Covering the Industry’s News
Texas Style
PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT #1451
P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290 Change Service Requested
San Antonio H Austin
San Antonio
CONSTRUCTION NEWS The Industry’s Newspaper
ImagesFromTexas.com
www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 24 H Number 10 H OCTOBER 2021
50 years, a new start
From the pad out
As the Lynch family awaits for signage to be hung at their new location, L-R: John Lynch, Sharon Lynch, Eddie Lynch and Mike Lynch pose for a photo with the new sign.
L-R: Kirsten, Jeff, Tom, Barbara, Cody and Brooke Smith
A
fter Hurricane Celia made landfall near Corpus Christi in 1970, Johnny Christa, a glazier by trade, loaded his truck with glass and headed for the coast. He stayed there for a month, helping the community rebuild. His efforts earned him the money needed to start a company of his own. In 1971, Eddie Lynch’s father-in-law, Johnny Christa, and his good buddy and partner, Sonny Bethke, started Johnny & Sonny’s Glass Company. Soon after the company was up and running, Sonny passed away. Johnny bought out Sonny’s share of the company from Sonny’s wife and ran the company until his passing in 1985. Johnny’s wife, Patsy Christa, would go on to run the company until 2000 at which time,
Patsy offered the business to hers and Johnny’s son-in-law, Eddie Lynch. At that time, Johnny’s brother, Durwood, and he were the only employees doing work for new track home construction. That is, before double pane windows came out. “We ended up splitting the company,” says Eddie. “He went on to continue the new construction side of the business and I focused on repairs and service.” Eddie’s sons, John and Mike, joined his father as the third generation. With two generations working together, the company was making a name for itself and growing at a nice pace. That is until tragedy hit in 2011. In 2011, just as the company was putcontinued on Page 18
W
hen Tom Smith was in high school, he followed an upper classman into the construction industry and never looked back. In 1994, after working in construction doing utilities and site work, Smith came home from work one day and told his wife, Barbara Smith, “I quit my job today. I’m going to start my own company.” The next day, he called a couple of utilities contractors he knew. He informed them that he struck out on his own and asked if they had any work they could send his way. They did, and with a $100 dollars in his pocket, a half-ton pick-up truck and a couple of shovels, RTM Construction Co. Ltd. was on its way. “I was tired of making money for everybody else. We lived off of my wife’s
paycheck and what little money I could make. It was a struggle for about the first 10 years,” says Tom. RTM started out with Tom and two employees. “I had them for a couple of years and then we started growing,” adds Tom. “We had a full crew of about eight guys for about five years. It just seemed like every five years we would build to the next level adding a new crew.” Tom bought his first big piece of equipment in 1996, a 1983 Exteneherd Case backhoe. “I paid $37,000 for that $15,000 backhoe because it was a good time,” Tom recalls. “Things were blowing and going and cheap backhoes were hard to find. I stayed in that for three continued on Page 18
Five generations later
I
n 1886, James A. Travis, started painting railroad bridges and train depots. One hundred thirty-five years later, fifth generation Carlton Catalani carries on his great-great-grandfather’s work as the president and leader of Travis Industries. A far cry from painting railroad bridges and depots, today Travis Industries is a diversified industrial services contracting business specializing in what Catalani refers to as the “soft crafts” of industry. “We provide niche services including sandblasting, painting, scaffolding, industrial insulation, fireproofing and other industrial types of service lines. Most of our customer base is very much industrial in nature. Everything we are working on and in is steel and concrete type structures in industrial process facilities. We work in power generation, oil and gas, petro-chemical, food and beverage, water and wastewater, cement and
aggregate, and metals and mining facilities.“ Headquartered in San Antonio, Travis Industries additionally has branch locations in both the DFW Metroplex and Midland, TX, giving them a strong presence in North Texas and the Permian Basin. Locally, in San Antonio, Travis Industries is running about 140 people servicing the greater San Antonio and surrounding area with all of their crafts including industrial painting, coatings, insulation and scaffolding. Up in the other markets, they are running more modest groups. “We have customers all over the state and into adjoining states,” Catalani says. “We are excited to have been a part of the history of San Antonio and the surrounding construction community. We have been in it for many years and we look forward to being in it many more. Carlton Catalani, president and leader of Travis Industries
continued on Page 18
Page 2
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Everything Division 10
Self-sufficient at its best
JMEG LLC San Antonio team members L-R: Alex Rivas, Wayne Gauntt, Gary Fraser, Brenda Bozan, Ron Hayes, Benny Marroquin and Scott Persyn
I
n 2002, four electrical colleagues:,Gary Fraser, Ray Naizer, Russell Ferraro and Jerry Mills, got together to form JMEG LLC, a commercial and industrial electrical contracting firm delivering electrical contracting and facility services throughout the state of Texas. Naizer, Ferraro and Fraser had worked together a few years before starting JMEG. “We had worked at one of the publicly traded companies, one of the roll-ups that took place back in the day and didn’t make it through. When it was obvious they were not going to come out of it, we started JMEG,” says JMEG President South Texas Gary Fraser. “We were fortunate that not only did we have good client relations, we had a strong workforce that we were able to keep the bulk of together. We hit the ground running pretty quick when we started. We hit $150 million in revenue by 2007/2008, which is a pretty sizable electrical contracting company. We are at $200 million now,” Fraser adds. The Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth offices were opened simultaneously in
2002. In 2004, JMEG expanded to San Antonio. “Each of our offices are self-sufficient and are all active with the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Association supporting IEC’s apprenticeship training program,” says Fraser. “Having multiple locations, it is too hard to commute between the cities obviously, but we find that our customer base is diversified between our different locations. There is some cross-over of customers, mainly general contractors, but we pretty much have to establish relationships, business relationships independently and in all of our locations so that is why have our own management and estimating teams in each of our locations.” San Antonio is the smallest of the JMEG locations, averaging around 70 employees. Austin is a few hundred strong with the bulk of their workforce spread between Dallas and Fort Worth which are JMEG’s biggest markets. JMEG LLC is a commercial/industrial/ electrical contractor with offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio. -cmw
L-R: Eric Hernandez, Ernest Hernandez, Bo Macias, Daniel Rocha and Blake Dicke.
S
an Antonio area native Ashley Hohmann has devoted most of his adult life to the building specialties industry. He spent 22 years working in and around the Alamo City learning the trade before opening Hohmann Development Services LLC in 2002. Six years ago, Hohmann Development Services added their counter sales division for restroom partition hardware. “It has been a big hit for us and we are glad to provide such a unique service,” says Hohmann Development Marketing/ Project Manager Blake Dicke. “We are the only company in San Antonio that supplies what we do with respect to this type of hardware. We have the most common items in stock. “We are truly a better financial alternative to ordering online. We can save folks time. We can drop ship. We can deliver. We can have parts available, even if we don’t have them in stock, within a few days. When you have a restroom that’s out of commission, things can get urgent quickly. We can usually at least be a temporary
band aid for them or, ideally, we can take care of what they need full-fledged.” Specializing in Division 10 specialties, Hohmann Development Services supplies, services and installs products such as toilet partitions, toilet accessories, wall and door protection, fire products, operable/accordion doors, expansion joint covers, lockers, projection screens and cubicle track and curtains. “We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service,” adds Dicke. “People can always get a hold of us. They know our cellphone numbers. They know our emails. They know they can contact us anytime and we’ll always do our best to get them fixed up with whatever they need.” Additionally, Hohmann Development provides operable partition and restroom partition service or repairs. They also do their best to research and provide hard to find materials. They can help with ADA compliance and consulting on all aspects of division 10. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 3
Lessons learned
L-R: Yua and Rudy Davila, owners of Davila Concrete Contractors
D
espite his father’s recommendations, Rudy Davila was adamant that he wanted to start a concrete company. He asked his father to reach out to his cousin who owned a concrete company. His father did just that asking him to show young Rudy the ropes. “My father had a first cousin who was big into concrete,” says Davila. “They had been in the concrete business since the late ‘40s, early ‘50s. Back when the economy was booming, I got this strange idea that I wanted to be in concrete. I had no business being in that business at that time. I was young and stupid. I didn’t know anything about it, but I got into it and didn’t quit. “My father’s first cousin, Cruz Garcia, kind of nursed me through the first few years, basically giving us work and kind of teaching me the ropes. I was basically learning at his expense because if you know concrete, it is not a very forgiving business. That stuff gets hard. If you don’t do it right, you can lose money very quickly.” Davila had his ups and downs, learning over the years and now knows what not to do. “Knowing what not to do is the most difficult thing for people in the concrete business,” Davila says. “You have to become a part-time weatherman because you have to keep an eye on the weather. I learned that lesson in 2002 when we lost ‘big time’ when it flooded. We had so much exposure in 2002. We were doing work for Weekley, Highland, Ryland and maybe had 30-40 slabs on the ground when it started raining. “I’ll never forget it. I had this huge foundation in Summer Glen, 1800ft of exposure, ready to pour. It started raining. I lost a slab that was priced out at $80,000. I had to do it three times. I was devasted. It was a disaster. Forms were everywhere. We basically had to start over, but we finished it. We didn’t quit. That is one thing in this business, it is really easy to get discouraged. I never believed in quitting, but it did cost me.”
After that, Davila filed bankruptcy and took a break from concrete work. In 2006, Davila and his wife, Yua Davila, started Davila Concrete Contractors. They focused on commercial work and apartment complexes, but when the crash of 2008 hit, Davila learned that the bigger concrete contractors would undercut his prices to keep their workers busy. They tried doing government work but didn’t like it. “I think a job should be fun and I wasn’t having any fun. I’d go to work stressed out, come home stressed out, and I couldn’t sleep. Then you have to wait 60 days to get paid and wouldn’t get my retainage until the project is completely finished which could take a year to two years.” Davila decided to get a website and focus on residential work with some commercial. “It is a good feeling to give someone a good product with a good price,” adds Davila. “They’re happy, they give you great reviews and you get paid. It’s a lot less stressful and it keeps our guys busy. We are doing something that we like and we’re good enough to do just about any type of residential concrete work. “When I first started out as a young man, I was very naïve, but I never gave up. I believe in the three Ps – persistence, perseverance and patience. If you have those, you can accomplish just about anything. That, along with a good work ethic. People make mistakes. I’ve under bid jobs. I had circumstances - rain, bad weather, people stealing, etc; you just have to know what to watch out for. Overtime you build wisdom and that is when you stop making those stupid mistakes. But when you make mistakes, you have to make it right, no matter what.” Davila Concrete Contractors does residential flatwork, residential concrete, remove, replace, demolish, haul-off, new construction, stamped concrete, decorative concrete, colored, sealers – anything to do with concrete except leveling. -cmw
Construction News ON LOCATION
Preparing structures
Benny Sweet, WS Steel Structures, fabricates steel beams to spec for an upcoming project. -cmw
Page 4
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Hearts opened
T
he construction industry have shown year after year all the good things we do for our communities but most importantly for the foster kids in San Antonio. Through the Construct A Kids Christmas Gala and toy drive, year after year, we have opened our hearts and united together to put a smile on the faces of abused and neglected children in Bexar County. The annual Construct A Kid’s Christmas Toy Drive will be Friday, Dec. 3 from 10am – 2pm. Unwrapped gifts, toys and gift cards will be collected at the Construction News offices located at 4047 Naco-Perrin. These unwrapped gifts and gift cards will be donated to Bexar County Child Protective Services for Bexar County foster children who might not otherwise have a gift under the tree this Christmas. Imagine the face of an unsuspecting abused or neglected child of any age when he or she is handed a little something Christmas morning. Imagine the
ing that you are that someone. Ask your own children or your friends’ children what they would like for Christmas. Chances are, the children in foster care might like the same type of gift. Get ideas on items in the $15 to $25 price range, and don’t forget to include the older children in foster care, kids from 12 to 18 years of age. They too need to feel the love. Let’s bring Christmas to the children of the Bexar County foster care system. -cmw
Construct A Kids Christmas Toy Drive, 4047 Naco-Perrin
hope that child might feel knowing that somewhere out there, somebody cared
enough and was thinking of them. Now, imagine the joy your heart will feel, know-
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 5
October 1998 - October 2021 Happy Birthday Construction News
O
ctober is a special month for San Antonio Construction News. We celebrate 23 years serving our construction industry and the great folks who make it the best place to hang your hat for a lifetime. It seems like yesterday that Reesa and I decided to launch the paper. We look back and wonder how all this time could have passed so quickly. So many things have happened in the last 22 years and the world today is a very different place than when we started the paper. One sad part is the number of company leaders who we have lost in the last several years. It seems that every month the obituaries seem to increase. We are all getting older and of course that is part of life, but it is never easy to see these pioneers leave the earth. But the bright side is that a new group of younger leaders have set their sights on showing the industry they too can run the companies and continue where the old folks left off. Another good thing that has happened through the years is the number of females who
have started companies or have entered the trades. Be careful gentlemen. The ladies are here and they aim to show you a thing or two. This will be an interesting time to watch these youngsters, male and female, spread their wings and grow. There are a lot of people to thank for our many years in business. Our readers have been loyal over the years and without you, reading the paper each month there would be no purpose. To all the companies, associations and individuals who have allowed us to share your stories, you are the heart of the paper. Every month we see new people in our pages with unique stories. Last but not least our heartfelt thanks to our advertisers. Your support of our product allows us to continue on our journey covering the best industry in the world. Buddy & Reesa Doebbler Publishers
Covering the Industry’s News
Texas Style
Page 6
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
ACCOUNTING How to Avoid Ghost Tax Preparers & Other Scammers Steven Bankler, Owner Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd. San Antonio, TX
T
he American tax system is filled with tax breaks that can save you thousands of dollars, as long as you know where and how to look. But the system is decidedly not “user friendly,” which is why many taxpayers miss out. Finding a savvy tax preparer who understands the changing landscape and its moving parts is vital. But your preparer still needs to operate within the law. An unscrupulous or incompetent tax preparer, at best, will leave you on the hook for the taxes you owe (including payback of any erroneous refunds you received) along with penalties and interest incurred. At worst? You could face jail time for their digressions. “It is important to know that even if someone else prepares your return, you are ultimately responsible for all the information on the tax return,” the IRS states. That means that even when your tax preparer makes an “honest” mistake, the IRS expects you—the taxpayer—to take responsibility. How do you know you’re working with a legitimate tax preparer? The answer isn’t as cut-and-dry as it should be. Tax preparers are federally unregulated currently, but bipartisan lawmakers want to bring back federal power to regulate paid tax return preparers and mandate minimum competency standards with registration, testing, and continued education. Believe it or not, most reputable tax professionals support these efforts for regulation. Those already adhering to top professional and ethical standards understand the importance of rooting out tax preparers who do more harm than good. In the meantime, what’s the best way to choose a tax preparer? First, understand the difference between a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and other tax preparers. Business owners and highnet-worth individuals often choose to work with CPAs because they’re licensed by their state or territory’s board of accountancy and hold a degree in accounting. They can also represent their clients to the IRS on matters including audits, payments/collection issues, and appeals (so if something goes wrong, you’re not on your own). “In addition, CPAs must comply with ethical requirements and complete specified levels of continuing education in order to maintain an active CPA license,” the IRS states. In contrast, unlicensed tax preparers aren’t regulated like CPAs, licensed tax attorneys, or IRS-sanctioned enrolled agents are. They have limited representation rights and currently have no federal standards to meet when it comes to knowing and adhering to tax laws. To find the best tax preparer for you, consider looking for: • An active preparer tax identification number (PTIN). Paid preparers must sign returns and include their PTIN on the return they file. To cross-check a PTIN, search the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications. If the tax preparer doesn’t appear on the list, ask them about it (it’s not mandatory but being listed proves that they’re dedicated to continuing education and professional standards). • Clues that the tax preparer is who they say they are. If they claim to be a
CPA, for instance, verify their license online. For Texas CPAs, you can search the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy’s database. The search will also turn up any disciplinary actions against the CPA. Also note, when you do your PTIN research above, that the number they give you belongs to them. Several recent court cases include tax preparers who used other people’s PTINs to file their clients’ taxes. • E-filing of tax returns. Most paid preparers who file more than ten returns annually must file the most standard tax forms electronically. The IRS considers efile the safest and most secure way to file taxes, in fact. You’ll be asked to sign the return electronically or sign an IRS e-file authorization (Form 8879). Then, once filed, the tax preparer should send you the e-file receipt. • Best business practices. Legitimate tax preparers charge either flat or hourly rates. Those who base fees on a percentage of your refund or guarantee bigger refunds than their competitors can be up to no good. Before establishing a relationship, do not send a tax preparer your Social Security number, past returns, or other sensitive information. The IRS warns that some unscrupulous prepares have used this type of information to file false returns. • Thoroughness. Once a relationship is established, a legitimate tax preparer will ask you for more information than is convenient. They’ll need records and receipts and will be picky about the documents you present (they’ll need W-2s, not just paycheck stubs, for instance). Tax preparers who don’t need to see these documents may either fabricate your tax situation or jump to conclusions, which can be costly if the IRS spots mistakes. • Red-flag behavior (to avoid). For example, being asked to sign a blank return. You need to ensure you agree with what’s being claimed (the IRS will scrutinize your innocence once you sign your return), that your information (not your tax preparer’s) is provided for refunds, and that the preparer has signed and included their PTIN. Those who don’t sign returns and ask the taxpayer to file the return themselves are called “ghost preparers” and are named among the IRS’s most dangerous scammers. When choosing a tax preparer, don’t be distracted by slick marketing, confusing titles, or well-known names. Instead, do your research and be sure that they are as wise and as ethical as they say they are. Steven Bankler has more than 44 years of experience in the accounting industry. Steven’s expertise lies in consulting, planning, tax, and asset protection as well as exit strategy services for closely held businesses. He also provides litigation support (both as a testifying expert witness and a consulting expert), business negotiations and estate planning. Visit www.bankler.com for additional tax strategy tips and to learn more about Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd.
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 7
LEGAL
OSHA
Hear Ye Hear Ye! New Laws Coming Down the Pike! West W. Winter Attorney/Managing Member The Winter Law Firm, PLLC San Antonio, TX
D
uring the 2021 Regular Legislative Session, more than 6,900 bills were filed and over 1,000 were enacted into law. Described by some as “the most socially conservative session in a generation”, the 87th Texas Legislative Session brought many welcome changes to the construction industry. Significant Changes to Mechanic’s and Materialman’s Lien Procedures HB 2237, effective January 1, 2022, has significantly modified Chapter 53 of the Texas Property Code dealing with mechanic’s and materialman’s liens. General changes include: modification of definitions, revision of some filing deadlines, removal of the requirement for a subcontractor to provide a second-month notice to the prime contractor, addition of the ability to lien for design services and equipment rental, extension of the lien deadlines to the next business day if the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, provision of proscribed statutory forms for lien notices, and shortening of the limitations period to file suit to foreclose an M&M lien. Stay tuned to Construction News in November and December as we will provide a two-part series further detailing the changes to Chapter 53. Contractors No Longer Responsible for Design Defects SB 219, effective September 1, 2021 and codified in Chapter 59 of the Texas Business & Commerce, establishes that, with certain exceptions including contracts for the construction or repair of a “critical infrastructure facility”, a contractor is not responsible for the consequences of design defects in and may not warranty the accuracy, adequacy, sufficiency, or suitability of plans, specifications, or other design documents provided to the contractor by a person other than the contractor’s agents, contractors, fabricators, or suppliers, or its consultants, of any tier. However, under this new law, the contractor must disclose any known defects, inaccuracies, inadequacies, or insufficiencies in writing or risk being liable for the consequences resulting from the failure to disclose. This obligation to disclose applies to defects, inaccuracies, etc. which are discovered, or which reasonably should have been discovered, by the contractor using ordinary diligence. SB 219 alters the 100 year-old default rule in Texas (the 1907 Texas Supreme Court decision known as Lonergan) which held that the party doing the work bears the risk that it will end up being more difficult than anticipated unless the contract shifts that risk to the buyer of the services. Public Works Legislation HB 692, effective immediately, substantially amended Section 2252 of the Texas Government Code relating to retainage requirements for certain public works projects. Notably, maximum retainage on contracts in excess of $5 million is limited to five percent, retainage may be released when the project is substantially or fully complete, the prime contractor may not withhold from a subcontractor a greater percentage of retainage than the percentage withheld from the prime contractor by the governmental entity, and the government entity must provide the contractor notice of the basis for withholding retainage and allow the contractor to cure. Among other legislation relating to public works, HB 3069
reduces the statute of repose to eight years for suits for defects by a governmental entity. Attorney’s Fees Fo Breach of Contract HB 1578, effective September 1, 2021, amends Chapter 38 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code (which provides for the recovery of attorney’s fees, in addition to the amount of the claim and costs, if the claim is for, among other types of claims, rendered services, performed labor, furnished material, or an oral or written contract). Previously, courts strictly construed the specific language within the statute in such a manner so as to limit its applicability to claims against “individuals” and “corporations.” As such, many Texas courts held that Chapter 38 did not allow a prevailing party to recover attorney’s fees against common entity forms such as partnerships and limited liability companies. This illogical result has now been corrected by HB 1578, which makes Chapter 38 broadly applicable to claims against all “organizations” as that term is defined in the Business Organizations Code. Subject to certain exclusions, this legislation expands the application of Chapter 38 and allows litigants to recover attorney’s fees in breach of contract claims against most entity forms, including partnerships, limited liability companies, and trusts. In addition, HB 2416, effective September 1, 2021, allows for the recovery of attorney’s fees under Chapter 38 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code as compensatory damages for breach of a construction contract. Other Legislation of Interest There were many new laws enacted which are of general interest to many of us in the great State of Texas. These include “constitutional carry” (HB 1927, effective September 1, 2021) which allows for the carry of holstered handguns without a permit or training, subject to certain restrictions. A restaurant’s ability to sell alcohol to go, a byproduct of the pandemic which has been favorably received by many, will continue after the pandemic ends (HB 1024, effective immediately). To see the text of these new laws or to learn more about the legislation discussed above, please visit www. capitol.texas.gov and search for the bills in which you have interest. West W. Winter is the founder and managing member of The Winter Law Firm, PLLC. West is the immediate past-chair of the Construction Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association, and he has been repeatedly listed as one of the Best Lawyers in San Antonio for Construction Litigation. The Winter Law Firm represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in all phases of the construction process, from contract formation through dispute resolution, litigation, and collection. West can be reached via email: west@ thewinterlawfirm.com.
Fire Ant Safety Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
F
ire Ants Fire ants resemble ordinary ants. They average 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length and are reddish brown to black in color. Fire ants display aggressive behavior and they build mound-shaped nests. Interaction Fire ants attack anything that disturbs their mound (nest). They firmly grasp skin with their jaws, and then sting and inject venom. Fire ants pivot at the head and inflict more stings in a circular pattern. Symptoms The sting of a fire ant develops into a pustule (small, firm blister-like sore) in 2448 hours. These pustules can become sites of secondary infection. Fire ant venom may cause a severe reaction in hypersensitive individuals, including nausea, shock, chest pains, and in rare cases, coma. Prevention/Treatment • Be aware – don’t stand on ant nests or areas where they are foraging. • Wear boots and/or tuck pant legs into your socks to reduce the risk of bite/sting. • Use insect repellants, such as DEET or Picaridin, on clothing and footwear. • If attacked, leave area immediately while brushing off ants with the use of a gloved hand or by using a cloth. • Consult your pharmacist for treatment of minor bites and irritation. • Seek immediate medical attention, particularly if you feel short of breath or have swelling. Mosquito Control: Employers should keep in mind that eliminating mosquito breeding grounds is a highly effective way of reducing mosquito populations and the number of mosquito bites. Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. Employers with workers who
work outside, and in and around areas of stagnant water should: • Be aware of working conditions, i.e., the presence of equipment or areas where water accumulates. • Advise workers to inspect work areas and, where possible, get rid of sources of stagnant or standing water to remove a potential breeding ground of mosquitoes. • Reduce or eliminate mosquito populations by disrupting mosquito breeding grounds (i.e., whenever possible, drain ditches, gutters, etc., to get rid of sources of stagnant or standing water). • Advise workers to protect themselves from skin contact with dead birds. CDC recommends using gloves or an inverted plastic bag when handling dead birds. It may not always be possible to eliminate all potential mosquito breeding grounds. Knowing the key steps to take to minimize the risk of mosquito bites is important in reducing the risk of West Nile virus infection. Workers should c over as much of the skin as possible by wearing shirts with long sleeves, long pants and socks whenever possible. Use light weight clothing to minimize the potential for heat-induced illnesses and use insect repellent containing an EPA registered active ingredient (e.g., DEET, Picaridin) on exposed skin according to instructions on packaging. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232
Page 8
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
outside of work? Daniel: Yes. We go hunting together. We have a deer lease outside of Fredericksburg. Jay has an awesome lake house up at Lake LBJ. Jay: My parents have a lake house. We utilize it a lot. Do you live close by each other? Jay: Currently we are three miles apart, but I’m closing on a house and we’ll be five miles apart.
Daniel Boddie President
Jay Warnke
Vice President Mission1 Contractors Garden Ridge, TX
F
ate truly brought Daniel Boddie and Jay Warkne together for a purpose. That purpose was to become great friends and start a company that would allow them to make a difference in the construction industry. Share a little about your background. Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Daniel: I was born in Lubbock, TX. I moved to San Antonio when I was a toddler and grew up on the northwest side of San Antonio by SeaWorld. Jay: I actually grew up around SeaWorld as well until I was about six years old when we moved to Bulverde. Tell me about your education. Where did you go to school? Daniel: I went to Communication Arts High School for two years and graduated from Warren High School. After graduation, I went to Texas A&M where I graduated with a degree in construction science. Jay: I have always been around construction but never thought I would be in construction as a kid. I realized early on I was pretty good at it and decided to go to Texas A&M to pursue a construction management degree. Tell me about your parents. Daniel: My parents divorced when I was young. My dad was a roofing contractor in San Antonio. As a single mother, my mom worked the front desk, making minimum wage, for an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor’s office. She put herself through night school starting when I was in the third grade and graduated when I was a freshman in high school. Now she is a contractor for the military and works in compliance at Fort Sam Houston. Jay: My dad is a highway heavy civil contractor and works for Shannon-Monk. My mom is retired teacher.
L-R: Jay Warnke and Daniel Boddie
Are you married? Tell me about your family. Daniel: I am married. My wife’s name is Kate and we have been married for 11 years. Kate is amazing. She is a stay-athome mom, teacher and master chef. We have two daughters. Our oldest, Clara, is 8 years old and our youngest, Abigail, is 4 years old. Jay: My wife’s name is Diana. We’ve been married for seven years. She is a realtor with JB Goodwin Realtors and a fulltime superhero. We also have two daughters. Our oldest daughter, Lily, just turned six. Our youngest, June, will be turning three in just a few weeks. What did you do before starting Mission1 Contractors? Daniel: I worked for a big multi-national company after college. They wanted me to go to Dallas but I wanted to get back to San Antonio. They were finishing up a big job here. They had an office off of I-10 and De Zavala. It was the tiniest office for the biggest company I had ever seen. They had one job in San Antonio. It was 2008 and they left me there. I was in a role similar to what Jay is in now. Jay: After graduating from college, I got a job with the Corps of Engineers at Fort Sam. From there I went to work for a company in Houston that did ship docks, oil platforms – everything on the water. I started out as a project coordinator which is a step below a project manager. I ended up moving up to project manager, superintendent and estimator. When you guys first met, did you think you would end up working together? Jay: Working together, yes. Starting a business together, no. I started working with Daniel about six weeks after meeting him. What is it like working together and being in business together? Daniel: It is great. I don’t like preconstruction and Jay loves it. Jay makes it fun because he’ll go out and get a job. I
have nothing to do with the bidding process until bid day. Jay will hand me a set of plans and we’ll talk through the whole job on bid day. He already has his bid tabs built and his scope sheets done. After getting the numbers and plugging them in, we look through and discuss them and then submit them. Jay: Our strengths and our abilities work well together. They are not mirror images, but they complement each other well and are necessary to run a successful company. I have my side of things. Daniel has his side of things. We overlap from time to time, but we run our side of things for the most part and bring them together when needed. It sounds like a “well-oiled” machine? Daniel: We’re small, so we have to be efficient at what we do. Jay is able to do the work that it takes other companies two or three people to do. Jay, what do you do for Mission1 as vice president? I focus on estimating and preconstruction, but because of my previous experience, I’ve been a superintendent or a project manager on projects when needed. How long after college were you working before starting this company? Daniel/Jay: Six years. What was the first year like? Jay: Stressful, but we knew that going in that it wasn’t going to be easy. Nothing is ever easy. You have all this money upfront you spend getting your office ready, hiring employees, getting equipment, getting computers and internet, and then you bid five jobs in a month with the hope you might get one. Covering the overhead and not knowing what was going to come next is very stressful. But, once you start seeing the progress, it is very rewarding. Do you do a lot of activities together
San Antonio
What is the greatest part about working together in construction? Daniel: Construction is hard. It’s really hard so you have to make it fun. If you aren’t doing fun things together, it just becomes a grind. We just try to make it fun. Jay: It’s rewarding. Every day presents challenges but typically, they are different. Discovering those and figuring out the best course to overcome those challenges for the best outcome for the company as a whole gives you constant gratification. Setting minor goals and accomplishing them is very rewarding on a dayto-day basis. Being friends, being colleagues and now partners; what is the hardest part of that union? Daniel: I don’t think there is anything hard about it. Jay: What we do and trying to succeed in this industry is hard. Working together with what we have can be difficult, but it is no more difficult than anything else. We make it work. What do you do for fun? Daniel: Anything outdoors – hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, golf – if it’s outdoors, count me in. Do you do all those things together? Jay: Yes. We hunt together. We golf together. We fish together. We like to do the same things. If I’m going somewhere I’ll ask Daniel if he wants to come along and vice versa. Our hobbies are not that different. We have the same interests and the same hobbies. It makes life easy to talk about and enjoy. What would you like our readers to know about you as individuals? Daniel: I think we like to portray our core values of honesty, integrity and selflessness. Jay and I both work outside of construction in volunteer roles. Giving back to our community is very important to both of us. I think that is more important for people to know about us than what we actually do for a living. Jay: I agree with that 100 percent. We know where we come from and how fortunate we are to be where we are at our age and giving back to the community is the least we can do. -cmw
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.
SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS GO TO www.ConstructionNews.net Select “Subscribe” and choose city(s).
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 9
Building on success
A
AJ Monier fourth generation Kyle and Leslie Pennington
J. Monier has been serving San Antonio since 1908 when A.J. Monier, himself, sold plumbing fittings out of a horse and buggy wagon, up and down the cobblestone streets of downtown San Antonio. “This is our 113th year in business which spans four generations,” says General Manager Kyle Pennington. “My wife, Wesley Monier Pennington and myself are the fourth generation owner operators.” Officially third generation, Bill Monier is the president of A.J. Monier while the company is in a transition period of succession planning. Like his father, Kurt Monier, who ran the company from the ‘30s until ‘70s, never really retired. “I don’t think Bill who has been running the company since the ‘70s through the 2010s will ever officially retire. Mechanical contracting is in their blood. Bill still comes in periodically and everybody uses him as a sounding board. Being a part of building San Antonio’s skyline for so many years, he is a wealth of knowledge,” says Pennington. With a background in accounting and finance, overseeing the company has been a lot of fun for Pennington coming from a large big four accounting firm, Ernest Young, to a small family-owned business. “Numbers don’t lie and they tell a story about a business,” says Pennington. “I assist our project managers at an executive level with our large projects and review bids with estimators to make sure they are looking at projects and managing projects by the numbers and
being proactive in their approach.” Using the acronym TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More – A.J. Monier has built a great team. “We have great people with extensive backgrounds in HVAC, plumbing, building automation, welding, pipefitting and medical gas and want everybody to be able to contribute input with their skillset and their expertise, whether they are a really good mechanic in the field or a really good plumber in the field,” Pennington adds. The company is excited to partner again with Joeris General Contractors on the construction of the new Jefferson Bank Headquarters as A.J. Monier has a 40-plus-year relationship with Jefferson Bank. In addition, A.J. Monier is positioning themselves for the future. They are implementing new technology with their accounting and field software to make the flow of information more easily and efficiently attained. Lastly, A.J. Monier is in process of updating their building which they have been in since 1923. “We have been at this location for almost a 100 years and we’ve had many renovations over the years,” Pennington says. “But, it is about time for another facelift - updates for our building and for our people to enjoy. We are always trying to invest back into our company and into our people and donate to our community because that is what is important to us. A.J. Monier is just a familiar name in the industry, but our people are what make A.J. Monier a great place to be.” -cmw
Page 10
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Reading the green
M
embers of the Associated Builders & Contractors South Texas Chapter and their guests enjoyed perfect weather for the association’s fall golf tournament. The 18-hole tournament was held at the La Cantera Resort Course on Sept. 10. Over 140 golfers partook in the 8am shotgun start to try their skills in the various tournament events offered. -cmw Tournament winners: 1st Place Gross: Terracon Consultants Inc. – Jerry Nelson, John Fritchman, Tom Smith and Kirby Gorzell 2nd Place Gross: Equipment Share Team 1 – Dean Sims, RC Contreras, Scotty Trawick and Clint Freeman 1st Place Net: D. Wilson Construction Team 2 – Bill Morgan, Vance Jupe and Gabe Aguilar Front 9 Closest-to-the-Pin: Bruce Weinstrum, Dausin Electric Back 9 Closest-to-the-Pin: James Rivenbark, Yates Construction Men’s Longest Drive: Ryan Rummel, RSM US LLP Women’s Longest Drive: Jennifer Clark, Metropolitan Contracting Co. LLC Terracon Consultants Inc.
D. Wilson Construction Team 2
The Resource Guide Associations and Construction Education
Service Providers
Suppliers
Subcontractors
General Contractor
For Information on the Resource Guide Contact Buddy Doebbler buddy@ ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 11
Redfish Bonanza by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine/Waypoint Customs, Shoalwater Boats, Mercury Marine, 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
L
abor Day ends the summer for most vacationers and out-of-town anglers and it kicks off the start of hunting season. This relieves a lot of the fishing and boat pressure in our coastal waters and gives fish a chance to re-group. A lot of the guides start seeing a definite decrease in weekday charters as most anglers concentrate on weekend bay fishing. But don’t pick-up those guns and forget about those rods and reels just yet. October may just be the best time to spend on the water and can be some of the best fishing of the season. By this time of the season, mornings start out cooler with a lot less humidity in the air. After fishing the summer months, the fresh cooler temperatures are a relief. Typically, the latter months of the fishing season are best for red fishing, but this season I have seen many more reds come to the dock the entire year. Anglers have been hammering on reds all year due to low trout populations after the freeze. During the fall months is when you see the big schools of reds in the bay system. Scattered smaller pods of redfish will gather into larger schools of hundreds of fish and begin staging to migrate to the Gulf of Mexico for their winter migration. These schools will feed vigorously along the flats and shorelines, fatting up and preparing for the winter. On calm flat days we may spend the better part of the morning running the flats looking for these large schools and when we do run across them the game is on. Schooling reds will practically eat anything you throw at them. Typically, our rods are rigged with quarter ounce jig heads and a soft plastic of your choice.
Long time friend Mike Maule caught this huge 42-inch redfish while fishing near the Port Aransas Jetties in late September. Fish was released after quick photo by Steve Schultz Outdoors.
Girls day out for some of the EZ-Bel Construction office personnel. Limits of reds and several trout were boxed fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors.
Gold weedless spoons, either half or three-quarter ounce, work well also. You need to have a little heavier weighted lure to be able to throw in far when these schools are fleeing the boat. I’ve even seen guys throwing a jalapeno pepper on a hook catching feeding reds. YouTube it if you think I’m pulling your leg. Whenever possible use your trolling motor to pursue these schools of reds, for they can be very skittish and evasive. Usually when you’re the only boat on a school of reds, they will stay somewhat organized and schooled up. It’s when you get other boats coming in and jockeying for position on the next cast is when these fish will get spooked, submerge or breakup. Conservation is a huge part of my business and many of my client’s know I do not keep many oversized reds and never any trout over 24-25 inch. Please be
mindful when fishing these larger schools of red to keep only what you want to eat for a couple of meals and release the rest. Oversized reds do not eat very well and are the producers for our bay system. When releasing these fish, make sure that you carefully remove the hook and get the fish back into the water as soon as possible. Gently move the fish back and forth so that they can revive themselves and swim off naturally. Practice catch, photo and release when ever possible. My whitetail hunts are booking up rather quickly, so if interested give me a shout. To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip, give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail me at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @ Steve_Schultz_Outdoors. Good Luck and Good Fishing.
Page 12
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
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
Eyes in the Sky
H
ave you spent any time playing with the amazing satellite images you have at your fingertips these days? I don’t just mean checking out how many swimming pools are behind the privacy fences in your neighborhood either. This technology is a sportsman’s dream. The best part is that you can zoom in to get quite a bit of detail. Got a new deer lease this season? Load up the satellite images for those pastures. Zoom in close and you can see the features of the land and the locations of water that your game will be coming to. Look closer and you can see the way the contours of the land form natural funnels that the game travel through and even the very trails they use. Now you know where you want your feeders and your deer stands to be located. Couple this with some good game cameras and you get a head start on really making the most of your lease. t used to take years of hunting to get this kind of familiarity with a place and now you can do it with an evening at your computer. Satellite imagery is even more of an advantage for fishermen. Plink around on the images of your favorite lake, or the one you plan to visit next, until you find the link that lets you also see the historic images for that area. I know that on Lake Buchanan they have sev-
eral sets of images that go back for years. Some of the images show the lake full, others half empty and one even shows that lake during a flood. Older images might not have quite as good resolution as newer ones but studying them can give you great information on how the river channel travels through a body of water, what places keep water and where islands will come up. This and just the general picture of how a body of water is laid out should give you some good places to start fishing, even if you are visiting a lake for the first time. There are two other very important sources of free information that every sportsman should be familiar with on his phone, (no, don’t leave it at home… mute it, but have it in case you need it). Now days there is no reason for you to ever go out on the water without a lastminute check of weather forecast and a look at current radar. You just don’t have any excuse for putting yourself in harm’s way anymore, yet we see people do it all the time because they just don’t bother to check the weather first. The last important tool to have and learn to use are the maps on your phone. Even if you are lost your phone can show you exactly where you are and how to get back to the boat ramp or deer camp. Check it out and get on out there now and make the most of our great Texas outdoors this fall!
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 13
Racing enthusiast
can see everyone’s time on an app called LapKing. “We just finished races six and seven a couple of weekends ago. You get points for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I think it is like 10pts, 7pts and 5pts respectively and the points are accumulated throughout the season. Through seven races, I’ve gotten 1st place six times and 2nd place one time so I’m leading in the points in my class.” There are four classes - Class 100, 200, 300 and 400. Class 100 is stock right off the lot. Class 200, which is what Coon has, is aftermarket shocks which are longer and bigger in diameter, 3.0 inches in diameter, with a remote reservoir, bigger leaf springs and bump stops using the original shock suspension mounts. Class 300 are trucks with shock towers in which shocks literally come up through the bed of the truck. They are much longer and are 4.0-inches in diameter as compared to stock trucks which are 2.50-inches in diameter. Class 400 are pure race trucks. -cmw
K
enner Coon, Director of Business Development for Texas Air Products, has always enjoyed a good outdoor adventure. He enjoys hunting, fishing and fast cars. “I’ve always liked cars and fast cars,” says Coon. “I’ve got an old ’65 Mustang Fastback and an old ’41 Willys WWII Jeep that was my grandfather’s.” In 2014, he bought a Gen 1 Raptor just because he thought it was a cool truck. When one of his inside sales guys suggested that he join a Raptor Club one of his cousins were a part of, Coon gave it some thought and joined the club. He joined the club in 2015 and learned they participated in various off-road events. He has participated in the Raptor X, TRR (Texas Raptor Run) up in Blackwell, and Raptoberfest, which took place in October before the property was sold. This past year, a new organization was started called TORE (Texas Off Road Enthusiasts emerged. It’s a nine-series racing circuit that started at the beginning of the year and is held at the Rally Ready Driving School east of San Marcos. “What’s neat is you have a little transponder in your vehicle so each time you go out to run a lap, it records your time to 100th of a second,” adds Coon. “Basically, as one person crosses the finish line, they flag you to go so there is only one person on the course at a time. When you stop, your time is uploaded to your phone and you
Kenner Coon makes the 2015 Raptoberfest cover.
Kenner Coon proudly poses with his awards
Halloween fun be sure to email us your company and personal halloween photos along with captions! saeditor@ constructionnews.net
Page 14
W
urstfest, the iconic festival celebrating Bavarian culture in New Braunfels, suffered a tragic fire destroying the Marktplatz building in November 2019, not too long after the festival ended. Wurstfest was scheduled to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2020 making the rebuild a top priority. Byrne Construction, who has a long history of successful projects in New Braunfels, was approached by the rebuild committee to take on the seemingly impossible task of designing and building a new Marktplatz and support areas in 300 days. In order to accomplish that tall order, Byrne assembled a proven “dream team” with MarmonMok Architecture as their design-build partner along with HMT Engineering, Datum Engineers, M&S Engineering, and Cleary Zimmerman Engineers. This team had previously worked together on several complicated projects including Byrne’s own South Texas Office and were ready to hit the ground running. The Design/Build team met with the rebuild committee and worked
C
elebrating 100 miles of freedom, the Texas Ramp Project began in 2006 as an evolution from the Dallas Ramp Project. This non-profit organization has built ramps across Texas to serve those in financial need regardless of age, gender, religion, race or ethnicity, and exclusively uses volunteer help which allows the non-profit to operate with low overhead costs. Pre-covid, Texas Ramp Project was building anywhere from 125 to 175 wheelchair ramps, delivered completely free to recipients across the state. San Antonio alone has over 500 referrals for individuals in need of ramps to be built. The Texas Ramp Project selects recipients on the basis of recommendations from social workers and/or health care providers. Priority is given to dialysis and hospice patients, people who live alone, and people with dangerous existing ramps. “If you are building a ramp from a trailer, you have to drop 45 inches and for every inch dropped you have to have a one foot of run,” says George Swarner, Team/Surveyor/Area Coordinator. “If you have to make a turn, it has to be a flat
Construction continues on a new ramp
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Wurstfest Marktplatz together to quickly establish a base design, budget, and timeline. Demolition began in December 2019 with crews breaking ground on the new building not long af-
Marktplaz
ter. Like everything else, the project was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which threatened to delay completion indefinitely; however, Byrne was able to engage their subcontractors early with material procurement to stave off these long delays due to material shortages. Communication not only between their subcontractors, but also with the owner’s representatives, and the City of New Braunfels allowed the project to proceed smoothly. On Jul. 28, 2020, Byrne notified their subcontractors that Wurstfest had made the hard decision to cancel the 2020 festival due to the pandemic. Byrne and the project team, however, continued to work towards and successfully meet the original completion date. Wurstfest is scheduled to reopen in November and looking forward to celebrating in style with all their industry partners. Prost! -cmw Byrne Construction San Antonio, TX
Texas Ramp Project
Construction of a new ramp begins
Construction continues on a new ramp
spot, 5 ft. by 5 ft., so we build some pretty long ramps.” Like any place else, the Texas Ramp Project is in need of time, talents, and treasures. Time – they need people to give four to six hours of their time to help build ramps whenever they can. Talents You don’t have to know how to operate an electric screwdriver – they will teach you everything. If you are already have those skills, they are looking for individuals to become team leaders. Treasures – Donations to the Texas Ramp Project mean that over 92 percent of every dollar donated goes to program expenses – building and delivering ramps. “We have people who have limbs missing, in wheelchairs, on dialysis, hospice and negotiating one 7-inch step is like climbing a mountain,” adds Swarner. “So if you are living in a trailer that has five, six, seven steps, it’s really difficult. By doing this, we are granting these individuals mobility freedom to get out enjoy the sunshine, but most importantly, to get to medical appointments.” -cmw Texas Ramp Project San Antonio, TX
Newly completed ramp ready for use
Volunteers pre-construct ramp bases
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 15
Maverick Park Dog Park
T
owards the end of 2020, Amstar Inc. was chosen as the JOC contractor to construct the new dog park at Maverick Park. Years of work went into making this project a reality. The Maverick Park Dog Park was funded by the 20172022 Bond Program. The community and
Aerial view of Maverick Park’s Dog Park before grass seeding was established. Maverick Park Dog Park
local organizations raised money for the project which was completed in the spring of 2021. The project included the removal and replacement of concrete sidewalks, new landscaping and irrigation, new park amenities to include picnic tables, trash receptacles, benches, water fountains and new site lighting. New fencing was installed to separate the small and large dog areas, and a bioswale was constructed to filter out waste using rainwater. Additionally, a big item that was added was a Portland Loo, which is a stand-alone restroom to be used by park goers. The dog park’s small and large dogs’ areas provide lots of room for running around and climbing on installed stones. Owners can now play fetch or give their
F
rom the ground up, Terracon Consultants Inc. provides practical solutions to environmental, facilities, geotechnical and materials engineering/special inThe late Mike Zezula spection challenges. For this reason, they were asked to be a part of the design and construction team made up of METRO, Beaty Palmer Architects and AXIS Structural Engineers for the new Oak Hills Women’s Pavilion, a 98,500sf medical facility that will be home to all facets of women’s health and childcare, from fertility services through pediatrics. As the geotechnical engineer of record, Terracon identified and addressed challenges that the design and construction team could expect. “Being at the medical center, it is always a challenge because of subsurface water, faulting (inactive) and a lot of elevation differential which complicates matters quite a bit when you are talking about what is underground,” says Terracon Vice President, Senior Principal and Regional Manager Chuck Gregory, PE “We did hit competent yet expansive soil,
Foundation pad almost complete
dogs a quick shower onsite. Establishing the new grass seed was delayed due to the freeze in February. The new grass was finally established after different mixes were used and frequent watering. Bender Wells Design was the firm tasked for the design of the park by the City of San Antonio. Amstar used local subcontractors Barboza and Sons, Fred Clark Electric, Opiela Mechanical, Zamorano Enterprises, De La Garza Fencing and Maldonado Nursery. The Portland Loo restroom was manufactured and delivered from Portland, OR. “Being able to be a part of a project that allows you to see the impact to the community instantly is so rewarding,” says Amstar Project Manager Atanacio Carrisal. “The community was very much looking forward and ready to use this park as soon as it opened.” Amstar Inc. is a general contractor in San Antonio. -cmw Amstar Inc. San Antonio, TX
Large dog area
Oak Hills Women’s Pavilion
Oak Hills Women’s Pavilion rendering
especially at shallower depths, and some ground water when we drilled borings. We provided design and construction related recommendations to address these issues in our geotechnical report.” Material procurement and contract timing was crucial to lock in pricing and mitigate inflation risks. Terracon, along with METRO, the project general contractor and trusted advisor to the owner, the ownership group and the subs all worked to-
gether to get the job under contract and bought out. The project started May 17, 2021. The wet weather has caused a myriad of issues from rain delays to significant subterranean water encountered that was not as pronounced in the borings. A soft spot was encountered in the pad subgrade as a result of the subterranean water and the majority of piers required casing to seal off the water and allow for underreaming. Close
Mesa Equipment performs the earthwork on the Oak Hills Women’s Pavilion project.
Bioswales of Maverick Park Dog Park
coordination of drilling, steel and concrete placement in the pier excavations was critical to completing the piers successfully and efficiently. Terracon was a trusted and valuable partner that helped METRO achieve solutions to these issues. “Currently we are in the foundation stage of the project and the piers are now complete. The plumbing is in progress and we anticipate having a slab down by midOctober,” says METRO Project Executive Curtis Stavinoha. “Site challenges are how we figured to erect a 4-story tilt-wall building on such a small site. We are bringing in a crawler crane to ‘walk’ panels across the site. It will be very interesting seeing a 65-ft. tall panel hanging from a crane traveling across the site.” Mike Zezula, PE, began the structural design of the building but passed away in July 2020 before the design was completed. The AXIS team continued Zezula’s work to help finalize the project’s structural design. Beaty Palmer Architects, the architect of record, with the creativity of Senior Associate Tania Gunn, AIA compliment and complete the construction team. -cmw
Terracon Consultants Inc. San Antonio, TX
Drilling begins for foundation piers
Page 16
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Fifth Wall expands
Industry FOLKS Andrew Wainscott Engineer in Training
AXIS Structural San Antonio, TX
B
orn in Keller, TX, which is a suburb of Fort Worth, Andrew spent his entire childhood in Keller, even though his family moved around within the city a few times. He spent most of his time running around with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood or playing baseball, basketball and football for the local youth league. Now a resident of San Antonio, he goes back often to visit his parents who still live in Keller. “I went to Byron Nelson High School which is in Trophy Club, TX. Our house was on the very edge of the school district, so while I was less than half a mile from our rival high school, I would drive 30 minutes to school each day. Byron Nelson opened my freshman year and only had freshmen and sophomores so everyone became very close. I’m still very close with many of my high school friends.” Andrew graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree with a focus a structural engineering. “I had actually never heard of civil engineering until my sophomore year of high school when we were randomly assigned types of engineering to do a PowerPoint presentation on. As I was putting together the PowerPoint I realized that civil engineering is exactly the type of engineering I was interested in.” As an engineer in training, Andrew designs beams, columns and foundations, as well as drafts plans using Revit. In addition to that, he also goes on site visits throughout the construction pro-
cess to inspect rebar placement, joist and deck installation, and sub slab investigations. “My job with Axis Structural lets me get out onto sites for inspections fairly often where I get to interact with the construction crew. I also get to work with a lot of general contractors throughout our design process to ensure we’re making our plans as easily constructible as possible. Every project presents its own set of challenges and getting to find the solutions for them is a very rewarding part of my job.” Professional engineers, Nick Dudley and Mike Bratten, are Andrew’s mentors whom he has been working under for nearly four years. “They have always been there to help me along the way. Their engineering knowledge and willingness to help me succeed has been a great help for me. By giving me more responsibility but still being there for me to fall back on when I need help or have questions, they have instilled a confidence in me that I will carry with me forever.” Andrew is a big fan of anything outdoors. He loves to go hiking, camping and hanging out at the lake. His family has a ranch outside of Devine that he loves to visit as it is an extremely peaceful place when he needs a break. “I also love to take road trips and one day hope to visit all 63 National Parks.” -cmw
E
Texas Fifth Wall Roofing Systems management team L-R: Tony Zahtila, VP of Sales; Will Smith, VP of Operations; Jody Delino, CFO and Todd Hewitt, President
stablished in 1973 in Austin, TX, Texas Fifth Wall Roofing Systems Inc. has been offering new construction, reroofing, repair, and maintenance services to the construction industry working with a breadth of roofing materials. In 2009, Texas Fifth Wall expanded, opening its second office in San Antonio to support growing demand in the Alamo City and South Texas. Since then, the company has continued to grow. In June, Texas Fifth Wall expanded again. This time into the Metroplex to provide a base for supporting customer demand in Dallas and Fort Worth. The new office is located in Arlington, TX. “Our growth strategy has always aligned to what our customers need from us, and for decades they have been bringing us to the four corners of the state,” said Texas Fifth Wall President Todd Hewitt. “Our business in the DFW market has grown to such a level to support sales and operations in the region, and Arlington is ideal for a centralized footprint.” Texas Fifth Wall has been building its team in the DFW area for the past year.
They currently have five team members dedicated to sales and estimating, and operations with additional shared statewide resources. As the company continues to expand its presence in the Metroplex, Texas Fifth Wall expects the team to grow significantly in 2022. “We are certainly proud of our strong foundation from Austin, and even more proud when our customers lead us to new markets like the Dallas/Fort Worth area,” adds Hewitt. “We have been careful and strategic in our expansion. We find our customers pull us to new markets because of our focus in three areas. One, we support our customers’ success. We are a team that understands our individual customer’s needs. Those needs are different for new construction, reroof and service. We are really attuned to catering our offerings and services to what our customers want. Secondly, we are good at solutions, very good at solving problems like finding the right products to avoid material delays. Lastly, we deliver value. We are comprehensive and consistent, and very efficient in the ways we operate.” -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 17
Smashing Success
Industry FOLKS Deborah Wertheim Accounting Supervisor
L.C. Mosel Co. San Antonio, TX
A
T
Smash My Trash truck grinds waste down.
he mobile waste compaction service, Smash My Trash, celebrates five years in business and a bit over a year in the San Antonio and Austin markets. The innovative company originally franchised in Houston, Dallas and Austin and has been successfully growing while helping business owners save on their waste hauling expenses. “We are a mobile on-site trash compaction service,” says Darrell Cooksey, owner of the Austin and San Antonio market franchise. “Whenever a customer has a trash container (dumpster) that needs emptying, we show up and smash it. “Ideally we come in when the dumpster is 50 percent full rather than at capacity. By coming in when the container is at 50 percent, you are going to maximize the compaction, which will extend the need for hauling it off. Less haul-offs equal lower waste expenses. Even after the smash fees, our customers are realizing 30 to 40% savings.
Smash My Trash has been operating a little over a year in the Austin and San Antonio markets and already have over 115 recurring customers and growing. “People are starting to discover our business. Luckily, it is one of the fastest growing franchises in the nation. So with that recognition comes education and people are starting to learn about our service and how much money they can actually save on their waste,” Cooksey states. “We work with you to determine the best schedule for your needs in order to maximize your savings. After that, you can set it and forget it, we will take care of everything from there.” Cooksey points out that they do not smash concrete and masonry, heavy steel, and mattresses. Mattresses do not crush down or tear apart. Smash My Trash offers project base smash, recurring smashing and on-demand smashing from North Austin to South San Antonio. -cmw
lthough Deborah Wertheim was born in Dodge City, KS, she grew up in San Antonio. She attended St. Mary Magdalen, Blessed Sacrament, Nimitz Jr. High School and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. She has one son, Matt, one daughter Lorelei, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren, all of which enjoy the outdoors. They love boating, waterskiing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, kayaking and paddle boarding. They also enjoy running marathons which they mostly do for charity events. Deborah has a big heart for animals and has always had a dog or two. In the past two years, she lost her beloved Roady, a 16-year-old German Shorthair, and Re-Re, a 14-year-old Corgi. Because it was so hard to lose them and, because they were like family, she has not decided if she wants another dog. She currently has two indoor and three outdoor cats. All are females. They all started out as feral, but now are her best buddies. One of her outdoor cats is a Polydactyl which means more than the normal of toes on their paws. She had a total of seven toes on each paw and a total of 19 toenails on those toes. This is Deborah’s third cat to have multiple toes. She had a twin brother with the same extra toes. Deborah came to working in the construction after meeting Louis and Kurt Mosel. She was working for the National Skeet Shooting Association when she met the two long-time members. They were looking for a bookkeep-
er at the time and the rest is history. Deborah is in charge of all the accounting duties at L.C. Mosel which include accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, general ledger and the whole bookkeeping package. “I really like all the aspects of my job,” says Deborah. “I must since I have been here for 22 years. I like seeing all the numbers balance to the penny. I have been very lucky and blessed to have a great job and a great boss to work for.” The great outdoors must run in the blood. Deborah has her fair share of outdoor activities that she partakes in. Her hobbies include reading, swimming, skeet and sporting clay shooting. “I used to bird hunt – ducks, geese, pheasants and dove with my friends and my great bird dog, Roady. I haven’t shot skeet or clays much lately. Mostly just at the yearly MCA shoot.” Additionally, Deborah says she loves to travel and visit new places. One of her favorite places to visit is Hawaii. For the past 20 years, she’s been trying to get to Australia to visit one of her best friends who has a room and a car waiting for her to travel around the island. She also enjoys going out to eat and trying new food experiences. -cmw
Page 18
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
If you had a chance to start all over and follow a different career path, what would it be? Day care! People will always need a safe place to leave kids while working. My brother Darryl is great with kids and we have a big family. We have always had friends stay with us. My parents would let them stay as long as they were in school. We hear about bad day care stories all the time. We would be the ideal place to take your kids for a great and safe environment. Lakeisha Brown, All Materials Construction LLC I played a lot of sports as a kid and always thought I might have been a decent coach but I never really pursued it. I think I would have been good at it. Jay Warnke, Mission1 Contractors That’s a question you could drive a truck through. I would like to do a whole bunch of different stuff. I’d like to be a movie star, rock guitarist, a pro fisherman, NASCAR driver, you name it – all those fun things. I think it would be a lot of fun. Carlton Catalani, Travis Industries Industrial Services If I had a chance to start over and follow a different path, I think I would have probably tried to get on SNL making part of my personality is to be entertaining. I like to show that side of me outside of work. I love to entertain and I think being on SNL making people life like Chris Farley, Adam Sadler and Will Farrow - all the people I grew up watching - would have been fun to make people laugh and entertain. Kyle Pennington, A.J. Monier Service Co. I would be playing centerfield for the San Francisco Giants. Gary Fraser, JMEG Electrical Contractors I think I would be a lawyer. It’s not something that I ever considered but knowing what I know now and how much they get paid for a minute of your time… Daniel Boddie, Mission1 Contractors I don’t think I would want to start over and take a different path. You always think, ‘I could have done this or I could have done that,’ but the mistakes we make in life give us opportunities to grow and mature in different ways. I like the way things have
turned out for me. I am fine where I’m at and I’m glad that I made the decisions and I would not want to change. I’d do it the same way. Rudy Davila, Davila Concrete Contractors I don’t think I was made for anything else. I don’t think my mentality and my thoughts would take me away from construction. I fell in love with this business back when I was working for other people. I wanted to master it and be the guy that everybody wanted. Tom Smith, RTM Construction Co. Ltd. I’ve thought about that before and have mused that I would like to be a research scientist of some sort. I think there is a lot of fascinating breakthroughs and discoveries in many different fields. I just think it would be fascinating to be a part of that. Todd Hewitt, Texas Fifth Wall Roofing Systems Inc. My major in college was public relations. I suppose it would be something along those lines, utilizing that a little more. Perhaps something in writing, too. I’ve always enjoyed writing. Blake Dicke, Hohmann Development Services LLC Rewinding back to my college days, I always wanted to get more into medical device sales. My buddy was going to medical school and I was mechanical engineering. We would day dreamed about using our degrees to develop some crazy technology that would help a blind person see with the use of a tiny camera that could be attached to the optic nerve or technology for prosthetic limbs that could actually hook into the nervous system so they would work and not just slide on but were actually functionable. Kenner Coon, Texas Air Products If I had to start all over and choose a different career path, I think I would like to be a park ranger at a national park. I feel like that would be a very fun and rewarding job to have. Andrew Wainscott, AXIS Structural
continued from Page 1 — Johnny & Sonny’s Glass Company ting in their first computers, hooking up to the internet and installing their first credit card machine, Eddie and his boys watched as their company burned to the ground when a neighboring space caught fire. “It was like a week before I went into the Marines,” says Mike. “We got our trucks out,” says Eddie. “That was the only thing we got out.” “There were pools of melted glass,” adds Mike. “It looked like puddles of water, but it was literally pools of burnt glass.” That became a huge turning point for the company as the generosity of the San Antonio construction community and the community, in general, came through. “It was tough, but we were out doing jobs the next day,” Mike states. “People would call saying that they heard we had burned down and would ask if we were still working? I could use you to fix my windows they would say. They would call just to help us out,” adds Eddie. “Then we had two contractors that helped us out,” John adds. “The Beyer Boys and Hoss Construction let us use a building that was vacant with no rent. We were out 364 days – one day shy of a year. We went to Beyer and used their space for a couple of weeks until Hoss Construction, who was over in the same area, let us move our stuff over there. We didn’t have much. Most of our stuff comes in everyday – what comes in goes out. Haas
gave us a warehouse bigger than the space we are in now. We were there until we got back into our space and he never charged us a dime.” It’s been a long road, and through it all the company is excited to celebrate its 50 years in business with the purchase of their first non-lease office and warehouse space. The new location is highly visible and easily accessible. “We have plenty of room for more inventory, equipment and our trucks, with room to grow,” says John. “The best part is, we won’t have to share an office anymore.” The company serves San Antonio’s and the surrounding areas’ glass repair needs specializing in residential glass and commercial glass solutions. They offer products such as window glass, shower doors, glass table tops, mirrors and glass shelves as well as screens and solar screens. Residentially, they also provide products from custom mirror work to beveled glass and mirrors, non-glare picture frame glass to plate glass, tempered glass, patio door glass and roller replacement, plexiglass, Lexan and more. Commercially, they provide commercial glass, safety glass and storefront glass replacement and desktop glass. Johnny & Sonny’s Glass Company is a family-owned San Antonio based residential and commercial glass company. -cmw
continued from Page 1 — RTM Construction Co. Ltd. years. Around ‘97/’98 we started doing good and was able to hire a couple of crews.” The Smiths purchased a 14-acre piece of property in 1999. On the property was a small house with a detached garage which would serve as RTM’s offices and shop until they were ready to expand in 2008 at which time Tom says, “I’ll never forget. The day I poured the slab, my phone stopped ringing. It was 2008 and the crash began. It took us four years to complete the construction of our new offices and shop.” In 2001, Barbara came to work for RTM full-time. Having always done the company books, Barbara continues overseeing the company and started really focusing on the company. Today, as the company’s CFO and comptroller, Barbara is as much of a fixture in the company as Tom is. Their two sons, Jeff and Cody Smith, are heavy players in the company as well. Jeff is RTM’s vice president and senior estimator. Cody is vice president/COO and logistics manager. “We are grooming them to take over the company,” Tom adds. “They have been involved in the company since the day I started. During the summer and holidays, they would go to work with me. Jeff and Cody both knew how to run backhoes by the time they were 12 years old. They have been around it forever.” Truly a family business, Jeff and Cody’s wives, Kirsten and Brooke Smith respectively, also work at RTM. Kirsten is RTM’s estimating coordinator while Brooke heads up RTM’s Human Resource Dept.
Tom says the hardest part about starting his company was not having the money for manpower. He had to do a lot of it by himself. He didn’t have money to hire a bunch of people and a bunch of shovels. “We dug everything by hand. If it was an 8 ft deep ditch, we dug it by hand. That was the hard part. When you are young and you don’t have the financial backing, you have to do everything by hand or ask for a lot of favors,” says Tom. “I do want to take my hat off to a lot of friends I have made through the years that have helped me in my business. They gave me things that I needed to perform certain projects so I didn’t have to go out and rent. They would let me borrow equipment until I was able to get on my feet. Having friends really helps you to develop. “It’s about building relationships with customers like clients, employees, past employees and keeping that relationship going. When somebody calls like a client, a general contractor, a developer, an engineer, an architect and they have an issue, I want them to always remember us to call us on utility issues. I like to help my customers, my general contractors, with questions that they have. I like to be a helping hand to my competitors. When I leave this earth and go to heaven, I want everybody to remember that I did my due diligence because people helped me to get where I’m at today,” Tom concludes. Located in Adkins, TX, RTM Construction specializes in anything from the building pad, not the slab, and out - sitework, underground utilities and concrete -cmw
continued from Page 1 —Travis Industries We have been on the grow like many construction businesses even through challenging times like we had last year with COVID”. “We’ve done a really job at having longevity with the folks that work for us and building a really good qualified and experienced crew which isn’t as easy as it used to be in the construction industry. We have a core group of folks that have been with us many years. I have a handful of guys that go back to my early days. As a matter of fact, there are guys that have an even greater longevity with the company than I do.” While their services are a bit more specialty in nature, Travis Industries counts themselves as fortunate. “Not everybody does what we do in this market,”
adds Catalani. “San Antonio is not known as an industrial hotbed. It’s a great construction town, but where we work and the folks that we serve are in heavy industry. Until the oil and gas boom some years ago, we didn’t have a whole lot of it. I’m glad to see that is changing for this market. It is a wonderful development and it brings an economic benefit to the region.” Travis Industries is a provider of Industrial Painting & Protective Coatings, Abrasive Blasting & Industrial Cleaning, Scaffolding, Industrial Insulation, and Intumescent Fireproofing services throughout Texas and the Southwest. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 19
Association Calendar
Construction cup 2021
Content Contentsubmitted submittedby byAssociations Associationsto toConstruction ConstructionNews News ABC
IEC
Oct. 7: Breakfast Club, Alamo Café, 14250 San Pedro Ave., 7am. Oct. 8-9: Fishing Tournament, Paws & Taws, 402 N. Fulton Beach Rd., Rockport, TX. For info, contact Leah Villarreal at 210-342-1994 or email leah@abcsouthtexas.org
Oct. 5-9: IEC National Convention & Apprentice Competition. For more info, contact Julie Tucker at 210-431-9861 or email jtucker@iecsanantonio.com I-LinCP
Associated Builders & Contractors
AGC
Associated General Contractors
Oct. 5-6: OSHA 10 Hour, AGC Chapter Offices, 10860 Guldale, 8am-4pm. Oct. 9: 27th Annual Safety Fair & BBQ Cook-off, Helotes Fairgrounds, 12210 Leslie Rd., Helotes, TX. Oct. 26: 5th Annual San Antonio Construction Safety Summit, Alzafar Shrine Auditorium, 901 N. Loop 1604 W., 7:30am3:30pm. For more info, call Kelly Wilson at 210-349-4921
he Construction Leadership Council (CLC) held their annual CLC Construction Cup softball tournament Sept. 11 at Lincoln Park. Eight teams played in the double elimination tournament. With all but two teams left, Architectural Division 8 and Guido Construction met in the championship game to decide who would walk away with this year’s construction cup. Architectural Division 8 clinched the first place spot, leaving Guido Construction ready for a rematch in 2022. -cmw
Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects
Oct. 12: Expert Webinar Series via Zoom, 12-1pm, Non-member $25. For info, contact Carla Bingaman at 512-263-5521 or email Carla.bingaman@i-lincp.org NAWIC
National Assn. of Women in Construction
Oct. 6: General Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels 7th Flr., 5:30pm, Members $25; Guests $50. For more info, contact Jessica Quintanar at 956-789-1291 or email jessica@qsafetytraining.com MCA-SMACNA of San Antonio
AIA
American Institute of Architects
Oct. 7: COTE Monthly Meeting, Zoom Webinar, 12-1pm. For more info, call 210226-4979 ASA
American Subcontractors Assn.
Oct. 21: General Membership Meeting, The Barn Door Restaurant, 8400 N. New Braunfels Ave., 5:45pm, Members $45 on or before Oct. 13, $50 after Oct. 13, Non-Members $60 on or before Oct. 13, $70 after Oct. 13. Oct. 26: San Antonio Construction Safety Summit, Alzafar Shrine Auditorium, 901 N. Loop 1604 W., 7:30am-3:30pm. For info, contact Jennifer Swinney at 210-349-2105 or email jennifer@asasanantonio.org ASSP American Society of Safety Professionals
Oct. 18: Regular Chapter Meeting, Southwest Research Institute (SWRI), 6220 Culebra Rd., 11:30am-1:30pm. For more info, go to www.southtexas.assp.org CLC Construction Leadership Council
Oct. 28: CLC Golf & Mixer, San Pedro Golf, 6102 San Pedro Ave., 3-8pm. For info, call Kelly Wilson at 210-349-4921 GSABA
Greater San Antonio Builders Assn.
Oct. 7: 3PAC Fundraiser. For more info, email info@SABuilders.com HCA de SA
Hispanic Contractors Assn. de San Antonio
Oct. 13: Monthly Membership Meeting & Mixer “Hispanic Heritage Celebration,” Location TBD, 5:30-7:30pm Oct. 15: HCA de SA Fall Golf Classic, The Golf Club of Texas, 13600 Briggs Ranch, 9am Shotgun. Oct. 27-28: OSHA 10 in English, HCA de SA Offices, 2391 NE Loop 410 #206, 12-6pm. For more information, contact Victoria Rodriguez at 210-444-1100 or email vrodriguez@hcadesa.org
s
Independent Electrical Contractors
T
Mechanical & Sheet Metal Contractors Assn.
Oct. 4-5: SW Pipe Trades Conference, Hyatt Hill Country Resort, 9800 Hyatt Resort Dr. Oct. 13: Regular & Associates Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 New Braunfels 7th Flr., 11:30am. Oct. 27: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA Office, 206 E. Nakoma, 11:30am. For more info, contact Sandee Morgan at 210-822-3763 or email sandee@mca-smacna.org PHCC
Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors
Oct. 1: Nominations for Board of Directors accepted. Oct. 14: Membership Meeting, Alamo Café, 14250 San Pedro Ave., 11am. For more info, call Heidi Trimble at 210-8247422 or go to www.phcc-sanantonio.org SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.
Oct. 28: SAMCA Golf Tournament, SilverHorn Golf Club of Texas, 1100 W. Bitters Rd., Registration 12pm, Tee Time 1:30. For more info, contact Debi Solis at 210347-2423 or email thesamca@gmail.com TACCA
Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.
Oct. 21: Member Meeting, Location TBD Oct. 28-29: TACCA Annual Conference, Lakeway Resort & Spa, 101 Lakeway Dr., Lakeway, TX. For more info, go to www. tacca.org Nov. 1: 32nd Annual Golf Tournament, The Club at Sonterra, 901 E. Sonterra Blvd. For info, call Dawn Thompson at 210-9014222 or visit taccagreatersanantonio.org TSPE Texas Society of Professional Engineers
Oct. 22-23: TSPE Leadership Training Conference, The Menger Hotel, 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, 12pm. For more info, contact Mike Bratten at 210-8242908 or email mike@axisstructural.com
Submitted to Construction News
Round-Up
Congratulations to Branden Derks who has been promoted as ISEC’s Executive Vice President and Board of Directors. In his new role, Derks will leverage his 20-plus years of experience to continue advancing growth, driving key initiatives, and enhancing business partnerships. Derks will provide strategic direction for ISEC’s regional teams working in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas while overseeing preconstruction, marketing and organizational development teams in ISEC’s corporate office. -cmw
Architectural Division 8, 2021 Construction Cup champions
O’Connell Robertson is pleased to announce the promotion of Davis Eubanks to Associate. He has been with the firm for five years, and contributes to planning, project delivery, construction administration and project management for K-12, higher education and healthcare clients. Eubanks works with the design team to develop thoughtful and innovative solutions responsive to each client’s unique needs. His involvement with projects helps to ensure successful implementation of solutions. -cmw
I
In memoriam…
ndustry friend, leadthose goals. er and partner, Kelly Performance EquipDurham, passed away ment Service is rolling and gained his wings into its 17th year of on Aug. 19 after losing business as a premier his battle with COVID. milling and soil stabili Kelly led an honzation subcontractor. est and happy life All three children are serving his country in running day-to-day the United States operations and plan to Army for 10 years. He continue developing continued his career and growing the busiserving the Texas ness to carry out the heavy highway, aslegacy that Kelly phalt industry and worked so hard for. various organizations. Kelly truly was one His experience in of a kind. He was a reKelly Durham, heavy equipment markable man who Performance Equipment Service sales built a solid fountook care of his family, dation and relationships, turned into friends, employees and the industry he friendships for many miles across the truly loved. He will be dearly missed. state of Texas. His involvement His three children, Kendall, Lauren with industry leaders and organizaand Dustin Durham encourage and tions helped him create, build and suswelcome friends, industry partners tain his own business. In 2004, Kelly and organizations to reach out to Peropened the doors of K.L. Durham formance Equipment Service to help Construction, also known as Perforcarry on his legacy. mance Equipment Service. His goal In lieu of flowers or cards, please was to create a legacy for his three chilmake donations to one of the three dren and grandchildren to carry on, charities Kelly held near to his heart – and to create a life he was proud of Promised Land Outdoors Texas, Stick and would provide for himself and his Horses and Capes, and Headwaters for wife, Donna. He certainly achieved Heroes. -cmw
Page 20
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Primer time
J
ust in time for the 2021 Dove Season, the Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA de SA) hosted their annual Paloma Primer Fun Shoot on Aug. 26 at the San Antonio Gun Club. One hundred twenty shooters participated in the fun shoot before the sky let loose for a show-stopping downpour. -cmw
Paloma Primer winners: 1st Place: IBTX – Tom Quintero, IBTX; Bruce Culver; Edward Pape, Vaquero Group and Clyde Culver
2nd Place: M&M Contracting – Trey Wooten, Tommy Hanson, Travis Franzen and Dan Corrigan
3rd Place: All Texas Electrical Services Pito Garcia, Brent Tomes, Ken Schilling and Allen O’Dell
HCA de SA Paloma Primer committee
Team IBTX
Individual Male Top Shooter: Tom Quintero, IBTX
Individual Female Top Shooter: Alejandra Tamez, F.A. Nunnelly Co
Bent Barrel - Most Room for Improvement: Estela Garcia-Perez, Fairway Landscape and Nursery
Luckily, CN’s Buddy Doebbler had an umbrella with him when the activities came to a halt due to a torrential downpour.
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
O
Topping innovation
n Aug. 26, Sundt Construction Inc. celebrated the topping out of the 127,000-sf Innovation Center for Port San Antonio. The Innovation Center will prominently feature a 2,500-person multi-purpose arena on the building’s southeast side. The new facility will host various events, including concerts, electronic gaming, technology competitions and trade shows. The facility will be in the heart of the
JOB SIGHTS
Page 21
1,900-acre technology and innovation campus that is already home to over 80 employers and more than 14,000 employees, including leading names in the aerospace, cybersecurity, robotics, and defense sectors. “This is a great milestone on this innovative project,” said Jon McKelvain, Sundt’s Project Executive. “Our team has worked hard to get to this point and looks forward to completing this project for the Port.” -cmw
BM3 Construction’s Mario Maldonado and his nephew, Mario Maldonado, frame and install sheetrock at Quality Fasteners’ new warehouse facility. The general contractor on the project is Red Hawk Contracting. -cmw
O
Song birds
n Sept. 2, the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Association hosted their Song Bird Series Hunting Event. After an afternoon of dove hunting, guests were treated to a private concert with award-winning songwriter Roger Creager. -cmw
PMI Group – representatives from PMI Sales, Hughes Supply, Milwaukee Tool and Harrell Plumbing
L-R: Debra Kraft, Freund Enterprises and Veronica Gonzales, Lonestar Premier Outdoors take part in the festivities of the PHCC Song Bird Series Hunting Event.-cmw
L-R: Fernando Ferdinand and Julian Rodriguez, Beyer Mechanical, measure and discuss the installation of overhead air conditioning ductwork at the Quality Fasteners new warehouse facility project. -cmw
Rafael Perez, Spin-off Construction LLC,reinforces trusses on a new Take 5 Oil Change facility on Nacogdoches Rd. -cmw
Page 22
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Golden anniversary
I
E-Z Bel Construction President Stephen Park
n recognition of their 50th anniversary, E-Z Bel Construction LLC hosted a fundraiser and appreciation event Sept. 23 at the National Shooting Complex. The event’s purpose was three-fold in nature: to show appreciation for everyone’s support of E-Z Bel – past, present and future; to give back to the community and to have fun! Over 250 guests were in attendance. All of which had had some type of connection to E-Z Bel over the past 50 years and intends to continue that connection over the next 50 years. The main event was a two-course, 10-station, 100-clay double-cage sporting clay shoot, followed by raffles, white board auction, live auction, live music by the Jerry de Leon & Southbound, a cornhole tournament and plenty to food and drink for all. All of the net proceeds from the shooting event, cornhole tournament, raffles and auctions will be split between three local charities. In keeping with the 50-50 theme, E-Z Bel will be matching up to $50k of net proceeds. “We’re aiming for a cumulative
$100k fundraise which will be split between the San Antonio Food Bank, Good Samaritan and ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Mentor of San Antonio,” says E-Z Bel President Stephen Park. “E-Z Bel’s purpose is to build opportunities through constructing our communities and these three organizations all fit and help us further that purpose. “We’ve really been overwhelmed by the amount of support the event has received. It’s been no different than our projects in the sense that it’s an undertaking that’s had people coming together to do something for the greater good. San Antonio and our industry are made up of incredible people and we’re beyond excited to give back. Fifty years of business is worth celebrating and to do it in this way is a gift. “When Roy and Lydie started E-Z Bel was back in 1971, I’m sure a 50-year celebration seemed pretty far-fetched. To have them there celebrating what they started is icing on the cake!” The E-Z Bel family would like to say “THANK YOU” to all of the sponsors and participants for making it happen! -cmw
E-Z Bel Construction CEO Michael Rodriguez (center) with his parents and company founders Lydie and Roy Rodriguez
L-R: Randy Hood, E-Z Bel Construction; Jeff Holt, Laconic Enterprises/USMC Retired and Captain Steve Schultz, Steve Schultz Outdoors
L-R: Jason Lasala and Juan Acevado, Beasley Tire Service warm up for E-Z Bel’s cornhole tournament
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021
Page 23
Barbeque & clays
O
n Aug. 26, the San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association (SAMCA) hosted the SAMCA Sporting Clay Shoot and Barbeque Cook-off. The event, held at the San Antonio Gun Club, hosted 51 shooters and four cooking teams. -cmw
Section A Clay Shoot winners: 1st Place: Josh Abel 2nd Place: Edward Pape 3rd Place: Tom Quintero
Section B Clay Shoot winners: 1st Place: Guy Williams 2nd Place: Nicolas Schill 3rd Place: Chantz Butler
Section C Clay Shoot winners: 1st Place: Fernando Keller 2nd Place: Mike Atwood 3rd Place: Leroy Jackson
Josh Abel
Guy Williams
Fernando Keller
Chef’s Choice: Team Just For Fun Groesbeck Masonry
Best All Around: Team FJ Full Rack BBQ FJ Enterprises
Best Brisket: Team Boracho BBQ San Antonio Masonry and Steel
Best Chicken: Team FJ Full Rack BBQ FJ Enterprises
Best Pork Spare Ribs: Team FJ Full Rack BBQ FJ Enterprises
Page 24
San Antonio Construction News • OCTOBER 2021