Covering the Industry’s News
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San Antonio
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
The Industry’s Newspaper
www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 24 H Number 8 H AUGUST 2022
100 years and going strong
L-R: Scott Nunnelly, Philip Nunnelly, Doug Nunnelly, Blaine Beckman, and Greg Vaughn
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he year 2022 marks a major milestone for one of San Antonio’s oldest commercial general contractors. F.A. Nunnelly General Contractor is celebrating it’s centennial year in business. While many businesses struggle to maintain success through a generational transfer of ownership and cyclical economic highs and lows, F.A. Nunnelly is proud that they have not only continued success and growth, but they have done so with the majority of their support partnering with clients, design firms, and subcontractors building projects in the San Antonio and surrounding areas. Floyd Arthur Nunnelly, Sr. founded F.A. Nunnelly General Contractor in 1922. At that time, F.A. Nunnelly relied heavily on their ability to self-perform in concrete and carpentry scopes and even had a ma-
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ay Mendez served in the United States Navy Reserve as a Civil Engineer Corps officer for 14 years. During those 14 years, he was called to activity duty twice, both times to Iraq. He spent the first seven years of his career in the private sector. It wasn’t until he started his company that he began focusing on providing cost-effective and responsive engineering to include logistics, technical, management, and professional services for municipalities, state and federal agencies. In 2012, after completing his tour of duty, Mendez started Mendez Engineering. When the company first started, Mendez was a one-man show. A year and a half later, he hired his first employee. Today, and 10 years later, he employs 19 talented individuals. “We started as a small civil engineering firm,” says Mendez. “We got a lot of private work in the beginning but slowly
terial yard containing a small concrete batch plant. The ‘20s were an exciting time for the company as Floyd was beginning to make a name for himself in San Antonio and even had several projects in Cuero, TX, just south of San Antonio. Just as F.A. Nunnelly began to gain traction, the Great Depression of the 1930s created a headwind against their success. The depression hit and work was hard to find. To keep his workers busy, Floyd began participating in work programs for some of the national parks and was part of the construction team that built the Indian Lodge in Fort Davis. While the ‘30s were difficult, F.A. Nunnelly developed strong relationships with continued on Page 18
Old-world skills
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Cutline
igini Paint & Design brings oldworld art, paint, and skills to modern-day life. The talents of Nicola Vigini and Leslie Morrison can be seen in the San Antonio Missions, the Pearl, personal yachts, residences, and aircrafts, to name a few. Nicola Vigini started painting as a young boy. Born and raised in Rome, Italy, Nicola always knew he wanted to be an artist. He grew up around museums and art. His father was an architect, and his mother was a librarian with a Ph.D. in Art-History. Nicola graduated from the Liceo Artistico in Rome and went to Paris to the Institut Superieur de Peinture Decorative (IPEDEC), a painting school run by craftsmen who specialized in historic decorative painting techniques. Both of his parents were very artistic.
His business partner, Leslie Morrison, is a graduate of Alamo Heights High School. She went to college in Boston at Pine Manor and received a double major in French, and Art History with an emphasis on textiles. She completed an internship at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston during her sophomore year. Her junior year she spent in Tours and Paris, attending the Ecole de Louvre and L’Institute Catholique. She spent a summer in Greece studying the Greek language and archaeology at Deree College in Athens. After graduation, she attended the two-year Cooper Hewitt Masters Decorative Arts Program in Manhattan, accredited through Parsons School of Design, followed by another summer in Paris studying modern continued on Page 18
Engineering on ten
Ray Mendez, president and owner of Mendez Engineering
shifted over to the other side. We probably do about 85 percent public work and 15 percent private. We do a lot with the City of San Antonio, City Public Service (CPS), and San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS). We’ve done a lot of roadway projects for the city of San Antonio, which we are proud of.” One such project was a team effort with the city’s maintenance group where the city wanted to make some modifications and repairs to nine streets in the Camelot subdivision. Mendez identified a major drainage issue, which was not part of the project and would have negatively impacted the modifications and repairs of those nine streets. Coordinating with the city, the Mendez team made some adjustments with results the city and neighborhood were happy with. Mendez believes their success comes from their quality of work. “People like continued on Page 14
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
Strong as an elk
Fishing foremen
BakerTriangle’s San Antonio team had a successful fish outing Jul. 9 when they went to Seadrift, TX for their Annual Foremen’s Fishing Trip. -cmw
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Nick Garza, owner of ELK Contracting, Roofing & Exterior Solutions
ith a background dealing in insurance claims and an established career in roofing, Nicholas “Nick” Garza decided to take a leap of faith and venture out on his own. In 2019, he started ELK Contracting, Roofing & Exterior Solutions, and then the COVID pandemic hit. “Deciding to venture out on your own is scary enough,” Garza said. “And then a pandemic hits that shuts down the country. I was terrified. Luckily, construction was deemed an essential business.” Like an elk in the wild who is social and adaptable, Garza was able to get his company up and running through established relationships. Bound with perseverance and determination, Garza and ELK Contracting completed 100 jobs in their first year in business and has continued growing year after year. “It’s all about relationships,” says Garza. “I’m not a salesman. I want to provide a service above anybody else’s. This industry has the worst reputation. I try to build trust, not just for that project,
but for the future.” ELK specializes in asphalt shingle and metal roofing. They use the CertainTeed Integrity roof system to ensure that their roofs are durable and can withstand the effects of time. “We won’t sacrifice quality for speed. We take the time needed to ensure that your roof is installed efficiently and properly,” states Garza. Today, ELK Contracting, which is named after his wife and daughters – Emily, Leila, and Kalea, performs work for the commercial and residential markets in San Antonio and its surrounding areas including Spring Branch, Boerne, New Braunfels, over to Seguin, and as far north as Round Rock where they recently completed work on a large apartment complex development. “We’ll go anywhere we are needed. We’d even go to Corpus Christi,” says Garza. “Pride and integrity go into every job, no matter how big or small. We’ll treat your home or business as if it were our own.” Family-owned and operated, ELK Contracting Roofing & Exterior Solutions is located in Bulverde, TX. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
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Keepin’ it cool
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CHM Weatherguard team members donate to the cause “Beat the Heat.”
or two consecutive months, San Antonio and South Texas have experienced temperatures in the triple digits. With the region’s normal high temperature months ahead, there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. On Jul. 13, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. (S&P) hosted a “Beat the Heat” Fan Drive. The event was held at the S&P offices where donators were
treated to Kona Ice snow cones and door prizes of S&P swag. “These high temperatures are extremely difficult for the elderly of our community,” says Satterfield & Pontikes Estimator Christina Gonzalez. “We are rallying to assist Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) LOGICS’ drive to collect 20-inch electric box fans that will provide relief for seniors living in San Antonio.” -cmw
Priscilla Estrada, S&P, reviews her options for ordering a refreshing Kona Ice snow cone.
S&P team members enjoy Kona Ice snow cones during the fan donation drive.
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
Awarding diversity
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he Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA de SA) hosted their 12th Annual Diversity Awards Gala. The Boots & Bling-themed event was held at Pedrotti’s Ranch in Helotes, TX. Awards were presented to companies in recognition of their diversity and excellence in the construction industry. HCA de SA president Fernando Keller, Pro Landscape Solutions Inc., called on Alamo Colleges District’s Mark Price to kick off the awards presentation with two scholarships. Katalina Rain Munoz and Julian Trevino, each received a scholarship towards continuing their education at UTSA. UTSA received the Project Owner of the Year award. Unfortunately, a representative from UTSA was unable to attend and receive their award. In addition to the awards presentation, guests enjoyed dinner, music, a silent auction, and testing their luck in the event’s casino portion of the night. Kendra Scott was also in attendance alllowing guests the opportunity to buy and grab some “bling.” -cmw
General Contractor of the Year: SpawGlass
Diversity Champion of the Year: San Antonio Water Systems
Professional Services Provider of the Year: Ridout Barrett & Co. PC
Safety Program of the Year: SHROM Consulting
Supplier Vendor of the Year: EquipmentShare
HCA de SA Champion Award: Central Builders Inc
Subcontractor of the Year: Central Electric
Volunteer Member of the Year: Caleb Casarez, Glazers
HCA de SA Legacy Award: Turner Construction
HCA de SA Diversity Awards Gala Committee and Volunteers
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
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n May 16, the City of San Antonio launched “Ready to Work” an unprecedented educational and job placement program. The program has already received a tremendous response in its short few weeks with over 4,000 people reaching out to apply for the program. “We know there is a great need in San Antonio for training and education programs like this,” says Ready to Work Executive Director Mike Ramsey. “We’re excited to be able to help meet that need through this program.” The Ready to Work program addresses all of San Antonio’s target industry sectors, including construction. The program includes skilled trades, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, information technology, healthcare, utilities, cyber security, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and education. “We’re going to make sure we’ve got training programs that align to the most critical jobs that industry sector employers need here in San Antonio,” adds Ramsey. ”We’re leaning into our construction sector and expanding because there is so much work here with the city growing and expanding because it passed the $1.2 billion bond that included a lot of funding for housing, the bipartisan infrastructure law, a lot of construction, horizontal construction that will be taking place in our city, especially as it relates to electrifying the transportation systems here. With that, we’ve got training programs that are going to be aligned and equipped to provide a well-trained, skilled workforce to meet that need.” The Ready to Work program came about in November of 2022 at the height of the pandemic when San Antonio was making national news with the length of its food bank line and as the city was facing double-digit unemployment among a lot of its local businesses having to close or deal with little flow of customer
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Grant assist traffic. “Our Mayor and City Council spearheaded this initiative,” Ramsey continues, “And put it on the ballot to divert a one-eighth cent sales tax to workforce education and training for the people who live here in San Antonio.” According to Ramsey, the City is going to collect that one-eighth of a cent tax through December 31, 2025, to fund Ready to Work. Since it was passed by the voters in November 2020 the City formed an advisory board, consisting primarily of employers, issued an RFP to the community to find agencies here locally to implement the program by providing insights, services, and case management, as well as marketing and outreach for the program to make sure that they reach the people who would benefit the most, and providing a pipeline of well-trained talent to San Antonio’s local employees. “We built out a training catalog aligned to our targeted occupations, which we kept in sync with our local workforce boards, targeted occupation list, and targeted industries,” Ramsey continues. “That training catalog has certificate programs, apprenticeship programs, credentials of value, as well as Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees, aligned to our targeted occupations approved for the program, for those who had started college, but life came along, and they weren’t able to finish. “We’ve got over 200 employers that have signed our Ready to Work employer pledge, agreeing to partner with us and walk alongside us, letting us know what they need. We’re implementing the Talent Pipeline Management framework endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help us to drill down what employers’ replacement needs are as well as their hiring needs and what hiring they’ll be doing to adding new positions due to growth, and additional contracts that they will be receiving.’ Currently, the City has two employer
Mike Ramsey, Ready to Work Executive Director at the May 16, “Ready to Work” launch press conference
collaboratives going on - one in health care, the other in advanced manufacturing and biosciences. Another collaborative is getting ready to start at the end of July for the construction sector which will identify what occupations are most critical for local contractors as they ramp up to get the work done to sustain the growth that’s happening in San Antonio. In mid-July, the Ready to Work program received an Apprenticeship Building Grant of $2,983,444 from the U.S. Department of Labor. It is intended to support registered apprenticeship programs and to enable workers to find a reliable pathway to the middle class. The City of San Antonio, according to a press release from the Department of Labor, was one of 30 recipients to receive an Apprenticeship Building America grant totaling more than $121 million, designed to incorporate cost-cutting principles ensuring access to quality registered apprenticeship programs including equity, job quality, sustainability, evidence-based approaches and new opportunities for innovation, engagement, and ease of access.
“The general purpose of the grant is to expand pre-apprenticeship pathways leading to registered apprenticeship enrollment, particularly with a focus on equity by getting women and other underrepresented groups, such as people of color engaged in the apprenticeship pathway,” says Ramsey. There is a lot that can be done regarding outreach and making individuals aware including providing technical assistance to employers who are interested in either expanding or launching apprenticeships within their prospective industries for the first time. We can also provide some wraparound support to assist participants as they are matriculating through their pre-apprenticeship pathways as they’re gaining employment into apprenticeship programs.” The Apprenticeship Building America grant will open doors to additional, workbased learning opportunities for San Antonio residents and businesses. Apprenticeships create the flexibility needed for employers, large and small, to recruit, train, and retain future employees. For more information see readytoworksa. com. -cmw
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
INSURANCE
ACCOUNTING Transform your construction operations through RPA
The Importance of a Heat Illness Prevention Program
Chris Wetmore RSM US Austin/San Antonio, TX
Sarah Houser, Insurance Producer The Nitsche Group Bastrop, TX
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A strong safety culture can positively impact your business and wellbeing of employees
mid thin margins and a shortage of skilled labor, construction companies are continuing to turn toward robotics and automation as solutions to help their businesses. Beyond bricklaying robots and 3D-mapping drones, the use of robotic process automation (RPA) has become very common place in many tech-savvy construction company back-offices. The robots used in RPA aren’t walking, talking humanoids, but rather virtual bots housed on a server or on the cloud. Each bot is a software program that mimics the actions of humans in order to complete structured, logic-based tasks, such as drafting and sending invoices, consolidating documents for an expense report or handling various administrative human resources tasks. Bots are designed to augment a human workforce, making workers more productive by eliminating the need for humans to spend time on repetitive, low-value activities. For the construction industry, the ability to free up staff to work on other tasks by using this emerging technology could make a significant difference to a company’s bottom line and add agility to the organization. Why now? RPA has existed for more than a decade, but only over the past couple years has it hit a maturity point as the costs of implementation have become more accessible on a wider scale and the technology becoming more business-user friendly. The underlying technology driving RPA has also improved over the past few years, allowing it to take on increasingly complicated tasks and complete them more quickly driving quicker time to value. Automation is not just about reducing head count, but improving accuracy and efficiency. The case for RPA in construction Because it’s about the process rather than the task itself, RPA can be used in virtually any department within a business. The more often the process is performed and more routine the task is, the bigger the cost and time savings. Following are some of the ways that the construction industry could make use of RPA: • Client or owner invoice creation: RPA can pull together the necessary information, consolidate it into a single package, and send the invoice out within minutes. • Updating client, vendor, supplier or subcontractor lists: RPA can automatically update client lists and repopulate any forms with corrected contact information. • Document management: Rather than an outdated filing system that can lead to errors or lost documents, RPA can automatically file scanned documents into a centralized, easily managed system. • Recruiting: RPA can automatically scan LinkedIn for candidates with a specific education, certifications or experience. • Cost monitoring: RPA can take over the production of cost-to-estimate reports, pulling in data from contractors and suppliers, importing it into the project budget and generating real-time analytics into regular weekly, daily or on-demand reports. • Email blasts: RPA can create and send mass emails based on lists or other rules that have been created. • Estimate generation: Once basic information from a customer has been collected, RPA can use that data to generate a preliminary quote for potential work. • Tax preparation: RPA can pull tax-related data and documents from various systems, making it easier for on-staff accountants or an outsourced team to easily access the information needed to file taxes. • Onboarding employees, subcontractors, suppliers: The mundane, repetitive
nature of collecting documents and information, filing contracts and setting up payments makes them perfect for automation. • Email response: RPA can handle responses to some basic emails or web queries, or direct the email to the appropriate contact at a company. • Processing invoices: As vendor invoices come in, RPA can extract the necessary data from them and automatically enter it into an accounting system. RPA can also send a confirmation email to vendors letting them know that the invoices are in processing and highlighting any missing information. Request for proposal production: RPA can assist with several parts of the RFP process, including creating an estimate, gathering supporting documentation and populating at least part of the proposal. The benefits The cost to license and build a bot is relatively low compared to the potential savings it can yield. The Institute for RPA estimates that RPA solutions can deliver an immediate savings of 25% to 40% in labor costs alone. In addition, a McKinsey study found that more than 81% of predictable physical work, 69% of data processing, and 64% of data-collection activities could feasibly be automated. On top of that the McKinsey study noted that by automating manual and repetitive tasks, successful operation centers are reducing costs by 30-60% while increasing delivery quality. The boost in productivity also makes employees who can delegate tasks to RPA more valuable to the company. Sales professionals might spend less time drafting RFPs, for example, and more time meeting face-to-face with clients; recruiters might spend less time seeking out candidates and more time interviewing them; a project manager can focus on managing subcontractors rather than worrying about whether they’ve properly filled out their paperwork. In addition to productivity, organizations can expect to see a reduction in mistakes. Bots are never tempted to cut corners in ways that might lead to quality or compliance issues. Companies that build bots according to regulatory rules can rest easy knowing the bots will not only adhere to those rules, but will also leave a trail proving their compliance to potential auditors. Robots don’t take breaks or sleep, so once a bot is running, it could, essentially, work on its given task 24 hours a day. Bots also offer elasticity. Managers can scale up and scale down without making drastic (and expensive) changes to the human workforce. This agility is a huge advantage to adjust between high and low demand cycles. What’s next? Widespread adoption has really just begun, but it’s scaling quickly. The total market spend on RPA is expected to increase from 1.2 billion in 2020 to 13 billion in 2030 according to digital transformation research firm, Transforma Insights. Those that don’t adopt changing technologies may find themselves unable to compete against rivals with an augmented workforce that can complete tasks more accurately, more quickly and at a lower cost.
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ot weather safety and heat illness prevention are more important than ever. As the Central Texas region continues to experience exponential growth, the need for new construction shows no signs of slowing down. Retail and commercial development projects are booming, but along with that boom of activity comes increased risk— especially in the extreme Texas heat. While Central Texas and surrounding regions are no strangers to working through sweltering summer heat, the average number of heat advisory days is on the rise, as are the numbers of reported heat-related employee injuries. According to the National Weather Service, heat now ranks as the deadliest weather threat with the most linked fatalities each year. In addition, workers are at a 6 percent to 9 percent higher risk of injury and accident occurrence during days with temperatures above 90° F. The risk of injury jumps to 10 percent to 15 percent on days above 100° F. Beyond the medical impact and safety risk to employees that heat poses, it is also costly. An analysis by OSHA found that heat-related workplace incidents resulted in approximately $35,000 per injury in worker’s comp claims alone. That estimate doesn’t include the indirect costs from a heat-related illness incidents, which could include lost productivity, training for replacement employees, implementing corrective measures, lower employee morale, reduced employee retention, and the impact on reputation. People like doing business with companies that invest in the well-being of their employees. Today’s customers/ clients increasingly demand that their contractors invest in effective health and safety practices supported by a strong safety culture. While you may not be able to avoid the heat in Texas, you can create a strong workplace safety culture to mitigate heat-related risks. This approach (or thinking or strategy) protects your company’s reputation and bottom line. And you preserve your workforce’s safety, bolster morale, and increase employee retention. Creating a Culture of Safety Building a strong safety culture means going beyond the minimum requirements. Most companies understand the importance of providing the “big three” heat prevention measures: rest, shade, and hydration. Unfortunately, those simple measures can fall short in especially hot, humid, or heavy work conditions. It is crucial for your workers, your safety program, and your company’s bottom line to go beyond the basics by implementing a comprehensive heat illness prevention program. Creating a heat illness prevention program that promotes education and encouragement will benefit your workers, overall safety, and your company’s bottom line. Start with a Review Begin by reviewing your current safety measures and how effective they
are. Next, look for low-hanging fruit that will be easy to implement but will make a big impact. These opportunities can include changes like a modified work schedule to help avoid exposing employees to the hottest parts of the day. Companies should also review their current training to see if their workforce is receiving the right kind and level of information. Without proper training from company leadership, workers may be unaware of the symptoms of heat stress beyond recognizing that they’re feeling hot and sweaty. Additional early symptoms of heat stress and exhaustion that employees may be unaware of include disorientation, stumbling, lethargy, fumbling with tools, confusion, or slurred speech. Imagine what happens when an employee who is untrained and unaware of the symptoms of heat stress becomes disoriented on the jobsite or while operating heavy machinery. The outcome could be devastating. These risk controls might seem obvious, but too often they aren’t enforced. Give a clear indication to employees that you care about their safety, not simply keeping a jobsite opened and finishing a project on time. Employee Training & Education With especially high temperatures scorching Central Texas, now is a great time for refresher and additional training on heat safety. Companies should provide employees and supervisors training on how to work safely in hot and humid conditions, as well as how to identify the signs of heat exhaustion in themselves and their coworkers. Training topics should include: identifying the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, how heat can affect the body, and what to do if a co-worker is experiencing symptoms of a heat-related illness. Construction workers in the U.S. are 13 times more likely to die from a heat-related illness compared to workers in other industries. By offering proper training, outdoor workers can greatly reduce the risk of heat-related dangers. Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility Ultimately, it’s crucial for your entire team to be trained and aware of what to do when it comes to heat safety and prevention. Companies that don’t create a safety program from the top down inevitably fail their employees and, in turn, lose business. By integrating safety into every step of your organization, you ensure a successful future for your employees and your business. Sarah Houser is a commercial producer at The Nitsche Group in Bastrop, Texas. She is dually licensed in property casualty insurance and employee benefits insurance. Houser is from San Angelo, and currently resides in Smithville. In her spare time, she enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle, gardening, and spending time with her fiancé Matt and son Jack.
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
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OSHA
LEGAL
Heat Illness Planning and Supervision
Getting Up To Speed: The Legislature Modernizes Texas’s Building and Residential Codes
Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX
Matt D. Roland Allensworth Austin, TX
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he Texas Legislature recently updated the statewide municipal building codes for commercial and residential construction projects. Prior to this change, Texas’s statutory building codes were among the oldest in the United States. While the new law is generally being applauded, industry participants should be sure that their upcoming projects meet the new minimum requirements of the applicable code. House Bill 738 (HB 738), passed in the most recent legislative session, amended Texas’s Local Government Code by establishing the 2012 editions of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) as the new, statewide municipal building codes. Texas had previously followed the 2000 version of the IRC and the 2003 version of the IBC since the early 2000s, when the Texas Legislature first adopted the IRC and IBC statewide. HB 738 updated the applicable versions of these codes, but also authorized municipalities to modify their local building codes as needed, under certain circumstances. Under HB 738, municipalities may by ordinance adopt local amendments to the IRC and IBC that add, modify, or remove code requirements, but only after a public hearing is held on the proposed amendment. Likewise, municipalities may review and consider amendments made to either code by the International Code Council after May 1, 2012, excluding electrical provisions. And specifically with respect to commercial construction, municipalities may continue to adopt more stringent commercial building codes than the IBC, as well as future editions of that code. HB 738 also adds a section to the Local Government Code that prevents a municipality, county, or emergency services district from requiring the installation of fire sprinkler systems in new or existing one- or two-family dwellings. They may, however, allow a specialist or contractor to install a fire sprinkler system in such dwellings for a fee. If a municipality already had such a requirement in effect on or before January 1, 2009, this restriction does not apply. This new law is currently in effect for residential and commercial construction (1) beginning under a contract made on or after January 1, 2022, or (2) in the absence of a contract, beginning on or after January 1, 2022. If construction com-
mences under a contract made before January 1, 2022, the project is governed by the law in effect at the time of the contract. Likewise, in the absence of contract, construction that began before January 1, 2022, is governed by the law in effect at the time construction began. However, the updated codes are not limited to new construction projects—they also apply to alteration, remodeling, enlargement, or repair of commercial and residential structures, excluding the installation and maintenance of electric wiring. These changes are intended to protect public health, safety, and welfare. In the aftermath of natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey, and according to the relevant House and Senate Bill Analyses, organizations and agencies such as FEMA and the Texas General Land Office have found that structures built in compliance with more modern standards withstand such disasters better than older buildings. Texas lawmakers have endeavored to mitigate the cost of these future disasters—both in terms of public safety and property damage—by updating the municipal building codes. Residential and commercial contractors should ensure that their projects, at a minimum, meet the requirements of the 2012 versions of the IRC and IBC, as applicable. However, many municipalities throughout Texas have already adopted versions of the IRC and IBC that are more stringent than those required by HB 738. The practical effect of the new law will generally be to streamline those minimum requirements across all Texas municipalities, but industry members should still carefully research and study each jurisdiction’s applicable codes. Keep in mind that parties should also seek to negotiate contract terms requiring reasonable compliance with standards applicable to any given project, rather than strict or absolute compliance, which may lead to insurance coverage problems and open the door to more difficult and dangerous claims. Matt D. Roland is an attorney at Allensworth in Austin, Texas. He works with architects, engineers, contractors, and owners on complex, multi-party cases involving design and construction defects and contract disputes. You can reach Matt by email at mroland@allensworthlaw.com
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eat-related illness can affect workers in many industries, at indoor or outdoor worksites. Some job-related risk factors include: • Outdoor work in warm weather, • Heat sources such as ovens, fires, or hot tar, • Strenuous physical activity, and • Heavy or non-breathable work clothes. When these (or other) heat hazards are present, employers should plan ahead to protect workers. Employers should create a written plan to prevent heat-related illness. Important elements to consider when creating the heat plan are: • Who will provide oversight on a daily basis? • How will new workers gradually develop heat tolerance? • Temporary workers may be more susceptible to heat and require closer supervision. • Workers returning from extended leave (typically defined as more than two weeks) may also be at increased risk. • How will the employer ensure that first aid is adequate and the protocol for summoning medical assistance in situations beyond first-aid is effective? • What engineering controls and work practices will be used to reduce heat stress? • How will heat stress be measured? • How to respond when the National Weather Service issues a heat advi sory or heat warning? • How will we determine if the total heat stress is hazardous? • What training will be provided to workers and supervisors? Day-to-Day Supervision Heat conditions can change rapidly and management commitment to ad-
justing heat stress controls is critical to prevent heat illness. An individual at the worksite should be responsible for monitoring conditions and implementing the employer’s heat plan throughout the workday. This individual can be a foreman, jobsite supervisor, plant manager, safety director, or anyone else with the proper training. Proper training includes knowing how to: • identify and control heat hazards; • recognize early symptoms of heat stress; • administer first aid for heat-related illnesses; and • activate emergency medical ser- vices quickly when needed. Ideally, the individual who is responsible for the heat plan should be on-site, where the workers are. On-site monitoring allows accurate determination of heat stress. In some industries with a widely distributed workforce, such as mail and package delivery, on-site monitoring might not be feasible. In those cases, the responsible individual at the site should be fully trained on the means and methods to contact and report to the employer any adverse heat related conditions that may develop on the site as well as any signs and symptoms of heat related illness experienced by any of the workers. The responsible individual in a central location should estimate heat stress using the best available methods for remote estimation using the guide at https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/wbgt-calculator OSHA also has a heat illness app at https://www.osha.gov/heat/heat-app natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
how to fix problems and everything at a very young age. Did you all grow crops on your family farm? Joe: We ran about 100 head of cattle and farmed about 2,000 acres of corn, milo, and wheat. We used to grow a lot of peanuts when we were younger, so our summer times were spent chopping keeping weeds clear from the peanuts.
Chris Hill, Partner Joseph Stanush, Partner Benjamin Stanush, Partner
Diamondback Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration & Diamondback Electrical Services La Vernia, TX
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rowing up in a small farming community develops strong bonds. Such is the case for three La Vernia boys who worked hard throughout their youth. With strong work ethics, the trio, after going down different paths after high school, came together to build a thriving company that continues to grow. Tell me a little bit about your upbringing. Chris: I was born in San Antonio and lived in Kirby around the time I was in kindergarten and moved to La Vernia. Joe: I was born and raised right here in La Vernia. I grew up on a family farm. Ben: Like Joe, I was born and raised here in La Vernia. We’re cousins, so I too grew up on a family farm. What was it like growing up in La Vernia? Chris: La Vernia was a small country town then. Since then, it has exploded so much, I don’t know as many people anymore. But the growth has helped grow business which allows us to service the homes and businesses that are being built in La Vernia and the surrounding areas. We can support our community like the local stock show, little league, all the different fundraisers, and things that happened in the community, which is a huge deal for us. Joe: Growing up on a family farm was a lot of work. I grew up on a tractor. We spent a lot of time down at my grandma’s house, where the farm was located, while my mom and dad went to work. Ben: Just like Joe, I grew up on a farm where we worked almost everyday and weekend. When we came home from school and our schoolwork was done, we’d work until the work was done or when the sun went down. It was hard, but it did teach us to have a good work ethic. Joe: It made us who we are today. It taught us the importance of hard work. It taught us common sense. That’s something I think in today’s world, young people miss. There does not seem to be a lot of common sense these days. It taught us
Were you all involved in any extracurricular activities? Chris: I was active in Four H. I did play Little League ball and was in the school band for a little bit. Mostly, I worked and played football. Joe: No, I just worked on the farm. Dad would say, ‘We have 100 head of cattle out there to raise. You don’t need to worry about raising just one.’ Ben: I was a little active in school. I didn’t do FFA or anything like that, but I was in our high school band throughout high school. What instrument did you play, Ben? I played the saxophone. I still have it, but I don’t play it anymore. Chris, what position did you play in football? I was a wide receiver. After high school, did you all go to college? Chris: I went to school and an associate degree in air conditioning, then started working towards a bachelor’s in engineering technology at a college up in Michigan. From there, life took a turn and there was no more time to finish school, but I gained the knowledge needed to take care of business here. Joe: After high school, I went to a trade school through the Texas A&M program. It was a nine-month-long training program. From there, I started working in the refrigeration world for the next seven years. After that, I went to work in the oil field for about five years, and then we started Diamondback. Ben: I went straight from high school to the electrical trade. I went to the local IEC (Independent Electrical Contractors) school in San Antonio. I graduated from the IEC program and got my journeyman license. I taught at the IEC for a year. After that, I strived for fire EMS. For some reason, I thought that was what I wanted to do so I did a lot of volunteer work in New Berlin. I did 10 years in New Berlin as a volunteer firefighter. I thought it’d be fun, and it was, but the pay just wasn’t what I was making as a journeyman. I went from making journeyman pay down to almost minimum wage as an EMT. After a year, I came back and haven’t looked back and in 2019, we started Diamondback’s electrical division. During all that time, I went to college at night for almost 10 years straight. I finally finished and got my bachelor’s degree in 2021. I graduated from Rowan University in New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in construction
Partners Benjamin Stanush, Chris Hill and Joseph Stanush
business management. I got my master’s license in 2017. Chris holds an associate degree in air conditioning. Ben is a master’s electrician license and holds a bachelor’s degree in construction business management. Joe, what certifications or licenses do you hold? Joe: I have an Air Conditioning/Refrigeration license. Chris has a master air conditioning license, but we run off my license because it is a combo license. Chris: With my license, I can only do environmental air conditioning. Joe can process refrigeration. My license would not allow us to do commercial, grocery stores and the big, huge rack systems. Joe: I have the environmental air and refrigeration. It is a Combo Class A. We can touch any size unit or anything. Are you married? Do you have children? Tell me about them. Chris: I’m married to my high school sweetheart, Kimberly. We’ve been married for 11 years. Kimberly works for the state – Child Protective Services. We have two children – Aiden and Addison. Aiden is the oldest. He’s 10. Addison is 8. Joe: I’m not married but I am in a relationship. My girlfriend, Cheyenne Holcomb. We have been together for 12 years and are in the process of moving in together. We got together and then went our separate ways, but the stars led us back together. She is currently going to nursing school and has two wonderful boys, Kolton and Heston, whom I absolutely adore. I do a lot with the boys. They are great young men. Ben: I met my wife, Megan, online five years ago. We’ve been married three years. Megan is a seventh-grade math teacher in the New Braunfels Independent School District (NBISD). We just had our first child, Wesley, eight months ago. What do you do to relax? Do you have any hobbies?
San Antonio
Chris: I like spending time at the lake with the kids. Sometimes in the evening, I’ll tinker with something in the garage. I don’t really have a “hobby” per se. Joe: Relax, what is that? This time of year, there is no such word as relax. Once it starts to cool down, I start disappearing to the deer lease. I enjoy snow skiing and I try to get a fishing trip in, at least once or twice a year. If I can’t get away, honestly, I go sit on the tractor for a day or two. There’s just something relaxing about being on the tractor. No one’s out there. It’s just me and the tractor. Ben: Before Wesley was born, Megan and I did a lot of traveling. We both enjoy traveling. Since Little Wesley came around, we haven’t had much chance to travel. I also do a lot of volunteer work for St. Peter Paul Catholic Church in New Braunfels. What is the one thing you would like our readers to know about you as an individual? Chris: My biggest deal is loyalty and sticking with a company. Sticking with somebody to earn their trust in you, trust your employers and be a better person for what you do, be a part of the team, and be there for your clients. Joe: I’m a firm believer that you don’t need a college education to make it in this world. I graduated high school, and I wasn’t even in the top half of my class. I went to trade school, did my nine months there, came out, and now I am running a successful business. You don’t have to have that piece of paper to be successful. Ben: I agree with Joe for the most part. The only reason I got my degree was for personal achievement. I didn’t get my connections or anything important like coming to Diamondback and doing any type of company work by having a degree. It’s all been growing up in the trade, doing PR, getting to know people, and working your butt off. -cmw
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Page 9
Graduating class ‘22
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he 2022 graduating class of the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) in alliance with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) received their certificates of completion on Jun. 23 at the San Antonio Marriott Northwest. Thirtyfive inside wiremen graduates and five telecommunication graduates embark on the next stage of their careers as family, friends, employers, instructors, and fellow apprentices cheered them on. -cmw
2022 Inside Wireman Electricians graduating class with instructors and Training Director, John Martin
William Nowlin receives the 2022 Perseverance Award
Michael Wilson receives the Inside Wireman Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Award
David Palacios is the recipient of TeleData Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Award
Alisandro Flores IV is presented the Highest 3-year GPA
2022 Telecommunication graduating class with instructors and Training Director, John Martin
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
Page 11
O No Sweat Over Summer Fishing by Capt. Steve Schultz
ne of the first things that’s on my mind in August is the heat. Although records show that July is the hottest month of the year, I’d have to disagree. Winds typically die in August making sweat beads just roll off your body. I’ve found myself leaving a good trout bite just so that we can make a boat run to cool off. At times, I have even circled back around to the same spot I left and started catching fish again. Staying hydrated is key to being able to endure the 6-8 hours on the boat with no shade. Heat exhaustion is not something you want to mess with. I have had clients dang near pass out on the boat and even had to pick-up a fellow guide who had
Lee Scheel of Capital Aggregates landed this 25-inch speckled trout while fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Fish was released after photo.
suffered from the heat during one of his charters. Please stay hydrated and try to lay off the alcohol till you get back to the dock. One thing that has saved us from the blistering heat and what I call a “Nationwide Drought” are the winds that really have not laid since Spring. I can’t really remember it being this windy this late in the year. But don’t get me wrong, it’s a welcome site this late in the summer and I’m sure we will be griping the minute it lays. By this time last year, I had already fished the surf and the Bob Hall pier at least half a dozen times. Being able to fish the open water on the beach front gives the fish in
the bays time to recover from the constant beat down and pressure from all the guides, tournaments and pressure from weekend anglers. These fish need time to recover and repopulate the areas that are hammered the most. Therefore, I try to change things up during the middle of the summer such as fishing the surf either north or south. I also will take a few charters offshore to catch snapper, kingfish and even sharks if you’re into that type of catching. Most of my clients like the change of pace, exploring different waters and not knowing what will be at the end of the line when it comes in. continued on Page 13
Sam Knowlton was lucky enough to catch this 26-inch trout last month with Steve Schultz Outdoors. These fish are starting to make a comeback from the 2021 freeze.
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 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
Heat Wave Fishing!
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he temperature keeps going up and the lake level keeps going down! By now it is easy to say we are done with summer and just stay in the house until it’s over. Whatever you do, don’t give up, because the catfish are tearing it up here on Lake Buchanan! On a lake like Buchanan and any other lake that is not held at a constant level, things are always constantly changing. Fish are governed by water conditions and weather. When no two years are the same, it can be really hard to pattern their behavior. It’ll keep you guessing and you have to do a lot of trial and error. The amazing thing is that the right conditions can come together to make the perfect storm of fishing, and right now that’s what we are seeing for catfish on Lake Buchanan. It seems that all the old dead willow trees left behind by the last big drought are once again coming into shallow water. The threadfin shad love to spawn and lay eggs in warm shallow water that has structure. The shad come in and everything that loves to eat them and their eggs are not far behind. What comes next is amazing fishing! You can just ask Larry Peterson a retired safety consultant, Frank Kocurek, from Frank’s Repair Service and Ronnie Rinn, retired from M & D Distributors! They came to the lake for a couple of weekends of fishing and their pictures speak for themselves!
Ronnie Rin catfish
Peterson catfish stringer
The catfish here are on a real good bite, but the white bass are getting in on it too. Those fish can tolerate the almost hot water and still be active. The stripers need to be hanging out in deeper cooler water because they are not native fish, and they can’t take all the heat. What we are beginning to see are some early morning outbreaks of topwater whites and stripers here and there. They aren’t really getting a good pattern going yet, but it pays to keep looking for them. The
last time we had a bad drought like this one, they did get on an iron clad pattern of topwater you could set your watch by! When you can see stripers busting the surface in the first morning light from a mile away, it is a sight to behold! We have our fingers crossed that we’ll see something like that this year. With the water level in the lake dropping more and more each day you do have to keep in mind that this is not easy fishing. It is becoming more of a chal-
lenge to find a good place to launch your boat and you need to really pay close attention to the water and what is sticking up while you are underway. As things change with the falling water, your fishing spots will likely go away. Just look for other places with similar water depth, temperature, and structure to help you find your next spot. Give your dried-up spots a good look so you can understand what made them work so well. Get ready! It’s about time for the grasshoppers to start landing in the water and the catfish are waiting with open mouths! continued next page
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
continued from Page 12 — Ken Milam
Page 13
continued from Page 11 — Capt Steve Schultz Speaking of Bob Hall Pier, the demo process has begun and contractors are about 50% completed removing the structure that was damaged several years ago by Hurricane Hanna. The pier which is owned by Nueces County will be rebuilt bigger and better than the old one which was built in 1950. The plan is to make the structure wider and possibly have a bigger T-head at the end. Restrooms and shade for the anglers are also in the plans for the new constructed pier. The removed concrete from the old pier is being staged on a barge and floated offshore where a reef will be constructed. I personally can’t wait to be able to fish there.
Frank Kocurek catfish
My dates are becoming very limited thru the remainder of my fishing season. August dates that are still open are,
4,22,23,25,26,29. Several dates in September and October are available also. I’m also booking South Texas whitetail hunts for the coming 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 361813-3716 or e-mail me at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good luck and Good Fishing. Sponsored by:
Waypoint Marine/Waypoint Customs, Shoalwater Boats, Mercury Marine, Shimano Reels, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing, Columbia Sportswear, ForEverlast Fishing Products, PowerPro, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, JL Marines PowerPole, and AFTCO Clothing.
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
IEC graduating class
continued from Page 1 — Mendez Engineering using us because we do a good job,” says Mendez. “We’re never late and we give them a good quality product. We’re not the cheapest, but we’re not expensive either.” In 2021, Mendez Engineering opened its first satellite office in Corpus Christi. In
January of this year, as the company celebrates 10 years in business, Mendez Engineering’s second satellite office was opened in El Paso. Mendez Engineering is a Minority|Service Disabled-Veteran Owned Small Business headquartered in San Antonio. -cmw
Safe trenching
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IEC Class of 2022
he Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) held its 2022 Apprentice Graduation on Jun. 10. The event was held at Norris Conference Center. Brandon Andrade, IEC’s 2022 Apprentice
of the Year, will represent IEC San Antonio in the National Competition in Louisville, KY in October. Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography. -cmw
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he National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) hosted a Live Trench Training event on Jun. 22. The event was held at the HOLT CAT® headquarters where over 300 utility crew members and event sponsors were in attendance. The training event included nine 20-minute stations that covered topics such as benching and sloping, shoring, drilling and boring, line locating, plugs, and trench rescue. The stations were
done in both English and Spanish. OSHA and San Antonio Fire Department personnel were on hand to conduct portions of the instruction. The training was interactive with fully installed trench boxes, shoring, etc. to allow participants the opportunity to see firsthand as instructors demonstrated and implemented training on the proper use and practices of trenching and the use of available tools and equipment. -cmw
Construction News ON LOCATION Andrade came through the IEC program at Mac Arthur High and was an “A” student all throughout his four years with IEC.
Smiles & stones
MJ Granite Supply LLC Sales Representatives Iliana Cabler and Beatrice Morales, offer smiles as the beautiful and genuine as the natural stones they sale. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
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Page 15
Summer fun
n Jun. 11, Alterman’s San Antonio employees came together at Pedrotti’s Ranch for their family geared Summer Party. With over 1,000 in attendance, Pedrotti’s provided a ton of games and entertainment for everyone to enjoy. A great time was had by all. Throughout the duration of the event, door prizes, graciously donated by
Interning for tomorrow
their partners in the industry, were handed out with some lucky winners leaving with some amazing grand prizes. The summer party gives Alterman the opportunity to show appreciation for both office and field employees as well as their families. Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography. -cmw
F
James Winegeart trys his luck at Jenga
Tire Rolling Champions: Jason Machac, Omar Ortega, and Aaron Godsey
SISD students intern at Central Electric as helpers learning the electrical trade
or a few years now, Central Electric has recruited high school student interns seeking a career in the electrical industry through local high schools, most recently through Southside Independent School District’s CTE program. Their goal is to fill the gap of quality electricians in the future. As their third round of interns ready to graduate and become part of the workforce, Central Electric hopes to continue this intern program and bring awareness to others that interning high school students who may or
may not be college bound to consider a blue-collar trade. On Jun. 29, Central Electric hosted a lunch to recognize these young talents from SISD’s CTE program. State Representative John Lujan and Assistant Gracie Flores, SISD’s Leticia Santos and Michael Cruz, and Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Executive Director Tamara Klaehn were in attendance to welcome ideas for recruiting and developing programs to help replenish the construction industry’s declining workforce. -cmw
Two Heads are Better than One (ball game)
Central Electric President Chris Martinez address student interns and guests on the advantages of learning a skilled trade and being involved in programs like SISD’s CTE program.
Two Heads are Better than One (ball game)
Group photo of attendees
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
New Braunfels Police Station and Veterans Memorial
ricstad partnered with Joeris General Contractors Ltd. in January of 2021 for the construction of the New Braunfels Police Station and Veterans Memorial. Construction began in the following month and was completed in June 2022. Ericstad performed all the masonry on the project including CMU, brick, stone cast stone, and granite.
The project showcases a beautiful memorial to war veterans which is made up of 44 pieces of 8-ft.-4-in. high by 3-ft.4-in. wide radical cut polished Cold Spring Black granite, which was manufactured by Cold Springs Granite in Cold Springs, MN. Actual wartime photos are etched into the granite. Each piece of granite weighs approximately 1,600lbs.
The radical pieces of granite had to be installed with very close precision to accommodate the 1/8-in. construction tolerances. In all, 110 individual pieces of granite were used to construct the memorial. Robbie Klekar, Ericstad’s current owner, took ownership of Ericstad in 2013 from then-owner Hans Gors. Gors started
the company in 1983. Ericstad is a commercial masonry contractor with extensive experience in the K-12 and retail markets. The company’s focus is to maintain the highest quality of craftsmanship while working closely with industry partners to make the world a better place – one brick at a time! -cmw
Above: Close-ups of actual war time photos etched in granite.
Ericstad San Antonio TX
New Braunfels Police Station and Veterans Memorial
Producers Co-op
Producers Co-op
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Store
he Fetzer Companies Inc. has provided General Contracting services to San Antonio and surrounding areas for over 28 years with one goal in mind - Customer service. With a can-do attitude and a desire to go above and beyond to deliver the project our clients envision and more, we strive to provide a construction management service that is fluid and informative to all parties involved. From concept to current, we have
our client’s best interests in mind. This brings a level of service and comfort that is unmatched and highly sought after in times of uncertainty. Skilled labor shortages and long material lead times continue to demand the coordination and management of a skilled industry leader and our goal is to exhaust all options to ensure their client can make the most-informed decision for their investments. The Producers Co-op has been a sta-
ple to the New Braunfels community for over 75 years. What started in 1944 originally as a wool and mohair trading center has evolved over the years into a booming feed-mill operation, grain elevator, three retail locations, and a trailer sales division. With their popular lines of show animal feeds, Producers Co-op has been fortunate to attract customers across the state of Texas, while still focusing on the local community and customers.
Loading dock
Warehouse
Bulk dock
Serving the Texas Hill Country with livestock, pet, farm, and ranch supplies across generations has made for many stories passing through the Walls of the Co-op and, most recently, called for the need to expand. The Co-op recently found itself stuck in a rapidly growing and increasingly popular downtown New Braunfels area and knew that a location change was necessary to continue to serve its customers as needed. The Fetzer Companies Inc. is proud to provide the Producers Co-op with a brand-new facility, located at 1744 S Seguin Avenue in New Braunfels, TX. This building consists of 21,087sf of metal building construction for retail space and a fully functional loading dock area for all your bulk feed and ranch supply needs. The Fetzer Companies Inc. is a full-service general contractor in San Antonio. -cmw
The Fetzer Companies Inc San Antonio, TX
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
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Page 17
Tidal Surge, Sea World San Antonio
his past fall, Garden & Ornamental Designs Inc. made history within the company and the amusement industry with the erection of a new ride called Tidal Surge. The new ride was erected for Sea World and manufactured by S&S Worldwide. Tidal Surge is the biggest ride of its kind in the world, standing 105ft tall. Tidal Surge has two three-section towers with an arch and axel hub assembly that span across the top of the two towers. Two boom arms hang down from the axel hub, to which the two-seat bases are attached. Each boom arm holds 20 passengers for a total capacity of 40 passengers. Tidal Surge has a swing height of 135ft and has a maximum speed of 68mph for a ride duration of one minute and 20 seconds. The maximum rotation is 230 degrees per boom arm. The ride is run by a pneumatic powered cylinder with a piston inside a cylinder in each tower connected to an 88-millimeter steel cable that is connected to the axle hubs. The total ride erection took a little over three months to complete and required the use of three cranes and two 135-ft boom lifts. Weighing approximately 82,000lbs, the heaviest pick was the arch/axel hub assembly which was accomplished using two hydraulic cranes. If you get a chance, go ride the tide at Sea World. Garden & Ornamental Designs Inc. specializes in structural steel and pre-cast erection, specialty projects, stainless handrails, and more. -cmw
Setting the mid-tower of Tidal Surge
Aerial view of Tidal Surge under construction Tidal Surge, Sea World San Antonio
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elco Media Inc. of San Antonio was awarded the bid to deliver and integrate a broadcast workflow for the TechPort Center + Arena. As part of the broadcast workflow, Nelco Media assisted in designing a broadcast control room equipped with advanced live streaming technology, 4Kbroadcast cameras, technical operations center (Server Room), and a complete Broadcast studio with custom infinity chromakey wall, all broadcast cabling, arena lighting and truss. Some highlights of this project include over 60,000 lf of fiber and copper cable which was used throughout the building. The broadcast control room is powered by NewTek TriCaster 2 Elite, NewTek 3Play, Digico S21 Audio, and Ross Tessera for LED screen control. The greenscreen studio features a ProCyc 2 wall Cyclorama, and ETC lighting. The designed lighting Nelco built creates the atmosphere for the eSports/Concert arena. This project is widely known as the
Raising the axel hub for placement
Garden & Ornamental Designs Inc. San Antonio, TX
TechPort Center + Arena most high-tech arena in the country. What backs up this claim is not just the equipment but the workflow that has been deployed at TechPort. With the substantial fiber infrastructure throughout the facility, broadcasts are capable of being produced anywhere on the property. A centralized control room can provide live broadcasts and controls all LED screens in this 130,000-sf facility. “One of the things that really separates Nelco Media from other vendors is our focus on supporting the venue staff after the installation is complete,” says Nelco Media President Philip Nelson. “And have provided engineering support for over 15 events after the opening of TechPort Center+Arena.” Nelco Media’s clients include NBA, NHL, NFL Network, Miss Universe, Blaze TV, and the Joe Rogan Experience. Nelco Media Inc. of San Antonio is a one-stop shop for audio/visual equipment, design, and installation. -cmw TechPort Center + Arena
Nelco Media Inc. San Antonio, TX
Page 18
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
What was your favorite high school subject and why. I was never a great student, but I had a knack for math. You had to have Algebra II for college apps, so most Seniors took it. I took it as a Jr. and made a lot of new friends. Our instructor allowed us to work together on exams, so everyone gathered around my desk and copied my work. They would introduce me to their friends as their Algebra teacher. Doug Nunnelly, FA Nunnelly General Contractors Math. I was always good at it. I look at it like puzzles to solve. I like puzzles and numbers. Brittany Binder, Window Fashions of Texas My favorite subject in high school was physical education. We got to get out of a traditional classroom setting and let some of that pinned-up energy from the classroom out. Michael Ramsey, Ready to Work Government was my favorite subject. I’ve always had an interest in how the government ran. I excelled in that class, and I liked everything about that class. One of the stories that I must tell people is about my friend, David, who was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. We took government together and it was the only class we ever had together. I like that class so much that I remember during a test, our teacher would give us extra credit which I always got. My final grade was like 109 and his grade was in the low 70s. My teacher announced that I could give my extra points to anyone in the class I wanted to have them. Everybody got excited except my friend David because he knew I was going to give them to him. He ended up getting a B instead of a D because of me. Ray Mendez, Mendez Engineering It definitely wasn’t math! Seriously, I would say my favorite subjects were probably science and history. Science was fun because you could experiment s
continued from Page 1 — F.A. Nunnelly General Contractor
with a lot of stuff and learn how things work. History because it was learning about everything in the past. I wasn’t big on writing papers and doing math equations. Nick Garza, ELK Contracting Roofing & Exterior Solutions I liked science and math. I liked science because of the experiments we did. I liked math because I like solving problems. Edgar Beltran, Beltran Painting & Remodeling My favorite subject was history. I love history. I’m not very good at reading, it was always my weakest. But history, I love going back and learning from the past. Joe Stanush, Diamondback Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration AG class was my favorite if you want to consider it a subject. I liked working with the animals. Matt Bright, Turner Roofing Co. My favorite class was AP English. I enjoyed writing the timed essays because you didn’t have time to sit and think about what to write – you just put the pen on the paper and wrote. And if you had to write three full essays in two hours on the AP exam, you had to think about what to write next while you’re still in the process of writing down your previous thought. There wasn’t much time to lose your train of thought or go back to correct something. It was always high pressure and I absolutely loved it. Christopher Zigmond, Jon Wayne Service Company Math was my favorite. I’ve always been a numbers nerd. Somehow, they just make sense. Leslie Christians, Lynwood Building Materials
Submitted to Construction News
Round-Up
Sharp Glass is pleased to announce two new additions to the Sharp family. Greg Aguirre joins the Sharp Glass team as a CAD Designer and Draftsman. He an Associate degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design Technology and has over 20 years of experience in CAD Drafting for manufacturing companies. Aguirre also has experience working in the Civil Engineering and Land Surveying industry. -cmw
David Mauler joined the Sharp Glass team as a Senior Project Manager. He has diverse experience in the Glazing Construction Industry coupled with excellent leadership and communication skills. Mauler started as an installer glazing in Northern VA and later moved to Texas working in the Glass and Aluminum Manufacturing Industry. -cmw
Catamount Constructors Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of Michael Dixon to Vice President of its San Antonio office. He will lead Catamount’s expanded San Antonio focus in retail, office, manufacturing, municipal government, education, local industrial healthcare and non-profit. Dixon brings proven leadership skills and on-time results for design-build and general construction management with his 15-plus years of experience in the construction industry. -cmw
TBG Partners is pleased to announce Nicole Warns, PLA as the Firmwide Director of Design. A new role for the firm, Warns will be help elevate TBG’s design thinking in a way that cultivates collaboration and places creativity at the core of its culture. As also Principal in the Austin office, Warns brings nearly 20 years’ professional experience that includes prominent design endeavors around the world through thematic design solutions. -cmw
Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc. is proud to promote Stacey Weichert, P.E., LEED AP, CFM to Vice President. Weichert has a wealth of experience and knowledge in managing land development projects for private and public entities. Her leadership has contributed to the success of her team and many projects for the firm. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University. -cmw
Newspaper clipping of Doug Nunnelly’s first groundbreaking Porter Loring Mortuaries and the San Antonio Brewing Association, known to many as the Pearl Brewing Company. Pearl Brewing was one of the most critical relationships in providing growth and stability for F.A. Nunnelly for decades to come. Some notable projects for Pearl included a multi-story garage, a 6-story cellar building, the Bottling House expansion, the original Full Goods Building, and the Can Plant. Floyd Arthur Nunnelly, Jr. “FA” and Phillip Scott Nunnelly “Bubba” came to work in the company as young boys in the early ‘40s. Both served our country with FA serving in World War II and Bubba served in the Korean War after which both returned to run the business. The two became owners as the second generation in the late 1960s. The ‘50s and ‘60s included projects for Pearl, St. Philip’s College, Jordan Motors, The Light Newspaper, Frost Bank, Porter Loring, and multiple local Independent School Districts to name a few. In the late ‘60s as the World Fair came to San Antonio, San Antonio Fairs hired F.A. Nunnelly along with several other reputable contractors to help build several of the World Fair features. Unfortunately, San Antonio Fairs went bankrupt and negotiated to compensate contractors with tickets to the World Fair. F.A. Nunnelly chose to not accept this form of alternate payment and fought to get their subs paid and won. Over the next 60 years, F.A. Nunnelly General Contractor continued building upon its San Antonio footprint and expanding its resume with projects in K-12, Higher Education, Industrial, Healthcare, and even completed several projects for local religious organizations. The early ‘70s welcomed their first substantial health care project with the construction of a multi-story facility in the Medical Center and several projects for the San Antonio State Hospital. The 1970s also provid-
ed new relationships in the industrial sector by being contracted to build manufacturing and administration facilities for Farah Manufacturing, Champion International, Columbia Industries, and CPS Energy. While both brothers were respected in the industry and community as honest businessmen, Bubba was also known for his ability to overcome the challenges of the Polio disease. Initially paralyzed from the neck down he fought to recover his ability to walk with a cane and maintained his role with F.A. Nunnelly in partnership with Floyd Arthur Jr. until the third generation began to take over the management. Floyd Arthur Jr.’s sons, Doug, and Philip Nunnelly along with their cousin Scott Nunnelly who was Bubba’s son, also started in the company as young boys. And like their fathers, the third generation of Nunnellys – Doug, Philip, and Scott - took over the reins of F.A. Nunnelly in the late ‘80s. Over the next thirty-five years, Doug, Philip, and Scott maintained relationships and continued success by building in the K-12, Healthcare, Industrial, and Municipal sectors. Projects were built for Pearl Brewing, the City of San Antonio (COSA), HEB, Frost Bank, Baptist Health Systems, and all major local K-12 ISDs. By 2016, Doug and Philip began to transfer ownership of the firm to Blaine Beckman, President and Greg Vaughn, CEO who are the current fourth generation of management. While F.A. Nunnelly has grown substantially, they maintain a family culture and a focus on integrity as the foundation of their core values. The F.A. Nunnelly credits their 100 years of success to the valued partnerships with their clients and design partners, trade partners and suppliers, the local San Antonio community, and the entire F.A. Nunnelly internal team. -cmw
continued from Page 1 — Vigini Paint & Design architecture and decorative arts. The dynamic duo came together after meeting in a workshop being taught by Nicola on marbelizing using a water-based system, a nice change from toxic oils. “This system was welcomed,” says Nicola. “The toxic oils were too much. You get the same result as oil, with all the benefits of being water-based.” The duo traveled, instructing workshops, and perfecting their gifts. In the late ‘90s, they opened a studio to teach the skills they had perfected from murals, faux finishing, furniture, cabinetry, gilding, and refined finishes While keeping their fulltime contracting business, Vigini Paint & Decorating, up and running. Eventually, Nicola and Leslie decided to close their studio and focus solely on contracting. Vigini Paint & Design has adorned interiors across the continental U.S. from ceilings to floors. Their interior painting, many of which are looking at the work of ancient Romans. Nicola is skilled in replicating tapestries, stone, wood, and so much more. Today, the company has found a niche in painting old floors to look like Roman-inspired stone or tile. Each pattern is created
by Nicola himself and meticulously taped out, stenciled, and hand-painted, with multiple overlays to create a bold, continuous work of art that is durable and brilliant. Flooring is just one of their many specialties. They offer exterior painting as well as interior painting. Their exterior painting can incorporate your most basic traditional look with color consultations, or they can recreate an exterior to look like a classic stone using mineral or lime-based paints. “Lime-wash or mineral paints are ideal for painting brick,” says Leslie. “It’s more durable and becomes part of the stone itself.” “It ages well and can withstand the elements over a longer period of time in comparison to that of an enamel,” adds Nicola. Their most current and popular interior finishes include Tadelakt, lime washes, mineral paints, and Venetian plasters. Vigini Paint & Design specializes in architectural coatings, decorative painting, wood finishes, customizing interiors through painting, leaf and plasters, cabinetry, and furniture refinishing. They have proudly served San Antonio and the state of Texas since 1998. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
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Association Calendar
Industry FOLKS
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
Joshua Brian Gavos
Commercial Market Account Executive (CMAE)
Johnson Controls Inc. San Antonio, TX
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oshua Gavos was born in Dallas, TX near White Rock Lake. He grew up in a suburb of Houston called Spring, TX just north of Houston on I-45. It had a typical suburban atmosphere. He swam on the swim team in the summers, played baseball in the summer and fall, and completed and endured servitude tasks every week to have the weekends free to fish and camp with the Boy Scouts. He earned his spending money by lifeguarding, mowing yards, and building fences and decks. After graduating from Klein Oak High School, Joshua went to Texas A & M University where he was in the Corps of Cadets for four years. He played on A&M’s rugby team and never had to pick out his clothes for school since he was in uniform while on campus. He says, “The football and baseball games were unforgettable. “I earned my degree in Agricultural Systems Management. It offered good hands-on learning and I have good spatial reasoning skills. The degree can go into multiple fields, so I had more flexibility in my job choices.” Joshua met his wife, Tara, while attending college almost 16 years ago and have been married for 11-plus of those years. Tara works as a special education teacher in CISD. “My wife assures me that we have three children – 10-year-old Jaxon, 8-year-old Rylan, and 6-year-old Makena. They all three love swimming, movies, and the beach. Jaxon is interested in building robots, dinosaurs, and Legos. Rylan is interested in Pokémon, reading
books, and breaking things around the house. Makena is interested in ballet and the drama club.” After college, Joshua started working for Standard Mechanical in Houston. He worked as a project manager for four years before moving over to Carrier Enterprise where he took a promotion and moved to the greater San Antonio area. He now works for Johnson Controls as Commercial Market Account Executive, which means, according to Joshua, he is the product champion for all our DX equipment lines - rooftop units, split systems, VRF, and mini splits. “I work with my team, mechanical contractors, and engineers to sell and install our products for design- builds, plan and spec, or unitary replacement work.” The experiences he gets with customers and teammates are what he enjoys the most about his job, and the look on his wife’s face when I tell her I must go play golf or fish for work. He credits his father for instilling a good work ethic at an early age. “My father has always been there for guidance and honesty.” Outside of family, whenever he can fit it into his schedule, he enjoys fishing, woodworking, hunting, landscaping, and gardening. He doesn’t spend much time worrying and says, as quoted by the late Erma Bombeck, “Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” -cmw
Reliable and hardworking
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dgar Beltran got his start in the painting industry as a helper. Within four months, he was promoted to a paint sprayer. Eventually, he began making repairs on the homes he was painting. Beltran then went into the remodeling business and before long, he was ready to go out on his own. “I learned how to do facia repairs, brake repairs, and roof repairs,” says Beltran. “Little by little, I knew everything about home remodeling. That’s when I went into the remodeling business.” In 2005, Beltran began breaking out on his own, and in 2015, he officially registered his company, Beltran Painting & Remodeling. He started solo and today he employs seven talented employees. Beltran Painting & Remodeling performs residential and commercial work. Residential work is the company’s primary bread and butter. Their commercial work is limited to a few a year as the projects are usually very large and require more time to complete in comparison to a simple residential remodel or
ABC Associated Builders & Contractors Inc. Aug. 3: Future Leaders Initiative Meeting State of the Local Construction Economy, Speaker: Nick Grandy, Construction & Real Estate Senior Analyst, ABC Offices, 814 Arion Pkwy. #111, 4-5pm. Aug. 17: LOGIC Meeting, ABC Offices, 814 Arion Pkwy. #111, 3:30-4:30pm Aug. 18: Happy Hour, ABC Offices, 814 Arion Pkwy. #111, 4pm. For more contact Jennifer Galarza at 210-342-1994 or email jgalarza@ abcsouthtexas.org AGC Associated General Contractors Aug. 16-17: OSHA 10 Hour, AGC Offices, 10806 Gulfdale, 8am-4pm. Aug. 22: AGC/AIA Joint Luncheon, Oblate School of Theology, 285 Oblate Rd., 11am1:30pm. For more info, call Kelly Wilson at 210-349-4921or email kwilson@sanantonioagc.org AIA American Institute of Architects Aug. 27: Beaux Arts Ball, 7-11pm. For more info, go to www.aiasa.org ASA American Subcontractors Assoc. Aug. 10: National Webinar, 11am Aug. 10: Seminar: Lien & Bonds, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels 7th Flr., 2pm Aug. 11: Tacos & Training, Ridout Barrett Offices, 922 Isom Rd. #100,8:30am. Aug. 18: Sporting Clay Shoot, National Shooting Complex, 5931 Roft Rd., 12pm, $650 ASA Member Team of Four, $850 Non-Member Team of Four; $175 ASA Member Single Shooter; $225 Non-Member Single Shooter, $40 Non-Shooter Aug. 23: General Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels 7th Flr., 5:45pm Aug. 24: Safety Update, ESC Safety Consultants, 12758 Cimarron Path #127, 11:30am, Members Only. For more info, contact Jennifer Swinney at 210-349-2105 or email jennifer@asasanantonio.org CFMA Construction Financial Management Assoc. Aug. 3: Learn How to CCIFP Designation Has Opened Doors & Closed Deals, Virtual, 1.5 CPE credit, 3-4:14pm, Members – Free, Non-Members - Free Aug. 10: CCIFP Overview Seminar – A 4-Part Course, 3-5pm ET, 12-2pm PT Members $320, Non-Members $485. Aug. 23: Challenging Unconscious Bias, Virtual, 1.0 CPE credit, 12pm, Members – Free, Non-Members $69. For more info, go to www. sanantonio.cfma.org CLC Construction Leadership Council Aug. 10: Soccer Night – SAFA vs. Londoun United, Toyota Field, 5106 David Edwards Dr., Gates Open 7pm, $40 per ticket.
painting job. “Residentially, we do a lot of kitchen and bath remodels,” he adds. “But we also remodel entire homes. We do interior remodels as well as exterior. We do additions, carports, roofs, roof repairs, and more. Currently, we are doing a lot of kitchen and bath remodels.” Whether it’s a residential property or a commercial building, Beltran says, “Our team of expert painters and decorators offer incredible service with an excellent finish. We’re affordable. We specialize in painting, wallpapering, wood staining, and exterior painting. We pride ourselves in being reliable and hard-working.” Edgar Beltran takes great pride in being responsible, keeping a clean work site, and completing projects on time. He listens to his clients, offering the best deal to meet their budgets. During the summer months, he likes to offer discounts. Beltran Painting & Remodeling is located in San Antonio. -cmw
Aug. 4: Social Mixer & School Supply Drive, Little Woodrow’s, 606 W. Afton Oaks Blvd., 4-6pm. For more info, contact Kelly Wilson at 210-349-4921 or email kwilson@sanantonioagc.org HCAdeSA Hispanic Contractors Assoc. de San Antonio Aug. 12: TxDOT Qualified Flagger Course, HCAdeSA Offices, 2391 NE Loop 410 #206, 124pm, Members – Free, Non-Members $50 Aug. 17: Monthly Member Meeting & Mixer, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels 7th Flr., 5:30-7:30pm Aug. 26: Paloma Primer, The National Shooting Complex, 5931 Roft Rd., 12-6pm, $150 Individual Shooter, $600 4-Person Squad. For more info, email admin@hcadesa.org IEC Independent Electrical Contractors Aug. 25: Happy Hour/Texas Hold’em Tourney/Drink Pour-off, IEC Training Center, 5511 Ingram Rd., 5-9pm. For more info, contact Julie Tucker at 210-431-9861 or email jtucker@ iecsanantonio.com MCA-SMACNA INC Mechanical Contractors Assoc. Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assoc. Aug. 10: Regular Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels 7th Flr., 11:30am Aug. 24: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA office, 206 E. Nakoma, 11:30am. For more info, call Sandee Morgan at 210-8223763 or email sandee@mca-smacna.org NAWIC National Assoc. of Women in Construction Aug. 3: Past Presidents Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels, 5:30pm Networking, 6pm Meeting & Dinner, $45 Meal & Program, $10 Program Only. For more info, contact Shenel Rimando at shenelrimando@ gmail.com or register at nawicsatx.org NUCA National Utility Contractors Asso. Aug. 16: Safety Lunch & Learn - DOs & DON’Ts of Rigging, Pesado Construction, 4848 Sinclair Rd., 11:30am-1pm. Aug. 24: NUCA San Antonio Night Out at the Ballpark, Nelson W. Wolff Stadium – Fiesta Deck, 5757 US-90 W., 7:05pm, $40. For more info, contact Mary Jane Davenport at 817688-8347 or email maryjane@nucatexas.com PHCC Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Aug. 11: Membership Meeting, Old San Francisco Steak House, 10223 Sahara Dr., 11am1pm. For more info, call Heidi Trimble at 210824-7422 or go to www.phcc-sanantonio.org SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assoc. Aug. 18: Sporting Clay/BBQ Cook-off, San Antonio Gun Club, 928 E. Contour Dr., 3pm. For more info, contact Debi at 210-347-2423 or email thesamca@gmail.com
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
Burgers in the Park
Plumbers graduate
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embers and guests of NAWIC San Antonio, Chapter 11 came together on Thur., July 21 for their third Annual Burger Bash. Held this year at Koehler Pavilion in Brackenridge Park , the mood was festive and the competitive spirit of the cooking teams was on display. The venue set along the banks of the San Antonio River under the enormous trees made a terrific location for the teams to show their cooking skills. -bd
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Golden Spatula Award for Best Burger: SpawGlass
The PHCC graduating class of 2022
he San Antonio Chapter of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) hosted its 2022 Apprentice Graduation on Jul. 14. The event was held at the Greater San Antonio Builders Association’s (GSABA) in the Ray Ellison Ballroom. For the first time, three trade scholarships were presented. The “Full Flow, Less Stop” Scholarship was presented to Austin Musson, George Plumbing. Nick Graves, George Plumbing received the “Quarter Turn” Scholarship. And, Duane Singleton, George Plumbing was presented the “Joey Villarreal Memorial Scholarship. The 2022 PHCC graduating class included: Jason Byrd, Primo Plumbing; Devin DeLeon, Chambliss Plumbing; Joshua Guerra, Beyer Plumbing; Samuel Oden, Bolin Plumbing; Guadalupe Ramirez Jr., Primo Plumbing; Joe Rubio, Primo Plumbing; and Calvin Sylvester, Chambliss Plumbing. -cmw
People’s Choice Award Rogers: Obrien Construction Recipient of the 2022 Ed Harrell Excellence Award: Sam Oden, Bolin Plumbing
Years 1 thru 4 Perfect Attendance: Lupe Ramirez Jr., Primo Plumbing
Industry FOLKS Brittany Binder, Design Consultant,
Window Fashions of Texas, San Antonio, TX
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Burger bashing at the Koehler Pavilion in the San Antonio Zoo.
rittany Binder is a third-generation, bleed orange, University of Texas at Austin graduate. She was born and raised in Austin where just about all of her family lived, and where she grew up going to many, many University of Texas athletic games of all varieties – football, basketball, volleyball, baseball. She pursued and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing degree after graduating from Anderson High School because she felt it would be worth more in the long run. Additionally, she wanted to be a buyer for retail stores and thought Marketing would be a good fit. “College was great! I loved all aspects of it, even the academics. I would do it all over in a heartbeat. I was in a sorority, and many other clubs on campus.” After working in the retail industry for 10 years, Brittany ran into an old childhood friend at a UT football game who was working for Window Fashions of Texas. Liking what her friend told her about what she did for the company, Brittany realized she was ready for a change. Her friend helped Brittany get an interview with the owner, and the rest is history. She worked at the company’s Austin location, Austin Window Fashions, for two years. Eleven years ago, when her husband got a job that brought them to San Antonio, transfer to the company’s San Antonio location, Window Fashions of Texas.
“I’ve been with this wonderful family-owned business for 13 years total. As a design consultant, I meet with clients in our showroom and at their homes and discuss their window covering needs. I show them products, offer them different options and features, and help them with their choices. “Every day is different! I meet new people every day, and I love getting to go to different areas around town seeing the new/remodeled homes, and helping my customers with their window covering needs.” Brittany and her husband, Mason Binder, met in college and have been married for 20 years. They have two boys – 17-year-old Caden and 15-yearold Jackson. They both love video games. “I am currently starting drivers ed with my youngest and my oldest is in a magnet program called Construction Careers Academy at Warren High School, in the Architecture track. They are smart, funny, and sweet boys that are the light of my life.” She has two sweet, silly, and snuggly Boston Terriers, Molly and Milly. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, and crocheting. For fun, she likes to hang out with her family and friends. “We go out to dinner, dancing, and sometimes travel.” And when she gets a chance to relax, she likes to watch tv and movies. -cmw
San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
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Happy hour cookout
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Steve Alliant Insurance Services and his team barbecue for ABC’s Membership Mixer Happy Hour & Cookout
n Jun. 6, members of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) were treated to an old-fashion Membership Mix Happy Hour & Cookout. Hosted at the new ABC offices, members and guests mingled with ABC board members; enjoyed a fabulous barbecue
with all the trimming, and played a few rounds of Jinga, and refreshments. Members were also allowed the opportunity to meet with ABC’s various committee leaders to learn more about the many offerings of ABC. -cmw
Industry FOLKS Gabriel Gonzalez, Jr. Senior Estimator
Freund Enterprises San Antonio, TX
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iving with his grandpa during much of his teenage years, Gabriel Gonzalez’s interest in construction was sparked by his grandpa who spent 30plus years working in the industry. He spent summers as his “helper” pouring concrete, building stairs, furniture, etc. Gabriel earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Science and Management from UTSA in 2015 after transferring from Texas A&M International University in Laredo. But the road to earning his degree was a complicated one. He first chose History as his major. That lasted one semester. He then switched to engineering. After two semesters of pursuing an engineering degree, he discovered UTSA’s degree plan by coming up for a week and attending UTSA’s open house where they showcased all their degree programs. As Freund Enterprises’ senior estimator, Gabriel handles the company’s commercial estimating for both HVAC and plumbing projects. “I bid anything as small as 1600sf to 100K or more square footage, ranging from retail, medical, industrial, and schools. “I enjoy getting calls from general contractors letting me know we have been awarded a job. That’s what it’s all about. It gives me great pride to say that I contribute a little in making sure our doors remain open.” Gabriel has never really had a mentor to guide him through life. He has and continues to live his life through the goals he sets for himself. “As a kid, I was told that I would be a failure all my life. My first goal was to prove I’m anything
but a failure. My next goal was to get out of poverty so I made sure I chose a career path that would take me out of it. My current goal is to make sure our workforce has a job to go to every day with plenty of work in front of them to provide for their families. I will sacrifice as much as I need to for that to happen.” Born in Laredo, Gabriel spent his childhood in Worthington, MN, and his teenage years in Laredo until moving to San Antonio at the age of 19. He experienced many firsts living in Minnesota. “I experienced my first snow, tornado, ice fishing, and miles and miles of corn crops. I remember how welcoming and nice the community was. At the time, the town’s population was half of what it is now. There were so many lakes, that it seemed as if my parents took us to a different one every time.” Gabriel is happily single with plenty of nieces and nephews to keep him entertained. He is the proud owner of a blue heeler/Pitbull mix named Kappa who he raised since she was seven weeks old. Kappa is now, 4 and half years old. “She’s a handful but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like coming home to her waiting at the door.” To relax, Gabriel enjoys spending time with his dog and taking her to the park when he gets the chance. He enjoys playing video games and watching a lot of anime, shooting guns for sport, and hunting. -cmw
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
Get the net
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t was a hot weekend, Jun. 24-25, but members and guests of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) San Antonio Chapter didn’t seem to mind. With their boats in tow and fishing gear in hand, they headed for Paws & Taws in Rockport, TX for ASA’s Annual Fishing Tournament. With 50 registered teams, Paws & Taws was a packed house. Everyone enjoyed
great food, great weather, and fellowship – what’s a little competition among friends? “Thank you to everyone who participated and all our sponsors for making this event a great success,” says ASA Executive Director Jennifer Sweeny. “You make ASA great!” -cmw
Pro Division winners: 1st Place: Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing -Team 1 2nd Pace: MEI Rigging & Crating 3rd Place: Young Bros. Fire Protection - Team 2
Amateur Division winners: 1st Place: PJ Industries 2nd Place: Michalak CPAs & Advisors -Team 1 3rd Place: Alamo Crane Services Inc.
Heavy Trout: Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing -Team 1 Heavy Redfish: Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing -Team 1 Heavy Flounder: Young Bros. Fire Protection - Team 2
General Contractor Division winner: F.A. Nunnelly - Team 2
Heavy Trout: Michalak CPAs & Advisors -Team 1 Heavy Redfish: PJ Industries Heavy Flounder: PJ Industries
Grand Champion: PJ Industries
Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing – Team 1
Amateur Division: Heavy Trout
Pro Division: Heavy Flounder
Money Pot Heavy Trout: Michalak CPAs & Advisors -Team 2
Money Pot Heavy Redfish: Alterman Inc. - Team 1
Money Pot Heavy Flounder: Young Bros. Fire Protection - Team 2
PJ Industries
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022
Page 23
JOB SIGHTS
Giving back
San Antonio David Weekley Homes team members built 63 beds, collected 176 sets of linen, 14 pillows and 11 mattresses.
Enrique Pulido, Freedom Solar, gets ready to install solar panels at a residence in the Paloma subdivision in Converse, TX. -cmw
Mario Ibarra with Mears compacts the soil in La Vernia, TX in preparation for the installation of a new natural gas line. -cmw
Industry FOLKS Michael “Mikey” E. Wilson, Journeyman Inside Wireman,
Big State Electric, San Antonio, TX
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ike “Mikey” Wilson had a southern upbringing and came from a strong military background. Born and raised in Indianola, MS his family moved to Jefferson City, MO when he was 12 years old. As soon as he was old enough, his parents put him in the Boy Scouts. He attended private military academies through the 8th grade before enrolling in the Jefferson City Public School system. He graduated from Jefferson City High School. “Manners and politeness were required, not requested. Hard work was a part of every day, even play days.” Destined for military duty, he attended Columbia College and Drury University which were military-friendly institutions. He started his journey at Drury with the Military and Sheriff Training Academy, later graduating from Columbia College. While in college, he was in the U. S. Army and Missouri National Guard, starting a family, and trying to work a full-time job, all while balancing a class or two every semester. He was a Military Police Officer who was constantly being deployed while going through his Sheriff’s Deputy Training and working in the Cole County Jail as a jailer. In 2016, when Mikey moved his family to Texas to be near his aging parents and went to work for the Live Oak Police Department for a short spell. No longer enjoying that line of work, he decided to make a career change. And this is when his life changed. He decided to enroll in the South
Texas JATC electrical apprenticeship program where he could work and learn while earning journeyman hours on his road to becoming an electrician. “I needed to work to support my family while redirecting my life. The South Texas JATC offered me both - a full-time paycheck and a scholarship program to pay for my school. I am absolutely sure God wanted this for my family. It has been the greatest decision I have made for my life.” Mikey completed the JATC electrical apprentice program with top honors in July and was named JATC’s 2022 Top Inside Wireman Apprentice of the Year. As an inside wireman for Big State Electric, he has many job responsibilities. “I am an equipment operator, handle material, and I am an electrician. I’m also training to be a foreman within the company. I like the hands-on part of my job most. The job has a team mentality that I love. The boss, a foreman, makes a plan and passes it down to the journeyman and his helpers to complete. The work I do is a small part of a much bigger picture in building a large commercial building or industrial plant. Having only been in the trades for roughly six years, I can see landmarks around San Antonio that I was a part of.” Mikey is married with three children. He enjoys fishing, hunting, cooking, smoking briskets and ribs, watching movies, and video games. -cmw
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project to build one bed for a single family in the heart of the Christmas season with brutally cold temperatures and snowstorms turned into something grand. Sleep in Heavenly Peace got its start after the construction of that first bed when the builder wondered, “Who else could benefit from this bunk?” An unexpected response developed after a Facebook post. What was thought to be a slew of requests from needy families, turned into a litany of local people eager to help and volunteer. Their generosity was so surprising that it was no longer a search for one who needed a bed, but a question of how many beds could be provided. From there, Sleep in Heavenly Peace became reality. Through the company’s CARE Build Month projects, David Weekley Homes partnered with 18 local nonprofit organizations. Team members across the country volunteered more than 3,800 hours to complete a variety of projects that benefited more than 1,000 individuals.
Seventeen of the company’s 19 local divisions, including David Weekley’s corporate office, completed projects to build a total of 963 beds. Among them was a partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s San Antonio chapter. In all, a total of 950 team members assisted with these projects across the country with many also assisting with the delivery of the new beds to the children. Weekley volunteer team members received help with the projects from trade and vendor partners, real estate partners and the community through donations of bedding and toiletries. The project was an initiative of the company’s CARE program, which is a charitable and volunteer program that partners team members, homeowners, homebuyers, and community partners with nonprofits to make a positive impact in the lives of everyone it touches and in all the communities it builds through its purpose, Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives. -cmw
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San Antonio Construction News • AUG 2022