San Antonio Construction News April 2022

Covering the Industry’s News

Texas Style

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CONSTRUCTION NEWS The Industry’s Newspaper

www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 24 H Number 4 H APRIL 2022

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Word gets around

The Lawn Ranger

L-R: Gilbert Carrillo, Lisa Carrillo and Pedro Vazquez

Shane Schirmer working on irrigation site

verybody remembers their childhood home. Gilbert Carrillo remembers his quite well and recalls the house he lived in for 17 years as always having plumbing issues. One such issue which came to mind was a leak in the family shower. The leak had gone unnoticed to the point that termites had begun to take advantage of the situation.

It seems, according to Carrillo, that the person who had come out to fix the original leak did not know exactly what he was doing. “It look good on the outside, but he didn’t do it right behind the wall and another leak developed,” recalls Carrillo. “We had to hire a licensed plumber to get the job done right. Being an inquisitive young boy, I watched him as he made the necessary repairs. I wanted to

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s EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering welcomes its 55th year in business, CEO Rudi Rodriguez reflects upon the history of the business.

In 1967, a small company was established by an electrical contractor who wanted to supplement his electrical work by building electrical junction boxes.

They began producing everything from barbecue pits to steel building components and electrical junction boxes.

In 1969, Ted Rodriguez joined the company in the role of management consultant. He was given one-third of the stock. By 1974, Ted’s stock ownership increased to 50 percent and the company began to change focus. It began branding itself within the electrical industry, giving rise to EPI-Electrical Enclosures.

That was a great year for EPI. Current owner Rudi Rodriguez joined his father Ted that very year as vice president of product development and sales. The company launched their first NEMA 1 & 3R en-

be hands on to see what he was doing.”

By the time Carrillo started high school, he decided he wanted to learn a trade. He was curious about electricity and thought he wanted to be an electrician. He began taking electrical trades in high school and eventually learned electricity was not the trade for him. He later began taking plumbing classes at St. Phillip’s College, earned a one-year certificate and went to work for a small plumbing company.

“It was a very small company – no insurance, no nothing,” he recalls. “I ended up getting hurt on the job. I had fallen through a soft spot on a roof while unclogging a sewer line that was on top of the house. I fell through the roof, through

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hane Schirmer is expanding his current company (Texas Roots & Landscaping) in both services and territory. Recently, Schirmer acquired TriCounty Sprinklers and the new company is Texas Roots Landscaping and Irrigation.

The company provides landscaping, lawn maintenance, outdoor lighting and irrigation. The irrigation backflow testing keeps your drinking water safe. They provide testing and repairs throughout the year for both residential and commercial properties.

“San Antonio is very famous for our water restrictions, holding irrigators responsible for conservation – conserving one of our most important natural resources,” says Schirmer, “and we do

continued on Page 18

want clean water.”

The company is a family-owned and operated business, along with his wife and partner, Jordan Powers. For the past several months, Schirmer has been setting up the new irrigation addition – hiring and training the right people to include CEU classes for certification.

Currently, Schirmer will still be hiring more installers and technicians throughout the year.

They are looking forward to opening up a new location in Corpus Christi very soon, serving the Corpus Christi area and the valley. In the future, he plans on opening a location in Austin.

“The original goal of Texas Roots Landscaping and Irrigation was to be a continued on Page 18

Slow and steady closures and wireway groups. They were on their way to establishing themselves as a full-line electrical manufacturer.

A year later, the father/son duo bought out the remaining shareholder of the company to own 100 percent of the company’s stock.

The company began expanding into the Austin, Houston and Corpus Christi markets by the late ‘70s. With substantial growth, the company purchased 15 acres in 1981 to build a new plant and offices, making way for further growth.

By 1985, they had succeeded in developing all of the five different NEMA Product Groups. The addition of the NEMA 4, 4x and 12 Industrial product group laid the ground work for continued growth and development.

The ‘90s brought industrial product accomplishment to the company. During this era, EPI’s engineering group made it EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering CEO Rudi Rodriguez

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San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Web of Walls

The call of the wolf

Spider Wall Systems Inc. team members Front L-R: Pablo Hernandez, Shay Caddell, Adolfo Gonzalez and Karen Taylor. Back L-R: Brad Bookout, James Melibary, Jarred Lozano, Moises Gonzalez and Chris Russell

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radley Bookout has been around the trades most of his life. His father was a concrete contractor, he worked as an excavation contractor and now, he is a general contractor in North Texas.

When Bookout got out of high school, he went to work for Lasco Acoustics and Drywall, a large drywall and acoustical contractor in Dallas, TX. There he learned the ins and outs of framing, installing drywall and running ceilings.

Eventually, Bookout found himself working for a building material distributor selling metal studs, wallboard and ceilings to contractors.

When the recession of ’08 happened, he was working as a sales manager for a company that ended up filing for bankruptcy. By 2010 Bookout found himself without a job. At 29, with a small child and a mortgage, he had invested 10 years in the industry and was doing very well for his family.

Although his wife Amy was working as a nurse, he was out of a job and was having trouble finding anything in the construction industry. “I had always had a job,” says Bookout. “Nobody was hiring.”

With a leap of faith, Bookout decided to take matters into his own hands and started Spider Wall Systems Inc. “I got some work doing remodels and MOB finish-outs,” he recalls. “I got all my tools together, went and did this little job. I had no insurance; no people and I was

paying for materials out of my personal checking account. It was tough. For about 18 months I was subcontracting labor and wearing tools while I was trying to figure everything out. It started with just me. I didn’t have any people. I went out, sold the jobs and figured everything out after that. It was all born out of necessity, I knew I had to make it work to survive. ”The company philosophy is ‘Make It Work.’ Every day you run into something you simply have to figure out how to make work,” says Bookout. “We pride ourselves on being problem solvers.”

In 2013, Bookout sold Spider Wall Systems Inc. to a group of employees and stayed on as president and director, overseeing the company. They are all still working together to this day. Spider Wall Systems Inc. is a full-service commercial framing, drywall and ceilings specialty contracting company serving the Central and South Texas Construction markets.

Their service area includes Austin, San Antonio and all of the surrounding areas.

They have experience in hospital and health care facilities, education, laboratory and cleanroom facilities, professional office and tenant finish out, metal buildings, industrial and manufacturing facilities, tilt wall and core work.

Spider Wall Systems Inc. A commercial framing, drywall and ceilings specialty contractor serving the Central and South Texas construction markets. -cmw

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Jack Wachsmann (Far Right) with his talented roofing crew.

ack Wachsmann started sweeping chimneys for a chimney company in Dallas, TX before moving to the New Braunfels area when the company wanted to establish a location in the New Braunfels/San Antonio market. When their attempt was unsuccessful, Wachsmann decided to go into business for himself.

He started out as a chimney sweep and chimney repair guy in 2008. While he was successful with his chimney sweeping and repair business, chimney sweeping and repair in South Texas doesn’t really keep you busy year round. He knew he needed to add something. One of the things he found on the chimney side of business, when you find something wrong, you have to fix it. Certified through the Chimney Safety Institute of America, Wachsmann and his crew are required to inspect everything, even if they are just doing a sweep. Sometimes they find a problem with chimney itself and sometimes, they find a problem in the roof.

In 2016, Wachsmann added roofing and siding, and started Wolfman Roofing & Siding, after learning the ins and outs of roofing and siding.

“When I first started, I didn’t really know much about it,” admits Wachsmann. “We naturally have to replace shingles when we rebuild a chimney. That’s

kind of where we started. I started learning all about it, going to different conferences and just learned by doing the book work. And then I learned about what a roofing system is. A roof is not just shingles on boards. There’s more of a system than just slapping on shingles. There’s ice and water shield. There’s synthetic underlay. There’s metal flashing, and there is a lot of preparation that goes into it before you can start throwing on shingles.

So when you start thinking of it that way and explain it to your customers that way, they get a better understanding as well. It took me about three years to become really knowledgeable about roofing.”

Wolfman Roofing and Siding performs complete exterior home renovation. “We can do anything on the exterior – masonry, stucco, siding, roofing, chimneys; whatever you need done,” states Wachsman. “We can do your exterior or attic side renovation.”

Curious as to how Wachsmann came up with Wolfman as part of his company name, he says he thought back to a college course he once took. “I wanted something that people would remember,” he recalls. “I took a college business course on things that strike people’s memory.

“This portion of the class was about how people remember things, and how we don’t realize people remember things. The section of this course was about naming a business. People remember things based on things that normally make them fearful, rhymes, and there were a list of other things of ways people remember. If you have a catchy rhyme, or a catchy jingle or something of that nature, then that helps you remember if you hear it enough times. If you remember the jingle, you remember the name of the company.

“I remembered that course. I remembered the fear factor. Then I thought, I’d like to do something that’s fun, but that people could also remember. Growing up, I liked the movie Teen Wolf. Then my dad said, ‘Well, if you’re thinking of something like that, you should go with both wolf and man. Your name is Jack. Everybody remembers Wolfman Jack.’”

Wolfman Roofing & Siding performs a full array of roofing services for both residential and commercial as well as working with all insurance companies to help during the claims process. Their service area is vast. They will go where they are needed but primarily service San Marcos to south of San Antonio and those surrounding areas.

Wolfman Roofing & Siding is a full-service roofing contractor located in New Braunfels, TX. -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

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Stroke of a brush

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The Bookout Commercial Interiors team Front L-R: Shay Caddell, Marco Rubio and Brad Bookout. Back L-R: Korean “Kory” George, Nathan Shields, and Fernando Chavez III

n 2015, Bookout Commercial Interiors was started as a commercial painting company focusing on providing commercial finishing and wall covering services.

With the years of experience working in the drywall and acoustical ceiling trade, Bradley Bookout was ready to start a new chapter in his construction career. He started out just as he had before, selling jobs. The company started out doing small finish-out projects until picking up a contract to paint Gold’s Gyms at which time the gym giant was expanding and opening locations throughout Austin and San Antonio.

“We’re a young company,” says Bookout. “We have a young crew of people that are extremely hard working both in the field and in the office. We’re problem solvers. When we walk away from a job, we want our clients to say, ‘I hope we get to use those guys again.’”

San Antonio proper up into New Braunfels is Bookout’s coverage area.

However, if given the opportunity to texture coat tiltwall buildings, Bookout Commercial Interiors will go up into the Kyle-Buda area. “It’s a different game,” he says. “I really like texture coating exteriors. If given the choice, it’s all I’d do.”

When Bookout started Bookout Commercial Interiors, it was a one-man show. Today the company has 20 employees and is running about 30 subs.

“We specialize in interior and exterior painting for buildings of all types and sizes. From offices to warehouses, stores, strip malls, hotels and more,” he adds. “We work with reputable vendors and use only the highest quality materials from vinyl, cork board, dry erase to paper.”

Bookout Commercial Interiors is full-servicer commercial painting contractor in New Braunfels, TX. -cmw

Traveling too much

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Temp Tex Air Conditioning & Heating team

hen Tony Jimenez’s air conditioning unit broke in his house, he called a local air conditioning contractor to repair it. Watching the technician work on his unit, Jimenez found himself very interested in how he was able to diagnose and fix the problem.

Jimenez stroke up a conversation with the technician and learned he had gone to St. Phillip’s College to learn his trade.

Jimenez, who had been in the medical field for 14 years when his unit broke had earned his degree from St. Phillip’s and was surprised to learn they offered that type of degree. Intrigued, Jimenez looked into the program and started taking classes in air conditioning and refrigeration in 1998. He earned his degree in air conditioning and refrigeration in 2000 and went to work for a local air conditioning contractor.

After a couple of years, Jimenez went to work for another contractor doing controls for H-E-B stores. He then started traveling all over the country, Central America and Mexico doing controls for Walmart, Mochi Bodega and different grocery store chains.

With two young boys, Jimenez’ wife was concerned he was traveling too much. In 2006, Jimenez resigned from his position and started studying for his state exam. In 2007, Jimenez opened Temp Tex Air Conditioning & Heating after passing and receiving his master license.

Getting his company up and running proved to be a bit difficult at first. “It was difficult getting my company name out there at first,” recalls Jimenez. “We did a lot of door-to-door hangers and flyers.

We even did some advertising in some of the local newspapers. It was a little difficult, but we weathered the storm and we’re still here.”

Celebrating 15 years in business, family-owned and operated, Temp Tex Air Conditioning & Heating provides new construction HVAC for residential and commercial service as well as residential and commercial service work from small mini-splits to 30/40-ton systems, serving San Antonio on its surrounding areas.

Temp Tex Air Conditioning & Heating is a residential and commercial HVAC contractor located in San Antonio. -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Earth-friendly demolition

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arth-friendly demolition? Yes, the two can co-exist! This Earth Day, it’s critical to witness just how far the demolition industry has come when it comes to environmental stewardship. According to the Construction and Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), more than 583 million tons of recoverable construction and demolition materials are generated in the U.S. annually. Thanks to reputable demolition contractors, much of that waste is recycled and handled with the environment in mind.

“Most demolition contractors will engage in at least basic recycling of metals,” says Timothy Ramon, president of JR RAMON Demolition, which has been providing commercial, residential, and industrial demolition and support services across Austin, San Antonio, and South Texas for more than 50 years. “But materials such as concrete, asphalt, asphalt shingles, gypsum wallboard, and wood are notoriously more difficult to recycle.

Finding demolition contractors committed to responsibly recycling these materials isn’t easy, but it’s a commitment worth making.”

And efforts don’t stop there. Thanks to innovations and advancements, environmental stewardship can be extended from recycling to deconstruction and waste reduction in the following ways: Recycling JR RAMON can now recycle 98% of materials calculated by weight from an average job site. This level of recycling can only be achieved by recycling the aggregate and inert materials mentioned above. One aspect, in particular, is making a big difference: recycling concrete block brick. JR RAMON operates its own San Antonio concrete crushing yard where the material is separated, crushed, cleaned, and then made available as an aggregate for resale. According to the CDRA, recycled concrete aggregate per-

forms better, is higher-yielding, and weighs 10-15% less than comparable virgin quarry aggregates. It’s also a meaningful way to reduce landfill waste streams while minimizing the environmental impact of urban quarries.

Deconstructing Some demolition projects are spectacular displays of force. Others require extreme finesse. For these latter projects, deconstruction is an art form. In San Antonio, deconstruction projects are an environmental effort steered heavily by the Office of Historic Preservation. The Deconstruction & Reuse Program was launched in 2018 to recapture building materials from the waste stream and redirect them into our communities for reuse.

Reducing Hazardous Waste The third environmental priority for the demolition industry is in reducing pollutants and hazards to the environment during the demolition process.

Demolition contractors can carry out this commitment in several ways: • Properly categorizing, identifying, handling, and disposing hazardous waste, whether it be asbestos, lead, chromium, mercury, PCBs, or other dangerous materials.

• Pollution mitigation. Water conservation during dust collection and dust suppression on a demolition site, in particular, has become a top priority.

• Investments in cutting-edge technology for heavy equipment and vehicle energy efficiency and emission reduction. The adoption of electric and battery-powered equipment is one example.

As Ramon points out, though, there’s one benefit that surpasses all others.

“This is our community, too. Whatever we can do to preserve the environment is for the benefit, health, and safety of our families,” he says. “That’s why we champion these efforts.” -cmw

WATCH VIDEO

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

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From risk to managing partner

Committed to evolving needs

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ina Valorz joined Steven Bankler’s CPA firm in 1996 and Bankler Advisory, the investment advisory service of Steven Bankler’s CPA firm, in 2001. Today, Valorz is the managing partner for Steven Bankler CPA Ltd. She was elected to the position in 2020.

Gina graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School before enrolling at UTSA where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting degree. “My mother always stressed the importance of education and being able to take care of myself. I enjoyed the accounting class I took in high school and after doing a little research, I realized it was a career path that would enable me to support myself as well as a family.”

At the time, UTSA was basically a commuter school.

Gina drove to and from school every day, working part-time her junior and senior years.

She joined a few clubs during her time at UTSA and was in the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society.

Gina and her husband David, both on their second marriages, have been married a little over 10 years and have a blended family. She has two sons. David has one son and one daughter.

Together, they have one dog, a chihuahua/beagle mix. Her name is Cassie.

They adopted Cassie from a rescue about 10 years ago and according to Gina, is the family’s little princess.

As managing partner of Steven Bankler CPA Ltd., Gina is responsible for managing the operations of the firm, which includes the firm’s financial performance, personnel, business development and more. Along with the members of their executive committee, Gina is working on taking Steven Bankler CPA Ltd. to the next level while also maintaining their company culture and creating a lasting foundation that will carry their firm into the future.

“I enjoy working with our staff. Our firm has grown so much so rapidly that it’s been a challenge to manage the change, but it’s also been a joy. They each offer different experiences and perspectives, which enables growth, both professionally and personally.

“We’ve serviced construction clients

HOLT Trucks Centers team members check out HOLT’s first Nikola Tre Bev truck

Gina Valorz, Managing Partner, Steven Bankler CPA Ltd.

for as long as I’ve been with the firm, which is 25 years now. Construction clients have unique tax and accounting challenges. For example, a lot of contractors use the cash method of accounting but don’t realize that if they use the completed contract method they won’t pay tax until their contracts are essentially complete. . Working with a knowledgeable CPA can be a critical part of business success.”

Two people have influenced Gina over the years. One was a CPA that she worked for while still in college. “She is the person who convinced me that I needed to sit for the CPA exam, become a CPA and settle for nothing less.” The other mentor is the founding partner of their firm, Steve Bankler. “He hired me 25 years ago. He was a little hesitant because, at the time, I had only stayed for two years at each place I worked. You could say he took a risk with me, but it turned out well, and I’ve been here ever since. He has helped me to grow, take chances and be confident as a leader in the firm.”

For relaxation and fun, Valorz enjoys date night with her husband, walking the dog, getting together with family, UTSA football games and Spurs basketball games. -cmw

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t was all the buzz at HOLT Truck Centers Feb. 24 when the company received its first on-highway, zero-emission, battery-operated class 8 truck. The Nikola Tre BEV will be joining HOLT’s fleet for parts delivery, with plans to have the truck available to customers through HOLT Truck Centers later this year.

“We are so excited to jump into this market,” says HOLT Truck Centers Vice President Brandon Acosta. “There’s a lot to share around how this is going to impact our customers, our opportunities to be a little less of an impact on the environment and the ability to provide them with another tool in their tool belt to serve their end customers.”

The Nikola Tre BEV can travel up to 350 miles on a full charge, delivers zero-emissions and is charged through a non-proprietary CCS type 1 connector and charging station. The benefits of Nikola vehicles are lower operational cost, improved safety, more power and less noise. Another feature is regenerative braking, which slows the vehicle down and generates energy back into the battery.

In the coming months, HOLT will be setting up their drivers on regional and local routes to better understand the range of the vehicle. “We don’t know what the future looks like, but we do know that we want to be a part of the energy transformation that’s happening in the market so we can support our customers regardless of their preference,”

adds Acosta. “Diesel power is an innovation that has helped our world get where it is today, and we have been a part that for years. But we also know that customers will always need new solutions. We strive to be on the cutting edge and be a part of those solutions.”

When asked about the feel of the truck, Acosta had this to say: “The cab is very roomy. I bet David Robinson could stand up in this cab. The pickup is pretty significant because there is no transmission. It gets up to speed relatively quickly without having to shift through gears.

There is very low cab noise. You only hear the external wind noise.”

HOLT expects to have more Tre BEV trucks in their fleet by the third quarter of this year. “We’re using this first truck to validate what we think the value proposition is for all customers,” adds Acosta.

“We want to make sure we can support them and give them an idea of what they can expect on a mile-per-mile cost. We want to ensure the next trucks we get will be ready for partnering with customers.”

Nikola Corporation is the leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles (BEV), fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and energy infrastructure solutions. In July of 2021, HOLT Truck Centers became the only authorized dealer of the Nikola class 8 (33,000+ lbs.) trucks in Texas.

HOLT Truck Centers® is part of the HOLT family of companies. -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

ACCOUNTING Preparing your business exit strategy Cristina R. Baumgardner Partner Ridout Barrett & Co., PC San Antonio, TX

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ou have built it from the ground up and spent years perfecting your product or service, but now you are thinking about selling your business. It is a significant undertaking that requires foresight, thoughtful planning, and an honest look at yourself and your business. If done correctly, it is one of the most exciting times for a business owner that results in the funds and freedom to begin a new adventure in life.

Below are points to consider during the planning stage for exiting your business.

When is the right time to sell?

“When is the right time to sell?” is the first question to ask when thinking about exiting your company, and it’s both financial and personal.

Financially, a significant amount of your income and wealth is likely tied to your business. Will the sale of your company provide the funds necessary for your next adventure? Has your business reached maturity, or is it still growing?

Before selling an income-generating asset, it’s important to project what you may receive for the business versus what you will personally need in the future.

Plan in advance Planning several years in advance is key. Depending on whether or not you plan to sell to a key employee, or a third party will determine the time frame for planning. This will enable you to take measures to increase your company’s value, make the operations less dependent on your efforts, find the best options for exiting your business and plan for taxes.

Not planning in advance will result in a longer timetable, a lower valuation, and increased stress for the entirety of the transaction.

Keep your financials and documents in order It’s nearly impossible to value a business or identify opportunities for improvement without accurate financials.

You should keep all your financial statements updated on a regular basis. Sales forecasts and financial projections should also be updated. Projections can be a powerful tool for making well-informed decisions and showing a suitor the business’s future potential.

All corporate documents should be centralized. Keeping your financials and documents in order will help you assess the current state of your business and be ready to engage with a suitor. Having everything in order not only speeds the process but will help build a suitor’s confidence in buying the business.

Discuss valuation and strategies with your CPA Estimating the value of your company is an important first step. It helps to set your initial expectations, enables you to identify opportunities to increase value.

Companies in your industry may be valued based on revenue and income metrics such as monthly recurring revenue, historical revenue, historical EBITDA, and or future projections. Other metrics such as the number of customers, average customer lifetime value, gross margin, customer acquisition costs, and customer attrition may affect valuation.

You can identify which metrics are important and find industry comparisons by researching industry reports. Investment firms and business brokers often publish research that includes metrics on completed transactions. This research can also provide valuable information on industry trends.

You may benefit from a professional valuation. There are many reasons why a company might be interested in buying your business, and thus, your business may be worth more or less to different buyers. An expert advisor can help identify the strategic and synergistic value a business may provide to different buyers and adjust the valuation accordingly.

This can help you focus on potential buyers who might be willing to pay the most for your business.

Maximize your company’s value Businesses that are dependent on an owner are not as valuable as businesses that aren’t. A suitor may decrease an offer, hold back sale proceeds or require that an owner remains with the company post-sale for a certain amount of time.

Ideally, the owner should take steps to decouple themselves from operations.

Business owners may create a plan for increasing value, and that plan may include short-term and long-term tactics, all depending on the time horizon.

Trimming unnecessary expenses, cutting unprofitable customers or low-margin products, investing in sales, and investing in management are all ways to drive value. Management should document all critical business processes and the resources needed for each. Employees should be cross trained so that no process is dependent on just one employee.

These steps will decrease the risk for a buyer, ensure a smooth transition and thus, increase the amount they are willing to pay.

Plan for taxes ahead of time Tax planning should not be an afterthought of your sale process. It should be one of the first things you consider. Tax optimization strategies go beyond just the business because they must consider both the company and the owner(s). Depending on the situation, there may be steps you should take from an estate planning perspective well before starting the sale process.

The type and structure of the transaction may play a significant role in the timing and amount of income an owner realizes.

Each situation is unique, which is why owners should work closely with their advisors. They can help maximize both the enterprise value and the net proceeds from the transaction. If you are thinking about selling your business, please contact our office to discuss your situation. Our expert advisors can help provide the guidance needed to maximize the value of your business, minimize your tax consequences and maximize your wealth.

Cristina R. Baumgardner, CPA/ABV, CFE, CIA cbaumgardner@rbc.cpa Cristina graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with her Bachelor’s in Accounting followed by her Master’s in Finance. As well as being a CPA, Cristina holds the Accredited in Business Valuation credential, the Certified Fraud Examiner, and the Certified Internal Auditor credentials.

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

LEGAL

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OSHA

Unfinished Business: Challenges with Design-Build in Texas

National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week

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

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

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n August 2020, I wrote in this column about “A Unique Disadvantage for the Design-Build Process” in Texas given the enactment of Senate Bill 1928 in the 86th Legislative Session. While design-build has several advantages over traditional project delivery methods such as design-bid-build (e.g., single source of accountability for the owner, enhanced communication among project participants, and faster project completion times), Texas law had added a serious disadvantage in connection with certificate of merit requirements for disputes. As described in that article: In Texas, for years “the plaintiff” has been required to obtain a certificate of merit—a presuit affidavit signed by an appropriately qualified person—in order to pursue a claim arising out of the provision of professional services against an architect, a professional engineer, a professional land surveyor, a landscape architect, or their respective firms. In 2014, the Texas Supreme Court held that a third-party plaintiff—a party generally seeking to pass derivative liability to others (known as third-party defendants) by mechanisms such an indemnity and contribution—need not obtain a certificate of merit as it is not “the plaintiff” and, in any event, requiring such would be illogical [as it would odd to require such defendants seeking to pass liability downstream to file a certificate supporting the merits of the plaintiff’s claim, thus requiring the defendants to abandon their denial of the merits]…. With the above as the controlling law, where an owner sued a design-builder and the design-builder sought to join its subcontracted design professional (whether an architect, an engineer, or otherwise), the design-builder would not have to obtain a certificate of merit.

SB 1928 fundamentally changed the process, as statutory references to “the plaintiff” were replaced with “Claimant,” and “Claimant” became a defined term meaning “a party, including a plaintiff or third-party plaintiff, seeking recovery for damages, contribution, or indemnification.” As required by SB 1928, where an owner sues a design-builder and the design-builder seeks to join its subcontracted design professional, the design-builder would now have to obtain a certificate of merit—an affidavit stating that the design-builder, through its subcontracted design professional, did something improperly. This is the illogical result that Texas Supreme Court sought to avoid.

The inequity of this is obvious, and seriously undermines design-build as a preferred project delivery method. But certain state representatives have recognized this issue, and House Bill 3162 was filed as part of the 87th Legislative Session. The “Author’s / Sponsor’s Statement of Intent” for the engrossed version of the bill provided as follows: In 2019, the Texas Legislature enacted legislation that extended the certificate of merit requirement for plaintiffs who file suit against certain licensed or registered professionals to all claimants who file such suits. An unintended consequence of that legislation was that it created problems for design-build projects because it forced some parties to admit liability in order to deny liability and has led to insurance coverage issues. H.B. 3162 seeks to address this unintended consequence by exempting design-build projects from the certificate of merit requirements in certain suits.

To address the issues, HB 3162 sought to add a new statutory subsection providing that a third-party plaintiff that is a design-builder or design-build firm is not required to file a certificate of merit in connection with filing a third-party claim or crossclaim against a design professional claim arises out of a design-build project in which a governmental entity serves as the owner.

While limited to design-build projects where a governmental entity was the upstream party, this was a significant step in the right direction to mitigate the negative impact of SB 1928 from 2019. Unfortunately, while HB 3162 was reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on State Affairs, it never made it to a vote by the Senate.

Thus, the “unintended consequence” of SB 1928 remains in place with respect to design-build projects in Texas: Some design-builders will be forced “to admit liability in order to deny liability.” This odd and absurd result will have to wait until a future legislative session, or other legal challenge, to be rectified. In the meantime, those involved in design-build projects or considering a design-build project should be aware of this significant legal disadvantage. My comments in this column from August 2020 still hold true today: [I]f an owner contends that a design-builder did something wrong that implicates the design, the design-builder will be placed in the uncomfortable position of either: (1) defending against such a claim without the design professional as a party or (2) having to obtain an affidavit that the design professional (and the design-builder by extension) did something wrong in order to join the design professional. The first scenario potentially leaves out a party who is appropriately joined in the case, and may inhibit settlement. The design-builder and its subcontractor may understandably be reluctant to work towards resolving an issue that they believe is at least partially caused by design-related matters in the absence of the architect or engineer. The second scenario results in the design-builder effectively aiding the owner in proving the owner’s claims against the design-builder.

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

This issue is a known problem and, unfortunately, an entire legislative session has come and gone since SB 1928 was enacted. Perhaps the next legislative session will provide relief.

R. Carson Fisk is a construction attorney, mediator, and arbitrator and shareholder at Andrews Myers P.C. in Austin, Texas, and is board certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He may be reached at cfisk@andrewsmyers.com

This year, work zone safety awareness week is April 11- 15th.

There must be a traffic control plan for the movement of vehicles in areas where there are also workers conducting other tasks. Drivers, workers on foot, and pedestrians must be able to see and understand the routes they are to follow.

The authority in charge, Federal, state, or local, will determine the configuration of the temporary traffic control zone for motorists and pedestrians. The construction project manager will determine the internal traffic control plan within the construction/demolition worksite. When there are several projects, coordinated vehicle routes and communication between contractors will reduce vehicular struck-by incidents.

Standard highway signs for information, speed limits, and work zones will assist drivers in identifying, in designated traffic paths, such directives as: EVACUATION ROUTE; DO NOT ENTER; REDUCED SPEED AHEAD; ROAD CLOSED; and NO OUTLET. Using standard highway signs for internal construction worksite traffic control will assist workers in recognizing the route they are to use at the construction site.

Standard traffic control devices, signals, and message boards will instruct drivers to follow a path away from where work is being done. The authority in charge will determine the approved traffic control devices such as cones, barrels, barricades, and delineator posts that will be used as part of the traffic control plan.

These standard devices should also be used inside the work zone. Work Zone Protections Various styles of concrete, water, sand, collapsible barriers, crash cushions, and truckmounted attenuators are available to limit motorist intrusions into the construction work zone.

Flaggers and others providing temporary traffic control should wear high visibility clothing with a background of fluorescent orange-red or yellow-green and retroreflective material of orange, yellow, white, silver, or yellow-green. In areas of traffic movement, this personal protective equipment will make the worker visible for at least 1,000 feet, so that the worker can be seen from any direction, and make the worker stand out from the background. Flagger stations should be illuminated. Flaggers should be trained/certified and use the signaling methods required by the authority in charge. Check the label or packaging to ensure that the garments are performance class 2 or 3. Drivers should be warned in advance with signs that there will be a flagger ahead. Flaggers should use STOP/SLOW paddles, paddles with lights, or flags (flags should be used only in emergencies.) The STOP sign should be octagonal with a red background and white letters and border. The SLOW sign is the same shape, with an orange background and black letters and a border.

For more information, see https:// www.workzonesafety.org/ natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

Page 8

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

cleaning stuff and when you apply the contact adhesive to laminate, I would roll it. Then, after a few months of doing that and watching how things were done and which routers are for what, I started using the routers. Then I started using the chop saw, jigsaw and putting cabinets together - nailing them together, screwing them together, laminating and pretty much started doing all of it.

John Rodriguez, Jr., President & CEO, JR Millwork LLC, San Antonio, TX

U

sing his imagination, as a young boy, John Rodriguez, Jr. was always building things with his toys.

That passion carried on into adulthood using his new toys.

Did you grow up in San Antonio?

Yes, I was born and raised here. I graduated from Roosevelt High School.

Did you go to college?

No. My mother wanted me to go to college, but I knew the college route was not for me. I really wasn’t a hard-core student to sit at a desk taking notes all day.

I’m more of a hands-on student, using my hands.

I wasn’t a bad student in high school.

I was smart enough to know I could get by and just never really applied myself. I just wanted to stay eligible to keep playing basketball.

You played basketball in high school?

What position did you play?

I was a shooting guard. After high school, I actually played in a couple small semi-pro leagues around Texas.

How did you get started in the millwork business?

I have always been around it. I guess I was around 12 or 13 years old and actually learned a lot during the summers. I worked with my dad during the summers sometimes and on the weekends. I liked seeing what they were doing. Seeing things here and there, I picked up a few things. I caught on pretty fast just being around it and I’ve always enjoyed building things. Even as a kid I was building things with Legos, Erectors sets, Connects and all that stuff. It always came easy to me.

I started working with my dad’s company, for my dad and his partner right out of high school. I really liked it. I’ve always liked physical stuff. I’m not an office cubicle kind of guy. Ironically, my dad works for me now and he loves it – clock in, clock out and no headaches.

When you started working for your dad, what did you start out doing?

Mostly just labor type work like

You said you went to Roosevelt High School, did you grow up in the Roosevelt area?

No, I actually lived in Converse, but I was part of the Magnet School that was at Roosevelt. I was supposed to go to Judson High School, but I was able to go to Roosevelt through the Magnet School. It was the Design & Technology Academy.

The school offered a lot more designing on computers like architecture, making web pages, creating cartoons on computer programs and things like that.

It was cool, but after a while, I realized I would rather be actually doing the work instead of sitting in an office behind a desk.

What was it like growing up in the Converse area back then?

You know, there were a lot of different cultures. You were always meeting different people. Roosevelt was the same way. It was like a melting pot of different people and cultures. It was pretty cool.

Your father worked in the millwork trade, what did your mother do?

She was a teacher, which is why she really wanted me to go to college. She started out as an elementary school teacher and then became a special education teacher. From special ed she taught at an alternative middle school and then later as a substitute teacher.

She was a lifelong student. I remember when I was 12 or 13 years old, she was going back to school to get her master’s degree in psychology at UTSA. She loved school - she went to school, she worked at school, she loved it. We had a room in our old house that had a loft and it looked just like a library with bookcases of books.

Some people are right brain, some are left brain. I got some from her but I got a lot from my dad. She really wanted me to go to college but trusted me that I knew what I was doing. She actually passed away a year and a half ago but was she was able see me start my business and see it take off from the very beginning.

She watched me go from the beginning, working as a cabinet maker all the way to starting my business. I think by then, she got it and realized I knew what I was doing.

I have to credit Construction News for that because one of my main contractors saw an article Construction News wrote on my company a few years ago. He knew my dad and he knew me from working with my dad, but when he saw the article, he contacted me and said I needed to start doing some work for him.

John Rodriguez, Jr. (center) with his dad John Rodriguez (left) and Brian Beaufort

When did you start JR Millwork LLC? I started the company in 2013 when I was 27 years old.

What do you specialize in in the millwork scope of work?

Pretty much anything plastic laminate - plastic laminate cabinets, countertops, we will laminate walls. Occasionally we’ll do elevator partitions, but a lot of it is just cabinets countertops. However, I’ve made a lot of connections that we are able to outsource like granite countertops, and solid surface countertops. We do a lot of office buildings, doctors’ offices, lawyers’ offices, corporate offices and such.

Was it difficult for you to go out on your own and start your own company?

Work-wise no; like how to build the cabinets, measuring and all that, I had already been around long enough to know how to do that part. The starting the business was not difficult either like going through and getting the right paperwork, the EIN and all that. I had always wanted to learn about business management, so I learned a little bit before I started. Luckily, a lot of the connections that my dad had, I used. They knew me, they’d seen me on the field.

The hardest part getting started was probably learning time management and scheduling. When I first started, I had one or two jobs, and it was easy to get the work produced by the specified time.

The best and worst thing that happened to me was, about three months in, I got slammed with eight jobs and they all had to be done within a month of each other.

I was working 12 to 13-hour days. It was outrageous. But after that, it became easy because It started to learn little things to manage my time better utilizing my guys more at different stages of production.

Tell me about your wife and kids.

My wife’s name is Amber. She’s great!

We have a lot of things in common. She’s a very hard worker too. When I met her, she had just finished college, and she had three jobs. She actually had three jobs while going to college. She had just stopped one at Liberty Rehab, working with patients, when I met her. She was working at the GNC nutrition store and

San Antonio

John Rodriguez, Jr. with his wife Amber, daughter Kya and son Zayne

was a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym. We met at the gym about a year after I started my business. She’s a great support system.

Amber is a stay-at-home mom with our two kids. And even though, she is a stay-at-home mom, she has three online businesses. I couldn’t ask for a better wife or mother for my kids. Our daughter Kya is going to be 7 years old and Zayne, our son, is 5.

What do you like most about what you do?

Like I said, I like working with my hands and being out with the construction community. More than that, when you do this long enough and you start seeing the same people on job sights, you kind of become your own community. It’s like a brotherhood. One of the things I like about what I do is just the friendships that are built from being out there with the guys and getting to know people.

What would you like our readers to know about John Rodriguez, Jr.?

I really do enjoy what I do. And I think it shows in our work. I’ve got two employees that are two of the hardest working employees in San Antonio. If I ask them to do something, they do it. No questions asked. I think it shows that they actually care when you see our product and that actual effort and time was put into it. It’s not just something that is slapped together.

What do you do to relax and to have fun?

I love to workout. I don’t get a lot of downtime from work. When I do have some down time, I like relaxing with my wife and kids and working out when I can. -cmw

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San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Page 9

Bringing the youth to the trades

T

he 2022 Ag Mechanics Trade Show held in conjunction with the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Ag Mechanics event grew this year. Twelve exhibitors from the construction industry setup booths in the venue to showcase their association or company to the many kids attending this year’s event. This tradeshow has been the stepping stone for numerous youth as their entry into the construction industry as you can read about in the story below. -bd

From Ag Mechanics to construction

T

Manny Padilla

he name, Ag Mechanics, kind of leans towards the thought of mechanics and someone being employed to work on machinery. It’s so much more than that.

Since its inception in the early 2000s, it has grown to gain the interest of people in the construction arena. Luckily, between the schools that are interested, the students who were drawn to this field, and the companies that want to support that passion, it’s really grown into a larger event that they could have ever imagined.

Ag Mechanics introduces students who are mechanically inclined. Some of the students weld, some work on the mechanics of engines with parts motivated

by some type of energy. Sometimes woodworking is thrown in the mix and sometimes, it may encompass all of the above.

Through their regular participation at the Ag Mechanic show, Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) makes it a point to visit with the students. Former Construction Education and Outreach Director and now Chapter President Tamara Klaehn, has offered her assistance to these young men and women in any way possible to provide them with the tools needed to be successful. One such student, Manny Padilla took Klaehn up on her offer. He stayed in constant contact with her as he finished his Ag Mechanics career and ventured into his next chapter. She watched him grow and move on to working for a local company as an intern. After applying and getting accepted to UTSA’s construction program, he sent Klaehn a picture of himself holding his banners of acceptance. “I don’t know who enjoyed it more, him or me? But the journey that I was able to share with him has been so rewarding.

Manny is the reason why we get up every day and why we fight to make sure that people understand what a wonderful industry we are in and what opportunities there are.

“After Manny got accepted to UTSA, he ended up finding his way to Red Hawk Contracting,” continues Klaehn. “I called Desi Valdez, president of Red Hawk Contracting right away. I told him this kid is great. I don’t know what you know about him, but here’s what I know…”

Manny Padilla was involved in Ag Mechanics his final two years of high school, 2018 through 2019. For him, the Ag Mechanics courses provided an opportunity to get their hands-on learn-

ing as well as obtain industry based certifications.

“I earned the NCEER welding certificate,” says Padilla. “In those classes, I strengthened my skill set and recognized that these skills were going to be used as my future career. I personally had the opportunity to build a BBQ pit trailer with two fellow FFA members for our school district. We built it and then exhibited that project at the Medina County Junior Livestock Show where we were awarded Grand Champion and received the same achievement at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo as well.

“When exhibiting these projects, I had the opportunity to meet and speak with industry leaders. It helped strengthen my communication skills, something I did not know at the time would be extremely beneficial later.

“My experience in Ag mechanics was invaluable to the person that I am today. I have made some of my greatest memories during the time I was involved in Ag Mechanics. My greatest mentor would be my Ag Mechanics teacher. The bond I created with him is unlike that of any other high school teacher. He set me up to be prepared for what was coming next and pushed me to pursue a career using the skills taught in his class. I am thankful to have had the experience. I now work to encourage high school students in my community to not be afraid to sign up for the class and let the Ag Mech shop be their favorite class as it was for me.”

Padilla says he obtained a great amount of knowledge and experience just in those two short years. “It taught me the true definition of hard work and perseverance related to time sensitive projects. I learned different trades and skills, many of which are related to con-

struction. And I also learned the confidence and ability to clearly and effectively communicate to others about the project, the process it took to build the project in relation to fabrication, the amount of time, and of course cost.

Looking back on his Ag Mechanics experience, Padilla says it gave him a smooth transition into his construction education and career. “In any type of construction, there are always multiple steps - pre construction, estimating cost, drawing plans, documenting project progress and compiling all that and showcasing your work. It allowed me to see the process of how a project comes together.

“If I could give any advice to Ag mechanics students it would be to always be a sponge. Soak up as much information as possible. Work relentlessly, but don’t forget to have fun while doing it. Look at it beyond just welding. That is only one small sector of it. The skill you learn can be used in construction like for myself, but also for careers in engineering, manufacturing and technical jobs. Don’t forget to network and make friends at these Ag mechanics shows. You never know who is looking to hire some awesome kid like yourself to help them build the next big thing.”

To leaders of company within the construction industry regarding Ag Mechanics and the upcoming young people growing through the program, Padilla has this to say, “When you are at the next Ag mechanics show, don’t forget that this is your next generation of builders. They understand hard work and are committed to delivering some awesome projects. Encourage those students to stay in the field by mentoring them and creating a path that shows them achievable success.” -cmw

Page 10

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Industry PALS Kiaih “Bear” Leifester, Public Outreach Manager,

Dedicated Lansdcape Solutions, San Antonio, TX

B

orn in San Antonio, Kiaih Leifester, better known as Bear, grew up in the backyard of her owners John and Stephanie Leifester. She spent much of her time on amenity center projects all around San Antonio.

“San Antonio is great! The people are great. They have always told me I was a cute dog.”

Kiaih or rather Bear, graduated from Camp Bow Wow where she was an A+ Camper. She did not go on to attend college, being a canine and all. The farthest she got was obedience school.

But, she does have a degree, a pedi-gree! She is a Jack Russell and Australian Cattle Hound mix. “Obedience school was neat, but it was my on-thejob training really helped me excel.”

Bear got her start in construction by following in her owners’ footsteps. She chose this path because, according to Bear, “they were the fields that dad worked to create amenity centers for kids to enjoy.”

She has two brothers and often refers to them as children because they still act like little puppies, always jumping around and playing. Their names are Buck and Wilson.

Buck is 5 years old and he’s a Boykin Spaniel. Wilson is two years old and he’s a Black Mouth Curr and German Shepard

mix. “Wilson found us and dad decided immediately he needed to be part of the family. You can tell he’s definitely two. He still chews with his mouth open. The phrase “terrible twos” definitely describes Wilson.

“Dad started bringing me to his jobsites early on. His clients really enjoyed seeing me in my safety vest and hard hat.

Before I knew it, I was promoted to Dedicated Landscape Solutions’ Public Outreach Manager. Our company is blessed to serve our clients and the South and Central Texas areas. Construction is an amazing career field!”

When going to the jobsites, Bear usually rides in the back of his dad’s truck and enjoys the occasional visit to their office. The best part of Bear’s job is the people. ”I really like the people and the tummy rubs. Definitely the tummy rubs.”

Bear’s mentor is her owner John Leifester. “He works very hard for our clients.

He gets up early and works many hours.

He still finds time to volunteer on numerous boards locally, and at the state and national levels. He’s selfless and helps to promote the construction industry everywhere he can. He even takes time

from his schedule to give back to the youth of Texas by being the Chairman of the Grounds and Credentials Committee at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. And yet, he still finds time to hang out with us kids and play with us after a long day.”

When Kiaih “Bear” Leifester is not perusing jobsites, she enjoys her naps and eating which are usually interrupted by her little brothers. “I enjoy the times when dad sneaks me on the couch to let me relax and get a break from my brothers, but shhh! Don’t tell mom!” -cmw

Resource Guide Associations & Education H General Contractors H Subcontractors H Service Providers H Subcontractors H Supplies H Truck & Equip Dealers

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Service Providers

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Suppliers

For Information on Resource Guide Ads, contact Buddy Doebbler, 210-308-5800 or email at Buddy@ConstructionNews.net

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Page 11

never thought we could hurt our bay system with rod and reels and certainly didn’t think we could have such a devesting fish kill in my career. Boy, was I wrong!

In today’s conservation-minded world, we must be conscious of whatever we catch and put into our cooler because there is zero percent survival in there.

Think about what you will do with all those fillets. Will you eat some fresh and then freeze the rest? Are there frozen fillets in your freezer from previous years we are just going to add too? I’m not saying to not keep fish, just be mindful and take what you will eat while we are in the re-building stage. My effort will be that I will give a discount to all catch and release clients that do not keep any fish on their day on the water.

Catch And Release In Today’s World

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by:

Waypoint Marine/Waypoint Customs, Shoalwater Boats, Mercury Marine, Shimano Reels, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing, Columbia ForEverlast Fishing Products, PowerPro, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, JL Marines Power-Pole, and AFTCO Clothing.

I have already started to fill the calendar for the upcoming 2022 season. Don’t wait until all the good dates are gone! To schedule your next bay fishing or hunting trip, give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com.

H

oly Cow!! Seems like a few days ago I was writing this column for the March edition and now we are fixing to turn the calendar to April. The first quarter of this year has flown by so fast. I’m still trying to catch up on things I’ve been trying to accomplish in February. Time, please slow down so I can catch a breath. I’m not as young as I used to be and certainly am a lot more forgetful!

One thing I haven’t forgotten is how devastating the freeze was in February 2021. It’s still on my mind everyday. I’m on the water and I can’t seem to forget the images of all those dead fish I saw with my own eyes days after the freeze.

The new restrictions have been reimplemented for the 2022 and 2023 season on speckled trout, and I truly believe we are on our way to a fast recovery. On a good note, I am seeing large numbers of speckled trout already in our bay system. I’m talking about fish from 7 in. to 22 in. daily being brought to the boat. This is a great sign this early in the season. We are catching these specks and we are not even targeting them. The drum bite has been on fire lately and, with the constantly changing weather patterns, we have focused on fishing for drum more than the other species.

By now, most guides and anglers know the importance of releasing large, speckled trout. It’s a practice I’ve been preaching and following since the limits

Good luck and Good Fishing.

Customer Jamie Ruby poses with one of the drum we caught on last weeks trip. This has been one of the best years I’ve seen in many for the drum run. Photo by Steve Schultz Outdoors

were changed back in 2014. Any trout over 24 in. in good condition is photographed and released - period. There is a concern amongst a good number of the older guides seeing most all of the newer younger guides hanging multiple species of fish on the board at marinas just to get the picture for their social media page. I get it because I am guilty of doing

the same thing when I started my guiding career. We killed every fish that was legal and didn’t think twice about it. It was all about the image at the dock, except we didn’t have Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat to exploit it. We took our pictures with a digital camera and emailed them to our clients, hoping they would spread your name to all their friends. I

Page 12

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

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

Any Which Way the Wind Blows

S

ometimes it almost seems like springtime weather is determined by slot machine. This year has been a perfect example of this!

Some days it feels like hot sweaty summer and others we go back to “where’s my jacket” winter. Other days it’s summer on a steep decline back into winter.

The good news is that most of the cold extremes are having shorter duration as the milder weather takes hold.

This weather pattern is just as trying for fish as it is for us. Maybe even more so because the weather is such a driving force on fish behavior. Temperature, barometric pressure, wind and length of day and amount of light all tell fish when to feed, when to lay low, when to migrate and when to spawn. This kind of weather must be like having six crazy bosses yelling at them at once!

When we have a stretch of calm easy weather for a few days, the fish get the signal that its all systems go to move upstream to spawn. Fishermen start to find some good fish and then the weather takes a turn, and all bets are off. When the weather settles back down the fish start to spawn again. That is what makes springtime fishing so inconsistent. One day the crappie can’t seem to wait to be caught, the next day you can’t even find one!

If you don’t feel like a gambler taking his chances with catching fish, it pays to learn a little about fish behavior. You’ll learn that there are just some days when you will do a lot more fishing than catching.

The one thing that will turn the fish off the fastest is high barometric pressure.

When cold fronts come in bringing high north wind and clearing the clouds out of the sky you have high pressure. Even if the fish are biting when it hits, they will usually just stop biting and disappear.

After a day or two, when the clouds start to come back and the southern breeze picks up, the bite is back on. They haven’t eaten for a while so fishing gets good again. The high wind and waves brought in by cold fronts are also apt to move the bait fish around. Bait fish are plentiful but mostly delicate fish that can’t handle rough conditions so they will move to calmer, deeper water until things settle down. Remember that the fish you are after are likely to be following those bait fish, so they may not be right where you left them either.

All of that aside, here on Lake Buchanan we are beginning to see plenty of action from the white bass. The crappie are getting better every warm sunny day and we are seeing some larger stripers coming in. There was a catfish tournament last weekend that had lots of fish brought in and our cabin guests caught all they could eat too.

Fishing’s getting good!

Ken Milam Guide Service offers half day or full day guided striped and hybrid bass fishing trips on Lake Buchanan in the beautiful Hill Country of Central Texas.

We furnish all bait, tackle and equipment and we will dress and bag your catch for you. All you need to bring is your Texas Parks and Wildlife fishing license and refreshments and we will take care of the rest!

Striper fishing at its finest since 1981.

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

I

Island life

n late February, Construction News Managing Editor, Carol Wiatrek and Stan Rothman, EquipmentShare, traveled to Islamodara, a village in the Florida Keys. While there, they enjoyed the wonders of “island life,” the soothing sounds of steel drums, clear waters and wildlife a plenty – their favorite, the iguanas. -cmw

Page 13

Buck management

Born and raised at the Baja Ranch, this 21-point buck lived a great life. Ranch owner Tony Ridout, Ridout Barrett, was ready to harvest this 4.5 year-old beauty. Scoring 208, Ridout harvested the buck at the end of the 2021 deer hunting season in December 2021. -cmw

A view of the Atlantic Ocean

Page 14

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

O

Smokin’ grills & clays

n Mar. 5, members of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter fired up their grills, loaded up their shot guns and enjoyed a beautiful day in the sun for the association’s 2022 Sporting Clay Shoot & BBQ Cook-off. The event was held at the National Shooting Complex with 160 shooters participating in the clay shoot, while 14 BBQ teams tended to their grills. -cmw

2022 BBQ Cook-off winners: 1st Place Chicken: Joeris General Contractors Ltd. 2nd Place Chicken: Lakeway Ironworks 3rd Place Chicken: MAREK 1st Place Ribs: Central Electric Ent. & Co. 2nd Place Ribs: Intertech Flooring 3rd Place Ribs: A/C Technical Services LLC 1st Place Brisket: A/C Technical Services 1st Place Cook’s Choice: Central Electric Ent. & Co. LLC 2nd Place Brisket: Intertech Flooring 3rd Place Brisket: Paleo Car Care

Joeris General Contractors Ltd.

Central Electric Ent. & Co.

A/C Technical Services LLC

SpawGlass Contractors

Yellow Course Clay Shoot winners: 1st Place: SpawGlass Contractors 2nd Place: Equipment Share 3rd Place: Terracon Consultants Inc. 1st Place Women’s Individual Shooter: Morgan Egli, Willscot 1st Place Men’s Individual Shooter: Jason Harmon, Metropolitan Contracting Co. LLC

A/C Technical Services LLC

Red Course Clay Shoot winners: 1st Place: IBTX Risk Services 2nd Place: Travelers Bond 3rd Place: Joeris General Contractors Ltd. 1st Place Women’s Individual Shooter: Kathy Angel, T&D Moravits Inc. 1st Place Men’s Individual Shooter: Bruce Culver, IBTX Risk Services

Kathy Angel, T&D Moravits Inc.

Bruce Culver, IBTX Risk Services

Morgan Egli, Willscot

Jason Harmon, Metropolitan Contracting Co. LLC

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Page 15

ASA night live

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he American Subcontractors Association (ASA) San Antonio Chapter knocked it out of the park with their Annual Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet this year.

Held on Mar. 3, the event was held at a new venue, Mays Witte Museum. True to ASA style, you can’t have a fun new venue without incorporating a fun new theme. This year’s theme was that of good ol’ television. Full of color and excitement, ASA members were treated to a spectacular evening, many of which have commented, “It’s the best awards banquet they have attended.” Congratulations to all of ASA’s Excellence in Construction Awards winners. Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography. -cmw

President’s Award: John Leifester, Dedicated Landscape Solutions

President’s Award: Nick Metcalf, Epic Office Solutions

Pioneer Award: Greg Kanning, Dumas Hardware

Superintendent of the Year: Doug Neubauer, Keller-Martin Construction Inc.

Project Manager of the Year: Janet Dusek, Joeris General Contractors Ltd.

Project of the Year Under $2 Million: The Fetzer Companies Inc. – Fuego Tortilla Grill

Project of the Year $2 Million - $3 Million: SpawGlass – North Park Mazda Remodel

Project of the Year $3 Million - $4 Million: Structura Inc. – Bethesda Christian Institute New Sanctuary

Project of the Year $4 Million - $5 Million: Leonard Contracting Inc. – Freedom House Renovation

Project of the Year $5 Million - $10 Million: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors LLC – School of Science & Technology Schertz Campus

Project of the Year $10 Million - $20 Million: Byrne Construction Services – Wurstfest Marketplatz

Project of the Year Over $20 Million: Joeris General Contractors Ltd. – UTSA Roadrunner Athletics Center for Excellence

General Contractor of the Year: Joeris General Contractors Ltd.

Gals + wine

It was Valentine’s with a twist for the women of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) on Feb. 10. Toasting Valentine’s in conjunction with a membership drive, members of the association gathered together for a Galentine’s Day Happy Hour at The Stray Grape Urban Winery. -cmw

2022 ASA Board of Directors

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San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

San Antonio Food Bank Expansion

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ore Electrical Group completed electrical work at the San Antonio Food Bank in May 2021 for a new two-story tilt-wall 61,544sf construction project with a large commercial state-ofthe-art culinary kitchen, a training kitchen, office space, indoor/outdoor event space, and a warehouse/loading dock area. The electrical construction included

Core’s Assistant Project Manager Mark Aguilar coordinate with multiple trades on this condensed project schedule of six months to maintain a safe an efficient working environment.

The center also houses Casa Venado, an on-site venison processing plant that local hunters and or ranch owners can donate their culled venison to be pro-

a new 3000-amp, 480-volt 3-phase service switchboard and distribution system. The power for the kitchen area included multiple equipment and vent hoods, drop-down cord-reels for flexible workstations, well-lit areas to cook and prep under and a Floor Guard heating system under the freezers.

Core felt honored to partner with F. A. Nunnelly Company to work on a project that will serve the community in a profound way. For the successful completion of this project, it was crucial that

cessed at the facility. “I thought it was really cool they were offering an on-site venison processing service to help feed the community. As a hunter myself I really respected that,” says Aguilar.

The 25,000-sf kitchen at the Mays Family Culinary center can produce 50,000 meals per day. The new center also features an urban farm and a culinary training center. The Food Bank can now feed five times as many people as it could previously. -cmw

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Core Electrical Group San Antonio, TX

La Cantera Town Center

undt Construction recently completed the development of new streets in the Town Center at La Cantera, improving the area’s infrastructure and adding two parks.

Located on the northwest corner of Loop 1604 and IH-10, the improvement project constructed approximately 4,500lf of asphalt and paver parkway streets. Sundt also added associated water, sewer, gas, communication, electri-

cal, stormwater utility infrastructure and landscape improvements.

Almost half of the project acreage is home to two new parks straddling Leon Creek. The first included paved trail systems meandering through the native hill country forest and connecting the latest recreation elements and parkway to the existing Leon Creek Greenway trail system, multifamily properties and the Shops at La Cantera.

The second park, Coyote Dog Park, is a 7.5-acre dog park. All live oaks and native hardwoods trees within the park were preserved and integrated with the new park design to provide a shade tree canopy. The park includes numerous amenities, including drinking fountains and dog wash stations, 7,000sf of artificial turf and play tunnels.

On the northern edge of the La Cantera area, Sundt also constructed approx-

imately 900ft of Roca Pass, a private street and improvements to 600ft of existing roadways. The project required over 20,000cy of limestone to be milled for the grades of the new and existing streets to match. The team also added sewer, gas, communication, electrical and stormwater infrastructure for the area. -cmw

Aerial view, La Canter Town Center parks Aerial view, La Cantera Tower Center

Sundt Construction San Antonio, TX

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Page 17

ABC National Convention in San Antonio

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ssociated Builders & Contractors (ABC) held their 2022 national convention in San Antonio from March 15-17. The convention included meetings, sessions, programs, and events, including its National Excellence in Construction Awards banquet. Members attended from all over the country. The last time the convention was held in San Antonio was 2001.

One of the major events was the National Craft Championships with 176 entrants competing in 15 different competitions in 13 trades.

Shon Smith with ACI Mechanical in Ames, IA is the Chairman of the committee and was our guide around the competition.

“I started with my company and began going to ABC’s apprenticeship program. That’s where I learned my trade,” said Shon. “I spent four years in both the classroom and on-the-job training settings. From there, that gave me the opportunity to go to San Juan, Puerto Rico and compete for the National Championships in 2008 where I won a gold medal in the sheet metal category.

“I’ve been on the National Craft Championships Committee for 12 years. I joined in 2010 as the project manager for sheet metal.

“In our industry, it’s extremely important that we train and get people ready. That’s what the apprenticeship

program helps them to do. It builds these men and women up. It gives them the skills, life skills, so that they can be successful.

“We are facing a huge shortage of people, and the best way we can fill those spots is by getting these kids, these young apprentices, into the trades.

“I think one of the biggest things that has helped to get the younger people more interested and involved is how much technology has started to come into construction. That’s a huge bonus for somebody who’s comfortable running a tablet or iPad or smartphone.

You’re starting to see a lot of our equipment, a lot of things that we do in a simi-

lar format. So, I think that’s a big help. I also think there’s been kind of a change, you know, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, construction had a bad connotation to it.

It really did. And there was the thought that if you couldn’t do anything else, you’re going to do construction. Well, I think that is starting to change now that people see the skills that are really involved, and the paychecks that come with it.” -bd

WATCH VIDEO

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Excellence in Construction Eagle Award Winner

Public Works / Environmental: Garney Companies Inc. – Vista Ridge Regional Water Supply Project

Welding

Electrical Industrial

Carpentry

Millwright

Power Line Worker

Fire Sprinkler

Instrumentation Fitting

Drywall

Team Competition

Pipefitting

Plumbing

HVAC

Sheet metal

Competition Overview

Page 18

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

continued from Page 1 — GPS Plumbing the attic and landed on top of a china cabinet breaking both of my ankles. I was S.O.L. I had no insurance.”

Realizing he needed insurance, he later went on to work for the Northside and Northeast Independent School Districts doing plumbing work. He eventually earned his journeyman and master plumbing licenses while working for the school districts and working side jobs along the way. “I was always helping other plumbing companies on the side,” he says. “A lot of the guys that I knew in the trade got there master license before I did, so I would help them on jobs doing plumbing work on apartments and condos.”

After receiving his master license and 15 years later, Carrillo decided he was ready to be his own boss, giving rise to GPS Plumbing.

Although GPS Plumbing performs commercial services, it is currently providing more residential service work than commercial. They are currently working with 15-20 realtors performing punch list items on the homes being sold. “Right now, it’s a seller’s market. I’m doing four to five houses a week. I get the inspection report and fix the things the inspector finds,” he adds.

continued from Page 1 — Texas Roots Landscaping and Irrigation In business just under a year, GPS Plumbing is gearing up to build their own facility in the Helotes area. They service San Antonio, its surrounding areas and have performed work as far south as Corpus Christi providing all residential and commercial services to include installs, remodels, new builds, natural gas, water heaters, propane, fire places, gas leaks, cooktops and outdoor kitchens to name a few. “From as little as a leaking sink to a full sewer line or gas line replacement, no job is too small.

“We’re a start-up company,” Carrillo says. “There’s plenty of room for everybody and we’re just excited to be here.

We’re a new company in the San Antonio plumbing community and we’re determined. I think as long as you are honest and offer good fair prices, do good quality work, word will get around. I want to be able to put my head down at night knowing I took care of my customers and they were satisfied. I don’t want people to go through what my family went through growing up.”

GPS Plumbing offers both residential and commercial plumbing services in San Antonio and its surrounding areas. -cmw

small outfit, meaning something under a $2 million revenue company.

Unfortunately, I have no concept of small, so I have given myself time limits; timelines on how and when I want all of this to transpire as far as growing throughout the state of Texas.

“The home office will always remain in San Antonio. This is where I was born.

Every time I’ve ever moved away from when I was in the military, I come back here because this is home.”

Schirmer has always been a tradesman, working with his hands, and truly loving it. In addition to being the businessman, he is always on the jobsite checking on everything to make sure all is done right, as well as visiting with his clients and keeping them up to date on the progress.

Schirmer has been in the industry for 18 years and counting. “We believe in the value of proficient and effective service.

Our goal is to provide our clients with the knowledge to choose the perfect landscaping, lighting and irrigation options, while offering products that are specialized to our client’s wants and needs. Our professional licensed irrigation specialists assist our clients to modify their irrigation systems to ensure

that it is effective and productive at using our natural resources.” States Schirmer.

On the personal side, Schirmer and his wife, Jordan, have three children, sons Justin and Atticus, and daughter, Ireland.

Schirmer serves on the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Hospitality Committee every year. His team provides food for the show contestants. He also works with the kids in the Mutton-Bustin’ event to make sure the kids are excited and safe, and accompanies them in and out of the arena at the events.

In summary, Schirmer’s professional services include: Taking pride in taking care of your lawn; Striving for water conservation; Keeping your drinking water safe; and Illuminating your lawn.

Just about anything one would want regarding their outdoor property, it can usually be taken care of.

One of Schirmer’s long time, forever sayings is, “I have done so much for so long with so little, I can do absolutely anything with nothing.”

In the meantime, Schirmer will continue his expansion in services and locations.

Texas Roots Landscaping & Irrigation is home-based in San Antonio, Tx. -rld

our distributors have been buying from us for as long as we have been in business such as Consolidated Electric Distributors, Crawford Electric , Dealers Electric , Elliott Electric , Graybar Electric Supply, Hill Country Electric Supply, Rexel, Reynolds Company, Winsupply and Westinghouse Electric . ”The other important part of our success has been the men and women from our administration and plant employees who have contributed greatly to our success. Our firm is very grateful to them for their continued work and contribution to

our industry, community and our country!

“To date, we have manufactured millions of products with hundreds of thousands of destinations state-wide and nationally. We also thank all our customers and vendors for providing us with our past, current, and future business.”

EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering is a manufacturer and supplier of Electrical Enclosures, Wireway and Buss Secondary Switchgear. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering possible to provide significant contributions to state of the art NEMA Industrial Product Applications with projects as the “World’s Largest Robot” for the USAF, “Seawolf II” for the USN and “Spacecraft Endeavor” for NASA. EPI introduced their third product group in the mid-‘90s, NEMA 3R Buss Secondary products, Pad-mounted Buss Secondary, Wall-mounted Buss, Tap Boxes & Buss Wireways – all designed by EPI’s engineering department.

In 2014, EPI rebranded, adding engineering to their corporate brand – EPI

Electrical Enclosures & Engineering as they are known today. “Our engineering team is widely sought after by many engineers to provide design and specifications ,” says Rodriguez.

“Today, we offer a complete array of industry product applications for the commercial, industrial, utility, institutional, telecom and medical industries. Our internet presence has allowed us to develop a national marketplace that will continue to provide a growth into the future.

Perhaps, one of the most important part of our history, is the fact that most of

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Page 19

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC Associated Builders & Contractors Inc. Apr. 7: Spring Golf Tournament, Canyon Springs Golf Club, 24405 Wilderness Oak, 1-7pm Apr. 13: Breakfast Club, ABC Offices, 814 Arion Pkwy. #111, 7:30am. For more contact Jennifer Galarza at 210-342-1994 or email jgalarza@abcsouthtexas.org AGC Associated General Contractors Apr. 6: OSHA 30-Hour, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale, 8am-5pm Apr. 7: Lunch & Learn: Killer Contracts, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale, 11am-12pm Apr. 11: Leadership Academy Week 1, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale, 12:30-4:30pm Apr. 13: OSHA 30-Hour, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale, 8am-5pm Apr. 20: OSHA 30-Hour, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale, 8am-5pm Apr. 25: Leadership Academy Week 2, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale, 12:30-4:30pm. For more info, call Kelly Wilson at 210-349-4921 ASA American Subcontractors Assn.

Apr. 6: Lunch & Learn, ESC Safety Consultants’ Offices, 12758 Cimarron Path #127, 11:30am-1pm, $20 ASA Member, $30 Non-Member Apr. 14: PAC Event, Top Golf, 5539 N Loop 1604 W, 4pm Apr. 20: Safety Update, ESC Safety Consultants’ Offices, 12758 Cimarron Path #127, 11:30am Apr. 26: General Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 New Braunfels 7th Flr., 11:30am. For more info, contact Jennifer Swinney at 210-349-2105 or email jennifer@ asasanantonio.org ASSP American Society of Safety Professionals Apr. 18: Chapter Monthly Virtual Meeting, Microsoft Teams Meeting, In-Person location TBD, 11:30am-1:30pm. For more info, go to www.southtexasasse.org CFMA Construction Financial Management Assn.

Apr. 6: Fraud & Embezzlement: Lessons from the Trenches - Virtual, 3pm, Members – Free, Non-Members $69 Apr. 26: Succession Planning, The Quarry Golf Club, 444 E. Basse Rd., Networking 11:30am, Lunch & Program 12-1pm, $40 Apr. 27: Basics of Construction Accounting A4 Part Series – Virtual, 3pm, $260 Member, $435 Non-Member. For more info, go to www. sanantonio.cfma.org GSABA Greater San Antonio Builders Assn.

Apr. 1: YPLC Crawfish Boil & Giant Beer Pong Tournament. For more info, call 210-696-3800 HCAdeSA Hispanic Contractors Assn. de San Antonio Apr. 8: Spring Golf Tournament, Golf Club of Texas, 13600 Briggs Ranch, Breakfast 8am, Shotgun Start 9am, Team of Four $650, Guest Meal $40 Apr. 20: Monthly Membership Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 New Braunfels 7th Flr, 5:30-7:30pm. For more info, call Victoria Rodriguez at 210-444-1100 or email vrodriguez@hcadesa.org

IEC Independent Electrical Contractors Apr. 28-29: IEC of Texas Quarterly Meeting, Austin, TX. For more info, contact Julie Tucker at 210-431-9861 or email jtucker@iecsanantonio.com I-LinCP Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects Apr. 12: The Future of Supply Chain Management, Embassy Suites Landmark, 5615 Landmark Pkwy., 11:30am-1:30pm, Member $40, Non-Member $60. For more info, contact Carla Bingaman at 512-263-5521 or email Carla. bingaman@i-lincp.org MCA-SMACNA INC Mechanical Contractors Assn.

Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.

Apr. 13: Regular & Associates Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 New Braunfels 7th Flr., 11:30am Apr. 19: ASA/MCA-SMACNA PAC Event, Top Golf 5539 N Loop 1604 W, 4pm Apr. 27: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA Office, 206 E. Nakoma, 11:30am Apr. 28: 28th Annual MCA-SMACNA Golf Tournament, SilverHorn Golf Club, 1100 Bitters Rd., 1:30pm Shotgun Start. For more info, call Sandee Morgan at 210-822-3763 NAWIC National Assn. of Women in Construction Apr. 6: General Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels 7th Flr. For more info, contact Shenel Rimando at shenelrimando@ gmail.com or register at nawicsatx.org NUCA National Utility Contractors Assn.

Apr. 29: Crawfish & Cornhole Hullabaloo, Pesado Construction, 4848 Sinclair Rd., 10:30am-4pm. For more info, contact Mary Jane Debenport at 817-688-8347 or email maryjane@nucatexas.com PHCC Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Apr. 4-6: PHCC Texas 2022 Conference, Kalahari Resort, 3001 Kalahari Blvd., Round Rock, TX. For more info, call Heidi Trimble at 210824-7422 or go to www.phcc-sanantonio.org SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.

Apr. 27: General Membership Meeting, Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Dr., 11:30am. For more info, contact Debi at 210347-2423 or email thesamca@gmail.com TACCA Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.

Apr. 20: General Membership Meeting, Alamo Café, 14250 US Hwy. 281 N, 11:30am-1pm.

One free member attendee, Additional member attendee and Non-Member $30. For more info, call Dawn Thompson at 210-901-4222 TXAPA Texas Asphalt Pavement Assn.

Apr. 4: Engineer Asphalt Essentials, 9am12pm.

Apr. 5-21: Inspector Asphalt Education, Tuesdays & Thursday, 8-10:30am. For more info, contact Emily Adams at 512-312-2099 or email eadams@texasasphalt.org

40 is the new...

She looks 18, feels 14 and acts like she’s 8. If you do the math, that makes Heather Osborne, MEMCO 40 years old. On Feb. 27, Heather’s family and friends threw her a throwback birthday bash straight out the ‘80s. Happy Birthday Heather. -cmw.

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

Project Control is pleased to announce the following promotions: Andrew Hunt has been promoted to Senior Vice President.

Hunt joined Project Control ten years ago and applies his service-driven approach to his work with clients, throughout the community, and in developing internal staff and practices.

Andrew leads Project Control’s work at Texas Tech University System, Texas BioMed, San Antonio Humane Society, San Antonio Food Bank, and K9s for Warriors. -cmw

Louie Rodriguez has been promoted to Vice President. Rodriguez joined the Project Control family. He currently represents The University of Texas-San Antonio on multiple projects, with past projects including UTSA Roadrunner Center of Excellence, Credit Human Headquarters Finish-Out, and Texas A&M University-San Antonio Master Plan Program. -cmw

TDIndustries is pleased to announce the promotion of Nikki Morgan. Morgan, a 24-year Partner and Executive Vice President since 2019, will now lead both the Houston and San Antonio geographies including new construction, special projects and service. She is an Accredited Professional in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and is a member of the Houston Associated General Contractors Board of Directors. -cmw

Sundt Construction has chosen Keenan Driscoll to serve as its next Chief Financial Officer. In his new role, he will support executive leadership in driving business performance with short-term and longterm business decisions regarding asset and liability management, risk management and effective internal controls. He will also join the Sundt Companies Board of Directors. -cmw

Project QUEST has named Francisco Martinez as its Director of Community Partnerships and will oversee the firm’s Community Partnerships Team. Martinez brings 20-plus years of professional philanthropic fundraising and community relations expertise that will help advance QUEST’s mission. -cmw

Anthony and Sylvan is pleased to announce Rocky Rodriguez has joined the Anthony and Sylvan team as Regional Sales Manager. Rodriguez will work to utilize technology to improve sales and enhance the overall efficiency and profitability of the organization, including the Austin Division. -cmw

Page 20

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San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Empowering women

he National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) celebrated WIC Week across the nation the week of Mar. 6-12. WIC Week highlights women as a visible component of the construction industry and raises awareness about their opportunities.

The San Antonio Chapter celebrated by hosting fun activities throughout the week. These events included a weeklong scavenger hunt; kick-off cocktails at El Camino; a blueprint workshop; a precast plant tour at Redondo Manufacturing; family game night with a good

game of Family Feud at The Lonesome Rose; a private event at Board & Brush; a golf tournament at Canyon Springs Golf Club; and a Habitat for Humanity volunteer event at Rancho Carlota. -cmw

WATCH VIDEO

Golf tournament winners: Women’s Best Team: Brittany Hair, Nadine Mireles, Darien Dawkins and Emily Sperier Women’s Closest-to-the-Pin: Emily Sperier Women’s Longest Drive: Jordan Wunsch Men’s Closest-to-the-Pin: Dayne Hester

WIC Week Kick-off at El Camino. Photo courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography.

NAWIC members participated in a blueprint reading class on Mar. 7 at Rogers-O’Brien Construction

Wednesday Family Feud Game Night at The Lonesome Rose

Saturday Habitat for Humanity project at Rancho Carlota

Best Mixed Golf Team representative Carlos Ramirez.

Photo courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography.

Thursday Board & Brush

Friday golf committee volunteers. Photo courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography.

Men’s Best Team: Michael Cesmirosky, Dayne Hester, Aldo Bravo-Lemus and Marco Pena. Photo courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography.

Family Feud Game Night winners

Banners across San Antonio for WIC Week scavenger hunt

Precast plant tour at Redondo Manufacturing. Photo courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography.

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Page 21

Growth opportunity

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Viva caliente!

savory yet spicy blend of tomatoes, onions and chili peppers can bring out the competitive side of folks, especially here in the Alamo City. For members of the San Antonio Chapter of Associated General Contractors (AGC), it’s game on. On Mar. 3, Salsaholics gathered together at the AGC offices to see who among their fellow members makes to best salsa. Thirteen companies participated in AGC’s 18th Annual Salsa Taste-off

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which has become of an AGC fan favorite. Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskins Photography. -cmw Salsa Taste-off winners: 1st Place: Turner Construction Company 2nd Place: BakerTriangle 3rd Place: 2 Pees in a Pot People’s Choice: BakerTriangle Showmanship: Geosystems Phoenix

KFW Engineers + Surveying leadership L-R: Steven Krauskopf, Blaine Lopez and George Weron

ince 2006, KFW Engineers + Surveying has been providing civil engineering, environmental and surveying services to homebuilders, school systems and other commercial real estate developers in San Antonio and South Texas. KFW is home to 160 employees including engineers, licensed surveyors, and other professionals.

Over the past few years, KFW owners Steven Krauskopf, PE, George Weron, PE, and Blaine Lopez, PE, have been looking into a long-term succession plan that would be in the best interest of KFW’s employees. They looked into private equity firms and ESOPs employee, and ultimately decided neither of those options were in the best interest of their employees.

On Mar. 11, KFW announced they were acquired by Colliers Engineering & Design a privately held company, headquartered in Red Bank, NJ whose culture is similar to that of KFW. With 63 offices and over 2000 employees nation-wide, the acquisition of KFW adds to Colliers ever-growing footprint. With the acquisition, the Owners of KFW were able to provide for 14 additional shareholders and the potential for many more in the future.

“KFW Engineers & Surveying’s geographic reach complements Colliers’ existing footprint regionally throughout

Texas which will enhance our existing services in Texas,” said Colliers Engineering & Design President and CEO Kevin Haney, PE. “This partnership aligns with our strategic growth through land development opportunities, while enabling us to better serve and support our Texas clients and communities.”

KFW, which is headquartered in San Antonio, will take on the Colliers Engineering & Design name and will lead the firm’s development efforts in Texas.

Krauskopf, Weron and Lopez will remain significant shareholders of the combined entity under Colliers Engineering & Design’s partnership model.

“Joining a large, multi-discipline firm that shares our employee culture and focuses on excellence was the logical next step for our clients in Texas,” said Krauskopf. Adding to that, Weron said, “There is tremendous potential in Texas, and we are excited to accelerate our client’s success with these resources and advantages.” “This will enable us to continue to attract top-tier talent,” Lopez contributes. “We will have access to invaluable training and professional development. This ensures our employees will continue to have ample prospects for career growth, and our clients will have the horsepower to continue to deliver their projects on time.” -cmw

Turner Construction Company

BakerTriangle

What is your favorite Springtime activity?

That’s a good question. I really enjoy getting out and about with my family. I’ve got two young girls at home, seven and 10 years old. They love getting out and traveling with me and my wife. We’re actually taking a trip to New Orleans later this week to do some sightseeing. We’re going to go see the World War II Museum and that kind of stuff. Just to get away is certainly my favorite thing to do because sometimes you get trapped in the house during the winter and feels good to get out.

Brandon Acosta, Holt Truck Centers It used to be going to the beach. My and my wife used get away and go to the beach all the time. We’re going to try our luck at camping with the kids for the first time. That will either be my favorite or least favorite, depending on how it goes.

John Rodriguez, Jr.; JR Millwork LLC My favorite springtime activity is planting new plants and bringing my yard back to life. I love going to the nursery and getting new ideas.

Karen Taylor, Spider Wall Systems Inc. We love being outdoors. Anything that takes us outdoors is probably where we’re going to be now that spring is here.

My family is a bunch of farmers so in the springtime, there’s a lot of time spent outside getting crops ready. Usually, it is finding time to just detach from all the craziness and be outside. Of course, that is usually driven by whatever activities the kids have, or whatever it is that we want to do as a family that weekend that keeps us outdoors, keeps us active and keeps us healthy.

Tamara Klaehn, Associated Builders & Contractors

Watching my boys play baseball. It’s time consuming but I just love it. I have three boys. They are 13, 9 and 7 years old. We had a tennis match yesterday.

We’re finishing up basketball and today, we start baseball.

Brad Bookout, Bookout Commercial Interiors continued on Page 23

Geosystems Phoenix

Page 22

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

JOB SIGHTS

Industry FOLKS John Poettgen, Vice President,

Harding – Conley – Drawert – Tinch Insurance Agency (HCDT), San Antonio, TX

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ohn Poettgen has lived in San Antonio his entire life. He went to catholic school throughout his pre-college years. He first attended St. Luke’s Catholic School from kindergarten through the eighth grade and then went to Antonian College Preparatory for High School. After high school, he went to Texas A&M University home of the fighting Aggies where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Ag-Economics in 2007.

“My college years were the best years of my life. I chose Ag-Economics because it was a great program that can be applied to a variety of professions.”

John met his wife Staci in college through mutual friends at which time they learned they grew up about one mile from each other in North San Antonio. They married in 2011 and have two young boys. Their oldest son, Luke, is 6 years old. Isaac, their youngest, is 3 years old. “Luke and Isaac love anything outdoors – soccer, baseball, fishing, riding bikes and swimming. If it is outdoors or Aggie related, you know that they will love it.”

John has always been fascinated with the construction industry. “Seeing how Texas changes from year-to-year is remarkable - new schools, roads & bridges, housing and multi-family developments, retail, hospitals, etc. The pace at which South Texas and Texas as a whole is growing was a huge factor as to why I wanted to be in this industry.”

Working on the contract surety side of the agency, John joined HCDT in 2011 and really likes that you never know what to expect. “We always say that contractors are the last of the gunslingers. They are literally betting everything, company and personal, on each project. To be able to help them achieve their short-term and long-term goals is the best feeling you can get in this line of work.”

Paul Poettgen, John’s father, has been his mentor ever since he can remember. As a kid, he coached every sport John played (soccer, baseball, basketball) and would take up any hobby or activity just so they could spend time together. “As an adult, he taught me that hard work, honesty and loyalty are the most important things to strive for day in and day out. I absolutely love coming into work and trying to soak up all the wisdom he has attained from being in this industry for 40-plus years.”

Graduating from Texas A&M, watching Aggie football games with family and friends is on the top of his list for relaxation and fun. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and kids at the Guadalupe River fishing and playing sports with his boys. “I found out early on in life that I do not need anything extravagant to make me happy. Put me outside with some cold beer, good music and people that I love, and that is all I will ever need.” -cmw

L-R: BakerTriangle’s Juan Bernal and Angel Bernal frame out metal stud walls at the MAC, Multi Assistance Center at Morgan’s Wonderland. Metropolitan Contracting (METRO) is the project’s general contractor. -cmw

Howell Crane & Rigging Inc. Operator James Francis (cab) and Rigger Donald Williams set up counter weights on a 175-ton crane at the Guadalupe Regional Hospital in Seguin, TX. -cmw

Industry FOLKS Alexandra “Allie” Perez, VP of Marketing and Operations, George Plumbing Co. Inc., San Antonio, TX

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dopted at a young age by her uncle, Allie Perez moved to New York City during her early childhood years. “I was born in San Antonio. I grew up mostly in San Antonio but spent a good deal of my childhood in NYC. I attended college there as well.

“I love San Antonio! It was great to have New York City as a contrast. We were always going on adventures, seeing musicals, visiting parks and museums. I had a great childhood.”

Allie graduated from Incarnate Word High School in San Antonio. Go Shamrocks! After graduation, she went back to New York to go to college at New York University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in math.

“College was a whirlwind. I loved acting and drama. The acting studio conservatory program was intense.

And I’ve also always loved business so I knew eventually I would end up in the business arena. I’m grateful for my schooling and tried to make the most of it.“ Allie is in a loving partnership with Josh Casceres. They have been together for four years. “I’m grateful every day that we met. We met at work in a different industry.”

She has a seven-year-old daughter named Alexandria whose interests are animals, Minecraft, cheerleading, soccer and swimming. “Alexandria adores

our dog Poppy.” Poppy is a rapscallion who is a three-year-old Maltipoo, a winning combination of a Maltese and poodle, with tons of energy and a sweet face.

Since after college, Allie has been a marketer and found the construction industry through marketing. “I found the trades and felt right at home.”

As Vice President of Marketing and Operations, Allie assists in everything from daily operations to long-term growth plans. “I love helping people.

We have great customers and they’re easy to work for and help.”

Allie has had a few mentors over the years. Unfortunately, due to death or other situations, she has been unable to maintain a mentor through the entirety of her career. “I have had quite a few influential bosses and I’ve learned something from every person I’ve ever worked with. Through the National Tradeswomen Task Force, I’ve been able to connect with some great female leaders in the industry. I would thank Connie Ashbrook for her guidance throughout the last few years.”

Allie has not forgotten about acting. She still acts and has an agent. She enjoys auditioning and practicing in her craft. She’s also an avid reader. “I try to read at least one non-fiction book a month. I love being silly with my kid and going on adventures with her.” -cmw

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022

Page 23

Electric competition

T

he Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) held their 22nd Annual IEC Barbecue Cook-off & Apprentice of the Year competition at the Helotes Festival Grounds Feb. 25-26. Fourth year apprentices competed for the opportunity to represent IEC San Antonio in the IEC National apprentice competition. Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography. –cmw Apprentice of the Year Competition winners: 2nd Place: Alex Cardenas 3rd Place: Benjamin French Gumbo winners: 1st Place: Rexel 2nd Place: Central Electric Ent. & Co. 3rd Place: Bell & McCoy Companies

Chili winners: 1st Place: VA Electrical Contractors LLC 2nd Place: Hossley Lighting Associates 3rd Place: Elliott Electric Supply

Chicken winners: 1st Place: Bell & McCoy Companies 2nd Place: Masters Electrical Services Ltd. 3rd Place: The Reynolds Company

Brisket winners: 1st Place: VA Electrical Contractors LLC 2nd Place: Rexel 3rd Place: Hossley Lighting Associates

Beans winners: 1st Place: Hossley Lighting Associates 2nd Place: Rexel 3rd Place: Central Electric Ent. & Co.

Pork Ribs winners: 1st Place: Absolute Power Electrical Contractors 2nd Place: VA Electrical Contractors LLC 3rd Place: Central Electric Ent. & Co.

Bragging Rights winners: 1st Place: VA Electrical Contractors LLC 2nd Place: Rexel 3rd Place: Hossley Lighting Associates

Dessert winners: 1st Place: Rexel - Cherry Dump Cake 2nd Place: Spectrum Lighting – Berry Cobbler 3rd Place: Central Electric Ent. & Co. – Orange Brownies

Open Grill winners: 1st Place: VA Electrical Contractors LLC Shrimp 2nd Place: Rexel – Shrimp Poppers 3rd Place: Central Electric Ent. & Co. Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Brandon Andrade, Apprentice of the Year.

Andrade will go on to represent IEC San Antonio at the national level.

Best in Show: VA Electrical Contractors LLC

Rexel

Absolute Power Electrical Contractors

Bell & McCoy

Hossley Lighting Associates

1st Place Bloody Mary: The Reynolds Company

1st Place Unique Drink: Central Electric Ent. & Co. – Jolly Rancher Extreme

Going to Horseshoe Bay. I love Horseshoe Bay. My little girl is almost two. My husband and I have been going there for a while and now we get to share that with her. I love it. Outdoors, anything outdoors is great.

Erin Salinas, KFW Engineers & Surveying

My favorite springtime activity is soccer. I run a soccer team that I’ve done a pretty good job with; so good that I can’t even play with them.

Jack Wachsmann, Wolfman Contracting Inc.

continued from Page 21

What is your favorite Springtime activity?

Spending time at my ranch in Medina County. I still farm and ranch up there. I have livestock and horses there. We’re getting ready to plant and just really waiting for some rain. We’re dry farming the place that I have. When someone asks where do I go on vacation? The answer is the ranch. During the summer?

The ranch. During the winter? The ranch.

That’s my paradise.

Rudi Rodriguez, Jr.; EPI Electrical Enclosures & Engineering

My favorite activity right now, I would say is…I like to do stuff outside. I like to do some gardening when I get the time. I take care of my yard and things like that. I spend my time outside as much as I can.

Tony Jimenez, Temp Tex Air Conditioning & Heating EMS Controls Anything outdoors!

Candi Lewis, Alpha Building Corporation

Well, it’s certainly not working in the yard. I used to play a lot of golf but I hadn’t played much in the past two years.

I’d have to say golf. I would really like to get back to playing golf again.

Greg Vybiral, LSL Electric

Ahh springtime! I enjoy working in the yard and flower beds, shopping for new plants and getting our patio and pool ready for entertaining family and friends.

Gina Valorz, Steven Bankler CPA Ltd.

Page 24

San Antonio Construction News • APR 2022