November - Construction News
Transcription
November - Construction News
Covering the Industry’s News Texas Style San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290 PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT #1451 Change Service Requested Houston San Antonio CONSTRUCTION ™ The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net (210) 308-5800 P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio TX 78279 11931 Warfield San Antonio TX 78216 NOV 2009 Vol. 12 No. 11 Color of the future Master of machismo L-R: Mike Butler, foreman, and Charles Albert, management team/project manager, with a solar panel Rhett Stuman, Bravo Roofing, at Staples Falls during his June canoeing adventure. I n one of the antiquated buildings on South Flores Street, something progressive is taking place. Corbo Electric Company Inc. is putting into action its recently established green division, with a hands-on approach. “Everything we are hearing about is ‘going green’ and doing what you can to contribute to the universe,” said Bob Corbo, owner. “The first thing we did was we went through our whole office and converted every light fixture to the energy-efficient light fixtures in conjunction with the CPS Energy Audit. We probably changed out about 60 light fixtures to our building and a building we have a tenant in.” With green in mind, the fixtures and bulbs are being recycled. The green focus for Corbo doesn’t stop with fixtures. The company is also designing and installing a solar power system. “We are aligning ourselves with a large mechanical contractor here in town, A.J. Monier,” Corbo said. “We are teaming up to do energy audits so we can cover the whole spectrum of electricity and mechanical, air conditioning, heating water – everything. We have a roofing company that is a partner, Samuel Dean Roofing and Sheet Metal. continued on Page 28 R hett Stuman, founder of Bravo Roofing in New Braunfels, thrives on challenge. He started his roofing business in 1984 in the middle of a recession, working from home with a truck and a tar kettle. “The work was slim to none,” Stuman said. “I poured concrete and did landscaping in between the roofing jobs. I took anything that I could get. That went on for five years. I had no money and stayed in debt forever, it seemed like.” Despite the roadblocks, Stuman stuck with it and built a commercial roofing company that now has 20 roofers and sheet metal men, 12 of whom have been with Bravo for 12 or more years. “I still have the first two guys I ever hired – Ramiro (Shorty) Urbina and Jiminez Gonzalez,” Stuman said. “I have my entire family in the company – my wife, Penni; my son, Rhett (Hambone); and my daughter, Jaqueline.” A different type of challenge Stuman seeks is in the outdoors. Besides hunting and fishing, he participated for the third year this summer in the Texas Water Safari, a 260-mile canoe race from San Marcos to Seadrift, TX. “That is the toughest race in the world,” he said. “It took me 97 hours. Out of the 97 hours, I slept three. There were 115 boats that started and only 54 finished.” Besides the grueling June conditions, blisters and sheer exhaustion, Stuman continued on Page 28 Building second chances T en years ago Tony Davila, president of Davila Construction Inc., hired Margie Bocanegra at the request of the American GI Forum program that houses and rehabilitates homeless veterans. Today she is part of the Davila Construction Inc. team that built a new SRO (single room occupancy) building and Work Center for the American GI Forum at Medina and Martin. “Margie is the assistant superintendent here on the project,” said Davila. “She started with me on the first project I did for the American GI Forum. They wanted me to hire her. They would pay half her hourly wages, and I would pay the other half. She started cleaning out apartments. I didn’t think she was going to last a week. “Ten years later, she is still with me, and she knows what she is doing. Because of that program, I have a person who has really come up in the ranks.” The new $3.2 million project includes two structures: an 18,000-sf two-story new construction residence building, and a 25,000-sf Work Center located in the basement of an existing building, both part of the Haven for Hope complex. The Work Center will allow homeless veterans to be trained to do manufacturing and other tasks, according to Davila. “They will get contracts so they can teach the vets some kind of useful skill so they can get them re-acclimated to the workforce again,” he said. “It’s a good program, and it’s a good deal that they are giving back to the veterans. I am real proud to be part of this project.” The project took nine months to complete. The SRO building is structural steel with a brick exterior. Inside, the floors are polished concrete. “It’s pretty standard construction,” Davila said. Stainless steel and brick combine for a contemporary look continued on Page 28 Page 2 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Constructing kids’ dreams F CAKC Toy Drive or the 10th year in a row, the Friends of the Bexar County Child Welfare Board and San Antonio Construction News invite individuals and companies to collect and deliver unwrapped gifts and monetary donations to the newspaper’s offices at 11931 Warfield (at Nakoma) on Fri., Dec. 4, from 10am to 2pm. It’s an exciting day for us to see vehicles pull into the Construction News parking lot with loads of gifts and watch as the level of presents in the bobtail truck gets higher and higher. At the end of the day, the final tallies are made and the gift truck heads to the caseworkers, who sort, wrap and distribute the gifts. But the real excitement is the joy this day will bring for the hundreds of foster children throughout the city. For the past nine years, the San Antonio construction industry has not forgotten them, and in fact, has played a major role in bringing a happier Christmas season to these kids. The children who receive the gifts range in age from newborn to 18 years. All money donated will be used to purchase more gifts and gift cards. And please remember your gifts should not be wrapped. Many local companies and construction industry associations have already started spreading the word. Some companies are challenging their employees to bring in gifts that will be matched by the company itself. Others are planning holiday parties and inviting guests to bring a gift or toy donation. –kf Construction News ON LOCATION T here is a snowstorm headed right for the Alzafar Shrine Temple, and it will hit around Dec. 3. Not to worry: it’s a good thing. The theme for the 2009 Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala is “Winter Wonderland,” and according to Sandee Morgan, Gala chairperson, it will be really cool. “Guests won’t recognize Alzafar this year,” she said. “The décor will be much more elegant than we have done in the past.” The Gala, which raises money to help give Bexar County foster children a memorable Christmas, is also an evening to remember for the construction industry. The Gala will begin at 6pm and will feature silent and live auctions as well as a mini-casino night. A buffet dinner, catered by Heavenly Gourmet, will be served with beer and wine and setups for mixed drinks. Great outdoors The cost is $55 plus an unwrapped gift per person, or $600 per reserved table of 10 guests. Company sponsorships are Corporate: $1,500; Diamond: $500; and Program: $250. Contact Sandee Morgan at [email protected] for sponsorships, tickets and more information. Trade associations participating in this year’s Gala are American Subcontractors Association (ASA), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA), Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) and Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT). –kf L-R: Dennis Jasik and Doug Livingston share the limelight with a few of their trophies at the Douglas Glass headquarters on Wyoming Street in Pleasanton, TX. Douglas Glass is a commercial and residential glass contractor. –kf San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 3 PUTZ AROUND TOWN JC Putz here . . . We just love you folks out there, especially when you send us an interesting photo like this one of Mike Zezula of Longhorn Concrete. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun We try to keep an eye on her, but sometimes Construction News production manager Sue Johnson escapes. Thanks Ben Reyna for showing us how a person looks after eating fried lemons. Drivers Ed, anyone? After all that rain, someone still didn’t believe taking the golf cart to go get his ball might be disastrous. She said she was doing “construction research” at a men’s kilt store in Seattle. Yeah, right. And I would never tell anyone that it was Patrick Harris with Concrete Renovation who did the deed or that the golf course had to get the tractor to pull it out. With that, I’m out’a here. Page 4 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Glass roots enterprise L-R: Martin Laning, president, and Mike Harrelson, vice president of Bulverde Glass Inc. M artin Laning is a very considerate type of guy. When he started Bulverde Glass Inc.18 years ago, he was working out of his garage in Timberwood Park, but he would cut metal during the day so as not to disturb the neighbors. “I welded my rack together in the backyard too, and started with one truck,” Laning said. “I would hire people at night to help me if I had any sizable jobs.” Bulverde’s first “sizable” job was Santa Rosa Hospital downtown, which he says helped launch the company. L a n ing moved Bulverde Glass to a space near the airport, which he shared with another small business to save on rent. Despite the new location, he kept the name Bulverde Glass. “Finally I grew enough where I could buy a building,” Laning said. “Now we have a 12,000-sf building on Hackberry and I have about 11 glaziers, a secretary, an estimator and a field supervisor. Laning had hoped to build a facility in Bulverde, but things have worked out well on Hackberry. “The location is excellent, because you can go anywhere from here. “I brought in two new pneumatic saws, and every year we try to grow the company,” he said. The largest project Bulverde has tackled to date is the Overlook at the Rim. “We’ve got a good group of people,” Laning said. “Mike Harrelson, our estimator, has been estimating for a long time.” Laning was especially accommodating when he hired his secretary, Maria Guerrero. She came highly recommended, according to Laning. “We went over and met her in the Academy [Sports] parking lot because she had just taken a job, and she didn’t have time to come for an interview. We told her just give us 30 minutes. She ended up being an excellent secretary.” Bulverde Glass is a commercial glass contractor. –kf Safe keeping Garland Kennedy Jr. beside a proof test machine that has a 250,000-lb. testing capacity K ennedy Wire Rope & Sling Com- that we have,” Kennedy said. “We are gopany Inc. has much to celebrate ing to put in some newer equipment, and these days – a 30th anniversary and the equipment will do some things that a new location in San Antonio. are new to the industry.” Kennedy welcomed the construction The original San Antonio location and industrial industries to the new 25,000- opened in 1998 following expansion in sf offices and warehouse on Dividend Oct. Corpus Christi. 8, with an open house barbecue. Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling Company is More than 300 guests took part in a safety and lifting equipment supplier. –kf raffles, a trade show and product demonstrations. Kennedy supplies safety equipment, fall protection and lifting tools, such as slings for cranes. Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling, a family-owned company, was founded in 1979 by Garland Kennedy Sr. in Corpus Christi. Garland Kennedy Jr. now runs the company and is looking forward to future expansion. “We are continuing to Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling Company staff grow with this new building San Antonio CONSTRUCTION NEWS San Antonio Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathie Fox [email protected] 210-308-5800 Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.constructionnews.net Publisher: Buddy Doebbler Production/Editorial: Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor: LaVerne Dickinson Sales Representative: Kent Gerstner Production Manager: Sue Johnson Administration: Kevin Hughes Houston Editor: Abby BeMent DFW Editor: Melissa Jones-Meyer Austin Editor: Vanessa Antoine If you are a construction-related company in Bexar or one of the 7 surrounding counties and are not receiving a free copy of the San Antonio Construction News, please call for a Requester Form, or visit our website. © 2009 Construction News, Ltd. The San Antonio Construction News (ISSN 1547-7630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba San Antonio Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction-related companies of record in Bexar and 7 surrounding counties. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space available basis. Construction News, Ltd. , dba San Antonio Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time. All Construction News publications are audited for circulation by San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 5 Multi-tasking Lighting the way B Jesse Dominguez, Butterfield Colors, demonstrates technique. C MC Construction Services on Whirlwind hosted a two-day open house/training program/construction project Oct. 15 focusing on decorative concrete. Niznik Concrete and Vulcan Materials donated concrete for the project, which created a sidewalk in front of the CMC building on Whirlwind that showcases different stamping and coloring techniques. Jesse Dominguez, Butterfield Colors, conducted the training and demonstrations. “It was a two-day deal so you did some the first day and could see the end result on the second day,” said Gary Woltersdorf, CMC. “They went through several different procedures of how the colors mixed in the trucks, how the colored hardeners were broadcast across the top of the concrete and different techniques for application. Then they did their stamping and talked about how it was supposed to be done. Some of the contractors participated in those applications. “We provided lunch and beverages for the contractors that attended the training program.” –kf Construction News ON LOCATION Moore know-how L-R: Raymond Singer, David Lucio, Jesse Gaytan and Joe Avila at Moore Supply Company on North Frio Street keep things hopping at the sales counter and warehouse. Moore Supply is a distributor of plumbing products as well as pipe valves and fittings for commercial, industrial and residential construction. –kf ell & McCoy, electrical industry supplier, invited the construction industry to its new offices and warehouse on Eisenhauer Road Oct. 15 to introduce both the new location and a new company division. “In San Antonio, we just started a new lighting division called Bell & McCoy Lighting and Controls,” said Scott Shaver. “We were very pleased. We had a little over 250 people show up.” The party was held in an area of the building that will be multi-purpose. “We are real proud of our new training facility,” Shaver said. “It can be set up as classrooms for engineers and architects and contractors where we can have presentations and training classes.” The San Antonio location is about 16,000sf. Bell & McCoy also has locations in Dallas and Houston, between 60,000sf and 70,000sf each. The company has locations in Oklahoma and Arkansas as well. “In the next year or so, we will be looking to open an office in Austin,” Shaver said. “It won’t be quite as big, but it will be a sales office and training facility like we have here.” Bell & McCoy is an electrical manufacturers’ representative, founded in 1972. –kf Networking at Bell & McCoy L-R: Jason Jackovich, Rexell; Jim Martin, Bell & McCoy; and Eric Scroggins, Rexell Page 6 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 John E. Travis J.E. Travis Painting Inc. A s a teenager, John Travis was adamant that he would not choose his family’s commercial painting profession as his career path, even though L.E. Travis & Sons Painting had been in business more than 100 years. He planned to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a different goal in mind – an engineering degree. “I remember my grandfather, when he was still alive, told me it was destiny that I would be a commercial painter. I said, ‘Oh, phooey. He doesn’t know what he is talking about.’” Life has a funny way of proving you wrong sometimes. Travis’s career path took a detour when he married, and realized the path was not right for his family’s future. He came back to his hometown and founded his own company, J.E. Travis Painting, based on his years of experience growing up in the construction industry. What is the history of the Travis family in commercial painting? Commercial painting has been in my family since 1886. I am the fifth generation to do it. My uncle Eddie, L.E. Travis III, has the contiguous company, L.E. Travis & Sons, which is still in business. James Travis actually started the painting company in Galveston and got wiped out by the hurricane in 1900, and he moved his family and business to San Marcos. Which other relatives have been involved with L.E. Travis? My Pa-Pa, who is my great-grandfather L.E. Travis, and my grandfather L.E. Travis Jr. Then the three brothers took over – my father, Ron Travis; Uncle Bill, William Barrett Travis; and Uncle Eddie. Uncle Bill and my dad have since retired. Uncle Eddie is still in business. So you could call him up today and he would bid on the same jobs I am. It’s respectful competition. It makes for interesting family holidays. Is your family related to William Barret Travis from the Alamo? In terms of direct descendants, no. We are apparently two levels above him, sharing a grandfather. It is a great asset, and we take it very seriously. It’s a very big deal in our family. I took my boys down to the Alamo last November. It happened when I was a child and when my father was a child and my grandfather was a child. Everybody gets taken down to the Alamo and you go through it, and are explained the history. We are tied to it. If nothing else, just the ideals that the Alamo and Travis encapsulated – when all the odds are against you, standing up when you knew it was right, even though you are a minority instead of a majority, and being able to follow that through. That is why the story resonates with the rest of the world. What are your earliest memories of the painting industry? It’s what I grew up doing from the time I was 4 or 5 years old: going down to the shop and sorting out spray masks, going out on jobsites when I was a young boy, and learning to estimate and going from there. What high school did you attend? Churchill High School. Were you into sports at SMU? I swam all the way through college, competitively. Our senior year we were sixth in the nation. We had a good team. You had a lot of camaraderie building that team. What did you do after graduation from SMU? I graduated in 1996. I became an electrical engineer, but I actually went into business consulting. I didn’t use my engineering degree. I worked for Ernst & Young, flying around the country when they still had a management consulting business. I did mainly telecom work. What brought you back to San Antonio and the construction industry? I met my beautiful wife, Alisa. Everybody in the consulting business – at least for the time I was there – was not married or had a marriage that was in trouble because we flew out on Sundays and came back on Friday nights and you were never home. You worked 20 hours a day at that time. When I married my wife, we came down to San Antonio because that’s what I knew. Where did you meet your wife? That was a weird deal. Her aunt went to church with my mom and dad. She was from Virginia. I met her probably when I was 12 and then I met her again when I was 16. It was one of those deals where her aunt and my mom were fairly close. Just out of the blue, after I had worked at Ernst & Young for a year or so, she sent a postcard saying, “How are you doing?” I called her and had the opportunity through my business (because I trav- John E. Travis stands next to an important family symbol – The Alamo. His family’s link to a well-known Texas name is evident in the historical Texas décor at J.E. Travis Painting. eled so darn much), instead of going home, I started flying out there to see her. We have been married 11 years and we have four children: Taylor, 10; Westley, 8; Wyatt, 6; and William, 2. How did J.E. Travis Painting come about? Rather than join my dad and my uncles, I thought that I knew better and I formed my own company. I rented some space from my dad, borrowed some money from him, hung up a shingle and went to work. So Grandpa ended up being right. That was about 12 years ago. I started in a barn stall out in Bracken. Literally, it was a 10x10 room. From there we moved to Rhapsody and a 4,000sf building. Then we moved to Valiant with a 6,000sf building and then moved here and there is 30,000sf between all of these buildings. Then we started the millwork company in 2003. Why did we do that? I don’t know. It was something that is honestly quite interesting to me. I like the engineering aspect of putting everything together. It was something that the family couldn’t tell me how to do because they didn’t have experience doing it. We started that from scratch. That business has done very well. We make commercial casework selling to many of the same customers – anything you might find in a commercial millwork environment. Between the two divisions, how many employees does J.E. Travis have? There are still 100 people, millwork and painting, but we are off about 30 percent from our highs. By the measures of the world, we have had success. I will tell you it is totally not my doing. We have very good employees. Everybody has their own abilities and how they fit in the overall scheme. I am very thankful for the people that have been able to come across our path. Many of them have been here since I have been in business. At the beginning you spent an awful lot of time getting the snowball big enough so you could self-sustain. It might have been easier being with a firm that has been around for a hundred some years, rather than trying to establish your own identity. But you have the benefit of the name and the benefit of the education growing up. Who is your mentor? In terms of business, my dad has helped me tremendously, followed by my family. It’s a real opportunity to have people you can call. If you have an issue, they have seen it all 5,000 times. In terms of life and business, I will latch onto anybody. I learn from customers, some that were Dad’s customers or my uncle’s customers 40 years ago and have taken me under their wing. They have taught me tons. Some of my vendors, those guys have been good mentors. My employees, some of them worked for my grandfather. What do you and your family do for fun? I enjoy fishing. We go to the state parks that are handicapped accessible. Our first child is special needs. He is handicapped. Blanco River state park is pretty good. Guadalupe is close and is pretty good. They are within a nice driving distance and you can get the wheelchair from the parking lot all the way down to the river. That sometimes dictates what we can do. I don’t have a lot of hobbies. I enjoy reading and having a good time with the family and kids, but between that and work, I don’t have a real outlet. I got into this hiking deal. I was trying to find an outlet where it’s exercise, it’s outdoors, you get to see sights, and hopefully it’s something we can do as a family. Camping is involved. What has been your biggest life lesson so far? Taylor’s accident. My son was born fine, and when he was 2 months old he had a tremendous, terrible accident and it changes everybody’s life. His life, your family’s life. It’s all for the good, but that’s a hard deal. It totally alters how you function both as a person and as a family. You can learn from that and it will all be good. What are your plans for the future? Well family-wise, I think we are going to try one more here. And then just try and grow good citizens, especially this day and age in this country. In terms of business, we have a strategy of continuing to grow. There are a lot of opportunities out there for us, even in this economic downturn. It’s fun to think about it and learn new things and figure out how I can get from point A to point B. At this point in my career, all I really do is move the pieces on the chessboard. Whether we win or lose is dependent upon how well I can support all those other people. It’s all about everybody else. If they do well, we look good. Not only do we have wonderful people, we have wonderful customers that we work with. We try and surround ourselves with the kind of folks that want relationships and those people have had a tremendous influence on us. –kf San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 7 Bigger is better Birthday bash Guests listen for lucky numbers during the door prize drawings. Photo by Mary C. Haskin, photographer Mid-Coast Electric Supply Inc. staff plus a drop-in customer T his time next year the staff at MidCoast Electric Supply Inc. on Sentinel will be preparing to move into a new 60,000-sf central distribution center on Nacogdoches. “Our commercial business here in San Antonio has been doing well, even under the economic conditions, and we look forward to strengthening the relationships we have throughout the electrical and automation industry,” said Chris Hernandez, area sales manager – Commercial Division. The expansion comes on the heels of the addition of a new commercial electrical supply division a year ago. Previously, the San Antonio branch was strictly an industrial supplier. Hernandez, a 10-year Mid-Coast staffer, was relocated to San Antonio from the Corpus Christi branch a year ago to head up the new division. He hopes to grow the commercial division to equal the industrial division. “We have been hitting it hard for a year,” Hernandez said. “Everything is built on relationships. “ Hernandez says the company has plenty of options for building relationships. “We have counter days and golf tournaments.” The counter days include a barbecue, product demonstrations and door prizes. “We will start doing that three times a year.” Mid-Coast also has a 310-acre ranch in Rock Springs where they take customers hunting. Sports are another way Mid-Coast develops relationships. “Some of the warehouse operations people have their own little softball club,” Hernandez said. The new distribution center is expected to be open by December 2010. Mid-Coast Electric Supply Inc. is owned by Tom and Steve Barker of San Antonio and is a “full-blown” industrial automation and commercial supply house. – kf T ables draped in white linen and decorated with fresh floral arrangements were a sharp contrast to the equipment yard background at the Alamo Crane Services Inc. 30th anniversary open house party Oct. 15 at company headquarters in Selma. Behind the tables, extended cranes were flying flags to commemorate the occasion. More than 200 guests were treated to a buffet dinner catered by Black Tie Affairs, while the music of the Metheny Broth- L-R: Allyn Archer, Holt Cat; Marvin Ohlenbusch, Alamo Crane Service Inc.; Joe Collins, Precision Resource ers and Fiddlin’ Frenchie Burke Company; Skeeter Collins, Link-Belt Cranes; Scott played on a stage. Drawings for McDougle, Holt Crane & Equipment –Photo by Mary C. door prizes included a South Haskin, photographer Texas hog hunt for two. “I would like to thank everyone for bittersweet thing.” The 500-ton crane is the newest adcoming and helping us celebrate the an- niversary and the new equipment,” said dition to the fleet of 33 cranes at Alamo. Marvin Ohlenbusch, co-owner of Alamo “Over the past two years, we have bought Crane. “I am sorry in a way our newest 15 new machines – seven Link-Belt and machine, the 500-ton, wasn’t here, but eight Liebherr machines,” Ohlenbusch thank goodness it’s out working. It is a said. –kf Page 8 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Young guns T First place team he 20th Annual Marek Brothers Systems Inc. Golf Tournament Oct. 16 at Canyon Springs Golf Club held a few surprises. The tournament is also the Second Annual Dewitt Churchwell Memorial Invitational to raise funds for the Dewitt Churchwell Scholarship Fund. Two of Churchwell’s sons, David and Nathan Churchwell, not only placed third in the team competition, but also won Closest to the Pin honors on separate holes. “We had 136 golfers, and we were blessed with beautiful weather,” said Dennis Yanowski, Marek Brothers Systems. “Now that our tournament is 20 years old, we have a lot of new blood but also a lot of familiar faces.” The tournament raised $5,000 for the scholarship fund from a silent auction, mulligan sales and a Tiger Tee. –kf Winners are: 1st Place Team: Paul Scheel, ISC Building Materials; Bobby Rios, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors; Rusty Hastings, Metropolitan Contracting; Clayton Reyes, Drury South 2nd Place Team: Gerald Gaenslen, Hilti; Brian Busby, SpawGlass San Antonio; Bob Farmer, SpawGlass Austin; Matt Rothe, Constructors & Associates 3rd Place Team: Bruce Marek, Marek Brothers Systems Inc.; David and Nathan Churchwell; Ethan Knollkamper Closest to the Pin: #3 Paul Pruitt #7: Hector Carrasco #13: David Churchwell #17: Nathan Churchwell Longest Drive: Brian Busby Brian Busby, right, hit the longest drive. Third place team Industry incentives B L-R: Manuel Gomez, Silicone Sally and Bobby Estes with the custom Big Dog arbecue, bikinis and a Big Dog Mastiff motorcycle raffle: not bad reasons to bring the construction industry to Silicone Specialties Inc. (SSI) for a customer appreciation cookout and fundraiser. SSI held the industry event and open house at its San Antonio location on Mannix Oct. 16. Silicone Sally and her custom motorcycle were joined by the Sun Brü Custom Body Lotions Bikini Team to help raise money for terminally ill children in Texas. “We are doing a raffle for this bike, which goes to A Wish With Wings Foundation,” said Manuel Gomez, SSI San Antonio branch manager. “We sold 95 tickets, which beat Dallas.” Gomez said more than 125 guests took part in the event. BASF, The Chemical Company, handled the grilling duties. All SSI locations in Dallas, Austin Houston and San Antonio participated in the raffle, which will culminate in a drawing Dec. 4. Silicone Sally, the cycle and the bikini team toured all locations. In addition to Silicone Sally’s public tours, she serves as a tour guide on the SSI website, providing product and company information. SSI is a distributor and supplier for waterproofing products such as epoxy and caulking. Gomez said, “We have a saying that represents SSI: ‘If it seals it, we sell it.’” –kf/kg San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 9 What are you most thankful for? This year I'm thankful to still have a job with a company I love. The economy hit hard across the nation, but it seems that San Antonio was spared in the construction field. The Man above must be watching out for our men in tool belts here in Texas! Glenda Gonzales, Marek Brothers Systems Inc. I'm thankful for the people in my life… family, friends, co-workers, even my spoiled rotten cats. Also for the people that I have had the privilege of knowing that are no longer with us, but will always be remembered and for a job I love with a company that is great to work for. I would be especially thankful if my team, the Tennessee Titans, would win at least one game this season! Coni Tutwiler, Marek Brothers Systems Inc. I am thankful I didn't have to take the architect's exam after they invented AutoCAD and BIM! Michael Burrill, AIA, AICP, PARSONS Infrastructure & Technology Group I am thankful for life. Jose A. Gonzalez, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. What am I thankful for? Life, family and friends. Corrie Shannon A & S Electrical Services Inc. Finally having my little dream place in the country – and all the people who helped me get there! Kathie Fox, Construction News Correction Joeris General Contractors won the Safe General Contractor of the Year, Category I, award at the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Safety Fair and Barbecue Cook-off. The identity of the winner was incorrect in an article published on Page 9 in October’s Construction News. –kf Construction News ON LOCATION Special delivery Mike McKee, in Volvo Construction Equipment’s service department in New Braunfels, shows off his new “baby.” McKee says the new L50F is currently one of three in the country. –kf I am thankful for my beautiful, healthy granddaughter. Paul Galloway, Alamo Iron Works Family, life, friends. Carrie Gaona, Alamo Iron Works I am always thankful for electricity so we have air conditioning and I can charge up my chair. Debbie Mason, San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association I am thankful for being alive and I can see and open up my eyes, and I can hear, and communicate; and thankful my children are with me. I am thankful I have a job. That’s the bottom line, because there are people struggling right now out finding jobs – and finding orders, also. When you find them you’ve got to take care of your customers. Danny Rodriguez, Equipment Depot My daughter, Lauren Elizabeth. James Garza, Professional Flooring Supply Page 10 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 FIN 48: Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes Eric D. Abati, CPA, Senior Manager BKD San Antonio, TX I n July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes: An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, which may significantly change the way you evaluate your tax positions for recognition in your financial statements. FIN 48 was effective for fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2006. However, for certain nonpublic enterprises, there have been several deferrals, the most recent being FSP FIN 48-3, delaying the effective date until years beginning Dec. 15, 2008 (FSP FIN 48-3). Please consult with your independent auditor (CPA) to determine what the correct adoption date is for your company. The accounting for all material positions taken (or expected to be taken) on any income tax return is governed by FIN 48. Income tax returns include those that were filed or that should have been filed with local, state, federal and international taxing authorities. FIN 48 applies to positions such as: (1) excluding income streams that might be deemed taxable by the taxing authorities, (2) asserting that a particular equity restructuring is tax-free when that position might be uncertain, (3) the decision not to file a tax return in a particular jurisdiction for which such a return might be required, or (4) positions that have only timing consequences, such as positions involving depreciation. Recognition In applying FIN 48, companies will need to determine and assess all material positions taken in any income tax return as of the date they adopt FIN 48, including all significant uncertain positions, in all tax years that are still subject to assessment or challenge by relevant taxing authorities. FIN 48 addresses the recognition and measurement of income tax positions using a “more-likely-than-not” (MLTN) threshold. The MLTN threshold means that: • A benefit related to an uncertain tax position may not be recognized in the financial statements unless it is MLTN the position will be sustained based on its technical merits • There must be more than a 50 percent likelihood the position would be sustained if challenged and considered by the highest court in the relevant jurisdiction Measurement The tax benefit of a qualifying position is the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. This poses potentially significant challenges in evaluating tax positions in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. Interest and penalties A taxpayer is required to accrue interest and penalties that, under relevant tax law, the taxpayer would incur if the uncertain tax position ultimately were not sustained. Accordingly, under FIN 48, interest would start to accrue for financial statement purposes in the period in which it would begin accruing under the relevant tax law, and the amount of interest expense to be recognized would be computed by applying the applicable statutory rate of interest to the difference between the tax position recognized in accordance with FIN 48 and the amount previously taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Penalties would be accrued in the first period in which the position was taken (or is expected to be taken) on a tax return that would give rise to the penalty. How a company classifies interest and penalties in the income statement is an accounting policy decision. Common potential uncertain tax positions Following are some general examples of potentially uncertain tax positions as defined in FIN 48: • State income tax filing requirements (nexus) • Research credit computations • International transfer pricing methodology • Inventory methodology, e.g., LIFO • Accounting methods, e.g., improper timing of accrual of income or expenses • Sophisticated tax reduction strategies • Unintentional termination of S corporation election How will FIN 48 affect you? The only way to determine the effect FIN 48 will have on your company’s financial statements is to go through the exercise of identifying your uncertain tax positions and applying the recognition and measurement criteria. Some companies will see little, if any, impact, while others may record significant liabilities. Consult with your CPA to quantify the impact FIN 48 will have on your company's annual financial statements. Eric D. Abati is a senior manager in the BKD National Construction & Real Estate and Not-for-Profit & Government groups. He can be reached at [email protected]. Risk management of your biggest assets . . . your employees Jenni Whitaker, Principal Wortham Insurance & Risk Management San Antonio, TX F or every 100 employees: 60 are overweight 60 are sedentary 50 have high cholesterol 24 have high blood pressure 25 smoke Believe it or not, 70 percent of the illnesses that employees are being treated for are preventable diseases, meaning that they could have been prevented had they made different lifestyle choices. Smoking, lack of exercise, poor eating habits, stress and alcohol abuse are all individual behaviors that contribute to overall health care costs. So it is no surprise that many of us have unhealthy employees, but unfortunately that is not our only problem. In addition to our concern for the well-being of our employees, it is productivity that hits us where it hurts. Annual lost workdays due to chronic diseases have a $1 trillion impact on United States productivity each year. Health insurance premium increases are greater than overall inflation and/or employee wage increases. Therefore, everyone is affected by it. It should be no surprise then that corporations of all sizes are pursuing innovative strategies that attempt to improve the health of their employees. It is the new face of “Corporate Wellness” and employers of all shapes and sizes are stepping out of their corporate boardrooms, picking up their own banners and walking alongside their large corporate peers, instead of watching the parade march by like they have in past years. Great news for unhealthy employees … in a recent study 57 percent of employers indicated that they are considering implementing a wellness program. We have seen employers exhibiting remarkable commitment levels when it comes to promoting better health for employees. Employers now realize that in order to have any chance of lowering premiums, they must have a vested interest in understanding the connection between wellness initiatives and lowering insurance premiums. It is risk management through employee education and aggressive disease management. By engaging the employees in their own health and that of their families, it is a joint effort, an effort that will pay off in the long run. Not only do we have to manage the employees who are currently being treated for disease such as Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol through disease management programs, but equally as important is to help keep our employees who aren’t being treated for any conditions yet, the healthy employees, in good condition. “The largest portion of a company’s healthcare expenses (both in claim dollars and lost productivity) comes from worker illnesses that have already taken place. It is imperative to determine high-risk individuals who are potentially high-cost claims before they happen,” says Kathy Corder, VP of Personalized Prevention, a San Antonio-based health risk management firm. “Employers need to focus on the underlying causes of healthcare cost increases and have strategies in place to drive improvements in employees’ overall health and wellness. This is how to achieve maximum efficiency and value.” Wellness comes in many packages, from Biggest Loser weight-loss challenges to robust wellness programs to include Health Risk Assessments, Disease Management, Employee Seminars and Predictive Modeling. Wellness Programs are offered through most insurance carriers through their websites or you may opt for a more tailored program that may require the hiring of a wellness consultant. In either case, your insurance agent is the best place to start your search for knowledge about this subject. Typical results once a wellness program is implemented: • Decreased sick leave absenteeism by an average of 28 percent • Decreased workers comp and disability costs by an average of 30 percent • Overall increased job satisfaction The good news is that while there is an initial employer cost, ex. $5 per employee/per month, the return on investment and the long- term payoff is extraordinary. It is evident that taking care of ourselves not only gives better quality of life, it also improves everyone’s bottom line. Healthy Employees = Happy Employees Jenni Whitaker is a principal with Wortham Insurance & Risk Management. She specializes in employee benefits and may be reached at 210-249-2346 or [email protected]. Construction News ON LOCATION Mechanically inclined Every month people across Texas read Construction News... Dallas/Ft. Worth Austin San Antonio Houston It pays to advertise! L-R: Brothers Leroy and Troy Zinsmeyer, Zinsmeyer Mechanical & Welding in Castroville, are looking forward to the company’s 50th anniversary in 2010. They are partners in the business along with their other brother, Kevin. –kf San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 11 OSHA revises enforcement policies for fall protection during steel erection Indemnity clauses why so much fuss? Richard L. Reed, Director Coats, Rose, Yale, Ryman & Lee, PC San Antonio, TX Joann Natarajan, compliance assistance specialist OSHA Austin, TX I ndemnity clauses generally impose a duty to make good a loss, damage or liability. In Texas, indemnity clauses can provide one party will defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other against liability even if it is due to the other’s negligence, but only if certain conditions are met. Such clauses are sometimes called “broad form” indemnity agreements. An indemnity is very broad indeed when one must defend against and pay the liability for the sole or concurrent negligence of another. It is wise to seek legal advice about the scope, enforceability and effect of any broad form indemnity clause before agreeing to it. Broad form indemnities are narrowly construed by the courts, and will not be enforced if any ambiguity exists in the language requiring one party to assume responsibility for the other’s negligence. To be enforceable, broad form indemnities must satisfy the requirement for “fair notice.” They must: 1) be conspicuous and; 2) meet the express negligence doctrine, i.e., expressly and clearly state that the party being indemnified is to be indemnified even for that party’s own negligence. Conspicuousness: To be conspicuous, a broad form indemnity clause must stand out in the contract so as to attract a reasonable person’s attention. This is done by a prominent caption identifying the indemnity clause as such and showing the text of the clause in bold capitalized letters, so the clause will stand out in contrast to the surrounding text of the contract. The conspicuousness requirement may not be satisfied if the provision is hidden among the terms stated in fine print on the back page of a single-page form. Courts decide conspicuousness on a case-by-case basis. Express Negligence Doctrine: The “express negligence doctrine” requires indemnity clauses to expressly state with specificity the intent for one party to cover the other’s negligence. Many standard form contracts use broad form indemnity clauses that are unenforceable in Texas courts. For example, the broad form indemnity clause used in the American Institute of Architects form does not meet the express negligence doctrine. The Texas Supreme Court held the following provision was insufficient to show a subcontractor’s intent to cover the negligence a general contractor for its own negligence: “Subcontractor shall indemnify and hold contractor harmless against any loss … as a result of operations growing out of the performance of this contract and caused by the negligence or carelessness of the subcontractor.” Scope: Indemnity clauses usually cover claims that “arise out of,” are “occasioned by,” or are “due to” the contracted activity. However, a claim must fall within the intended scope of the indemnification obligation for the provision to be enforced. For example, one court found a contractor employee’s injury did not “arise out of” the contractor’s performance where the injury occurred long after the contractor’s work was complete and no further work remained to be done. Statutory Prohibitions: Broad form indemnity agreements are prohibited outright in many states, and are currently prohibited by certain Texas statutes in limited situations. A contractor or subcontractor cannot be required to indemnify a designer (architect or engineer) for personal injury, death or property damage caused by or resulting from the designer’s negligence in rendering defective plans or specifications. Commercial owners cannot require designers to indemnify them for liability due to their own negligence. Texas law bars broad form indemnity agreements in contracts related to oil, gas, mineral, and water well related activities, and certain governmental entities cannot insist on being indemnified for their own negligence. Many predict that when the Texas Legislature convenes again in 2011 it will declare broad form indemnity agreements void as against public policy. Richard L. Reed is a director in the law firm of Coats, Rose, Yale, Ryman & Lee, P.C., which concentrates its practice in construction law and real estate. He is a past chair of the Texas State Bar Construction Law Section. More information is available at www. coatsrose.com. T he Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently revised the steel erection compliance directive the agency's Steel Erection Standard to change two enforcement policies related to tripping hazards and installation of nets or floors during steel erection. One of the revised policies addresses the standard's requirement that employers install a floor or net within two stories or 30 feet, whichever is less. Section 1926.754(b)(3) allows an employer to choose among two options for complying with the provision: install either a (fall protection) net or a floor within two stories or 30 feet (whichever is less). These options provide different safety benefits. A net provides effective fall protection for workers engaged in certain steel erection activities (initial connecting and decking) who, under 1926.760(b)(3) and (c), are permitted to work without using fall protection. It also provides fall protection in the event of non-compliance with the fall protection requirements in 1926.760. Although a floor in this context does not provide effective fall protection, it limits the fall distance. Also, unlike a net, a floor “can be used as a staging area for emergency rescue.” (see volume 66 of the Federal Register, January 18, 2001, at page 5213). Finally, another provision, 1926.759(b), requires falling object protection if other construction processes are permitted to work below steel erection activities. The installation of a floor provides such protection and therefore can serve as a means of complying with 1926.759(b). The other policy states that employers must comply with the requirement that steel studs, known as shear connectors, be installed at the worksite. Shear connectors bind concrete to the steel. Section 1926.754(c) is an engineering control designed to help prevent tripping, and therefore reduces the risk of injury from falling on a shear connector as well as from falling from structural steel. While it is not a comprehensive method of protecting workers from falls, it is a means of reducing the risk of a fall occurring. "Falls are the leading cause of death among construction workers," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "We are intent on reducing the number of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry and believe these policy revisions will help us attain that goal." Bureau of Labor Statistics 2007 data show that 1,204 fatalities occurred in the construction industry, 447 of which resulted from falls. The steel erection standard sets forth requirements to protect workers from the hazards associated with steel erection activities when constructing, altering, and repairing single and multi-story buildings, bridges, and other structures where steel erection occurs. OSHA’s revised policy is located at: https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02-01-046. [email protected] 512-374-0271 x232 Page 12 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 World series of construction W ith images of baseball greats, like Babe Ruth and Jo DiMaggio, playing on giant video screens, the construction industry honored their own champs at the Omni Hotel Oct. 7. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 2009 Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards theme was “For the Love of the Game,” and featured Joe Reinagel, KENS5 Sports anchor as master of ceremonies. The program honors all members of the construction team, including the contractor, owner, design team, subcontractors and suppliers. The EIC awards are presented for outstanding projects completed in the last 12 months, and local winners are eligible to compete for national awards. ABC also presented South Texas Chapter awards and Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) Awards. –kf Industry Professional of the Year Wes Johnson, The Gardner Law Firm Supplier of the Year Rudy Fuselier, Alamo Iron Works Subcontractor of the Year Dennis Yanowski, Marek Brothers Systems Inc. General Contractor of the Year Mike Leonard, Leonard Contracting Inc. Volunteer of the Year Kathleen Acock, Alpha Building Corporation Chairman’s Award Buddy Doebbler, Construction News Commercial: $10-$25 M Middleman Construction Company LLC Plaza Las Campanas Healthcare: Under $10 M Koontz McCombs Construction Inc. KCI Health and Wellness Center Healthcare: $10-$25 M (tie) Metropolitan Contracting Company Ltd. The START Center for Cancer Care Healthcare: $10-$25 M (tie) Skanska USA Building Inc. Methodist Children’s Hospital of South Texas, Emergency Department Addition Historical Renovation: $2-$10 M The Sabinal Group Museo Alameda del Smithsonian Industrial: $10-$25 M SpawGlass Contractors Inc. Union Pacific Railroad San Antonio Intermodal Facility Mechanical: Commercial $2-$10 M TDIndustries Embassy Suites Hotel Mechanical: Commercial Under $2 M A/C Technical Services Ltd. Haven for Hope Renovation $4-$10 M The Sabinal Group Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum Residential: Single Family Troy M. Jessee Construction LP 520 Geneseo/Grinnell Residence Other Specialty Construction $2-$100 M SpawGlass Contractors Inc. Brownsville Sports Park continued on Page 13 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 13 S.T.E.P. Awards A Institutional: $25-$100M Skansak USA Building Inc. Alamo Colleges, St. Philip’s College Multi-Purpose Building Mega-Project: More than $100 M Skanska USA Building Inc. Methodist Stone Oak Hospital and Medical Office Building Historical Renovation: $10-$100 M W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company Mitchell Properties Historical Restoration Institutional: $25-$100 M Joeris General Contractors Ltd. Concordia Lutheran Church New Sanctuary Residential: Multi Family Galaxy Builders Ltd. The Park at Brushy Creek Interiors: Millwork The Koehler Company Concordia Lutheran Church New Sanctuary ssociated Builders and Contractors (ABC) South Texas Chapter also presented its annual safety awards at the Excellence In Construction Awards Banquet Oct. 7. The Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) program recognizes four levels of performance – bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Receiving honors were: Platinum STEP Award winners Alpha Building Corporation Baker Triangle CCC Group Inc. Flasher Equipment Company G.D. Interior Construction Inc. Huser Construction Company Inc. Leonard Contracting Inc. Lyda Swinerton Builders Inc. MK Marlow Company, San Antonio LLC Moore Erection LP SpawGlass Contractors Inc. W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company Gold STEP Award winners Renovation Under $4 M Metropolitan Contracting Company Ltd. San Antonio Country Club Men’s Locker Renovation Commercial: $25-$100 M Joeris General Contractors Ltd. Stone Ridge Market Retail Center A/C Technical Services Ltd. Bartlett Cocke General Contractors Betco Scaffold Browning Construction Company Ltd. CMC Rebar San Antonio Galaxy Builders Ltd. I E S Commercial Inc. Joeris General Contractors Ltd. The Keller-Martin Organization Inc. Keystone Concrete Placement The Koehler Company Koontz McCombs Construction Ltd. Kunz Construction Company Inc. Lattimore Materials Company Marek Bros. Systems Inc. Metropolitan Contracting Company Ltd. Middleman Construction Company LLC Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. TDIndustries Page 14 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 15 Use the weather and moon to your advantage by Capt. Steve Schultz Kevin Howard with Alamo Concrete in San Antonio landed this redfish while fishing the Upper Laguna Madre with Capt. Steve Schultz. Sponsored by: Trans Sport Boats, Mercury Outboards, Chris’s Marine, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Pure Fishing, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, MirrOlure, Bass Assassin and Columbia Sportswear T he weather and moon have a huge impact in the activity level of fish, and knowing how this works can be a big advantage to you as an angler, and it's not necessary to become a meteorologist or astronomer either. The basic information of how these two forces of Mother Nature impact fishing trips is all that is necessary. The information can be learned in a few minutes of study, and will pay dividends for many years to come. In this article, I'm going to outline some tips and techniques to help you catch more fish using the weather and moon phases. Every fisherman knows that the best fishing times are when the fish are feeding. This tends to be during dawn and dusk, but what often goes unnoticed are the two periods elsewhere in the day, moonrise and moonset. Because the moon has an effect on a variety of factors surrounding the fish, including the bait fish they hunt, these periods, combined with the moon's phases, are what trigger feeding. By understanding this and choosing times when sunrise/sunset and moonrise/ moonset coincide with new or full moon phases, you'll increase your chance of a good fishing catch. Assuming there are fish in the area, of course. There’s really is nothing complicated about this at all: it's just a matter of knowing ahead of time exactly when the sun and moon will rise and set. Fish are most active during 90-minute windows surrounding each of these four daily events; that's 45 minutes before and after these four daily points. Fishing during these four periods will Jody Swann, Urban Concrete Contractors, landed this 42-in. redfish on Oct. 14 fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Swann released the fish to fight another day. help increase your fishing catch, but if you plan wisely so as to ensure you're at the water's edge on the days of new or full moon, you can use these windows to reel in a catch like you've never done before. If you have to choose between sunrise/set and moonrise/set, always go with the moon as the moon is the stronger influence. Hunters have always known that fish and game are most active at dawn and dusk or sunrise and sunset, but their activity surrounding moonrise and moonset is less noticeable because these events are likely to occur without effecting any change in the perceived light. The rise and set of a new moon are invisible anyway, and overcast weather often hides the moon. Without prior knowledge of setting and rising times, two of the best fishing times will be missed every day! When planning your fishing by moon phase, there are certain other factors that should also be considered. Weather: Severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. When a storm's brewing, or just after one has passed, is a good time. If this happens while you're in place, you'll be in for a treat! However, if there's a cold front approaching, the fish are likely to move deeper into the water and become inactive. Season: Most fish are more likely to bite willingly during seasonal transitions with the transition from winter to spring and summer to fall being the two best fishing times. Now that you know that moon phase fishing really works, there's no reason why you shouldn't utilize this knowledge to increase your own fishing catch by being at the ready with your rod during the best fishing times available. It's easy and it works! For information in booking your next fishing trip, give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-949-7359 or visit Baffinbaycharters.com. Also please make note of Steve’s new email address: SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail. com. Good Luck and Good Fishing. Zach Warren and Mark Spielman of G.W. Mitchell in San Antonio on a recent outing with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Warren’s redfish measured 27-in. and Spielman’s trout stretched to 23-in. STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS (361) 949-7359 www.baffinbaycharters.com [email protected] U.S. Coast Guard & Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed Page 16 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Ken Milam’s Fishing Line Sponsored by Tropical Marine and Honda Marine My name is Ken Milam and, for the past 26 years, I have been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity of getting to know a good many folks in the construction trade. A hhh…it finally started raining and cooling off! I think this whole part of the world is breathing a sigh of relief and contentment. The countryside is back from the brown cracklies of the dusty drought. Now everywhere you look there is every shade of green. Although we have had enough rain to bring us some relief and in some places even enough to do some flooding, the watershed for the Highland Lakes hasn’t caught enough water yet to help much with the lake levels. The ground is plenty damp, though. Nowadays a passing shower leaves puddles and swelling creeks, so the earth around here has drunk its fill. It is just a matter of time until the right storm system does come to rest over the watershed and the lakes do begin to refill. So far we have come up a little better than a foot on Lake Buchanan. We still have plenty of fish to be caught, and only 40 percent of the lake to catch of them in, so we look forward to some great fall and winter fishing trips. The only trouble is, a lot of our fishermen are more interested in hunting this time of year. Now for the good part…We now offer deer hunting packages, too! You can hunt along the Concho River near Paint Rock. We offer management or trophy hunts, high fence or low fence. One package we offer is $1,595 for one 8 point buck under 130 Boone and Crockett points, plus two does. This is a 2 1/2-day hunt with meals and accommodations provided. This is a management hunt using MLD tags, so you don’t even have to use your deer tags. All you need to do is bring your gun and your clothes and ice chest. Deer processing is available for an additional charge. This is a beautiful place to hunt. Besides deer, there are ducks and you can even fish on a dammed-up part of the Concho River for catfish, crappie or whatever else will take your bait. You could even get a combined package of Lake Buchanan striper fishing and West Texas deer hunting if you like. Just contact me at 325-379-2051 or email me at [email protected] for more details. Whatever you do, I hope you find the time to get outside and enjoy some of the best weather we have had all year! Even with the drought, Fall Creek on Lake Buchanan still flows and keeps its little pool of water. Picture taken at the worst of the drought. Mickey Sanders and group from Taylor Morrison home builders. San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 17 Howell-ing good time Submitted to Construction News Laguna Madre adventure F or 15 years Howell Crane & Rigging has hosted an event that combines a skeet shoot, a dove hunt, an Annie Oakley shooting competition and a barbecue for industry friends and clients. More than 200 guests traveled to the Howell Ranch in Olmos, TX, Oct. 3 to carry on the tradition. The weather cooperated on Saturday for the event, according to Charles Mikolajczyk Jr., Endeavor Real Estate Group. “These holes in the sky explain why the bottom fell out Sunday morning with all the rain!” –kf L-R: Texas Hog Trap & Company – AKA Robert Fox, SARA; Randy Artz, Texana Machinery; Audie Howell, Howell Crane & Rigging; Billy Kotara CCC Group; Dean Fritz, Redondo Manufacturing; Kenny Brett, Moore Erection; and Harvey Wright, Age Refinery – cooked the briskets and Kosciusko sausage with all the trimmings. DeWitt Bebout, Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling Company, caught and released this 28-in. speckled trout while kayak fishing in the Laguna Madre on Oct. 3. –kf Submitted to Construction News Red hot L-R: Finalists in one of the Annie Oakley rounds are Audie Howell, Tamera Odell and Kayla Meyer. Greg and Sylvia Myers, Myers Plumbing, show a whopper red that Greg caught while fishing at Port O’Connor in September. –kf Page 18 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Champions of the game T he construction industry proved once again to be a key supporter of San Antonio Ducks Unlimited at the 47th Annual Banquet Oct. 1 at Alzafar Shrine Temple. Jason McKey, regional director of the Central and South Texas Ducks Unlimited, said, “Without the support of the construction industry, there is no San Antonio Ducks Unlimited. If you look around the tables, I would say 90 percent were construction industry companies.” Guns up, birds down Hunters wait in the wings. More than 400 hunting enthusiasts and guests enjoyed an evening of silent and live auctions, raffles, games, live entertainment and dinner. An estimated $100,000 was raised for conservation and restoration of wetlands and associated habitats for North American waterfowl. Among the live auction items was an African Plains game hunt. Other auction items included deer, duck and dove hunts, fishing trips and a Western getaway. –kf T he Bukowski Ranch in Karnes County was the setting for the Bukowski Properties Inc. Custom Homes Fifth Annual Dove Hunt Sep. 29. Phillip Bukowski welcomed members of the construction industry and service providers for the event. “Most of us have known each other for many years, so it’s great to be able to get together once a year,” said Bukowski. “Old friends get together and the conversations pick up right where they left off last year,” said Larry Webb, project manager for Bukowski Properties Inc. Custom Homes. According to Robin Bukowski, the rain held off for the hunt. “Many came out for the fun, food and laughter. The birds were a bonus!” –kf L-R: Robin Bukowski and Vanessa Young, ready for four-wheeling San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 19 Ccino needs a home F or the past six months Ccino has waited patiently for my little white truck to come up the driveway at the end of each day. As I near the house I can hear his soulful cry, so glad I am finally home. Not long ago Ccino stood wait in a similar way for a soldier, SSgt. Clay Bowen, his owner, to come home. Clay planned to visit Ccino in September and take him home with him in January, when his deployment ended. Ccino was his baby. But he is not coming home. Clay lost his life in Afghanistan in August. Ccino needs a home. I have fostered the amazing dog and his stepsister, Coco, since April. I have loved every minute of it. Just months ago, Clay asked if I would keep Coco. I would love to keep both dogs, but I feel I can only do one dog justice. Coco suits my lifestyle and is content just being outside, chasing squirrels and looking for deer. She doesn’t mind if I have to attend an event in the evening and come home late. Ccino just wants to be loved. He really wants to be a lap dog or your shadow. He is an 18-month-old AKC registered pit bull and weighs about 65 lbs., but he is not the aggressive, dog-fighting kind of pit bull. He might lick you to death, though, or accidentally hit you with his wagging tail. He is crate-trained and neutered. He loves to fetch anything and play. The amazing thing about Ccino is his personality. He will carry on a conversation with you. I have the recordings to prove it! He is very smart, but he is also very funny. Sometimes I just sit in the den and watch him on the deck doing silly things, like putting pieces of carpet on Coco’s head to entice her to play. If you throw a stick, the two dogs retrieve it in tandem. Ccino would make a wonderful companion dog. He is the most affectionate and loyal dog I have ever known. Help me find him a new, loving owner who can appreciate him the way I do and the way Clay did. –Kathie Fox, San Antonio Editor Submitted to Construction News Laguna excursion The name Ccino is short for cappuccino, relating to his color. Josh Colvin, C&C Erection Inc., caught this nice 26.5-in. trout on a recent fishing trip at Laguna Madre. L-R: The crew on the trip are Greg Foy, Keith Colvin, Josh Colvin, Arnold Jasso, Brian Burrier and Angel Berganzo. –kf Submitted to Construction News Katz meow Barbara Katz, wife of Jerry Katz, Alterman Inc., poses with 6 x 6 elk from West Texas. The elk weighed in at 850 lbs. –kf Page 20 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Have gun, will compete Case study A T L-R: Jay Bridgewater, Gabe Aguilar and Chad Fisher, Performance Contracting, and Bennie Malish, retired he construction industry journeyed to the Bexar Community Shooting Range in Marion for the 32nd Annual Hunters Symposium Oct. 1. “This was a great time spent networking and fellowshipping and just plain having fun,” said Bob Pisors, new executive director of the Mechanical Contractors Association and Sheet Metal & A/C National Association (MCA-SMACNA), that hosted the event. L-R: Kurt Mosel, L.C. Mosel Co., presents Rudy Klein, retired MCA-SMACNA executive director, Along with shooting comwith a signed plaque for his 32 years of involvement petitions, participants took part with the Hunters Symposium. in a raffle for more than $6,000 in prizes and an awards dinner. –kf 2nd: Larry Wunsch, LWA Skeet 3rd: Michelle McNatt, Mechanical Reps Expert Division: Louis Mosel, L.C. Mosel Co. Member: Guest Division: 1st: Mike Nobels, Dynamic Systems 1st: Bennie Malish, retired 2nd: Chris Solis, Dynamic Systems 2nd: Bill Allen, retired Terrible Trap: Tyler Chapman, Johnson 3rd: Eddie Mueller, retired Controls Associate Division: Rifle 1st: Ken Brothers, Siemens Tech 2nd: Scott Hutcheson, Texas Air Systems Bullseye Division: Rick Barrera, Goetting & Associates 3rd: Scott Wunsch, LWA Expert: Frank Tuttle, Texas Air Systems Member Division: Guest: 1st: Debbie Wertheim, L.C. Mosel Co. 1st: Brian Goebel, Goetting & Associates 2nd: Heyward Decker, A.J. Monier & Co. Shoddy Skeet: Preston Sartain, Brandt 2nd: Tom Pulliam, Goetting & Associates 3rd: Rudy Garcia, Goetting & Associates Engineering Associate: Trap 1st: Danny Grammer, Morrison Supply Expert: Ross Lowery, Dynamic Systems 2nd: Klint Kingsbury, Texas Air Systems Guest: 3rd: Bud Hurta, TNT Crane & Rigging 1st: Brian Cope, Klein Engineering Member: 2nd: John Scott, retired 1st: Jonathan Wilson, M & M Metals 3rd: Rudy Klein IV, Klein Engineering 2nd: Charles Wolff, L.C. Mosel Co. Associate: 1st: Jay Bridgewater, Performance Con- Ridiculous Rifle: Dwayne Blevins, Trane Company tracting little friendly competition headlined Texana Machinery’s Case Rockin’ Block Party Oct. 8 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Case Skid Steer. Participants maneuvered a skid steer through a tricky obstacle course, balancing tires and then a barrel, in separate rounds. Darrell Lawson, Creative Components, won the $500 VISA gift card grand prize. The party also raised $2,065 for Habitat for Humanity. “We were excited about the turnout and had a great time with everybody that showed up,” said Kyle Smith, Texana. “Darrell was the smoothest guy out there. We enjoyed the competition with the varying styles of operators. We had a Aloys Dziuk tries his hand at the skid steer obstacle course. couple of people get a little wild, but nothing out of control.” –kf A crowd gathers for refreshments and prize drawings. Industry FOLKS Matt Harwood AmeriCRANE Rentals LP M att Harwood, AmeriCRANE Rentals LP, says his best friend is also his boss: his father, Tom Harwood, AmeriCRANE partner. “My dad has helped put me where I am,” Harwood said. “Not many people can work with their dad, but we enjoy working with each other.” After Harwood graduated from MacArthur High School and attended college in College Station, TX, and Corpus Christi, TX, he had the opportunity to return to San Antonio and join the company his father and Steve White founded. “It was great to be able to come back and work for my dad. I ran a crane for a little while, and I am still in a crane once or twice a week. One thing my dad wanted me to do was put some time in, in the seat. He worked for John Deere for 25 years as a vice president, and he always told me some of his best salesmen were mechanics at one time, or spent some time in the field. “It has really paid off. I have good knowledge of what I am selling, plus in this industry, everybody is a lot older than me. It helps earn a little respect with people when they see you out on a job running a crane. I know where the cranes need to be set up. I know what’s going to be in the way. It makes a big difference when sizing up a job.” Harwood lives in Schertz with his wife of two years, Michelle. The couple travels to Europe often to visit her military family. Her father is a colonel in the Air Force and is based in Germany. “Last year I went to Germany, France and Switzerland,” Harwood said. “I was in Paris for New Year’s last year.” He also did a little snowboarding in the Swiss Alps. Harwood’s other interests include fishing at the coast and working on the family’s 1,100-acre cattle ranch in Cuero. “It’s a real working ranch. We run about 100 cows and four bulls. It’s a family ranch and has been in my family for about 120 years. It came from my great-great-grandmother on my dad’s side. “We do a lot of partying out there. We have a great big barn that used to be a hay barn, and we have concreted the floors and it’s got fire pits in it now. It doesn’t look like a barn now when you go in it. It has neon lights all in it. I used to play in it when I was little, when it was full of hay and snakes. We have added something new to it each year for 25 years.” –kf San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Equipment wonderland Page 21 T he newest, the biggest and the most powerful in construction equipment were on display during Associated General Contractors of Texas’ 26th Annual Trade and Construction Equipment Show held Oct. 19-20 at the Austin Convention Center. Exhibitors from Texas and beyond shared with show-goers how the various FOR LEASE Office/Warehouse with Yard 6000 SqFt Total Location 13313 Western Oak San Antonio, TX Contact Gary Wade 210-695-3451 pieces of equipment on display could be used, and how they have become more efficient and earth-friendly. A grand opening luncheon featuring Speaker of the House Joe Straus III kicked off the two-day event, followed by live and silent auctions, an opening reception, seminars, summits, workshops, and a closing fish fry. –va Page 22 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Submitted to Construction News Construction News ON LOCATION Desert life Happy days Members of the construction industry headed to Terlingua, TX Oct. 15-18 for a four-wheeling adventure. They saw the results of recent rains with blooming plants and an assortment of animals in the desert. L-R: Eddie and Maria Rodriguez, Equipment Depot; Tracie and Jerry Martin, Acme Brick/Featherlite; Terrie and Tommy Dechert, Lundberg Masonry –kf South Texas Plumbing Inc. in Pleasanton, TX, is celebrating 35 years in the plumbing and HVAC contracting business. L-R: Jerry Mulder and President George Allen. –kf Green party T he inaugural Going Green Awards were presented Oct. 22 at the Pearl Stable. Event hosts were the San Antonio Business Journal, American Institute of Architects, Build San Antonio Green and the U.S. Green Building Council – Central Texas, Balcones Chapter. –kf Construction industry related awards are: Leadership: Public Sector CPS Energy Entrepreneur Cinco Solar Inc. Innovation VRTX Technologies Marketing Campaign San Antonio Water System Building Management Concord Property Corporation Commercial Builder SpawGlass Residential Builder Imagine Homes Architect Lake|Flato Architects Wildcard: Visionary Bill Sinkin, Build San Antonio Green Wildcard: Commercial Overlook at the Rim Extra Papers? Visit our Website at: www.constructionnews.net Select “Rack Locations” for a complete list of all rack locations where newspapers can be picked up. We do not mail additional newspapers. If you would like a personal subscription ($35 per year, per city) select “Subscribe.” San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 23 Architects & Engineers Green machine on the move Greg Garteiser, Associate LK Design Group Inc. San Antonio, TX W hat have been the positive changes in architecture and construction in the past year? The economy has put a lot of focus on economical, sustainable, recycled and energy-efficient products and construction methods. Building owners are starting to look more closely at energy paybacks and more sustainable materials in order to make their projects a better overall investment. What is everyone talking about? Green building and sustainable design is a big topic from the manufacturing process all the way to the construction equipment being used. It’s not just about selecting a sustainable product: the manufacturing footprint and the construction means are now a factor. BIM [Building Information Modeling] has really taken off lately, with govern- ment entities and facility management groups now starting to require deliverables in BIM format for their use in postconstruction management. Manufacturers have also embraced BIM and are providing a wide range of their products as components for download and use in model files, which helps at the design-process level. There are also some great products coming out that allow us, as designers, to perform energy use analysis, green building compliance and interference checking, by just running the software on the BIM file, making adjustments and running again to see if improvements were made. We can see other areas where BIM analysis tools could really help the process of information modeling to be more efficient in the future – Building Code checking, product material compatibility issues, utility grouping/stacking, just to name a few. Are there significant differences in the 2006 and 2009 International Building Codes? Yes, there are quite a few changes that bring the building code in line with the NFPA life safety code. Most of the changes concentrate around building construction types and fire protection. The changes make buildings safer during a fire or disaster situation, and also make it easier for first responders to find equipment shutdowns, fire control equipment and occupants caught in the building. How have the changes affected how your firm conducts business? We are adopting standards that we typically use for our healthcare projects to all of our projects in order to meet the new building code requirements. The existing life safety code required many of the provisions be incorporated into healthcare facility design for the past decade. The changes to the building code are adapting these requirements to a broader range of building occupancies, such as office buildings and retail. Our broad healthcare experience will allow us to quickly adapt to the new requirements. BIM and Texas Chris Tisdel, Director of Building Information Modeling Texas Facilities Commission Austin, TX W hat was the impetus for the Texas Facilities Commission to adopt Building Information Modeling (BIM) for state design and construction projects? As an owner of many existing state buildings and the project manager for many new construction projects for the state, the Texas Facilities Commission believes that BIM is the catalyst for a new and greater level of collaboration. Greater collaboration between architectural and engineering disciplines, along with the constructors of the buildings has a huge, cumulative effect on any and all projects where BIM has been implemented. The benefits of BIM for the state come in many forms, including greater quality control over state projects, efficient use of taxpayer dollars through coordinated schedules and budgets, and the capture of data pertaining to a project during the design and construction process. For an owner, the capture and use of data for the lifecycle of a building can prove to be invaluable. Although the initial project cost varies greatly, it is never more than the lifecycle costs associated with the buildings’ maintenance and energy usage. By utilizing a virtual building or BIM model, constant analysis and monitoring can be done that informs TFC and other stewards of state buildings as to its constant performance or occasional problems and by doing so in real-time with good information, adjustments and solutions can be formed and implemented quickly. Wisconsin was the first state to mandate BIM for new projects with budgets of $2.5 million or more. Why did Texas, the second state to adopt BIM, choose to mandate it for all new construction? Texas chose to adopt BIM for all new construction projects, regardless of a dollar amount. The main reason for this “full adoption” centers on the capturing of as much data as possible for all state building projects. Further, TFC contracts with design professionals and constructors of all sizes and portfolios and truly believes that there is no limitation on the benefits the BIM process allows. As proficiency grows, BIM simply allows one to do more with less; whether it is in the form of drawings and deliverables, analytical analysis, or number of people allocated to a given project. All projects for the state of Texas should take advantage of the best practices of the design and construction industries, and BIM is the technological culmination of those best practices. At present, the BIM requirement adopted by TFC concerns new construction only, but does not preclude BIM being used on renovation projects or the eventual collection of as-built data in the form of existing buildings, being modeled in BIM. Tell me about the interoperable BIM template that all private sector partners will have access to prior to any involvement in a state project. How does that work? In an effort to enable the BIM collaborative process, What is the most significant challenge your industry faces? Keeping a steady project development backlog during the economic change. We have managed to stay busy over the past year. However we have not had the project backlog that we typically have had in the past. What is on the horizon for your industry? Sustainable design and green building has become much more attainable without a great deal of additional project cost. This has made the length of time to payback on investment shorter for owners, making sustainable design more viable for projects with tight budgets. Many manufacturers are building sustainability and recycling into their process, which by default builds it into the design and construction process. In the near future, sustainability will be part of the project because it’s a more economical choice. LK Design Group was founded by Lynn Kuckelman Peters, AIA, IIDA, in 1996. Working in both the private and public sectors, LK Design Group has experience in corporate office, healthcare, retail, hospitality and restaurant projects. –kf TFC has developed a clear set of standards and guidelines for the architect/engineer professional community, along with a BIM template. The standards and guidelines were developed to give design professionals a clear level of detail for required BIM models and will be updated on a quarterly basis, if needed, to reflect any additions to the TFC BIM template. The document walks a BIM beginner or seasoned BIM user, alike, through the phases and required deliverables of any new construction project for TFC. The TFC BIM template was created to aid design professionals in delivering exactly what is being asked for in TFC contract requirements. The template includes typical libraries of BIM elements such as standard interior walls, with data embedded in these objects that TFC will later use and analyze during the life of the building. Schedules, detailing and sheet layouts are also standardized, where possible, and ready to use by project team members. The TFC BIM template will, initially, be given to project teams for their explicit use on state projects, but the template will likely be published for public use at a later date. Beyond the template, TFC is currently developing a wide area network (WAN) solution where all project team members work in a single, BIM model file. This centralized file would contain object data only and would be hosted on TFC servers from its inception. While the BIM model is holistically shared, the contract documents or “instruments of service” based on the BIM model would be delivered in the traditional method where only a particular discipline would be able to edit its documentation. Chris Tisdel, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, is developing standard practices and procedures for the adoption of BIM for all new construction for the state of Texas. Want to know more? Tisdel provides a four-minute video introduction to BIM in Texas at: http://www.tfc.state.tx.us/communities/facilities/prog/ construct/bim.wmv Page 24 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Architects & Engineers Accepting change in engineering Elbert “Bert” Link, P.E. Othon Inc. Houston, TX W hat is your perspective on the current state of the Houston construction industry? From what I see and where I have been, it appears the recession is not hurting us right now. I think the climate is good for construction in Houston. What types of changes have you seen in engineering? There are new areas the licensing people are going into. For instance, they now license software engineers, which is entirely different from what we used to do. The licensing board has now added construction management to the civil engineering licenses. Those people who are out doing construction management can now use that experience in gaining their professional license. I remember working at Houston engineering firm in 1978. The company had well over 100 engineers. We had two or three computers in the office. It took the next 10 to 12 years before every engineer had a computer on his or her desk. Who knows what will be next. We may have computers the same size of an iPod. Do you think more young people are getting involved in engineering? Not enough. I am a member of Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) and we do all we can to encourage young people to come into the profession. I am involved in two programs Politics affects planning Rod Booze, Principal Ascension Group Architects LLP Arlington, TX H ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms? The industry is adjusting and experiencing a contraction relative to the overall conditions of the economy. We have seen and felt a slowdown generally. Specifically, many projects cannot materialize due to inability to achieve financing. What factors are driving this slowdown? Uncertainty in Obama’s health plan has placed significant risk within all players in the healthcare community and financing has been a significant challenge in tandem with this uncertainty. How has this slowdown affected your company and how you conduct business? We have tightened our belt as you would expect, and we have heightened our responsiveness to existing clientele and enhanced our marketing efforts. What are the “hot button” issues in your industry? All issues affecting costs, i.e., seed to market, completeness of documents, evaluation of alternatives, etc. What are the major changes relating to the type of work you do? The general public is more educated called Future Cities and Mathcounts. The programs are for middle schoolers. We are trying to get the kids involved before high school. If we wait to encourage the kids when they are juniors and seniors, they will miss some of the prerequisites they are going to need in college. What are the challenges in engineering? About five years ago, I talked to the dean of engineering at Rice University. He said at the time that they had no idea what to teach civil engineers because by the time they graduated, most of what they have been taught was obsolete and they were into something different already. This is an example of what is happening all over the profession. We are progressing in the amount of knowledge we have and the way we work, that it is almost impossible to teach it at school. What does it take to be a good engineer? First of all, it takes brainpower. You relative to “green” building design and construction. We have a heightened sensitivity to these issues in healthcare, which we have not seen before. Additionally, we are seeing the advantage and the hype of building information modeling. What is the most significant challenge you face? Change. Healthcare environments and developments demand change consistent with the change in overall healthcare delivery models and the reimbursement structures thereof. How about cost increases? Complexity and infrastructure of medical equipment and medical environments increase cost, and competition reduces fees supporting deliverables and level of service. How are you dealing with these challenges? Deliver a better product. Enhance service. Bring expertise to the table. Bottom line – the industry will value and pay for expertise. have to study and know what you are doing. You have to know how to treat other people. You have to be a leader and express leadership qualities. In my opinion, you must have an outstanding ethics and moral background. The profession changes so fast that sometimes we do things without having total knowledge of the result of the situation. For example, I worked on the Sam Houston Toll Road project. In many cases, we would have to make changes on the spot because of the drainage situation or bridge beams. The engineer in the construction area has to be ready to accept change. Why is the profession rewarding? We are tasked with the health, safety and welfare of the public. If we can do that, then we have done a good job on this Earth as human beings. Othon Inc. is a consulting engineering firm specializing in civil and structural engineering, transportation and construction management. –ab What do you see on the horizon? Changes in technology, changes in codes, ordinances or laws, other? Change is inevitable in technology, codes, ordinances, etc. We fully expect that healthcare environments will continue to be the most complex and highly regulated environments in the building industry for the right reasons. The healthcare industry can heal no one except the tools and protectives be in place to provide the care required. What are the rewards of the industry? Our buildings give back and support the efforts of the medical industry to provide compassionate care to our communities. What are keys to being successful? Expertise, intelligence and responsiveness. Located in Arlington, TX, Ascension Group Architects LLP is an award-winning architecture/planning/interior design firm, specializing in healthcare, science and institutional facilities. – mjm San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 25 Architects & Engineers Measures for weathering recessionary storm Aaron Googins, P.E., Vice President King Engineering Austin, TX W hat is your observation about the construction slowdown? It has become extremely challenging. We have noticed through our bidding process that construction prices have dropped on the average about 30 percent, which is in line with our revenues for engineering services. How do those price drops affect the building process? I recall that about two years ago we bid a project and the average bids came in close to our estimate, but there were two bidders who were 25 percent lower. When I see that it makes me nervous as an engineer. I think, “How was the contractor able to get his numbers so low? Was there something in the plans that he overlooked? Were our plans clear?” Our concern for our clients is that they have an unqualified or desperate contractor on board. Sometimes clients think that when they open the bid and the average number is $1 million and the low bid is $600,000, they are saving $400,000. We are happy if our client can save $400,000, but we need to take a step back and make sure that the low bidder is qualified to do the work. You don’t want to be 60 percent complete and have the contractor walk away. How has the downturn affected your firm? It has affected our company in a couple of ways. We provide construction staking here in Austin, and we also provide construction observation. Not in Austin, but in our other offices we provide full-time, on-sight inspection. Construction staking and inspection revenue is a fraction of what it once was. How are you protecting your clients’ and contractors’ interests? We’ve tightened up our bidding Here’s what a blogger had to say about Texas Facilities Commission’s adoption of BIM this summer: “Texas has pulled the trigger, officially adopting BIM for use on TFC projects. This will have a HUGE impact on the AEC industry in Texas and around the country. Laggards who fail to formulate a BIM implementation plan – as well as integrated project delivery strategies and lean construction processes – will be in a real bind in the very near future. The BIM horse has officially left the barn in Texas.” James L. Salmon, President Collaborative Construction Resources CollaborativeConstruction.Blogspot.com Aug. 19, 2009 NEXT MONTH December 2009 Construction Equipment Call for Ad Space Reservations (210) 308-5800 2009 Schedule Jan: Feb: Mar: Apr: May: Jun: Construction Forecast Construction Safety Construction Education Women in Construction Concrete Industry HVAC & Plumbing July: Aug: Sep: Oct: Nov: Dec: Electrical Industry Service Providers Green Building Trends Specialty Contractors Engineers & Architects Construction Equipment • San Antonio • Austin • Dallas/Ft. Worth • Houston practices and our pre-qualification practices. While I can’t begrudge someone who is looking for a way to put food on his table, there is too much at stake for our project to be subject to a new company’s learning curve. How will the engineering industry change once the market picks up again? For us, this is an opportunity. We’ve opened up a couple of new offices and have found some great people to lead them. For the industry as a whole, there are so many talented people out there who have been laid off, so I believe that there will be a lot of new firms starting up, some good start-ups, that will come out of this. There may also be some mergers between companies who had to do so in order to keep their companies alive. It will be interesting from the client makeup as well. While work is slow between clients and engineers, that relationship may go stale. This gives other firms the opportunity to establish a new relationship and possibly become the firm that the client chooses in the future. What are some other keys to staying successful? Hard work and communication with both clients and contractors is key. With clients it’s key so that we provide what they want, when they want it. For example, “Client, I know I said I would have this done today, but it will be Wednesday instead,” versus not making that call. With contractors it’s key so that we can identify questions/conflicts early, before they become problems. You may produce a set of plans that will be seen by 12 contractors who are all experts in their fields. You want them to be able to tell you, “These plans are horrible” if they are horrible. If you are unaware of a problem with the plans, it can’t be fixed, so communication between everyone involved is a must. Established in 1977 in Tampa, FL, King Engineering is a full-service engineering and surveying firm for master plan communities, and for water, wastewater and stormwater facilities. –va Page 26 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Architects & Engineers BIM industry’s “key change” Jeff Fry, Principal The VDC Group and Legacy Architecture Dallas, TX H ow has the recession affected your company and how you conduct business? Our focus took a major shift in late 2008. We found that one of our most valuable commodities is our knowledge of and experience using Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies. We have been a leader, and in fact an early adopter, of 3-D BIM in our design work. Therefore, it was a natural extension of our core business to offer that experience to our partners such as general contractors, subcontractors, owners and developers. What are your “hot button” issues? The design and construction industry is buzzing about building information modeling and sustainable design and construction. Technology is finally catching up to the dreams and aspirations of architects and engineers whereas smarter documentation, analysis and evaluation can be done for a design project much earlier and much easier than ever before. Going hand in hand with this are the emphasis and demand for more energyefficient buildings and eco-friendly building materials. The real bang for the buck is merging energy analysis, sustainable design and building lifecycle management within the available toolset offered by BIM. Additionally, we adopted two software applications to offer energy analysis and decision-making tools – one for conceptual design and the other for our final design documentation. Most intriguing about these tools is at the conceptual design phase. We offer a service to analyze site, building and energy data at the conceptual design phase to give building owners better information earlier in the process to determine whether their building project should or should not be built. What are recent major changes relating to your work? Business operational costs have risen dramatically over the last several years making it very challenging for business owners to remain competitive without raising billable rates. Insurance costs for employees and project liability insurance continue to rise. Additionally, contractors are faced with rising insurance coverage requirements that impact how competitively they can bid their projects. Perhaps the most rewarding industry change that impacts the work we do is with the technology advancements of BIM. We can do 25 to 50 percent more work, more accurately, with better results through our use of BIM over CAD. We’ve used 3-D in our design process for many years, but what it allows us to do is better collaborate with our partners and assist other companies in the use of this technology. What changes do you see on the horizon? The key change in this industry is the use of BIM. It is changing contractual relationships, legal responsibilities and the delivery methods for the project teams. Many have heard of Integrated Proj- Location Location Location Location Publishing the Industry’s News . . . TEXAS Style ect Delivery (IPD), which is a project delivery process that integrates people, systems and business practices into a collaboration to optimize project results and value to the owner. IPD at its core is not a new approach, it just happens to have the technology behind it to make it more possible than ever before. The manufacturing industry adopted concurrent engineering practices coupled with digital prototyping years ago. This is achieved now in the building industry with the use of BIM to virtually design and construct a building. The impact of this will be felt throughout the industry and should ultimately prove to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and reduce risk. This is a change that has very little downside to it. Headquartered in Dallas with a regional office in Greenville, SC, The VDC Group offers virtual design and construction services utilizing building information modeling (BIM). Legacy Architecture in Dallas offers design services for commercial, educational, retail, religious, restaurant and industrial and multi-family projects. –mjm Dallas/Fort. Worth Austin San Antonio Houston Home Office (210) 308-5800 www.constructionnews.net San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 27 Cheers to 70 years Strength in numbers E xhibitors showed architects from across the state the newest technologies, systems and materials at the Texas Society of Architects (TSA) 70th Annual Convention Oct. 22-24. The convention and the Design, Products & Ideas Expo took place at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. On the last day, TSA presented the 2009 Design Awards to recognize outstanding projects and architectural firms. –ab Bonded Systems Ltd. Here are the winners: Elements by Buchanan Architecture, Dallas House in the Garden by Cunningham Architects, Dallas A ImageNet by Elliott + Associate Architects, Houston International Terminal D, DFW Airport by HKS, Corgan Associates and HNTB, Dallas Lenora & Walter F. Brown Asian Art Wing by Overland Partners Architects, San Antonio The Chism Co Light & Sie Art Gallery by Laguarda Low Architects, Dallas Linda Pace Foundation Offices by Poteet Architects, San Antonio Long Gallery Carport & Parking Plaza by Dillon Kyle Architecture, Houston Museo Alameda by Jackson & Ryan Architects, San Antonio 1400 South Congress by Dick Clark Architecture, Austin University of Texas Center for Brain Health by HKS, Dallas Wolfe Den by MJ Neal Architects, Austin Rooftech L-R: Chris Story, P.E.; Justice Edge, P.E.; and Charles Raajan Mehta, P.E. year ago Mehta West Brashear (MWB Group) was just officing with Jaster-Quintanilla (JQ) in its Dallas location. Today MWB is part of the JQ family. JQ and MWB Group are joining up to provide a wider range of services and a larger talent pool, according to Raajan Mehta, P.E., who will assume leadership responsibilities for the newly formed JQ Infrastructure Division. JQ is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a structural and civil engineering firm, with recent expansion into infrastructure at its Dallas office. As a consulting engineering firm, MWB Group’s focus has been primarily public and government infrastructure projects. Together the goal is to take on more “pieces” of a project, according to Mehta. But the two firms’ compatibility isn’t strictly business. “Our cultures are very similar. Demographically, at least in this office, they are a fairly young group, and I have a fairly young group as well,” Mehta said. “So the mix of personnel is very good.” Justice Edge, P.E., JQ San Antonio principal, says the family-like atmosphere has helped attract employees and landed the company awards in several “Best Places to Work” competitions. “We do all sort of things together outside of the workplace,” Edge said. “We have our own AIA softball team made up entirely of JQ employees. We actually placed first this year. We have two teams in the AIA bowling league and we are often out at McAllister Park playing soccer, either in the six-on-six community league, or just on a pick-up game with some of our clients.” For Halloween, all the offices do pumpkin carving. “We put together teams and have a little potluck, so to speak, and spend an hour carving a pumpkin in each team,” Edge said. “Then we invite some of our clients to come in and be the judges and choose whose creation was the most unique.” The JQ staff also takes a break now and then to do a little paintball competition. –kf Page 28 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 continued from Page 1 — Color of the future Reel winners A record was set at the 2009 Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC)-San Antonio Saltwater Fishing Tournament at Rockport Oct. 3, according to Heidi Trimble, executive director. “It was a really successful tournament,” Trimble said. “We had 125 participants fishing. This was a record year also for ladies participating – 16! That's awesome to see!” Awards were presented at a dinner banquet following the tournament at the Rockport Saltwater Beach Pavilion. –kf Winners are: Heavy Stringer 1st ($150 ea.): Hertz Equipment/RDO Equipment, 15.59 lbs. – Chris Wiatrek, Darrell Lyssy, Tommy Kotzur, Scott Wiatrek 2nd ($100 ea.): PMI Sales & Marketing, 10.66 lbs. – Buster Williams, Mike Mannis, Terry Collins, Rudy Garcia 3rd ($75 ea.): Shafer Services team #4, 10.47 lbs. – Frank Lujan, Daniel Lujan, Jimmy Shafer, Joshua Moore 4th ($50 ea.):A & A Plumbing,10.09 lbs. – Joey Suarez, Delanah Suarez, Patrick Smith, Brian Gravell Individual Awards Ladies’ Division Red ($50): Kelly Rigsby, Kohler, 7.02 lbs. Trout ($50): Judy Comer, CPS Energy, 1.46 lbs. Flounder ($50): Delanah Suarez, A & A Plumbing, 2 lbs. Men’s Division Red ($50): Doug Trimble, Ferguson Enterprises, 6.64 lbs. Trout ($50): Steven Stanush, S & S Plumbing Contractors, 3.57 lbs. Flounder ($50): Rick Martinez, Air Jireh, 4.41 lbs. Heaviest Other Fish ($50): Manuel Garza, Gibson Plumbing, Black Drum, 4.42 lbs. Most Spots on Redfish ($100): Jim Ziehmke, Steve Mechler & Associates, 10 spots Shotgun Winner: Bobby Randolph, Ferguson Enterprises Henry 22 Winner: Dan Knight, Steve Mechler & Associates Flatstalker fishing watercraft: $1,400 value, winner: Fred Collazo, Fred’s Plumbing “We want to put our money where our mouth is. We are doing it to show our customers and other people that here is what it looks like, and here is how it’s going to work, and here is what you are going to get out of it. We are documenting what we are doing every step of the way.” Corbo says the byproduct of the focus is cost savings down the road on energy bills, along with being good for the planet. As a member of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Corbo Electric has benefited from the association’s research and development foundation on solar energy and sustainable power, he says. The company is also seeking certifications through training, and has received assistance from other green-conscious electrical contractors. –kf continued from Page 1 — Master of machismo Sarah and Nathan Cernosek, Frost Bank and Insurance One team, caught their limit by 10am. Team Shafer Services says paddlers must also deal with the natural inhabitants of the river and the banks: insects, snakes and alligators. Nearing the end of this year’s race, as he was paddling across San Antonio Bay, Stuman had a close encounter with a 12-ft. reptile. “You start seeing alligators about Victoria. When you paddle through the night, between Victoria and Tivoli, they come out and there are Rhett Stuman describes his encounter hundreds of them. At night with a 12-ft. alligator. they have bright red eyes and In his roofing career other challenges you can see then from a ways off. This particular one climbed over the bow of have come in the form of projects, like helping rebuild along the Texas Coast afthe canoe.” Stuman had pushed his canoe to ter Hurricane Ike. He went to League City, shore to empty water he took on from a TX, to help some of his relatives, and the wave, when his feet became mired in neighborhood wouldn’t let him leave. about a foot of mud. The alligator lunged They needed roofing, too. “We ended up in Surfside, TX. We across the bow of the canoe. “He put two paws and his head over worked there all last fall and stayed for six and snarled at me. I couldn’t go any- months. We did about 35 or 40 metal where because I was stuck in the mud. I roofs between there and Galveston.” In Surfside, Stuman said the water slapped him in the head with my paddle, and he jumped in the water and took from the storm surge reached 14 ft. and took out entire rows of houses. –kf off.” Why does Stuman do it? “It’s a challenge. On this race, you don’t try to win it, you try to finish it.” continued from Page 1 — Building second chances Davila is the project manager, and the superintendent is Leroy Kessler. Davila has worked on projects with architect, Alex Gonzalez, and the executive director of the American GI Forum, Carlos Martinez, for 10 years. “We did the first phase of the Work Center back three years ago,” Davila said. Davila also used most of the same subcontractors on the new project. Subcontractors are Air Mechanical, Allied Fire, Beldon Roofing Company, Enviro-Arts, Jay’s Welding, J.D. Glass & Tinting, Klinger Specialties, Phoenix Masonry, The Cabinet Corner, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, Tile Works by J&E and United Cleaning. “The biggest challenge was getting it started with the financing,” Davila said. “There weren’t enough funds to do what they wanted. We had to go back to our subcontractors and engineers and value engineer. That took probably two months of changing plans and resubmitting them. We finally got it to the budget. It’s tight, and it didn’t leave us much money for contingency.” Davila Construction actually started out as Davila Plumbing, founded by Albert Davila Sr. in 1956. In 1982 Tony Davila took over the business. “I started moving more toward general construction. By 1990 it was 100 percent general construction, and we stopped doing plumbing.” The company is located on Bonham Street in a historic building Davila bought and remodeled. Davila Construction focuses on commercial construction and multi-family. –kf Dormitory restroom San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Page 29 Association Calendar Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC Associated Builders & Contractors Unless otherwise noted, all events are at the ABC offices, 10408 Gulfdale. Nov. 2: New Employee Orientation, 8-11am, $45 person. Class will cover safety issues, employee responsibilities and the construction process. Nov. 10: Safety Smarts & Lunch, “OSHA Update – What is Cooking Up Now,” Clear Springs Restaurant, $15 member; $25 non-member Nov. 16: New Employee Orientation, 8-11am, $45 person Nov. 17: First Aid Certification, Engineering Safety Consultants offices, 12758 Cimarron Path, Ste. 127, 5:30pm, $20 member; $30 non-member Nov. 18: CPR Certification, Engineering Safety Consultants offices, 12758 Cimarron Path, Ste. 127, 5:30pm, $20 member; $30 non-member Nov. 17-20: OSHA 30 Hour, 8am; $500 member, $650 non-member Nov. 18: OSHA Record Keeping – Friend or Foe? 9-11am, $25 member; $50 nonmember Nov. 19: Wild Game Cook-off & Quail Fun Shoot. Cook-team registration $200; limited to first 10 teams; free admission; shoot fee $10 person For more info or to register for all classes and events, call the ABC office, 210-3421994 or visit the website at www.abcsouthtexas.org. Unless otherwise noted, all events are at the IEC office Nov. 17: A&T Committee meeting,11am Nov. 18: Board of directors mtg, 11am Dec. 11: Holiday Open House/Casino Night/Board Installation, 6-11pm ACCA Nov. 17: Board of Directors meeting, O’Krent Abbey Flooring Center, 2075 N. Loop 1604, 4:30pm Nov. 19: Membership meeting, Embassy Suites, 7750 Briaridge, 11am AGC Associated General Contractors Nov. 12: Casino Night and Construction Industry Awards, San Antonio Airport Hilton, 6-10pm, business- casual attire Nov. 12-13: Project Manager Development Program: Project Administration, AGC office, 7:30am-5pm Nov. 19: Safety and Health Committee meeting, AGC office, 11:30am Nov. 20: Board of Directors’ meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8am Nov. 24: YCF Steering Committee, AGC office, 4:30pm Dec. 10: Holiday Open House, AGC office, 4-7pm; hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served. Ericatures will be on hand to provide some addition fun. Dress is casual. For more info contact AGC office 210349-4921 AIA American Institute of Architects Nov. 4: Design Awards, Pearl Stable ASA American Subcontractors Association Nov. 17: Dinner meeting; location to be determined; topic: Are We Still in a Recession? For more info contact Heidi Davis at [email protected] or 210349-2105 Construct A Kid’s Christmas Dec. 3: Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala, Alzafar Shrine Temple, 6-11pm Dec. 4: Construct A Kid’s Christmas Toy Drive, Construction News offices, 11931 Warfield (corner of Nakoma & Warfield); 10am-2pm HCA Hispanic Contractors Association Nov. 2: Project Management Program, UTSA, 501 W. Durango, Rm. 2.316, 6pm Nov. 9: Project Management Program, UTSA, 501 W. Durango, Rm. 2.316, 6pm Nov. 16: Project Management Graduation, Vaughn Construction, 1400 Universal City Blvd., 6pm Nov. 18: General meeting, Doubletree Hotel, 6pm; $25 non-members, $20 members; RSVP to [email protected] Dec. 2: Board of Directors, Doubletree Hotel, noon For more info on events and classes, or to RSVP email [email protected] On course IEC Independent Electrical Contractors Air Conditioning Contractors of Amer. Submitted to Construction News MCA–SMACNA Mechanical Contractors Association Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn. Nov. 4: Regular and Associate Member firms meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am Nov. 18: Joint Industry Fund Forum and Business meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am Nov. 25: Secretaries Luncheon, Oak Hills Country Club, noon NARI Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry NARI SA meets monthly for general membership meetings, with mixers, and Roundtable discussions. For more info on events visit http://www.narisanantonio. com or call 210-499-4694 NAWIC Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction Nov. 4: Regular business meeting, The Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels; networking 5:30pm, cash bar; meeting and dinner 6:15pm; $27 members, $32 non-members; Maryanna Christensen, Harding-Conley–Drawert-Tinch Insurance Agency Inc. to speak on networking; reservations required, contact Jennifer Swinney 210-695-8701, ext 101, [email protected] or Sandee Morgan 210-4025423, ext. 3379, [email protected] The Ridout Barrett & Co. P.C. team, first place net, shows off trophies from the 17th Annual American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Golf Tournament at Republic Golf Club Oct. 5. Other winners were second place net, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors; first place gross, KCM Cabinets Inc.; second place gross, Wilborn Steel Co. Ltd.; ladies’ longest drive, Michelle Seward-Davis, Joeris General Contractors Ltd.; men's longest drive, John Rodriguez, Wilborn Steel Co. Ltd.; closest to the pin, Jeremy Jones, M&M Metals. –kf Serious BBQ PHCC Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Nov. 12: Chapter contractor lunch meeting, Water Street Oyster Bar, 11am-1pm; topic: Preparing for an IRS audit in the Construction Industry presented by Padgett/Stratemann Call 210-523-1540 or visit www.phcc-sanantonio.org for more info or to register for events SAABE San Antonio Assn. of Building Engineers Nov. 18: General meeting, Embassy Suites Hotel, 7750 Briaridge Dr., 11:30am SAMCA San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn. Nov. 18: Monthly general membership meeting, noon, Pappadeaux Restaurant, 76 NE Loop 410; guest speaker: Rudy Garza, Brick Industry Association; topic: Local Government Zoning Ordinances; lunch $25 person; For more info or reservations, call Debbie at 830-606-5556. SDA Society for Design Administration Nov. 5: Networking/board of directors meeting, hosted by Christine Flick, Ford, Powell & Carson Inc. Nov 7: Design Treasures Seminar, 9amnoon, P.F. Stewart Elementary (SAISD), 1950 Rigsby Ave Nov. 19: Chapter meeting, Culinary Institute at Pearl Brewery, Tour Culinary Institute of America: contacting party Jessica Hamm, SA Partnership, LLP, and Laura Smith, AIA Dec. 4: Christmas Party, hosted by Stella Bustos, Spectrum Lighting Dec. 5: Annual Retreat, hosted by Jessica Hamm, president elect TSPS Texas Society of Professional Surveyors Nov. 5: Chapter 11 board meeting, noon, Jacobs Engineering Nov. 19: Chapter Business Meeting, Hungry Horse Restaurant, 11:30am-1pm Dec. 3: Chapter 11 Board Meeting, Jacobs Engineering, 12-1pm USGBC U.S. Green Building Council Nov. 6: LEED for General Contractors, half-day program, International Center, 203 S. Saint Mary’s, 8am-12:30pm; Registration $205 national member, $275 nonnational member; for more info visit www.usgbc.org Attendees line up for barbecue with all the fixin’s prior to a safety seminar at Leon Valley Community and Conference Center Oct. 15. More than 100 people signed up for the event presented by CPS Energy and Texas Excavation Safety Systems. –ld Page 30 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Easy rider J oe Ossorio owner of Texas Steel Welding and Erectors, describes himself as “your typical tattooed ironworker biker.” When work stress gets to him, he hops on his 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce – the 100th anniversary edition, of course – and the stress is gone. Ossorio started out in the steel industry at the young age of 20 at Hans Steel. “I was a certified welder, just came out of trade school and nobody would give me a job,” he said. “I had no experience, but Hans Steel gave me a shot. They hired me for $5 an hour. “By the time I was 21 or 22, I had a 10-man crew and was a foreman. It just came to me, I guess. I caught on like that. Blueprints were like nothing. I learned pretty quick.” Ossorio worked for a company out of Houston for about 10 years, but got tired of living out of a suitcase and working for somebody else. “The only thing I wasn’t doing was handling the money,” Ossorio said. In 2003 he started Texas Steel Welding and Erectors with a friend, Baron Hunt. Today Ossorio and company work on a variety of commercial projects around the state. “We usually have about 10 guys,” he said. On a recent project in Houston, thieves stole Ossorio’s truck, three welding machines and hand tools. “I got my truck back, but those machines are gone. They even stole my clothes.” He hasn’t let the incident change his plans for the future. “I am going to keep going until I can’t go no more. What else is there to do?” Ossorio said work typically slows down late in the year, and he and the employees spend time hunting and fishing. Texas Steel Welding and Erectors is a certified structural steel and miscellaneous erector. –kf Joe Ossorio rides around Texas when time allows. The Sweet life F or Ryan Sweet, owner of WS Steel Erection LLC, steel is in his blood. “My dad, Weedie Sweet, was in the industry, so I grew up in it my whole life,” he said. “We got started back in 2001 under the name WS Steel Structures, and the erection business grew quite rapidly.” In 2006 Ryan and his wife, Lynda, bought out Ryan’s father’s interest in the business and created WS Steel Erection LLC. “I have been pretty much the general manager pretty much the whole time. Lynda is my partner and runs the office.” During his career, Ryan has seen some interesting projects like construction of Community Bible Church on Loop 1604. “That is the neatest project we have ever done,” he said. But one out-of-town project had its surprises. “We did the Las Vegas Speedway,” Ryan said. “We got to sit right there on the track in the Presidential Suite. I actually got to eat lunch with Nick Lachey, and Magic Johnson was there in the same room. I was there for a week and a half because I got snowed in. It was the only time in 25 years that Las Vegas got a foot of snow in the city.” At present, projects in Texas are keeping the company on the move. “We are going in a bunch of different directions. We have landed four or five large schools,” Ryan said. “We also do petrochemical refineries. They keep us busy.” WS employs 50 people currently, which is down from last year when there were 85 employees, but Ryan sees plenty of growth in the future. W h e n asked what he spends time on when not working, Ryan said, “I live to work. I don’t work to live. We work all the time. “ WS Steel Erection LLC is a structural steel erector. –kf Want Reprints? 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If you have any questions, contact the SA home office at (210) 308-5800 San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Job Sights L-R: Mike Gomez, Automatic Fire Protection Inc.; Carlos Gonzales, Crownhill Builders Inc.; and Anthony Celestino, Automatic Fire Protection Inc., are working on the new multi-purpose building for the city of San Antonio next to the Frank Garrett Multi-Service Center on 18th Street. –kf Like riding bumper cars, workers from Richard’s Rebar Concrete Finishers glide across wet concrete on riding troweling machines. The F.A. Nunnelly Company project is a new gymnasium and library for Castroville Elementary School, expected to open for the fall 2010 school semester. –kf The Goodwill store on Highway 281 near Bitters is undergoing an expansion and renovation. A crew from The Burns Company, the project’s general contractor, completes stucco and concrete work. L-R: Daniel Espinoza, Jorge Huerta, Israel Espinoza, Larry Hewtty and Robert Morena –kf Tino Rodriguez and Jose Flores, Suspended Forms, prepare column forms at the new 125,000-sf Bobbye Behlau Elementary School in the Northside ISD. The school’s exterior will be finished in brick. Kunz Construction Company Inc. is the general contractor. –kf Page 31 Page 32 S San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2009 Faces of freedom an Antonio is known as Military City, USA, so it’s no surprise to find many veterans working in the local construction industry. In honor of Veteran’s Day, Construction News salutes all members of the military who have served our country. Here are a few former soldiers who work beside you and shared their photos with Construction News. –kf Albert Schooler, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), joined the Army in 1954, and retired as a major in 1980. He was stationed in Germany, Korea, various U.S. spots, and completed two tours in Vietnam. This photo of Russ Floreske, Clark/Hunt, A Joint Venture, was taken at the Pentagon Commemorative Ceremony one year after the plane hit the building on 9/11. He was the MEP QC manager for the Pentagon emergency repairs project with AMEC Construction at the time. Jeremy Hertel, Clark Construction, served in the Marines as a sergeant and drill instructor from 1994-1997 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA. Billy Nelson, Joeris General Contractors, completed seven combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an AC130 aircraft commander. In the photo below he flies a night mission over Iraq. Jim Writt, Clark Construction Group, mans the post at an artillery gun park in Rawa, Iraq, in 2007. Shane Long, Clark/Hunt, A Joint Venture, was in Bravo Battery 1st of the 3rd Field Artillery 2nd Armored Division out of Fort Hood. He served in Saudi Arabia during the first Desert Storm. In the photo he is visiting a girl who wrote letters to him while he was in Saudi Arabia. Robert (Bobby) Corbo, Corbo Electric Company Inc., served in the Army Air Defense, 1965-1969 on active duty, and remained in the reserves until he retired as a major in 1986. His service included a year in Vietnam. Bernie Sublett, Clark/Hunt, A Joint Venture, shares this photo from the Mojave Desert. He served in the Marines from 1976-1979.