San Antonio Construction News November 2022

CONSTRUCTION NEWS Happy Thanksgiving

The

Up and growing

When paths cross, you never know where they may lead. For Andrew Hutto and Tyler John son, crossing paths led them down the road of entrepreneurship.

The two met in Cabo San Lucas where their wives were in a wedding for a mutual friend. After meeting, Hutto and Johnson discovered they had a lot in common, including living down the road from one another.

Eventually, Johnson, who was look ing for a change, reached out to Hutto about a job with Bolero Ventures LLC where Hutto had been working. Johnson joined the Bolero team as a project man ager, while Hutto concentrated on pre-construction. As the two began working together, their friendship devel oped into a strong working relationship.

Finding themselves working many late nights while performing work for a local grocery change, they discovered they weren’t seeing their families. While the work was plentiful and the pay was good, Hutto and Johnson realized they’d rather work during the day so they could spend their evenings with their families.

With both men having young children, they didn’t want to miss out on watching their little ones grow up and began talking about venturing out on their own.

In September 2021, the talks of start ing their own company began. They es tablished a company name, began filing all the necessary paperwork, and acquired the proper funding and insurance. And in January 2022, White Rock Construction Services was ready for business.

Companies are always looking for creative ways to take care of their customers. Sometimes it’s a matter of offering a new product. Sometimes it’s bringing in new leadership. And, some times, it’s creating something new alto gether.

Created as a spinoff of Briggs Equip ment ’s aerial rental business, parent company Sammons Enterprises created SitePro Rentals in December 2021 in Car rollton, TX. Sammons brought in rental industry veteran Tim Rule to establish the new company and lead the business.

Rule began his career in the equip ment rental industry in 2002 after having a successful career in sales, finance, and engineering at CNH Global and Rohr Aerospace. Before becoming part of

Celebrating 75 years

In 1947, Americans were rebounding from the effects of World War II, the New York Yankees won the World Se ries over Brooklyn, 4-3, in the first tele vised World Series, and over one million veterans enrolled in college through the G.I. Bill. But for Merl Huebner and George Guthrie, it was the start of Com mercial Contracting Company, now known as CCC Group.

Celebrating 75 years in business, CCC Group has quietly made a name for itself. Steadily growing from a two-man opera tion to a company of over 2,500 employ ees, it continues to flourish.

Expanding its footprint both nation ally and internationally, it migrated from commercial construction into the indus trial arena. CCC Group’s project sizes and complexity quickly increased as work shifted to projects in the industrial and telecommunication markets.

CCC Group’s first major industrial cli ent was Alcoa Aluminum. In 1949 this re

Sammons’ new venture, Rule previously managed a large region for United Rent als and served as Vice President of Market Development where he led United’s in ternational business development team.

SitePro was launched with 75 em ployees and a $70 million fleet in nine lo cations. Their mission is to become a pre mier player in the rental industry creating customer loyalty through a value propo sition built around people, service, and technology. The company has roughly doubled in size during this past year, growing to $120m in fleet, and 140 em ployees.

Today SitePro operates 12 locations with plans to add a 13th location in Aus

lationship allowed CCC Group to firmly establish itself in the heavy industrial market and paved the way for continued growth in this sector.

In 1995, CCC Group performed its first overseas project for Alcoa giving rise to the company’s presence in Suriname. The relationship with Alcoa continues to this day.

As CCC Group continued to evolve so did its ownership. The family-owned company transitioned to an employ ee-owned company in 2004, becoming 100% employee-owned by 2015.

“The more our folks work together as a team, the more successful our projects are for our clients,” says Joe Garza, CCC Group President and CEO.

Now celebrating 75 years in busi ness, the company looks to continued success and is excited to announce the creation of the CCC Group Foundation

“We’re fortunate to have so many

SitePro Rentals team members L-R: Inside Sales Representative Kari Brooks, Outside Sales Representative Joel Eslora,

& Territory Manager Mark Shaw, Branch Manager Ben

Coby Milne

Leal

White Rock Construction Co-Owners L-R: Tyler Johnson and Andrew Hutto

Joe Garza, President and CEO

Gotta have boards

Filling the gap

As a teenager, when school broke for the summer, Frank Hernandez would go to Laredo. There, he worked with his uncles in construction as a carpenter’s helper. Although he started sweeping floors, he eventually moved his way up learning more about the trade.

“I fell in love with construction and carpentry,” says Frank. “I wanted to learn as much as I could. Little by little, I worked my way up and was the youngest carpen ter on the team.”

Throughout his high school sum mers, he worked in Laredo perfecting the trade he had come to love. But that would not be the only love he found in Laredo. He found the love of his life, Jenille Her nandez whom he married after high school.

He worked for a local construction company here in San Antonio before he and Jenille decided he was ready to go out on his own. In 2020, Frank and Jenille Hernandez started their own company, Boards N’ Finishes, during the height of the pandemic.

“The was a lot of work to be had,”

Frank recalls. “But it was hard to find em ployees. Potential employees were either sick or were already working for some body else. I couldn’t find any help. There were times when Jenille and I were both out in the field working on the job site. When my son was in high school, I hired him to help us out.”

It was a tough start for the new com pany. Not only did they not have the per sonnel, but they also didn’t have the right equipment and would rent the necessary tools to get their jobs done.

Today, Boards N’ Finishes employs 15 talented carpenters with the necessary tools and equipment to perform jobs specializing in new construction, remod els, interior finish-outs, metal framing, insulation, acoustical ceilings, drywall, tape and float, paint, and demolitions.

“Our services area is not limited,” adds Frank. “We’ve done work in Laredo, up to Dallas, and in between. We enjoy keeping our employees busy which helps them provide for their families.”

Boards N’ Finishes is a framing subcon tractor in San Antonio. -cmw

ABC Supply, founded in 1982 by Ken and Diane Hendricks opened a new location in New Braunfels as the company celebrates 40 years in business.

As one of the largest wholesale dis tributors of roofing, siding, and other se lect exterior building products, ABC Sup ply recognized the need to service the massive amount of growth and construc tion in and around the New Braunfels area. Heading up the new location is Jer emiah Jarboe who joined the ABC Supply team in 2012.

“New Braunfels has been a growing city for the last five years,” says Jarboe. “With two locations in San Antonio and four up in Austin, we needed somewhere right in the middle. Expanding our foot print in this market was necessary to bet ter serve our customers in this area.”

Located on Loop 337, the new facility offers 40,000sf of warehouse space with a two-acre yard.

“As a provider of exterior building products, roofing materials are our bread and butter,” Jarboe adds. “But we also provide windows, siding, gutters, and

materials needed for big commercial roofs.”

ABC Supply is open to the public, res idential, and commercial contractors. The New Braunfels location has two sales rep resentatives Derek Lee and Mackenzie Horton. Lee has been a sales rep under Jarboe since early 2022 specializing in roofing sales. Horton specializes in sid ing, windows, and custom homebuilders.

Now one of the newest members of the New Braunfels community, ABC Sup ply is committed to the community. “We, as a company, believe in supporting our communities,” adds Jarboe. “We like to help support the community and stay in volved with the community. We’re all about service. We love servicing our con tractors. We work hard to provide quality service and we have fun doing it.

Since its beginnings, ABC Supply’s sole focus has been serving professional contractors and “making it easy” for them to do their jobs by offering the products, support, and services they need — in cluding myABCsupply, a tool that allows contractors to order materials, track de liveries, pay invoices and more. -cmw

Boards N’ Finishes owners, Jenille and Frank Hernandez

The ABC Supply New Braunfels team

Preparing for the future

Alterman has been in operation since 1923 and is one of the premier elec trical contractors in San Antonio and Austin. Their new Corporate Campus is just beginning construction and they took Sat., Oct. 1 to invite families for Dig Day at the site at 1604 and IH-35 in Live Oak.

The event included KIDSTRUCTION Dig Day which gave the kiddos their own Dig Zone where they could do excavations in their own hard hats and vests. This event was the first in a planned series of family and community engagements as the con struction of the new campus proceeds.

Hundreds of people attended the event which also included a photo station, face painting, Kona Ice, coffee and donuts. The mood of the attendees was extremely festive.

“The site work today was a great show for the kids,” said Greg Padalecki, Presi dent/CEO. “We loved displaying how in teresting and fun construction can be. Ca reers in the trades are huge opportunities for youth and today’s event provided a great place to let the kids get close and ex perience it.”

“We see our new campus as a site to hold various community activities that will open our doors to the public to give peo

ple a chance to know what our capabilities truly are. We were happy to hold this event and look forward to all future events where everyone can enjoy what our cam pus has to offer.” concluded Padalecki.

Alterman is a Texas electrical contrac tor that performs the full scope of electri cal construction. Starting in 1923, Alter man focused on building the city of San Antonio with electrical construction and service. In the past two decades, Alterman has expanded its capabilities through low voltage technologies along with industrial construction and system automation. More recently, the company has turned its sights on growing geographically across the state of Texas and being a progressive and innovative contractor.

The design and construction team for the new campus includes Studio8 Archi tects, Project Control as owner’s represen tative, Whiting-Turner Contracting Com pany GC, Pape Dawson as the civil engi neer, Rialto Studio as the landscape archi tect, Cleary Zimmerman as MEP engineer, Dun away as structural engi neer and M&M Contract ing. Planned completion is January 2024. -bd

Welcome to the party

Learning a trade

Lots of young ladies in the kid group. Better watch out boys.

Enjoying the morning.

Face art

Coooool

Big scoop

Nice crowd

New name,

people

service

ABCs of fishing

Withroots going back as far as 1886, Travis Industries has been providing industrial painting and coatings throughout Texas and the South west as a family-owned business. In the first quarter of 2021, Travis Industries, one of several companies providing industrial soft crafts including scaffolding, insula tion, and coatings, was acquired by Axis Industrial Holdings dba Axis Industries.

“The Travis family of companies has focused on serving San Antonio and the Central Texas markets going back a very, very long time. We’ve done it well and are a multi-generational company because of it. But with this change, we’re expanding our reach and becoming part of a larger organization,” says Carlton Catalani, a fifth-generation member of the Travis family and president of Travis Industries.

“We’re excited to join the Axis Industries platform. This will allow us to continue to offer best-in-class service, serve a broader geography, pursue larger and more so phisticated projects and clientele, and provide a better and more complete suite of services to the folks and facilities that we’re already serving.”

Catalani believes it’s a very positive development for the company stakehold ers, including their clients and employees, and commented that the change appears to be part of a larger trend in the market today of smaller, family-owned, or private ly held businesses becoming targets of acquisition and becoming part of larger organizations.

Starting in 2020, Axis Industries has been adding to its industrial services plat form in Texas. The group specializes in providing industrial scaffolding, insula tion, fireproofing, abrasive blasting and painting, and abatement, and with its ac quisition of Travis, the footprint has ex tended to the inland Texas market from its Gulf Coast beginnings.

While disappointed to see the Travis brand name retired, the company rejoices at becoming a part of something larger and greater. “We’ll be operating under the new name, Axis Industries,” adds Catala ni. “Although all the customers that we’ve served will have to learn a new name, we remain the same great people serving the same clients in San Antonio and Central Texas and providing the same great ser vice that we always have. Now, we have the added benefit of being able to offer more and serve in other geographies. So, it’s our hope that the market won’t get spooked.”

The change comes with the rebrand ing of the company under the Axis Indus tries name, and for the first time in a long time, the large red, white, and blue sign that local San Antonians have become ac customed to seeing along Southeast Loop 410 is about to get a makeover.

However, Catalani was quick to em phasize that there has been no change in the operations team and indicated he will continue in his leadership of the original Travis group on a local level and has even been asked to provide leadership to a larg er portion of the company as it tries to grow and expand. “I’ll be providing direc tion for not only the San Antonio and Cen tral Texas areas but also our existing branches in North Texas, Corpus Christi, and hopefully places to be named later,” adds Catalani. “We’re excited and look for ward to continuing to grow and adding to the services we are already providing.”

Travis Industries, now known as Axis Industries, will continue its day-to-day op erations and looks forward to a new fu ture.

Axis Industries is a provider of industrial painting & protective coatings, abrasive blasting & industrial cleaning, scaffolding, industrial insulation, and intumescent fire proofing. -cmw

Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter hosted their 2022 Fishing Tournament, Sept. 16-17. The tournament was held at Drifter’s Resort in Rockport, TX. With 27 teams participating in the tournament, it proved to be another successful event for ABC. -cmw

Tournament winners:

1st Place Guided: Central Builders Inc.

2nd Place Guided: Smithers Merchant Builders LP

3rd Place Guided: Langley & Banack Inc.

1st Place Unguided: Americrane Rentals

2nd Place Unguided: Satterfield & Pon tikes Construction Inc.

3rd Place Unguided: Michalak, P.C.

1st Place Redfish: Robles 1 LLC

2nd Place Redfish: Missions City Electric Co. Inc.

3rd Place Redfish: Americrane Rentals

1st Place Trout: Central Builders, Inc.

2nd Place Trout: Langley & Banack, Inc.

3rd Place Trout: Smithers Merchant Builders, LP

Central Builders Inc.

Americrane Rentals

Robles 1 LLC

Travis Industries employee show-off their new shirts with the new company name, Axis Industries Services.

Beyond the Numbers

Cold Stress in Construction

One of my favorite sayings of all times is “hindsight is 20/20”. While the saying may be true hindsight is 20/20 only if you look. What I want to discuss is the look ing back on your business practices and results to improve your bottom line and cash flow. The failure to look back and examine and consider can lead to diminished efforts both in business and in life. The review and analysis of financial statements is more than just numbers and its consideration could include input and commentary from carefully selected attorneys, bankers, insurance advisors and certified public accoun tants. Share your story and financials with these key advisors to form an informal board of directors. Interview a few of these professionals and make sure they fit with you and are familiar with your business. Consider a payroll company when you start payroll. Payroll companies are inexpensive and will prevent you from paying penalties for mistakes, which you will do at least once.  The payroll companies can also facilitate employee benefit programs which can help you be more competitive.  Choosing these professionals based on quality advice, connections and not just on cost can help you be more successful.

We encourage you to track every thing you can related to your business. This means prospects, customer demo graphics, estimated costs, budgets, bids, proposals and financial data. Tracking all data helps to determine what is being done right, wrong or what needs tweak ing. Businesses that are able to take fi nancial and non-financial data and un derstand what it means and how it cor relates will be better able to prepare for changes in the market place.

Be sure to set the framework of your general ledger and summary financials to best manage your business. Establishing this framework can be difficult but set ting it right upfront can help you look at the results quickly and effectively. Your financials will help you manage your busi ness and communicate your story to oth ers.

Ratios can help you tell your story and analyze your results with others. Some key measures include the follow ing.

1. The CURRENT RATIO is a liquidity ra tio that measures a company’s ability to pay obligations due within one year. This ratio communicates how a company can maximize the current assets on its bal ance sheet to satisfy its current debt and other payables. It is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Ac ceptable current ratios vary from indus try-to-industry and are generally be tween 1.5% and 3%.

2. The DEBT-TO-EQUITY ratio measures the ratio of total liabilities to total equity. It measures the value of a business rela tive to its debts. An acceptable debt-to-eq uity varies from industry-to-industry and are generally between 1% and 3% and is calculated by dividing all liabilities by to tal equity.

3. The NET DEBT-TO-EBITDA ratio mea sures the ratio of debt-to-earnings. It re flects how long it would take a business to pay back its debt if debt and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, deprecia tion, and amortization) were constant. It is calculated by dividing debt by EBITDA. Lower ratios tend to reflect higher-per forming businesses. An acceptable debtto-EBITDA ratio varies from indus try-to-industry and a ratio of less than 3% is acceptable.

4. The FIXED ASSET TURNOVER ratio re veals how efficient a company is at gener ating sales from its existing fixed assets. It is calculated by dividing net sales by the net of its property, plant, and equipment. A higher ratio implies that management is using its fixed assets more effectively.

5. The RETURN ON ASSETS ratio deter mines if company assets are being effi ciently utilized to create profits. It focuses attention on the amount of assets used within a company, and frequently leads to

tighter management of the capital bud geting process. It is calculated by dividing net income by total assets.

6. GROSS PROFIT MARGIN is the sales revenue a company retains after incur ring the direct costs associated with pro ducing the goods it sells, and the services it provides. The gross margin shows the amount of profit made before deducting selling, general, and administrative costs. It is calculated by taking (sales less cost of goods sold) divided by sales. A healthy gross profit margin can vary by industry and it is good to compare to what your industry segment maintains.

7. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE DAYS mea sures the number of days that an invoice will remain outstanding before it’s col lected. The results are used to establish and improve the efficiency of a compa ny’s revenue collection process over a given time period. Less than 30 days is a great ratio. It is calculated by dividing ac counts receivable by average daily sales.

8. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE DAYS mea sures the number of days that a purchase will remain outstanding before it’s paid. The results are a useful tool in es tablishing creditworthiness. As a general rule, if your accounts payable days calcu lation is low in relation to your payment terms, it’s clear your company is making prompt payment for purchases made on credit. It is calculated by dividing ac counts payable by average daily cost of goods sold (expenses).

9. Check your solvency and cash cush ion by dividing cash by your average monthly expenses. This ratio shows how many months your business can operate if sales stopped and no accounts receiv able was paid. Maintain a healthy cash cushion to maintain flexibility and plan for surprises.

Plan for the future by budgeting and re vising your budget for expected revenue and expenses. This will help you maxi mize your flexibility and the ability to take on new opportunities.

The ways to analyze your business can be complex but pick some measures that make sense to help you best manage your business. But most importantly, re member to look.

Alan Rich is an experienced Shareholder with a demonstrated history of working in the accounting industry. Skilled in Custom er Service, Accounting, Team Building, Pub lic Speaking, and Internal Controls. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a Bach elor’s degree focused in Accounting from Abilene Christian University. He can be reached at: 210-614-2284

As we are approach colder weather conditions, out door workers are required to have the correct prepa ration and equipment to perform their tasks in safely, free of hazards. In 2020, 55 fatal work injuries occurred where the primary or secondary source was weather and atmospheric conditions. Measures should be taken to ensure employees are protected. Training employees on the hazards of the job and safety measures to use, such as engineering controls and safe work practices, can pro tect workers’ safety and health.

What is cold stress:

Cold stress and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions that are not used to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered factors for “cold stress.” In creased wind speed also causes heat to leave the body more rapidly (wind chill effect). Wetness or dampness, even from body sweat, also facilitates heat loss from the body. Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature, and eventu ally the internal body temperature. When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur, and permanent tissue damage and death may result.

Core temperature - The body tries to maintain an internal (core) temperature of approximately 37ºC (98.6ºF). This is done by reducing heat loss and increas ing heat production. Under cold condi tions, blood vessels in skin, arms, and legs constrict, decreasing blood flow to extremities. This minimizes cooling of the blood and keeps critical internal or gans warm.

Employee training should include:

Cold stress

• Hypothermia

Normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to 95°F or less.

Mild Symptoms: alert but shivering

Moderate to Severe Symptoms: shiver ing stops; confusion; slurred speech; heart rate/breathing slow; loss of con sciousness; death.

Frostbite

Body tissues freeze, e.g., hands and feet. Can occur at temperatures above freezing, due to wind chill. May result in amputation.

Symptoms: numbness, reddened skin develops gray/ white patches, feels firm/ hard, and may blister.

Trench foot

Non-freezing injury to the foot, caused by lengthy exposure to wet and cold en vironment. Can occur at air temperature as high as 60°F if feet are constantly wet.

Symptoms: redness, swelling, numb ness, and blisters.

How to recognize the symptoms of cold stress, prevent cold stress injuries and ill nesses

The importance of self-monitoring and monitoring coworkers for symptoms.

First aid and how to call for additional medical assistance in an emergency.

How to select proper clothing for cold, wet, and windy conditions.

Acclimatization: Gradually introduce workers to the cold; monitor workers; schedule breaks in warm areas.

Risk considerations: Dressing improperly

Wet clothing/skin

Exhaustion

Controls:

The best protection against cold-relat ed health risks is to be aware and be pre pared. Workers should recognize the signs and symptoms of overexposure in themselves and others. Pain in the ex tremities may be the first warning sign. Any worker shivering severely should come in out of the cold.

General

Ensure that wind-chill factor is under stood by workers, especially those work

ing on bridges or out in the open on high buildings.

Ensure that workers are medically fit to work in excessive cold.

Make sure that workers understand the importance of high-caloric foods when working in cold environments. Warm sweet drinks and soups should be ar ranged at the work site to maintain calor ic intake and fluid volume. Coffee should be discouraged because it increases wa ter loss and blood flow to extremities.

Personnel working in isolated cold en vironments, whether indoors or out doors, should have backup.

Provide hot drinks and regular breaks under extremely cold working condi tions.

Clothing

Select protective clothing to suit the cold, the job, and the level of physical ac tivity.

Wear several layers of clothing rather than one thick layer. Air captured be tween layers acts as an insulator.

Wear synthetic fabrics such as polypro pylene next to the skin because these whisks away sweat. Clothing should not restrict flexibility.

If conditions are wet as well as cold, en sure that the outer clothing worn is wa terproof or at least water-repellent.

Encourage the use of hats and hoods to prevent heat loss from the head and to protect ears. Balaclavas or other face cov ers may also be necessary under certain conditions.

Tight-fitting footwear restricts blood flow. Footwear should be large enough to allow wearing either one thick or two thin pairs of socks. Wearing too many socks can tighten fit and harm rather than help.

Workers who get hot while working should open their jackets but keep hats and gloves on.

In closing, employers should ensure that proper training and equipment are provided for employees during this cold weather season. Conducting a hazard analysis of the job is always a good tool to understand the hazards of the job to in clude weather.

Prior to joining the team at Catto & Catto, Carlos gained diverse knowledge in the construction, manufacturing, oil & gas, and food safety industry while working as a Safety & Loss Control Specialist and as a Quality, Health, Safety & Environmental Manager. While serving the industry, he conducted a multitude of inspections, as well as accident investigations and devel oped risk management controls with prov en results. Carlos received his Associate in Applied Science from the Community Col lege of the Air Force. Continuing his educa tion, he obtained a bachelor’s degree of Science in Business Quality Management from Southwestern College. Currently his responsibilities include assisting clients and Account Executives in analyzing injury and loss data, identifying injury and accident trends, providing technical support to poli cyholders and other customers to comply with safety and health regulations and making recommendations that will reduce losses and solve business problems.

Alan Rich, Shareholder Fisher, Herbst & Kemble, P.C. San Antonio, TX

Carlos A. Guzman Planas, Risk Consultant Catto & Catto, a division of HUB International Texas, Inc. San Antonio, TX

LEGAL

Don’t “Waive” Goodbye to Your Rights

Kyle A. Zunker, Attorney Cokinos | Young San Antonio, TX

What’s in your contract’s dispute-resolution clause?

A few recent cases reveal how you might be waiv ing rights in the clause or, alternatively, waiving the rights you bargained for in the clause.

You may be familiar with Texas Busi ness and Commerce Code § 272.001, known as the Home Rule Statute. The statute is commonly regarded as a prohi bition against foreign (i.e., out-of-state) forum-selection clauses in contracts re lated to Texas construction projects. However, In re MVP Terminalling, LLC, No. 14-21-00399-CV, 2022 WL 3592303 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 23, 2022, no pet. h.) reveals that prohibition is not absolute and can be waived. In MVP Ter minalling, the prime contract contained a forum-selection clause identifying state or federal court in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the exclusive venue. 2022 WL 3592303 at *3. Moreover, the clause stated, multiple times, that the parties “waiv[ed] any ob jection” to venue in Oklahoma. Id.

The Fourteenth Court of Appeals noted the Home Rule Statute makes for eign forum-selection clauses “voidable” rather than “void.” Id. at *5. The court ex plained the ability to challenge a void able forum-selection clause can be waived, including preemptively in the contract. Id. at *6. The subcontractor, also involved in the dispute, argued the Home Rule Statute must be interpreted as a non-waivable right or the underlying public policy of having Texas construc tion disputes resolved in Texas would be defeated. Id. However, the court rejected this argument, nodding to the oft-cited “strong public policy favoring freedom of contract” and noting the Legislature did not intend to prohibit contractual waiver of the right to void foreign forum-selec tion clauses. Id.

In application, the court held the contractor waived its right to void the for eign forum-selection clause given the specific waiver language in the clause (“waives any objection” and “irrevocably waiving any objection to venue or conve nience of forum”). Id. at *7. In a separate but related issue, the subcontractor ar gued the forum-selection clause in the prime contract did not bind it via the flow-down clause in the subcontract. Id. at *8. However, the court held the sub contractor waived any argument against the applicability of the flow-down provi sion in the subcontract by not raising the argument in the trial court. Id. at *5, 8. As such, a double-waiver (waiver of objec tion to foreign venue in the forum-selec tion clause and waiver of its challenge to the flow-down clause in litigation) bound the subcontractor to venue in Oklahoma. Id. at *8.

While MVP Terminalling defined how parties can waive rights while drafting a dispute-resolution clause, the Supreme Court of the United States clarified how parties can waive rights contained within such clauses, at least under federal law. In Morgan v. Sundance, Inc., 142 S. Ct. 1708 (2022), the Court considered whether, un der federal law, a party arguing the other side has waived the right to arbitration must show the waiver caused it preju dice. As a starting point, the Court noted federal courts do not generally ask about prejudice when evaluating waiver. Id at 1713. However, in the context of motions to compel arbitration, some federal courts had required a showing of preju dice to find waiver in light of the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”)’s “policy favoring

arbitration.” Id. The Court held this prac tice was incorrect, noting the FAA “does not authorize federal courts to invent special, arbitration-preferring procedural rules.” Id. Thus, the Court held “[p]reju dice is not a condition of finding that a party, by litigating too long, waived its right to stay litigation or compel arbitra tion under the FAA.” Id. at 1714. The Court did not analyze whether the movant’s conduct in the case constituted waiver but remanded the case back to the Court of Appeals to make that determination. Id.

As of the writing of this article, Texas law continues to recognize prejudice as a requirement of waiver by litigation con duct. See LaLonde v. Gosnell, 593 S.W.3d 212, 219 (Tex. 2019) (“To effect waiver by litigation conduct in the arbitration and forum-selection cases, we have also re quired a showing of prejudice[.]”). A re cent case offers guidance on what it takes for a party to waive its rights by litigation conduct. In In re Great Lakes Ins. SE, the Thirteenth Court of Appeals found a par ty moving to enforce a forum-selection clause had waived its right, and caused the opposing party prejudice, based on the following “key factors:” (1) the mo vant offered no rationale for the delay in seeking to enforce the forum-selection clause; (2) the movant propounded re quests for disclosures, sent requests for admissions, filed a motion to compel, and took several depositions before moving to enforce the forum-selection clause; and (3) the movant filed a traditional mo tion for summary judgment and set it for hearing—the court denied it—before moving to enforce the forum-selection clause. No. 13-22-00124-CV, 2022 WL 3693534, at *4-7 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Aug. 25, 2022, no pet. h.).

What is the upshot of these recent cases? Pay attention to your dispute-res olution clauses when drafting them and when disputes arise. The words you select when drafting and your conduct when lit igating will determine whether you have waived your rights.

Kyle A. Zunker is a rising star at Cokinos | Young, one of the largest construction-fo cused law firms in Texas. He focuses his practice on construction disputes and ap pellate issues.

He has represented many different players in construction, including general contractors, subcontractors, material sup pliers, engineers, and owners. Kyle takes pride in persuasively articulating his client’s position and is driven by his passion to pro vide clients with common-sense solutions to complex problems.

Zunker is a member of the Associat ed Builders and Contractors, South Texas Chapter, Future Leaders’ Initiative, Chair 2021 and United Way of San Antonio, Emerging Leaders Council (2018-2020)

He can be reached at 210-864-8309, or at kzunker@cokinoslaw.com

Workplace Violence

Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical vi olence, harassment, intimidation, or other threat ening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. It can affect and involve employees, clients, customers and visitors. Acts of violence and oth er injuries is currently the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the Unit ed States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational In juries, of the 5,333 fatal workplace injuries that occurred in the United States in 2019, 761 were cases of intentional injury by another person. However it manifests itself, workplace violence is a major concern for employers and employees nationwide.

Many American workers report hav ing been victims of workplace violence each year. Unfortunately, many more cas es go unreported. Research has identified factors that may increase the risk of vio lence for some workers at certain worksites. Such factors include exchang ing money with the public and working with volatile, unstable people. Working alone or in isolated areas may also contrib ute to the potential for violence. Providing services and care, or working where alco hol is served may also impact the likeli hood of violence. Additionally, time of day and location of work, such as working late at night or in areas with high crime rates, are also risk factors that should be consid ered when addressing issues of workplace violence. Among those with higher-risk are workers who exchange money with the public, delivery drivers, healthcare professionals, public service workers, cus tomer service agents, law enforcement personnel, and those who work alone or in small groups.

In most workplaces where risk factors can be identified, the risk of assault can be prevented or minimized if employers take appropriate precautions. One of the best protections employers can offer their workers is to establish a zero-tolerance

Industry FOLKS

Tyler VanDamme Outside Sales Representative Moore Supply Co. San Antonio, TX

Tyler VanDamme was born in Hondo, TX just west of San Antonio. He grew up in D’Hanis, TX. “D’Hanis is the type of town where you know everyone, and everyone knows you. The population is less than 1,000 and it is a very tightly-knit community centered around schools sports and agricultural programs. There is one school within the D’Hanis ISD. It serves students in grades pre-kinder through twelve. My graduating class had less than 30 students.”

Tyler did not attend college after high school, instead, he went to work on the family farm. “It was a passion of mine and a job I loved dearly. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a sustainable career but now I look back on it as a blessing that taught me hard work, taking pride in perfecting a craft, and truly having passion about something.”

Married for three strong years, Tyler and his wife, Jillian, met at a get-togeth er at a family member’s house. Jillian is an RN and is on her way the achieving her FNP license. Two years ago, they wel comed their first child, Graham. “Gra ham absolutely loves being outside, playing with his dogs, going to his week ly swimming lessons, and has a recent obsession with Toy Story. “I swear we have watched it a dozen times in the last two weeks!”

Additionally, they have two Pomer anians - Teddy and Meeko. They are the first Poms Tyler has ever owned and he says, “They are surprisingly great dogs. They are exceptionally smart, loyal, and not as “yappy” as you would think.”

Once Tyler met his wife, he began

policy toward workplace violence. This policy should cover all workers, patients, clients, visitors, contractors, and anyone else who may come in contact with com pany personnel.

By assessing their worksites, employ ers can identify methods for reducing the likelihood of incidents occurring. OSHA believes that a well-written and imple mented workplace violence prevention program, combined with engineering controls, administrative controls and train ing can reduce the incidence of workplace violence in both the private sector and federal workplaces.

This can be a separate workplace vio lence prevention program or can be incor porated into a safety and health program, employee handbook, or manual of stan dard operating procedures. It is critical to ensure that all workers know the policy and understand that all claims of work place violence will be investigated and remedied promptly. In addition, OSHA en courages employers to develop additional methods as necessary to protect employ ees in high-risk industries.

For more information, visit https://www. osha.gov/workplace-violence. natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

looking into other career options realiz ing he needed a stable career to provide a good future for his family. “I reached out to my current GM asking if they had any positions open. They actually did not but after hearing about my back ground he asked me to come and inter view. Everything went well and I started stocking shelves and have come to work my way up to the position I have now as an Outside Sales Representative. I spe cialize in commercial new construction. My job responsibilities include scouting for potential new accounts and main taining the current relationships and ac counts that I have. I also assist occasion ally in estimating and purchasing.”

Tyler loves many things about his job, including the constant day-afterday challenges. “Solving issues that a plumber may have in the field by sug gesting a certain product or method is something I have a passion for. Present ing new and innovative products that will help further advance the efficiency and quality of the work we do is a very important aspect of my job.”

Some of Tyler’s hobbies include hunting and fishing. He spends a lot of time with his son on the weekends be cause his wife works weekends. They go to church every Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Helotes. “Two to three times a month, he and his wife try to im plement a date night. With our busy schedules, it is easy to forget that we still need to ‘date’ each other.” -cmw

in San Antonio, fourth-gen eration

Antonian. I played a lot of sports growing up – baseball, basketball, football, and narrowed it down to just football. I went to Marshall High School. My dad and grandfather went to Central Catholic.

Did you play football in high school?

Yes, Danny Benavides, my partner, and I played football together at Marshall High School.

What did your parents do?

My dad was in civil service and worked at Randolph Air Force Base. He worked there for about 30 years before re tiring. My mom worked for the West fami ly. They used to have an embryo trans plant ranch. She worked for Tito West for 42 years.

Do you have any siblings?

I have three older brothers. My broth er Mike was a teacher and coach for Northside, Alamo Heights, and then Schertz-Cibolo before retiring. He then went to work for Central Catholic for a year

as principal. Max has been in the hotel business forever and moves around. He is currently in Florida. My other brother, Matt, is also in school and administration, but in Kentucky.

When did your interest in construction develop?

I took drafting and architecture in high school and wanted to pursue them in college. I worked for a framer throughout high school. In college, I worked for an ar chitect and paid my way through college. I worked with Jose Luis Hernandez Archi tecture and then with Joe Stubblefield.

What drew you to drafting and archi tecture?

I just kind of enjoyed it. I always en joyed math, and then I enjoyed the draw ing aspect of it. I won some competitions in drafting. And then also, while in high school, I work for a framing company parttime, and I enjoyed the built environment. To me, the best thing about construction is you can show your offspring, your sib lings, everybody, “Hey, look, I built that building.”

Where did you go to college?

I started at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and San Antonio Col lege (SAC). Then my car got stolen and I had to put college on the back burner for a couple of years while I paid for that. I ended up going to the University of Texas at Austin (UT) for a couple of years. While I was there, I worked for UPS and another architect before coming back to San Anto nio to finish up and graduated from UTSA with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. It was a long college career, but all the way through, I had practical experience in ar chitecture while working full-time.

When I first met you, you were working for Constructors & Associates. Did you not go to work as an architect?

After graduating, I went back to work for Jose Luis Hernandez Architecture and then BHPR in Austin which is now Sixthriv er.

In ‘91/’92, I did work for a law firm with Constructors & Associates. I was making $19,000 a year with six years of experience and a five-year degree. Constructors & As sociates offered me $29,000 to go into general contracting. So, I became a super intendent for them and worked my way up to estimator, then project manager, and senior project manager.

In 2001, they wanted me to come back to open a San Antonio office, so I did. One of my first hires was Danny. He had been in the electrical field for the past 1015 years after we got out of high school.

What led you and Danny to open The Sabinal Group?

Constructors & Associates were 50 percent owned by a New York company.

In 2005, they got bought out 100 percent by the New York company, and we didn’t necessarily see eye to eye on some things.

So, Danny and I started The Sabinal Group, a minority firm, in 2005. Our first job was

an $800 paint job for Cambridge Realty, the Gardner Peavy.

So, you spent a few years doing archi tectural work before getting into con tracting, of the two, which one do you like best?

I like contracting because you get to see and build buildings, and interiors of whatever project you’re working on as op posed to just drafting it up or sitting in front of a computer. In contracting, at least 50 percent of the day is spent working on jobs. It’s kind of enjoyable from that as pect.

I would imagine that since you have an architectural background when you get your drawings, plans, and specs, you’re able to troubleshoot.

I am. The first thing when I get a set of plans, I look for the “uh-ohs” or items not detailed. Then I’ll get my yellow pad of pa per and, make a list of everything that I see that might be an issue to make sure we’re covered on the bid. If it’s a negotiated job or design-build, I’ll let the architect know, “Maybe we can do this or that.”

When you were working as an archi tect, did you get to design any major projects?

No, not really. I was just a draft boy. I worked on details and a little in construc tion administration for the architect.

Do you have any regret?

No, how could I be? We, The Sabinal Group, are successful because of the our people that work so hard to deliver a good product and our clients that have faith in us.

I think if I had to do it all over again, I probably would do more develop ment-type stuff where you control your own destiny – you’re controlling the archi tect, the general contractor, the end-user, and the money. I find that fascinating.

Are you married? Do you have chil dren?

I just re-married in October. My wife’s name is Brittany. She’s a UTSA graduate with a business degree and is helping me on a side venture that I do, which is resi

dential construction. We remodel our own homes and then flip them after we’ve lived in them for a few years. We’re doing one right now. She’s great, and an awe some mother to all the boys!

I have two beautiful kids that are 17 and 11 years old from my first marriage. I have a 5-year-old with Brittany.

My 17-year-old, Blake, is a senior at Boerne High School. He went to Geneva until his freshman year and then trans ferred over to Boerne High School where he plays soccer. My 11-year-old, Garrett, is a baseball guy. He plays select baseball with the Fair Oaks Falcons. He goes to Ge neva and will probably finish at Geneva. Cooper is my youngest. He looks like a surfer. He has beautiful blonde hair with a great tan. He just started kindergarten at Cornerstone. He is currently playing T-ball and soccer.

What is the most exciting part of your job?

I think the camaraderie of all the guys and subcontractors. We used to get to gether all the time, barbecues, rodeo cook-offs, sporting events, all kinds of stuff. I can’t do that as much now with the kids and with everything I’ve got going, I love that part of it.

What advice would you give a young person considering a career in con struction?

First, you must be passionate about whatever you do. If you’re not passionate about construction, or if you’re not pas sionate about bricklaying or HVAC or whatever, don’t do it. Do something you like and enjoy and then it won’t become a job. It will be a fun endeavor. Be passion ate about what you do. Then, give 100 per cent to everything you do. There are so many trades right now that I think they’re busy because they want to make money. They’re not worried about the end result or the quality of the construction. You don’t need a degree. I’m not very smart, I think anybody can do what I can do. You just need to be a good people person, passionate, and give your 100 percent.

on Page 18

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The Wohlfarths at Mark and Brittany’s recent nuptials. Front L-R: Garrett and Cooper, Back L-R: Blake, Mark and Brittany

Mark and Brittany Wohlfarth

Right at your back door

are manufactured onsite.

“We get a lot of calls every day from people wanting our windows,” says Eric. “And we have people coming from many states away to pick up windows because they cannot find them anywhere else.”

To continue performing all the func tions that Ringer Windows performs, the company is currently leasing a second lo cation while they await the expansion of their manufacturing facility. “We are ex panding and growing so rapidly that we had to obtain a second facility to accom modate our stock windows,” Eric adds.

Ringer Windows currently offers 68 stock windows of different shapes and configurations which was recently ex panded upon from its previous offering of around 50-55 windows.

As Ringer Windows quietly cele brates its 15 years in business, the com pany continues to look into the future

with new offerings. “We’re here to stay,” continues Eric. “We have a very large se lection of in-stock windows available for immediate purchase. Probably one of the largest selections not only in Texas but throughout America. We take a lot of calls. We sell a lot of windows, and the quality is really top-notch, second to none. It’s amazing how many people lo cally who get in a bind and need win dows, don’t know that we are right here at the back door of the Central Texas area.”

Located at the Ringer Window man ufacturing plant is Ringer’s Walk of Win dows where over 40 windows and doors are displayed showcasing window op tions, styles, colors, and window combi nations offered for their custom vinyl windows.

Ringer Windows is a window and door manufacturer in Taylor, TX. -cmw

It’s

been a great 15 years for Ringer Windows which celebrated its 15th year in business on Oct. 6.

Ringer Windows started when founder Greg Ringer, a then-remodeling contractor got tired of not being able to find a window manufacturer to deal with directly. “He hated having to go from per son to person to get a question answered or to order supplies,” says Stock Window Production Manager Eric Ringer

This frustration started Greg Ringer on his journey to becoming a manufac turer. Before getting started, he did his homework by visiting different window manufacturers, absorbing all that he could to be a successful manufacturer.

“He wanted to build a window that was made in Texas,” adds Eric. “And that’s what he did.”

The company started with a single series of windows – custom windows built based on measurements for the homes for which the windows are specif ically built. By 2012, construction was completed on the company’s 40,000sf

manufacturing plant in Taylor, Texas. Equipped with a four-point welder and additional manufacturing stations, new window and door products were added to the Ringer Windows portfolio to meet the needs of homeowners and contrac tors in Austin and Central Texas.

“We still build custom windows,” adds Eric. “We have three different series of stock windows that we can use that same profile and custom-make windows in any configuration. It takes a little bit longer to do that, but if somebody has a specific size or a specific configuration they want, we have the ability to make those as well.”

The windows are expertly manufac tured by Ringer Window’s team of manu facturing professionals. Vinyl is measured and meticulously cut, welded, and trimmed with precision craftsmanship so grids and sash lines meet, making for beautifully crafted windows. Of course, a window is not a window without its glass. The glass and window glazing are the fi nal processes. Even the window screens

Grass to hardscape

Ifyou enjoy working in the yard, mow ing grass can be very relaxing and en joyable. For Damian Luna, cutting grass was his stress relief after a long week.

One day, Luna was visiting a friend who had told him he used to cut grass for his neighbors to bring in an extra buck or two, and that got Luna thinking. “I love cutting. Why not cut grass for my neigh bors who don’t like cutting their grass?”

After giving it more thought, Luna made a sign saying he mows lawns and placed it on his front lawn. Before long he started getting calls. “It went from one customer to two customers to five to 10 to 15 and it just blew up from there,” re calls Luna.

In 2017, Luna and his wife, Rhonda, started Blue Lacy Landscape & Mainte nance Co. The Lunas hired their first fulltime employee who was instrumental in getting the company moving and who now sees the day-to-day operations of the company. As the company’s portfolio began to grow, the company brought on

more employees to service its ever-grow ing client base.

“We’re a local landscape company that can do from the biggest job to the smallest job,” Luna adds. “In the begin ning, we were open to anything just to show them what we could do.”

Word began to spread about Blue Lacy’s capabilities expanding its client base into the commercial market. Now celebrating five years in, Blue Lacy Land scape & Maintenance Co. performs a va riety of services including sod installs, hardscapes, masonry, patios, irrigation repairs, and Christmas lights. and then hopefully they take our or they give us their business. So spread it and spread it spread the word.

“I started so small,” Luna says. “I didn’t think it was going get to where it is, and now I want to get even bigger.”

Located in Selma, TX, Blue Lacy Land scape & Maintenance Co. offers a full array of landscaping and maintenance services.

Blue Lacy Landscape & Maintenance Co. owners L-R: Damian and Rhonda Luna

Ringer Windows team members provide precision craftsmanship for every window manufactured.

semi-circle with the last shot in the mid dle. Like trap, skeet is usually shot in squads of five shooters, and a round of skeet consists of 25 targets.

Sporting Clays

Shotgun Shooting Growing Strong

by Capt. Steve Schultz

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

plus fishing is a big activity in our household and is what my business is all about. Another popular outdoor activity that we are highly involved in is competitive shotgun shooting. I got my boy involved in 4H shooting at the age of 8 years old and it has been an awesome adventure. I could write an entire article on all the benefits that the 4H offers young kids these days, but that’s for another time. I’ll tell you a little about shotgun shooting and what the difference is in each game.

Hunting

Shotgun shooting is a growing sport with three popular shooting clay games: trap, skeet and sporting clays. More than just good fun, shooting clays can help prepare you for bird hunting. Trap prac tice and skeet shooting get you ready for upland birds like quail, dove and pheas ant. Sporting clays are more wild and crazy, with special courses that challenge you to shoot more varied targets coming in at every angle and speed. Live pigeons were originally used, long ago replaced by bright orange discs about the size of your palm, called clay pigeons. This sport can be enjoyed by both make and fe male, young and old and is something the whole family can enjoy.

Trap

Trap is the oldest shotgun shooting sport in America and is practiced around the world. One trap machine throws tar gets into the air in a variety of angles: go ing away, angling to the right and left and soaring straightaway. The shooter stands in one of five positions (or sta tions) to fire at five “birds” and then moves to the next station. Teams (or squads) usually consist of five people. Trap shooting is typically done with a 12-gauge shotgun. Shooters wear a vest or pouch to hold extra shells, and all shooters should have eye and ear protec tion.

Skeet

Skeet shooting is a lot like trap shoot ing, except there are two trap houses (where the machine sits), one on either side; both throw at fixed angles. The house on the left is called the high house, while the one on the right is the low house. Sometimes, two birds are thrown at the same time (a double). There are eight stations on the field, arranged in a

It’s sometimes called “golf with a shotgun.” Sporting clays is the fast est-growing clay target game and uses a variety of targets and angles. The sport was designed to mimic hunting condi tions, so targets thrown simulate ducks, geese, pheasants, rabbits and teal. Most targets are the standard size used for trap and skeet, except the larger rabbit target (rolled across the ground), a flatedged battue and two smaller targets called the midi and the mini, which add a degree of difficulty. All sporting clays courses are unique, limited only by the imagination of the course designer and target setter. If you have any questions about getting your kids involved in 4H and shotgun shooting, feel free to call me at the number below. My fishing will come to a halt for this season at the end of October, and I will turn to hunting. If you need a referral for a guide, don’t hes itate to call me. My 2023 calendar is open, so if you have a date in mind shoot me a text. I’m also booking South Texas whitetail hunts for the coming season. Don’t wait till all the good dates are gone! To schedule your next bay fishing or hunting trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail me at Steve SchultzOutdoors@gmail.com.

Good luck and Good Fishing.

Carson Schultz shoots for the Nueces County 4H Trap and Skeet club and looking to join a college shooting team as he completes his senior year at Flour Bluff HS in Corpus Christi.

Starting kids out early gives them a slight advantage in hand to eye coordination skills. Connor Schultz started shooting at the age of 8 years old and has developed into a Class B shooter.

Fishing is still great, but I’ve got hunting on my mind!

Dadtold me about his first hunting trip. He was about six years old and after a long hike up a hilltop, his dad stashed him in a rock outcrop ping and went off to make a circle and try to scare up some deer. The next thing Dad knew, he was getting startled awake by his old’ man screaming at him, “Shoot ‘em!” Dad looked up just in time to watch an old doe’s belly flash right over the top of his head as she jumped the rock pile.

My first hunt was only a slight im provement on the theme. My Dad and I bundled up and scrunched into his little deer blind, side by side in a couple of old ladder back chairs. The blind had a lot more in common with an outhouse than anything else. Instead of windows, it was just all open and airish at the top. That made for real good visibility for the hunt er and the prey alike. Dad’s solution to this was to help me lean my chair back against the wall, and he did likewise. Af ter a little nap, we woke up to find a cou ple of does nosing around close enough for a shot. Dad coached me through tak ing my first deer. It was a clean neck shot with an old open site rifle, and I don’t know which one of us was the most proud!

Now comes the most recent iteration of our clan to the pasture. My son took

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

his first deer, sitting in his Grandpa’s lap at the age of four. Grandpa held the rifle to steady it and take the recoil, and kiddo placed the crosshairs and pulled the trig ger. Seems like my Dad was a pretty good coach once again, and once again, he was awful proud. By the age of eight, my son had taken a local buck that made the newspaper. In the next few years, he joined me on cull hunts in South Texas. That kid has bagged far better deer than me.

What’s next? Where does a fellow go with his hunting expectations after that kind of track record? Well, he goes high tech, of course.

He starts preparing months ahead of hunting season. Summer time finds him studying game trails, and cutting over growth out of his shooting alleys. Feed ers have to be revamped and food plots planted. Game cameras are placed and he gets to know the full cast of characters visiting his feeders and mineral blocks. He knows just how many fat raccoons are line dancing up to the feeder each night and what kind of feral hog activity to ex pect. There is even a game camera that will text you a picture each time some thing activates it, but he hasn’t sprung for that one yet.

You should see the preparation that goes into the hunt itself. When he leaves the house, you can’t smell him because he has been de-scented from head to toe. He is so cammoed up, the pet par rots freak out as he passes by, ‘cos they are not sure if they saw something or not. In the blind, the squirrels all but run right over him, on their morning rounds. The deer almost never pick him out and he gets his deer. Without even taking a nap!

The moral of this story is, get your kids out in the pasture and keep passing the tradition down. They might not do it old school, but buck fever’s always the same!

Get your motor running

Wilborn and his son, Caleb, got their motors running, and headed out on the highway as they jumped into their motorhome with Ernie’s Harley in tow. Headed for Sturgis, South Dakota for the 2022 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, they left their cares behind as they made their way from San Antonio to Sturgis, SD.

Ernie

Approximately 500,00 bikers attend this 86-year-old event. This was the Wil

borns’ son’s first time in Sturgis by car Er nie told Construction News. “Sharing six days on the road with my son was my fa vorite memory of the whole trip,” says Ernie.

This is Ernie Wilborn’s fifth Sturgis Rally. They left San Antonio and headed west driving to Clayton, NM, up to Den ver, CO, and then into Cheyenne, WY. From there, Ernie and his son hopped on

their hogs, and made their way to Sturgis, arriving on Aug. 5 after sightseeing for three days.

While in Sturgis, they visited Mount Rushmore and rode Spearfish Canyon and Iron Mountain Road.

On Aug. 9 they began their journey back home. This time they would take a different route beginning in Spearfish, SD over to Sioux Falls, SD down to Okla

homa City, OK. From there, they headed south into Texas, arriving back home in San Antonio on Aug. 14.

A month later, Ernie and his wife, LaShea, with their little chihuahua, Twinkie, made their way to the Golden Aspen Rally in Ruidoso, NM held on Sept. 16. “The best part of this trip, my wife and I say Fog Hat in concert. Best Ever!”

Get the net

A crossbow first

Mike McGinnis, Bexar

Excavating & Haul ing LLC recently shared this photo of his son, Tyler’s first harvested deer with a crossbow. Tyler was hunting with his friend, Cade Dornburg , at their property near Canyon Lake as an invit ed guest on Oct. 9, 2021. Ex cited about the 2022 season, Tyler hopes to harvest anoth er trophy buck this year.

WhenStan Rothman, EquipmentShare snagged this 21-inch flounder, he first thought he caught a stingray. Rothman caught this beauty on Oct. 8 while fishing with friends near Tiki Island in Galveston. -cmw

Ernie Wilborn at the 2022 Sturgis Bike Rally in Sturgis, SD

Welcome riders!

Ernie and Caleb visit Mount Rushmore

Ernie and LaShea on the road to Ruidoso, NM for the Golden Aspen Rally

Ernie and Caleb in Colorado

Foghat

Twinkie even made the trip to Ruidoso, NM

Ernie and LaShea take it the sights

Industry FOLKS

Stephanie Glenewinkel Executive Assistant Americrane Rentals San Antonio, TX

Stephanie Glenewinkel grew up in San Angelo, a city in the county seat of Tom Green County, Texas located in the Concho Valley, a region of West Tex as between the Permian Basin to the northwest, the Chihuahuan Desert to the southwest, Osage Plains to the Northeast, and Central Texas to the Southeast. She says, “San Angelo was pretty boring growing up there, if you wanted to do anything, you had to drive at least an hour to do it.”

After high school, Stephanie found a job and went to work. She met her husband, Allen, online. They have been married for 10 years. Together, they have three children – Jacob, Hailey, and Ethan. One is graduating from high school this year. The other two are in the sixth grade. All three have a strong interest in art. Hailey loves volleyball and Ethan loves Pokémon.

When COVID hit, Stephanie’s posi tion was dissolved, and she found her self in need of a new career. Fortunately for her, the construction industry had something to offer and she joined the Americrane Rentals team.

As an executive assistant, Stepha nie helps in many areas including working in the accounts payable de partment. Being a people person, Stephanie enjoys working with her many different co-workers from crane operators to those in the company’s accounts payable department.

Stephanie has many avenues for relaxation. One of her favorites is lis tening to music and says that music has a way of calming the spirit or ener gizing when one needs a little pep in their step.

Her hobbies include knitting and crocheting, which she taught herself both. “I enjoy knitting or crocheting in my free time when I have some time to spare.”

She and her family have two res cue dogs, two rescue cats, and a bearded dragon. “They’re all spoiled as heck!” -cmw

Joe Ballard, Comfort-Air Engineering Inc. | Primo Plumbing Inc., reviews plans at the Wheels on Meals project. -cmw

RAM2 Utilities team members Hernan Hernadez (bottom left), Gabriel Munoz (ladder), and Miguel Munoz work in a manhole at RAM2’s Tri-County Parkway project. -cmw

Pour it on

As sampled guests sampled the vari ety of drinks presented by the pour-off teams, over 90 individuals tried their luck at poker. Congratulations to Adam Rem mier of Epic Office Solutions, this year’s Texas Hold ‘Em winner. -cmw

Electrical contracting golfers

Tournament winners:

The Independent Electrical Contrac tors Association (IEC) San Antonio Chapter hosted its 22nd Annual Golf Tournament on Sept. 23 at Canyon Springs Golf Club. It was a sold-out event for IEC with 144 golfers. Everyone had a great time networking and enjoying the beautiful weather. -cmw

2nd Place: Bell & McCoy – Marcus Haw kins, Roland Mancha, Steve Trevino, and Andrew Derrick

3rd Place: HJD Capital Electric – Jesse Rodriguez, Alex Tobar, Jose Ortega, and James Bentley

Longest Drive: Nick Thomas Closest-to-the-Pin: Todd Fields

Town Hall

1st Place: JMEG – Benny Marroquin, Ryan Sanchez, Jay Winkler, and Jared Jenkins

The American Subcontractors Asso ciation hosted its annual Pour-off and Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament Sept. 29. The event was held at the Alzaf ar Shrine temple where seven teams par ticipated in the pour-off competition of the evening.

1st Place Frozen: KCM Cabinets Inc.

1st Place Non-Frozen: Ridout Barrett

Best Booth: MEMCO Staffing

Adam Remmier

On Oct. 13 a Town Hall Meeting for the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) was held at the Alzafar Shrine Auditorium. More than 180 plumbers attended and were given the opportunity to ask questions of the board and for the TSBPE to review the changes they have made to improve services for the plumbers of Texas. TSBPE Board Chair Frank Denton was joined by TSBPE Board Member Ron Ainsworth, TSBPE Director Steve Davis, TSBPE Director of Enforcement Sidney Lankford, TSBPE Field Investigator, and TSBPE Communications Manager Kevin Dick. Tenured master plumbers/owners were able to ask questions for their businesses and newer plumbers gained knowledge on how their licenses are governed and the accessi bility of their online information. L-R: Angie Gonzalez, JR’s Plumbing; Jake Allen, Pepco Sales & Marketing; Frank Denton, Chair of TSBPE; Tricia Ramirez, A-Ram Plumbing; Sandee Morgan, MCA SMACNA; Sherill Stanush, S&S Plumbing Contractors; Heidi Trimble, PHCC-SA; and Steve Davis, Director of Enforcement.

Surface Water Treatment Plant Discharge Water Line – Phases 1-3

Pesado Construction Company (Pe sado) was awarded the 11.5 mil lion-dollar Surface Water Treat ment Plant Discharge Water Line Project in December 2021 for New Braunfels Utilities. This project for NBU was de signed to provide additional transmis sion capacity to deliver clean, high-qual ity drinking water to the ever-growing community now and for future decades.

Upon completion of this project, the

new line will help alleviate high-pressure issues in the area when the Headwaters at the Comal, the Surface Water Treat ment Plant (SWTP), and Landa Park Pumps are all running simultaneously.

The project covers approximately 2.5 miles of 12,800 linear feet of 24-inch and 30-inch water main. The project includes trenching/backfilling, trench safety, curved micro-tunneling underneath the Guadalupe River, jacking/boring, valves,

fittings, and six different tie-ins to exist ing water lines. Much of the work will be constructed through heavily traveled roads, including Gruene Rd., Waterway Lane, and Rivercrest Dr.

This project is unique because of the challenges that were presented during design and construction that required the kind of experience that few contrac tors have. Pesado has completed projects ranging in size from $750K to $39 million

which include wastewater treatment plants, water pump stations, box culvert drainage, and underground utilities to name a few. Pesado’s capabilities and ex perience gained from the completion of these challenging heavy civil projects al lowed us to take on this project with suc cess in mind.

Obstacles and Project Challenges: Due to the complexity of the project and the project location, Pesado broke the

project into four different phases to meet project deadlines for specific areas.

Phase 1 included the installation of the five jack and bores all under or near heavily traveled roads. Phase 2 included the installation of 30-inch and 24-inch ductile iron pipes from Waterway Lane to Rivercrest Drive, including open-cut in stallation through Gruene Rd. Phase 3 in cludes the installation of a 30-inch pipe down Rivercrest Dr., which includes open-cut installation through a residen tial neighborhood. Lastly, Phase 4 in cludes a 30-inch open-cut installation, from the SWTP site to the river, a new flowmeter and bypass line, and a curved micro tunnel underneath the Guadalupe River.

Every Phase had its own unique chal lenges, but Phase 2 of the open-cut in stallation through Gruene Rd. was the phase that was the most crucial to the project. Maintaining two-way traffic, re stricted hours, and days during certain periods, and allowing access to the many different businesses on Gruene Rd. were

only a few of the requirements that need ed to be sustained during the entire 2,700-linear foot stretch. Pesado provid ed a VE option to flow fill all the trench through Gruene Rd. which ended up re moving 21 days off the overall project schedule and allowed their subcontrac tor to complete paving nearly three months ahead of the baseline schedule.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19 and the other recent world pandemics, the delivery of pipes, fittings, and valves was significantly delayed. This pushed Pesa do’s schedule back nearly two months after beginning the open-cut phases. To expedite the work needed to stay on schedule, Pesado proposed to Plummer Engineering, Freese and Nichols, and NBU to complete testing and tie-ins in different phases before completion of the entire line. This proposition would re duce the substantial number of weeks that would have been needed during the end of the project. Combined with the agreement from all parties for this pro posal and that of Pesado’s crews working

diligently and quickly, Pesado was able to complete Phases 1 through 3 ahead of schedule.

The installation of the 30-inch pipe included installing flexible base from the initial bedding to 2 inches below the pro posed depth of replacement asphalt, an average of five vertical feet. Usually, flexi ble base in a trench can be very time-con suming due to the process of compact ing it in 1-ft lift increments. Pesado in vested in the purchase of hydraulic tam pers for excavators for projects just like this. This improved method of trench compacting reduced the time spent on backfilling the trench tremendously. Specifications require density testing for every 200 linear feet of pipe installed, and Pesado installed close to 8,000 linear feet of pipe for this project needing trench backfill with all densities passing on the first test.

With the first three phases complet ed, Pesado got a jump start on Phase 4 and plans to finish the open cut, flowme ter, and bypass line before the end of No

vember. The last piece of the puzzle will be the curved micro tunnel under the Guadalupe River. Pesado Construction has awarded this work to Bradshaw Con struction Corporation out of Maryland. They are set to mobilize at the beginning of October to begin setup and excava tion. Their work includes the installation of 450 linear feet of 48-inch reinforced concrete jacking pipe, 450 linear feet of 30-inch HDPE, and contact and annular grout for the casing. Pesado expects Bradshaw to complete the micro-tunnel before the Christmas Holiday break. Once the micro-tunnel is completed, Pesado will be able to finish the two remaining tie-ins on the project and achieve sub stantial completion on schedule in Janu ary 2023.

Pesado Construction is a San Antonio construction company specializing in utility and civil construction projects. -cmw

Pesado Construction

Micro-tunnel shaft construction

Open-cut installation of 30-inch ductile iron pipe

Boring 48-inch casing under a box culvert on Gruene Rd.

Hydraulic plate compactor compacting flex base in trenc

Tie-in into existing 18-inch CSC pipe

Asphalt restoration on Gruene Rd.

The Multi-Assistance Center at Morgan’s Wonderland

This 165,171sf Medical Office Building was built to serve disadvantaged in dividuals in San Antonio, Texas, and throughout the region. With the goal of being a one-stop shop for individuals with special needs, this project is an important addition to the San Antonio community.

The unique and playful facades at tempt to appeal to the target demograph ic, including bright and cheerful colors, butterfly imagery, and a friendly aesthet ic. Located across the street from Mor gan’s Wonderland, this facility will expand the care and support that is already deliv ered by one of the most recognizable philanthropic efforts in San Antonio.

The construction was completed on a tight site with tilt-wall panels and required significantly increased volume from extra

casting beds. These beds were incorpo rated into the final design to accommo date pedestrian and vehicular access, minimize waste material, and reduce overall cost.

There is a significant presence brought to the area by this structure and is easily used as a landmark in the local community. The brilliant facade and prominent branding displays a degree of hybrid efficiency and foresight that is rep resentative of the project as a whole. The entire process of construction consisted of continual value engineering to ensure appropriate stewardship of the donated and publicly sourced funding.

Metropolitan Contracting (METRO) was honored to be the general contractor for the MAC. -cmw

Metropolitan Contracting (METRO) San Antonio, TX

Aerial view of The MAC

The MAC entrance with its playful facade

The MAC will house several organizations and services

Dressing! There is nothing better than some of my Grandma VanDamme’s dressing!

The best part of any Thanksgiving meal is sweet potatoes with marshmallows. They’re so good, I just love them.

Stephanie Glenewinkel, Americrane Rentals

The cornbread stuffing! It’s probably the worst thing for me on the table but it probably tastes the best.

Carlton Catalani, Axis Industrial Services

Turkey. It’s one of the few times a year that you serve a whole turkey. And because it a rare occasion, you usually have it with family and friends. So I associate turkey with the opportunity to be with my family and friends celebrating those rare occa sions.

Chris Carruth, Metropolitan Contracting (METRO)

I have to give you two because one is my mom’s, and one is my wife’s. So, my mom’s cornbread dressing. And then my wife’s sweet potatoes. It’s a dead tie. I can’t have one without the other. I could even do without the turkey and just eat a pile of dressing and sweet potatoes.

Joe Garza, CCC Group

It’s the stuffing. I love stuffing, especially stuffing with gravy poured over it or by it self. It’s just amazing. I think it’s because it’s not something that we eat every day.

Damian Luna, Blue Lacy Landscape & Maintenance

My favorite Thanksgiving meal item is mashed potatoes and gravy. I just love mashed potatoes and gravy.

Maria Escobar, Plastic Supply of San Antonio

We don’t do a traditional turkey dinner, but it’s the Chocolate meringue pie. Clark Arnold , Eco-Soil Stabilizers

My favorite is the turkey with cranberry sauce because you can have it for left overs.

Eloy Estrada, E.M. Estrada Cabinets, Millwork Carpentry

My favorite Thanksgiving meal item is my mom’s and stepmom’s stuffing. They make it from scratch, and it is always amazing.

When I don’t go back home for Thanksgiv ing and cook my own spread, I lean on Stove Top Stuffing to fulfill that portion. I’ve got no shame in it because it does the trick and is an easy addition to the fourth quar ter of Thanksgiving cooking.

Candi Lewis, Alpha Building Corporation

continued from Page 1 — White Rock Construction

“We both told our wives to give us a year to try this,” says Hutto. “If it doesn’t work, we’ll go back to working for some one else.”

The hardest part about starting their own company, according to Hutto was coming up with a name. After identifying the name, they developed a slogan and what their niche in the industry would be.

Focusing on retail and commercial finish-outs, and remodels, White Rock Construction’s work encompasses fram ing, drywall, concrete, and asphalt demo lition.

“It’s been really good. We’ve been closing out a lot of school jobs with the 2022-2023 school year just kicking off,” adds Hutto. “We’re starting a restaurant in Austin called CARVE. Perry’s Steak house is the owner. We have a couple of jobs in Selma that we are finishing.”

Hutto admits their first year has been better than he or Johnson could have ever predicted. He credits the relation

continued from Page 1 — SitePro Rentals

tin by year’s end. “We’re focused on building an efficient footprint across the Southeast in order to provide customers with convenient locations and optimize fleet sharing between neighboring branches,” says San Antonio Branch Man ager Ben Cantu

SitePro carries a broad range of gen eral line equipment, from earthmoving to air compressors, aerial, compaction, material handling, generators, lighting, and small tools. They currently have loca tions in Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia, with plans to expand into Tennessee, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and New Mexico within the next two years.

“Though our customers come in all sizes and from a variety of industries, our core business is focused on small to me dium-sized contractors, customers that tend to be underserved and underappre ciated by the big national rental players,” Cantu states.

“SitePro Rentals is a fast-growing start-up that aims to be the best rental company, not the biggest. We’ve built our company culture around safety and customer service. Every meeting starts with a discussion about safety and the customer. Relationships are very import ant in the rental industry. To build strong customer and vendor relationships we need great people. When you combine great people with excellent processes

ships he and Johnson developed over the years in helping them get White Rock Construction moving forward. Their young company has completed asphalt work for Stone Oak Hospital and com pleted a demo and remodel for the Uni versity of the Incarnate Word where they converted a café at the university into a Starbucks®.

“We take great pride in cleanliness and professionalism which has allowed us to complete multiple occupied re models in medical buildings and for tenant finish-outs in operating office buildings,” Johnson adds. “It brings us joy and fulfillment to see a finished product and overall, a happy customer.”

As their first anniversary nears, Hutto says, “It’s been a great start for us, and hopefully, it’ll keep going our way. It’s a great time to be in construction. We’re both young and there’s so much work. We’re ready!”

White Rock Construction is an interior finish-out contractor in San Antonio. -cmw

and a well-maintained fleet from top brands and cutting-edge digital technol ogies, you have a recipe for success. Our goal is to be the friendly, local rental pros that takes the hassle out of equipment rental while providing customers with an array of awesome online and mobile tools to manage their equipment.”

Giving back to the communities they serve and honor those who have given so much for freedom is a big component of the company’s makeup. At a local level, they support a variety of local causes, and nationally, they are proud to partner with organizations that assist military veterans, first responders, and others.

“SitePro believes in giving back to the community and supporting veterans. We actively recruit military veterans and give them special recognition on our team.

SitePro is proud to support Save a War rior, an organization dedicated to pre venting veteran suicide. We’ve donated funds to put two cohorts of 10 veterans through their life-saving program.”

SitePro’s current Texas locations in clude Abilene, College Station, Corpus Christi, Houston, Irving, Laredo, McAllen, and San Antonio. Other locations to soon be introduced to the Texas market are Austin, Denton, and Fort Worth. TX.

SitePro Rentals is an equipment and tool rental company. -cmw

Fall golf

North Course winners:

1st Place: Structure Tone Southwest

Men’s Longest Drive: John Frichtman, Terracon

Ladies’ Longest Drive: Angela Hines, Big City Access

Men’s Closest-to-the-Pin: Robbie Car michael, Michalak PC

Ladies’ Closest-to-the-Pin: Yvette Reyes, T&D Moravits

South Course winners:

1st Place: Galaxy Builders

Men’s Longest Drive: Andrew Peterson, Catto & Catto

Ladies’ Longest Drive: Veronica Garza, Central Electric Closest to the Pin: Rusty Medlin, Joeris General Contractors

continued from Page 1 — CCC Group employees who are giving, service mind ed, and who love to participate in com munity initiatives,” says Garza. “A year ago, we began to discuss how CCC Group could continue to make a difference. CCC Group Foundation became the answer.

“We are very excited about the foun dation. As a family-oriented company, through this entity, we are able to offer support to where it’s needed the most.

“Additionally, so many people today

are looking to work in an organization that has an identity with a purpose and that supports their passions outside of their careers. We are proud that we can offer both.”

Performing primarily as a heavy indus trial construction company, CCC Group builds large industrial facilities across the continental United States, South America, and Jamaica. -cmw

continued from Page 8 — Spotlight: The Sabinal Group

What do you do for relaxation?

I don’t relax. I’m kind of a high-stress person. Seriously, I enjoy going down to Port Aransas and going fishing with the kids. We used to go down to the Biz B’s ev ery year in October down in Cabo for the fishing tournament. I like fishing and hunting. I play sports and lift weights. But hanging out with friends and family are my most meaningful experiences. We love attending Spurs’ games as a family. The kids have been going since they were ba bies and have even been to their champi onship games. We are Spurs family!

Do you have any special interests?

I’m proud to be a Rey Feo Consejo member. Rey Feo Consejo is a member ship-based nonprofit educational founda tion promoting the transformative power of education for our youth. As members, we reach out into our San Antonio com

munity to provide scholarships for under privileged youth.

What would you like our readers to know about Mark Wohlfarth?

That’s a good question. I don’t know. I think you’ve got to forget about work. You’ve got to put family first and with that, the people you work with at the office, they’re part of that family. You’ve got to feed your family and you got to feed those families. It’s a lot of stress, trying to get the work and maintain a good client relation ship, rapport, and reputation because a lot of people depend on you, and that is good. I want that weight on my shoulders. I appreciate that and I hope they appreci ate it as well. At the end of the day, I want a legacy to carry, especially for my kids and family. I want to leave my family in a better position than I had. Hopefully, I’m establishing that. -cmw

What is your favorite Thanksgiving meal item and why?

Structure Tone Southwest

Members and guests of the South Texas Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) welcomed a beautiful day of golf at ABC’s Annual Fall Golf Tournament. Over 200

golfers took to the greens at The Club at Sonterra’s north and south courses on Sept. 26 where everyone in attendance had a great time. -cmw

On Oct. 7, F.A. Nunnelly held a groundbreaking ceremony for Medina Valley ISD’s new Silos Elementary School. Medina Valley staff, board members, and members of the construction and design team came together to celebrate the start of this new 100,000-sf elementary school that includes new athletic fields, a library, a cafeteria, classrooms, restrooms, and parking lots. -cmw

Breaking ground

Tyler VanDamme, Moore Supply Co.

Association Calendar

ABC

Associated Builders & Contractors Inc.

Nov. 18: Apprenticeship Appreciation Event, ABC Offices, 814 Arion Pkwy. #111, 5:30-7pm. For more info, contact Melissa Martinez at 210-342-1994 or email melis sa@abcsouthtexas.org

Nov. 29: ABC Family Christmas Party, ABC Offices, 814 Arion Pkwy. #111. For more contact Kerry Gonzales at 210-342-1994 or email kerry@abcsouthtexas.org

AGC

Associated General Contractors

Nov. 10: Casino Night and Construction Industry Awards, The Club at Sonterra, 901 E. Sonterra Blvd., 6-10pm. For more info, call Kelly Wilson at 210-349-4921

AIA

American Institute of Architects

Nov. 3: SAYA: Newly Licensed Happy Hour Celebration, Camp Outpost, 1811 S. Alamo St., 5:30-7pm. For more info, go to www.aiasa.org

ASA

American Subcontractors Association

Nov. 10: Tacos & Training, Ridout Barrett, 922 Isom #100, 8:30-9:30am, ASA Mem bers Free, Non-Members $30

Nov. 16: Safety Update, ESC Safety Con sultants Offices, 12758 Cimarron Path #127, 11:30am Members Only. For more info, contact Jennifer Swinney at 210349-2105 or email jennifer@asasananto nio.org

ASSP

American Society of Safety Professionals

Nov. 21: Chapter Monthly Meeting, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Cule bra, 11:30am-1:30pm. For more info, go to www.southtexasasse.org

CFMA

Construction Financial Management

Nov. 2: The Heavy Equipment Compara tor: Standardization of Fleet Metrics –CFMA & AEMP, Live/Online, 3-4:30pm ET, 12-1:30pm PT, Member Free, Non-Mem ber $69

Nov. 9: Subcontractor Prequalification, Live/Online, 3-5pm ET, 12-2pm PT, Mem ber $17, Non-Member $105

Nov. 15: Workplace Safety & Construct A Kid Toy Drive, Location TBD, 11:30am. For more info, contact Tom Whitney at 210649-9000 or go to www.sanantonio. cfma.org

GSABA

Greater San Antonio Builders Association

Nov. 4: YPLC/SMC Chili Cook-Off, Tailgate & Corn Hole Tournament, GSABA Parking Lot, 3625 Paesanos Pkwy. #100, 5-9pm, Chili Booths $250/Team, Corn Hole Team of Two $35, General Admission $10. For more info, contact Haley King at 210-6963800 or email hking@sabuilders.com

HCAdeSA

Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio

Nov. 16: Monthly Membership Meeting/ Mixer, Location TBD, 5:30-7:30pm. For more info, call 210-444-1100 or email ad min@hcadesa.org

IEC

Independent Electrical Contractors

Nov. 3-21: Journeyman/Master Prep Class. IEC Offices, 5511 Ingram Rd., 59p.m.

Nov. 9: Sub Metering Lunch & Learn, IEC Office, 5511 Ingram Rd., 11:30am-1pm

Nov. 10-11: IEC of Texas Quarterly Meet ing, Garland, TX

Nov. 15: Continuing Education Class, IEC Offices, 5511 Ingram Rd., 5-9pm.

Nov. 16: NEISD Career Night, Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St., 5-8pm

Nov. 19: Electrical Maintenance Techni cian Class, IEC Offices, 5511 Ingram Rd., 8am-5pm. For more info, contact Julie Tucker at 210-431-9861 or email jtucker@ iecsanantonio.com

MCA-SMACNA INC

Mechanical Contractors Association

Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Association

Nov. 9: Regular & Associates Meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 New Braunfels 7th Flr., 11:30am

Nov. 29: Joint Industry Fund Meeting, MCA-SMACNA Office, 206 E. Nakoma, 11:30am. For more info, call Sandee Mor gan at 210-822-3763

NAWIC

National Association of Women in Construction

Nov. 2: General Meeting, All Things NEF,The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels 7th Flr., Dinner & Program $45 Member, $50 Non-Member, $10 Program Only.

Nov. 4-5: South Central Region Fall Con ference, Hilton Waco, 113 S. University Parks Dr., Waco, TX

Nov. 12: SAISD Book Buddies, 311 North Frank Luke Dr. #108, 10am-12pm

Nov. 18: NAWIC Friendsgiving, Location TBD. For more info, contact Stephanie Garcia at sgarcia@r-o.com or register at nawicsatx.org

PHCC

Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors

Nov. 10: Annual Business Meeting, Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Dr., 11am

Nov. 12: Plumbers Continuing Education, PHCC Offices, 10103 Broadway, Nov. 12: Plumbers Medical Gas Educa tion, PHCC Offices, 10103 Broadway. For more info, contact Heidi Trimble at 210824-7422 or email heidi@phcc-sananto nio.org

SAMCA

San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association

Nov. 16: General Meeting, Old San Fran cisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Dr., 12pm. For more info, contact Debi at 210347-2423 or email thesamca@gmail.com

TACCA

Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association

Nov. 7: 33rd Annual Golf Tournament, The Club at Sonterra, 901 E. Sonterra Blvd., 9:30am Registration & Lunch, 10:30am Shotgun Start, $175 Per Golfer. For more info, call Dawn Thompson at 210-901-4222

TXAPA

Texas Asphalt Pavement Association

Nov. 1-17: Inspector Asphalt Education, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8-10:30am

Nov. 17: TXAPA Live! Expanding the Tx DOT Liquid Asphalt Quality Control, Field Sampling, and Testing Program, 3-4pm. For more info, contact Becky Schaeffer at 512-312-2099 or email bschaeffer@texas asphalt.org

Outstanding construction

Members of the Associated Gener al Contractors (AGC) Association came together for the presenta tion of the AGC Texas Building Branch (TBB) Outstanding Construction Awards. The awards were presented on Sept. 15 at the beautiful Sheraton Austin George town Hotel & Conference Center.

While the festive event honored out standing projects from across the state of Texas, three local contractors received the AGC TBB Outstanding Construction award for the outstanding work they per formed on their projects. Congratula tions to all the winners. -cmw

General Contractor Building 5 - $30 Million to $75 Million: Joeris General Contractors

UTSA Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence

General Contractor Educational Facilities

to $10 Million: Joeris General Contractors

Alamo Heights High School Track and Field Renovations

General Contractor Educational Facilities

to $75 Million: Joeris General Contractors

San Antonio

Central Administration Building

General Contractor Historic Renovation: Guido Construction

Historic Renovation of City Hall

General Contractor

Million:

Nunnelly Company

Expansion

Golfing for trades

1st

SpawGlass Contractors hosted its 9th Annual Golf Tournament on Oct. 14. The event was held at Olym pia

auction was held. Everyone had a

the Alamo Trades Club. Alamo 1’s B team took sec ond place

tournament with Clean

tourna

SpawGlass

On Sept. 10, Arnold Refrigeration Inc. held its 60th Legacy Celebra tion. The event was held at the Quarry Golf Club where guests celebrat

ed the accomplishments of tenured ARI employees. Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography. -cmw

Arnold Refrigeration Inc. Co-owner Dean Linstrum, Co-owner Lee Linstrum, Co-onwer & COO Sheri Kitchen, President Ron Malek and Guy Kitchen

Dean Linstrum addresses guests at ARI’s 60th Legacy Celebration

Susan Kitchen speaks at ARI’s 60th Legacy Celebration

ARI Legacy Award recipientes L-R: Ron Malek and Lee Linstrum

Jalapeno Winner: Central Electric

The South Texas Chapter of Associat ed Builders & Contractors (ABC) held its Annual Chili Cook-Off on Oct. 6. Thirty-two teams outline Cow boy’s Dancehall where they could not have asked for a more perfect day as they prepared their favorite chili recipes.

New to this year’s event was a jalape no side dish category. The final round of chili was judged by a special chef guest judge. Congratulations to Spectrum Lighting who won second place and Met ropolitan Contracting took third place.

Best Booth: Alamo Concrete

1st Place Chili: Geofil

Kistner

Hunter’s symposium

Morethan 150 participants at tended the Mechanical Contrac tors Association Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning National Association’s (MCA-SMACNA) 44th Annual MCA-SMAC NA Hunter’s Symposium. The event was held Sept. 28 at Bexar Community Shoot ing Range in Marion, TX. Members, asso ciate members and guests participated in a skeet, trap, and rifle shoot; enjoyed a delicious BBQ dinner, and won some amazing raffle and door prizes. This year’s trophies were custom-made by Ben Christian of M&M Metals and were highly sought after. Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography. -cmw

Rifle Shooting winners:

2nd Place Guest Rifle: Michael Arreguin, Legent Health Care

3rd Place Guest Rifle: Bill Rodriguez, Silber & Assoc

2nd Place Associate Rifle: Zach Rother, Milwaukee Tools

3rd Place Associate Rifle: Brandon Stowe, Viega

2nd Place Member Rifle: Chuck Clark, SMG

3rd Place Member Rifle: Brandon Keller, Mueller & Wilson Ridiculous Rifle: Lee Ponzio, DSI

Trap Shooting winners:

Expert Trap: Quatro Koehler, Brandt Companies

2nd Place Guest Trap: Roy Jackson, Retiree

3rd Place Guest Trap: Bennie Malish, Retiree

1st Place Associate Trap: Josh Bailey, Texas Air Products

2nd Place Associate Trap: Aaron Caldwell, Texas Air Products

3rd Place Associate Trap: John Grothues, Texas Air Systems

2nd Place Member Trap: Uriel Carreon, M&M Metals

3rd Place Member Trap: Curtis Palitza, Texas Chiller Systems

Terrible Trap: Robert Uhl, Texas Chiller Systems

Skeet Shooting winners:

2nd Place Guest Skeet: Clint Ulman, SpawGlass

3rd Place Guest Skeet: Terry Collins, MAVA Engineering

2nd Place Associate Skeet: Frank Tuttle, Texas Air Systems

3rd Place Associate Skeet: Chris Graham, Mechanical Reps

2nd Place Member Skeet: Deborah Werthiem, LC Mosel

3rd Place Member Skeet: Kevin Grothues, DSI

Shoddy Skeet: Will Barnes, Brandt Companies

Bullseye: Hayward Decker, AJ Monier

Expert Rifle: Chad Fisher, High West Services

1st Place Guest Rifle: Brian Goebel, Retiree

1st Place Associate Rifle: Craig Holland, High West Services

1st Place Member Rifle: Todd Hartman, Mueller & Wilson

1st Place Guest Trap: Brian Keller, Cleary Zimmermann

1st Place Member Trap: Richard Schmidt, Brandt Companies

Expert Skeet: Scott Hutcheson, Texas Air Systems

1st Place Guest Skeet: Ken Brothers, Retiree

1st Place Associate Skeet: Jeff May, Mechanical Reps

1st Place Member Skeet: Darrell Hagendorf, Brandt Companies

Safety at the forefront

The6th Annual Safety Summit was held on Sept. 15 at the Alzafar Shrine Temple. This event is run strictly by a volunteer committee.

In 2016, the OSHA San Antonio Area office had an alarming increase in work-related fatalities with a total of 14 lives perishing early in the year. It was then that Ted Dunnam, VP-Operations at ESC Safety Consultants, met with OSHA Area Director, Alex Porter, and asked what the industry safety professionals could do to stop the fatalities. They quickly reached out to other industry leaders they knew who were passionate about safety, and the Safety Summit Committee was formed. In October of 2016, the committee established the first-ever Texas Construction Safety Sum mit to focus the industry on embracing a

safety culture. Every year employers and safety professionals are invited to gather under one roof to share best practices and experiences in the construction in dustry. The focus is to come together as a community to learn more about em bracing a safety culture in our rapidly growing city of San Antonio. We look for ward to having you there! Photos courtesy of Mary C. Haskin Photography. -cmw

Fishing helps others

Sept. 23-24 was a busy weekend for

The Plumbing Heating Cooling Con tractors (PHCC) Association when they hosted the 27th Annual PHCC Perry Beyer Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament. A captains’ meeting was held on Sept. 23 at Coasters in Aransas Pass. On the morning of Sept. 24, 240 eager fishermen took to their boats for a great day of fishing. Ap proximately 275 guests were in atten dance for the after-tournament dinner and the presentation of the tournament winners’ awards.

“The weather was great,” says PHCC Executive Director Heidi Trimble. “The fishing was good, and everyone had fun. It was truly a great time! Thank you to all who participated and contributed to the success of this year’s tournament, especially this year’s tournament spon sor, Mechler-Bass & Associates.”

A portion of the proceeds are donat ed to the Beyer Cares Fund for Cancer, scholarships to PHCC-San Antonio’s Plumbing Apprenticeship school, the Scott Freund Memorial Foundation, and Construct-A-Kid’s Christmas. -cmw

Team winners:

1st Place: Opiela Mechanical, 21.29 lbs.

2nd Place: Young Bros Fire Protections, 21.26 lbs.

3rd Place: Tietze Plumbing/Tow Boat US, 18.76 lbs.

Individual Fish Category winners:

Heavy Drum: Primo Plumbing

Most Spots on Redfish: Moore Supply (tie)

Most Spots on Redfish: Primo Plumbing (tie)

Opiela Mechanical

Opiela Mechanical show off their winning catches

27th Annual PHCC Perry Beyer Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament committee

Safety Summit Committee L-R: Ted Dunnam, ESC Safety Consultants; Alex Porter, OSHA; Mark Bakeman, Sundt Construction; Jennifer Swinney, ASA; Mike Grendell, Midco Sling of San Antonio; and Dave Roberson

Keynote speaker Dr. Sally Spencer

A moment of silence for those lost to construction fatalities

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar speaks on civilian response to an attractive shooter

Area high school students attend the 6th Annual Safety Summit

Jordan, David, Harold, & Jack Vexler represent three generations of Monterrey Iron & Metal.

Charlie ‘Seb’ Allen, Owner, Alamo Concrete

Tommy Bonner, owner of Mile High Yard Works, and his family just adopted a pug puppy that he picked up by plane.

David Munoz owns and operates AirStar Heating & Air Conditioning on Jones Maltsberger.

Reps management stands in front of a line of motorcycles as they started to roll in for the evening. L-R: Larry Bloomquist, CEO, in Austin, and Ken Graham, president, in SA.

A few members of the Alamo1 team L-R: Johnt E. Jobe, assets manager; Alex Salas, owner; Kory Steen, and Milton Harris, vice president.

The Martin Marietta

their

Beckmann Park.

L-R: Amber Lassiter, Eddie McDuff, Flo-Aire Service, Jessica Moos, and Jerry McDuff, Flo-Aire Service