July - Construction News

Transcription

Covering the Industry’s News
P.O. Box 791290
San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290
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(210) 308-5800  P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio TX 78279  11931 Warfield San Antonio TX 78216  JUL 2010  Vol. 8  No. 7
Strong as stone
Insulation station
L-R: Michael Morales, Robert Stafford, Tommy Cangelosi and Archie Hawkins
Mike Stinson likes to ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle after a day at the office.
T
ommy Cangelosi opened Natural
Earth Products Co. in March 1993
and has been in the stone business
for more than 30 years.
“When I started the company, I was
leasing the property on Wilcrest Dr. that
adjoined our current property,” Cangelosi said. “This property became available
and my partner Mike Colgin and I decided to purchase it.
“Next, we made arrangements to
move to our Stancliff Road location. We
have expanded every year since that
time.”
Michael Morales is the general
manager and handles sales. Robert
Stafford is the yard foreman and Archie
Hawkins is the truck operator.
A
ll Pro Construction has completed
the Salinas Steakhouse & Grille
project at 24110 Northwest Freeway. The restaurant is a South American
churrascaria.
“We began the 3,300-sf project during the first week of Nov. 2009 and finished everything in early March,” said
Fernando Villa, owner of All Pro Construction. He and his wife are also the
owners of the restaurant.
Villa says he drew up the floor plan
and created rooms, dimensions and
square footage using AutoCAD.
“The materials we used included
drywall, insulation, acoustical ceiling tiles,
tile and mahogany wood,” he said. “I had
a 60-man crew working on the project. I
am very happy with how things turned
out.
“I think this project was challenging
because it was my own. I was extra picky.
From day one when I walked inside, it was
an empty lease space build out. It came
On the side, Cangelosi says he is involved in the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo barbecue cook-off.
“I participate in the event in late February or early March,” he said. “Our cookoff team name is “Fire in the Hole Cookers”. It is a lot of fun and we really enjoy
it.”
In addition, Cangelosi likes to go offshore fishing in Galveston with his son,
David.
“David is a volunteer fireman for the
city of Jamaica Beach and a full-time fireman for the city of Galveston,” he said. “I
can remember when we first opened, Dacontinued on Page 22
M
ichael Stinson grew up in the
construction industry and is a
native Houstonian. His mentors
were his father, Bill Stinson and grandfather Marvin Henry who were homebuilders in Houston.
Today, Stinson is the vice president at
Sugar Land-based Gulf Coast Insulation
Inc. His mother Wanda Henry started
the company in 1986.
“I remember picking up bottles and
cleaning up jobsites when I was 5 and
made three cents a piece,” Stinson said.
“I eventually started working with carpenters and later gained experience
building commercial projects. I earned a
construction degree from Texas State
Technical in Waco, TX.”
Stinson says he became interested in
energy efficiency in the early ‘80s and has
continued to use recycled materials and
products.
“I think going “green” is not just going to be a trend, I think it is going to be a
way of life,” he said
According to Stinson, the company
has started to expand into the sprayfoam part of the business.
“We are growing, getting more new
equipment and more vehicles on the
road,” Stinson said. “It is a tough market
but only the tough survive!”
Every year, Stinson is involved in a
continued on Page 22
Thrill of the grille
alive afterwards.”
According to Villa, he had the ability
to do his own thinking and make his own
choices.
“This project was larger than other
restaurants and wine bars I have worked
on in the past. It took longer because the
13 ft. ceilings were a lot higher than usual.
“Everything was custom built. Every
tile I put in was custom made. The wine
racks were all handcrafted individually
and stained by hand.
“For the lighting, I wanted something
that would match the ceiling. I put in recessed can lights that could be dimmed
to create ambiance. I added chandeliers
to three different parts of the area. I wanted the lights to look elegant. My wife is
an interior decorator so she picked all the
colors and the chandeliers.”
Villa says the salad bar was one of the
most challenging aspects of the project.
He says he saw a salad bar he could have
continued on Page 22
Page 2
Houston Construction News • Jul 2010
Construction News ON LOCATION
Lucas brothers
Owners Dan and Billy Lucas, Lucas Craftsmanship Inc.,
have specialized in light commercial and residential custom renovation
and new construction projects since 1991. –ab
Stacking stone
L-R: Rodrigo Saldana and Jose Sandoval work in the yard at
Yale Stone & Masonry Supply Co. Established in 1997, the company provides
stone, masonry supplies and tools. –ab
Page 3
Remodeling and recreation
Industry FOLKS
Hugo Gil
Evys Electric Inc.
E
stimator Hugo Gil joined Evys
Electric Inc. four years ago. His
uncle, Guillermo Gil, owns the electrical contracting company and his
aunt Angelica is the office manager.
“My main responsibility at the
company is bidding on jobs,” Gil
said. “In addition, I try to keep our
guys busy on a daily basis.
“Starting out doing installation
jobs, I have worked in the construction industry for a total of eight
years. I think it was beneficial to
start out in the field and then work
my way up.
“The best part about what I do
today is going out to the different
jobsites around Houston. I also like
working with my family.”
Every year, he says the company
has a barbecue on occasion and an
end of year party.
Originally from Houston, Gil attended Elkins High School in Sugar
Land, TX.
“I enjoyed playing football and
basketball in high school,” he said. “I
wasn’t on the actual team, I just liked
to play for fun with my friends after
school.”
Gil’s favorite hobby outside of
work is going fishing in Galveston
Bay. He says he catches mostly redfish when he goes out on a boat.
“I spend most of my free time
these days with my 3-year-old
daughter named Giselle,” he said.
“She is so much fun. I like to take her
to the park so she can play on a
swing or in the sand box. She is too
young right now to play any sports,
but I am sure she will get involved
when she is a little older.”
During the fall season, Gil likes
to go to the Houston Texans football
games with friends and family.
Sometimes they have a tailgate party in the parking lot before the game
starts, he said.
Gil has taken a few road trips to
Austin and San Antonio this year. He
says he went to 6th Street in Austin
and the River Walk in San Antonio.
“I also attended an estimating
class in Arizona,” he said. “I learned
how to run the new estimating software. I think it is important to stay
up-to-date with the new technologies and equipment in the electrical
trade.”
Gil says commercial installation
projects he has worked lately include
retail spaces and schools. –ab
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“Kevin has experience doing granite
work,” Ponce said. “He currently helps
me with fabrication and installation.
“We recently had a bar and grill project in Katy, TX. We tore out the floor in
the kitchen and brought it up to code.”
Ponce says when he isn’t at work he
is a coach for his son’s youth football
team in Humble, TX.
“My son’s team name is the Humble
Dolphins,” he said. “Right now he is playing the quarterback position. It is preseason so we are doing a lot of conditioning and training.
“In addition, my son and I do a lot of
hunting in South Texas and salt water
fishing in Matagorda Bay.”
Ponce Remodeling Service specializes
in commercial and residential painting,
drywall, flooring and concrete work. –ab
Have you appeared in
Construction News?
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San Antonio
Houston
Home Office
(210) 308-5800
Houston Editor — Abby BeMent — [email protected] — 713-599-1774
Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler
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A
few times a year, the folks at Ponce
Remodeling Service get together
at the home of owner Jose Ponce.
“I have a barbecue pit in my backyard so I grill chicken fajitas and sausage
for the guys,” Ponce said. “I treat my employees like they are my family.”
Ponce started his company in 2000.
He says most of his family works in the
construction industry.
“My father built new homes and did
a lot of frame work and brick laying when
I was a kid,” he said. “I remember always
spending time with his sheet rock crew.
“After my father passed away when I
was 13, I continued to learn the trade
from my uncle and cousins. Next, I began
doing remodeling work.”
Today, Ponce’s younger cousin, Kevin Torres, helps him at the company.
Dallas/Fort. Worth
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Construction News Ltd. Home Office
P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279
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L-R: Jose Ponce and Kevin Torres are cousins
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Engineering
leaders
T
he Texas Society of Professional
Engineers Houston Chapter (TSPE)
installed its 2010-11 board of directors
in June. –ab
Officers:
President: Elizabeth “Liza” H. Kirk, P.E.,
AEI Engineering LLC
President-Elect: Edwin Friedrichs, P.E.,
Walter P. Moore
Vice President: Billy M. Cooke, P.E.,
Klotz Associates
Secretary: Krishna P. “KP” Jonnalagadda, P.E., Fugro Consultants Inc.
Treasurer: Brian Kirk, P.E., Stewart Research LLC
Past President/State Director: Monica
Silver, P.E., Cobb, Fendley & Associates
Inc.
Directors:
Chapter Director: Bert Link, P.E.,
Othon Inc.
Director 1: Chad Gordon, P.E., Terracon
Director 2: John J. Saavedra, P.E., Harris County Precinct 2
Director 3: Anthony Spinler, P.E., GE
Oil & Gas
Director 4: Wayne G. Ahrens, P.E., Dannenbaum Engineering Corp.
If not, give us a call.
There is no charge for
stories or photos.
Page 4
Fun in the sun
A
rchitects, engineers and contractors from around
the state traveled to East Beach in Galveston for
the 24th Annual Sandcastle Competition Jun. 5.
This year, 80 teams competed to win the Golden
Bucket award. Each team worked non-stop for five
hours to sculpt imaginative sand creations. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) hosted the event. –ab
Here are the winners:
Honorable Mention: Gran Mission -Simply Perfect
Best Team T-Shirt: SHW Group
Public Favorite: Jacobs Engineering
- Alice in Wondersand
That's Entertainment: Brown & Gay Engineers Inc.
- Alice in Wondersand
Let The Games Begin: Walter P. Moore - SandleyCup
Best Architectural Theme: Prairie View A&M University
School of Architecture - The Wright Stuff
Most Hilarious: The 19th Hole - Tiger in Wanderland
Golden Bucket, Most Complex & Best Team Signage: Matrix
Spencer Architects - Train Your Dragon
Silver Shovel: The Dow New Professionals Network
- Seuss In Sand Made By Hand
Most Lifelike & Honorable Mention: PDG Architect
- Bone Appetite
Best Traditional: Gensler -SandcastLEGO… Play On
Bronze Shovel: Studio MET - Manhole
Honorable Mention: Haynes Whaley Associates Inc.
- How We TRAIN’D Our Dragon
College Challenge - University of Houston & University of
Texas at San Antonio - There is an App for That
Best Costume: LC Designs - Las Vegas “Sand” City
iByte
Stars and Stripes: Leo A. Daly - God Bless Texas
Gym Tan Laundry
Sandroid
Texas Sandblasting Massacre
Page 5
Chill and grill
Knock, knock
Brisket 1st: Environmental Air System Inc. - EASI Cookers
A
ir conditioning contractors and associates recently fired up the pits at the 13th
Annual Barbecue Cookoff at the Knights of Columbus in Houston. The Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ACCA) held the event. –ab
Congrats to the winners:
Bloody Mary
1st: Environmental Air Systems Inc. - EASI
Cookers
2nd: Johnstone Supply - Super Heaters
and Sub Cookers
3rd: ACES - Turn Key Cookers
Beans
1st: New Balance AC - Slap Yo Momma
Cookers
2nd: Johnstone - Super Heaters and Sub
Cookers
Chili
2nd: Dirty Dozen - City of Houston
3rd: Johnstone - Super Heaters and Sub
Cookers
Chicken
1st: Rincon Mechanical - R & R Cookers 2nd: Hallmark AC - Grillz Gone Wild 3rd: Mesa Mechanical - Up in Smoke
Ribs
1st: Rincon Mechanical - R & R Cookers 2nd: Polar Air - Smoke a ‘ Holics
3rd: Carrier - Burnt To A Crisp Open
2nd: Power Vac America - Getting Off
Easy 3rd: Environmental Air System Inc. - EASI
Cookers
Brisket
2nd: Polar Air - Smoke a ‘ Holics
Dessert
2nd: Rincon Mechanical - R & R Cookers
3rd: Carrier - Burnt To A Crisp
Matt Rhodes can play the steel guitar.
D
ecember 1987 was the year Cambridge Doors & Windows Inc. got
its start in Stafford, TX.
Amber Hobbs, office manager, recently celebrated her one-year anniversary with the company. Wearing many
hats, Hobbs answers phones and takes
care of payroll, insurance and book keeping.
General sales manager Matt Rhodes
has been employed at Cambridge Doors
& Windows since 1994.
“I think the best part of what I do is
when I get a call from a customer after a
job and they are happy with the installation,” Rhodes said.
He says over the years the company
has had customers from Conroe all the
way to Clear Lake.
“For fun, I enjoy doing stained glass
projects on the weekends and after
work,” Rhodes said. “I buy the glass already stained and colored and then cut
and fit the pieces together like a jigsaw
puzzle.
“I am also a musician on the side. I
have played the steel guitar for 16 years. I
play a lot of Hawaiian music and I have a
band called the “Grass Skirts”.
“My band plays at private parties.
Sometimes we get asked to perform at
special functions. In addition, we played
at a bar and grill on Lake Conroe.”
Traveling to Oahu and Maui, HI a few
times inspired Rhodes musically. He says
Hawaii is his favorite place in the world.
The latest commercial project the
company worked on was a country club
in Sugar Land, TX.
Cambridge Doors & Windows is a fullservice door, window, & weatherization specialist. –ab
Making cabinets
Open 1st: Johnstone Supply
- Super Heaters and Sub-Cookers
Chili 1st: Power Vac America
- Getting Off Easy
The Master Craft Woodworks staff at the shop
Dessert 1st: City of Houston - Dirty Dozen
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O
wners Cal Trevino and his wife
Marina opened Master Craft
Woodworks in 1998.
“At first, we built everything out in
the field,” Trevino said. “Today, we do our
own CAD drawings at our shop, put the
millwork into production, deliver it and
then install it.”
Trevino says he is a second-generation mill worker. His father was a mill
worker in Houston in the mid-1960s.
“Growing up, I would tag along with
my dad to the jobsites,” he said. “I really
enjoyed wood working at an early age. I
started out doing trim work and installed
cabinets, baseboards and hanging doors.
“The lesson my father taught me was
if you are going to do something, do it
right or don’t do it at all.”
Trevino’s son, Andrew, is currently
working in the CAD department and
joined the company four years ago.
“We have 12 employees today,” he
said. “Each year, we have a luncheon the
day before the Thanksgiving holiday. We
shut down at noon and bring in barbecue or a turkey.
“I am an avid golfer on the side and I
go out to the course or driving range any
chance I get on the weekends. I participated in a golf tournament in April.
“In addition, my wife, Marina, loves
to cook Cajun food. Her favorite dish to
make for our family is jambalaya. It is excellent!”
Trevino says a recent commercial
project the company worked on was at
Rice University and a Time Warner Cable
store.
Master Craft Woodworks provides architectural woodwork in the Houston area.
–ab
Page 6
Construction Engineering Technology in
1986.
I really enjoyed being a Red Raider.
People often ask me why I went to Lubbock. I think the best answer is I liked the
color of their football uniforms – red and
black.
Daniel Frank
Cryer Plastering Co. Inc.
C
ryer Plastering Co. Inc. is a family
owned and operated business
founded in 1968 by Lloyd Cryer
and his wife Ada. Daniel Frank, their sonin-law, purchased the business three
years ago. Frank says he is proud to take
the reins to propel the company into the
future.
Where did you grow up, Daniel?
I am a country boy. I was born in Columbus, TX. I lived there growing up and
attended Columbus High School. My
family and I did a lot of outdoor activities
such as hunting and fishing. Football was
the only sport I played in school.
What did your parents do for a living?
My mom worked at the high school
as the superintendent’s secretary and my
dad was a land surveyor. I worked for him
on the weekends and in the summers. I
got a lot of hands on experience during
that time. My dad always loved the outdoors and building things. I became interested in the construction industry because of him.
Do you have any siblings?
I have one sister who still lives in Columbus.
What was your very first job?
Besides working in the field for my
dad, I also drove a tractor to shred county
roads in Columbus. It was one of the
most low stress jobs I ever had in my life.
I made four dollars and fifty-four cents an
hour.
Did you go to college?
After graduating high school in 1982,
I went to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. I graduated with a degree in
Did you work during your college
years?
Yes, I worked part-time at Johnson
Controls as a draftsman. I drew whatever
the engineers put in front of me. This was
before computers so I had to draw everything by hand.
What did you do next?
I joined Columbus-based Drymalla
Construction Co. as an estimator and
project manager. I was lucky to get that
job because there weren’t a lot of jobs to
be found when I got out of school. I
worked at the company for eight years.
Did you get married along the way?
I married my wife Mary in 1985 during my senior year of college. Mary is
three years younger than me. I met her
and knew her from church. She was a
cheerleader when I was in college.
When we got married, her father
Lloyd Cryer owned and operated Cryer
Plastering Co. I decided to jump from
general contracting to plastering. Now,
I enjoy subcontracting more.
Today, Mary works at a women’s
pregnancy center in Houston. She helps
girls during crisis pregnancies.
Do you and Mary have children?
We have four boys named Joshua,
James, Joseph and Jacob. They are ages
10, 13, 20 and 22.
My oldest son Jacob will graduate
from Texas Tech University after he completes a summer internship focusing on
restaurant management. Joseph is also
at Texas Tech and plans to graduate with
the same degree. They both want to
work in the food industry.
Both Jacob and Joseph received athletic scholarships to work on the video
crew for the Texas Tech football team.
They videotape every practice and game.
Our other boys go to school at Fort
Bend Baptist Academy in Sugar Land, TX.
James loves music and playing the guitar.
He aspires to be a musician. He recently
tried out for the Praise Band at his school.
Joshua, our youngest son, is the athletic one and likes sports. We think he is
going to be the football star at Texas Tech
one day.
Do you and Mary go to the football
games in the fall?
Yes, we travel to see the games at
Submitted to Construction News
Drive, chip, putt
Folks from Wholesale Electric and Britain Electric Company recently played 18
holes of golf at the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Annual
Golf Tournament at Hearthstone Country Club in Houston. –ab
Daniel Frank says he is a country boy at heart.
least three times a year. When we beat
the University of Texas in Lubbock two
years ago, I was in the mountains of New
Mexico on a mule deer hunt. My wife was
at the game. I think we enjoy going to
the football games more now than when
I was in school.
What does your father-in-law do now?
Lately, he has been building fences
on his ranch in Columbus. I like to take
my sons and build fences with him.
What services does the company provide?
We specialize in plastering, lathing,
stucco, marble crete and insulated wall
systems. I came on board in 1994. Since I
purchased the company three years ago,
we have upgraded the equipment and
tools and bought new delivery trucks.
We currently have 25 employees. I
still do all the estimating, meet with general contractors and take care of all the
paper work. We focus on schools,
churches and other commercial jobs.
How do you stay up-to-date in your industry?
There have been updates in different
types of finishes. Today, there are premixed products that we didn’t have before. I think for the most part, plastering
is the same as it was years ago. There are
new requirements for inspections by the
City of Houston.
What would you tell a young person
today who wants to do what you do?
Don’t be afraid to get out there, get
dirty and learn the trade. Don’t get in a
hurry. Find out what you want to do and
do it well. Having a degree in construction is beneficial and internships are
helpful to get your feet wet.
Do you have an annual company
event?
At the end of the year, I take all my
employees out to dinner at Eats Mesquite
Grill on Hempstead Highway. We do a
gift exchange and recognize employees
for a job well done.
In addition, for the past couple of
years, I took salaried employees to Mexico on Memorial Day weekend. We went
to Cancun one year and Cozumel the
next. It was a good time. We decided not
to go this year.
Do you like to go scuba diving?
I am a certified scuba diver. When
my wife and I first got married, we went
to Cancun to go scuba diving. I learned to
scuba dive at a swimming pool in Lubbock. I haven’t been lately though.
What are your favorite hobbies these
days?
Personally, I like to go hunting and
fishing. My wife, boys and I like to get out
on the bay as much as possible.
I have been elk and mule deer hunting in New Mexico, and I hunted white
tail deer in Mexico with my father for
many years.
My office used to be full of white tail
deer trophies. When we built a new
house, my wife didn’t really want them at
home. Eventually, I claimed one room
upstairs. It’s my man cave, so now all my
deer are in there.
In addition, I have cattle in Columbus. That is my weekend escape. Right
now, I have 16 cows and 12 little calves.
How do you decompress?
I like to relieve stress by doing yard
work. I used to hire someone to do the
yard, but now I mow my own grass. That
is my exercise!
My family and I also really enjoy sitting around the campfire on a nice, cool
evening. We have a fire pit in the backyard.
Have you taken a trip lately?
Mary and I like to go on cruises and
have been on about six in the last six
years or so.
My niece is getting married in Austin
this summer, so we planned to stay an extra day to relax and have fun.
Do you have any pets?
Delilah, a cocker spaniel poodle mix
is my wife’s dog. I came home from a
hunting trip one day and was surprised
to meet Delilah. It is funny how Delilah is
so happy every time she sees me when I
come home after work.
What is the key to success?
You don’t have to be the lowest bidder in town, you just have to do good,
quality work. Then you will stay busy.
One time, my father-in-law said that he’d
see someone at the corner holding up a
sign that said, “Will work for food.” He
said what he would like to see is someone holding up a sign that said, “I was the
lowest bidder on every job.”
What are your future plans for the
company?
I plan on staying at our current location on Papalote St. In the next few years,
I just want to maintain our workload. –ab
Page 7
Tile time
E
L-R: Jose Espinal and Manuel Aguilar
xpanding from California, Ceramica
Texas Inc. has locations in Houston
and Pasadena, TX.
“We have been in the Houston market for five years,” said general manager
Jose Espinal. “I have worked at the company for 12 years. When I moved here, I
didn’t like the weather at first, but now I
am used to it!
“Since we have been in the area, we
have seen some ups and downs in business. I do think things are looking better
in 2010.”
Espinal says the folks at Ceramica
Texas enjoy a Christmas party at the end
of the year.
“Employees are very close, almost like
family,” he said. “We take time out of the
day to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions. We will have a barbecue or
bring in a birthday cake with candles.”
In May, warehouse manager Manuel
Aguilar had a birthday party at the Houston location, he said.
Espinal says when he is not at work,
he enjoys spending time fishing and hiking with his wife.
“My wife and I like to go to a really
nice beach park in Kemah, TX,” he said.
“It seemed like we walked for miles the
last time we went to the park. On the
weekends, we usually go fishing in Kemah or Galveston.”
“In addition, I am a Los Angeles
Dodgers and Houston Astros baseball
fan.”
Planning for the future, Espinal says
Ceramica Texas would like to eventually
open more locations in Texas.
Ceramica Tile supplies ceramic tile,
laminate, slate, porcelain and travertine.
–ab
The big chill
H
Sam Rivas likes soccer and basketball.
ouston-based Rivas Air Conditioning & Heating has operated
for more than 15 years.
“In the early days, we did a lot of refrigeration work at residential projects,”
said owner Sam Rivas. “Ten years ago,
we began to expand more into the commercial market.
“Right now I just have four employees. My lead installer is Jaime Morales.
In addition, my wife Silva helps me with
the paper work and office management.”
Rivas says on a typical day, he goes
out in the field and handles the paper
work after hours.
“I really enjoy working in the HVAC
industry because I am able to meet new
challenges every day,” he said. “There is
always something new to learn. Every
job is different too.”
At the end of each year, Rivas says he
takes his employees out to dinner. He
says they go to a nice restaurant in the
downtown area.
“Watching soccer and basketball
games is how I like to spend my spare
time,” Rivas said. “I am an avid Houston
Rockets fan. I usually watch the games on
television. I haven’t made it to the Toyota
Center yet, but I want to go in 2011.
“I don’t have many hobbies in the
summer season because this is our busiest time of the year.”
Looking ahead, Rivas says he would
like his company to continue, and he
plans to take each day as it comes.
“I think to stay in business for more
than 15 years, it takes a lot of good work
and honesty.”
Rivas Air Conditioning & Heating is a
commercial and residential air conditioning and heating contractor. –ab
Good to glaze
Onward to paint
Arturo Andrade, owner of Andrade’s Painting & Remodeling, prepares to drive
to northwest Houston for a sheet rock repair and painting job.
He has been in business for two years. –ab
Double take
L-R: Field service representative Christopher Briggs and regional distributor
manager Chuck Gunter have a morning meeting at Hanson Brick,
a brick manufacturer in Houston. –ab
H
L-R: Oscar Salmeron and Rosendo Sanchez
ouston-based O.S. Screen & Glass
has relocated to a larger space at
10107 Tanner Road.
“We were previously operating on
Brittmore Road,” comptroller Rosendo
Sanchez said. “The company has been
growing quite a bit and we decided it
was time to build our own shop and purchase new machinery.
“Today, we have 6,000-sf of office
and warehouse space compared to
3,500-sf at our old building.”
Owners Alex Bonilla and Oscar
Salmeron founded the company eight
years ago.
“Alex and Oscar both come into the
office first thing in the morning,” he said.
“Oscar will stay at the shop for most of
the day and Alex frequently goes to the
jobsites. I help out with the scheduling,
finances and other paper work.”
Sanchez says the company is just
now getting settled at the new location
and will possibly have an employee gettogether once everything is up and running.
In their free time, employees enjoy
hunting, going fishing in Galveston and
taking four wheelers out every once in a
while.
“We are like one big family,” Sanchez
said. “Many of us go to the same church
called El Rebano de Vida. We are currently helping out with some remodeling
work at the church. The project should be
completed in the next three months.”
He says the company also recently
did the interior glasswork for a day care
center in Rosenberg, TX.
“In the future, our goal is to open up
shops in San Antonio and the Dallas/Ft.
Worth area,” Sanchez said.
O.S. Screen & Glass manufactures insulated glass and provides commercial and
residential window unit installation and
reglazing. –ab
Page 8
Own a business? Put retirement
plan in place
The fast track to bond declination and how to keep off it
Dustin K. Gersch, AAMS
Edward Jones
Austin, TX
Jim Swindle, AFSB
Alamo Surety Bonds
San Antonio, TX
I
T
f you own a small business, you have a lot to think
about: sales, expenses, marketing, cash flow, competition — the list goes on and on. However, by spending so
much time on the issues of today, you may overlook the
concerns of tomorrow. That’s why, if you haven’t already done so, you need to choose
a retirement plan for your business.
he availability of surety bonds is a function of a contractor’s financial position and creditworthiness.
While much of the contractor’s bond pre-qualification
focuses on the basic requirements of bonding – character, capacity, and capital (The 3
C’s) – there are certain situations beyond The 3 C’s that can kill bond approvals as well.
There are a few critical issues that continue to impede contractors either seeking their
first bond or trying to maintain or increase their bonding capacity. Here are some reoccurring scenarios that can land a contractor on “The fast track” to a bond declination.
Which plan is right for you? It depends on different factors, such as how
many employees you have and how
much you can afford to contribute each
year. Let’s take a look at some popular retirement plans for small businesses:
Bidding With Cashier’s Checks
On most public bids, contractors are given the option of posting either a cashier’s
check or a bid bond. This bid security is
the owner’s guarantee that payment and
performance bonds will be provided if
the contractor is awarded the job. All too
often we are encountering contractors
who have bid jobs with cashier’s checks.
This is especially tempting in the current
tight bond market and when contractors
are averaging only one or two successful
bids out of every ten. This is not a wise
move, however, because the contractor is
risking his or her own money against getting the bond approved. Many contractors do not understand that they will lose
their cashier’s check if they cannot bond
the job. A contractor should always let
the bid go unless they can provide a bid
bond for it.
• Owner-only 401(k) — Also known as
an individual 401(k), an owner-only
401(k) offers you many of the same advantages of a traditional 401(k): a range
of investment options, tax-deductible
contributions and tax-deferred earnings
growth. You may even be able to choose
a Roth option for your 401(k), which allows you to make after-tax contributions
that can grow tax free. In 2010, you can
contribute up to $49,000 to your owneronly 401(k) or $54,500 if you’re 50 or older. (To make deductible contributions for
the 2010 tax year, you’ll need to set up
your plan by Dec. 31, 2010.)
• Solo defined benefit plan — You may
have thought you had to work for a big
company to participate in a traditional
pension plan, also known as a defined
benefit plan, but you can set one up for
yourself if you’re self-employed or own
your own business. This plan has high
contribution limits, which are determined by an actuarial calculation, and
your contributions are typically tax-deductible.
• SEP IRA — If you have just a few employees or are self-employed with no employees, and you’re looking for a lowcost, low-maintenance retirement plan,
you may want to consider a SEP IRA.
You’ll fund the plan with tax-deductible
contributions, and you must cover all eligible employees. (Employees themselves
cannot contribute.) You can contribute
up to 25 percent of compensation (if
you’re an employee of your own corporation) or 20 percent of income if you’re
self-employed, up to $49,000 annually.
And you can fund your SEP IRA with virtually any type of investment you choose.
• SIMPLE IRA — As its name suggests, a
SIMPLE IRA is quite easy to set up and
maintain, and it can be a good plan if
your business has fewer than 10 employees. As the business owner, you must
contribute in one of two ways: a dollarfor-dollar match of up to 3 percent of salary or a contribution of 2 percent of employees’ salaries (up to $4,900 per year).
Employee contributions are tax-deductible, and your matching contributions are
generally deductible as a business expense. Still, while a SIMPLE IRA may be
advantageous for your employees, it’s
less generous to you, as far as allowable
contributions, than an owner-only 401(k),
a defined benefit plan or a SEP IRA. For
2010, your annual contributions are generally limited to $11,500, or $14,000 if
you’re 50 or older by the end of the year.
You can also make a matching contribution of up to 3 percent to yourself.
To determine which plan is best for
you, consult with your tax advisor and a
financial advisor who has experience
with small businesses. But don’t wait too
long to get started — you’re moving
closer to retirement all the time.
Dustin Gersch is a financial advisor
with Edward Jones. He specializes in individual and business retirement plans within
Austin and surrounding areas. For more information, he can be reached at dustin.
[email protected] or 512.249.0934.
Candid at the counter
Large Bid Spreads
The construction industry has become
hyper-competitive. Larger contractors
are now bidding on small jobs just to
keep staff on the payroll. Lower demand
has driven down labor and some material
costs to the point where aggressive bidding has become the norm. Yet the surety industry remains intolerant of contractors who win bids by a spread of more
than 15 percent. Unless the contractor is
well established with their surety and has
a very good explanation, leaving too
much money on the table can cause the
underwriter to decline the final bonds even if it means a forfeiture of their bid
bond.
Contractors often forget that bond
companies are under no legal obligation
to provide bonds on a project - even if
they issued the bid bond. If the owner’s
estimate is too high, the best approach is
for the contractor is to get with their
bond agent and attach an explanation
and a job cost breakdown to their bid
bond request. Remember, bond underwriters hate surprises more than just
about anything else.
Onerous Contract Terms and Conditions
Unfavorable contract language keeps
cropping up. Here are a few to steer clear
of.
• Long Warranties. We are seeing an increase in contracts that require contractors to warranty their workmanship for
 Location

Location
 Location
 Location
Salesman Jose Calderon takes a phone call and information at Hardwood
Distributors, a hardwood flooring supply company. –ab
Publishing the Industry’s News . . .
TEXAS Style
longer than the construction industry
standard of one year, or two years for
roofers. Lately, we have seen contractor
warranties for 5, 10, and even 15 years.
Sureties cannot bond these contracts because of the extreme risk involved and
also because they violate the terms of
their reinsurance agreements. The surety
is unable to spread the risk to their reinsurance companies under these terms.
• High Liquidated Damages. It is common for LD’s for late completion to be in
the range of $200 to $1,500 per day, and
are relative to the size of the contract.
The surety will balk at high liquidated
damages, especially on smaller jobs. High
LD’s can mean that the project owner realizes the job will be difficult to complete
on time. The surety must be comfortable
that the contractor has sufficient liquidity
and working capital to pay the LD’s.
• “Pay If Paid” Clause. This clause relieves the general contractor from paying
their sub if they cannot collect from the
owner. The burden to protest this action
falls on the subcontractor who must hire
an attorney and follow the letter of the
law or else risk losing all rights to collect
from their GC. Sureties take a dim view of
these clauses. Subcontractors should always read through their conditions and
try to have this onerous clause either
modified or stricken from the subcontract altogether.
• Bonding for Future Work. Some general contractors are requiring their subs
to provide bonding for work that does
not begin for over 12 months. The surety
cannot extend a bond approval for work
that is so far in advance. This, in essence,
waives the surety’s ability to perform
their customary annual underwriting review.
Even if you are an established contractor and your bonding line is fairly secure, any one or a combination of these
scenarios can lead straight to an unexpected bond declination. In these difficult times, bonded contractors must pay
closer attention to job cost estimates, bid
specifications and contract terms and
conditions.
Jim Swindle is the owner/principal
agent of Alamo Surety Bonds, and has been
in the bond business for 22 years as a surety
company underwriter and as an agent. He
is currently President of The Surety Association of South Texas, Inc. –dn
Dallas/Fort. Worth
Austin
San Antonio
Houston
Home Office
(210) 308-5800
Page 9
Paving the way: TxDOT’s contract claims process
Travis W. Brown, Partner
Allensworth & Porter, LLP
Austin, TX
A
s private-sector transportation construction remains in a deep slump, state and federal projects
remain the only games in town for many road and highway contractors. In particular, Texas state highway contractors are bidding under relentlessly competitive circumstances, with “winners” at times facing a break-even
proposition, or worse. This contracting climate cultivates the perfect breeding ground
for increased disputes over change orders and requests for equitable adjustment.
This article provides a brief summary of the process for bringing a claim for additional
compensation on a TxDOT highway project.
TxDOT’s Contract Claim Procedure
1. Written Notice: A contractor must
provide written notice of any intent to request additional compensation once
there is knowledge of the basis for the
request. The failure to provide the required notice may result in a complete
waiver of the right to seek additional
compensation—and TxDOT will almost
certainly lodge this argument.
2. Contract Claims Committee: Once
written notice is provided, TxDOT will attempt to resolve the dispute at the lowest possible level. If the dispute is not resolved at the District level, then a potential claimant may move on to the Contract Claims Committee (“CCC”).
The claim itself is initiated by filing a
detailed report with either the District Engineer, the Director of the Construction
Division, or the CCC. The detailed report
forms the basis of the contractor’s claim.
The CCC will then give the contractor
an opportunity to present its claim at an
informal meeting. After this event, the
CCC will send a letter outlining a proposed settlement of the claim(s). If the
settlement is acceptable, the contractor
must advise the CCC chairman in writing
within 20 days, and the chairman will
then forward to the commission an
agreed order requesting the specified
payment.
If the contractor is dissatisfied with
the CCC’s proposal, it must petition TxDOT’s Executive Director within the same
20-day time period for a formal administrative hearing in the State Office of Administrative Hearings (“SOAH”).
In deciding whether to settle for the
CCC’s recommendation or pursue a claim
at SOAH, a contractor should consider
the following issues:
(1) Proceeding with a claim against
TxDOT may have adverse consequences
on future business dealings with the
agency;
(2) A claim for attorneys’ fees expended in bringing or defending a claim
against TxDOT will face serious challenges; and
(3) The SOAH Administrative Law
Judge’s Decision is not final. The TxDOT
Executive Director has final decision
making authority over the contractor’s
claim.
If the CCC’s proposed resolution is
denied, the contractor will proceed with
litigation—a trial on the merits before an
Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”).
After the SOAH hearing, the ALJ will
submit a Proposal for Decision (“PFD”).
Remarkably, the PFD is not the final decision of the claim. The ALJ’s PFD must
then go before TxDOT’s Executive Director for final rendering of a decision. The
Executive Director may VACATE or MODIFY an order issued by the ALJ, and has
dramatically reduced the amount of
some awards.
Throughout the project and leading
up to and during the CCC meeting, TxDOT holds an enormous amount of control over the contractor’s claim. Fortunately, the Executive Director’s final order
can be appealed—but the timeline for
doing so is very short, and the scope of
the District Court’s review is very limited.
Conclusion
TxDOT’s contract claims process has
created a “settlement environment”
where the vast majority of contractors either settles their disputes at the project
level, or accepts what the CCC awards
them. While there is no doubt that this
dispute resolution policy settles claims,
some commentators have suggested
that this policy falls short of advancing
OSHA and the BP oil spill
Joann Natarajan
Compliance Assistance Specialist
OSHA
Austin, TX
W
hat are the Operations and Hazards during Shoreline and Vessel Operations?
If you are involved in response and cleanup of weathered oil, you might be:
• Placing or recovering booms
• Pressure washing boats
• Skimming and pumping oil (inshore)
• Picking up oil-covered debris
• Loading and unloading booms, supplies and people
• Conducting other shoreline cleanup
operations
• Launching and/or landing boats
Hazards from these operations can include:
• Heat stress – can range from heat exhaustion (headaches, dizziness, weakness, fainting) to heat stroke (hot, dry
skin; no longer sweating confusion). Heat
stroke is an emergency and requires immediate medical care
• Being hit by earthmoving or other
equipment
• Traffic hazards and car accidents
• Bites from snakes, fire ants and mosquitoes, and rodents and alligators
• Lightning and severe weather
• Sunburn and sun poisoning
• Back injury from lifting and carrying
• Skin and eye irritation or rashes (dermatitis) from contact with “weathered” oil
• Noise
• Exhaustion and fatigue from long
hours and demanding work
• Cuts, sprains and other injuries
• Drowning
Exposure to any of these hazards depends on what you are actually doing
and where you are working. For example,
fair results and a cooperative attitude between TxDOT and those who perform
the work.
Under the current contracting climate and dispute resolution process,
contractors must diligently preserve their
rights to seek additional compensation
by sending timely written notice of their
claims, and by understanding the complicated process by which their claim
may turn into a payday.
heat stress is a real concern for all outdoor
activities because the weather is hot and
humid. If you are pulling in oil-covered
booms, then contact with weathered oil,
drowning, and back injuries are also concerns.
What is your employer required to do?
If you are doing work that does NOT involve materials you are required to have
a 1½ hour training module.
If you are doing work cleaning up oilcontaminated shoreline or vessel operations involving weathered oil cleanup
you would be required to take a 4 hour
training module, then be supervised by
people with at least 40 hours of hazardous operations training.
You must be trained on the hazards
of your job in a language that you understand. You must be trained before
you begin oil spill response and cleanup
work. Your employer must determine the
type and length of training you will need.
Training is based on your job duties and
the job’s hazards.
OSHA is monitoring BP to make sure
that their site training meets OSHA requirements. To work on the spill cleanup,
you must receive training from an instructor approved to provide training for
this event. The training is provided for
free. After you successfully complete the
class, you will receive an identification
card as proof of your training.
For information, call the BP Hotline at
866-448-5816.
[email protected]
512-374-0271 x232
The foregoing is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice or to serve
as an alternative to seeking legal counsel.
Travis Brown is a partner with Allensworth & Porter, L.L.P. in Austin, Texas. He
represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, and engineers,
and can be reached at [email protected].
–dn
Field goal
Heavy metal
Jonathon Martinez is an electrician at B.D. Electric in Magnolia, TX.
His favorite hobby this summer is watching the World Cup soccer games
on television with his friends and family. –ab
L-R: Luis Martinez, Rigo Berto and Juan Juarez, Urban Sheet Metal Inc.,
fabricates sheet metal for siding, roofing and exterior wall systems.
The company has operated for 10 years. –ab
Page 10
Tops in Texas
T
he white sands of South Padre Island welcomed the Texas construction industry
for the 33rd Annual Associated General Contractors (AGC) Texas Building Branch
Convention Jun. 13-16.
The event included seminars, a golf tournament, a pirate cruise and the Outstanding Construction Awards (OCA) banquet. –kf
Industry FOLKS
Korina Barnett
James Kidd Enterprises Inc.
K
Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. project, NASA JSC Office Building 20,
Building $10M – $30M.
Photo credit: Jud Haggard Photography
Winners by category are:
Building $0 – $2M
University United Methodist Church
Braun & Butler Construction (Austin)
Building $2M – $5M
Historic Resoration of the
Harrison County Courthouse
RBR Construction, Inc. (TEXO)
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church
Fretz Construction Company (Houston)
NASA JSC Office Building 20
Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.
(Houston)
Roosevelt High School Replacement
Campus
Joeris General Contractors, Ltd.
(San Antonio)
Building over $75 M
AT&T Performing Arts Center Dee and
Charles Wyly Theatre
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
(TEXO)
Design Build $1 – $10M
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Expansion
Fretz Construction Company (Houston)
Design Build $10 – $30M
McLennan Community College
New Science Building
Harrison, Walker & Harper (Central Texas)
Design Build over $30M
Inspiring Body of Christ
G.L. Barron Company, Inc. (TEXO)
Health Care $1M – $10M
Rio Grande Valley Cancer Treatment Center
Terry Ray Construction, Inc.
(Rio Grande Valley)
Health Care $10M - $30M
Forest Park Medical Center, Phase 1
Adolfson & Peterson Construction (TEXO)
Health Care over $30M
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of
Dallas - Hamon Tower
Austin Commercial (TEXO)
orina Barnett has been the secretary at James Kidd Enterprises
for two years. She answers
phones and handles all the paperwork at the company.
“James Kidd Enterprises has operated in the Houston area for 53
years,” Barnett said. “I enjoy working
at a company that has so much history. I think business has recently started to pick back up again since the
slow down in 2009.”
Born in Galveston, Barnett says
she remembers her mom taking her
to the beach often as a kid. She says
she loved swimming in the ocean and
riding bikes on the beach.
“I lived in Galveston and eventually my family moved to Lake Jackson,” she said. “I attended Ball High
School in Galveston and Brazos Wood
High School in Lake Jackson.”
Barnett’s very first job was working the concession stand and selling
tickets at the Broadway Theatre in
Galveston, she said.
“I married my husband, Curtis,
when I was 19,” Barnett said. “At the
time, I was very focused on starting a
family. Curtis and I have been married
for 21 years. We have a son, 18 and a
daughter, 19. Our daughter is about
to have her first baby in July.”
According to Barnett, she and her
husband have their own music record
label.
No ceiling on growth
Interior Finish-Out $0 - $500K
University of Texas Southwest Medical
Center
Biotechnology Development Complex Phase I
MEDCO Construction, LLC (TEXO)
Interior Finish-Out $500K – $2M
McGuire, Craddock & Strother, P.C.
Turner Construction Company (TEXO)
Interior Finish-Out $2M - $5M
Lance Armstrong Foundation Headquarters
SpawMaxwell, a Balfour Beatty Company
(Austin)
Interior Finish-Out over $5M
Texas Capital Bank
James R. Thompson, Inc. (TEXO)
Industrial/Warehouse up to $5M
Moda Luna / United Notions Warehouse /
Distribution Center
Raymond Construction Co., Inc. (TEXO)
Industrial/Warehouse over $5M
Southwest Airlines General Use Building
C.D. Henderson Construction Group
(TEXO)
Residential Multi-Family
The Falls at Westover Hills Apartments
Galaxy Builders, Ltd. (San Antonio)
Residential Single-Family
Turtle Creek Residence
Sebastian Construction Group (TEXO)
Specialty Construction
Dallas Cowboys Stadium
Manhattan Construction Company
(TEXO)
Specialty Construction
South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center
Terry Ray Construction, Inc.
(Rio Grande Valley)
“My husband has a music studio
at our house,” she said. “When I have
time, I help him with the graphic design and advertising.”
Barnett also has a second job on
the side providing elderly care.
“I am a sitter,” she said. “I help a
lady brush her teeth, eat meals and I
do her hair and makeup. I’ll help her
out with anything. I have done this
for about four years.”
Barnett hasn’t taken any vacations or road trips lately because she
works almost every weekend.
“I feel compelled to stay with the
lady because she is in her ‘90s,” she
said. “I decided I am going to help
her out until the end.”
Working in the yard is another
activity Barnett and her husband do
at home.
“My kids used to do all the chores
and the yard work when they lived
with us,” she said. “They are out of
the house now, so now we do all the
work! I don’t mind though. It is a
great exercise!” –ab
L-R: Brent Allen, president-elect, national Association of Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI),
TLPCA President Rick Williams and Executive Director Eddie McCormick.
T
exas Lathing and Plastering Contractors Association (TLPCA), at its
June Annual Convention and Trade
Show took a step unprecedented in its
58-year history. It voted to change its
name to reflect the inclusion of members
from Arkansas and New Mexico.
In addition, the name change conveys the evolution of construction materials used in wall and ceiling construction
work by existing TLPCA members in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
The new name, effective Jan. 1, 2011,
is South Central Wall, Ceiling & Plaster Association (SCWCPA), to include trades
people in insulation and metal and
acoustical panels.
“Our industry has evolved. When the
association began, plaster was the primary wall cladding,” says TLPCA Executive Director Eddie McCormick.
“The new name will better reflect the inclusion of drywall and acoustical trade work
by members of our association,” he notes.
TLPCA, an AWCI chapter affiliate, got
approval for the name change from the
national organization. The membership
of TLPCA (contractors and associates)
voted unanimously in support of the new
name at the Annual Convention and
Trade Show in June.
“TLPCA has had a fabulous year,”
says McCormick. “Membership grew by
25 percent. We held ten regional educational seminars and they were attended
by more than 250 members of the construction industry.”
Since he became executive director
in June 2009, McCormick has relished
providing technical support and assistance to members, a function not always
previously available.
“The association exists not just to
provide members a means of networking
with other professionals in the industry,
but to give them practical help for their
technical concerns,” says McCormick. “I
speak their language and I know the
products so I can help them.”
More information about the association is available at www.tlpca.org. -mh
Page 11
Well let’s move on to what’s happening
here in our own bay. Fishing couldn’t be
better in the Upper Lagoon from Corpus
Christi Bay to the mouth of Baffin. The
trout bite has been great throughout
most of the deeper grass beds and sand
pockets. The key to catching these fish
for me has been an early start and avoiding crowded areas. Naturally, early in the
week we have had the best success, while
weekends have been more of a crap
shoot on whether you’re going to be run
over or not. Needless to say there are a
lot of boaters that need to attend a boating etiquette class before attempting to
navigate the bays.
Summertime action
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, AllStar Rods, Mirr-O-Lure, Bass
Assassin, FINS Braided Line
and Columbia Sportswear.
B
y the time this column hits the stands,
summer will be in full swing. It will
also be closing in on two months
since the disaster that is going on in the
Gulf of Mexico. I really feel bad for all the
folks along the shores from Louisiana to
Florida that are being affected by the oil
spill from BP’s Deep Horizon Rig. There
are going to be many problems that will
impact many people for years. I just hope
mother nature spares us from any effects
that may cause the oil to reach our bays
and estuaries. We are really blessed with
a world-class fishery, and we need to take
precautions so that accidents like this
don’t ever happen again.
As I mentioned, I’ve been keying on grass
beds south of the JFK Causeway for trout
and reds. The winds have been light
enough to fish some of the deeper spots
most of the morning with great success.
Free lining live croakers has been working the best in four to six feet of water.
Keep in mind, that if you are catching fish
for some time and they stop biting in that
spot, you may need to bump up 50 to
100 feet to get them going again. Many
anglers make the mistake and leave the
area completely only to find someone siting in their next fishing hole or the fish
are not biting there. Work the area thoroughly before giving up on it. I’ve also
seen several schools of redfish lately on
the shallow flats of the King Ranch shoreline, so it is wise to have a rig ready with
a soft plastic and a jig to sight cast these
schools if the opportunity arises.
I hope everyone has their
vacation plans locked in,
because I feel it’s going to
be a busy summer. I really
don’t think there will be
many vacationers traveling to the shores east of
the Mississippi for sometime.
To schedule your next
bay fishing trip, give Capt.
Steve Schultz a call at
361-949-7359 or 361-8133716, or email at:
SteveSchultzOutdoors@
gmail.com.
Good luck and
Good fishing.
Over the next few weeks, I will continue
the same patterns as the last month-
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
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips
All Bait, Tackle & Equipment
Furnished
Your catch Filleted and
Bagged for You
Furnish your TPWD Fishing
License & Refreshments,
and WE DO THE REST!
Ken Milam Guide Service
(325) 379-2051
www.striperfever.com
except for a few tournaments I will be participating in where we will wade
the shallow shoreline and
spoils looking for trophy
fish. Fishing should stay
strong through the summer as long as we continue to get these timely
rains and mother nature
spares us from the oil spill
and any hurricanes.
Sharise Beck and a party with
Builder's Gypsum, Austin
Carson Schultz caught this
18” speckled trout on a recent
fishing charter with dad,
Capt. Steve Schultz.
Jay Robertson of San Antonio caught this 28” trout just south
of the JFK Causeway fishing with Capt. Steve Schultz. Fish
was released after photo.
Page 12
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.
ALERT!
Salt Cedar
W
hat if I told you we were under
attack? What if the invaders
were approaching us from the
west, and there were millions of them?
What if each of them could consume 200
gallons of water each day and had the potential to reproduce itself 500,000 times
in a year, and could begin reproduction in
its first year of life?
Scared yet? What if you drug your
boat all the way to a distant lake to go
fishing and you couldn’t fight your way
into the water? Even worse, suppose you
invested in a beautiful waterfront lot in
an exclusive sub-division, built yourself
the house you always dreamed of and
in 10 years you could no longer even see
the water, much less get down to it.
Well I hate to say it, but we are in just
that situation, thanks to an invasive plant
called salt cedar.
I know this is supposed to be a fishing article, but this has me bothered! If
we can’t get down to the water, how are
we going to fish? If we sleep through our
chance to put the brakes on this while we
can, we will forever regret it. Life on our
waterways will never be the same.
Salt cedar is an ornamentally introduced species of shrub from Eastern
Europe and Asia. During the Dust Bowl
our nation had learned a bitter lesson
about the dangers of soil erosion and
this species was at one time considered
a useful tool to help topsoil stay put. The
problem started when they began just
sprouting their fertile little selves any and
everywhere they found moist soil. In no
time most all river systems in the western
United States had begun to show uncontrolled populations of salt cedar. In Texas
salt cedar has been identified in all of the
river systems from Central Texas to the
west. Several west Texas lakes are absolutely infested with it.
A mature salt cedar plant will use up
to 200 gallons of water per day during
growing season. Each plant releases upwards of 500,000 seeds that are then like-
Salt cedar infestation on the Colorado River in west Texas
ly to follow the current to
new and exciting locations
to set up housekeeping.
To top it off, salt cedars will
then release a salty secretion into the soil beneath
them to eliminate any other
competitive species. They
can even change the salinity of a body of water with
this pollution.
The reason I am so up
in arms about this is that I
just got back from O.H. Ivie
Reservoir which is located
on the Concho and Colorado Rivers, 55 miles east of
San Angelo. I had a look at
this growing threat for myself. In 1995 there was no
salt cedar in the lake. Today
the infestation is so bad it is
A close up picture of salt cedar in full bloom
very difficult to almost impossible to get down to the water. Like- Lake Buchanan, is next in the bull’s-eye!
wise, if you have trouble while you are on Already, there have been small stands of
the lake, you would be hard pressed to salt cedar located on the Colorado River
get to the shore and walk for help. This between our two lakes and now also in
is a terrible problem and my own lake, our own lake basin.
It seems that Lake Buchanan’s low
lake levels have created the ideal growing environment for salt cedar in the
large moist exposed mud-flats and sandbars. Once established, the plants will
cause more and more sediment to be
deposited at their bases and in time the
silting-in process that was projected to
take over a century could happen much
quicker, shortening the lake’s useful life as
a reservoir for recreation and flood control.
The good news is that if we become
aware of the salt cedar problem in time,
we can have some success in controlling its spread. Efforts to cut, dig up or
bulldoze salt cedar are futile as this just
causes it to come back with a vengeance,
but there are some safe herbicides that
have proven useful in eliminating it. Researchers have also found a certain creek
beetle that loves to feed on it and they
are seeing promising results for safe long
term control.
The salt cedar problem has been
an ongoing battle in the river systems
all over the western part of the country.
If you put “salt cedar” into any internet
search engine, you will find almost unlimited information about it and, like me, you
will probably find yourself wondering
how come you never heard of it before.
Let’s face it, this is HUGE! With our towns
and cities constantly squabbling over access to water as never before, we do not
need ANYTHING just stealing it from us
and wasting it.
You will certainly hear about salt cedar again. All I can hope for is that when
you do, you will be able to say, “Yeah, I’ve
heard about that. What are we gonna do
about it?!?” What you can do is be ready
to help out as your local water entities
begin gearing up to fight salt cedar. We
can deal with our salt cedar problem for
hundreds of thousands of dollars now, or
for millions of dollars in a few years.
You may not think salt cedar matters to you today, but the truth is that the
bumper sticker is right. “We all live downstream.” It will impact your life sooner or
later.
Great wide open
A
vid outdoorsman Charlie Sanchez, Texas Electrical Contractors Inc., shares his passion for
deer hunting with his wife Gloria and
grandson Ian. They like to go to South
Texas during hunting season.
“I enjoy spending as much time with
my grandson as possible,” Sanchez said.
“This summer, Ian’s tee ball team won the
championship in Magnolia, TX. That was
a lot of fun!
“I am glad Ian loves to hunt too. Gloria and I can’t wait to take him hunting
again in the fall!” –ab
L-R: Ian and Charlie Sanchez
L-R: Gloria and Charlie Sanchez in South Texas
Page 13
And the
thunder rolls . . .
Reesa Doebbler • Construction News
L
ittle did I know that when I decided to spend Memorial Day in D.C., I would end up riding with the Rolling Thunder in the 23rd annual “Ride To The Wall”
parade.
I was in D.C. to attend the 16th annual TAPS National
Military Survivor Seminar over Memorial Day weekend,
an organization for families of fallen soldiers. We also
managed time for sight-seeing, visiting the monuments,
attending the Concert at the Capitol, and ceremonies at
Arlington Cemetery.
During one of those idle times, I went outside the
hotel and there were several bikes/bikers entertaining
the children who attended the TAPS seminar - letting
them sit on the bikes and get their pics taken. I met
some of these very patriotic riders and was asked if I
would like to ride in the parade as a VIP guest . . . the rest
is history. I have never had so much fun!
We all met at the Pentagon parking lots. There was
a “sea” of bikes lined up and ready to leave at noon. All
of the lots were full with overflow in other lots and along
the freeway. Promptly at noon, a B-2 bomber flew overhead - the cue to begin the parade. Fortunately, I was
toward the front of the parade of over 350,000 bikes! It
took over four hours to empty the parking lots, and the
ride is only about 45 minutes. The route was from the
Pentagon to Potomac Park, where the Vietnam Wall is
located. The streets were lined with people all the way,
waving flags, flashing patriotic signs and shouting thank
you to the riders for their patriotism.
The Rolling Thunder organization’s major function is to publicize the POW-MIA issues. They are also
committed to helping American veterans from all wars.
Monies raised are used for veterans, active military and
their families in need of help. No officers of the Rolling
Thunder charities receive compensation; they all donate
their time.
The riders come from all over the country (and out
of the country) to ride in this annual parade. Members
consist of various biker organizations and volunteers.
Most also ride as Patriot Guard in military funerals. My
rider works for Homeland Security in D.C. and donates
his time riding in this parade and as a Patriot Guard. -rd
My friend Mary (left) and me (right) with our riders
Reesa and “Tom” from the Florida chapter
Clownin’ around
B
y day, David Hernandez is a machine operator at Houston Hardwoods Inc., a hardwood lumber,
plywood and molding company.
On the weekends, he dresses up as a
clown and plays live music with his band
called Tolin and Liz.
“My wife, Brenda, our kids and I play
music at outdoor birthday parties and
church events,” Hernandez said. “Besides
performing in Houston, we have also
traveled to San Antonio and Dallas.”
Hernandez plays the bass guitar and
keyboard. His wife plays the guitar and
The Tolin and Liz band
sings, their son, 11, plays the drums and
daughter, 8, sings and dances.
According to Hernandez, his mother
made his colorful clown outfit. He says
he wears a hat, a red nose and big blue
shoes at musical shows.
“We officially started the band about
a year ago, but we have been doing
shows for three years,” he said. “In the
evenings, my family and I practice in our
living room. We held a concert at Centro
Cristiano Alfa y Omega Church on North
Freeway in June.” –ab
Brenda and David Hernandez
in their costumes.
Page 14
Step by step
Extra cabinet space
L-R: Ben Cantu, vice president and Shane Plummer, corporate sales manager
have a busy day at Betco Scaffolds in Houston. The company supplies scaffolding
to the construction industry. –ab
L-R: Rudy Barajas is the plant manager and AJ Orsak is a sales representative at
Rosenberg-based Harbinger Cabinet Co, a commercial and residential custom
cabinetry business founded in 2004 by Don Cobb. –ab
WANTED:
Your Outdoor photos
Hunting, fishing
camping, running,
hiking, biking,
baseball, football,
basketball
We welcome all your
Outdoor adventures!
Send to:
Light the way
Mechanic Stan Veit works on
solar powered lights in the shop
at SCR Construction Co. Inc. in
Richmond, TX. Founded in 1986,
the company provides highway
and bridge repairs and roadway
maintenance. –ab
Houstoneditor
@constructionnews.net
It’s not us!
R
eaders of Construction News
have brought to our attention
two issues 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 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
solicit stories for a fee and sell reprints of other publication articles.
We are not connected with or make
any referrals to these companies. –
rd/dn
Page 15
For the record
Intricate webb
Project manager and estimator Raymond Mendez spends his morning
looking over blueprints at Webb & Sons Construction Inc., a certified MBE
and HUB subcontractor. –ab
Submitted to Construction News
Outside the box
Chuck Messerly, CW Lighting and Associates, and Martin Martinez, The
Reynolds Co., came in first place at the Independent Electrical Contractors
Texas Gulf Coast Chapter (IEC) 16th Annual Golf Tournament held at
Augusta Pines Golf Club in May. –ab
L-R: Jim Forsyth, Stephen Sharpe, Jennifer Hiller, Debra Nicholas, and Tamarind Phinisee
answer questions from moderator Kelly Morris (far left).
T
he tables were turned on May 26 as
five media professionals from San
Antonio and Austin answered questions peppered to them by members of
the Society for Marketing Professional
Services (SMPS) and session moderator,
Kelly Morris, Kelly Morris Public Relations.
The discussion panel was part of a
daylong mini-regional conference held
at the Plaza Club for SMPS San Antonio.
Cleary Zimmermann Engineers sponsored the conference and Kirk Kistner,
Bartlett Cocke General Contractors,
sponsored the media panel session.
Panel members included: Jim Forsyth, 1200 WOAI news director; Jennifer
Hiller, reporter, San Antonio ExpressNews; Tamarind Phinisee, reporter, San
Antonio Business Journal; Stephen
Sharpe, editor, Texas Architect maga-
zine; and Debra Nicholas, managing
editor, Construction News.
Panel members offered tips on how
to get a company’s news covered in the
media.
“Understanding the types of stories
each media outlet covers and having a
specific message targeted to that media
outlet is key to getting published,” said
Nicholas.
Forsyth agreed saying, “We cover
news all day, every day. What we look for
in radio and television news is different
from what print publications may cover.”
The Society for Marketing Professional Services group consists of marketing
and public relations professionals in the architectural, commercial construction and
real estate industry. –dn
Relax and restoration
What is your
favorite tool?
I would have to say surveying stakes are
my favorite tools because I sell them everyday.
Alex Epley, U Stake It Surveying
Supplies & Equipment
I’ll have to think about that one. My computer. It has all the information I need to
do my job. I don’t know what I would do
without it.
Josh Hoover, Elliott Electric Supply
Measuring tape comes in very handy on
every job, so I consider it my favorite tool.
It is important to make exact measurements!
Jose Adame, Alvarez Electric Inc.
In my line of work, I think a welding machine is the most important tool. It lets
me do specialty welding for restaurants
and hospital projects.
Billy Kutta,
Magnum Welding & Fabrication
My favorite tool is a Shonstadt device, a
magnetic locator. I use this all the time
when I do surveys.
Kyle Day, Sun Surveying LLC
My digital camera is my favorite tool
these days.
Irene Garcia, White’s Construction
Services & Equipment Inc.
I am going to have to say my cell phone is
the most useful tool to me. I have it on
me at all times. It allows me to stay connected and I can communicate with other employees at the company.
Jesse Gomez,
National Concrete Services Ltd.
I remember the days when I had to write
out tickets by hand. A computer makes it
easier for me to do data entry and look
up information. I use a computer every
day.
Gene Castro, Morrison Supply
A drill is my favorite tool. The reason I like
a drill is because you can tighten a screw
faster with a drill than a screwdriver. I am
all about saving time.
Jason Kwak, K-1 Tools Co. Inc.
I’d have to say a CNC machine because it
lets me precisely cut sheet metal. It is essential for my job.
L.C. Bauerkemper, L & J Sheet Metal
Any kind of woodworking tool.
Luis de la Garza, BLG Cabinet Doors
A good paintbrush.
Miguel Lopez, Isroe Painting
I think it is a tie between the computer
and the telephone. They both make
communication easier.
Phenone Neal, Roofing Supply Group
A calculator is my favorite tool. It comes
in handy all the time.
David Staples, City Build Utility Supply
Lets see. My favorite tool is a CAT D3 Bulldozer because I like how it maneuvers
and it makes it easy to move dirt.
Doug Wilson,
Mustang Rental Services
Salesman Jimmy Thorton, Apex Emergency Services, spends most of the day in
the field. Mike and Karen Jordan are the owners of the fire and smoke cleanup
and water damage restoration company. –ab
Page 16
W
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America,
hen in the Course of human events
, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of
Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the
separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish
it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and
accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms
to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under
absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the
patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the
present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over
these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in
the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of
fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions
within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass
others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts
of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries
so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends
and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose
known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated
injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an
unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native
justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt
our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity,
which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies
are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to
levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for
the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.
The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton
Column 2
North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton
Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll
of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton
Column 4
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean
Column 5
New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark
Column 6
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton
Page 17
Electrical Industry
A shifting current
Michael Caliel, President & CEO
Integrated Electrical Services, Inc.
Houston, TX
H
ow would you describe the state of the construction industry in general terms?
We have seen a significant amount of volatility in
the construction industry in conjunction with the market downtown. Anytime you
have a market that declines by two thirds in a short period of time, as the residential
construction market did starting in 2008, conventional strategies become obsolete
very quickly.
This of course set off a wave of other changes that culminated in the decline of
most of the adjacent commercial and industrial construction markets. Over the past
couple of months, we’ve begun to see some signs that point to a recovery, although
we are still operating at levels well below the 2008 market. What is the most significant challenge
your industry faces?
Electrical contracting is a subset of
the construction industry, so many of our
challenges can be tied to the steep decline in construction brought about by
the economic downturn. Construction
was the hardest hit sector of the economy and even today, unemployment is
above 20 percent in our industry. An economic recovery will lead to construction
projects being developed and funded
and built.
Do you see an increase in the number
of outside contractors coming to the
area?
Texas is one of the largest construction markets in the country and as such,
many of the major players have a presence here. The Texas market, in general,
declined a little slower than did the overall economy, and as such, competitors
who weren’t here have come to view this
market as an area for expansion.
What are the cost increases relating to
your industry?
Materials are a substantial part of any
project and we closely monitor the key
commodities associated with providing
electrical and communications services,
such as copper, conduit and fuel. While
the prices fluctuate, increases in a tight
market can be the difference between a
project moving forward or being delayed.
Have there been any significant code
changes in the last year?
IES is a member of most major industry associations and we work with the industry to ensure regulations and procedures are updated to ensure the safety
and security of our projects. Codes
change at the local, state and federal level each year and we are a leader in working with these agencies to implement
change.
With the recent emphasis on green
building, what is the most environmentally friendly change relating to
your industry?
Environmental concerns are a major
topic of discussion in our industry. Sustainability will have an amazing impact
on the way we live and customers realize
that small and simple changes can benefit both them and the environment. The
introduction of LED lighting has been an
environmentally-friendly change in our
industry. It is an easy change for consumers to make and is extremely energy efficient. LED lighting can be a strong longterm solution for indoor and outdoor
lighting needs for both residential and
commercial applications.
Have you seen an increase in safety
awareness in your industry?
Recent events in the gulf have made
the public more aware of the importance
of safety in large construction projects. In
reality, our customers know the critical
nature of safety with regards to the successful completion of projects. IES has
built a safety-first culture and consistently outperforms virtually all key industry
safety measures. We feel this attention to
safety is a major part of what sets us apart
in this hyper-competitive marketplace.
What are the rewards of the industry?
For us, the rewards come from the
satisfaction of knowing your services are
woven into the fabric of our society. The
ability to harness and deliver power is
what drives progress in our lives and IES
takes a lot of pride on the work we do in
all aspects of the industry – from commercial to industrial to residential. In the
final analysis, our customers place value
on the assurances of safe and reliable delivery and reward us financially and with
repeat business. This allows us to employ
a great group of people focused on serving our customers.
What are keys to being successful?
The construction industry is a vast
network of sectors, projects, contractors,
materials, sub-contractors and so-on that
accounts for nearly $1 trillion in spending
annually. When you consider the regulatory and licensing requirements that
stretch across all 50 states and literally
tens of thousands of municipalities, it’s
easy to see that we’re not dealing with a
monolithic entity. The key to being successful is understanding what you do
well as a company and targeting the
proper parts of the industry. The industry
is too large for anyone to be all things to
all people. We’ve been successful by focusing on the items our customers value
most: safe and reliable execution and the
access to the resources they need to
meet their requirements.
What is on the horizon for your industry?
We view the movement to renewable and sustainable energy as a fundamental shift in the way power will be
generated, delivered and consumed and
have made green building a key element
of our strategy to broaden our core business. The fact that the country, from developers to contractors to consumers are
embracing sustainable methods, such as
LEED certifications, green retrofits and
personal renewable energy sources like
solar at residences is a very positive indicator for our industry. Headquartered in Houston, IES is a provider
of electrical and communications contracting solutions for the commercial, industrial
and residential markets. –ab
Small biz issues provide juice
Michael A. Nantz, Owner
AB Electric Co.
Fort Worth, TX
H
ow do you view the current business environment?
Business is not too bad. We slowed
down by 20 to 25 percent. My dad founded AB Electric in 1951 so we’ve seen a lot
of business cycles.
You’ve made silk out of a sow’s ear. Retail is largely still down, but you get a
lot of business in retail.
Seventy-five percent of the jobs we
do are Dollar General Stores throughout
the State of Texas. When the economy
turns bad, everyone starts shopping at
Dollar General Stores so they start building more of them. We do work for contractors in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and
Arkansas. We have probably done over
200 Dollar General Stores, about 40 to 50
a year.
What are the major costs affecting
electrical contractors?
Materials, labor, insurance are factors. I’ve seen insurance prices fall. Material prices see-saw back and forth. Copper prices fluctuate. I’ve been told that
steel prices are going up because of the
demand for steel by China.
What about labor costs?
They stay pretty steady. When our
electricians do a store, they might leave
here on a Monday and they won’t come
back until they’re finished with the store.
They work 12-to-16 hour days. It’s pretty
standard for them to have a check with
90 to 100 hours a week.
What are the hot button issues among
electrical contractors?
When I sat on the board of the Independent Electrical Contractors, it seems
like we talked about the government
more than anything, its involvement in
our daily affairs, healthcare, mandatory
sick leave, and hot items like that – the
government getting involved in our business.
How do you approach these issues?
A primary reason I’m a member of
the IEC is because of the government affairs function representing our interests
in the State of Texas and United States
Congress.
Healthcare is a big concern for small
business. Do you provide it for your
employees?
We do not provide healthcare. We
did and it got so expensive that we
dropped it. It was one of the first things
we dropped when the economy went
bad. With the new reform measures, we
may have to offer healthcare again.
Are there any code changes or re-
quirements on everyone’s mind?
I’m not aware of any code changes.
Most of the code changes I see come
through are usually beneficial to the public, to us and to everybody.
What challenges do you see ahead
over the next year or two?
For the industry, it seems like government regulations are the biggest challenge. For me personally, the biggest
challenge is that my son is taking over the
business.
How’s that going?
He’s doing really well. He went to
work for me back when he was 20 to 21
years old. He went through the IEC program, and he got his master license. It’s
very fulfilling to watch your son grow up
and take over the business. I can go play
golf. It’s a pretty wonderful life right now.
Mike Nantz comes from a long line of family electricians. His father started AB Electric
Co. of Fort Worth in 1951. Nantz has been at
the helm since 1976, keeping the focus on
customer service and end product. -mh
Page 18
Electrical Industry
Cutting edge
electric technology
Russell Rettus, Branch Manager
Border States Electric Supply
Austin, TX
H
ow would you describe the state
of the industry right now?
I think all of the industry is suffering
right now.
What we’re seeing is a lot of public
money. We’re not seeing the private sector investing. I think that has a lot to do
with the banking industry today.
Have you seen an increase in work?
Yes. We’ve seen an increase over the
last six months.
What are some of the factors that you
think are driving the increase?
There is a lot of stimulus money out
there and a lot of it has made its way to
the market place. But again, we need to
see more private money before we get
healthy again.
One promising thing is that engineering firms are very busy right now
which means we will start seeing more
opportunities to bid on projects down
the road.
What do you think are some of the
challenges you face in the industry
right now?
I think the biggest challenge is that
there is not enough business to support
everybody. When this happens, it drives
down margins and the projects become
non-profitable both for the contractor
and the distributor. I think another key issue is the old collective bargaining agreement. It’s going to arbitration right now.
Union contractors are faced with increases they can’t afford, so that’s a big deal
for them.
Do you see a lot of out of state contractors coming in?
Yes. We’re seeing some acquisitions
happening as well. I think we will see
more of that.
Competition for jobs
on the rise
Bobby Neuse, Operations Manager
IES Commercial Inc.
San Antonio, TX
H
ow would you describe the state
of the construction industry in
general terms?
While there is still work available to
pursue, the number of competitors bidding most projects is much higher than
it’s been in the past – driving profit margins down to very low levels.
Have you experienced an increase in
business?
We are on pace to maintain our revenue level of a year ago, but our profit
margins are down anywhere from 15 to
30 percent.
What factors are driving this increase/
slowdown?
The high number of competitors going after the work is keeping margins
down.
What are the “hot button” issues in
your industry?
Getting answers on how we did on
bid day is often a major challenge. Knowing what we may or may not have in our
possible backlog is what drives our decisions on what to bid or not bid. Finding
out how our bid compares to others is a
challenge in most cases.
What is the most significant challenge
your industry faces?
To many contractors – chasing the
work available.
In the past, labor shortages were a
problem. How about now?
While labor shortage is not a problem at this time, when the economy does
pick up again, skilled labor will be hard to
find because many craftsmen have
moved on to other careers outside the
construction industry.
Have you seen any cost increases?
A lot of manufacturers have been
pushing through cost increases over the
last few months. I think we will continue
to see cost increases.
state of Texas, based on what I read,
doesn’t have the best safety record.
There are some that have a very proactive safety policy, but there are some
things that need to be worked on.
What do you see on the horizon with
technology or change in materials?
Technology is really the key to driving efficiency. We run on the SAP platform and we have since 2000. We’ve utilized that platform to try to decrease
transaction costs. We use it for everything from invoicing to managing purchases from vendors to providing our
customers avenues to decrease their
costs. For contractors and distributors, in
order to be successful, they need to try to
decrease all transaction costs. We also
utilize it for project management.
What are the rewards of being in the
industry?
I think the rewards are working with
the people we work with. You can be a
part of a project and see it from inception
to completion. It’s very rewarding to see
that being completed on time, but beyond that, the rewards are the relationships you build through the whole project. Relationships are a lot more rewarding to me than seeing a building.
Has the green building trend affected
the industry?
We’re seeing opportunities with
green building. It’s mostly affected state
and county facilities up to this point, but
we are seeing some opportunity in the
private sector.
What about safety awareness?
I am extremely cautious of safety.
One of my biggest fears has always been
that I am going to have to call someone
to tell them that their significant other is
not coming home. I am very rigid when it
comes to how we run our operation. The
Do you see an increase in the number
of outside contractors coming to the
area?
Yes, both in state and from out of
state.
Are costs increasing?
Yes, fuel, copper and employee benefits are increasing.
What is on the horizon for your industry?
A tough next 12 months, then a slow
recovery.
What about changes in technology,
equipment or materials?
Less labor intense products are
changing the electrical industry. Years
ago we built and installed everything on
site. Now pre- assembled products that
reduce field labor are very common. The
savings in labor are spent on materials.
Have there been any significant code
changes in the last year?
The 2008 National Electric Code did
have many changes, with most related to
residential wiring practices.
With the recent emphasis on green
building, what is the most environmentally friendly change relating to
your industry?
Lighting has been changed to be
much more effective and efficient.
What do you think are the keys to being successful?
Honesty, living up to your commitments, providing a service and value to
the customers, and being a part of the
customer’s business to help them drive
down costs and be profitable.
What areas of opportunities are you
focused on?
Power generation, wind, solar, traditional power generation, and helping all
customers drive down costs.
Border States Electric Supply is a diverse
electrical company that is focused on solar,
wind and traditional energy. –km
Have you seen an increase in safety
awareness in your industry?
No doubt, our entire industry has
created a much stronger safety culture.
What is the most unusual application
of electricity you have seen?
Having been in the electrical industry since 1973, nothing done with or by
electricity surprises me. You build it, we’ll
wire it!
What are the rewards of the industry?
The long-term relationships with
many loyal and dedicated employees
and customers are really rewarding.
What are keys to being successful?
Relationships make or break you in
the construction industry. When you tell
someone you will do something by a certain time, do it or you have damaged a
relationship. One mistake wipes out 10
things done right. Human nature is to remember the thing that went wrong. The
things that went right are expected.
IES Commercial, Inc. is a nationwide,
publicly traded company focusing on large
commercial, residential and communications work. IES started with 16 companies
in 1997. Bexar Electric, started by Bob Weik,
in 1962, was one of the original IES roll up
companies. –kf
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Page 19
Electrical Industry
What’s good about electrical
contracting these days?
“From times of great struggle
come some of our greatest advances.”
John M. Grau, CEO
National Electrical Contractors Association
Bethesda, MD
I
t’s hard to find something good about a
time when so many electrical contractors and NECA itself have struggled with
a sinking economy. Projects have been
delayed or scrapped. Owners plead poverty and request revised estimates. Bidding has turned into a blood sport. We all
know contractors who have closed their
doors. And we all know good people
who have lost their jobs.
History shows us that from times of
great struggle come some of our greatest
advances in technology, innovation and
productivity. I believe we’re standing on
that threshold again.
The best news I can offer is that, according to the economic prognosticators
and business gurus, if you’re still in business today, odds are you’re going to stay
in business. However, electrical contractors will have to change the way they’re
doing business to remain competitive,
viable and relevant.
The disaster involving the massive oil
rig failure off the coast of Louisiana brings
home the issue of our dependence on
fossil fuels. We need to invest in alternative energy technologies. We need to incorporate them into our national electrical grid, our homes, schools, businesses
and manufacturing facilities.
But alternative energies are only one
part of the equation. Building owners
and operators are concerned about ris-
ing energy costs today. Energy audits are
an easy way to see how a building is using power and where opportunities exist
to dramatically decrease that use. At
NECA, our members know that performing an energy audit for a customer is the
first step to building a long-term relationship that benefits owner, occupants and
the contractor.
“Often the best solutions are easy
rather than exotic – relighting with energy-efficient fixtures and using occupancy
sensors and advanced lighting controls,”
said Rob Colgan, NECA’s executive director, marketing services. Colgan also coordinates NECA’s Energy Solutions Task
Force, developing business solutions for
electrical contractors to enter this growing market.
“It can be very tough for contractors
to move from a handshake deal to an inperson sales pitch,” Colgan said. “Offering energy audit services helps pave the
way for a contractor to explain the benefits green energy retrofits to potential
and existing customers.”
Green retrofit services that electrical
contractors can offer include relighting
with energy-efficient fixtures, ballasts
and lamps; advanced lighting controls;
occupancy-sensors; HVAC retrofits; and
energy management and monitoring
systems.
Energy management and monitor-
ing systems will be a part of the national
move to a “smart grid.” Mike Johnston,
NECA’s executive director, standards and
safety, is chair of a smart grid task group
organized by the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA). The task group includes representatives from the electrical
construction industry and the National
Institute of Standards and Technology
who are responsible for building and
standardizing a more efficient national
electric grid.
“Our national leaders have made the
smart grid a high priority, and we have
the technology to make it a reality,” Johnston said. “But the technology requires a
new level of coordination between systems on both the customer and utility
sides of the service point.
Electrical contractors have always
worked on both sides of the service
points. Power line contractors work with
utilities to transmit and distribute highvoltage electricity. “Inside” contractors
plan and install the electrical power,
lighting and communication systems for
structures.
Johnston points to several “smart
grid” benefits for building owners, including increased reliability, improved
power quality, up-to-the-minute rate information, greater control over how and
when electricity is used, and easier integration of a range of distributed energy
resources, including solar panels and
wind turbines.
Load-shedding and more even distribution are key objectives of the smart
grid effort. “It’s a true demand response
system,” Johnston said. “The good news
is that a large part of the highway is already built – meaning we have a linked
system of power generation, transmission, and distribution. With the smart
grid, we’re going to be adding intelligent
devices and systems such as sensors, relays and other technologies to communicate what’s going on and automatically
modify what’s going out based on that
information.”
And there’s more to come. The 2010
NECA Show in Boston will feature hundreds of building products and technologies that will improve energy efficiency,
while reducing energy costs. With the
U.S. Green Building Council reporting
that buildings produce more than 50 percent of greenhouse gases there has never
been a more relevant time for electrical
contractors to get involved in sharing
their green energy skills and knowledge
with customers. With new technology
and economic imperatives changing the
face of electrical construction, meeting
the demand for energy-efficiency has
never been more important.
NECA is an electrical trade association
in the U.S. Its members are organized into
119 local chapters and 12 international
chapters. The national staff is headquartered in Bethesda, MD, and in four regional
offices around the country. –dn
Dig it? Mark it!
Doug Meeks, Damage Prevention Manager
Texas 811 Austin, TX
and
Michelle Hopkins, Editor
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News
Plano, TX
“C
all before you dig” is not just good advice; it’s the
law in Texas. And there are some changes that
took effect last month that all excavators need to know.
Effective June 17, Texas has two (instead of the previous three) underground service notification centers
that contact utilities to locate and mark underground
lines where excavation is going to occur. But dialing 8-11 is all it takes to reach the two centers (Lone Star and
Texas811) that share the work orders between them.
Information about Texas811, formerly known as
DIG-TESS, can be found at www.texas811.org.
Besides a telephone call to 8-1-1, there are two ways
excavators can use technology to interact with Texas811.
There is E-Locate, which allows locate-and-mark requests to be submitted via email. And there is GeoRemote, a web-based interface with the GeoCall system that
allows excavators to submit locate and mark requests
from their own offices and to identify the excavation
area on a grid map without the need to talk with call
center staff directly.
A demonstration of GeoRemote and information on
the 30 minute online training session are available on
the Texas811 web site.
Electric, gas and communications utilities are required to participate in the One Call system and will either provide an “All Clear” response or mark the approximate location of their underground lines when a notification is triggered by an excavator calling 8-1-1. Water,
wastewater and slurry facility owners are not mandated
to participate in One Call, but many do. (Fort Worth
does, Dallas does not and must be contacted directly.)
Lines are marked with paint or small flags that follow the American Public Works Association Color Code
that designates red markers for electric lines, yellow for
gas, oil, or steam, orange for telecommunications, blue
for water, and green for sewers, drains or wastewater.
Thirteen Damage Prevention Councils that meet
across Texas are another resource to raise awareness to
prevent damage to underground utility lines. Participation on these regional councils is voluntary and open to
all excavators, engineering firms, utility operators, municipalities, facility locators, Texas Department of Transportation, and other stakeholders. Additional information about the Damage Prevention Councils of Texas can
be found at www.texas811.org
Finally, builders and subcontractors can get assistance from electric utilities, specifically the four major
companies across the state that install and connect electrical services. They are:
•In Austin, Austin energy, www.Austinenergy.com
•In Dallas-Fort Worth, Oncor, www.oncor.com
•In Houston, CenterPoint Energy, www.CenterPointEnergy.com and
•In San Antonio, CPS Energy, www.cpsenergy.com
Information about the many electric coops operating across the state can be accessed at www.texas-ec.
org. –mh
Page 20
Texas state of mind
Alamo Iron Works is now an Industrial Distribution Group company.
U
.S. Senator William Blakely, whose
name is emblazoned on the library at the University of Texas in
Irving, once said, “Texas is neither southern nor western. Texas is Texas.”
A new chapter in Texas construction
history modifies the quotation from
Blakely, a lawyer and businessman with
interests in real estate, ranching, banking
and insurance: “Texas is neither southern
nor northern. Texas is Texas.”
That is to say that North Texas construction companies can expect to see
economic and supply purchasing benefits from a deal finalized in June: Industrial Distribution Group (IDG) has purchased Alamo Iron Works (AIW) of San
Antonio.
“Our commitment to Texas overall
will provide the construction and contractor community an array of products
and services under a single organizational framework. We believe this will give
greater value to the construction community over the option of buying these
products and services from several companies,” explained Scott Prince, Lead Director, IDG Board.
The 135-year-old AIW played an integral role in the historic development of
San Antonio and South Texas, but it fell
into bankruptcy. Its revenues dropped
from $109 million in 2008 to $50 million
expected this year.
Prince says the goal is to restore AIW
to prominence, bring it back stronger,
and retain its historic brand under the
name “Alamo Iron Works, an Industrial
Distribution Company.”
IDG is looking for ways to leverage
this purchase to “launch a greater array of
services and bring the breadth of our
product offer to the North Texas market,”
according to Prince.
IDG distributes 400,000 products
from 10,000 suppliers to more than
15,000 customers in North America and
China. The nature of IDG’s products and
those historically of AIW are a strategic fit
with little overlap, he says.
Significantly, IDG has vital integrated
supply chain management and processes that have never been available to AIW
previously. AIW, which has provided
products for many of Texas’ historic
buildings and economic-powerhouse facilities, will gain access to IDG’s industrial
distribution infrastructure in a way that
promises benefits for AIW’s customer
base, the region, and all of Texas.
“We have a number of customers
throughout North Texas and Central Texas and we will be able to serve them
more efficiently through our new location base in San Antonio,” he said.
Industrial Distribution Group (IDG) is a
leading national supplier of industrial
products and supply chain solutions. –mh
Electric star
Jose Adame, an electrician at Alvarez Electric Inc. gets his tool belt ready for
the next commercial installation job. The company is an electrical contractor in
Houston. –ab
Safety matters
T
he Associated General Contractors (AGC) Houston Chapter recognized members
Brookstone L.P., Linbeck Group LLC, Peterson Beckner Industries Inc. and Tellepsen, who won first place for safety programs, Grand Award for Best Construction Management of a project, second place and first place for safety programs, respectively, at the recent AGC National Convention in Orlando, FL. –ab
Brookstone L.P.
Keeping your cool
Tellepsen
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.
Avoid cold, sugary and alcoholic beverages
in hot weather
• Encourage workers to wear cooler
clothing.
• 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
Peterson Beckner
Industries Inc.
Linbeck
Page 21
Association Calendar
Charged up
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
ABC
IEC
Associated Builders & Contractors
Independent Electrical Contractors
Jul. 30: Free Seminar: Navigating the Virtual Planroom
Jul. 9: 10-Hour OSHA Construction, 7am,
ABC office, Member $108/Non-Member
$165
Jul. 9-10: ABC Community Service Project: Eagles Lift Ministries
Jul. 16: Summer Bowling Tournament,
2:30pm, 300 Bowling Alley, 925 Bunker
Hill Road
Jul. 20: Rigging Fundamentals Class,
CMEF office, $50 Members/$75 NonMembers
Jul. 23: ABC Member Breakfast, 6:30am,
Sheraton at Brookhollow, 3000 North
Loop West Freeway, Member$30/NonMembers $40
Jul. 30: CPR/First Aid Training, 8am, ABC
office, Members$50/Non-Members $75
For more information call 713-523-6222
Jul. 1-22: Motor Controls Class Level 1,
6pm-9pm, Contractor Members $368/
Non-Members $420
Jul. 6-Jul 27: State Masters Exam Prep,
6pm-9pm, Contractor Members $294/
Non-Members $353
Jul. 7-Jul. 28: State Journeyman Exam
Prep, 6pm-9pm. Contractor Members
$220/Non-Members $300
Jul. 8: -Jul. 29: State Maintenance Exam
Prep, 6pm-9pm, Contractor Members
$220-Non-Members $300
ACCA
Air Conditioning Contractors of Amer.
Jul. 16: Summer Gala, 6pm
AGC
Associated General Contractors
Jul. 6: Standards for General Industry –
Emphasis on Oil and Gas, 8am
Jul. 13-15: CEE 301 – Basic Water and
Wastewater Regulations, 8am
Jul. 20-23: OSHA 501 – Trainer Course for
General Industry, 8am
Jul. 21: Top Gun Captain’s Dinner,
5:30pm
Jul. 23: Top Gun Fishing Tournament
Jul. 27-29: OSHA 2264 – Permit-required
Confined Space Entry, 8am
Jul. 28-29: OSHA 8-Hour Spanish Awareness, 3pm
Jul. 30: OSHA 7205 – Health Hazard
Awareness
AIA
American Institute of Architects
Jul. 13: I/AN Meeting, 7pm
MCA
Mechanical Contractors Association
Jul. 14: Regular Membership Meeting,
11:45am, The Hess Club
Jul. 21-25: MCA Texas Annual Conference & Product Show, J W Marriott San
Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
NECA
National Electrical Contractors Assn.
Jul. 1: CSDIVMTG, 11:30am
Jul. 8: TXGDIVMTC, noon
Jul.13: Houston JATC, 9am
Jul. 15-18: Chapter Summer Meeting,
Colorado Springs, Co
Jul. 21-22: SWHBF, Dallas, TX
Jul. 27: TEAMS, 9:30am
Jul.
27:
HOUDIVMTG,
11:30am
Jul. 29: Board of Directors, 10:30am
NAWIC
Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Jul. 10: NAWIC Night at Minute Maid
Park, 6pm, Special Discount for Field Box
Seats - $23.00, Call Richard Tapia for tickets 713-259-8303
PHCC
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
Jul. 14: Dinner Meeting
Society of Women Engineers
American Subcontractors Association
Jul. 1: Section Awards Due
Jul. 9-11: Region C Leadership Retreat,
Austin, TX
Jul. 11:
Annual Planning Meeting,
9-noon, La Madeleine Town & Country,
770 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N. Suite 100
Jul. 26: FHPW Quarterly Meeting: WOE
Recognition Celebration, 5-8pm, The
HESS Club
For more information email president@
swehouston.com
CSI
Construction Specifications Institute
USGBC
Jul.
26:
Chapter
Meeting,
Topic: “Tile Fundamentals” by: Scott Weber, American Olean, South Central Region Manager, 5:30pm Cocktails, 6pm
Dinner/Meeting, The HESS Club,
Cost: $30 Non-Members, $5 students,
Free to Members with Reservation
Reservations: [email protected]
U.S. Green Building Council
FPA
Foundation Performance Assn.
Jul. 14: Monthly Meeting, 5pm, HESS
Club, Speaker: William Morfey, Zimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Stern & Wise P.C.
HAGA
wner Sallie Shepherd says Blue
Jay Electric Co. has been in business in Houston for 20 years.
“My ex-husband was the company
founder,” Shepherd said. “He was an
electrician when we got married. When
we divorced, I began running the business in 2001,” Shepherd said.
“Blue Jay Electric Co. is smaller in size
today. I used to have eight electricians
and now I have three - my son, Ray Shepherd, Pete Nelson and Samuel Martin.
Samuel is getting ready to take the masters test in a couple of months.”
Shepherd says her son Ray began
working in the shop during the summers
when he was in high school.
“These days, I mainly stay in the office to do invoices, proposals and contracts while the guys go to the jobsites,”
she said. “I have really enjoyed meeting
and talking with the folks in the construc-
tion industry over the years.”
The company hasn’t had an annual
event lately because Shepherd and her
employees stay busy with their families,
she said.
“I enjoy spending time with my
grandchildren Cheyenne Autumn, 2, and
Nicholas Ray, 5,” she said. “Nicholas Ray is
already talking about becoming an electrician one day.
“After a long day at the office, I decompress by watching crime dramas
such as Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami and
CSI: New York.
“My son Ray loves baseball and plays
on a league in Bellaire, TX with his friends.
He plays the outfield position and his
wife is the catcher for the team. In addition, Ray umpires on the side.”
Blue Jay Electric Co. is a commercial
and residential electrical contractor. –ab
Just in tile
SWE
ASA
Jul. 7: Membership Committee Meeting,
11:30am, MEMCO, 1500 N. Post Oak
Jul. 14: Board of Directors Meeting, 9am,
Marek Brother Systems
Jul. 14: Government Advocacy Committee Meeting, 10:30am, Marek Brothers
Systems
Jul. 15: No Lunch Meeting in July
O
Sallie Shepherd enjoys watching crime dramas after work.
Jul. 5: EP Committee Meeting
Jul. 13: LEED H Committee Meeting,
6pm, COH Green Building Resource Center, 3300 Main St.
Jul. 17: Board Mid-Year Retreat, 8am
Jul. 21: The ABC’s of Schools: Green
Building to Create Supportive K-12 Learning Environments, noon
Jul. 28: Green Trends & Topics, 6pm
Sales representative Jad Najjar spends his morning making calls to clients at European Tile Distributors, a ceramic and porcelain tile distributor in Houston. –ab
All in a days work
WCA
Women Contractors Association
Jul. 1: 1st Annual Strategic Planning Conference, 1pm
Houston Area Glass Association
Jul. 8: Quarterly Dinner Meeting, 6pm
Social/Cash Bar and 7pm Dinner, Crowne
Plaza Houston NW, 12801 Northwest
Freeway, 6-9pm Vendor Displays/Networking, Members: $30 Members/$45
Non-Members
L-R: Juan Perez and Jose Cantu, Rago Ltd., cleans materials and beams
in the yard to get them ready for another job. The Richmond-based company
builds commercial projects. –ab
Page 22
continued from Page 1 — Strong as stone
Rise of the Romans
vid was just 7-years-old and he pulled a
wagon to pick up trash and sticks. Now,
he is out of college and working in the
real world.”
Looking ahead, Cangelosi says he
would like to purchase a new piece of
equipment to replace the front-end loader in the yard.
Natural Earth Products Co. supplies
natural stone, flagstone, decorative stone,
sand, gravel from all over the U.S and Mexico. -ab
continued from Page 1 — Insulation station
BBQ cook-off team called “Fire in the
Hole Cookers” during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He founded and
started the team in 1994.
“My hobbies these days are riding
motorcycles, boating and watching
sports,” he said. “My favorite musicians
are George Straight, Clay Walker, Kenny
Chesney and ZZ Top.”
Gulf Coast Insulation Inc. provides
metal building insulation, fiberglass spray
foam insulation, radiant barrier and insulation removal. –ab
continued from Page 1 —Thrill of the grille
L-R: Julio Torres, Juan Roman Torres, Robert Torres and Jesse Torres
O
wner Juan Roman Torres says he
is happy to be surrounded by his
family at Houston-based Romans
Fence Co. Inc.
All of his sons named Julio, Cesar,
Robert and Jesse help him operate the
company.
“After working at large fence companies, my father went out on his own
about 15 years ago,” Julio Torres said.
“Next, my brother Robert came on board
as vice president.
“Cesar, Jesse and I went to San Jacinto College before we joined the company. Robert attended ITT Technical School.
“We didn’t get to take the summers
off like most of our friends. When summer came, we went to work for dad! He
taught us if you show up every day and
work hard you will be rewarded.”
Torres says he played the second
base and outfield position on the base-
ball team at San Jacinto College.
“My family and I love baseball,” he
said. “My dad began playing baseball at
age 20. Today, he plays every Sunday
with folks age 40 and over.
“I currently play baseball with the
Bayou City Baseball League. Several of
my teammates are from Puerto Rico. I try
to catch a Houston Astros game when I
can. I always keep track of when they win
or lose.”
Once a year, the company has a get
together with employees and their families. They enjoy dinner and live music at
the office, he said.
“Sometimes, we will take a boat or
jet skis out on Lake Houston,” Torres said.
“Several of the guys like to go fishing
too.”
Romans Fence Co. Inc. builds wood,
wrought iron and chain link fences for
commercial and residential projects. –ab
The wine rack
Seasoned pro
bought and installed, but it didn’t match
up with the quality of the craftsmanship
throughout the space.
“I had to come up with an idea, so I
sat down one evening and started drawing a salad bar,” he said. “The salad bar is
hand made and crafted and it has a granite countertop.”
In the kitchen, Villa says since the restaurant is a South American style steakhouse, he wanted to find the right rotisserie.
“I looked all over the United States
and found a Hickory rotisserie in New Jersey,” he said. “I took a trip to New Jersey
and was amazed because Hickory builds
the rotisseries from scratch. I told them
exactly how I wanted it and brought my
own drawings. Within three and a half
weeks they built me the rotisserie.”
Working with Identity Architects
was a positive experience for Villa, he said.
“The architect I used was exceptional
and very sharp,” Villa said. “Identity Architects was referred to me by a good friend
of mine. I was very satisfied with the results.”
Villa founded All Pro Construction, a
commercial contracting company, four
years ago. A few recently completed
projects are Energe Spa and D’Vine Wine
Bar in Cypress, TX.
“I started my company when I came
out of the United State Marine Corps,” he
said. “I served my country for 15 years. I
spent two years in Iraq and one year in
Afghanistan. When I came home, I knew
I wanted to work in the construction industry.” –ab
Professional Team:
General contractor: All Pro Construction
Architect: Identity Architects
Jon Sears has a great day selling tools and supplies to woodworkers at the
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Southwest Freeway store. –ab
Round-Up
Brey Tucker has
joined Equipment
Collaborative as an
equipment planner.
Brey brings an architectural
background and knowledge of large project, three-dimensional design technology to his equipment planning role.
Brey earned a Bachelor of Architecture
from the University of Houston, College
of Architecture.
Giovanni Coquis has
joined the Summit
Electric Supply Export Division in Houston to expand sales in
Latin America. Starting in June, Coquis
will focus on heavy
industrial projects in
Chile. Prior to his new job, he was the
business developer for Hilti North America and the sales manager for Hilti Latin
America.
m ARCHITECTS is pleased to announce the promotion of Derek C.
Webb, AIA, LEED AP to associate principal with the firm. In addition to his work at m ARCHITECTS, Derek serves on steering committees for the Architecture Center Houston Foundation and Rice
Design Alliance, and currently holds a position on the National
Young Architects Forum Advisory Committee for the AIA.
Page 23
Job Sights
L-R: Joseph Nava and James Leal, Overhead Door Co. of Houston, install seven overhead
doors at the Fort Bend County EMS project on Highway 36. Bass Construction is the GC. –ab
President Grey Hoff, Boss Builders Inc., says he is the project manager and the
superintendent for the Wolfe & Co. retail center project on Highway 290 in Houston. The key
subcontractors are Fort Bend Drywall and Banks Plastering. –ab
Owner Gonzalo Arroyo, Arroyo Stone, oversees the interior and exterior remodeling at The
Railyard, a bar and grill on San Felipe Road. –ab
Electrician Kirk Simmons, Pappas Partners, handles the underground electrical work at
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse on Westheimer Road in Houston. –ab
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Page 24

July - Construction News

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