Communicate and evaluate

Saving Money in a Construction Dispute

R. Carson Fisk

Shareholder

Andrews Myers P.C.

Austin, TX

Construction is an industry that is prone to disputes. The process inherently involves multiple parties, with many of them relying on contractually downstream specialists or trades to perform components of a larger scope of work (e.g., contractors and subcontractors, architects and sub-consultants, etc.). And, as the saying goes, you are only as strong as your weakest link. In many instances, conditions arise that were not foreseen or are different than expected, whether those are physical (e.g., abnormal adverse weather, differing site conditions, etc.), financial (e.g., bankruptcy, lending challenges, etc.), or something else (e.g., pandemics, labor market changes, supply chain disruptions, etc.). This combination of factors can lead to delays and increased costs, which are often the subject of a disputes. Disputes, if not addressed, can escalate and potentially lead to even more expensive and time-consuming litigation or arbitration. Thus, most anyone engaged in the construction process—whether a project owner, architect, engineer, contractor, subcontractor, supplier, or otherwise—should understand how to mitigate the financial impact of such matters. Following a few simple tips with help in this effort. positions are accurate. In the event of liti

Stay (or Get) Organized

When a dispute arises, or even looms, access to information that is available in an easily understandable format can help lead to an early resolution. Such information will almost certainly assist in developing important claims or defenses. Internal personnel changes and schedules can make organizing information well after an issue has arisen a difficult task. Rummaging aimlessly through poorly orages may be a fraction of what was the number of different, often changing

ganized computer files or hard-copy project folders searching for relevant information will certainly take an inordinate amount of time. While someone outside the company, such as an attorney or outside document processing vendor, may be willing to take the lead in organizing information, it will come at a significant cost. The best practice is to ensure that project documents are organized in a way that others can easily locate important information, even if the project team is no longer available to assist.

Set a Goal

While circumstances may dictate a different approach, consider seeking an amicable resolution. While there may be a desire to maximize recovery—using aggressive means if necessary—that may not be the most cost-effective approach in the near-term. Early negotiation or mediation are two available means to seek a resolution on friendly, or less adversarial, terms. Even if a lawsuit or arbitration has been filed, that does not necessarily mean the party pursuing the claim intends to do so hyper-aggressively. But if resolution is possibly the greatest path to struction dispute. While a good compro

settlement is simply not an option there may be no need to spend the time, energy, and money to go through the motions with the blind hope that something simply works out. Be strategic about the steps taken, bearing in mind the goal being sought.

Participate

Lack of involvement is one of the surest ways for a dispute to cost more. If a dispute is not of a nature that it can simply be ignored, ignoring it will merely allow the future challenges to compound. This may also require that someone with less knowledge serve as a point person, interfacing with others in an effort to either stave off the development of the dispute or to press it forward. This person must be educated on the matters he or she is discussing, which often comes at a cost. Particularly once litigation or arbitration is involved, there is a significant party is pursuing a claim or defending against one. Any attorney will need guidance and input on often detailed factual matters, including understanding the underlying facts and verifying whether gation or arbitration, take the time to understand the nature of the claims and/or defenses being alleged and the positions of the parties by reviewing court filings, discovery responses, correspondence, and other materials provided to you by your attorney.

Understand the Financial Risks

Disputes, particularly those that end up in litigation or arbitration, are unpredictable. There is no guarantee that the party with the most favorable facts, or the “better” lawyer, will win. Frustratingly, there is no guarantee of actual recovery even if one wins by obtaining a judgment. Judgment debtors can and often do go bankrupt. Similarly, there is no guarantee of recovery even if one wins by defending against a claim. And courts or arbitrators may refuse to fully reimburse attorneys’ fees or recovered damsought. On the direct expense side, given factors in a lawsuit (e.g., the number and nature of the claims, reasonableness and strategies of the parties and counsel, judicial and arbitral temperament, legal developments, court rulings, etc.), developing a litigation/arbitration estimate can be challenging. But such information can give one a general sense of what to expect related to cost of pursuing or defending against a claim.

Be Reasonable

Thoughtful reflection and consideration should be the guide, not emotion or knee-jerk reaction. A broader view than a single incident may be warranted. One need not destroy an otherwise valuable business relationship due to a business dispute. Being open to amicable saving money when faced with a contime commitment no matter whether a

mise may leave both sides unhappy in the short-term, relationships may be preserved and the likelihood that all parties to the dispute will save a substantial amount of money is a very real possibility.

Even despite one’s best efforts, it may not be able to avoid the escalation of a dispute, including the prospect of litigation or arbitration. These suggestions, however, will help save on costs when faced with such a scenario.

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

National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction

Joann Natarajan

Compliance Assistance Specialist

OSHA

Austin, TX

Each year, OSHA promotes a national stand down to prevent falls in construction. This year’s stand down week is September 14 – 18, 2020.

Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/ event for employers to talk directly to suggestions.html. OSHA also has a trainemployees about safety. Any workplace ing guide in English and Spanish on how can hold a stand-down by taking a break to conduct a tool box talk for fall prevento focus on “Fall Hazards” and reinforcing tion. These resources are located here the importance of “Fall Prevention”. Emhttps://www.osha.gov/Publications/ ployers of companies not exposed to fall OSHA3666.pdf and here: https://www. hazards, can also use this opportunity to osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3727.pdf. have a conversation with employees OSHA also has eight free videos on about the other job hazards they face, fall protection located at https://www. protective methods, and the company’s osha.gov/video/index.html. safety policies and goals. It can also be an OSHA hosts an Events page with opportunity for employees to talk to events that are free and open to the pubmanagement about fall and other job lic to help employers and employees find hazards they see. events in your area. If you plan to host a

Anyone who wants to prevent hazfree event that is open to the public, see ards in the workplace can participate in the OSHA’s Events page at https://www. the Stand-Down. In past years, particiosha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/calendar. pants included commercial construction html to submit the event details. companies of all sizes, residential conEmployers will be able to provide struction contractors, sub- and indepenfeedback about their Stand-Down and dent contractors, highway construction download a Certificate of Participation companies, general industry employers, following the Stand-Down. The certifithe U.S. Military, other government parcate pages will be active on September ticipants, unions, employer’s trade asso14, 2020, for employers to enter their inciations, institutes, employee interest orformation and print their certificate. To ganizations, and safety equipment mandownload a participation certificate, visit ufacturers. https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStand

Companies can conduct a Safety Down/index.html#cert. Stand-Down by taking a break to have a If you want to share information with toolbox talk or another safety activity OSHA on your Safety Stand-Down, Fall such as conducting safety equipment inPrevention Programs or suggestions on spections, developing rescue plans, or how we can improve future initiatives like discussing job specific hazards. Managthis, please send your email to oshasers are encouraged to plan a stand-down tanddown@dol.gov. Also share your that works best for their workplace anyStand-Down story on social media, with time. OSHA has a number of free ideas to the hashtag: #StandDown4Safety. use for a stand down event at https:// natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

Jim Robertson CEO/President Americrane Schertz, TX

Robertson didn’t know what had just happened. He had no lights, no power and no money. All he knew, he was 19 years old and had two kids that needed him, and the rest is history.

Tell me about Jim Robertson.

I grew up in Kansas City, MO, which makes me a massive Chiefs fan, way before the Superbowl win. I later moved to Chicago.

How old were you when you moved from Missouri to Chicago?

I moved the summer before my 9th grade of high school after my parents split up. I have two older sisters that stayed in Missouri. I moved with my dad to Evanston, IL which is north of Chicago. As you can imagine, it was a total culture shock to go from a small school in Missouri to the third largest high school in the United States with over 5,500 kids. I was lost.

That was a hell of a learning time. My dad was not around much so I literally grew up right there and really quick. In 1982, I packed up and moved to Florida with $50 in my pocket and a girl that became my wife.

What did you do in Florida?

First things first, I needed a job. By 1983, we had two kids. We had a son and 10 months later our second son was born prematurely and underdeveloped, weighing only 3 lbs.

The Robertsons. Front Row L-R: Liberty and Justice. Back Row L-R: Jim and Summer.

I can vividly remember one long and hot Florida day in July. I had a child in a bassinet on a heart monitor and another asleep in a dresser drawer pulled out. I had no money. I’m watching the ceiling fan and it slowly comes to a stop. All of a sudden, we had no lights and no power. I couldn’t afford the electric bill, so they cut it off. With a newborn on a heart monitor and a family to support, survival mode kicked in. These kids were mine and they needed me. I had to figure things out and quick. No health insurance and $66,000 in medical bills piling up for my younger son didn’t help the stress. Over time, I ended up paying every medical bill back on my own without accepting any special assistance.

The first job I got was with a builder. I was working on a three-story pitched roof of an apartment complex, and I’m not a big fan of heights. It was July and it was hot. Coming from the Midwest, I was not used to this type of heat.

On that job was a crane. A pretty blue and white crane I had never seen before. The crane was state-of-the-art at the time. I watched the operator in the crane, sitting in the air conditioning cab and thought to myself that has to be a better job. I went to work for that company the next day as a concrete pumper helper. They had both cranes and pumps. I started with pumps and worked my way into cranes.

That experience taught me a personal life lesson that I never wanted to be in that position ever again. It also taught me work ethic knowing that I had to work my ass off to get anywhere.

What is your wife’s name?

I remarried in March 2007. My wife’s name is Summer. She has her own law firm in Fort Lauderdale specializing in immigration law. Summer is an amazing woman. She developed an exchange type visa program with Canadians and Germans which is how we met.

Do you and Summer have children together?

Yes. I honestly never thought I would have any more kids or get married again because I already had two adult sons, both now 36. My oldest son, Winston, has worked in the crane industry himself for nearly 20 years. He currently works for a large crane company in New Jersey. He has a beautiful daughter that is almost 10 years old. My younger son, Brandon, is in the Navy Special Forces and has been abroad, all over the world, for 14 years. He is currently stationed in Rota, Spain. He was in the middle east for several years where he met his wife. She was a flight attendant for Qatar Airway. They now have a two-yearold daughter.

Summer and I have two kids together, Liberty and Justice. When we decided to have a child together, I told Summer it had to be a girl! Liberty, my daughter, is 12 years old. Almost three years later we had another son, Justice.

People joke all the time and ask when we are going to have “For All.” So we rescued a beautiful white Labrador from the Humane Society that we call For All.

Back Row L-R: Master Chief Brandon Robertson, his wife Wanvisa, their daughter Alice, Winston Robertson, Summer, Jim and Jim’s mother JoAnne. Front Row L-R: Jim’s oldest granddaughter Avarose, Liberty and Justice. -cmw

You said your wife has a law firm in Fort Lauderdale, do your wife and kids live in Fort Lauderdale?

Yes, they currently live in Fort Lauderdale. I commute on a regular basis to be with them. I am able to watch their lacrosse and football games on the weekends. My son is in a full-time Spanish Immersion program and once he finishes that program, they will move to Texas. They were supposed to spend a majority of the summer with me in Texas but COVID halted this plan. We are, instead, taking a road trip to the Grand Canyon area to spend some quality family together. My wife’s campaign for Liberty and Justice is to visit every state before they finish high school. We spend time in each state doing or seeing what they are each known for (some more than others). We are about half way there of that goal.

You and your wife seem to be very patriotic?

We are a very patriotic family. We have three grandparents buried in Arlington National Cemetery and have a large military family in general. We support active military and veterans in a variety of ways. That’s part of who I am.

As a young boy, I always wanted and expected to go into the military myself. My dream was to be a general. Growing up I was GI Joe! All I ever wanted to do was be a Green Beret, but I got hurt 180 days into training. Even though I rehabbed and passed all the medicals, at that time you could not have any foreign objects in your body so the metal rod in my knee crushed those dreams. Today the Green Beret Commander has only one leg and it’s not an issue anymore. That was my calling, so I put it to work in business. I can run this business kind of militaristically. All my research has led me to align myself in that kind of thinking – coming together as a team.

You mentioned that you worked your way into cranes, how did that happen?

As I mentioned, I went to work for the crane company I saw on that apartment complex job. I started there and went through all the different job levels and became pretty successful. I had 15 job offers early July 1986. I selected the one that offered me real security because I had a family to support. I ferociously worked my ass off and learned the hard and soft skills as a business owner that you learn through real life experiences. It pushed me to not only do that but to be a part of the community.

I selected a 10-year employment contract with a company in 1986 called General Crane Inc. It was a small successful company, one that we built without using the banks. By 1989, we had quadrupled. We had 90 cranes and were on our way.

In 2002 I bought my first company for $31 million, a company that I helped build, and then we took off. GE Capital gave me $15 million upfront, the seller financed the balance and paid it off in three years and then expanded. In 2007, we opened in Houston because I was tired of doing what I was doing just in Florida. I wanted more industrial work because the really big companies had been successful in the industrial corridor like in the Petro Chem & refineries.

While the rest of the nation was experiencing the effects of the recession in 2008, I brought in a private equity partner out of Dallas and created Allegiance Crane with the assets of General Crane USA. I brought them in, sold off the rest of the General Crane entities and built Allegiance over all of Texas. Allegiance Crane was my baby. I basically birthed it, named it, grew, developed and branded it with huge success.

Sixteen months ago, I thought Texas might be the place to be for my next iteration and bought Americrane in March 2019. Since then, we have grown two-fold. We opened in Houston right away and now we are opening in Dallas to serve new customer demands.

What do you do to relax?

I try to stay very active. I work out every day with a team on new mentees. I enjoy mountain biking, fresh water fishing, boating and being outdoors. I am a big turkey hunter.

What are some of your other interests?

I’m a mentor, a mentee and a motivator. I’m always mentoring somebody while always looking for opportunities to be mentored myself. Knowledge is power. I have many mentors in my life that have helped me spiritually and professionally.

I love to mountain bike too. One of my mentees is a new general contractor and purchased a new mountain bike so we can ride together. He is a young guy bound for success based on his drive and attitude. Another mentee recently bought a landscaping business which has just flourished. They constantly drill me with questions which I am happy to answer based on my own experience. When I get done and go home, it’s “Jim time.” I cook a healthy meal, read, facetime my family, sometimes catch up on a Netflix series and always try to get to bed early for an early start the next day.

Are you involved in your community?

Yes, very much so. I do a tremendous amount of community work in Florida and now here in Texas. I was chairman of Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County, which is massive with 12,500 kids. That was a great experience because I could dive into it. I was used to working 90 hours a week.

Additionally, I’m on that front line along with helping youth and veterans in a variety of other local organizations. My family and I have made that a priority. Fourteen years ago I started a workforce development program for the Boys and Girls Club with a group of leaders and it has been very successful. I brought that same model to San Antonio a year ago and its taking off. With the exception of this year due to COVID, each year we have a handson career day for the Boys and Girls Clubs members. We bring in all of the different trades that set up stations. The kids get to rotate and experience hands on each trade with a possible future internship opportunity. We have a board integrated in teaching the youth all the different trades. The public school systems still think everybody is going to be a doctor or a lawyer, when the majority and statically, are not going to higher education. Where are they going? They’re not going to the trades because we have had such a bad image for years and years that all we do is dig ditches and work in 110 degree temperatures. Well, you and I both know that’s not the case. There is a lot of very well, high paying jobs with benefits and everything they need to build a career and help raise a family and I am trying to change that stigma. -cmw

Rusty Hastings, owner and president of Cambridge Contracting LLC.

Having been a project manager for tion were well on their way developing seven years, Rusty Hastings was good relations and growing their client ready to venture out on his own. In base. 2011, he started Cambridge Contracting Today the company performs about LLC. “I always had that entrepreneur mind60 to 70 percent finish-out construction set. I like to create things basically from and 30 percent ground up construction. scratch and build them into something big“I’ve been very fortunate and blessed. I ger and better,” says Hastings. have a bunch of really good clients that I do

In the beginning, it was just Hastings. a lot of repeat business,” says Hastings. He did the project management, the estiAbout 50 to 60 percent of Cambridge Conmating, the supervision and the accountstruction’s work comes from repeat busiing. It started out slow, but it was manageness. The rest is new clients from word of able. Within the six months he had four to mouth who have heard about his company five projects underway. Within the first and or have another developer friend that year, he completed roughly 20-30 small has asked and passed over his name. finish-out projects. In 2019, Cambridge was at its largest

Half way through his second year, with 13 employees, Hastings included. roughly 18 months into establishing CamThey range from project administration to bridge, he knew he needed to hire someproject managers to superintendents to acbody. He hired his first project assistant/ count payable and accounts receivable, office admin person and the company and Hastings himself. doubled in size the next two years. While Hastings makes sure their clients

By the company’s third year in busiare well taken care of, he maintains a work ness, Hastings was ready to pursue ground environment that allows his employees to up construction and hired his first full-time put their families first. superintendent. During the next couple of Cambridge Contracting LLC is a general years, Hastings and Cambridge Construccontractor in San Antonio. -cmw

The Elite Master Plumbing team.

At the young age of 19, Rene Garza and new apprentices every year. Today, moved from Mission, TX to San Anthe company has two plumbers, besides tonio. He started working for a loGarza, two service trucks and a handful cal plumbing company and found his of apprentices. “It’s going good.” calling. Garza’s passion for the trade he has

“Since becoming a journeyman, I come to love and has also ignited the wanted to start my own business. My goal passion to be as successful as he can poswas to start my own company by the age sibly be. “We are a young company and of 27. I got my master license when I was we are just getting started, but we are 27 but decided to wait a few years. Once I going to be around for a long time. I want turned 30, I knew it was time to take a leap to keep growing, but I want to grow slowof faith. I started Elite Master Plumbing ly to ensure I don’t grow too fast, but I LLC May 22, 2017,” recalls Garza want to be big. I want to be like one of

Garza sold his first house and used those big box companies with commerthe money to start his company. It quickcials and everything. I want to be as big ly became one of those things for him, as I can. either you make it, or you don’t. There “I’m very family oriented with the was no turning back. guys and the phone is always ringing.

“The first year was just me by myself. When things calm down a bit or between We quickly ran out of money. It was tough a very business month, I like to have getrunning a company and bidding the togethers with my guys to boost morale work versus just showing up to work and by hosting barbeques for them. I want knowing what to do. It was a good learnthem to understand that it is not just ing curve. There were a lot of obstacles to about work, it’s about camaraderie,” says overcome and a lot of learning. It was Garza. very stressful but at the same time it was Servicing all of San Antonio, Elite Masan adventure,” he adds. ter Plumbing LLC performs commercial and

The company has been going strong residential work, and is Med Gas certified. now for three years, adding a new truck -cmw

Page 10

Golf anyone?

Members of the American Subcontractor Association (ASA) were more than happy to get out and hit the course for a fun round of golf on Jul. 28. ASA’s annual golf tournament was held on TPC’s Canyon course. While practicing the guidelines mandated for social distancing under these unusual times of COVID, ASA members enjoyed the camaraderie of one another and Mother Nature’s beautiful day. -cmw

ASA Golf Tournament winners:

2nd Place Gross: Skanska 3rd Place Gross: Sundt 2nd Place Net: Allegiance Floors 3rd Place Net: Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing Closest-to-the-Pin: Chris Fry, EquipmentShare Ladies Longest Drive: Sarah White, BizDoc Inc. Men’s Longest Drive: Fernando Herrera, EquipmentShare

1st Place Gross: BizDoc Inc.

1st Place Net: Anchor Insulation of Texas

Clint Swindall

We are surrounded by negativity. pha Insulation & Waterproofing, and the From 24-hour cable news to evASA San Antonio Chapter. “We’ve been eryday encounters at work and honored to have Clint Swindall present to home, we get a steady flow of it. Mix in the ASA San Antonio membership in-persome social media with friends, and you’ll son the past four years,” said Jennifer see we experience all kinds of negativity Swinney, Executive Director of the ASA on a daily basis. San Antonio Chapter. “His energy, posi

For the past two decades, Clint tivity, and relatability are what keeps our Swindall has been working to help overmembers coming back for more.” come the onslaught of negativity by getWhile he enjoys enhancing leaderting people to focus on the good stuff. ship in others, Swindall has dedicated a “Negativity isn’t going away,” Swindall great deal of time and talent to serving in stated. “Even without a global pandemic, the community. He has been a volunteer we’ll always have those who constantly at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo complain about their situation. We’ll alfor 22 years, and has served on the Board ways have those who are excessively pesof Directors of GVTC, a premier telecomsimistic about their future. We’ll always munications company based in the Texas have those who simply cannot see past Hill Country, for the past 12 years. Perhaps the challenges in their life.” most importantly, he and his wife Heather

The personal development industry founded the First Chance Foundation, a is where Swindall has spent most of his 501(c)3 dedicated to assisting abandoned, adult life. As the president & CEO of Verbabused, and neglected children. alocity, a personal development compaAfter a brief time in corporate Amerny with a focus on leadership enhanceica, Swindall pursued a career helping ment, he has worked to spread his mesleaders build a culture to overcome emsage of positivity to audiences around ployee disengagement. “Studies show the world. He has delivered his programs that two-thirds of employees are at some throughout the United States, Canada, level of disengagement,” he said. “When South America, the United Kingdom, you consider most people spend more Central America, Mexico, Bermuda, and waking hours at work than they do at The Bahamas. home, it just makes sense for leaders to

“Being positive is a choice,” Swindall focus on building a culture where people added. “While we can’t eliminate negawant to be instead of where they feel tivity in our life, we can learn to overcome they have to be.” it. Since much of our negativity comes The foundation of his message has from old habits of dealing with the bad been two books he has written on emstuff in our lives, we need to establish ployee engagement. He just finished his new habits of dealing with the crud. third book, set to launch in September. When we do, we’ll create a more positive With his focus on helping others overlife for ourselves and those around us.” come negativity, the book is appropri

Although he travels often as a proately titled, Tell Me Somethin’ Good! fessional speaker, trainer, and consultant, “The global pandemic has had such his roots run deep in San Antonio. “My a negative impact on a lot of people,” passion to help develop better leaders Swindall observed, “and I was deterstarted right here in San Antonio,” mined to have something positive to Swindall said with a smile. “I grew up here look back on during this period. As we and built my business here. I’m incredibly prepare to celebrate the 20-year annivergrateful for the opportunities I’ve had to sary of Verbalocity this month, we wantwork with local businesses, including ed the release of the book to coincide many in the construction industry.” with the celebration, as well as the launch

The Verbalocity client list includes of a Tell Me Somethin’ Good! podcast. Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, And God willing, we’ll have an even bigZachry, RVK Architects, Pape-Dawson, Alger celebration 20 years from now.” -cmw

San Antonio CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol Wiatrek Editorial & Copy . . . . . . . Melissa Jones-Meyer Production Manager . . . . Helen Greenwood Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editors AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net SAeditor@ConstructionNews.net San Antonio Area Counties

Atascosa, Bexar, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties

Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, TX 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960

www.ConstructionNews.net Free Monthly Digital Subscription

www.ConstructionNews.net

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

All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space available basis.

Construction News, Ltd. , dba San Antonio Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time. ©2020 Construction News, Ltd.

Late Season Fishing Action

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by:

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.

Outdoor recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, biking, jogging, walking, hiking, wildlife viewing, and the like are essential activities for Texas citizens. There is only so much I can do indoors before I say, “That’s It,” I’m going outside to get some fresh air. That’s the same things I’m hearing from my customers during this COVID-19 pandemic we are living through these days. They are tired of sitting around not being able to go anywhere, do anything without having to wear a mask or even plan a family vacation. People are ready

Ruger Cote of Devine had never caught a redfish before his last fishing trip. Not only did he catch one, he caught five total with the biggest being 37 inches. Photo taken by Steve Schultz Outdoors

to get out into the outdoors and there is no better and safer way to enjoy the outdoors than getting out on the water.

Fishing has exploded this year and the bays have been busy with guides and recreational fisherman more so than ever. With the lack of people being able to travel on long vacations, more and more Texans are taking shorter trips and doing it more often. I’ve noticed more and more folks flocking to the coast every weekend

and making the best out of this crappy year we have been going through. Hotels are busy, restaurants and souvenir shops are starting to see they’re business pick up and the economy looks like it’s ready to explode. This is a great thing for my business and I hope it continues.

As for the fishing, it’s the best summer I’ve seen in quite some time. Quality and quantities of speckled trout are staying strong through August. This is

great news because usually by the end of July we start to see a decline in the catching due to pressure on our bays and estuaries. In late March and April, we saw a decline in fishing pressure caused by the coronavirus. This allowed a lot of fish to make it to the summer months and continue into fall. As we roll into September and the start of the fall season, I feel confident that these conditions will hold out through the end of the year.

Like I mentioned above, we are having a stellar year for speckled trout fishing. Now we are entering what we consider our best red fishing months. Late August, September and October are prime months for reel stripping redfish action. Reds are all business when it comes to getting them to the boat. Pound for pound, they are one of the strongest fish in our bay complex. They will put your tackle, line and knots to the test, whether they are 6 lbs. or a 48-inch bull that tips the scales at 30-plus lbs. Generally, a couple of times around the boat and a few near misses around the motor and power poles will keep your heart pumping until it makes it into the net. This is what fall fishing is all about. Come get ya some!

My open dates are dwindling down to only a few. September 2,3,21,23 and October 19 and 28 are the last for my season. Hunting begins after that and I have dates available for whitetail deer. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip, give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Follow me of Facebook and Instagram at Steve Schultz Outdoors.

Good Luck and Good Fishing.

Idon’t think anyone can deny the craziness of this year to date, and it’s an election year so we know there will be a lot more to come! Most folks I talk to admit to having that “shot at and missed” mentality where we just wonder what’s next. It is best to just go fishing!

Have you noticed though that there are some unusually good things happening in with the tide of challenges we have been caught up in. Have you noticed that the sky is a little bluer and the stars are brighter with the clearing of the air because we are not traveling as much? I think most of us have have had to take a different approach to our daily life. Our family life and work life may never look the same because of the changes we are learning to make. I have to admit I don’t see things the way I used to. Everything and everybody is so much more appreciated now.

Here we are at the old hot time of year when the stripers and hybrids just don’t want to bite. We have been struggling for the last several weeks to get the fish to bite for us. We all know its getting too hot to fish...NOT!

All of a sudden and for no reason we can figure out the STRIPER BITE IS BACK ON BIG TIME!!! We are catching consistent limits of stripers and hybrids, and they are nice solid fish that are good sized!

This kind unusual feeding pattern happens every few years and although we all have our theories about it, nobody has ever figured it out. All we know for sure is we need to get ‘em while they are hot!

We usually see a nice increase in our catches once the heat of summer starts

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

It’s too hot to fish . . . NOT!

to let up, because the fish have been going without feeding, waiting out the heat. October is usually the beginning of a strong fall and winter season for stripers and hybrids because they like cooler water. It is not unusual to have good topwater fishing then too.

I wonder too about how the upcoming hunting seasons will be affected by our changes in habits. I know the way hunters congregate at the hunting camp will need modification. Somehow sleeping in a little travel trailer with other folks gives even more worries now than who snores the loudest. I bet the sales of tents will go up this hunting season, so we can have some safer distancing. Hunters are pretty clever people so they should be able to adapt because nothing gets in the way of hunting! I can hear it now, “Not you can’t use my blind or hunt with me! Social distancing!”. What better way to protect that big buck you are waiting for?

I hope that we can see through all the things that have made 2020 such a tough year. I hope all the good things that are quietly happening around us won’t go unnoticed. It’s funny how we just have to notice the good things because they don’t usually come with news coverage or fanfare. I guess we just have to develop a new kind of 2020 vision. Look for the good stuff!

Top Photo: JD Construction

Bottom Photo: Maxwell Electric

Jeepin’ in Colorado

Craig Noto and his wife Teresa of Quality Fence and Welding, vacationed in Colorado. While there, accompanied by friends, went jeep climbing on Engineer Pass and Mikipsi Pass near Ouray, CO. -cmw

A birthday fish-tacular

It was a great birthday gift for Regan Wiatrek, daughter of Greg

Wiatrek, Alpha Insulation & Wa

terproofing Inc. and Carol Wiatrek, Construction News. Instead of getting candles on a birthday cake, Regan got speckled trout instead.

To celebrate his oldest daughter’s 28th birthday, Greg took Regan and younger brother Jacob Wiatrek on a guided fishing trip. Greg, Regan and Jacob set out for an allday fishing trip on Jul. 23, the day before Regan’s birthday in Rockport. With the guiding expertise of Jack Nelson, the trio each caught their limit in speckled trout plus three Reds. -cmw

Do you think he is excited? L-R: Jacob and Regan Wiatrek ➤ take a photo together with some of the fish caught on Regan’s birthday fishing trip.

A great day of fishing, 15 speckled trout and three reds.

Craig and Teresa Noto in Colorado.

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Pavilion

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Pavilion after restoration. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Pavilion before restoration.

The CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Pavilion is a medical office cast panel joints in the parking garage. The main concern, however, was the persistent leaks. The building encompassing 146,402sf of office space with The entire building envelope scope was completed owner wanted to alleviate the inconvenience to their tenabout 75 percent of the building encased in tall glass from swing stages with multiple drops. A mansard roof ants as soon as possible and with a long-term solution. windows. The lower seven floors of the structure house about eight feet high lining the perimeter of the buildChamberlin’s work on the window perimeter seals, gasket over 600 parking spots. The building façade and parking ing’s roof posed a rigging challenge for the swing stages. systems and building façade left it watertight. garage have a stucco substrate. While the stucco was in fair Chamberlin worked with Big City Access to design a rigChamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing provides full comcondition, the existing coating had weathered over time ging system that could extend over the mansard roof. Exmercial roofing and waterproofing services. -cmw and was delaminating, cracking, and pulling away from the stucco. Built-in 1986, the high rise was now experiencing water intrusion and was in need of rejuvenation. Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing was selected as the prime tended outriggers were the solution, and over two dozen drops were completed safely. In fact, the project concluded with zero safety incidents. Time was of the essence to the new owners who acCHRISTUS Santa Rosa Pavilion Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing San Antonio, TX contractor to restore the skin of the building by cleaning, quired the pavilion just before construction kicked off. wet glazing and sealing the envelope plus repairing preOne of their goals for the revitalization was to make the

From 1908 to 1954, A.J. Monier Service Co. was known as A.J. Monier & Company. In 1954, the business was incorporated, and the name changed to A.J. Monier & Co. Inc. Funny enough, in those incorporation documents, A.J. and his son, Kurt, thought the business only needed to be incorporated for 50 years.

In 2004, the company discovered their business was no longer incorporated and had to re-incorporate. In 2014, the company was reorganized as a wholly-owned subsidiary named A.J. Monier Service Co., which is how it operates.

In April 1926, the San Antonio Light published an ad featuring a plumbing building more appealing for new tenants to fill the unoccupied suites, and they wanted them leased as quickly as possible. Chamberlin utilized two swing stages that started in the northwest corner of the building and worked in opposite directions of each other until they met together again in the end. The restoration of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Pavilion was completed in just six months. The owner appreciated the experience and the aesthetic outcome of the renovation. The elastomeric coating turned the mansard roof from red to gray and freshed the envelope’s appearance and the color scheme CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Pavilion deteriorated window gasket Before restoration: weathered existing coating on stucco façade. modernized the building’s look. system before restoration.

the facade from beige to a bright white. The coating re

A little piece of history

San Antonio Light building

project done for the Municipal Audito-rium by A.J. Monier & Company. This special newspaper clipping was saved by A.J. himself as a remembrance of a job well done. Little did he know that 94 years later, his company would again be featured by the San Antonio Light, yet this time it would be to bring the 1931 Spanish Colonial Revival building that housed the publication for over six decades, back to life. Today, A.J. Monier is currently performing the installation of domestic hot and cold water, waste and vent, natural gas and storm drain plumbing systems for the historic San Antonio Light Building, Print Building and the new Connector building. A.J. Monier’s plumbing crew ranges from five to eight journeymen and apprentice plumbers who are working to complete this project. Located at 420 Broadway St., the building is now owned by Gray Street Partners and will be used as a combination of 140,000sf of Class A office and retail spaces.

From a little piece of history clipped from the San Antonio Light, to the exciting changes taking place in the historical building itself, this 112-year- old mechanical and plumbing contractor is proud to be a part of the past as well as the future of San Antonio.

A.J. Monier Service Co. is a full-service mechanical contracting company in San Antonio. -cmw

The Koehler Company, established in 1954, specializes in custom architectural millwork, residential homes and commercial buildings. Their architectural millwork notability was perfect for the Turning Stone Animal Hospital.

Turning Stone Animal Hospital houses a staff providing superior medical and surgical pet care in a modern veterinary facility. The facility is well equipped to provide routine annual pet exams, surgical procedures, and for treating serious illnesses and difficult problems. This state-of-the-art facility utilizes the latest in technology, such as aquatic tread mill, digital radiology, digital x-ray, dental and boarding services.

Site challenges overcome during construction were substantial rain impact and highly expansive soils on site work, foundation, and steel erection. Dewatering, regrading, and lost time mitigation were used to offset weather- induced construction delays. Additional site challenges were resolution of a property line encroachment, resolving conflicting TXDOT and project civil drawings, facilitating natural gas utilities installation, and facilitating water, sewer, and electrical easements.

The building structure is comprised of a select structural fill supported slab Lobby and waiting area.

Turning Stone Animal Hospital

Turning Stone Animal Hospital

on grade foundation, structural steel frame, steel joists, structural steel deck and concrete second floor, and light gauge steel trusses. The building exterior is comprised of stone veneer with brick accents, stucco veneer, decorative steel columns, bronze anodized glazing systems, clerestory windows, and TPO & standing seam metal roofs. Additionally, the exterior scope consisted of pre-finished ornamental fencing, exterior access hardware, exterior dog runs, dumpster enclosure, stone hardscape elements, utility easements coordination and implementation, and utility routing. The building interior consists of metal stud and drywall partitions, acoustical ceilings, anodized aluminum door and window frames, painted drywall partitions with fourteen accent colors, stain grade oak and plastic laminate custom architectural millwork, resinous epoxy, medical grade vinyl, LVT, ceramic tile and carpet tile flooring.

The interior is also comprised of structural steel components, increased resinous epoxy and medical grade vinyl flooring areas, exam Rooms millwork, Reception millwork, wall tile, increased wall blocking, owner provided equipment installation and related plumbing connections, room layout modifications, increased accent wall colors, door hardware modifications, access hardware, and increased vacuum system scope.

The building houses a two-story entry lobby with clerestory windows, separate canine and feline waiting areas, separate canine and feline exam rooms, separate canine and feline boarding facilities, exterior exercise and play yard, interior canine play room, canine and feline surgical suites, treatment room, rehab room, break room, doctors’ offices, public and private restrooms, dental, ICU, ultra-sound, and radiology rooms.

The Koehler Company is a full-service general contractor and architectural millwork contractor in Seguin, TX. -cmw Turning Stone Animal Hospital The Koehler Company

San Antonio, TX

Canine surgical suite

Feline surgical suite

Hauling transformers, replacing antennas to setting AC units

In the crane rental business, Alamo Alamo’s fleet of cranes range from Crane Service Inc. does a multitude 15-ton boom trucks to 600-ton all-terof projects from setting A/C units to rain, both hydraulic and lattice boom concrete tilt walls to setting structural machines. Their truck and trailer fleet steel for building to hauling and setting range from tandem axle day cabs to OTR transformers for electric substations to units with sleepers. The larger tractors setting bridge beams, building water are 4-axle units with horsepower ratings towers, setting transmission towers and up to 600 HP. Transmissions range from anything that needs to be moved. They automatic to 18-speed units with work with many contractors, both large 2-speed auxiliary transmissions. Trailers and small, locally owned and globally range from 16-ft bumper pull trailers, owned and have done many shut downs 40-ft gooseneck, 40-ft tandem axle, for plants. 3-axle lowboy, 4-axle lowboy, 80-ton 120-ton lowboy hauling a transformer. rear steer trailer and the big 120-ton 48- tire lowboy. Alamo Crane Service has 75 employees. All crane operators are NCCCO certified, certified riggers, CDL drivers, OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 employees. “We have been in business for 41-plus years and have an excellent safety record. Our workers comp EMR ratting is .66 which is the lowest in Texas. We are very proud of our record and all of our employees that practice safety every day,” says Marvin Ohlenbusch, owner of Alamo Crane Service. Alamo Crane Service Inc. offers a full service crane and rigging solutions throughout Texas and is located in Selma, TX. -cmw

Hauling transformers, replacing antennas to setting AC units Alamo Crane Service Inc. San Antonio, TX

Commercial Surfaces Inc. team members L-R: Tony Valadez, RJ Cubillo, Kurt Fielden, Rommy Cubillo, Raul Valadez and Milo Cubillo take a break to say “hello.” -cmw

L-R: Master HVAC Technician Kenny Julian and Nigel Grimley, new construction, in front of Quarter Moon Plumbing, AC & Heating fleet van. -cmw

Alex Castellano, Fry Salinas and Issac Patlan with GJ SanchezPainting in Sequin, TX. -cmw

L-R: Benjamin Stanush, Joseph Stanush and Chris Hill

Chris Hill and Joseph Stanush have new division to the company. “We startbeen friends since high school. Aled our electrical division in May. Now we though they had never worked tohave air conditioning, refrigeration, heatgether, they always talked about working ing and electrical. That has shifted us together. into a more commercial market but are

After graduation, Hill, who graduatstill providing residential services. We do ed a year before Stanush, went to work new construction, change outs, service for a local contractor and got his associand everything else. ates in air conditioning through St. Phil“Benjamin Stanush oversees everylips College. Stanush got his refrigeration thing on the electrical side as well all the certification after graduation as well and estimating on the electrical side. I handle the two were now on different paths, but estimating, invoicing, personnel and in 2016 that path changed course. manpower and Joseph oversees service.

In 2016, Hill and Stanush turned their That’s why are partnership works. I know talks into reality and started Diamondbooks and estimating, and Joseph knows back Air Conditioning, Heating and Reservice. He is a whiz on the technical frigeration. side. He can walk a guy through some

The company started out with just thing on the phone without even seeing Hill and Stanush. Hill oversaw the books a unit just by telling him how it is wired,” and estimating while Stanush handled says Hill. the service side of the business. “It was As Diamondback continues to grow, very rough for a long time trying to keep they are committed to their customers, everything going. Now we are at 21 emthe services they provide and stand beployees and growing,” says Hill. hind their work. “Integrity is our main pri

As the company approaches its ority. We really try to stand behind that,” fourth year anniversary, it does so with a says Joseph. -cmw

All Star Electric

All Star Electric has been in busireally stand behind our work. I’m also ness for 25 years and started out very proud that we had three generalike every other small mom and tions of a family work for us. I think it pop shop does, out of a garage doing speaks volumes towards us. All Star Elecnothing but residential work. tric reputation for being a good company

Rick Grohman was 17 years old when to work for when father hires son and he got started in the electrical industry. whose son in turn hires his son. We are a In 1995, he decided to go out on his own. good family-owned company and we The company started out as a sole propristill have that family-owned mentality.” etorship, then transitioned to a limited All Star Electric got a few lucky breaks partnership and then a corporation. here and there and ended up partnering

Rick Grohman Jr. started working with a few general contractors that brought for his father at the age of 15. “I quickly them over to the commercial sector and started with him about six months after continue to work with them to this day. he started as I was still in school and “One in particular got us involved in worked around my school schedule. I the health care industry doing medical started out as a helper then worked my imagining installation. We have really way to a journeyman four years later. A been doing that ever since. That has befew years after that, I became a Master come our niche. In more recent years, we Electrician. have started a service department. We

Rick Grohman Jr., who became ownhave a commercial side and a service er and president in 2004, proudly recalls side. We are still growing. We still do a that the first 11 years in business the comlittle bit of residential and commercial pany never spent a dollar on advertisservice work and are always looking to ing. “Everything was word of mouth. We expand,” adds Grohman. -cmw

The Resource Guide

Associations and Construction Education

Subcontractors

Suppliers

General Contractor

Service Providers

Truck & Equip Dealers

Steven Bankler CPA

Ltd. is pleased to introduce their newest team member, Ingrid Valdes, CPA. Valdes earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in accounting degree from Texas A&M University in 2010. She earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in accounting from Texas A&M International University in 2013 and obtained her CPA license in 2019. Her experience includes four years in public accounting and two years in the private industry sector. -cmw

O’Connell Robertson

is pleased to announce Kristin Jones has been promoted to Associate. Jones has more than 18 years of experience in the construction industry, 10 of which have been in the Construction Administration department at O’Connell Robertson. She serves as a Sr. Project Construction Coordinator. Her focus is streamlining the CA department’s processes and keeping the San Antonio office running smoothly. -cmw Allen & Allen Co. is pleased to welcome Matt Mayberry, Director of Sales. As part of the executive leadership team Mayberry’s responsibilities will include leading and managing all outside, showroom and counter sales activity and personnel. Mayberry has more than two decades of sales experience and has been charged with developing and implementing a plan to drive dra

matic growth. -cmw

Sundt Construction

Inc. is proud to announce the addition of Jared Garrison as field engineers. Garrison served as an intern for the past seven months while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in construction management from the University of Texas at San Antonio. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — Pesado Construction Company

In 2007, the company transitioned into ground up construction before the real estate bust in 2008 and has conservatively grown as it branched out into all types of civil and industrial construction - civil construction, facility construction, water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage construction, electrical and communication, duct banks, box culvert and drainage channel construction, wastewater lift stations and treatment plant construction, hard rock trenching, auger road boring, oil field pad site construction, pipeline construction and excavation/site work construction all with its own aggregate division.

Pesado proudly serves central and south Texas to include Bexar, Comal, Kendall and Kerr Counties to name a few.

The company just completed a $23 million project for Kerr County. The largest project in Kerr County’s history – a sewer line from CenterPoint to Comfort and encompassed the expansion of the Comfort Wastewater Treatment Plant which included five lift stations, 33,000 ft. of pipe.

Work has not slowed down for the Pesado team. Becoming diversified through the years has given the company a healthy work log. “We have some booster pumps going and some private data center work that we’re doing. We have public water sewer mains that are going on. We’re building an expansion for Fifth Generation Distilleries in Austin.

“We love all of our customers. We work hard to instill in all of our guys a sense of integrity, honesty and the desire to do the job right the first time. We are focused on safety. We have three full-time safety personnel. We have safety meetings every day. Head management is always trying to improve our safety culture. We try to stay ahead of the competition in safety,” says Hutson.

As the company approaches its 30th birthday, Hutson recalls the Alamo Guenther Sewer Siphon project they performed for San Antonio Water Systems as one its most memorable projects. “We did a sewer siphon 50 ft. deep and did a 54-60 in. borer under the San Antonio River downtown at Alamo by the old Bluestar Bakery. It was an old brick sewer pipe 50 ft. deep going under the river. It was pretty challenging.”

Pesado Construction Company is an underground utilities and heavy civil engineering construction company in San Antonio. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — Pintura Paint

it really came out well. We’re extremely proud of our staff, our product, the final showroom piece, our warehouse and how everything turned out,” agrees co-owner Garcia.

The company may have been in business for 16 years, but for the new owners it is just a-year-old company. In their first year of business, the company finished their first 12 months a little over five percent up in sales. Not bad considering the first two months were all about giving the old gal a new look. “Ten out of the 12 months were positive sales. As we currently sit, we’re still maintaining that track record. Even through COVID, we’ve maintained a very solid sales growth,” adds McDowell.

Garcia and McDowell anxiously progress forward and are very excited about the next six months. COVID has challenged them to think outside the box and to find new ways to stay relevant with their client base. They have been working diligently to get more up on the technology side. Within the next 30-45 days, the owners hope to introduce an online portal where their commercial or residential accounts can go online, view their invoices and make payments. “It’s pretty common practice these days, but we are pretty excited to bring Pintura current and continue to get that fresh new relevance going. The technology side is a big piece of that. The online customer portal is a piece of that,” McDowell adds.

Engaged with Benjamin Moore who has become their primary partner, Garcia and McDowell are pleased that the Benjamin Moore product line has so many wonderful features they can offer their customers including a great product, terrific pricing, and lots of corporate support. Additionally, Benjamin Moore has lots of features and applications like their online database where you can actually go in, choose a color and see what it will look like in your home or on your walls.

“We have a lot of exciting technology avenues that we are really trying to drive and push towards to just catch up with the times. But in the paint industry, I think within the next six months we are going to be ahead of our industry from a technology standpoint. This is all largely driven by COVID, and what we have seen over the last six months has kind of pushed us in that direction and to think outside the box to continue to grow,” McDowell continues.

“Through our Benjamin Moore partnership, we were able to negotiate some really favorable terms with pricing. We are extremely competitive. We will beat or match any of our competitors’ pricing here in town. We are extremely proud to have it and offer it to our clients. A lot of guys, like our paint and brush guys, are competing with other guys for business. By having our Benjamin Moore products we are actually able to save them a little of money on their jobs and make money,” concludes Garcia.

Pintura Paint is a paint supply company in San Antonio. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala

for everyone, we felt like we had to do something to keep this going. The need is up twice as much. For one, CPS and CASA have not been able to do their regular fundraising because of COVID. Two, they are taking in more kids right now because there is more abuse as kids are at home now,” states Construct A Kid’s Co-Chair Sandee Morgan. “Due to the uncertainty of the times, the construction industry is coming together once again. Virtually! This year, we welcome one and all to participate in the 2020 Virtual Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala. Online registration begins Oct. 1.”

The virtual festivities will begin online Oct. 1 and run through Dec. 3 at https:// www.cakc-sa.org. The event will offer the same fun-filled activities as it has in the past, but with a bit of a twist. The grand gala raffle has been revamped to the Bling & Bang raffle. This is one raffle you don’t want to miss.

The ever-popular wheelbarrow raffle has been pumped up to include a $1,000 Specs Gift Card and is guaranteed not to disappoint. Live and silent auctions will once again be available this year, but online.

While we will not gather together in one place in the name of Construct A Kid’s Christmas, every effort is in place to make this 20th anniversary event as successful as it has ever been. Toy donation boxes will be available for your offices and the annual toy drive will be held Friday, Dec. 4 at the Construction News office.

Please consider your part in making this event a huge success again this year. The compassion and generosity of the San Antonio construction community is what makes this event successful each year. The following sponsorship opportunities are available. The $2000 Diamond Sponsor includes a lunch catered by Heavenly Gourmet for 15 to your office, a wine basket, appreciation plaque, photo recognition in Construction News, 15 20th Anniversary Commemorative Tumblers, 15 wheelbarrow raffle tickets and 5 Bling & Bang raffle tickets. This year’s $1,500 Corporate Sponsorship includes a catered lunch by Heavenly Gourmet for 15 to your office, a wine basket, appreciation plaque, photo recognition in Construction News, 15 20th Anniversary Commemorative Tumblers and 15 wheelbarrow raffle tickets. Additional Supporting Sponsors in the amount of $500 includes a lunch catered by Heavenly Gourmet for 10 to your office and 10 wheelbarrow raffle tickets. -cmw

On a personal level, I have done my best to stay safe and reasonable within my daily activities by being conscience of my surroundings and actions throughout the day, washing my hands and that sort of stuff. But I have also been trying to be true to myself by not letting it stress me out or bother me and get in the way of my daily interaction with family, business partners and coworkers. I really try to let life continue to go on to the best of my ability while maintaining a conscience effort towards being safe.

From my profession stand point, we pay close attention to the local and state guidelines and always make sure we are abiding by those.

JD McDowell, Pintura Paint Store

It’s be enlightening for all of us. We’ve been blessed. We had one case and got through it. It’s tough. When you build a family it is like your home…you have your kids and your spouse, and you’re not worried about covering your mouth. We are like that here, we’re family, but we have to remember to cover our faces. I sterilize the office professionally every day and we follow the compliance in place checking everybody’s temperature every day at all points of entry. Our business has been effected, we are down, and you never really know why, but what is concerning me now is we thought we were through this and now here we are again – how long can we sustain this.

Jim Robertson, Americrane

We are trying to pre-cautious as we go into people’s homes, taking all the necessary precautions using hand sprays, gloves, masks and making sure our employees and our customers are safe.

Chris Hill, Diamondback Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration

There are only two of us at the office on a day-to-day basis. As a company, we just follow whatever rules are led before us from town to town. Some towns don’t have mask requirements, some do.

Kenny Sauer, KPS Services LLC

COVID hit us. We had a couple of family members affected and it did put a dent on us for about a month and a half, almost two months. After it passed, we bounced back and we are really, really busy.

Rene Garza, Elite Master Plumbing LLC

Personally, I have a daughter, my oldest child, has special needs. She is high-risk so I’ve gone over the top, making sure I don’t expose myself and if I do have to; I follow all the protocol with wearing a mask and keeping the 6-ft. distancing, minimizing on-site meetings with owners and subcontractors. We use Zoom calls for most of our conferencing. My employees, all of the office staff, is still working out of their homes. I basically sent everybody home in March and set them up at their homes with the tools they need whether it be a laptop, computer or printer. We have gone to an online database hosting company where all of our documents can be shared. We have adjusted to have the office staff working from home. For our field personnel, the name of the game is keeping them safe – keep your distance; if you don’t need to have a meeting with a lot of subs around a table, don’t have it. Have more one on one meetings and make sure masks are worn. I’ve provided digital thermometers for our team to use on the jobsites to scan everyone before coming on the job and ask them to wear masks.

Rusty Hastings, Cambridge Contracting LLC

We are trying to do our part. We are staying home as needed and we are providing all the necessary PPE to our guys to keep them and our customers safe. We have all the filters, the masks, the hand sanitizers, everything needed to do our part.

George Salinas,

Absolute Power Electrical Contractors ABC

Associated Builders & Contractors Inc.

Sept. 11: Fall Golf Tournament, La Cantera Resort Course, 16641 La Cantera Pkwy., 7am Registration, 8am Shotgun start. For more info, contact Leah Villarreal at leah@abcsouthtexas.org or 210- 342-1994

AIA American Institute of Architects

Sept. 14: Golf Classic, SilverHorn Golf Club, 1100 W. Bitters Rd. For more info, contact Belinda Sanchez at 210-226-4979 or email belinda@aiasa.org

ASA American Subcontractors Assn.

Sept. 18: Tailgate Taste-off, Mays Family Scout Ranch, 3445 Fest Rd., 3-7pm. Sept. 22: Lunch & Learn, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr., 11:30am. For more info, call Jennifer Swinney at 210-349-2105

GSABA

Greater San Antonio Builders Assn.

Sept. 28: ProAM Golf Tournament, River Crossing Golf Club, 500 River Way, Spring Branch, TX. $750 per team (3 players + Pro), 9am Registration. For more info, contact Feliz Moran at 210-696-3800 or email fmorin@sabuilders.com

HCA de SA Hispanic Contractors Assn. de San Antonio

Sept.16: Monthly Meeting & Mixer, The Quarry Golf Club, 444 E. Basse Rd., 6-8pm. For more info, call Victoria Rodriguez at 210-444-1100 or email vrodriguez@ hcadesa.org.

IEC Independent Electrical Contractors Sept. 8: IEC School Year begins, IEC Train

ing Center, 5511 Ingram Rd., 5:30-9:30pm. Sept. 16: Continuing Ed Class, IEC Training Center, 5511 Ingram Rd., 5-9pm. Sept. 19: Electrical Maintenance Technician Class, IEC Training Center, 5511 Ingram Rd., 8am-5pm. Sept. 21-22: Foreman Training Class, 5511 Ingram Rd., 8am-5pm. For more info, contact Julie Tucker at 210-431-9861 or email jtucker@iecsanantonio.com

MCA-SMACNA INC Mechanical Contractors Assn. Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.

Sept. 9: Regular & Associates Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th Flr. - CANCELLED Sept. 23: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA office, 12500 Network Blvd., #410, 11:30am. For more info, call Sandee Morgan at 210-822-3763

NARI National Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Sept. 15: Bowling Night, Bowlero, 13307 San Pedro Ave., 6-8pm. For more info, email Angela Parks at angelas@southwestexteriors.com

PHCC

Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors

Sept. 3: PHCC San Antonio Dove Hunt, Cibolo, TX, $125 Per Shooter, 3pm. Sept. 10: Virtual Membership Meeting - Zoom, 11am-1pm. For info, call Heidi Trimble at 210-824- 7422 or go to www.phcc-sanantonio.org

SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn. Sept. 23: General Membership Meeting,

continued on Page 20

Page 20

Workforce training assistance

The latest national survey found that 84 percent of Texas construction firms have difficulty filling the hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce. These survey results are consistent with previous surveys and reports that indicate a decades-long deficiency.

For example, a 2014 workforce development report published by AGC of America stated, “A number of changing trends have combined to cripple what was once a robust education pipeline for new construction workers. Those factors include the dismantling of the public vocational and technical education programs, declining participation in union apprenticeship training, and an increasing focus on college preparatory programs at the high school level.”

Even during the current pandemic, with construction deemed essential and as the building of schools, hospitals, grocery stores and other important projects Doug McMurry is the executive vice president of the San Antonio Chapter of AGC and a member of SA Works’ continue in Texas, the industry’s need for Employer Collaborative. more craft training persists. The Q2 2020 Jobs Report COVID-19 Edition, published Also, the mayor and city council apby SA Works, states, “As the region conproved a plan last month to spend an tinues to grow, there is an inevitable additional $154 million in sales tax on need for construction.” workforce training. It’s aimed at helping

But while the nation’s seventh larg40,000 people get back to work. Some of est city continues to grow, the pandemic those funds will be for “construction and exposes a nagging reality. San Antonio trades.” Voters will weigh in on the initiaremains entrenched in poverty with a tive November 3. disproportionate number of low-wage, If passed, the sale tax supported prolow-skill jobs. gram will launch in September 2021 in

According to the San Antonio Expresscollaboration with local workforce develNews, 44.4 percent of local households live opment organizations like Workforce in “liquid asset poverty,” which means they Solutions Alamo and higher education lack enough cash to cover three months of institutions like Alamo Colleges District, basic expenses in the event of a financial the University of Texas at San Antonio, emergency. For many, the lingering panand Texas A&M University-San Antonio. demic has created the ultimate financial More important, the initial focus will emergency. be on just the sort of apprenticeships and

The jobs report also states, “Trades on-the-job-training programs the conapprenticeships, occupations, and construction industry champions. And the city struction roles are a catalyst for service inhas pledged to work with trade associadustry employees to return to work while tions and existing craft training providers. building skills for a new career and supThe need to train certain workers for porting economic growth in the region.” new, post-coronavirus careers is urgent.

Dawn Vernon, business development Waiters, baggage handlers, and hotel manager at Bandy Constructors and a housekeepers are desperate for work as member of the Workforce Solutions Alamo unemployment benefits dry up. Many are Board of Directors, adds, “As shortage of looking for steady jobs that pay well and workers continues to grow, we recognize offer benefits like health insurance and it is now more critical than ever to build paid time off. a local pipeline of talent in construction of The construction industry wants to all trades.” hire displaced workers and train them

City leaders appear to be listening. in new, well-paying jobs, and the City of

The city’s approved Community ReSan Antonio — flush with federal stimucovery and Resiliency Plan allocates $75 lus money and a commitment to tackle million to train 10,000 people impacted by poverty — is helping. And if voters apthe coronavirus pandemic by September prove the initiative in November, the 2021. Some of the money will be directed industry could benefit from a sustained, to construction workforce training. four-year workforce training effort. -cmw

Coming from humble beginnings and after gaining experience in the construction industry, Kenneth Moore took a leap of faith and started his own cabinetry and millwork company, KCM Cabinets in 1998.

Before opening his own business, Moore worked for numerous cabinet and millwork companies in San Antonio. KCM Cabinets has grown to service Texas and several surround states since its modest beginning. His determination, focus and drive helped his company flourish and become one of the leading cabinetry companies in the San Antonio industry.

That same determination, focus and drive brought him into a leadership position within the San Antonio Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA). Moore joined the ASA San Antonio Chapter Board in 2014 with a goal to increase communication. Rising from a director to vice president, he then served two consecutive terms as president.

ASA National is proud to announce that Kenneth Moore will be joining the at his home in Castroville on Aug. 12 at the age of 62. He was born Mar. 14, 1958 in the Castroville hospital and was the oldest of three sons born to

Raymond “Ray” Garland Haby and

Rhonda Lee Keller Haby. Jeff attended St. Louis Catholic

School and Medina Valley High School.

While in high school, he worked at

Sammy’s Restaurant and Haby Candy

Sales. He graduated from Medina Valley High School in 1976. He became a for a plumbing supply company, a po

Kenneth Moore

ASA National board of directors. The ASA National board will formalize his addition to the team at the September virtual board meeting and will then be officially be part of a ballot sent to the ASA membership prior to association’s SUBExcel and sworn in during the annual business

In memoriam…

Jeffry “Jeff” Keith Haby of Moore Supply Co. passed away peacefully

plumbing supply sales representative Jeffry “Jeff” Keith Haby meeting. -cmw sition he held for his entire working Ashli and Johnathan Bossom, Lynli career through many companies that and Eric Jones; father Ray Haby; brothchanged ownership. He was a board ers Blane Haby (Janet) and Daryl Haby member of the MCA-SMACNA and (Yvette); sister-in-law Gayle Rohrbach; president of the Medina Valley Youth brother-in-law Gary Haby (Robbie); Baseball Association for several years. several nieces and nephews, and He was a lifelong member of St. Louis many friends. Catholic Church and served as chairHe is preceded in death by his man of St. Louis Day for two years. mother Rhonda Haby, who recently

On Sept. 9, 1978, Jeff married his passed away on Apr. 18, his father-inhigh school sweetheart, Trudy Lynne law and mother-in-law Milton and Haby at St. Louis Catholic Church. In Florence Haby and his brother-in-law less than a month, they would have John Paul Rohrbach. celebrated their 42nd wedding anni Memorials may be made in Jeff’s versary. Jeff and Trudy were blessed memory to any of the funds at St. Lou with two daughters, Ashli and Lynli. is Catholic Church, St. Louis Catholic

Jeff is survived by his wife Trudy School, or the charity of your choice. Haby; daughters and sons-in-laws -cmw

continued from Page 21 — Calendar

Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Dr.,12pm. For more info, contact Debbie at 830-606-5556 or email thesamca@gmail.com

TACCA

Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn. Greater San Antonio

Sept. 18-19: TACCA Greater San Antonio 27th Annual Fishing Tournament, Doc’s Seafood & Steaks, 13309 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX. For more info, call Dawn Thompson at 210-901-4222

Texas First Rentals

Texas First Rentals opened its first two “After careful consideration of our locations, one in San Antonio and one customer’s needs, we made the decision in Pflugerville, on the same day in May to diversify our rental market through the 2015. By the end of 2015, Texas First Rentals addition of our trench safety division. In had six locations along the I-35 corridor. this business we’ll rent steel and alumi

Since then, Texas First has been on a num trench boxes, aluminum build a growth curve, resulting in 21 locations box, vertical shores, road plates and testacross HOLT’s territory. Today, Texas First ing equipment,” says Texas First Rentals has 325 employees and anticipates addiVice President of Sales, Matt Hopper. “It tional growth in the future. made sense for us to move into this space

The decision to start the rental busibecause of the close ties with our cusness came when the executive team saw tomers. Trench safety operations can rean opportunity in light rental and comduce the risk of worksite hazards.” mitted to putting the structure and reTrench safety products are available sources into a new business model. This for rental in the San Antonio and Austin growth came in direct response to the areas. changes in the rental market as customWhile this growth and expansion into ers have moved from exclusively owning the trench and shoring rental options was equipment renting more of their fleet. a response to the market, it can only work

With HOLT’s culture, values, and Cat with the right mix of ingredients. products, the executive team knew Texas “From a process standpoint, we’re First Rentals would be highly successful. doing what other rental companies do.

Behind that success is a strong support Taking the orders and filling them the system from HOLT CAT and a core leadersame as everyone else. But what we bring ship team of professionals with some 90 are HOLT values, a focus on legendary years of experience between them. customer service, and an inventory of

Texas First Rentals is a service driven quality products,” Hopper stated. company with skilled technicians to ser“At Texas First Rentals, we are about vice its fleet. The demand for rentals is our community, our employees and our high and Texas First Rentals is committed customers. We will always look for valueto meeting customer’s expectations. added ways to serve our customers,” says They provide rentals for everything a Hopper. contractor might need on a jobsite - from “With our culture, training and prodsmall tools, small pumps and small hamuct offerings, we can help our customers. mers to generators, large excavators, We will always do our best to provide our dozers, aerial platforms, boom lifts, sciscustomers with the most cost-efficient sor lifts, rough terrain scissor lifts, dual solutions for them. That is the heart of fuel man lifts and everything in between. who we are as a company. That’s what

What differentiates Texas First Rentseparates us in this marketplace. We are als from other companies in the rental going to provide legendary customer space is its training. Each employee is service to our customers. We will listen, armed with product, technical and soft understand, collaborate and always find skills training. The detailed training cova way to make things happen. It’s about ers the operation, safety, features and finding ways to say yes,” adds Hopper. benefits of machinery Texas First offers. For a full list of Texas First Rentals

Today, Texas First Rentals has added products, visit www.texasfirstrentals.com a new line of rental options to its invenTexas First Rental is a construction tory - trench safety products. equipment rental company. -cmw

In memoriam…

It is with a sad heart that we announce that Robert Joseph Guinee Sr., the founder and former president of ESC Safety Consultants, passed away on Jul. 24, 2020 at the age of 90. Known more frequently as “Bob” Guinee to his many friends and family, he was born in Queens, NY to Timothy and Teresa Guinee on Dec. 27, 1929. He graduated from Fordham University in 1952 and promptly joined the Air Force Aug. 15 that same year. Then transferred to Texas where he attended flight training, met his beautiful wife, and raised his family, making Texas his permanent supported many families, even in his home. He served 20 years in the miliown home, and would never turn a tary, during that time he trained to besoul away that sought his help. The come a pilot, joined Strategic Air Comministry will continue with the help of mand, and fought in the Vietnam War, 360 Inner City Church. A local church flying over 100 missions, earning many also dedicated to helping the undermilitary awards such as the Bronze Star served population of San Antonio. Medal in 1967 and the Air Medal in Bob joined his parents, wife Olga 1966. He retired from the military on V. Guinee, siblings Donald Guinee and Jan. 31, 1973 after obtaining the rank of Patsy Azzarello in death. Bob is surMajor. vived by his children Susan Guinee

While still in the military he returnMcNamara (Paul), Robert Joseph ed to school and earned his Master in Guinee Jr., Timothy Paul Guinee and Engineering from the University of John Thomas Guinee (Alicia). GrandMichigan. After military retirement, he children Teresa Scoggins (Brad), Rewent on to establish ESC Safety Conbecca Jackson (Aaron), Katy McNamasultants formerly known as Engineerra and Jacob McNamara. Great granding Safety Consultants, Inc. in 1981, a children Carter and James Scoggins, business that continues today, run by and Connor and Charlotte Jackson. As his son Robert J. Guinee Jr, and supwell as a very dear long term friend ports many families across multiple Maria Ibarra. states. Visitation and memorial services

However, in 1995, he had another pending. Burial will be at Mission Park calling and became a minister and beNorth. In lieu of flowers, please send gan the Potter’s Home Ministry. This memorial gifts to 360 Inner City would become his life’s calling for the Church in honor of the organization next 25 years. There, his primary goal that will be taking over his Potter’s was to help the children in inner-city Home Ministry to continue his service San Antonio by encouraging them to to God and the local community. 360 stay in school, out of gangs and away Inner City Church, P.O. Box 769431, from drugs. Through the years, he San Antonio, TX 78245. -cmw

L-R: Justin Garcia, Kendall Durham-Kersh, Kelly Durham, Lauren Durham and CJ Carroll

While selling equipment to Txfoam material that stabilizes the base DOT, Kelly Durham happened material. This is just a growing business. upon a path that would change The more we go along, the more we his life as he knew it. He discovered the learn,” says Durham. road of reclamation and soil stabilization. Performance Equipment Service has Through his dealings with TxDOT, he grown as a family business. Durham’s first learned that they were looking for somehired employee was his own father who one to do reclaiming and soil stabilizahad just retired and wanted something tion for their maintenance crews in South new to do. A few years later, Durham’s Texas. son Dustin joined his father, taking over

In 2004, Durham went from selling operating equipment and running jobs equipment to business owner and startwhen his grandfather was ready for his ed Performance Equipment Service, resecond retirement. Lauren, Durham’s claiming and stabilizing roads around youngest daughter joined the PerforSan Antonio. Today the company has mance team in 2011 overseeing operagrown to performing work throughout tions and after years of doing her own the Lone Star State. thing, Kendall, Durham’s oldest daugh

Learning the business was not an ter decided she too wanted to join the easy task but learn it he did. “There are a fun overseeing the company’s human number of soil stabilization processes resources department followed by longand back then, we were just working in time friend CJ Carroll, the company’s support of TxDOT. All they did back then CFO and Safety Director Justin Garcia. was cement stabilization. Today, we do Now in its 16th year of business, Perlime, we mix liquid asphalt, among othformance Equipment Services is 35 emers. We just purchased a foam machine ployees strong with 11 milling machines which is a new process that TxDOT is and five reclaimers, performing miles starting. The foam process takes hot asand miles of work on Texas highways, test phalt injected with water which makes a tracks and runways. -cmw

H&E Equipment Services Inc, 490 Industrial Blvd., McKinney, TX.

H&E Equipment Services Inc. (H&E) metroplex,” says McKinney Branch Managannounced the opening of a new er Justin Roden. “The highly skilled perbranch in McKinney, TX, serving the sonnel, large inventory, new shop, and our region northeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth full investment in the DFW area allow us to metropolitan area on Aug. 17. meet the equipment needs of McKinney,

The new 16,650sf facility, located at Frisco, Plano, and other surrounding cities. 490 Industrial Blvd. in McKinney, TX sits on With this new location, we’ll be even more 4.45 acres with a fully fenced yard area, ofefficient and effective in providing the fices, parts warehouse and a repair shop trustworthy assistance with rentals, sales, with four service bays. It is capable of serparts, and service that our Texas customers vicing a variety of construction and general have come to depend on.” industrial equipment and joins other nearIn addition to a large equipment rental by H&E facilities in Dallas, Fort Worth, and fleet, the facility provides expanded new Mesquite, TX, in serving the region. and used equipment sales, parts availabili

The branch specializes in aerial lifts, ty within 24 hours for most items, in-shop telescopic forklifts, earthmoving machinery, and mobile service repairs, training, and compaction equipment, generators, comother value-added services. pressors, and more and represents the folFounded in 1961, H&E Equipment lowing manufacturers: Atlas Copco, Bomag, Services is one of the largest integrated Gehl, Genie, Grove, Hamm, JCB, JLG, John equipment companies in the nation, Deere, Kubota, LBX, LayMor, MEC, Manitex, providing the higher standard in equipManitowoc, Miller, Multiquip, Okada, Polaris, ment rentals, sales, parts, and service. Skyjack, SkyTrak, Sullair, Takeuchi, Yanmar, Including the McKinney branch, there Wacker Neuson, and others. are 21 locations in Texas and additional

“The facility is strategically located in locations nationwide throughout the Pathe northeast corner of the Dallas-Fort cific Northwest, West Coast, IntermounWorth region, providing greater convetain, Southwest, Gulf Coast, Southeast, nience to all customers within the northern and Mid-Atlantic regions. -cmw

L-R: O’Connell Robertson’s Kim Cochran, Amy Jones and Rick Burnight

William O’Connell AIA was the ed, K12 and commercial project pursuits Department of Health’s first and provide comprehensive architecture, architect before establishing his MEP Engineering and interior design own architecture firm in 1950. Within 10 services. Its current locations allow better years, Austin ISD and famed cardiac service for current and potential clients in surgeon/artificial heart pioneer Dr. and around their regions, but the firm Michael DeBakey noticed his work. Both has worked on projects throughout Texas commissioned his firm to create environsince its start. ments to support their unique needs. The firm is also employee- and comO’Connell delivered, first with Lucy Read munity-focused. Collaboration is valued, Elementary School and then with an as evidenced by the firm’s team approach operating room to accommodate open to design and open office layout. Monthly heart surgeries. after-hours get togethers, annual all-staff

O’Connell Robertson’s second nameevents such as a bus trip/project tour, local sake, Noel Robertson, came on board in kickball, softball, bowling leagues, holiday 1978, adding MEP engineering services parties and annual family picnics, emand becoming the firm’s second president. ployee anniversaries and retirements The work continued to attract notable bond the team. With the firm’s encourclients including University of Texas at agement and time compensated for Austin, Metroplex Health System and volunteer activities during working hours, Shannon Health System, and the firm more than half of employees participate in answered the increasing workload with a activities supporting schools, healthcare, second location in San Antonio in 2000. and other nonprofits. Employees serve as

Rick Burnight AIA became the firm’s volunteers, mentors, job shadow hosts, third president in 2004 and has continued and committee and board members for to lead the firm in designing education organizations including Big Brothers/Big and medical environments. Highlights Sisters and American Heart Association. under his leadership include Texas Center With 70 years of rich history, O’Confor Infectious Disease Hospital and San nell Robertson looks forward to what is Antonio College’s Eco Centro. Overall, the ahead for the company. firm has completed more than 1,500 “Our Vision 2025 includes pursuit of projects, ranging from small renovations continued growth and focus on positive to new multi-million dollar facilities. client experience delivered through

Helping Burnight lead in the firm’s tailored solutions,” says Jones. “We are Austin headquarters is President/CEO working on exciting projects and have Amy Jones; Chris Narendorf LEED AP staff members who are smart, talented serves as Director of the firm’s San Antonio and experts in their field. We’re building office. Architecture, interior design, engion the strong foundation of our 70 years neering, LEED/sustainable design, BIM techin continuous business in Texas and we’re nology, commissioning bond planning excited about the future.” and communications services are offered O’Connell Robertson is a full-service by 70 full-time employees. architecture and engineering design firm in

O’Connell Robertson’s offices are all San Antonio and Austin. – mjm similarly focused on healthcare, higher

George Salinas, founder and president of Absolute Power Electrical Contractors.

George Salinas was first introtinue working for him while I got my busiduced to the electrical trade in ness up and running. I was doing two high school. While trying to figure jobs. I was doing Absolute Power, trying out his class schedule, his high school to get it going, get revenue going and I counselor at Holmes High School recomcontinued to be his service manager/opmended taking electrical in the school’s erations manager,” recalls Salinas. trades program. “I tried it and really Salinas, the first in his family to be a enjoyed it. I told all my friends and the business owner did not have a business next year they changed their schedules. background. He just had his high school

“I got a real feeling for the electrical education and years of experience in the trade that first summer after school when trade. He figured things out little by little I went to work for Specia Electric. After and was fortunate to call on his former graduation, I moved to Florida and went boss from time to time. “We are still to work for an electrical contractor there friends and we still talk,” says Salinas. until I moved back to San Antonio.” Celebrating 15 years in business, Ab

After moving back to San Antonio, solute Power has expanded and is now Salinas began working for Certified Elecoffering service work as part of their tric. Eleven and a half years later, after portfolio with a new service department getting his Master Electrician License, Saand a new service manager, Yolanda linas decided to venture out on his own Acuna. Additionally, the company has and started Absolute Power Electrical added two vans to their service fleet Contractor in 2005. along with an all new service software

“It was tough in the beginning. After app, all geared to better service their cusgetting my master license, I gave my boss tomers. six months-notice and started my comAbsolute Power Electrical Contractors pany. My boss at Certified Electric, George is a full-service commercial electrical conSaldona, was nice enough to let me contractor in San Antonio. -cmw

In memoriam…

William “Kim” Kimsey Cochran, 63, of Dripping Springs TX passed away Jul.19. At the time of his passing, Cochran served as O’Connell Robertson’s Chief Operating Officer/Co-CEO. Throughout his 26-year career at the firm, Cochran held several leadership positions at the firm, including construction administrator, Director of Construction Administration, and project executive.

The Marietta, OK-born Cochran was a two-time graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administra

tion with a concentration in Sports Management. He was a Certified Construction Contract Administrator and an active member of Associated Builders and Contractors.

Cochran explored over 11 countries with his family, took up motorcycle riding at age 48 and raced at the Circuit of the Americas and the California Superbike School. He enjoyed camping, scuba diving, woodworking, astronomy and learned to build a Ford Model-T.

Cochran is survived by Harriet, his wife of 30 years, his daughters Aria and Gwen, and O’Connell Robertson staff. -mjm