June - Construction News

Transcription

Covering the Industry’s News
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CONSTRUCTION
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Home Ofc: P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio, TX 78279 (210) 308-5800
 JUNE 2010

Vol. 8 
No. 6
I’ll raise you a . . . slab?!
Place of comfort
After almost 20 years as a commercial banker, Scott Turnage found a novel way
to “lift up” the construction industry.
Mandy Paxton, owner of North Texas Flooring and Design, would like to open a second
location in the next year and says her current Plano location is strategic .
I
n North Texas, you can raise the roof,
raise cattle, raise the stakes, raise crops,
or raise the ante in poker. You can even
raise hell.
But, when it comes to raising concrete slabs and stabilizing everything
from Texas Motor Speedway to offices,
railroad tracks and a doll retailer, no one
does it with surgical precision quite like
Uretek ICR in Fort Worth, says Scott Turnage.
“In the simplest terms, we are in the
concrete lifting business. Eleven years
ago, I didn’t know there was such a business. Ten years ago, I was neck deep in it,”
says Turnage who, along with his partner,
Marc Spencer, holds exclusive rights for
North Texas and Central Texas to the patented Uretek process. There are about
two dozen other Uretek license holders
nationwide.
General contractors, commercial
business owners and others call on Uretek because of Texas soils’ high plasticity
index. “It tends to shrink as it dries out
and that leads to settlement of concrete
slabs,” says Turnage, who adds that erosion, water infiltration or poor construction practices can be factors, too.
By drilling penny-sized holes every
six feet along a settling surface (be it a
slab, airport runway or sidewalk), a polyurethane material can be injected. It expands as a foam to 20 times its liquid volume and in minutes reaches 90 percent
of its full strength.
continued on Page 17
T
hink back to the idyllic time of elementary school. Almost everyone
can recall a young, blonde teacher
-- always laughing. Somehow, she fixed
things and never lost her effervescent
smile. She made the surroundings pleasant – simultaneously relaxing and eyecatching. You knew she cared.
Well, déjà vu all over again!
When you meet the owner of North
Texas Flooring & Design in Plano, all
those feelings seem to ease back into
consciousness. And it’s no accident that
they do because owner Mandy Paxton
was THAT teacher.
“I taught elementary school for
about nine years and then started my
family and stayed home with them for a
while,” she says. “Then my husband and I
started looking for a business to own and
found this one.”
The attraction to this company – in
business under a different name for 25
years – was immediate.
“I love to decorate and design, things
like that. That’s one of the things I just really enjoy doing so this kind of fell into
that category,” Paxton notes.
She also admires the family-owned
legacy of the store that she bought twoand-a-half years ago. She vows to keep
that “mom-and-pop” feel.
“We’re here to take care of you, offer
flexibility to give you the best price we
possibly can, let you know you are working with people who are trustworthy.
Going above and beyond
T
he Dallas Veterans Administration
Medical Center, 4500 S. Lancaster
Rd. in Dallas, is the headquarters of
the VA North Texas Health Care System,
seventh largest in the U.S., based on the
number of patients treated.
Not only has it served America’s veterans since 1940, it has gained stature as
a major teaching and medical research
center through a partnership with the
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas.
The facility, with two million sf of interior space, sits on an 84-acre campus.
Green features include 1,730 rooftop solar panels (believed to be the largest solar
array display in Texas) that supply solar
electric power and hot water.
In 2008, the U.S. government sought
a general contractor for ongoing remodeling work at the DVAMC – projects ranging from $3,000-$4,000 jobs to $400,000$500,000 in scope.
The contract went to GCC Enterprises, Inc. of Dallas, founded by U.S. Air
Force veterans Gregory Cody and wife
Carol Pope-Cody in 1999 as a consulting
firm and incorporated as a general contractor and construction management
firm in 2002.
GCC Enterprises is certified as an 8(a)
Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Business, Minority Business Enterprise and
Texas HUB (Historically Underutilized
Business).
The company has a history of successful government work, including not
just the Veterans Administration, but also
the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the U.S.
Department of the Treasury.
The Veterans Administration awarded the contract on an IDIQ basis (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) at a
contract value of $2 million for the base
The main entrance of the Dallas VA Medical Center.
Page 2 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Jun 2010
Salute to
America
emergency. The USACE awarded SMR
Construction the contract by phone. Miraculously, just a half-day later, SMR Construction had the new temporary road in
place, restoring access to the area.
“The U.S. gushes with resources
and wide open doors for
everyone”
Bashir with one of his company’s awards.
T
here’s something “worth a million
dollars” in the K Avenue office of
SMR Construction President Samar
Bashir, but there may be some disagreement on what it is.
Bashir, a Pakistani man who brought
his family to America in 1992, is quick to
pull out a framed certificate from the U.S.
Army Corp of Engineers (USACE).
“I’m so glad you asked me about
that,” he says. “I am prouder of this than if
I had a million dollars.”
The award honors “outstanding contribution and service to the nation by a
small business satisfying the needs of the
federal procurement system.”
He received it for his company’s exemplary response to restoring temporary
road access to Grapevine Lake, specifically a washed out road that left a marina
area in Flower Mound isolated due to the
devastating 2007 floods.
The lake, about 20 miles northwest
of Dallas, was created by the USACE in
1952 to serve flood control and water reservoir functions. It offers a plethora of
recreational activities: parks, trails, camping, boating, fishing, and hunting.
But in 2007, the washout of a primary
road on the north shore posed a critical
He says the award is worth a million
dollars to him. Many North Texans might
say it is Bashir and his construction savvy
that are worth a million dollars to them.
But, that’s not surprising. In just an hour
of speaking with Bashir, it’s clear this is a
man whose soul overflows with optimism, gratitude, and a spirit of service.
And that latter quality, the spirit of
service, apparently is a family trait. He is
devoted to Calvary Bible Church in Richardson, TX. His wife is a nurse. His son is a
2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, whose
choice to be in medical school there rather than in the private sector is motivated
by service to country; he certainly won’t
get rich, Bashir quotes his son as saying.
His daughter is at the University of TexasDallas, majoring in chemistry, exhibiting
the technical acuity of her father, who
has a degree in civil engineering.
“When I came to the U.S. in 1992 and
saw all the construction, all I could say
was, ‘Wow! I can do this!’” he notes.
The nation was in an economic slowdown then, but Bashir had a keen perspective many Americans lack.
In the late 1970s, construction was
booming in the Middle East and he was
among people from all over the world
who found work there.
From 1979 to 1992, he worked for an
Italian contractor, engaged in jobs all over
Europe, in all phases of construction. (He
speaks Italian fluently.) It was good, but
here, the U.S. gushes with resources and
wide open doors for everyone, he says.
“There is so much lumber here, and it
is cheaper. There are so many materials
that are so widely available. And there are
so many opportunities that don’t exist
overseas for small companies.
“Americans are so fair. They work so
hard, are honest, and they achieve so
much,” Bashir beams.
It’s a million dollar perspective from
a man with such a positive glow about
the construction industry that he may
one day be easily worth a million dollars
himself.
SMR Construction of Plano, TX is a general contractor serving government, commercial and industrial sectors with a strong
emphasis on quality control. –mh
Steady state
J
ohn Sefton has achieved a level of
constancy in his business and personal life that is remarkable in an era
of extreme ups and downs.
Professionally, he found a niche market that remained “pretty constant” during the economic slowdown.
Personally, how many men, married
39 years, still offer that the pastime they
enjoy most is spending time with their
wife, even just talking and taking walks?
Sefton started HVAC Rep Enterprises in April 2004. The company serves as
manufacturer’s rep and vendor of heating and air conditioning equipment in
commercial and industrial markets.
For the municipal sector, he provides
HVAC systems for wastewater, water
treatment, and sewage treatment plants
and pump stations, as well as commercial
and industrial “clean rooms.”
Sefton’s role is protector of operations’ facilities (e.g., pipes, circuit boards)
against the effects of heat, cold, corrosion and hazardous chemicals involved in
treatment processes. The equipment
they provide includes comfort conditioning, ventilating, and filtration.
Trained in accounting, Sefton says
his first job at controls manufacturer
Honeywell was a great foundation for
building his expertise over the years.
His work today is a balancing act. He
must predict price trends months into
the future to submit bids that help keep
the GC on time and on budget.
He works with estimators, project
managers, and engineers. A project bid
can precede arrival of equipment and
materials on site by up to two years.
Engineering know-how is essential.
In 1976, he became an affiliate member
John Sefton and his son, Ty, work together
at their home office of HVAC Rep
Enterprises, a family business.
of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating,
Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers). And he is well versed in the latest
environmental research.
His own “controls system” is running
just fine, thank you, as he’s kept on even
keel and happy by wife Diane, travel, golf,
and involvement in Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco.
HVAC Rep Enterprises of Dallas has
served commercial, industrial, and municipal sectors in plan, specification, and design/build markets for over 25 years in Texas and five surrounding states. –mh
Construction News ON LOCATION
Fun and fierce
Greg Palmer and Jesse Reyes are neck-and-neck in counter sales every month at
Morrison Supply Co. in Plano. They kid around, pointing to their archrival, but it’s
all in fun. On weekends, they’re apt to pal around at the lake or a barbecue. –mh
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • Jun 2010 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 3
T
P
erhaps no one is shocked that Michael Shahan’s company, Concrete Contact LLC in Carrollton, is
taking on more demolition work.
“Family told me that this is probably
what I would end up doing,” he confides.
“I was tearing things up at 5 and blowing
things up at 10.”
But “Whoa, Nelly!” Don’t jump to any
conclusions that Shahan is the stereotypical destructive type.
“It’s rewarding to help people get
back on their feet,” he says.
Demolition – interior gut outs or taking a building down or cleaning up after
fires – is a dirty business.
“You either love it or you hate it,”
says Shahan. “I’ve got a lot of good guys.
Most really enjoy demolition.”
Lots of engineering and safety preparation are involved in Shahan’s projects,
such as a recent large apartment house
demolition near the George Bush Turnpike and the Dallas North Tollway.
“Situations can be difficult and dangerous. We engineer the technique with
lots of structural testing, figuring out
what can handle what, and how badly
the structure was damaged. Safety is 90
percent of the job,” he says.
Giving new life to buildings, people
and their surroundings also has led to
Shahan’s burgeoning specialization in disaster recovery.
He led a post-tornado cleanup at Mabank near Cedar Creek Reservoir just off
U.S. Highway 175 and sees this as an in-
exas Star golf
course was the
venue for the
Dallas-Fort Worth/
Tarrant
County
chapters’ Fourth Annual Independent
Electrical Contractors Tom Jones Memorial Golf Tournament. With more
than 200 golfers
driving, chipping,
and putting to raise
funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the National Breast Cancer
Foundation, every
player was a Texas
star, regardless of
score.
creasing focus for his company over the
next 5 to 10 years.
So maybe Shahan isn’t about tearing
up as much as holding together – including keeping his 15 employees “in a good
relationship” through cookouts, striper
fishing trips and “what I can do to help
the guys out for working so hard.”
Concrete Contact LLC provides concrete
removal and demolition services for commercial and residential customers. –mh
Taking first place in the afternoon was the team of Jerry Slagle,
Clint Cooper, Wayne Tyler, and Tony Dykstra.
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purchased the assets and it became mine
in 2005. That’s when I changed the name
to GFS Texas.
Woody Jarmon
GFS Texas
I
n the 1970s when many people were
worried about work being slow,
Woody Jarmon was steadfastly keeping his focus. In his chosen trade, automatic fire protection, he was working
through a union apprenticeship program
and then further honing his skills as journeyman.
In all, Jarmon has devoted 40 years of
his life to fire protection. He is the president and owner of GFS Texas, 1375 River
Bend Drive in Dallas.
The company provides commercial
and industrial fire protection systems for
existing buildings and new construction
in private and public sectors across Texas,
Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana and
Alabama.
His story is one of persistence, meticulous attention to detail and the everpresent desire not just to earn “a” job
from a client, but future jobs, too.
Jarmon has flirted with retirement
for the last couple of years – drawn by the
lure of his cattle ranch, fishing with his
wife, a growing number of grandchildren, and a dog named Cowboy. But, until then, he’s in the office three days a
week, advertising his company on new
social media networks and serving clients.
How did your career in fire protection
begin?
I went to work for Bell Fire Protection
in the 1970s. They were bought out a
couple of times and ended up as Wormald
Fire Protection out of Australia. I worked
as a field superintendent until 1985. Then
I started my business here in Dallas with a
partner. We owned two companies – one
in Dallas and one in Houston. After four
or five years, I sold my shares of the Dallas
operation and went to Houston.
But, you were destined to come back
to Dallas, weren’t you?
Yes, I purchased a company out of
Austin that was going into receivership in
the early 1990s and “cleaned it up” over a
year or two. I brought it to Dallas as a
branch of the Houston company I was a
partner in, Green Fire Systems. And basically that’s how it ran until 2005 when I
Your original plan was to go into the
furniture business with your dad, but
he died at a young age. What happened then?
I had two friends who were in this
trade. When I was 20, I was working in the
research and engineering department of
Frito-Lay. My friends were working for
LaDew Fire Protection. They told me
about the fire protection business. It was
a union trade and I’m still union today.
In fact, you are a union supporter,
aren’t you?
I’ve been union all my life. My company is union. We’re proud to be union
contractors. I’ve had a lot of guys who
have worked for me for over 20 years or I
have worked with for 40 years that are
just now starting to retire. I think sticking
with the unions, staying with your
thoughts and beliefs in that, I think that’s
been one of the highlights.
Is it a different environment for unions
today?
It really is. Texas is a right to work
state. When I got in the trade in 1970,
there were no open shop contractors.
There were only five large union contractors and over the years they’ve all went
by the wayside. Today in the Metroplex,
there are still seven or eight union contractors. It seems like a lot of people go
for the low dollar, but then again, there
are people who still want quality and a
company that will stand behind everything they do.
Can you explain the basic aspects of
the fire protection business and how it
has changed?
The components of the business are
to sell, design, fabricate and install fire
protection systems by all state, local and
city codes, in a timely manner, within the
range of the job schedule. In the old days,
we had our own fabrication shops, but
today we purchase pre-fabricated systems from independent fabrication contractors and install them.
In the 1980s when the high-rise
boom hit, there was a need for small contractors that could do tenant work in office buildings. So we started in business
doing that type of work. Over the years,
it’s changed and evolved into larger
ground up projects, along with the tenant work and a strong emphasis on the
service and inspection market. At GFS,
we have a service and inspection department, a special hazards department, and
new construction.
Are buildings today considerably safer?
Very much so. In the 1970s, very few
buildings in Dallas had sprinklers – only
your heavy commercial manufacturing
interests were thought to face probable
fire damage. In those days, it was about
The team that leads GFS Texas: Rodney Warlick, vice president of sales/operations;
Chad Jarmon, vice president; and Woody Jarmon, president and owner.
protecting buildings, not lives. Today
most any structure over 5,000 sf is required to have fire sprinkler systems,
even houses. Now there are some cities
– Frisco, Addison parts of north Dallas,
Highland Park – that require fire sprinklers for homes.
Buildings are substantially safer today compared to what they used to be.
The fatality rate for buildings equipped
with fully functional fire sprinkler systems is zero.
On a different note, I see that GFS Texas has a Facebook page. How did that
come about?
I think you need to advertise in any
market you can. The computer age is
here and you need to adapt with the
times. My son, Chad, keeps our Facebook
page updated. He and Rodney Warlick
run the daily operations of the company
and keep me updated on the decisions
that need to be made.
Your Facebook page mentions several
employee activities, including a recent blood drive.
We had a blood drive for a former
employee who retired eight years ago.
With the help of current employees,
friends and former employees we were
able to secure over 100 pints of blood in
his name.
the Texas Rangers and Anaheim Angels.
He went to and won the World Series
with the Angels in 2002. He’s now a player-coach in Chihuahua, Mexico.
When my daughter was still Carly
Jarmon, she was Miss Teen Texas in 19921993 and Miss Texas in 1995-1996. At that
time she was the youngest Miss Texas
ever and the only person to hold both titles. She also competed in Miss America
in 1995.
My wife, Diana, is a retired emergency room RN from Baylor Hospital in Irving.
We enjoy bass fishing at several lakes
in Texas, with our favorite being lake
Amistad in Del Rio.
Do you have any plans to retire soon?
I’ve been trying to retire for the last
couple of years. I’m working harder at it
this year.
I live in a small addition on Richland
Chambers Lake in a community of mainly
retired couples. My wife and I enjoy many
good times with them so it’s hard to
come home and stay a few days and then
go back to work in Dallas.
I work in Dallas three days a week
and the other days I am on my ranch in
Corsicana, Texas. I have 472 acres with
Santa Gertrudis cattle that keep me busy
along with 10 grandkids and a White Labrador named Cowboy. –mh
How else do you engage your employees?
We have about 60 field employees
and 19 office employees. We have Christmas parties and stop for birthdays for a
few minutes. We usually do three to four
cookouts per year along with retirement
parties.
Tell me about your family members
other than Chad, who you’ve already
spoken about.
I have a daughter Carly Jarmon-Gil,
who is married to Benji Gil, formerly of
The big one doesn’t always get away.
Jarmon shows a prize catch.
Painting the town red
A
Lucas Rock would love to paint the town. He’s the production manager
of Phillips Painting and Roofing, which is expanding the commercial
side of its business. –mh
t Construction News, we pride ourselves in not being caught up in
mainstream media hype. Our
niche is providing interesting articles
about construction related companies.
Once in awhile though, a story comes
along that must be covered.
In late April, CBS News published an
investigative report regarding personal
information being stored on photocopiers. According to information on CBS’
web site, digital photocopiers made after
2002 may store information from copied,
scanned or emailed documents in an internal hard drive. If the hard drive is not
removed or cleaned prior to being discarded, sold or leased, the copied infor-
mation is available to the next owner or
recipient of the photocopier.
Does that make the hair stand up on
the back of your neck? It did us once we
began discussing all the copies that have
been made at the various entities where
we do business, not to mention hospitals,
banks, car dealerships, etc., etc. etc. (The
etceteras really concern me.)
If you haven’t already seen the investigative report, you can view it at www.
cbsnews.com. Search for “Photocopier
Investigation.” Read or play the CBS video
“Digital Photocopiers Loaded With Secrets.”
Sometimes I wish we still used mimeograph machines or carbon paper. –dn
What was your
first car?
Submitted by
Richard A. Gump, Jr.
The Law Offices of Richard A. Gump, Jr.
Dallas, TX
T
he need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) has never been
greater than it is right now. During
his campaign, President Obama promised to push Congress to tackle the issue
of CIR. Congress has failed to make progress towards CIR and states have begun
to take immigration matters into their
own hands.
On April 23, 2010, the Governor of
Arizona signed a bill titled “Support Our
Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act” (SB1070). Simply stated, the
law makes it a misdemeanor for anyone
who is unable to prove lawful residence
in the U.S. upon request, and requires police to make a reasonable attempt, when
practical, to determine immigration status if there is cause to suspect (“reasonable suspicion”) an individual is an illegal
immigrant. It includes a provision specifying that in addition to any violation of
federal law, a person is guilty of trespassing if the person is present on any public
or private land in the state and is not carrying his or her alien registration card or
has willfully failed to register.
What does this mean to Texas employers? Lawmakers in Texas and nine
other states are already considering similar bills.
On April 29, 2010, President Obama
stated:
“The continued failure of the federal
government to fix the broken immigration system will leave the door open to a
patchwork of actions at the state and local level that are inconsistent and as we
have seen recently, often misguided…I
have repeatedly said that there are some
essential components that must be in immigration legislation. It must call for
stronger border security measures,
tougher penalties for employers who
hire illegal immigrants and clearer rules
for controlling future immigration. And it
must require those who are here illegally
to get right with the law, pay penalties
and taxes, learn English, pass criminal
background checks and admit responsibility before they are allowed to get in
line and eventually earn citizenship.”
The risk of losing votes on either side
of the issue has left federal lawmakers reluctant to debate immigration reform
during an election year. The passage of
SB1070 has forced the hand of pro-immigration senators, who fear that other
states may draft and present their own
state immigration laws. Colorado Representative Jared Polis states, “While we
still may not agree on each individual
provision, we have now seen the consequences of inaction.” The proposal, introduced on April 28, 2010 by six U.S. Senators, includes:
• Prevention of future illegal immigration through enhanced border enforcement: This includes the increase of CBP
officers and ICE agents.
• Removal of unlawfully present persons in the U.S. through interior enforcement: Implements a system to monitor
overstays and provides for closer evaluation and monitoring of the Visa Waiver
Program.
• Requiring employers to verify employment authorization through the use
of biometrics: Implements a fraud and
tamper resistant Social Security Card that
includes a photograph and biometrics information. Fines for knowing violations
of the employment verification system,
such as employment of an unauthorized
worker, may increase as much as 300 percent. Employers will also be prohibited
from deducting wages of unauthorized
workers.
• Reform of the current employment
and family visa system: Provides for immediate green cards to foreign students
who obtain an advanced degree from a
U.S. institution of higher education in
specific and who have an offer of employment from any employer in that
field. The H-1B and L-1 visa programs
would be revised; the proposed H-2B AgJOBs bill would be incorporated; and a
new H-2C visa would be added for nonseasonal, non-agricultural workers.
• Registration of the unauthorized
population and providing an opportunity to earn legal status.
Republicans have long supported efforts to increase and strengthen border
security. The proposal’s Democratic authors, knowing the stance of most Republicans, have attempted to sweeten
the proposal by including border and interior enforcement, increasing CBP and
ICE agents, implementing a tighter entry/
exit system to monitor overstays and
monitoring the visa waiver program.
The road to CIR will be a tough battle. As the issue of CIR becomes increasingly contested, significant political and
legislative compromise will be required
for CIR to become a reality.
� The Law Offices
of Richard A. Gump,
Jr. concentrates on
immigration
law,
with a special emphasis on employment immigration.
Gump provides immigration solutions
for companies and
individuals, e.g. temporary and permanent visas, strategic planning from recruitment to retention, worksite enforcement
compliance (audits, training, etc.), and
mergers and acquisitions structuring for
foreign national transfers. �–dn
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A 1978 Chevy Blazer. It was a full-size
Blazer that was a two-tone white and
royal blue. It had big tires and was very
reliable. We used to take the top off in
the summer and cruise everywhere in
the mountains of Colorado. Lots of fun
in the snow piles also.
Dave Randall, Viega
My first car was great! It was a 1976
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme given to
me by my older brother. It was extremely fast, but not faster than a
speeding ticket (I got a few in that car).
I actually raced a Carrollton police officer (I didn’t know it before the lights)
and won. He didn’t give me a ticket.
Gary Machado
City of Parker
Great lil car – 40 Yr Plymouth coupe –
until it ended up going over a waterfall. No one was hurt.
Lee Sechrist
National Hot Water
A 1985 Toyota Celica, 5-speed manual
transmission, hatchback, 2-seater, red,
with a sunroof. Of course, I had my first
speeding ticket in that car, too.
Ty Sefton, HVAC Rep Enterprises
1949 Chevy coupe. I paid $100 for it. It
was transportation for a 16-year-old.
Ken Reinhardt
Braswall & Associates
1981 Plymouth Champ. It served the
purpose to get me from place to place.
Great in the snow.
Gail Lux
City of Cedar Hill
1988 Toyota Corolla that shook violently when I drove over 50 mph. Finally put it to rest when I got a CRX,
which wasn’t any better. It had a floorboard that you could see the ground
and a windshield you could kick out!
Sarah McCready, MEMCO
My first car was a 1989 Ford Mustang. It
was red. I remember putting a new
stereo with a “tape player” in there.
Danielle Tsang
Enterprise Fleet Management
My first car was a 1967 Ford Fairlane. I
drove it to work the first day I owned it.
I came out for lunch and a lady had lost
control of her Caprice station wagon
and crushed my car beyond recognition. My second car was a 1968 Nova.
Paul Peterman
City of McKinney
A ’67 white Mustang. My mom wanted
me to get a used car, but I wanted a
new one. We knew the Ford dealer. I
bought it myself.
Aggie Carroll, PHCC North Texas
A late ‘60s Plymouth Fury, silver with a
black top. On my 16th birthday, I went
with friends to an amusement park. I
got home and discovered my stepbrother, who was too young to drive,
had taken my car out and totaled it.
Michelle Hopkins
Construction News
INSURANCE
ACCOUNTING
Does my 401(k) need an audit?
Protect yourself against fraud
Bryan Baughman, CPA
PSK LLP
Arlington, TX
Tim Riley, Vice President for Special Investigations
Texas Mutual Insurance Company
Austin, TX
T
T
he final article in this three part series will discuss the
401(k) plan audit. The Department of Labor (DOL)
requires that all “large” 401(k) plans be audited by an independent accounting firm on an annual basis. The audit report is attached to the Form 5500, the required tax filing. Crossing the threshold
from a “small” plan to a “large” plan often catches management off guard and failure
to submit an audit, if required, can result in substantial fines and penalties.
A large plan is defined by the DOL as
one that has 100 or more participants at
the beginning of the plan year. Plan participants include the following: 1) Any individuals who have a plan balance, including those who are actively participating as well as those who are terminated
but still have money in the plan, 2) Any
individuals who are eligible to participate
in the plan, even if they have chosen not
to participate. Therefore a plan could be
required to have an audit even if they
only have a small number of employees
actively participating.
There are a couple of ways that employers can manage their participant
count in order to stay below the 100 participant threshold. The first way is by encouraging or requiring terminated participants to withdraw their money from
the plan in the form of a rollover. Many
plans are designed to require automatic
distributions for terminated employees
who have balances below a certain
threshold.
Another way to manage your participant count is to require a certain amount
of time be served before an employee
can become eligible. Many plans require
that employees work full-time for one
year before they can become eligible.
This is particularly important for construction companies who have seasonal
employees or high turnover. It’s important for companies to offer retirement
benefits to their employees, however if
employees become eligible too quickly
then the plan is likely to have a large
number of eligible employees who
choose not to participate because they
don’t plan on working for the company
very long.
Typically the plan’s Third Party Administrator (TPA) will notify the employer
that an audit is required. Sometimes this
communication slips through the cracks
and the Form 5500 is filed without an audit, even though it was required. The
DOL will catch all of these instances and
notify employers that an incomplete
Form 5500 was filed. There is a fine for
filing an incomplete return that is calculated on a per-day basis and can get ex-
tremely large very quickly. So it’s very
important that employers are aware of
their plan size and the filing requirements
associated with the plan. Any fines or
penalties will always be paid by the employer, not the plan itself.
Although there is a cost associated
with having the plan audited, there are
some great benefits that the employer
will receive as a result of the plan being
audited. There is a large movement in
our society towards encouraging individuals to save for their own retirement
and not relying solely on Social Security.
Because of this movement, the DOL is
taking a closer look at 401(k) plans to
make sure that employers are taking
good care of their employees’ retirement
money. The number of plans that the
DOL is auditing each year is increasing at
a very rapid rate.
When the DOL audits a plan and
finds deficiencies, it usually results in
large fines and penalties that must be
paid by the employer. Having an independent accounting firm audit your plan
on an annual basis can give employers
peace of mind that their plan is in compliance with regulations set forth by the
DOL. So if the DOL decided to audit your
plan, it is more likely to receive a clean bill
of health.
Many construction companies already have independent audits performed over the company’s financial
statements due to bank or bonding company requirements. The audit of the
401(k) plan is a separate engagement
that strictly looks at the operations of the
company’s 401(k) plan as opposed to the
company’s financial statements. Contact
your CPA if you have any doubt about the
filing requirements for your plan or general questions about the mechanics of
the plan.
Bryan Baughman, CPA, is an audit
manager at PSK LLP, a forty-six year old accounting firm in Arlington, TX. He has eight
years of public accounting experience and
works with construction and manufacturing companies. Bryan can be reached at
1-800-424-5790 or [email protected]. –dn
It’s not us!
R
eaders of Construction News have
brought to our attention two issues that we want to address.
First, is the solicitation for reprints/
plaques of articles in our papers, which
range from $200-$400.
It appears that when Construction
News publishes an article in one of our
publications, someone later calls back
to sell reprints in expensive frames or
plaques.
It’s not us! We do not call back or
solicit anyone in our newspapers for
reprints. We provide digital reprints for
$42 (unframed), and we offer those
only in an ad in our papers – we do not
call anyone.
When a reader contacts us via
email about a reprint, we will return by
email an information sheet on how to
obtain additional papers, rack locations, and reprints offered by request
only.
Second, we do not charge for articles printed in Construction News.
Each editor in Austin, Dallas / Fort
Worth, Houston and San Antonio contacts companies to set up interviews
and write “good news” stories about
the business. While many of our readers believe that our stories are worth a
million bucks, we don’t charge one red
cent, nor do we ask for your subcontractor list.
There are independent companies throughout the country that solicits stories for a fee and sells reprints of
other publication articles. We are not
connected with or make any referrals
to these companies. –rd/dn
he majority of workers’ compensation claims filed in
Texas and other states stem from real instances of
on-the-job injuries. Unfortunately, people who cheat
the system drive up costs for employers, consumers and insurers.
Fraud is lying for financial gain—
with claimant fraud being the most common type. Claimant fraud happens when
workers:
1) Fake or exaggerate injuries
2) Collect benefits for injuries that were
not work-related
3) Continue to collect benefits after returning to work
4) Engage in activities that are inconsistent with their injuries
As a corporate executive once noted,
if workers’ comp fraud were a legitimate
business in the United States, it would
rank among the Fortune 500 companies.
The Texas Department of Insurance notes
that insurance fraud is the second most
profitable crime after drug trafficking.
The latest statistics from the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimates
that workers’ compensation premiums,
taxes and other expenses reached $557
million in 2008. Protecting against fraud
has many rewards. Previously, the California Insurance Department reported that
every $1 invested in workers’ compensation anti-fraud efforts has returned $6.17,
which totaled $260.3 million in 2006-07
alone.
Companies need to pay close attention to red flags that help detect possible
workers’ comp fraud. If you encounter
two or more of these situations, it is best
to contact your insurer:
• A tip from a credible source, such as an
employee of your company.
• A new or disgruntled worker.
• There is no witness to an alleged injury.
• Inconsistent or illogical descriptions of
how an injury occurred.
• Difficulty in contacting an injured worker.
• An injured worker who’s upset when he
or she is contacted.
• A suspicious injury occurring on a Monday or Friday.
Some insurance carriers write off
workers’ comp fraud as merely a cost of
doing business. Other companies—such
as Texas Mutual—take a zero tolerance
approach to combating employee fraud.
Texas Mutual employs three teams of experienced, full-time investigators who
take fraud claims with the utmost seriousness. Workers’ comp fraud can be curtailed if employers, insurers and others
are vigilant about this type of crime.
Tim Riley is Vice President for Special
Investigations for Texas Mutual Insurance
Company. Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Company is the leading provider of
workers’ compensation insurance in Texas.
For more information about workers’ comp
fraud, visit www.texasmutual.com/fraud/
fightfraud.shtm. –dn
Keeping your cool
I
t’s that time of the year in Texas – hot.
The good news is that there are plenty
of ways to cool down on the weekends
or after work in nature’s swimming holes,
lakes and area pools. The bad news is the
danger that the heat presents to construction workers such as heat stroke,
cramps, heat exhaustion and rashes.
“Our biggest problem is that generally, workers don’t recognize when other
workers are starting to have symptoms.
And when you start having those symptoms, your brain is affected,” said Larry
Connelly, AGC Safety Director.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control web site, signs for heat stroke
may include any of the following symptoms:
• A high body temperature
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
To reduce the affect that high heat
and humidity has on construction workers this summer, you may consider incorporating some or all of the recommendations from the OSHA web site while on
the job:
• Work the job schedule around the cooler part of the day. UV rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., officials say.
• Encourage workers to wear cooler
clothing.
Avoid cold, sugary and alcoholic beverages
in hot weather
• Monitor yourself by occasionally checking your heart rate.
• Wear reflective clothing as loose as possible.
• Consider wearing water-cooled garments with equipment such as a batterydriven circulating pump or liquid coolant.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol or large amounts
of sugar.
• Eat smaller meals before working.
• Take short breaks in the shade if possible.
• Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least
30.
“Alcohol dehydrates you, so if you go
home and have a few beers, you have to
drink lots of water before you go to bed,”
Connelly added. “And drink water
throughout the day.”
For more information on heat safety,
visit www.osha.gov or www.cdc.gov.
–km/dn
LEGAL
OSHA
Federal projects:
securing interest on late
payments
OSHA’s revision to the
penalty structure
Joann Natarajan, Compliance Assistance Specialist
OSHA
Austin, TX
Shelly LeVick Masters, Attorney
Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Ltd.
Austin, TX
O
f growing concern to contractors entering into construction contracts on federal projects is the timeliness of progress payments. It is no secret that timely
payments are directly correlated with a construction
company’s ability to secure funds necessary to continue
and complete the project. The problems associated with late payment can drastically
impair the contractor’s ability to meet contract requirements, pay its subcontractors
and suppliers or even to continue business operations. Securing payment is dependent, in part, on mastering federal statutory deadlines and requirements described
herein.
Almost three decades ago, a national proper invoice. Where a contract modifistudy reported that government agen- cation is present, a progress payment recies were late in paying 30 percent of quest is only deemed proper if it is subtheir bills. To address this late payment mitted after the execution of a proper
problem, the Federal Prompt Payment change order.
If the government fails to render
Act (FPPA), 31 U.S.C. § 3901, et seq., was
timely
payment for goods or services duly
enacted in 1982 to establish time deadprovided
under the contract, the FPPA relines for payment. The enactment of the
FPPA was meant to decrease the risk of quires it to pay an interest penalty to the
late payment on public projects by re- contractor on the amount of the payment
quiring federal agencies to pay for con- due. When an agency remits a late paystruction work on a timely basis or face ment, it must simultaneously tender the
the imposition of interest penalties on interest penalty. The interest penalty is
late payments. Despite the FPPA’s goal, computed at the daily rate and the interlate payments are still a reality on today’s est is compounded every thirty days.
The payment deadlines and resultfederal projects.
Under the FPPA, payment is due ing interest penalties of the FPPA were
upon the date identified in the contract not meant to apply where there is a valid
or, if the contract fails to specify the date, dispute. The FPPA provides that the time
payment is due 30 days after receipt of a period for payment is tolled if the agency
proper invoice. 31 U.S.C. § 3903(a)(1)(A) and the contractor are in dispute over the
and (B). Payment must be remitted by amount of payment or compliance with
the agency within 14 days after receipt of the contract.
It is important to remember that, aba proper payment request. 31 U.S.C. §
3903(a)(6)(A) states earlier payment may sent a material breach, a contractor’s sole
be requested by a contractor by offering redress for late payment by the government is through the interest penalty. In
the agency a discount provision.
A proper invoice is defined as an in- the event certain subcontractors and
voice containing the “substantiating doc- suppliers remain unpaid, they can typiumentation” which includes the follow- cally file a claim against the surety who
ing: (1) contractor identity and invoice bonds the project under the Miller Act.
date; (2) authorization for the delivery of Subcontractors and suppliers may have
property or services; (3) description of additional claims against the prime conthe property and services including price tractor and, likewise, the prime contracand quantity; (4) shipping and payment tor against the contracting authority.
terms; (5) other documentation as re The foregoing was provided for inquired by the contract; (6) name, title,
telephone number, and mailing address formational purposes only and is not inof the responsible contract representa- tended to provide legal advice or to serve
tive to whom payment is to be sent; (7) as an alternative to seeking legal counsel.
taxpayer identification number; and, (8)
Shelly LeVick Masters is a shareholder
Electronic Funds Transfer information in the Austin office of Segal McCambridge
necessary to effectuate payment.
A contract modification to incorpo- Singer & Mahoney, Ltd. Ms. Masters reprerate the value of any changed (or addi- sents construction contractors, suppliers
tional) work may result in an improper and design professionals and has been inprogress payment request. Courts have volved in prosecuting, negotiating and deheld that an invoice submitted to the fending against construction disputes in
contracting authority before execution mediation, arbitration and litigation. She
of a contract modification which in- may be reached by e-mail at smasters@
creased the contract price was not a smsm.com. –dn
T
he time frame for considering an employer’s history
of violations will expand from three to five years. An
employer who has been inspected by OSHA within the
previous five years and has no serious, willful, repeat, or failure to abate violations will
receive a 10 percent reduction for history. An employer who has been cited by OSHA
for any high gravity serious, willful, repeat, or failure to abate violation within the previous five years will receive a 10 percent increase in their penalty, up to the statutory
maximum. Employers who have not been inspected and employers who have received citations for serious violations that were not high gravity will receive neither a
reduction nor an increase for history.
The time period for repeated violations
will also be increased from three to five
years. Area Directors will retain the authority to determine if a size or history
reduction should be granted. Area Directors will be authorized to offer up to a 30
percent penalty reduction to employers
at an informal conference, any reduction
over 30 percent will require Regional Administrator approval. Area Directors will
be authorized to offer an employer with
250 or fewer employees and additional
20 percent reduction if that employer
agrees to retain an outside safety and
health consultant. OSHA will no longer
allow penalty adjustments to an employer at an informal conference where the
employer has an outstanding penalty
balance owed to OSHA from a prior inspection. This provision would not apply
to employers on a penalty payment plan
who is making timely payments.
Area Offices that utilize the expedited informal settlement agreement will be limited to offering a 30 percent reduction. If
the employer commits to hiring an outside consultant, the Area Director may
grant an additional 20 percent reduction.
 Location

Location
 Location
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Publishing the Industry’s News . . .
TEXAS Style
OSHA will be adopting a gravity-based
penalty determination that provides for a
penalty between $3000 and $7000. The
minimum base penalty will increase from
$1500 to $3000 before size, history, and
good faith adjustments are made, with a
resulting minimum proposed penalty of
$500. The proposed minimum penalty
for a posting violation will increase to
$250 if the company was previously provided a poster by OSHA. The final penalties will be applied serially, unlike the
present practice in which all the penalty
reductions are added and then the total
percentage is multiplied by the gravity
based penalty to arrive at the proposed
penalty.
The OSHA memo that explains the
changes to the penalty structure can be
accessed at the following link:
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_
RELEASES&p_id=17544
[email protected]
512-374-0271 x232
Dallas/Fort. Worth
Austin
San Antonio
Houston
Home Office
(210) 308-5800
In the end zone
T
he new $1.15 billion Cowboy Stadium, world’s largest single-span roof
structure, complete with 800-foot
canted glass walls and 3,255-ton arches,
was not just the locale of the TEXO 2010
Distinguished Awards, it was a star itself.
For many of the hundreds of award
winners, family and guests, it was their
first time in the new stadium. The venue
was recognized with the Vision Award for
general contractor Manhattan Construction Co.’s use of the greatest number of
member specialty contractors.
In addition, Manhattan Construction
Co. and HKS Inc., architect for Cowboy
Stadium, won the Build Texas Award as
the project creating national attention
and stirring North Texas Pride.
Everyone had a chance to do a
touchdown dance and be seen on the
stadium’s big screen – and truly everyone
was a winner, building construction pride
and the industry’s legacy through outstanding projects of all types and sizes.
–mh
Specialty Contractor
300,001-700,000 Work Hours
Dee Brown Inc.
Vision Award
Manhattan Construction Company
for Cowboys Stadium
Magnolia Woman of the Year Award
L-R: Ann Hicks, Hicks Consulting,
Becky Burleson, Linbeck Group, LLC
(recipient)
Specialty Contractor
Over 1 Million Work Hours
Laso Acoustics & Drywall
Building Category
Under 100,000 Work Hours
RBR Construction Inc.
Building Category
100,001-300,000 Work Hours
SEDALCO Inc.
Building Category
300,001-700,000 Work Hours
MEDCO Construction LLC
Building Category
700,001-1,000,000 Work Hours
CF Jordan Construction LLC
Heavy Division
Over 1 Million Work Hours
Fluor Enterprises
Construction Management Division
250,001-700,000 Work Hours
Constructors & Associates Inc.
W/MBE Firm of the Year
Azteca Enterprises Inc.
Architectural Firm of the Year
Corgan Associates Inc.
Industry Firm of the Year
Acton Mobile Industries
Specialty Contractor of the Year
Brandt
General Contractor of the Year
Hill & Wilkinson Construction Group
Superintendent of the Year
Specialty Construction
Hector Molina, KPost Company
Superintendent of the Year
General Construction: Jerry Simsik, MDI Inc.
Specialty Safety Professional of the Year
Jeff Bills, Humphrey & Associates Inc.
Satisfying your
fishing addiction
Angler Berto Torres landed this 31.5” trout while fishing near Baffin
Bay with Capt. Steve Schultz. Fish will be sent to the taxidermist.
by Capt. Steve Schultz
Sponsored by:
Trans Sport Boats, Yamaha Outboards,
Ronnie’s Marine, Minn Kota Trolling Motors, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor,
Pure Fishing, Pflueger Reels, All-Star
Rods, Mirr-O-Lure, Bass Assassin, FINS
Braided Line and Columbia Sportswear.
T
he winds have finally calmed down
and the bite has drastically improved in the bay. May fishing has
brought new hope to the slow start we
experienced the beginning of the season. Summer fish patterns are now making fishing seem more like catching and
that’s a good thing. If you haven’t
planned your summer fishing outing yet,
better get on the ball and get it done.
Well it’s a beautiful day out, and
you’re at the coast for a family outing on
the beach. Your buddies have been on
the water since daylight with their favorite guide and you’re stuck spending the
day with the wife and kids. Don’t fret, it’s
not the end of the world, but don’t go to
the beach without your fishing rod. Many
people believe that since there are people everywhere on the beaches that
there are no fish to be caught. This is a
very large misconception. I mean, ideally,
if you plan on fishing you should probably try and find a secluded part of the
beach or a beach that doesn’t get a ton of
traffic. I know what you are thinking –
what beach in the Coastal Bend doesn’t
get a lot of traffic? Well there are places
that you can go and surf fish and have a
great time, but also catch many fish. You
definitely don’t want to go putting out
shark bait at your local beach where
there are people all around. Be sure to
use good judgment. I don’t think you
would want that on your conscience.
There are many different types of
tackle, rigs, etc, that you can use while
surf fishing. Normally the tackle is larger
than regular boat fishing or pier fishing
tackle. You need a longer rod to be able
to cast past the break of the waves, and
you need larger reels to heave the heavy
tackle as far as you can get it. This is the
case most of the time but not always, de-
Randy Wyatt caught and released this 28.5” speck on a recent
Aggerate Haulers Team outing at the coast with
Steve Schultz Outdoors.
pending on location and conditions you
can use your regular spinning gear and it
will be just as effective. The term “surf
tackle,” however, is applied to rather
stout, long-distance casting equipment.
The reason for the long cast is to try and
reach holes or pockets where game fish
may be. Surf rods are usually ranging
from 8 ft. to 14 ft. or more. The stoutest
of all surf outfits are those used for tossing out bottom rigs with heavy pyramid
sinkers – mainly in quest for red or black
drum. It takes a strong rod to handle five
or six ounces of sinker, and the tips of
these gigantic rods are as thick as your
thumb. Surf specialist agrees that 10 ft.
to 11 ft. is best all around for surf fishing.
Good surf tackle won’t guarantee you a
fish but will help your odds of landing the
fish when they show.
If you’re not equipped with some of
the heavier tackle I’ve mentioned above,
your light bay tackle will satisfy your addiction while the kids body surf the
waves. Mirr-O-Lures and soft plastics
with a 1/4 oz. jig head are most common
wading knee to waist deep in the second
gut. Trout and redfish patrol these guts
trying to ambush mullet which become
disoriented with wave action close to
shore. If you have a portable live well and
oxygen system, stop by the marina and
pick up a few dozen live croakers. You
will probably be surprised on how many
fish you can catch while everyone enjoys
the day at the beach.
To schedule your next bay fishing
trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361949-7359 or 361-813-3716, or e-mail him
at
[email protected].
Good Luck and Good Fishing.
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
Martell Adams of Security State Bank & Trust in San Antonio landed
this 28-inch trout fishing the rocks in Baffin Bay.
Fish was released after photo by Capt. Steve Schultz.
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.
Back at the
dock!
T
onight we got to run our first trip off
our main dock in almost two years. I
can’t tell you how hard it has been
with all the drought months we’ve been
through and seeing that nice, new Spillar
boat dock sitting there aground. We finally got a dock custom made for what
we do and then the lake went dry.
I guess that Lake Buchanan may be
the only lake in Texas to still be lacking
water. We have been helped by the rains,
coming up to within the last 10 ft. of full,
but it is that last 10 ft. that gets the boat
ramps and gas docks and resorts back to
100 percent.
The water has come up over all that
brushy vegetation in the dry lake bottom
and the fishing is getting better with
each passing day. Things are still a little
mixed up, kinda like an elementary
school play where nobody seems to
know where they should be. You go out
bass fishing and slay the crappie. Go out
for stripers and come in with stripers, hybrids, white bass, crappie, largemouth
and catfish. The fish are pretty scattered,
but the one thing they have in common
is THEY’RE HUNGRY!
Another great thing is that this is
spring. The fish are spawning and this
year there is plenty of vegetation to nourish and hide their offspring. That means
we will see the benefit from our drought
recovery for years to come in the way of
good strong sport fish populations living
in a healthy lake.
Another good sign that things are
turning around is that we are beginning
to see some familiar faces coming back to
the lake. You know who you are! It is
good to see you have weathered the
storms of the last several months. Welcome back!
I guess that is the best thing about
hunting and fishing. It doesn’t matter to
the fish what your bank balance is, and
don’t expect a deer to care who sits in the
White House. In this day and time that is
a refreshing attitude to come across. It is
almost like they think we are silly if we do
care. That is why being outside is so
good for us. We need to be reminded
from time to time that our concerns really
don’t amount to a hill of beans in the
grand scheme of things. Even if we can
only briefly catch that outdoor attitude, it
lets us catch our breath and get a little
stronger.
It’s getting late now and I need to
save some room for pictures. Until next
time, “Tight Lines!”
Hilti Corporation
Assorted catches
Boat race
For Woody Jarmon, GFS Texas, (see this month’s Spotlight feature), the one that
got away was his boat.
“He was pulling the boat with his truck and it came loose. It passed him on the
highway,” says Jarmon’s wife and frequent fishing partner, Diane.
“Thank goodness there were no cars around and the only damage was to his
boat,” she adds.
And this trophy is much too big to mount on the wall. Probably better to fix it instead.
Still, it’s a “fish story” for the times. –mh
Quality Custom Decks brought the Streetman guys out fishing.
Sunrise on the main dock the day we got to start using it again
Sometimes, in fishing, the “one that got away” isn’t a fish at all.
What does this symbol mean?
Catching crooks
Symbol: 1. Something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material
object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.
– Random House College Dictionary.
J
une 14 is Flag Day. It is a day
that we recognize and pay
tribute to the symbol of the
United States of America.
www.USA.gov provides these
flag facts:
•June 14, 1777: Continental Congress passed the Flag Act establishing the first flag, symbolizing
the United States of America.
•1916: “President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling
for a nationwide observance of
Flag Day on June 14.”
•1949: Congress passed a resolution to
establish June 14 as Flag Day. President
Harry Truman signed it into law.
Francis Scott Key, the author of our
national anthem, chose the flag as the
subject of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Key’s words describe the American
flag, “Whose broad stripes and bright
stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly
streaming?”
As you know, Key was describing the
outcome of the battle at Baltimore in
1814. He saw the American flag, rather
than the British flag, flying at “dawn’s early light.”
Given the words of the poem that he
wrote, Key obviously found comfort in
seeing the American flag flying. Maybe
that is why today an American flag is
raised after terrible tragedies or battles. It
brings comfort and purpose to those
who have suffered.
We are approaching another Flag
Day, and I wonder how this day will be
observed.
From television news reports, I see
the U.S. flag being used as a symbol of
disdain, being torn, burned, stomped. I
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see the U.S. flag being hung upside
down, a symbol, by the way, of distress. I
see students taking down the U.S. flag
and flying it below another country’s
flag. I see people refusing to stand when
the flag passes by or refusing to say the
pledge allegiance.
I also see people raise the U.S. flag at
scenes of tragedy, as in New York on Sept.
11, 2001, or after hurricanes Katrina and
Ike ravaged our coastlines. I see flags flying outside many businesses, homes,
schools, and on antennas of cars and
trucks. I see flags flying at sporting
events, and even flags high atop cranes
at construction sites.
The United States flag is a symbol.
That is an undisputed fact. What appears
to be disputed today is what this symbol
means.
June 14th is your opportunity to
show what the American flag symbolizes
to you. Fly it outside your business or
home – or not. You have the freedom to
choose. Many people in our country’s history have bravely fought and died to give
you that freedom. –dn
Mike Hall, 360 Digital Systems
M
ike Hall and his wife Rebecca
Hall, 360 Digital Systems, are
dedicating themselves to catching thieves in the act with the wireless
security system manufactured by Texana
Security. The couple has been talking to
local police departments about the program and plan on getting these systems
on jobsites locally.
“We are the first in the Austin area to
have this system,” Mike Hall said.
The system has a silent alarm and is
monitored live by a staff in Carrolton,
near Dallas. They also have a crew in San
Antonio and Houston and can place the
security system in those regions as well.
The system was recently featured on
the CBS evening news regarding a story
about how thieves were caught stealing
solar panels in California.
Mike and Rebecca moved here from
Houston and have been acclimating
themselves to the area. Rebecca volunteers at a horse ranch, Open My World,
which helps autistic children in Leander
and Mike is fascinated with the technical
world.
“Rebecca loves volunteering. She
was named volunteer of the year in Houston. She is great. She is basically my right
arm,” Mike said.
Mike is also passionate about installing home theatres and technology in
general.
Both Mike and Rebecca are familiar
with the construction world. Mike’s father was a builder and Rebecca used to
work for Construction Expo.
360 Digital Systems specializes in
home theater, structured wiring, security
systems, electronic access control and other
services for commercial and residential
projects. –km
Through
The Years
Art Gordon
Humphrey and Associates, Inc.
A
s a specialist in the installation of
electrical systems and still holding
a master license in the electrical
contracting construction business, Art
Gordon got his start professionally in a
simpler time.
Fifty-three years ago, “social networking” meant a handshake and a bond
of trust built on personal knowledge.
“Things are a lot different today,” observes Gordon, who retired as vice president of Humphrey and Associates Inc. in
2009. This year, he was named Honorary
Life Member of the Independent Electrical Contractors association, Fort WorthTarrant County chapter.
Today, sealing the deal on a project is
done with a “very technical, in-depth
contract,” instead of a handshake.
And while materials and methods of
installing electrical systems haven’t
changed that much over the years, codes
and regulations governing those systems
change rapidly; and licensing requirements demand virtually continuous
training, he notes.
But Gordon says continuously evolving codes have a strong upside. “The
safety-related features of this business
have become much greater,” he asserts.
In modern times, some people move
on to the next job practically before their
chair is warm and they’ve had a chance to
learn all the ropes, as they seek to have
their job define who they are.
But Gordon, who has worked for
only three companies over half a century,
didn’t drift in search of a career. He put
down roots early, in his high school years,
and dedicated himself to learning everything he could about his interest in installation of electrical systems. Although he
has a background in design as well, he
chose to specialize in installation.
“I was born and raised in Jefferson in
East Texas. I worked part-time through
my high school years with my brother-inlaw, who was an electrical contractor. It
was kind of natural, when I came out to
Fort Worth and Dallas after high school
to seek employment at an electrical contractor’s company,” he says.
That company was Circle Y Electric,
where Gordon worked part-time beginning in 1957 while attending the University of Texas-Arlington, where he majored
in electrical engineering and minored in
business.
He stayed there, rising through the
ranks, until 1978 when he left to join Collier Electric Inc. as branch manager and
relocated to Longview, just 35 miles from
his hometown. In 1981, he returned to
the Metroplex and joined Humphrey and
Associates Inc.
Over his career, Gordon has worked
in every capacity: fieldwork, branch manager and as an executive. He also has
demonstrated his leadership skills in directing many dozens of large projects,
including numerous high-rise buildings
in downtown Dallas, large hospital projects, semiconductor plants and a particularly notable and challenging project, a
high-voltage 6-MVA power substation in
Tyler.
“It’s extremely technical, a lot of major high-voltage work, and unique in that
it presents challenges you don’t see in an
every day type of project,” he says.
His zeal for training is one of the
many legacies Gordon leaves his industry
and the IEC, the association that “has
been a very important part of my life for
me and my family.”
“At the beginning, when I first entered this business, there was very little
training,” he recalls. “I was on the first
electrical board for the IEC of Fort Worth
and we created the first apprenticeship
program for the chapter. I also helped develop the curriculum for the training program.”
While Gordon has served in many
training capacities for the IEC, he also has
extended his training expertise to the Associated Builders and Contractors, the
Construction Education Foundation of
Dallas, the technology department at
Texas State Technical College since 1986
(where he is still an active advisory board
member), and the City of Grapevine.
Gordon has a word of advice for
young people contemplating engineering as a career.
“Specialize in one given area and direct all of your attention and focus in that
way, instead of across a wide spectrum.
Learn all you can and get all the experience in that area that you possibly can.
The cream will rise to the top,” he promises.
Gordon has no regrets about the
choices he’s made.
“I’ve worked with so many good
people in this business. The construction
business is a rewarding career. Sure, it’s
cyclical. It goes up and down, but the
ones who work hard at it, will stay busy,
have a lot of continuing business and a
good backlog of work to enhance their
career. Those who drift will naturally fall
by the wayside,” he says.
“If a person, and this fits any career
path, if they devote their full attention
and time and effort towards their career,
they’ll be okay, no matter what the economic conditions are,” says Gordon.
The same passion and devotion that
have marked Gordon’s professional career are apparent in his personal life,
community involvement, and church
leadership.
“I have been an active member of
the United Methodist Church for 40-plus
years and I am currently serving on the
finance committee. I am a 32nd degree
Mason and Shriner. My wife, LaNelle, and
I have two children (a son and a daughter), and a daughter-in-law and three
grandchildren.”
He counts his career-long involvement in professional associations, including the IEC, as one of his greatest opportunities for personal and career enrichment. He believes it offers the same opportunity for young people today if they
will only direct their attention in this way,
specialize, learn and grow.
His son, an architect, has followed
this wisdom by choosing to specialize in
design and development of buildings in
the culture and architectural style of diverse countries. Today, he is a chief operating officer, executive vice president,
and director of international development.
Gordon’s legacy, then, is not just
training, but in teaching that success
does not depend on external conditions
so much as the level of dedication within.
–mh
continued from Page 8 — In the end zone
General Safety Professional of the Year
Hank Mouser, Balfour Beatty Construction
Design/Build $30M-$75M
G. L. Barron Company Inc.
for Inspiring Body of Christ
Commercial/Educational Under $1.5M
T. R. Hall Construction Inc.
for Ellis Central Appraisal District
Commercial/Educational $5M-$10M
W. B. Kibler Construction Company LTD
for the Museum of Biblical Art
Charter Builders for Jack E. Singley Academy of Irving ISD
Additions and Renovations
Lee Lewis Construction Inc. for City of Southlake
Department of Public Safety Headquarters Building
McCarthy Building Companies Inc. for AT&T Performing Arts
Center Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre
Commercial/Educational $1.5M–$5M
RBR Construction Inc.
for Historic Restoration of the Harrison County Courthouse
Commercial/Educational Over $75M
Linbeck Group LLC
for Margot & Bill Winspear Opera House
Design/Build $10M-$30M
Speed Fab-Crete Corporation
for Dale Keeling Field House, Everman, TX
Healthcare Under $10M
for The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano or Expansion
Healthcare $30M-$75M
Austin Commercial for Texas Health
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, Hamon Tower
Industrial Under $5M
Raymond Construction Co. Inc.for Moda Luna /United
Notions Warehouse/Distribution Center
Industrial $5M-$75M
C. D. Henderson Construction Group LLC
for Southwest Airlines General use Building
Interior Finish Out Under $500K
for UT Southwest Medical Center
Biotechnology Development Complex,
Phase I
continued from Page 13 — In the end zone
Interior Finish Out $2M-$5M
James R. Thompson Inc. for Lineage Power
Interior Finish Out Over $5M
James R. Thompson Inc. for Texas Capital Bank
Other Construction All Amounts
Linbeck Group LLC
for Fort Worth Museum of Science & History
Residential Single Family All Amounts:
Sebastian Construction Group for Turtle
Creek Residence
Residential Multi-Family All Amounts
Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
for Spring Condominiums
Specialty Contracting Exterior All Amounts
KPost Company for Cowboys Stadium
Specialty Contracting Electrical Over $10M
Brandt
for Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
Other Specialty Construction All Amounts
Big D Metalworks
for the Walt Disney Family Museum
Specialty Contracting Mechanical $5M-$10M
DynaTen Corporation for AT&T Performing
Arts Center Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre
Specialty Contracting Interiors All Amounts
BakerTriangle for Brookhaven College
Science and Allied Health Building
Specialty Contracting Mechanical Over $5M
TDIndustries Inc. for Cowboys Stadium
Healthcare $10M-$30M
Adolfson & Peterson Construction
for Forest Park Medical Center, Phase I
Specialty Contracting Mechanical Under $5M
Brandt for Brandt Headquarters
Build Texas Award
Manhattan Construction Co., General Contractor
HKS Inc., Architect
for Cowboys Stadium
Interior Finish Out $500K-$2M
Turner Construction Company
for McGuire, Craddock & Strother
Munson/Young Award
L-R: Phil Hoppman, Big Metalworks,
Tom Kader, SEDALCO, INC. (recipient)
S.I.R. Award
L-R: Jack Lowe, TDIndustries, Inc., Phil
Jimerson, Dallas Independent School District
(recipient), and Tony Rader, AUI Contractors
and TEXO Board Chair Elect
HVAC & Plumbing
Consumer driven plumbing
Ken Reinhardt
Braswell & Associates
Gail Lux
Inspector, City of Cedar Hill
A
mong the hot-button issues currently affecting plumbers are customerdriven demand for new, green technologies (commercial and residential), a new
statewide water-saving mandate, and a
move by some cities to tighten rules on
the location of water heaters in new construction.
Ken Reinhardt, representative for
Braswell & Associates in Farmers Branch,
TX, has been hearing “buzz” about new
hybrid water heaters, but hasn’t seen any
installed yet.
He wonders about the relatively high
cost, actual performance efficiency, and
operational impact on existing plumbing.
New tankless water heaters and electric-hybrids are aimed at providing “ondemand” hot water to reduce heating
Lee McFarland
Herndon McFarland
Plumbing
costs and water usage (by not needing to
let water run before hot water is delivered).
Some manufacturers claim energy
cost savings of around 25 percent, an industry stride in light of The U.S. Dept. of
Energy’s first Energy Star standard for
water heaters in 2008.
Some manufacturers offer training
on tankless technology applications, installation, proper sizing, and service; they
add that the technology may require
some changes in plumbers’ business approach.
Tankless and hybrid water heater
manufacturers say the technology will
appeal to customers who want to reduce
their “carbon footprint,” a leading concern of global warming advocates.
Lee McFarland of Herndon McFar-
Demand for air conditioning
continues
George Aivazian, Owner
PartsCo
Houston, TX
W
hat is your perspective on the air conditioning
and heating industry today?
Well, the air conditioning and heating supply business
is going to be around a long time because people have
to have air conditioning in this part of the country. However, the economy has had
some impact on people’s savings. I have noticed customers needing repairs and replacements over the past year.
In addition, there have been changes in refrigerant codes. As far as improvements
in the industry, I think the equipment has become more energy efficient.
Is there a certain time of year when What is your opinion about copper
you are busier than other months?
theft?
The hotter it gets, the busier we get. I think copper theft has been phased
June, July and August are our busiest out because the copper prices leveled tomonths of the year.
ward the end of last year.
Now, for some reason, even though
What are the challenges in your indus- new construction demand is down, the
try?
copper prices are going back up. Usually
I think a challenge is adjusting to the when there is a demand the prices go up.
different environmental laws, which I Copper theft will probably come back,
think are good. In addition, we have to especially with the economy the way it is
keep up with the new equipment that is today.
phasing out the older equipment. Of,
course there are price increases on mate- Have you seen any new technologies
rials too.
in your industry?
Air conditioning is generally an old
What are the cost increases you have technology. It takes Freon to cool the air
seen?
and it takes electricity to pump the Fre The price increases are on raw mate- on. That part of it is really the same. I
rials, which reflect eventually on the fin- have seen some changes in environmenished product coming to us. Of course, tal and temperature controls.
everything gets passed on to the end
user. I have seen price increases for steel What are the rewards of your indusand copper.
try?
I have always been service-oriented.
I used to be an air conditioning contrac-
land Plumbing of Addison, TX, points
out that tankless and hybrid water heaters are expensive and that many customers may not see payback of their investment anytime soon (or ever).
Still, he acknowledges that customer-driven interest in green energy technology is shifting the business climate for
plumbers beyond just payback considerations.
“There are advantages to tankless
water heaters in that you don’t have to
continuously heat water, he says, and this
may be enough to spur demand in a political climate that is promoting green energy awareness and compliance.
From a plumbing perspective, of
course, going green isn’t just about conserving energy. In fact, it may be even
more importantly about conserving water. In the 1990s, the federal government
mandated ultra-low-flush toilets (1.6 gallons per flush, or gpf), first for residential
toilets and later for commercial toilets.
Now, Texas has taken a more aggressive step to mandate a 1.28-gpf toilet
standard on and after Jan. 1, 2014 for new
construction.
“Over the next three or four years,
cities will be phasing in this requirement,
so builders may want to do it today and
get ahead of the curve,” says McFarland.
Paul Peterman, inspector for the
City of McKinney, has been impressed
with the low-flow toilets he has installed
in his older home. He thinks design has
improved significantly over the years.
A change occurring in several Texas
cities that is drawing sighs of relief, even
applause, from plumbers is the passage
of ordinances regarding placement of
water heaters in attics.
On Jan. 13, 2009, the City of Cedar
Hill approved an ordinance that banned
water heaters in attics in new construction.
“Fort Worth took water heaters out
of attics two years ago. The City of Grapevine took a different approach by restricting water heaters to “conditioned spaces,” so that they cannot be located in unfinished attics,” says Gail Lux, inspector
for the City of Cedar Hill.
“In attics, water heaters cost twice as
much to replace, cause three times as
much damage and frequently are not
right for the load-bearing capacity,” he
says.
Plus, water heaters in attics are “a
servicing nightmare,” adds McFarland.
Some homeowners find out too late
the special problems posed by water
heaters in the attic. The Internet is filled
with discussion boards of homeowners
sharing their stories of the additional
costs and inconvenience they faced
when water heater problems arose.
Inspectors for 10 North Texas cities
discussed hot-button plumbing issues
with contractors at a session hosted by
the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association of North Texas in May.
– mh
tor and have really enjoyed being selfemployed. I always like helping people.
I get the most satisfaction out of that.
This has been a great business for me!
continuing education courses every year,
I get updated on codes and changes in
the industry.
In your experience, what are the keys
to success?
In our business, having access to inventory is number one. It is also important to stay knowledgeable about what
you are doing. Be customer-service oriented.
How do you stay up-to-date in your industry?
I still hold my contractors license and
I need to do continuing education courses in order to keep it. When I attend the
What is on the horizon?
I am hoping we will see things become more affordable for people. Right
now, the economy looks bleak. The only
reason we stay in business and have
stayed in business is because of the demand for air conditioning. I think that
will continue.
Established in 1990, PartsCo is an air conditioning, heating, refrigeration and appliance supply business. The company has
two locations in Houston. –ab
HVAC & Plumbing
No splash indoor pool
HVAC designs
Donald B. Prather, Technical Services Specialist
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
(ACCA)
Arlington, VA
W
hen you unroll a plan and see an indoor pool and hot tub do you see HVAC related trouble ahead? Do you feel confident enough in your understanding of all
of the variables involved to know if the architect designed a structural envelope that
is appropriate for indoor pool applications? Are you afraid of getting a future call back
because of wet sagging ceiling panels, rusty steel beams, wet insulation, dripping
glass panels; or worse yet, mold and or algae growing on the walls? Unfortunately,
once there is a problem it can be in the HVAC equipment design, the usage, or in the
structural design.
In order to avoid an ugly endless
round of finger pointing, you need to
start the project with a professional HVAC
contractor who understands indoor pool
design. Better yet is to get that HVAC contractor involved during the design phase
if possible. To do the job thoroughly, a
HVAC contractor needs to evaluate designed indoor humidity consequences
for the all of the selected building materials especially the following items:
• building surfaces
• minimum R values
• vapor barrier locations
• door and window type
If it is not possible to involve the
HVAC contractor in the design process…
look out, there may be an unforeseen
problem due to the unique and specialized challenges in indoor pool design.
For example, if there are other living
spaces incorporated in the enclosed pool
area there should be warning lights and
sirens going off in your mind. Before bidding, or at least before starting construction, make sure an HVAC contractor has
studied the plan. Be sure to ask if your
HVAC contractor will follow the design
guidance detailed in the newly released
American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) recognized ACCA Manual SPS
(HVAC Design for Swimming Pools and
Spas. Proper application of the design
guidance in Manual SPS by a professional
HVAC contractor will result in indoor pool
HVAC system that can be counted on to
perform properly.
Hank Rutkowski P.E., the author of
Manual SPS, is an internationally recognized authority in residential and com-
mercial design applications. As the principal author of numerous ANSI Design
Standards, he was uniquely qualified to
lead the team that developed Manual
SPS. All of the team members were experts on pool design. Original equipment manufacturers, mechanical contractors, and pool design consultants
were all represented on the team. Their
cumulative knowledge was focused into
the HVAC industry’s first indoor pool and
spa design standard. Now contractors
everywhere have access to the information needed to select the specialized
equipment needed to control the unique
dynamics of indoor pool applications.
Mechanical systems for indoor pool
applications must be designed to continuously control the dew point temperatures of space air as well as space temperature. From the 30,000-ft view, Manual SPS addresses the following specialized HVAC design considerations for
pools and spas:
• Dehumidification system must control
airflow dew point all of the time regardless of outdoor conditions, and provide
indoor air quality.
• HVAC Systems must be compatible with
moist air and pool chemicals.
• Ductwork needs to be properly sealed
and insulated.
• Due to higher operating and installation
costs: Higher efficiency options and the
expense of ongoing maintenance should
be considered in the design process.
• The envelope must be compatible with
the pools operating design parameters.
Those planning to build indoor pools
or spas should become familiar with the
new Manual SPS. Manual SPS is available
online at the ACCA bookstore.
Donald Prather has been with ACCA
since 2007. He is a graduate of Thomas Edison State College with a B.S. in Mechanical
Engineering Technology and has over 30
years of HVAC experience. Prather is currently a licensed HVAC contractor in Florida
and holds a 1st Class Stationary Engineer
Certification in Maryland. He was the principal author of the Technician’s Guide for
Quality Installations; a compendium to the
ANSI/ACCA HVAC Quality Installation Specification, and Manual B Balancing and Testing Air and Hydronic Systems. –dn
Fear no evil
Joel Stolarski, Owner
SATEX Plumbing Company Inc.
San Antonio, TX
H
ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms?
Right now it is starting to boil. Things are starting to
move a little. I’ve got careful hope.
What do you attribute that to?
People finally got over that fear of
this administration and I think people are
saying, “The heck with you politicians.
We are going to do this anyway.” Especially in Texas. I think people are just saying, “I don’t care what you guys are playing with in Washington, we are going to
keep building here.”
Since construction has declined in
other parts of the country, do you see
an increase in the number of outside
contractors coming into the area?
Yes, and I have made some new clients because of it. With the Internet everybody is accessible. We just get stuff
emailed to us from we don’t know who.
There is some fear in that. I don’t know
who I am working for. I have always been
relationship oriented. I have my customers and I like to know people. But this is a
whole new world for me to have to trust
somebody that I can’t go look in the face
when they don’t pay me.
What are the “hot button” issues in
your industry?
Talking with my peers, the hot button issue is that when the housing market slowed down, the residential plumbers came in to do commercial jobs and
messed up everything. Because, again,
like when I started, they didn’t know
what they were doing. All their bids were
real low and it threw off the whole system. They were just trying to survive.
I don’t think it was done out of any
kind of malice. It was just done out of lack
of knowledge.
What is the most significant challenge
your industry faces?
The challenge is changing the thinking of the next generation. This generation has heard about entitlement and
what I’m owed. We went through the 10
years of the employee having the upper
hand. We were at their mercy, because a
good guy could get two more bucks
across the road.
Even though you hate this recession,
it is exactly what we needed, even
though we were not making the money
that we did before, it was out of control.
It is teaching this generation that nothing
is owed to you and you’ve gotta go find
these kids that are willing to work and
want to work with their hands, and there
are not many out there anymore. They
want to press buttons.
There is such a joy and such fulfillment in doing something and stepping
back and looking at it, and saying, “Wow.”
I even miss that now because I am a pencil pusher and I swore I would never be.
That is why I went to trade school. I
passed one of those tests in high school
that said, “You will never work in an office.”
My guys get that fulfillment and I
envy them sometimes because I don’t
get to put that pipe in and stand back
and say, “Man, that looks good.”
If I catch hold of a kid that’s got it
(and I can usually tell in the first couple of
months), he’s got a future. That is my joy
now, being able to say, “I impacted this
kid’s life.”
Would you consider that to be one of
the rewards of the industry?
That is the reward of a spiritual man.
I could have become a pastor, or I could
have gone to seminary. But I felt like
God’s calling for me was, “Just do what I
give you to do. You don’t have to change
the world. Just be obedient and do what
I need you to do with one person at a
time.”
Joel Stolarski founded SATEX Plumbing
Company Inc. in 1983, focusing initially on
new home construction and repairs. The
focus later shifted to new commercial construction and repairs. –kf
NEXT MONTH
July 2010
Electrical Industry
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(210) 308-5800
continued from Page 1— I’ll raise you a . . . slab?!
continued from Page 1—Place of comfort
Customer service is our priority. I always
want to keep that in tact,” she says,
sounding every bit the comforting elementary school teacher.
Owning North Texas Flooring and
Design gives Paxton something else that
was a requirement for her next career incarnation: “the flexibility to be with my
children. I pick them up from school every day,” she says.
Paxton creates her customer service
business aura with the aid of Audrey
Sutton, store manager, and Arlene Siefert, outside sales person, as well as an
expert installer, an employee from the
previous owner.
North Texas Flooring and Design, 701
E. Plano Parkway, offers flooring for both
residential and commercial markets and is
seeking to grow the commercial side of the
business over the coming months. –mh
continued from Page 1— Going above and beyond
Round-Up
Jeff Blackwell is the
new
construction
manager at KAI Texas, a design-build
firm based in Dallas.
Previously, Blackwell
worked at Austin
Commercial LP. He
has been involved in
numerous high-profile projects over his
25-year industry career, including renovation of terminals at the DFW Airport,
expansion of the light rail system for the
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and various American Airlines buildings.
Submissions
Uretek lifted the dip, enabling sideby-side racing by Nascar drivers and fulfilling Earnhardt’s idea of racetrack greatness.
Uretek ICR uses the Uretek method to
re-support weak base soils that compromise the integrity of buildings, roads,
homes, and infrastructure in North and
Central Texas. –mh
Round-Up
“There is minimal intrusion on the
customers’ operations or the environment,” and that’s a big selling point, says
Turnage.
Dale’s Dip became history because
of the Uretek method. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
complained that the Texas Motor Speedway would never be a great racetrack because of a dip between turn one and turn
two.
Clay Curtis was
named executive vice
president of MFS
Partners in Plano, TX,
effective May 1. He
joined the company
in 2008 as a sales consultant. Sales and
marketing across all
business units will remain his primary focus, along with newly added executive
responsibilities.
This is a monthly section for brief company announcements of new or
recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Email (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month,
for the next month’s issue (published 1st of each month).
Email info to appropriate city issue, with “Round-Up” in the subject line:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
San Antonio:
[email protected]
Austin:
[email protected]
Dallas/Ft. Worth: [email protected]
Houston:
[email protected]
Who’s next
Flooring is one aspect of ongoing remodeling work at the center.
year (2008) with four option years.
“This project is unique because it requires multi-level communication to
reach decisions,” Cody notes.
“The major challenge we meet is that
the projects are conceptual in nature
when we begin working with the customer. It is challenging to get all end users to agree on the design as we define
the scope, cost and schedule of each
project,” he says.
Among the principal subcontractors
are: Ruby Construction, FN American
Electric, and Carrco Painting.
Cody describes a pharmacy remodel
project that demands exemplary integrity and careful planning and implementation.
There are certain challenges implicit
in construction work in the presence of
patients and confidential patient records,
medications, and high technology equipment.
“We conduct our work in a manner
that maintains integrity and confidentiality for the patients, allowing their uninterrupted care,” he explains.
An IDIQ contract is something like a
football contract, Cody says. Demonstrated performance in the base year aids
GCC’s case for its “option” to be picked up
in the subsequent years. GCC Enterprises
is midway through the project’s option
years, 2009-2012.
The many remodeling projects are
designed to keep the DVAMC updated, in
support of the services it provides to
American veterans, including a 289-bed
acute care medical center, a 90-bed community living center, a 40-bed domiciliary, a 30-bed comprehensive spinal cord
injury center, a 56-bed psychiatric residential rehabilitation treatment center,
and state-of-the-art intensive care units,
operating rooms and ambulatory care facilities.
GCC Enterprises established its core
competency as a federal government
contractor working with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers during the 2004-06
hurricane seasons.
In May, the Dallas district of the Small
Business Administration named Cody the
Dallas District Minority Small Business
Person of the Year.
GCC Enterprises, Inc. also was selected as one of only 200 companies nationwide to participate in the SBA Emerging
200 Initiative that identifies companies
with high growth potential to receive additional resources and support to sustain
and grow their business.
GCC Enterprises, Inc. is headquartered
in Dallas and has a branch office in Fort
Walton Beach, FL. In addition to government contracts, GCC Enterprises also has
completed numerous major commercial
projects. –mh
Morning is a busy time, but Dewayne Oudems and Isaac Armijo of
White Cap Construction Supply in Allen pause briefly from filling orders
for contractors to snap a photo. –mh
Association Calendar
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
AIA – Dallas
S
miles, prizes and good times were a
sure thing at the May 1 Casino Night
hosted by the Greater Dallas Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) at the Doubletree Hotel in Richardson.
Gaming, a bountiful buffet and live
auctions (with a portion of the proceeds
going to Rebuilding Together) all combined to let the good times – and the
dice – roll. –mh
American Institute of Architects
Jun.1: Daylight Management in Commercial Spaces, noon; Jun. 8: Roofing 101,
noon
Jun. 15: Why Draft in 2D When You Can
Model in 3D? Understanding Revit MEP,
noon
Jun. 22: USGBC LEED Green Associate
Exam Prep Workshop, 9am-5pm
Jun. 29: Choices of Air Barriers for Commercial Building Enclosures, noon. Go to
www.aiadallas.org for more information
on continuing education classes.
CFMA - DFW
Construction Financial Mgmt Assn.
Kathleen and Pat Dawsey of Nationwide
Floor and Window Coverings have more
entertainment ahead because they won a
certificate for two nights in Las Vegas.
Jun. 17: Luncheon event topic, “New and
Updated Payroll Credits,” Las Colinas
Country Club, 4400 N. O’Connor Building,
Irving, TX, 11:30am-1pm; nonmembers,
$35 with online registration at www.dfwcfma.com before the event.
CSI – Fort Worth
Construction Specifications Institute
Jun. 8: Chapter Awards Meeting, TEXO
Chapter of the AGC, 417 Fulton St, Fort
Worth, TX, 5:50pm-9pmn
IEC – Fort Worth
Independent Electrical Contractors
Jun. 10: 4th Year Apprentice Graduation
Ceremony, Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S.
Center St, Arlington, TX, 7pm
NARI – Greater Dallas
Hopes are high as NARI members and
guests enjoy the gaming tables.
North Texas Roofing Contractors Assn.
Jun. 8: Greater Dallas General Meeting,
Solara Ironworks, 142 Howell St, Dallas,
TX, 6:30pm; Reservations must be made
by Jun. 4
NAWIC – Fort Worth
Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Alvino Huizar of Huizar Ceramic Tile and
Marble and his bride enjoy the event’s prizes,
games, and food.
Jun. 7: 26th Annual Golf Tournament,
Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club in Keller, TX;
this is a four-person scramble with a shotgun start at 1:30pm. Contact Karolene
Pittman at 817-307-0216 or [email protected] for more information.
NTRCA
North Texas Roofing Contractors Assn.
Jun. 9: Lunch and Learn, “Cool Roofing,”
Shelter Distribution, 300 N. Britain Rd, Irving, TX; cost is $20 for members; $25 for
nonmembers. The price is for both seminar and lunch.
PHCC
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
Jun. 24-26: PHCC-Texas Convention at
The Woodlands. To register/more info:
www.phcc-tx.org.
RHCA
Regional Hispanic Contractors Assn
Jun. 5: Scaffolding Competent Person
and Builders Course, 8am-5pm, RHCA2210 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas; cost $175.
Class in Spanish.
TEXO
The Construction Association
Jun. 3: Fundamentals of Sustainability
Workshop (formerly Green Advantage
Workshop), 8am-5pm, TEXO Conference
Center, 1111 N. Stemmons Frwy, Dallas.
TEXO member cost $300.
TPWA
Texas Public Works Association
Jun. 23-Jun. 26: Annual Conference &
Equipment Show, Gaylord Texan Resort &
Convention Ctr, Lake Grapevine. Conference includes Fri. afternoon “Technical
Tours” of: Cowboys Stadium; Arlington
Landfill; the Arlington Traffic Management Center; and Gaylord Texas Back of
House. Cost of the full four-day meeting
is $275 in advance and walk-in, $325; advance single-day registration is $139;
walk-in single day registration is $179. Advance registration ends Jun. 1.
Job Sights
B
SFC Bridge Systems designed and manufactured the precast concrete arch bridge
system, with a span of 42 ft and a 12-ft rise. Mike Albert Inc. is the subcontractor
for the foundation installation and setting the bridge components. –mh
July is the scheduled completion date for Legacy Texas Bank’s new home – next door to the
existing facility on 15th St. in Plano. Luis Orozco (left), safety manager, and David Usery,
superintendent, (right) are with Hill & Wilkinson, the general contractor. In the center is
Kenny Whitley, Hatfield Acoustical, a subcontractor. –mh
The City of Allen is getting a new water tower.
General contractor Tri Star Construction works on the tower. –mh
The 15,000-sf Reba’s Ranch House for the families of critically ill patients has completed
construction at its new site across the street from Texoma Medical Center. Alpine Roofing
Construction of Dallas did the roof and Brasfield & Gorrie was the general contractor. –mh
What to do
with Construction News
eing a PR person by nature, I’m always looking for ways to make
something out of nothing. However, I really get excited when I can make
something great out of something that is
already good.
The Construction News newspaper is
like that. If you chunk the paper after your
read it, you may be missing some great
opportunities.
Let’s take a quick look at how you
can turn Construction News into a positive tool in your business toolbox.
First, the obvious uses include getting new sales leads and business contacts. That’s great and very important,
but there is something equally as important – relationship building.
How long has it been since you have
received a personal note from someone?
With all the email, texting and telephones,
personal notes are becoming extinct.
Set yourself a part from the crowd
and take advantage of a more personal
form of communication.
Clip an article out of the paper and
send it to the business owner and tell him
(or her) you are glad to see him in the
news. Compliment him on the success of
his business or project. I guarantee he will
be impressed that you took time out from
your busy schedule to remember him.
There are many reasons to reach out
to a business associate or competitor.
Some ideas include:
• A personal form of introduction
• Congrats on a job promotion
• Thank you note
• Haven’t seen you lately. Let’s get together.
• Glad to see your business is doing well.
• Nice shot or good catch regarding an
outdoor photo.
• Great article. I didn’t know you did
(whatever). You are very talented.
• I saw one of your employees in the paper. Good catch on that one.
If you want to get a little more fancy,
laminate or frame the article for a special
occasion. We have many feature articles
in which readers request a reprint. A reprint is in color and designed to look like
a front page article. Very impressive.
Don’t forget to take advantage of your
internal employee communications too.
Consider clipping the article and placing it
where your employees can see it. Employees like to see their employer in the news.
Remember to clip the Great Outdoor
photos too. We normally get pretty cool
photos, and people do like seeing cool
photos.
On a final note, if the article is about
you or your company, I suggest the following:
• Send the article to your mom so she can
brag to her friends. Moms like to do that.
• Keep a copy of the article in your wallet
to pull out and impress your date.
• Show the paper
to your kids and
try to impress
them about your
job. (It probably
won’t work, but
you can try.) –dn
Debra Nicholas,
Managing Editor

June - Construction News

Transcription

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