houston construction news march 2015

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Adventures in concrete A miller’s skill

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www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 13 H Number 3 H MARCH 2015Mardi Gras in Galveston

Owner Bill Stokes, Increte of Houston and S Concrete, was brought up with great discipline.

His father was an Air Force Senior Master Sergeant. While his father was deployed in Ha-waii, Stokes began working at his first real job. “I drove a three-wheel Cushman to sell ice cream on the beach for an ice cream business,” Stokes said. “We lived on the North Shore of Hawaii for five years. “Selling ice cream on the beach was not a bad gig. I packed the ice cream trucks and ate all the free ice cream I wanted.” After spending his college days at

Sam Houston State University, Stokes met his wife Barbara and they moved to Houston in the early ‘80s. He started S Concrete, a full-service concrete company in 1982. S Concrete pro-vides turnkey concrete solutions to both residential and commercial customers. “In 2005, I expanded the business to include decorative concrete and other construction services,” Stokes said. “In-crete of Houston was born out of the de-mand our customers expressed for us to bring additional options to them.” Increte of Houston specializes in the installation of decorative driveways, pool decks, patios, pergolas, shingled patio

Bill Stokes demonstrates a custom decorative concrete coloring technique.

Working on the recognized his-torical site of “Old Harrisburg,” Teal Construction Co. complet-

ed the Frost Bank Harrisburg location in 30 months. The owner is Front Bank. Project manager Mark Baumguard says the 1,675sf ground up construction project consisted of a bank building with a lobby, teller work area, office spaces and a three-lane drive area. “The Frost Bank Harrisburg location project was unique for many reasons,” Baumguard said. “It is one of the main re-sources for the Frost Bank Houston loca-tion with all daily transactions being ac-counted for here.“ The original bank building had to be kept open until an adjacent building could be renovated to accommodate the operations of the bank. Baumguard says logistic and site specific safety plans were required to en-sure that the construction area and tasks

were not conflicting with the day-to-day operations of the bank. “Once the operations could be moved into the renovated building we were able to start construction on the new facility, which began with demolish-ing the existing building,” he said. “Heavy remediation had to be complet-ed in the existing building prior to the demolition. “With due diligence done in the be-ginning stages of the project and a sea-soned superintendent, we were able to overcome any obstacle in our path while keeping all associated parties and stake-holders abreast on the construction tasks.” The exterior primary construction materials included limestone veneer, stucco, aluminum storefront and Aluco-bond metal panels. The interior of the

The Frost Bank Harrisburg location

Montalbano Lumber reaches its 115th year in business in 2015. The family-owned and operated

company is the oldest lumber retailer in Houston. The company prides itself on keep-ing the family business, well, in the fami-ly. “Being family-owned and operated just makes this company much more per-sonal to us,” said Joseph Montalbano, the company’s director of administration and great-grandson to founder, Frances-co Montalbano. “You just tend to take care of folks in the way you would like to be treated. A lot of our customers and employees have been with us for many years and they are like an extended fam-ily to us.”

The company’s history begins in the last decade of the 19th century when young Montalbano’s great-grandfather Francesco left his native Italy in search of a better life in America - the land of op-portunity. In Italy, Francesco had worked in a flour mill and was hoping to continue his trade in the United States. As he went through the immigration process in New Orleans, Francesco was asked about his previous work experience. “My great-grandfather’s English was very limited, so someone told him to re-ply “mill” in response to the immigration officer’s question,” Montalbano said. “The officer assumed he meant a lumber mill and directed the young immigrant to

Montalbano Lumber president Michael Montalbano at the Houston Avenue yard.

Houston Construction News • Mar 2015

Elbert Watson Link, 81, passed away on Feb. 8. Link was a United States Army retired Lt. Colonel.

Link is survived by his wife Ann Bor-dovsky Link; brothers Theodore Carl Link and wife Isabel, Cabanne Hooker Link and wife Lyndall, William Hooker Link; brothers-in-law Jerome John Bordovsky and wife Janice, Charles Edward Bordo-vsky; and several nieces and nephews. Link was an active member of the Greater Houston Chapter of the Texas So-ciety of Professional Engineers (TSPE) for more than 40 years and touched many lives. He was a past chapter and state pres-ident, a National Society Professional En-gineers (NSPE) Fellow and a life member of NSPE. He was also a fellow of the Texas Engineering Foundation. Link was awarded the 2014 NSPE Mentor of the Year award. He utilized the opportunities presented through his ac-tivities to reach young engineers and of-fered support and mentoring. –ab

In memoriam

Growing up in the construction in-dustry, Robert Salinas, owner of Stamped Artistry, says he loved

art and drawing as a child. Salinas remembers helping his un-cles pour concrete after school when he was a teenager. His uncles taught him the value of hard work. “I love that I am able to express my-self artistically with decorative concrete today,” Salinas said. “I get up in the morn-ings and I look forward to going to work. “The most exciting part about what I do is the self satisfaction in what I have created and watching people light up with excitement after seeing a finished product.” Staying up-to-date in his industry is important to Salinas. “If you don’t stay on top of the chang-es, it will pass you by,” he said. “Things

Concrete is the canvas

change every year in this business!” According to Salinas, the company hosts Demo Day events at the Pasadena location a few times a year. Contractors have the chance to learn how to create the appearance of natural materials such as slate, brick and tile with concrete. “The core of my business is my em-ployees,” Salinas said. “The guys on my crew are like family to me. A few of the guys have worked with me for 30 years.” When Salinas gets time off, he enjoys going scuba diving with his family. “One of our favorite times scuba div-ing was spending 10 days in a little place called Akumal, which is known as the Place of the Turtles,” he said. “We saw dozens and dozens of turtles under water and above water. It was amazing!” Stamped Artistry provides decorative concrete services. –ab

Robert Salinas (left) says he enjoys the artistic side of the concrete business.


Casino fun

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.

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Houston

Networking with peers in the indus-try, heating, air conditioning and plumbing contractors and suppli-

ers put their poker faces on for a Casino Night fundraiser event Jan. 23. The event took place at the Cadillac Bar & Grill in Houston. Folks enjoyed dinner, raffles, auc-tions, gaming and karaoke. The Gulf Coast Plumbing Heating Cooling Con-tractors Association (PHCC) hosted the event. –ab

Sean Giuliani, Wedgeworth Plumbing,sings karaoke.

Milton Frank, Milton Frank Plumbing, (center) and his family

Guests have a great time at the Blackjack table.

The 9th annual Katy Home and Garden Show took place at

the Merrell Center & Robin-son Pavilion Jan. 24 and 25. Contractors and sub-contractors from the Katy and Southwest Houston ar-eas set up booths at the event. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about latest products and servic-es on the market. –ab

Marketplace of ideas

Tim’s Fences

Superior Windows & Doors Tradition Outdoor Living

HGTV star Chip Wade gives a presentation on stage.


Invisible exclusions, part IIIThe new (04 13) additionalinsured endorsementsCharles E. Comiskey, Sr. V.P.Brady, Chapman, Holland & Associates, inc.Houston, TX

There are three potentially significant issues with the new (effective April 2013) additional insured en-

dorsements. The new endorsements (1) exclude the sole negligence of the additional insured party, (2) po-

tentially limit the amount of recovery, and (3) according to some insurance companies and their agents and brokers, are required to be used in place of the older, broader-in-scope additional insured endorsements.

#1. The Sole Negligence Problem The ISO CG 20 10 endorsement pro-vides coverage for on-going exposures only. No coverage is provided for com-pleted operations. The ISO CG 20 10 04 13 states that coverage is provided to the additional in-sured “only with respect to liability … caused, in whole or in part, by:1. [insured’s] acts or omission ; or2.. he acts or omissions of those acting on [insured’s] behalf in the performance of on-going operations.” Sole negligence of the additional in-sured would not be “caused, in whole or in part by” the downstream named in-sured, hence coverage is no longer pro-vided for the additional insured’s sole negligence. The ISO CG 20 37 endorsement pro-vides coverage to the additional insured for completed operations exposures. As with the CG 20 10, the CG 20 37 10 01 in-cludes coverage for the sole negligence of the additional insured, and the CG 20 37 04 13 excludes the additional insured’s sole negligence. If additional insured status including coverage for the sole negligence of the upstream party is needed, use of the fol-lowing wording is recommended: Addi-tional insured status shall be provided in favor of [Upstream Parties] on a combina-tion of ISO forms CG 20 10 10 01 and CG 20 37 10 01.#2. The Amount of Recovery Problem The April 2013 endorsements in-clude three new provisions:

1. The insurance afforded to such addi-tional insured only applied to the extent permitted by law; and2. If coverage provided to the addition-al insured is required by a contract or agreement, the insurance afforded to such additional insured will not be broad-er than that which [the named insured is] required by the contract or agreement to provide for such additional insured; and3. If coverage provided to the addition-al insured is required by a contract or agreement, the most we will pay on be-half of the additional insured is the amount of insurance: Required by the

contract or agreement; or available un-der the applicable Limits of Insurance shown in the Declarations; whichever is less. The first change is inserted to permit the additional insured endorsement to apply to the many various state laws af-fecting the provision of this coverage. The second change is clearly intend-ed to make the agreement the control-ling document with regard to the intend-ed scope of coverage (i.e., for what expo-sures coverage is granted). The third change is problematic as it can limit the amount of coverage pro-vided, depending on how the construc-tion agreement was drafted. And keep in mind that these same terms are being incorporated into many excess liability policies as well as the primary general li-ability policies. If you are a downstream contractor (i.e., a subcontractor or a sub-sub), the more limiting wording works to your benefit. If you are an owner or upstream contractor, the broader wording works to your benefit.#3. The “Required to Use” Problem The April 2013 editions of CGL addi-tional insured endorsements are now in common use, and many insurance com-panies are firmly stating that they must be used and the older endorsements providing broader coverage are no lon-ger permissible. This statement may be true within a particular insurance com-pany, but is absolutely not true within the insurance industry. The CG 20 10 10 01 and CG 20 37 10 01 additional insured endorsements re-main readily available to qualified con-tractors. New, small or residential con-tractors, or contractors with insurance agents or brokers that cannot access qualified insurance carriers, will likely not be able to get them.Charles E. Comiskey, CPCU, CIC, CPIA, CRM, PWCA, CRIS, CCM, is Sr. V.P. of Brady Chap-man Holland & Assoc. and is National Chairman of the Construction Insurance Practice Group of RiskProNet International, the 5th largest brokerage organization in the U.S. He can be contacted at 713.979.9706 or [email protected].

Better togetherSubmitted to Construction News

The Air Conditioning Contractors of American Greater Houston Chapter (ACCA-GH) held Team Jacob Day in February. Board members sported orange ribbons to support a little

boy who is battling cancer. –ab

Use JPM to trackproductivity during jobsLane Gorman Trubitt PLLCDallas, TX

Poor productivity can spell disaster for a construction project. Unfortunately,

traditional measures of productivity are applied after the fact, so they do little to help contractors spot issues during a job — while there’s still time to do some-thing about it. To help contractors monitor produc-tivity during jobs, ASTM International (formerly, the American Society for Test-ing and Materials) developed its Job Pro-ductivity Measurement (JPM) standard. Adopted in 2010, the standard enables contractors to measure productivity throughout a job and address productiv-ity issues as they arise. It also alerts con-tractors to changes in productivity rates, serving as an “early warning system” for potential productivity problems down the road.

Output vs. outcomesRather than focus on output — such as the amount of concrete poured — JPM looks at outcomes. Output measures the amount of effort expended or materials installed, with little regard for the quality of the results. It obscures unproductive activities, such as repairs, rework or out-of-sequence work. JPM, on the other hand, analyzes work performed relative to actual con-struction put in place — that is, work product that’s acceptable to the custom-er. By measuring outcomes based on the transfer of value to the customer, JPM of-fers a more accurate picture of productiv-ity in terms of actual progress toward contract completion. It also provides a more reliable meth-od of measuring percentage of comple-tion. By tying it to construction put in place, JPM allows a contractor to make progress billings based on value provid-ed, regardless of the amount of cost in-curred, which can improve cash flow. This method tracks nicely with upcoming changes to accounting rules,

which tie revenue recognition to the completion of performance obligations.

Putting systems in place To make JPM work, you must have systems in place to measure, in ASTM In-ternational’s words, “observed comple-tion of the project as accepted by the customer.” You need to break down the contract into tasks, assign cost codes to each task and create a budget that as-signs labor hours to each activity that contributes to the finished product. In addition, when relying on regular reports from workers in the field, you must track the observed percentage of completion for all activities (typically, weekly). Then, you need to compare those results against the actual hours de-voted to each activity. Errors, repairs, rework and inefficient processes hurt a construction company’s productivity. Rather than discover these issues in a “postmortem,” consider im-plementing JPM. By providing ongoing feedback on problems that hurt produc-tivity, it gives you an opportunity to cor-rect problems during the course of a job — enhancing your performance, cash flow, and ultimately, your profitability.

About Lane Gorman Trubitt, PLLCFounded in 1950, Lane Gorman Trubitt, PLLC (LGT) is one of the largest certified public accounting firms headquartered in the Southwest. Dedicated to serving the middle market, the firm represents a broad range of clients, from individuals to public companies, in a variety of industries. LGT offers traditional accounting, audit and tax services, as well as various other special-ized services. In an effort to expand the ser-vices provided to valued clients, LGT has launched three affiliated companies, LGT Financial Advisors, LLC, LGT Insurance Ser-vices Inc. and LGT Retirement Plan Solu-tions. To learn more, visit http://www.lgt-cpa.com.

The Women Contractors Association (WCA) held a networking luncheon at the Federal Reserve Bank Feb. 3.

Jesse Thompson, Federal Reserve Bank, provided a 2015 forecast for the Houston economy and Sherriff Adrian Garcia inducted the new WCA board of directors at the event. –ab

Moving forward

The WCA board of directors induction ceremony

On the right: L-R: Alexis Walls Guillory, Paul Kelly

and Dorothy Hernandez Janish


A toast to 2015

Celebrating the start of the New Year, contractors networked at the Associated Builders & Contractors

(ABC) Houston Chapter Inaugural Dinner at the Sam Houston Hotel Jan. 22. The ABC and the Construction & Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF) boards were introduced at the event and attendees learned about plans for 2015. –ab

Lee Aitken and 2015 ABC Chairwoman Darlene East, Holes Inc.

The 2015 ABC Board

The 2015 CMEF Board

Ready to helpConstruction News ON LOCATION

L-R: Bo Castillo and Darren Goynes focus on sales at Lumber Liquidators in Stafford. –ab

Employers use noncompetition & nonsolicitation agreements to limit poaching of key employeesShelly Masters, PrincipalCokinos Bosien & YoungAustin, TX

Between the demands of the surging construction market and the increasing scarcity of construction

labor in the Texas workforce, employers face a heightened risk of losing key employees to poaching by competitors. Because key employee retention is critical to the overall success of a company, a growing number of employers are seeking ways in which to keep key employees satisfied, limit lateral movement and prevent others from hiring away talented workers. Thanks to recent Texas Supreme Court rulings, well-drafted noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements offer a viable form of relief for em-ployers.

Noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements are not synonymous. Non-competition agreements aim to prevent an employee from working for another employer in a competing business while nonsolicitation agreements preclude so-licitation of another in some form or fash-ion (e.g., by preventing a departing em-ployee from calling on the employer’s customers or clients or preventing an-other company from soliciting the em-ployer’s workforce). Nonsolicitation agreements may also be used by a com-pany to prevent another company with whom it has entered into a contractual relationship (such as a general contractor or subcontractor) from soliciting its em-ployees. Covenants not to compete and so-licit are governed by Section 15.50 – 15.52 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code. By statute, a covenant is enforce-able if: (i) it is ancillary to or part of an oth-erwise enforceable agreement at the time the agreement is made; (ii) it contains reasonable limitations as to time, geo-graphic area, and (iii) the scope of activi-ty restrained does not impose a greater restraint than necessary to protect the goodwill or other business interest of the employer. If the primary purpose of the agreement to which the covenant is an-cillary is found in an employment con-tract, the employer has the burden of es-tablishing that the covenant meets the statutory criteria. Prior to recent Court opinions, the judiciary frequently found noncompeti-tion agreements to be an unreasonable restraint on trade. Texas courts enforced only narrowly tailored noncompetition agreements. Under prior law, employers were often unsuccessful in obtaining in-junctive or other relief against the em-ployee. The Texas Supreme Court has made it easier for employers seeking to restrict key employees from competing post-employment. Now, trade secret informa-tion and specialized training are not the

exclusive forms of employer-generated consideration necessary to enforce non-competition and non-solicitation agree-ments. These opinions have recently been extended to contracts with inde-pendent contractors as well. The key to enforcement now is that these types of provisions must be rea-sonable and not impose a greater re-straint than necessary to protect the em-ployer’s interest. The provisions must state a duration of time, geographical area to be limited, and scope of activity to be restrained. Courts have generally held reasonable geographic restrictions include the territory in which the em-ployee worked and performed services for the employer, the area in which the employer does business, the physical lo-cation of the employer’s customer or cli-ents, etc. The shorter the time period, the more likely the covenant will be en-forced. If the provisions are indefinite or without appropriate limitations, a Court will likely find them unreasonable and unenforceable. Because Texas has become more fa-vorable to employers than it has been in the last two decades, employers should audit existing and prospective employ-ment agreements, incentive plans, prime contracts and subcontracts to determine whether to incorporate covenants not to compete, solicit or hire employees and/or customers and other provisions to pro-tect confidential information and trade secrets. Poorly drafted provisions can lead to unwanted surprises for employ-ers who wrongfully believe they are rely-ing on solid agreements with enforce-able language. Shelly Masters is a Principal in the Aus-tin office of Cokinos Bosien & Young. She represents clients in the areas of construc-tion, labor and employment, commercial and products liability law. Cokinos Bosien & Young has been representing the con-struction industry for over 25 years. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (512) 615-1139.


Tony MillerOwner

Miller ElectricalConstruction Inc

Tony Miller remembers clearly when he and his wife and co-founder Kar-en first opened Miller Electrical Con-

struction Inc. in 1984. “We established the company during the beginning of a tough economic time,” Miller said. “Karen and I had to work hard and watch ourselves by not taking on too much work. We started out with three trucks. We made sure to do a good job and retain the customers.” In the early days, Miller bought prop-erty on West 24th Street and eventually sold the property and moved to the cur-rent location on Bauman Road in 2007. Over the years, Miller says he has re-ally enjoyed working with people and helping them accomplish improvements for their buildings and property. Nowa-days, the company has 16 trucks. Miller Electrical Construction is a commercial electrical contractor, provid-ing design build services, new and re-model construction, service, mainte-nance, repairs and exterior lighting re-pairs.

Where are you originally from, Tony? I grew up in Anahuac, TX, also known as the Alligator Capital of Texas. It is east of Baytown near the Trinity River. The area has lots of wildlife, water-ways and estuaries. It is a farming com-munity.

What was it like growing up in Ana-huac? I remember there were lots of mos-quitos! I enjoyed playing football and I also ran track when I was a teenager. I played the half back position on the football team and I ran the 100-yd. dash, 220-yd. dash and the 440-yd. relay.

What high school did you attend? I attended Anahuac High School. My favorite subjects in school were Texas History and American History. I am still interested in both subjects today.

What did your mother and father do for a living? My dad was the head football coach and athletic director at Anahuac High School. My mom stayed busy as a housewife and she took care of my three siblings and me.

Do any of your siblings work in con-struction today? Yes, my brother John owns J. Miller Electric in Houston. John worked for me for a number of years and then decided to start his own business.

Where did you work in high school? To earn extra spending money in high school, I worked for a local oilman. I did odd jobs to help him with his busi-ness. I mostly worked after school and on the weekends.

What did you do after you graduated high school? I enrolled at Stephen F. Austin Uni-versity in Nacogdoches. Next, I was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and 1970. When I got out in 1970, I went to work for a company called Chenault & Brady Consulting Engineers in the Hous-ton. The firm provided electrical engi-neering and MEP engineering services for high-rise buildings. I worked at the company from 1970 to 1976. In 1976, I went to work for Wohlt Electric. I eventually worked my way up to become vice president of the compa-ny. After working at Wohlt Electric for a number of years, I thought it was time to open my own business.

How did your background in electrical engineering prepare you for what you do today? After I did electrical engineering for many years, I got to know a lot of contrac-tors in Houston. Construction was exciting to me. Electrical engineering fits hand in hand with what I do today. I think it was a good experience.

What is the best part about your job? I like the accomplishment of con-struction and seeing the finished prod-uct.

I have many employees that have been with me more than 20 years. I enjoy working with them and seeing their ac-complishments as well.

In your opinion, what is the key to suc-cess as an electrical contractor? The keys to success are provide qual-ity work, be fair and honest with your customers and collect your money. Work well with your hands and be organized. What advice would you give a young person who wants to do what you do? Electrical work is a very interesting and technical industry providing a great opportunity for a young family. My advice to a new electrician is to get started and learn the mechanics while studying the National Electrical Code. A good place to start would be at the Independent Electrical Contractors Gulf Coast Chapter (IEC). You can put your name on the roster if you want to become a beginner ap-prentice. All the contractors will see your name, so you can get an interview and get hired. I think it is also important to think things through and learn to work in a safe manner, not only for yourself but also for your co-workers. Over time, you develop your skills and learn from others.

Did you have a mentor in the industry? I didn’t really have a mentor. I went to the school of hard knocks. There were a few people I would bounce ideas off of, just like we all do. As member of the IEC, I was able to

meet many other folks in the industry who were more experienced than me. It is a great place to discuss issues with other electrical contractors and fig-ure out how to resolve certain problems.

How long have you and Karen been married? Karen and I had celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary in February. Karen still works with me at the company. She does all of our accounting. What did you and Karen do for your anniversary? We went home and chilled out after a long day at work! I think to stay married for more than four decades you have to be open and true.

Do you and Karen have any children? Yes, we have daughter named Steph-anie and a son named Clayton. They both work with us at the company, too. We also have two grandchildren. We love spending time with our family on the weekend.

What are a few of your favorite hob-bies when you aren’t leading the com-pany? I enjoy going to amateur and profes-sional motorcycle racing events. My son raced with AMA Roadracing, Flat Track, ArenaCross, Motocross and Su-percross teams. He accomplished two AMA National Championships in 1997 and 1998. I have owned Freestone Raceway, a motocross track in Wortham, TX for 15 years. We hold about 12 motocross races at the track a year. My son raced for several years and now he helps me with the racetrack. It is not really a hobby, it is a busi-ness. It is also a passion. We go to a lot of races together. I also like to go deer and varmint hunting in the fall season on some ranch property. We shot a few hogs this past fall.

Do you enjoy reading when you get a chance? Yes, I mostly like to read technical magazines these days.

Do you travel any? I traveled to the professional moto-cross races in California a while back. That was the last time I traveled outside of Texas.

What are your plans for the future? We had a good year in 2014 and it seems to be carrying over in 2015. I’d like to keep working for a while and then at some point I will consider re-tirement. I used to be the early bird and get to the office at 630am. Lately I have been ar-riving to work about 8am. Right now I still enjoy working! –ab

Tony Miller (third from left) and the Miller Electrical Construction Inc. team


BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUTSPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUN DER

FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS

STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC

(361) 813-3716(361) 334-3105

www.baffi [email protected]

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

Spring outlookis promising

by Capt. Steve Schultz

Sponsored by:Premier Yamaha Boating Center, Majek Boats, E-Z

Bel Construction, Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate Haulers, Interstate Batteries, Simms Products,

Pure Fishing, Mirr-O-Lure, ForEverlast Hunting and Fishing Products and Columbia Sportswear.

For the last several months I’ve been fishing with my fingers crossed, not so much for the fishing luck but for what our water conditions have been. So

far this year the waters of the Upper Laguna Madre (ULM) and Baffin Bay Complex have been in great shape and free of any algae blooms, even with the extreme low tides we had during February. I hope I’m not speak-ing too soon, but just maybe the winter rains we had will be enough to keep our bays clear through the spring and summer months.

As we enter into March, we start seeing the early stages of our spring weather patterns. Hopefully, cold fronts will just be a change in our wind directions and a slight atmospheric temperature change. Surface bait activity should be more present as our water temperatures should be steadily rising and nearing the 70-degree mark. I guess it’s time to break out the topwater lures and get ready for some explosive surface action. There

are several pointers I will give you to help you be a bet-ter angler when throwing surface plugs. Not every game fish can be raised with a popping plug, of course, but most can’t resist the temptation to blast what ap-pears to be a helpless meal - even if they have no idea just what it is. That even ap-plies to fish that aren’t hun-gry. Presentation is key when working surface baits. On calm mornings I tend to use smaller baits than I would if it was windy. Work the bait with a side to side action and a slow retrieve with frequent pauses. On winder days move up to a

Cameron Zelnik (5) of Katy, TX caught this sheephead on his cast last month during an outing with Capt. Steve Schultz. As

you can tell from the picture, he was one proud angler.

larger plug such as a Top Dog or She Dog and be a little more aggressive with your retrieve and less frequent stops or perhaps none at all. Try different retrieves of rhythm to find what works best on that given day. An-other tip that will be very useful when fishing surface baits, is to not try and set the hook to quickly when you see the fish hit the lure. Lots of times they will miss or short strike on the first pass only to come back and hit it again. Once you find the tempo your target fish wants, it could make for some explosive action. Also, those who say top water lures only work in early mornings and late evenings, have obviously never given them a solid effort during mid-day wades.

In the product section this month while we are on the subject of top water baits, I would recommend using the line of baits produced by MirrOlure. They offer one of the largest selection of floating and slow sinking bait in the industry. Top Dogs and She Dogs both come in sev-eral sizes to meet all fishing conditions along with Catch 2000, Catch 5 and MirrOdine lures. All these lures come in an assortment of colors and patterns which are as-sured to catch fish. Look them up on the web at www.shopmirrolure.com or your nearest tackle retailer.

To schedule your next bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105 or e-mail him at [email protected]. Still have several days open in March although summer is filling up quick. Good luck and Good Fishing.

TexasStyle

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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

Spring is almost upon us and the weather is getting nice. The water is getting warmer and the fish are

starting to stir. March is my favorite month of the year to fish; you really don’t know what you will catch with each cast. This is because the warmest water is in the shallows and this is where the baitfish will be along with multiple species start-ing to spawn. Largemouth and crappie are finally moving back into the shallows and this is a great time to take the kids fishing. How many of you have memories of going fishing with your dad or granddad sitting on the bank with a cane pole catching perch or crappie? Those memories very likely took place during the spring or ear-ly summer, during this pattern. The best part about spring fishing is that you don’t need a boat; all you need is a hook, some bait, and some water. Rather it is a pond in your subdivision or Lake Buchanan there is a good chance that you can catch something and create memories in the process. Spring is also the time of year when you can catch some trophy sized blue catfish. I can remember one trip I had some years ago when we were fishing shallow with big baits looking for big spawning female stripers and we found one. As I started to turn the boat to chase down the big fish another rod bent over and started screaming out drag, I thought oh boy we have two big stripers and was getting ready for the rodeo. We contin-ued to chase down and land the first fish, an 18 pound striper, and then we turned and started after the second fish. We could see it throwing a wake 100 feet off of the side of the boat, our adrenaline was pumping because we knew it had to be a potential lake record striper, and

then all of a sudden I thought I saw it roll-ing. Well stripers don’t roll and I knew we had a catfish that we all would remember for the rest of our lives. After about twen-ty minutes we finally landed a 48 pound blue cat. It just goes to show you even the guys that do it for living can make new memories this time of year. On your next day off grab your fish-ing gear, or call your favorite guide. Load up the kiddos, a friend, or a neighbor and go make some memories. I see stories ev-eryday where some lucky fisherman catches a fish of a lifetime, and many times it is caught in a place where the people that “know” what they are doing would never suspect a fish like that to be lurking. If nothing else you will have spent some quality time with good com-pany enjoy a beautiful spring day in the great outdoors.

Max Milam (son of Ken Milam) has been running fishing trips for several years at Lake Buchanan. Max is a graudate of Texas A & M, with a degree recreation, parks and tourism.

Spring fishingby Max Milam

Owner Doug Turner (right) and the Doug Turner Plumbing Co. crew takecare of business at the Stafford location. Turner and his wife Nancy

founded the company in 1987. –ab

Submitted to Construction News

Rule of ‘plumb’


The New Year brought some big changes to the leadership at HOLT CAT, and in early February, the

equipment and engine dealer announced that Bert Fulgium has been appointed vice president of product support for the company’s Machine Division. Fulgium is taking over for a veteran at HOLT, Ron Craft, whom Fulgium calls a “legend builder,” who recently an-nounced his retirement from the compa-ny. Before moving into his new role, Fulg-ium served as vice president of product support for HOLT CAT’s Power Systems Division. “I’m very excited about the opportu-nity to serve our customers in this new capacity,” says Fulgium, noting that he has been on the engine side of the com-pany for 13 years. In his previous position, Fulgium esti-mates that 80 percent of their business came from the oil and gas industry. On the machine side, instead of dealing with just engines, he is leading a group that deals with a diverse group, including cus-tomers in road construction and the min-ing industry. Having grown up in Beckville, TX, Fulgium originally started out as an in-strument and electrical (I&E) technician. He then moved into supervision and management in the oil and gas industry. From there, he took on a business devel-opment role for a couple of years. Around that time, having attended junior college for a short time after high school, Fulgium decided to return to school in pursuit of his bachelor’s degree in business administration, which he earned from LeTourneau University in Longview. He later earned his master’s degree from Texas A&M University-Com-merce. He began his career at HOLT CAT in 2002 around the time the company ac-quired Darr Equipment Co. He started out as a local service manager in Longview. A

year-and-a-half later, he was promoted to regional service manager. Five years ago, he was promoted to product support manager, and then he became vice presi-dent of product support on the engine side. Along with his team, he has worked on building new engine rebuild facilities, which, he adds, have been wildly suc-cessful, and they started national genera-tor maintenance contracts. He states that a lot of good people have contributed to his success at HOLT CAT. In his new role, which he describes as being part of the sustainability and growth efforts, leadership and the cul-ture of the company will be keys to suc-cess. He maintains that a lot of great things are already at work, and he just has to continue to provide leadership for a great team. At 47, Fulgium’s passions outside of work include his family and bow hunting. –mh

Bert Fulgium has taken on a new role at HOLT CAT as the vice president of product

support for the Machine Division.

Another new leader rises at HOLT

Mike Holland, new chief operat-ing officer at The Marek Compa-nies, has been with the compa-

ny for 31 years and says the company’s culture towards employees encourages long-time retention. Holland will be headquartered in Houston. “Some of this started with the three original Marek brothers and their desire to share the company and its success with the employees,” Holland says. “We don’t look at people as a short-term in-vestment. We look at them as a long-term investment. I’m an example of that.” Holland will oversee the operations for the award-winning specialty subcon-tractor’s offices in Houston, Dallas-Ft Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Atlanta. “We selected Mike to provide the leadership and sustainability for our overall operations as we position the company for continued growth through-out our markets over the next decade,” said Stan Marek, president and CEO of the Marek Family of Companies. “Hol-land, a proven leader with over 40 years of experience in the construction indus-try, has served the Marek Companies as the Houston Division president for the last 31 years.” In addition to his role with the com-pany, Holland, who is married and has three children, currently serves on the boards of several industry organizations, including the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Houston Chapter, American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Houston Chapter and the Con-struction Career Collaborative (C3). He is a member of the Texas A&M Construc-tion Industry Advisory Council and is in-

New COO at MarekCompanies

volved in the community as a board member of the Greater Houston YMCA, the Foster Family YMCA and Covenant House Association. He says the company’s long- and short-term goals remain focused on strength and growth. “In the long-term, it’s really about the quality of people we find to grow from top to bottom,” Holland says. “In the short-term, it’s about sharpening the saw. Making sure everything we do is aimed in the right direction. The market is constantly changing and we want to make sure we are in the right place doing the right things.” Marek is a 77-year-old private, family-owned specialty interior subcontractor that provides both commercial and residential construction services to major office, retail, healthcare and institutional clients. –cw


Friends in the Houston construction industry attended the Balfour Beatty Con-struction 8th annual Trade Partner Barbecue Cookoff at the Houston location Feb. 13. Proceeds from the event will go to the Texas Children’s Hospital. –ab

Cheers for the cooks

1st Place Brisket:Iron Access/McCoy

1st Place Ribs:Suncoast Post Tension

1st Place Chicken:Astro Fence

1st Place Spirit: Karsten Interiors

2nd Place Spirit: Big City Access

3rd Place Spirit: Way Engineering

IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN INCONSTRUCTION NEWS,

Give us a call:

Houston EditorAbby Bement832-595-0091

There is no charge forstories and photos.


Construction Education

NEXT MONTHApril 2015 Support Your Industry’s Feature Issue

Call for Ad SpaceReservations

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

(210) 308-5800Women in Construction

Look for a good education foundation

Mike Holland, CPC, AIC, PresidentAmerican Council for Construction EducationSan Antonio, TX

When most people think about con-struction education, the first thing

that comes to mind is training for the skilled trades – plumbing, electrical, equipment operator, steel erector, etc. These are important elements of the in-dustry. Just as important are the senior managers, executives and business own-ers who create the opportunities to work in the industry and invest their money and manage the risks to their investment (the company’s equity). This element of the construction industry needs more than the training of the skilled tradesman – they need education, that element pro-vided by colleges and universities that provides the foundation upon which to build and lead a successful business. Through American Council for Con-struction Education (ACCE), the industry has developed the ability to create the foundation (there’s that word again – a construction-appropriate term for this ar-ticle) for new graduates to begin their

career in the management of the con-struction process, to grow their experi-ence and ability to combine the many parts and teams of skilled folks and busi-nesses to deliver that safe, on-schedule, on-budget project, protecting the equity of the company from the many risks that threaten every construction project. There are many colleges and univer-sities across the country that offer 2-year, 4-year and master degrees in the build-ing sciences, construction management, construction science and management that prepare the graduates to manage the process. Other degrees that are tan-gent would include construction engi-neering, architectural engineering and construction technology and other de-scriptors. Engineering is more focused on the design of the project, whether a building, highway, residential develop-ments, a bridge or a utility. The building sciences are focused more on managing the constructing of the project; this re-

quires a broad basis of the technology of building as well as the business side of the process; engineering does not give the graduate that element. A degree in the building sciences in-cludes education in these competencies: estimating; scheduling; safety; project management; construction law; commu-nications, both written and oral; con-struction accounting; basic construction methods and materials; surveying; ethics in the construction industry; and the fun-damentals of business: accounting; eco-nomics; business law; and principles of management and more. Regardless of the level of college degree (2-year, 4-year, or master degree), the foundation that a college degree provides the graduate the starting point for advancing their career. With the downturn in 2007-2011, the media caused many parents and high school students to steer clear of the con-struction industry – a sad situation. Though the industry did slow down, it is not one that can be exported, like com-puter programming, architectural and engineering efforts, to lower wage coun-tries – construction and the management of it has to be on-the-ground, at the site. The industry is now suffering from a worker shortage on many levels, includ-ing the construction management grad-uates. This “hole in the pipeline” of new graduates is now impacting many com-panies that need the continuum of man-agement talent in their organizations to

continue that flow of quality manage-ment and leadership development for the successful succession in the years ahead. Today, the shortage of new grad-uates in the construction management arena is causing companies to struggle in filling their teams with the talent they need. A career in the building sciences, construction management, construction science and management professions provides the opportunity for young graduates to begin a very rewarding ca-reer – more than money – the chance to be part of creating in every community, state and country and supporting the lo-cal economy, health and education, and environment for that community. During one’s career, one can look at what they created – not alone - with a team of other professionals, skilled tradesmen and oth-er local leaders and be proud of where their career has taken them. Education will provide the opportu-nity – the foundation; a person’s capabili-ties will take them toward their calling and the success provided by this special industry – construction. Get that foundation built and see where you take your career.

The mission of ACCE is to be a leading global advocate of quality construction education; and to promote, support, and accredit quality construction education programs. –cw

Hands on experience is key

Glen O’Mary, Director of EducationConstruction & Maintenance EducationFoundation (CMEF)La Porte, TX

What type of training is available at your organization?

CMEF provides formal craft training, skills upgrade training, soft skills training, customizable corporate training, and fast-track training. The Foundation con-sistently seeks new training avenues to assist members and contractors with their changing needs in today’s construc-tion environment. A new program we have developed – the Commercial Jump Start Training Program - is a great example of how we are able to fill a need that is the direct re-sult of contractors requests for fast tracked, module based learning. By keeping our training model flexible, we are able to meet a wide range of contrac-tors’ needs quickly and efficiently. How has construction education and training changed over the years? Previously, the training model of for-mal semester-based craft education fit the bill for most contractors. While this train-ing model is still applicable, today we have a ‘perfect storm’ brewing in the industry.

We are blessed to have a healthy in-dustry with new projects that have either broken ground or are coming down the pipeline in short order. However, we have a shortage of men and women in the field to build these projects. A shortage of skilled labor has a domino effect for everyone – delayed projects and higher costs are most ap-parent. CMEF is working on many levels to help alleviate this problem, from high school programs that educate young people about the opportunities in con-struction, to reaching out to veterans and the un- or under-employed to demon-strate the rewards of a career in construc-tion. Because of the industry’s critical worker shortage, CMEF is focusing on specialized, industry-based, fast-track training options that benefit the employ-ee as well as the employer. How important is “hands on” training? The “hands on” component is crucial, and should be a part of every program. You can sit with a student in a class-room and teach him or her the funda-

mentals of welding for hours, but it is not until that student actually stands at a welding booth and is able to physically experience the welding process that he or she gains a true understanding. Hands on experience is the key to success. It is this reason that we offer Per-formance Verifications at the CMEF cam-pus. We assist craft professionals by ob-serving their skills in a trade to verify that they do in fact have the correct skills to complete a task – not only correctly, but also safely. What are ways to attract young people? The first step is to improve the con-struction industry’s image and properly convey the many opportunities available. We, not only as an industry but as an entire community, need to let young people know they have more options available to them after high school. Un-fortunately, many young people are led to believe that a four-year college degree is the only option if they want to be suc-cessful. Not all high school students want to go on to college and they need to know about careers in construction. We feature success stories on our website at www.cmefhouston.org of men and women who went through our training program, built their career in construction, and today are highly suc-cessful individuals. We have also been very successful in expanding our outreach to high school campuses. Just a few years ago, we part-nered with a handful of high school cam-puses. Thanks to our state legislators who

supported and passed House Bill 5, as well as the efforts of our Schools Program Director, Dr. Steven Horton, today I am proud to say that we are partnered with 30 high school campuses and continue to grow that number. One of the goals of the Schools Pro-gram is to provide students with the op-portunity to explore the many facets of the construction industry and the career opportunities available. A second goal is to give CTE teachers resources and new connections to current happenings in the industry, providing them with opportunities to meet industry leaders, and become aware of the numer-ous job opportunities for their students. A third goal of the program is to en-courage industry participation from the very companies who will seek to fill con-struction positions. How important is recruitment at high school and college level? As mentioned before, it is very im-portant to create awareness about indus-try opportunities and recruit students into the industry at the high school and college levels. These recruitment efforts help de-velop a long-term pipeline of future in-dustry professionals and exposure of our industry. It is never too early to educate young people about the industry and built envi-ronment around them. Many of our contractor members par-ticipate at the middle school level of edu-cation – working to foster lines of commu-nication with young people early on. –ab


continued from Page 1 — A miller’s skill

Reaching for the stars

Companies, individuals and projects were honored at the 18th annual Excellence in Construction Awards Gala at the Houston Junior League Jan. 30. Attendees gathered for the awards presentation following a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres

reception. The masters of ceremonies were Mike Holland, Marek Brothers Systems and Shannon McArthur, MEMCO. The American Subcontractors Association Houston Chapter (ASA) hosted the event. Each year, ASA Houston presents the Excellence in Construction awards in eight catego-ries. The association members nominate individuals and firms in each category. –ab

Project Manager of the Year:Chris McAdams, Vaughn Construction

Project of the Year Over $15 Million:E.E. Reed Construction LP,The Church Without Walls

Project Superintendent of the Year:Gerald Moore, Gilbane Building Co.

Project of the Year Between $5-$15 Million: Tellepsen Builders LP, Grace Bible Church

Architect/Engineer of the Year: Kirksey Architecture

General Contractor Safety Award: D.E. Harvey Builders

General Contractor of the Year: D.E. Harvey Builders Project of the Year Under $5 Million: Linbeck Group LLC, UTMB Custom Homes

a saw mill in east Texas. Once there, Fran-cesco had no choice but to learn his new trade. He was bewildered at having to go from being a miller of flour to working with logs and lumber. “When he got there, he was virtually penniless so he didn’t have a choice. He had to learn the trade one way or anoth-er.” Francesco worked there for a while and, after saving enough to start his own company, he worked his way over to Houston and began to sell firewood. One thing led to another and he started the lumber company. That was 1900. The company has grown since Francesco’s son, Joe F., and wife, Sadie, took over in 1929. They built the business to two Houston locations and more than 100 employees. Montalbano has worked at the lum-beryard for the past 37 years. Three oth-er family members actively manage the company’s daily operations, including Michael Montalbano, president; John Montalbano, vice president; and Yance Montalbano, director of operations. Regardless of the success the family has seen in 115 years, the attitude around the office is modest and humble.

“Over the course of our history, our niche has been the custom homebuild-ers, most of whom don’t pick up the ma-jority of their supplies from us; we ship to them,” Montalbano said. “It really isn’t paramount to us to have a lot of loca-tions. We can store and ship our products from the current locations in a timely manner with our own fleet of delivery trucks. “By far, the majority of our business lies in Harris and the surrounding coun-ties. But we do ship to other locations as well.” Montalbano says the company prides itself on customer service and having very little employee turnover. “Because of that, our dedicated em-ployees know our loyal customers, and vice versa,” he said. “Our goal for the fu-ture is to continue providing quality building materials, competitively priced, with personalized service, as we have since 1900.” Montalbano Lumber provides building materials to contractors and homeowners. The company has locations on Houston Av-enue and Shepherd Drive. –ab


Round-Up

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] South Texas: [email protected]

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continued from Page 1 — Adventures in concrete

continued from Page 1 — Bank on it

Micheal Wang, PE, has been promoted to senior project manager in the LJA Engineering Inc. Houston land divi-sion. Wang has more than 17 years of experience and will play a role in managing projects and providing oversight and mentoring the group’s engineers-in-training, while continuing to expand upon marketing and business development activities. He has a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Out and aboutSubmitted to Construction News

The Associated General Contractors Houston Chapter (AGC) Construction Leadership Council (CLC) held a happy hour event at Warehouse Bar & Chill Jan. 29. –ab

Brian Platfoot has joined Raba Kist-ner, Inc. as corpo-rate health and safety manager for the firm and its sub-sidiaries, including 14 locations across the state of Texas, Utah, Mexico and New York. He will manage the Enterprise-Wide Health and Safety program. With more than 14 years of experience, he has been a regional health and safety man-ager in the construction and oil and gas industries for multiple companies in Alas-ka. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health and safety and his master’s in oc-cupational safety and health from Co-lumbia Southern University.

Skanska USA an-nounces that Amie Kromis O’Riley has been named as the diversity and inclu-sion coordinator for the company’s Tex-as region. O’Riley, who is positioned in the Dallas office, will be responsible for internal coordination of diversity and in-clusion initiatives, community outreach and relationship development with di-verse business enterprises. O’Riley re-ceived her Bachelor of Arts degree in cor-porate communications and public af-fairs from Southern Methodist University.

Craig Glenn has joined Rogers-O’Brien as Houston director of field op-erations. Glenn is responsible for overseeing staffing, quality and safety for the company’s project sites throughout Southeast Tex-as. With 28 years of experience, Glenn has overseen the construction of com-mercial, healthcare, government and renovation projects throughout the Houston area. He has played an integral role in developing disaster preparedness procedures to protect project sites and assist clients. He has also been active on company risk management, strategic planning, operations and quality assur-ance/quality control committees.

covers, outdoor fireplaces and outdoor kitchens. According to Stokes, both compa-nies have stayed busy with projects in 2015 and recently added more employ-ees. The couple’s nephew Blake Stokes is a sales consultant and estimator at In-crete of Houston. “Construction is all I have ever known,” he said. “It is in my blood. I abso-lutely love working in this field. Nothing makes me happier than putting a smile on my customer’s face. It is really fulfilling.” Mitch Gallaugher, sales consultant and estimator, is married to his college sweetheart. Together they have three children. He has called Houston home for the last 27 years.

Operations manager Hill Magnuson is a native Houstonian. He has more than 20 years experience in designing and im-plementing custom products and solu-tions. He has worked with Stokes since 2013. For fun, Stokes says he, his wife and two sons enjoy watching U.S. Navy and Texas A & M University football games in the fall season. The Stokes family also loves to travel to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico or any Carib-bean island when the opportunity arises. “My wife is very adventurous,” Stokes said. “The rule in the family is any thing in the air, Mom does with you. I, on the oth-er hand, will do anything under the ocean.” –ab

building was finished with carpet tile, ce-ramic tile, wood veneer ceilings with ex-posed trusses and limestone and painted walls. Baumguard says with the construc-tion of the new facility and the opera-tions that were being done at the exist-ing building, the construction team had to relocate the commercial vault during the construction. “Any construction project can be a feat, but transferring an entire commer-cial vault was one in itself,” he said. Having the chance to be a part of a project in the East Side of Houston and on the historical site of “Old Harrisburg” was exciting to the construction team. “The restoring of the East Side and reno-vation of historic buildings in this area is amazing, especially how the cultural and historic integrity are being kept,” Baumgaurd said. “Teal Construction was happy to be a part of the movement.” With the successful completion of this project, Teal and Frost Bank have a

total of 12 buildings completed, one building in construction and another in the design phase. “We have a continued relationship with Frost Bank and have helped perfect the construction of their facilities,” Baumgaurd said. “On all but one of these projects we have worked with Architect McClearly German. We are proud to be a preferred Frost Bank general contractor and can’t wait for the new buildings to be completed.” Employing 54 people, Teal Construc-tion. has a corporate office in Houston and a Corpus Christi office. Teal Construction is a general contract-ing and construction management firm specializing in the construction of commer-cial facilities such as auto dealerships, banks, healthcare, community/cultural, in-stitutional, industrial, municipal, office and retail facilities. John Murray Sr. founded Teal Con-struction in 1947 and John Murray Jr. op-erates the company today. –ab

The historical marker near the bank

Meet and greetSubmitted to Construction News

Construction trade contractor members of the Associated Subcontractors Association Houston Chapter (ASA) traveled to Austin for the 2015 Walk on the Capitol Jan. 28. –ab


Association CalendarContent submitted by Associations to Construction News

ABCAssociated Builders & Contractors

Mar. 3: Leveraging Your Marketing Ef-fortsMar. 3-6: Workforce ConferenceMar. 3-7: ABC Project Management Insti-tuteMar. 6: Leadership ForumMar. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 31: OSHA 30Mar. 17: SH 930 Project Management of EHS ProfessionalsMar. 18: Contracting Liability Mar. 27: Leadership ForumMar. 30: Spring Golf Tournament; OSHA 3015-Excavation, Trenching and Soil Me-chanicsMar. 31: OSHA #501 Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for General IndustryFor more information call 713-523-6222

ACCAAir Conditioning Contractors of Amer.

Mar. 6 & 7: Annual Cookoff Mar. 16-19: ACCA National Conference in Grapevine – (No March meeting)For more information call 713-781-4822

AGCAssociated General Contractors

Mar. 3-6: OSHA For General IndustryMar. 3: CEFPI & AGC Houston Joint Meet-ingMar. 4: Qualified Rigger & Signal Person TrainingMar. 5-6: OSHA 10-Hour Safety Course for Entry Level Construction WorkersMar. 9-13: HAZWOPER General Site Worker 40-HourMar. 11: Raising Safety Awareness in ConstructionMar. 12: Raising Safety Awareness in Construction (Spanish)Mar. 16-20: OSHA 30-Hour Course in SpanishMar. 17-20: OSHA For General Industry and Introduction to Environmental Com-plianceMar. 24-25: Project Manager Develop-ment Program Module 2: Contract Ad-ministrationMar. 25: BIM Unit 2: Technology 2nd Edi-tion; First Aid/CPR/AED TrainingMar. 27-28: AGC Houston Fair & Barbe-cue Cook-OffMar. 31: BIM Unit 3: Contract Negotiation and Risk AllocationFor more information call 713-843-3700

AIAAmerican Institute of Architects

Mar. 5: YAF Firm meetingMar. 7: Construction Documents & Ser-vices SeminarMar. 10: Construction Documents & Ser-vices Vignette WorkshopMar. 14: Texas Medical Walking TourMar. 19: Small Firm Roundtable

Mar. 21: Third Ward Bicycle TourMar. 27: Gulf Coast GreenMar. 28: Houston Heights Walking TourFor more information call 713-520-0155

ASAAmerican Subcontractors Association

Mar. 4: Membership Committee meet-ingMar. 5: S.A.C.K. Lunch SeriesMar. 11: Government Advocacy Commit-tee meeting and Golf Committee meet-ingMar. 12: Associate Member Happy HourMar. 18: Risk Manager/Contract Admin Peer GroupMar. 19: BPI Session and General Lunch meetingMar. 24: Safety Committee meetingMar. 26: SUBExcel 2015For more information call 281- 679-1877

FPAFoundation Performance Assoc.

Mar. 11: Presentation, 5pmFor more information visit www.founda- tionperformance.org

IECIndependent Electrical Contractors

Mar. 5: Motor Controls Class – Level 1, 6pm-9pm, Thursdays, Contractors $400/Non- Members $475Mar. 18: Monthly meetingMar. 18: Electrical License Renewal Class, Conroe Facility, 6pm-10pmFor more information call 713-869-1976

NAWICNat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Mar. 10: General Dinner meeting - Finan-cial Review: Estimating, AIA Accounting & Funding, Membership is not a require-ment for attendance – guests are always welcomeFor more information visit www.nawic- houston.org

NECANational Electrical Contractor Assn.

Mar. 3: Electrical Medical Trust meetingMar. 4: Galveston Pension meetingMar. 5: Coastal Sabine Division and CSLMCC meetingMar. 10: Houston JATC MeetingMar. 12: TXGC Division and TXGCLMP MeetingMar. 24: Houston Division meeting with AffiliatesFor more information call 713-977-2522

WCAWomen Contractors Association

Mar. 25: Networking Luncheon – Con-struction Forecast with Kiley AdvisorsFor more information visit www.women-contractors.org

What’s your favoritelocal gem?

Leading the way

President: Sherry Barker, C.E. Barker Ltd.Vice President/Treasurer: Brandon Schweitzer, Lone Star Road Construction LtdSecretary: Ken Rickett, Mustang Cat

Contractor Board Members: Tim Creson, Webber and Dennis Wolford, Jimerson UndergroundAssociate Board Members: Alan McVicker, Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers and Keith Steffek, S & V SurveyingDirector Emeritus: Steve Pate, Strike LLC

The Houston Contractors Association (HCA) has named its 2015 board of direc-tors and new board members. –ab

Inside salesman Carlos Gonzales works on the computer after helping customers at the Morrison Supply Stafford location. –ab

Taking inventoryConstruction News ON LOCATION

Galveston. I love to go fishing and boat-ing there when I get the chance.

Leonard Bedell,Mobil Steel International Inc.

I love attending shows at the Miller Out-door Theater. Sandra Bauder, Bailey Architects

I enjoy playing golf at several golf courses in the Houston area.

Kenneth Robinson Jr.,A Professional Corp.

Galveston is the place to be for the Lone Star Rally.

Tom Large, Maverick Enterprises

Houston has so much to offer including concerts, shows and, of course, the Hous-ton Livestock Show and Rodeo! Bryon Bills, Afton Inc.

I like to take my family camping at Lake Livingston. My wife Stacy and our three children love it! Danny Argo, A-Plus Glass Service

The NRG Stadium where the Houston Texans play football! I try to make it to a few games a year if I get the opportunity. Jason Rodriguez, Cool Parts

The running trails in Katy are great. I like to run there for exercise and a chance to think. Matt Zetlmeisl, ICF Constructors

I like the Cypress area. Matt Diffendal, Diffco

My favorite place to ride my Harley Da-vidson motorcycle is FM 2920 and FM 1774 near Tomball. Giles Smallwood, Binswanger Glass

There are so many things to do in the Spring area. It is a great place to work and live.

Cory Malak, Climate Services of Texas

I like to golf often at Memorial Park Golf Course.

Victor Valdez,Victor’s Exteriors and Remodeling

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands. I love going to concerts there on the weekend. Ryan Schoultz, Johnson Supply

The Toyota Center, where the Houston Rockets play basketball.

Sam Rivas,Rivas Air Conditioning & Heating

The historical sites in Sugar Land. Eric Bruce, Michael Neil Cabinetry

Guitar Center! Cesar Cervantes,

Comfort Cooling & Heating

Village Hardware, because I can find all the tools I need for weekend projects around the house! Toby Thoresen, Village Hardware

I enjoy spending time in Galveston.Hank Taylor, Epoxy Design Systems Inc.

I can think of several gems in Houston - the Ship Channel, NASA, the Medical Center, the Metro Light Rail and the Dis-covery Green downtown.

Perry Seeberger,Seeberger Architecture

I love to take my dogs to Galveston beach on the weekend. Christine Medlin, Envirotest Ltd.

The Independent Electrical Contractors Texas Gulf Coast (IEC) set up a booth at the Houston Hispanic Forum (HHF) Career and Education Day held at George R. Brown

Convention Center in mid February. –ab

Focused on careersSubmitted to Construction News


Need a lift?Construction News ON LOCATION

L-R: Choco Castaneda and Jose Martinez load materials for roofing contractor customers at ABC Supply Co. Inc. in Stafford. –ab

Jake Freund says he has been retired for 18 years, but his colleagues at the Houston Area Sheet Metal Training

Center might argue that. The former Houston Community College Sheet Metal instructor says the training center is his “second home” where he still occasionally pokes his head into a classroom, tinkers in the workshop and enjoys talking with others in the business. “My father wanted me to be an elec-trician, but I always liked working with my hands and building things,” Freund said. At 87, Freund is the only living mem-ber of the original charter that formed the Apprenticeship Training Association of Texas (ATAT) in 1969. The ATAT, created with the support of J.B. Whiteley, the first HCC chancellor, has had a four-de-cade partnership with the community college. “Jake’s background is the stuff leg-ends are made of,” said Douglas Posey, HCC director of apprenticeship programs. “He was the catalyst that made things happen in so many areas. “The amazing thing about Jake is not that he has been around a long time, but it's all the things he has done to make HCC graduates successful on the local and national level.” Over the years, the ATAT Apprentice-ship programs have grown and have been recognized by the Department of Labor and World Trade Organizations as producing the best quality workers. The HCC Apprenticeship Program to-day is a 3- to 5-year program that mixes on-the-job training for skilled trade and craft workers with classroom instruction. The program trains sheet metal workers, carpenters, electricians, mill-wrights, pipefitters, welders, masons, sta-

Never stop learning

tionary engineers and glaziers. Eddie Gonzalez, marketing repre-sentative at the Sheet Metal Workers Union, was an apprentice under Freund from 1999-2003. “Jake ran a tight ship and never ex-pected anything but the best,” Gonzalez said. “His dedication is unbelievable.” Freund admits, even after all the years of teaching, he never stops learning from the apprentices who come through the program. “It was rewarding to me to work with students and motivate them into being good people at their trades and remind them that they can still go to college,” Freund said. “They can make enough money at work to pay for college. “I have had three or four students who have gone on to become sheet met-al shop owners. Many are project engi-neers right now.” Freund says he would encourage a young trade worker to learn math in school. “You need a lot of math,” he said. “In addition, a young trade worker should not be afraid of getting dirty because it's part of the trade. “My advice is to work hard at a job and if you like it, then to be the best at it.” These days Freund enjoys spending quality time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and he likes to go fishing when he gets the chance. “I've been building a place at Holiday Lake (near Lake Livingston Dam) for 40 years,” he said. On the weekend, Freund loves to get on his tractor or lawnmower, hang out with his border collie and just relax. “I keep busy but I run out of energy real quick,” he said. “I don't have any plans to retire until the good Lord calls me home!” –ab

Jake Freund, 87, former HCC Sheet Metal instructor, sits at his deskat the Houston Area Sheet Metal Training Center.

Will your company have a crawfish boil event in the springtime?

Let us know or send photos to Abby at Houstoneditor@

constructionnews.net.

Mudbugs in March?

Jaime Ochoa and Joe Ochoa Jr., Joe Ochoa Roofing Inc., had fun

tailgating at a Houston Texans game this past football season. “We enjoyed cooking our famous annual street tacos during the tailgat-ing event,” Jamie Ochoa said. The brothers also had a chance to go to the 2015 NFL ProBowl game held at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glen-dale, AZ Jan. 25. –ab

Football fans

L-R: Jamie Ochoa and Joe Ochoa Jr. serve street tacos at a Houston Texans tailgating event.

L-R: Jamie Ochoa and Joe Ochoa Jr. have a great time at the NFL ProBowl game.


President Joe Ochoa Sr. established Stafford-based Joe Ochoa Roofing Inc. in 1971. His sons Joe and Jaime

help him lead the business today. Ochoa thinks the keys to staying in business since 1971 is old-fashioned hard work, attention to detail, integrity, excep-tional craftsmanship and customer ser-vice. “You also have to stay on the cutting edge in the construction industry,” Ochoa said. When it is time for Ochoa to hire, the qualities he looks for in new employees are leadership, great communication and organizational skills, and a friendly per-sonality.

“We had a great year in 2014,” Ochoa said. “We are thankful for the continuous support of our customers. We look for-ward to the rest of 2015!” According to Ochoa, last fall the company donated an autographed J.J. Watt football and jersey to West Houston Leadership institute (WHLI) to help raise money for the 7th annual Zest in the West Fest. A commercial job the company re-cently completed was the C4 Crossfit Greatwood project. Joe Ochoa Roofing is a full-service resi-dential & commercial roofing & siding con-tractor. The company is a GAF Factory Cer-tified Master Elite Roofing Contractor. –ab

Making an impression

Jaime Ochoa (right) donates a J.J. Watt football and jersey.

The folks at Central Building Materials LLC wore camoflauge at the Tomball location in January. The company is a building materials distributor. –ab

Camo daySubmitted to Construction News

Fighting heartsSubmitted to Construction News

The Kirksey Architecture staff wore red to the office Feb. 6 to join the fight against heart disease and show support for the American Heart Association. –ab