houston construction news july 2016

The Industry’s Newspaper

™CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTIONHouston

Reaching the finish line

continued on 8 continued on Page 18

continued on Page 18

Explore, dream, discover Pedal to the metal

PRSRT. STD.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDDALLAS, TX

PERMIT #1451

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

Change Service Requested

TexasStyle

Covering the Industry’s News

www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 13 H Number 7 H JULY 2016

San Antonio H AustinDallas/Fort Worth H Houston

Locus Construction LLC completed 12,000sf Louetta Road Retail project located in Spring in February. The

owner is NSHE TX Penguin Tetra LLC. Project manager and Locus Con-struction owner Jeff Nuche says the ap-proximate cost of the new ground up construction retail project is $1.3 million. Locus Construction self performed all the metal framing and drywall for the project. According to Nuche, the primary construction materials used were steel structure with CMU exterior walls, store-front glazing system with EIFS façade and single ply roof membrane. The major challenge the construc-tion team met and overcame was the rainy weather. “We have had so much rain this year and this delayed things during the proj-ect,” he said. “There weren’t many other challenges other than the weather.”

Nuche says Locus Construction had a great experience working with Heights Venture Architects. “We have had the opportunity to work with Heights Venture Architects for the past few years,” he said. “They are a very skilled architecture firm working in the retail market segment of construc-tion.” Locus Construction also enjoyed working with the owner. “This was our first time working with the owner,” he said. “Since the owner was a single person development com-pany, there was a streamlined decision making process throughout the project,” he said. Based in The Woodlands, Locus Con-struction provides pre-construction servic-es, general contracting, construction man-agement and design build services. The

Louetta Road Retail

Employees at studioMET Architects feel lucky to get to do what they re-ally enjoy and help grow the prac-

tice to include more residential and small commercial work. The firm's partners, Yoon You, AIA, Stephen Andrews, AIA, and Shawn Gottschalk, AIA, are licensed architects and registered in the state of Texas. Associate Florence Tang, AIAA, says the firm works on projects in Houston and is starting to do projects beyond the city including in Austin, Brooklyn, NY and India. The early days at the company were lean, as it is with any firm starting out. “We grew and were able to balance the quality of design and construction by

tailoring the practice to offer design and build services,” Tang said. “We have al-ways worn multiple hats. We also offer real estate services, which allows us to be a boutique shop with the expertise of ac-quisition to turn key. “Our referrals have taken us from ini-tial multi-family projects to custom single family projects. We take pride in working with repeat clients. To us, a satisfied client is the best outcome of our work.” The firm believe it's important to get into the community and support design awareness. “Good design, coupled with quality construction, can affect how people live and work,” Tang said.

studioMET Architects won Firm of the Year Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Houston Chapter for 2016.

Montrose Street Art

Starting out welding for a living in the ‘70s, owner Tommy Cloy and his wife Brenda opened Magnolia-

based MWS Inc. in 1983. Cloy says he enjoys what he does to-day because he makes a good living and also has fun. “I really enjoy building things and helping people,” he said. According to Cloy, last year the com-pany had many projects on the books and has finally caught up with all the work. “Sales have been very consistent for the past few years,” he said. “Right now, as bad as the weather has been and as wet as it is, we are doing about anything we can get to that is dry.

“With all the flooding and high water in the area it is so wet it is hard to get a building started.” Every year around November, the company has an employee Thanksgiving party the Wednesday before the holiday. “We like to have a fish fry at the shop,” Cloy said. “We also have a Christ-mas party in December. Sometimes we will all go out to eat too.” When Cloy isn’t working he loves spending time outdoors. He likes going salt water fishing near his his place in Bo-livar. “I have spent time in Bolivar for about three years now,” he said. “I like to go to Bolivar just to be by the beach.

Tommy Cloy loves spending time in Bolivar when he isn’t working.

Houston Construction News • July 2016

Gilbert Avila, WorkFaith’s Courage the Chicken and Ernest Sandoval, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing

All stars

Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproof-ing recently held a customer ap-preciation event at a Houston As-

tros game at Minute Maid Park. More than 350 clients and friends participated in a raffle at the event. Raffle prizes included a fiddle signed by Charlie Daniels, a CZ-USA Bobwhite Side-by-Side shotgun and a night at Minute Maid Park. The raffle raised $10,240, all donated to WorkFaith Connection. Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing provides commercial roofing and sheet metal, waterproofing and caulking, build-ing and garage restoration services. –ab Matt Sullins and James Clements,

Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing

David Neal, Art Canales and John Kafka, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing; WorkFaith’s Courage the Chicken and Sandy Schultz, WorkFaith Connection President/CEO

Eighty electrical contractor customers gathered for lunch at the Graves Winlec-tric Crawfish Boil May 20. Employees Evan Reed and Justin Wiens prepared the crawfish for attendees.

Based in Spring, Graves Winlectric sells electrical supplies and products to electrical contractors in Houston and the surrounding areas. –ab

Spicing things up

L-R: Justin Wiens and Evan Reed, Graves Winlectric

The Graves Winlectric staff

DLR Group opened its doors in Houston in May. The location is on the ground floor corner of 919 Mi-

lam. Architect and Principal Filo Castore, AIA, LEED AP, leads operations in the of-fice and oversees project delivery and business development. He is also the leader of DLR Group’s Workplace Studio in Texas, working with developers and clients throughout the state. “Since opening in May, we are continuing to add key staff members that will allow us to grow in several markets, from workplace and civic to education and hospitality/retail,” Castore said. The firm has already completed the TDECU Stadium and Guy V. Lewis Development Facility at the University of Houston and installed a renewable energy system at NRG Park. Castore says, outside of work, employees at the firm have hobbies such

Welcome to the Lone Star State

DLR Group employees and friends gather at the Houston location.

as riding motorcycles, photography, cooking and there are even talented pastry experts. “We also have a barbecue certified judge on staff,” he said. “We are leveraging our street front location in downtown to promote our connection to the community.” According to Castore, DLR Group is celebrating its 50-year anniversary in 2016. The firm has 750 employee-owners in 21 U.S. offices and three international locations in Shanghai, Dubai and Nairobi. “We are planning to grow a profitable Texas practice that will bring us in other markets around the state, such as Austin and Dallas, by staying true to our core business strategy,” he said. DLR Group serves clients through inte-grated delivery of planning, architecture, engineering, interiors and building optimi-zation for new construction, renovation and adaptive reuse. –ab


Into the blue

3CONSTRUCTION NEWS

The Houston Construction News (ISSN 1547-7630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba Houston Construction News, and distributed by mail to construction-related companies in Houston 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 Houston 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.

© 2016 Construction News, Ltd.

If you are a construction-related company in Harris, Ft. Bend, Galveston or Montgomery

counties and are not receiving a free copy ofthe Houston Construction News, please call for a Requester Form, or visit our website.

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

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

Houston Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abby [email protected]

832-595-0091

Houston

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler

Editorial/Production . . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler

Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cyndi Wright

Admin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lacie Cortez

Production Manager. . . . . . . . . . Sue Johnson

Account Manager . . . . . . . . . . .Dana Calonge

Despite the rainy weather, The Blue Book hosted its Who’s Who in Building & Construction Show-case at the Minute Maid Park in late April. At-

tendees had the chance to get face-time with Houston area construction industry professionals. –ab

Work modeConstruction News ON LOCATION

L-R: Jose Moreno and Juan Castillo, D.F. Systems Inc., prepare to load equipment on a trailer. The company is a telecommunications subcontractor based in Conroe. –ab

Erin HooperOwner

Gray-Walker Inc.


Founded in 1954, Gray-Walker Inc. is one of the oldest construction sup-ply distributors in Houston.

Erin Hooper’s father, Leonard Piza-late, purchased Gray-Walker in Houston in 1973. The company opened a second location at 1420 Avenue H (Highway 90) in Rosenberg in Dec. 2015. Hooper and her husband Jack operate the store. The Hooper’s interact with track builders, custom homebuilders, com-mercial contractors, masonry contractors and retail customers on a daily basis. Gray-Walker sells foundation steel, concrete block, bagged cement, fireplace supplies, natural and manufactured stone, stucco supplies, masons tools, wire, masonry accessories and sand.

Where were you born and raised, Erin? I was born and raised in Houston. I attended Westfield High School in Spring. What were your interests in high school? Early on I started off participating in the drill team. Next, I pursued business classes. I did a work program my junior year. I worked for GTE Mobile Net in the legal department. I helped with a lot of bankruptcy cas-es. I went to school in the morning and worked in the afternoon.

Where did you attend college? I went to Southwest Texas in San Marcos. It is very beautiful there. I took business classes and changed my major to Criminal Justice my sopho-more year.

What did you do after you graduated? At first, I could not find a job. My mother said they had a job for me at Gray-Walker working Monday through Thursday and I could look for a job on Fri-days. This turned into a permanent job in 1992. I helped out in the office and soon become the office manager. Over the

years, I have handled marketing and sales.

When did you met your husband Jack? My husband and I went to high school together. We went to the prom when we were seniors. We went our separate ways after high school. We did not have any contact for 23 years. We found each other through Face-book and reconnected. Neither one of us had been married or had any children. So, at the age of 40 we got married in Houston and had a reception at Brenner’s on the Bayou. We have been married for five years.

What does a typical day look like for you these days? I am involved in all aspects of the company. Jack and I are focused on get-ting the Rosenberg store up and running. Before Jack joined the company, he worked in the oil and gas industry. He traveled quite a bit for work at the time. I will eventually travel between the two stores and Jack will run the Rosen-berg store.

What advice would you give someone interested in working in your indus-try? I think it would be a good idea to have a strong leader guide and teach you the ins and outs of the industry. You have to be patient and perse-vere. Know your industry and know your products. Stay involved in the industry. Know your customers more than anything. What are a few positive happenings at the company lately? Every day we get a new customer, so that is always exciting! We are growing each and every week. We are learning so much about the area. Several of our customers live in Fort Bend County. They mentioned to us there weren’t many masonry supply businesses here. I thought we would have lots of cus-tomers in the Richmond and Rosenberg area but we have also seen customers come in from Needville, Bay City and Sealy, too.

What is your perspective about the lo-cal construction industry? I think things are up and down. We have seen lots of rain this year and that shuts everything down. I’d say right now the local construc-tion industry is steady and there is new construction in Houston and the sur-rounding areas. The summer months are usually our busiest months and the winter months things slow down.

Has Gray-Walker had any annual events? We have offered stucco classes and our manufacturers will bring in lunch for

the customers.

What types of changes in your busi-ness have you seen over the years? There have been many improve-ments especially in the manufactured stone realm. Manufactured stone came out in the ‘90s. Now they have come out with man-ufactured stone that looks like real wood. They have definitely come a long way since I started working in the industry. I stay up-to-date with all the chang-es in the industry by staying involved in associations, organizations and reading publications. Describe a few important lessons your father taught you about the business. My father and I always worked well together over the years because we are opposites. He is a very conservative business-man and goes over everything thor-oughly before he reacts. I am more of a reactive person so I watched how he handled things and how he was successful. He built a wonderful reputation in the construction industry. I want to fol-low in his footsteps.

Does your father still work at the com-pany today? My father is not as involved at the company as he once was, but he still comes in from time to time. He doesn’t want to retire yet. He likes having something to do. What hobbies do you and your hus-band enjoy when you are not at work? When we have free time we enjoy spending time in La Grange and Galves-ton and going to church on Sundays. We love going to the beach house where we go fishing, kayaking and pad-dle boarding. It is always a relaxing way to spend the weekend. In addition, my husband ride motor-cycles and loves to do anything out-doors. I am his side kick. I don’t ride mo-torcycles but I will ride a four-wheeler. Jack likes to play golf and I drive the

golf cart. Do you like to cook? I learned how to cook late in life. It is very enjoyable for me. I wish I had started cooking years ago. My husband likes to cook with me, too. I like the challenge of following a brand new recipe. Jack is my best cheerleader. I haven’t mastered how to cook excellent chicken but I can cook steak. When we have relatives over at the house, they always want me to cook steak.

Have you traveled outside of the Gulf Coast area lately? My husband just got back from Des-tin, FL. I haven’t traveled in a while though. It is hard to get out and go some-where when you have a family business. As soon as we get things stable and steady, we will probably start taking more weekend trips. We enjoy going to see family in San Antonio when we get the chance. We like to go to the River Walk while we are there.

Why do you enjoy working in Rosen-berg? We still live in Houston but my hus-band wants to move out here eventually. It is nice that there is not a hustle and bustle in Rosenberg. The atmosphere and people are very friendly. For some reason, lots of people stop in our Rosenberg location to ask for di-rections. We seem to be the hub for people looking for directions. It is comical because we tell people we live in Houston and have only been here for a year. We do our best to guide them.

What are your plans for the future? In the future, we want to make the Rosenberg location as big as the Houston location, if not bigger. –ab

L-R: Leonard Pizalate, Jack and Erin Hooper

Detail orientedConstruction News JOB SIGHT

Danny Schmidt, AT Design Team, installs architectural fixtures at the Triumph Pharmacy project. The GC is Roy Villerreal Jr. –ab

Time to networkSubmitted to Construction News

The American Subcontractors Association Houston Chapter (ASA-HC) held a Schmooze and Mingle event with Teal Construction at Refinery Burger in May. –ab

Fully equipped for construction


With state, county and local digni-taries in attendance, HOLT CAT hosted a groundbreaking cere-

mony Jun. 14 for a new state-of-the-art headquarters building at its San Antonio campus. The expansion represents more than a $20 million property investment. Dave Harris, HOLT president and COO; Peter J. Holt, HOLT executive vice president and general manager; and San Antonio’s Mayor Ivy Taylor were among the speakers who addressed more than 200 attendees at the groundbreaking. The three-story, 84,000-sf building will include integrated technology, tradi-tional offices and multi-functional con-ference facilities. RVK Architects de-signed the new headquarters, and Joeris General Contractors is the GC for the project. The new building will also feature a large lunchroom with a fresh food vend-ing area and a connected outdoor patio, and an employee fitness center with full locker rooms and shower facilities. Ex-

Investing in the future

pected to open in the third quarter of 2017, once completed, the new head-quarters building will consolidate admin-istrative and corporate functions. With 39 locations across North, Northeast, Central and South Texas and more than 2,300 employees, the San An-tonio campus is home to more than 700 of the company’s employees. While the heavy equipment and Caterpillar dealer has a presence statewide, HOLT is based in San Antonio. “The HOLT organization has been part of San Antonio since 1933, and this groundbreaking ceremony was in cele-bration of the last 83 years,” says Joe Carreon, corporate marketing manager for HOLT CAT. “Our investment in this new facility marks the company’s com-mitment to the community and to the southeast side of San Antonio. We are very excited about this new facility, as it will include state-of-the-art amenities to accommodate the needs of our employ-ees and our customers.”–mh

Photo by Steve HuedepohlAmong HOLT’s leadership and members of the local government present for a significant moment in HOLT CAT history were L-R: Dave Harris, president and COO, HOLT CAT; Tommy Calvert, Bexar County Commissioner; San Antonio Councilwoman Rebecca Villagran, Dist.

3; Hazel Holt, Peter’s older daughter; Peter J. Holt, executive vice president and general manager, HOLT CAT; Penny Holt, Peter’s younger daughter; Lauren Kate Holt; San Antonio

Mayor Ivy Taylor; Judge Nelson Wolff; Holt Richter, Corinna’s son; Corinna Holt Richter, executive vice president and chief administrative officer; J.B. Richter

The Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Texas annual meeting was held Jun. 10 at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, and the new PHCC Texas board was elected

and installed. L-R: Tony Dixon, Ferguson; Craig Lewis, R.E.C. Industries; Greg Bolin, Bolin Plumbing; Sam Dowdy, S&D Plumbing; Randy Hunter, R.E.C. Industries; Rick Shelton, Shelton Plumbing; Patrick Freund, Primo Plumbing; Dickie McCurdy, MMM Plumbing, Heating, A/C; Chris Sproles, Central Texas Plumbing Solutions; Jessica Burden, Milton Frank Plumbing; Stephen Cox, Cox Plumbing; Carter Ramzel, Benchmark Plumbing;

Milton Frank, Milton Frank Plumbing –mh

Meet the new boardSubmitted to Construction News

Fire protection contractors from across the state played golf and went fishing at the Skins & Fins Tour-

nament held at South Shore Harbour Re-sort in League City in Jun. 9-12. Folks also attended continued edu-cation classes, a table top vendor show, a buffet style dinner and a pool party. The Fire Sprinklers Contractors Asso-ciation of Texas (FSCATX) hosted the event. –ab

Making waves

The table top vendor show

Impact Fire ServicesCarol McCain won the Champion of the

Industry Achievement Award.

Salesman Andy Kleppel says Mag-nolia-based Windstar Equipment has began to focus on the construc-

tion industry in recent years. The owner is Michael Patrick. “Right now we are selling the most equipment to folks in the construction industry,” Kleppel said. “Our customers include contractors and small construc-tion related companies. “I have enjoyed meeting people in the construction industry. Everyone has an interesting story and there are quite a few characters! I never know who is go-ing to walk in the door.” The yardman, Sergio, loads and as-sembles equipment and gets everything ready for customers. “My job is to interact with customers on a daily basis,” Kleppel said. “I try to fig-ure out what they need and get them the best piece of equipment for their job.” According to Kleppel, the company

has operated for 19 years in the Magnolia area. “Michael purchased the company from the previous owner about five years ago,” he said. “We have operated at the same location on FM 1488 since that time.” When employees have free time, they like to spend it outdoors with their friends and families. “We are all ready for rest and relax-ation by the time Friday gets here,” he said. Future plans for the company are to continue to sell more equipment to con-struction-related companies in the area. “It is a tough economy right now,” Kleppel said. “We are going to hang in there!” Windstar Equipment is a locally owned and operated company serving Magnolia and the surrounding area. –ab

Sergio operates equipment in the yard.


Construction professional graduates received recognition for their achievements atthe Construction and Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF) graduation at

Brady’s Landing May 26. CMEF is an educational affiliate of the Associated Builders& Contractors (ABC) Houston Chapter. –ab

Submitted to Construction News

Class of 2016

Heat-related illness Wes PittsUSI Southwest Austin, TX

Summer heat can be more than uncomfortable; it can be DEADLY. Every year thousands of workers become

sick or worse from heat exposure. Heat illness is preventable, and many corporate safety policies and/or employee manuals do not address heat related illness.

Symptoms vary in intensity but can include: • Dizziness, weakness, nausea, headache, and possibly vomiting • Blurry vision • Body temperature rising to 100 to 104.9°F • Sweaty skin • Feeling hot and thirsty • Difficulty speaking A person suffering from heat exhaustion must move to a cool place and drink plenty of water.

Heat Stroke Heat stroke is the result of untreated heat exhaustion. Symptoms include: • Ceasing of sweating • Body temperature rising rapidly to above 104.9°F • Confusion or delirium • Loss of consciousness, seizure Call 911 or seek medical professionals. Keep the person cool until help arrives. Place cold compresses on the neck, armpits and groin (where blood vessels run close to the skin). If the person is awake and able to swallow, administer fluids. Normally, the main source of heat is generated internally by your body. The body exchanges heat with its surroundings mainly through radiation, convection, and evaporation of sweat. Radiation is the process by which the body gains heat from surrounding hot objects, such as hot metal, furnaces, or steam pipes, and loses heat to cold objects, such as chilled metallic surfaces, without contact with them. Convection is the process by which the body exchanges heat with the surrounding air. The body gains heat from hot air and loses heat to cold air, which comes in contact with the skin. Evaporation of sweat from the skin cools the body. Evaporation occurs more quickly, and the cooling effect is more noticeable with high wind speeds and low relative humidity. In hot and humid workplaces, the cooling of the body, due to sweat evaporation, is limited because the air cannot accept more moisture. In hot and dry workplaces, the cooling, due to sweat evaporation, is limited by the amount of sweat produced by the body. Heat related illnesses occur when at-risk workers build up metabolic heat faster than their bodies can release it and

cool down. In a limited study of 20 cases investigated by OSHA, in which 13 deaths occurred, it was found that four of the deaths occurred on the first day of work in a new job, or after returning from time away from the job. Three deaths occurred on the second day, and two on the third day (9 deaths within the first three days). Long-term workers made up the other 4 deaths. In cases that involved heat illness but not death, the number of days on the job did not appear to have an effect. Studies have found that the failure to support acclimatization appears to be the most common deficiency for employers that have employees at-risk, and the factor most clearly associated with death. Employers need to provide time for workers to acclimate when they have been absent from work more than a few days (for new workers or workers returning to a job, where exposure to heat related illness may occur). Important elements for employers to consider when addressing heat related illness include assigning a responsible person for developing and executing a heat related illness prevention program within the company. Goals for the program should include plans for: 1. Gradual acclimatizing of workers; 2. Monitoring the temperature (e.g., heat index and wet bulb globe temperature) of their worksite; 3. Worker hydration (water) before, during, and after work; 4. Providing shaded and cool areas for rest breaks; 5. Modifying work schedules to reduce workers’ exposure to heat; 6. Training workers on the signs and symptoms of heat illness; 7. Monitoring workers for signs of heat stress; 8. Planning for emergencies and response; and9. Documenting the above with Safety Training Sign-In Log Discuss ideas with your agent about creating a customizable Heat Illness Prevention Program that can be easily incorporated into your safety and employee manual. Wes Pitts is a Sr. vice president and Southwest Regional Construction Practice Leader for USI Southwest - Austin, TX, USA. Wes can be contacted at 512-651-4107 or [email protected]

L-R: SpawGlass Houston office project executive Jerry Vandervoort, State Senator Robert Nichols, Lamar State College-Orange president Dr. J. Michael Shahan, State Representative Dade Phelan and Alan Stilts, PBK Architects, took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for

the new Lamar State College-Orange Multipurpose Education Building Jun. 2. –ab


Making the grade

Internal fraud and controlsCari Takao, shareholderFisher Herbst & Kemble PCSan Antonio, TX

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we prac-tice to deceive. But once we’ve practiced for a while,

oh my, how we have improved our style.” – Unknown per-petrator

Occupational fraud is a deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain by employees, managers and/or executives/owners.The main ingredients for fraud is best il-lustrated as a triangle with three sides known as opportunity, pressure and ra-tionalization. Some common mistakes an owner or manager make in relation to fraud: • Trusting an employee implicitly with no oversight of their activities; • Not requiring approval on signifi-cant transactions; • Having an over reliance on outside auditors or tax accountants to catch fraud; and/or • Giving complete control with no segregation of duties or review process-es put in place. Most fraudsters are long time em-ployees that are well trusted, well liked and have had no prior criminal history. Anyone can commit fraud! No business is immune to fraud! Some common types of fraud to be on the lookout for: • Skimming (taking money and nev-er recording) • Check-tampering (forgery) • Billing schemes (creating and pay-ing fictitious vendors) • Payroll schemes (paying fictitious em-ployees or giving unauthorized pay rates) • Inappropriate expense reimburse-ments • Non-cash and other schemes (steal-ing tangible equipment or inventory) • Collusion or management overrideSo you know why, how and who, now what can you do? Opportunity is the only thing a busi-ness owner or management can control in the fraud triangle. However, they should try to be alert for pressures and perceived rationalizations an employee might be experiencing. Opportunity is mainly controlled through internal and compensating controls. Owners should understand the perception of deterrence and prevention. Controls are developed to deter fraud and to keep honest people honest! Remember power perceived is power achieved. Controls should be im-plemented at any size organization. Internal Controls are defined as the process by which management struc-tures an organization to provide assur-ance that an entity operates effectively and efficiently, has a reliable financial re-porting system and complies with appli-cable laws and regulations. A successful system of internal control is not built

overnight, but is an ongoing process of fine tuning the inner workings of an or-ganization. Many organizations summa-rize internal control systems in opera-tional handbooks and manuals so it can be an easy referral point. A system of internal control is neces-sary to help employees and other part-ners understand the attitude and objec-tives of the organization as a whole. In-ternal controls provide reasonable assur-ance to customers and other parties that transactions are recorded properly in a timely manner. Internal controls help provide a “trust but verify” environment. Some basic controls that should be con-sidered are as follows: • Establish communications on the importance of controls starting at the top; • Conduct monthly reviews of bank statements (with images) by owner or governance group ensuring timely bank reconciliations are completed; • Establish employee educational programs and incentives to proactively reduce fraud by: Establishing a “fraud hotline” using a professional service firm; and having a Code of Conduct policy with all employees required to adhere to the requirements therein. • Ensure computer access controls are implemented on the accounting sys-tem and bank cash management system at a minimum. Administrative rights should be limited to just a few. • Conduct background checks prior to starting work for all employees in sen-sitive positions (controller, CFO, high lev-el managers, etc.); • Conduct analytical reviews of finan-cial reports by owner/governance group within 30 days of the month end selected searching for anomalies or unexpected budget variances; • Conduct monthly reviews of manu-al adjustments to financial records by an independent person; • Ensure segregation between pre-parer and signer of checks/payments. Additionally, upon check signing, the signer should review invoices for reason-ableness in relation to the business; and • Ensure segregation between de-posit money into the bank and recording the receipts in the accounting system. Hopefully, this gives you some sim-ple and efficient ways to manage the op-portunity that is present in your compa-ny. Cari Takao, CPA is an assurance share-holder for FHK. Contact her at 210-477-2712 or at [email protected]

Projecting ahead


The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Houston Chapter held it’s annual election of officers and directors and networking event at the HESS Club May 19. Attendees listened to a presentation focused on upcoming work and thoughts

on the construction industry in Houston over the next six months. David Zebold, vice president, E.E. Reed Construction LP; Raylena Browning, preconstruction manager, Manhattan Construction Co. and Chris Desko, project ex-ecutive, Clark Construction Group - Texas LP, discussed how best Houston area GCs and subcontractors can work together for all to be successful. –ab

Directors Elected for 2016-18: Bud Walters, president, Pieper Houston Electric; Andy Adams, Adams Insurance Service Inc.; Tyler Althouse, Texas Moisture Protection; John Glaze, Fast

Track Specialties LP; Mark Johnson, Briggs Equipment; Ron LaRicci, vice president, Camarata Masonry Systems Ltd. and Tyler Althouse, Texas Moisture Protection. Not pictured, Craig

Peterson, secretary/treasurer, Peterson Beckner Industries Inc.

Teen workersJoann NatarajanCompliance Assistance SpecialistOSHAAustin, TX

Youth who are under 18 years old can be an asset to your workforce. They are enthusiastic and eager to

learn. However, like other new and inexperienced work-ers, these young workers can be injured on the job when they don’t receive adequate safety training and

supervision. Some injuries have a lifelong impact, and some are even fatal. Further-more, on-the-job injuries to young workers can be costly.

Young workers get hurt when: • They take on jobs for which they’re not trained — sometimes without being asked • They don’t have appropriate supervi-sion • They work with dangerous tools or equipment • They perform tasks that violate youth employment laws

Work on a construction site is especially hazardous. In fact, the construction in-dustry, which employs less than 3% of all young workers, ranks 3rd in the number of work-related fatalities to youth — at 14% of all occupational deaths to youth under 18.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) The federal FLSA establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting certain full-time and part-time workers in the pri-vate sector and in federal, state, and local governments.

Age and Hour Restrictions under FLSA Youth under 16 years of age may only perform office or sales work in the con-struction industry. The federal rules also limit the number of hours and times of day that such youth may be employed. Youth age 16 and 17 may work in the con-struction industry and on construction sites, but there are several tasks or jobs that are too hazardous for them to per-

form. There are no federal laws that re-strict the number of work hours per day or per week. However, several states do restrict the number of hours and times of day that this age group may be em-ployed. Be sure to check with your State Department of Labor.

FLSA Exemptions If certain conditions are met, 16- and 17-year-old apprentices and student learners may be allowed to perform some of the above prohibited jobs. Youth enrolled in such programs are trained in occupational safety and health. You may wish to consider recruiting these young workers — you’ll be providing them with work experience and may be rewarded with a safety-conscious employee.

Some other young workers are not fully covered by FLSA. For example, youth of any age are generally allowed to work for businesses entirely owned by their par-ents, except no one under 18 may be em-ployed in the prohibited jobs that are partially listed above.

Even if FLSA doesn’t apply, if you employ workers under 18 years old, be sure that: • Tasks are appropriate for a worker’s age • Young workers are properly trained • Young workers are supervised •You know what tasks are prohibited for youth

[email protected] x232

Are attorneys’ fees stillrecoverable in successfulcontract actions?Bethany F. Thompson, shareholderGardner LawSan Antonio, TX

Construction lawyers in Texas have been relying on certain statutes to recover attorney fees and expens-

es for their clients in contract claims for decades. How-ever, within the last couple of years two courts have issued decisions that substantially narrow the application of one of the most frequently used attorney fee recovery stat-utes regarding contract claims.

The first of the two cases is Fleming & Assocs. LLP v. Barton, 425 S.W.3d 560 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014) and the second case is Hoffman v. L&M Arts LLC, 3:10-CV-0953-D, 2015 WL 1000838, (N.D. Tex. Mar. 6, 2015). This shift is significant, as an important part of the decision by subcontractors and suppliers on whether to pursue legal action is whether or not they can recoup their attorneys’ fees.

In Texas, a party cannot recover their attorneys’ fees unless a statute or con-tract expressly gives them that right. Many times, parties rely on Section 38.001 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code which states that if there is a recov-ery of a claim based on an oral or written contract, “a person may recover reason-able attorneys’ fees from an individual or corporation.” Previously, the statute re-ferred to “any person or corporation” where “person” is defined to include “partnerships, among others.” See sec-tion 1.002 of the TCPRC providing the Code Construction Act applies to the TCPRC. However, the word “person” was changed to “individual” in 1985 when the statute was recodified. Both of these re-cent cases turn on the use of the word “individual” as opposed to “person.”

In the Fleming case, the court con-sidered whether 38.001 allowed for re-covery of fees against a limited partner-ship. Unlike the previous term, “person,” the court noted the term “individual” is not defined in the Code Construction Act and determined the ordinary meaning did not include a limited partnership. Based on this, the appellate court con-cluded the trial court erred in awarding attorneys’ fees.

In the Hoffman case, the court con-sidered whether 38.001 allowed for re-covery of fees against an LLC. Defen-dants challenged the application of this

statute based on their status as an LLC, as opposed to a corporation. The terms “in-dividual” and “corporation” are unde-fined within the statute. After consider-ing the legislative history of the statute and various applicable arguments, the Court concluded an LLC is an “other legal entity” not within the scope of Section 38.001 and denied the request for fees.

In the 2015 legislative session HB 230 was introduced and passed by the Texas House of Representatives which would have modified the statute to include the terms “or other legal entity” however the bill did not make it through the Senate. As a practice point, construction industry parties need to remember that attorneys’ fees in Texas can also be recovered if a contract provision allows for them. Par-ties who typically furnish labor or materi-als pursuant to contracts, should be es-pecially vigilant to always include terms allowing for the prevailing party to re-cover their fees.

Bethany F. Thompson is a Shareholder with Gardner Law in San Antonio, Texas, and her practice focuses on construction litigation. In a time when many cases settle before trial, she has first chair state court jury trial experience, arbitration experience, and bench trial experience in federal court. Ms. Thompson represents general contrac-tors, subcontractors, and suppliers on a va-riety of issues including contract drafting and negotiation, lien and bond payment claims, delay and defect claims, and con-tract default and terminations. She has pre-sented seminars for a variety of organiza-tions throughout the state, guest lectured on construction contracts at Texas A&M, and is active in both her local chapter of the American Subcontractors Association and the Attorney Council for the national level of ASA. Contact: [email protected].

Good eatsConstruction News JOB SIGHT

The Arrowmont Constructors crew builds a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on FM 1488 in Magnolia. –ab

Sharing stories


Enjoying brunch and mimosas, ladies in the construction industry gath-ered at a 60th Anniversary Celebra-

tion event held at The Tasting Room Wine Café Jun. 18. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Houston Chap-ter held the event. Back in the ‘50s, Owner K.S. Grego-ry, Gregory-Edwards Inc., a Houston mechanical contractor, encouraged his female employees to attend a meeting for women in the construction industry.

The first organizational meeting of what was to become the NAWIC Houston Chapter was held in the home of Flor-ence Harrison. In addition to Florence, Grace Dock-al, Patsy Minor, Frances Galvin, Carrie Ann Marquette, Jane Harris, Ouida Rouse and Ann Judice attended this meeting. These eight ladies called their friends and 44 women signed the charter to es-tablish the Houston chapter on Jun. 21, 1956. NAWIC gave K.C.’s granddaughter Theresa Gregory the signed charter at the 60th Anniversary Celebration. NAWIC had a display of many of the historical moments of the chapter and recognized some key players in the association’s his-tory. –ab NAWIC Houston members share stories about the past 60 years.

L-R: Terry Nesch and Susan Marks

Trish Cato talks about the early days at NAWIC Houston.

L-R: Theresa Gregory, Rozaliya Karakhanova and Ashley Williams

L-R: Sandy Field, Luci Roberts and Riki Lovejoy

L-R: Ruth Humphrey, Nancy Houseand Trish Kato

L-R: Becky Richter and Theresa Gregory

The 60th anniversary cake


Cautions whilewading

by Capt. Steve Schultz

Sponsored by:Waypoint Marine, Majek Boats, Evinrude

Outboards, E-Z Bel Construction,Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor,

Aggregate Haulers, ForEverlast Hunting and Fishing Products, MirrOlure, and

Columbia Sportswear.

Summertime has arrived folks, and you will start to see larger crowds on the water through Labor Day

weekend. Fishing has remained consis-tent throughout the month of May even with all the rains and inconsistent wind directions throughout the month. June finds us continuing with the same weath-er patterns we had last month, even with a little more bizarre weather patterns. I always welcome Texas summer rains, but

Flounder have been showing up in good numbers. Randy Wyatt of San Antonio

caught this 5-lb. flounder last month while fishing with Steve Schultz Outdoors.

it seems this season we’ve had more than our share, especially central and northern parts of the state. I would like to share an incident that happen to me the last week of May while wade fishing with some clients. I woke up on a Saturday morning with a burn-ing sensation on a spot near my ankle after a day of wading the King Ranch shoreline a few days prior. Thinking it was a spider bite or some other insect bite, I dismissed the irritated foot and went on my day’s charter with my clients. Shortly into the morning I started to feel chilled and aching all over my body. I knew something was not right but was determined to finish my day with my cli-ents. As the day progressed, so did the pain in my leg until I had had enough. By the time I got back to the dock, my leg was swollen and the redness had spread from my ankle to my calf. That afternoon I went to the Physicians Premier ER to get checked out. After explaining to the doctor that I had been wading in the La-guna Madre, he didn’t take any chances and started me on an IV antibiotic. He then informed me that I was being trans-ferred to the hospital. Later that evening I went to Bay Area Hospital where they continued with the antibiotics intrave-nously. Doctors were not sure where the infection started because I had no open wounds on my leg and I was sure that I had not been poked by a fish or anything else. After a few days in the hospital with continuous antibotics being run through my body, they determined that it was a bad case of “Cellulitis”. Cellulitis is a com-

mon but potentially serious bacterial (streptococcus or staphylococcus) infec-tion of the skin and underlying skin tis-sue. Cellulitis develops when bacteria in-vade the skin, often when skin is broken or open. When bacteria spread under the skin and into the soft tissues, the body re-acts by creating inflammation. I was re-leased after four nights in the hospital and put on oral ABX. After several days I went to see my family physician and he immediately took one look and admitted me back to the hospital. Long story short, I spend a total of 12 days in the hospital continuously receiving ABX through an IV. What started as a small irritation on my leg turned into a major infection in my leg that I wouldn’t wish on my worse enemy. I am sharing this info with you so that everyone that fishes or is exposed to the water in ours or any bay system need to be aware of the dangers that can occur. This infection probably started with a wading boot that rubbed my skin raw and infection set in after that. Things can progress so quickly, you really have to keep an eye on any open cut or wound you have. If there is the slightest sign of irritation, don’t hesitate getting it checked out by your physician. Summer schedule is filling quickly but fall dates are still available. Don’t wait until the last minute to book your dates. To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call or text at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at [email protected]. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Play ball


Half or Full Day Fishing Trips

All Bait, Tackle & EquipmentFurnished

Your catch Filleted andBagged for You

Furnish your TPWD FishingLicense & Refreshments,

and WE DO THE REST!Ken Milam Guide Service(325) 379-2051

www.striperfever.com

Heavy!Submitted to Construction News

Caitie Beth Truitt, Weisser Engineering, (left) went fishing with Bill Dampier, CityBank Texas, Captain Tom Brown (guide), and Waylon Themer, CityBank Texas, at the

Association of Commercial Real Estate Professionals (ACRP) Inshore Invitational Fishing Tournament at TopWater Grill in San Leon May 13. –ab

LJA Engineering Inc. Houston office employees demonstated their athletic skills at the Westchase Corporate Cup Challenge in April. They had had fun competing in

NBA 2-Ball, soccer kick, football toss, dodgeball and a briefcase relay. –ab

L-R: Vivian Chang, Oliver Szymczyk, Ghulam Ali, Joseph Harvey, Rick Harenberg, Scarlett Torres

The LJA Engineering team plays dodgeball. The briefcase relay

Ken Milam’s Fishing LineSince 1981, Ken Milam has been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country,. You can hear Ken on radio on Saturday and Sunday mornings, 6-8

AM on AM 1300, The Zone – Austin, or http://www.am1300the zone.com

Here I sit in my lawn chair with my toes in the water at the edge of the lake trying to type this in. Fishing

is all done for the day. I have a cold beverage at hand, the beginning of a nice sunset before me and a cool breeze on my face. My little laptop computer is waiting on my thoughts and all I can think about is I hope some mad little nesting perch doesn’t take a swipe at my toes and make me jump, upsetting the whole apple cart. Such is the relationship of a sportsman and his electronics. Our whole way of looking at the outdoors we love so much can be greatly enhanced by our new technology…as long as we can keep it working. Don’t drop it, wet it, run over it or forget where you left it (Heaven help you if it was camo colored!). Most importantly though, don’t become overly dependent on whatever the gizmo is. When I started striper guiding on Lake Buchanan in 1981, my first piece of electronic fishing equipment was a Lowrance X-15 chart recorder. For the first time in my whole fishing life I could finally see beneath the waves, look at the contours of the lake bottom and even see fish! (Even if they didn’t really look like fish!) Next were the electronic downriggers and learning the process of combining the downriggers ability to deliver the baits to the fish I could see down there without getting all tangled in the treetops the fish love to lurk in. I still

think there was no better way to learn the bottom of the lake you fish because every time you make a mistake and get hung up, it costs you money in lost tackle and lost time. I still remember the first time I watched a big fish make a run at my bait! I really resisted giving up my X-15s with all their rolls of paper and stylus replacements. I finally changed over to the new fish-finders with display screens and gps. I never looked back because now I could see things in color and with more detail. No more on the water maintenance of the graph and no more having to remember my fishing spots by visually triangulating with landmarks. I love that I can dependably find my favorite places, but that is balanced by knowing that if it fails for any reason, all I have to do is look around me and get home the low tech way like my grandpa did. I never used to take my cell phone fishing because I didn’t want the distraction. Now I always have my phone on me. I like to be able to pull up real time weather radar when I need it, but it doesn’t replace the good weather sense passed down to me by my Dad from his father. Now days my son Max runs the charter trips. He has added a big trolling motor with gps that can keep up with where you are, put you where you want to be and hold your spot without having to throw an anchor. That sure beats hauling in anchor lines, but you couldn’t appreciate how nice it is unless you’d done it the hard way! I love how far we’ve come, but it’s nice to always know the way back!

Technology and the fisherman

D & W Painting

Ferguson


Avid anglerSubmitted to Construction News

Randy Cox, Regency Plumbing, caught this four and a half lb. bass at Fayette

County Reservoir May 29. –ab

Sales team member Tim Snow, The Nut Place Inc., and his dad Stuart had fun traveling to south Texas for a recent dove hunt. They got into the action near the King Ranch close to Kingsville, TX.

“We had a great time shooting and watching the bird dogs do their thing,” Tim Snow said. “The guides were great too!” –ab

No shortage of birds

L-R: Outdoorsmen Stuart and Tim Snow

L-R: Stuart and Tim Snow have a successful dove hunt.

Sultans of swingSubmitted to Construction News

Geoscience Engineering & Testing Inc. employees recently participated in a golf tournament for the Texas Honor Ride, which helps wounded warriors.

L-R: Judge Craig Doyal, Amy Doyal, Tom Robson, Jeremy Herron, Todd Calvin,Ron Falan, and Sheriff Tommy Gage –ab

ParkUSA held its annual Ladies Offshore Fishing Trip in Galveston Jun. 5. Back row, L-R: Candi King, Jenny Casto, Lisa Puffer, Vanessa Romo, Vala Pearson, Haley Hixon,

Yoanna Amezcua and Caylee Cowgill; front row, L-R: George Eberly and Greg West –ab

Reel therapySubmitted to Construction News

Rain, rain, go awaySubmitted to Construction News

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Houston Branch held a Sandcastle Team Post Rain-Out Barbecue at Lawrence Park in early June. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Sandcastle Competition they were supposed to participate in was

rescheduled to Aug. 20 due to rain. –ab


Electrical Industry

Learning all the time

Daniel Baez, Master Electrician and OwnerBaez Electrical ServicesHouston, TX

What is the current state of the Houston construction industry?

We have had so much work here in Houston in the past six months. Things have been crazy for us! We have stayed very busy with gov-ernment work, especially in the past few months. We have also had several com-mercial jobs as well. I don’t think things will slow down in the Houston market any time soon. Why did you decide to become a Mas-ter Electrician? I saw an opportunity to become an

electrician after I spent time at Gary Job Corps, a career technical training program in San Marcos. After taking the training program, I decided I wanted to do electrical work for a living. I am glad I made the decision! I felt it was important to become a Master Electrician. I wanted to excel in my career so made sure to achieve this as soon as possible.

What are a few major changes in your industry in the last few years? I haven’t really seen many changes in the industry in the past few years.

It seems there are always improve-ments in both the equipment and tech-nology in the industry.

What advice would you give a young person who wants to do what you do today? My advice is to go to a trade school and finish all your classes at once and not spread it out over the years. Then gain experience at a good company. Learn from the best electricians you can find. It also helps to develop long-standing rela-tionships along the way.

In your opinion, what does it take to be successful in the construction in-dustry? I think on-the-job experience is key in the construction industry. You have to be dedicated to execute each project with precision and timeli-ness. I also think it is important to take ownership of the project from start to fin-ish, including obtaining all necessary electrical permits and coordinating in-spections with local inspectors.

What is the best part about what you do today? I really enjoy owning my own com-pany. No two days are ever the same and no two projects are ever the same. I enjoy being challenged daily. One of the best decisions I ever made was to earn my Master Electrician license. I really enjoy learning new things all the time and problem solving.

What is on the horizon for your indus-try? I think there will be plenty of electri-cal work in the Houston area for years to come. As for me, I want to continue doing lots of electrical work for government and school projects. I love it here in Hous-ton and this is where I plan to stay. Baez Electrical Services provides elec-trical repairs and installations for commer-cial, residential and industrial projects. The company is a certified MBE/ SBE and HUB Contractor by the City of Houston. –ab


NEXT MONTHAugust 2016 Support Your Industry’s Feature Issue

Call for Ad SpaceReservations

• San Antonio• Austin • Houston• Dallas/Fort Worth• 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

Oct: Specialty ContractorsNov: Architecture & EngineeringDec: Construction Equipment

2016Schedule

Service Providers

Electrical Industry

As the voice of the $130 billion electri-cal construction industry that brings

power, light, and communication tech-nology to buildings and communities across the U.S., the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is tasked with finding solutions to the problems facing the industry. There are always challenges to address, but we’ve man-aged to make tremendous progress on several fronts in the past year. I’m opti-mistic NECA will continue to be a leader moving forward. Two of the biggest issues impacting the industry today are dealing with the shortage of workers at both the crafts-person and management levels and keeping up with technology. NECA has made inroads in both areas. First, we’re addressing the shortage of workers in several ways. Through the jointly sponsored National Labor Man-agement Cooperation Committee (NLMCC), NECA and the International

Dealing with challenges in electrical industry

John M. Grau, CEONational Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)Milwaukee, WI

Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, there has been more than $1.75 million com-mitted in the past 16 months to the man-power development effort through job fairs and recruiting events. The Electrical Training ALLIANCE, a joint training program sponsored by NECA and the IBEW, has been ramping up its efforts at the local level in both growing and diversifying its student population. This year alone, NECA employers have brought in more than 8,000 new employees (more than a 30% increase) from outside the construction industry into apprentice and other entry-level programs. NECA and the IBEW contribute almost $180 million annually to deliver training through their local joint appren-tice programs. The NECA/IBEW partner-ship is currently training more than 30,000 apprentices nationwide. NECA is reaching out to two groups in particular: young people and women.

By 2019, it is estimated that the projected shortage of skilled workers in the U.S. will number 1.5 million, and part of that gap can be made up by bringing more quali-fied women and young people into the fold. Women In NECA, also known as WIN, was established in 2009 to provide a col-laborative forum for women affiliated with NECA-member companies, chapters and LMCCs. WIN works to make NECA – and the industry as a whole – stronger by advancing women’s goals for profession-al growth. NECA also supports student chapters at universities that that promote working in electrical contracting, and we regularly host Industry Nights for job seekers as well. Our apprentices – and apprentices across the board – have embraced the technological advances occurring in re-cent years. We see members starting to adopt many new technologies, such as drones, and experimenting with aug-mented reality devices, tracking devices and 3D printing. The construction indus-try is being greatly impacted by aug-mented reality with real-time visualiza-tion of projects, better collaboration and communication, increased safety, greater implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM), and projects being de-livered on time and within budget. Augmented reality technology and research is providing exciting solutions to improve overall construction quality and efficiency. Cloud-based document

management for improved real-time communication and mobile solutions for punch lists and subcontractor manage-ment are being enhanced by augmented reality overlays. Technology in this area is enhancing the world of construction in many ways. As integrating technology into busi-ness operations is one our members’ ma-jor concerns, we have launched NECA Technology, the Project for Applied and Disruptive Technology, as a new initiative. It explores the world of technology and keeps members informed of what is hap-pening today and what will be launched in the not-too-distant future. It is spear-headed by Joey Shorter, NECA director of research, who has an extensive back-ground in education and experience in translating the work of academics into understandable, practical ideas. NECA remains focused on finding the nation’s top talent for the electrical con-tracting industry and equipping them with the skills they need to succeed. Tech-nology will always be a part of the equa-tion, and I look forward to opportunities that allow us to expand our reach and continue to grow.

Mr. Grau became NECA’s chief staff of-ficer in April 1986. Previously, he was execu-tive vice president of the Milwaukee Chap-ter, NECA, and served as a field representa-tive associate with the NECA Western Re-gion. –cw

Facing the eye of the stormChris Martinez, PresidentCentral ElectricSan Antonio, TX

While the oil boom in the Eagle Ford Shale and the bonds for local municipalities and independent

school districts have taken the construction industry by storm over the last few years, Chris Martinez, president of Central Electric, believes we’re in the eye of that storm

now, waiting for the whirlwind to pick up again.

Two or three years ago, Martinez re-calls that San Antonio, Northeast and Northside ISDs had projects out for bid every month, spinning out about 15 to 20 projects. Now, in the last quarter, he ob-serves that the only schools that went out for bid were in New Braunfels. Mu-nicipalities are concluding their bonds from a few years ago, also. Citing the projects that are under construction, such as hospital work in San Antonio that is currently on the road to completion, Methodist Stone Oak for example, Martinez says that while every-one sees work going on, those projects are wrapping up or already under con-tract. It’s the new opportunities, he points out, that are few and far between as contractors look to the horizon in search of work for the future. “We are approaching a lull, and we’re

waiting for that next wave to come through,” says Martinez. “I’ve heard that from designers to manufacturers that study the market to general contractors and to our trade contractors. “For the current industry trends, needless to say, I think the oil money has impacted various industries through a ripple effect. We’re in a unique situation where multiple things are affecting the market, and so it’s not just oil. I think oil is one piece, and investors now are going to get tighter with their money.” Along with the funds that drive pub-lic, private and government projects dry-ing up, construction companies that fo-cused on doing work south of San Anto-nio in Pleasanton and other outlying ar-eas are coming back because work in their niche in the Eagle Ford Shale is dry-ing up, too. With competition returning,

there are more fishing poles in the local waters and fewer fish. “You’ve got all these construction-related markets,” he says. “You’ve got the private sector, which is, some people say, driven by oil and gas money, but also the banks determine when they release funding for projects to go through. Then, you’ve got all these buckets, and they’re not drying up, but the opportunities in them have decreased, and that impacts every trade in the construction industry.” Injecting some hope for the future, Martinez notes that some local school districts are looking at launching upcom-ing bond initiatives, and everyone is wait-ing for the next wave to come along. Meanwhile, what can a contractor do to keep up the pace until the lull passes? At Central, Martinez says the solution has been shifting focus to other niches and markets. “Three years ago probably, my com-petitors and I could see the opportunities on the horizon,” he says. “Where we stand today, the opportunities on the ho-rizon are few and far between. So then, you need to strategize your approach on what you pursue and don’t pursue, and you evaluate – how far outside your niche do you go? Because you’re stepping into somebody else’s niche. You’ve got to evaluate that and make the best decision for your team.”

Continuing to beat the path and overturn the rocks in search of opportu-nities, Martinez notes that Central is still in the same markets that have made up its portfolio over the last five years, but the share of the pie its niches account for is shifting. As one slice shrinks, another grows to fill in the gap. As the industry has transitioned into the eye of the storm, Central Electric has shifted its workload from being approxi-mately 50-percent government to around 50-percent private. “Our design-assist, design-build portfolio, which was the majority govern-ment, has given us the opportunity to open doors on the private side doing de-sign-assist, design-build,” he explains. “That has probably helped the ship con-tinue to move forward. Having those ca-pabilities that we’ve really done well in the government world, we now do very well in the private world.” Being able to translate the skills Cen-tral honed working in its government niche to the private market has now al-lowed them to do design-build for hotels and design-assist for high-rise living com-plexes. Fred Martinez founded Central Electric in 1975. Today, his sons, Chris Martinez and Ernie Martinez run the company as presi-dent and vice president, respectively. –mh

GCs and subcontractors unite


Houston area construction professionals gathered at a General Contractor’s Expo and Crawfish Boil at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford May 19.

Participating GCs not shown include: Austin Com-mercial, BE&K Building Group LLC, Brewer Construc-tion Services LLC, Craig & Heidt Inc., Epoch Construc-tion Services LLC; Gildart Construction Co., HTX In-dustrial, International Plant Services LLC, JACOBS, Mundy Companies, Ref-Chem LP, SpawGlass Con-struction Corp., Structure Tone Southwest Inc., Turner Construction and WT Byler Co. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Houston Chapter held the networking event. –ab Garney Companies Inc. EXCEL Contractors Inc.

E.E. Reed Construction LP Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. Burrow Global Services LLC

S&B Engineers and Constructors Ltd. Bartlett Cocke Teal Construction Co.

Congratulations to Gilbane Build-ing Co. on signing an Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA) Strategic Partnership. The recent signing ceremony was of-ficiated by Mark Briggs, OSHA Area di-rector, Houston South Office, and Joann Figueroa, OSHA Area director, Houston North Office. The official agreement between As-sociated General Contractors (AGC) Houston Chapter and OSHA was signed on Sept. 4, 2014. “It’s an invaluable cooperative rela-tionship between OSHA and the part-ners,” Figueroa said. “We appreciate be-ing part of the AGC Houston Safety Com-mittee and commend Gilbane Building Co. for qualifying for this partnership.”

Briggs says this has been a long-standing partnership between the AGC and OSHA. Other AGC Houston members that have signed an OSHA Strategic Part-nership include: Allstate Commercial Floors, Anslow Bryant Construction Ltd., W. S. Bellows Construction Corp., Brook-stone, LP, Keystone Concrete, Linbeck Group LLC, SpawGlass Construction Corp., TAS Commercial Construction LLC, Tellep-sen and Trio Electric Ltd. “There are not too many partner-ships left in OSHA (in the United States) because the organization is moving more towards alliances,” Briggs said. “Having a relationship with OSHA and doing the right thing is important. We all benefit from sharing best practices information and solutions.” –ab

L-R: Jerry Nevlud, AGC Houston; Jim Springer and Dan Gilbane, Gilbane Building Co.; Mark Briggs and Joann Figueroa, OSHA and Kevin Virag, Gilbane Building Co.

Partnering upGolf champsSubmitted to Construction News

Golfers braved the heat at the 21st annual Associated General Contractors (AGC)/American Institute of Architects (AIA) Golf Tournament at Champions Golf Club Jun. 20.

The tournament helped raise $25,000 for the ACE Houston Mentor program. –ab


Cooling the cityConstruction News ON LOCATION

Technician Sylvester Brocato and President Michael Scogin, Scogin-Aire Mechanical Inc., are ready to spend the day going to HVAC jobs in The Woodlands. -ab

The Independent Electrical Contrac-tors (EIC) Texas Gulf Coast Chapter held the 2016 Annual Wire Off Com-

petition at SPJST Lodge 88 Jun. 1. The winner will be announced at graduation on Jul. 23 and will advance to the national competition at the IEC Na-tional Convention in October. This year’s participants included Preston Dengler, Prism Electric; James Ramsey, TAG Electric; Enrique Nava, Walker Engineering; Jose Moya, Pieper/Houston Electric; Cory Boston, Lakey Electric and Justin Goudeau, VANCO Electric. –ab

Circuit stars

Justin Goudeau, VANCO Electric

Cory Boston, Lakey Electric

Enrique Nava, Walker Engineering

VLK Architects attended Clear Creek Education Foundation’s Sur-Prize

Patrol May 19. L-R: Amelia Garrett, VLK Architects, presents a grant to Vicki

Magnum of Landholt Elementary who plans to

implement her grant called “Precept Project-Producing Great Writers Through 180

Days of Character Building.” –ab

Wish is grantedSubmitted to Construction News

I went scuba diving in Cozumel with my wife Latricia in May. We looked forward to going all year!

Milt Court,Lonestar Contracting Services

My husband and I love going to the Hill Country. We always have a great time in Dripping Springs. Paulette Woody, 1488 Mulch Yard

A new sign machine so I can make resi-dential and commercial signs and ban-ners. Richard Allen, SS Signs

I went on a girls trip to New York City with my mom and niece. We had a great time exploring the city.

Chandra Franklin,Aran & Franklin Engineering Inc.

My most recent splurge was taking a cruise to the Caribbean with my husband Marcos. We loved it! We are ready to go on another cruise together soon.

Maritza Ramirez,Payless All Points Garage Doors

Playing golf is my favorite indulgence.Rodney Dean,

Magnolia SkidRow Rentals

Taking my granddaughter Addi fishing in San Leon.

Chris Walters,Extreme Air Conditioning Services Inc.

Tickets to a Houston Astros game! Robert Randall, Charter Drywall

Traveling from Houston to Brazil once a year. Artoosh Voshanian, Avanti Stones

Spending time on my five acres. I love piddling around my shop when I am not at the office. I always keep the tractor and

What was the last thing you splurged on?

mower going too. Bob Ray, Ray Glass Co. Inc.

My son’s college tuition! Roderick Sobere Yu, SealMaster

I took a trip to San Antonio with my fam-ily. My two boys loved going to Sea World. Edwin Rendon, The Perfect Painting

I went on a fishing trip near the Texas and Louisiana border with my family. Good times! Joel Kieffer, A&A Stone and Masonry

Going to Europe with my wife Renee was my last splurge. I loved traveling to Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Venice, London and Paris. Steven Crews, C & C Surveying Inc.

Attending a drag boat race at the Brazos River in Waco. Steve Patch, American Brick & Stone

Spending quality time with my children ages 10 and 5. They are so much fun and I love being their dad. Bryan Melton, Monster Flooring

Spending time outdoors with my family is one of my favorite things to do.

Alex Briseno,Lone Star Clearance Doors

New tools! Miguel Elias, E & M Construction

I went fishing in Rockport. Fishing is my passion!

Doug Provazek,Logan’s Roofing & Exteriors

Relaxing at the beach in Florida with my kids.

Monica Gonzales, Mustang CAT

Dmac Construction & Development Inc. and Method Architecture representatives attended a recent groundbreaking ceremony at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater

Houston project. –ab

Ready to digSubmitted to Construction News

www.constructionnews.net


Cheers to 20 yearsLift off

CFI Mechanical Inc. celebrated its 20th anniversary in style at Saint Arnold Brewing Co. in May.

President Chuck Fell says 350 guests enjoyed dinner catered by Pappasitos Cantina, tasted different beers and shared stories about the past 20 years at CFI Mechanical. Founded in 1996, CFI Mechanical pro-vides management and labor services to the HVAC and plumbing construction in-dustry. –ab

CFI Mechanical employees and friends taste Saint Arnold Brewing Co. beer.

CFI Mechanical’s Ron Bukowski, vice president, and Chuck Fell, president

Attendees enjoy fajitas for dinner.Ron Bukowski received a platinum

anniversary plaque at the event.

All under one roofShowing their Allegiance

Having celebrated the company’s fifth anniversary in December, the Allegiance Crane & Equipment

Houston office recently completed an ex-pansion and remodeling of its facility. Lo-cated at 4000 Oats Road, internal growth and the need for training space led to Al-legiance more than doubling the size of the Houston office. When Allegiance was first formed, the company purchased the assets of General Crane, which was in the existing location that Allegiance occupies and has improved upon today. Gary Campbell, vice president of operations, notes that the recent changes included building a training facility. Though based in Houston briefly, Campbell oversees the 52 people in the Houston office from the company’s San Antonio-area location. The Houston office has done a project for a Carnival Cruise ship that required two 300-ton units and one 650-ton unit to lift equipment being loaded onto the ship, and they provided a

240-ton unit to lift scaffolding and sheet glass for the Air Traffic Control Tower at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Since giving back is a big part of the company culture, members of the com-pany’s Texas offices are involved in the Stock Show & Rodeo, benefitting local youth. Campbell is involved with Adult & Teen Challenge. Jim Robertson, CEO and president, notes that Allegiance was founded on operating principles intended to make its culture a distinguishing factor. In addi-tion to efforts to support local communi-ties and the future of the industry, Rob-ertson says they do not use the word “employees” but rather “purpose part-ners.” Though he has a title, he says there is no hierarchy and the people-first policy gives the company its name. Headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, Allegiance Crane & Equipment has loca-tions in Florida and Texas, including San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, Carrizo Springs and Midland. –mh

Gary Campbell, vice president of operations for Allegiance Crane & Equipment, recently gave a training session at the company’s newly expanded and remodeled Houston location.

The early days Ranger Lift Trucks was like most startup companies. Todd Ford, co-owner, says there

was no office, very little office furniture, a couple of phone lines and minimal yard space to park a few used forklifts. “Our customer base was very small and we did whatever it took to get some-one to buy a forklift,” Ford said. “As busi-ness improved over time, we added a few technicians and offered the ability to re-condition forklifts. This pushed our sales upward and we expanded our customer base to those who wanted a quality, used forklift that was thoroughly inspected.” Ford says it is important to make cus-tomers feel as if they are reaching out to a good friend no matter the time of day. “The real key to our success is being a large enough company that provides a variety of products and services our cus-tomers want while still being small enough that our customers can reach out to any of our management team one-on-

one,” he said. Ranger Lift Trucks recently expand-ed its operations with a new facility in Baytown and a satellite office in New Braunfels. “This strategic expansion allows us to enhance the services our customers receive,” Ford said. The 6,500-sf facility in Baytown is lo-cated near Interstate 10. It features seven new bays with 18’ doors that allow ser-vice technicians to work on equipment in any type of weather. The new office in New Braunfels will serve customers in the Central Texas area. On the side, Ranger Lift Trucks em-ployees support the community. The company has donated to the Ranch Ro-deo at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Ranger Lift Trucks specializes in sales and service of pre-owned forklifts of all makes and models. –ab

Ranger Lift Trucks employees gather at the new Baytown facility.

Architects-Plus and Three Square Design Group launched Method Architecture in June.

Method partners are Keith Holley and Eric Hudson, principals and co-own-ers of Architects-Plus; Jake Donaldson, founder and principal of Three Square and Vanessa Ortega, director of proj-ects at Three Square. “Things are in full swing right now,” Holley said. “We were thrilled with the positive response to the merger announcement from our clients, and have really been able to carry that momentum forward.” The new office in EaDo (East Down-town Houston) is progressing and the firm is set to move in sometime in Au-gust. “Operating out of two offices has its challenges, but there has been great buy-in and communication from our em-ployees to ensure a seamless transition,” he said. Later this year, Method Architecture

will be participating in the annual Ameri-can Institute of Architects (AIA) Bowl-A-TAC event and will have a company-wide volunteer day at the Houston Food Bank. “I think everyone is looking forward to our upcoming company retreat in July, to do some team building and decom-press a bit after the merger,” Holley says. He added there is great mix of sports fanatics, craft beer enthusiasts and food-ies at the firm. “We have a great foundation and are firmly rooted in Houston, so it all starts with a commitment to take care of our current clients,” Holley said. “We all have things that we want to accomplish pro-fessionally in the future, but the common goal is to leave wherever we go better than we found it and to have a little fun along the way!” Method Architecture is a full-service ar-chitecture firm specializing in tenant finish and ground-up projects. –ab

L-R: Jake Donaldson, Vanessa Ortega, Keith Holley and Eric Hudson

Round-UpHouston Construction News • July 2016

Association CalendarContent submitted by Associations to Construction News

ABCAssociated Builders & Contractors

Jul. 7: YPC Corn Hole TournamentJul. 8: Member BreakfastJul. 21: PAC Top Golf Summer eventFor more information call 713-523-6222

AGCAssociated General Contractors

Jul. 14: 2016 Midyear Safety meeting fea-turing Astronaut Scott KellyFor more information call 713-843-3700

AIAAmerican Institute of Architects

Jul. 21: 2016 Connect Dinner, 6pm, Bren-nan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith St.For more information: www.aiahouston.org

ASAAmerican Subcontractors Association

Jul. 21: No General Lunch meeting in JulyFor more information call 281-679-1877

FPAFoundation Performance Assoc.

Jul. 13: Monthly meeting, 5pm, HESS Club. Geotechnical Considerations for Soil Stability, Ditches, Embankment and Detention Ponds, Speaker: David A. East-wood, PE, Geotech Engineering and TestingFor more information: www.foundation-performance.org

HAGAHouston Area Glass Association

Jul. 13: Summer Bowling Mixer, 6pm, Willow Lanes, 19102 Hwy 249For more information visit www.hous-tonglass.org

HCAHispanic Contractors Association

Jul. 19: Spring Golf Tournament, Black Horse Golf Club, 12205 Fry Rd.For more information call 713-349-9434

IECIndependent Electrical Contractors

Jul. 20: Monthly meetingFor more information call 713-869-1976

NAWICNat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Jul. 22: NAWIC Bowls!, 7pm, Copperfield BowlFor more information: www.nawic-hous-ton.org

PHCC Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

Aug. 10: Member Lunch, Saltgrass Steak-houseFor more information: www. gulfcoast-phcc.org

TACCATexas Air Conditioning Contractors Assn.

Jul. 15: Bay Bash Fishing TournamentFor more information call 713-781-4822

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/Ft. Worth: [email protected] Houston: [email protected]

ound

-Up

Sub

mis

sio

ns

Bautex Systems LLC has named Gretchen Kliafas as a new ar-chitectural sales rep-resentative, East Tex-as region. Kliafas joins Bautex with more than 16 years of construction and de-sign experience in both the commercial and residential sec-tors. She has held national and regional account management roles throughout her career, working with hundreds of Tex-as contractors and builders.

The DLR Group Hous-ton office has hired Chris Royster, AIA, as project manager and senior associate. In this role, he will man-age the design and delivery of commer-cial and developer-led projects. Royster has designed and master planned more than 1.6 million square feet of commer-cial and corporate office space.

Kristie Alexander has joined Johnston LLC as junior associ-ate/senior marketing coordinator. Alexan-der brings the firm nearly 10 years of marketing expertise. She has a background in architecture mar-keting for higher education, knowledge management and government procure-ments. Alexander received a M.A. in Eng-lish from the University of North Texas and a B.A. in English from the University of Houston.

Charles Johnson, AIA, Ross Rivers, AIA and Tim Kunz, AIA, NCARB were recently named senior associates at VLK Architects. Johnson joined VLK Architects in 2005, Rivers in 1998 and Kunz in 2006.

Charles Johnson Ross Rivers Tim Kunz

Rebecca “Beki” Webster has joined HOLT CAT as its new vice president of human resourc-es. With more than 20 years of experi-ence in human re-source manage-ment and leadership, Webster will have executive oversight of all human resource operations and will assume responsibility of the company’s security and safety de-partments. A native of San Antonio, she recently relocated to South Texas after 20 years working at Northrup Grumman, a leading global aerospace and defense technology firm.

Houston area plumb-ing, heating and cooling contractors

contractors participated in the 3rd annual Service Truck Competition and Din-ner at Brady’s Landing Jun. 15. The three categories judged at the event includ-ed most unique, best look-ing and best overall truck. Prizes were given for each category including tools, gift cards and bragging rights. The Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Asso-ciation (PHCC) Gulf Coast Chapter held the event. –ab

Congrats to the winners!

Truck masters

Best Overall: Epic Services

Most Unique: Pickett Plumbing Best Looking: Big State Plumbing

Talking safetySubmitted to Construction News

TDIndustries employees participated in the National Safety Stand-Down Week in May. –ab

Aye aye captain!Submitted to Construction News

Construction professionals participated in the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Houston Chapter Captain’s Party at Bridge Water Events in Baytown Jun. 8 before the

Fishing Tournament at TopWater Grill in San Leon. –ab

continued from Page 1 — Explore, dream, discover

continued from Page 1 — Pedal to the metal

continued from Page 1 — Reaching the finish line


Commissioner Jack Cagle spoke to Houston area engineers at the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Houston Chapter annual barbecue lunch at HCFCD North

Service Pavilion May 25. Funds raised at the event will go to the TSPE scholarship fund. –ab


Taste of Texas

firm specializes in retail, hospitality, corpo-rate interiors, senior living and grocery projects. The company has operated for two and half years and is licensed in Texas, Lou-isiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colo-

The Locus Construction crew does the framing work.

rado. The company serves nationwide retail clients. –ab

Professional Team:Project Superintendent: Anthony Jezier-ski, Locus Construction LLC

studioMET Architects attends vari-ous events hosted by collaborators dur-ing the year. “Some of our favorites are the craw-fish boils and IIDA Product Runway,” she said. “There are many talented crews in this city!” Hobbies employees enjoy outside of work include cycling, hiking, camping, marathon running, rock climbing, barre workouts, traveling for various overseas missions to work in underdeveloped vil-lages and involvement at their churches and children's schools. studioMET Architects was recently awarded the Firm of the Year Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Houston Chapter for 2016.

The award honors a firm for more than 10 years of design excellence, for outstanding commitment to AIA Hous-ton and for unparalleled leadership and service to the profession. “We are honored to win this award,” founding partner Stephen Andrews said. “Houston is an exciting laboratory for us as we have witnessed its demographic changes and growth over the years. We couldn’t do what we do without some amazing clients and dependable collabo-rators. It’s humbling to be recognized by our industry for this award.” studioMET Architects is a design-build firm comprised of architects, artists, design-ers and craftsmen. –ab

Local contractors met at a luncheon event held at The Junior League Ball-room May 26.

The luncheon featured a presenta-

On your mark, get set, network

Equify

Holes Inc. Pro-Vigil

tion from Harris County, Precinct 3 Com-missioner Steve Radack. The Houston Contractors Association (HCA) held the event. –ab “My family and I fell in love with the

area so we bought a lot and built a place. I go there just about every weekend.” Cloy says a memorable trip he and his family took was to Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Tennessee. “We spent a week near a crystal clear river in the valley,” he said. “We passed by a historical plantation man-sion and an old grist mill. “During our stay at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, we heard some of her country music songs from the past.”

Looking towards the future, Cloy says he plans to operate his company for years to come. “Besides our Magnolia location, we have two acres just inside of Waller Coun-ty. We purchased the land almost 20 years ago and it was too far out. In the future, we may build an office and shop there.” MWS Inc. specializes in metal building construction and barns. The company pro-vides remodeling, add-ons and carports. –ab


Lifetime of learningSubmitted to Construction News

Rice University and JE Dunn Construction recently broke ground on the new parking garage and office annex project. L-R: Lynn Terry, JE Dunn Construction; Tina Hicks and

Eugen Radulescu, Rice University and Emre Ozcan, JE Dunn Construction. –ab

Brookstone LP held a grand opening for the Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department to celebrate their newly constructed building in May. The new fire station is located near the

intersection of West Lake Houston Parkway and FM 1960. –ab


All fired up

Power lunchConstruction News ON LOCATION

Joseph Botch and Jeremy Cooper, Met Plumbing in Katy, took a quick breakat a local restaurant for some welcome lunch. –cw

Industrious dayConstruction News JOB SIGHT

The Cherry crew breaks up and removes concrete at theShell station on FM 1093 in Fulshear. –ab

Susan Huff began working at Rigid Global Buildings 16 years ago as a receptionist.

After learning all about the differ-ent materials and products over the years, she eventually became a ship-ping clerk. Her job responsibilities today are taking care of component orders and scheduling deliveries and customer pick-ups. “I work with wonderful people,” Huff said. “I am lucky my best friend works with me, too!” In June, Huff looks forward to go-ing on a company trip to China. She says she has the opportunity to go as a reward for working at the company for more than 15 years. “I will stay in China for a week,” she said. “I think it will be a great expe-rience.” Born and raised in Houston, Huff attended and graduated from West-field High School. When Huff has free time, she is in-volved in helping out a Girl Scouts group. She has volunteered with the Girl Scouts for more than 25 years when her own two girls were in the program and now her granddaughters are in-volved. “I was asked to handle community service projects for the area which in-cludes Klein Independent School Dis-trict (ISD),” she said.

Huff started a project called the 3Ts, which stands for tops, toys and toi-letries. She contacted Klein ISD to see what kids needed and found out there was a need for these items. “Each gift bag is labeled boy or girl and goes to the children in need around Christmas time,” Huff said. “The gift bags go to 30 elementary schools in Klein ISD. This year will be our fourth year to do the project.” Huff says all the items are supplied by friends, families and people in the community. Huff is also involved in the VFW Auxiliary. “My grandpa served in WWII in the Army Air Corp and that allows me to be eligible to join the VFW and support our military in every occasion and opportu-nity I can,” she says. When not working, Huff enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, going bowling with her family and tak-ing part in Relay for Life for the Ameri-can Cancer Society. –ab

Susan HuffShipping Clerk

Rigid Global Buildings

Industry FOLKS

L-R: On May 26, Marek employees wore red noses to support Red Nose Day USA to help end child poverty. –ab

Sporting red nosesSubmitted to Construction News

houston construction news july 2016

Documents