build houston magazine december/january

8/10/2019 Build Houston Magazine December/January

1/28 Build Houston Magazine December / January 2015 www.buildhoustononline.com


2/28 2 Build Houston Magazine December / January 2015 www.buildhoustononline.com

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COVER FEATUREUNITED ELECTRICAL & INSTRUMENTATION:

A History of Proven Performance (p.15)

FOCUS SECTION:National Economy Regains Footing: The Outlook For Houston, Texas & Beyond(p.22)

LEGAL NEWS:

6 Six Steps To Minimize Whistleblower Claims8 Drug Testing For Marijuana... Do You Really Want To Know?

INDUSTRY NEWS:

10 Why Strategy Matters In The Oil And Gas Industry

FINANCIAL NEWS:

12 Keep A Close Eye On These Affordable Care Act Issues

SAFETY NEWS:

16 What Time Is It?18 Guns, Falls, Poison, Cell Phones... Whats More Deadly?

ASSOCIATION NEWS:

20 A Winning Combination of Industry Supporting Education

IN THE KNOW:

26 People, Companies, Projects and Awards

I N D E X O F A D V E R T I S E R S

ABC LEADERSHIPhairm Ricketts

hannel BioRefinery & Terminals

hair Electarlene Eastoles Inc.

ce Chairike Hollandarek Brothers Systems, Inc.

ecretaryarren Adamson

&B Engineers and Constructors

easurereonard Bedellobil Steel International

2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

rian AndersonR. Birdwell Construction

erry BennettC Constructors, LLC

evin Bordelonachry Industrial

obert BurelsmithE. Reed Construction, L. P.

am Craigaig & Heidt, Inc.

att DanielBR Building Group

arcus DealB&I

obert Diasoster Wheeler USA Corp.

att ElliottpawGlass Construction Corp.

nesh Ghialbane Building Company

ohn Golasheskyurner Industries Group, LLC

randon Mabileerformance Contractors, Inc.

ohn Marshallatterfield & Pontikes Constr. Inc.

avid McCleskeyBR

od MolyneauACOBS

ob Nussmeierewit/TIC

oe Orraker Concrete Construction, Ind.

odney Pageef-Chem L.P.

endell Rychlik.T. Byler Company

illiam Sanchezxford Builders Inc.

hristina Stoneaughan, Stone & Thiagarajan

enry Villarrealurner Construction

en Westcottndrews Myers

ark Williamsechtel Construction Services

onnie Willsggregate Technologies Inc.

ohn ZyliczE. Harvey Builders, Inc.

uild Houston Magazine910 Kirby Drive, Suite 131ouston, Texas 7709813)523-6222ww.buildhoustononline.com

ublisher/Owner: Associated Builders &ontractors of Greater Houston

xecutive Editor:Jennifer Woodruff

ssistant Editor: Megan Brann

ccount Manager:Janice Peters

raphic Design: Jennifer Woodruff,obert Chevis

Aggregate Technologies Inc. ................................. 4

American Mat & Timber Co. ...............................25

Cokinos, Bosien & Young ....................................21

Craig and Heidt, Inc. .............................................7

Efficiency Shoring & Supply ...............................11

Expertox. .............................................................11

Ford Nassen & Baldwin P.C. ................................17

Interface Consulting International, Inc. ..............21

ISC Constructors, LLC .............................................7

Kerr, Hendershot & Canon, P.C. ...........................19

Locke Solutions Precast Division ........................13

Marek Brothers Systems .....................................13

Merit Professional Coatings ................................19

Porter Hedges LLP...............................................28

ROMCO Equipment ...............................................2

Scott Macon Equipment .......................................9

TCA/The Compliance Alliance L.P. ........................5

Total CAD Systems Inc...........................................9

United Electrical & Instrumentation ...................15



Dear Reader,

The year is quickly coming to a close, as is my Chairmanship. Darlene East of Holes Incorporated wil

be taking the reins for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Greater Houston in 2015. To

prepare for this transion, a combined planning conference was held in October for both ABC and

Construcon & Maintenance Educaon Foundaon (CMEF). One of the main conference focuses

was once again workforce development and training. There is a dierence! During the meeng the

disncon was made that workforce development is aracng, training, and retaining workers in

the industry.

CMEF has made signicant gains in aracng young prospecve construcon workers by sponsoring

Houston area high schools that want to embed NCCER classes as part of their curriculums. There

are currently 28 local high schools being sponsored by CMEF and ABC Members. Addionally, both

ABC and CMEF will be making a concerted eort to aract military service members returning from

overseas into the construcon industry. Here is the catch; once these individuals have been aracted

into the industry, and have received adequate training, they need to be hired. That is where our

membership comes in. We need to put these folks on job sites!

There is an new eort by ABC to connect workers with industry employers an online Job Posng board has been created. Both nding

a job with one of our member companies as well as nding potenal workers is as simple as uploading job opportunies or resumes

to the online plaorm, which can be found at buildhoustononline.com. Anyone can post a resume but only ABC members can post

a job or view a resume that has been posted. This service is free through December 31st. Please adverse this service to your HR

professionals and lets give these new people entering the construcon industry an opportunity.

The only way we will grow our workforce is by hiring new people

interested in entering the industry!

Finally, I will leave you with a thought. Employee retenon is

something that depends on a number of dierent variables, it is

individual to each company, and is somewhat challenging withdemographic and cultural changes. There is, however, a common

thread that I believe is fundamental. We will never convince

an employee that we care about them as a person if we dont

connue to provide a safe workplace. ABC members are the

safest contractors in the country, but we need to connue this

focus as each of our companies become increasingly busy.

Have a great rest of the year!

Tim Ricketts

ABC Greater Houston Chairman

Director of Projects, Channel

BioRefinery & Terminals

L E T T E R F R O M T H E C H A I R


6/28



(5) Review and update your companys Code of Conduct.

Code of Conduct policies are in the cross-hairs of regulatory

enforcement acons, especially those policies that impose

strict condenality requirements prohibing the ling

of charges with government agencies. Ensure that the

companys Code of Conduct adequately addresses important

compliance concerns, risk areas, and cultural commitments

to ethics and integrity. An eecve Code should be more

than just words on the page. Companies should take stepsto ensure that the policies and principles in the Code are

eecvely communicated and implemented at all levels of the

organizaon.

(6) Make workplace culture a priority. Employees who fear

retaliaon or do not trust their managers and corporate

leaders to make ethical decisions are much less likely to come

forward internally with reports of misconduct. Companies

should work to promote an ethical workplace culture in which

employees feel comfortable speaking up about potenally

unlawful or unethical conduct.

Firmwide:129951501.1 800000.1000

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

G. Mark Jodon, managing shareholder for Liler Mendelsons Houston oce,

is board-cered in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal

Specializaon. Mark advises employers on whistleblowing and retaliaon issues.

He can be reached at (713) 652-4739 and [email protected].

I N D U S T R I A L I N S T R U M E N T A T I O N A N D E L E C T R I C A L S E R V I C E S

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Whistleblower Claims | LEGAL NEWS



DRUG TESTING FOR MARIJUANA...

Do You Really Want To Know?

Posive tests for marijuana in employment drugscreening jumped 6.2% naonally from2012 to 2013, according to a recent study from Quest Diagnoscs.

Most employer drug tesng programs provide for, among other

things, random tesng for the presence of marijuana in an

employees system, with many owners and contractors mandang

that such random tests be conducted (or at least provided for).

Employees tesng posive for marijuana metabolite generally

are subject to discipline up to and including terminaon. In

the absence of an owner, contractor or government enty

mandang marijuana tesng; however, the queson arises: with

the growing naonal leniency toward legalizaon of recreaonal

marijuana use, do employers really want to random drug test

their employees?

While no one is advocang allowing

marijuana-impaired employees on the job,

urine and blood tests only monitor for the

presence of marijuana metabolite and not

present impairment. Marijuana metabolite

stays in an employees system for 3 to 6

weeks aer marijuana use. Thus, several

employers have stopped randomly tesng

for marijuana (though they connue

to test post-accident and based upon

reasonable suspicion of impairment) based on the fact that an

employee may not be impaired on the job, but may fail a test

anyway as a byproduct of recreaonal acvies. Tesng for the

presence of marijuana in any circumstance, however, may open

a Pandoras Box of unwanted employment issues. For example

the possibility exists that a posive marijuana test result could

arise from an employees proper use of medical marijuana in

one of the jurisdicons in which such medical use is legal. If so

taking an employment acon against such an employee may be

tantamount to a violaon of the ADA; the employee may have

been using medical marijuana for the treatment of a protected

condion.

Further, an employee could test posive for marijuana as a resul

of a vacaon to Colorado or Washington, where recreaona

use of marijuana is legal. With such a growing naonal leniency

An employee could test positive for

marijuana as a result of a vacation

to Colorado or Washington, where

recreational use of marijuana is legal.

With such a growing national leniency

towards marijuana use, should an

employer care if the test does not

evidence impairment at work?

STERGIO



towards marijuana use, should an employer care if the test does

not evidence impairment at work?

If a reliable employee tests posive for marijuana, an employer

with such knowledge might feel compelled to take some acon

against the employee regardless of their stellar on-the-job

performance. This is becoming an issue in a market where skilled,

qualied workers are scarce. Employers may want to think twice

about adopng screening methods that could exclude workersfor acvity that does not aect job performance, and further, a

posive test result could open up an unwarranted ADA issue or

force an employer into following inconsistent policies.

4823-1653-1742, v. 1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Arcle was wrien by Anthony G. Stergio with assistance from Drew Erickson.

Board Cered in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal

Specializaon, Anthony G. Tony Stergio has extensive experience in the

defense of State and Federal employment discriminaon claims, wage and

hour compliance, noncompeon agreements and employment policy design

and review. He speaks frequently at employment-related seminars and alsocounsels clients regarding developments in various areas of State and Federal

employment law.

Call (281) 445-6161 today to see whats new and how it can benefit you and your organization.

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Drug Testing | LEGAL NEWS



What separates great companies that can consistentlyachieve high performance over a long periodof me from those that rise and fall year to year? One thing isthe depth of thinking company leaders put into planning for the

future of their company. A companys strategy is the collecon

of decisions that are made about how the company vision will

be achieved over the long term. It includes answers to a few

very basic quesons. Among them are where the company will

compete (geography, business segments, client types, etc.) and

how it will compete (services, scopes, dierenators, etc.). If

company leaders can gain clarity on these two quesons and use

them as guidelines in all other business decisions, the company

will be able to consistently outperform its competors.

Simply dened, strategy is the decision about where to allocate

scarce resources within your company. It includes decisions such

as how much corporate prot to invest in employee bonuses,

levels of investment in project controls systems, purchases of

equipment, hiring of business development sta, opening branch

oces, etc. All of these decisions are about levels of investment

in the company. It is very dicult (and not terribly eecve) to

address them individually. However, if most leaders dont have

the luxury of sing down and evaluang the pros and cons of all

these decisions together at one me. Having a corporate strategy

in place serves as a guide for company leaders when making

these decisions. In essence, it changes the queson from Should

the company invest in this job cosng soware? to Does the

recommended investment in job cosng soware advance the

company toward the strategy to pursue XYZ market?

It should be a relavely simple exercise to answer the Where

and How quesons for a companys current strategy:

Where does the company compete?

In what areas will the company pursue work and where will

it not? (Examples might be Gulf Coast states, Appalachia,

midconnent, anywhere, etc.)

What lines of work will the company

pursue? (compressor staons,

metering staons, transmissionpipelines, gathering systems,

miscellaneous gases, all of the above,

etc.)

What client types does the company

prefer? (naonals, regionals,

those with high prequalicaons,

those with unsophiscated project

management systems, etc.)

How do we compete?

What services or scopes will the company deliver?

(engineering, civil construcon, data gathering and

management, etc.)

How will the company be dierent? (strong balance sheet

duplicate resources that can mobilize quickly, deep project

controls experience, great relaonships, low cost, etc.)

But having clarity around these points is just the rst step. The

next step is to describe where and how the company will compete

in the future and the gaps between todays company and that

future company. In essence, company leaders should develop a

deliberate view of how they envision the company evolving over

me and what it will take to get there. Some of the key inputs into

both the denion of the future company and the gap assessmen

should be derived from research into where the market is growing

and buying trends. It should also include an objecve assessment

of how current and prospecve customers perceive the company

capabilies. For instance, do customers consider the company

capable of handling large projects, or have they pigeonholed it

for smaller work? Is the company a preferred supplier? Is the

market shiing toward limited, prequalied selecon processes

for certain types of work? If so, which companies will have an

advantage?

Why Strategy Matters

In The Oil and Gas Industry

DUNCAN



Armed with this informaon, company leaders are then prepared

to document what the company will look like in the future and the

steps it will take to get there. That document (the strategic plan)

is the detailed road map everyone in your company will follow.

From that, decisions about whether to invest in eld management

training, new equipment, building customer relaonships, bidding

on an upcoming project, opening new oces, etc., become

considerably clearer.

To learn more about developing a comprehensive business

strategy and strategic plan, visit hp://www.fmiquarterly.com/

category/strategy/. All arcles are available free for download.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Based in Houston, Sco Duncan is a vice president with FMI Capital Advisors,

Inc., FMI Corporaons registered Investment Banking subsidiary. He works with

construcon industry rms on mergers and acquisions, valuaons and ownership

transfer issues. He may be reached by calling 303.398.7250 or via email at

[email protected].

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Oil & Gas Strategy | INDUSTRY NEWS



With the Aordable Care Acts new reporngrequirements fast approaching, employers andtheir benet advisers need more than ever to keep abreast of

whats happening with the ever-changing health care reform

law. Here are ve ACA issues the naonal law rm Epstein Becker

Green says employers need to be following:

ACA Related Ligaon

Several pending court cases could have a huge impact on employer

responsibility under the ACA, including dueling decisions by

federal courts about whether employers in states with federally

facilitated exchanges would be liable for penales if an employee

receives a subsidy. While employers and their advisers should be

watching the cases closely, employers are advised to connue with

their employer mandate plans unl the courts rule denively.

Employer Mandate Reporng

In August, the IRS released dra forms and instrucons related to

the reporng requirements under Secons 6055 and 6056 of the

Internal Revenue Code. Beginning in 2016, employers that sponsor

fully insured or self-insured group health plans are required to

report informaon to the IRS about the health coverage provided

during the prior calendar year (2015).

The reporng is meant to assist the federal government in

enforcing compliance with both the employer and individual

mandates and, in turn, in administering the premium tax credit

and cost-sharing subsidy eligibility and payments through the

exchanges. Finalized forms are forthcoming, but employers and

their advisers can use the dras to begin taking steps to ensure

compliance with the law.

Secon 510 Liability

ERISA Secon 510 is an an-

abuse provision enacted to

prevent unscrupulous employers

from discharging or interfering

with their employees rights

to benets. In the wake of

the Aordable Care Act, some

plains aorneys will likely

use Secon 510 as an avenue

for suing employers that have reduced hours to limit exposure

to employer mandate liability. Employers that are planning o

reducing employee hours should do so in a way that limits thei

exposure to Secon 510 claims. In addion, employers ma

consider grandfathering employees that previously worked

30 or more hours a week. Employers should also ensure thei

employment agreements are modied to nofy employees who

are not benets-eligible of their status.

Alternaves to Tradional Plan Oerings

The employer mandate, for some, will dramacally increase the

number of employees eligible for employer-sponsored coverage

and the cost of providing coverage to addional employees has

led some employers and their advisers to look for alternave

to tradional plan oerings. While there are legimate way

to lower costs, there are an increasing number of plan design

and schemes that could expose employers to liability, including

employer payment plans, drug importaon programs, incenve

schemes and employee classicaon schemes. Use cauo

because if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Keep A Close Eye On These

Affordable Care Act Issues

CHRISTTAYLOR

INSURANCE



The Looming Cadillac Tax

Beginning in 2018, employer-sponsored group health plans will

be subject to a 40 percent non-deducble excise tax on the dollar

amount of coverage that exceeds certain specied thresholds.

This looming concern is accelerang an already strong trend

toward having workers foot a greater share of their overall health-

care costs in the forms of higher deducbles, copayments and

coinsurance charges whose dollar amounts are not factored in

when calculang the tax.

Employers and their advisers must take acon now to restructure

their health coverage oerings to avoid the tax. In addion to

changing benet design, many employers have implemented

populaon health management techniques, such as wellness

programs, telemedicine services and giving employees incenves

to go to certain medical providers to improve the health of their

populaon, which will, in turn, help control their premium costs

and lower exposure to the Cadillac Tax.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christ Taylor Insurance is an Employee Benets and Insurance Brokerage rm

doing business for over 50 years in southeast Texas, and long-me ABC member.

We provide soluons to small and medium size companies in the areas of

Healthcare and other Benet programs, as well as Life Insurance and Rerement

Plans. Contact the Christ Taylor team at 713-850-7747 or www.chrisaylor.com.

At Marek, we invest in educating ouremployees to improve specialty skills andfoster long-term careers. The result isa dedicated team of craft professionals

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Because were devoted to developinga highly skilled workforce, our processalways leads to a strong final product.

With Marek, its more than the strengthin our workforce it s about giving yourproject

strength from within.

713.681.2626 | marekbros.com

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ACA Issues | FINANCIAL NEWS



United Electrical & Instrumentation | COVER STORY

The Innity Group is a third generaon, family-ownedalliance of four separate enes that provideconstrucon services ranging from groundbreaking to startup, as

well as ongoing maintenance services. The family-owned business

began in the 1940s and has been led by the third generaon since

2003.

Our management and key personnel bring years of experience

to the areas of construcon management and execuon,

environmental health and safety and cra workforce development.

The team successfully executes chemical and rening projects, as

well as provides ongoing maintenance and turnaround services.

United Electrical & Instrumentaon, (UEI) a merit shop company

in operaon since 1980 provides electrical, instrumentaon, air

condioning refrigeraon services, as well as crane and elevator

inspecon and maintenance services to the industrial market.

The goal of our organizaon is to provide an unmatched level

of professional service at a compeve price, using only highlyskilled technicians to complete your projects on-me and to

ensure complete customer sasfacon.

Electrical Power Systems

UEI performs a wide variety of services on electrical power systems

ranging from 120 V Lighng to 15 kV Power Distribuon Systems.

These services include but are not limited to: low, medium

and high voltage switchgear installaons, cable terminaons,

cable tray installaons, ground grid tesng, troubleshoong of

electrical systems, control wiring and panel construcon, cable

pulls, transformer services and pole line construcon. With more

than 34 years in the business, UEI combines our safety processes,

quality management systems, equipment eet and skilled

crasman/supervision to ensure we provide the best service

available to our clients.

Instrumentaon

UEI provides a group of specialized Instrumentaon Technicians

with years of experience working in the renery and chemical

industries. We perform Control System Installaons, which include

Honeywell, Fisher Provox, Texas Instruments, Allen Bradley,

Modicon, Foxboro and Rosemount Equipment. In addion, we

oer startup and commissioning services that include but are not

limited to SIS systems, funcon tesng, verifying communicaon

on devices, building packages for systems with turnover to the

client once the system has been installed, calibrated, funcon

checked and loops completed as a sold device. We stay in

constant contact with our clients to ensure a quality job has been

performed and to enable a smooth transion during startup.

Crane and Elevator

In 1987, we formed a department to provide installaon, repair,

maintenance and inspecons of elevators, cranes and hoists. A

computerized parts inventory system provides job schedules

and printouts for our customers. A preventave maintenance

quarterly inspecon scheduling system is also available to reduce

unscheduled (emergency) jobs. On sta is a state cered Quality

Elevator Inspector.

HVAC and Specialty Sheet Metal Fabricaon

A fully equipped sheet metal shop supports HVAC work with

capabilies for fabricang galvanized, stainless steel, andaluminum up to 1/4 thick. Our capabilies also include welding

and brazing duct work of all size square, rectangular, round and

spiral pipe.

We own and maintain the majority of our equipment, allowing

us to oer substanally lower rates on services and equipment

rentals, such as portable air condioners or chillers, and portable

temperature and moisture control generators.

Firmly in place are quality-driven processes such as project

scheduling, performance tracking, cost reporng and cost

analysis. Added together, these ingredients make UEI the bes

single-source electrical contractor for you.

UEIs relaonship with its aligned companies gives us the ability

to oer a full range of services, including general mechanical, pipe

fabricaon, civil, and remediaon.

Our family of companies has a history and reputaon of providing

experienced and performance-oriented personnel to our clients

through our oces in La Porte, Clute, and Port Lavaca, Texas.

Please visit us online at www.ueiltd.com

A History of Proven Performance

UEI electrician working on a 5 kV transformer in a petrochemical facility.



to give a summary of whats happening in

the world of safety. From an observers

posion, safety in our localized world is

doing well. However, if a company or a

project has an incidence rate with anything

other than zero, our task is incomplete.

There are many who say that if were going

to be in the construcon business, we just

have to know that injuries happen. I say

no to that. Injuries dont just happen,

they all have a cause; and since they all have a cause, they can be

prevented.

In my safety seminars, a queson is asked: Have you ever been

part of a team invesgang an injury? Most will answer Yes

Then I say: What were you looking for? Someone will usually

say: We were looking for the root cause. I would say: Thats

the correct answer, and if you were looking for a cause, you have

proven that injuries are preventable. Because, if you can nd a

cause, then by removing that cause, the injury would have been

prevented.

Timex or Rolex?Whats the dierence if the watch keeps me? Some may say i

is the style or the look, or maybe its the quality. By any watch o

clock you use, the me is always right to prevent injuries. Since

injuries have causes, they surely are preventable. So, why do

we sll have injuries at worksites? For an answer, we need to

look at the leaders. From my experience in construcon, leaders

get what they want. If a leader wants to save money, all he/

she has to do is eliminate cost, reduce processes, avoid adding

value, rush the work and dont worry what the customer thinks

or how many people are harmed during the savings process. If

Thisyear has rapidly ashed by. Is it me or does me

pass faster as you age? My involvement with

Associated Builders and Contractors is now in the fourth decade

beginning in the 80s when I was safety commiee chairman and

began teaching safety courses for members. Do you remember

the original ABC oce located in the Houston Ship Channel area

in an old Howard Hughes complex? Not far from that oce was

the Houston Country Club that Howard frequented. Today the

course is known as Gus Wortham Golf Course and is owned and

managed by the City of Houston. ABC has grown up and moved

on. Congratulaons for the forward look. Had we stayed in that

old part of Houston, wed now have cobwebs over our sign outfront.

Whos Keeping Time?

I oen compare ABC with whats happening in the construcon

industry. ABC is rocking. Construcon is rocking. From residenal

to high rise buildings, to oce complexes, to upstream, midstream

and downstream oil producon, it s the glory land for contractors.

Nearly any person these days who wants to work can nd a job in

construcon. Thats not to say that any person or every person

is qualied, it s just that construcon oers many the opportunity

for employment. In 1990 the Construcon and MaintenanceEducaon Foundaon (CMEF) Board of Directors was aempng

to assist the industry with aaining sucient numbers of qualied

workers. We called our plan Workforce 2000. Of course, by 2000,

we had not maintained our goals because we didnt ancipate the

connuous needs of construcon.

Hour Glass Timer

Oen the progress in construcon is viewed from an hour glass, or

in some types of construcon, maybe a sun dial-like when will this

freeway be completed? In comparing progress, Im oen asked

What Time Is It?

GHORMLEY



by chance, the same leader wants to get

a great return on the investment, do just

the opposite: invest sucient funds, add

necessary processes, perform the work

producvely, consider the customers

feelings and always prevent injuries and

preserve lives.

The boom line is this: Are you usinga Timex and sll doing safety like in the

70s or 80s? Or could it be that you are

a Rolex person and a zero injury kind of

person? With no disrespect, consider

that companies or projects that have

incidence rates in the 1.0 and above

range, its me for a Rolex. One project

leader in one of my seminars stated that

he did not need a good incidence rate to

get work for his company; all he needed

was a low bid. What the leader did not

understand is that a 1.0 IR means that one

person out of every 100 employees in the

company suered a recordable injury. If

a company has 500 employees, thats 5

people injured. What if your child worked

there and was one of those injured, would

that make any dierence? Of course it

wouldor should.

Which Is It?

So which mer do you have? The one

that takes a licking (as in injury) and keepson cking or do you prefer the Rolex with

injury to no one? The choice belongs to

the leaders. They get what they want.

Hopefully leaders want employees to go

home the way they came to work. Or, in

the case of a zero injury company, they

want workers to go home beer than

they arrived because they were under the

direcon of a Rolex leader.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Benne Ghormley has more than 35 years ofexperience in safety, training and construconadministraon. He is experienced in implemenngsafety programs involving commercial, industrialand municipal industries. Mr. Ghormley hasconducted audits, invesgaons and inspecons inreneries, chemical and petrochemical plants, forpipelines, water and waste facilies, manufacturingplants and fabricaon facilies. Mr. Ghormleyhas served as an expert witness in ligaon casesand appeared before the Workers Compensaon

Commission, EEOC, Employment Commission and

civil courts. Contact Mr. Ghormley via email at

[email protected].

Its not

about luckfordnassen.com

Dal las Houston Aust in

Youve worked hard to build your

business and good reputation in theconstruction industry.

Dont leave them to chance.

What Time Is It? | SAFETY NEWS



Ibelieve in gun ownership. But with the media hijacking everynews program every me a gun is involved in an incident, Ithought I should do some research and get the facts. What ARE

the top causes of deaths in America? We all know OSHAs Top 4

causes of death for workers: Falls, Electrocuon, Struck By, and

Caught In-Between. But what hits everyone? Are guns our most

deadly threat on a daily basis as the news channel would have us

believe?

In researching causes of death in the USA for people 25 years and

older, I found the top 4 causes of death are lifestyle related

diseases which primarily arise from what you eat, drink, and

think, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The #5 cause of death is accidents. And within accidents we have

several causes but the Top 4 are1:

1) Poisoning

2) Motor Vehicles

3) Falls

4) Guns

Poisoning as #1 blew me away unl I discovered WHAT was

poisoning everyone. Uhhh, Tylenol? Big Pharma? You got it!

Tylenol alone sends more than 100,000 people to the hospital

annually and accounts for over 56,000 emergency room visits due

to acute poisoning. We dont have room to cover the numbers on

the other pharmaceucals but suce to say that these companies

are NOT in the health business.

Falls, the #1 bad boy for OSHA and the

construcon industry came in third.

Guns, as a cause of accidental death,

came in a distant fourth.

Motor Vehicles came in 2nd at 33,000

deaths annually. But a HUGE cause

of these crashes is something that

didnt exist 50 years ago. The Naonal

Safety Council esmates that over 1.6

MILLION car crashes per year are due to cell phone use. Of these

more than 400,000 persons are injured and taken to the hospital

And, as already menoned, eventually tens of thousands die.

You should know that on a good year, or a bad year, OSHA is only

dealing with 4,000 to 5,000 work-related deaths. It never changes

Cell phones are vastly increasing the risk of auto-related death

While, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has some cel

phone laws in place, there are so few specically dedicated to cel

phones that most people focus on what they CAN do, rather than

what they CANT or SHOULDNT DO.

Heres the short list of Texas cell phone laws for drivers over 25

years of age:

1) No use while driving if you have had a learners permit fo

six months or less; or

2) You operate a school bus; or

3) You are driving in a school zone.

GunsFalls

Poison

Cell Phones...

Whats More Deadly?

AMAVI



However, dont let this short list fool you. Texas has its own

version of OSHAs General Duty Clause. OSHAs clause says

(paraphrased) If there are unsafe acts or condions occurring

in your workplace for which we do NOT have a regulaon, and

you know about it, then you are responsible to correct it.

Failures to do so result in citaons issued under the General

Duty Clause.

The driver equivalent to the General Duty Clause is the

Distracted Driver laws. These vary throughout Texas but the

common thread is cause a wreck because you were on your

cell phone, and you may get the cket as a distracted driver.

Driver distracon costs the U.S. economy $3.58 billion EACH

MONTH2 in addion to the hundreds of thousands of injuries.

As a result, many employers are implemenng cell phone bans

while driving.

Clearly, YOU are in control of the most deadly hazard you face

on a daily basis. Its not gunsas the liberals would tell you. Its

not falls, as OSHA would tell you. Its your cell phone. So, even

if there is NO law against texng outside a school zone, use your

brain, not your phone. TEXTED, DROVE, & CRASHED is NOT a

good epitaph.

1 Centers For Disease Control

2 Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tara Maria Amavi, (formerly Tara Templeton Hart,

name changed due to identy the) is the Founder

and President of TCA/The Compliance Alliance L.P.

TCA has provided services to almost 1000 companies

naonwide and TCAs proprietary tools, methods

and means have been ranked #1 in the world for

managing contractor safety. The TCA Safety System

is peer acknowledged as a method based upon TCAs

own trade secrets which get beer results than

tradional safety methods and, therefore, saves

lives. Ms. Amavi has been named one of Houstons

50 Most Inuenal Women by Houston Woman

magazine, and has also been named one of the

Whos Who in Safety by Compliance Magazine. Ms.

Amavi is a sought aer public speaker, has appeared

on local & naonal radio and television programs

including ve appearances on The BusinessMakers,

a radio show hosted by John Beddow & Russ Capper.

Ms. Amavi may be contacted at tara.amavi@

tcamembers.com or 713.263.7661.

WE KNOW OSHA LAW

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GENERAL INDUSTRY TRAINING ANDCONSTRUCTION TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

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DONT WAIT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A CITATION, CALL US IMMEDIATELY.

Whats More Deadly? | SAFETY NEWS



Twenty-ve Turner High Schoolwelding studentsaccompanied by their teacher, Patricia Hayes, toured a Turner

Industries Pipe Fabricaon shop in Pasadena. Carla Thompson,

Workforce Development Coordinator for Turner Industries Group,

LLC, arranged for the eld trip for these Pearland ISD students.

As an Associated Builders and Contractors Construcon Careers

Youth Commiee (CCYC) member, Carla is helping the commiee

meet its mission to promote and support Construcon Industry

workforce educaon at public schools through such acvies as

eld trips and making guest speaker presentaons to schools.

The students assembled together in a

training room to listen to the importance

of safety, proper work place are, and

received personal protecve equipment

prior to touring the fabricaon shops.

Brian Daigle, Vice President of Fabricaon,

spoke to the group about the workforce

needs of the construcon industry and

specic workforce needs at the Turner Industries Pipe Fabricaon

site. Addionally, Brian spoke about the dierent cra posions

pay scales, educaonal requirements, work ethics, workplace

atude, safety, work schedules including mulple shis

fabricaon shop operaonal hours, career advancement, and

some of the dierences in working at a job site versus a fabricaonshop. Jill Hill, HR Manager, Fabricaon Division, reinforced

Brians presentaon by addressing Human Resources issues

such as employee benets, various pay scales, pre-employment

requirements, drug tesng, new employee probaon period

various career opons, communicaon skills, and safety.

The students toured dierent operaonal stages at each building

and observed how the employees safely performed tasks such

Turner Industries Hosts Turner High School:

A Winning Combination of

Industry Supporting Education

HORTON

The students assembled together in a

training room to listen to the importanceof safety, proper work place attire, and

received personal protective equipment

prior to touring the fabrication shops.

Brian Daigle, Vice President of Fabrication,

spoke to the group about the workforce

needs of the construction industry and

speciic workforce needs at the Turner

Industries Pipe Fabrication site.


21/28 Build Houston Magazine December / January 2015 2www.buildhoustononline.com

as lay out work, grinding, rigging, ame

cung, tacking, welding, material

handling, and more. Touring the buildings

provided the students an opportunity

to see the relevance and work force

applicaons of the NCCER curriculum

they are studying.

Aer the tour, the students reassembled

for a queson and answer session where

the students were fully engaged with

these industry representaves by asking

numerous quesons. The students were

provided a new perspecve on working in

the construcon industry and expressed

their appreciaon for the opportunity to

tour the pipe fabricaon shops. I, too,

want to express my appreciaon and

thanks to Carla Thompson, Brian Daigle,

Jill Hill, and Turner Industries Group,

LLC, for making the eld trip experience

possible for the Turner High School

welding students and their teacher.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steven F. Horton, Ed.D., serves as the Schools

Program Director for the Construcon and

Maintenance Educaon Foundaon with a primary

focus on creang an employment growth by

promong the Construcon Industry as a career

choice to students in local high schools. As a former

State Board Member for the Texas Associaon of

College Technical Educators, Dean of Technical

Educaon, and department chair/faculty member,

Dr. Horton spent nearly 40 years at the community

college level providing supervision, support, and

administrave leadership in the development,

implementaon, and evaluaon of technical

educaon programs, courses, and facilies to meet

the career and educaonal goals of students in

workforce educaon.

Trouble?

Weve built our reputation by getting into trouble.

www.interface-consulting.com | Houston, TX | 713.626.2525

Let us help you get off the hook.

Interface Consultings construction consultants and experts provide proven insight backedby unrivalled experience to address cost and schedule issues on troubled projects. Clientshave called on us to assist with change order identification and substantiation, schedule delayanalysis, claims preparation and management, and dispute resolution for the past 27 years.

FOUR HOUSTON CENTER 1221 LAMAR STREET 16th Floor HOUSTON, TX 77010 Tel: 713-535-5500

www.cbylaw.com

HOUSTON DALLAS/FT. WORTH SAN ANTONIO AUSTIN

Cokinos, Bosien & Young would like to thank the many clients, friends

and supporters that have helped us grow into a full service law firm with

clients throughout Texas, the United States and internationally. We could

not have done it without you, and we look forward to the next 25 years!

Celebrating 25 years

Industry Supporting Education | ASSOCIATION NEWS



The U.S. economy nished last year with a bit of abang, expanding at a 3 percent annualized clipduring the nal six months. However, a disproporonate share

of that growth was prompted by signicant inventory building

during the third quarter of 2013. That set the economy up

for an early-2014 swoon, which was exacerbated by an awful

and seemingly endless winter. According to the nal esmate

from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. economy

contracted 2.1 percent during the years inial quarter.

The naonal economy came racing back as the nal snows

melted and expanded business investment came with it.

Construcon projects that were delayed by the harsh winter

are now underway, auto sales are surging, the economy

supports more than 2.5 million more jobs than it did a year

ago, and for the rst me in six years, unemployment has

fallen below 6 percent. Even the quality of jobs being added

seems to have improved of late, with more middle-income

jobs being produced in construcon, manufacturing, energy,

professional services and IT.

Aer shrinking during the rst quarter, the U.S. economy

bounced back with a robust 4.6 percent annualizedperformance during the second quarter and stakeholders can

expect around 3 percent growth for the laer half of 2014.

The most recent Internaonal Monetary Fund upgraded its

projecon for the U.S. from 1.7-2.2 percent overall growth for

the year 2014.

Consumers connue to ramp up outlays, with specic

emphasis on autos, Internet shopping, travel, and home

improvement. The retail sales began to trend higher as early

as March and the recent acceleraon of job growth should

keep consumers going. Consumer condence has also been

on the rise of late with the Conference Boards ConsumerCondence Index aaining a seven-year high of 90.3 in July.

Consumers have reason for opmism. As of this wring, the

naon has added 2.635 million jobs over the past 12 months

(Continued on page 24)


24/28



25 of the states stascal areas added jobs between September

2013 and September 2014. Only three of the states metropolitan

areas are presently associated with unemployment rates above

the naonal average (McAllen, Brownsville, and El Paso).

That said, Houston is unquesonably at the head of the class.

The regions labor force expanded by nearly 75,000 people over

a recent 12-month period, which translates into 2.4 percent

growth. That compares to 1.3 percent labor force growth

statewide and 0.3 percent naonally. Its important to note that

labor force growth eventually translates into both residenal

and nonresidenal construcon, which is precisely what is being

observed in the Houston metropolitan area. During the same

12 months, regional employment expanded 3.7 percent, which

means that despite the surge in the size of the labor force, the

number of unemployed persons in the Houston metropolitan area

has declined by 17.4 percent over the past year. The 3.7 percent

job growth gure is roughly twice the level of the naonal rate

of job growth (1.9 percent) and 50 percent above the statewide

employment growth rate of 2.4 percent.

Houstons regional unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent in

September 2014, the second lowest unemployment rate among

the naons 20 largest metropolitan areas. Only Minneapolis

has a lower rate of unemployment, which is at least parally

explained by the fact that people generally do not ock in large

numbers toward brutally cold temperatures, generally rendering

Minneapolis labor growth slower.

Construcon employment is perhaps the most remarkable number

related to construcon employment growth in the Houston

metropolitan area. Over the past 12 months, construcon

employment expanded 7.1 percent. This compares to roughly 5percent growth statewide and 4 percent growth naonally.

Demand for industrial construcon in Houston is simply surging.

Total net absorpon of industrial space totaled more than 2.6

million square feet during the third quarter of 2014 alone, with the

industrial vacancy rate sliding to 5.4 percent. Over the rst three

quarters of 2014, net absorpon exceeded 5.8 million square feet

and currently more than 6 million square feet of industrial space

is under construcon in the region. Beyond energy producon is

Houstons expanding role as a center for throughput as more steel

was shipped through the Port of Houston Authority in July 2014

than in any other month since 2008.

Looking Ahead

With oil prices falling recently, it is conceivable that some of the

edge will be taken o the Houston and overall Texas economies in

the near term; however, several government and private reports

indicate that it would take a further drop of $10 or $20 a barrel, to

as low as $60 a barrel, to slow energy producon even modestly.

While lower prices mean that taxes and royales on oil producon

will decline, potenally impacng the nances of oil producing

states like Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma and North Dakota, current

levels of output are likely to be sustained in

the shale elds of America in 2015.

The U.S. Energy Department recently

reported that only 4 percent of shale-

derived oil producon in North Dakota,

Texas and other states required an oil price

above $80 dollars a barrel for producers

to break even on their investments. Thecurrent producon of 8.7 million barrels a

day, the highest level in nearly a quarter

century, is more than a million barrels a day higher than it was

only a year ago and the Energy Department connues to predict

daily producon exceeding 9 million barrels next year.

Moreover, given the outcome of recent mid-term elecons

policymakers may be able to introduce more producon and

distribuon-friendly legislaon going forward. That would be

good for the naonal economy, the Texas economy, and the

regional construcon economy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anirban Basu was named Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) chie

economist in February 2008. His primary responsibility is to provide ABC with

mely, comprehensive analyses of important trends in the U.S. commercial and

industrial construcon industry. Basu produces ABCs electronic economic new

report, Construcon Economic Update, which includes an analysis of the followin

federal government economic indicators upon their release: construcon

spending, employment, producer price index and gross domesc product.

BASU

Construction Outlook | FOCUS SECTION



PEOPLE ON THE MOVEKBR Building Group is excited to announce several new addions

the Houston oce: Preconstrucon Manager Stephen Herring, Projec

Manager Charles Grithsand Project EngineerChrisan Staples.

Gilbane Building Company announces that Project ExecuveJohn Abbo

has relocated to Gilbanes Houston oce aer 18 successful years at the

companys Conneccut locaon. Abbo has been with Gilbane since

1996 when he joined the Glastonbury, CT oce as a Project Engineer

Thad Minerhas been hired to join the Gilbanes Houston-based oce

a Senior Project Execuve for the Southwest business unit. Miner began

his career in the commercial construcon industry in 1982 and brings

over 30 years of experience with him to Gilbane.

Ross Winkler has joined Winkler Public Relaons as Manag

Markeng Strategy. He will expand markeng and customer relaons

services oered by Winkler Public Relaons and assist with design

implementaon and management of strategic markeng plans. Winkle

will also manage business development to connue to grow clientele fo

the Houston-based public relaons company.

NAH Sports Flooring LLC in Houston is pleased to announce the

appointment of Reggie Hill as Vice President and General Manager of a

Texas operaons. Reggies rst encounter with the sports ooring businesswas serving as a regional manager for Poloplaz Inc,. a manufacturer o

specialty coangs for sport and recreaonal wood surfaces. NAH also

named Jose Galvanas Athlec Floor Operaons Manager for the Tex

operaon. Jose has worked for the company in various disciplines and

has proven himself to be a worthy candidate for this important role.

Sco Sundberg has joined Mobley Industrial Services, Inc. as Senio

Account Manager. Sundberg has extensive managerial experience and

qualicaons in the Petrochemical, Pulp & Paper & Power Generaon

industry. He is also trained in Six Sigma, Deal Maker and Professiona

Speaking; with ability to develop posive results through team work

& strong customer relaons. Jereme Marn has also joined Mob

Industrial Services as Senior Project Manager. He has over 10 yearsexperience in general construcon and so cra services.

Oxford Builders Inc.is pleased to announce their rst ten year anniversa

employees. Ivan Gonzalezis Oxford Builders General Foreman in char

of Door and Hardware installaon andRoberto Benitezis Oxford Builde

General Foreman in charge of Wood installaon and Framing. These

two highly trained professional crasmen have been working at Oxford

Builders for ten years.

PROJECT NEWSThe Texas Department of Transportaon (TXDOT) contracted Lone Sta

Road Construcon LTD. to construct the nal phase of the Mulple Leve

Super Elevated intersecon of Interstate Highway 10 and State Highwa

99, one of the largest intersecons in the State of Texas on one of the

busiest roadways in the country. The project consisted of a web o

overlapping bridges that connected the two highways.

E.E. Reed Construconrecently completed Silver Eagle Distributors East

which includes a one-story, lt-wall distribuon center with a 307,000

square foot controlled environment warehouse, 70,000 square foo

oce including all related interior improvements, 20,000 square foo

maintenance/eet building and 7,400 square foot truck wash/fueling

building, in Pasadena.

C O M I N G S O O N A T A B C / C M E F

Dec 11: PAC Christmas Party

Dec 17: Collecting on Construction Work Seminar

Jan 6: OSHA 510

Jan 7: Commercial Blueprint Bootcamp

Jan 8: Leadership Forum Begins

Jan 13: OSHA 500

Jan 22: ABC/CMEF Inaugural Dinner

Jan 27: OSHA 511

Feb 9-10: Legislative Day in Austin

VISIT WWW.ABCHOUSTON.ORG TO LEARN MOR E

GRIFFITHS

WINKLER

STAPLES

SUNDBERG

MARTIN

GALVAN

HERRING

HILL

MINERABBOTT

LONE STAR ROAD CONSTRUCTION



People, Projects, Companies & Awards | IN THE KNOWJuly marked the topping out on One Lakes Edge, built by Hoar Construcon. The 8-story mid-rise

upscale apartment building sits within the 66-acre Hughes Landing development in The Woodlands, by

The Howard Hughes Corporaon. One Lakes Edge has a prime locaon on Lake Woodlands and will oer

390 residenal units with retail space on the rst oor.

Saereld & Ponkes Construconrecently completed construcon of the new Micro Center electronics

store at 5305 S. Rice Avenue in the Galleria/Bellaire area. The new 32,000-square-foot store replaces its

previous 610 West Loop store near San Felipe. The $6 million project was constructed on a 3.5-acre site

and is part of a larger retail development.

Real estate development rm Kopke & Marek Investments broke ground September 2, 2014 on a newmul-tenant oce and warehouse project in Conroe, Texas. The project targets industrial growth and

commercial real estate investment in the North Harris and Montgomery County corridor. The mul-

tenant facility consists of more than 19,000 square feet of ex use warehouse space that will be ready

for occupancy February 1, 2015.

BIGenterprisesWest Wing project is the rst of its kind to be erected in the United States using a

Cross Laminated Timber (CLR) System for load bearing wall panels and oor planks all manufactured

from engineered wood. The project is built around a steel structure that includes two massive steel rigid

frames with canlever backspans to support the main roof. The nal building design will incorporate

many elements which are paerned aer the U.S. White House including a garage, residenal and oce

work space, recreaonal and meeng rooms as well as its own oval oce.

Currently under construcon and going vercal- this unique 5-story meshare building, located on thebeach of Galveston Island, is supported structurally by heavy gauge metal studs with each concrete

oor poured on the supporng metal framed walls and oor joist. EFIS and stucco nish highlight the

exterior and gypsum wallboard on the interior. This economic and ecient package is subcontracted by

Schear Hampton Drywall LLC and other local subcontractors expeding the building construcon for

T&G Constructors. It is the 3rd project T&G has completed for Silverleaf Resorts and CB Richard Ellis-

owner representave.

T&T Construcon has partnered up with Gallery Furniture to bring their third and largest locaon to Fort

Bend County. The future 165,000-square-foot furniture store is located o the Grand Parkway. The new

store will include a rst class restaurant, play area, an animal habitat and other amenies to enhance

the furniture buying experience. Since May, T&T has been working on the earthwork, storm, ulies,

building foundaon and the site paving for the project.

Epoch Construcon Servicesis proud to announce the compleon of the Preston Hollow Emergency

Room which is an upscale 8,000 square foot design build Retro-t/Remodel located in Dallas, Texas. By

using the exisng buildings foundaon the environmental impact was minimized without sacricing any

of the exterior nishes. All exterior and interior work was new, including new re suppression system,

reecve metal wall paneling, and uid applied cool roof system.

COMPANY NEWSSeptember 1st 2014 marked a huge accomplishment for Karsten Interior Services, celebrang an

anniversary of 18 years in the construcon industry and reaching 1.6 Million Man Hours without a Lost

Time Incident.

SPECIAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONAggregate Technologies Inc.is proud to announce that the Mickey Leland Federal Building Renovaon

project has won the 2014 ABC Houston Chapter ICE Award for excellence in construcon in the category

Other Specialty Construcon (Commercial). This presgious award recognizes projects which exemplify

innovave design, precise crasmanship, superior safety

pracces, and many other consideraons.

Mobil Steel Internaonal recently made a contribuon of

$1,000 to the ABC Scholarship Foundaon in memory of

Senior Vice President, Mr. Richard W. Friel. Mr. Friel was

a member of ABC and a loyal PAC supporter. He lost his

bale with Glioblastoma Mutliforma on 07/07/13. Mobil

Steel also made a $1,000 donaon to MD Anderson -

Glioblastoma Mulforma Research in 2013 and 2014.

HOAR CONSTRUCTION

SATTERFIELD & PONTIKES

T&T CONSTRUCTION

SCHEAR HAMPTON DRYWALL

EPOCH CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

BIG ENTERPRISE

E.E. REED CONSTRUCTION


28/28

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HOUSTON TX

PERMIT 2597Published by Associated Builders & Contractors of Greater Houston3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 131Houston, Texas 77098(713)523-6ABC (877)577-6ABC

VISIT US ONLINE:

www.buildhoustononline.com

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H t T 77002 PORTER HEDGES LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Porter Hedges assists owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, lenders and designprofessionals who manage the risks of construction projects. From commercial to industrialand infrastructure construction, our experienced counsel can take you from contractformation to project completion, including the complexities of financing projects. Ourbreadth of experience helps clients avoid claims and resolve them when they happen.

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