May - Construction News

Transcription

Covering the Industry’s News
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CONSTRUCTION
™
The Industry’s Newspaper
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(210) 308-5800
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Volume 13
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Number 5
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MAY 2016
Causing a lift
Driven to succeed
L-R: Howell Crane & Rigging Inc.’s Blue Coleman, Christie Smith and Mike Boucher
HNTB’s Michael Hegarty helps steer his North Texas teams to success.
H
owell Crane & Rigging Inc.’s Dallas office has only been open for a
little more than a year, but it’s
working to develop a bond that feels like
it goes way back, both with customers
and employees.
The Dallas office was born of owner
Audie Howell’s desire to relocate the
West Texas branch to a North Texas location. Starting with two cranes and quickly building up to six, the office’s rapid
growth reaffirmed Howell’s decision,
which means they plan on staying put for
a while.
“We’ve been blessed when it comes
to business,” Dallas branch manager
Mike Boucher says. “We came in optimistic and hit the ground hard. We want-
ed to see what we could get out of the
market. There was a lot of room for
growth, even though many crane companies have been here a long time. That
barrier has been a challenge to break, but
we’ve been very fortunate. I believe
there’s always room to make a mark, it’s
just a matter of having the right people in
the right position.”
For Howell Crane’s Dallas office, the
“right people” are its 13 employees, including Boucher, office assistant Christie
Smith and territory salesman Blue Coleman. The crew enjoy fishing and hunting
with customers (“We’re from Texas; if we
don’t have a gun in our hands, it’s usually
a fishing pole!” Boucher says with a
continued on Page 18
H
NTB’s legacy in Texas can be
traced back to 1910, when a
founding partner of the firm
worked as part of the design team on
Austin’s historic Congress Avenue Bridge.
More than a century later, the firm
bridges the gap in their clients’ needs
with architecture, engineering, planning
and construction services offered
through offices in 27 states.
Not forgetting its roots, one of those
states is Texas, where HNTB has seven offices, with two of them in Plano and Dallas. Leading the two teams is Dallas office
leader and vice president Michael
Hegarty. Together, the teams work on
high-profile transportation engineering,
transportation planning, environmental,
aviation, structures, construction management/inspection, public involvement, urban design, municipal and federal projects.
“The DFW Metroplex is growing at
such a rate that HNTB, working along
with several other partners, needs to
ensure that roads, airports and public
transport can accommodate the gradual
increase in population,” Hegarty says.
“DFW currently has a sustainable capital
program that rivals some stats because
of numerous corporate relocations to
North Texas. It is the economic engine of
North Texas with an annual impact of
roughly $37 billion to the region.”
Fuel injector
W
hen the new owner of a
dilapidated Springtown gas
station approached Innovative
Design Build’s A. (Joe) Ghafoor for a
project consultation, his request was an
urgent one. An addition to the 700sf
facility was desperately needed in order
to compete with neighboring gas
stations, and the retail store was in dire
need of remodeling. An additional 600 sf
space was also required for merchandise
in the “Bear Cave,” a shopping concept
gaining popularity in Texas gas stations.
It was a tall order, and given the owner’s
limited
budget,
it
would
be
understandable if Ghafoor declined the
project.
“The building’s structure, which was
built in 1952, had never been renovated,
was in poor condition, the electrical
system was outdated and the roof was in
a terrible state,” Ghafoor explains. “I see
this situation often. Too many businesses
fall on hard times, resulting in poor
conditions of the structure due to lack of
periodical repair and maintenance. Then,
once ownership changes, they want to
bring the structure up to date. Therefore,
it is very challenging to bring it to current
code and back to functional condition.
Electrical work is the most difficult to
bring to current code because so many
unlicensed or unprofessional individuals
have made alterations to outside lights
and other equipment.
“I am always looking for a ground-up
project, which is a lot easier to build,”
Ghaforr says. “But every now and then, a
challenging project like this lands on my
desk. It’s hard for me to walk away when I
see an old building which has potential in
danger of being bulldozed.”
Ghafoor accepted the challenge. The
project’s scope of work required him to
build a new 600-sf addition, connect or
Page 2
Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • May 2016
Page 3
Supply on demand
Sending their top techs
F
our HOLT CAT technicians won a
state competition and traveled to
Little Rock, AR to represent the
heavy equipment dealer in the 2016 Tech
Wars, a four-day competition with other
Caterpillar heavy equipment dealers.
From the Machine Division, Jarrett
Payton, field service technician tech 5,
San Antonio, took first place at the state
level, and Autry Adams, field service
technician tech 2, Longview, took second. From the Power Systems Division,
Alan Lindow, shop service technician
tech 6, Longview, took first place at the
state level, and Vince Jones, lead technician, Longview, took second.
The four state winners participated
in three rounds of completion at the local, regional and state level against 400
of their HOLT CAT peers. This is the first
year HOLT CAT competed in Tech Wars,
and the company plans to expand the
competition in coming years to include
its Transport, Ag, Crane, and Electric Power divisions. –mh
L-R: Rental One’s Stacey Fetters, Tom Wade, Shawn Zwieryznski, Todd Shields, Roger Walton,
Scott Hammond, David Compton, Prince Williams
C
onstruction equipment rental
company Rental One has merged
with its sister company Supply Depot. The supply division has been rebranded as R1 Supply and is now in place
to support the equipment rental business. Customers can pick up concrete-related products and supplies at all of the
company’s Rental One locations.
Company president Mike O’Neal
says a benefit of the merger that customers are sure to notice is the expertise in
rental equipment and concrete-related
products.
”We are able to operate more efficiently as one company which allows us
to serve our customers with excellence,”
O’Neal explains. “Also, now we can offer
our customers two areas of expertise
with rental equipment and a supply division. We have teams concentrating their
efforts in both areas that work very well
together to take care of our customers.”
A Supply Depot location at 4041
Meacham Blvd. in Fort Worth has been
rebranded R1 Supply and operates as a
store, but also distributes those supplies
to the Rental One branches.
Although the merger took place
Aug. 1, 2015, O’Neal says it wasn’t until
January that they have “truly been operating as one company.” He says client reaction has been positive.
“We have seen a lot of excitement
with customers once they find out they
can conveniently pick up items like rebar
from our Rental One locations,” he says.
With eight North Texas locations, Rental One rents construction equipment and
sells construction supplies including concrete-related products. –mjm
Power Systems Division state contestants L-R: Keven Leon, James Pardaen, Vince Jones,
Alan Lindow, Ben Gallo, Wade Nagel
Submitted to Construction News
RHCA board elected
L-R: The Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA) recently elected its board of
directors for the 2016-2017 term: Atmos Energy’s Sheena Morgan, KPost Company’s Luciano
Perez, ATCI Contracting Inc.’s Hector Bass, North Texas Ductworks LLC’s Yesenia Garcia,
Austin Commercial’s Bianca Sandoval, All Janitorial Professional Janitorial Services’ Evelyn
Molina, and RHCA Vice Chair Ruben Landa of K Strategies Group LLC. –mjm
Dallas  Fort Worth
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Melissa Jones-Meyer . . . . . Dallas/Fort Worth Editor
[email protected] 817-731-4823
Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler
Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler
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©2016 Construction News, Ltd.
Machine Division state contestants L-R: Howard Schram, Steven Pinkerton, Jonathan Morrow,
Autry Adams, Jarrett Payton, Grady Trainor, Paul Boubel
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Page 4
Daryl Bowen
President
Taurus Commercial Inc.
Dallas
T
he characteristics of the zodiac sign
Taurus
include
practicality,
reliability and an eye for beauty,
which made Taurus Commercial Inc. the
perfect name for Daryl Bowen’s general
contracting company. It also speaks
volumes about how the May-born Bowen
approaches both his work and his free
time. Whether Bowen is building one-ofa-kind projects or sailing the seas, he can
be counted on to make sure he
approaches it with practicality and
beauty in mind.
Tell me a bit about your childhood;
were you raised in North Texas?
I grew up on border towns for most
of my life; my dad was a Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) agent, so we
moved around a lot. I lived in Del Rio, TX
for about five years and went to
elementary school there. I lived in
McAllen for five years and in Falcon
Heights. I lived in El Centro, CA and went
to high school there. I wanted to go to
college in California, but my parents
basically said I could go to school in Texas
and they would pay for it or good luck!
So, I started to look at Texas schools and I
picked Texas A&M.
I was supposed to be a veterinarian,
but after about two years, I changed
majors to building construction and
environmental design – and now I can
build a really good barn!
What made you decide to switch to a
different field of study? Did someone
you know work in that field?
I think it was more of the biology and
sciences not sticking and me
acknowledging that I didn’t have a
passion for it. I had some friends that
were in building construction at the time;
it looked exciting. I wanted to be more in
the architecture side rather than the
building side so I got into the
environmental design program first and
then transferred over to building
construction.
Did you find work in that field soon
after college?
When I graduated from college, I
immediately got a job for EMJ
Corporation and worked there for about
eight years, working my way up from
being a project coordinator who ordered
and shipped all of the blue prints to
working as an assistant superintendent,
superintendent, warranty manager and
then as a project manager. I ended up
leaving EMJ Corporation to work for a
company called M.A. Mortenson in
Minneapolis in their telecommunication
department for about three years. It was
in the go-go days of the cellular boom,
but the CTG group kind of got dissolved
because the boom fizzled out. They
wanted to send me to Sweetwater to
build a 75-turbine wind farm, but I didn’t
want to move to Sweetwater.
Well why ever not? Sweetwater is
metropolis!
I’m allergic to snakes! I don’t know, it
probably would have been a great
opportunity in a different direction, but I
didn’t do it. I ended up staying here and
got a job with a general contractor,
Pacific Builders. I worked there as a
project manager building interiors.
About three years into it, I was
eating lunch with [Kevco Electrical
owner] Kevin Richardson, an electrician I
was working with at the time. We were
feeling overworked and underpaid. So
we said, “Hey, why don’t we start our
own general contracting company?”
Kevin then says to me “You can be the
president!” So I said, “Sounds awesome!”
You know, you don’t really understand
what that means at the time; you just
think, “Hey, I get to be the president of
something.”
Kevin and I are both Tauruses, and
we decided on the name of Taurus
Commercial
rather
than
Taurus
Construction because we wanted to
keep that development option open.
We’re a construction company that
would also like to get into some
development in the future.
So just like that, you and Kevin
decided to form Taurus Commercial?
A month later, I was wrapping up
things at Pacific Builders. Ginger
Stockton, who is my accountant/
business manager, and I went to move in
at Kevin’s office – it was basically a
glorified closet where we shared one
desk and one fax. Ginger and I worked in
that closet for about three months.
There was a building in downtown
Carrollton that we got a good rate on;
we worked in there for about a year and
a half. We moved here onto the third
floor and worked here for three years.
We have been in this suite on the fourth
floor for four years; a year ago, we
doubled the size of this suite.
So Taurus Commercial has been
steadily growing?
It has. At the beginning, we ended
up landing some big jobs that were
good clients and have had good repeat
business from corporate accounts. This
year, we’re on pace for about $20 million.
We’re on a nice upward trajectory, but
we still have to feed the monster; it’s
definitely a treadmill and is not easy.
What challenges did you and Kevin
face that first year?
Not having anyone take us seriously.
You’re playing off of relationships that
you built when you worked for another
company using their good name, and
you have to come to the table with your
own good name and stand behind what
you say. It takes a while for people to
learn that. Some people inherently
distrust contractors, and the God’s
honest truth is that we’re mostly just
people who want to do an honest day’s
work, make a decent wage and go home.
It’s hard to convince people of that
sometimes. That was really hard for the
first couple of years to get people to take
us seriously and give us a decent-sized
job.
How did you overcome that?
Kevin says you have to “touch them
seven times.” I don’t know if I believe
that, or if there is any magic number, but
you do have to be friends with them.
People want to work with people they
like and they’ll find ways to give you
work if they like you. You don’t
necessarily have to [bid] low, but you
have to be competitive, give them a
good deal, a good product and a good
finish. If you make them look like rock
stars, they’ll come back.
What is the thing you enjoy most
about your work?
I think it’s a lot of freedom and
flexibility to chase whatever path I want
to go down. We build certain things, but
there’s not really anything that we
wouldn’t build. I kind of joke and say that
if someone said to us, “I need a nuclear
reactor,” I would say “No problem! We’re
Taurus Commercial Inc. president Daryl Bowen
going to build you the most awesome
nuclear reactor you ever saw in the whole
wide world. Just sign here.” We know
nothing about nuclear reactors, but we’ll
find people who do and we’ll assemble a
team to build the most awesome nuclear
reactor. But someone is going to pay that
bill, and if you’re willing to pay it, we’re
willing to put it together and make it
happen for you.
That’s led to some really interesting
[projects]. We recently finished placing
the foul poles at The Ballpark in Arlington,
and we did a bunch of their luxury suite
remodels, the owners’ bunker suite and
we’ll do their Hall of Fame this summer.
Two summers ago, at the Dallas
Arboretum Children’s Learning Center
Expansion, we built touch screen kiosks
in 10-ft fiberglass carrots, celery and
rutabaga – that was a once in a lifetime
thing!
We’ll build anything that is not
immoral, unethical or unprofitable. So if
you need a nuclear reactor, just let me
know.
Good to know! I’ll keep your card
handy. What do you like to do when
you’re not building things like
fiberglass rutabagas?
I play a little bit of golf, although I
don’t play as much as I want to. I always
say I want to play more golf every year,
and I end up playing three, maybe four,
times.
I like to go sailboat racing. I’ve raced
competitively since I was in high school.
About eight to ten times a year, I’ll go to
regattas and they’re always in beautiful
locations, so if I pull the ropes I basically
get a paid vacation. They’re in places like
Marble Head MA, Newport, RI, and St.
Petersburg, FL. I’m going to Annapolis,
MD in a week for a three-day there; those
are always nice, big, world-class regattas.
I’m a fair-weather sailor; I’m not one
of those guys who want to go on the
Volvo Ocean Race and sail around
Antarctica for 30 days – I’m not interested.
But if you want to take me to Newport
and have me do three races during the
day and come back and sleep in a nice
comfy bed bed, I’m up for it!
How did you become involved in
sailing? Was your family involved in it?
No, actually, the complete opposite.
Besides being a DEA agent, my dad was
also a big rodeo guy who rode bareback
and was a rodeo bullfighter. When I was
growing up, we were always going to
rodeos. He asked me if I wanted to fight
bulls with him, so of course I did, since I
was 15 years old, immortal and
bulletproof. I would put clown make-up
on and run around the ring and get
stomped on a couple of times. My sister’s
a barrel racer too, we have cattle and
we’re all count-ree!
But when I was in California, I wanted
to surf, sail, and go to the beach. So I met
some people who were sailing and got
into catamaran racing. When I went to
college at A&M, my roommate had a
sailboat and we sailed in the little utility
lake at College Station. When I moved to
Dallas, I didn’t sail for a couple of years,
but decided I wanted to get back into it
so I actively sought out people who were
sailing and met them on Grapevine Lake
or Eagle Mountain Lake.
Do you have your own boat?
I used to be a catamaran guy, but I
sold my boat because I realized I was
spending too much time on everybody
else’s boat and never sailed my boat. I
also found I could have more fun not
having to write those checks! They say a
boat is a hole in the water surrounded by
wood into which you throw money, or
that sailboat racing is like standing naked
in an ice-cold shower ripping up $100
bills. It’s fun now because they aren’t my
$100 bills. Also, I have another theory that
if you have the proper apparel – one of
my jokes is that I’m “High-Performance
Apparel Daryl” – it makes all of the
difference in the world. You can splash
me in the wet and cold, but if my apparel
keeps me warm and dry, I’m having a
good time.
Does any of your family share your
interest in sailing?
No; my wife Kimberly goes with me
sometimes but she does not sail; she is
shore crew.
We travel a lot. We just went to Vegas;
my wife is a middle school history teacher
so for Spring Break, we went to Las Vegas
and I gambled zero dollars, because I’m
not much of a gambler. We stayed at a
place as a home base, and then we went
hiking at the Grand Canyon, Red Rocks
and Valley of Fire. Being a fair weather
hiker as well, at night we would come
back to the hotel and sleep in a
comfortable bed.
Being a Taurus, you have a birthday
coming up?
I do, on May 19.
Do you have any birthday plans, like
another trip?
You know … no. It’s 49. I don’t wanna
do anything.
Well, 50 is just around the corner then.
Any blowout plans for that?
Man, I don’t know. It’s going to have
to have an open bar or something!
Taurus Commercial is a Dallas-based
general contracting company offering
complete construction services, from
interior remodeling to ground-up projects
in the industrial, office, medical, and
residential markets. –mjm
Page 5
Taking flight
T
here’s a first for everything, and for Adolfson & Peterson Construction, Mar. 31
marked the general contractor’s first annual charity golf classic. One hundred
and forty-four golfers competed on the Tribute in the Colony’s green to raise
some green at the sold-out tournament. The event raised funds for two charities: The
Park Cities YMCA and veteran suicide awareness organization 22Kill. –mjm
1st Place, Flight 1 (score of 56): BakerTriangle team – Peter Dean,
Cole Hord, David Long and Johnny Barnes
W
Your company up front
and in the spotlight
hen our readers pick up Construction News, there are a few
articles and sections about
which they often ask, “How do they decide who is profiled in this article?” and
“How can I be featured in one of these?”
In this article, we’ll answer those
questions regarding two of our primary
features, our Front Page GC and Spotlight
articles.
Front Page GC
Every month, we feature a general
contractor’s recent project on the front
page. The size and scope of the project
range from small tenant finish out or renovations to large ground up construction.
If you are a general contractor with
an office located within our coverage
area for that city and its surrounding
counties, you are eligible to have one of
your projects featured on the front page
of that paper. The project should be one
that has been completed within the last
year and is located within our local paper’s coverage area.
We will need any information about
the build that you can share including
but not limited to the project duration,
square footage, approximate cost, design
team and subcontractors on the job, and
details about the build and building process. We will also need a few photos, exterior and interior.
Can your company be featured in
this article multiple times? Yes, but when
you are featured as our Front Page GC,
you must wait five years from the publication date of that article to have another
project featured on our front page. This is
to ensure the opportunity for general
contractors of all sizes and markets to appear on the front page.
Spotlight
Another monthly feature in our paper is a profile of the head of a company
that we call Spotlight. This article is an indepth interview with the person who
serves at the very top of a company as its
owner, president, principal or CEO. The
company can be a general contractor,
subcontractor, supplier, architecture or
engineering firm, equipment dealer or
service provider of any size or specialty.
To qualify for a Spotlight article, the
featured person’s company must have an
office located within the coverage area
for the paper in which he or she would
appear. The Spotlight can only run in the
city in which this person is based. We
only do a Spotlight once per individual
and per company.
The Spotlight focuses on the individual, not the company. The profile covers
the interviewee’s background, career,
family, community involvement, hobbies
and interests, and other personal details.
The interview is presented in a question
and answer format along with a photo of
the person being featured.
If you feel you qualify for one of
these articles and would like to be featured in a future Front Page GC or Spotlight, please contact your Dallas-Fort
Worth editor, Melissa Jones-Meyer, at [email protected] or 817731-4823. –mh
1st Place, Flight 2 (score of 62): John Palms, Roger Moon, Scott Sower and Tommy Osborne
1st Place, Flight 3 (score of 65): Chase Carter, Jeff Baty, Joe Hiebert, Ryan Skelly
Come Union
The Union Dallas celebrated the official groundbreaking of its approximately 800,000-sf
office, residential and retail project being built at the intersection of Uptown Dallas’ Field
Street and Cedar Springs Rd. Scheduled for completion in 2018, the project is overseen by
StreetLights Residential DPR, RED Development and project architect HKS. –mjm
Page 6
OSHA adopts new rule to protect
workers from Respirable
Crystalline Silica
It’s time to redevelop middle
management development
Andy Ray, Principal
PFK Texas
Houston, TX
R
ecently, I polled a group of 200 executives and owners of mid-market companies. The question was this, “How
many of you have a formal development
program for your middle managers?”
Only two people, or one percent of the
group, acknowledged such a program.
It should be no surprise then that
when this same group of executives was
asked if their middle managers had driven a significant and sustainable result
into their businesses in the last 90 days,
the answer was a collective sigh and a
frustrated, “no.” The performance disconnect here is clear - executives and
owners are consistently dissatisfied with
their middle management’s ability to
change business results in a meaningful
way, and yet there is little being done
programmatically to change that dissatisfaction.
This performance disconnect is occurring while “millennials,” the most educated generation to hit the workforce in
the history of our nation, are rapidly back
filling the middle management ranks being vacated by baby boomers that are
hitting retirement age at the rate of
11,000 people a day (a demographic
trend that will continue through 2030).
Executive and ownership’s reflexive
response to this performance disconnect
is to blame the millennials for the characteristics that define that generation. This
shortcut prescription for middle management underperformance is a misread,
and we are long overdue for a reframing
of the discussion. Hiring smart people
and hoping they will “figure it out” is not
middle management development. And
yet, that is the predominant middle management development methodology
used in mid-market companies today.
The root of the frustration between executives and the middle managers that
are trying to keep them happy is not generational; it is developmental.
Mastery in middle management,
(the ability to create a significant and sustainable results change), is developed
the same way mastery in music, or golf,
or carpentry is mastered: through a
broad range of experiences over time.
The path to middle management mas-
tery, then, is not so much about exploring an unending supply of domain
knowledge, but rather digging in and
working through real business results
change challenges in a tactile way.
“Applied Development” is the programmatic response to this managerial
challenge that delivers both a high ROI to
the sponsoring business and a path to
mastery for the middle manager that participates in it. In an “Applied Development” model, middle managers journey
toward mastery through solving real performance challenges in the business they
are in in repetitive iterations over time.
A successful “Applied Management
Development” program rests on four pillars:
1) Guidance: Senior peer guidance is
critical in any middle management development program. This is where real tactical knowledge transfer can occur.
2) Technique: Lean, Six Sigma, and
Design Thinking are all techniques that
today’s middle managers need in their
problem solving toolkit and “Applied
Management Development” supplies
training in these techniques.
3) Structure: Real deliverables in
tight timeframes assure that development cycles deliver a sustainable ROI to
the sponsoring company.
4) Practice: Applied development
creates a framework for middle managers to practice their craft repetitively and
in different types of management challenge scenarios. It is not a one-time fix
but, rather, a change in management
process.
Taken together as a programmatic
approach, the four pillars of “Applied
Management Development” deliver middle management capability improvement that can drive sustainable and
meaningful change into a business in as
little as 90-days, and change the way
middle managers work forever.
Stan Gregory
Insurica
San Antonio, TX
M
ost people in the construction industry are familiar with silica dust.
This is the dust that is produced when
drilling or cutting certain materials, such
as concrete or stone. The negative effects
of this dust have been well documented
since the 1930s, but OSHA’s previous exposure limits did not adequately protect
workers. This much needed new rule will
curb silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney
disease in America's workers by limiting
their exposure to respirable crystalline
silica. The new rule has separate standards for construction and general industries.
OSHA estimates about 2.3 million
workers face exposure to silica dust at
work, including 2 million construction
workers and 300,000 workers in manufacturing facilities, foundries, and energy
production. It is estimated that the new
rule will save more than 600 lives and 900
new cases of silicosis annually. In addition
to this fantastic improvement, OSHA also
estimates that the new rule will provide a
financial benefit of about $7.7 billion per
year.
In addition to reducing the allowable
exposure limit for silica dust, the rule includes employer requirements such as
limiting worker exposure through work
practices and engineering controls, providing respiratory protection when controls are insufficient, training workers,
limiting their access to high exposure areas, and providing medical exams to
highly exposed workers.
Most employers can limit harmful
dust exposure by using equipment that is
widely available – generally using water
to keep dust from getting into the air or a
ventilation system to remove it from the
air. OSHA is also providing additional assistance through their free on-site consulting services for small businesses. As
this rule goes into effect, specific materi-
als will be made available directly from
OSHA. Insurance Pro Tip: many insurance
carriers offer compliance and testing services for construction clients. Most of the
time, you have to ask for these services
directly, so check with your insurance carrier to see if any free services are available.
OSHA defines the key provisions of this
new rule as follows:
• Reduces the permissible exposure
limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica
to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air,
averaged over an 8-hour shift.
• Requires employers to: use engineering controls (such as water or ventilation) to limit worker exposure to the
PEL; provide respirators when engineering controls cannot adequately limit exposure; limit worker access to high exposure areas; develop a written exposure
control plan, offer medical exams to
highly exposed workers, and train workers on silica risks and how to limit exposures.
• Provides medical exams to monitor
highly exposed workers and gives them
information about their lung health.
• Provides flexibility to help employers — especially small businesses — protect workers from silica exposure.
The compliance schedule for this
rule will begin to take effect on Jun. 23,
2016. Businesses involved in the construction industry will have one year to
become fully compliant. General industries will have two years.
Stan Gregory is a Safety and Risk Consultant and a leader on INSURICA’s Risk
Management team. He has more than
three decades of experience working with
loss control, safety planning, and risk management for clients within the construction
and energy industries. He can be reached at
210-805-5915 or sgregory@INSURICA.
com.
Andy Ray is a principal with the Entrepreneurial Advisory Service Practice at PKF
Texas. Contact him at (713) 860-1400 or
[email protected].
Spring board
L-R: Meet the newly-elected Women Construction Owners & Executives’ 2016-2017
board: Gadberry Construction’s Tonya Watson (secretary/president elect), Trade
Management’s MaryEllen Evans (legislative), Hill & Wilkinson’s Kristen Marcis (events/
meetings), North Texas Ductworks’ Carmen Smith (professional development), Lane
Gorman Trubitt’s Donna Nuernberg (treasurer), Gordon Highlander’s Pam Bird
(website/branding) and Hicks Resource Consulting’s Ann Hicks (president). –mjm
Page 7
OSHA Issues Silica Law
for Construction
Practical tips for limiting
discovery costs in construction
litigation
Joann Natarajan
Compliance Assistance Specialist
OSHA
Austin, TX
Jessica Neufeld
Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr
Dallas, TX
A
bout two million construction workers are exposed
to respirable crystalline silica in over 600,000 workplaces. OSHA estimates that more than 840,000 of these
workers are exposed to silica levels that exceed the new
permissible exposure limit (PEL).
L
itigation isn't the first thing on the mind of most construction companies when considering their information technology infrastructure. However, how an organization stores and manages its data can have a major impact on the overall cost of complying with preservation obligations related to lawsuits.
When litigation arises, parties are
obligated to take good faith and reasonable measures to preserve unique data
potentially relevant to the case. For the
construction industry, this can range
from emails and other forms of communication, to CAD, scheduling and accounting files, as well as hard copies of
the plans and specifications, RFIs and
submittals.
There are several ways a company
can structure data to limit discovery costs
without adversely affecting its business
functions. Below are some practical data
management suggestions construction
companies should consider implementing to limit potential discovery costs:
Avoid storing data on individual computer hard drives
If each employee stores work on
their individual computer hard drive,
when it comes time to preserve and collect in litigation, relevant data may need
to be collected from each computer separately. This is a time- and labor-intensive
process that also will likely result in a substantial amount of duplicate data. This
results in more data to cull through when
it comes time to review and produce to
the opposing party, which means greater
discovery costs for the company.
In contrast, if employees maintain
their work on a shared server, preservation and collection of that data can likely
be performed just once on that server.
This benefits the company by keeping
collection costs down, limiting the chance
of spoliation (the more individual collections you need to perform, the greater
the chance of technical issues or that relevant data is missed) and streamlining
the review and production process.
Though it is still best practice to interview key employees to determine whether they’ve saved work on their individual
hard drives, having a policy in place instructing employees not to do so, and
which the company can back up with
regular compliance audits, will help to further ensure it can rely on shared storage
locations for litigation data collections.
Utilize an email archive
An email archiving system captures
email content in a central location, while
storing and indexing the emails for easy
searchablity in the future. This type of
product enables a company to reasonably
limit the amount of email storage per user
while providing employees quick and
easy access to archived material.
Maintaining a centralized and
searchable database of company emails
makes it easier to isolate, preserve and
collect the emails of key employees
when litigation arises. In addition, it enables more consistent preservation by
centralizing the process instead of relying on individual users to manage their
email archives themselves.
Be mindful of electronic communications, beyond emails
Do employees utilize instant messaging software or text messaging?
These forms of electronic communication have value for companies as they
enable employees to communicate efficiently with colleagues, clients or customers, which can be crucial in the field.
At the same time, they each generate additional potentially relevant data that
may need to be produced in litigation. In
addition, especially with respect to mobile technologies, they may pose unique
security risks.
Prior to implementing such tools,
weigh the value of their use with the potential for related litigation costs. Bring
IT, legal and other relevant stakeholders
to the table for an informed analysis. Furthermore, develop policies regarding
use and retention of this data to help
mitigate discovery costs. If these technologies are already in use, it is not too
late to consider revisions to current policies and protocols to minimize discovery
costs and improve data security.
Jessica Neufeld practices general commercial litigation with a significant focus
on construction litigation and counseling
on behalf of contractors, developers and
design professionals. She has both defended and asserted claims of breach of contract, negligence, professional negligence,
DTPA, fraud and mechanic's liens foreclosure. Jessica is also a member of Munsch
Hardt's eDiscovery task force. In that capacity, she advises clients and other attorneys on cost-effective and defensible strategies for the preservation, collection, processing, review and production of electronic information. [email protected]
www.munsch.com
Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can cause silicosis, lung cancer, other
respiratory diseases, and kidney disease.
Exposure can occur during common construction tasks such as using masonry
saws, grinders, drills, jackhammers and
handheld powered chipping tools; operating vehicle-mounted drilling rigs; milling; operating crushing machines; and
using heavy equipment for demolition or
certain other tasks.
The construction standard does not
apply where exposures will remain low
under any foreseeable conditions; for example, when only performing tasks such
as mixing mortar; pouring concrete footers, slab foundation and foundation
walls; and removing concrete formwork.
The law requires employers to limit
worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers.
The standard provides flexible alternatives, especially useful for small employers. Employers can either use a control method laid out in Table 1 of the
construction standard, or they can measure workers’ exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls
work best to limit exposures to the PEL in
their workplaces.
Regardless of which exposure control method is used, all construction employers covered by the standard are required to:
• Establish and implement a written ex-
posure control plan that identifies tasks
that involve exposure and methods used
to protect workers, including procedures
to restrict access to work areas where
high exposures may occur.
• Designate a competent person to implement the written exposure control plan.
•Restrict housekeeping practices that
expose workers to silica where feasible
alternatives are available.
•Offer medical exams – including
chest X-rays and lung function tests – every three years for workers who are required by the standard to wear a respirator for 30 or more days per year.
•Train workers on work operations
that result in silica exposure and ways to
limit exposure.
• Keep records of workers’ silica exposure and medical exams.
Table 1 matches common construction
tasks with dust control methods, so employers know exactly what they need to
do to limit worker exposures to silica. The
dust control measures listed in the table
include methods known to be effective,
like using water to keep dust from getting into the air or using ventilation to
capture dust. In some operations, respirators may also be needed. Employers who
follow Table 1 correctly are not required
to measure workers’ exposure to silica
and are not subject to the PEL.
[email protected]
512-374-0271 x232
Tee totalers
On a MS-sion
The 1st place finishers
I
t was time to tear up the tees at the
2016 annual Golf Classic, held on Apr.
11 at Dallas’ Bear Creek Golf Club. The
players had a ‘hole’ lot of fun at the event,
which was hosted by the DFW Drywall
and Acoustical Contractors Association
(DACA). –mjm
Winners:
1st Place: Mark Long, Ezequiel Perez,
Brandon Sparling and Daniel Kampfer
2nd Place: Dick Porterfield, Doug Baker,
Gary Batton and Chad Fife
3rd Place: JD Welsh, Todd Chappell, Bennie Lenox and Don Warner
Team BakerTriangle had a great turnout for the Walk MS in Addison on April 9th.
Combined, the Dallas, Fort Worth and corporate offices raised $8,000 to stop multiple
sclerosis (MS), and also served as a major sponsor for the event. The cause is close to
the team’s heart: Both executive vice president Brad Baker and prefab president Keith
Giddens have wives who have MS. –mjm
Longest Drive: Mark Long
Closest to Pin: Todd Chappell
Rick Rogers won the 50/50 raffle.
Page 8
Lucky Stars
T
here was not just one lone star, but
several at Grand Prairie’s Lone Star
Park on Apr. 8. It was there that the
National Utility Contractors Association’s
North Texas chapter held its 2016 Awards
Banquet and Scholarship Fundraiser,
honoring members and companies who
shine in the construction industry. –mjm
Extraordinary Leadership
Eric Lesch, PCL Contract Bonding (right)
Top Project Over $5 Million
Driver Pipeline, Ed “Whiz” Whizenant
Accepting
Ditch Digger Award
L-R: Travis Inge, Zach Fusilier and Alex Kocher
Kelli Meyer, Vermeer (right)
2016 Long Suffering Award MC
National Trench Safety’s Patrick Keller
2016 Member: Contractor
Dakota Utility Contractors Inc.
L-R: Travis Inge and Nathan Vyers
Ed “Whiz” Whisenant, Driver Pipeline (right)
Top Project Over $5 Million
REYES Group L-R: Jeff Heimer and Craig
Beckendorf accepting
2016 Estimator and Safety Professional
L-R: Southgate’s Bob Becky and John Burns’
Tom Thompson
2016 Company Safety Driver Pipeline
Ed “Whiz” Whisenant accepting
2016 Extraordinary Member Participation
U.S. Shoring’s Chad Pendley
L-R: National Special Event Award
NUCA/OSHA Trench Training
L-R: North Texas Contracting’s Zach Fusilier
and Team Safety’s Greg Strudwick accepting
2016 Member: Associate, Frost
L-R: Alex Kocher, Greg Wilkerson, Travis Inge,
Rick Ducharme and Jill McKean
Industry FOLKS
Curtis Purvis
Roofing Superintendent
Chamberlin Roofing
& Waterproofing
Dallas, TX
O
n Feb. 17, Curtis Purvis sat in the
audience at the National Roofing
Contractors Association’s 129th Annual Convention awards ceremony, politely listening. As the presenter listed
the next award recipient’s achievements, Purvis started having multiple
“me too!” moments. Every achievement matched his own – but he wasn’t
catching on.
“I was happy for whoever that
was,” he says, laughing, “only to find
out it was me!”
Purvis was humbled to be honored with the Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress’ Most Valuable Player
award as well as Professional Roofing’s
ONE “Best of the Best” MVP. Since that
moment, Purvis has been inundated
with congratulatory emails, phone
calls and handshakes upon returning
to work.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Purvis says
of the awards, which now have a place
of honor on his mantel. “It’s nice to be
rewarded for the things you do, even
though I don’t look for it. I do it because it’s what I want to do.”
Purvis grew up in the construction
industry, thanks to his father, a master
plumber who enlisted his son’s help on
job sites until Purvis was a young adult.
After a brief stint in college, Purvis got
a job in the warehousing industry,
working as a shipping coordinator for
nine years. Hoping to break free from a
desk job and spend more time outside,
he was inspired to break into roofing in
2008 after meeting a cousin’s spouse
who was in the industry. Purvis’ warehouse and shipping experience only
put him behind another desk, however, this time as an accountant for a roofing company. It wasn’t long though
before he was coordinating for the
maintenance department, and when
he was hired at Chamberlin Roofing &
Waterproofing four years later, he
soon began working in the field as an
inspector. A happy circumstance
helped him land the superintendent’s
job.
“We were short on superintendents!” Purvis says. “I went to go oversee a job and I never left!”
It’s a role Purvis feels fortunate to
be a part of every day.
“I enjoy the interactions with the
guys, the customers, and seeing something built,” he says.
When he isn’t working, Purvis likes
fishing, traveling and volunteering
when he can find the time, but free
time is rare. Purvis and his wife Kiki
share a blended family of six children
and two years ago welcomed their
“last child,” Kaleigh, “who is younger
than our four grandkids,” Purvis says
with a chuckle before adding, “The
kids are our greatest reward.” –mjm
L-R: Anchor Construction and NUCA’s national
treasurer Dan Buckley presents Kiewit-Southgate’s
Alex Kocher, National Trench Safety’s Fred Burlbaw,
NUCA’s Deana Butorac, McLaughlin’s Kevin Wise
and Driver Pipeline’s Ed “Whiz” Whisenant with
acknowledgement of the charter.
The Lone Star State now has a
consolidated voice with which to
take utility contractors’ issues to
Austin. NUCA Texas was officially
chartered at NUCA’s 51st National Convention in March. NUCA
Texas starts out almost 100
members strong as it immediately incorporates both existing
national at-large members residing in Texas and the NUCA North
Texas membership. The state
chapter formed in time to build a
strong utility contractor coalition to address the Texas 85th
legislature.
Thrilled to build
The young ladies at Girls Inc. built up their construction confidence at a Block Kids event
on Apr. 11. Hosted by the National Association of Women in Construction’s (NAWIC)
Dallas chapter in partnership with Hilti Inc., the competition introduces elementary
school children to aspects of the construction industry and encourages them to
consider a future construction career. –mjm
Page 9
Spring Fishing
Strategies!!
by Capt. Steve Schultz
Sponsored by:
Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, Evinrude
Outboards, E-Z Bel Construction, Power
Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate
Haulers, ForEverlast

Hunting and Fishing
Products, MirrOlure, and
Columbia Sportswear.
A
s we approach the month of May,
every one of my clients has been
asking the same questions. “Is it
croaker season, or do you have croakers
yet?” Well, as I write this column, croakers have not been really available on a
regular day-to-day basis. A couple of the
marinas have flown the bright yellow flag
for several days, but most of the baits
have been small and weak from the high
winds and the transporting of these fragile fin fish. I got my hands on a few dozen
last week and they were hand picked at
one of the local marinas. I must say that it
didn’t take long to put together a decent
box once we located the right rock in Baf-
Ben Davis, San Antonio, caught this 26-inch Speckled trout south of Baffin Bay using
shrimp under a popping cork while fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors.
fin holding the larger fish. Some may argue that it’s to early to start using these
highly sought after summer baits that
usually don’t show up till the first of May,
but I beg to differ. Don’t get me wrong,
Nothing mini about this birthday
I’ve had some great days in the last few
months using lures and shrimp under a
popping cork. I think if you’re in the right
place at the right time, and you’re a good
fisherman, you will catch fish.
Fishing pressure will increase dramatically now and as the summer progresses, I have not seen too many busy
weeks on the water this season as of yet,
but I’m sure they are right around the corner. Late spring and summer months are
very busy on the water. Tournaments will
be starting this month and you can bet
there will be one every weekend from
May thru September. It is very important
to stay focused in our conservation efforts. Keeping enough fish to eat is not a
crime by any means, but stacking fish
into your deep freeze to be forgotten
about and discarded later because of
freezer burn is a no-no. We rarely keep
and fish over the 25-inch mark unless its
survival is hopeless. These larger sows
are carrying eggs ready to spawn and replenish our ecosystem for the future, so
please do your part with these conservation needs. Nuff said!!
For the next few month my plan is to
continue running south into Baffin Bay
and sometimes further south. The rocks
in the middle of the bay have been holding good numbers of solid fish. Shorelines with surface bait activity will also
not go un-fished! Target thigh deep waters while wading throwing large surface
plugs early and switching to slow sinking
lures or plastics as your action slows. If
your choice is live bait, anchor or drift fish
with live shrimp under a popping cork
over deeper rocks and sand areas for
specks and reds.
Summer schedule is filling quickly
but fall dates are still available. Don’t
wait until the last minute to book your
dates. To schedule your next bay fishing
trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call or text
at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail
him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.
com. Good luck and Good Fishing.
www.constructionnews.net
San Antonio  Austin  South Texas  Houston  South Texas
Construction News publishers Buddy and Reesa Doebbler wished a happy birthday
to Dolly, one of their miniature horses, who turned 10 years old on Apr. 24.
This memory was captured when she was celebrating turning 1 month old. –mh
Page 10
Ken Milam’s Fishing Line
Since 1981, Ken Milam has been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in
the Texas Hill Country,. You can hear Ken on radio on Saturday and Sunday mornings, 6-8
AM on AM 1300, The Zone – Austin, or http://www.am1300the zone.com
Happy New
Lake!
W
hen Lake Buchanan started rising last summer we were just
happy to have our lake back.
We had no idea that it would be a lake so
unlike the lake the drought took away.
After the long dry years the lake bed
grew up so many large trees that we now
have a lake that takes a while to learn to
navigate and fish. The lower part of Lake
Buchanan is pretty much unchanged.
There are more willows in the backs of
the creeks that make bass and crappie
fishing more fun, but other than that it is
not much different. Upper Lake Buchanan though is a whole different lake. From
the Hi-Line and Canyon of the Eagles area
up there is still heavy growth of willow
trees that grew to 20–30 ft. high along
the river banks when the lake was dry. It
is these trees that have changed everything.
It is now possible to tie your boat up
and fish under a cool shady canopy of
willow trees in the middle of the lake on
the upper end. In many places the trees
are too thick to get through and really
hard to see through. You have to just follow along the narrow forks of the river
channel and ease your way along. Even if
you are familiar with Lake Buchanan you
need to allow yourself some extra time to
learn to navigate and do your best not to
be on the water after dark. Use your GPS
to help you keep your bearings because I
can tell you from experience, out in those
willows it is possible know where you are
and be completely lost at the same time!
The nice thing about the willows is that
they tend to gentle down the lake somewhat. They break the brisk winds that
Buchanan is known for and smooth out
Through the willows
the waves. Even better than that, the willows provide habitat for just about everything that slithers, flies and swims.
You can see the handiwork of the many
beavers that we have now and even
catch a glimpse of one basking in the
sun. Be careful of the wasps that favor
the willows to nest in though. It is worth
a trip to the willows because much of the
flood debris is still hung up in the willow
thickets providing a double whammy of
cover for fish to hide and feed in and opportunities for anglers to catch them. We
have seen some really nice size and numbers of crappie, bass and catfish being
brought in, and our charter trips are
yielding good steady limits of solid fish.
Just last week a lady came fishing
with us on her 60th birthday with friends
and caught the new lake record hybrid
bass for Lake Buchanan! Sally Nicholas
caught one 26 inches long and 7.9
pounds! What a way to celebrate!
Beaver in the willows
Sally Nicholas caught a record hybrid.
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips
This “new” Lake Buchanan makes us
all feel like celebrating! Grab some
friends and come see us!
All Bait, Tackle & Equipment
Furnished
Your catch Filleted and
Bagged for You
Ken Milam Guide Service
(325) 379-2051
www.striperfever.com
Furnish your TPWD Fishing
License & Refreshments,
and WE DO THE REST!
Shooting straight
L-R: Tri Dal Ltd.’s
Shay Thomas,
PCL Contract
Bonding
Agency’s Melissa
and Eric Lesch
and Senator
Craig Estes take
a break from
shooting to shoot
straight about
the construction
industry’s most
important issues.
The four were
attending the
BYOG (Bring Your
Own Gun) 2016
Sporting Clay
Shoot at Decatur’s
Fossil Pointe
Sporting Grounds
on Apr. 2. –mjm
Daddy/daughter deer hunt
With the help of his 11-year-old daughter Cori Beth, Trades Masters’ North Texas
regional manager John VanCleef scored this axis deer on a two-day hunt on a
14,000-acre ranch in Menard, TX. VanCleef also harvested an axis doe and a blackbuck
doe (not pictured) on the same hunt. –mjm
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Go tee-m! Go tee-m!
The three roofeteers
I
t was time for golfers to
get their green Apr. 14 at
Garland’s Duck Creek
Golf
Club.
PlumbingHeating-Cooling
Contractors
Association
(PHCC) members took their
best shots at The 17th
annual PHCC North Texas/
CompPAC Trust of Texas
Golf Tournament. Dinner
and awards concluded the
event with three happy
teams taking home a
trophy to show off on their
shelves. –mjm
The Pepco Sales team took 1st place.
Three companies worked together to keep 200 students and their teachers safe and dry.
T
he hail that recently battered the
Metroplex made multiple headlines, but one preschool’s story is
much happier than it could have been,
thanks to three local roofing companies.
ER Systems, Energy Roofing Solutions and Springtree Roofing and Restoration, who are all members of the
North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA), joined forces to donate a
new roof to St. Philip’s Episcopal Preschool in Frisco this spring, just in time
before hail assaulted the area. The
school’s roof had already taken a beating
from last year’s hail storms, but that
wasn’t the worst part: Another company
had cut out sections of the roof to provide samples as part of an insurance arbitration process and had not properly
sealed it.
Springtree Roofing and Restoration
owner AJ Huckaby heard about the preschool’s need and wanted to help. His
company donated labor to temporarily
fix the problem areas, but it was evident
that the entire building needed a new
roof. Huckaby consulted with multiple
manufacturers, and ER Systems assessed
the roof and decided to donate the needed roofing materlias. Energy Roofing Solutions also jumped to action by donating its services to install the new roof
mid-April.
Dry, safe and grateful, the preschool
teachers and students presented handmade thank you cards to the companies
involved, and honored the team with a
luncheon.
Karen Vermaire Fox, NTRCA’s executive director, is full of gratitude for the
companies as well.
“Community service is a major part
of NTRCA’s mission, and we are proud to
have members like Springtree Roofing
and Restoration, ER Systems and Energy
Roofing Solutions.” –mjm
1st place: Pepco Sales team – James
Wickersham, Logan Gourley, Richard
Mahoney and John Hefner
2nd Place: Romar Supply – Mark Cleer,
Jason Waters, Randy Stanley and Ronnie
Stanley
3rd Place: The Steam Team – John Kurek,
Charlie Hogg, Patrick O’Brien and Jeff
Dobbs
Trending now
What should people
try at least once?
People should try bungee jumping, I
have bungee jumped at Six Flags, and it is
fun! In West Virginia, there is a waterfall
near a bridge that you can bungee jump
off of. I would love to do that.
Christie Smith
Howell Crane & Rigging
I went to Yankee Stadium in 2003 and sat
in the dugout, walked the fields and went
into the old Yankee locker room; it was
the locker room where Babe Ruth had his
locker, and Derek Jeter had two lockers
because of all the fan mail he would get,
which would fill up one of the lockers. My
wife and I had the choice of going to
Tavern On The Green or going to Yankee
Stadium, and she chose Yankee Stadium.
Unfortunately, they tore the Stadium
down, so people can’t go to it. But it was
awesome, a lot of history.
Philip Butler
Paramount Plumbing
As miserable as it looks, I think everyone
should attend New Year’s Eve in Times
Square with a significant other. I’ve never
done it but it’s on my bucket list. It seems
like a monumental moment.
LeAnn Holt
Dallas/Ft. Worth Lite & Barricade
Give! Give with all of your heart! Don’t
give and expect something in return.
Giving makes me happy. A pastor in San
Antonio once told me that givers gain!
Sometimes, I’ll go to Starbucks and give
coffees to people anonymously. I’ve been
doing this a long time, and one time, a
woman recognized me and bought me
one! It felt good to be on the other end of
her giving, because I know how good
giving feels.
Freddie Lopez, freddieamerica.com
Everyone should ride a motorcycle at
least once for the sense of freedom that it
provides.
Merrick Butler, Butler & Butler
Construction/Butler Masonry
Dallas architects and architectural firms provided a peek at their industry’s current
trends by erecting three-dimensional displays at NorthPark Center. Organized by the
The American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Dallas chapter, the 26th Annual AIA Dallas
RETROSPECT 2016 exhibition showcased the members’ local, national and international
works Apr. 7- 16. –mjm
Page 14
Craw shucks!
E
veryone was crazy about the craw
on Mar. 31 at the Silver Lake Marina
at Lake Grapevine! TEXO, the
Construction Association hosted a
crawfish boil for its members as a 2016
debut for the association’s IMPACT
Networking Series. –mjm
A hearty breed
A
rchitects, contractors, subcontractors, engineers and clients stopped
by Fort Worth’s Rahr & Sons Brewing Company on Apr. 14 to support a
cause close to their hearts. The Building
With Heart event, an evening of food,
drinks and networking, was held to generate support for the Tarrant County
American Heart Association, raise funds
for the Annual Heart Walk in September
and increase awareness about how heart
disease affects those in the construction
industry. –mjm
L-R: Huckabee’s Josh Brown AIA and Dennett
Construction’s Scott Dennett
Did you know?
In the construction industry, 2.1 percent of the people had suffered heart
disease or stroke.
L-R: Byrne Construction’s Chad Anderson,
Benjamin L. Robertson, and American Heart
Association’s Stacy Richardson
According to the American Heart Association and the American Stroke
Association, the construction industry has one of the highest incident
rates of psychosocial health problems, including stress, fatigue
and burnout.
Research shows that workers in the
construction business are at risk for
heart disease and stroke due to physical chemical, biological and psychosocial work hazards.
L-R: JQ’s Carlo Taddei, Douglas Rothermel
and Stephen Lucy
How grand!
L-R: As part of the “Jody Dean Office Invasion” contest, Dallas radio station 98.7/KLUV’s
Jody Dean “checked” in on Independent Electrical Contractors Association apprenticeship
coordinator Sandy Strevel at her Fort Worth office to give her a $1,000 prize! –mjm
Page 15
Concrete Industry
Economy strong, but labor
shortage a stressor
Lance Halfmann, Vice-President
ConScape Inc.
Fort Worth, TX
W
hat are the “hot button” issues in
the industry?
It seems like the problem for contractors across the board is a shortage of
qualified labor, because the work is definitely there – it’s been there for two years
– but the labor is the issue.
I think right now, with there being so
much commercial work available, sometimes your eyes get bigger than your
stomach and you take on more work, or
you get more work because everybody is
spread so thin. A lot of times you take on
jobs and the schedule is demanding and
your labor force is so short you find yourself behind the eight ball before the job
starts.
What we’ve learned to do is to back
off and take the work that we think we
can handle so that we’re able to properly
man our projects. I don’t want our customers upset with us or to think we’re not
capable. We know the job, we know what
we’re capable of and so we’re not going
to extend beyond our means. We want to
maintain quality and not just take on
more than we can handle.
I’ve heard that from many people,
that there is so much good work out there
that you almost have to rein yourself in
and not get overextended, because then
you’re into overtime hours and labor,
which will eat up your profit margin.
How would you describe the state of
the construction industry in general
terms?
I’ve been with ConScape 15 years,
and business is as good as I have ever
seen it. My dad, Charles Halfmann, who
has been in this industry 48 years, said
he’s only seen one other time that was
comparable to this as far as the quality of
work that’s available.
Working together
to achieve success
Wanda Lynn Gibson, president, and
Marty Gibson, vice president
Gibson Concrete LLC
Pflugerville, TX
W
hat are the “hot button” issues in
the concrete industry?
The “hot button” issue that affects
the concrete industry from the ground
up is the labor force – finding and keeping workers, more so in the field, not in
management roles. We recognize that
nothing is accomplished until the first
shovel hits the ground, so the men that
have that job and the superintendents
that run the crews are most important. How would you describe the state
of the construction industry?
The state of the industry is very good
right now, there is a lot going on in development.
What factors are driving this increase?
There are several factors that continue to keep our industry busy: the amount
of bonds passed for schools, including a
new movement towards the fine arts education. Austin continues to be a desirable place to live across demographics,
which lends to an array of development,
from schools to churches, to urban living
communities, hospitals, education centers, retail, entertainment, roads, etc. It’s a
ripple effect.
Has this increase affected your company and how you conduct business?
Our bidding has to be selective –
otherwise if we are not careful, we can
take on too much. Work is consistent,
and scheduling is everything to keep
projects happening on time and on budget. Other than that, we continue to con-
duct business and operate with respect
and attention to details, the customers,
the work force, and Mother Nature.
Are there recent changes in legislation affecting the concrete industry?
The legislation that continues to
happen and affect the concrete industry
on a daily basis has mostly revolved
around contractual language. I believe
we can look forward to subsequent bills
that will address global warming. This will
encompass environmental concerns as
well, in which Gibson Concrete will always respect and support laws that both
protect our Earth and balance healthy
development.
What is the most significant challenge your industry faces?
The labor force is again the topic of
the day. In a nutshell, we are losing the
tradesman generation. Young men and
women are being educated in the construction sciences at universities, but
many have not had the opportunity to
grow up in or learn an actual labor trade
– and so the application knowledge and
wisdom that is gained with hands on experience is missing from professionals
that we employ on our jobsites or in the
offices as project managers, etc. It’s important that we utilize benefits from
both, taking aspects from the books but
applying it with the practical know-how
on a jobsite, in the midst of jobsite variables. We need both. There is a difference
between building out of a book and
building on a jobsite. This understanding
There’s definitely an increase in business. As I said, we’re trying to stay level in
what we can do. It’s awfully tempting to
bid a lot of work but I have to temper that
enthusiasm.
How is this increase affecting your
company and how you conduct business?
We’ve increased our labor and we’ve
increased the pay of our employees,
which is good for them, too. We’ve concentrated on our margins and have been
able to pick the work that suits us better.
We don’t have to chase work that we’re
not suited for, and that’s what we’re leaning towards.
Have there been any recent changes
in legislation affecting the concrete
industry relating to transportation or
the environment?
I think change has been more local;
with the increase in the amount of truck
traffic, the Redi Mix suppliers are more
conscious of the weight of their trucks
going down the road; they seem to get
stopped a lot [by police officers]. They
have to be careful and conscious that
they’re not overloading their trucks because that could become a hazard.
As far as legislation pertaining to us
directly, nothing drastic has been happening. All that has really affected us is
the labor shortage.
is huge and must be respected in ways to
build and foster the tradesmen vocation
with the construction industry in order to
maintain its health and integrity. That
said, recent interest with high school curriculum offering trade certifications
again is promising.
How are you dealing with these
challenges?
For Gibson Concrete, it started a long
time ago when Marty began the trade.
Since then, he has not only respected it,
he knows a tradesman when he sees one
and hires them! From there, you manage
a business well to provide a good place of
employment and keep those great employees. It’s also nice when the long-term
employees become your recruiters and
bring in others that may possess the
same work credentials and ethics.
What is on the horizon for your industry? Technology affects everything, always on the horizon is a better, faster way
of getting from point A to point B – in our
industry, one personal experience is with
surveying equipment for both layout and
concrete placement. The instruments
and software designed for the tasks are
pretty good.
What are the rewards of the industry?
At the end of the day, you can look
back and see productivity – literally, you
can see a permanent foundation or building that will contribute to the community
in different ways: socially, physically, economically, spiritually…it’s an honor to be
part of it and lend our expertise and talents in this way.
What are keys to being successful?
First, let’s define success – Webster’s
Dictionary defines success as: 1) the fact
of getting or achieving wealth, respect,
or fame; 2) the correct or desired result of
an attempt.
These definitions are not bad if they
What are the cost increases relating to
your industry?
Thank goodness fuel has leveled off.
It has helped our bottom line, just with
our day-to-day travels. I would say the
general price increase as opposed to two
years ago, by roughly 20-35%, is in labor,
and 25-35% in material. Rebar has been
steady and forming material has been
good. Concrete has been the increase
that we’ve seen the most, along with labor.
What do you think is on the horizon
for your industry?
What we are looking for is anything
equipment-wise that can reduce labor
cost because of the shortage right now.
We try to make sure that we are up to par
on that. We’d like to keep that equipment
running so we’re not working our labor
too much; we’re more productive and
more efficient that way.
In our industry, pretty much everything is labor-driven, and we’re dependent
on quality people. We’re just trying to retain what we have. Anything that will take
care of our people is what we’re concentrating on. If they’re happy, we’re happy.
ConScape Inc. in Fort Worth offers paving, tilt wall panels, foundations and
stamped concrete. –mjm
also consider the journey and consequence of such success! Success to the
owners of Gibson Concrete would first
take into consideration the goals which
might be summed up to livelihood, contentment/happiness, and purpose. Thus
far, as owners and employer, we have certainly provided towards our own and other’s livelihoods; we have experienced
many hours of contentment and happiness (along with frustration and sorrows);
and we have come to learn and see how all
has great purpose. So in this way, we are
very grateful and successful people! We
are successful because we have the eyes to
understand what we already are and have.
If you were to revise the question to
how to run a successful business, I would
elaborate on the last decade where we
learned how vital the owner presence and
direction is when it comes to leading a
company, both administratively and in the
field. In the same breath, a company is not
run by one or two people or owners. You
learn to strategically (and harmoniously)
surround yourself with a great team of experts in the different positions called for.
You seek and maintain the good working
relationships, both with your internal and
external customers, and let go of the rest.
You start and finish strong knowing that
your name is on the product.
The fruit: after working together for
several years, the cohesiveness between
the field and office has a profound impact
on projects when it comes to communication and decisions made that can either
make it a good day or not so good day.
Finally, Gibson Concrete takes the
time to identify and recognize each person for the person they are, and for their
contribution to the success of the company. We do this in several ways, including, but not limited to: prayer, vacation
benefits, monetary recognition, performing charitable functions together, play
and social time. –cw
Page 16
Concrete Industry
Concrete matters
Bill Cloyd, Owner
Cloyd Concrete Construction
Magnolia, TX
W
hat is your background in the construction industry?
I have worked in the concrete business for about 30
years. When I first got started in the industry, I helped a
few people do small concrete jobs back in the early ‘80s.
I was just looking for a way to feed my family. I eventually had the opportunity to do larger concrete jobs. I learned the business as I went
and things just took off from there.
In your opinion, what is the state of
the Houston construction industry?
I think the Houston construction industry is still strong. I have noticed in the
last two or three months things are starting to slow up just a little bit.
We have had a huge boom in the
past couple of years.
We still haven’t felt anything that is
related to the downturn in the oil business. I think we are still doing OK.
It’s all in the tilt wall
Luis Higadera, General Manager
NOVIDESA
San Antonio, TX
W
hile construction companies and
owners search for ways to streamline the building process, save on costs,
and create sustainable and energy efficient designs, Luis Higadera, NOVIDESA,
believes that insulated concrete tilt wall
can help achieve all of these goals.
“The benefit is that you have three
steps in one,” explains Higadera. “Once
you lift your panels, you have your concrete, your metal stud and your insulation, and as a system, it’s more cost effective than conventional construction.”
By doing these three steps in one, Higadera says the panels save costs on labor, concrete and steel. In conventional
What are a few major changes in your
industry in the last few years?
There are new products and tools to
use for larger jobs.
Laser screeds are now used on jobs
and this cuts down on labor. These new
products help us give a better product to
the customers.
What are few challenges you have
construction, once a concrete tilt wall is
lifted, a subcontractor will put in the insulation and another subcontractor will
put in the metal stud. Combining these
three steps in one panel makes it less expensive to install and more energy efficient in the long run.
With expanded polystyrene (EPS)
providing the insulation in these panels,
they provide protection from hot and
cold, and they mean lower electricity
bills for the end user. Using the index
that measures the heat transmission resistance of the wall, the R-value of the
insulated concrete tilt wall is 20.
Higadera cites the 2015 International Building Code as requiring continuous
insulation with an R-value of 7 1/2, and
points out that the panels exceed the
code-required R-value by more than
double. He also says that using conventional construction, if the builder or
owner wants more insulation, will add to
the cost of construction. In this sense,
the NOVIDESA system is the same cost
but has an R-value of 20.
When the 2015 code was implemented, NOVIDESA came to San Antonio
seen lately?
I think with as many people laid off in
the oil business, that we are going to see
a slow down in the coming year. It is still a
very diversified economy here in Houston.
I think established customers and
contractors will continue to do OK. I have
several builders I do work for as a subcontractor that are very established in the
area.
They are going to continue building
because their name is out there.
You have to have a good product, a
good response to problems in the field
and good relationships to keep your
business going. You have to know how to
ride the storms out.
What advice can you offer to a young
person who wants to pursue a construction career?
My advice to a young person would
be to get with a reputable company that
has been around a while.
Learn the business. Start out as a laborer and work your way up. If you have
because the panels presented a convenient way to meet and exceed the code,
Higadera explains.
“The 2015 code requires a continuous insulation, and all of our products
give you a continuous insulation,” he
says. “What it means to have a continuous insulated wall with the R-value that
we have is that you’re going to have a
lower [electricity] bill on your building.”
Another point Higadera makes is
that the wall will be less thick than it
would be in conventional construction,
creating more space inside. The insulated
concrete tilt wall will be 9 inches if you
would use it in place of a 5 1/4-inch conventional concrete tilt wall. But as another benefit to having three pieces of the
process in one, he says that when you
add the metal stud and insulation to that
conventional construction, the wall will
be thicker than 9 inches.
The insulated concrete tilt wall panels have been used for more than 20
years, he says, and NOVIDESA has been
using them in Mexico and in the Rio
Grande Valley, but this kind of panel is
used across the world. The panels are
aspirations to own a company, see about
taking business and accounting courses.
It is important to know all aspects of
the concrete business, not just how to do
the work.
What is on the horizon for the construction industry?
I think it is still going to be a good
market but I don’t think it will be as busy
as it has been in the past two or three
years.
What does it take to be successful in
your industry?
I think the keys to success in the concrete business is having good customers
that pay well and pay on time.
I have employees that have worked
with me for a long period of time. You
have to treat employees good because
they are your business.
They have to be taken care of and rewarded for the work they learn how to do.
Cloyd Concrete Construction provides
residential and commercial concrete services. –ab
manufactured in Mexico, but the technology was engineered in Italy.
When NOVIDESA started in 2006, Higadera recalls having to convince customers of the benefits, but as the years
have passed, he observes that insulated
concrete tilt wall is becoming more popular because of its advantages, especially
under the 2015 code.
One example of the product’s use is a
recent project in San Antonio with MD
Construction, a concrete contractor,
where NOVIDESA supplied insulated concrete tilt wall for a retail commercial
building on Potranco Road. Higadera estimates that nine panels used in the build
totaled about 5,000sf and were done in
two-and-a-half days.
NOVIDESA started in the Rio Grande
Valley, and since arriving in San Antonio, Higadera has worked with Diego Rodriguez,
owner of MD Construction, on supplying
materials for jobs. Higadera notes that Rodriguez was the first subcontractor in the
San Antonio area to be trained to work with
the insulated concrete tilt wall. –mh
NEXT MONTH
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Page 17
Hole in won
embers of the Dallas and Fort Worth/Tarrant County chapters of the
Independent Electrical Contractors Association (IEC) had a feeling in their
putt Apr. 12. The association hosted its 10th annual Tom Jones Memorial Golf
Tournament at Euless’ Texas Star Golf Course, and 212 golfers competed in morning
and afternoon flights to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the Prostate
Cancer Foundation and the IEC Foundation. –mjm
Winners:
Morning:
1st Place, First Flight: Troy Skipmore,
Tyler Mileger, Chris Tucker and Chad
Knowles
1st Place, Second Flight: Brett
Skyllingstad, Corey Bryant, Ron Canion
and Scott Anderson
Closest to Pin: Jeff Wolfla
Straightest Drive: Jordon Jones
Afternoon:
1st Place, 2nd Flight: Gary Sodd, Roger
Peterson, Randy Aldridge and David
Layton
Closest to pin: Wes Shahan
Straightest Drive: Shaun Kell
Creating quite a row
A perfect 10!
Skanska’s Eric Bunner trains for
The Prosper Row-a-thon, a grassroots
fundraising event he created for
Cornerstone Assistance Network of
North Central Texas, which helps Collin
County’s needy. On May 21, individuals
or teams will join Bunner in rowing an
entire marathon (42,195 meters) on an
indoor rowing machine (aka “ergometer”
or “erg.”). –mjm
L-R: Brothers Kevin and Merrick Butler
pull out all of the glamorous stops to
celebrate the 10th anniversary of Butler
& Butler Construction/Butler Masonry. To
share the joys and successes of the
past decade, the brothers hosted a gala
Mar. 26 at Dallas’ The City Club. –mjm
Jeff Wolfla won “closest to the pin” in one
of the morning flights.
The golfers fight the morning chill before the first flight.
Center of it all
BRS Architecture and Byrne Construction Services help break ground on the Link at
Richland Hills activity center Apr. 19. Construction on the 26,500-sf facility, which will
include a gymnasium, weight and cardio areas, indoor walking track, fitness studio, an arts
and crafts classroom and community rooms, is slated for completion April 2017. –mjm
Page 18
Association Calendar
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
AIA - Fort Worth
NAWIC - Dallas
American Institute of Architects
Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
May 11: AIA/CSI ACME Brick Golf Tournament, Waterchase Golf Club, 8951 Creek
Run Rd., Fort Worth, 1pm.
May 4: 23rd Annual Golf Classic, Cowboys Golf Club, 1600 Fairway Drive,
Grapevine, 10:30 check-in.
May 16: Dinner meeting, “Industry Appreciation Night”
May 20-21: South Central Region Forum,
New Orleans, LA
ASA North Texas
American Subcontractors Association
May 12: Schmooze & Mingle – Crawfish
Boil, Morrison Supply, 3200 Irving Blvd.,
Dallas, 4pm. Contact Kelly Dando for details at (817) 640-8275 or [email protected].
May 14: 13th Annual Poker Run for Texas
Scottish Rite Hospital & Happy Hill Farm,
9am. Visit www.asa-northtexas.org or
contact LaDell Tullos for details at (817)
640-8275 or [email protected].
May 19: Luncheon with CFMA, Hackberry Country Club, 1901 W Royal Ln, Irving,
11:30am. Contact Kelly Dando for details
at (817) 640-8275 or [email protected].
ASCE
American Society of Civil Engineers
May 9: Dallas branch meeting, 11 am
NAWIC - Fort Worth
Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
May 5: The Who’s Who in Building and
Construction Showcase, Texas Rangers
Baseball Club, 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington, 2pm.
May 18: Business dinner meeting, Diamond Oaks Country Club, 5821 Diamond
Oaks Dr. N, Fort Worth, 5:30pm.
May 20-21: South Central Region Forum,
New Orleans, LA
NTRCA
N. Tx Roofing Contractors Assn.
May 25: Lunch & Learn meeting, International Bowling Museum Arlington, 621
Six Flags Dr., Arlington, 11:30am
ASSE – Southwest
NUCA
Am. Society of Safety Engineers
Nat’l Utility Contractors Assn.
May 9: Chapter meeting
CFMA
May 5: PORKaPULLuza 3rd Annual Clay
Shoot & BBQ, Dallas Gun Club, 3601 S
Stemmons Fwy, Lewisville, 10am.
Construction Financial Mgmt Assn.
PDCA - Dallas
May 19: Luncheon with ASA, Hackberry
Country Club, 1901 W Royal Ln, Irving,
11:30am. Contact Kelly Dando for details
at (817) 640-8275 or [email protected].
May 23: CFMA Golf Tournament, Timmaron Country Club, 1400 Byron Nelson
Pkwy, Southlake, 7:30am.
Painting & Decorating Contractors of Amer.
CSI – Dallas
Construction Specifications Institute
May 10: Chapter meeting, Addison Conference Center, 15650 Addison Road, Addison, 5:30pm.
May 31: CSI Dallas Happy Hour, Katy Trail
Ice House, 3127 Routh St., Dallas, 5:30pm.
CSI – Fort Worth
Construction Specifications Institute
May 11: AIA/CSI ACME Brick Golf Tournament, Waterchase Golf Club, 8951 Creek
Run Rd., Fort Worth, 1pm.
DACA
May 11: Happy Hour
PHCC
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
May 17: Lunch meeting at Brookhaven
Country Club
PMI – Dallas
Project Management Institute
May 27: Dallas Lunch & Learn, Panera
Bread, Park Lane/Central Expwy, 7839
Park Ln., Dallas, 11:30am.
May 27: Plano Lunch & Learn, Café Express, Shops at Legacy, 5800 Legacy Dr.,
Plano, 11:30am.
RHCA
Regional Hispanic Contractors Assn.
May 20: Annual Sporting Clay Classic,
Elm Fork Shooting Sports, 10751 Luna
Rd., Dallas, 7am. Contact Yolanda Tafoya
at [email protected] or (972)
786-0909 for details.
Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Assn.
SAM
May 18: Membership meeting, Courtyard Marriott TownePlace Suites, 2200
Bass Pro Court, Grapevine, 11:30am.
Subcontractors Assn. of the Metroplex
IEC - Dallas
May 5: Dinner meeting, MCM Elegante
Hotel, 2330 W. Northwest Hwy, Dallas,
6pm.
Independent Electrical Contractors
SEA – Dallas
May 13: IEC Night at the Ballpark, Globe
Life Park, Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Bluejays, 5pm “All You Can Eat Porch”, 7:05pm
game.
Structural Engineers Assn.
May 17: Lunch meeting, Maggiano’s Little Italy, 205 Northpark Center, Dallas,
11:30am.
IEC - Fort Worth
SFPE – DFW
Independent Electrical Contractors
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
May 13: IEC Night at the Ballpark, Globe
Life Park, Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Bluejays, 5pm “All You Can Eat Porch”, 7:05pm
game.
May 2: Meeting and lunch, Double Tree
Hotel, 4099 Valley View Ln., Farmers
Branch, 11:30am.
NAMC
Texas Glass Association
Nat’l Assn. of Minority Contractors
May 10: Membership Dinner Meeting,
Hilton Inn DFW, 2001 Valley View Ln, Irving, 6pm.
May 19: Launch event, Globe Life Park,
Cholula Porch, Arlington, 6pm.
TGA/NTD
NARI - Dallas
TPWA – N.TX.
Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry
Texas Public Works Assn.
May 10: Meeting, ProSource Wholesale
Floorcoverings, 989 W. Sandy Lake Rd,
Coppell, 6pm.
May 19: Sporting Clay Tournament, Alpine Shooting Range, 5482 Shelby Rd.,
Fort Worth, 1pm shotgun start.
continued from Page 1 — Causing a lift
chuckle). They also join the company’s
San Antonio team for an annual skeet
shoot/dove hunt and cookout held for
employees and customers. The example
of camaraderie is set at the top with Howell and runs deep through the ranks.
“What I like about Howell Crane, and
what sets Howell Crane apart from any
other crane company I’ve worked for, is
how involved the owner is,” Boucher
says. “Audie Howell is very involved in the
day-to-day – I’d almost say by the hour –
and I love that about him. The fact that he
takes this much interest in his own company says a lot.”
Boucher, who has worked in the
crane and rigging industry since high
school, enjoys helping Howell mentor
the Dallas team, which his staff appreciates.
“I’ve enjoyed working for Mike since
I’ve been here,” Coleman says. “It’s my
first year in sales and he’s really helped
me out a lot, and so has our owner. How-
ell Crane’s kind of a big mom-and-pop
operation; we’re all known by names;
we’re not a number. The owner calls us
and checks on us. They’re just good people all around.”
Smith agrees, saying her favorite part
about working at Howell Crane & Rigging
Inc. is her co-workers.
“I really enjoy my job,” Smith adds.
“Mike is a lot of help, and Blue is too.”
Boucher says he likes working with a
great team that makes a difference for
the customers.
“The biggest compliment we have
gotten is on our service. We pride ourselves on service and safety. Our guys are
highly trained; they’re very efficient in
what they do,” Boucher says. “If we’re
cheaper on the dollar, that’s a plus, but
safety and customer service are the two
key components we try to tackle.”
With offices in Dallas and San Antonio,
Howell Crane & Rigging Inc. offers crane
and rigging and trucking services. –mjm
continued from Page 1 — Driven to succeed
Even though the firm focuses on
high-profile projects, Hegarty says HNTB
also focuses on its professionals, ensuring
that there are opportunities for employee
happiness and growth. It is something
he has seen firsthand since joining the
firm in 2013.
“Our North Texas office makes sure
to have numerous team building events
– we genuinely enjoy getting to know
each other outside of a working
environment,” he says. “Just this year we
have
departmental
outings
for
Whirlyball, Top Golf, Dave and Busters,
Rangers games, Bocce tournament and
several happy hours. We also have
hosted an office-wide “pub quiz” and
March Madness bracket competition.”
In addition to creating bonds outside
of the office, HNTB strives to ensure their
professionals feel they are on the right
career path within the company.
“We have numerous one-on-one
career path discussions to make sure
everyone is growing and learning in their
roles within the company, and that they
are happy with what they are doing,”
Hegarty says.” HNTB North Texas is on a
mission to have a general management
focus of building pride of place.”
“The HNTB North Texas office has
been growing rapidly since its inception
in 1965. Just since 2013, our staff has
nearly doubled in size to our now 108
employees,” he continues. “Our main
focus now that we have a great portfolio
of talent on board is to keep our
employees happy and ensure that they
maintain a work-life balance while
producing quality results for our clients.”
HNTB is an employee-owned
infrastructure solutions firm serving public
and private owners and construction
contractors. –mjm
continued from Page 1 —Fuel injector
“fuse” it with the existing structure,
demolish the dividing wall without
compromising the structure’s integrity
and also bring it up to code. Ghafoor felt
confident he and his team could meet or
possibly beat the project’s 90-day
deadline and impress the client as well.
“I have a great professional
relationship with my structural engineer,
Jerry Coffee, who always gives me sound
advice and his professional opinion on
operation and maintenance,” Ghafoor
explains. “Innovative Design Build has a
very positive relationship with many of
the experts in the construction field. Our
company
consults
with
these
professionals on a regular basis in order
to deliver the desired outcome.”
Innovative Design Build started by
giving the structure firmer footing,
thanks to a new foundation. For additional
support, concrete masonry unit (CMU)
structural walls were utilized as well. The
team topped off the structure with a new
timber frame roof and installed larger
windows and a wider door. New counters
freshened up the interior of the building,
and, to bring the facility up to date, IDB
renovated the bathroom to meet all
American
Disability
Accessibility
requirements. The structural wall
between the remodeled addition and
the gas station was also removed,
connecting the two spaces.
Ghafoor and his team not only
brought the building up to date, they
also completed the 90-day project in
only 65 days. The gas station that had
once been “running on fumes” was now
refueled and ready for business.
Looking back on the renovation
process, Ghafoor is glad he took the
challenge, even though he admits the
gas station’s original condition caused
occasional doubts.
“After all of the construction
documents were completed and
approved, I had second thoughts,
thinking, ‘What have I got into now?’”
Ghafoor admits. “However, after a few
weeks of progress when I could see the
resulting fruit of my labor and the labor
of many others, it was very satisfying to
complete a project early and within
budget. Ask any contractor - those
feelings are hard to put in words!”
Located in Colleyville, general
contractor Innovative Design Build
specializes in commercial and residential
ground up construction, rehabilitation and
additions, and also focuses on green
building. –mjm
Quite a product-ion
Dallas/Ft. Worth Lite & Barricade Inc. president Shane D. Howell (far right) welcomes
guests and describes one of the products, an ADA SpeakMaster, on display at a product
showcase event held Apr. 13 at the company’s Dallas office. –mjm
Safety in numbers
Trinity Drywall & Plastering Systems president Brad Bryant proudly holds the 2016
Excellence in Construction Safety Award presented to him Apr. 18 at the Association of the
Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI)’s annual convention in New Orleans. The company was
recognized for “greatest overall increase in safety, training and awareness among AWCI
member companies with between 500,000 and One Million Man-Hours in 2015.” –mjm
Page 19
Round-Up
Lane Gorman Trubitt (LGT) and its affiliate company LGT Financial Advisors LLC
(LGT FA), announced two new additions
to their partner groups:
Kevin
Warneke
CPA, an assurance
services professional, has been named
a partner of LGT.
With more than 15
years of public accounting
experience, Warneke’s primary focus will be on client service. His
responsibilities include all aspects of audit and consulting engagements from
planning, assessing risk, and supervising
staff to the review and presentation of final deliverables to management and
board of directors.
Scott Gunn, JD CFP
CPFA, a financial
planning consultant
who has more than
20 years of investment
consulting
and financial planning
experience,
has been named a
partner of LGT FA.
Gunn, who joined LGT FA as principal in
2009, will be responsible for investment
advisory services, comprehensive financial planning and qualified plan consulting to employers. Scott also serves as LGT
FA’s Chief Compliance Officer.
Several staff level promotions at LGT’s
Dallas office have also been announced:
Babita Sherchan and Shehzana Ali became manager in the firm’s assurance
services department.
Callie Nixon and Elliot Nolan were promoted to Senior I employees.
Rachel Luker and Britney Castilleja
graduated to Staff II.
Trey Hardy was promoted to Senior I in
the firm’s tax department.
Architecture, engineering and planning firm SmithGroupJJR promoted Clint Menefee
AIA, LEED AP BD+C
to principal at the
firm’s Dallas office.
Menefee
joined
SmithGroupJJR in 2006 with a focus in
the planning and design of a diverse
range of higher education building typologies. Menefee earned a bachelor’s of
Environmental Design from Texas A&M
University, followed by a Master of Architecture from Clemson University.
Buyers Barricades in Richland Hills announces two additions to its team:
Matt Sauer has
joined the team as a
project manager.
Sauer’s job duties
include managing
contract
work,
quoting commercial jobs, onsite supervising and managing
special
events. His past experience includes outside sales with an industrial supplier, operation of longline striping, and work as a
supervisor/dispatch/project manager in
traffic control for three years. Sauer
earned an Associates of Arts degree from
Longview Community College.
Cole Benton has
been hired as an estimator in outside
sales. Benton’s duties include analyzing data to estimate
time, cost, labor
and material required to perform
services from start,
to maintenance to completion. With seven years in the construction industry,
Benton previously worked as an assistant
project manager and rough carpenter for
RJM Contractors. Benton earned a bachelor’s in marketing with a sales concentration at Texas Tech University’s Rawls
College of Business.
Sundt Construction
Inc. has hired Arun
Verma as a projects
control manager in
the company’s Fort
Worth office. Verma’s experience encompasses the entire spectrum of
project controls and
management for federal/Army Corps of
Engineers, commercial, industrial, light
rail, highway and energy projects. Verma
earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the K.K. Wagh Institute of
Engineering Education & Research in India and a master’s degree in Construction
Engineering and Management from Texas A&M University.
Submissions
Email with “Round-Up” in the subject
line (w/digital photo, if available)
by the 15th of any month, for the
next month’s issue to:
[email protected]
Page 20