October - Construction News

Transcription

Covering the Industry’s News
Texas
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Electrical endurance
Vol. 10  No. 10  October 2012
The sky’s the limit
The R.M.G. Electrical team
M
aster electrician Robert M. Garrett is the owner and operator of
Houston, TX-based R.M.G. Electrical Inc. The company reached its 20year anniversary in January.
“In the early days, I was just a self employed electrician,” Garrett said. “I would
wax your truck for you if that is what it
took to make a living at that point.”
Garrett says he is a born and raised
Houstonian. He started working for
Wood Electrical Services when he was in
high school.
“I went to a small private high
school,” he said. “The owner’s daughter
went to school with me. She solicited
some of the teenage boys to help her father. So, I went out and helped him on
the weekends.
“When I graduated high school, I
went to work for him full-time. I worked
there for 10 years and it was the only job I
ever had. Next, I got my master’s license
and struck out on my own.”
Garrett says today his wife Linda is
the accounts manager at the company
and his stepdaughter Lindsay is the office manager.
“I think to stay in business 20 years,
you have to get up in the morning and go
to work every day,” he said. “Showing up
is half the battle. When the going gets
tough, the tough get going. You have to
plow through the bad times.”
Traveling is a hobby Garrett and his
wife enjoy when they aren’t at work. Places they have visited include Rome, Venice,
Amsterdam, Paris and the Bahamas.
continued on Page 13
The Rob Pelletier Construction staff
V
ice president of sales and project
management Bill Fairbanks says
Rob Pelletier Construction Inc.
handles mostly commercial projects
lately.
“The company has operated in the
Houston market since 1995,” Fairbanks
said. “I joined the company in 2004.
During the economic downturn, we have
been fortunate to be able to keep everybody working.
“Like many companies, we haven’t
seen much growth, but we are holding
our own. From what we see, the Houston construction industry is on a uphill
turn now. We certainly think the next
couple of years will be brighter than the
past few years.”
Chuck Vojtech is a salesman, Joe
Luce is a project manager and Chad
Wethington is a key leader in the field,
he said.
“Gerald Pate is the vice president of
operations,” Fairbanks said. “He handles
the field supervision, manages personnel and he maintains the equipment. He
is the guy that gets it done.
“Elizabeth Ledbetter is our accountant. She is currently working on her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
We are really proud of her. Sarah King
works in the administration department.
She is the glue that keeps everything together.”
Upholding justice
J
E Dunn Construction completed the
Fort Bend County Justice Center ((FBCJC) in 22 months. Fort Bend County
Commissioners Court is the owner.
Project Executive Joe Kummer says
the FBCJC is a 265,000sf, 4-story neoclassical building with a 5-story, 85’ high
domed rotunda, from which secured entry, all circulation and access takes place.
“The FBCJC houses 17 courtrooms,
judges’ chambers, jury assembly and
grand jury rooms, with future expansion
provisions for 10 additional courtrooms,”
Kummer said. “In addition, the FBCJC
houses District and County Clerk offices,
District Attorney and Bailiff’s offices, a
law library and 13 other court-related departments.
“There are eight elevators, two sets
of escalators and future expansion provisions for two additional elevators. The
basement level includes holding cell areas for adults and juveniles for total ca-
The Fort Bend County Justice Center
pacity of 112 prisoners and future expansion provisions for 45 additional cells.
The holding cells were developed utilizing Texas Jail Commission Standards
(TJCS) and were reviewed and approved
by TJCS. The justice center incorporates
the latest security systems required for
county facilities.
“The courthouse basement level can
be accessed through a secured on-grade
sally port or from the existing jail through
a cast in place (CIP) concrete underground tunnel stretching 600' long. The
tunnel construction includes a 25'-30'
deep shoring and lagging system that required a shutdown of a county road between the courthouse and existing jail.
Kummer says the building is CIP concrete structure on 70' drilled piers. The
skin includes exterior concrete masonry
unit (CMU) back up with a combination
of cast stone and brick veneer and builtup and standing seam metal roofing.
Page 2
Houston Construction News • Oct 2012
Equipped for the job
We vant your blood!
Not really!
But we do want your
pumpkin and
Halloween costume photos!
Share your photos with our
readers. Send them to:
Abby by Nov. 15
HoustonEditor@
constructionnews.net
Backflow Enclosures
ECONOMY BACKFLOW ENCLOSURES AT A COST YOU CAN AFFORD
SALE
$290.00
DEALERS WANTED
INCLUDES CONCRETE
FORM IN PRICE
MODEL EC-26-PVB
26” L x 15” W x 35” T
713-467-6777
WWW.SAFE-FLOW.COM
SALE
$329.00
MODEL EC-50-RPZ
42.5” L x 18” W x 35” T
B
Manager Cal Smith looks forward to dove season.
rookside Equipment Sales Inc. established in March 1974, can trace
its history back to humble beginnings as an importer of used agricultural
equipment.
The League City location manager
Cal Smith says the company’s primary
business was to bring in containers of
used equipment from Europe, recondition this equipment and retail the units in
the Texas Gulf Coast area.
Smith says as the demand for this
equipment grew, the founding partners
secured a permanent location on Long
Drive in Houston and opened the retail
facility in 1976. Today, the corporate
headquarters is the Mosley-Hobby Airport facility.
“In addition to the corporate headquarters and the League City store, the
company has locations in Spring, Jersey
Village, Katy, Houston Southwest, Angleton and Hockley, TX,” he said.
According to Cal, business has been
very good in 2012 at the League City
store.
Smith says the company has different events during the year including an
open house at the corporate headquarters. Employees from each store will attend the event.
“When we aren’t selling equipment,
most of the guys here like to go hunting
and fishing,” he said. “We all like spending time in the great outdoors.
“We go fresh water fishing at Lake
Livingston and salt water fishing at
Galveston. Some of us are going dove
hunting in the area on opening weekend.
“We all watch football too. The Houston Texans are doing well this year. We
definitely support our home team!”
Brookside Equipment Sales sells construction and agricultural equipment and
skid steer loaders. –ab
Page 3
Gala of the stars
C
ontractors, architects and engineers were honored at the APEX 10
Awards Gala held at The Hornberger Conference Center Sep. 22.
Hosted by the Associated General
Contractors Houston Chapter (AGC), the
event included a reception, a dinner and
awards presentation and champagne
and dessert. –ab
Congrats to the winners!
Plant/Industrial: Tube Supply Warehouse
GC: Mission Constructors, Inc.
Architect: BRAVE Architecture
Structural Engineer: Matrix Structural Engineering
Multifamily/Residential: Dillon House
GC: Fretz Construction Co.
Architect: Bailey Architects
Structural Engineer: Pinnacle Engineers
Retail: Woodlake Square Center
GC: Tribble & Stephens Construction Ltd.
Architect: Hermes Architects
Interior: El Paso Corporation Tower Renovation
GC: Gilbane Building Co.
Architect: Gensler
Structural Engineer: Ingenium Inc.
Renovation/Remodel: Cristo Rey Jesuit
College Preparatory School
Architect: Curry Boudreaux Architects
MEP Engineer: Graves/Lakey/Raven
Hospitality: Embassy Suites Hotel - Downtown Houston
GC: Linbeck Group LLC
Architect: Mitchell Carlson Stone
Structural Engineer: SCA Consulting Engineering
Houston
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Houston Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abby BeMent
HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net
713-599-1774
Construction News Ltd. Home Office
P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279
210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960
Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler
Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler
Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miles Smith
Production Mgr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue Johnson
Sales Representative . . . . . . . . Kent Gerstner
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Hughes
If you are a construction-related company in
Harris, Ft. Bend, Galveston or Montgomery
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the Houston Construction News, please call
for a Requester Form, or visit our website.
Publishing the
Industry’s News
Texas Style
San Antonio • Austin • Dallas/Fort Worth • Houston
Want to be in Construction News?
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We also welcome your outdoor stories
and photos (hobbies, trips, talents, etc.)
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
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© 2012 Construction News, Ltd.
Laboratory: Texas Children's Hospital Jan
and Dan Duncan Neurological Research
Institute
GC: Tellepsen
Architect: Perkins & Will
Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore &
Associates Inc.
Institutional: New Performing Arts Center
GC: SpawGlass Construction Corp.
Architect: WHR Architects Inc.
Structural Engineer: Haynes Whaley
Entertainment: Asia House
GC: W.S. Bellows Construction Corp.
Architect: Kendall Heaton & Associates,
Taniguchi & Associates
Structural Engineer: Ingenium Inc.
Historical Renovation: Harris County 1910
Courthouse Restoration
GC: Vaughn Construction
Architect: PGAL
Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore &
Associates Inc.
Green/Sustainable Building: Tellepsen
Family Downtown YMCA
GC: Tellepsen
Structural Engineer: Kirksey
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Project: Texas A&M Emerging Technologies Building
Architect: Perkins & Will
Structural: Haynes Whaley
Small Project Under $2 Million: Sheldon
Lake State Park Observation Tower
GC: SpawGlass Construction Corp.
Architect: PDG Architects
Structural Engineer: AEC
Education Under $10 Million: University of
Houston Moody Dining Hall Renovations
GC: Miner-Dederick Construction LLP
Architect: Beacon
MEP Engineer: WSP Flack + Kurtz
Education Over $10 Million (K-12): Herod
Elementary
GC: Anslow Bryant Construction Ltd. Architect: Kirksey Architects
Structural Engineer: Henderson & Rogers
Education $10-25 Million:San
Jacinto
Central Campus Transportation
GC: Durotech Inc.
Architect: Morris Architects
Structural Engineer: Rogers Moore Engineering
In attendance were the founding partners of Construction Career Collaborative, an
alliance created to address the needs of the construction workforce. L-R: Katrina Kersch,
Construction Career Collaborative; Tim Peglow, MD Anderson; Janet Sisolak, MD Anderson;
David Bammerlin, MD Anderson; Bryan Chumchal, Texas Children’s Hospital; Pete Dawson,
Texas Children’s Hospital; Susan Lipka; Jim Stevenson, AGC Houston Chairman of the Board,
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.; Jerry Nevlud, AGC Houston, and Jill Pearsall, Texas
Children’s Hospital.
Photos copyright 2012 by Chris Fields
Education $25-50 Million:Rice University
Brockman Hall for Physics
GC: Gilbane Building Co.
Architect: Kieran Timberlake
Health Care Under $10 Million: Westgreen Medical Complex
GC: Mission Constructors Inc.
Architect: Fehr-Grossman Cox
Structural Engineer: CJG Engineers
Health Care Over $10 Million: Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women
GC: W.S. Bellows Construction Corp.
Architect: FKP Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore &
Associates Inc.
Office Building Under $10 Million: San
Jacinto River Authority General and Administration Building
GC: Brookstone LP
Architect: Ken Anderson & Associates
Structural Engineer: R-MAC
Office Building Over $10 Million: UT MD
Anderson Mid-Campus Building 1
Architect: WHR Architects Inc.
Liturgical/Church Under $5 Million: St.
Mary's Catholic Church
Architect: Zeigler Cooper Architects
Structural Engineer: Gessner Engineering
Master Builder Recipient, William Daigneau,
Former Vice President, Operations and
Facilities Management, MD Anderson Cancer
Center
Liturgical/Church Over $5 Million: Our
Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church
Architect: Jackson & Ryan Architects
Mixed Use:Star of Hope Children's
Building
Architect: Story Architects
Structural Engineer: Schmitz/Lamb Engineering
Page 4
playing time on the golf team, so I decided to go to work full-time.
Anthony Dominik,
Owner
A.J.’s Construction Services
A
nthony (Tony) Dominik founded
A.J.’s Construction Services in Dec.
1994. The company’s corporate
office is in Houston, TX.
Dominik’s background includes
working as warehouse manager, at a supply house and working in lumber sales.
He also has experience in landscaping
design, installing rain gutters, roofing
and siding.
A.J.’s Construction Services specializes in commercial and residential gutter,
roofing, sheet metal, metal roofing and
window services in the Gulf Coast region
and other parts of Texas and the United
States.
Besides the Houston office, the company has locations in Conroe and Navasota, TX.
What sparked your interest to get into
the construction industry, Tony?
After working as a lumber salesman
for homebuilders and spending time in
the rain gutter business, I knew I wanted
to open my own roofing and construction business.
I have always wanted to be a contractor. I think the construction business
is the best business to be in. I wouldn’t
want to be doing anything else!
Have you worked in Houston your entire career?
I have worked in Houston and I have
also traveled to work in California, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida. I have completed work all over Texas.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Houston. I
love this city. There is really so much to do
here. I think the people are very friendly
in Houston.
What high school did you go to?
I attended Scarborough High School
in the Houston Independent School District.
Were you on a sports team in high
school?
I played on the varsity golf team
when I was in high school. I liked to play
golf after school and on the weekends. I
would also go hit balls at the driving
range.
I had the opportunity to play in the
state championship golf tournament towards the end of my high school career. I
have some really good memories from
that time of my life.
I ended up getting a scholarship to
play golf at Sam Houston State University
in Huntsville, TX.
What was it like playing golf while you
were in college?
I played golf for a little while in college. At that point, I ran a landscaping
company too.
I wanted to start working hard and
make money. I wasn’t getting enough
What was the name of your landscaping company?
My landscaping company I ran during college was called A.J.’s Landscape
Designs.
I think it was great experience to operate my own company in college because I was able to learn so much when I
was in my 20s.
I guess I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset.
What subject did you study in college?
I enrolled in business management
classes at Sam Houston State University. I
took all kinds of business classes such as
accounting and marketing. I am glad I
got an education before I began started
working in the field.
Did you have another job besides
landscaping?
Yes, I also went scuba diving to find
and recover golf balls for a recovery company based out of Florida.
I went diving at local golf course
ponds and lakes.
I did the scuba diving job during the
evenings and ran my landscaping company during the day. I had about 75 employees at one time at my landscaping
company.
Do you still enjoy scuba diving today?
Yes, I still love going scuba diving
when I get the chance to go. I want to go
more when I retire and when I have time
to travel more often.
I have been scuba diving in places
such as Cancun and Cabo San Lucas,
Mexico. There are a lot of places in the
world I hope to go scuba diving one day
in the near future!
What did you do after college?
I worked in the wholesale rollform
business and worked with rollform equipment and machinery. I worked in that
business for a few years.
Did you have any mentors when you
first got started in the industry?
No, I really taught myself the business. I met people along the way, asked a
lot of questions and I just learned as
went. I am still learning every single day.
What were the early days like at your
company?
In the beginning, I had about 10 employees and I have employed up to 16
people. Right now, we have 10 folks
working at the company.
What advice would you give a young
person who wants become an entrepreneur?
I think you always have to start from
the ground floor. You have to begin at
the bottom and work your way up. Just
remember no question is a dumb question.
Ask as many questions as you want,
to get the answer you want. Learn from
mistakes too. Work hard every day and
show up for the job. I think it is good to
get an education and then get experience in the field too.
Are you married today?
Yes, I am married to my wife Tracey.
We have been married since 2009. She
runs the office at A.J.’s Construction Services.
My wife and I love going fishing in
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico every year.
We just got back from a really fun
Alaskan cruise.
We enjoyed seeing the bears, eagles,
glaciers and beautiful views of Alaska.
Tony Dominik’s hobby is ranching in South Texas and East Texas.
Where did you and Tracey meet?
We met here in Houston. We became instant friends and have been together ever since.
Do you have any children?
Yes, I have a daughter who is in her
first year of college. She got a full scholarship to play volleyball at the University
of Texas at Arlington.
It is her first year to play volleyball, so
she has played several positions such as
the outside hitter, setter and middle
blocker. She is only a freshman, so she
will probably get more playing time
soon.
Did you go to a lot of volleyball games
when your daughter was in high
school?
Oh, yes! I sure did. She played on the
club team called the Texas Tornados and
she spent a lot of time playing with her
high school team.
Do you go to Arlington to see her play?
Yes, I go see her play volleyball and
while I am in the area, I will go to projects
in Dallas. It is nice. I can work and go see
her too.
What has been the best part about
working in the construction industry
in your opinion?
I have made some really good friends
in the industry over the years. I also enjoy
meeting and maintaining relationships
with customers.
I like seeing the final stages of the
project. No two projects are ever the
same and no two days are ever the same.
That is always a good thing.
What are a few changes in your industry you have seen over the years?
I think the technology has improved
over the years. In addition, I think there is
more competition in the Houston construction industry nowadays.
How long have you operated at the
Melbourne St. location?
We moved to the facility at the beginning of 2012. We have expanded our
commercial and residential roofing services lately.
In the beginning, we mostly special
ized in gutter services. It is exciting to
handle more roofing projects these days.
Sometimes, we will go out of state
too, especially if it is for the right job. We
publishing the industry’s news
have completed jobs at Little Rock Air
Force Base, San Diego Air Force Base and
the Verizon Wireless project in College
Station, TX.
We are also currently working on a
historical renovation project in Galveston, TX.
What does a typical day look like for
you?
I spend most of the morning at the
office and spend the rest of the afternoon on the jobsites. My day varies from
day to day. I wear many hats at the company. I have a great team that works with
me today.
Does the company have any annual
events during the year?
Well, some of the guys are involved
on a committee for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Barbecue cookoff
teams.
Once or twice a month on a Friday, I
will cook employees lunch around noon.
I will cook hot dogs or ribs on the barbecue pit.
We have lunch and then we will do
oil changes and clean the trucks at the
shop.
What hobbies do you enjoy on the
side?
I am an avid hunter and fisherman.
Several of my employees and I like to go
whitetail deer and bird hunting at ranches in South Texas at least a few times a
year.
I went dove hunting in East Texas
and South Texas this year. I am also into
ranching in East Texas and South Texas
when I am not at work. I have cows and
trees on the properties. There is a pine
tree farm at the place in East Texas. I really love going out there after a long
week on the job.
I think I would rather spend time outdoors than anything else!
What is your favorite music to listen
to?
I like country music. My favorite musicians would have to be Conway Twitty,
George Jones and George Strait. I haven’t
been to a concert in so long!
What are your future plans?
My goal is to retire as soon as possible. I want to sit out on the farm and do
as little as possible! –ab
Texas
Style




San Antonio
Austin
Dallas/Fort Worth
Houston
Page 5
Use tax and the Internet:
steering clear of an attractive
nuisance
Mary Thomas, CPA-Attorney
Thomas, Thomas & Thomas, PC
Houston, TX
W
hen companies receive a notice of
routine audit, very few people worry that they have not paid enough tax on
their purchases. Barring the claim of an
exemption, most companies pay sales
tax as charged by the vendor. Some
companies even add tax to invoices and
remit it to vendors when tax is not
charged. (Never do this. See below.)
Use tax is a tax that buyers owe the state
taxing authority based on where a taxable item or service is first used, stored or
otherwise consumed. Use tax is due
when the seller does not have nexus with
the state in which the purchaser uses the
product or service. This issue is very pronounced in the world of internet sales.
When a Florida vendor does not charge
sales tax on an invoice given to a Texas
customer, assuming the good and/or service is taxable, that does not mean tax is
not due. It means the Texas customer
must remit the tax due directly to the
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
No one is exempt from paying tax on a
taxable item because it was sold by an
out-of-state seller. If the item is taxable
when purchased locally, the buyer owes
use tax when it is bought from an out of
state seller. There is no windfall because
the seller is out of state. The buyer must
report the purchase on the sales and use
tax return, accrue the use tax, and remit
it.
Never add sales or use tax to an invoice
and send it to a vendor. When a company does this it does not discharge the tax
due on the taxable good or service. The
state does not consider tax paid if it does
not receive the funds. If sales or use tax is
added to an invoice by the buyer, there is
no presumption that the state received
the funds. The seller may not have collected the tax because they were not
permitted to do so. It is easier and provides the best proof that the state was
paid when the purchaser remits the
funds directly to the state taxing authority.
Many companies do not know about use
tax. They assume that they do not owe
tax if it was not charged. Do not be
fooled. It is the buyer’s responsibility to
know governing tax rules. Accrue and
remit the applicable use tax, keep records pertaining to accruals, and complete the sales tax return correctly. There
is a specific place on the return for taxable purchases. Use it.
Remember:
The basic assumption in Texas is that
goods are taxable if there is not an exemption. When you purchase goods or
services, if the tax is potentially material,
learn the taxability to avoid any instance
of paying interest and penalty for an
honest mistake.
DISCLAIMER:
The information provided above is general in nature and is not legal advice.
The provider of the information makes
no representation regarding the law
and/or its application to any entity’s
specific situation. Because state tax
laws, policies, and applications are dynamic, please consult with a state tax
professional for a complete rendition
of the law as it may apply to your specific situation at a particular time.
Mary Thomas, CPA-Attorney, has helped
clients with sales and use tax issues exclusively since 1999. Thomas, Thomas &
Thomas, PC is a CPA firm that addresses
state tax issues only. We help clients all over
the country
(1) address sales and use tax audits,
(2) minimize sales and use tax deficiencies,
and
(3) understand how to comply with applicable sales and use tax laws.
She can be reached at (281) 469-1103.
If it walks like a tax, and acts
like a tax, it’s not a penalty!
Rodney B. Christ, LUTCF. Partner
Christ Taylor Insurance
Houston, TX
O
n June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court, in a 5 to 4 decision, upheld portions of the Health Reform Act that
most directly impact employers, including the individual coverage mandate taking effect in 2014. The Court’s
rationale for upholding the individual mandate was not
that Congress can force individuals to buy health insurance (as they found that the mandate would actually violate the Commerce Clause),
but rather that Congress, under its power to “lay and collect taxes”, is permitted to
impose a tax on individuals for failing to have insurance.
What is the impact on employers and
the design and reporting obligations
of employer sponsored group health
plans? While no one really knows the full
impact on businesses yet, most agree that
strategic thinking is required NOW. Keep
an open mind. Employers should consider broad strategic approaches – consider everything as an option. Many rules
by federal regulators have not been written yet, so work with informed professionals who work within the boundaries
of what they know. There may also be
unknown cost increases in 2014 related to
regulations taking effect down the line.
One major concern for businesses
should be the increased regulatory activity; it’s time to get serious about compliance issues as compliance audits will
start. Employers must continue with
implementation, and gear up for rulings
deadlines.
Health Flexible Spending Account
Limitation: For plan years beginning on
or after January 1, 2013, the Health Reform Act puts in place a $2,500 annual
spending limit on reimbursements under a health flexible spending account.
(“health FSA”). In order to comply with
these new limits, best practice is to revise
all participant communications during
the fall of 2012, so that employees understand the new limit before they have to
make 2013 health FSA elections.
Some important next steps employers must take to comply in 2012 and
2013:
Plan Mandates. Requirements under
the Health Reform Act that have already
been put into motion will continue to apply to employer-sponsored group health
plans, in accordance with existing guidance. Such requirements include: (i) certain restrictions on pre-existing condition exclusions; (ii) the reduction/elimination of lifetime dollar limits and caps
on annual limits on essential health benefits; (iii) the restrictions on rescission of
coverage; and (iv) the extension of dependent coverage to age 26.
Form W-2 Reporting beginning January 2013: For taxable years beginning in
2012, the Health Reform Act requires employers to include on every covered employee’s Form W-2 the aggregate cost of
applicable employer-sponsor group
health coverage. This is purely a reporting mandate.
Other: Complete updates to its Summary Plan Descriptions and plan documents to provide 2011 and 2012 changes;
Notify its employees of the availability of
health insurance exchanges by March
2013; Prepare for 0.9% Medicare payroll
tax increase on high income individuals
for the 2013 tax year.
Summary of Benefits and Coverage:
SBC materials need to be finalized for inclusion in 2012 (after September 23) open
enrollment packages for all enrollees.
Failure to comply with the requirements
can result in significant penalties ranging
from $100 to $1,000 per employee.
GOING FORWARD
Health care reform remains an incredibly fluid situation and employers
are well advised to stay abreast of further
developments in the coming weeks and
months, as the next Presidential election
nears.
Many businesses have been in a
“holding pattern” contingent upon the
Supreme Court decision. Since the
Health Care Reform Act has largely been
upheld by the Court, employers and
their benefits advisors must be strategic,
yet focus on efforts to comply in this
changing health care landscape.
Small Employer Tax Credit: Certain
small employers remain eligible to receive tax credits for offering insurance.
Employers with 25 or less full-time equivalent employees with average wages of
less than $50,000, who pay at least 50%
of the health insurance premium for
their employees, may be eligible to receive income tax credits equal to a percentage of the premiums paid. Employers with questions about the tax credit
should consult with qualified tax experts.
Rodney B. Christ can be contacted at
713-850-7747 or www.christtaylor.com.
Building strong chapters
T
exas represented strongly at the
American Subcontractors Association Champions Academy, held
Sept. 15-18 in Alexandria, VA and Washington, D.C.
Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston representation was especially strong, with
ASA-North Texas and ASA-Houston
members in attendance at the event,
which was geared toward teaching individual chapters how to strengthen their
membership, education and government
advocacy efforts. –ms
L-R: 2012-13 ASA President Walter
Bazan Jr., Bazan Painting Company,
St. Louis, MO; ASA-Houston Chapter
Executive Director Brianna Boudreau;
Andrew Harman, Texas Metal Equipment
Company Ltd., Houston, Texas; ASAHouston Chapter President Shannon
MacArthur, MEMCO, Houston, Texas;
Darlene East, Holes Incorporated,
Houston, Texas; Mike Holland, Marek
Brothers Systems Inc., Houston, Texas;
and Phil Nevlud, Marek Brothers Systems
Inc., Houston, Texas.
Page 6
Rising opportunities
Wrongful termination: Can
terminating an employee before
the filing of a Workers’ Compensation claim be unlawful?
Shelly LeVick Masters, Shareholder
Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Ltd
Austin, TX
M
ost employers know that they may
not discharge or otherwise retaliate
against an employee for filing for or receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
Courts generally infer a strong causal
connection supporting unlawful retaliation if an employee is discharged only a
short period of time after filing a workers’ comp claim, a protected activity under the Texas anti-retaliation statute.
This is not the case where the employer
is able to demonstrate that the company
made the termination decision before
the employee filed such a claim - usually.
Under Texas law, not only is the act
of filing a claim protected but merely informing an employer of an on-the-job
injury may be sufficient to invoke the
protection of the Texas Worker’s Compensation Act. For example, Employee is
collecting materials in the warehouse
when a box falls injuring his hand on the
job. Employee does not immediately file
a worker’s compensation claim or receive such benefits. However, Employee
complains to Employer of continued
pains and range of movement issues
with his hand. Employer terminates Employee for an unrelated reason before
Employer ever filed a worker’s compensation claim.
Can Terminating an Employee before
the Filing of a Workers’ Compensation
Claim be Unlawful?
Yes. It is not necessary for a worker
to have actually filed a workers’ compensation claim to invoke the statutory protection – an employee needs only to take
steps toward instituting a compensation
proceeding to be protected. According
to Texas courts, informing one’s employer of an on-the-job injury sufficiently “institutes” a compensation proceeding
within the meaning of the law.
The following are examples where
Texas courts have held that, even though
the employee had not filed a formal
worker’s compensation claim, the employee was protected against termination: (1) employee filed a safety hazard
report with his company putting it on
notice of his possible exposure to hydrogen sulfide; (2) employee and employee’s physician reported back, shoulder
and neck injury to supervisor; (3) employee with back injury aggravated by
his physical job requirements didn’t reported on-the-job back injury to employer but did provide multiple doctors’
excuses for repeated medical absences
from work; and, (4) employee sustained
back injury which he reported to employer before going on disability leave.
Employers may defend against this
type of retaliation claim by proving that
the company had no knowledge of employee’s on-the-job injury (e.g., employ-
 Location

Location
 Location
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Publishing the Industry’s News . . .
TEXAS Style
ee never communicated injury to employer, employee only communicated injury to fellow employee in non-supervisory or ownership role, etc.). Additionally, as in other wrongful termination
claims, the employer may show that it
had a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason
to terminate the employee. Examples of
legitimate, non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory reasons usually involve the consistent enforcement of written company
policy such as failure to submit to random drug testing or neutral disciplinary
action regarding employee absences.
In a traditional wrongful termination
case under the Act, the most important
factor for proving unlawful retaliation is
timing and proof that the employer’s decision-maker had knowledge of the employee’s protected activity at the time
the termination decision was made. To
support a retaliation claim, the employer’s adverse employment action must be
because the employee participated in
protected activity (e.g., filed a workers’
comp claim).
Section 451.001 of the Texas Labor
Code provides that it is unlawful to
discriminate or wrongfully discharge
an employee who is covered under the
Texas Workers’ Compensation Act.
The statute makes it unlawful to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against an employee because the
employee has:
K
enneth Robinson, owner of Kenneth Robinson, A Professional
Corp., recently proposed to his fiancé Skylar.
“Skylar and I are planning to get married in 2013,” Robinson said. “We first
met at a sushi restaurant in Houston. My
friends and I were having dinner and we
asked Skylar and her friends if they wanted to sit with us at our table. Skylar and I
ended up talking and we went on our
first date the next evening. We have
been together ever since!”
Robinson says he has always wanted
to own his own company. He grew up in
New Orleans, LA and remembers becoming interested in construction and architecture when he was a kid.
“My grandma used to take my brother and I out to walk on the levee near her
home,” he said. “When we returned
from our walk, I started drawing the
houses near the Mississippi River.”
Robinson says he moved to Houston
after evacuating New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina. He has operated Kenneth
Robinson, A Professional Corp. for two
years.
“I started out doing contract work
with various contractors and engineers
around the city,” he said. “Things just
took off from there. We have been involved in a variety of project types including daycares, restaurants, schools,
Kenneth Robinson has lived
in Houston for seven years.
churches and convention centers.”
When he is not busy at work, Robinson enjoys playing golf and watching
football and basketball.
“I like watching the New Orleans
Saints and Hornets and the Houston Texans and Rockets,” he said. “I try to make it
to the football or basketball games in
New Orleans when I go to visit my family
for the holidays.”
Kenneth Robinson, A Professional
Corp. provides architectural design, project
management, design build, planning and
code review services. –ab
Infrastructure matters
• filed a workers’ compensation claim
in good faith;
• hired a lawyer to represent the employee in a claim;
• instituted or caused to be instituted
in good faith a proceeding under Subtitle
A; or
• testified or is about to testify in a proceeding under Subtitle A.
See Section 451.002. Any employer
who violates the law may be liable for
reasonable damages incurred by the employee and the employee may be entitled to reinstatement in the former position of employment. At trial the employee must prove that but for the filing of
the workers’ compensation claim the
discharge would not have occurred when
it did. The burden of proof in a proceeding under this section is on the employee.
Shelly LeVick Masters is a Shareholder of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney. She
represents construction contractors, suppliers
and design professionals in prosecuting, negotiating and defending construction and
employment disputes in mediation, arbitration and litigation. She may be reached by email at smasters@smsm.com.
ROMCO Equipment Co.
C
ivil construction contractors, suppliers and civil engineers were
present at the recent annual joint
luncheon held at The HESS Club.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and The Houston Contractors Association (HCA) held the event.
ASCE President Clay Forister, PE,
LJA Engineering, says Harris County
Judge Ed Emmett gave a speech about
the value that the civil construction industry brings to the Houston community.
He also discussed the infrastructure in
Harris Country. –ab
Dallas/Fort. Worth
Austin
San Antonio
Houston
Home Office
(210) 308-5800
ACT Pipe & Supply
Sun Coast Resources
Page 7
several schools on the flats in the upper
lagoon.
Redfish Rodeo !!!
by Capt. Steve Schultz
Sponsored by:
Majek Boats, Premier Yamaha Boating
Center, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Power
Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Interstate
Batteries, Pure Fishing, Pflueger Reels,
All-Star Rods, Mirr-O-Lure and
Columbia Sportswear.
L
abor Day typically ends the summer
for vacationers and out-of-town anglers and kicks off the start of hunting
season. This relieves a lot of the fishing
and boat pressure in our Coastal Bend
waters. Busy guides start seeing a definite decrease in weekday charters as
most anglers concentrate on weekend
bay fishing. But don’t let all of those signs
keep you off the water and away from
some of the best fishing of the season.
I’m talking REDS! BIG BULL REDS!
October is one of the best fishing months
of the year here on the Laguna Madre.
The first fronts of fall start blowing in triggering a migration that is about to begin.
Scattered redfish will school-up and most
will begin a journey to the gulf. They will
be feeding vigorously along the flats and
shorelines, fatting up and preparing for a
winter, and we will be ready for some of
the best line-stripping, rod bending action of the year. Over the last several
weeks, it has not been uncommon to see
Catching redfish can sometimes be very
challenging due to their very picky eating habits. I’ve seen reds follow a gold
spoon for yards only to turn and swim
away at the last minute. There are several
different strategies when fishing for reds.
Wading the shallow flats around shell
reefs and grass beds is one of the most
enjoyable techniques and also my favorite. These areas can also be worked with
a shallow draft boat rigged with a good
trolling motor or a push pole.
Another technique to catch schooling
reds is a method we call “Run and Gun.”
This is usually done by rushing your boat
into the middle of the school, killing the
engine while simultaneously casting to
the school of fleeing reds. Believe me
when I tell you, this method will require a
few more than several attempts to master. As frequently as these schools are
pressured, they become very skittish at
the sound of any outboard motor approaching, the “Run and Gun” method
usually is the last alternative to catching
these fish.
Live bait is another effective technique
for producing big boxes of redfish. Local
marinas have gone to great lengths to
catch and keep bait alive for guides and
sport fishermen. Croakers and Piggy
Perch are the main live baits during this
time of the year, however don’t overlook
using dead bait or cut bait such as mullet,
shad or even skipjack. Drifting with live
shrimp can cover lots of water, sometimes helping you locate these schools
when they are not on the surface.
For information on booking your next
fishing trip, give Capt. Steve Schultz a call
at 361-949-7359 or visit SteveSchultzOutdoors.com Good dates still available for
the fall redfish season. Good Luck and
Good Fishing.
It’s huntin’ season
Shoot any of these yet? We imagine you have – after all, it’s dove season!
Share your good times with your colleagues and send your hunting photos to
AustinEditor@constructionnews.net.
We’ll run them in our papers as space provides. –ms
James Timberlake with Urban Concrete caught this 25” Speckled Trout while fishing
near the packery channel with Steve Schultz Outdoors.
L-R: Andy Hicks, Domingo Lopez, Atanacio Carrisal and Joe Zavala from Alpha Building Corp
in San Antonio with several redfish caught with Capt. Steve Schultz.
Page 8
Ken Milam’s Fishing Line
Sponsored by Tropical Marine and Honda Marine
My name is Ken Milam and, for the past 26 years, I have been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on
Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity of getting to know
a good many folks in the construction trade.
A rain state of mind
S
hhhhhh. That’s it, just close your
eyes and breath it in deeply. It’s
cool, moist and filled with life and
possibility. It’s softly raining now... this
rain has been so long in coming it is almost like receiving a holy sacrament, a
blessing long withheld.
One weatherman says the Highland
Lakes will be full by Thanksgiving. El
Nino is coming back again! I think that he
is the same one who said that last fall too.
We just have to hope he is right this time.
We had a high south wind in advance
of this little cool front coming in. I used
to hear the sound of the waves from my
back porch, swishing up onto the gravel
beach. This time I could only hear the
wind rustle the brush in the lake bottom,
Tie up - where we used to tie the boat
Sunrise Sea Pro - what a full lake looks like (taken from the same spot as Brushy Dock)
Ken exploring the lake bottom
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips
All Bait, Tackle & Equipment
Furnished
and the whir of a million crickets. Where
there were once catfish and bass and
perch nesting, now there are raccoons
and foxes and way too many skunks.
The fortunes of a little lakeside community like Tow ride solely on the whims
of the weather. It doesn’t matter so much
who gets elected for what, or how much
money or effort you can invest. It s not a
matter of how many friends you have on
Facebook, or how much you get “Liked”;
you can Tweet and Twitter till you’re black
and blue, here it’s all about the water.
How long can you last without it and
when or if it will return are the big questions here.
It has been nearly a year and a half
since we have had navigable water off
my dock. We are finishing up our second
growing season for the crop of weeds
and brush and saplings growing up out
of the lake bottom. Some of it is so high
now that if we were to get a 15 foot rise,
we could get back in here with a boat,
but the thick weed and treetops would
make running a motor in it almost impossible.
All that sounds bad, unless you understand the lifecyle of a river-fed freshwater lake. It works like this. The water
goes away and the vegetation takes over,
thriving on the rich silt left behind by the
river. Eventually, the water comes back
and floods the vegetation and much like
compost nourishes your garden, the decaying vegetation saturates the lake with
nutrients. It might smell a little ripe for a
few weeks as things decay and the lake
goes through an algae bloom, but now
the lake is ready to jump-start the aquatic
food chain. The bait fish thrive and multiply and their young find shelter in the
plant structure left behind. As far as the
fish go, everybody’s back, everybody’s
eating good and spawning and successfully raising their young, replenishing the
population for the fishermen and in turn
for a little ole lakeside community like
Tow.
Just look at the way Lake Amistad
came back after its last drought cycle.
That place became a catfisherman’s
dream, and do you remember how many
Share Lunker bass it has produced?
So you see? It’s just a matter of time, and
it rained today.
Your catch Filleted and
Bagged for You
Ken Milam Guide Service
(325) 379-2051
www.striperfever.com
Furnish your TPWD Fishing
License & Refreshments,
and WE DO THE REST!
STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC
BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT
SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER
FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS
(361) 949-7359
www.baffinbaycharters.com
steveschultzoutdoors@gmail.com
U.S. Coast Guard &
Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed
Brushy dock - one of our fishing docks resting in the weeds in the lake bottom
H
Page 9
A bridge for bears?
ats off to the bridge builders – it
seems we’d never get anywhere if
it weren’t for overpasses, underpasses, tunnels and other such features
that make our daily commutes to work a
little easier, a little faster, and a little more
possible.
But four-wheeled vehicles and the
people who pilot them aren’t the only
living things and inanimate objects that
benefit from these manmade structures.
Around the world, bridges, overpasses, underpasses and more have
been built solely for the purpose of helping wildlife get from point A to point B.
Why do they do it? Well, most sources say it offers the excellent combination
of preserving wildlife and preventing
damage to property.
Existing wildlife structure include
several underpasses and bridges in Florida designed to protect the Florida panther; underpasses in California that are
used by desert tortoises and other species like bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and
mule deer; and others around the world
that protect species from bears to flightless birds to koalas.
They even exist in here in the Lone
Star State. Some years back, an underpass was built in south Texas to accommodate ocelots, which are also referred
to as “Texas panthers.”
Curious about how they look? Just
take a look at this page! –ms
This animal bridge helps a variety of species in Montana.
Leisure’s good
for you
hris was walking down the street
C
when he was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking
homeless man who asked him for a
couple of dollars for dinner.
Chris took out his wallet, extracted
$10 and asked, "If I give you this money,
will you buy some beer with it instead
of dinner?"
"No, I had to stop drinking years
ago," the homeless man replied.
"Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying food?" Chris asked.
"No, I don't waste time fishing,"
the homeless man said. "I need to
spend all my time trying to stay alive."
"Will you spend this on decoys
for duck hunting instead of food?"
Chris asked.
"Are you NUTS!" replied the
homeless man. "I haven't hunted in
20 years!"
"Well," said Chris, "I'm not going
to give you money. Instead, I'm going
to take you home for a shower and a
terrific dinner cooked by my wife."
The homeless man was astounded. "Won't your wife be furious with
you for doing that?”
Chris replied, "That's okay. It's important for her to see what a man
looks like after he has given up beer,
fishing and hunting." –ms
Our neighbors to the north in Canada have this bridge in Banff National Park.
Check out the top: it even has trees and other natural features.
Here’s what some of the bridges look like when they’re under construction. A sturdy
structure is needed before dirt, rocks, and flora can be added.
Page 10
Knocking down pins
Industry FOLKS
Brad Roberts
Store Manager
Morrison Supply
B
rad Roberts started out in the
plumbing supply business as a
driver, worked in the warehouse,
worked in inside sales, became a assistant manager and was promoted
to store manager at Morrison Supply in March.
“This is one of the best jobs I
have ever had,” Roberts said. “I get
to see about 100 of my best friends
every day for about 10 to 15 minutes. Customers and I will talk and
they will tell me about their family or
their dog.
“I usually stay at the store on a
daily basis. Sometimes, I will run errands but I don’t do any outside
sales.
“If I were to give advice to a
young person wants to get into the
plumbing supply business, I would
say start out at the bottom just so
you can learn everything.”
Roberts says he is originally
from Magnolia, TX. He attended
Magnolia High School.
“When I wasn’t going to school,
my friends, family and I used to like
to go fresh water fishing at Lake
Conroe,” he said. “We went fishing
as much as possible. Nowadays, I
enjoy going salt-water fishing at
Galveston and East Matagorda.”
According to Roberts, his very
first job was working at the Texas
Renaissance Festival on the weekends. Wearing a costume, he walked
around and sold small trinkets and
souvenirs to folks at the festival
when he was 15.
After graduating high school,
Roberts enrolled and studied at
North Harris County Community College for two years.
“I soon decided I wanted to begin working full-time,” he said. “I
went to work as a crew leader for a
local construction company. I worked
out in the field with three other guys.
“Next, I began working in the
plumbing supply business. I have
been employed at Morrison Supply
for 12 years.”
Roberts enjoys going dove hunting at the Grand Parkway during the
fall season.
“We have a “Wall of Fame” with
lots of photos of our customers who
go hunting and fishing,” he said. “I
am sure there will be more photos on
the wall with deer season about to
start.
“I am a Houston Texans fan too. I
get together with a group of 12 folks
and we have a party and watch the
game every Sunday.” –ab
1st Place Team: Haynes Whaley
T
Minnix, AIA board member and director
of the city's general services department.
Perry Seeberger, Seeberger Architecture and AIA Houston president presented the trophies to the winners. –ab
he 4th Annual Bowl-a-TAC event
held Sept. 14 at Palace Lanes was a
success with lots of fun for all involved.
Hosted by American Institute of Architects Houston Chapter (AIA) and Texas
Architects Committee (TAC) advisory
trustees, the event raised more than
$8,000 for TAC.
Participating for the first time was
team City of Houston with councilman
and chair of the budget and fiscal affairs
committee, Steve Costello and Scott
Congrats to the winners!
2nd Place: WHR Architects
3rd Place: FKP Architects
High Point:
Men: Ben Graham: Score 232
Women: Jackie Chisholm: Score: 165
DID YOU KNOW . . . .
CONSTRUCTION
™
The Industry’s Newspaper
Largest circulation
construction
newspaper
in Texas
Page 11
Specialty Contractors
Lowest cost isn’t
always the best option
Peter Holland, Vice President
North Texas Stone Fabricators Association
Carrollton, TX
P
eter Holland, President of Holland
Marble Co Inc. and Vice President of
the new North Texas Stone Fabricators Association, says education is a major key to
discouraging folks in the industry from
undervaluing their products and services.
That’s one thing he says their new
association, led by President Bobby Gladu, principal of Artisan Masonry and AA
Marble and Granite, aims to do through
educational tools such as workshops and
guest speakers (industry experts) as it
picks up speed.
“By offering education to companies
in our industry about what the true cost
of doing business is, they’ll be able to understand that they need to increase their
prices to capture those costs, execute
smart business principals and survive in
this industry,” Holland says. “Nobody is
going to tell them what to charge. I think
right now they are falling into a situation
of the blind leading the blind – many simply don’t understand the true costs of doing business and the risks they are undertaking.
“For example, if one company has a
price of $40 per square foot, the next
does it for $38, and the next does it for
$36 until you get down to some ridiculously low number that is way below the
real costs. It is not a sustainable model.
“This trend is widespread across the
industry as a whole. When they learn
how to obtain their true costs of doing
business and realize what they should be
charging to cover those costs, and implement the changes necessary it will create
a healthier industry and better competition for all.”
Holland said the low-ball pricing and
low profit margins have a harmful effect
on the entire construction industry.
“It hurts the whole industry because
you get complaints about the quality of
the work that’s going in. You hear complaints that this is a rag tag industry,
which it’s not.
“Some of these lowball companies
don’t have the financial wherewithal to
complete the projects they have been
awarded, so they attempt to make (their
product) quickly, they install it quickly –
they cut corners. At best quality issues
arise and at worst the whole installation
needs to be redone. Lawsuits ensue and
our industry gets a bad rap.
“That’s what we need to stop. That’s
what the Marble Institute of America and
other organizations have tried to do –
educate the stone companies about
proper procedures and fabrication and
safety. “
Not much has changed in the world
of technology in the past three or four
years to set stone companies apart from
one another, making the quality of work
an important determinant when deciding on a stone fabricator and installer, he
said.
“At the end of the day, they may want
low prices,” Holland says. “But if the gen-
eral contractor doesn’t receive a good
quality installation from the subcontractor, the client certainly will be upset and
require the work to be completed to the
acceptable industry standard before releasing funds. The GC has no choice but
to conform to this request so the question then arises, is it prudent to screen
the subcontractors track record prior to
awarding the work and thus ensuring as
much as possible that the quality will be
there upon completion?
“If he insists on pursuing the low
price bid, and has a problem with that
sub, it eventually reflects back on the GC
as well. So at some point, there needs to
be a turning point where they say we
need to focus on quality, not just price.
Find the balance between both.”
Holland says, though it’s early, he’s
pleased with the direction of the new association.
“I think things are moving along
quite well for an organization that started just a few months ago,” he said. “Marble Institute of America (one of our leading industry associations) has expressed
an interest in partnering with us. Once
we show companies in the industry the
direction we’re going and how helpful it
can be if we all stand together, I have no
doubt they’ll support it.” – ms
“It will come back to haunt you with
the government, and if you do things unethically and illegally, it will also come
back to haunt you with your own employees, managers and customers,” she
says. “You may get a short-term gain, but
it can do long term damage.”
While the economy seems to be improving, Nelson says caution with cash is
important as contractors begin to see the
light of day on their way out of the recession.
“Sometimes a contractor who has
survived the recession can start to struggle with cash flow,” Nelson explained. “It
has not historically been unusual to see
the shakeout occur after the recession
rather than during.
“You start to gear up. You start to
buy materials, add on management and
staff, but the payment flow is slower
(than the resources you’re adding) gearing up for work. You can all of a sudden
run into a cash flow problem that can pull
you under.”
Other challenges subcontractors
face as they move out of the recession include when to bring back managers and
employees that were cut during the recession, weak financials leading to difficulty gaining adequate surety bonding,
and out-of-work skilled laborers moving
on to other professions.
While there’s no cookie cutter, justadd-water solution to these issues, Nel-
son said contractors can better their situations, strengthen their customer base
and fortify against fly-by-night companies through face time.
“They need to maintain personal relationships with their customers – both
the primary contractors and the owners,”
she said. “(Maintain relationships) with
those they’ve done business with for a
long time, and even the new ones.”
While technology is responsible for a
lot of advances, it’s definitely hampering
this aspect, she said, making face time
more valuable.
“It used to be, you’d go to a plan
room where estimators would talk and
gossip about which job was coming up
and what project manager was good to
work for, “ Nelson said. “Today, those
same estimators sit at their desk and look
at plans online.
“A lot of personal relationships have
eroded. So, at a time when you’re already
short handed, you might not want to call
a customer that’s an old friend to have a
drink or play golf, but it’s more important
now more than ever to maintain those
types of relationships.”
Associations like ASA can help bring
people together, she noted, but said it’s
really simpler than that.
“It’s just hard individual work,” Nelson said. –ms
Improving economy
presents challenges
Colette Nelson, Executive VP
American Subcontractors Association
Alexandria, VA
W
hen asked to pinpoint hot-button
issues that specialty contractors are
facing lately, ASA Executive Vice President Colette Nelson can name several.
They can all be traced back to a familiar
culprit, too, she says.
“The economy creates a domino effect on so many other issues with any
business,” Nelson said. “Certainly in Texas, the economy in construction has been
better than in many other areas, but that
means a lot of contractors are coming
from Texas to compete.”
Such an influx of subcontractors can
make things difficult for those already
operating and based in the Lone Star
State, she says. Some will even resort to
unscrupulous practices in an effort to
win jobs and keep the money rolling into
their accounts.
“They can be competing against
specialty trade contractors who are not
as knowledgeable about a market or
who may be desperate for jobs to create
cash flow, and so they bid low,” Nelson
said.
Misclassifying employees is another
area in which less forthright subs might
attempt to gain an edge in the bidding
process. Nelson said she gets a lot of
complaints about this in Texas.
“Desperate people in desperate
companies do desperate things,” Nelson
noted. “We see contractors using ‘independent contractors’ rather than employees, but they’re really just employees
who have been misclassified.
“(The companies) don’t have to pay
benefits or payroll taxes or workers compensation. It’s very hard if you are the
drywall contractor from Houston competing with someone from Cupcake Contractors who has misclassified their employees in order to get a competitive
edge.”
Besides being bad sportsmanship,
doing such a thing can have far-reaching
ramifications, Nelson warns.
NEXT MONTH
November 2012
Support Your Industry’s Feature Issue
Architecture & Enginneering
2012
Schedule
Jan: Construction Forecast
Feb: Construction Safety
Mar: Construction Education
Call for Ad Space
Reservations
Apr:Women in Construction
May:Concrete Industry
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Page 12
Specialty Contractors
Moving up in today’s economy
Harry Dollar, Vice President
Marton Roofing Industries, Ltd.
Houston, TX
T
aking your business to the next level
in today’s economy poses unique
challenges for subcontractors, notes Harry Dollar, Vice President and General
Counsel for Marton Roofing Industries,
Ltd. (MRI) in Houston.
However, it’s not impossible to grow.
“If you adhere to a solid business plan
and are able to properly manage risk, you
can safeguard against potential fatal mistakes as you grow,” Dollar says.
For starters, before committing to
that big job that could catapult you to the
next level, it’s important to be aware of
your financial position.
“You need to constantly evaluate the
financial condition of your business so
that you know from a cash flow and general risk standpoint what you’re able to
do,” explains Dollar. “If you’re grossing
$10 million a year and you’re bidding on a
$5 million project, you need to look at se-
curing a line of credit or some other arrangement to provide cash flow, because you will be financing a single project that equals half of your annual gross
revenue.”
“In commercial construction, you’re
financing large projects for long periods
of time which requires you to routinely
assess the credit worthiness of your customers.”
Obtaining a line of credit or getting
a loan these days can be easier said than
done, as lenders are certainly wary of
what could go wrong.
“These days, banks are hesitant to
lend money to even credit-worthy customers. However, we are fortunate to
have an excellent working relationship
with our lender and access to a generous
line of credit,” Dollar said. “There are a lot
of moving parts. If you get on a large
project and the owner files bankruptcy
or the general contractor abandons the
job or refuses to pay you and you fail to
perfect your lien rights or secure a claim
against a payment bond, your cash flow
will be materially affected.”
If you don’t have a ton of cash flow, or
if the banks aren’t helping you out, there
are other courses of action to pursue.
“If you have a good relationship with
a competitor, it might allow you, given
the right opportunity, to create a joint
venture or enter into a partnership,” Dollar said.
The roofing industry veteran said not
to be discouraged if finding a partner
proves tricky.
“With the economy the way it is, this
may not be a viable option,” Dollar noted.
“It’s also probably harder to joint venture
in this industry. The commercial roofing
business is very competitive and proprietary.”
The answer for many roofing companies looking to grow their bottom line
may be through merger or acquisition.
It’s not an option that the 36-yearold MRI has considered, but it seems to
work for many companies, Dollar said.
“A lot of that is happening because
of margin compression and lack of organic growth,” he explained. “For some, the
fastest way to grow revenue may be to
There is no charge
for stories or photos.
713-599-1774
HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net
Marton Roofing Industries, Ltd (MRI), headquartered in Houston, TX, is a nationally
recognized commercial roofing, decking,
and sheet metal roofing contractor. MRI is
an approved applicator of virtually every
major commercial roofing and decking system in the United States.
What is your favorite
scary movie?
Have you appeared in Construction News?
Call or email us!
acquire another company.”
Since the late 2000s, businesses –
construction-related and otherwise –
have stayed afloat by simply doing more
with less.
For instance, a residential roofing
contractor can stay more liquid while
working out of their home instead of
leasing office space.
“The looming fiscal cliff in Washington, D.C., Obamacare and the upcoming
election have had a chilling effect on
construction in general; however, Houston seems to be holding up relatively
well,” Dollar said. “These uncertainties,
coupled with an anemic economy, have
lead to continued margin compression in
our industry but, we have responded
well by cutting operating expenses and
doing more with less.
“Now, more than ever, I believe that
finding the work may be the easier challenge, and safely completing the job and
getting paid for it is the hard part.” –ms
I liked the horror comedy parody “Scary
Movie” from the year 2000. It was funny
and scary at the same time.
Chris Apostalo,
American Fence & Supply Co.
The “Sex in the City” movie scared me a
lot! It is my favorite scary movie I have to
say.
Chris Hernandez,
Action Gypsum Supply
I can’t think of a favorite scary movie because I don’t really watch scary movies at
all!
Jim Munn, RSC Equipment Rental
I liked “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.” That
has to be my all time favorite scary movie.
I think it came out in 1992.
David Kirker, Ahern Rentals
It is not the scariest movie or anything
but I loved “The Goonies” from 1985. It is
a classic movie about a group of kids who
find a pirate treasure map. The cast included Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen and Corey
Feldman.
Christian Garza,
Southern Fastening Systems
I liked scary movies from way back in the
day. I think my favorite would have to be
Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” from the year
1960.
Rachel Lowe, Equipment Depot
“Freddy vs. Jason” was a really scary movie to me. It was about Freddy Krueger
and Jason Voorhees terrorizing the teenage population.
Darrell Jarvis, Morrison Supply
My favorite scary movie is “Texas Chain
Saw Massacre” from the ‘70s. That one is
a classic!
David Manuel, Metal Building Supply
My favorite scary movie is probably "Fire
in the Sky." There are several scenes in it
that seriously creep me out on a psychological and atmospheric level so badly
that I can never watch it before going to
bed.
Mary Paul, Construction News
Page 13
continued from Page 1 — Upholding justice
“A prefabricated dome structure tops
out the 4th level atrium at 85' high on the
north side and a 105' high clock tower
highlights the south side,” he said. “In addition, a new central plant includes cooling towers, chillers and generator with
future expansion provisions for a courthouse administration building expansion.
“One challenge we faced during construction was the complex foundation,
including the tunnel to the existing jail,
which created a complicated pier and
foundation layout. Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) we were able to
visualize the arrangement, develop a
schedule, and communicate more effectively with workers in the field.
“Additionally, budget was an issue.
Fort Bend County had very specific goals
in mind, yet was mindful of the cost to
build. Throughout the budget and design process as well as during construction, JE Dunn Construction worked closely with PGAL, consultants and the county
to offer value-engineering ideas. The
ideas that were implemented did not detract from the functionality or overall
aesthetics of the building but did provide
significant cost savings to the owner.”
Kummer says to further overcome
the potential budget challenge, BIM was
implemented throughout the project.
“We modeled the entire building for
clash detection including structure, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP)
systems and fire life-safety systems and
developed a skin mock-up package,” he
said. “The resulting strategy ultimately
led to an easier construction of the skin,
which improved the schedule and saved
the owner over $30,000.
“The FBCJC is the most expensive
building ever completed in Fort Bend
County. As the nation's 12th fastest growing county and the 2nd fastest in Texas,
Fort Bend County has experienced unprecedented growth in the past 10 years.
The new center was built to alleviate the
crowding of county's existing court
buildings and provide for future expansion for the continued growth of the area.
“To help alleviate some of the expense, a design emphasizing energy efficiency resulted in a significant reduction
in energy use, ultimately saving taxpayers’ dollars. Energy efficiency elements
such as high-efficiency glass, efficient
mechanical systems and under-floor
Round-Up
FKP Architects has recently named Edward E. Huckaby, FAIA, ACHA, ACHE, Gary S.
Owens, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP and Michael R. Rader, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP to the firm’s
board of directors. –ab
Huckaby
The escalators
HVAC with individual controls for comfort were incorporating in the design and
construction. Additionally, select "green"
materials were used and recycling stations were added to each floor.”
According to Kummer, the success of
the Fort Bend County Justice Center was
a complete team effort. He says from the
onset of the project, JE Dunn Construction and PGAL became partners with Fort
Bend County and set out to create a team
atmosphere, including consultants and
subcontractors.
“All major stakeholders communicated freely and honestly through design
and construction to achieve the project
goals and successful completion of this
landmark building,” he said.
John Ernest Dunn (Ernie) founded JE
Dunn Construction Co. in Kansas City, MO
in 1924. Today, the construction manager
and general contractor has 20 offices and
2,100 nationwide. The Houston office
opened 22 years ago. The company has approximately 170 employees in South Central Region. Areas of expertise are: multiunit residential, healthcare, education, correctional, government, religious & cultural,
sports, green building and CM-at-Risk. –ab
Professional Team
Senior Project Manager: Kenneth Eldridge, JE Dunn Construction
Project Superintendent: Troy Dlugosh, JE
Dunn Construction
Architect: David Andrews, PGAL
The courtroom
continued from Page 1 — Electrical endurance
“I am an avid fitness enthusiast too,”
he said. “I am training for the 2013 Houston Marathon nowadays. I have been
able to run eight miles and it feels great!
I am slowly building up my endurance.
“I have participated in multiple triathlons over the years. I rode my bike in
the MS 150 event for the last two years. In
addition, I am a black belt in tae kwon do
and karate.
“My future goal for the company goal
is to continue doing what we do best!”
R.M.G. Electrical is a commercial and
industrial electrical contractor. The company specializes in motor controls and automation. –ab
continued from Page 1 — The sky’s the limit
Fairbanks says the company founder
Rob Pelletier was a very exciting, young
dynamic person to work with.
“We all respected Rob and cared a lot
about him,” he said. “Rob passed away
suddenly about five years ago. Rob’s widow Robin is now the owner and president of the company.
“Robin has been through a huge
change in her life. She is the mother of
three young children. Now, she plays a
major role at the company. She is in-
volved with all of our contract negotiations and she oversees all the financial
matters.
“We have a great, close knit group of
people working at Rob Pelletier Construction. We a have a good time doing
what we do!”
Rob Pelletier Construction is a contractor specializing in the installation, sales and
service of skylights, translucent wall panels
and roof systems and folding panel partitions. –ab
Owens
Callie F. Bletsch,
P.E. has joined the
Raba Kistner Environmental
Inc.
Houston office as a
senior environmental professional. In
this
position,
Bletsch will serve as
project professional/manager for environmental planning
and permitting projects and conduct
analysis of field data with respect to the
preparation of report data. She has more
than 13 years of experience, which includes seven years in environmental
compliance, state and federal resource
agency coordination, extensive public involvement, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
permitting and National Environmental
Policy Act document preparation.
Bletsch holds both M.S. and B.S. degrees
in Environmental Engineering from Texas
Tech University. –ab
JE Dunn Construction has hired Carl
Biano to their
South Central office
as senior superintendent. His first assignment with the
company is to oversee the historical
Bethel Church Park project for the City of
Houston. Biano followed his father’s footsteps into the construction industry more
than 40 years ago. Before joining JE Dunn
Construction, he worked with several
large general contracting firms including
Linbeck and Balfour Beatty.
The company
has also hired Gary
L. Ferguson to the
South Central office. Ferguson has
worked in the Houston market for more
than 35 years. His
business development efforts at JE Dunn will focus on the
new initiative of pursuing large corporate
re-stacks and high-end interior buildouts. –ab
Rader
Balfour
Beatty
Construction made
two leadership additions in the Houston office, appointing Juan Rodriguez as vice president of public/private projects, and
Dawn Landry as
director of business
development. I n
their new roles, Rodriguez and Landry
will focus on continuing
development in the company’s core markets of
interiors and special
projects in Houston and the surrounding
areas, while expanding into public/private ground-up and education projects.
Rodriguez has been with the company for 19 years in a variety of roles. He
holds degrees from Texas A&M University and the University of Texas.
Landry joined Balfour Beatty Construction in Jul. 2012. She has spent 20
years in business development, marketing, public relations and economic development roles throughout her career. –ab
Virtual Builders Exchange, LLC (VBX),
has named Stuart
R. Werner as its
Vice President of
Business Development. Werner will
be responsible for
business development, marketing and sales operations,
new product launch and client services
on behalf of all three regional offices in
Texas (San Antonio, Dallas and Houston),
and its affiliates throughout the U.S. Werner has over 30 years of senior management experience on behalf of such industry notables as Trane Commercial Systems, a division of Ingersoll Rand. Prior to
joining VBX, he served as Trane’s District
General Manager for the South Texas District.
Page 14
Association Calendar
A strong TX presence
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
ABC
Associated Builders & Contractors
Oct. 11: Business Excellence Awards
Oct. 17: State & Federal Employment
Law Seminar
Oct. 18: ABC/WCA Honor Elected Officials Reception
Oct. 22: Fall Golf Tournament
Oct. 25-26: ABC Annual Planning Conference
Oct. 30: 2012 Construction Expo
For more information call 713-523-6222
AGC
Associated General Contractors
Oct. 2-4: OSHA 3110 Fall Protection
Oct. 4: 1st Thursday Monthly Mixer
Oct. 5: Texas Sales and Use Taxes for Contractors
Oct. 8: Collateral Duty for Other Federal
Agency
Oct. 10: Lean Education Program Unit 1:
Variation in Production Systems
Oct. 15: 2012 Construction Career Collaborative Golf Tournament
Oct. 15-24: Introduction to Construction
Plans & Documents (Wednesdays)
Oct. 16-17: Unit 2: BIM Technology
Oct. 16-19: RM 101 Safety, Health and Environmental Risk Management Principles
Oct. 18-19: OSHA 10 Hour
Oct. 19: Texas Lien Laws Seminar
Oct. 22: OSHA 7845 Recordkeeping Rule
Book
Oct. 23-25: SH 200 Trainer Course for
H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide)
Oct. 23: Raising Safety Awareness in
Construction (Spanish)
Oct. 24: Raising Safety Awareness in
Construction
Oct. 26: Advanced Lien & Payment Issues
Seminar
Oct. 30: OSHA 500 Trainer Course for
General Industry; Introduction to Accident Investigation and Digital Photography
AIA
American Institute of Architects
Oct. 5: Building Systems Seminar for ARE
4.0
Oct. 6: Towers & Trees Downtown Walking Tour
Oct. 11: Full Day CE
Oct. 12: The AIA + 2030 Challenge: Session 7
Oct. 13: Texas Medical Center Walking
Tour
Oct. 20: Rice University Walking Tour
Oct. 25: Texas Accessibility Standards;
Authors in Architecture: Fair Park Deco
Oct. 26: The AIA + 2030 Challenge Session 8
Oct. 27-28: 26th Annual Home Tour
ASA
American Subcontractors Association
Oct. 3: Membership Committee meeting, 8:30am
Oct. 10: Board of Directors meeting,
9am, Marek Brothers Systems; Government Advocacy Committee meeting,
10:30am, Marek Brothers Systems
Oct. 15: C3 Golf Tournament, 11am
Oct. 18: BPI Session, 11am; General
Lunch meeting, 11:30am, Effective Employment Evaluations
Oct. 23: Safety Committee meeting,
10am, T.S. Commercial Concrete 19319
Oil Center Blvd.; Marketing to GC’s, 1pm,
Marek Brothers Systems
Oct. 30: Contract Language Seminar,
9am, Andrews Meyers PC
FPA
Foundation Performance Assoc.
Oct. 10: Monthly meeting, 5pm, Updates to Texas Law Impacting the Design
Professional, Speaker: Marshall Rosenberg, Harline Dacus Barger Dryer LLP
For more info: www.foundationperformance.org
IEC
Independent Electrical Contractors
Oct. 1: Motor Controls Class – PLCs (600),
6pm-9pm (Mondays)
Oct. 4: Motor Controls Level 1 Class
(100), 6pm-9pm (Thursdays)
Oct. 6: Electrical License Renewal Class
(Spanish), 8am-noon
Oct. 8: Electrical License Renewal Class
Oct. 9: State Masters Exam Prep Class
(400), 6pm-9pm (Tuesdays)
Oct. 10: State Residential Appliance Installer & State Maintenance Exam (200),
6pm-9pm (Wednesdays)
Oct. 11: State Journeyman Exam Prep
Class (300), 6pm-9pm (Thursdays)
NECA
National Electrical Contractor Assn.
Oct. 9: Houston JATC meeting
Oct. 11: Coastal Sabine Division meeting,
Beaumont, TX
Oct. 17-18: Southwest Health and Benefit Fund Meeting, Dallas, TX
Oct. 18: TXGC Division meeting, Corpus
Christi, TX
Oct. 30: Houston Division meeting
T
Texas had several women from various regions representing the Lone Star state
at NAWIC’s Annual Meeting and Convention.
he National Association of Women in
Construction chose Denver for the
scene of its Annual Meeting and Convention, which was held late in August.
NAWIC’s national leadership will
again have a strong Texas presence for
2012-13, following an installation of officers that took place at the convention.
Texas officers include Vice President
Sandy K. Field from the Houston chapter and Immediate Past President Judy
DeWeese from the San Antonio chapter.
Cindy Johnsen, a member of NAWIC’s San Bernandino-Riverside, CA
chapter, will serve as national president.
Other officers include President
Elect Yasmine A. Branden, Portland, OR;
Treasurer Connie M. Leipard, Central
Missouri Chapter; and Secretary Dove
Sifers-Putman, Charlotte, NC chapter.
NAWIC is an international association
serving approximately 160 chapters across
the United States. It was founded in 1953 to
enhance the success of women in the construction industry as “Women in Construction of Fort Worth, Texas.” –ms
Sandy K. Field, right, of Houston was installed
as NAWIC’s national vice president for 2013.
Also attending from Houston’s NAWIC
chapter were Beckye Manzel, President;
Linda Schneider, Vice President; Jody
Richwine, Immediate Past President; Cindy
Wade, Director; Terry Johnson and Angie
Prandy.
Golfing helps kids
NAWIC
Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Oct. 8: General meeting, 5:30pm, The
HESS Club, 5430 Westheimer, Cost $35,
Reservations required, guests welcome
or email cathy.nawic@gmail.com
PHCC
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
Oct. 12: Oktoberfest, 6:30pm, St. Arnolds
Brewery
For more info: www.gulfcoastphcc.org
WCA
Women Contractors Association
Oct. 18: Honor Elected Officials Reception, 5pm, Sambuca Restaurant, 909 Texas Avenue
I
The 1st Place team: Lone Star Fire Protection, L-R: Thomas Winingar; Larry Mathis;
Brandon Blankenship; Steve Bennett; Steve Cook and Ivan Sparkman
t’s probably fitting that a golf tournament be held in a town called Trophy
Club, TX.
The country club there provided the
backdrop for the Texas Fire Sprinkler
Contractors Association’s 23rd annual
golf tournament, which was held Sept.
17.
Proceeds from the statewide TxFSCA
tourney always benefit Texas Scottish
Rite Hospital for Children.
Prizes were awarded to teams finishing in first, second and third. –ms
2nd: American Automatic Sprinkler:
Willie Templin; Todd Templin; Matt
Goggans; Aaron Holderness; Travis
Torres and Ryan McIntyre
3rd: Ferguson Fire & Fabrication & Potter Electric Signal: Travis Hitzeman;
Craig Delgado; Tim Freiner; Andy
Kaempfer; Carson Bullard II and Carson Bullard III
editions can be
Did you Pastdownloaded
at
know? www.ConstructionNews.net
A prosthesis makes it possible
Page 15
On the surface
I
n the construction industry, you may think
losing a limb means losing your livelihood. Jose
Estrada, who is a unilateral
above-the-knee amputee,
believes the only thing that
could stop you from staying in the field is a bad attitude.
“I got a second chance,
and no matter what, I wake
up wanting to go to work,”
Estrada asserts. “I feel lucky
that I have a job that pays
me well. I’m opening an office, trying to take the next
step to owning my own
company, so those are definitely positive.”
For eight years, Estrada was a self-employed
subcontractor with his own
business, Eagle Concrete.
But, in 2008, he was in a
rollover accident with his
truck.
Jose Estrada, former and once again construction business
“My Bobcat was beowner, is determined to stay in his industry
despite losing a leg in 2008.
hind me, and I blew out a
tire,” he recounts. “I jackknifed, and I got thrown out of my truck. case such troubles arise.
My truck landed on me, and then I took “You have to be a little more preout a high-voltage box, and I landed on pared on what’s going to be your next
the high-voltage wire, and that’s what lit- step – no pun intended,” he laughs.
erally burnt my leg off.”
Estrada intended to start his own
Estrada spent a month and a half in a contracting company before losing his
coma, and then another nine months in leg, and now, four years later, his dream is
the hospital and another year trying to coming true. His experience and experrecover. He credits Margie Garcia, his tise in the industry paved the way for him
Department of Assistive and Rehabilita- to manage the business, which already
tive Services (DARS) counselor with help- has three employees.
ing him get on route, back into the work- On the long road to this point, Hangforce.
er, Inc. Prosthetics and Orthotics, liter
With a degree from San Antonio Col- ally helped Estrada get back on his feet.
lege in occupational safety, Estrada be- “They overestimate what I can do,
came a safety consultant. DARS paid for and that’s exactly what someone needs
his courses and books, so he could gain when they’re in that situation,” says Esmore trade skills. Currently, he works for trada, calling the members of the Hanger
Fishbone Safety in the Eagle Ford Shale, Clinic on Brooklyn Avenue “a wealth of
monitoring hydrogen sulfide levels on positive influence.”
the production wells.
Delbert Lipe, certified prosthetist/
Now, at 40, from the South Texas oil orthotist (CPO), is one of Estrada’s prosfields, he is reestablishing himself as a thetists. He says Estrada is just one of the
construction business owner. Over the many who have lost arms or legs and still
summer, Estrada Contractors and In- work in construction, and even more amvestment Group opened its office at Cal- putees indulge in leisurely constructionlaghan and 410. The office is run by his related work at home thanks to a wide
fiancé, Ellie Rios, a realtor he met after his range of devices and innovations.
accident and a positive influence on his Lipe specifies that the prosthetists
everyday life.
need to know what you need to be able
Even though his above-the-knee to do so they can tailor the prosthetic
prosthetic means he can’t pour concrete limb to suit your purpose or job. For exanymore, he says, “I have hands that can ample, prosthetic arms can have a termido any type of remodel.”
nal that allows you to plug in a device to
As he gets situated, Estrada plans to carry out a specific task, from hammering
remodel houses and pursue commercial to golfing and beyond.
projects. “Right now, I’m in the mindset “I have done lots of different tools
of ‘Let’s get to work!’”
that you can adapt into upper extremity
Though Estrada can’t physically do prosthetics,” Lipe describes. “There’s a
some of the work he used to, he says it whole company called Texas Assistive
doesn’t stop him from trying, nor does it Devices that makes all kinds of tools, acdeter him from working in the industry tually – kitchen utensils and cutlery and
he has been in his entire life.
all kinds of things that plug straight into
The biggest difference is that he has prosthesis. We use those a lot, but typihad to slow down and think ahead more. cally most [people] just use them for
Before the accident, he would jump in to home repair – guys that are working
take over if a problem arose or a new hire around their house, amateur carpentry…
didn’t work out. But since he can no lon- “I think the biggest thing we do is try
ger do that, he needs to have a plan in to make something that’s just durable,
that isn’t going to break down,” explains
Lipe, adding that he will take into account if a person will be carrying heavy
loads since a lot of componentry is based
on body weight.
Also, Lipe mentions that simple
adaptions like beefing up the lamination
and adding a sole pad on a lower extremity prosthetic would help a plumber be
more comfortable working on his knees
all day.
“Certainly the more complicated you
get, the more difficult it is,” Lipe says of
working with a prosthetic limb. “But you
know, I’m a big believer it’s more the indiPhoto courtesy of TRS, Inc.
One of several adapted devices that exists
vidual than the disability.” –mp
for an upper extremity prosthetic, allowing
amputees to work with tools.
McCarthy Building Co. recently broke ground on the San Jacinto River
Authority (SJRA) Surface Water Facility project in participation with the City of
Conroe Mayor Webb Melder, Montgomery County Judge Alan B. Sadler
and State Senator Tommy Williams. –ab
Page 16
Construction News ON LOCATION
Double take
Going up?
L-R: L-R: Store manager Dan Himmel and Heath Hayley, assistant store manager, start the day out right at Lumber Liquidators in League City, TX.
The company sells and installs hardwood flooring. –ab
L-R: Carl Hogan, Mark Fehrle and Nick Austin step outside for a quick photo
at RICO Elevators Inc. in Dickinson, TX. –ab
Cool cowboy
Power mix
One thing President Robby Surman, Bob’s Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.,
never forgets to bring to the office is his favorite cowboy hat. –ab
L-R: Diane Pope, Mike Kotz, Brent Halcumb, Tiffany Mayeux, James Atkins,
David Gilley and Lucas Shook put in a hard day’s work at CED Tidal, an electrical
distributor in La Marque, TX. –ab
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