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CONSTRUCTION NEWS
The Industry’s Newspaper
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www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 21 H Number 8 H AUGUST 2021
Colonizing Austin
MLAW on the move
The team at Colony Hardware’s new Austin branch is ready to help customers with the company’s wide range of products and services.
MLAW Engineers’ Austin team has moved into the company’s new headquarters.
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new colony has been established in the area: Colony Hardware has opened a location in Austin and is ready to serve customers. Tools, equipment, fasteners, supplies, and safety products are among Colony’s offerings, as well as rental and repair services to commercial construction and industrial accounts throughout the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States. With its stock of over 25,000 different products from over 750 different manufacturers, Colony helps customers secure what they need to do the job and to do it safely. Branch Manager Jonathan Patton leads the team in the new office, which is located at 3733 Drossett Drive. The Austin location joins three other Texas Colony
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branches – Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth – and 35 additional stores in the north, northeast and southeast. Before the Austin location was established, Colony had grown by over 10 locations in two years. Colony Hardware is also proud to shine the spotlight on its employees. One unique way the company celebrates team members is encouraging associates to submit photos in Colony’s monthly photo contest, portraying them in action with a customer, in the community, or at the branch. The company culture also has its share of fun moments, such as its annual pre-Super Bowl Chili cookoff, and a philanthropic focus, including the company’s annual food and toy drive at continued on Page 14
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or nearly six decades, Texas structural engineering firm MLAW Engineers has experienced impressive external and internal growth. Recently, it was MLAW’s internal growth that prompted the company to relocate its Austin headquarters to 8303 N. Mopac Expressway, Suite C-280. “We were at the same location for almost 30 years, and wanted a new, more comfortable office with better amenities for our employees,” MLAW President, CEO, and Chairman James “Jay” C. Conner says. “The timing of the move was perfect to bring our employees back together after working remotely. We now have a flexible space that fits the new work/life balance. Our office is still very accessible to clients, and we are excited
to welcome our clients to our new meeting spaces!” President Jay Conner, Vice President of Production/Chief Operating Officer Brett Dvorak and Senior Consultant Dr. Robert L. Lytton PE, RPLS oversee six Texas offices. Fifty-eight team members work in MLAW’s Bryan College Station, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin (led by Dvorak) locations. MLAW’s wide range of services include rebar and posttensioned foundation design, framing and wind bracing design, additions and remodels, commercial designs, inspections, energy code compliance and audits, and HERS ratings and field testing. “We have been in business for 58 years, providing soils, structural design continued on Page 14
ACES in the whole
hen ACES A/C SUPPLY INC. opened its North Austin branch in the summer of 2016, it became the latest of the company’s eight Texas locations. Five years later, ACES has two more branches, and while they are all run uniformly, there is something special about the North Austin location. ACES Southwest Division Manager Brandon Collins says North Austin Branch Manager Jimmy Tilotta and his team of nine are so in sync, their branch can’t help but be a success. “They are always working hard together with zero internal arguing or bickering,” Collins, who oversees five branches between Austin, Corpus, San Antonio and the Valley, says. “Everyone just does their job and seems to row in the same direction. The best part is the clear communication and direction by
the Branch Manager. Jimmy has found a balance between being kind while getting the most out of his team.” All of the staff are superstars, and Collins says they each bring their unique gifts to the branch. “For instance, we have a Field Service Rep (FSR), Eric Crader, who is our tech support, and he’s really young for that role; typically, FSR’s are in their 50s and he’s in his 30s,” Collins says. “Eric is just an old soul and connects with people of all ages. In my opinion, that’s one of the hardest roles you can have in HVAC because you catch people in their worst moments; the guys are in a 130-degree attic and contractors can get impatient as FSRs recommend solutions because they are already frustrated when they call. Eric is able to smooth it over and deescalate the situation. He offices out of the Austin North Austin Branch Manager Jimmy Tilotta’s kind and calm demeanor has set the tone for ACES A/C SUPPLY Inc.’s success.
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