TDSpirit Issue 29 - Summer Summer 2011 2011
TDIndustries
UTSW Hospital Project A Boon for the Community
TDSpirit A publication of Seis Grados de Inspiración
Letter from CEO Harold MacDowell Six Degrees of Inspiration
In reviewing this edition of TDSpirit, I am reminded that the inspiration for meaningful innovations comes from the teamwork we live each day. As closely as we are all related, so too are the innovations that move our company and industry forward. In an ever-competitive world, each of us is continuously striving to add value to our customers and one another. Good ideas come from everywhere, and you’ll read about plenty of innovations—big and small—that are increasing safety, reducing costs, improving energy efficiency, and boosting quality. This issue’s articles, the meaningful innovations, and mostly the TDPartners and Customers behind them are an inspiration to me and I hope to you as well. From our new safety gear vending machines to our work for Samsung, Texas Children’s Hospital, and many more clients, our intentional, everyday innovation makes our lives, our jobs, our teams, and our projects/services better. I’m so proud that new ideas, improvements, and possibilities become realities every day at TD. Like our water control boxes. These onsite boxes are a simple, handy solution that gets called into action when any trade has an unplanned water discharge. They also increase safety protection while avoiding significant costs and delays. Or our Mentally Install Systems On Paper (MISOP) solution that came from our Houston team. The MISOP process helps us to build it once in the planning room, then build it on the job for real. It helps us ensure quality and on-time delivery. Our shared value and dedication to one another and to our customers create the powerful engine that propels our innovation. It shows up each day in the attentive, professional approach we take to encouraging the best from one another. It happens on the job, in the halls, from the newest to the longest-term TDPartners and Customers. This is no accident, I am sure. It is the direct result of our daily focus on adding value to others. And that, I have come to know, is the truest form of innovation.
Al revisar esta edición de TDSpirit, me viene a la mente que la inspiración para la innovación significativa proviene del trabajo en equipo que vivimos cada día. En la medida en que todos estamos relacionados, también lo están las innovaciones que mueven a nuestra compañía e industria hacia adelante. En un mundo cada vez más competitivo, cada uno de nosotros está continuamente tratando de agregar valor a nuestros clientes y mutuamente. Las buenas ideas vienen de todas partes y leerá acerca de muchas innovaciones, grandes y pequeñas, que están fortaleciendo la seguridad, reduciendo los costos, mejorando la eficiencia energética y aumentando la calidad. Los artículos de esta edición, las innovaciones significativas, y, sobre todo, los TDPartners y clientes detrás de ellos, son una inspiración para mí y espero que lo sean para usted también. Desde nuestras nuevas máquinas expendedoras de equipo de seguridad hasta nuestro trabajo para muchos clientes como Samsung, Hospital Infantil de Texas y muchos más, nuestra voluntad de innovación diaria hace que nuestras vidas, nuestros trabajos, nuestros equipos y nuestros proyectos y servicios sean mejores. Estoy muy orgulloso de que las ideas nuevas, las mejoras, y las posibilidades se convierten en realidad todos los días en TD. Como nuestras cajas de control de agua. Estas cajas, ubicadas en la planta, son una solución sencilla y práctica que entran en acción al aumentar la protección de la seguridad a la vez que evitan costos y retrasos significativos cuando alguna operación emite una descarga de agua no planificada. O nuestra solución MISOP que vino de nuestro equipo en Houston. Este proceso de Sistemas mentalmente instalados en el papel nos ayuda a construir una vez en la sala de planificación y luego construir de verdad en el trabajo. Nos ayuda a asegurar la calidad y la entrega a tiempo. Nuestros valores compartidos, la dedicación mutua y a nuestros clientes, crean el poderoso motor que impulsa nuestra innovación. Se muestra cada día en el enfoque atento y profesional que adoptamos para estimular lo mejor que tenemos todos. Esto ocurre en el trabajo, en los pasillos, desde los TDPartners y clientes más recientes hasta los más antiguos. Estoy seguro de que esto no es casualidad. Es el resultado directo de enfocarnos diariamente en agregar valor a los demás. Y eso, he llegado a saber, es la forma más genuina de la innovación.
TDIndustries is changing the face of mechanical construction and facilities services through lifecycle innovations.
Austin
2701 Gattis School Road Building “A”‚ Suite 101 Round Rock‚ TX 78664 512-310-5052
Dallas
13850 Diplomat Drive Dallas‚ TX 75234 972-888-9500
Fort Worth
5700 Stratum Drive Fort Worth, TX 76137 817-590-9360
Houston
8801 Jameel Road, Suite 100 Houston‚ TX 77040 713-939-1986
Phoenix
1702 W. 3rd Street Tempe, AZ 85281 480-449-7690
San Antonio
12700 O’Connor Road San Antonio‚ TX 78233 210-564-6065
Please report any change of address, contact name, or additions by calling Matthew Stephenson at 972-888-9348 or by email: matthew.stephenson@tdindustries.com. We want to thank the Partners of TDIndustries who contributed to this issue of TDSpirit.
From left to right: Ed White, George Athens, Robert Stinger, Bill Jordan, and Dave Jordan
TDIndustries’ Merger with JBS
Energizes Phoenix Market PHOENIX
Sept. 1, 2011, marks the one-year anniversary of TDIndustries’ merger with Phoenix-based JBS Mechanical. So how are things going? “We never imagined we’d have this much success in such a hard-hit real estate market, but our newly combined team is a true bright spot in this still-bruised economy,” said George Athens, Vice President of TDIndustries in Phoenix. The results so far tell the tale. Since the merger, TDIndustries’ business in the Phoenix market has more than doubled. That means TD is on pace to meet its goal of becoming the biggest service provider in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. “People no longer laugh when I reveal our ambitions,” Athens joked.
More Services — With Speed
Now that the firms have joined forces, TD can offer clients an array of services, including some, such as plumbing and energy-related services, that JBS could not previously support. “The plumbing business took off like a rocket ship,” Athens said, noting that the skills of the combined workforce are very complementary. “We now provide clients with one-stop shopping,” Athens said. “Not only can we fix our customers’ air conditioning and plumbing, we can also take a look at the building to see if it’s operating efficiently. A lot of companies can’t do that.”
This bolstered capacity means that TD can do more building retrofits, take on larger and larger projects, and become a player in the marketplace. “Projects are bigger, the level of performance is higher, and the service is better,” Athens said. Speed is another key differentiator for TD in the Phoenixarea HVAC contractor market. “We never put our customers off to the next day if we can take care of them right away,” said Robert Stinger. Stinger is the former president of JBS and remains at TDIndustries as a senior sales executive. “It’s what I tell everyone: Be prepared to walk at a fast pace.” Technicians, for instance, do not go home until all requests are off the board. This level of support, horsepower, and reliability has been appreciated by the JBS customers TD acquired. “That’s the way we roll,” Stinger said.
Looking Ahead
At the one-year mark of the merger with JBS, there’s an excitement for what lies ahead. “There’s a buzz about TD in the area,” Athens said. “Now people want to come to work here and we’re able to find great people. We feel very fortunate.”
TDIndustries’
UTSW Hospital Project A Boon for the Community
“This is a world-class healthcare facility that will serve our community for generations to come.” Mike Gresham, TD Senior Project Manager
DALLAS
TDIndustries’ partnership with Hunt Construction earns prestigious job TDIndustries’ Senior Project Manager Mike Gresham has a succinct answer to the question of why the new University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) is so valuable. “This is a world class healthcare facility that will serve our community for generations to come,” Gresham said. “And this is a very high–profile customer we are grateful to serve.” Construction on the 438–bed, 1.2 million–gross–square– foot UTSW facility started in June with the drilling of the first piers, and the hospital is on track to be completed for the scheduled early 2015 opening. TD is responsible for building and installing the facility’s total mechanical solution — plumbing, medical gas, and HVAC systems. The general contractor on the project, Hunt Construction Group, has collaborated with TD on many projects over four decades of work together, including constructing hotels, office buildings, and, of note, the Phoenix Cardinals’ NFL football stadium. “The companies have formed a high degree of trust,” said TD Executive Vice President Ed Reeve. “So when Hunt invited TD to bid on the UTSW project, the TD team jumped at the chance. The team put together a powerful proposal and earned this prestigious job.”
Providing Turn–Key Solutions
With knowledge in all areas of construction — design, building, and installation — TD plans to be a full partner to Hunt at every step during the large, complex UTSW project. TD is leveraging its particular expertise related to healthcare facility construction and an array of other tools to advance construction. For instance, the TD Engineering and Coordination teams utilize Building Information Modeling (BIM) to reduce errors in the planning process, protect the budget, and keep everyone on schedule. TD is also assisting in the design phase, providing a unique asset to the prime contractor’s consulting engineers, Gresham said. Hunt called on TD’s experts to consult with the UTSW project architect, engineer, owner, and general contractor to make critical system design decisions and devise key installation details. For example, the TD team suggested an operating room module that deploys a prefabricated laminar flow air–diffuser system that was not in the original specs. “We think that will be very beneficial to their operating rooms,” Reeve said. “We took that to the general contractor, and they are considering that for this project.”
Taking Prefab To New Levels
“TD’s multi–trade, prefabrication approach is another key differentiator,” said Brent Smith, a TD senior project manager. “That’s where we think we became the most innovative,” he said, “by thinking creatively about ways to expedite our field force.”
TD is working with other subcontractors to pre–design and pre–assemble systems off site. “The fact that the various project players are open to this method is a milestone event in itself,” Reeve added. “The benefits of that are improved quality, improved timing of the schedule, and, possibly, cost reduction,” Reeve said. “It will also result, longer term, in a higher quality, tier–one hospital for the Dallas community.”
Key Contributions
Reeve, Smith, and Gresham saluted the following members of the TD team who made important contributions to the UTSW project: Harold MacDowell, CEO, TDIndustries Rod Johannsen, President, North Texas Construction Dave Youden, Senior Vice President, Major Projects (Dallas) Kathy Brooks, Executive Assistant to Ed Reeve Steve Canter, Chief Technology Officer Steven Grady, Manufacturing Manager Larry Randolph, Coordination Manager Drew Yaggy, Professional Engineer, Pre-construction Services Leonard Gill, Assistant Project Manager Brandon Gillett, Pre-construction Services Estimator David Perdue, Senior Superintendent
PRE-FAB CORNER
A 6-inch grooved copper pressure regulating valve station for the Deloitte University project. This prefab, installed in area F in the basement, helps supply water to the main building.
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TD Goes
All in With Microchip Maker SAMSUNG
AUSTIN
TDIndustries’ partnership with Samsung is a window into the work of TD Technology The TD Technology team provides mechanical construction and services to the semiconductor, research and development, and microelectronics manufacturing sector. Just don’t call them “the computer guys.” “A lot of people hear ‘technology,’ and they think we’re a bunch of IT guys,” said TD Technology Business Development Manager Keith Smith. “But that’s not quite right.” Instead, the team builds and services the highly specialized facilities that produce microchips — the tiny circuits that give computers their processing power and memory. These facilities require particular process piping, high-purity systems, and process exhaust to handle the manufacturing process where chips are embedded with circuitry within the fabrication cleanroom. TD’s 30-year history with the Dallas-area tech industry, including Texas Instruments, has positioned it to serve the specific requirements of this dynamic sector. “As information technology grew up, we built on TD’s roots in commercial piping, plumbing, and air conditioning by applying new disciplines to the sector’s needs for more specialized environments,” Smith said. “And that’s how TD Technology was born.”
Help Wanted: Sophisticated Partner to Build Microchip Plant
In 2007, TD’s Technology Team, led by Jason Cinek, caught the eye of Samsung Austin Semiconductor (SAS). SAS is a division of Korea-based Samsung, the leading global electronics company. The firm was in the middle of constructing North America’s largest microchip fabrication facility — it would become Samsung’s first in the United States producing 300mm wafer technology — even as it was ramping up production at another Austin facility. With work firing on all cylinders, SAS sought an experienced provider to support the critical tool hookups. TD Technology fit the bill, and the Partnership took off from there. With the completion of FAB2 in 2008, the demand for tool hookup services resulted in growth from nine core Partners to a workforce of 55, installing over 125 tools in 10 months. Upon completion of this project through late 2009, Samsung entered a sustaining position on site but continued to call on TDIndustries as one of its key suppliers for maintenance requests, tool relocations, and impromptu capacity upgrades. In 2010, the semiconductor market began to emerge, and TD became engaged in a series of bubble ramps through most of the year.
Living the Client’s Issues
Today, TD Project Manager Jason Fee leads a team of roughly 55 TD Technology workers who are embedded at SAS in Austin, working on microchip tool installations and overall plant maintenance.
TD Technology’s agility, skills in planning and scheduling, and overall endurance support an industry moving at lightning speed. “The changing environment is the only constant,” Smith said. “Being able to live the issue with the customer and respond to whatever it needs is critical.”
Running Rings Around ‘Saturn Ramp’
These qualities were put to the test during Samsung’s “Saturn Ramp” project — an installation of more than 550 main tools and 10,000 pieces of equipment in five months. “The project schedule was extremely demanding,” Fee said. It called for 1,700 contractors to be on site installing tools day and night, which meant that TD Partners had to provide 24/7 supervision. Yet TD knew quality and safety would be compromised if Partners were driven too hard; accordingly, an overall limit of six-day, 60-hour work weeks was set. “We felt we could meet the client’s critical schedule and complex scope of work without undermining our need to protect our people and maintain quality,” he said. The project was a success. TD Partners provided the largest TD workforce ever deployed to Samsung, ramping up to 62 Partners and technicians who worked 60,000 hours from November to April. “Our safety record on that effort and overall has been nearly impeccable,” said TD Superintendent Shawn Ramsey. There have been no safety incidents this year — something that’s almost unheard of — and just one incident over TD’s four years of work with SAS.
A Collaborative Effort
Fee believes that this safety record, and the success of the SAS effort in general, is a testament not only to TD’s special expertise, but to TD’s team culture and the strong alliance with the Samsung team. “Everybody looks out for each other, but we also hold each other accountable,” Fee said. “That we completed this project on schedule without compromising personal safety or delaying production shows that our processes are working.” From 2007 to present, TD has completed more than 358 individual projects and worked nearly 270,000 hours across 400,000 square feet of facility space in Austin. One of largest contributors to the success and Partnership with SAS has been the “family” atmosphere across the TD/ SAS team. Through the years, softball teams, bowling leagues, flag football sessions, and weekly barbecues have been the foundation for forming lifelong relationships. “Over my 11 years with TD, I’ve never seen a team with such camaraderie,” Smith said. “Everyone on the SAS project gets along well with each other — and they actually hang out after work. I think that’s a critical part of our success.”
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TDSpirit
Project Gallery Summer 2011
Texas Children’s Hospital – Houston, Texas
Texas Children’s Hospital – Houston, Texas HOUSTON
Hi-Tech Hospital Wing Advances Houston-Area Pediatrics
When TDIndustries started a new wing for Texas Children’s Hospital, a world-renowned leader in pediatrics care, TD knew it was part of something extra special. The 515,007-square-foot facility is the first community hospital built exclusively for children. It uses innovative technology and features a unique design to promote patient well-being, complete with a children’s play area on every floor. The wing has the area’s only 24/7 pediatric emergency room, two operating rooms, 48 patient beds, labs, and a pharmacy, all fitted with advanced medical technology and equipment. TD accepted the challenge of constructing the wing’s complex mechanical systems while meeting the strict, 2.5 year completion deadline.
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TD’s leading edge in the healthcare industry gave the client confidence in the TD team, including Vice President Randee Herrin, Senior Project Manager Mike Gresham, Project Manager Chris West, Superintendent Pete Ybarra, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) Coordinator Glen Krahn. TD identified efficiencies by relying on its pioneering use of the BIM three-dimensional modeling tool to reduce pre-construction phase errors, which preserved costs and time. The TD-proprietary Mentally Install Systems On Paper (MISOP) process also was instrumental to the accurate and efficient planning of the hospital. Other technologies played key roles as well. It was Trimble technology, a precision tool to locate underground plumbing and other components, that fed the team’s need for speed. “Trimble allowed us to set sleeves through the slabs for pipe and duct penetrations,” Gresham said. “This alone more than tripled the number of sleeves we could set in one day.” Under the leadership of Tellepsen Builders, the wing was completed on time and on budget. Soon after opening its doors the following spring, the hospital made history by becoming the first pediatric hospital in the United States to successfully implant an artificial heart into the chest of a 17-year-old patient. “Healthcare professionals are now providing the best services and cutting-edge care to many more young people,” Gresham said. “And that’s a major reward.” PHOENIX
Premier Facility Rises At Phoenix’s Grand Canyon University
When Grand Canyon University wanted a venue capable of hosting diverse entertainment and sporting events, TDIndustries’ team in Phoenix rose to the occasion with the construction of a superior facility that included building automation. Construction of the new 140,000-squarefoot facility guided by Perini Building Company Project Executive Tony Meyer and Superintendents Neil Baker and Mike Janowski began July 2010 and will be completed on schedule and on budget, by summer’s end.
That’s in time for the venue’s first official use: a fall performance of “Disney on Ice.” The event presented TD with timing and technical challenges involving the installation of chillers, air handlers, fan coil units, and other equipment. To accommodate vivid pyrotechnics during performances, TD installed two Temtrol manufactured 16-fan wall arrays, which work in concert to evacuate smoke. TDIndustries and Climatec furnished equipment and a design to meet smoke evacuation requirements and acceptable sound levels. “This is a first-class facility serving both the university and the community,” said Project Manager Tom Thomas. Thomas and Production Manager Doug Wallace coordinated with TD’s Building Systems Integration (BSI) group, led by Rob Chrisler, Jim Heiser, and Eric Zawislak. The BSI group worked with Arizona Control Specialists Bill Truett, Principal, and Project Manager Tom Horan to design and implement a Tridium Integration system supported by Delta Controls. The goal is to eventually integrate all aspects of the building control system to include lighting, fire safety, and other building functions.
University of Texas at Arlington
Grand Canyon Event Center – Phoenix, Arizona
“That system installation allowed TD’s BSI group to show off its skills in the Phoenix market,” Thomas said. The team used a number of processes to manage the project, including the Mentally Install Systems on Paper (MISOP) checklist and Building Information Modeling (BIM), led by Coordinator Bill Wright. And because the team was able to prefabricate a number of plumbing and piping components at TD’s shop, customized installations could be done in real time, avoiding any delays. Others contributing to the project’s success were Corky Pond of Climatec, Dave Dorich of Ferguson Enterprises, and Austin Condon of Norman S. Wright. ARLINGTON
A Leaner, Greener University of Texas At Arlington
TD’s Energy Solutions Group beat out a number of major competitors in the bid to make the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) campus leaner and greener. Already an energy conservation leader within the University of Texas system, a TDIndustries energy and infrastructure audit found that UTA could further
reduce its energy costs by replacing two 3,000-ton R22 chillers, making other utility-saving upgrades, and comprehensively managing energy use. The multifaceted infrastructure improvement project, launched early this year, and on track for a Dec. 31, 2011, completion, is served by Dan Edwards, along with Fort Worth Office Team Leader Aaron Rice and Field Superintendant Steve Post. In addition to relying on TD’s Mentally Install Systems on Paper (MISOP) checklist and Lean planning process, Rice’s team coordinates weekly meetings with UTA Associate Director Larry Harrison and other university officials, TD representatives, and subcontractors to facilitate communications and head off any project roadblocks. The project involves an assessment, implementation, and continuous commissioning of thermal energy plant operations and an HVAC system build; retrofits of existing VAV boxes; installation of AHU high-efficiency motor upgrades; and a replacement of thermal energy plant chillers and a building roof upgrade. Domestic hot water pumps are being replaced and thermal energy plant cooling tower fan motor VFDs are being upgraded. TD’s utiliVisor® solution, a continuous commissioning tool, is ensuring that the Central Utility Plant is operating at optimal efficiency by collecting data and conducting analyses of key facility indicators. utiliVisor® is also being used for measurement and verification of the thermal energy plant. In addition, TD provided in-house engineering support for chiller, VAV, and AHU installation design documents located in the UTA thermal energy plant and University Hall. “With these high-efficiency upgrades, TDIndustries has guaranteed long-term energy savings to UTA,” said Rice. “These improvements will not only help the university meet state energy goals, they will free up precious dollars for educational programming.”
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Lackland Air Force Base
DALLAS / FORT WORTH
AUSTIN
Legoland Takes Shape In Dallas-Fort Worth
Putting A New Shine On Apple’s Austin Offices
Building a new Legoland theme park from the ground up wasn’t exactly a snap given the challenges: a tight deadline, potential surprises during the demolition and underground phases, and the need to coordinate with European concept designers working to bring the park to life for children. That’s why the TDIndustries team — Project Manager Logan Harper; Superintendents Jeremy Kieschnick and Mark Jones; Plumbing Foreman Luke Perry; Sheet Metal Foreman Curtis Jewell; and Startup and Service Technicians Todd Setford, Alex Jones, Ki Bartlett, and Rowan Small — took a proactive approach to handling any complications.
Lecgoland Discovery Center Grapevine, Texas
Apple Corporate Office - Austin
10
The team’s staffing and system decisions meant that an adequate crew was in place early to knock out the initial tasks, including gutting a portion of the Grapevine Mills Mall, where the park is situated. As site conditions were revealed, TD Partners were ready to revise and change as circumstances dictated. Maintaining constant communication with the general contractor and the lot owner’s representatives also helped keep the office and field staff on the same page. “A light Building Information Modeling (BIM) process was used to coordinate the mechanical systems and the electrical details and uncover conflicts at the outset,” Harper said. “This ensured that everyone’s eyes were open when the work began.” The job was TD’s first for General Contractor SuffolkROEL Construction, which helped build other Merlin Entertainment theme parks on the West Coast. TD worked with Suffolk-ROEL’s Project Managers Chris Heese and Jano Montoya and Superintendents Kevin Flynn and Robert Kay, along with Merlin Entertainment Project Manager Jon Whitehead. The venue, which opened on time in the spring, has interactive displays, rides, and a 4-D movie theater. New bathrooms and duct work were installed to serve the exhibit and interactive areas. “Now that Legoland is a reality, children of all ages can go there to let their imaginations run wild,” said Harper.
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With Apple’s penchant for sharp design and seamless integration, we were flattered when the company chose TDIndustries to remodel the technology firm’s downtown Austin offices. TD’s command of the LEED certification process for existing buildings, in addition to the company’s expertise in HVAC and plumbing, assured Apple executives that this fast-track design-build project could be executed with finesse. “Apple needed a firm that could coordinate the project and begin building and installing parts rapidly,” said Senior Project Manager Ronnie Swingler, who headed up a team that included DPR Senior Project Manager Scott Sass, DPR Project Manager Jason Hauck, DPR Superintendent Tim Shannon, TD HVAC Foreman David Fowler, TD Plumbing Foreman Lance Burnett, and TD Superintendent JR Rushing. “It was a good fit for our capabilities, and just the kind of challenge that gets us excited.” TD’s LEED experience helped overcome one potential snag by spotting that the windows of an existing building wouldn’t meet LEED requirements. Other tactics kept the project on track, including the use of TD’s Mentally Install Systems on Paper (MISOP) checklist repeatedly throughout the project, as well as the crafting of all drawings using Building Information Modeling (BIM). The work began in August 2010 and finished five months later. The project was on time and just as Apple envisioned. It involved new office areas with rooftop VAV systems; server, break, and rest rooms; a new roof; and new insulation. TD installed LEED-certified windows and used chilled-water fan coils and air handlers for the server room along with in-row cooling units. Bill Harris and Melissa Woolsey of HMG Engineering provided the design. The result is a greener workspace for Apple employees and a LEED-certified addition to Austin’s lively downtown. “We hope the space helps the city attract more employers and create more jobs,” said Swingler. LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE – SAN ANTONIO, TX
Perfect Marks For US Air Force Intelligence Operations Facility
Delivering a new facility to a federal client with zero punch-list items may seem impossible, but that’s exactly what TDIndustries provided to the US Air Force early this year. At the start of the project in April 2010, few would have predicted such a seamless result for the job — a USAF intelligence operations facility with four data rooms, offices, and conference areas. With a fixed January 2011 deadline looming, the facility’s construction was months behind schedule and stuck in neutral, but TD’s adept planning and superior quality control management got the project back on track and headed toward the finish line. To gain ground on the timeline, the TD team — Project Manager Justin Beard, Superintendent Jesse Hernandez, Plumbing Foreman Harley Burchard, Sheet Metal Foreman Arturo Castillo, and Piping Foreman Ricardo Mendoza — rapidly installed the HVAC and plumbing systems. Soon enough, the team was ahead of schedule.
TD’s federal expertise surely helped navigate the technical issues, but use of the Mentally Install Systems on Paper checklist and Lean coordination process also contributed to the project’s success. The completed facility — fed by two 120-ton air-cooled chillers supplying chilled water to nine CRAC units and two variable air-volume airhandling units — was handed over early and under budget to the USAF, which deemed it 100 percent done. “The fact that there were no punch-list items for TDIndustries is an incredible accomplishment on a federal project where the building design and end-user demands are constantly changing,” said Beard, whose team worked with TolTest. “We’re proud that we were able to make the customer so happy.”
Houston Community College – Houston, Texas HOUSTON
Educating and Training the Leaders of Tomorrow
TD is just a few months into a five-year Facility Operations and Maintenance engagement and already the
feedback from Houston Community College (HCC) is positive. That is no doubt because HCC Project Manager Ben Castillo and Operations Manager Gerad Moers are already taking steps to ensure that maintenance needs are tracked across the blend of old and new buildings and systems that pose unique challenges. TD provides HCC with full-time facilities mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services on site, as well as Building Automation, Security, Fire Life Safety, Emergency Generator, and Elevator services. Every year, more than 76,000 students attend HCC, which consists of 68 buildings occupying five million square feet throughout the Houston area. “We are getting the Computerized Maintenance Management System [CMMS] online to identify equipment, develop appropriate preventative maintenance tasking schedules, and check the progress on work being done,” Castillo said. “The CMMS ensures that we don’t miss anything on a project this large. The system also ensures that all repairs are scheduled according to priority and not only done, but done well.” Castillo is developing Key Performance Indicators to measure the success of the preventative maintenance plan, which will result in reduced system failures. Castillo, who is supported on the contract by Gerad Moers and Zone Managers Bert Lisle, Dennis Eveslage, Andy Luna, Joe Frazier, and Robert Buess, is excited about what the future holds for TD and HCC. “This project is off to a great start,” Castillo said, “and we look forward to many years of service to HCC’s students, faculty and administrators.”
Outstanding Campaign Growth by Industry Award United Way Salutes TD Partners’ Generosity We’ve long known that the Partners of TDIndustries are a generous bunch, but the United Way has let our secret out to a wider audience by honoring us with its Outstanding Campaign Growth by Industry (Construction/Architecture/Real Estate) award. It’s a tribute to all the TD Partners who give a portion of their paychecks to help the Dallas-area United Way support nonprofit programming in education, health, and income assistance for struggling families. The award also highlights a common cause with the United Way to build a better future for the entire Dallas community.
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TD GIVES BACK
PEOPLE
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ServiceLINK
™
Online Portal
DALLAS
TDIndustries’ newest innovation, the ServiceLINK Online Portal, is already a hit with customers, who are using it to track service calls in real time and save precious resources. “I would recommend this system to anyone who is interested in controlling costs, monitoring work, and planning ahead,” said David P. Talbert, Director of Facilities and Operations for the Lake Dallas Independent School District, a TD customer. “I love this system.” The ServiceLINK Online Portal, rolled out in February, allows TD customers to place service requests and review maintenance activities via the Internet. They can also see maintenance histories online and communicate directly with TDIndustries’ service representatives at any time, day or night. Best of all, the site is available to every customer with a TD service agreement. Talbert said the portal is already proving valuable in the dayto-day management of school district facilities. When he first took the job, Talbot got a lot of use out of TD’s ServiceLINK phone-based customer service line. But to make certain critical decisions about the school district’s HVAC system, he needed more immediate access to data. The new online portal provides it. The site enhances the school district’s capabilities for pre-planning HVAC system replacements, and it allows school officials to monitor the system’s costs, which affect the entire district’s bottomline budget.
Empowering Customers
And that’s why the online system was created: to expedite and enhance all of TD’s services to customers. The tool augments TD’s all-hours customer service telephone line as well as the existing ServiceLINK GPS handheld device system that TD service technicians use in the field to accelerate service calls. “This is an added convenience that really puts the power of information into our customers’ hands,” said Frank Ziccarelli, TD’s Information Technology (IT) Applications Director. “And it allows us to round out our entire customer service approach.” On the site, TD Partners can track customer relationship histories — everything from equipment to account management to service calls — at any time, which means they can respond quickly to customer requests, questions, and concerns.
ServiceLink Key Features The site has a number of other innovative features:
Real-Time Updates The portal updates information on service call requests so that customers know when TD service technicians are on their way and when the work is being performed. Work Histories In a few clicks of the mouse, customers can access an extensive work order history that provides a rundown of every service that TD has performed at their facilities. Inventory Lists The site lists all equipment that TD currently supports and will service at a customer’s location. Registered customers can go to the site and pull down inventory lists at any time to learn more about their assets. “Customers can also use the portal for budgeting purposes,” said Carrie Friedrich, a member of the Dallas Service Business Development team. “That information can help them determine how much it would cost to support those assets, or whether they should change them out as they fail or age.”
Something for Everyone
One of the beauties of the system is that it is available to customers at all levels, from building engineers in the field to workers in the front office. “If you’re responsible for maintenance, you can go in and see how frequently your maintenance inspections take place,” Kyle Hogue, Sales Manager of TD’s Dallas Service Department, said. “From a director and C-level position, you can really understand your financials.” The following TD employees deserve special mention for contributing to the successful development and launch of the TD ServiceLINK Online Portal: Kyle Hogue, Service Sales Manager, ServiceLINK Online Portal Team Leader Bob Wilken, Executive Vice President Carrie Friedrich, Business Development Frank Ziccarelli, IT Applications Director Larry Robinson, SharePoint & SQL Server Database Administrator Stacy Mitchell, Contact Center Supervisor
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TDSpirit
Career Milestones
50 Ben Houston Corporate
September 2010 – July 2011
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Jerry Steenson TDManufacturing Eddie Ventrca Special Projects
35 30
Dennis Broyles Special Projects Bobby Cole Houston Bob Lowe Major Projects
David Barnes Dallas Service John Garnica Dallas Service Jeff Johnson Multifamily Nacho Lozano Jr. Major Projects
Dwight Matthews Central Texas Stan Quillen Dallas Service Mark Reynolds Houston Dave Smith Major Projects
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Lisa Dylla Major Projects Ken Fletcher Major Projects Ken Frank Special Projects
Scott Hicks Houston Mike Howard Major Projects Mark Parrish Major Projects Bernie Williams Jr. Technology
Scott Castleberry Professional Services Mozzelle Dempster Central Texas Richard Frost Technology Lorenzo Garcia Special Projects Jim Jones Central Texas
20 Melvin Kelley Special Projects Ricardo Lopez Multifamily Jeff Polston Special Projects Jesse Rodriguez Dallas Service Kevin Shields Dallas Service Ben Simmons Multifamily
Ron Adams Major Projects Jose Avelar Houston Kathy Brooks Major Projects Jaycee Curry Special Projects Jay Dennig Jr. TDManufacturing
15
Lyn Freeman Fort Worth Sam Garcia Central Texas Ricky Harris Technology Nelson Hughes Houston Karlton Johnson Major Projects
Raul Lopez-Lucio TDManufacturing Carlos Mariscal Major Projects Glenn Neithercut Multifamily Michael Palmer Special Projects Ken Parish Special Projects Eduardo Perez Houston
TDSpirit • • • SUMMER 2011
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15
Paul Philp Dallas Service Edgar Pineda Chaves Fort Worth J Cruz Quiroz Houston Eugene Ross Houston Kelly Theriot Multifamily Eddie Ventrca Jr. TDManufacturing
10
Jose Acevedo Central Texas David Adams Major Projects Juan Banda Houston Ki Bartlett Fort Worth Justin Bowker Major Projects
Noelia Campos Professional Services Ricardo Cantu Facilities Management Ty Cassel Central Texas Michael Eary Dallas Service Jerry Erwin Major Projects Jose Estala Fort Worth Daniel Faldyn Facilities Management
Kevin Faure Central Texas Greg Gillespie Dallas Service Tara Gresham Houston John Guerra Dallas Service Kimberly Hauck Professional Services
Jesus Hernandez Jr. Central Texas Chad Hubenak Houston Roy Jennings Central Texas Terry Johnson Dallas Service Edgar Limon Central Texas
Juan Macias Dallas Service John Makelke Major Projects Erich Mangum Technology Ramon Martinez Dallas Service Jose Martinez TDManufacturing Robert Massey Fort Worth Dick Mehsling Houston
Ty Merrick Major Projects David Mirabal Houston Jessica Morales Houston Lazaro Padron Fort Worth Mike Perez Central Texas Alejandro Perez Dallas Service Luke Perry Fort Worth
Carlos Rivera Technology Corey Rivers Central Texas Felipe Ruiz Dallas Service Steven Sands Major Projects Juan Saucedo Central Texas
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Andrew Sheppard Houston Jenny Sheppard Houston Jorge Solis Major Projects Fred Taylor Major Projects Ed White Phoenix
Not Pictured
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5
Vicente Abundis Central Texas Jose Abundis Central Texas Marge Angers Professional Services Larry Bartlett Major Projects Dave Blankenship Technology Greg Blanks Facilities Management
Not Pictured
Charles Breault Professional Services Joe Brewer Fort Worth Katina Brewster TDManufacturing Jon Britton Fort Worth Leslie Carbajal Professional Services Robert Chavez Central Texas Kevin Cothrin Technology Patrick Cunningham Phoenix
Not Pictured
Chad Dodd Major Projects Jorge Espinoza TDManufacturing Jose Flores II Special Projects Jaime Fuentes Jr. Houston Reynaldo Garcia TDManufacturing Carlos Gentil Phoenix Jonathan Godinez Technology John Gould III Central Texas
Not Pictured
Lee Grant Phoenix Manuel Grimaldo Houston Rex Guthrie Central Texas June Hallman Professional Services Logan Harper Fort Worth Noah Hermes Central Texas Adolfo Hernandez Central Texas Eloy Hernandez Houston Aaron Hervey Houston Michael Hord Fort Worth Matthew Hunter Central Texas Jose Ibarra Fort Worth Mandy Jennings Houston Kelly Johnson Houston Stan Kleinjans Jr. Phoenix Joseph Kupiszewski Fort Worth Michael Lark Major Projects John Levie Dallas Service Mario Martin Special Projects Eusebio Martinez Houston Charles Mata Technology Sorel Mayorga Major Projects Gene McCarty Dallas Service Chad McCarver Technology
Not Pictured
Steven McLemore Major Projects James McPherson Facilities Management Jeff Meek Phoenix Michael Minium Phoenix Brandon Moncada Central Texas Tommy Moore Houston Joshua Moya Fort Worth Victor Nuñez Phoenix Tom O’Laughlin Central Texas Jeyson Paez Professional Services Kimberly Peace Central Texas Victor Perez Central Texas Jose Perez Facilities Management Andrew Petree Fort Worth Derek Phariss Central Texas Kent Pounds Technology
TDSpirit • • • SUMMER 2011
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5
James Presley Major Projects Kyle Rager Houston Shawn Ramsey Technology Walter Risner Technology Pete Robledo Special Projects Matthew Rogers Central Texas LeRoy Rouse Central Texas Juan Ruiz Major Projects
Not Pictured
Rafael Salinas Dallas Service Christian Saucedo Houston Scott Sawyers Facilities Management Dustin Sears Houston Todd Setford Fort Worth Alex Shipp Professional Services Joe Shofner TDManufacturing Evan Smith Houston Steven Stanley Central Texas JT Taylor Dallas Service Elier Texidor Fort Worth Richard Thomas Dallas Service Mo Underwood Professional Services John Urbina Houston Marco Villalobos Major Projects Jose Villarreal Central Texas
Retirees
TDPartners are at the heart and soul of our company. We salute our recently retired Partners and wish them all the best following their years of service. Thank you for your many contributions throughout your careers and for helping to make TDIndustries a great place to work!
Not Pictured
Emilio Villarreal Central Texas Jim Wiener Jr. Major Projects Shawn Windham Facilities Management Don Windler Central Texas Allen Womack Houston
Not Pictured
Juan Interiano
19 years
David Holmes 31 years
Vicki Luck
26 years
Gil Morse
16 years
Steven Smith
20 years
Woody Wiederkehr
17 years
IN MEMORY OF: This poem is being written about a sheet metal worker by day and a firefighter by night. He only worked two jobs because it was his passion and delight. When it came to out-of-control flames, you could bet he was always ready for the firefight.
Chris Moore
Chris passed away Nov. 13th, 2010. He was hired on April 3, 2000 as a Sheet Metal Mechanic and was promoted to Sheet Metal Foreman in December 2007. Chris was working on the Mary Shiels hospital project.
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His servant leadership style came out while working his day job. He didn’t have a bone in him that would let him work like a slob. As a matter of fact when he was at work doing his thing, You could hear his hammer bang against the metal and “boy could he ever make it ring.”
He was so happy at work we would often hear him sing. There were times he saved so much money against his budget; he knew he would be getting some extra jingle-a-ling. We all remember how much he loved his darling wife. For in his world there was never, ever anything better in his life. After she left his side, it was though someone had cut him with a knife! We all so dearly miss our friend Chris Moore It just doesn’t seem fair that I can’t see his smiling face anymore. However, it gives me great pleasure every time I hear a fire engine roar! — By JimBo Bunnell
PARTNER PROFILE
Office Manager
Jennifer Ferguson Ever wonder why things run so smoothly in TDIndustries’ Phoenix office? Phoenix Office Manager Jennifer Ferguson might just be the answer. “Jennifer keeps everybody together,” said Ed White, Senior Vice President. “She works well with everyone, not only from the Phoenix office but with folks from all other TD locations. I couldn’t live without her.”
Waiting for the Phone to Ring
Ferguson started at TD more than 14 years ago, supporting field Partners in the North Texas Construction Group and handling everything from ordering uniforms to keeping track of weekly timecards for some 600 to 700 Partners. She handled it all! In January 2002, she decided to take a risk and move from Texas to Arizona to work with her current boss, Ed White, and former Partner Gary Brackett to launch the brand-new Phoenix office. Looking back, Ferguson realizes that choosing to move nine years ago was one of the best decisions she has ever made. “I was moving 1,000 miles away from anyone and everyone I had known my whole life,” she said. “But I was too excited to be scared.” “Jennifer was my first hire out here,” said White. “In those early days, we’d wait together for the phone to ring. Her role was technically ‘office manager,’ but what she did was all encompassing — she did take-off drawings, change orders, and numerous other tasks.” In addition to learning the nitty-gritty of TD’s office operations, Ferguson also became TD’s ambassador to the community by chairing the firm’s United Way committee and helping the team exceed its annual fund-raising goal. “At first, it was just the three of us here, but over time, we’ve had as many as 150 Partners,” Ferguson said. She met and married one of them — Rick Ferguson, who is a Project Manager for TD’s Special Projects team. They married more than six years ago and together they have three children. One daughter just enlisted in the US Air Force and is stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. “It’s been an amazing ride,” Ferguson said.
Growing with Phoenix
Ferguson’s scope of work at TD has grown apace with the burgeoning Phoenix-area market. She is responsible for all aspects of the Phoenix office — accounts payable, human resources, résumé reviewing, and hiring — and works closely with White to review financials. She even helps out on IT issues. She has no set routine, and that’s just the way she likes it. “I enjoy variability and wearing many hats,” Ferguson said. When TDIndustries acquired JBS in 2010, an aggressive timeline of three weeks was set for the integration of the two firms. Everything needed doing — from setting up the office’s IT systems to ordering uniforms for the field team. Ferguson made sure nothing fell through the cracks. “She is the glue of Phoenix,” said White. “When you are in a remote office, you can’t hire a dedicated person for every role. Jennifer fills in all those holes.”
SAFETY VENDING
One Swipe for Safety
TDIndustries’ new vending machines at our Dallas headquarters may look like ordinary snack dispensers, but they’re actually filled with something far more beneficial to Partners’ health: safety equipment. The process of turning copper piping and sheet metal into usable jobsite products is essential but risky work. Shop workers need a lot of safety equipment, and it’s not always easy to keep track of. To make sure no TD Partners forego the goggles, protective vests, or other safety gear that keep them injury-free, TD created new safety vending machines that give Partners full and immediate access to whatever supplies they need, whenever they need them. To access a piece of equipment, a Partner simply swipes his or her employee badge over a sensor, enters the code that corresponds to the item, and, bingo, out it comes. No money is needed and tracking is automatic through the badge swipe. By providing easy, free access to protective gear, we hope these machines ensure that no one ever dispenses with on-the-job safety.
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13850 Diplomat Drive | Dallas‚ TX 75234
Phoenix Youth Learn Skills for the Future at Builders Academy
The technique of pipe soldering and the art of the interview were among the skills TDIndustries’ Doug Wallace, John Pawloski, and Jennifer Ferguson imparted to about 30 Phoenix-area students who participated in the 2011 Arizona Builders’ Alliance Future Builders Academy. Each year, TD Partners take part in the week-long event designed to build youths’ interest in construction industry jobs. Students age 16 and older receive hands-on trade skills and careerdevelopment assistance from TD and other area professionals. This year, youths learned about OSHA rules, soldered pipes, and interviewed with TD and participating company staffs to practice the soft skills they’ll need to land actual positions in the trades. In fact, one student who aced the interview with Wallace and Ferguson landed an actual position at TD for the summer.
“On behalf of everyone at the Arizona Builders’ Alliance, I would like to extend my thanks to TDIndustries and the company’s entire staff for continuing to support our annual Future Builders Academy. Without the ongoing and dedicated support of contractors like TDIndustries, this event could not take place. Thanks again for everything you do, and I look forward to your participation in the Academy next year.” Gary Townsley, Apprenticeship Director, Arizona Builders’ Alliance
BUILDERS ACADEMY
After a soldering lesson from Doug Wallace, students practice the real thing