austin construction news february 2013 issue

The Industry’s Newspaper

™CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTIONAustin

Constant communication equals success

continued on 7 continued on Page 17

continued on Page 17

30 years in Austin Four decades and counting

PRSRT. STD.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDDALLAS, TX

PERMIT #1451

P.O. Box 791290San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290

Change Service Requested

San AntonioDallas/Fort WorthAustin Houston South Texas

TexasStyle

Covering the Industry’s News

www.constructionnews.net ! (210) 308-5800 ! Volume 13 ! Number 2 ! FEBRUARY 2013

Trimbuilt Construction Inc. has com-pleted the Lakeway Regional Medi-cal Center - Medical Office Building

interior finish-out, owned by Pacific Med-ical Buildings. The project manager was Paul Kilm-er and the project superintendent was John Needler, Trimbuilt Construction. Marsha Bernard and Erin Nash, Page Southerland Page LLP and Jeffrey Fox, KGA Architecture, were the architects. According to owner Larry Puckett, Trimbuilt Construction, the approximate contract cost was $3.5 million and it took 7 months to complete the project. “The building has 13 individual ten-ant suites,” Puckett said. “The new finish-out, totaling more than 35,000sf, includes an imaging center, cancer center, cardiol-ogy suites, as well as a sleep lab. “The construction materials included metal studs with GWB partitions - lead

lined in required areas, suspended ceil-ings with acoustical lay-in ceiling tile and solid core doors. “Our team had the challenge of coor-dinating 13 suites, all involving diverse tenants, specialties and uses, under dif-ferent phases of construction in the same shell building, with the majority of the suites being built concurrently. “Thorough and constant communi-cation with all trades, as well as the con-struction manager and design teams helped us remain focused and organized, overcoming those related challenges. The end result was 13 successful projects in budget and happy clients. “The dynamic relationship between our teams working here locally, with a construction manager in San Diego, CA and a new administration with a new fa-cility made the project unique.

Lakeway Regional Medical Center - Medical Office BuildingPhotos by: Bronson Dorsey Photography

American Constructors President Bill Heine remembers his compa-ny’s first days fondly.

Having just moved to Austin from Honolulu in 1982 prior to the big con-struction boom, Heine, a veteran of the Navy with a strong construction back-ground, wasted no time getting his com-pany up and running. “I bought a book on how to form a corporation in Texas and persuaded sev-eral people that I had worked with previ-ously to move to Austin and be a part of American Constructors,” Heine recalled. “The early days were fun and exciting. We rented a small space on the second floor of an old music store on Congress Avenue. “We started our first project in 1983, which, when finished, included the entire

block between 3rd and 4th Streets and Lavaca and Guadalupe. We built a large underground parking structure and three buildings of 13, 9 and 5 stories.” But after that, times were tough. The company hung in there and eventually got some work expanding a high school in Leander and building a new one in Marble Falls. In the 1990s, the company built up a following of clients that want-ed assistance during the design phase. “Assisting clients during the design of the project is one thing we excel at,” Heine noted. Schools became a big part of Ameri-can Constructors’ workload. By 2010, the

L-R: Joe Moore, Gary Keil, Bill Heine, Joe Charlton and Marty Burger.

Owner Rob Hunt founded Water Street Millworks Inc. 40 years ago. The company has operated

at its current shop in Bastrop, TX for 37 years. “In the early days, I started out mak-ing flowerpots in the shop,” Hunt said. “I sold the flowerpots on the drag in Bas-trop. I eventually became interested in cabinetry and furniture and haven’t looked back! Over the years, we have added quite a few machines. “We have continued to operate in good times and bad times and we have survived through hard work and dedica-tion. “I love the cabinetry business. There have been so many changes such as new technologies and improved equipment.

We still do a lot of cabinetry the old school way.” According to Hunt, the company has provided the cabinetry work at the First National Bank, at an insurance company office and at a RV park in Bastrop. He says Water Street Millworks has an annual Christmas party. This past year, cabinetmaker David Cervantes made tamales for all the employees. “Val Ryan is always baking for us it seems,” Hunt said. “She brought in a pumpkin pie for the Christmas party. Val makes doors and gets the jobs ready to go out on a daily basis. Val is a NASCAR fan in her free time. She hasn’t been to a race in Dallas, TX yet but she has seen a

L-R: Hank the shop dog, Rob Hunt, Jacob Jones, Val Ryan, David Cervantes, Mark Barrell

Austin Construction News • Feb 2013

When you see a story on the news about a fallen soldier, are you left wanting to know more

about that person who made the ulti-mate sacrifice for our coun-try? Who were these individ-uals? What were their pas-sions and interests? How do their families remember them? Questions such as these motivated Rob Hatton to ini-tiate the Beneath the Flag project, a book series and documentary film as well as a website and Facebook page. These avenues allow the stories of men and wom-en of our Armed Forces that were lost in combat to be told more intimately through the memo-ries and photographs of their loved ones. When Hatton learned the story of Marine Lance Cpl. Luke Holler, a San An-tonio resident killed in action in Iraq in November 2006, through his family, friends, and brothers-in-arms, Hatton knew that experience established a per-sonal connection beyond that of name, rank, and serial number. Starting with the launch of the first Beneath the Flag coffee table book in Fall 2013, Hatton will be giving our fallen he-roes depth and dimension that tran-scends the fleeting coverage of an eve-ning news clip.

Keeping their memories alive

“We just want people to know that so often there are parents and family mem-bers out there who have lost a loved one, and we don’t realize that we could be

standing next to them in line at the grocery store or sitting next to them at a restaurant and not have any idea that these people have sacrificed so much,” explains Hatton. “This project is as much to honor the individuals who have sacrificed on the battle-field as well as their families and their loved ones.” While support from mem-bers of the military has been extremely strong, Hatton says he will start with one book and gauge the re-

sponse. Since all the books are being printed here in the U.S., the significant cost of printing will be a factor in continuing the series. But, Hatton assures, “We have the ex-perience to understand what it takes to pull something of this magnitude off and do it effectively and successfully.” Since the age of 17, Hatton has run his own business in one form or another, working in the fields of marketing, pub-lishing, and design – all skills he is apply-ing to ensure the project’s physical mani-festations in print and on video. Meanwhile, Hatton continues to call upon those who have lost someone in Iraq or Afghanistan to share their stories so the project can include as many of our nation’s lost warriors as possible. For more information or to contribute to the Beneath the Flag project, call Rob Hatton at 210-849-9786 or e-mail him at [email protected]. –mp

The Beneath the Flag image is a mosaic of photos of men and womenof the Armed Forces who died in service to their country.

Rob Hatton is compiling the stories of fallen

combat soldiers into a series of books and a

documentary film.

DID YOUKNOW . . . .


™CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION

Largestcirculation

constructionnewspaper

in Texas

Give us a call, oremail your editorif you would like

your company and/orpersonnel to be

in an upcoming issue.

Abby BeMent

[email protected]

713-599-1774

San Antonio home office

210-308-5800fax 210-308-5960


The Austin Construction News (ISSN 1547-7649) is published monthly, by Construction News Ltd., dba Austin Construction News, and distributed by mail to selected construction-related companies in Austin and 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 Austin 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.

If you are a construction-related company in Travis, Hays, Burnet, Blanco, Caldwell and Williamson counties and are not receiving a free copy of the Houston Construction News,

please call for a Requester Form,or visit our website.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS Austin Austin Editor — Abby BeMent — [email protected] — 713-599-1774

©2013 Construction News, Ltd.

Construction News Ltd. Home OfficeP.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279

210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960www.ConstructionNews.net

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy DoebblerEditorial/Production . . . . . . . Reesa DoebblerManaging Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miles Smith Production Mgr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue JohnsonSales Representative. . . . . . . . . Kent GerstnerAdministration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Hughes

Publishing theIndustry’s News Texas Style

San Antonio • Austin • Dallas/Fort Worth • Houston

Raise the roof

Feller Roofing & Remodeling LLC has operated since 2000. The com-pany has locations in Austin and San

Antonio. Scott Feller is the owner and his sis-ter Ami works as an estimator. Cindi Mo-rin is the office manager, bookkeeper and she keeps everyone's schedules in order. “Scott is a construction engineer by degree and worked his way through col-lege in the roofing business,” Morin said. “He taught his sister Ami at a young age how to estimate and do roofing work. They both went to college at Iowa State University. “When Scott isn’t at the office, he is very involved with his family of four chil-dren ranging in ages from 10 to 16-years-old. He is the basketball coach for his two youngest daughters and doesn't miss a football or basketball game for Hutto High School or Hutto Middle School for

his two oldest children. “He got married last year in April to Stacie, who is also an integral part of the roofing company from behind the scenes.” According to Morin, Feller is a great piano player, and his sister is a talented photographer and an avid runner. “On the side, I love to cook and gar-den at home,” Morin said. “Scott will eat just about anything I bring to the office!” Morin says Feller Roofing & Remod-eling gives back to the community as much as possible. “We are currently donating a roof to a victim of the Bastrop fires and we also do small roof repairs for low income fam-ilies many times at no charge,” she said. Feller Roofing & Remodeling provides residential and commercial roofing and also does remodeling projects from kitch-ens to bathrooms, flooring, counters and cabinets. –ab

The Feller Roofing & Remodeling family

Michael Olson, a Registered Professional Land Surveyor, takes care of paper work at Dale L. Olson Surveying Co. in Bastrop, TX. –ab

Reading the surveyConstruction News ON LOCATION

Splash of paintConstruction News ON LOCATION

L-R: David Jones, lead sales and Bruce Rasco, assistant manager are the go-to guys for paint and supplies at the Kelly-Moore Paints Bastrop location. –ab


Bell Crisp, President

Absolute Resourcing

It seems like every time you go to a construction industry event in San An-tonio, you run into Bell Crisp, president

and founder of Absolute Resourcing. You probably know her, because just about everybody does. You might know she started her staffing company in San Antonio in August 2010 and just opened a second location in Austin last year. It’s also possible you know that she runs about 200 guys out a day and still does sales because she has a passion for her job and people. But if you think that’s all there is to this smart as a whip trailblazer, you don’t know Bell.

How did you get started in the con-struction business? I actually have been in the construc-tion business for 13 years now in the staffing industry. I started out with Labor-Ready for several years, and then I went to Able Body Labor. Able Body had some problems. I was their regional sales manager over Texas, and things started to go downhill. My commission checks were getting later and later, and I was like, hmm, this is not good. I’d always wanted to go out on my own, but my non-compete was rock solid even though Texas is a right-to-work state. So, I figured I would just be an Able Body employee forever, and then when that started, it was a $250 million com-pany, and I never thought that would happen. So, I went out and got some things together, got everything ready to go. Then, in August of 2010, my workers didn’t get paid one day, and that was it for me, because if they didn’t pay them, how was I supposed to get them to go to work? I pretty much quit that day, be-cause I had workers coming up to the car upset, saying, “We can’t get paid.” And I said, “I’m so sorry.” I went out on my own, and two weeks later, they filed for bankruptcy. The timing worked out that I was proac-tive instead of reactive. I had offers to work for other companies, but I was done with that. I wanted to do something on my own. I knew I had enough backing with my clients to do it, so they gave me the kick in the pants that I needed. They said, “You need to do this yourself, and we’ll support you.” I did everything on my own with my own money. Unfortunately, in the staff-ing industry, you don’t have any assets, except for your receivables. Well, if you’re new, you don’t have receivables, because you don’t have people out yet. So, I could not get a loan even though I was with the same bank since ’98, I had $100,000 in the bank in savings, and I had an 830 credit score – I could not get a loan. So, I just grabbed my money and plopped it out there, and on a wing and a prayer, things just started happening. The first three months were pretty stressful, because it’s your money and I skinned my knees a couple of times on a few things, but with the help of the cus-tomers that I’d had for years, they made sure I got paid quickly in the very begin-ning so I could get some cash flow. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I

am now. They were there for me when I needed them, and it was pretty cool.

What scared you the most about put-ting it all on the line like that? Not having anything to fall back on if it didn’t work out. My husband – he’s got a really good job, but to support both of us and my stepdaughter – whom we have half the time – I had to have a job and the security of that money. That was the only thing that scared me. After about three months, things started happening, and the money start-ed coming in and workers going out, and everything kind of balanced out, and I haven’t looked back. I’ve been getting bigger and bigger every day, landed some really big jobs, and just opened up in Austin in August, which I never thought I would do. I just didn’t. I was San Anto-nio, and I don’t know that many people in Austin, but I got to Austin, and things were really rockin’ and rollin’ up there. It’s incredible that I’ve been so blessed, and to make it in this time when the economy is so bad. I opened in Austin, and Austin is go-ing strong. I’ve got a good person there running the office. I do sales still. I go back and forth every Wednesday, and then I stay here the rest of the time and do sales while my other two girls are in the office for me. I’ve got some good help where it’s freed me up a lot to get out more and get in front of my customers.

Is it stressful being the boss now, or is it liberating? The only stress I feel is if I let one of my customers down, because they’re trusting me to get it done. They helped me get started, and they’re trusting me to make it right. In my industry, you’re go-ing to have a problem. It’s not if; it’s when. And it’s how you deal with that problem. I always make sure that my customers are happy. If I mess up and a worker walks off, the next day, they have an extra worker on my dime. I’m like, “Here’s an extra guy. That’s my guy. I pay for him. Just to help you catch up and help you keep going.” And I couldn’t do that when I was with the other companies, because they were all about profit, and they would say, “You’re giving a free worker away? Are you out of your mind? Those guys expect this to happen.” And then I’m like, “Well, yeah, I don’t. I don’t.” So, it is very liberating to be able to do that without having a hatchet over your neck. Or losing a customer because you can’t make it right. But yeah, I think it’s liberating.

What about your personality do you think makes you well-suited to your work and business? I relate really well to just about any-body and any situation. I really love peo-ple. It doesn’t matter who you are or what background you’re from. If you’ve got a story, I usually figure it out and find a way to connect with someone. It’s really, like they say, six degrees of separation be-tween everybody in the world. Once you start really talking to some-body on a personal level – I don’t do what most salespeople do. I don’t go in and go, “Hi, I’m so-and-so. Who are you using? How many guys do you need?” I don’t talk business at all. I get to know that per-son first. I don’t ask for a sale. I talk to them, find out about them. You talk about learning about other people’s background, but what’s your story? I was raised with three brothers, so I had that tomboy element. So, I could duck and jab with the best of them. I was raised in the country, so we just have a different set of rules when you grow up that carefree. I’ve had horses and animals all my life, which I still do to this day. But I actually started out as a horse-man’s bookkeeper for Manor Downs in Austin right out of school. Worked at that for about a year and a half, and then end-

ed up living with the top female jockey in the world, and she was my best friend forever. Tammy Purcell – I just reconnected with her. She’s back in Austin, and we just reconnected after, I don’t know, 20 years? But we were inseparable, and I started riding racehorses – I’d always ridden. I was riding before I could walk. I was in diapers when mom had me on a horse – but the racehorses? That was new, that was fun, it was daring. It was a high, and so the bookkeeping went away, and I moved to California, and the rest was his-tory. I started riding racehorses for some of the top trainers in the world. Then, I decided that I wanted to be a jockey too. So, for 15 years, I rode and trained. In that industry, I didn’t have an agent. I was my agent, and it was just my gift of gab that got me on horses, be-cause I’d pick a horse that ran dead last the day before and laugh and tell the trainer, “Before you send him to the glue factory, let me work him for a week. I guarantee that horse will finish better than last.” They’d say, “Oh, you can’t do any-thing with this nag,” and I would light the board every time. I would run either first through fifth every time with a long shot. And then they were like, “Wow.” And it was tough back then being a female jockey in a male-dominated sport. But the guys loved me. The other jockeys encouraged me to become a jockey, be-cause I would exercise horses, and then I’d say, “This jockey would fit this horse … You’ll win on him.” Knowing how to get the right per-sonality for the right horse, they asked, “Why don’t you just ride?” So, the top jockey at Sunland Park, where I first start-ed out, gave me his old saddle to use, be-cause I was afraid to spend the money – I didn’t know if I was going to like it or not. He gave me a saddle, and the second leading rider gave me some jock pants – that still had his name on the back. The only thing I had to buy were my boots. That was it. So, I was pretty much funded by the other jockeys to get out and try some-thing. Which is pretty incredible, especial-ly back then, because if you were a female wanting to be a jockey, those guys tried to scare you and run you off, because you were dangerous. They didn’t want you out there. And with me, they knew that I was safe, even though I’m blind in my left eye. Even knowing that, they knew that I was a smart rider, and so, just having to present myself in that way, I got tough and had a blast and decided after 15 years of traveling all over the country from the east coast to the west coast and every-where in between, I was ready to settle down. But I got all my fun out first. Then, I came back to San Antonio and was playing competitive softball and met my husband. I love to play golf. I play golf with my customers quite often. I play in tourna-ments, such as ABC, AGC. My stepdaugh-

ter and husband are playing now. So, we do the family thing. I’m still in horses, only it’s showing horses now with my stepdaughter. I look forward to going out of town and taking the paint horses and going to shows. We have a blast. That’s probably my favorite thing I do now, go with her, go to Waco and College Station, Fort Worth, Tulsa, and drive the horses up to go show.

Have you been blind in one eye since birth? Yes.

And you didn’t find that challenging, being up on a horse racing? No, because I have extra sensitive ears, and I can feel when something’s coming and the direction. Unless it just comes so fast, like a rock coming up. I’ll know it’s about to hit me, but I can’t do anything because I don’t know where it’s coming from. I just had an optical nerve in the back that, according to the doctors, never con-nected. They said, “We can operate, but she really won’t get any eyesight, be-cause I didn’t have a lot of control over my eye when I was younger. But they said, eventually my eye would get strong and just move with the other one. But to this day, if I get really tired and I’m talking to my customers or some-body, like at night when we’re at the functions, several times I’ll be talking to somebody, and they’re looking behind them. And I’m like, “No, no, I’m looking at you. My eye’s getting tired. I can always tell when it starts to drift just a little so it looks like I’m looking behind your shoul-der, because I’m tired.

What do you see in the future ahead of you? Is there something you’d like to do that you haven’t done? No, I think I’ve lived a pretty darn good life, because I waited so long to get married that I took the trips. I went to Cabo, I went to Cancun, I went to the Cay-man Islands, and I did it all on my own. I didn’t need to drag somebody with me. I loved the freedom of being out and do-ing what I wanted to do, because I knew at some point, I was going to settle down, and then I did, and we travel. The goal that I have this year is to win at the world level with the paints. In June, my stepdaughter and I will be going to the Pinto World Show for two weeks in Tulsa, and then the two weeks after that, we’ll be at the Paint Show, so we’ll be gone the whole month of June, showing horses. As far as goals, my show at the Paint level will be in November, so I’m looking forward to seeing how my new horse does. That’s the goal on the personal side – to do really well at the horse shows this year. Business-wise, just to have more free time in Austin and really get Austin go-ing. It’s fixin’ to break open up there, and I’m really excited about that. –mp

Along with her stepdaughter KJ, Bell Crisp’s goals for 2013include doing well with her show horses


1405 E. Riverside DriveAustin, TX 78741

800-365-6065 512-447-7773

www.timeinsurance.com

6609 Blanco Road, Suite 135San Antonio, TX 78216

800-365-6065 210-342-9451

Specializing in Surety and Insurance programs for all facets of the Construction Industry

John Schuler • Tom MulanaxSteve Smith • Travis Kelley

Walter Benson • Tom Brewka

OF AUSTIN, L.L.C.ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FIRE PROTECTION

ENGINEERED SYSTEMS • FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS • FIRE SPRINKLERSFIRE EXTINGUISHERS • ALARM SYSTEMS • MASS NOTIFICATION • LEAK DETECTION

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS (DATA–FIBER–VOICE) • SECURITY & ACCESS CONTROLS

THE AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR OF QUALITY NOTIFIER PRODUCTS FOR CENTRAL TEXAS

We’re Listed!!

Leading the Fire Alarm Industry Since 1949

NOTIFIERFIRE SYSTEMS

®Fire Alarm Control PanelsIntegration ProductsPeripheral DevicesNESCO Affi liatewww.notifi er.com

16069 Central Commerce Dr.Pfl ugerville, Texas 78660Offi ce (512) 251-7888www.koetterfi re.com

KOETTER FIRE PROTECTION

UnderwritersLaboratories Inc.

With 2013 getting underway, Bartlett Cocke General Con-tractors is shaking things up.

The employee-owned company has made some changes in leadership as the Texas construction forecast promises op-portunities for growth. Randy Pawelek is making the move from president to chairman, but he will retain his position as CEO. He has served the company as president since 2008. As Pawelek steps up, Harry Moeller will take his place as president. Moeller’s new position will require him to oversee daily operations at the company’s local and regional offices. “This ongoing, planned leadership transition is not about letting go or hand-ing off, but allowing others to step for-ward,” Pawelek said in a statement. “Since 1959, many have stepped forward to help lead our organization forward. It is the re-sult of vision, planning, hard work, work-ing smart, and most of all, great team-work.”

New leaders for a new year

As Moeller assumes the role of presi-dent, a position that has been held by Bartlett Cocke Jr. and Duane Pozza, he comes with a long history of experience with the company. Starting in 1985 as a field engineer, he worked his way up to project manager, vice president of esti-mating, and his former position, execu-tive vice president. Others have been promoted as well. Kevin Byrd is the new vice president of operations for Central Texas. James An-derson has become the new South Texas regional manager. Mark Christensen is now the East Texas regional manager. And Nathan Olson, who has been serv-ing as interim director of preconstruc-tion, has been officially promoted to the position. Regarding the many changes in leadership, Moeller commented that the Texas economy is poised for growth and Bartlett Cocke is ready for those emerg-ing economic opportunities. –mp

L-R: Randy Pawelek and Harry Moeller have stepped up into new positionsto lead Bartlett Cocke into 2013.

President David Phillips says the history of Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal dates back into the late

1800’s. “When two prominent roofing com-panies here in Austin, one established in 1890 and another established in 1939, de-cided to retire they turned over their businesses to Ja-Mar,” Phillips said. “Some of these relationships continue to this day.” James McKinney is the senior con-sultant/founder, Marlyn McKinney is the office manager and Danny McCoy and Isi Sekula are sales consultants. According to Phillips, the company recently moved to a location on Inter-state 35. “We are planning for an open house this summer,” he said. “We still maintain our original location in South Austin as well. It serves as a sales office and storage yard. We also have offices in the Rio Grande Valley and Abilene, TX.

Up on the rooftop

“There is a diverse bunch here but fishing, golfing and barbequing stand out as hobbies. One unique talent we have here is the ability to produce cus-tom sheet metal fabrication. As sheet metal has always been an important part of our roofing business we have also pro-duced some creative sheet metal appli-cations for our clients. “We have several cooks here at the company with some very custom pits. Over the years, we have sponsored the Wimberley Texas Football, Onion Creek Kennels, and various other groups with relationships to our company personnel.” Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal is roof-ing and sheet metal contractor servicing the commercial and residential needs of the State of Texas. Established in 1970 in Austin the company has maintained the same phone number for more than 40 years. Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal also has related companies Ja-Mar Exteriors and Ja-Mar Solar. –ab

The Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal has a new location on I-35.

Three’s a crowdSubmitted to Construction News

L-R: Doug Myron, Brad Jensen and R. Steve Franklin say hello from Fore Con-struction Inc., a commercial general contracting company founded in 2009. –ab


ASSOCIATED BUILDERSAND CONTRACTORS

Mission StatementABC Central Texas protects and advances the Free Enterprise System.

We represent the interest of merit shop contractors, employees, andbusinesses in the governmental policy making process, provide and

promote training, education and networking opportunities; and enhancethe image of the construction industry.

Put ABC to work for youwww.abccentraltexas.org

512-719-5263 Fax 512-712-32783006 Longhorn Blvd., Suite 104 Austin, TX 78758

Celebrating 36 Years of Service to the Construction Industry

Contractual Liability Insurance forthird party over actions

Charles E. Comiskey, Vice PresidentBrady, Chapman, Holland & Associates, Inc. Houston, TX

Texas House Bill 2093, the Construc-tion-Related Anti-Indemnification

and Anti-Additional Insured Act (the “Act”, and my title, not theirs), has been in effect for over a year now. This Act de-clared any requirements to defend, in-demnify or hold harmless another party for their negligence (whether joint, con-current, sole, strict, gross, etc.) or that of anyone for whom they are responsible (agents, employees, anyone under the control or supervision of the Indemnitee) are void and unenforceable. It further declared that any additional insured re-quirements covering the same issues are also void and unenforceable. So unless you are in one of the types of business excluded by this Act (residen-tial or municipal work), you’re in the clear, right? Well, not exactly. The Act contains an important ex-ception applicable to injury or death of employee of the Indemnitor (the down-stream party), its agents or subcontrac-tors. Indemnification and additional in-sured requirements that remain permis-sible under Texas law include the re-quired assumption of the Indemnitee’s (the upstream party) joint, concurrent and/or sole negligence with regard to this exception. What is the significance of this? Assume a subcontractor’s employee is in-jured on the job. He makes a workers’ compensation claim and is prohibited by law from suing his employer. He can, however, bring suit against upstream par-ties, who then tender the suit back to that employer for defense and indemnifica-tion under the employer’s general liability insurance. This process is commonly re-ferred to as a “Third Party Over Action”. Contractual indemnification arises from liability assumed in a contract. It ap-plies to liability not normally imposed by law – you are liable only because you have agreed to be liable. There are a vari-ety of insurance issues pertinent to this exposure that require your attention. From the standpoint of the contractual li-ability insurance provided by a general liability policy, there are four:

1. An “Amended Definition of Insured Contract” endorsement (CG 24 26) limits coverage to bodily injury and property damage “caused, in whole or in part, by you or by those acting on your behalf”. By definition, that excludes injury or damage caused solely by an upstream party. The effect is to exclude coverage for the assumption of that party’s sole negligence even though permitted by law.2. A “Contractual Liability Limitation” en-dorsement (CG 21 39) is one of the most hazardous exclusions in the insurance in-dustry, completely deleting coverage for

most liabilities assumed in an indemnifi-cation provision.3. Sneakier are numerous endorsements that modify or delete the exception to the general liability policy’s Employer’s Li-ability exclusion. Coverage for Third Par-ty Over Actions is provided by this excep-tion, and it’s deletion exposes a contrac-tor to one of the most common types of construction litigation with no coverage.4. Even when the contractual liability coverage hasn’t been modified in any manner, it’s important to recognize that defense costs paid in behalf of an Indem-nitee are not paid outside of, or in addi-tion to your limits of liability, but are paid inside of limits, eroding those limits. If you have a $1,000,000 per occurrence limit and spend $400,000 defending an Indemnitee, you only have $600,000 left for payment of any damages.

In this last example, who wins? Not the Indemnitee, who thought it was get-ting the benefit of a full $1,000,000 limit, only to find that the remaining limit is substantially reduced. Not the Indemni-tor (a/k/a the downstream contractor) who (1) not only paid dearly for this cov-erage, but (2) is now having to share its limits with the upstream party, and (3) even worse, is having those limits rapidly eroded by defense costs. Who wins? The insurance company, who now is having to pay far less, saving money with every dollar paid to defend an Indemnitee. What’s the moral to this story? There are two:1. Do not permit any endorsements to your coverage or that of a downstream contractor that might limit or eliminate coverage for the liability assumed in an indemnification provision; and2. Require consistency in your coverage. If you agree to indemnify for sole negli-gence, obtain additional insured cover-age that provides that same scope of coverage. Defense costs paid in behalf of an additional insured are paid outside of limits of liability. Additional insured issues abound, but there’s good news on the horizon. More on that next month.

Charles E. Comiskey, CPCU, CIC, CPIA, CRM, PWCA, CRIS, CCM, is Sr. V.P. of Brady Chap-man Holland & Associates. Comiskey is a nationally recognized expert and frequent speaker on risk management and insur-ance issues to various legal, construction and real estate associations and similar groups across the country. He has served as a pre-trial consultant/expert witness in approximately 200 matters in State and Federal courts, serving in behalf of both the defense and plaintiff. He can be contacted at 713 979 9706 or [email protected]

Getting aheadConstruction News ON LOCATION

L-R: Branch manager Mark Longbine and sales representative Juan Martinez plan for a great New Year at Morrison Supply Co., a wholesale distributor of

plumbing, HVAC and builder products. –ab

In today’s economy, most construction companies are actively looking for ways to increase their cash flow. A

simple and low cost way to achieve this is to request to change your company’s method of accounting with the IRS. This can accomplish significant tax savings now,

and result in that much needed increase in cash flow. The IRS requires Form 3115 for this purpose, and it can still be filed for ‘automatic changes’ effective for the 2012 tax year up until the due date (including extensions) of your 2012 tax return. Discussed below is two such ‘automatic’ accounting method changes of which you may be able to take advantage this year.

Excluding Retainages in AccrualMethod of Accounting forShort-term Contracts

If your company uses the accrual method of accounting for its short-term contracts (those contracts started and completed in the same year), then you may request an automatic change to the accrual method excluding retainages. This entails the reporting of the retainage portion of a contract to be deferred until the work is “completed and accepted” by the owner. If this does not occur until a subsequent year, then tax on this retain-age portion will not be due until that sub-sequent year. This change in accounting method also requires that any retainages payable to subcontractors must be ex-cluded from deductions for that project until such time that the work is “complet-ed and accepted” by the owner.

Segregating Property Costs ofReal Property Used in your Business

This tax deferral strategy involves the accelerated depreciation deduction of components of property owned by and used in your business. It can be used when property is constructed or pur-chased, even if the construction or pur-chase occurred in previous years. Usually, a relatively inexpensive engineering study must be done that segregates the total cost of the real property into cate-gories, such as personal property, land improvements, building components, and land.

Simple tax deferral steps thatcan increase cash flow this yearPaige Heard, CPA, Tax ManagerVan Houten & Associates, PCRound Rock, TX

Once the engineering study is com-plete, then the various categories of property segregated may be available for shorter useful lives rather than the standard 39-year useful life to which real property or building improvements are normally subject, which will most likely result in significant accelerated deprecia-tion deductions currently.

Another advantage of this automatic change in accounting for depreciation is the ease of writing off the un-depreciat-ed cost of an asset that becomes dam-aged or needs replacement. An example of this is a roof that needs replacement. Under the traditional method of account-ing for real estate improvements, there would be no disposition and tax loss for the roof if the costs of the original build-ing were not segregated. If cost segrega-tion was applied, then the replacement of a roof with un-depreciated cost would be reported for tax purposes as a disposi-tion and a loss would be allowed for that remaining amount.

Paige Heard joined Van Houten & Associates, PC (VHA) in 2007, and has been a CPA for over 23 years. Her experience includes ten years as an Internal Revenue Agent in the Austin IRS office, and six years in public accounting with VHA, with primary emphasis on tax preparation and tax planning provided to construction-related companies and their owners. Paige can be contacted at [email protected] or 512-310-9277.

Valentine’s DayThursday, February 14


Allied Electric Services Inc. held a casino-themed Christmas party at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce in late December. Approximately 75

people attended the event. –ab

Blackjack champsSubmitted to Construction News

Good questions! A number of avenues and causes of action exist in Texas to assist contractors, subcon-

tractors, and suppliers in obtaining payment for work properly performed and materials provided for a con-struction project.

I did the work; now how do Iget paid and can I recover myattorney’s fees?

West W. Winter, PartnerMcNelis + Winter, PLLCSan Antonio, TX

Mechanic’s and Materialmans Lien Perhaps the most significant tool in your arsenal will be the Mechanic’s Lien. Governed by Chapter 53 of the Texas Property Code, statutory mechanic’s liens, if timely and properly perfected, secure your right to payment against the project. While the specifics of proper lien perfection are complicated and be-yond the scope of this article, perfection of a lien claim generally requires timely and proper written notice of the unpaid debt, timely recording of a proper lien af-fidavit in the real property records in the county in which the project is located, and timely giving notice of the filed lien to the owner and general contractor. Be aware that suit must also be filed to en-force/foreclose the lien claim within the limitations period mandated by Chapter 53 (typically one or two years, depend-ing on the type of project) or the lien will be extinguished. Contractors having an agreement directly with the project’s owner may further enforce constitution-al lien rights which exist independently of any notice or recording requirements. Rights may alternatively exist under a payment bond if work is performed on a public or bonded private project. Strict time and notice requirements also exist for the proper perfection of a bond claim and will differ depending on whether the project is state or federal.

Breach of Contract, QuantumMeruit and Sworn Account Whether or not a mechanic’s lien has been perfected, you may also assert a cause of action for breach of contract as a result of non-payment. In some in-stances, such as when there is no express contract, where the work performed is outside the scope of the agreement, or when the work is partially performed, an equitable cause of action may exist for quantum meruit. Typically, suppliers to construction projects will also be able to avail themselves of a suit on sworn ac-count and in instances where they have secured a personal guaranty, suit against the individual guarantors.

Violation of the Texas Construction Trust Fund Statute Chapter 162 of the Texas Property Code mandates that construction pay-

ments and loan receipts are trust funds if they are made to or borrowed by a con-tractor or subcontractor under a con-struction contract for the improvement of real property. Contractors, subcon-tractors, or owners and their officers, di-rectors, and agents who receive or con-trol the trust funds are considered to be trustees of these funds. Those who fur-nish labor or material for the construc-tion of the improvement are the benefi-ciaries of the trust funds. A trustee who retains, uses, disburses, or otherwise di-verts the trust funds without first fully paying all obligations to the beneficia-ries, is deemed to have misapplied the trust funds. While certain exceptions, exclusions, and defenses apply, criminal penalties exist for misapplication of these trust funds, and the courts allow for a civil cause of action.

Prompt Payment Act Another statutory tool to assist in compelling payment is the Prompt Pay-ment Act pursuant to Chapter 28 of the Texas Property Code. This statute re-quires payment of contractors and sub-contractors within the timeframe speci-fied in the Act and allows for the recov-ery of interest on unpaid amounts. Nota-bly, the Act also provides for the right to suspend work in certain circumstances following proper written notice.

Attorney’s Fees With the exception of a trust fund claim, a prevailing party asserting any of the causes of action discussed herein has the ability (in some cases an award of fees is discretionary with the court) to re-covery reasonable and necessary attor-ney’s fees.

West W. Winter is a partner at McNelis + Winter, PLLC. A LEED Green Associate, West serves on the board of the Construction Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association and is listed as one of the Best Lawyers in San Antonio for Construction Litigation. His firm aggressively represents general con-tractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in all phases of the commercial and residential construction process, from contract forma-tion through dispute resolution, litigation, and collection. West can be reached via email: [email protected].

OSHA issues final rule ondigger derricksJoann NatarajanCompliance Assistance SpecialistOSHAAustin, TX

A “digger derrick” or “radial boom der-rick” is a specialized type of equip-

ment designed to install utility poles. A digger derrick typically is equipped with augers to drill holes for the poles and with a hydraulic boom to lift the poles and set them in the holes. Employers also use the booms to lift objects other than poles; accordingly, electric utilities, telecommunication companies, and their contractors use booms both to place ob-jects on utility poles and for general lift-ing purposes at worksites. When OSHA promulgated subpart V (Power Transmis-sion and Distribution) in 1972, it excluded digger derricks from certain require-ments of the OSHA crane rule in con-struction.

When the Agency promulgated the final Cranes and Derricks in Construction rule, OSHA’s primary concern about extend-ing the digger-derrick exemption be-yond pole work was that such an exten-sion would provide employers with an incentive to use digger derricks on con-struction sites to perform construction tasks normally handled by cranes--tasks that are beyond the original design capa-bilities of a digger derrick.

The utility industry determined that the exception in the crane rule covered 95% of their work with digger derricks while installing electric utilities, but did not cover several routine tasks for which dig-ger derricks are used. These other tasks would require digger derrick operators to be certified operators under the crane rule. Fully exempting digger derricks from the scope of the standard also elim-inates costs for other activities besides

operator certification, such as inspec-tions and power-line safety. If an em-ployer uses a digger derrick for subpart V or telecommunications work without complying with all of the requirements in subpart V or Sec. 1910.268, then the work is not exempt, and the employer must comply with all of the requirements of subpart CC of 29 CFR 1926 (the Crane Rule).

OSHA is proposing to exclude all uses of digger derricks from coverage by the crane rule, when used in accordance with subpart V for power transmission and generation. Digger derricks when used for augering holes for poles carrying electric or telecommunication lines, plac-ing and removing the poles, and for han-dling associated materials for installation on, or removal from, the poles, or when used for any other work subject to sub-part V. To be eligible for this exclusion, digger-derrick use in work subject to sub-part V of this part must comply with all of the provisions of that subpart V, and dig-ger-derrick use in construction work for telecommunication service (as defined at Sec. 1910.268(s)(40)) must comply with all of the provisions of Sec. 1910.268.

The final rule is available on the OSHA website: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/ow-a d i s p . s h o w _ d o c u m e n t ? p _table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=23516

[email protected] x232


#1 in Safety & Reliability For Over A Quarter Century

Largest Selectionof Booms

Serving Central& South Texas

Texas Owned& OperatedSince 1971

Trailer Pumpthru 61M

Fully Insured

24-Hour Service

SuperiorMaintenance

Program

San Antonio (210) 657-3030 Austin (512) 385-3535

This is a story about power tools and the fasteners they fit. Actually, it’s about two companies that were a

perfect fit for a merger – Dewalt and Powers Fasteners. Since the merge in October, DeWalt Powers, has been dealing in both prod-uct lines and is more focused on con-struction. “I think that Stanley Black & Decker [DeWalt’s parent company] decided to take the opportunity to combine the two brand names together,” says Mark Ross, branch manager for Powers Fasteners in Stafford, TX. “The idea is providing the en-tire package to the construction industry.” Ross says that before the merger, he couldn’t make recommendations to con-tractors or distributors who actively call on jobsites regarding tools that would work best with their the anchors. Now, he says the knowledge of the power tool end from DeWalt’s side has given him a better understanding of his end users

A merger fastened together

needs. “I think you’re helping the contractor in the end, because you can make a rec-ommendation on the entire package, so I think you reduce the chances of error on the contractor’s part.” Kyle Anderson, account manager at DeWalt’s San Antonio location, is excited by the synergy between the two compa-nies, believing it will allow sales and cus-tomer service representatives to help their customers get their jobs done more efficiently. “The neat thing is that now we’ve got more guys out in the field where we can solve more opportunities,” Anderson says of the merger. “There’s more of us working together.” DeWalt has Factory Service Centers in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Car-rolton, and McAllen. Powers Fasteners has branch offices in Dallas and the Hous-ton area with outside sales covering the state from those two locations. –mp

L-R: Patrick Pulliam, Karen Metzger, Kyle Anderson, DeWalt; and Mark Ross, Powers Fasteners

Ramiro VillegasYard Hand/MechanicMathis Rentals

Industry FOLKS

Two years is how long Ramiro Ville-gas has worked at Mathis Rentals

in Bastrop, TX. “I work in the yard and in the me-chanic shop on a daily basis,” Ramiro said. “I power wash and service the equipment. I change the oil on the equipment.” Villegas says he wanted to work in the equipment business because he always liked mechanic work. “I am originally from Garfield, TX,” he said. ”I attended and gradu-ated from Del Valle High School. In school, I wasn’t into sports or music - I liked to spend my free time working on cars.” After high school, Villegas found a job doing landscape work in Georgetown, TX for a little while. Next, he decided to earn a living as a mechanic. “My favorite part about working at Mathis Rentals is it is closer to my home and I like working on equip-ment and being outside in the yard. I really like the folks I work with at the company. They are a great group of people.” Hobbies Villegas enjoys on the side are playing basketball with friends and family and going to the park with his children on the week-ends and after they get home from school. “I like to exercise, and playing

basketball is a great workout,” he said. “My kids and I usually go to a park near downtown Bastrop. I have two sons, 7 and 3 and a daughter, 1. “My oldest son likes playing soc-cer with his friends. Attending my son’s soccer games keeps us busy on the weekends. We mainly stay around Bastrop, though. “The kids also like to go to the skating rink and the movie theater every now and then. “We don’t really have to leave to go into Austin. We have everything we need close to home. “I cherish the time I spend with my kids. They make me laugh every day. I love being a father. Every day is a new adventure when you have three kids. “In the future, I’d like to keep working as a yard hand and mechan-ic at Mathis Rentals. “I am currently working to get my diesel mechanic license. I think it is important to keep learning and im-proving.” –ab

Technology: We see it all around us every day. From smartphone apps and interactive TV, to cars that talk

to you as you drive down the road, we’re truly beginning to look at least a little like those old sci-fi movies and TV shows that most of us remember. Technology is especially prevalent in the way that construction companies op-erate their businesses now. General contractor SpawGlass has a new iPad app (TED) that helps customers develop a realistic budget for commer-cial construction projects, offering cost-per-square foot categories in 49 pre-de-fined divisions. The square-foot pricing is calculated based on the average of historical costs of past projects. Costs in the system are adjusted to today’s dollars. “I just recently completed a parking garage for Texas State,” said Bryan Kent, SpawGlass. “I could quickly get estimated cost per square foot and some examples for the customer.”

Beam me up, Scotty

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the name of the game now in construc-tion, and Rogers-O’Brien Construction has renovated its Dallas office to adapt to the technological movement that uses digital representations throughout a building’s construction and operational life. “We’ve organized our upstairs around what we call our BIM pen,” said Bob Bullis. “Our renovated and reconfig-ured workspaces encourage communi-cation.” TDIndustries, a mechanical contrac-tor, uses a combination of manpower and the Internet to improve a building’s effi-ciency. “We take information from an exist-ing building control system and receive it through the Internet. Each point is re-corded every five minutes,” said Ken Scheepers, TDIndustries. “We can then diagnose problems and improve efficien-cy.” –ms

Rogers-O’Brien’s new high-tech BIM department


BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUTSPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER

FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS

(361) 949-7359www.baffinbaycharters.com

[email protected]

U.S. Coast Guard &Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed

STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC

Good luck charmSubmitted to Construction News

Reighan Antoine (right) went deer hunting with her dad Rich, Niece Equipment, for the first time on a friend’s ranch outside of Richland Springs in San Saba County. Antoine says

it was a great hunt and a perfect time for some "daddy/daughter" bonding. –ab

TexasStyle

! San Antonio! Austin! Dallas/Fort Worth! Houston! South Texas

www.constructionnews.netpublishing the industry’s news

Trophy trout game plan

by Capt. Steve Schultz

Sponsored by:Majek Boats, Premier Yamaha Boating

Center, Fishing Tackle Unlimited,Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor,Interstate Batteries, Pure Fishing,

Pflueger Reels, All-Star Rods, Mirr-O-Lure and Columbia Sportswear.

One of the most popular questions I get throughout the year is, “When is the best time to go fish-

ing?” My answer is always the same, “Any time you can.” Second most asked question is, “What do I have to do to catch a trophy trout?” Well the answer to that question can vary a bit. First, you have to ask yourself, “How committed am I to accomplishing such a task?” Tro-phy trout are similar to trophy whitetail deer. You’re not going to sit in a deer blind and have a 180-class whitetail come out during every hunt, unless you are on one of those high fence ranches that grow monster deer and release them into the wild. It takes countless hours and, in most cases, countless days spent in the field or on the water to see such a trophies much less harvest them. For the next few months, we will spend many days walking countless miles wading the shallow waters of the Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay in search of one of the most sought after trophies that roam the inshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Most anglers know that win-

tertime is when speckled trout are at their peak weight. A 30-inch trout caught in the middle of the summer may only weigh 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 lbs; whereas that same fish may be 9-1/2 to 10 lbs in the winter. These heavier trout make your catch that much more gratifying. One of the most important tools to have before you venture out for your day on the water is something that can’t be purchased. A GAME PLAN must always be one of the first things you should have before you leave the dock. If you’ve kept logs in the past like most serious anglers do, review them. Think back to previous years or outings that were successful. What lures did you throw and which ones did you have the most success with? What were the weather conditions like - cold, windy, cloudy, sunny, etc? Try to predict what your day is going to be like and look back to find a similar day in your logs. Don’t be like most routine fisher-men who go to the same spots over and over because they caught a good fish there 11 years ago. Now that you have arrived to your

pre-designated fishing spot, your next decision should be which lure to throw. My suggestion to most of my clients is to throw a lure you have confidence in. I al-ways start out with a lure that has been a producer for me in the past. Don’t get caught up in some new item that came in a fancy package and costs a small fortune or a lure that your buddy gave you and said these are what I catch all my fish on. If I have a group of customers, I always try to mix it up. I start everyone off with a different lure. This helps me determine what the fish are wanting on that given day. After we have established what the fish want we can all go to the same type of lure. If you would like to plan a trophy trout fishing trip in the next month or so, don’t procrastinate it any longer. Now is the time! Also, those of you that are wait-ing for spring and summer to get your fishing in, my calendar is rapidly filling. I can be reached by phone at (361) 813-3716 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Good luck and good fishing.


Ken Milam’s Fishing LineSponsored 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 onLake 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.

At this writing, we are having a wel-come stretch of warmer weather. The warm days after a cold spell

just get me itching to get out and do something! I figure I’m not the only one who feels that way, so let’s get cracking! Spring is coming! Now that we are fin-ished with deer season and have put the rifles away, it’s time to look forward to spring and summer fishing. You know how you used to say you liked going to Lake So-and-So, but you are getting bored with it and need to go try somewhere else? Well, this year you are in luck. If you are like so many of us and are surrounded by lakes that have below normal water levels, you just got yourself a brand new lake without hav-ing to travel somewhere else. I know you have seen and heard me say this before, but it is still true. Low lakes are lakes that are giving up their se-crets! Before they fill up again, you need to get yourself out there with your cam-era and GPS and in some cases a good pair of hiking shoes. Go find the places you have had good fishing and get an up close look at why it has been productive. Look for points, drop-offs and rock piles, any place for fish to hide or hang around. Take pictures, make notes and get GPS coordinates. Now you are ready to go exploring the lake bed and finding other places that have the same traits, places you haven’t been aware of with the lake full. I can drive across the empty lake bed and see a lot of spots that I have caught fish on for years. Now I can see why those places hold fish. You can know of a place and know how it looks by fish finder, but still be surprised at the way it looks when you actually get to see it with your own eyes.

Make a day trip of it. Stuff the ice chest with good stuff to eat and drink and load up the kids just like you were going fishing, but instead of bringing the boat and all the tackle, let the kids bring their own entertainment. One thing a low lake has to offer is lots of open space to run. They can fly kites, have room to play with the remote control toys they got for Christmas, or just have fun explor-ing. Meanwhile, you get in some fishing research and get a chance to look for good places to launch your boat and such. That way when you are coming to the lake to fish, you already have the hard part done and can focus on fishing and having a good time. If you are not comfortable with tak-ing your own boat to a low lake, then seek out a good fishing guide. They are on the lake frequently and familiar with it as it changes, and how the fish have been moved around. Also, don’t forget all the little lake area businesses that support your fishing trips. From the bait shops to the convenience store you used to fuel up at, to the little fishing camp where you used to spend the night and the little café that fed you breakfast, all these folks would be happy to see you too! If you don’t do this now, you might be kicking yourself when the lakes fill up!

Hiding places

Bluebonnet diamonds

So many places for a fish to hide

If I had a nickel for every fish I caught here

(325) 379-2051www.striperfever.com

Visit our Website at:www.constructionnews.net

Select “Rack Locations”

for a complete list of allrack locations where newspapers

can be picked up.

We do not mail additional newspapers.

If you would like apersonal subscription($35 per year, per city)

select “Subscribe.”

Extra Papers?


Line ‘em upSubmitted to Construction News

L-R: Manor Foster, Keep Austin Level, and his son, Skyler Hudson, recently enjoyed pheasant hunting in Satanta, KS. –ab

The race is onSubmitted to Construction News

C2 Mechanical Services (C2) hosted a Christmas event at K1 Speed for all employees and key suppliers in late December. Mike Creamer, C2 president,

(center) won the final race of the day. –ab

Successful outingSubmitted to Construction News

Project Manager Tina Reeves,Rexel Austin,

says her nephew, Cory Hall,

shot this deerin Giddings, TX during hunting

season. –ab

SEND IN YOUR PHOTOS . . .

15 to 500 TonCapacitiesAvailable for your Toughest Projects

fromEl Paso toBeaumont

Amarillo toBrownsville

www.alamocrane.com

San Antonio (210) 344-7370Austin (412) 282-6866Toll Free (800) 880-0134

Woman-Owned BusinessCity–94–020011/WBE

State–13580/WOB

33 Years of Service to Texas

Alamo’s new 400-tonLiebherr Craneerectingtower crane at hospital expansion on Madison Oaks Drive in San Antonio, Tx


AustinLumber Co. Inc. submitted this

photo ofLogan Doddand the largewild hog he snagged in

Bastrop County. –ab

A whale of a hogSubmitted to Construction News

First buckSubmitted to Construction News

Julia Bayer, 7, daughter of Chris Bayer, Austin Glass & Mirror Inc., harvested this buck in Gillespie County during the special youth weekend. –ab

Among the wildflowersSubmitted to Construction News

Enjoying spending time outside, Doucet & Associates employees recently participated as a group in a volunteer day at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. –ab

Want Reprints?

Full Color, Press Quality DigitalReprints available on any item inConstruction News.

Digital Press Quality PDF is emailed to you. Print as many as you like.

Can also be printed by any graphicsservice provider, on any paper

selection, size, or finish.

$42 (includes tax)Perfect for framing in the office, a promo

item, for the website or as a gift.

To request a reprint . . .• Email to: [email protected]• Indicate you would like to purchase a reprint, and a credit card form will be emailed for you to complete and return.

To view or download articles & photosfor any issue, visit our website.www.constructionnews.net

Select Archives • Choose City & Issue Month.

Any reproduction of items must begranted permission and must include

a credit for this copyright material.

Miniature horses for miniature people


The Associated General Contractors (AGC) Austin chapter honored local construc-tion projects and the teams that made them possible at its 2012 Outstanding Construction Awards Banquet.

Approximately 160 guests attended the event held Jan. 25 at the AT&T Confer-ence Center on the University of Texas campus. Austin’s chapter handed out awards in 13 categories. –mp

The lucky 13

Specialty ConstructionChasco Constructors

PARD Aquatic Facilities ImprovementProject, Deep Eddy Pool

Interior Finish Out 2 ($500,000-$2 million)Sabre Commercial, Inc.

Brown McCarroll 14th & 15th Floors

Health Care 1 ($0-$10 million)Chasco Constructors

Oakwood Surgery Center

Building 1 ($0-$2 million)Braun & Butler Construction

University Presbyterian ChurchPhase 2 Improvements

Interior Finish Out 1 ($0-$500,000)Braun & Butler Construction

Neill Cochran House Museum Historical Restoration and Preservation

Building 2 ($2 million-$5 million)Kiewit Building Group

MD Anderson Cancer Center Bastrop Campus Construction + Renovation Project

Building 5 ($30 million-$75 million)Bartlett Cocke General Contractors for Westwood High

School, Addition & Renovations, Phase II

Building 4 ($10 million-$30 million)Austin Commercial for Bobcat Stadium

North Side Complex

Building 3 ($5 million-$10 million)Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company, Ltd.

Wycliff- Freeman Dormitory & Faculty Residences

Interior Finish Out 3 ($2 million-$5 million)The Beck Group

Norman Hackerman Building, Imaging Suite

Interior Finish Out 4 (Over $5 million)Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Texas Department of Transportation Dewitt C. Greer Building

Building 6 (Over $75 million)Austin Commercial for Circuit of the Americas/Formula

1 US Grand Prix

Health Care 2 ($10 million-$30 million)Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company, Ltd.

Reliant Austin Rehabilitation Hospital


Gilbert PenaDriverTriple-S Steel

Industry FOLKS

Gilbert Pena says he mostly spends time working in Austin and San

Antonio these days. “There is no typical day when you are a driver,” Pena said. “Every day is different. “For example, I unloaded material and drove in the pouring rain yester-day. Today, I am driving in beautiful weather. It is a great day. I am glad I to be outside on days like today. I have never wanted to be cooped up in an office or a building. I prefer to be on the road. “After high school, people asked me what I wanted to do, and I gave it a lot of thought. As a teenager, I used to love to drive and I remember thinking I wanted to be a truck driver. So, that’s what I did. “I think to be a good driver, you have to have experience. Everyone starts green. The more time you put into it, the more experience you get and the better you are at it. “My job responsibilities nowa-days are to drop off customers orders, load the material on the truck, and make six or seven stops during the day.” Pena says he started driving small vans in the ‘70s. He received his Com-mercial Driver’s License (CDL) in 1991 and started driving large trucks.

Pena says on the side, his hobbies include going to San Antonio Spurs games. His favorite basketball player is Manu Ginobili. “I go to the game, especially dur-ing the playoffs,” he said. “I am hoping they make it all the way in 2013. Last year, I thought they were going to win the play-offs.” Pena says he also enjoys photog-raphy as a hobby. “Sometimes I will be driving and I will see something I want to photo-graph. I was recently in Kingsland near Marble Falls, TX. Right before you get into Kingsland there is a granite hill with a great view of the Colorado Riv-er at the top. “I thought it was so beautiful I had to stop. I love taking photos in the Hill Country. I have been interested in photography since the 80s. “I am already in my mid-50s and I plan to keep driving for many years to come. Maybe one day I will submit my photography and get published!” –ab

The winds of change

Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc. has two co-pilots taking the controls, helping to fly the engineering firm

into 2013. Chris Schultz PE, PMP and Paul Lampe have accepted co-leadership of Raba Kistner Consultants, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raba Kistner, Inc. Schultz and Lampe will be oversee-ing operations and financial management of eight Texas locations from the division’s headquarters in San Antonio: Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, McAllen, and New Braunfels. Schultz has been promoted from se-nior vice president, a position he rose to in 2004, to president and chief operating officer of Consultants, and he will remain practice leader for geotechnical engi-neering. Lampe moves from senior vice presi-dent, a role he too assumed in 2004, to executive vice president, and he will re-

tain his responsibilities as practice leader for construction materials engineering, testing, and construction inspections. “Paul and I have a lot of our time, heart and energy invested in this com-pany,” stated Schultz. “We know that we are taking over leadership of an excep-tionally dedicated group of employees.” Lampe commented, “Chris and I have worked together at Raba Kistner for 22 years, providing services to both re-gional and San Antonio area clients. We look forward to an expanded role in sup-porting operations and clients in all of our offices. “One area that I really look forward to is working with our clients to use more recycled construction materials.” William Raba, president of holding company Raba Kistner, noted, “This action is to support expanding the company’s reach and growing our staff and service capabilities over the coming years.“ –mp

L-R: Chris Schultz and Paul Lampe take to the co-pilot chairs at Raba Kistner Consultants.

PWI Construction Inc. (PWI), a na-tionwide general contractor and Austin, TX-based Four Corners

Construction have recently merged to create a greater Austin area location for PWI. “PWI and Four Corners Construction have had a relationship for years,” said Jeff Tschida, Four Corners Construction principal. “They set a standard in the marketplace and we’re thrilled to be-come part of the PWI team.” According to Jeff Price, PWI presi-dent, this office will be a sister to their ex-isting operations in Mesa, AZ and Las Ve-gas, NV. “Starting in Sept. 2012, the PWI team and Four Corners Construction have been working closely together to join forces,” Price said. “Four Corners Con-struction, is a longstanding staple in the Austin residential and commercial build-ing community. “This will be the third location for PWI. Plans are set for a soft opening to of-ficially introduce PWI into the Austin mar-ket. “The Austin area is young and grow-ing and we’re looking forward to plant-ing roots with an official location in addi-tion to Las Vegas and Phoenix.” Marc Ferguson, PWI executive vice president, says the natural symmetry be-tween the Four Corners Construction and PWI market made it an easy decision. “We have plenty of ground to cover and are excited for the prospects 2013 has to offer,” Ferguson said. PWI is a general contractor specializing in luxury brand retailers, high-end hotels and restaurants. From ground up, phased remodel to interior build-outs, PWI has been working in construction since 1985. The company is licensed in 48 states. –ab

Smooth merge

President Jeff Price, PWI Construction Inc.

" Location

" Location

" Location

" Location

" LocationPublishing the Industry’s News . . .

TEXAS Style

Home Office(210) 308-5800

www.constructionnews.net

Dallas/Fort. Worth

Houston

Austin

South TexasSan Antonio


NEXT MONTHMarch 2013

Construction Education

Support Your Industry’s Feature Issue

Call for Ad SpaceReservations

San Antonio • AustinDallas / Fort WorthHouston • South Texas

(210) 308-5800

Jan: Construction ForecastFeb: Construction SafetyMar: Construction Education

Apr: Women in ConstructionMay: Concrete IndustryJun: HVAC & Plumbing

July: Electrical IndustryAug: Service ProvidersSep: Green Building Trends

Oct: Specialty ContractorsNov: Architecture & EngineeringDec: Construction Equipment

2013Schedule

Construction Safety

Safety matters

Juan Mendoza, Safety DirectorLasco Acoustics & Drywall Inc.Austin, TX

Juan Mendoza is the safety director at the Lasco Acous-tics & Drywall Inc. Austin, TX location but also travels

to work in Dallas and San Antonio. He manages all the safety programs for the company.

Important to have fire safetyplan on construction sites

Chris Jelenewicz, P.E.Society of Fire Protection EngineersBethesda, MD

“I train our guys on how to work safe on a daily basis and I provide bilingual training because I can speak both English and Spanish,” Mendoza said. “I do train-ing on first aid, CPR, boom lift and scissor lift equipment, scaffold and fall protec-tion.” Looking at the numbers, Mendoza says he has read fatalities have slowly but surely decreased in the past few years. “I have seen a lot more training in the commercial construction industry lately,” he said. “If you look at the data, the fa-talities in 2012 were less than the year be-fore and the previous year. “I think there has been an improve-ment this past year because there has

been more emphasis on the safety train-ing for the industry. “It is very important for construction related companies to not just have a good safety program, it is important to implement the program. In addition, there are requirements that workers on the job have to have some level of train-ing. That has been helping companies to step up and provide the required training to their employees. “Here at Lasco Acoustics & Drywall, we have a safety program in-house. We develop and update the program on a yearly basis. “We go back and review it and change things as required. Most of the

training we do is in-house; however, sometimes when we are required to have a specific training on specific equipment, we call the providers and have them do the training for us. “For us to actually to get employees on the jobsite, we do what is called a new hire safety orientation. The orientation lasts anywhere from four to five hours. We train our employees before they even step foot on the jobsite.” According to Mendoza, there have been advances in personal protective equipment (PPE) in recent years. “In 2008, there were changes in the OSHA regulations,” he said. “It is required that employers provide PPE. Since the change in the OSHA regulations, we now provide all the PPE, which include safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, safety harness-es, earplugs and more. “In the future, I think construction safety will continue to improve. In the past, our industry had a tremendous problem in the Hispanic population be-

cause the workers weren’t getting trained before they were sent to the jobsites. “Thanks to the push on the OSHA regulations and inspections, it has been changing little by little. There are more and more people out there getting to-gether, focusing on goals and making a difference.” Mendoza says he really enjoys his job as safety director. “At the end of the day, when I see the workers are going home the same way they left in the morning, it is rewarding to know that they are going to go back to their families and see their children,” he said. “That is my biggest joy. “It is very important to me that the workers are going to be safe on the job. It is not just a job, it is my passion.” Lasco Acoustics & Drywall Inc. provides drywall, acoustics and plastering in the commercial construction industry. The company has a corporate office in Dallas and also has offices in Austin and San Anto-nio. –ab

Go to most construction sites these days, and you’ll see a safety-con-

scious bunch of workers. People are wearing their hard hats, they’re wearing harnesses when they’re going up in lifts, and they comply with safety practices and procedures. But another important tool for con-struction companies to keep their work-ers safe on the job site is a plan in place that prevents and protects against fire emergencies, says Chris Jelenewicz, P.E., with the Society of Fire Protection Engi-neers. “It’s very important on a construc-tion site to make sure that you have a plan so that you know exactly what to do in case of an emergency,” Jelenwicz says. Things to cover in your plan include knowing whom to call in case of a fire,

prevention of potential hazards involving flammable materials and liquids, and having access and water for the fire de-partment to put out any blazes should they occur. “You want to make sure that when the fire trucks get to the scene, that they’ll be able to provide support,” Jelenewicz said. “Make sure fire hydrants are in place as soon as possible before starting the construction process, or make sure there is an alternative way that the fire depart-ment can get water.” While fires don’t seem to be a partic-ularly large problem these days, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. “It’s not something you should get complacent about,” Jelenewicz notes. “Fires do happen. You don’t usually hear about these fires because they aren’t

usually the kinds of things that make the news. It’s just something that you need to be aware of.” Jelenewicz says key steps in imple-menting a plan to bolster fire safety on your construction site include: 1) Making sure you get your superin-tendent involved. Make sure he is prop-erly trained to deal with potential prob-lems that might arise. 2) Get with the local fire department involved with the plan to ensure that their needs are properly met, and make sure that there is an established water supply. Being aware of their water supply is the part that some construction compa-nies overlook, Jelenewicz said. “It’s the most important thing – the fire department needs to have water if it’s going to put out a fire,” he said. “I think that’s the part that is most often forgot-ten about. You’ve got to get those hy-drants in place as soon as possible, and you’ve got to make sure the fire depart-

ment has a way to access the site with its ladder trucks.” 3) Technology and the prevalence of cell phones can be used, too. “You can put in place some sort of text messaging system so that people on the site can be notified immediately,” Jelenewicz ex-plains. 4) Make sure everyone knows the es-cape routes and that it is understood how to exit the building or site in case of an emergency. 5) If it’s a high rise project, two words: standpipe system. “These are sim-ple vertical pipes that allow the fire de-partment to reach each floor. On each floor, there is a connection so that the fire department just has to pump water into the pipe and haul a hose up to the floor where the fire is present. “It’s not rocket science, and it doesn’t cost you too much money, but it really does make things safer,” Jelenewicz said. –ms


Construction Safety

A safe way is the best way

W. C. Bill Blayney, Owner and PresidentW. C. Blayney & AssociatesHumble, TX

W.C. Bill Blayney is a professional safety consultant. During his career, he has shared his construction ex-

perience with more than 1,500 construction companies.

“I started in construction as a labor-er, office clerk, purchasing agent, super-intendent, general superintendent, head of cost department, specializing in work-ers compensation cost reduction and re-funds, scheduling and organizing multi-ple projects for most cost effective com-pletion and sale,” Blayney said. “Along with the inception of OSHA in 1971,I re-ceived a new title of safety director.” Blayney says he has 52 years of active construction experience and 41 years at-tempting to stay in compliance with the OSHA. He says the major risks in construc-tion are workers misunderstanding in-structions and supervision in a constant rush, with incomplete information to perform tasks at hand safely. “Additional risks in construction are operators not reading and understand-ing limitations to heavy equipment and

architects and engineers avoiding safe design out of fear of liability. “Many owners and managers do not want to give full information to their front line supervision. Supervision needs clear and complete instructions to line man-agement and supervision. Also, a clear company mandate for safe operations, use of experienced safety director, fore-man, superintendent, with full authority to identify and eliminate risk and errors. “Results of a good safety record, gives you a competitive edge over unsafe competitors. Employees would rather work for a company with a corporate cul-ture of being safe. Your insurance rates are lower, because you can reduce costs, because of safe behavior and can under bid your competition. You get more work, and more year end rebates from your insurance company. “Of the major construction compa-

nies that I worked for, we enjoyed the benefit of ability to be self-insured. Re-funds to a self-insured contractor result-ed profits in excess of production savings on the jobs. We were able to determine cost in detail, able to count on less ex-penses on overhead and labor costs. “On years that we completed $50 million in production, we expected a re-fund of excess workers compensation premium of more than $650,000 to add back to the bottom line. With a good safety program, and with supervision's blessing, we could count on this year-end treat annually.. With clear instruction, and use of experienced management, we always came in under estimates.” Blayney says to increase safety awareness and create a safe working en-vironment, give job supervision a corpo-rate safety culture and ensure executive and supervision must be sold on safe be-havior. He added that personal protective equipment (PPE) has always been there and every construction supplier has had all types of safety equipment on their shelves. “Organizations such as the AGC, ABC, ASSE, NSC are regularly and frequently holding meetings, open to the public on how to utilize and use safety equipment to the company’s greatest benefit, along with saving limb, fingers, and lives.” Looking ahead, Blayney thinks the

industry will use more and older people, more experienced seniors, people with on the ground experience, knowledge and ability to communicate it. “The most significant challenge to the safety industry and 40,000 profes-sional safety specialists is the sale of safe-ty benefits to owners and contractors. How much better planning, execution, safe operations, lack of lost time and en-hanced production and well planned and budgeted a project can be brought to fruition and good final payday, with no lost- time injuries. “I still get a thrill out of seeing a good project come together. I love seeing con-crete poured starting before daylight. Framing wood, steel, masonry going up at fantastic rates. I like to see two-year projects finishing in 18 months, and ex-perienced crews planning and executing error free jobs. “Working from the experiences of their grandfathers, dads and now we are in to the third generation of builders, building faster, safer and more produc-tive than ever.” W.C. Blayney & Associates provides loss control services and jobsite safety inspec-tions. The company specializes in commu-nication towers, excavation, trenching, concrete placement, framing, trim carpen-try, electrical, roofing, masonry and drywall safety programs. –ab

LJA Engineering Inc. Austin office employees recently had a great time playing casino games at the Red Oak Ballroom - Norris Conference Center. –ab

Know when to hold ‘emSubmitted to Construction News How did you meet

your significant other?

I met my wife Maria when I was in gram-mar school at age 12. I went home and told my mom I was going to marry her one day. She went to a different high school than I did. We dated and I took her to the prom.

Fred Vierna, Longhorn Glass

My wife and I met on a blind date in Lufkin, TX. We went fishing at the river one afternoon. I remember we drank a half case of soda water. I don’t think we caught any fish that day. We dated about a year and a half and then we got mar-ried.

Elton Beaird, CenTex & Frame Inc.

One of my fraternity brothers set my wife and I up on a blind date.

Bob Allen, Cunningham Allen Inc.Engineers & Surveyors

My wife, Jennifer, and I met in middle school during lunch. We got married in Round Rock in 2009.

Allen Mimms, All Area Overhead

I was a student at Southwest Texas State and I was running a homeless shelter. My wife Sherri was in property management and I brought some clients over to look at a place she had available. We met, we talked and she invited me over for dinner. We haven’t been apart since. It was one of those things. I just knew she was the one.

Ted Williford, Dun-Rite Construction

I met my wife, Barbara, at Texas Tech Uni-versity. Marrying Barbara is the best thing I ever did. She is the sweetest per-son in the world and has never said any-thing bad about anyone. She is beautiful. She is the perfect opposite and therefore a complement to me.

Jack Baum,Custom Quality Marble & Stone

My wife Heather and I met in college in Ohio. We started working together in the evenings at a bar. We were both working and going to school at the time. Today, we have two boys Parker, 3, and Preston, 2.

Geoff Graham, Cavalier Construction

I have been married to my wife Hilda for more than 25 years. We met under a mar-garita sign at Dallas Night Club many years ago.

Pete Eisele, P & H Equipment Inc.

My husband and I met in Dallas, TX and we decided we wanted to move to the Hill Country. We have lived in Briarcliff, TX since 2003. We fell in love with the Hill Country and wanted to stay here for good. We love going boating together on Lake Travis during the spring and summer seasons.

Barbara Arnold,Spicewood Metalworks

My wife’s name is Beth. We were friends and neighbors in the very beginning. I cooked dinner for her, we began dating and we eventually got married.

Pierce Burns,Advanced Concrete Protection

I have been married to my wife, Jo, for more than 30 years. We met at Lanier High School in Austin. We were both in the band. She was a drummer like me. Today, Jo handles are bookkeeping from home. She has worked with me for about 20 years.

Richard David, Davis Electric

Jessica and I met after college in Austin. We both love this city!

Scott Miller, Tex Painting


Round-Up

“Superior architects, top-shelf sub-contractors and an excellent construc-tion manager are why these projects came together with such success.” Founded in 1984 by Scott Trimm, Trimbuilt Construction Inc. has one office in Austin, TX and employs 65 people. The company specializes in interior commercial office build-outs, industrial and medical buildings

continued from Page 1 — Constant communcation equals success

continued from Page 1 — Four decades and counting

continued from Page 1 — 30 years in Austin

The desk areaThe waiting room

In Oct. 2011, Trimm and Puckett changed roles and Puckett purchased the company while Scott is pursuing other ave-nues and working on business develop-ment for the company. Puckett has worked at Trimbuilt Construction for more than 18 years. In addition, many employees have been with the company for more than 15 years and some more 20 years. –ab

company had built projects for 14 school districts, including many high schools throughout the metro Austin area. How-ever, the company has also completed projects in areas such as healthcare, park-ing garages and other commercial work. Heine said American Constructors was a “technical builder.” “We know how things are built, in-cluding work done by our subcontrac-tors,” he said. “To do this, we needed people who understood how buildings were built, and found that the best way to do this was hire young college gradu-

ates with degrees in construction and en-gineering.” The people – and providing a good work environment for these people – are big keys to the company’s success, Heine noted. “The company regularly provides group activities such as an annual picnic, Christmas parties, and outside activities such as passes to ballgames, rodeos and other events,” Heine said, “all with the in-tent of providing some non-work activi-ties where they can spend time with their co-workers, friends and families.” –ms

Jamie Buchanan, PE, LEED AP, has been promoted to principal at JQ, a structural civil engineering and surveying company. He joined the firm in 1993. Buchanan is a structural leader focused on architectural projects. Buchanan earned his B.S. degree in Archi-tectural Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. –ab

This is a monthly section for brief company announcements of new orrecently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Email (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month,

for the next month’s issue (published 1st of each month).Email info to appropriate city issue, with “Round-Up” in the subject line:––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

San Antonio: [email protected] Austin: [email protected] Dallas/Fort Worth: [email protected] Houston: [email protected] South Texas: [email protected]

Rou

nd-U

pSu

bm

issi

ons

Getting things accomplishedConstruction News ON LOCATION

L-R: April Mattson is the cashier and Peggy Smith handles the administrative duties at McCoy’s, a fourth generation, family-owned supplier

of lumber and building supplies. –ab

It takes twoConstruction News ON LOCATION

Melinda Runkle and Zachary Rhoades say the company recently bid on a commercial job at Runkle Enterprises LLC, a pool construction company. –ab

race at a track in Buda, TX. “Cabinetmaker Mark Barrell always cooks the barbecue when we have a par-ty. He does a little bit of everything here at the company. Jacob Jones works on the drawers and accessories and he loads and un-loads the trailer. “On the side, Jacob helps his father do artwork on the windows at different Chuy’s Tex Mex Restaurants in Texas and also out of state. “In my free time, I like to go see horse

races in San Antonio, TX. I have also been to Churchill Downs, a Thoroughbred racetrack in Kentucky.” Hunt says Hank, a Red Heeler, is the company shop dog. Hank comes to the shop every day and hangs out while em-ployees are busy at work. “Looking ahead, we plan to stay right here in Bastrop,” Hunt said. “We hope to stay as busy as possible and get as much work as we can in the future!” Water Street Millworks provides com-mercial and residential cabinetry. –ab

Val Ryan enjoys baking. She brought a pumpkin pie to the Christmas party.

Past editions can bedownloaded at

www.ConstructionNews.net

Did youknow?


Association CalendarContent submitted by Associations to Construction News

ACCAAir Conditioning Contractors of Amer.

Feb. 5: General Membership meetingFor more info: www.accaaustin.org

AGCAssociated General Contractors

Feb. 1: TEEX OSH 510 – Standards for Construction IndustryFeb. 5-8: TEEX PRT 123 Scaffold SafetyFeb. 12: Safety Committee meetingFeb. 12-15: TEEX OSH 500 – Train the TrainerFeb. 21-22: OSHA 10 Hour TrainingFeb. 26-27: TEEX PRT 256 – Medic First Aid CPRFor more information call 512-442-7887

IECIndependent Electrical Contractors

Feb. 1: Board of Directors meeting and General Membership luncheonFor more information call 512-832-1333

NAWICNat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Feb. 7: Chapter Meeting, 5:30pm, Texas Land & Cattle, Industry appreciation and 55th birthday party

Feb. 15: Monthly Luncheon, 11:30am, Threadgills on RiversideFeb. 28: Board Meeting, 11:30am, AGC officeFor more info: www.austinnawic.org

TSPETexas Society of Professional Engineers

Feb. 16: MathCounts CompetitionFeb. 22: 2013 Engineer’s Week Banquet, Radisson Hotel DowntownFor more info go to www.tspe-travis.org

USGBCU.S. Green Building Council

Feb. 6: LEED Green Associate 6-Week Exam Prep Course, 5-7pm, (Wednesdays) AGC office in Waco, TX Feb. 6: LEED AP BD+C Exam Prep, 6-8pm, (Wednesdays) AGC office in San AntonioFeb. 19: LEED 251 Full Day Workshop: Understanding LEED NC 2009, earn 7 GBCI CE and 7 AIA CES/LU hours, 8am-5pm, AGC office in AustinFeb. 21: Lunchtime Learning Series, in Waco - Principles of LEED: LEED Imple-mentation, earn 1.5 GBCI CE hours, 11am-1pm, AGC office in Waco. For more info: www.usgbc-centraltexas.org

CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY, INC.

Offi ce: 512-837-1028 Fax: 512-837-7234www.csiconcretesupply.com

404 West Powell Lane Suite 201 Austin, Texas 78753

Decorative Concrete Products • Concrete Floor StainsConcrete Sealers & Densifi ers • Color Admixtures

& Hardeners • Sealants • Epoxies • PolyureasDamproofi ng & Waterproofi ng • Water Repellants

& Coatings • Application MaterialsAnd Much More!

McKim & C r e e d , Inc., an

engineering, sur-veying and plan-ning firm that op-erates SURVCON, a division in Hous-ton, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth, is celebrat-ing its 35th anni-versary this year. Chairman and CEO Michael Creed, Ph.D., PE, said the firm was pleased to have reached the milestone, and would continue to improve and grow as it looked ahead to its future. “In our 35 years of operation, McKim & Creed has grown from a two-person structural engineering company to a 400-person infrastructure consultancy with offices throughout the United States,” Creed said. “Most recently, we’ve added LiDAR to our services, which is particularly strong in our Texas market. We’re also expanding into the “green” market, providing services for micro grids and renewable energy projects. “These are things that Herb McKim and I never dreamed of when we started the company in 1978. It’s exciting to re-flect upon the technological advances

35 and still growingthat have been made during the past 35 years, and to plan the future direction of McKim & Creed.” As it reaches the noteworthy milestone, the company is get-ting bigger, ac-quiring the as-

sets of North Carolina-based United Engi-neering Group, which is a leader in the design of solar photo voltaic systems and containerized energy storage systems for solar and wind energy production. UEG Chairman Roger Woods, PE, will oversee McKim & Creed’s energy and electrical design services. As it amasses more professionals with energy expertise, the company plans to be involved in the extensive shale areas of South Texas. “ We are not yet involved in this area but plan to be in the near future,” Creed said. “Right now we’re expanding our Texas staff to include more professionals with extensive backgrounds in the oil and gas industry, and these people will help us grow into this specific area of the energy market.” –ms

Michael Creed Roger Woods

Good news, industry jobseekers! Four of Fortune’s 100 Best Com-panies to Work For are con-

struction companies with locations in Texas. Balfour Beatty Construction and TDIndustries, both headquartered in Dallas, came in at 85 and 86 on the list respectively. TDIndustries has been named to the same list for 16 consecutive years, which gives them a distinction shared by only 12 other companies; they’ve made the list every year since its incep-tion in 1998. Balfour Beatty has made the list four times in a row. DPR Construction, a general con-tractor with offices in Austin and Hous-ton, achieved position number 15 on the list. PCL Construction Enterprises, a civil engineering design/build firm with offices in Dallas and Houston, came in at 73. Bob Richards, president of Cen-tral Texas operations for TDIndustries, stated, “We are committed to provid-ing outstanding career opportunities

by exceeding our customers’ expecta-tions through continuous aggressive improvement.” More than 20 percent of the em-ployee-owned company’s partners are still with the firm since it first appeared on the list. Robert Van Cleave, chairman and CEO of Balfour Beatty, comment-ed, “I’m very proud about what it says about the quality of people we have here. Our company has endured a tough economy and weathered the challenges of being a rapidly growing business; and yet, our employees con-tinue to be positively engaged in our business, their communities, and each other. They are the ones who make this a great place to work, consistently striving to earn the repeat trust of their coworkers, partners, and clients.” Businesses are ranked based on questions about pay, benefits, hiring practices, internal communication, training, recognition programs, and di-versity efforts. –mp

Whistling while they work

Glass actConstruction News ON LOCATION

Manager Fred Botello oversees operations at RMK Glass in Bastrop, TX. The company provides residential, commercial and auto glass services. –ab

Superintendent Richie Blevins says positive changes have taken place at Precision Commercial Plumbing

Co. Inc. in Pflugerville, TX. “We are now a Historically Underuti-lized Business (HUB) company,” Blevins said. “My wife Lynne is the owner and president. She is here at the office every day and works 40 hours a week.” Blevins says the company recently brought on a drafter named Steve Cantril to do the building information modeling (BIM) work. “We are also actively pursuing our li-cense to install fire protection systems in addition to handling commercial plumb-ing work in the Austin and surrounding areas,” he said. Blevins says he started going to job-sites with his father when he was 8 or 9. He worked with his father during the summer.

P is for precision

“The greatest lesson my dad taught me was the concept of taking pride in your work and doing it right,” he said. “I really think it is important to take the time to do the job right the first time.” Blevins says on the side Lynne likes to do event planning. She helps people plan bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah and birth-day parties. “Lynne, our daughters and I travel to North Carolina and Tennessee to see Lynne’s family at least once a year,” he said. “A couple of years ago, Lynne and I enjoyed taking our girls to Disney World in Orlando, FL. “We went to the Epcot Center and the Magic Kingdom. That was a fun time. We wanted to take our daughters to Dis-ney World before they went to college.” Established in 1981, Precision Commer-cial Plumbing Co. Inc. is a commercial plumbing company. –ab

The Precision Commercial Plumbing Co Inc. staff


Job Sight


™CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTIONHOME OFFICE210-308-5800

Advertising/Editorial Infowww.ConstructionNews.net

LARGESTINDUSTRY

CIRCULATIONIN TEXAS

167,619MONTHLYREADERS

WE DELIVERWHAT OTHERPUBLICATIONS

DON’TIN DEPTH

COVERAGE OFPEOPLE, EVENTS& COMPANIES

LARGER ADSFOR

LESS DOLLARS

515 RACKLOCATIONS

ACROSSTEXAS

TWOLEVEL

DISTRIBUTIONSYSTEMEDITIONS CAN BE

DOWNLOADEDON-LINE

Dallas/Fort. Worth

Austin

HoustonSan Antonio

South Texas

L-R: Walter Zuniga, Oscar Mendoza, Luis Rico and Baltimore Hernandez, A & T Concrete, prepare to pour a concrete slab at the Ascension

Catholic Church Parish project on Water Street. –ab

Footprints in the desert sandSubmitted to Construction News

Mary Paul, San Antonio editor for Construction News, traveled to White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, where dunes of fine gypsum cover 275 square miles of the

Tularosa Basin, bracketed by two distant but breathtaking mountain ranges. –mp

Originally based in Pflugerville, TX, Ringer Windows has relocated to a new 40,000sf facility in Taylor,

TX. “We will be able to service Central Texas from our office in Taylor,” said Greg Ringer, owner. “There was a point at our Pflugerville location where we couldn’t expand or grow because we had a limited amount of space. We couldn’t stock anything and we couldn’t add any new lines of win-dows at the 10,000sf facility. “We built the Taylor facility because we needed more space for the windows and the equipment. Our options were to move to a larger lease space or find a place and build. Taylor had a land grant program we liked and it was a good deal. “In addition, Taylor was not much further away from Pflugerville, so it

worked out great. We are planning to have an open house event in May.” According to Ringer the new facility has 5,000sf of office and showroom space. “Our showroom is called “The Walk of Windows”,” he said. “We built a maze of full sized walls and we put up more than 40 full sized doors and windows in all the different colors, styles and op-tions. “We wanted customers to be able to come into the showroom and touch and feel everything that we make here at Ringer Windows.” Ringer says the company provides full installation services for replacement windows as well as direct sales to con-tractors, remodelers and building profes-sionals.

Established in 2007, Ringer Windows manufactures energy efficient vinyl windows, sliding patio doors and heavy-duty replacement windows. The company provides custom size windows as well as stock sized windows for new construction. –ab

The Ringer Windows facility in Taylor, TX

Windows of opportunity


Patriot Erectors Inc. and Ironwork-ers Local #482 are both advocates for vocational training in area high

schools. Jason Puckett, safety director at Pa-triot Erectors Inc., was recently invited to talk to welding classes at Dripping Springs High School about safety. “This is where I met the agriculture teacher Lauri Kelley,” Puckett said. “Ms. Kelley and I started to talk and she showed me around the welding shop I observed that she really needed some new welding tables for her students. “I had asked the owners of Patriot Erectors if they would be willing to do-nate the materials to fabricate new tables for the program and then I asked Iron-workers Local # 482 if I brought in the materials if it would be okay for the ap-prentices to build the tables. Thanks to everyone involved it was a success!” Dripping Springs, TX-based Patriot

Weld on

L-R: Apprentices Randy Wilson Kris Barnes and Derrick Bernaden

The apprentices workon the new welding tables

Erectors provides steel fabrication and erec-tion services. –ab Technical training with $2 million

pieces of equipment is crucial for both efficiency and safety in this

business, and now HOLT CAT has opened a new ProTech Technical Training Facility on East Southcross Boulevard in San An-tonio. The LEED Silver facility will train tech-nicians from across the state, including HOLT CAT’s Dallas, Austin, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and Victoria, and of course, San Antonio. Allyn Archer, president and COO, and Guy Clumpner, senior vice presi-dent, were onsite for the grand opening and open house Jan. 24. “HOLT sees a serious, industry-wide need for skilled workers and this state-of-the-art facility demonstrates our commit-ment to future growth, professional training and development for techni-cians,” Archer said in a statement. Clumpner stated “This is a very so-phisticated business. The technical acu-men required to be successful in this field requires digital, computer and electronic

For the technicians of tomorrow

skills and knowledge, as well as the abili-ty to accurately diagnose and make re-pairs. Our focus is to hire and develop professional technicians who can build successful careers in one of the most crit-ical areas of our business.” At the official opening, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and Rep. Ruth Jones Mc-Clendon both spoke about the signifi-cance of this training center to the youth entering the workforce. “Without the strong voices of HOLT CAT and others in our business commu-nity, we cannot craft an education sys-tem that meets the needs of a future workforce,” Van de Putte commented. HOLT CAT and the Caterpillar Dealer Excellence Fund recently contributed $54,000 in scholarships to nine Texas schools to support training of specialized technicians. Students and faculty attend-ed the grand opening from two of those schools, St. Philip’s College and MacAr-thur High School, which are both located in San Antonio. –mp

President and COO Allyn Archer opened HOLT CAT’s new ProTech Training Facility.

austin construction news february 2013 issue

Documents