Village on the Gruene Special time, memories Capital and Schultz

Transcription

Covering the Industry’s News
P.O. Box 791290
San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290
Texas
Style
San Antonio Austin
Dallas/Fort Worth
PRSRT. STD.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
DALLAS, TX
PERMIT #1451
Change Service Requested
Houston
San Antonio
CONSTRUCTION
™
The Industry’s Newspaper
www.constructionnews.net
(210) 308-5800  P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio TX 78279  11931 Warfield San Antonio TX 78216  Nov 2010  Vol. 13  No. 11
Capital and Schultz merge
Special time, memories
L-R: Mike Schultz, Kirk Adlong and Keith Crawford
Campers and volunteers at the Take a Kid Kampin’ and Fishin’ weekend
T
he Central and South Texas concrete pumping landscape will see a
major change with the merging of
two of the areas homegrown concrete
pumping companies.
Capital Pumping LP and Schultz
Concrete Pumping have merged their
operations according to principals Keith
Crawford of Capital and Mike Schultz.
Capital was started in 1971 and
Crawford purchased their Austin operations in 2002 and the San Antonio operations in 2004. Schultz was founded in
2002.
“We have been friendly competitors
in the market and actually joint ventured
some projects. Initial conversations on
the merger started a year ago and we
have spent the last several months putting it all together,” said Crawford.
“Both companies are based on relationships and providing the best service
for people in these markets and have for
many years. Both of us felt like we were
stronger together to move forward and
provide the service for the customers
than we were separately.”
There have been rumors surrounding the Schultz Company for a while so
we asked both of them to address this.
“The only truth from all the noise circulating was that we were joining up. All
of the remaining rumors were just that,
rumors,” stated Crawford.
“Schultz Concrete Pumping was at a
R
emember when you were a little
kid and you got to do something
fun that you never thought you
would get to do? When you got home,
you would tell your friends, “And we did
…, and we did…, and we did…” until
your friends told you to stop.
For 82 inner-city children and teens
from the San Antonio Youth Centers
(SAYC), they got to have an experience of
a lifetime thanks to Bear Readymix Concrete, sponsor of the event. The company
earned the honor of hosting the event
since they were the highest bidder at the
2009 Niznik Charity Fun Shoot.
Sep. 17-19 was the Take a Kid Kampin’
and Fishin’ weekend held at the H-E-B
Foundation Singing Hills Camp along the
continued on Page 24
Frio River. The kids enjoyed hiking, fishing, swimming, kayaking, arts and crafts,
campfires complete with s’mores, skits
and bunking down in cabins.
Cindy Niznik, Niznik Enterprises
Inc. said this is the 12th year they have
been taking the kids fishing and camping. This year was the largest group that
had ever attended the weekend event.
The reason she knows is that she and
two other ladies, Pattie Gamez and Kim
Olson, have always been the cooks for
the event.
In addition to the cooks, Niznik stated there were 42 volunteers helping with
the weekend outing. Many of the volunteers came from Victory Assembly of God
Village on the Gruene
T
“The village consists of 10 separate
free-standing buildings with approximately 28 lease spaces, retail and restaurant. Seven of the 10 buildings are completed and leased,” Flume explains.
“When we first implemented the village aspect, it was to have a ‘main street
look’, which is a curbed, winding private
road, no front set back and antique street
lights. We built all concrete parking to
the side and rear and the buildings have a
variety of roof lines and facades, no duplication.”
When asked about the challenges to
overcome, Flume said one was the parapet wall systems on the waterproofing,
so he came up with his own design.
In addition, solar ply decking was
used on all buildings to cut the heat load,
along with tinted windows. All buildings
are mostly stone or brick with metal
roofs and stained concrete floors. The
he Gruene Lake Village is located in
New Braunfels, just outside the historic Gruene area. The village is part
of a planned community on 30 acres consisting of a neo-traditional residential
neighborhood with rear entry alleys
(Cotton Crossing) and a unique retail
shopping area (Gruene Lake Village).
The five-acre Gruene Lake Village
concept was that of developer, owner
and general contractor Michael Flume,
Michael Flume Construction.
About three and one-half years ago,
he purchased the development from
original owner, Jerry Ford. At that time,
Ford had completed only one unit of Cotton Crossing, so Flume bought that along
with leftover lots and remaining acreage.
Today, unit four of Cotton Crossing is near
completion as well as Gruene Lake Village. Unit five of Cotton Crossing is currently permitted and being developed.
Main entrance and views of the main street
Page 2
San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2010
'&L3HUPLWWLQJ
/DQG&RQVXOWLQJ
A professional building permit
expediting and land consulting
firm that services the entire
central Texas area
• Residential & Commercial permits
•
•
•
•
Zoning changes • Platting cases
Variance requests • Feasibility studies
High volume permitting needs
Site plan coordination
All fees are flat rate.
Technique and patience
:LVGRP(VWLPDWLQJ
6HUYLFHV//&
Estimating Services
Tailored To Fit Your Needs
&RPSHWLWLYH6HDOHG3URSRVDOV
(VWLPDWLQJ7UDLQLQJ6HUYLFHV
&RQVWUXFWLRQ0DQDJHU$W5LVN
&RQFHSWXDO(VWLPDWLQJ
'HVLJQ%XLOG6HUYLFHV
(VWLPDWLQJ6HUYLFHV
7DLORUHG7R)LW<RXU1HHGV
• Homeowners
• Contractors
• Business Owners • Banks
• Real Estate Agents • Developers
Cell 512-799-2401
Fax 512-373-8846
[email protected]
www.AustinBuildingPermits.com
1IRXMSRXLMWEHERHVIGIMZISJJ
Frank Wisdom
210 • 882 • 9509
[email protected]
L-R: Tony Guerrero, Tony Pena, Tony Guerrero IV and Victor Morales
I
t is difficult to catch Tony Guerrero
these days. The owner of 1st Choice
Painting & Drywall is busy going from
one project to another.
For Guerrero, he seems use to it. “I’ve
been doing the work for over 30 years,”
he said. “My grandfather was a homebuilder so I started pretty young, 12 or 13
years old, just picking up the trade in the
summers.”
Before starting his own company in
2000, Guerrero worked for Dannan Services Company painting Sears stores
across the country.
Guerrero said he employs seven to
ten employees. “Most of my painters are
journeymen painters. They can do it all,”
he said.
Besides commercial and residential
painting, Guerrero has added restoration
to his portfolio of offerings.
“I started restoration in some of the
old houses. I did a 200-year-old building
at the Witte Museum that we painted. I
antiqued it from the inside to match the
existing walls.
“I’ve always worked with wood antiquing and staining. I did a couple of old,
old restorations and from there on I got
referred. I’ve been busy ever since.”
Guerrero states restoring wood that
has been painted over for 80 years takes
patience to “transform the wood back to
its beauty.”
His son, Tony IV, his brothers, Mike
and Hector Guerrero, as well as Antonio
Pena, Victor Morales, Lawrence Dvonoznak and Alfonzo Rodriguez all work
with him.
1st Choice Painting & Drywall, a residential and commercial contractor, specializes in painting, drywall, wall coverings,
staining and glazing old windows. –dn
2010 Construct A Kid’s Christmas Gala
Thursday, December 2, 2010
6-11 pm
Alzafar Shrine Temple • 901 North Loop 1604 West
All Proceeds to Benefit the Bexar County Foster Children
Gala Participants
American Subcontractors Association
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
South Texas Chapter
Construction Financial Management Association
Hispanic Contractors Association
de San Antonio, Inc.
Live and Silent Auction items needed . . . .
Let’s help the Kids!
Construction Tools
Hunting & Fishing Trips
Items for Ladies
Golf Packages
Family-oriented items
Vacation Packages
Spa Packages
Jewelry
Sports Tickets
Art
To donate Silent & Live Auction items,
contact Sandee.Morgan at 789-1718
Email: [email protected] OR
Karen Ridout at 930-1166
Email: [email protected]
Independent Electrical Contractors
National Association of Women in Construction
Table for 10 people – $600
Plumbing Heating Cooling
Contractors Association
Includes Reserved Table and Company Listed in Program Book
Or $55 per person plus unwrapped gift for child
Call your Association for Tables and Tickets
Roofing Contractors Association
San Antonio Construction News
Tickets include Full Buffet • Beer & Wine • Setups (for BYOB)
DJ
Corporate Sponsor:
Diamond Sponsor:
Program Sponsor:
Dancing
Casino Games
$1500 – Company Logo on Title Page of Program Book, Sponsor Plaque & Table for 10
$500 – Company Logo on back cover of Program Book and 2 Admission Tickets
$350 – Company Name listed in Program Book
Page 3
Smart move
Anita Kegley-Deaton enjoys her new office location.
K
egley, Inc. has a new home. Now
located at 10226 San Pedro, Suite
114, Anita Kegley-Deaton, owner,
stated the new location is more centrally
located and should prove more convenient and welcoming for the other companies she works with on jobs.
As a bonus, Kegley-Deaton stated
the new “smart office” facility allowed
her to reduce costs. “We right-sized and
lowered our overhead so we can pass a
better value on to our clients.”
In addition to moving her office,
Kegley-Deaton is moving in a new direction by diversifying her services.
“I’m going to start doing expert witnessing because there is so much litigation out there in construction. I feel with
my 27 years of owning Kegley, Inc., I’ve
probably been through almost every single issue.
“The other thing that I am going to
do is start being an owner’s representative and bidding on more construction
management work,” she said. “I feel with
my expertise and having been a general
contractor for this many years, I know
when mistakes are prone to happen. If I
work with a contractor and represent the
owner, I’m going to help that owner expedite that job,” she said.
She stated that she would offer her
services nationwide. She is studying for a
Florida license and plans to continue getting licensed in other states.
Kegley-Deaton is continuing to focus
on construction in the areas of medical,
government and higher education.
“I am medically focused because I
am working with a doctor and trying to
get medical facilities together.”
When not working, she spends time
with her family, husband Chuck Deaton,
children Charles Deaton, Matthew Kegley
and Amanda Deaton.
For play, she enjoys snow skiing, traveling, taking cruises and playing golf.
She is involved in helping with local
elections and hosts a monthly prayer
group.
Kegley, Inc. is a general contractor located in San Antonio, TX. –dn
Page 4
It’s birthday time
Passion for electricity
C
The team at YNIS dons their birthday jerseys celebrating 20 years.
Y
ou Name It Specialties Inc. (YNIS)
is a familiar name to many people
in the construction industry. The
company celebrated its 20th birthday by
hosting an open house Oct. 14.
Becky Beck started the company in
1990 at a kitchen table armed with nothing more than a telephone book and a
telephone.
“It sure is different today because of
the computer,” said Terry Beck, account
executive and Becky’s brother.
The team at YNIS is all about work,
but they like to have fun too. They attend
the Promotional Products Association International show every year in Las Vegas
to stay current with ideas and products.
And they like to participate in chili
cook-offs.
“We won a few cook-offs in our early
years,” said Terry Beck. “I have a killer chili
recipe!”
Laughing, Becky added, “But competition is tougher these days. Now
trucks show up with their big trailers in
tow and we show up with our crock pot.”
Commenting on being in business
for 20 years, Becky said, “You know, we
haven’t been successful for all these years
without the people behind us: our employees, vendors and customers. And we
sure are thankful for them all.”
You Name It Specialties Inc. provides a
one-stop source for any promotional product need. –sj
hange is in the air
for electrical contractor, DJ Energy
and Services Electric LLC.
“Our direction for the
future will be alternative
energy sources and green
solutions,” said Darryl
Ford.
Ford, who has over
30 years experience as a
master electrician, states
he is revamping the office
to bring in a variety of
generators,
including
those that will work with
solar systems.
Darryl Ford at his office on Nakoma
He states, “We are
NACEP certified which
means our target for 2011 will be solar in- cat, F-4 Phantom II and A-6 Intruder.
In his off hours he enjoys doing
stallations.”
Ford said his wife, Jacqueline Ford, home projects, tinkering with vintage
owns the company, and they started the cars and going to air shows.
As for air shows he states it does
business in Jan. 2000.
“We have built up quite a clientele in bring back memories of the military. “I
this time. This company has emerged see the airplane from a different perspecfrom the one man, one truck deal to pick- tive because I know what’s inside the airing some areas that really interest me. My plane, the systems and what’s taking
passion is electricity so I really like and place basically,” he said.
Ford graduated from East Central
love to do electricity, and have managed
High School where he met Jacqueline.
to do that through all these years.
“Electrician is a real big word. You After high school and 24 years later, they
can be industrial, residential or commer- found each other again and married. “We
cial. I would say 80 percent of our work is have six children between us. I have two,
residential, 20 percent commercial and she has three, and we have Tabby, our
our direction is alternative energy and 8-year-old daughter.”
DJ Energy and Services Electric specialgreen sources.”
Ford stated he learned the trade in izes in residential and commercial generathe Navy as an aircraft electrician. He tors, solar, energy audits, installations and
worked on a variety of aircraft, such as repairs. –dn
the A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, F-14 Tom-
WHOLESALE PIPE
888-214-2433
Serving Customers for 30 years
Pipe Specials
• 4-1/2”
heavy wall
• 5-1/2”
heavy wall
• 7”
heavy wall
• 8-5/8”
heavy wall
Available Sizes: 1/2” - 16”
No Charge for Cut To Length Orders
Minimum Order Requirements
Delivery Available
San Antonio
$3.69
$3.99
$5.95
$6.25
/
/
/
/
ft.
ft.
ft.
ft.
Give us a call and place
your order today!
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
San Antonio Editor — [email protected] — 210-308-5800
Construction News Ltd. Home Office
P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279
210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960
www.ConstructionNews.net
Want to be in Construction News?
Simply contact your city editor.
We also welcome your outdoor stories
and photos (hobbies, trips, talents, etc.)
Publishing the
Industry’s News
Texas Style
San Antonio • Austin
Dallas/Fort Worth • Houston
Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler If you are a construction-related company in
Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Bexar or one of the 7 surrounding counties and
Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . Debra Nicholas are not receiving a free copy of the San Antonio
Construction News, please call for a Requester
Production Mgr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue Johnson
Form, or visit our website.
Sales Representative . . . . . . . . Kent Gerstner
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Hughes The San Antonio Construction News
Reprints: Send email and indicate you
would like to purchase a digital reprint
(credit card only)
[email protected]
We will email an Order Form for you to
complete and return.
Extra Papers: Go to our website at
ConstructionNews.net, and select Rack
Locations for a location near you for pick up
of an additional copy. Once the newspapers
are bulk-mailed from the printer/mailhouse,
no copies are available for mailing.
(ISSN 1547-7630) is published monthly by
Construction News LTD., dba San Antonio
Construction News, and distributed by mail to
construction-related companies of record in
Bexar and 7 surrounding counties.
All submissions should be mailed to our
editorial offices. We reserve the right to
edit any materials submitted. No fees for
materials, copy or photographs submitted
will be due unless agreed upon in advance in
writing. Submissions will be published at our
discretion on a space available basis.
Construction News, Ltd. , dba San Antonio
Construction News, will not be liable for errors
in copy or in advertisements beyond the
actual cost of space occupied by the error.
Publisher reserves the right to reject any
advertisement at any time.
© 2010 Construction News, Ltd.
Page 5
Bright and shiny as a new penny
The employees at Bobcat of San Antonio
A
fter 39 years in the same industrial
area location off W.W. White Road,
Jim McCory was ready for a
change. On Aug. 23, McCory moved Bobcat of San Antonio, a division of Quality
Equipment Company, to its new home at
11146 IH-35 North.
McCory sees many advantages of
the new location.
“We have higher visibility right on IH35 so people can find us easier,” he said.
“The facility is larger, cleaner and is a nicer facility. We have a lot of yard space.”
McCory’s father-in-law, John Shofner,
started the dealership in 1971, to sell Bobcat loaders. After Shofner passed away in
1992, McCory assumed leadership. In addition to the San Antonio location, McCory has another Bobcat dealership north of Austin in the Pflugerville/
Round Rock area. That location opened
in 1975 in a similarly high visibility area
off of IH-35.
As a family-owned business, McCory’s two daughters work for the company
in the accounting area. Drew McCory
has been with the company for eight
years and Amy McCory joined the business a year ago.
In addition to his daughters, the
company has 27 employees in San Antonio and 12 employees in Austin.
McCory is proud to have a business
that maintains long-term employees.
Just where is
that ball?
T
he San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association (SAMCA) held their
second annual night golf tournament Oct. 5. This year they had 49 golfers
looking to see if their glowing golf balls
made it to the green. –dn
Winners included:
1st: David Canchola, American Aggregates; Jeff Page, JC Evans Construction;
Rick Heavly and David Collins, Custom
Masonry
2nd: Steve Proctor, Lupe Proctor, Terry
Adams and Sylvia Adams, Rudd & Adams
Masonry
3rd: David Gonzales, Headwaters Construction Materials; Greg West, JDK Associates; John Franklin, Jimmie Mueller
Closest to the pin: Jennifer Naegele,
EFGI Insurance & Bonds
Longest drive: Michael Hunt,
Curtis Hunt Restorations
Several long-term employees working in
San Antonio include Mike Espinoza, service manager, Don Cherry, parts manager, and David Schumann.
In the Austin location, Stan Chambers is the store manager.
Quality Equipment Company LP offers
equipment sales, service and parts from the
San Antonio and Austin locations. –dn
The showroom houses a 1958 Bobcat model,
the 46th machine off of the production line.
Page 6
Beth Coyle, CEO
Coyle Engineering
B
eth and Mike Coyle grew up in Bryan, TX. They met in junior high, became high school sweethearts,
dated throughout college, graduated on
the same day from Texas A&M University,
and got married two weeks later. Beth
majored in communications and Mike
majored in civil engineering, and both
worked on campus.
Mike’s dad, a retired Army Colonel
and engineering professor from Texas
A&M, had Mike for several of his soil mechanics classes. Dr. Coyle made it clear to
his students that his son would receive
no special treatment or answers to test
questions, much to the chagrin of Mike’s
study group.
Both grew up with hard working parents and grandparents who gave them a
healthy dose of business smarts and a
strong work ethic.
The farming and ranching business is
the family legacy for Beth. Her mom’s
parents owned the first cotton gin operation in Polk County in East Texas, along
with 2,400 acres of cotton, and her dad’s
family owned the livestock commission
company in Navasota. Beth’s parents
owned the cattle auction barn in Bryan,
where Beth worked in some capacity
from the age of six until her marriage.
She learned how to run a business, keep
the books and handle employee issues.
Beth’s family modeled business operation strategies that Beth and Mike follow today. The women, Beth’s grandmothers and mom, ran the office, managed the financials, insurance, human resources and payroll. The men, her grandfathers and dad, ran the technical part of
the business.
Similarly, Beth takes care of the financial, legal, insurance, and human resources at Coyle Engineering with Mike heading up the technical side of the firm. They
respect each other enormously and try
not to step on each other’s toes, but have
to work together in areas such as strategic
planning, and client and project selection. Beth said they are both very comfortable with their roles in the business as
well as in their marriage and family.
Tell me how Coyle Engineering started.
We decided 1995 was a good time to
start the company because Mike was a
well-known, award-winning civil engineer in San Antonio with 14 years experience, and I knew very well how to run a
business. Mike had completed managing the civil engineering for the Alamodome that year, and had won the
Young Engineer of the Year award from
the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE). It was a great reputation
builder to jump start things for the firm. Several of Mike’s clients followed
him from his previous company and we
started off with a bang designing five HE-Bs, a commercial development, and the
Children’s Advocacy Center.
As we started out, we met with other
married couple business owners to learn
what they did right and what to avoid.
The pieces of advice they all gave us, that
we stick to even under pressure, is to
avoid taking on other partners and to
maintain control over the finances. We
have been debt-free since day one, and
we want to stay that way.
Tell me how you selected your office
space. It’s wonderful.
We enjoy being out here on the outskirts of San Antonio because, while we
can still zip downtown on I-10, the area is
beautiful, calm and quiet. It just allows us
to be a little more creative. Our staff
helped design the converted residence
we use as our offices…we are on two
wooded acres with a pool and tennis
courts! They can relax and feel at home
even while working, the atmosphere allows us to be more creative. We are very
serious about putting family first. We
work so that we can have a life, we don’t
have a life so we can work.
What engineering services do you offer?
We offer civil engineering services to
public and private clients, from concept
through construction. We deal with the
horizontal parts of a project…site selection and feasibility, development agreements, land entitlement and planning,
site design, flood control, and construction phase services. We don’t design
buildings, we do everything around it.
We get the utilities to within five feet of
the buildings and then the MEPs and
structural engineers take over. We design
civil structures, such as small bridges, retaining walls, box culverts, sometimes
huge drainage facilities.
We like to be involved through construction because many times there can
be a disconnect between the design and
what gets built. We have worked to develop good working relationships with
many construction firms, and like for our
clients to allow us to remain on the project until it is built. We also provide expert witnessing
for law firms that do real estate and construction law. Clients see us as an experienced and trusted advisor who can give
an impartial, expert opinion.
Who are your clients?
We work with all types of clients including developers, water districts, state
entities and municipalities, architects,
churches, school districts and universities. We love working on new and existing golf courses for one of our oldest clients, Foresight Golf. We provide service
throughout Texas, but we do most of our
work in the San Antonio area and have
been fortunate to tap into the Hill Country area as well. All of our engineers are
licensed in the state of Texas.
We have been fortunate to have
worked on some very high profile projects along the Riverwalk and downtown
San Antonio. The work on the San Anto-
Mike and Beth Coyle
nio river channel that completed the
loop was our design. We were the civil
engineer on the team for the multiple
award-winning Vistana.
How are you getting through the economic slowdown?
The main thing that has really gotten
us through the downturn is that we are
debt free.
We stay nimble. We tie into the forecasters, economists, and speak with our
legislators and make sure we know what
is coming before it hits. We have the best
team we’ve ever had with everyone having a specialization such as LEED, floodplain management or construction. We
have a public team and a private team,
but everyone pitches in when the crunches come. It’s a real team mentality.
We also try very hard to keep our clients happy. It is easier to keep a current
client happy than it is to find new clients.
Tell me about your family and home.
We are empty nesters now and loving it. Our identical twin daughters,
Christen Kennington and Lauren Orgeron are 27 and both are married. They
live in the Houston area and work for the
same company; their desks are side by
side. They have fabulous voices and sing
with a choral group in Sugar Land. Mike
and I take a week off each year to have
the grandkids, Micah and Claire, up to
“Camp Boerne”.
Mike and I are best friends, we enjoy
being together. We have 31 acres in Kendall County and we keep busy chopping
wood, mowing, planting, and generally
beating back the wilderness. We work on
creating habitat for songbirds, dove,
quail and turkey, providing food, water
and sanctuary. Mike built a roosting
pond that ducks use. We hunt whitetail
and axis deer and feral hogs on a six-acre
piece at the back of the property that is
heavily wooded.
We built our home like an old farmhouse, repurposing materials from my
granddad’s farmhouses in Polk County.
They were going to be torn down, so we
loaded up a trailer of beadboard, screen
doors, a fireplace surround from the
farmhouse where I spent the summers,
along with the “slabs” of wood from my
great grandfather’s sawmill. It is great
having that history all around.
What does the future hold for
Coyle Engineering?
We are small by design; we are all
“big firm refugees” and we love being
this size. We plan to be no larger than 25
employees, offering design, surveying
and construction phase services.
We teach our employees to think like
business people and to be efficient,
keeping the bottom line in mind for the
company and for the client. Everyone is
required to be involved in marketing the
company through their involvement in
chambers, societies and associations.
We update our strategic plan just
about every year. All employees are given
a copy of the plan and we implement it.
Employees have the vision and mission
statements at their desk, because everything we do stems from our vision and mission. Ethics, integrity, innovation are what
we want to continue to be known for.
We think it is important to advocate
for what we do in the AEC [Architect, Engineering and Construction] industry and
for small businesses. Mike and I have always been involved in TSPE; I am president of the state auxiliary and a member
of the state executive board. Mike is a
state director for the local Bexar chapter
and spends time in Austin with legislators
working to protect the profession of engineering. We attend the national engineering conferences wherever they are.
We are also involved in other local
organizations. I am an officer on the
Workforce Solutions Alamo board and
meet often with local elected officials.
Mike serves on the Kendall County Economic Development Corporation board.
You are very busy. Do you have time to
relax?
We are really big fans of Texas A&M,
the Spurs and the Astros. DeJuan Blair is
my favorite! I’m so excited to get Tiago
Splitter and James Anderson. I’m just crazy
about the Spurs. We also travel a lot; we
have friends in Italy and visit them often.
Between community service, the
company, sports, family and 31 acres, we
sleep sometimes. –dn
Page 7
Learning from a painter’s painter
T
hirteen years ago when Matthew
Chapman delivered uniforms to
Campbell Painting Inc., he didn’t
think he would one day own the company. However, ten years later, that is just
what happened.
Joseph Campbell started the commercial painting business in 1967, and
sold the business to Chapman three years
ago.
Chapman describes his first week as
learning the business and working up a
draft estimate on a project. By the end of
the week, the estimator who had been
with Campbell decided he was ready to
retire. Based upon Chapman’s estimating
performance, Campbell made Chapman
his new estimator.
From that point forward, Chapman
describes Campbell as his mentor. He said that Campbell told him ‘If
you show up to work and work hard every day, things work out.’
“That is what we got from Mr. Campbell – be here, be accountable,” he said.
Chapman stated that from the be-
ginning Campbell told him he would not
run the business forever. After several
years, they made a buyout agreement.
“We made a deal, and here I am three
years later. It’s been good,” said Chapman. “We have nine office employees, 60
painters and seven cabinet builders all
geared towards the commercial market.”
“Before 2008, it was 99 percent private – office buildings and finish out. In
the last two years, we moved into public
work due to the market. We do both public and private,” he said.
Working with Chapman is Jason
Marcom, vice president, Shawn Trevino,
senior project manager, and Kohl Jan,
estimator. Kelly Jan, vice president operations, runs the millwork side of the
business.
Chapman states he only works half
days – 6 to 6. The other half of the day he
enjoys spending time with his wife, April,
and son, Ben. He also plays in a men’s
soccer league.
Campbell Painting Inc. provides commercial painting and millwork services. –dn
Page 8
Glückwünsche
A
ssociated Builders and Contractors
(ABC) celebrated their best of the
best awards with all the trappings
of an Oktoberfest gala. From hats to decorative steins, attendees enjoyed the festivities at the J.W. Marriott Hill Country
Resort & Spa Oct. 12.
Don Harris, WOAI News 4 Sports Anchor, was the master of ceremonies and
announced the 2010 Excellence in Construction Awards (EIC) as Chuck Calvin,
ABC chapter chairman, presented the
awards to the winners.
Local EIC winners are eligible to compete at the national level for EIC awards.
This year ABC recognized 35 companies with Safety Training and Evaluation
Process (STEP) Awards. –dn
Volunteer of the Year:
Mike Leonard, Leonard Contracting, Inc.
Industry Professional of the Year: Stephanie
O’Rourke, Cokinos, Bosien & Young
Supplier of the Year: Greg Wright,
Hart Acoustical & Drywall
Chairman’s Award: ABC South Texas Chapter Workforce Development Program – Julie
Delahunt, Joeris General Contractors, Inc.; Steve Schuetze, Metropolitan Contracting Co., Ltd.;
Hal Heintz, workforce development coordinator; Dana Hickman, workforce development
assistant; and Bob Jett, director of workforce development
Subcontractor of the Year:
Rick Mudd, South Texas Drywall
General Contractor of the Year:
Kathleen Acock, Alpha Building Corporation
Mechanical Commercial Less than $2M
A/C Technical Services Ltd.
San Antonio Business Park Bldg. 8000 & 8030
Interiors
MK Marlow Company LLC
UTSA Engineering Phase II, Applied Engineering &
Technology Bldg.
Other Specialty Construction less than $1M
Betco Scaffold Inc.
Texas State Capitol Dome Roof Repair & Repainting
Residential – Multifamily
Galaxy Builders Ltd.
The Falls at Westover Hills
Institutional $25M - $100M
Joeris General Contractors Ltd.
Roosevelt High School Replacement Campus
Commercial $25M - $100M
SpawGlass Contractors Inc.
Design/Build FY08 Dining Facility Fort Sam Houston
Institutional less than $5M
Huser Construction Company Inc.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Mega-Projects More than $100 M
TIC – The Industrial Company
J Lamar Stall Combined Cycle Generating
Power Plant
Page 9
Other Construction less than $2M
Journeyman Construction Inc.
Salado Creek Greenway
Healthcare $25M - $100M
Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc.
BRAC Primary Health Clinic
Historical Restoration less than $2M
Troy M. Jessee Construction LP
Pearl Ice House / La Gloria Restaurant
Renovation less than $4M
Metropolitan Contracting Co. Ltd.
Rackspace Hosting
Historical Restoration $10M - $100M
Renovation of Historic Bldg. 2791
Commercial $5M - $10M
Koontz McCombs Construction Inc.
Kronkosky Place
Other Specialty Construction more than $1M
W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company
Capstar at Compass Plaza Interior Finish Out
Electrical Commercial $2M - $10M
IES Commercial Inc.
Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center
Renovation $10M - $100M
South San ISD Administrative Support Center
Mechanical – Commercial $2M - $10M
Eilan Buildings #2 & #3
Continued
on
Page 25
Skanska USA Building
Texas Southmost College Arts Center
The Koehler Company
W.B. Ball Early Childhood Center
Page 10
Prevailing in the prevailing wage
space
Kristen Harder, Employee Benefits Specialist
Brown & Brown Insurance
San Antonio, TX
T
[email protected]
210-587-7634 www.GPSofTexas.com
6\VWHP
0RQLWRU(TXLSPHQW8VDJH+RXUV
&21752/
$VVHW7UDN
,PPHGLDWHORFDWLRQRQGHPDQG
6WUHHW/HYHO0DSSLQJ
0DQDJHPHQW
*HR)HQFH\RXU$VVHW
&$7&+7+(7+,()
:,7+2857+()7
hroughout our country, construction contractors are
reeling. Backlogs are rapidly decreasing and with
fewer projects for bid increased competition is creating
severe downward pressure on pricing. The prevailing
wage sector presents an opportunity in government contracting that has always been
great, but the dismal economic environment along with the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) make this the ONE bright spot in an otherwise gloomy construction forecast.
Before, the prevailing wage sector FICA, FUTA and SUTA obligations. Howhad been the purview of contractors that ever, in many cases the heaviest burden
specialized in government contracting. is felt in Workers’ Compensation and
They understood the opportunity and General Liability Insurance which are
also understood the risks. Now, many functions of gross payroll. Many contraccontractors that have never operated tors, even when faced with increased lahere are being forced into this market by bor costs which directly relate to this
shrinking revenues in an attempt to sur- method of discharging their obligation,
vive. Unfortunately the pitfalls are many opt to pay the fringe in cash because of
and for contractors unaccustomed to the the compliance aspect of discharging
heavy compliance requirements that ac- fringe obligations through benefits as
company operations in this sector what well as the administrative burden that
they may initially view as a potentially they incur.
For benefits to be considered “bona
business saving revenue stream could become the nightmare that ultimately fide” they must be specified in writing
and communicated to covered employsinks their business.
The Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) was ees, be a group benefit plan, convey a
passed by Congress and signed into law benefit to the person actually performby President Herbert Hoover on Mar. 3, ing the work, be irrevocable, payments
1931. It was the result of legislation intro- must be made to a third party or trust,
duced during The Great Depression to and accounted for on an hourly basis. In
protect local jobs on federal construction the past, these administrative burdens, as
projects by ensuring a level playing field well as fear of audit by the Department of
for all contractors. The Act was amended Labor (DOL) and the possible sanctions
in 1964 to include a fringe benefit calcula- resulting from non-compliance have
tion in the prevailing wage determina- been a deterrent for many contractors in
tion. The DBA fringe benefit amount is offering a compliant prevailing wage
determined locally and ranges from $0 to benefit program to their employees.
$20-plus in certain geographic areas and Should an audit be undertaken by
craft categories. In addition the majority DOL and a contractor found to be out of
of states have “Little Davis Bacon” state compliance penalties range from the
laws for contractors performing work on prompt payment of back wages and
fringe benefit obligations to company
state construction projects.
A contractor’s fringe benefit obliga- debarment from federal contracting,
tion may be satisfied in several ways. It may personal debarment, and for the most sebe paid in cash as additional wages, allo- rious offenses referral to the U.S. Attorcated to a “bona fide” health and welfare ney for prosecution.
However, given the new economic reprogram, allocated to a “bona fide” retire- ment program, allocated to an apprentice- ality many contractors now face, the landship or training program, or be utilized to scape is changing. Bidder’s lists for public
fund paid vacations. The latter two meth- work are growing rapidly as contractors
ods are fairly rare and generally only take scramble for the one entity that has increased spending exponentially during
up a small fraction of the total fringe.
The most prevalent method, and the recession, the federal government.
least preferred, is discharging the fringe With the increase in bidders, this
benefit obligation through cash wages. means that discharging fringe obligaThis model creates a tremendous additions in cash, on payroll, with the accomtional payroll burden through employer panying increased payroll burden is no
longer a truly viable option if contractors
are serious about winning bids. Competition is fierce and the difference in the
winning bid and number two can be literally a few hundred dollars. It is incumbent on all contractors who are serious
about operating in the government market to discharge their fringe benefit obli-
Certain tax aspects of the
Small Business Jobs Act of 2010
David Donnelly, CPA, Partner
Anna Johnson, CPA, Senior Manager
Gainer, Donnelly & Desroches LLP
Houston, TX
I
n September Congress passed, and the President
signed, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. Since
most of the provisions only apply for 2010 and 2011, this
comes somewhat late in the year. Regardless of the timing, though, there are some provisions which should be
beneficial to many small businesses, especially real estate and construction businesses.
2010 and, for some property, 2011. Under
the bonus depreciation rules, you can deduct 50 percent of the cost of qualified
property placed in service during the
year, for both regular and alternative
minimum tax purposes. Qualified property includes machinery, equipment,
computer software and certain leasehold
improvements; also, the property must
be “new” – the law uses the term “original
use.” Once again, the qualifications are
somewhat complex.
This article contains a very general explanation of only some provisions
of the tax aspects of the new law. All taxpayers should contact their tax professionals to determine how the provisions
explained here could affect them, and to
determine if there are other provisions of
the new law which might affect them.
There are three new rules liberalizing
the first-year expensing of property.
First, the Section 179 deduction (Section
179 refers to the Tax Code section which
allows the deduction of property placed
in service in the year it is placed in service) is raised from $250,000 to $500,000.
Also, the cap at which the deduction begins to be limited is raised from $800,000
to $2,000,000. This applies to new and
used property purchased in 2010 and
2011.
Second, there is new rule which adds
qualified real estate to Section 179. Up to
$250,000 in qualified real property additions can be deducted for additions in
2010 and 2011. Qualified real property
includes certain leasehold improvements; restaurant properties, and retail
property improvements. The qualifications for these properties are somewhat
complex; a common qualifier, though, is
that the buildings in which the improvements are made must be more than 3
years old.
Third, bonus depreciation is back for
GD&D has offices in Houston and Austin, TX. They specialize in construction, energy, healthcare, manufacturing and real
estate markets. –dn
gations in compliance with federal legislation as well as off payroll. Further, the
discharge of fringes through benefits
frees up cash which helps with bonding
and is required on most public projects.
While creating a compliant benefits
program may seem daunting, the addition of a broker accustomed to operating
in this space greatly decreases the risk
and exponentially increases the chances
of success. The bulk of the ARRA funding
has not yet departed federal accounts.
While the prevailing wage sector has always been a tremendous opportunity,
the opportunity emerging we may never
see again in our lifetime. With the proper
benefits structure, fringe accounting
mechanism, and sage advice from the
right benefits consultant, contractors
that have never participated in government contracting have an opportunity to
transition successfully and create opportunities for their company and themselves.
As a graduate of the University of Texas
at Austin, David Donnelly has over 25 years
in public accounting. He leads the real estate practice at GD&D. Donnelly serves as
both a Chair in the Relations with the IRS
Committee and on the State Tax Committee for the Texas Society of Certified Public
Accountants. In 2005, CPA Magazine
named him one of the industry’s “Top 100
Most Influential Practitioners.”
Anna Johnson has 14 years in public
accounting. Her clients include athletes, legal and other professional service individuals, and high net worth individuals. She has
a BA in French and an MBA from the University of Houston. San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2010
Page 11
Be safe about SARE: Commercial
real estate default and bankruptcy
planning
Debra L. Innocenti, Attorney
Oppenheimer, Blend, Harrison & Tate Inc.
San Antonio, TX
T
he commercial real estate climate still looks stormy.
Banks have remained cautious with their balance sheets,
according to Wells Fargo’s Economics Group. Five percent continued to tighten standards on commercial real estate in the second quarter of 2010. The National Association of Realtors has predicted continued short-term declines in all five sectors of commercial real estate: office, retail, industrial, multifamily and hospitality.
In this climate, $1.4 trillion in commercial loans will need refinancing between 2010 and 2014. Over half of those
loans are under water.
A prudent developer or property
owner must stay on top of commercial
loans before any problems come to fore.
That means knowing the limitations and
hurdles of the “last resort” of bankruptcy,
particularly for a single-asset real estate
entity, known as a SARE (pronounced
SAHR-ee). SAREs have stricter timelines
and obligations under the Bankruptcy
Code, which can prevent a successful reorganization.
The Bankruptcy Code defines a SARE
as “real property constituting a single
property or project, other than residential real property with fewer than 4 residential units, which generates substantially all of the gross income of a debtor
who is not a family farmer and on which
no substantial business is being conducted by a debtor other than the business of
operating the real property and activities
incidental.” 11 U.S.C. § 101(51B). In layman’s terms, a SARE is single-purpose entity, one that owns only one project,
which is the source for most of its income.
The amendments to the Bankruptcy
Code in 2005 eliminated the $4 million
secured-debt cap from the definition,
which has broadened its reach. Accordingly, more SARE cases have been filed,
and we can begin to see the full reach of
both the definition and the associated
hurdles.
In Texas, courts have interpreted
SARE to reach apartment buildings, office
buildings, shopping centers, undeveloped land, and even multiple undeveloped properties with a common plan or
scheme for development. Entities that
have other business operations conducted on the real property, such as restaurants, may escape SARE designation.
Some golf courses and hotels have been
found by the courts not to be SAREs, but
there is still little consensus on the outer
parameters of the definition.
What does it mean to be a SARE in
bankruptcy? It’s easier for a secured
lender to get permission from the bankruptcy court to foreclose on the property.
Within 90 days from the bankruptcy filing
or 30 days after the court determines the
debtor is a SARE, the debtor must either
(i) file a plan that has a reasonable possibility of being confirmed within a reasonable time; or (ii) commence monthly interest payments to its secured creditors.
That may be difficult (or impossible) for a
SARE debtor still in development and dependant on loans for its cash flow.
In addition, negotiating a plan that
has a reasonable possibility of being confirmed has its own intrinsic hurdles.
Among them is the “Fair and Equitable
Standard,” also known as the “Absolute
Priority Rule.” Equity cannot retain ownership without paying all creditors in full
or infusing new value into the debtor.
This means bankruptcy takes substantial planning. A debtor who “suddenly” finds its property posted for foreclosure will not be able to obtain relief by
picking up the phone for the first time to
call a bankruptcy lawyer.
What should developers and commercial property owners do now? Determine the maturity date of your commercial loans. Begin talking with your lender
on refinancing or extending the maturity
date. If you anticipate trouble obtaining
refinancing or modification, begin talking to an attorney about your options. Be
aware whether your entity may be designated a SARE and what you might be
able to do now to prevent such a designation or, alternatively, to avoid the effect of the stricter provisions in the Bankruptcy Code. The more time you give
yourself the more options you have.
Debra L. Innocenti is a creditor's rights/
bankruptcy attorney with Oppenheimer,
Blend, Harrison & Tate, Inc. She has been
recognized by Law & Politics and Texas
Monthly magazine as a Texas Rising Star in
the area of Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor
Rights (2007-2010). –dn
Construction News ON LOCATION
Carpenter man
Pedro Medina, Medina’s Custom Woodwork, works on cabinet fronts in the
woodshop. The company custom makes all aspects of cabinets. –sj
OSHA tackles texting
while driving
Joann Natarajan
Compliance Assistance Specialist
OSHA
Austin, TX
istracted driving has become an epidemic in the
United States, and its often fatal consequences are
a threat to your workers, your business and the public.
Because millions of workers’ jobs and some have already taken action to
require them to spend part or all of their prohibit texting while driving. It is your
work day driving visiting clients and responsibility and legal obligation to
customers, making site visits, or delivering create and maintain a safe and healthful
goods and services the Departments of workplace, and that would include
Labor (DOL) and Transportation (DOT) having a clear, unequivocal and enforced
are joining forces in a campaign to policy against the hazard of texting
stop distracted driving and save lives. while driving. Companies are in violation
Year after year, the leading cause of the Occupational Safety and Health
of worker fatalities is motor vehicle Act if, by policy or practice, they require
crashes.
There’s no question that texting while driving, or create incentives
new communications technologies that encourage or condone it, or they
are helping business work smarter structure work so that texting is a practical
and faster. But getting work done necessity for workers to carry out their job.
faster does not justify the dramatically To combat the threat of distracted
increased risk of injury and death driving, OSHA is prepared to act quickly.
that comes with texting while driving. When OSHA receives a credible complaint
The human toll is tragic. DOT reports that an employer requires texting while
that in 2009, more than 5,400 people driving or who organizes work so that
died in crashes linked to distraction texting is a practical necessity, we will
and thousands more were injured. investigate and where necessary issue
“Texting while driving” has become citations and penalties to end this
such a prominent hazard that 30 states practice. OSHA would enforce Section
now ban text messaging for all drivers. 5(a)(1) of the Act to address this hazard.
OSHA is partnering with others The Occupational Safety and Health Act
across government, industry and the of 1970 (OSH Act) is clear—employers
public to bring together important must provide a workplace free of serious
information and tools to attack texting recognized hazards. It is well recognized
while driving and other distracted that texting while driving dramatically
driver hazards. We invite you to learn increases the risk of a motor vehicle injury
more about combating this problem at or fatality. It is imperative that employers
www.osha.gov and at DOT’s distracted eliminate financial or other incentives that
driving website, www.distraction.gov. encourage workers to text while driving. [email protected]
Most employers want to do the
512-374-0271 x232
right thing and protect their workers,
D
Page 12
Hogs wanted by Texas & CN
Submitted to Construction News
The reds were running
Chance Stout,
QRSA LLC,
(Quality Remodel)
on the right, fishes with
his grandfather
Frank Sturgis.
They caught some nice
reds at the Land Cut in
mid-October. –sj
Staying cool
T
exas Department of Agriculture
(TDA) wants your help to clear out
the feral hog population. From a
press release issued by the department,
"Wild, feral hogs are causing tremendous
damage across the landscape of Texas,"
Commissioner Staples said. These hogs,
which number in the millions and are capable of breeding twice a year, wreak
havoc on property and also can pose a
health threat to humans through disease
and automobile accidents."
Bryan Black, TDA, stated people
could contact their Texas AgriLife Extension Agent in their county to get more
information on how best to control feral
hogs in the area.
Recognizing the importance of this
initiative, Construction News is requesting
you send in your feral hog hunting or corralling photos. We will publish your photos in the outdoor section of the local
Construction News paper.
Texas Feral Hog Facts (source: Texas
AgriLife Extension Service and web site)
* There are an estimated 2 million feral
hogs in Texas.
* Feral hogs damage crops through consumption and trampling.
* Feral hogs kill and consume lambs, kid
goats, ground-nest birds such as quail
and turkey.
* Feral hogs commonly destroy urban
yards, parks and golf courses, as well as
rangeland, pastures, crops, fencing, wildlife feeders and other property.
Per a Texas Cooperative Extension
document, “In Texas, feral hogs are considered free-ranging, exotic animals and
may be taken at any time of the year by
any legal means. Consult with the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department regarding
any questions about the legal status of
feral hogs.” –dn
The Howell Crane & Rigging’s 16th Annual Skeet Shoot, BBQ and
Dove Hunt event took place Oct. 2 at the Howell Ranch in Olmos, TX.
Over 300 guests attended to enjoy an evening of comaraderie,
dinner, shooting and plain oldshooting the bull!
Randy Frazier, Cary Morgenroth and Jason Oates were
honored at the event by Frank Howell for their 25-plus years of service
with Howell Crane & Rigging. –rd
Page 13
and the beginning of October, fishing seemed to improve
also. Specks and redfish both have been actively feeding
in most of the popular hotspots around the Laguna
Madre and Baffin Bay. We have had solid boxes of trout
in the 17in. to 22in. range with scattered reds mixed in.
Live bait still remains the bait of most charters, although
I’ve heard some of the lure grinders are scoring big on
soft plastics also.
Fall Round-Up
The fall and winter seasons are perhaps my favorite
times of the year. Fishing the birds can be a hoot. When
you see a flock of birds circling and diving a particular
area, you know that something has to be happening in
the water. As incredible as it may seem, I can’t tell you
how many times I’ve watched fishermen drive right
through a large group of working gulls not knowing the
damage they’ve done, or what they’re missing out on!
by Capt. Steve Schultz
Sponsored by:
Trans Sport Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Ronnie’s Marine,
Minn Kota Trolling Motors, Power Pole Shallow Water
Anchor, Interstate Batteries, Pure Fishing, Pflueger
Reels, All-Star Rods,
Mirr-O-Lure, FINS Braided Line
and Columbia Sportswear.
B
y the time a copy of the Saltwater Angler hits your
favorite pick-up rack, you will probably be gearing
up for deer hunting season. Yea, break out the
rifles and binoculars. Dig out the camo clothing and
head for the lease. You might want to rethink that plan
if the weather stays calm like it has been for the last few
weeks. Fishing has really picked up the last few weeks
and I’m prepared to miss a few weeks of deer hunting as
long as the fish stay around.
As conditions slowly returned to normal from the
tropical weather patterns we experienced in September
When chasing the birds, you’ll find that a good
trolling motor can prove very useful. A trolling motor
that can push your boat at a decent speed is a great
help if the fish are moving. Both Great White and MinnKota make excellent units. If you’re purchasing a new
one, take the time to learn how they are rated in terms
of “pounds thrust.” The higher the number, the more
power or pounds of thrust the unit delivers. Your dealer
can help you select the best trolling motor for your boat.
Believe me, you don’t want to be under-powered when
following working birds. Nothing is more frustrating
than to have the school out run your trolling motor. If
you start your outboard motor, there is a good chance
that you will spook the fish and your chances are slim to
none that you will locate them again.
Always remember to work into the birds from the
up-wind side so that you can drift into them. When
approaching a flock of birds try not to get too close to
them while under power. It is definitely best to come
in as quietly as possible… either drifting or with the
trolling motor. The outboard is a big No-No!
Mike and Kelcie Kaiman enjoyed a nice Columbus Day
on the water with Steve Schultz Outdoors. Kelcie
handled this 42-inch bull redfish like a pro.
To schedule your next bay fishing trip give
Capt. Steve Schultz a call at:
361-949-7359 or 361-813-3716, or e-mail
[email protected].
Already booking for the 2011 fishing season.
Good luck and Good Fishing.
What a day for fish
Dale Adams, Huffmann Development, always fishes with what he considers his lucky hat.
The catch for the day strung up real nice. L-R: Dale Adams, Ken Chandley,Chandley Fence
Inc., Max the dog and 12-year-old Louis Adams, son of Dale. –sj
STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC
BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT
SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER
FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS
(361) 949-7359
www.baffinbaycharters.com
[email protected]
U.S. Coast Guard &
Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed
Page 14
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.
Let’s go outside!
H
ave you ever unplugged your kid? If
you want to see drama, just try it!
Just about everything in the world is
at a kid’s fingertips now. Friends, games,
food, they can have it all. They are connected to just about everything around
them, but do they know what it feels like
to be unplugged?
I have seen it happen when folks
come to the lake on a family trip. Phone
signal is still a little iffy here and when a
kid gets disconnected it can get bumpy
for a while. First there is complaining,
then the “I saw a bar of signal” acrobatics
and then the pouting period. If you are
lucky though, this will pass and they will
start to notice the world around them.
The warm sun, cool breeze and the critters around them start to get them connected to something much greater than
their usual network. Somehow they begin to realize that mankind survived just
fine for a long time before electricity and
the avalanche of technology that followed.
It is good for us to unplug too. We
relax and watch the waves move, notice
the soaring of birds and see the rising of
the sun. For just a little while, time
doesn’t rule us and we can enjoy turning
loose the reins and letting the universe
drive for a while. When you watch the
flash of a distant thunderstorm or see a
deep, dark night sky filled with endless
stars, you just can’t help but see things in
a different way. It is reassuring to be re-
minded that the universe doesn’t revolve
around us after all and it somehow lightens the burden we carry.
I guess that is why hunting and fishing and just being outside in general are
so important to me, and I want to share
that with other people. More and more I
see people who don’t take the time to
just get out and get away and take the
family. It worries me that our kids might
forget how to enjoy the freedom and renewal that nature offers us.
In Texas, we are lucky to have so
many amazing places to go and things to
do. The state parks are all around us (did
you know there are 93 of them!). You can
hunt for just about any kind of animal
there is and with all our rivers, lakes and
the Gulf coast, you couldn’t ask for better
fishing.
If we don’t make use of these resources and teach our kids to enjoy them
too, we may lose them. Already the hunting and fishing industries are worried
that the young people are not getting as
involved with the out of doors as previous generations. What if we start to lose
our parks and then start to lose our rights
to enjoy outdoor activities? That would
just be too tragic to imagine. We may be
able to act like electronic wizards, but we
are after all, natural creatures with a tie to
a natural world.
C’mon, let’s go outside!
Random thoughts from
a Texas deer hunter
B
by TJ Greaney
ow hunting season opens a month
before rifle in Texas, October something. That alone is a good reason
to start bow hunting, a month in the
woods before most everyone else, yea.
But with every cloud that has a silver lining there is a tree full of acorns keeping
the deer from coming into the feeders.
This year the acorn crop in many areas is
bumper. Lots of rain at the right time has
made for healthy vegetation especially
the Texas Hill Country. Trying to pattern a
deer trail in Texas is for the most part
based on where a feeder is placed. When
the acorn crop and brows is good, bow
season can be the most frustrating part
of your season.
Boys immersed in hunt camp experience something that is core to their being.
& Exc., Ltd
Over 45 Years Experience • Family Owned & Operated
Serving all to include:
COMMERCIAL CONTRACTORS
(210)
623-HAUL (4285)
www.timmstrucking.net
COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPERS
20 YARD SEMI MINIMUM
PRODUCTS/SERVICES
• Pit Run Material for
Commercial Pads
• Hauling In & Out
• Sandy Loam
• Sand
• Gravel
• Base
• Topsoil
HUB, SBE & MBE Certified
12685 Somerset Rd
Then there is the weather. Early deer
season can be hot in Texas, sometimes in
the upper 90’s. Sitting in a box blind or a
tree stand with sweat rolling down your
back kinda blows the whole scent free
idea. But then there will be a day in December when a strong wind is blowing in
your face, your shivering and the sleet
begins. That is the day you will be thinking “you know that hot weather hunting
is not that bad”.
One of the age old controversies I
hear each year is about doe hunting.
Some folks are adamant about not taking
the doe till after they have taken the rutting deer. They don’t want the deer to be
disrupted from their mission. They want
them to be chasing as many doe as possible. I, on the other hand, believe that
you should take the doe early. Don’t wear
out your old bucks especially if you have
a doe problem.
I love to hunt for doe and cull bucks.
I find it challenging trying to think
through how old a doe is and which one
would be best to take. I love harvesting
cull bucks too. Deer with funky weird
horns are cool to me and I love taking
them out of the gene pool.
Food plots in Texas continue to be a
challenge. Finding the right seed blend
for the soil in your area has always been
confusing to many and is a whole process
before the work begins. Turning soils in
Texas can require dynamite and a bulldozer. If you can get the dirt turned you
have to plant, cover and begin the rain
dance. There are success stories but just
as many tales of frustration and abandon.
However, all that said, if you can get one
planted and growing home run.
There are a lot of caliber rifles out
there. There are so many numbers and
decimals and magnum and personal
preferences I can’t even begin to follow
them all. I hunt with a lot of kids and new
hunters and I simplify as much as possible, so I like a .270. First of all they are easy
T
Page 15
New coalition, same mission
he San Antonio Quail Coalition
held a successful inaugural banquet
Sep. 23 at the Leon Springs Dance
Hall. The sportsmen in attendance enjoy
quail hunting, bird dogs and all that goes
with it. The evening raised approximately $150,000 for quail projects and research. –sj
Impressively fast
Jack McKinney, Voges Drilling Company, took this West Texas Pronghorn Antelope,
one of the fastest land animals in North America, with Alamito Hunting and Guide Services
of Marfa, TX. –dn
Lovin’ the weekend
Ahh, a beautiful Sunday in Rockport, TX, catching redfish and black drum. Days don’t
get much better for this group of fisher friends. L-R: Chris Bayer, Austin Glass &
Mirror; Greg Kanning, Dumas Hardware Co.; Glenn Steffek, Austin Glass & Mirror;
Steve Smith, Get Em! Guide Service; and Brad Maze, Advanced Door Control. –dn
HUB, MBE, SBE, DBE and
AISC Certified Fabricator
Celebrating 24 Years
in Business
Henry B Gonzalez
Convention Center Project
Wildlife Consultant /
Ranch Broker
228 Cr 4545
Hondo, Tx 78861
Phone:
Mobile:
830-741-8900
210-260-4946
Email:
[email protected]
Contractor
Guido Brothers Construction
Erector
Garden Ornamental Design
210-532-6852
Fax 532-8181
[email protected]
www.wilbornsteel.com
Page 16
Shot the limit
A day of fun
Everyone went home with their limit of doves from the dove hunt held the weekend of
Oct. 8. Cowboy Cool Outfitters’ guide, Matt Tekluve, took the picture of the group from
the San Antonio and Houston Morrison Supply and Owens Corning companies. –sj
Back row L-R: Gordon Smith, Heriberto Coronado, Ralph Blanco, Alton Flores,
Philip Barron, Tom Havens, Joey Henderson, Jose Matas, Jorge Martinez,
Ed Hewitt Jr., Roanld Sprienger Jr., Judy Lukens
Front row L-R: Jake McBee, Cowboy Cool Outfitters owner; CJ Hooper, Owens Corning,
host; Roger Russel and James Loechel
Stretched out in the very front is Drake, the bird dog.
Employees from Robert Madden Industries showed off their skills during a skeet
shoot held between morning and afternoon dove hunts. L-R: Jerry Taft and Denise
Corbin, Robert Madden Industries; Daniel, Cowboy Cool Outfitters; Jeff Jenkins
and Randy Jenkins, Robert Madden Industries; Jake McBee, owner Cowboy Cool
Outfitters loading clays –dn
continued from Page 14 – Random thoughts from a Texas deer hunter, TJ Greaney
to find shells for, every country store, gun
shop or quickie mart in Texas has shells
for them. You can get one with a scope
for a first gun cheap. You can get a really
nice one with a wood stock and expensive scope that will shoot like a dream for
a little bit more or a whole lot more. The
other good thing about a .270 is that you
can hunt anything in Texas and drop it
dead.
Snakes, thorns, bees and poison ivy
are all part of the hunting experience at
one time or another. I remember not to
many years back I was invited to hunt a
ranch. I never got to check out the stand
they were going to put me in but I wasn’t
concerned. I was up early and it was dark
and cold inside the blind that morning.
As the sun started over the horizon I
found the ceiling was covered, I mean a
four foot square, with yellow jacket wasps
from corner to corner. Luckily it was cold
out and they were dormant at the time. I
slowly moved out of the door and down
the stairs. I didn’t want to leave and not
hunt so I sat beneath the blind and waited a while. I did that until a wasp dropped
down the back of my shirt and stung the
begeebers out of my neck. I was done for
the morning.
I have been stuck, stung and swollen
up by a lot of outdoor things but the
worst may be the times I crawled through
bullnettle. That was a drag.
So all this being said I love this time
of year. There is something that happens
when folks come together around a deer
camp that is just special. God comes and
changes hearts. Not always, but if we ask
Him to be there He will be. Memories are
made, boys grow to be men, men learn to
slow down and appreciate life. Women
and girls experience a strength they may
not know they had. All these things,
those moments, are why we come back.
They are the things that are core to our
souls. They are the things that make every long day, cold night, dirty, stinky,
painful moment perfect.
TJ Greaney is an outdoor writer and Executive Director and founder of Kids Outdoor Zone Youth Outdoor Adventure Ministry. Kidsoutdoorzone.com, email TJ at tj@
kidsoutdoorzone.com
Page 17
Higher power
Barely visible, Robert Tinti is atop the Milam Building flagpole in downtown San Antonio.
F
or a man that spends many of his
working days high above the
ground, Robert Tinti is a down-toearth man with a simple but strong faith.
Tiniti is a steeplejack and field supervisor for Ameritex Flag and Flagpole
LLC. When the job calls for a fix to a flagpole, Tiniti is the craftsman for the job.
“I’ve always enjoyed climbing,” says
Tinti. “So it’s kind of neat to be able to do
it for a living.”
Construction News first met Tinti
while on a job at the Milam Building in
downtown San Antonio. The recent
winds and rain from tropical storm Hermine had ripped the rope from the flagpole and damaged the flag.
The 70-ft flagpole sits atop the
27-story building. By the time Tinti reaches the top he is suspended nearly 350 ft.
from ground level.
“The Milam was my tallest climb so
far,” remarked Tinti. “Anyone could climb
poles, but it’s the sitting up there to do
the repairs that’s the hardest part.”
Some of the repairs include cutting
the poles, fixing wires and ropes and
even painting the pole on the way down.
Safety is critical, and Tinti never goes
up a pole without a prayer and a blessing
from his boss and friend, Bill Singleton,
the owner of Ameritex.
“We always know the age of the pole,
but you never know what to expect until
he reaches the top,” says Singleton.
“When Robert starts up the pole, is when
Tinti prepares for the climb and likes to wear
t-shirts like this one that reads, “By faith”
he’s in God’s hands.”
Singleton has owned the Ameritex
business since Nov. 2007. The company
designs, installs and services all sizes of
flagpoles and a variety of flags for both
residential and commercial projects all
over Texas.
So the next time you see a flagpole,
imagine yourself climbing to the top. For
50-year-old Tinti, it’s the fun part of his
day. –sj
The Texas flag is hoisted after the repairs are finished.
Quad squad
L-R: GD Interior Construction owner Gary Sutherland stands with co-workers
Steven Potter, Andrew Vickers and Mario Benavides. The company is a drywall contractor. –sj
Page 18
Fiesta brought him to Texas
Omar Trevino likes Texas
A
s an ex-Navy mechanic based out of
San Diego, Omar Trevino got to
see a lot of the western pacific during his 10 years of service. Deployed to Hawaii, Guam, Philippines, Singapore, Japan,
Korea, Australia and beautiful Diego Garcia, an island in the middle of the Indian
Ocean, he returned to California after the
military and started working on houses.
“They would assign me, you have
five houses to do today. Back then you
would do one block and then start the
other one. It was so busy,” he said.
One year he visited his sister during
Fiesta, and it was all over for California.
“My wife and I couldn’t believe the million dollar houses going for a hundred thousand dollars,” he said. “We came to Fiesta in
April and moved in September 1992.”
Having owned a Little Caesar’s Pizza
business in CA, Trevino started a Little
Caesar’s in San Antonio. He then met a
person in the construction business and
began working and learning the “Texas-
way” of the trade. He worked with the
company for five years.
In June 2002, Trevino began his own
construction business, Oz Roofing &
Construction. “I’ve been going strong
here since then,” he said.
Trevino describes his business as 90
percent apartment complexes. “I describe this as whatever the maintenance
personnel cannot perform or repair, they
call me. I have established a lot of good
relationships through the years,” he said.
Trevino is proud of the people that
work with him and the quality of work
they perform.
“I’ve got good guys. I think the guy
that has been with me the least has been
working with me seven years,” he said.
His employees include Felipe Trujillo,
Mario Castro, Arturo Ortiz and Arturo
Ortiz Jr.
For fun Trevino enjoys traveling with
his wife to various sites in Mexico. Next year
they will explore new sites in Canada. –dn
Page 19
What was your
favorite vacation?
I took a trip to Rome five years ago. It was
my first trip to Europe. It was very scenic
and it was amazing to see the difference
in our cultures.
Josue Reyes, Skanska USA Building
Costa Rica. The people are very nice.
Mark Rutland,
Whiting Turner Contracting Company
My favorite vacation was a British Virgin
Islands catamaran trip for a week.
Mitch Patterson, TDIndustries
My favorite vacation had to be the one
when my husband, Horace, and I went to
Europe and we took a barge trip down
one of the major canals in France. It was
shortly after 9/11 and we ended up being
the only people on board. We were treated like royalty every day.
Kathy Acock, Alpha Building Corp.
About 10 years ago, I took my kids up to
Big Bend. We had a great time camping
and hiking in the park.
Gerald Jarzombek, IES Commercial
Our family’s European vacation to Paris,
Rome, Switzerland and the Island of Sardinia. My favorite was Tunisia, France –
beautiful, best food and spectacular. My
wife, Karen, and I want to go there again,
by ourselves.
Dallas Cloud, Moore Erections
It sounds simple, but Ruidoso, NM. It has
it all. Good weather, mountains, horse
racing and gambling. It’s just a wonderful
place.
Margaret Ray, Catto & Catto
I guess one of my favorite vacations was
to Cloud Croft, NM. My kids got to see
and experience snow for the first time
and that was fun.
Jackie Lewis, Padgett Stratemann
Actually, I just came back from a wonderful family trip to Las Vegas. Had a lot of
fun with my family and also came back
with a little cash in my pocket.
Jennifer Sweeney, ESC
The firing squad
L
ots of construction industry folks, 120 to be exact, enjoyed a day of competitive
marksmanship, munching on delicious barbeque and winning lots of great raffle
prizes during the Mechanical Contractors Association and Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning National Association (MCA-SMACNA) 33rd Annual Hunters Symposium Sep.
29 at the Bexar Community Shooting Range. –dn
This year’s winners include:
Skeet
Expert: Matt Engbrock, J & J Maintenance
Guest
1st: Bennis Malish, Retired
Associate
1st: Scott Hutcheson, Texas Air Systems
Member
1st: Louis Mosel, L.C. Mosel Co.
Shoddy Skeet: Charles Wolff, L.C. Mosel Co.
Trap
Expert: Richard Schmidt, Mueller & Wilson
Guest
1st: Rick Barrera, Goetting & Associates
Associate
1st: Drew Freiley, Ferguson Enterprises
Member
1st: Danny Grammer, Mueller & Wilson
Terrible Trap: James Tollerson
Rifle
Bull’s-eye: Tom Pulliam, Goetting & Associates
Expert: Richard Schmidt, Mueller & Wilson
Guest
1st: Brian Goebel, Goetting & Associates
Associate
1st: Aaron Caldwell, The Trane Co.
Member
1st: Jeremy Jones, M & M Metals
Ridiculous Rifle: Kyle Pennington, A.J.
Monier Co.
Page 20
Round-Up
Don Huml has
joined The Trevino
Group Inc. as chief
operation officer.
Huml has more
than 20 years of
construction management and business development
experience. He will
oversee project operations at the company’s Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and
Galveston locations.
$400
OVER
INVOICE
ON ALL KUBOTA MINI ExCAVATORS
Q
Q
EXCELLENT INTEREST RATES
MUST HAVE MAILING ADDRESS IN BEXAR COUNTY OR
CONTIGUIOUS SURROUNDING COUNTIES
EWALD TRACTOR, INC.
Seguin
Boerne
Floresville
1-800-292-1568 1-800-268-0507 1-888-246-9599
Alderson & Associates Inc. announces:
Todd Sparrow has
earned his Professional Engineer (PE)
certification. He has
worked on a number of projects for
the company including both new
construction and
renovations of existing facilities. Sparrow is currently working on the new Walzem Centro Med Clinic, as well as BRAC facilities at Ft. Sam
Houston.
Joshua R. Steed,
Engineer
in
Training(EIT), joins
the firm. He is a
graduate of the University of Arkansas
with a BS in electrical engineering. His
areas of work will
include electrical
design, access control systems, intrusion
detection systems and CCTV systems.
The San Antonio Masonry Contractors
Association would like to thank the sponsors
of the 2010 special events.
ANNUAL GOLF
CLASSIC
Acme Brick / Featherlite
Advanced Cast Stone, Inc.
AHI Supply, L.P.
Alamo Cement Co., Ltd.
American Aggregates
Betco Scaffolds
Building Specialties
C & S Contractors, Inc.
C.L. Crow Masonry, Inc.
Delta Granite and Marble
EFGI Insurance & Bonds
Equipment Depot Rentals
Garza Masonry Stone, Inc.
Guido Brothers Construction
H & E Equipment Services, Inc.
Headwaters Construction Materials
Holcim (US), Inc.
I-10 Building Materials, Ltd. /
Stone Source
Integrity Insurance Agency, Inc.
Lehigh White Cement Company
Lundberg Masonry, Inc.
Mr. Henry’s Masonry & Stucco Supply LLC
Rudd & Adams Masonry, Inc.
Safway Services, LLC
San Antonio Masonry & Tool Supply
San Jacinto Materials
Shadrock & Williams Masonry, Ltd.
South Texas Specialized
Texas Construction Association
TNT Equipment Co., Inc.
Triton Materials
TXI
ANNUAL FISHING
TOURNAMENT
BBVA Compass Insurance
CMC Rebar San Antonio
Groesbeck Masonry, Inc.
I-10 Building Materials, Ltd.
Joeris General Contractors
Mr. Henry’s Masonry &
Stucco Supply LLC
Rudd & Adams Masonry, Inc.
Shadrock & Williams Masonry, Ltd.
Spaw Glass Contractors, Inc.
SS Smith & Sons Masonry, Inc.
Tailored Foam, Inc.
TNT Equipment Co., Inc.
ANNUAL SPORTING
CLAY TOURNAMENT
& BBQ COOK-OFF
C & S Contractors, Inc.
Espey Silica Sand
Groesbeck Masonry, Inc.
I-10 Building Materials, Ltd. /
Stone Source
Prosoco, Inc.
RNDC
San Jacinto Materials
Tailored Foam, Inc.
Target Building Supply, LLC.
TXI
Wire-Bond
ANNUAL NIGHT GOLF TOURNAMENT
American Aggregates
Mr. Henry’s Masonry & Stucco Supply LLC
Wortham Insurance & Risk Management
Sundt Construction, Inc. has added
three team members to their new San
Antonio office:
John Carlson, senior vice president
and Texas district
manager, will lead
the office. He has
served as co-author
on the heavy highway training curriculum for the National Center for
Construction Education & Research and
currently serves on the national Transportation Research Board’s Alternate
Project Delivery Committee.
Amy King joins
Sundt as business
development representative with 20
years of construction experience in
Texas, six of which
have been in San
Antonio. Prior to
Sundt, Amy was
business development manager for Satterfield & Pontikes, where she specialized
in the K-12, higher education, healthcare,
and government markets.
Abigail Shaver will
serve as the office
manager. She holds
a bachelor’s degree
in
mathematics
with a minor in accounting and a
master’s degree in
mathematics from
the University of Incarnate Word.
Page 21
Architecture and Engineering
Consistency is important
Little money for new projects
Wayne Gondeck, President
DRG Architects PPLC
John Focht, Chief Geotechnical Engineer
Raba-Kistner Engineering & Consulting
San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX
“T
L
exas is still doing much better construction-wise
than many other parts of the country, but we have
seen a slowdown even in the public sector projects, even
on the institutional type work that are mostly essential service type facilities,“ said
Gondeck. “There has still been a decrease in the volume of that work mainly because
it takes public funding, either through bond election or some other mechanism along
that line.
However, Gondeck remarks that now too low a cost,” he said.
is the best time for public entities and Gondeck recalled a time 30 years
owners to get the most for their con- ago during a similar economic slowdown.
struction dollar.
“Back in the 80s we probably had a
“It is an excellent time for entities worse situation, and we had projects
that can move forward because first, as where you may lose the general contracfar as borrowing power, it’s a great time tor. You definitely were prepared to lose
with low interest rates. Second, as far as several of your major subs,” he said.
the value of the construction dollar, it’s a Regarding what is on the horizon for
tremendous time to go forward.”
the industry, Gondeck stated there have
As for new initiatives within the in- already been a number of changes in the
dustry, Gondeck stated that while LEED is code – especially in the mechanical, elecnot a new initiative, LEED is becoming trical and environmental systems.
more of a norm. He said “more public en- He said balancing energy conservatities are requiring LEED certification or at tion with the introduction of outside air is
least some move towards certification. a challenge in developing an affordable
The trend is going more and more in that environmental system for buildings.
direction.”
“The technology is pushing for high Considering the state of the econo- er efficiency ratings, higher SEER ratings,
my, Gondeck said one of the most signifi- and as you are working in that direction
cant challenges facing businesses today is you are introducing more fresh air. The
maintaining a volume of work that keeps industry is having to deal with that as
the business viable and allows the busi- those code changes are being effected,”
ness to not lay off staff.
he said.
Additionally, he stated that main- Gondeck feels maintaining consistaining the quality of work in construc- tency in his services is important in the
tion could be a challenge in stressful eco- firm’s success.
nomic times.
“We spend a lot of time and effort on
“As these times get tighter, a lot of client contact and satisfaction. It seems
times we see the bidding market get a lot to have paid off in the long run,” he said.
tighter and the quality on construction DRG Architects PLLC specializes in instigets a little bit less. That’s because some- tutional work mainly in the criminal justice
times we have either subcontractors or area of detention, law enforcement and
contractors fail from taking projects at court facilities. –dn
ike so many other professionals today, Focht says the
issue impacting business is the weak economy. “For us it revolves around the economy in
terms of funding for the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), transportation in general, and getting the
lenders back in the business of lending,”
Focht said.
He said TXDOT should have adequate funding for existing projects, but
believes there is little funding for projects that are being contemplated.
Commenting on what is impacting
future funding, Focht said he felt it was
based on several items. First, Texas has
not changed the gas tax in several decades, and the revenue from the tax is
tied directly to the gallons of gasoline
sold. With the slowdown in the economy,
people are driving less.
Second, when coupled with the rate
of inflation in construction, running eight
to ten percent over the last several decades, one can see that the cost of construction has gone up, but the revenue
source has remained static.
“The percentage of the number of
projects for which there is funding has
decreased over time. Added to that, TXDOT’s funding also has to cover maintenance. Maintenance as a percentage of
the total budget has been increasing
rather significantly. So, a this point they
are doing more maintenance and far less
new construction,” he said.
Focht states that the most significant
challenge in the industry is identifying
where work will be in the next three to
five years.
“It’s all pretty slow. Almost all of the
private funding work has really slowed
down since 2007-2008,” he said. “There is
a lot of pent-up demand, but there
doesn’t seem to be any funding for it.
“Some people say we may be continuing in a slow growth period for three
to five years. Others say once things turn
around we will move back relatively
quickly or in a strong way much like they
did in the early 80s.”
Focht stated that it is unfortunate
that public agencies don’t have the money to spend on needed projects at this
time.
“Now would be the perfect time for
public agencies to spend money because
the cost of construction, the bids, are way
down. But in many cases they don’t have
the money to spend. They can’t deficit
spend,” he said.
Regarding what it takes for companies to make it through this tough time
and remain successful Focht confidently
stated, “Client service, client relations
and providing a high quality product.
“Most of our clients are repeat customers. We have long-established relationships with our clients.”
Raba-Kistner Engineering & Consulting
specializes in geotechnical, environmental,
facility and construction materials design,
management and testing services. -dn
and increases in the cost of E&O insurance.
While nobody has the magic bullet,
steps such as a consistent internal QA/QC
program, forming strategic alliances with
contractors, capitalizing on global opportunities, developing lean / low-cost
delivery models and being part of the
funding solution for owners help in mitigating the current industry challenges.
Substantial changes in project delivery models, along with global competition to provide engineering services, will
converge to force a rethink of the way we
do business over the next 10 years. Challenges to Qualification Based Selection, if
successful, will require a change in mindset for the engineering community.
Technology already allows engineering
work to be done 24 hours a day through
Internet-based CAD file access, which allows the compression of the project development schedule. Cheaper and faster
will be the direction in the future.
Engineering remains one of the noble professions, allowing an individual to
work on projects that make a positive difference in our quality of life and add real
value to the economy.
Cost controls and great project execution are critical to success and profit-
ability in engineering. When times are
good, mediocre firms can do well, but
only the fittest survive in today’s fiercely
competitive market.
If I were to give advice to a young
person who wants to become an engineer, I’d say focus on project management, construction management and
business management in college.
A Master’s degree in one or more of
these areas would go a long way to enhancing your career. The future of engineering in the U.S. is in managing the
projects and the business.
Learning and mastering the technical aspects of engineering is a given, but
those softer skills in management will
open up doors down the road. In addition, learn to speak and write at least one
foreign language fluently. Spanish, Mandarin Chinese or other similar highgrowth language would be ideal in the
future global job market.
Dynamics of engineering
Justin A. Word, PE. Deputy Director
CP&Y Inc., Transportation Division
Austin, TX
T
he engineering industry often serves as a leading indicator of future construction industry activity, and
currently we’re living in an age of fits and starts for engineering projects based on numerous traditional and non-traditional funding sources.
This uncertainty in project funding means projects that do develop are often on very
aggressive schedules with tight budgets, which is further compounded by substantially increased competition. Many of these factors affect both the engineering and
construction industries.
We’ve seen a major shift from traditional Design-Bid-Build to Design-Build
for major projects, primarily driven by the
bond-based funding mechanism. As
project funding continues to be driven
by the various flavors of debt financing,
we expect this trend to accelerate. This
will change the dynamic between engineering and construction firms, and if recent history is any indication, there will
be a substantial number of acquisitions
and mergers across these two industries
to capitalize on the new market reality.
In addition, there are a number of
challenges for engineering, but some of
the more notable include the commod-
itization of engineering services, globalization of the workforce and the trend
toward industry consolidation into large
mega-firms. Cost containment will be a
significant market force leveraged on engineering firms in the coming years.
As a professional service industry,
our primary cost increases are related to
our human resource costs. These costs
are generally tied to inflation, along with
other increases such as rising health care
costs. However, at least partially due to
the Great Recession, many owners are
aggressively pursuing E&O related
claims, which increases payouts, overhead related to defense against claims,
Established in 1980, CP&Y is a full- service, multi-discipline infrastructure engineering firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas. In addition to the company headquarters, CP&Y has offices in Fort Worth, Austin,
San Antonio, Houston and McKinney, TX;
Phoenix, AZ and Oklahoma City, OK. –ab
Page 22
Architecture and Engineering
Economic challenges and regulatory changes
Scott Frank, Director, Media Relations
American Institute of Architects
Washington, D.C.
T
he last two-plus years have been
nothing short of devastating for the
architecture profession. While demand
for design services has been increasing
recently, it has been at a slow pace and
hampered by other obstacles that are
preventing an accelerated recovery. In
the early days of the “Great Recession,”
the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
established a series of resources for
members, firms and local chapters under
the umbrella title, Navigating the Economy. Construction spending is expected
to increase in 2011, but at a nominal pace,
so firms should continue to be prudent in
their near-term business planning. With
that in mind, the AIA is committed to providing continuing education programs
that specifically address the economic
challenges facing the architectural community. At the recent Texas Society of Architects annual convention, there was a
session aimed at teaching architects how
to position themselves as experts in converting old buildings for new purposes
since the building boom is long since
over. Another program highlighted effective strategies for collections and
claim responses, along with other insights into advantageous contract clauses. Until the economic climate becomes
favorable, the AIA will continue to offer
programming designed to help architects survive this prolonged downturn.
There is an initiative taking place at
the national level that will be executed
by local states and municipalities that
will have tremendous ramifications for
architects. The International Code Council, the AIA and a group of other partners,
are developing the International Green
Construction Code. It will be the first
code mandating that a building achieve
certain goals for energy efficiency. Unlike projects seeking green building certification, the IGCC mandates specific responsibilities and liabilities because the
code is enforceable at the local level.
This is a monumental change for the architecture profession and practitioners
would be well served to find out as much
as they can about the code, as well as offer their voice in the public comment opportunities.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has
already endorsed the IGCC and has
called for local governments to adopt
the code and consider its Standard 189.1
compliance code as base code to their
jurisdiction. Rhode Island is the first
state to adopt the IGCC as an equivalent
standard in compliance with requirements that all public agency major facility projects be design and constructed
as green buildings.
Currently, the second public version
of the IGCC has been posted for comment, which included hearings with hundreds of interested parties. Architects,
product manufacturers and developers
had the opportunity to share their perspectives. The second comment period
ends in January 2011, followed by a code
development hearing in May 2011. Expectations are that the new code will be
finalized and published by March 2012. It
is crucial that the architecture profession
voice their opinions, issues and concerns
as often as possible in order for the final
version of the code to represent the best
efforts in planning and collaboration.
As green buildings will be required
to meet certain energy efficiency targets,
the AIA developed a new tool that gener-
ates a report on predicted energy use
and project modeling. The Excel-based
reporting tool is available for download
for firms that agree to be part of the AIA
2030 Commitment Program and will only
require the user to enter project use type
(from a drop down menu), gross square
footage, yes/no questions and predicted
energy use intensity (EUI).
Based on that information, for modeled projects the tool will automatically
calculate the national average site EUI for
that project type and the project’s percent reduction from the national average
EUI toward meeting the firm’s 2030 goal
for the current year (currently 60 percent). The excel tool will generate three
easy to decipher graphs that aggregate
the individually listed active projects,
and will show a snapshot of the firm portfolio for which the firm will gather actual
energy performance.
As the profession continues to deal
with economic hurdles and regulatory
realities that will change the way buildings are designed, the AIA is dedicated to
providing resources and education opportunities to assist its members in traversing an evolving landscape.
The American Institute of Architects
(AIA) is a professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857.
–dn
NEXT MONTH
December 2010
Construction Equipment
Call for Ad Space
Reservations
(210) 308-5800
2010 Schedule
Jan:
Feb:
Mar:
Apr:
May:
Jun:
Used Trane Units
Available From
15 Ton to 105 Ton
105 Ton Cooling Cap., Gas Heat, 460V, 3PH
Model #SFHGD114HZ00CDCD1E01ABW.
Construction Forecast
Construction Safety
Construction Education
Women in Construction
Concrete Industry
HVAC & Plumbing
July:
Aug:
Sep: Oct:
Nov:
Dec:
Electrical Industry
Service Providers
Green Building Trends
Specialty Contractors
Architecture & Engineering
Construction Equipment
• San Antonio • Austin • Dallas/Ft. Worth • Houston
We not only build fences . . .
These units can be mounted on roof curbs
or on the ground next to your building.
Each unit can cool about 20,000 SF to
30,000 SF of warehouse/factory space
depending on heat loads. These units
were only used for about
one year and are still in
new condition.
3 UNITS IN STOCK!
WE CAN INSTALL
THESE FOR YOU!
SALE PRICE IS LESS THAN
HALF OF A NEW UNIT!
Call Aaron for more info & price:
1-866-661-7500 or 1-210-661-7500
[email protected]
We build Structures
13115 WETMORE ROAD
210
545-6767
www.saqualityfence.com
Page 23
Association Calendar
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
AGC
Associated General Contractors
Nov. 4: Casino Night & Construction Industry Awards, 6-10pm, Pedrotti’s North
Wind Ranch, attire is casual western.
For more info call AGC office at 349-4921
HCA de San Antonio
Hispanic Contractors Association
Nov. 4 –5: FREE OSHA Record Keeping
and OSHA 10 Training in Spanish, HCA office, 8300 Pat Booker Rd., 9am-4pm, Contact Angie to RSVP, 444-1100
Nov. 4, 11, 18: Help Desk Thursdays –
help with certification, etc. FREE for members, HCA office, Rm 233, 9am-noon.
Contact Ray, 444-1100
Nov. 6, 13, 20: FREE Customized Small
Business Safety Training sessions for
small business owners, HCA office, Rm.
131, 9:30-11:30am, Contact Angie to RSVP
Nov. 17: New membership recruitment
dinner, Anne Marie’s Catering- Celebration Room, 12475 Starcrest #118, 6pm,
$15 beef medallion dinner, Topic: Update
on City of SA Small Business ordinance
and update on SA Housing Authority
projects, Contact Ray to RSVP
For more info email [email protected]
IEC
Independent Electrical Contractors
Nov. 12-13: OSHA 10-Hour Class, IEC office
Nov. 15: Continuing Education Class, IEC
Office, 5–9pm
Nov. 16: A&T Committee Meeting, IEC
office, 11am
Nov. 17: Board of Director’s Meeting, IEC
office, 11am
Nov. 19: IEC of Texas Meeting, Omni Watermark Hotel, 8am–noon
Nov. 20: Electrical Maintenance Technician class, IEC office, 8am–5pm
Everybody’s working for the weekend
Nov. 25-26: IEC office closed for Thanksgiving
Dec. 2: Construct-A-Kid’s Christmas Gala,
Alzafar Shrine, 6-11pm
Dec. 3: Construct-A-Kid’s Christmas Toy
Drive, Construction News office, 10am– 2pm
Dec. 10: Holiday Open House/Casino
Night, IEC office, 6-11pm
For more information on these events,
please go to www.iecsanantonio.com.
MCA–SMACNA
Mechanical Contractors Association
Sheet Metal & A/C Nat’l Assn.
Nov. 3: Regular & Associate member firms
meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am
Nov. 4 – 7: NEBB Annual Convention, Bonita Springs, Florida
Nov. 17: Joint industry fund forum and business meeting, Oak Hills Country Club, 11:30am
PHCC
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
Nov. 11: Monthly meeting, 11am, Earl
Abel’s, Railroad commission speaker
Dec. 9: Meet, Greet, Bowl & Eat! Holiday
party and nonmember outreach, Turner’s
bowling, 7pm
Construction News stopped by the FA Nunnelly office and found these three
working hard on a Friday afternoon. L-R: Caitie Ryan, receptionist; Troy Cole,
controller; and Regina Gurrero, accounts payable. -sj
Counting it all
SAMCA
San Antonio Masonry Contractors Assn.
Nov. 17: Membership meeting, Pappadeaux Restaurant, 76 NE Loop 410,
Noon, $25/person
Dec. 9: Holiday Celebration & Awards,
Pedrotti’s North Wind Ranch – Broke Mill
Building, 6-10pm, $60/person
For info call Debbie at 830-606-5556
SDA
Society for Design Administration
Nov. 4: Membership networking meeting, Fugro Consultants, 11009 Osgood
Drive, noon, lunch provided. Contact Lisa
at 655-9516
L-R: Charlie Rodriguez, Krista Fanning and Lee Ramones are making sure they
have enough of everything for their customers at Crawford Electric Supply. –dn
Page 24
continued from Page 1 — Capital and Schultz merge
point where I had to make some pretty
drastic decisions,” said Schultz. “I have
been running a one-man band for a long
time. I was going to have to size up substantially and add people or join forces.
“After many conversations with
Keith, I thought it better to join forces
and run as one company. It enables me
to go back to what I am best at doing
which is being out with customers, bidding projects and thinking outside the
box especially on bigger projects to do
them more efficiently. I brought 28 years
of pumping experience and my company
to the table.
“Our idea was simple. Bring the two
largest Texas-based pumping companies
together as one.
“It is surviving the slow times and
helping our local guys get through the
slow times so that a year or two down the
road, when it does come back, we are all
in a better way.”
The combined company has 60+
pumps ranging from a trailer pump to a
61-meter, 75 employees split fairly evenly
between Austin and San Antonio and a
current service area that goes south to
the Rio Grande and north to Waco. There
are also future plans for other locations.
“We focus on what we can do and
not what someone else can or can’t do. I
think this merger is a great positive for
everyone involved in the construction industry in this area as well as the people
that work here at Capital.
“We live here and don’t have any
other places across the nation to go when
times get tough. We have circled the
wagons like we are defending the Alamo.
But we intend to win this time,” concludes Crawford. –bd
continued from Page 1 — Village on the Gruene
One of two retail shops with residential loft
side and rear parking has a 10 percent
over ratio.
Two of the buildings under construction will be two levels, the lower levels for
retail shops and the upper lofts for residential.
The property was originally farmland, so many trees were planted and areas heavily landscaped, including the
greenbelt areas. The “condo regime” enables him to have a private street to fit
into the zoning criteria of the village,
which allows for no front setback for this
main street commercial and residential
design and function.
The zoning is C1B with restrictions
on use. This ensures the original design
and concept is maintained. Along with
this, there are no height limitations.
The 13 shops currently leased and
operating in the village include a restaurant (owned by Flume), unique shops,
boutiques, a yoga center, a cupcakery
and the High Cotton Inn, to name a few.
Soon to come will be a village mercantile (owned by Flume) which will have
wine, cheese, a deli bar, kitchen gadgets
and some pantry items, a convenient
place for a walking neighborhood theme.
Flume said that he plans on completing Gruene Lake Village within one year.
All remaining slabs are poured and all facades will be finished by Thanksgiving
2010. He is planning a “Christmas in the
Village” theme, complete with lighted
streets and buildings.
Michael Flume Construction is a family-owned business. Flume is the overall
designer and developer and his wife, Debbie Flume, works with clients on all exterior and interior design selections. His
son-in-law, Derek Bird, manages the construction, scheduling and the supervising
of all subcontractors. His daughter, Kelsee Flume, manages the office and accounting functions for both commercial
and residential developments. The concept of Gruene Lake Village is, in part, to
support and complement the residential
community of Cotton Crossing, which will
include 250 homes when complete. –rd
Key subcontractors:
Klein Engineering (civil)
Kirk Gregory Engineering (structural)
Joe Bland Construction (roads/utilities)
Hutson Framing
Eberhard Lumber Co.
Rivera Concrete
Walnut Springs Electric (Danny Maples)
Davis Plumbing
Morrison Supply (Plumbing)
JRBS Cabinets
Guido Lumber Co.
Page 25
continued from Page 1 — Special time, memories
church that brought along 15 young people to help with the activities.
Niznik said, “It is just serving those
kids and seeing smiles on their faces, and
knowing that they are going to go home
with a very good experience, and maybe
remember it. Plus they are getting God to
boot. Trying to wrap up a whole package
in one, it is kind of awesome.”
Cynthia Le Monds, CEO of San Antonio Youth Centers, said it best, “For many
of our children, they have never experienced what is like to go fishing, stay in a
cabin, or go kayaking.
“This trip is a world of “firsts” for
them...their first fish, their first time being
out of the city, their first time staying
overnight in the woods.
“When children are exposed to a variety of different settings, they grow as
human beings and learn to appreciate
the natural world.
“It is because of the generosity of the
construction community that our children have been given this opportunity
for personal, physical and spiritual
growth.
“Thank you for caring about the kids
and for giving them a chance to experience nature.” –dn
Youngsters learning how to fish
www.constructionnews.net
publishing the industry’s news
Texas
Style
continued from Page 9 —
Gluckwunsche
Safety Training Evaluation Process
(STEP) award winners
Silver Award
B.G. Metals, Inc.
Express Metalwork
Galaxy Builders Ltd.
Hill Electric
Intertech Flooring
Troy M. Jessee Construction LP
Kunz Construction Co. Inc.
Marek Bros. Systems Inc.
Gold Award
Alpha Building Corporation
Baker Triangle
Flasher Equipment Company
Journeyman Construction
Keystone Concrete Placement
The Koehler Company
Koontz McCombs Construction Ltd.
Leonard Contracting Inc.
Manco Structures Ltd.
Metropolitan Contracting Co. Ltd.
Moore Erection LP
TDIndustries Inc.
Texas Fifth Wall Roofing Systems Inc.
Platinum Award
Betco Scaffold
CCC Group Inc.
Bartlett Cocke General Contractors
G.D. Interior Construction Inc.
Huser Construction Co. Inc.
IES Commercial Inc.
Lyda Swinerton Builders Inc.
MK Marlow Company San Antonio LLC
Smithers Merchant Builders LP
SpawGlass Contractors Inc.
W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co.




San Antonio
Austin
Dallas/Fort Worth
Houston
Page 26
The pièce de résistance
“Volunteer is a big word.”
Edgar Farrera and one of his colorful art pieces.
F
or Edgar Farrera, director of sustainable design and senior associate at
Marmon Mok, a career specializing in
sustainable architecture got him an invitation to Washington, D.C. with the Green
Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
Early in 2009, the GBCI invited industry professionals to D.C. to help them
with items for possible inclusion in the
new LEED exams. Farrera said, “These
are the items they pull for potential exam
questions.”
As a frequent speaker on sustainable
architecture at professional development workshops and conferences, he is
equally active with San Antonio’s chapter
of American Institute of Architects’ committee on the environment and the U.S.
Green Building Council Balcones Chapter,
where he currently serves as the advocacy chair.
Farrera said his personal life is equally full of activity. He and his college
sweetheart wife, Catherine, have six children. Farrera states, “They are in two series.“ Series one includes Antoni, 18; fraternal twins Stefan and Dominique, 17;
and Andres, 14. Marcos, 9, and Bastian, 6,
make up the second series.
As if that were not enough, Farrera
enjoys another passion in his life – photography.
Last month, he had a three-week
solo exhibition of his artwork at the Center for Architecture at the Pearl. He had a
previous show there in Oct. 2009.
Farrera said this past October was a
good month for him. In addition to the
photography show, he was a portfolio
winner for Color magazine. He said, “I got
a double page spread there. I’m the only
person from San Antonio and one of the
few from Texas.”
He described the incredible feeling
he had when he was in Washington, D.C.
at Union Station as he purchased the
magazine and saw the article about his
photos.
His interest in photography blossomed when his children were little. Farrera said he would photograph them at
interesting buildings that had interesting
compositions.
“As my children got older, they didn’t
want to pose for photos anymore,” he
said. His interest changed from photographing his children to more architectural photography.
Asked if and when he had any spare
time what would he do, he stated, “I enjoy taking off and going to Big Bend –
one time a year.”
“I never watch TV. I guess that’s the
time I do all this other stuff.” –dn
The Stein family at the site of their new home.
A
ccording to CPL Joshua Stein, the
English language isn’t sufficient to
express his feelings of gratitude
for what people have done for him and
his young family: wife Nicole, 25, daughters Rachel, 7, Jasmine, 4, and Desiree, 2.
“We can’t say any words that are
more important or mean thank you. There
hasn’t been a word created for that yet.
“It’s so unbelievably majestic. People
come out here because this is the way
they want to say ‘Thank you,’ and that
means a lot. It really does.”
Stein, a young man of 27, lost both
legs above the knee in Iraq on Easter Sunday, 2006. The non-profit organization
Homes for Our Troops is working with local contractors, subcontractors and volunteers to build the Stein family a specially adapted house.
Leading the construction is Greg
Grandjean, Leonard Contracting, Inc.
Stein describes his feelings about his
new home. “Oh, man, I haven’t even woken up from this dream yet. It’s so unreal.”
Stein is amazed by the craftsmanship
and attitude of the people that are volunteering their time.
“Volunteer is a big word. Those guys
are the ones that make it happen. Those
guys are the ones that take care of all the
finishing work and framework. The construction workers do some awesome
jobs, awesome work.
“You can’t say anything better than
thank you. I just can’t even say thank you
anymore. The word has lost meaning
compared to what my family and I feel
about this,” he said.
Additionally, Stein is very appreciative
of the Homes for Our Troops program.
“I hope it will open up the eyes of everybody else to see what the message is of
these homes and help Homes for Our
Troops keep going. There are tons of us out
there that everything is just too small or too
crowded or too narrow. We can’t get to it.
“The houses that these guys build definitely, definitely improves the quality of life.
It’s just the simple things to do by yourself
in a house that is not restrictive. The individualism that a vet gets to regain, with a
home like this, this is what it is about.”
Asked what his daughters think
about their new home, Stein told of a recent evening when the family went
through the house.
“My older two get a kick out of it.
They can’t believe how much room they
have to run around the house. We walked
through the house, and they were just
getting a feel for which one their room is,
calling out, ‘My room!’”
He said, “It was one of those memory
things that was just burned into the back
of my mind. It is thanks to all of these
people, and they’ve given us a lifetime of
amazing memories.”
Once the house is finished, and the
family moves in, Stein has some plans for
the future.
“I want to get back to playing sports.
I use to be a big sports guy when I was
younger in high school. I love sports.
And, that kind of teamwork reminds me
of the military. I can’t be GI Joe anymore,
but I can still be on a team.
Photo by Straughan Photography
“It’s a good thing they have programs out there for guys like me that just
can’t keep still. We can’t sit down and just
be content with what happened. We
have to go out there and follow our
dreams. I want to go out there and play
sports. I want to get out in the community and maybe even coach, or help coach,
some youth in football,” he said.
Stein sums up his feelings this way
about the volunteers that are making a
difference in his life.
“This house, this is where my kids are
going to grow up. Everybody has to know
that it’s not being an injured vet, it’s me
being able to raise my kids. They are part
of my story, too. That’s my drive, my three
daughters and my wife.”
“I’ve seen it since I got hurt — the patriotism of this country. It makes it all worth
it to know, yeah I may have gotten injured
in fighting the war, but the people of America – there’s no place better. This is it. This is
my home. These are my people.” –dn
Subcontractors, vendors and organizations donating to CPL Joshua Stein,
Homes for Our Troops:
Leonard Contracting, Inc.
McMichael Land Surveying
Ranger Excavating
Urban Concrete
Lonestar Reprographics
The Interior Edge, LLC
Kezar’s Pest Control
JB Septic Systems, Inc.
Alamo Septic Designs
Recon Services
Beck Disposal
United Site Services
Steve Bailey Custom Framers
Rodney Doyal Construction
A.L. Sandera, Inc.
J.P. Hart Lumber
MG Building Materials
AmeriCrane
Thomas Stone and Materials
Tarrillion Masonry
Acme Brick
San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association
Mangold Roofing
GAF
ABC Supply
Simonton Windows
Stock Building Supply
Alpha Insulation and Waterproofing
American Indian Movement of Central Texas
Zinsmeyer Mechanical & Welding
Triple R Electric
Bracken Plumbing
Hollywood Crawford
Sanchez Brothers Drywall
Glidden Professional
Campbell Painting
Service Shade Shop
Chicktime, Inc.
Tracy Cleaning Service
Western States Fire Protection
Builders Energy Rator
ISS Grounds Control
Canyon Lake Pest Control
Burditt Tile & Stone, Inc.
S.A. Fence Company
Goodman Sign Art
Pedernales Electric Coop.
Canyon Lake Water Service Company
Comal County
Job Sights
San Pedro Square at Hwy 281 & Bitters Rd. is getting spruced up. Doing the makeover is L-R:
Francisco Leija, Moore Erection; Manuel Anaya, Eloy Mendez, Auturo Martinez, Lupe
Garcia, and Jorge Garay, L & H Contracting; and Mat Tillotson and Ruben Alvarado, T.E.
Construction Specialties. Metropolitan Contracting Co. is the general contractor
and Frank Robinson (not shown) is the superintendent on the project. –dn
The Karambis Building at 8305 Broadway is getting a total makeover. Doing the work is L-R:
Paul Lambright, vice president, and Sheena Hamaker, superintendent, Finser Construction
& Remodeling Inc.; Justin McConkey and Nathan Sloan, DIO Electrical; Eliseo Mendez,
Mendez Plumbing; and Seth Eureste, Bexar Air. Finser is the general contractor. –dn
The construction crew from Green Mountain Construction Company was excited to get
underway on the tilt wall installation at the George Gervin Youth Center. Joining in the event
included members from DRG Architects and George Gervin Youth Center. –dn
There is a lot more going on at the Witte Museum than the Dinosaur and Beautiful Bug
exhibits. Renovations are going on there, too. Performing the restorations are L-R:
Refugio Nevafs, William Garcia, Guadalupe Cervantes, Hunt Restoration; Buster Talley,
Tal Tex Water Proofing; Albert Torres, Jorge L. Flores Jr., Miguel Velasquez, Alamo 1;
and Tom Sanchez, Heraclio Bernal, Jose Sanchez, Guido Brothers Construction,
the general contractor for the project. –dn
Page 27
Page 28
Santa’s workshop
C
an you hear it? Santa is warming
up the sleigh in preparation for his
annual trek to San Antonio to pick
up all the toys collected during this year’s
Construct a Kid’s Christmas toy drive.
Each year the construction industry
participates in two events to raise money
for toys and to collect presents for foster
children in Bexar County: Construct a
Kid’s Christmas Gala and the toy drive
at San Antonio Construction News.
One of the highlights of the season is
the gala, a fun-filled event held at Alzafar
Shrine Temple, 901 N. Loop 1604, Thu.,
Dec. 2.
A committee representing the construction industry is busy making plans
for the event, which includes silent and
live auctions, as well as raffles, that will
raise funds for the children.
The gala also includes plenty of food
and entertainment with holiday ambiance.
Donations for the gala’s silent and
live auctions are also being accepted
now. Last year’s event featured live auction items like hunting and fishing trips.
For the 11th consecutive year, the
Friends of Bexar County Child Welfare
Board and San Antonio Construction News
invite individuals and companies to collect and deliver unwrapped gifts and
monetary donations to the newspaper’s
offices at 11931 Warfield (at Nakoma) on
Fri., Dec. 3, from 10am to 2pm.
Imagine the excitement as the bob-
tail truck fills up with presents, dropped
off by the carload or truckload. At the
end of the day, the numbers are tallied
and the gift truck heads to the caseworkers, who then sort, wrap and distribute
the gifts.
But also imagine the real excitement
and joy this day will bring for hundreds of
foster children throughout the area. The
holiday season is particularly harsh for
these children. They are away from
home, without family and wonder if they
will be remembered at all.
Many local companies and construction industry associations have already
started spreading the word. Some companies are challenging their employees
to bring gifts that will be matched monetarily by the companies. Others are
planning holiday parties and inviting
guests to bring a gift, toy or donation.
Trade associations participating in
this year’s gala are: Associated Builders
and Contractors (ABC), American Subcontractors Association (ASA), Builders
Exchange of Texas Education Council,
Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), Hispanic Contractors
Association de San Antonio (HCA), Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Plumbing Heating Cooling
Contractors Association (PHCC), and
Roofing Contractors Association of Texas
(RCAT). –sj
A grand time
UBuildIt held a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting Sep.23 for its Helotes office
located at 7575 N. Loop 1604 W. Over 200 guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, fruit,
cheese and wine. Hosts for the event were the UBuildIt staff. Back row L-R: Blaine
Bybee, Chuck Warrender (founder and CEO of UBuildIt Corp.), Mike Robare
and Allan Crouch Front row L-R: Lee Randolph, Lisa Randolph
Mirabel Nieto, Linda Robare and Stephanie Trigo. –dn
Rockin’ in Rockport
N
early 200 attendees
traveled to Rockport, TX, Oct. 2, to
take part in the Plumbing
Heating Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) San
Antonio Chapter, 17th Annual Saltwater Fishing
Tournament.
Of the 200 attendees,
130 took part in the tournament.
Sponsorships for the
event raised $25,000. Additionally, a donation from
raffle proceeds to the Scott
PMI Team: 1st place heavy stringer
Freund Memorial Foundation will be granted at the
Oct. 14 membership meeting along with ders (16.31lb)
donations to the PHCC-Texas apprentice- Ladies Division:
ship 2011 contest in memory of PHCC Red: Debbie Jacobs, Ferguson Enterprismembers lost this year: Ray Ashley, Ash- es (7.22lb)
ley Plumbing; E.L. Smith, E.L. Smith Trout: Delanah Suarez , A & A Plumbing
Plumbing; and Scott Freund, Comfort Air (2.85lb)
Men’s Division:
Engineering. –dn
Red: Wayne Anderson, A & A Plumbing
(8.06lb)
Winners of the tournament include:
Trout: Bobo Delavan/ Beyer Boys #2
Heavy Stringer:
1st: Team PMI Sales – Buster Williams, (3.50lb)
Phillip Read, Christopher Phillips and Heaviest ‘Other’ Fish:
Jimmy Thornton, APEX Restoration
Thomas Watson (16.83lb)
2nd: Team Beyer Boys #3 – James Hemby, Drum (3.39lb)
Bobby Hay, Cliff Atkins and Jim Baker Most number of spots on Redfish:
Jim Murray, Murray Plumbing
(16.38lb)
Spots: 13
3rd: Team Harrell Plumbing – Don Harrell,
Brad Harrell, Curtis Harrell and Brad Bad-

Village on the Gruene Special time, memories Capital and Schultz

Transcription

Similar documents

328 Acres in San Antonio, Texas

Membership Application - Greater San Antonio Builders Association

Jasmina Wellinghoff, SA Woman

3,282 SF Building on .48 Acres 3314 S Gevers San Antonio, TX 78210

¡VIVA SA RUN!

TCA 2015 Maintenance Program-ind pgs.pub

Resume - Rae D. Cabello

SITTERLE HOMES AT SETTLER`S RIDGE SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Bucay Center for Dermatology and

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña