Subcontractors USA Journal 20

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TEXAS JOURNAL

W W W . S U B C U S A . C O M

Architecture | Construction | Education | Energy | Engineering | IT | Manufacturing | Oil and Gas | Petrochemical | Transportation

November 2017 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 20th Edition

Fort Bend Services, Inc. Offers Superior Water and Wastewater Treatment (L-R) Tammy Faber – Vice President of Operations, David James – Vice President of Sales, Lanasa Moyer – President

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INSIDE

06

An Initial $1.3 Million In Capital To Support Small Businesses Impacted

By Recent Hurricanes

13

TSU’s HUB Program Making an Effort and Moving Forward with Small Businesses

22

From Site Selection to Tenant Build-out: 5 Key Points to Obtain a Building Permit Fast

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Publisher’s Message

MR. D-MARS

The Subcontractors USA Texas Journal highlights opportunities and news relevant to the construction, energy, architecture, engineering, oil and gas, transportation and IT industries we serve. We hope you find this issue not only informative, but inspiring and educational as well.

This month’s issue highlights Fort Bend Services, Inc. (FBS), a water and wastewater treatment company.

FBS is woman-owned and one of the largest resellers of water and wastewater treatment polymers and coagulants in the United States.

Behind the Journal Publisher & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. Chief Operating Officer Kimberly Floyd Editorial Consultant Valerie Jones ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C.T. Foster Tiffany Black PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes

DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Vernell Silva Lea Bogle

Helen Callier Caron Beesley

—John D. Rockefeller Jr.

our services

contents

ADVERTISING | MARKETING MEDIA | COMMUNICATION

04 Architecture 04 Ghafari Opens its Newest Office in Fort Worth, Texas.

06 Business Loans An Initial $1.3 Million In Capital To Support Small Businesses Impacted By Recent Hurricanes

04

08 Contractors 08 TxDOT to begin Seeking Qualified Contractors for Multi-Project Contract 08 10 Education 10 8 Tips for Finding Government Contracting Opportunities 10 Webinar: Section 179: Putting The U.s. Tax Code To Work For Your Advantage 12 Fort Bend Independent School District Small Business Enterprise Program 13 TSU’s HUB Program Making an Effort and Moving Forward with Small Businesses 14 SK Innovation Serves the Community and Strengthens Ties in Houston 16-17 Cover Story 16-17 Fort Bend Services, Inc. We know Water

LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGN Angel Rosa Project Coordinator Antoniece Portis

"The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well."

They have a diverse staff and not only understand the importance of superior products, but also customer service.

They also recognize that their success is rooted in their employees. All and all, it’s a winning combination!

As always, thank you for your continued support of Subcontractors USA Texas Journal. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

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18 Energy 18 Aquilon Energy Services opens new office in Houston

Graphic Design • Logos • Flyers • Ads • Folders • Brochures • Door Hangers Printing • Business Cards • Flyers • Folders • Pull-up Banners • Step and Repeat Banners • Brochures • Door Hangers • Letterhead • Envelopes Photography • Headshots • Event Photography Online & Email Marketing Social Media Advertising

20 Insurance 20 #HoustonStrong

Talafery media group, inc.

22 Permit 22 From Site Selection to Tenant Build-Out: 5 Key Points to Obtain a Building Permit Fast 24 Petrochemical 24 ExxonMobil Begins Production on New Polyethylene Line at Mont Belvieu Plastics Plant

Subcontractors USA News Provider

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MAIN OFFICE 7322 Southwest Fwy., Suite 800 Houston, TX 77074 Phone: (713) 272.9511 | Fax: (713) 750.9472 Email Us: contact@subcusa.com

26 In the Subcontractors USA Community...

26 University of Houston Business (HUB) Program 26 University of Houston Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program 80’s Event

Visit Us Online www.subcusa.com

@subcusa.com

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28 Transportation 28 WSP USA to join Texas Bullet Train team

Certified: HMSDC - Port of Houston - Metro City of Houston - HISD - HUB Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

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Architecture

Ghafari Opens its Newest Office in Fort Worth, Texas

us in immediate proximity to many of our existing clients and allow us to expand our services to them while positioning us to foster relationships with new opportunities and industries."

The new office is located at 300 Throckmorton Street, Suite 600 Fort Worth, TX 76102.

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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hafari Associates, an award-winning architecture, engineering, process design and construction services firm, announces the opening of its newest office in Fort Worth, Texas. James E. Jobes, AIA has been promoted to Vice President and will lead the new office.

The new office puts Ghafari at the heart of the region's growth, and will serve as the southwest hub for the firm's regional automotive, aviation, and commercial sectors.

"Ghafari has experienced steady growth over the past several years, especially in markets specific to the southwest. This represents an important milestone in our strategic business plan," says President and CEO Kouhaila Hammer. "This new office will allow Ghafari to focus on providing innovative solutions and outstanding service for our clients, and Jim offers the strategic vision to grow our brand."

Jobes holds a master of architecture degree from the University of Or-

AboutGhafari Ghafari About

egon and a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Indiana University.

He has led several of the firm's most complex domestic and international projects, and is a longstanding member of the American Institute of Architects. Jobes' more than 25 years of

experience includes a diverse project portfolio, including aviation, industrial/manufacturing, and commercial projects.

"We are excited to contribute to the development of such an iconic place," says Jobes. "Our office in Texas will put

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Ghafari is a global, full-service engineering, architecture, process design, consulting, and construction services firm. Noted for its innovative solutions, project delivery methods, and outstanding customer services, Ghafari has nearly 40 years of experience in sectors such as aviation, corporate/commercial, education, government and institutional, healthcare, and industrial/manufacturing. The firm has been recognized as a National Best & Brightest Company and has been ranked among the top firms in the country by Engineering News-Record.

SOURCE: http://www.ghafari.com

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Business Loans

An Initial $1.3 Million In Capital To Support Small Businesses Impacted By Recent Hurricanes LiftFund partners with corporate leaders JPMorgan Chase & Co., Groupon and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses to provide relief to impacted businesses

To download Groupon's top-rated mobile apps, visit www.groupon.com/ mobile. To search for great deals or subscribe to Groupon emails, visit www. groupon.com. To learn more about the company’s merchant solutions and how to work with Groupon, visit www.grou pon.com/merchant.

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mall businesses make up over eighty percent of a local economy’s vibrancy. The number of businesses impacted by the hurricanes that have hit the U.S. coasts is still unknown, but the work to rebuild communities is immediate.

LiftFund, a non-profit business lender, with the generous support of JPMorgan Chase, Groupon and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses has established a relief fund to support small business affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

With an initial $1.3 million in capital, including $1 million from JPMorgan Chase’s Small Business Forward initiative, LiftFund’s hurricane relief loan fund will help small businesses along the Texas Gulf Coast and Florida rebuild after the devastation caused by the September hurricanes.

LiftFund’s hurricane relief loan fund has reached $1.3 million in capital to provide a combination of products and support services, including low to zero interest loans to small business owners affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

“For Houston to fully recover, our small businesses must remain strong engines of economic opportunity,” said Nataly Marks, Managing Director for JPMorgan Chase in Houston. “JPMorgan Chase is proud to stand with LiftFund an experienced microlender with a strong track record - and all the small businesses seeking to rebuild after Harvey.”

“It’s critical that when we rebuild our communities, we rebuild for homes, for corporations, and for small businesses.

With our partners, we are here to support small businesses in the wake of the hurricanes. We know timing is of the essence, and we are ready to help them rebuild and reopen with our hurricane relief loan fund,” said Janie Barrera, LiftFund President and CEO. “Small businesses are the backbone of the communities they serve, and many absorbed significant damage from the recent hurricanes,” said Groupon CEO Rich Williams. “The local impact of shuttered businesses will be felt long after the initial disaster. Helping businesses with muchneeded access to capital is a key way we can help these communities along the road to recovery.”

“We’re proud to partner with LiftFund, a longstanding lending partner in the 10,000 Small Businesses program, to ensure that small business owners affected by the storm receive both immediate help as well as longer term support that will help them recover and rebuild,” said Margaret Anadu, Goldman Sachs Managing Direc-

AboutGoldman GoldmanSachs Sachs10,000 10,000 About SmallBusinesses Businesses Small

To learn more and apply for a hurricane relief loan, visit our website. www.liftfund.com or give us a call at 888.215.2373 tor. “This grant will supplement Goldman Sachs’ overall response to these storms including over $1 million in donations as well as employee volunteer initiatives benefiting a range of nonprofit organizations in Houston and Florida.”

LiftFund has historically supported small businesses through similar catastrophes like Hurricanes Katrina (2005), Ike (2008), Sandy (2012), developing specific products and services to alleviate the needs of impacted small businesses.

Small business owners in Houston, along the Texas Gulf Coast and Florida can visit www.liftfund.com/hurricanerelief-resources to learn about products and support services specifically tied to LiftFund’s hurricane relief efforts. Or, impacted business owners may call LiftFund at (888) 215-2373 or inquire by email at harveyrelief@liftfund.com.

“LiftFund and our corporate partners stand strong with the small businesses and our special assistance programs aim to help these business owners get back on their feet,” said Barrera.

To learn more about LiftFund’s clients and keep up with the rebuilding process in their communities, please visit our blog post: Communities Rebuild after Harvey.

AboutJPMorgan JPMorganChase Chase&&Co. Co. About JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is

a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.6 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMor gan Chase & Co. is available at www.jp morganchase.com. Follow us on Twitter @ Chase and @ChaseSmallBiz, and at www. facebook.com/chase.

AboutGroupon Groupon About Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) is building the daily habit in local commerce, offering a vast mobile and online marketplace where people discover and save on amazing things to do, see, eat and buy. By enabling realtime commerce across local businesses, travel destinations, consumer products and live events, shoppers can find the best a city has to offer.

Groupon is redefining how small businesses attract and retain customers by providing them with customizable and scalable marketing tools and services to profitably grow their businesses.

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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is based on the broadly held view of leading experts that greater access to a combination of education, capital, and support services best addresses barriers to growth for small businesses. 10,000 Small Businesses is guided by an Advisory Council cochaired by Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein, Bloomberg L.P. founder, president and CEO, and 108th Mayor of the City of New York Michael R. Bloomberg, Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO Warren Buffett, and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City’s Dr. Michael Porter. To date nationally, 10,000 Small Businesses has reached more than 6,300 small business owners across 14 US education sites, and has deployed over 1,000 loans to 870 additional businesses.

Approximately 70 percent of participants have reported increasing their revenues just six months after graduating and approximately 50 percent of participants have reported creating net new jobs in this same time period. 85 percent of program scholars do business with one or more 10,000 Small Businesses alumni.

AboutLiftFund LiftFund About Established in 1994 in San Antonio, LiftFund is a non-profit financial and business support service organization that helps entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, stabilize and increase their incomes, create employment and contribute to the economic revitalization of their communities. LiftFund has the nation’s largest microlender portfolio and is committed to providing capital to entrepreneurs who do not have access to loans from commercial sources. Since its inception, LiftFund has made over 19,000 loans totaling more than $250 million. LiftFund operates in 13 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

To learn more about LiftFund visit www.liftfund.com.

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contractors

TxDOT to begin Seeking Qualified Contractors for Multi-Project Contract

The Texas Transportation Commission today gave the Texas Department of Transportation approval to begin looking for qualified contractors to tackle a $500 million expansion on US 183 in north Austin. The planned 9-mile segment consists of two separate projects to add managed lanes and general-purpose lanes under one contract.

“This expansion is going to address congestion and improve mobility and safety for drivers,” said Terry McCoy, TxDOT’s Austin District Engineer. “As traffic in north Austin increases, this multi-lane expansion will offer options for commuters.”

The US 183 expansion will be accomplished through a partnership between TxDOT and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA).

TxDOT will manage the cooperative contract which will include a $120 million dollar component to design and build a fourth general-purpose lane, shared bike and pedestrian paths, new sidewalks and cross-overs for bicycles and pedestrians.

CTRMA’s managed lanes project ($380 million) will add two managed lanes in each direction, and flyovers connecting them to the new Loop 1 managed lanes.

TxDOT is expected to post a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in November.

Source: TxDOT

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Education

8 Tips for Finding Government Contracting Opportunities

By Caron Beesley Contributor for SBA

D

espite recent budget cuts, the U.S. federal marketplace remains a lucrative opportunity for small businesses. The federal government typically spends approximately $500 billion in contracts every year and the law requires that 23 percent of these dollars be awarded to small businesses.

But doing business with the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world isn’t easy. One of the biggest challenges that small businesses face is uncovering the right opportunities – ones that match their capabilities and growth plans.

Here are eight tips and resources to help you find government contract opportunities that make sense for your small business.

1. Familiarize yourself with the rules Before a contract opportunity comes along that excites you, be prepared. Familiarize yourself with what’s involved with selling to the federal government. It’s quite different to the private sector with much longer lead times and strict bidding and product requirements.

These resources can help: • Learn How the Federal Government Buys from Small Businesses • SBA’s guide to Getting Started in Government Contracting • Government Contracting 101 – These three on-demand, self-paced courses are part of SBA’s Government Contracting Classroom and are a quick way to get to know the landscape.

2. Understand what the government is buying Now it’s time to get strategic. Every agency and department has unique goals. Identifying these can help you target a niche or opportunity for your products or services.

The good news is that the government offers potential contractors something that no other sector does – an insight into its budgetary priorities.

What the government intends to buy and how much it has to spend is all in the public domain.

These budgets (actually they read more like mission strategy papers than budgets) offer sufficient context for savvy small businesses to identify opportunities and focus their contracting sales and marketing strategy. Each federal agency or department budget is listed on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) website.

Education

Webinar: Section 179: Putting The U.s. Tax Code To Work For Your Advantage

3. Zero in on agencies that aren’t meeting their small business goals Each year the SBA negotiates formal goals with individual agencies to ensure that small businesses get their fair share of federal contracts. For several consecutive years, many agencies have fallen short of their targets. So who made the grade and who didn’t? The Federal Procurement Data System posts scorecards for each agency.

Could there be an opportunity here for your small business to lend its services and goods to help these agencies hit their targets next year?

Thursday, November 16, 2017 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST

4. Research existing and upcoming opportunities Once you’ve identified agency initiatives that align with what your business has to offer, start tracking contract opportunities and solicitations that align with these on sites such asUSAspending.gov and FedBizOpps.gov. Market intelligence firms like ONVIA or ImmixGroup can also do the work for you. (immixGroup also has a useful blog that highlights upcoming opportunities as well as contracting tips).

Speakers: Matthew Flynn, Tax Specialist, Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) and Scot Ciarkowski, Tax Specialist, Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA)

5. Put boots on the ground Make a point of attending agency- or industry-specific government events. These are hosted by the private sector but attract the procurement community, influencers and industry experts. Useful sites to explore for upcoming events include GovWin, GovEvents, and if you’re interested in the lucrative IT government market Digital Government Institute, ACT-IAC and GovMark Council are worth checking out.

6. Find a partner and advocate in the OSDBU Another excellent way of getting in front of government buyers is to take advantage of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) outreach events and expos. These serve to connect business owners to government buyers. You can view the upcoming event calendar here.

These events also offer guidance on how small businesses can break into the contracting market and take advantage of programs like the 8(a) Business Development Program—a business development tool, which helps thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs gain a foothold in contracting with financial assistance and teaming opportunities.

7. Get help from SBA procurement reps Another vital government resource are SBA’s local Procurement Center

Section 179: Putting the U.S. Tax Code to Work for your Advantage Thursday, November 16, 2017 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (CT) / 12:00 p.m. (MT) / 11:00 a.m. (PT) 60 minutes

WEBINAR DESCRIPTION Section 179 of the U.S. tax code presents a welcome opportunity for small-business owners like you to save money and tax time. An economic incentive designed to encourage the purchase of business-related equipment and spur growth in the economy, Section 179 lets taxpayers deduct the full or partial cost of certain types of property from their federal taxes for the year the property was purchased and put into service. Join Matthew Flynn and Scot Ciarkowski, tax specialists with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, to learn about Section 179, including depreciation and limitations and how you may be able to take advantage of this tax deduction for your business.

Representatives (PCRs). PCRs provide services that include training, counseling and business matchmaking events. Find the PCR in your area.

8. Don’t go it alone – partner with a government mentor Anyone embarking on new ventures can benefit from a mentor. The government operates two notable mentor programs that can help you get access to contracts. First is the GSA Mentor-Protégé Program. Open to qualified small businesses, this program helps connect small firms with more experienced ones. The program’s objective is motivating larger companies to lend their knowledge to smaller, less experienced businesses.

Another option is the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program. Open to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses that qualify for SBA’s 8(a) program, this program pairs you with a mentor who has had success in federal contracting.

AdditionalResources Resources Additional For more tips and insights on breaking into and growing your business in the government contracting marketplace, check out these resources: • SBA Contracting Guide – A deep dive into getting started, available resources and more.

• Contracting Blogs – Learn about the latest resources and programs, and get tips on how to succeed.

• SBA Government Contracting Classroom – Self-paced online courses on all aspects of the contracting process.

Source: www.sba.gov

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Education

Fort Bend Independent School District

Small Business Enterprise Program

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he Fort Bend Independent School District's Small Business Enterprise Program (“SBEP”) provides increased business opportunities for locally certified small businesses to participate in contracting and procurement at the District. FBISD has set an annual SBEP participation goal of twenty-five (25%) percent of the dollar amount of all SBEP-eligible contracts. FBISD recognizes that individual actual participation may vary based on subcontracting opportunities, availability of small businesses, and price competitiveness. The participation goal may change from year to year based on all relevant factors considered by the FBISD Board of Trustees.

The SBEP is a goal-oriented program, requiring contractors to whom the District awards prime contracts for construction services valued at $50,000 or greater to use, at a minimum, “Good Faith Efforts” to utilize certified small businesses subcontractors, suppliers and consultants. The SBEP is a race and gender neutral program, open to participation without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, age or disability.

ProgramDefinitions Definitions Program The U.S. Small Business Administration defines "Small Business" as an entity for which the gross revenues or number of employees averaged over the past three years, including any affiliates as defined by 13 C.F.R. § 121.103, does not exceed the size standards as defined pursuant to Section 3 of the Small Business Act and 13 C.F.R. § 121.201, and for which the net worth of each owner does not exceed $1.32 million, excluding principal residence and the value of the small business.

Certification Certification Any business wishing to be identified by Fort Bend Independent School District as a small business shall be certified as such by the following certification program(s): To be eligible as a “Small Business” under the SBEP, a business must have one of the following eligible small business certifications: • Port of Houston Authority SBE Certification; • Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) SBE Certification; • City of Houston SBE Certification; or • Any other certification agency specified by FBISD in the procurement solicitation, as may be appropriate for the particular procurement and determined by the Superintendent or designee.

SmallBusiness BusinessInitiatives Initiatives Small For All Bond Construction Solicitations All solicitations issued by the District include a Small Business Program Participation Form (Section J) that is to be completed and submitted with the bid response. The section asks for the small business classification of the business entity. The section also asks each business entity to state if it will be performing alone or will be using subcontractors.

ForConstruction ConstructionProjects Projects For All prospective construction general contractors shall submit with their solicitation response a Small Business Plan. The Plan should include information concerning subcontracting opportunities the subcontractor will pursue if awarded a contract with FBISD. Source: www.fortbendisd.com

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Education

(L-R) Thomas Britt – Director of Materials Management, Kisten Rhodes – Senior Buyer/HUB Coordinator, Gregory Williams – Executive Director of Procurement Services, Felicia Garrett – Procurement Services Department Administrator, Sceffers Ward - Buyer

TSU’s HUB Program

Making an Effort and Moving Forward with Small Businesses

By Vernell Silva Staff Writer

A

s a historically Black University and a member of multiple Chamber of Commerce(s), Texas Southern University’s (TSU) Historically Underutilized Businesses Program, i.e. HUB is aware of their duty to the community. HUB is a minority or woman-owned Texas business that must meet a criteria to be certified.

TSU accepts HUB certifications from agencies such as The City of Austin, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, and Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance to name a few.

Many minority businesses stress the lack of opportunity given to receive contracts in fairness with big competitors. TSU’s HUB Program concentrates on producing more effective small business participation relating to the University’s contracting and procurement opportunities. The Program utilizes the Central Masters Bidder List (CMBL) to inform relative companies on the specific commodity codes for each bid and as a state entity they are required to advertise any solicitation over $25,000 on the Electronic (ESBD) website. In addition, the program posts all bids over

$25,000 on the University’s website.

By doing so they are alleviating unfairness among competitors unless subject to a bidding exemption.

In partnership with TSU, the HUB Program educates the University about their process, guidelines and procedures by participating in multiple mentoring programs such as small business forums and supplier diversity events.

As Senior Buyer and HUB Coordinator, Kisten Rhodes, takes her leadership role seriously by meeting an array of daily demands. Her duties entail: working with buyers, end users, prime contractors, purchasing department, and the University’s body. In addition, she conducts audit reviews, assist vendors in the certification process as well as reporting activities associated with procurement for internal purposes or for submission to external uses with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Rhodes also tracks updates to supplier files and developing/maintaining the data base for HUB spending with the procurement-card program.

Her multiple services as an executive to the program coincides with the following mission statement she instilled, “Our outreach initiative includes attending state and Local HUB events, hosting HUB Vendor Fair’s on campus, attending local Chamber of

Commerce(s) and welcoming Lunch and Learn events on campus.” The program’s efforts and strive for excellence has earned multiple accolades.

In 2016, TSU ranked #12 of all state agencies with a total spend of at least $5,000,000. Also, TSU ranked #16 among the state agencies in 2013.

The Program has consistently ranked among the top 50 of state agencies with the most HUB participation and with a goal to be ranked amongst the top three (3) in the nation they show no sign of slowing down.

The HUB Program’s specific goal is to increase procurement and opportunities. TSU makes an effort to assist HUBs by receiving a portion of the total yearly expenditures. Procurement expenditure goals by the Texas Government Code consist of 11.2% heavy construction, 21.1% building construction, 32.9% special trade construction, 23.7% professional services, 26% other services and 21.1% commodities. TSU prides on transparency in all business dealings and their ethic code ensures their good will.

Moving forward, the HUB program at TSU will continue to provide highly qualitative service to the students, staff, faculty, and external customers.

Under the leadership of Mr. Gregory Williams, Executive Director of Pro-

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curement Services, the members of the Purchasing Division all make the program successful and there will always be considerate services to all internal and external customers. Mr. Thomas Britt, Director of Materials Management, Mr. Sceffers Ward, Buyer, Mrs. Felicia Garrett, Procurement Services Department Administrator along with Ms. Rhodes cohesively work to achieve TSU’s mission, vision and the accomplishment of the HUB Program. The Purchasing Division is formulating a strategic plan to enhance specific efforts towards the success of HUBs and TSU and as the University continues to expand more opportunities will become available for HUBs and small business partnerships.

HUB certification is beneficial to minority businesses by crediting such business expenditures and the state of Texas. Ultimately, the City of Houston economically prospers from such joint ventures and TSU’s Historically Underutilized Businesses Program is the leading effort in support of minority owned or small businesses prosperity.

Procurement Services is located in Suite 333, Hannah Hall Building, 3100 Cleburne St., Houston, Texas 77004. The phone number to the main office is (713) 313-7195.

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Education

SK Innovation Serves the Community and Strengthens Ties in Houston

SK Innovation, South Korea's first and largest energy and petrochemical company, donates $50,000 to Rice University • The donation will go towards the university's prestigious Korean programs in the Center for Languages & Intercultural Communication which includes Korean cultural programs and scholarships • SK Innovations is delighted to show its continued support for cultural growth in the local community

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

S

K Innovation has donated $50,000 to Rice University in Houston, Texas to support its Korean programs in the Center for Languages & Intercultural Communication. The donation will also support a scholarship for the 'Rice-in-Korea' study-abroad program as well as Korean cultural programs at Rice University.

SK Innovation's management philosophy of "growing together with the local community" contributed directly to the company's decision to make a donation to the Korean Studies Program. Thanks to SK Innovation's contribution, Rice University will be able to solidify its Korean programs and raise understandings of the Korean language and culture on campus by sponsoring scholarships, diversifying Korean-related courses, and hosting campus-wide cultural activities.

On October 16 2017, Dongsoo Choi, president of SK Innovation's Exploration and Production (E&P) Business, and Taewon Kim, head of E&P North America Business Division, made the presentation to Y. Ping Sun, University Representative, and Lora Wildenthal, Interim Dean of Humanities.

"We are delighted to act upon SK Group's management philosophy of 'sharing happiness'. We hope that our donation enables cultivation of social values while helping the local scholarship program and enhancing awareness of Korea in the community," Mr. Choi said.

Rafael Salaberry, Director of CLIC at Rice University says that, "The Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication at Rice University is delighted to receive this generous gift from SK Innovation. With

this gift, we will continue to support students with limited financial means to participate in our Rice in Korea program. The generous support of SK Group will help many students at Rice have access to an educational opportunity that is quickly becoming a needed component of a well-rounded university education.

We are honored by the trust that SK Innovation has placed on us to help them continue to advance their vision of community engagement through our academic programs in Korean."

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,879 undergraduates and 2,861 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for quality of life and for lots of race/class interaction and No. 2 for happiest students by the Princeton Review.

Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

SK Innovation is the leading energy and petrochemical company engaged in various fields of business from petroleum production, refining, chemicals, lubricants, batteries to future energy. It is an affiliate of SK Group, which is the second largest business group in South Korea.

SK Innovation strives to share greater happiness in society by engaging in a range of philanthropic activities and makes social contributions in various fields including social enterprises, education, regional co-growth and the environment. It aims to make all members of society happy with the aim of becoming a company that improves the value of life through social contributions. In the past, SK Innovation, among others, made the following social contributions and donations.

• On May 25, SK Innovation employees volunteered at the Houston Food Bank in service for Houston's families in need.

• On June 6, SK Innovation donated a total of $50,000 to the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance (TRSA) program in Oklahoma. TRSA is a regional social contribution program supporting teachers and students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It is sponsored by the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) which is a private organization founded by oil and gas companies.

More information on SK Innovation is available at http://eng.skinnovation.com/main.asp.

About SK Innovation Established as South Korea's first oil refining company in 1962, SK Innovation engages in diverse areas of business, including exploration and production (E&P), batteries, and information and electronics materials. It owns SK energy, South Korea's number one refining company, SK global chemical, the leader in the domestic petrochemical industry, SK lubricants, a global lubricants company, SK Incheon petrochem, a refining and chemical company, and SK trading international, a trader of crude oils and petrochemicals. As part of their management system, SK Innovation pursues the maximization of happiness for all interested parties.

It is for this reason that SK Innovation recognizes the importance of and pays attention to social enterprise, a way to create social values through business.

SOURCE: http://eng.skinnovation.com/main.asp

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Fort Bend Services, Inc. Offers Superior Water and Wastewater Treatment

By Valerie Jones Editorial Consultant

w

ater and wastewater treatment is a necessary function for municipalities, food processing plants, commercial businesses, hospitals and oil refineries, to name a few. And it’s the livelihood and backbone of Fort Bend Services, Inc., a company that devotes itself to providing customers with water and wastewater treatment solutions.

With a history that dates back to 1981 when the company was established, Fort Bend Services, Inc. (FBS) started as a boiler and cooling tower treatment company that excelled in manufacturing industrial and residential water softeners. In 1989, the company expanded its

boiler and cooling tower business and added the water and wastewater treatment polymer and coagulant division. The company experienced considerable growth from 1989 to 1995 and in 2015, Rosemary Levens took over as CEO of the company, after the passing of former CEO Lyn Levens.

Today, FBS is a woman-owned business and one of the largest resellers of water and wastewater treatment polymers and coagulants in the United States.

“Our boiler and cooling tower division works with hospitals, office buildings, colleges and other large building structures to maintain their equipment and provide high quality water,” said David James, FBS’ vice president of sales. “Our water treatment chemicals are designed to make equipment work at the highest efficiency, saving our customers money.”

FBS currently staffs a diverse team of 32 employees and Tammy Faber, FBS’ vice president of operations, credits the team for the company’s rapid growth.

“Our employees make sure our customers get exceptional customer service. They work hard to develop water treatment plans that are economically better for our customers,” Faber said. “For instance, we test the water and find the polymer that is the most efficient to run their treatment plants. This means we may sell less of the product, but it improves our customers’ water treatment.”

Like most companies, FBS has a goal on expanding its customer base.

“We are trying to stabilize our position in the market and grow in every area we can. We want to leverage

“Being a cohesive team can be contributed to the diversity of our employee makeup ... the CEO, president and vice president of operations are all female. Our vice president of sales is a minority.

We believe this diversity is the strength of our company.”

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—Lanasa Moyer, FBS president

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our certification as a WomanOwned Business Enterprise (WBE)/Texas Historically Underutilized (HUB) Vendor to enter larger markets, such as selling to the City of Houston and other large municipalities and universities,” said FBS president Lanasa Moyer. “We are also working on certifications in other states to expand our reach into new places.

We want to use our knowledge, skills and abilities to help our customers more efficiently treat their water and wastewater. Our goal is to expand in every aspect of our operations.”

FBS also believes in taking care of its employees.

In a time in which insurance premiums are steadily rising, FBS still pays 100 percent of all of its employees medical and dental insurance for them as well as their families.

Moyer said being a woman-owned business – one of the few woman-owned companies in the industry, at that – allows the company global exposure and opportunities not available to most companies.

“Being a cohesive team can be contributed to the diversity of our employee makeup. Our board and senior management team are very diverse as well,” said Moyer. “The CEO, president and vice president of operations are all female. Our vice president of sales is a minority. We believe this diversity is the strength of our company.”

This summer’s hurricane season was especially brutal and the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey

and Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on businesses and operations in Texas, Florida and the Gulf Coast. But FBS’ devotion to its customers never waned.

“There were multiple plants that we service that were affected by both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma,” Faber said. “These storms affected the production plant of one of our major suppliers, limiting the ability to get product to our customers. Our saving grace was the different warehouses we have throughout the United States being stocked with inventory. None of our customers had to go without polymer for any extended period of time.”

Unmatched customer service is what FBS prides itself on. And it also believes in serving and supporting the community in which it operates. Based in the Houston metropolitan area of Stafford, Texas, FBS is expanding its outreach in the community and always

looking for ways to give back.

This has come in many forms: supporting its employees’ volunteer activities through donations to charitable causes such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Junior Achievement, employing students from the local high schools and becoming directly involved with organizations such as Duck’s Unlimited and the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA) Houston.

“Our goal is to grow our impact in the community around us while we grow our business,” said Faber.

No business is immune to challenges and obstacles.

FBS is no exception, but Faber insists it’s the people – the staff – that make all the difference.

“We compete with large companies on a daily basis.

We are successful because of our employees. They build relationships with our customers and our customers trust us,” she said. “We can ship within one- to- two days on almost all of our products. This makes a difference with our customers and improves their bottom line. There are ups and downs economically for every company, but each time we find better and more efficient ways to do things – because of our team. They are dedicated and creative. They love what they do and it shows in their dedication.”

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Energy

Aquilon Energy Services opens new office in Houston

Office in Esperson building will support firm's continued expansion in the city

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

A

quilon Energy Services recently opened a new, expanded office in the Esperson building in downtown Houston to support its ongoing growth in the city. Aquilon is the developer of the Energy Settlement Network®, the first collaborative, cloud-based platform to automate wholesale energy settlements.

"Houston is the energy capital of the world, and we expect much of our company's future expansion to happen in the city," said Jeffrey Wagner, founder and CEO of Aquilon Energy Services. "We are impressed with the talent we've hired in Texas and look forward to continuing to add to our strong team in Houston. This new space offers us room to grow as we help

more companies automate energy settlements with our Energy Settlement Network."

The ESN™ enables buyers and sellers to automatically identify exceptions and settle physical and financial energy transactions with their counterparties.

Earlier this year, Aquilon announced that it raised $19 million during a Series B financing round. This included investments from Citi, Goldman Sachs Principal Strategic Investments, Invenergy and Macquarie Group. In addition to investing, all four companies are joining the ESN. Aquilon's Houston office is located at 808 Travis Street, Suite 400. For more information about the Energy Settlement Network, visit www.aquiloninc. com or call 888-943-0340.

AboutAquilon AquilonEnergy About Energy Services Inc. Services Inc. Aquilon Energy Services Inc. develops innovative software and service solutions for the energy industry. The Aquilon team combines deep industry insights with advanced technology to bring reliable, collaborative solutions to the energy market. The firm's Energy Settlement Network (ESN™) enables energy participants of all sizes to manage, access and settle large volumes of power, oil and natural gas transactions with their counterparties. The company is based in Lisle, Illinois, and has an office in Houston. For more information, please visit www.aquiloninc.com.

SOURCE: http://www.aquiloninc.com

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#HoustonStrong

By Lea Bogle Contributing Writer

ouston, we’ve been through a lot over these past few months, it’s time we stop, just for a moment and breathe and take stock of where we are, what we have and the blessings that surround us. After that, now is a good time to take stock of what went well for you, your family and your business and what could have gone better. The questions at the end of your reflection that need to be answered are simply, what needs to happen so you are: • Better prepared • Better organized • Better protected Many of us weren’t directly impacted, meaning, we didn’t flood, we personally didn’t have a loss. All of us were impacted however, because if we weren’t hit we know someone who was, we know someone who lost their home, their business or both and we all rolled up our sleeves, in whatever way we could to help.

Some of the challenges that we as individuals and business owners faced, were: • Lack of insurance • Lack of documentation • Lack of a disaster recovery plan • Lack of coordinated communication

H

Insurance

My friends in the insurance industry tell me that there has been a significant increase in the number of individuals who have purchased flood insurance since Harvey. That’s great, but they also tell me that they haven’t seen an increase in businesses purchasing business continuity insurance coverage or flood insurance for their businesses. Both are extremely important. Business interruption insurance helps cover the loss of income that your business suffers after a disaster, due to being closed or rebuilding.

Many of those impacted realized after Harvey that they lacked much of the documentation needed for their coverage claims. They didn’t have receipts, they didn’t have pictures, they didn’t know when they purchased it and they began tossing stuff into the trash piles without taking QUALITY pictures of the damage and as a result, many people are struggling to get their claims settled.

Big business has a team dedicated to creating and implementing disaster recovery plans, but most small business owners don’t. We are busy in the day to day operations of our business, failing to plan for a real disaster, because let’s face it, we don’t think it will happen to us. Or if it does, we’ll figure it out along the way.

That can be a mistake, a costly mistake.

To make sure you are prepared in the future, here are some things that you can

do today to mitigate these challenges.

Set up a meeting with your insurance agent.

• Review your insurance coverage.

• Review the process for filing a claim, in detail.

• Ask what risks they see in your business.

• Ask how they can help you mitigate those risks.

• Purchase the coverage that best meets your needs.

Create a disaster recovery plan.

• Look at online software as a guide.

• Once complete, keep a copy online and print out a copy.

• Review your plan with your key personnel.

• Make sure everyone has a copy and knows how to access it online.

Create an online documentation repository.

• Google Drive is great for both collaboration and for document storage.

• Label all of your pictures and receipts.

• Save them in an organized fashion, by department, by room, or something so you can find

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them easily in the future.

Create a communications plan.

• Do your key employees have a vehicle charger or portable battery backup in case power is lost and they can’t charge their phones in their homes?

• If phone lines go down, do you have a group text set up?

• Consider using the app GroupMe for free and easy group text communication.

• Is there an expectation to check in daily even if the office is closed?

• How will they know when to return to work?

• Will employees be paid if the office is closed? Do your employees know the answer?

If you aren’t familiar with Google Drive, I strongly recommend that you look at it.

You have 15 GB of free storage and you can pay for more if you need it. For more robust collaboration and greater storage there are additional options that you can pay for. The best part of Google Drive in my opinion, is that you can read or edit your documents easily from any browser, anywhere and collaboration is easy, meaning you can share and edit some documents with one group of people and share other documents with another group of people and if you don’t want to share something, it can remain visible to only you.

For more information about Google Drive and the G-Suite of products feel free to call (281) 575-8500.

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Permit

From Site Selection to Tenant Build-Out: 5 Key Points to Obtain a Building Permit Fast

By Helen Callier Contributing Writer

T

exas continues to show a good demand in construction across markets in Dallas, Fort Worth; and farm land between Austin and San Antonio is being consumed quickly. This push along with Houston recovering from Hurricane Harvey is driving the increase in the number of building permits being pulled.

As Project Owners are eager to find a new location and build out their restaurant or retail or other space, it is important for them consider the building permitting process in the early phases to minimize any surprises in fees and zoning requirement.

Here keypoints pointstotomake make Hereare are five key surebuilding building permits sure permitsare arebeing being pulled in a timely manner. pulled in a timely manner.

1. Review detailed site analysis during selection phase: Brokers will typically provide project owners with three or more sites to evaluate that meet identified target market and demographics.

This is the ideal time to conduct zoning requirements research, review fees and

note any internal jurisdiction issues that might cause delays in obtaining a building permit and subsequently, impact starting construction on time.

2. Plan for permit during project scoping phase: This phase allows project owners to ask specific questions if certain design aspects will be building codes and if will create any issues. Also, this is a good time to have a pre-meeting with city plan reviewers to obtain input on what is in compliance and what would be a problem. This step alone will save a significant amount of time and money.

3. Check with architect and contractor about building permit and any expected delays: What you do not know in the early stage about your design and tenant build-out project will cost you. It is a lower cost to catch any compliance-related issues before plans are submitted to city permitting. Once submitted and plans do not meet build-

ing codes then the volley game with rejections begins and you can expect delays in obtaining your permit. The Key: Communicate on a regular basis with your contractor and architect.

4. Confirm contractor and engaged trades are certified and professionalminded: There has been a rising trend of a contractor on small-to-medium sized jobs (up to $10 million) where a project owner attempted to close out the job and call for final inspection or attempt to obtain certificate of occupancy and was shocked to find that their contractor did not pull a permit. Depending on the amount of historical records available on the building, this scenario can cost thousands of additional dollars, including loss time to obtain a building permit, call for an inspection and then a certificate of occupancy (C.O.) Note to the wise: If it is a commercial project, make sure your contractors are certified

and are professionals in their craft.

5. Respond to rejections: Plan reviewers are your friends and are doing their jobs to ensure the safety of structures and the safety of the people using buildings you are constructing. We have often witnessed various persons meeting with city reviewers or inspectors become testy and instead of moving the process forward with their permit, rejections are pushed back upon and not responded to. Failure to respond to rejections is one of the sure-fire ways to delay obtaining your building permit. The Key: Respond to and respect the plan reviewers and inspectors.

As you are eager to grow your business footprint by expanding to new locations, keep in mind the earlier you get started, the more time and money you save. You can also engage permit expediters like Permit Us Now that have established relationships with jurisdictions across the state and have intimate knowledge with building codes. Permit expediters are a proven and valuable resource.

In conclusion: Do you have any tips on obtaining building permits fast?

I’d love to hear them. Connect with me @PermitUsNow on Facebook.

Build safe.

Help Us Shine.

CenterPoint Energy values its diverse suppliers.

Our suppliers include minority-owned and women-owned businesses, as well as small businesses.

We choose diverse suppliers for their capability, safety, innovation, agility and competitive pricing.

In turn, our suppliers create positive economic impact throughout the communities we serve.

Mutually beneficial relationships and forward-thinking approaches offered by quality, diverse suppliers are integral to CenterPoint Energy’s vision to lead the nation in delivering energy, service and value. This is why we welcome and are committed to including diverse suppliers in competitive bid opportunities. Our beacon shines brightly as we guide diverse suppliers to the shores of business opportunity. Learn more at CenterPointEnergy.com/SupplierDiversity.

Over a Century of Trusted Service ©2017 CenterPoint Energy 174168

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Petrochemical

ExxonMobil Begins Production on New Polyethylene Line at Mont Belvieu Plastics Plant

By Subcontractors USA News Provider • First of two 650,000 tons-per-year polyethylene lines starts production • Project is a component of ExxonMobil’s $20 billion Growing the Gulf expansion initiative • First polyethylene shipment to be exported from the Port of Houston later this month

L

he investments we’re making through our Growing the Gulf initiative will not only expand our existing manufacturing and export capacity, but will further stimulate local economic growth and create thousands of full-time jobs."

ExxonMobil Chemical Company announced today that it has commenced production on the first of two new 650,000 tons-per-year high-performance polyethylene lines at its plastics plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas.

The full project, part of the company’s multi-billion dollar expansion project in the Baytown area and ExxonMobil’s broader Growing the Gulf expansion initiative, will increase the plant’s polyethylene capacity by approximately 1.3 million tons per year.

The Mont Belvieu plant capacity will total more than 2.5 million tons per year, making it one of the largest polyethylene plants in the world. These performance polyethylene products will deliver significant sustainability benefits enabling lighter weight higher performance pack-

aging, lower energy consumption and reduced emissions.

A significant portion of Mont Belvieu polyethylene will be exported from the Port of Houston later this month.

At peak, the site will ship more than 200 containers a day.

“The expansion of our Mont Belvieu facility further enhances our ability to meet growing global demand for high-performance polyethylene products around the world,” said Neil Chapman, president of ExxonMobil Chemical Company. “The investments we’re making through our Growing the Gulf initiative will not only expand our existing manufacturing and export capacity, but will further stimulate local economic growth and create thousands of full-time jobs.”

ExxonMobil is planning to invest more than $20 billion over 10 years to build and expand manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Gulf region. These projects are expected to create more than 45,000 jobs, including more than 12,000 full-time jobs. The expansion covers 11 major chemical, refining, lubricant and liquefied natural gas projects along the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

AboutExxonMobil ExxonMobilChemical ChemicalCompany Company About ExxonMobil Chemical Company is one of the largest petrochemical companies worldwide. The company holds leadership positions in some of the largest-volume and highest-growth commodity petrochemical products in the world. ExxonMobil Chemical Company has manufacturing capacity in every major region of the world, serving large and growing markets. More than 90 percent of the Company’s

chemical capacity is integrated with large refineries or natural gas processing plants. To learn more, visit www.exxonmobilchemical.com.

AboutExxonMobil ExxonMobilBaytown BaytownArea Area About ExxonMobil’s Baytown area is the largest integrated petrochemical complex in the U.S. and is one of the most technologically advanced refining and petrochemical complexes in the world. Founded in 1919, the complex is located on approximately 3,400 acres along the Houston Ship Channel, about 25 miles east of Houston.

The facility includes a refinery, chemical plant, olefins plant, plastics plant and a global technology center.

Cautionary Statement: Statements of future events or conditions in this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results, including project plans, schedules, costs and capacities, demand growth, efficiency gains and economic impacts, could differ materially due to factors such as changes in prices of oil, gas, or petrochemicals and other market factors affecting the chemical industry and the supply and demand for our products; the occurrence and duration of economic recessions; timely completion of construction projects and unforeseen technical or operating difficulties; legal or regulatory events; the actions of competitors; and other factors discussed under the heading Factors Affecting Future Results on the Investors page of our website at exxonmobil.com.

Source: exxonmobilchemical.com

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In the Subcontractors USA Community...

To View More Photos, Visit Our Website www.subcusa.com and Click on ‘Photo Gallery.’

University of Houston Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program 80’s Event University of Houston Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Construction Fair

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transportation

WSP USA to join Texas Bullet Train team

WSP has a long history in Texas, including recent infrastructure projects in Dallas, Houston “WSP’s expertise in major infrastructure projects and our team of seasoned professionals position us well to ramp up quickly in support of the Texas Bullet Train. This is a transformational project and we are proud to be part of the project team.”

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

exas Central announced today that WSP USA is joining the Bullet Train team to provide engineering support as the project moves ahead in its pre-construction phase.

Texas Central, developers of the high-speed passenger train between North Texas and Houston, cited WSP’s award-winning experience in designing infrastructure projects and said its work will focus on engineering, cost estimating and scheduling.

WSP USA, formerly known as WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, is a leading engineering and professional services consultancy whose history in Texas dates back more than a hundred years.

The announcement reflects the continued progress of the high-speed train, coming just weeks after Texas Central selected Fluor Enterprises and The Lane Construction Corporation to perform pre-construction planning in which WSP will provide engineering services.

The project continues to announce world-class participants as it brings the best talent on board, building toward the expected 10,000 direct jobs each year during construction in Texas.

“We are excited to partner with WSP, a

— Joseph Pulicare, president of transportation & infrastructure for WSP USA

company that has been involved in many iconic transportation projects around the world. This further demonstrates the attention the Texas Bullet Train has received from world-class firms with such scale and experience.”

— Texas Central CEO Carlos Aguilar

The multibillion-dollar project is a 240-mile line that will connect North Texas and Houston in 90 minutes, with a midway stop in the Brazos Valley. The investor-owned project, which is not taking federal or state grants for its construction or operations, is bringing in partners familiar with Texas, creating jobs and opportunities here.

The firm already staffed dozens of full-time personnel on the project to assist Fluor and Lane.

WSP has been a part of numerous high-speed rail projects around the world, including Taiwan, California, China, the United Kingdom and, most recently, a high-speed rail system that will connect Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Its history in Texas dates to 1886, when William Barclay Parsons served as chief engineer of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railroad. He co-founded the firm that became Parsons Brinckerhoff, one of the largest American civil engineering firms.

It has maintained a continuous presence in Texas since the 1960s. More recently, it has contributed to reconstruction of Houston’s IH-10 Katy Freeway; the Dallas-Fort Worth Connector in Grapevine, Southlake and Irving; and the Dallas Horseshoe project improving traffic flow through the heart of downtown Dallas.

Source: texascentral.com

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