed up one. We go at it like a good waiter with a picky diner at his table. We may offer up live bait. If that isn’t to their liking, how about a nice sparkly umbrella rig. No? How about we just down rig and try to find a pocket of cooler water that might have a hungry customer in it. All the while, if the customer onboard is agreeable, we might be dropping a series of jug lines for catfish that we can pick up on the way home. Most of the time we can find something that’ll take a bait; it just takes a lot more tackle and effort this time of year!

Lusk bluecat at Falls

Here, kitty. Nice kitty

Don’t let the names “Muffin” and “Mittens” fool you. Just fooling; Lonestar Locating’s Charles Hamm loves his two pet “kitties,” and thinks you would too. Just no sudden movements, okay? –mjm

Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

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Gulf getaway

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lectrical engineering contracting services company BELCO (Blanco Electric Ltd. Co.) hosted two forget-all-your-cares fishing trips in June for construction industry project managers, property managers, superintendents, owners, and executive leaders.

Action Charter captain Matt Etie and his crew took the guests, which included Burton Construction, Alston Construction, Structura, SDI Realty, The Reynolds Company, Hilcorp Ventures and Office Cleaning Houston, on a four-to five-hour fishing excursion into the Gulf of Mexico. Catches included red snapper over

15lbs. kingfish, shark, mahi-mahi and crevalle jack.

The purpose of the trip, says BELCO owner Marco Blanco, was “to create a positive, relaxed environment and break from the hard work and chaotic circumstances that everyone is dealing with in different ways. The point was to just have fun and have social real time with the people we support and work with.” –mjm

Whippet good!

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fter Conquest Industries’ Harley Stewart and his wife Tara settled into the Austin area this year, they realized there was a dog-sized hole in their lives waiting to be filled. Enter “Gus,” a Whippet named after the Lonesome Dove character Augustus.

“This is our first Whippet so we are new to the breed,” Stewart says. “They are considered a sight-hound, smaller than a greyhound (35-40lbs). An extremely affectionate and intelligent dog, although they are very active, and they enjoy their lounging/nap time.”

At four months old, Gus is living up to the Whippet reputation and is all puppy, but fortunately only indulges his chewing on toys. Naps, play, and jots outside break up his chewing episodes, and he has already learned to sit on command.” –mjm Tara and Harley Stewart with “Gus.” ➤

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

Look and listen

Mallowing out

Energy Logix Partner and CEO Jeff McCombs decided s’more quality time with family and friends was needed, so he grabbed a big bag of Kraft JetPuffed and headed to San Marcos June 26-29. With his wife, two sons, and longtime best pals (another married couple with two sons), McCombs played cards and baseball, swam, watched deer and – of course, made good use of the marshmallows. –mjm

Growing into his role Jonathan-Rene, son of Austin Star Services’ Jon Esquivel and Maria Rebollar, has grown so much since the first photo was taken shortly after his birth three months ago. Judging from the second picture (and the HVAC Tactical hat he’s wearing), it looks like he is also growing into his role as the next Home Performance Specialist! –mjm

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Feeling bingey? Check out construction-themed entertainment from Austinites, like RDO Equipment’s YouTube series “The Track.”

et’s face facts: With COVID-19 increasing your indoor time, you’re going to reach the end of your Netflix programming queue and grow bored with your Spotify playlist. Fortunately, Austinarea construction companies are producing their own creative content.

National design and professional services firm WGI, which has four Texas offices including Austin, proudly presents “WGI Podcast.” The company hails the podcast as “celebrating the people, the projects, and the culture of WGI. Each episode, we sit down with our team members to see what they do on a daily basis to chase their passions and help our clients become more successful.”

Flintco just released the first episode of its docuseries “Beyond the Fence” chronicling the construction of Austin’s 44 East Avenue tower. Taking viewers from the project’s groundbreaking to completion, the docuseries reveals the personal stories detailing the development, marketing, design and construction of the 49-story tower along Lady Bird Lake.

Many in the construction industry know about Matt Risinger, CEO and Chief Builder at Austin-based Risinger & Co. and Owner of Risinger Homes. His unique claim to fame is his role as host of “Build Show” on YouTube. The channel, which

has nearly 700,000 subscribers, is a big proponent of building science. Risinger also discusses topics including construction in different parts of the country and trends.

RDO Equipment launched their video series “The Track” on YouTube. Led by company Vice President and equipment expert Dennis Howard, “The Track” focuses on the latest info about what used equipment is for sale, buying tips, and answers to help viewers locate, buy and maintain a used equipment fleet.

United Rentals Trench Safety introduced its new podcast “Behind the Standards with United Rentals” last month.

Created by United Rentals’s Trench Safety Training Department, the podcast discusses topics concerning trench, excavation, confined space and general jobsite safety.

United Rentals plans to release a new podcast every two weeks.

Construction payment solutions company Billd helps listeners through challenges including construction loans, commercial contracts and COVID with its “Built with Billd” podcast. Podcasts, which date back to March, are timely and updated frequently.

So, sit back, grab a snack, and start bingeing on educational construction industry entertainment! –mjm

Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

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Association Calendar

What would be your dream vacation?

I have had a fascination with what is known as pre-history since I was a little boy. It all started with reading the Bible, the first six chapters, in Genesis, before the record of the flood; recorded history started about 6000 years ago, along about 4,000 BC and yet what was going on before then? So, my dream vacation – and one I’ll soon be taking – is traveling to ancient archaeological sites around the world and see some places I’ve wanted to see all of my life. I’ve already traveled to Mexico and have seen the ruins down there. I’m going to Machu Piccu.

Charles Hamm, Lonestar Locating My dream vacations would be the ones my wife and I just canceled. Right now, it would be to fly to Las Vegas and see our son and two grandkids. We just canceled our trip to go down to Galveston to be with one of our sons who lives in Phoenix. Cancelling the trip to see the grandkids really hurt us because we really miss them.

Jimmy R Sanchez, Jimmy R Sanchez LLC My dream vacation would be to go to Spain, Barcelona specifically. I am a sports junkie. I want to see [Argentine footballer] Lionel Messi play in his own environment. I just want to travel Spain, see Madrid and go over to England. The two countries where I speak the language is where I want to go.

Jorge Reyes-Bultron, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing I actually just took one not too long ago; it was awesome. I went to Colorado. I stayed west of the mountains and came down to Santa Fe. It was so nice.

Matthew Counts, Longhorn Fire and Safety The Seychelle Islands. The Seychelles are off the east coast of Africa towards Madagascar and it’s believed to be the original Garden of Eden. It has pink sand because all s

of the cliffs and shoals are pink granite. The water is a beautiful clear aqua blue. It has a tree there with fruit known as “the forbidden fruit” on it. It has the world’s largest population of giant land turtles. It’s always been on my bucket list, but I’ll probably never make it there because it’s mostly inhabited by pirates now.

Jon Standley, Motivado Group My dream vacation is to go to Africa. I’ve always been fascinated with that continent since I was a child and I have made it my mission at some point in my life to just explore the different regions, the history, the landscape, the culture. Everything about it fascinates me.

Justin Lambert, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing For my dream vacation, I would be able to go to Ireland for an extended period of time. In the last few years, my mom has become very interested in genealogy and has traced part of our family to Scotland, England and Ireland centuries ago, so it would be fun to go back and continue some of that research she’s done, see some of the castles and coastlines, and of course see some Irish pubs!

Crystal Smith, Associated Builders and Contractors My dream vacation to two places. I’d love to go to New Zealand, but unfortunately they’ve blocked out our borders so we’re not going there any time soon! I just want to explore, drive around and see all of the amazing things, and we have friends in New Zealand as well. The other is to go on safari in Africa. My brother-in-law and sister-in law just got married in November and went on safari for their honeymoon, and the pictures are just amazing!

Jolsna Thomas, Rosendin Electric

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ACEA

Greater Austin Contractors & Engineers Assn.

Aug. 7: Central Texas Infrastructure Design + Construction Symposium Virtual Event, 8:30am-4:30pm. $200 ACEA Member/Public Agency Employee, $425 Nonmember. Registration is available online at aceatx.com/events/2020-symposium.

For more info, go to www.aceatx.com or call 512-893-7067.

AGC

Associated General Contractors

Aug. 26: AGC Golf Tournament, Flintrock Falls Golf Course, 401 Jack Nicklaus Dr., 8am Registration & Networking, 9am Shotgun Start, $1000 Per Team w/Hole Sponsorship, $200 Per Individual Entry. For info, contact Toni Osberry at 512-442-7887 AIA

American Institute of Architects

Aug. 19-21: Design Excellence Virtual Conference. More information can be found on the TBAE website.

CLC

Construction Leadership Council

Aug. 16-18: Bay Fishing Tournament, Bay Flats, 391 Bayside Dr., Seadrift, TX. For more info, contact Toni Osberry at 512442-7887 CTSA

Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.

IEC

Independent Electrical Contractors

Aug 15: Apprentice Graduation, Red Oak Ballroom Norris Conference Center, 2525 W. Anderson Lane, Social Distancing – Limited Seating, Group 1: 10am-12Noon; Group 2: 2-4:30pm.

Aug. 17-31: Exam Preparation for Journeyman, CenTex IEC Chapter Offices, 8868 Research Blvd. #502, Monday & Thursday Nights, 5-9pm. TDLR Has delayed the adaption and examination of the 2020 NEC® until November 1, 2020.

Journeyman Exam Prep $400; Journeyman Exam Prep $350 (Members Only) Aug. 22: CETX-2020 CE for Texas License Renewal, Course 21659, CenTex IEC Chapter Offices, 8868 Research Blvd. #502, 8am12Noon. Pre-registration $30.00 each Virtual Online (Zoom), $40.00 each In-Person at the Chapter; Registration at the door (walk-ins). $50.00 per person For info, contact David Johnson at 512-832-1333 NARI

National Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Aug. 11: Austin NARI Focus Group, Virtual Meeting Small Group,9-11am.

Aug. 12: Hard Hats Build Strong Women, Virtual Webinar, Time TBA. Aug. 27: Austin NARI Focus Group, Virtual Meeting Small Group,9-11am. For more info, contact Kayvon Leath at 512-3752601 or email kayvon@austinnari.org SEAot

Aug. 11: Townhall via Zoom.

Aug. 21: CTSA Golf Tournament - CANCELLED. For more info, contact Wendy Lambert at 512-255-6373 or email wendy@ctsaonline.org

Aug. 27: Chapter Meeting. For more info, call 512-553-9634

DACA

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Assn.

Aug. 13: 3rd Annual Clay Shoot, Capitol City Clays, 8707 Lindell Ln. For more info, email eddie@dacaaustin.org

Submitted to Construction News

Structural Engineers Assn. of Texas

TSPE

Aug. 5: 5th Annual Professional Engineers Day. For more info, call Claire Black at 512-472-9286 or email Claire@tspe.org

Raising roofs and spirits

Round-Up

Architecture, interior design and planning firm STG Design in Austin announces the following: Lisa Biel, AIA LEED AP has been named as a Principal of the firm. Biel has 17 years of project experience in both Texas and Colorado.

Biel enjoys guiding a project from concept to completion and embraces new and challenging projects to customize each one to the clients’ needs.

As an environmental enthusiast, Biel is passionate about incorporating sustainability into every project. -mjm

Jeff Ervin, LEED AP is a new principal at STG Design. Ervin brings nearly 25 years of experience specializing in planning and conceptual design in Central Texas. Ervin has served as the lead designer for corporate office and mixeduse projects. His experience has given him a comprehensive understanding of the City of Austin and the unique needs of the end-user. -mjm The Austin Roofing and Construction team gives away new roofs each year to those in need.

Katie Walker, RID, has been promoted to Associate Principal.

Walker has over a decade of experience as project manager, with a background working in various project types including corporate, healthcare, hospitality, and residential. -mjm

Geraldine Poutrain, Controller, has been promoted to Associate Principal at the firm. Poutrain is a finance professional with both technical and financial experience supporting management and operations by producing tailored reports and analytical data. -mjm

Callie Freudenberg, RID has been promoted to Associate Principal. Freudenberg joined STG Design in 2012 with a primary focus on corporate interiors.

Freudenberg has extensive knowledge in all phases of design and collaborates with her team to create a completely new space for each client. -mjm

Michael Gilbert, RA has been promoted to Associate Principal.

Gilbert has more than 10 years of experience supporting projects from design through the construction phase with a particular focus on different types of residential housing, including student housing, multi-family and senior living. -mjm

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im and Christine Bowen are not just installing and repairing roofs in the Austin area, but are donating them for free to individuals in need.

It was an idea that developed over time as Tim and Christine started and developed their business, Austin Roofing and Construction. After the couple moved to Austin from Colorado with their two sons in 2012, they combined his construction background with her hospitality training and started their business in their South Austin bedroom the next year.

With their Austin team, the couple now offers residential and commercial roofing and exterior and interior remodels. The company has not only grown in its success with more than 2,000 projects completed in Central Texas, but Austin Roofing and Construction has grown in its philanthropic efforts as well.

Wanting to change the industry and be the kind of contractor they would want to hire, the Bowens focused on their company’s culture, and that expanded into community service. They became

passionate about helping Austin’s homeless population through Community First! Village, a local small-house community for the formerly homeless. Last year, they gave back over $35,000 by donating 11 metal roofs in the new construction phase, which, over the next few years, will build 300 more small houses for the formerly homeless.

Since 2015, the couple has given away free roofs to those in need. In June, the Bowens put in the call for nominations for this year’s roof recipient, which was announced July 15. All nominations were carefully considered, with Christine recommending some nominees to Rebuilding Together Austin, which remodels home interiors and exteriors for handicap accessibility.

“It makes us feel good to give back to the city that has given so much to us,” Tim says of his company’s commitment to philanthropy. “We love Austin.”

Austin Roofing and Construction offers commercial and residential roofing and metal roofs. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

continued from Page 1 — Flynn Construction

Industry FOLKS Jorge Reyes-Bultron

Safety Coordinator, Austin/San Antonio

Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing San Antonio, TX

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hen you do good work, people notice, and it was Jorge ReyesBultron’s good work that started him on a path toward a safety career.

Reyes-Bultron spent his early 20s installing safety guard rails on residen-tial job sites. When his boss left the busi-ness to work for a residential roofing company, he kept Reyes-Bultron’s stellar performance in mind, and eventually called to offer him a safety coordinator position in Orlando and Tampa.

Reyes-Bultron’s continued good work ultimately landed him a safety inspector job for a national roofing company after he moved to Texas in 2018.

Extensive travel for work didn’t leave much time to spend with his two daughters, however, and so he started seeking a position where he could work in a field he loved while staying close to home. Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing offered him both. Last March, he stepped into his new role as Safety Coordinator for Austin and San Antonio for the company.

“My current role entails going to different job sites to do safety inspections to make sure that our crews out there are working safely within the Chamberlin safety policies and procedures,” he says. “We’re out there as a representation of the company, making sure that we’re all working safe and that everybody gets a chance to go home every night. That’s always the goal of safety.”

Justin Lambert, Director of Safety and Risk Management, says the addition of Reyes-Bultron is an important component in the company’s safety department growth.

“Our safety department has definitely grown and has continued to grow in the last four years; we’ve actually doubled in size. Jorge is representative of that and is actually part of the expansion and growth in our Austin and San Antonio area,” Lambert says. “We also have a full-time safety professional in our San Antonio area, so our team is growing in that area. We had a single individual trying to manage the safety needs of Austin and San Antonio four years ago, and now we have three people that are working in those efforts.”

Five months in, Reyes-Bultron feels at home at Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing and that the job is the perfect fit for his personality.

“I enjoy this type of work, and specifically at Chamberlin as well, because every day is different,” Reyes-Bultron says. “I love being out in the field. I’ve tried being behind a desk or in an office setting and it just doesn’t fit my personality very well; I struggle being inside.

I love the fact that I’m outside and always talking to our crews, our superintendents, and Ed, the safety coordinator here in Austin. We try to make sure we provide the best coverage for Austin and San Antonio.”

When he’s not out in the field, he’s out on the trail, exploring the many hiking options Austin has to offer. He enjoys cheering on college team Florida State Seminoles and the Kansas City Chiefs and spending time with his daughters. -mjm

New location foundation

While Preston showed a natural knack for construction, “It took a while to buy in to working for my dad. I was always good at math and problem solving, and I got an engineering degree at the University of Colorado. When I got out of college, I worked for my dad for six months and had another job as a PM, and thought when I finish that job, I really need to go work somewhere else. I even interviewed with the man who is now my father-in-law!“ Preston chose to work for Scott Gilger, a former Flynn Construction employee who started his own company.

Together, they started a general contracting company as well as a masonry company. It was a great way to learn the trade, despite the frenetic pace of wearing so many hats.

Preston’s reason for returning to Flynn is a touching one: He beat Flynn on a job that the company had been chasing for a while and didn’t want to compete against his dad. When he returned in late 2016, Preston and the team learned how to self-preform masonry, which paid off on projects including an 80,000sf slab in

2017. The company has worked on a wide range of projects throughout Texas, including UT’s Outdoor Olympic pool and the Wesco office building In Austin.

Preston and Patrick, who is semiretired, look forward to celebrating the company’s 35th anniversary this year.

Preston is slowly assuming control of the company and has plans for its future.

“We want to grow and keep our quality reputation that we established.

It’s important to transition appropriately and make sure the next generation takes over and pays respect to my dad and everything that he’s built, while also growing into an ever-changing industry. I think every decade the market changes a lot. There is a lot more competition, but a lot more opportunity with Austin growing like it is. We’ve had our niches in the past that have been great for us and we want to stick there, but we also want to develop certain new markets that we know we can do great in.”

Flynn Construction in Austin offers preconstruction services and construction phase management. ­–mjm

continued from Page 1 — Ace Hardwood Flooring Inc. que Red or White Oak, reclaimed wood flooring, rift or quarter-sawn Oaks.

Engineered or solid, customers choose the wood, and the team handles the rest.

In 1985, a nurturing mix of craftmanship, integrity, value, and faith saw two new branches sprout from Ace Hardwood’s continual growth: its milling warehouse and, most prominently, The Mesquite Collection.

Located at 4238 Bee Caves Rd., Ace Hardwood describes itself as an AllAmerican company that prides itself on having hands-on and cohesive relationships with clients. The very same business ethics and values which have rooted the foundation of the company have also attracted skilled craftsman who have both found comfort and have remained happily under its shaded canopy for upwards of 30 years, with the oldest employee boasting 38 years!

To date, the company’s craftsmen in carpentry, flooring, and stair installation, and floor finishing continue to nourish business growth by providing and installing millions of square feet of

flooring around the world, including, but not limited to the private residences of both the President of Japan and the President of Mexico.

When not helping others bring their dream projects to fruition, Mark enjoys celebrating life to the fullest with his wife Terri and children, participating in church activities, and spending downtime on the lake. As Ace Hardwood Flooring celebrates its 44th year, Mark reflects on the secret to his company’s longevity and success.

“Being locally-owned and multigenerational has helped us develop deep and trusting relationships with our clients,” Mark says. “We have relationships that have spanned more than 20 years with a variety of clients and their word of mouth has helped our company flourish into the grand business we are today.”

Manufacturer, distributor, and installer Ace Hardwood Flooring Inc. Is located in West Lake Hills, Austin. The company’s inventory includes a large variety of wood flooring, including exotic woods, for commercial and residential use. -mjm

continued from Page 1 — Jimmy R Sanchez LLC

Braun & Butler Construction Inc., with the help of Wolff Concrete, is building a strong foundation for its new headquarters. Located in downtown Leander, the project for the new location, which broke ground in June, is slated for completion in early 2021. –mjm

weren’t in debt, and it was a good time to get into a good bullish market.”

Sanchez told his wife, Lucy Sanchez, that he was going to start a construction company, Jimmy R Sanchez LLC, and she was unconditionally supportive.

“I have never heard of anyone else who is able to mobilize people together and get things done quickly as Jimmy,” Boren says. “I always tease Jimmy that he couldn’t be the runt around the food bowl, because he’s always first there, he always sees it first and gets it done first! He’s really skilled at pulling people together, getting action done and doing it now.”

Sanchez wisely matched his company’s services with the labor force available.

“I can do ground up, but we’re focusing on roofing, painting, drywall, tape, texture – things where it is not hard to get people to work. I can do any project of any size anywhere in the United States because of my experience. I’ll build the

biggest building you’ve ever seen! But I do want to start small.

“In a dream world, for my company, I’d love to have a team of consultants and just do projects for big builders,” he adds.

“That’s what I want to do but I think, because of the market, providing a service is the way to make a living. What I want to get into right now is rehab work on multi-family, possibly buy some properties. There are several things that I’m looking to do.

The pandemic may not be slowing down, but with his new company underway, Sanchez isn’t either.

“I know that I do very well under chaos and hysteria.” Jimmy says with a laugh. “I enjoy going to bed every night knowing that I’m up to my ass in problems in construction! It’s an adventure and an endeavor and I look forward to whatever comes my way.”

Jimmy R Sanchez LLC is in Leander. –mjm

Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

Page 15

Industry FOLKS Russell W. Collins Technical Sales - Fiber Technologies

CHRYSO USA Round Rock TX

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onstruction industry jobs have taken Russell W. Collins all over Texas, and even a stint in Kansas City. Collins, who is “as Texan as a Texan can get,” got back to the Lone Star Stare where his roots were.

“My mother’s side of the family goes back to Republic of Texas days. My father’s side of the family was from East Texas and I think they only go back there to the late 1800s. I’m Texan enough! I was born in Houston, grew up in Garland and went to Texas A&M. I worked in San Antonio and Austin and in the early ‘90s, I took a job in Kansas City for a while and transferred back to Round Rock. We’ve been here through a few more changes, but still here.”

Concrete and concrete technology have been Russell’s entire career focus.

“I earned a BS in Chemistry. A cement company in San Antonio was hiring to train technical service representatives and they were only hiring civil engineering and chemical engineering majors. I’ve been in concrete additives of one sort or another since 1994 and I’ve been working for CHRYSO USA since 2014.

“I went to work for CHRYSO USA, first as a salesman in Austin and then later on as a specialist for their fiber additives and then other things for them as well. It’s been fun and it’s something I’m very familiar with. I enjoy the people that I meet. Over time, I’ve accumulated a bit of knowledge about the industry and have met fascinating people.”

Collins meets plenty of people in his new appointment as Precinct 463 Chair in Round Rock. Politics has been an interest of his since he was a member of the College Republicans at A&M in 1976.

Now that Collins is an empty nester, he

has more time to be involved.

“I’m interested in the direction the country is headed and would like to affect that. There was not a Precinct chair in Round Rock and they graciously went ahead and appointed me.”

His spare time is so full of fun that it’s almost like a third job.

“I enjoy fishing. I’m fortunate enough to have married Cathy, who enjoys fishing even more than I do! I got lucky; I got the trophy wife on the first shot and we’ve been married now since the second snowstorm of 1985. We have four children and three grandchildren now, with one on the way. We enjoy traveling. We enjoy hiking – but I don’t hike as spryly as I used to! – and I enjoy geocaching. Generally speaking, we enjoy the outdoors. My only vice is that I’m a book-a-holic. My favorite is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I enjoy a little history and biography, and in between I read a little paperback science fiction!”

The one grain of sand in his oyster is that his beloved Cathy is a Longhorn and he is an Aggie.

“We have a lot of fun with it. We have our diplomas on the wall in one room, and whomever won the football game that year, their diploma has precedence. Since my team hasn’t played them since 2011, I’ve put up with that for almost 10 years now!” he jokes.

Even with his team not playing or winning, Collins is a happy man.

“I’m fortunate; I have a lot of love in my life,” he says. –mjm

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Keeping Austin clean

obile toilet company Honey Bucket didn’t change its cleaning practices one iota in the face of COVID-19.

“We don’t have to,” Honey Bucket Texas Operations Co-manager Eric Giffin says with confidence. “We service these toilets the same way we did before COVID and after. It’s sanitized. We scrub the toilet inside and out, hand wipe down every surface a customer will touch, pump it, and refresh it with water and deodorizer.”

As a final touch, Honey Bucket provides the one thing Giffin says is not offered in other mobile toilets.

“We offer and give every single toilet hand sanitizer. We’ve done that for many years. People definitely appreciate that in these strange times. It is a standard feature in every Honey Bucket that we send out.”

Giffin says that since Honey Bucket came to Texas a year ago Texas, mobile toilet company Honey Bucket with locations servicing Temple to New to is keeping cities, including Austin, clean.

San Antonio, he has received

Honey Bucket is the country’s second positive feedback.

“We get comments all of the time largest mobile toilet provider, offering from project and safety managers that it portable restrooms, holding tanks, and is the cleanest portable toilet they’ve construction and event trailers. New seen. We take pride and ownership in drivers spend a week at HBU, or “Honey Bucket University,” in Washington trainthat. We love to hear that feedback.”

Giffin and co-manager Jamie Gun- ing, driving, servicing, learning about derson oversee the Texas locations, different toilets and cleaning.

“We want to be the best and we want including the Austin branch that employs nearly 50, who have graciously tutored to clean the toilet as the customer deserves,” Giffin says. “Our goal at the Giffin and Gunderson in “Texan”.

“We’ve grown very fast in Austin. We end of every day is to service every single own property in San Antonio, San Marcos toilet that was scheduled to be serviced. and in the Austin area, where we have If we don’t do that, we’re not doing our yards and storage facilities. We consider jobs.”

Honey Bucket has locations throughourselves as one location, but all of those out Texas, including Austin. -mjm locations operate as a team.”

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150-year-old Live Oak relocation to Waterloo Greenway

Waterloo Greenway, a 1.5-mile park system along Austin’s eastern edge, is being planned, designed and built in a series of milestones.

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aterloo Greenway, in partnership with the City of Austin Parks & Restoration and Watershed Protection Departments, is bringing a vibrant 1.5-mile park system to the area. Connecting visitors to nature and one another through community, culture and the arts, the space is being planned, designed, and built in a series of geographic milestones.

Phase 1 includes 11-acre Waterloo Park, which features a great lawn, the Moody amphitheater, and over a mile and a half of trails and garden and park spaces connected by Waller Creek. It is designed to maximize the existing heritage tree canopy by locating trails, playscapes, gardens and seating areas in and around beautiful shade trees. Once complete, the 35 acres of connected green space along downtown’s eastern edge from Lady Bird Lake to 15th St., will be home to an array of natural and cultural destinations.

A highlight of the project took place on June 13, when Waterloo Greenway relocated a nearly 150-year old Live Oak

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tree to its new home at Waterloo Park in downtown Austin. Although a significant move logistically, the tree didn’t travel far, as it came just a half-block from its

original location at the site of the Austin Symphony Orchestra offices at 1101 Red River Street. The Austin Symphony has been a partner and neighbor to Waterloo Greenway since the conservancy moved its headquarters to the historic Hardeman House at Symphony Square in 2018.

The tree’s relocation from the Austin Symphony offices adjacent to Waterloo Park is symbolic of the cultural and natural restoration occurring in the Red River Cultural District. The tree was moved to the southeast corner of Waterloo Park. It will serve as a focal gathering spot, featuring a circular bench along the trunk designed by landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and urban landscape architecture firm dwg.

This live oak is one of eight trees transplanted as part of the new park design, including four within the park: one from State property on North Congress Avenue, and two from the University of Texas, and now one from the Symphony. All are accli-

The Live Oak Tree was relocated to the southeast corner of Waterloo Park to serve as a focal gathering spot, accentuated with a circular bench along the trunk designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh and dwg.

mating very well to their new habitat.

This particular tree boasts an impressive root system, checking in at 27 ft. in diameter and, due to its slope, it is buried 7ft. deep on one side and 3ft deep on the opposite. It was noted by dwg. that this is quite substantial as live oak transplant root balls are typically only about 3 to 4ft. deep. The tree is 26in. in diameter and weighs in at approximately 300,000lbs (or 15 tons).

With such an immense tree, the moving process requires extra care and consideration. All costs associated with the transplanting process were donated to Waterloo Greenway by project partner Greystar, a local development and construction management firm.

A highlight of the project was the relocation of a 150-year old Live Oak tree from the Austin Symphony Orchestra offices to Waterloo Greenway a half-block away.

continued on Page 18

Texas Pike Chapter Fraternity House

behind the building. Using multiple ituated at 2400 Leon St., the construction framing materials makes Texas Pike Chapter Fraternity this a very challenging project,” he House has served as “home” says. for more than 1800 of Beta Mu’s “It was completed on time despite 3,000 initiates. With Beta Mu’s 100th setbacks and the ongoing global pananniversary this year, it was the demic of COVID. We brought on a perfect time to rebuild the facility.

COVID-19 Health Safety Officer to inThe Motivado Group Inc. team, terview onsite personnel and new inincluding Sr. Project Manager Jon coming subcontractors, take temperStandley, PM/Estimator Matthew atures twice a day and monitor for use Ostrowski and Superintendent of face masks and 6ft social distancPat Georgiou, was pleased to ing. We monitored for anyone who serve as preconstruction consultested positive and notified personnel tant and general contract builder who might have come in contact.” on the project.

Motivado and the client are very

The 27,105sf, three-level fraterpleased with the result. nity house boasts 23 bedrooms, “The Construction Manager regreeting lounge (San Antonio presenting the Beta Mu Building Room), dining hall, commercial Company (Texas Pike Fraternity) is an kitch-en, laundry, kitchen laundry, alumni member with 40 years of conchap-ter room, lounge, lecture struction experience. We are pleased hall, study hall, sport court, and to say this was a great experience. The two covered patios. Construction Texas Pike team was a great group of on the project included concrete very closely associated Pikes. They all block walls, stair shafts and elevaseemed to have some great knowtor shaft, waterproofed concrete ledge and experience related to walls below grade, fire rated wood framing with steel beam structural The 27,105sf Texas Pike Chapter Fraternity House was rebuilt, just in time for Beta Mu’s 100-year anniversary. construction. We also have excellent subcontractors. [It’s] great to be part support. Special materials were also used, such as insulated waterproof podium in west campus as well as the fact is, building can be done better, and of such a lively and monumental project for the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the concrete block, concrete waterproof first and maybe only project to be we aim to make that our practice.” admix with Syncoflex waterstop joints delivered weeks early and on budget Construction began July 2019 and Beta Mu Chapter as well as Wayne Lott, below grade, impervious concrete without a single GC-driven change was finished one year later. Standley owner of Lott Brothers and the fraternity sport-court and sidewalks, and an order,” Standley says. “Ruckus 2.0 was says that, although Texas Pike Chapter alum/owners rep.” engineered retaining wall system for completed last year and was the first Fraternity House was smaller than the Texas-based general contractor Motivado double podium with a transfer slab at company’s usual projects, it actually Group Inc. is in Austin. –mjm terraced landscaping.

Motivado Group has earned a the ground level. Late this year, we will presented more of a challenge.

“This project has multiple levels reputation as the trend setters in west begin Ruckus 3 and it will have a triple campus construction technology and podium with transfer slab at the ground through a 15ft slope, making the below Texas Pike Chapter Fraternity House level. Our innovations are not commonly grade level start one level grade below techniques.

Motivado Group Inc. “Ruckus lofts was the first double used but have so many benefits. The grade and exit at grade in the drive alley Austin, TX

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DPR’s Foundry/Austin office

The barn doors of the Innovation Room are by Austin-based wood artist Aaron Michalovic.

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ince 1994, DPR Construction has had a home in Austin, growing its scope to projects ranging from tenant improvements to landmark jobs that have dramatically altered the downtown skyline. Now, it has a new office that even better aligns DPR’s approach to business with the vibrant Austin community.

DPR’s Austin office is now in the up-and-coming East Side. The newly-built office building, located off Comal Street not far from the popular 6th Street district, is slated to be the first WELL-certified office in the city while also pursuing Zero Net Energy certification. It proudly reflects DPR’s self-perform work culture and values, as well as the personality of Austin.

In a city where environmental care is boasted just as much as stock market returns, being green is no longer good enough when it comes to standing out in this community. Thankfully, sustainability plays a very important role in the way DPR operated. From local community initiatives in the places where it builds to decreasing its own operational environmental footprint, sustainable building operations is embedded in DPR’s DNA. With the move to Austin’s East Side neighborhood, DPR is strategically positioning itself to be a groundbreaking presence in the area by showing what is possible for sustainability, while being closely integrated in a community with a firm grasp on that value.

Built by DPR employees and designed by Interior Architects, the building marks the fifth net-zero energy office built by the company across the country. Not only

The space is designed to make both employees and visitors feel welcome.

does this effort have a positive impact on the neighborhoods they reside in, but systems and sustainable measures tested in these “living labs” allow for replication and inspiration on other projects. It also allows the chance to implement more efficient technologies that may emerge in the future.

“The overall environment of the space is collaborative, inviting and open. The barn doors at the Innovation Room by Austin-based wood artist Aaron Michalovic are my personal favorite design element,” says Jason Carr, project superintendent. These doors add a striking visual that greets employees and visitors upon entry along with a floor-to-ceiling plant wall and a tribute to one of Austin’s most iconic and photographed

The kitchen is key to a WELL workplace, promoting healthy nutition, natural lighting, and recycling features.

features, an “I love to build so much” mural.

When the building is already targeting LEED Gold certification, DPR’s space within it is aiming higher. In collaboration with IA, DPR designed the office with feature that should enable Platinum certification, such as the use of locally sourced materials, a recycling program, energy efficient equipment that complies with Energy Star, and a long-term commitment to the space (a 10-year lease). Skylights bring daylight to interior and limited use of volatile organic compounds in interior paints, coatings, and flooring– avoiding the production of harmful and unpleasant aromas in the office – also help the space go above and beyond.

The office is designed to give employees and guests a space that will generally enhance, not compromise, their health and wellness. Key features include circadian lighting design, ergonomic workspaces, acoustic planning, healthy eating promotion, activity incentive programs for employees and visually-delighting art installations celebrating self-perform capabilities and the local community will enable this new space to achieve WELL Certification.

The project recently won accolades as the Best Green project Award of Merit, in the 2020 ENR Texas & Louisiana’s Best Projects competition. -mjm DPR’s Foundry/Austin office DPR Construction Austin, TX

Austin Bergstrom International Airport Parking Garage and Administration Building

Asakura Robinson designed a series of landscaped areas around the Austin Bergstrom International Airport Parking Garage and Administration Building.

Asakura Robinson’s landscaping design covered 210,000sf and incorporated native plantings with a wide range of seasonal color.

The landscaping design increases the visibility of the pedestrian path, while adding visual interest.

n airport is the gateway to any city: It’s the first – and last – thing many visitors see. The City of Austin, recognizing this, has recently given Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) a series of facelifts to promote Austin’s love of the outdoors and expand the customer experience at the airport.

The recently completed parking garage and administration building at ABIA is just one example of how the City of Austin is integrating art and outdoor recreation at the airport. In 2016, PGAL, Inc. was selected by the City of Austin for the design of this 2.1 millionsf, 5,800-car parking garage and 80,000sf office building. The project was designed to not only provide a consolidated location for additional office space and parking for staff and travelers, but also reflect the unique culture of Austin. To enhance the exterior of the parking garage and create an experience for passengers approaching the terminal, PGAL selected Asakura Robinson – a landscape design and planning firm – to design a series of landscape areas around the parking garage and administrative building located

at 3600 Presidential Blvd.

Asakura Robinson’s team included Principal in Charge Margaret Robinson, Project Manager Brendan Wittstruck, Principal in Charge (PGAL) Cris Ruebush, Project Manager Charles Meyer, and general contractor Austin Commercial. Asakura Robinson worked closely with PGAL, the owner, and professionals at Austin Commercial and Chasco Constructors on the complex construction of curving cast-in-place concrete seat walls that have proven to be popular spots for new arrivals taking a moment of rest from carrying their luggage. The organic shapes provided by the custom-formed seat walls frame a serpentine central path of integral color concrete that connects parking lots to the terminal entrance. For planting, Asakura Roninson incorporated native plantings with a wide range of seasonal color, working with Vaquero Commercial on planting and irrigation for the parking garage, administration building, north exit toll plaza, new employment center, and along the medians on the approach to the airport drop-off and pick-up.

Two Art in Public Places projects will be located with-

in the spine. The City of Austin’s Art in Public Places ­program offers local and national artists, both established and emerging, an opportunity to contribute to the ever-evolving cityscape – and what better way to welcome visitors to this eclectic, interesting capitol city than by showing off some of Austin’s artsy side!

The landscape design, along with these signature art pieces, increases the visibility of the pedestrian path and provides visual interest and opportunities to rest in the shade along the walk. As the terminal continues to expand in the future, the pedestrian spine will increase in importance as a prominent entry to the terminal. The airport’s terminals have grown quiet in recent months, but Austin will continue to grow, and Asakura Robinson is delighted to be a part of the evolution of the airport and in providing the highest quality of experience for all visitors to the airport. -mjm

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Austin Bergstrom International Airport Parking Garage and Administration Building Asakura Robinson Austin, TX

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

Texas project tops out

On July 16, JE Dunn Construction topped out the Texas Facilities Commission Capitol Complex Phase I, Package 3: Central Utility Plant (CUP). Construction on both Phase 1 and CUP started in 2018; Phase 1 is slated for completion May 2022 and CUP will be completed in April 2021.

Balfour Beatty serves as the 18,950sf project’s construction manager agent. –mjm

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New ABC president

ast month, Crystal Smith stepped into her new role as President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Central Texas, and she’s already a natural.

That’s not surprising, given her upbringing. Born in Dallas and raised in Mabank, TX, Smith grew up watching her dad’s construction career evolve from building homes to teaching building trades at her local high school. As a senior, Smith was elected as a national officer for career and technical student organization SkillsUSA, and traveled the country attending conferences and speaking on behalf of technical education and workforce development, including construction. It was during that time that she was introduced to ABC, a supporter of SkillsUSA at the national level. Through this Crystal Smith is the new president and CEO of Associated organization, she learned, to Builders and Contractors of Central Texas her surprise, that she could earn a degree in construction. She did just from construction technology to marketthat, attending the University of Oklahoma ing to being in the field actually building and earning a bachelor’s degree in Con- the building,” Smith says. “I enjoy representing the construction industry and adstruction Science.

After graduation, Smith returned to vocating, so I’m really looking forward to Dallas and worked in various positions in doing that outside of the courtroom in a real estate and construction, including really proactive way for our members. positions at Centex Construction (now “I envision my role as having the Balfour Beatty) and CF Jordan Construc- honor to represent our members in Cention (now Jordan Foster Construction). tral Texas, the 14 counties that our 155 Realizing that she preferred the legal risk members come from. I envision my role management aspect of the industry, she as actively helping my member comdecided attend Texas Wesleyan School of panies grow their businesses by helping Law; (now Texas A&M School of Law) in them develop their people, helping them win work, developing that work safely Fort Worth in 2009.

She continued to stay connected to and ethically and hopefully with a profit ABC, and when Tracey Littlefield decided so that the Central Texas area continues to leave her role as ABC President and to grow. I’m excited about their plans for CEO to move to Arizona, Smith was apprenticeship programs and our partexcited to apply for the position, and nership with OSHA. Our members are just doing some great things.” even more excited to accept it.

“The thing I love about construction – Smith lives in Austin with her husnot just working in construction, but also band and their 4-year old daughter, who is representing construction companies as an unsuccessfully campaigning to get a pet attorney – is that it is one of the industries, rabbit at the moment. When time allows, that regardless of education or back- they both enjoy long distance running, ground, there are tremendous opportuni- being outside, traveling, and visiting her ties for success in a wide variety of roles, family who live in Dallas. –mjm continued from Page 16— dwg.

DPR Construction continues project development at Waterloo Park with increased safety precautions due to COVID-19. Trees and other vegetation are arriving at the park, transforming a construction site into a soon-to-be green oasis. At completion, Waterloo Park will be home to nearly 500 trees – 25 conserved on site and 466 newly planted, as well as the handful carefully relocated from the surrounding area.

“With more than 200 workers on site, we are focused on bringing the project to completion while maintaining the health

and safety of everyone involved,” said DPR’s Nick Moulinet. “We are excited to start getting plantings in place so that everyone can see the original version come to life.”

Urban landscaping architecture firm dwg. in Austin specializes in commercial office, hospitality, master planning, mixed use, and rooftop and park projects. –mjm 150-year-old Live Oak relocation to Waterloo Greenway dwg.

Austin, TX

Austin Construction News • AUG 2020

Page 19

Austin has six COVID-19 clusters in construction industry, new safety measures now in place AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin can now take workplaces to court if they have multiple violations of the city’s emergency rules designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott issued those emergency orders Tuesday evening.

They allow the city to issue a fine of up to $2,000 or declare a workplace a “nuisance property” if there are violations.

Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said if there are multiple 311 calls about one place or person, the city will respond and first try to get the site or person to voluntarily make changes and follow the rules.

FULL COVERAGE: The latest coronavirus news in Austin, Texas, the United States and the world She said, “Initially our goal is to get voluntary compliance. That is our hope for everyone.”

Hayden continued, “In the event things are not implemented, we will move forward and provide a citation to them and take those individuals to court.”

How this affects construction sites According to Austin Public Health, from June 25 to July 9, there were six COVID-19 clusters within the construction industry — meaning six sites had three or more cases.

Tracking more COVID-19 cases among construction workers, their families Even before the newest orders went into effect this week, construction sites were already following safety measures.

“We’re all getting used to a new normal,” said Scott Turner, owner of Riverside Homes and a member of the Austin Infill Coalition.

Turner explained the new normal of wearing masks, staying six feet apart and staggering shifts actually started in April when the state allowed all types of construction to continue.

“Our company limits it to one trade at a time, so we don’t want the plumber working right next to the electrician,” he said. “And really, that’s two different companies, two different subcontractors, and we want to make sure our subcontractors stay safe and follow all the rules.”

lies are all interconnected with all these industries under one roof,” he told KXAN. “The city has a list of all the businesses that are in the city, and it just surprises me that no one has just taken this information to [the businesses] and say disseminate this important message [to] your workers.”

About the new penalties in place, Turner said, “There are always folks who skirt the rules, and so there does need to be some enforcement. You need both education and enforcement to make it effective.”

Austin city officials said:

Frank Fuentes with the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association said he’d rather see all of the city’s energy focused on education. He wants there to be public service announcements on television and radio that actually reach those most affected.

“But don’t do it in a way that they’re going to run the messaging at three in the morning when no one is watching it, you got to do prime time,” he said.

Fuentes added, “We’re going to go in and fine you. We’re going to go and punish you. Don’t do that. Use those opportunities to educate.”

Construction is ‘essential,’ but what about screening workers for COVID-19?

He said the city should also actively send out educational materials to all open, essential businesses.

“Whether it’s bodegas, whether it’s grocery stores, whether it’s janitorial services, whether it’s nanny services, our fami-

“We are continuing to test and do targeted testing in the construction industry in areas of town where there are upticks in people testing positive. We have done several initial rounds of testing for the construction industry and are working closely with community groups to continue that testing.”

The Home Builders Association in Austin said in a statement: “Safety is the utmost priority for our members. During the City’s last stay at home orders, we saw a flattening of the curve, while residential construction continued as an essential business. This demonstrates that builders can conduct their businesses safely. We will continue to partner with organizations like the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association and others to ensure that our members and their workers are informed and educated on the importance of social distancing, hand washing, staggering of workers, and other job site safety protocols.” by: Yoojin Cho Posted: Jul 15, 2020 / 06:06 PM CDT / Updated: Jul 15, 2020 / 08:07 PM CDT

Tips on Preventing Covid -19

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Austin Construction News • AUG 2020