April - Construction News

Transcription

CONSTRUCTION
Fiesta
2003
www.constructionnews.net
™
The Industry’s Newspaper
P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio TX 78279  11931 Warfield San Antonio TX 78216  (210) 308-5800  Apr 2003  Volume 6, Number 4
Kurt A.J. Monier
remembered
A
local legend in the mechanical
contracting and commercial construction community, Kurt A. J.
Monier, P.E., A. J. Monier & Co., passed
away at age 88, on Fri., March 7th.
A native of San Antonio, Kurt attended Texas A&M University, receiving
a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1935. He later
became a registered professional
engineer under the
categories Mechanical and Sanitary.
A lifelong patriot, Kurt served with
the U.S. Army Corp
of Engineers during WWII, served
during the Korean
War, and remained
in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a
Colonel.
Founded
in
1908 by his father,
August
Jacob
Monier, Kurt joined the mechanical
contracting company in 1935, when
America was in the throes of the Great
Depression. In 1946, Kurt served as
manager of the partnership and president of the corporation. In 1977, he assumed the position of Chairman of the
Board when his son, William K. “Bill”
Monier, took over direction as president of the corporation.
Appointed by the Governor of Texas to the State Plumbing Examiners
Board as the Professional Engineer representative, Kurt served a two-year
term. He also served as Chairman of the
Board for two years.
A life member and Fellow of the
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE),
Kurt was a past
president of the local chapter. In 1969,
the Bexar Chapter
of the Texas Society of Professional
Engineers (TSPE)
named him Engineer of the Year. He
also served on the
Board of Directors
and was past president of The Builder’s Exchange of
Texas from 1965 to
1971. A consummate
volunteer,
Kurt was past president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of
Texas (MCAT), past president of the
Mechanical Contractors Association
of America (MCAA), and past president
of Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors of San Antonio (PHCC-SA). As
well, Kurt served as a leader of many
church, civic, charitable and fraternal
organizations.
The staff of San Antonio Construction News joins the local construction
industry in expressing sympathy to Mr.
Kurt A. J. Monier’s family and friends.
Morkovsky + Associates
marks 30th anniversary
F
rom as early as he can remember,
Robert Morkovsky, AIA, RID,
wanted to be an architect. In March
of 1973, he started his own one-man firm,
Morkovsky + Associates, Inc. Today, the
firm has a staff of eight and celebrates its
30th anniversary.
Robert’s son, Mark Morkovsky, AIA,
RID, formally joined the firm after graduating from the University of Houston in
1982.
“While he was working on his degree,”
Robert added, “Mark would come home
on weekends, at spring break and during
the summers to work at our office. He
gained additional practical experience
working for Houston architectural and engineering firms during the school week.”
Over the years, Robert and his architectural team have designed an abundance of religious architecture, estimating
close to 300 projects for the Archdiocese
of San Antonio, Diocese of Victoria, Diocese of San Angelo and others throughout
Central and South Texas. Second to religious architecture, the firm includes many
schools and financial institutions in its design portfolio.
Over the years, a couple of signifi cant projects were considered milestones in the history of the firm.
“In 1988 we were selected to design
a multi-million dollar complex, consisting of Administration/Education, Gymnasium and Athletic Facilities for St.
Luke’s Catholic Church,” Mark explained,
continued on Page 31
Huber Contracting erects Maranatha Bible Church
O
ne of the first shadows cast by the
morning sunrise falls on a spacious new church located on the
northeastern perimeter of Converse, TX.
Dominating the skyline, the 32,269-sf
Maranatha Bible Church sits on 33 acres
of land.
Huber Contracting Inc. is the general contracting firm responsible for the
church’s construction, which began in
February 2002, and was completed in
March 2003. The $3,115,000 project included a new single-story building, with
a 1,000-seat worship center, administrative offices, classroom facilities, a kitchen,
a fellowship hall, and a parking lot with
288-vehicle capacity.
“The foundation is pan slab on piers,
the structure is a pre-engineered metal
building, and the roof is standing seam
metal,” said project manager Joe Cucolo.
“The exterior walls were finished with
stucco and brick wainscoting. One uncommon feature within the sanctuary is
its sport court flooring, while the speaker
This Month in Focus
Construction Materials
and choir platforms feature wood paneling finishes and carpeting.”
San Antonio Construction News asked
Joe if the construction team faced and
overcame any particular obstacles during
P.O. Box 791290
San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290
Change Service Requested
the construction process. He said the
most interesting and unusual part of this
project was that the church did not borrow any money to finance the project.
The Maranatha Bible Church was built
entirely with cash on hand.
“The most challenging of the obstacles was the phasing of the project, which
was scheduled in four stages,” Joe explained. “The first phase included general
site work and erection of the building’s
shell. The second phase focused on the
construction of administration offices and
children’s Sunday school classrooms. The
third phase incorporated the kitchen, fellowship hall, and adult Sunday school
classrooms. The 288-space parking lot and
parking lot lighting wrapped up the final
phase. I give a great deal of credit to our
project superintendent, Steve Anaya, who
maintained a flexible working schedule.”
Beginning the project with only a
contract to build the church shell and do
the site work, excluding parking lot pavement, required a great deal of cooperation from the City of Converse building
department and from all of the subcontractors.
PRSRT. STD.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SAN ANTONIO, TX
PERMIT #4043
Page 2 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2003
Bakeman fills vacated
Safety Director spot
HB 730 to improve residential
construction standards
W
hen the Associated General
Contractors Safety Director position became available, Mark
Bakeman was one of several candidates
considered for the job.
For 25 years, Mark was a third generation union ironworker, preceded in the
trade by his father and grandfather. His
experience in the structural steel industry was further expanded when he developed an interest in crane operations.
Mark joined Alamo Crane Services seven
years ago, where he was later charged
with developing a successful safety program for the company, thus reducing
personal injuries and insurance costs.
“We also established a formal crane
operator training program to set us apart
in the industry. The National Commission
for Crane Operators (NCCO) has an operator certification program recognized
by OSHA, the U.S. Department of Labor,
and several trade organizations. Alamo
Crane is the only rental crane company in
South/Central Texas whose crane operators are all certified. I personally attended
a 40-hour train-the-trainer course.”
As the Safety Director for AGC, which
began on April 1st, Mark will act in a consulting capacity, conducting safety inspections for member companies.
“I’ll identify construction site safety
hazards with the same scrutiny that an
OSHA inspector would. Once identified,
we work together to rectify those hazards before an OSHA inspection, or before someone gets hurt. As well, I’ll set up
training programs for individual companies and their employees.”
Mark will also help keep AGC member companies abreast of OSHA policy
changes as they develop and evolve. A
H
graduate of two 10-hour OSHA courses,
Mark will pursue the 30-hour and 500hour courses, which will enable him to
instruct safety seminars.
“I think the decision to select me for
the Safety Director position was based
on my willingness to accept challenges.
I’ve taken advantage of many training
opportunities as they came my way and
will continue to do so. My active participation in AGC, as a five-year member of
the Safety and Health Committee, has
enabled me to be familiar with member
companies and their people.”
A close friend of the former AGC
Safety Director, Adolph Fierros, Mark
will initially rely on his expertise and tutorial mentoring.
“Adolph will accompany me on the
first two or three inspections, and familiarize me with key people whom I may
ouse Bill 730, introduced in the
Texas Legislature by Rep. Allan
Ritter, D-Nederland, and supported by the Texas Association of
Builders (TAB), was filed in February to
provide consumers with a faster, less expensive forum for dispute resolution, as
well as set stronger standards for residential construction. Leaders of the
state’s homebuilding industry, industry
experts and state lawmakers crafted the
legislation.
One of the bill’s primary components
is the creation of a Texas Residential Construction Commission. The nine-member
state commission, which would include
both industry and public members,
would adopt standards and settle any
disputes that may arise between homebuilders and homebuyers.
“Both the homeowner and homebuilder want to identify and resolve construction problems as quickly as possible,
before they escalate,” said Bob Garrett,
president of the Texas Association of
Builders. “This state-sponsored resolution process will settle disputes fairly and
efficiently, without the need for costly
and time-consuming litigation.”
The Texas Residential Construction
Commission Act represents a method of
action for Texas homeowners involved in
a construction defect dispute. In brief,
claim awards would be limited to the repair cost of a construction defect, stipulating punitive awards and compensation for personal injury or mental anguish
would be excluded. The commission
would have no authority to fine or prohibit builders from doing business. A
proposed $125 fee, assessed at the closing of all home sales, would pay for the
commission.
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San Antonio Construction News spoke
with Harris Connell, Connell Barron
Homes, builder-member and government relations volunteer of the Greater
San Antonio Builders Association and
Texas Association of Builders. Harris said
HB 730 has been introduced to set up a
housing commission of nine members
who will write a book of guidelines and
Homebuilder Harris Connell
comments on HB 730.
rules, which builders across the state of
Texas would have to abide.
“The proposal, as currently written,
calls for the creation of the Texas Residential Construction Commission to
oversee a state-sponsored process using
third-party inspections to help settle
disputes before they end up in the courtroom,” Harris explained. “The Commission, which would be appointed by the
Governor, would establish limited statutory warranty and building standards
while approving third-party inspectors
to look into disputes. Six of the commission’s nine members would be chosen
from the residential construction industry, two would be public members and
there would be one licensed engineer.
Supporters acknowledge that all six industry representatives could end up being builders, but that would be the Governor’s decision and subject to Senate
confirmation. It should end a lot of the
disputes that are happening in the state
of Texas, and I do have great hopes that
the new commission will help in improving relationships between home buyers
and home builders.”
The bill also charges the commission
with creating specific residential construction and warranty standards for
builders to follow. The standards regulate
how homes are built and how they should
perform and, through the Commission,
force the homebuilder to stand behind
what was built, take ambiguity out of the
process by codifying standards.
Included in the proposed standards
are specific recommendations for water
intrusion and mold resistant residential
construction practices. The impact of
mold alone on the state’s insurance industry has been devastating. Right now,
Texas accounts for 70 percent of all mold
insurance claims nationwide, but contains only 8 percent of the U.S. population. About 70 percent of Texas’ real estate agents reported having closings delayed because buyers cannot obtain adequate insurance coverage.
Fiesta
San Antonio
2003
San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2003 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 3
PUTZ AROUND TOWN
JC Putz here . . .
S
ome people just can’t keep a secret. During the recent American Subcontractors Awards Banquet, Don Kuykendall, ASA member, MC and head bean counter for Alterman Electric Company, was on stage and announced to the room that
Heidi Davis, Ms. ASA herself, was with baby.
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I’m told that if Heidi’s looks could
maim, Don would be in the intensive
care ward of a local hospital. I guess she
wanted to keep her secret for a little
longer but from the looks of the photo,
I really don’t know why.
“Thanks Don, now everyone knows”
Husband and proud father-to-be, Wilbur Davis, just took it all in stride and
with a smile. Who said guys his age are over the hill?
San Antonio Chapter
Here is a news flash from the Associated Builders & Contractors
convention in San Diego, California.
$200.00 ÷ 10 people = $10.00 each
Not by my calculations.
D
on’t call our office at lunchtime looking for the Boss anymore. He just joined
the Racquetball and Fatness Club and is trying to get into shape and lose
weight (about time). When asked why he had gained weight, he blamed four
years of going to association events, cook-offs and other industry open houses.
Mrs. Boss Reesa tells a very different story.
“When I looked down, I could only see the tips of my shoes,” stated our publisher. Yeah right. He was looking for his shoes.
M
y spies tell me that Doug McMurry,
Executive Vice President, of AGC, San
Antonio Chapter, had a hard time finding
the right duds for his trip to Hawaii.
Glad he finally found the right shop.
CONSTRUCTION
Buddy Doebbler
Reesa Doebbler
Jane Day Loter
Sue Johnson
Donna Easton
Kevin Hughes
JC Putz
San Antonio Construction News
P.O. Box 791290
San Antonio, Texas 78279
(210) 308-5800 Fax (210) 308-5960
© 2003 San Antonio Construction News
If you are a construction-related company in
Bexar or one of the 7 surrounding counties
and are not receiving a free copy of the
San Antonio Construction News, please let us
know by contacting our office for a
Request Form, or visit our website.
ASA holds monthly member’s meetings at the Barn Door.
For more information on how to join our efforts or to be placed on
the mailing list for upcoming events - write, call or email:
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Fax: (210)349-2847
heidi@asa.mpowermail.com
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April 9th
From 4:00 'till 8:00 pm
King named 2003 Engineer of the Year
T
he Bexar Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers
(TSPE) concluded its Engineer’s
Week festivities by paying tribute to the
man they selected 2003 Engineer of the
Year.
On Sat., Feb. 22nd, over 100 members and their guests gathered at the
Westin-Riverwalk to honor and exalt
Philip G. King, P.E., Regional Vice President of Fugro South, Inc. Phil was one of
several engineers nominated by his peers
for the prestigious title. A committee of
senior engineers made the final selection
based on specific criteria.
As talented Clark High School Choir
members performed musical selections
to guitar and piano accompaniments, the
engineers enjoyed a cocktail reception.
When guests were seated for dinner they
were formally welcomed by TSPE president J. Kent O’Brien, P.E., Pape Dawson
Engineers, Inc. and Engineer of the Year
committee chair Richard J. Timm II, P.E.,
Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc. Richard
Kistner, P.E., Raba Kistner, provided the
invocation.
Following a delicious dinner and
lively table conversation, the award presentation commenced. Ken Koch, P.E.,
Civil Engineering Consultants, proudly
introduced his brother-in-law, Philip G.
King, P.E., as Engineer of the Year, sharing
with the audience some personal insights
into Phil’s character and career.
Phil King received his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1979, and his Masters in Geotechnical and Construction Materials Engineering in 1980 from Texas A&M University. Over his career, Phil has managed
(and traveled to) a wide variety of engineering projects throughout Texas,
North, South and Central America, North
L-R: TSPE president J. Kent O’Brien, P.E. and
Engineer of the Year
Philip G. King, P.E.
and West Africa, the Middle East, the Canadian and Alaskan Arctic, the Alaskan
North Slope and the Gulf of Mexico. He
has been responsible for field investigations and engineering design studies in
the construction materials, geotechnical
and geo-environmental related areas.
An inventor, Phil holds three U.S.
patents and has published ten technical
papers to date. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Phil has been
active with the Bexar Chapter of TSPE,
American Society of Civil Engineers
(ASCE), Texas Council of Engineering
Companies, Texas Council of Engineering Laboratories, and the Association
for the Success of Professional Firms
Improving the Natural and Built Environments (ASFE ). An active member of
L-R: Rob Leonhard, P.E., Coyle Engineering; Kent O’Brien, P.E., Pape Dawson Engineers;
John Brogan, P.E., City Public Service; Philip G. King, P.E., Fugro South, Inc.; Tom Wendorf, P.E.,
City of San Antonio; Sam Dawson, P.E., Pape Dawson Engineers;
and Richard Timm II, P. E., Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc.
the Alamo Kiwanis Club, Phil has been involved with Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
Troop 66 and is current chairman of the
Planning/Building Committee of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Joining Phil for this professional recognition were his wife Mary, son Benjamin,
his parents and parents-in-law.
During Phil’s anecdotal recitation of
accomplishments, he said he was very
proud to be a Professional Engineer.
“Years ago my Dad passed on to me
the statistical fact that 95 percent of all
scientists in the history of mankind are
alive and practicing today. Based on this
Homebuilders invited
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statistic, future advances of mankind are
going to grow exponentially as compared
to the past. I don’t believe we can comprehend the technological advances humans will accomplish even in our lifetimes. As engineers, we are part of the
group of scientists that will advance technology. “
In closing, Phil admonished his deepthinking peers to always present their
names followed by P.E.
“Let’s go forward today and let’s educate the world about the proud profession that we practice. I, for one, am very
proud to be a professional engineer.”
L
ocal surveying company, SurveySA,
is asking for participation from
homebuilders in its effort to help
SAMMinistries raise money for the homeless of San Antonio.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary,
SAMMinistries is asking the community to
build, design, and/or decorate birdhouses. They will be sold or auctioned on May
10th to raise funds for SAMMinistries’
various charitable efforts.
SurveySA has decided to lend an additional helping hand by donating unfinished birdhouses to local homebuilders
who wish to help decorate them.
Keith Jimenez, president/CEO of
SurveySA, has asked for a $50 donation to
SAMMinistries from any homebuilder in
San Antonio.
“With their donation, we will provide
them with an unfinished birdhouse to
decorate or design,” said Jimenez. “I’m
asking homebuilders to participate in a
way that is both symbolic and timely in
supporting the seriousness of the issue.”
SurveySA employees will pick up all
finished bird “shelters” completed by
Mon., April 7th, and personally deliver
them to SAMMinistries in order to ensure
they meet the deadline. In addition, SurveySA is donating its own birdhouse that
a company executive is designing.
If you are a homebuilder and are interested in participating in the SAMMinistries’ Bird House Campaign to raise
funds for the homeless, you can contact
Nikki Young at 210-877-1446 for more
details. If you are not a homebuilder and
still want to participate in the fundraiser,
you can visit the SAMMinistries website
at www.samm.orq for more information.
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ASA 8th Annual Awards Banquet
O
ver 500 members and their guests
gathered at the The Club at Sonterra on Thurs., Feb. 27th, for the
American Subcontractors Association’s
8th Annual Excellence in Construction
2002 Awards Banquet.
Dressed up and pumped up for the
2002 Excellence in Construction Awards,
the subcontractors enjoyed a complimentary cocktail hour while Las Altenas,
an all-woman Mariachi band, provided
outstanding entertainment.
Tuxedo-clad Don Kuykendall, Nathan Alterman Electric Company, and
David Waddell, Padgett, Stratemann &
Co. L.L.P., both serving as co-chairmen
of the awards committee, were the award
ceremony presenters and commentators. As guests were seated for dinner,
Don extended a hearty welcome to one
and all and acknowledged the organizational skills of ASA executive director
Heidi Davis before introducing ASA
president George Major Jr., Holes of
San Antonio. George presented the coveted President’s Award to consummate
volunteer and two-time former president John Kunz, J.D. Kunz Concrete Co.
After dinner, ASA treasurer Martin
Polka, Todd-Ford, Inc., paid tribute to an
outstanding individual for his leadership
and key contributions in the construction
industry over the last five decades.
“The recipient of the ASA Pioneer
Award is mechanical contractor John G.
Ford, P.E., CEO, Todd-Ford, Inc., a man
who long ago recognized that quality
only happens when you care enough to
do your best,” Martin said. “While there
have been many changes over fifty years,
John’s principles and values have remained steadfast. His commitment to
providing a quality product, on time, in
budget, is the same today as it was in
1952.”
As the ceremony continued, Don
and David announced all of the categories and nominees for the 2002 Excellence in Construction Awards. The winners were selected through a rigorous
process, which included input and opinions from the ASA membership.
And the winners were:
General Contractor of the Year: Bartlett
Cocke General Contractors.
Outstanding Project Manager:
Michael Malone, Vaughn Construction.
Outstanding Project Superintendent:
Jimmy Cook, Faulkner Construction,
Inc.
Project of the Year Over $10 Million: Kunz
Construction Co., Inc. for Smithson Valley High School.
Project of the Year $5 - $10 Million: Guido
Brothers Construction for CPS Northside
Service Center.
Project of the Year Under $5 Million: The
Keller-Martin Organization Inc. for St.
Luke’s Episcopal Church.
L-R: President’s Award recipient John Kunz
and ASA president George Major, Jr.
L-R: Don Kuykendall, Outstanding Supervisor
of the Year Jimmy Cook, and David Waddell
L-R: David, Outstanding Project Manager of
the Year Michael Malone, and Don.
L-R: David, Duane Pozza, Bartlett Cocke
General Contractors, accepting the General
Contractor of the Year Award, and Don.
Project of the Year $5 - $10 Million:
L-R: David, Tom Sanchez and A.J. Heidelberg,
Guido Brothers Construction, and Don.
Project of the Year Over $10 Million:
L-R Don, Ronnie Hargett and Andy Koeble,
Kunz Construction, and David.
Congratulations to all of the award
nominees, the notable winners and the
deserving recipients of the evening’s
special awards.
L-R: Roger Ford, Martin Polka, Jon G. Ford,
P.E., Bettie Ford, Pioneer Award recipient
John G. Ford, P.E., and David.
Project of the Year Under $5 Million:
L-R: Don, Randy Reiley, Doug Neubauer
and Rick Smith, The Keller-Martin
Organization Inc., and David.
Austin Construction News
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Dysart awarded new title,
more territory
I
n February, Jack Dysart, former president of Lyda Builders, was named
Texas Regional Manager and placed in
charge of all Swinerton Builders and
Lyda Builders operations in Houston, San
Antonio and McAllen. As you may recall,
Lyda Constructors was acquired by
Swinerton Builders in June of last year,
and subsequently renamed.
“Headquartered in San Francisco,
Swinerton has 14 offices on the west
coast, in Colorado and Utah,” Jack explained. “When they bought the Lyda
operations, they liked the way we were
running things, and the decision was
made to place the combined Texas operations under one umbrella. Our Houston
operation does about $125 million a year,
and Lyda does about the same in San
Antonio. I typically spend my workweek
in both cities.”
Jack graduated from Texas A&M University in 1972 with a degree in structural
engineering. He received his commission
and began USAF flight school training
about the same time the Vietnam War
ended. His civilian career began in earnest in 1975 when he started working as a
registered structural engineer for the
PresCon Corp., a post-tension concrete
company. His next career move was to
the general contracting firm of Jordan &
Nobles, working first in Houston and later
in San Antonio, where he ran the office.
“It was at that time I
met Gerald Lyda, who
suggested I start my
own company. For two
years Dysart Inc. and
Lyda
Constructors
joint-ventured four hotel projects.
Gerald
asked me to join his
company, and over the
years, I’d like to think I
helped Lyda grow and
prosper. This is my 13th
year with the company.”
An
employeeowned company, Swinerton offered Lyda employees improved benefits and opportunities
for ownership. When the existing Swinerton operations in San Antonio were
merged with Lyda, Lyda didn’t loose a
single employee.
Jack to discuss the leadership skills that
have helped define his place in the company, and in the construction industry.
“I do have a technical, detailed, analytical mind, but I’m also a salesman,”
Jack admitted. “I think part of making a
construction company succeed is being
able to sell, and when you sell, owners
start believing in you and your people
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start believing in you. I try to be fair with
everybody, let them make decisions, give
them the authority, responsibility and
the accountability to run their own businesses (or projects) within the greater
company. “
Looking ahead, Jack said the goal of
Lyda Builders is to be the premier contractor in Texas.
“Lyda Builders and Swinerton Builders are plotting out a business plan to incorporate more offices in Texas, targeting Austin and Dallas-Ft. Worth, and
double its volume in three to five years.”
he U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is leading a national consensus
for producing a new generation of
buildings that deliver high performance
inside and out. Council members work
together to develop LEED™ products and
resources, policy guidance, and educational and marketing tools that support
the adoption of sustainable building.
Members also forge strategic alliances
with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies to transform the built environment.
“We hope to have a provisional chapter of the USGBC in our area before the
end of the year,” said architect Bob Harris, Lake/Flato, who is helping spearhead
a San Antonio/Austin chapter. “One of the
requirements of a chapter is that it have a
broad-based participation, including architects and designers, construction
managers, developers, realtors, and engineers from every discipline. With that in
mind, and as our organization is formalized, it is our hope that industry professionals who support sustainable building
will join our chapter.”
Holt named
“Dealer of the Year”
S
an Antonio -based HOLT CAT,
one of the largest Caterpillar®
dealers in North America, was
named 2002 “Dealer of the Year” by
one of the largest construction and
mining companies in the world.
A Fortune 500 company, Peter
Kiewit Sons, Inc. selected HOLT CAT
from more than 450 manufacturers
and equipment dealers worldwide,
citing excellence in customer service, work quality and professionalism.
“HOLT CAT did the best to help
us achieve a new level of satisfaction in our construction, mining and
material business,” said Neal Ferry,
corporate equipment manager for
Kiewit. “Holt did many things to significantly impact our business.”
Selection for this award is based
on selected criteria and nomination
from Kiewit’s districts and corpo rate equipment management. HOLT
CAT was noted for its excellent sales
and service support, improved customer relationships, parts and service coverage, excellent machine rebuilds and
machine issues support.
“It really means a lot any time
one of our customers recognizes us
for our contribution to their success,”
said HOLT CEO, Peter Holt, greatgrandson of Benjamin Holt, who in
1904, developed the first successful
track-type tractor which he named
the Caterpillar. “To be acknowledged
by a company that does business
with dealers all over the world is especially gratifying.”
Holt’s ‘Values Based Leadership’
helps each employee to focus on operating and managing by a clear set of
business values: ethics, success, excellence, commitment and dynamic.
HOLT CAT sells and services Caterpillar machines and engines in a
118- county Texas territory spanning
from the Red River to the Rio Grande.
Holt also offers machine rebuild capabilities, sells used equipment
around the world, and operates an
international pipeline equipment
company.
Further supporting its broad range
of products and services, Holt also fabricates its own line of land clearing
equipment and water tankers.
Celebrating 30 Years of Service
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Engineering Consulting Services
is 15!
T
wo forward-thinking engineers
founded Engineering Consulting
Services, Ltd. (ECS) in 1988, in
Chantilly, VA. Henry L. Lucas, P.E. and
James W. Eckert, P.E. mortgaged their
respective houses and accumulated a
working capital of $30,000. With cash in
hand, they started a diverse consulting
firm specializing in the related fields of
geotechnical, environmental, and construction materials engineering. Their
goal to create an employee-owned company never wavered.
Fifteen years later, ECS now employs
a staff of more than 700 people, including
registered professional engineers and
geologists, certified laboratory technicians and construction inspectors, field
engineers and support personnel. The
firm now operates twenty four full-service branch offices in the Eastern, Mid-
west and Southern United States.
with vice president and business manager Earl McIntosh, of the San Antonio
ECS office, who said Henry Lucas’ vision
of employee ownership became a reality
within the first two years.
“There are no fat cats at the top,” Earl
emphasized. “We all share in the company’s success and in bearing its burdens.
The turnover rate at ECS is far below the
industry standard for engineering firms,
due in no small part to its successful corporate structure.”
In spite of the 2001-2002 economic
slowdown ECS exceeded the average
profitability for A&E firms and surpassed
average growth. Engineering News Record (ENR) ranked ECS the 155th largest
firm in the country.
carol wiatrek
Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.
South Texas Chapter
Pr
A
series of jobs at Handy Dan, a
furniture wholesaler and The
Builder’s Exchange of Texas
propelled Carol Wiatrek’s career
into positions of increasing responsibility. She joined Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) in 1995 as
office manager, bookkeeper, administrative assistant and receptionist.
“My title changed to Member
Services Coordinator when they
added event planning to my growing
list of responsibilities,” Carol noted.
“Recently however, the event planning duties have been delegated to
another staff member. As much as I
like working with numbers, watching
a function go from concept to completion always made my day. I miss
interacting with the ABC members to
the extent I did formerly.”
Focused on administrative duties, the ever-cheerful and upbeat
young woman keeps ABC president
Steven Schultz on schedule, maintains the database and website, coordinates the annual membership directory, and prepares the financials.
Additionally, Carol is an administrative liaison to the Roofing Contractors Association.
asked Carol if she aspires to be an association director one day. She said
yes, if she could find one that doesn’t
involve politics.
fi le
“The only drawback to my pursuing an association leadership position is my aversion to legislative or
political activities,” she admitted.
“It’s like Greek to me. At ABC, I do
what is asked of me to the best of my
ability. My co-workers tell me I am
the ‘institutional memory’ of ABC,
because I’m able to summon names
and facts from years gone by. My immediate goal is to take a few more
accounting classes and refine those
skills.”
Born and raised on the southeast side of San Antonio, Carol Wiatrek graduated from Sam Houston
High School in the Class of ’82. A zoology major and accounting minor in
college, Carol lacks three semesters
toward her degree and hopes to return to her studies in the near future.
Married in 1990 to Greg Wiatrek,
Alpha Insulation, the couple has
three children. Carol and her husband actively coach their kid’s sporting teams.
Juggling a full time career and a
young family has been easy for Carol
because of the support she receives
from her husband and extended
family.
“Life would be much more diffi cult for me logistically if I didn’t have
a wonderful husband and a loving
family who are willing to pitch-in
and help out. I’m very grateful.”
Profile is a column in which San Antonio Construction News will highlight a
staff member of a local construction association every other month.
Representatives of Team ECS, Ltd.
ABC apprentices compete in San Diego
A
rriving from across the country, over a thousand
members of the National Associated Builders
and Contractors attended its annual convention,
held in mid-March, in San Diego, CA.
The Keynote Speaker was Heismann Trophy winner
and motivational speaker Joe Theisman, who comically
drove home a point about ‘trust’ at the expense of quickwitted Eddie Rispone, the ABC National Chairman.
Among the many activities and events scheduled at
the convention was the long-awaited 2003 ABC National
Craft Olympics. This well-attended event showcases and
exalts the abilities of ABC’s craft apprentices from chapters across the land.
Representing the South Texas Chapter of ABC were
four craft apprentices who participated in electrical, carpentry, sheet metal and plumbing competitions. They are
Dino Cavazos (electrical), Ross Electric; Josh Chandler
(carpentry), Castle Hills Baptist Church; Xavier Lozano
(sheet metal), Beyer Mechanical; and Mauricio Payan
(plumbing), Stewart Plumbing. Each apprentice had previously won local competitions, which qualified them to
compete in the National Craft Olympics.
The two-day apprenticeship competition included
the practical, hands-on demonstration of skills and a written examination. Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of
ABC members, craft apprentices competed with a focused
passion against the clock and against each other.
“Each apprentice is given a set of plans they have
never seen before, in addition to the same amount of
supplies necessary to complete the assignment,” said
South Texas Chapter president Steven Schultz. “They
were under a lot of pressure and were well prepared. The
first time our four apprentices and their wives met each
other was just before they got on the plane to San Diego.
They are in different trades, work for different companies,
and had never interacted. After the competition on Fri.
night, these men and their wives acted like they had
known each other all their lives. The camaraderie and
bonding was incredible!”
ABC-South Texas Chapter members were also successful in the ABC-National Excellence In Construction
awards competition. Winning another Excellence In Construction Eagle Award was SpawGlass Contractors, Inc.
for the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Utilizing a true team approach, SpawGlass constructed the
5,600-sf facility, which houses the chamber’s administrative staff. RVK Architects is the architect of record and the
North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce is the owner.
Receiving Certificates of Commendation were A/C Technical Services, Ltd. for the Spurs Training Facility; and
SpawGlass Contractors, Inc. for the Zeller Building Urschel
Tower and Parking Garage.
Fiesta 2003
Saturday, April 19th
thru
Sunday, April 27th
L-R: ABC South Texas Chapter Craft Olympians are
Dino Cavazos, Josh Chandler, Xavier Lozano
and Mauricio Payan.
Xavier Lozano during the sheet metal competition.
Dino Cavazos’ (center) attention is unswerving.
April 19:
April 20:
April 21:
April 22:
April 23:
April 24:
April 25:
April 26:
April 27:
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Locally-owned and operated
Visit our website at: www.texasmedclinic.com
Josh Chandler, focused on carpentry assignment.
Mauricio Payan, plumbing to beat the clock.
L-R: Accepting the Excellence in Construction Eagle
Award are Russell Jenkins, Andrew Staskavage,
Duane Wilson, Fred Raley, Doug Kirchner,
Jack Mulligan, and David Neugebauer.
Fiesta Opening Ceremony at Alamo Plaza
Ft. Sam Houston Fiesta Ceremony & Fireworks Extravaganza
River Parade / San Antonio Riverwalk
A Night In Old San Antonio at LaVillita (NIOSA)
River Art Show and NIOSA
Battle of Flowers Band Festival and NIOSA
Battle of Flowers Parade / downtown and NIOSA
Fiesta Flambeau Parade / downtown
10th Street River Festival
For complete
detail of all events:
www.fiesta-sa.org
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SAN ANTONIO
(210) 337-6136
AUSTIN
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Metro-Tech
moves to new location
Spring Cleaning
for your Backhoe
Preventive Maintenance Packages
250-Hour Service
500-Hour Service
Change Engine Oil & Filter
Fuel Filters
Fuel Filters
Complete Grease Job
Complete Grease Job
Other 250-Hour Scheduled Checks Other 250-Hour Scheduled Checks
88 Point Checklist
88 Point Checklist
Includes 250-Hour Service
$
Packing Front Wheel Bearings
Install New Front Bearing Seals
295
479
$
1,000-Hour Service
Bill Weaver at Metro-Tech Service Co.’s new central location.
I
n business since 1986, Metro-Tech
Service Company has moved to a
new location in north central San Antonio. A consolidator, Blue Dot, purchased the commercial and residential
air conditioning and heating company
in 1998.
When Metro-Tech’s former owner
Lee Rosenberg retired in Oct. 2001, the
parent company named Bill Weaver as
location president and general manager.
He said in addition to providing full residential service, the company is engaged
in residential replacement and retrofit,
residential new construction for specialty builders, commercial replacement,
commercial new construction, rooftop
replacement, and small tenant finishes.
In February 2003, Blue Dot sold
Metro-Tech to Service Experts, another
national consolidator.
“It just so happened our lease was
up at our former location, so we carried
on with a plan to move to a more central
site,” Bill noted.
Bill to discuss his business philosophy. He
said as Metro-Tech continues to grow, it
aspires to be the one HV/AC company in
San Antonio that people think of first.
“To reach that goal,” he explained,
“we do two things: answer the phone and
deliver the service. Consumers are busy
and they are looking for service companies that respond to their lifestyles and
schedules. They are willing to pay a fair
price for efficient and prompt service.”
Bill began his career as a sheet metal
worker and heating and air conditioning
technician.
“I am the personification of ‘hardwork-pays-off.’ I was fortunate to have
good mentors who gave me some opportunities for growth and advancement,
which I maximized.”
Metro-Tech Service Company currently employs 17 personnel and is in the
process of adding six more installer/
technicians to its staff.
Aggie’s UT door is haunting!
T
exas A&M University graduate
Mark Resendez, Alpha Insulation
and Waterproofing, was forced to
grovel before his University of Texas
Longhorn rivals once again after losing
his annual Longhorn/Aggie football bet
with co-worker Greg Wiatrek.
The original bet was three years ago,
and the loser (Mark) had to suffer
through the humiliation of having his office door exterior painted in the winning
team’s school colors, complete with
clever caricatures and stinging verbiage.
“After two years, I noticed that Mark
was spending too much time in his office
with the door closed, so he didn’t have to
see the orange paint,” said UT grad Greg
Wiatrek. “After his third loss in a row, Mark
endured a final insult. We painted the inside of his office door Longhorn Orange,
serving as a constant reminder of UT’s superior prowess on the football field.”
There’s always next year, Mark, and
San Antonio Construction News will do its
best to keep our readers apprised of your
gamble on the big game in 2003.
Fuel Filters
Complete Grease Job
Other 250-Hour Scheduled Checks
88 Point Checklist
Packing Front Wheel Bearings
Install New Front Bearing Seals
Change Transmission Oil & Filter
Change Hydraulic Oil & Filter
Adjust Engine Valves
1088
$
All prices plus disposal, shop supplies & tax.
4xt and cab models additional.
Slightly higher for service calls to location.
TEXANA
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I
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SAN ANTONIO
AUSTIN
(512) 272-8922 (800) 615-3804 (210) 333-8000 (800) 483-9262
SALES • RENTALS • PARTS • SERVICE
www.texanamachinery.com
The Construction Labor Contractor
Your OnlySource for Skilled Tradesmen
We are the leader in the industry and we
have our clients to tell you why.
Call either location and let’s start
to build a quality partnership.
Austin
512-452-0404
888-485-0404
San Antonio
210-509-3522
877-509-3522
Qualify For:
“Ultimate Hunting Challenge 2002”
L-R: UT grad Greg Wiatrek and A&M grad Mark Resendez.
Y
Page 10 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2003
Old Timer’s
Corner
~
Bartlett
Cocke, Jr.
by Jane Day Loter
F
rom the time he was a very little
boy, Bartlett Cocke, Jr. had a passion for building. His wish on every
Christmas morning was to receive raw
lumber and new hand tools, which he
would use to convert roller skates to
scooters, for himself and the rest of the
neighborhood kids.
The son of notable San Antonio architect Bartlett Cocke, Sr. and his wife
Mildred, Bartlett, Jr. was born in 1930
and shared his parent’s love with his
younger sister Tinka, who later gained
notoriety as a painter, sculptor and jewelry craftswoman.
“My dad started college at UT-Austin
when he was only 16 years old,” Bartlett
explained. “After getting his degree in
architecture, he was accepted to MIT as
one of seven students in its architectural
master’s degree program. Although he
excelled in school, Dad was unable to
pass French, a required course in 1922,
and he was not granted his Master’s.”
The Cocke family resided in Alamo
Heights where Bartlett went through the
Alamo Heights school system from K-12,
graduating in 1948. He played football,
ran track, played golf and was an above
average student.
During WWII, 13-year-old Bartlett
landed a summer job on a housing development construction site that paid a legitimate wage. He worked his way up
from water boy to carpenter’s helper, and
every summer job he had thereafter was
on a construction project.
Unknowingly, Bartlett observed his
first example of the ‘good old boy’ network in action when he was only 14. “ I
was working on a construction site that
summer and they wanted me to do a little driving. My Dad took me to see County Judge Charles Anderson (think Loop
1604), who, as a courtesy to my father, issued me a driver’s license, no questions
asked.”
Following high school, Bartlett majored in business at the University of Texas–Austin, graduating in 1953. The same
year he received an ROTC commission
and went into the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd
Lieutenant. He was stationed at a radar
site in Germany, halfway between Frankfurt and Berlin.
Honorably discharged in 1955,
Bartlett returned home and went to work
for C.L. Browning, known today as
Browning Construction Co.
“My mentor there was Cliff Zerr,
who taught me the critical art of estimating. I remained with C.L. Browning for
four years.”
Other than his parents, a few teachers and selected football coaches,
Bartlett had another significant mentor.
From the time he was in college, Bartlett
would meet or correspond with Rufus
Walker, Rufus A. Walker & Company, a
contemporary of his father’s who, in
Bartlett’s opinion, was the most knowledgeable waterproofing person of his
time.
In 1959, the pioneering young man
who wanted to make his own way in the
world hung up a sign and opened his
one-man general contracting company.
“I had no illusions about conquering
the world,” Bartlett admitted. “I knew
that I didn’t know very much, and looking back, I realize I hardly knew anything.
When people ask me why I started my
own business, I can now answer with two
simple words…‘sheer ignorance!’ I didn’t
know what I was getting into. “
His first contract for a $2,600 residential porch enclosure netted a $200 profit.
“I was scared to death starting out on
something so big,” Bartlett confessed. “I
would get up in the morning and haul
materials to the jobsite, work all day and
clean up the debris. I estimated, wrote
contracts, made payroll, kept the books,
and was the truck driver and clean-up
crew. I struggled along like that for about
7 years.”
During that struggle, Bartlett’s personal life grew in dimension. In 1960, he
married Winifred Winter and bought
their first home together the next year. In
1962, son Reagan was born, followed
shortly by the arrival of Bartlett, III in
1963. In 1969, daughter Martha was welcomed into the family. Today, Reagan is
an ordained Episcopal priest at St. John
the Divine Episcopal Church in Houston;
Bartlett III is a Salt Lake City-computer
consultant; and Martha, who lives in Seattle, is a physician specializing in OB/
GYN.
“In 1966, I bought an old farmhouse
and some acreage to use as an office for
my one secretary and myself. Although I
had more work than in previous years, I
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hadn’t really achieved any measure of
success. However, in that milestone year I
picked up two small remodeling jobs,
turned them around in two months, and
made an $11,000 profit. It was the most
money I’d ever looked at, and for the first
time I had enough cash in the bank that I
didn’t have to worry about making payroll. It was a turning-point for me.”
In those leaner times, Bartlett developed a habit of mentally reviewing the
week’s work, looking for positive aspects.
“In construction, in business, and in
life, we tend to look at our problems,
which we have to do if we’re going to
solve them. But sometimes, we get a little
overwhelmed by what’s gone wrong. I
made an effort on Friday afternoons to
review the positive aspects of job progress, which put me in a fairly decent
mood for the weekend.”
In 1967, the optimistic contractor
picked up some work at SWTSU in San
Marcos. He met and hired a graduatelevel math student, Nelson Jonas, to
work on the site.
“I told Jonas all of his education
wouldn’t do him any good on the working end of a sledgehammer,” Bartlett remarked. “He still wanted the job, and he
was a great worker. I eventually lured him
to my company with a starting offer of
$150 a week. He retired thirty-three successful years later, and became in my
opinion, a top authority on the subject of
waterproofing.”
In 1972, Bartlett Cocke General
Contractors was selected to remodel an
addition to the San Antonio Country
Club, a $2.5 million contract. The signifi cance was that many of the Club’s members, the movers and shakers of the community, saw Bartlett’s work in progress,
which, in short, led to more and bigger
jobs, especially in the banking and highrise condominium sector.
“My mentor, Rufus Walker, once said,
‘A person needs to have some ownership
in the company to really feel close to it
and a part of it.’ Believing that to be true,
in the early 1970’s I initiated a stock option program, where employee-shareholders would buy (or sell) stock at the
book value price, determined by the certified audit.”
Among his more astute observations, Bartlett recognized early on that
operations in the construction community often hinged on the decision-making powers of one individual.
“The other people on jobsites didn’t
seem to have any input other than to
carry out his orders. They weren’t empowered to make decisions, even about
simple matters, and that impeded progress.”
Understanding that key people need
to be in a position where they can make
decisions and have the responsibility to
exercise some authority, Bartlett challenged his employees to do just that.
“I’ve been fortunate in finding good
people, or perhaps they found me. I have
encouraged them to do their best, to be
leaders, and to tell me what they think. I
don’t care if we disagree, if they have
good reason. Group meetings have always enabled us to talk openly about
work, prospects, management, personnel and other topics.”
The company’s aggressive move toward school construction is 100 percent
attributable to progressive-thinking
CEO/President Duane Pozza, according
to Bartlett.
“When the law changed to allow
school districts to contract for construction work other than through competitive bidding, Duane embraced the challenge. I would estimate our company has
probably been involved in school contracts bordering on the $500 million
mark to date. I’m continually impressed
and astounded at some of the schools
we’re building these days. They have so
many amenities and complex systems!”
In 1990, when Bartlett was 60 years
old, he went into Duane’s office and said,
“How would you like to make me a buyout offer?” A plan was formulated and
implemented over the next ten years, resulting in Bartlett’s retirement in 2000.
Serving on the Board of Directors,
Bartlett still maintains an office at the
company.
During the 1996 construction of the
UTSA College of Business, Bartlett became acquainted with deans and faculty
members. Recognizing the valuable contribution a ‘real world’ contractor would
add, they invited Bartlett to be an Executive-In-Residence for the business college. He said he uses that forum to discuss the five phases of small company
growth (existence, survival, take off, establishment and asset management) as
they applied to his career experiences.
“I recall one attractive young woman
asked me the question, ‘To what do you
attribute your success?’ I responded by
saying, ‘I attribute our success to the
buildings we build, because that’s our
advertising and our legacy.”
Bartlett what he would like our readers to
know about his character. He said his
wife, three children and six grandchildren
are the most important people in his life.
This company is the second most important thing in his life.
“At some point in time, I stopped being a builder of buildings and started
being a builder of a company that builds
buildings. And that’s the thing that separates the small company from the more
progressive company. One reason why
this company is successful is that, instead
of feuding, fussing, blaming, fighting, arguing, threatening or suing, we sit down
and resolve issues. Then we can move on.
The way to make money on a construction contract is to build it and finish it.
Our construction revenue from day one
through
year
end
2002
was
$1,164,000,000. I’ve tried to be open,
competent, honest and forthright with
people, while being absolutely dependable.”
San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2003 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 11
Carving a niche in the city and country
F
ifth-generation
Texan
Ashley
Hohmann was born in Fredericksburg and raised in San Antonio.
Through a construction/work program at
his high school, he started working for Ed
Flume Building Specialties when he was
about sixteen, and remained in the company’s employment for the next 22 years.
“After spending the first ten years
performing installations, running crews
in the field, and moving up through
those ranks, I then took a management
position with the company. I was able to
incorporate my field experience into
project management and architectural
sales, then was promoted to vice president of the sales and service divisions. I
am attending UTSA, finishing a degree in
Building Development and Construction
Management. I am very grateful for the
knowledge I gained and for the experiences and opportunities I was exposed
to at Ed Flume.”
For over two decades, Ashley developed contacts and nurtured relationships with local general contractors, architects, and owners, which led to this
turning point in his career.
“The decision to start my own
contracting/service company is based on
the confidence I attained through my
experiences, education, project management, business relationships, and the
market potential of the hill country area.
If I’m going to be working this hard, I’m
going to do it for myself.”
Established on Nov. 1, 2002, Hohmann Development Services (HDS) specializes in customized construction management services, sales of pre-engineered steel buildings and building
products, which includes windows and
doors, demolition service, site work, and
pouring concrete foundations in the Hill
who want to modify or add value to their
own properties. Looking toward the future, Ashley said his five-year plan includes developing his own projects.
“Eventually I would like to be the
owner/developer of my own properties
with the creation and building of projects that contribute to the sustainability
of the community. I will follow projects
all the way through from conception and
design to completed construction and
operation. Until then, I’ll continue to customize development packages for selected clients.”
Believing his handshake is his word,
that honesty and integrity are key components to success, Ashley’s goal is to build
lasting relationships with his clients.
Hohmann Development Services
and Hohmann Construction have recently completed the wellness center for
Fredericksburg’s Hill Country Memorial
Hospital and an emergency room addition at the Llano Hospital, through Huser
Construction. He is currently working on
two “ground up” projects with local hill
country landowners.
“Rather than trying to be the general
contractor on every project, we also like
to be a subcontractor for specific services
and move on to the next project. We
bring value-added service to the table,
which is not always at the lowest price but
usually is the lowest cost to the owner.”
Ashley was recently elected
secretary/treasurer of the South/Central
Texas Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America
(CMAA) and is currently helping to establish a student chapter of CMAA at UTSA
with the new Construction Management
program through the College of Business
and the School of Architecture.
Plumbing Industry
Country region in conjunction with
Hohmann Construction Company. In
the San Antonio market, his services include construction management and
sales of steel buildings/building products. The company’s office is located in
the San Antonio Medical Center area.
“I develop and design project packages for my clients and perform construction management services for
them,” Ashley added.
Ashley’s father, Mark Hohmann, ran
commercial work for San Antonio general
contractors for about 40 years. He
stepped out on his own three years ago
after settling down in Fredericksburg
and established Hohmann Construction
Company, which specializes in pouring
concrete/ engineered slabs, site work,
and demolition in Fredericksburg. Father
and son work together at every available
opportunity whether in the field of construction or on the rough terrain at the
family’s Shadow Valley Ranch and catfish
farm near Enchanted Rock.
Presently, Ashley targets business
and landowners in the Hill Country area
Elaine Fisher
wins
$200
gift certificate
R
ecently, our circulation audit
company, Verified Audit Circulation, sent surveys re garding San Antonio Construction
News and Austin Construction News
to 375 readers in each market.
The staff of San Antonio Construction News wishes to thank our
readers who completed the survey
sent by our audit circulation company. From the many surveys that
were returned, Verified Audit drew
the names of two winners, one
from each market, to receive a gift
certificate to Ruth’s Chris Steak
House.
Congratulations to San Anto nio’s Elaine Fisher, Legacy General Contractors, for being selected
to receive a $200 gift certificate.
Randolph-Brooks
Federal Credit Union
General Contractor, Metropolitan Contracting
Superintendent, Frank Robinson
Urban Concrete Superintendent, Noyola Leno
CONCRETE CONTRACTORS LTD
Commercial • Residential • MultiFamily
Ronnie Urbanczyk, President • Steven Valerio, Vice President
Estimators Tom Fulks • Robert Cruz • Rick Fulks • Chris Boyd
Professional Engineer, Mike Zezula
“Building a strong foundation in San Antonio and South Texas”
Business Office
24114 Blanco Road
210 • 490 • 0090 Fax 210 • 490 • 1505 800 • 884 • 6675
Austin Field Office
3206 Highway 183 South Austin, Texas 78744
800 • 884 • 6675
See our ad at CONCRETE CONTRACTORS in
your SBC Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages and at
www.SMARTpages.com
Guido tops out NISD
stadium project
Architectural Accessibility in Texas
FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY LAWS & STANDARDS
The Fair Housing Act
Title VIII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1968
(amended 1988)
The design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing
Act apply to all new multifamily housing first occupied after
March 13, 1991. Covered multifamily dwellings are: (1) all dwelling units in buildings containing four or more units if such buildings have one or more
elevators, and (2) all ground floor dwelling units in other buildings containing four or
more units.
REQUIREMENT 7, Part B: Usable Bathrooms:
“…covered multifamily dwellings with a
building entrance on an accessible route
shall be designed and constructed in such a
manner that all premises within covered
multifamily dwelling units contain usable
… bathrooms such that an individual in a
wheelchair can maneuver about the
space.” Fair Housing Act Regulations,
24 CFR 100.205
SHOWER AS ONLY BATHING FIXTURE
In both Specification A and B bathrooms,
when a stall shower is the only bathing
fixture into the covered dwelling unit it
must be at least 36 inches x 36 inches in
size. Shower stalls of larger sizes and
configurations are permitted, even when
the shower stall is the only bathing fixture in the covered unit.
While reinforced walls for later installation of grab bars are required in all bathrooms, Specification A bathrooms do not
require reinforcing to support a wallmounted shower seat in the shower stall.
However, it is strongly recommended
that appropriate reinforcing for shower
seats be installed in Specification A bathrooms.
In Specification B bathrooms, however, in
addition to the reinforced required for
grab bars, the shower stall must have reinforcing to allow for later installation of
an optional wall-mounted seat in a
shower stall measuring a nominal 36
inches square.
The 36-inch x 36-inch transfer shower
with a low curb and L-shaped seat is a
versatile and successful bathing fixture
for people who use wheelchairs or have
difficulty walking. If a seat is installed
that can be folded up against the wall, an
ambulatory user also can stand in the
shower. The illustration below shows the
primary features found in a transfer
shower. The 30-inch x 48-inch clear floor
space beside the shower provides access
to the control wall, and because it extends beyond the back of the stall, it allows a person using a wheelchair to position his or her chair in line with the wallhung seat to make a safe sliding transfer.
Reinforcing for a shower seat is not required in stalls of larger sizes, e.g., 30
inches x 60 inches because the stall is so
long that the user is not able to reach the
controls from a seat at the opposite end
of the stall. However, it is recommended
that reinforcing be installed in stalls of
different configurations and that thought
be given to placing controls within reach
of this potential seat as well as from outside the stall.
Robert Buck, AIA, has provided architectural
accessibility plan reviews/inspections for
over 3260 projects in 17 states. He is a Texas
Department of Licensing & Regulation
Registered Accessibility Specialist (RAS);
consultant to the U. S. Department of
Justice-Housing and Civil Enforcement
Section; and Fair Housing consultant for
the City of Austin.
13438 Bandera Road, #104, Helotes, TX
78023. Phone: 210-695-5326.
In Specifications B bathrooms when shower is only bathing
fixture and is a nominal 36” X 36”, it must have reinforcing
for grab bars and a wall-mounted shower seat.
G
uido Brothers
Construction
began construction on the
Northside Independent School District’s
new football and
soccer stadium last
Sept. On Fri., March
14th, the general
contractor hosted a
‘topping out’ party
for its workers and
subcontractors.
“This point in
construction, when
the structural steel
erection is complete,
Crane operator places tree atop NISD Stadium.
represents a landmark in the life of a
building,” said company president Tom
Scheduled for completion in Sept.,
Guido. “We’re celebrating by placing a the $10 million project features a 10,000symbolic tree atop the structure and seat stadium, parking for 2000 cars, and a
we’ve invited over 200 folks for a deli- regulation football/soccer field with subcious beef and chicken fajita lunch!”
surface drainage. Team locker rooms,
concession stands and public restrooms
are located on both sides of the stadium.
Grateful for clear skies and sunshine,
the Guido construction team, led by project manager A.J. Heidelberg, superintendent David Flores, and asst. superintendent Mike Willy, was joined by representatives from RVK Architects, the stadium’s design team.
Major subcontractors on the project
include Olmos Equipment, Urban Concrete, Tezel & Cotter, Big State Electric,
AmeriCRANE, and South Texas Powerwash, among others.
Chow line forms at the rear!
Austin News
To read these and other Austin stories, visit our website at:
Alliance holds ‘Meet the Candidates’
The Alliance held a ‘Meet the Candidates’ event on the evening of March 18, 2003
at the Red Lion Hotel. The event allowed members of Austin’s construction industry to put candidates running for mayor and Austin City Council Place 5 to the test.
Chatfield & Howell wins award
Chatfield & Howell Construction, Inc. was presented with it’s first 2002 Master
Builder Award in Feb. at the 2003 National Sales Meeting for Star Building Systems
in San Francisco, Calif. The contractor has worked with Star Buildings for the last
five years.
Eleven East moves forward
Eleven East, a joint project between the city of Austin and the Austin Revitalization
Authority (ARA) took a step forward with a ground breaking for the mixed-use
development. FCI Construction is the general contractor. Eleven East will comprise a 57,000-sf office and retail space and is intended to encourage a pedestrian
friendly atmosphere along the revitalized East 11th and 12th Street corridor.
Time Insurance
Agency
Serving the Industry since 1961
Insurance
•
Bonding
• Builders Risk
• Automobile
• Workers Comp
• Surety Bond
• General Liability
• Property
Texas Redwood contractor appreciation night
Texas Redwood held its first annual Contractor Appreciation Night on Thurs., Feb.
27, 2003 at its lumberyard in east Austin. The event welcomed close to 400 customers, vendors and those with an interest in lumber, millwork items, barbecue
and live Austin music.
‘Build a pond day’ provides middle ground
Officials from the city of Austin and area contractors and suppliers met on neutral
territory on March 20, 2003 for ‘Build a pond day,’ hosted by Fuquay, Inc. The
event was held on site for a new restaurant in Round Rock and allowed those in
attendance to discuss the proper way to build various filtration, detention and
water quality ponds.
Gypsum pulverizing co. no chip off the block
Give us a call today
10803 Gulfdale, Suite 220
210-344-8898
This Jan., Jerry Petermann, owner of the newly-established Gypsum Drywall
Reclamation Corporation, set out to help contractors, individual homeowners
and individual gypsum companies correctly and economically dispose of or reclaim gypsum wallboard and materials.
Safety Expo/Chili Cook-off
draws 100
A
n abundance of pickup trucks and
heavy equipment were parked in
front of the Live Oak Civic Center on
Wed., March 5th, for the Associated Builders and Contractors South Texas Chapters’ 7th Annual Safety Development Day
and 1st Annual Chili Cook-off.
Fooled by forecasts of warmer temperatures that failed to materialize, hardhats braved another cold front to sample
the aromas and recipes of 15 chili cook-off
contenders who set up camp just outside
the Civic Center. Mark Bakeman, Alamo
Crane Services, and Tom Quintero,
MANCO, were the cook-off committee
co-chairs.
“Our judges this year are firefighters
from Selma and Live Oak,” Mark explained.
“The teams are being judged on a variety
of criteria, including aroma, taste, consistency, after-taste, color and showmanship.”
Lt. David Owens, Selma Fire Department,
why he thinks firefighters are especially
qualified to serve as chili cook-off judges.
He said, “Because we like to eat a lot and
we are always grateful for a hot meal.”
Indoors, a slate of four safety awareness sessions proceeded as scheduled.
Topics included: Trenching/ Shoring Protection (presented in Spanish and English)
by Engineering Safety Consultants; Fall
Protection by Midco Sling; Scaffold User
Awareness Training by Sunbelt Rentals;
and Electrical Safety by City Public Service.
Throughout the afternoon and early
evening, ABC members and their employees visited with construction and safety
equipment suppliers and vendors at their
display booths. Charles Young, Hilti, was
challenging attendees to see how many
screws they could drive into a board in a
30-second period. The winner, he said,
takes the drill home with him.
2002 Safety Excellence Awards Winners:
Under 100,000 Man Hours:
Gold: L.E. Travis & Sons, Inc.
Silver: Koontz-McCombs Construction,
Ltd.
Bronze: Kencon Constructors/
Construction Managers, Ltd.
L-R: Exhibitors Tom Cameron, Joe Luce,
Alberto Gonzalez, Waylon Koch, and
Rudy Juarez, of Alamo Iron Works.
Showmanship Champ is Pit Stop Services!
100,000 – 500,000 Man Hours:
Gold: Manufactured Concrete, Ltd.
(MANCO)
Silver: TDIndustries
Bronze: H.E. Butt Grocery Co.
Over 500,000 Man Hours:
Gold: Rabalais I & Constructors
Silver: Satterfield & Pontikes
Construction, Inc.
Bronze: SpawGlass Contractors, Inc.
Safety Gold Award to L.E. Travis & Sons for
under 100,000 man hours.
Safety Gold Award to Rabalais I &
Constructors for over 500,000 man hours
Chili Cook-off Showmanship
Winners:
1st Place: Pit Stop Services, LLC.
2nd Place: A/C Technical Services, Ltd.
3rd Place: G.D. Interior Construction, Inc.
Chili Cook-off Winners:
1st Place: You Name It Specialties, Inc.
2nd Place: Intertech Flooring.
3rd Place: A/C Technical Services, Ltd.
L-R: Dangerous chili chefs from Capitol
Industries are Alan Fullenwider and
Billy Black.
Safety Gold Award to Manufactured
Concrete, Ltd. for 100,000-500,000 man hours.
Ladies $500 Cash Drawing:
Cindy Oates, Howell Crane & Rigging
Grand Prize Drawings:
1. Some lucky person won the Deep Sea
Fishing Trip for Two, donated by Howell
Crane & Rigging, Inc.
OWN A NEW SKID STEER FOR
AS LOW AS $284 PER MONTH*
2. Jimmy Borunda, Sun Automatic Fire
Sprinkler, Inc., won the Bimini Rod, donated by David Mata, Bimini Rods and
Reel, donated by Alamo City Medical
Group, Inc.
3. Another lucky person won Spurs Tickets
for Four with Parking Pass, donated by
Waste Management of San Antonio.
4. Dave Sanchez, H.E.B., won Fiesta Texas
Season Tickets Four Pack, donated by
SpawGlass Contractors, Inc.
Why FISK is Your Team for Full-Service
FISK Electric and Technologies
is proud to share over 90 years
of experience with our
San Antonio area clients.
Our success as an industry
leader is founded on
integrity and professionalism,
as well as best-in-class support.
When you need a service provider
for any of your facility’s electrical
and technology needs, plug into
FISK for a proven solution.
8964 Broadway
San Antonio, TX
Serving the Business Community Since 1913
(210) 828-3325
www.fiskcorp.com
CONTRACTORS, INC.
Complete Service Concrete Contractor
“Start to Finish”
Sale Price: All Skid Steers 2.9% APR or
up to $1,000 Cash Back**
*Model LS160, 2.9% APR w/approved credit; 15% down; 60 monthly
payments, plus applicable taxes and fees.
**Special interest rates good thru 4/30/03. Cash back varies by
model purchased.
For Bids and Information Call Kevin Baker
Ph: 210.662.2848
Fax: 210.626.2782
Email: broncoinc@aol.com
5523 Dietrich Rd. #2 San Antonio, Texas 78219
Four Great
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in Texas
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Waco
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San Antonio
South Texas Land Magnates Leo Quintanilla
& Jeff Soele hummed their way to
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Locally Owned & Operated
with 29 Years Experience
Texas, 78216
210.525.TRUX
(8789)
www.planetpickup.com
OSHA
Noise in construction
Joann Nataranjan
N
oise, or unwanted sound, is one of the
most pervasive occupational health
problems. Approximately 30 million people in the U.S. are occupationally exposed
to hazardous noise. About 10 million people have noise-induced hearing loss, nearly
all of which were caused by occupational
exposures. Fortunately, the incidence of
noise-induced hearing loss can be reduced,
or often eliminated, through the successful
application of engineering controls and
hearing conservation programs.
In construction, OSHA has two laws that
govern noise in the construction industry, 29 CFR 1926.52 and 29 CFR 1926.101.
Protection against the effects of noise exposure are required when the sound levels exceed 90 dBA (decibels A weighted)
averaged over an 8 hour day. When noise
levels exceed 90 dBA, the time allowed at
higher noise levels decreases. Research
demonstrates that construction workers
are regularly overexposed to noise. The
extent of the daily exposure to noise in the
construction industry depends upon the
nature and duration of the work. For example: rock drilling--up to 115 dBA; chain
saw--up to 125 dBA; abrasive blasting--105
to 112 dBA; heavy equipment operation-95 to 110 dBA; demolition--up to 117 dBA;
and needle guns--up to 112 dBA. Exposure
to 115 dBA is permitted for a maximum of
15 minutes for an 8-hour workday. No exposure above 115 dBA is permitted.
To comply with the OSHA laws governing noise in construction, the maximum
permissible occupational noise exposure
is 90 dBA (8-hour TWA), and noise levels in
excess of 90 dBA must be reduced through
feasible administrative and engineering
controls. OSHA has determined that an
effective hearing conservation program
consists of the following elements: Monitoring employee noise exposures, the institution of engineering, work practice, and
administrative controls for excessive noise,
providing each overexposed employee
with hearing protectors with adequate
noise attenuation, employee training and
education regarding noise hazards and
protection measures, baseline and annual
employee hearing tests, procedures for
preventing further occupational hearing
loss by an employee whenever such an
event has been identified, and keeping records of the hearing tests. Each construction industry employer’s hearing conservation program must incorporate as many of
the above elements as are feasible.
Where workers are exposed to noise levels
in excess of 100 dBA, double hearing protection is usually required to attenuate the
noise. Double hearing protection typically
consists of wearing both ear plugs and ear
muffs. There are numerous manufacturers
of hearing protection devices. Each hearing protector will have a noise reduction
rating (NRR) listed on the package. The
higher the NRR, the more attenuation the
device provides. OSHA allows companies
to select and use any hearing protector
(except plain cotton) that will adequately
attenuate the noise.
For more information on OSHA’s noise
standards in construction, visit http:
// www.osha.gov/SLTC/constructionnoise/
index.html.
INSURANCE
Surety Bonds - be prepared
By William R. Dawley, AFSB
T
he Boy Scouts of America have a motto: “Be Prepared”.
Two simple words that more of us need to take to heart.
There is no doubt the current construction climate is
demanding. There is tremendous pressure on profit
margins - insurance costs are up, fuel costs are up, good
employees are hard to find, more competition on jobs and
the list goes on. Along with these, the surety bond market for contractors continues
to be challenging. Surety companies have had poor results over the last couple of
years, their underwriting has become more stringent, and they are requiring more
information, which brings us back to our Boy Scout motto – “Be Prepared”. In the
next few paragraphs I will give you some useful information to help you prepare for
the surety underwriting process.
Financial Statements: Okay, this is agent? A well conceived continuity plan
what everyone thinks of when the surety will enhance your attractiveness to the
agent or underwriter calls and yes, it is bond company.
probably the most critical information reCompany Information/References:
quired by the surety companies. Surety Do you have a current resume on yourself
companies expect your fiscal year-end fi - and all your key people? Do you have a
nancial statements to be in their hands resume on your company? Surety compawithin 90 days of year-end. So, if your nies want to know your company and
year-end is 12/31, then your financial team’s experience and capabilities. Comstatement needs to be done by 3/31. pany history, important projects, largest
Sounds easy enough, but, you’d be sur- project and significant company events all
prised how many do not make it in time. play into a surety’s decision-making proIn order to make this happen, you have to cess. Do you have current reference letbe working closely with your CPA.
ters from happy and satisfied owners and
If you show up on your CPA’s door- customers? You ought to give the surety
step on March 15th with your box of check underwriter a fistful of new ones every
stubs and receipts, don’t expect him/her time he/she comes to visit.
to work miracles. Interim financial stateBeing prepared means having the inments (usually at the end of each quarter) formation the surety is asking for at your
should be done within 30 days. Also, fingertips. Don’t wait for the surety comdon’t forget your personal financial state- pany to ask. Be proactive, and get the inment, it needs to be done with your year- formation before they ask. Your profesend company statement.
sional bond agent can help you ‘be preContinuity Plans: All surety compa- pared’ for the surety underwriting pronies want to know how the contracting cess. Your bond agent knows what inforcompany will survive should something mation the surety companies’ want and
happen to the owner(s). Have you put it more importantly, when they want it.
down on paper, funded it, signed agreeWilliam R. Dawley, AFSB, is Vice President of
ments with key employees, discussed
Harding-Conley-Drawert-Tinch Insurance
with your family, attorney, CPA and bond
Agency, Inc. 210-647-0134
email: bill_dawley@yahoo.com.
LEGAL
ACCOUNTING
When you file a payment
bond collection
Construction Software
By Malcolm E. Stratemann, Jr., CPA
P
roper accounting for a contractor generally requires software that is capable of doing many tasks at once. With this
in mind the choice of accounting software that a contractor is
going to use for their accounting is a very major decision. The
following are some questions you should ask when considering construction accounting software:
Is the software construction industry
specific? Does the software allow you to
prepare your invoices directly from the
software in the format that you need?
Many of the better packages allow you to
prepare your draw request using AIA pay
applications and schedules of values.
Does the software keep track of retainage receivable by customer and by
job? Does the software keep a detailed
accounts receivable list by either customer
or job? Does the payroll system allow you
to easily do certified payroll reports?
Does the software allow you to keep
track of your workers comp and general
liability costs that are labor driven and
then make an appropriate allocation to
the jobs? Does the program have an accounts payable module, which will allow
you to keep track of retainage payable by
job and by vendor?
Does the program, through either its
job cost or accounts payable module, allow you to run reports which show the
status of all subcontracts and purchase
orders at a set point in time?
Does the program allow you run a list
of accounts receivable or accounts payable which balance back to their respective month-end general ledger reports,
even after they have been either collected
or paid as applicable?
How does the software handle labor
burden and how is labor burden handled
in job costs? Are the actual job costs reports that the program is able to produce
sufficient for management’s needs?
Does the software automatically produce a schedule of jobs in progress on a
monthly basis? Are their controls built into
the accounting software, which make it
impossible or at least difficult to post
items to jobs but not to applicable job
cost-related general ledger accounts?
How do you make corrections for billing errors, accounts payable input errors,
costs that have been misposted to the
wrong job or wrong cost center? Does the
program have controls built into its subcontract module to allow you to track
change orders and to also ensure that you
aren’t able to pay a subcontractor for
more than his or her contract amount?
Does the account receivable billing
program have controls, which will not let
you bill more than your contract amount
with change orders? Is the program capable of producing meaningful monthly fi nancial statements? Can it also handle fi nancial statement budgets?
I suggest that all of the above questions should be answered before you
make the decision to go with a particular
product. You will probably have to make
some compromises on some issues, but
the majority of your needs should be
meet by the software you choose. One
last word of advice is to be very suspicious
of answers you are given by software sales
representatives; make them prove their
answers to you. I have seen quite a few
sales personnel that either lied or just
didn’t know what they were talking about.
A properly selected and installed accounting software system can make running
your business much easier. You will have
better information, more timely information and this should allow you to make
more money, which is what all of this is
about.
Malcolm Stratemann, Jr. is a Principal at
Fisher, Herbst & Kemble, P.C.
210-614-2284 / Fax 210-614-2285
Office Email: malcolms@fhkcpa.com
By Steve Nelson
A
sk most suppliers what happens when they file a claim
against a contractor’s bonding company and they are
likely to say they got no response, delay, excuses and anything but a check. It can be a frustrating process. If the contractor is truly insolvent, and you have filed all of your notices
in a proper and timely manner, bonding companies do pay.
They pay out hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Here
are some tips to make the claims process a little easier:
1. Remember to dot your i’s and cross
your t’s. You do not have a right to be paid
by a bonding company simply because
you furnished labor and material to a job
and haven’t been paid. The specific rules
for making a claim against a payment
bond are set forth in the bonds themselves or in the statutes under which they
were furnished. You will need a copy of the
bond to know the rules. The bonding company is entitled to require strict adherence
to those rules. Don’t wait until the last minute to get a copy of the bond.
2. Don’t expect a bonding company to
intervene to make a solvent contractor
pay a disputed claim. The bonding company is entitled to the same defenses as
the contractor it bonds. Absent a serious
deterioration of the bonded contractor’s
business, it is unlikely that the bonding
company will do anything other than
allow the bonded contractor to defend
your claim or put you to the task of pursuing your legal remedies. If that is their
position, there’s no sense waiting around
for them to change their mind. You need
to begin pursuing your formal collection
rights. Consider mediation and other alternatives to litigation.
you in writing of the acceptance of rejection of your claim 30 days after they
receive the requested information. If
denied, the surety must state specific reasons. If the claim is approved, the claim
must be paid within 15 days of the date
of approval. The law does not require the
bonding company to pay claims that it, or
its principal, disputes, but it does require
the bonding company to communicate
with you.
4. A payment bond claim is a poor substitute for smart credit practices. In the
best of cases, collecting from a bonding
company can take months. The better
practice is to make good credit decisions
about who you work for or sell to.
5. If you don’t have a lot of experience
with bond claims, consult a lawyer. The
bond forms and the laws that require
them, are full of traps for the unwary.
Don’t lose your rights by waiting too long
or assuming you know the rules.
Payment bonds offer valuable protection to suppliers and subcontractors.
Know your rights to avoid losing that
protection.
3. You are entitled to a response. The
Texas Insurance Code requires bonding
companies to acknowledge your claim,
commence an investigation and request
additional information within 15 days of
receipt of your claim. They must notify
Steve Nelson is general counsel for
SureTec Insurance Company, a Texas-based
bonding company. You may
contact him by calling 512-732-0099,
or by e-mail at snelson@suretec.com.
Engineering Consulting Services, Ltd.
“Setting the Standard for Service”
PROVIDING COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
For more
information
call
Karen Pence
San Antonio
210.336.0749
AUTHORIZED
©
RETAILER
2002 Nextel Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Nextel and the Nextel logo are registered trademarks
and/or service marks of Nextel Communications, Inc.
• Construction Materials Testing
• Geotechnical & Soils Engineering
• Value Engineering
• Environmental Assessment & Remediation
• Property Condition Assessments
• UST Management Services
• NEPA Assessments
• Indoor Air Quality & Mold
On Time Every Time
12865 Wetmore Road
San Antonio, TX 78247
210-494-7100
210-494-7101 (fax)
Earl McIntosh, Vice President
Robert Burge P.E., Geotechnical/Construction
Materials Testing Manager
INSURANCE AND BONDS, INC.
Locally Owned Since 1946
A PROVEN LEADER IN
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AND INSURANCE
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Pat Moore • Bryan Moore • Michael Wibracht
(210) 696-6688 FAX (210) 696-7497
WWW.INSURANCEBONDSINC.COM
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Nat’l Shooting Complex
goes “public”
A
s the result of an
aggressive marketing plan, the
National Shooting Complex in San Antonio is
about to become a
household word and a
popular destination for
serious and hobbyist
shooters.
Established as a
Flyer’s Club in the late
1960’s, the National
Skeet Shooting Association claimed the Complex as its headquarters
in the early 1970’s.
“Until seven or eight years ago, the
facility was only open twice a year for the
World Skeet Shoot and the National
Sporting Clays Championship,” said facilities manager Michael Hampton, Jr.
“Since then, we have been open for more
events, including the Texas State 4-H
Championship, the Texas State Trap and
Skeet Shoots, and the Texas Collegiate
Championships. We have also hosted
several charitable events, including the
Niznik’s Fun Shoot in support of the
Downtown Youth Center and the Vulcan
Materials Shoot in support of the Cancer Therapy Research Center. It’s been an
evolution and we’re trying to fill a void.
There just aren’t many places where
people in this area can shoot.”
The date hasn’t been set in stone,
but Michael estimates an early July
launch as the National Shooting Complex
welcomes the general public to its 600acre property on the northwest side.
“Our goal is to help develop more
shooters. Every avenue of shooting will
be available to men, women and youth
on our trap, skeet, sporting clays, rifle,
pistol, and archery ranges,” Michael added. “We are developing a three-month
calendar that will chart the days of operations and what shooting activities will be
open on any given day. In the event a
major skeet shoot is taking place, the rifle, archery and pistol ranges may still be
open to the public.”
The National Shooting Complex is so
large, it can easily accommodate two
events simultaneously. Among its 28
full-time employees are licensed shooting instructors who are planning to conduct classes in the future.
“Now, an individual can arrange to
have sporting clays lessons with Mo Parsons, or lessons with Don Schneider for
skeet shooting, as an example,” Michael
explained. “Authorized shooting instructors who are not on staff can also make
arrangements to teach their students at
the NSC facility. We host ladies-only
shoots, educational youth events, gun
safety courses, and family shoots for the
hubby, wife and kids.”
For the novice who is interested in
learning to shoot, but not yet ready to
invest in guns and shooting paraphernalia, he or she can show up empty-handed. The NSC will provide eye protection,
earplugs, ammunition and loaner guns.
With regard to affordability, Michael
compared shooting to golf, in that one
can spend as much, or as little, as one can
afford.
For the hunter who wants to sight in
his rifle before hunting season, NSC will
soon be making it possible. As well, Michael and the NSC staff are working on
an August event in conjunction with
Dury’s Gun Shop called “Dury Dove
Days,” where numerous guns will be
available for shooters to sample.
Kid’s essay contest prize
valued at $1395
T
he Christian Outdoor Alliance is
holding an essay contest for boys
and girls ages 11-16. The young
person who writes the best essay on the
topic “What it means to be a Christian
hunter” will receive a full scholarship to
this summer’s two-week-long Hunting
and Fishing Adventure Camp, a prize
valued at $1,395. The summer camp will
take place in the Texas Hill Country.
With daily real-life, in-the-field
hunting and fishing adventures, and
hands-on activities taught by recognized
experts, this will be a dream camp for any
boy or girl who loves the outdoors. Daily
subjects will include hunting (Certified
Hunter Education instruction is included
in the curriculum); fishing; marksmanship; game preparation and field dressing; safety and first aid; poisonous snakes
and snakebites; wildlife management;
fishery management; laws and ethics;
and the politics of hunting and fishing.
Campers will spend several hours
each day pursuing trophy largemouth
bass and catfish. They will also get
hands-on, in-the-field experience harvesting exotic game and wild hogs. The
boys and girls will help process all the
game taken during the camp. The meat
will feed the campers, and will be served
at a banquet for campers’ families on the
final day. Beyond hunting and fishing
skills, the camp curriculum will include
leadership, respect, self-confidence, discipline, and Christianity.
The Christian Outdoor Alliance is a
non-profit, non-denominational organi-
zation. In addition to the Hunting and
Fishing Adventure Camp, the organization produces Maximum Outdoors magazine and supports a network of churchbased chapters. Find more information
about the camps at www.COACamps.org
or about the organization in general at
www.mycoa.org.
ENTRY RULES: Boys and girls should
write on the subject, “What it means to
be a Christian hunter.” Entries should be
250-350 words long, typed, doublespaced, on plain white paper. Please do
not include the child’s name on the same
page(s) as the essay. Instead, include
their name and full contact information
on a separate page stapled to the essay.
Entries must be mailed to:
COA Essay Contest,
2150 Hidden Meadow
New Braunfels, TX 78130
All entries must be received at this
address no later than May 15th. The winning entry will be announced at the COA
Family Fun Day in San Antonio on Sat.,
May 17th. Eligible contestants must be
ages 11-16. The prize scholarship is nontransferable, and cannot be redeemed
for cash. For more information, or for
pre-printed flyers announcing the camp
or essay contest to distribute at your
school, contact camp director Michael
Marbach at 210-827-9802, or via e-mail
at mmarbach@mycoa.org.
Judges for the contest will be outdoor writers John Goodspeed, Jim
Darnell and Ralph Winningham.
The Great Outdoors welcomes your photos and stories.
We will print on a first-come, first-available basis, so call us at (210) 308-5800 to make arrangements.
Shoot for the miracle of life
C
hance Turner, son of Frank and
Nancy Turner, was born on Feb.
11, 1985. At age 17, he is a member of La Vernia High School’s class of
2003.
When Chance was two years old,
he was diagnosed with Leukemia. As a
result, he underwent chemotherapy
for almost four years. Chance has been
in remission for almost 14 years and
has not had any
problems, until
now. Chance has
developed Hepatic Vena Occlusive Disease. To
live, he must face
multiple surgeries and possibly a
liver transplant.
Although the
Turner
family
does have medical insurance, it
will not begin to
cover all of the
medical costs. If
an
emergency
arises, it will cost
thousands of dollars.
Despite cautious recommendations from his physicians, Chance participated in a 26.2-mile run to benefit
the lives of others in his same condition. Through such valiant acts, Chance
has proven how much the quality of
life means to him.
Close friends of the family have
embraced an opportunity to hold a
Benefit Fun Shoot in order to aid the
Turners throughout this crisis. Please
help them in helping Chance fulfill his
dream of living a fruitful and joyous
life.
The Benefit Fun Shoot will consist
of 24 Country Doubles; 25 Skeet; and
25 Trap – 16-yd. All shooters will shoot
off, and trophies will be awarded for
AA, A, B Class; Youth 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Class.
Supported by the communities of
San Antonio, St. Hedwig and La Vernia,
the sponsors are asking for monetary
donations, gift cards, or anything suitable for our auction or raffle. Any contributions or sponsorships by individuals or organizations will be
greatly appreciated. With your
help, this benefit
can be a grand
success
for
Chance and his
community
of
friends, families,
and supporters in
a time of enormous
need.
Therefore, everyone involved in
giving Chance the
miracle of life will
be recognized. All
proceeds will go
to Chance Turner, and all donations
are tax deductible.
Chance’s Fun Shoot Benefit will
be held on Sat., April 12th, at the
Jennifer and Vernon Winkleman
Bexar Community Range, 15391
Bexar Bowling, Marion, TX. Registration begins at 8 am and ends at 2:30
pm. Breakfast tacos, donuts, BBQ and
drinks will be served.
To inquire about corporate team
sponsorships, call and leave a message
for Alice or Mike Clayton at 210-6493608; Mike’s Mobile 210-414-9l37; Alice’s Mobile 210-213-5538; or Fax to
210-649-1276.
Serving San Antonio & South Texas since 1984
Foundations • Retaining Walls
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Machine Laid Curbs
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L-R: Ted Dunnam, Engineering Safety Consultants, with deckhand, cruising the
blue Costa Rican Pacific waters for sailfish. Pictured 9-footer was one of
seven ‘sails’ raised, and one of four boated in one day.
While duck hunting,
Cuatro Dunnam, 11,
son of Ted Dunnam,
Engineering Safety
Consultants,
shot his first-ever
Canadian Goose,
near Seadrift, TX.
40
th
Anniversary
Serving Central & South Texas
CONCRETE PUMPING L.P.
Pumping Service at its Best
Mike Schultz, President
P.O. Box 700555
210-490-5955
1-866-402-PUMP (7867)
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Construction, Inc.
by John Jefferson
Air chase or fair chase?
All photos by John Jefferson
J
ohnny Rambo steps into the doorway
of the helicopter gunship, crossed
bandoleers of ammo dramatically, if
not ironically, forming an “X” on his otherwise bare chest. The chopper lurches
to the left as his intended targets race
to evade the airborne assault. Rambo
raises the M-60 and unleashes a burst
that makes it easy to track and adjust
fire at the fleeing foe. It’s over in a few
seconds…and a number of rounds from
his machine gun.
A clip from Rambo IX? Or a scene
from the latest Texas Parks & Wildlife
proposal to help landowners eliminate
excess white-tailed deer from their
ranches?
Could be either. Parks & Wildlife
(TPWD) is considering a proposal to allow
ranches with excess white-tailed deer to
shoot them from helicopters in order to
reduce over-population and protect the
habitat.
Honest; I’m not kidding. Originally
scheduled to be presented to the TPW
Commission at the April meeting, the
proposal has been temporarily posponed
in order to receive more public comment.
Unless reason causes reconsideration,
it sounds like it will be aired at the May
Commission meeting. See below on how
to comment.
Up until now, deer could not be
hunted from aircraft. You could get in
trouble for it. A few people did it, but
most either knew it was against the law,
couldn’t afford it, or just didn’t think it
was the right thing to do.
One of the most notorious violators,
though, was the late George Parr, the infamous Duke of Duval, who did a number of
wrong things in life. He stuffed a ballot box
to elect a man who later became president, cheated big time on his taxes and
drew a county salary for work he never
did.
Jorge, as he was known throughout
the brush south of San Antonio, hunted
whenever, however and wherever he
pleased. He got a law passed closing
the deer season in Duval County for five
years, but, as his attorney told a maga-
zine reporter interviewing Parr, “That
was just to keep the outsiders from
hunting.” He once shot the lock off a
gate to a ranch I hunted, and no telling
what he did once he got inside.
The authorities found the helicopter he had used for his airborne
adventures with blood and .223 hulls in
the floor, but there was no corpus delicti.
We
Support
Our
Troops
He got away with a
lot before the Federal boys caught
up
with
him.
Though convicted
in the 70s, he even
cheated the system
out of sending him
back to prison. His
last shot, with a .45,
was at close range.
This
TPWD
proposal will have
a longer reach. It
will send a message throughout
the nation. And not
necessarily a favorable one for TPWD, or
for Texans in general.
Suburban areas like Lakeway near
Austin, and Hollywood Park, near San
Antonio, have a real problem with excess
deer.. They have trapped and transplanted deer to other areas, particularly Mexico.
Although subdivisions are included in the
justification for the proposal, it’s a good
guess that these entities, which have consistently objected to hunting their deer
at all as a population control method, are
not the impetus for this bright idea. The
force driving the train is more likely a few
large ranches that have let their deer get
out of balance with the habitat.
Some ranches are not commercially
hunted. That’s their choice. But hunting
IS a viable population control institution,
and many ranches keep their deer herds
in line by utilizing it. To those that don’t
hunt, or don’t hunt enough, though,
other options exist. Several permits are
available that allow for extended seasons,
enhanced bag limits, antlerless and spike
buck control, trapping and transplanting
and control of depredating animals. Isn’t
that enough?
TPWD is also considering allowing
the shooting of fork-antlered bucks right
along with does and spike bucks under
the more permissive permit proposal.
This is bold step in a state that has traditionally respected hunting as a sacred institution, and has not regarded its wildlife
as livestock.
When someone acquires land, he assumes stewardship of it and all that exists
there. He must accept responsibility. If,
through neglect or ignorance, he cannot
maintain it through conventional means,
should he be allowed to make a mockery
of management by asking the government to bend ethical hunting regulations
to correct his non-feasance? Is he so
concerned with degradation of his own
habitat that he must degrade the ethics
of the entire hunting community?
And what next if this doesn’t do
it? Field artillery? Napalm? Chemical or
biological agents? Will we see a request
to implant chips in fawns so they can be
tracked by GPS and hunted later as mature bucks?
This takes the already over-management of deer to a new level of excess. I’m
not sure Rambo would go along with it.
But then, he had ethics.
JJ
To comment on this proposal,
contact Texas Parks Wildlife Department
at 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744,
or e-mail scott.boruff@tpwd.state.tx.us.
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TP&W’s Trout Regs Are Purely Political Commentary
By Tom Nix of The Saltwater Angler
Reprinted with permission by Capt. Steve Schultz, Baffin Bay Charters
Last week I picked up an issue of Tom Nix’s Saltwater Angler and came across a commentary he wrote on Proposed Trout Regulations by TP&W.
I asked Tom if I could reprint his article for Construction News, for those of you who do not receive his publication.
I have also written several articles on this issue and I support Tom’s outlook on these proposed changes. Capt. Steve Schultz
The article reads:
I
t is obvious now that from the very
beginning the proposed Trout Regulations were not about how to conserve the fishery, but how to lessen the
catch of big Trout by anglers fishing with
croakers. I believe this was all started by
a few anglers with good contacts in high
places, whining about fishing guides
catching and keeping too many big
Trout while using live fin fish for bait.
After almost two years of meetings and
hearings and the SSWG (Spotted Seatrout Workgroup) farce, we end up with
two proposals that are aimed directly at
fishing guides and their customers who
use croakers.
The two proposals are a 25-in.
maximum size limit (allowing one over
25-in. per angler per day) and a boat
limit for guides on trips-for-hire (the
same as deletion of the guides limit).
But in order to take down the “croaker
guides”, TP&W’s proposals, supported
by the CCA (Coastal Conservation Assoc.), also derail the popular big Trout
fishing tournaments on the coast, i.e.
TroutMasters, Saltwater Angler’s Bash
live weigh-in events, and many more.
These tournaments don’t allow contestants to fish with croaker, yet they will
have to drastically change their format
and luck will now decide the winners,
not skill. The 25-in. maximum will also
lead to culling. In some cases, a 26-in.
Trout in the box will end up floating after an angler catches a 29-in. or 30-in.
fish. Not all will do it, but enough will.
What happens to the 25-in. fish that is
gut-hooked and the angler has to release it? We’ve seen the 14-in. floaters,
now we’ll get to see 26-in. floaters.
The slot makes no sense! It’s a feelgood punitive measure that has no scientific basis in comparison to a lowering of
the bag limit. It is said that the 25-in.
maximum will give us more big Trout in
the water so that the average angler can
have a better chance to catch a trophy.
False again! The same anglers who have
been catching the big Trout will continue
to catch them. Catching a big Trout over
5-6 pounds, even with croaker, is not
easy. It takes skill and know-how, and
other than in the summer months, it’s Top
Dogs, Super Spooks and Corkys that
catch the big Trout. What will give us
more big Trout in the water without having to enact a maximum size limit? This
one’s easy. Just lower the bag limit to 6 or
7. This lessens the harvest, allowing more
small Trout to run the gauntlet of hooks
and get trophy size, and it also is FAIR
across the board to all saltwater anglers.
Roy Nagy caught this 30-in., 9.1-lb. Sow on a Corky lure fishing with
Capt. Steve Schultz on March 8, 2003.
right to the point of this matter. He
wrote, “Insist that a formal document be
produced by TP&W that statistically
proves that the 15-in.to 25-in. slot will
benefit the fishery as compared to reductions in the daily bag limit. This
process could be enhanced if supported
by a member of the TP&W Commission,
which seems to have ultimate publication authority. Additionally, a strict
timeline needs to be applied to this request.” Mr. Anonymous was right on! If
this formal document were done, it
would expose the current TP&W proposal for 25-in. maximum for what it really is, purely political and not based on
sound scientific management of the
fishery. TP&W’s Coastal Fisheries should
be held accountable for playing politics
the past year and a half instead of wisely
managing our Trout fishery.
Public comment on Proposed Trout
Issues may be made to TPWD, Attn: Robert Macdonald, 4200 Smith School Road,
78744, or by phoning 800-792-1112 or
by visiting the TPWD Web site (http://
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/) and going to
the public comment page.
welcomes reader response
to this article.
TEXAS CHARTER FLEET &
YACHT BROKERS, INC.
Larry Roberts, Martin Marietta, and his two sons had great success with
Capt. Steve Schultz on their Spring Break outing.
So, why didn’t TP&W suggest lowering the bag limit rather than the unpopular 25-in. maximum? Because they
were too busy patting themselves on
the back. They were telling the angling
public that our Speckled Trout fishery
was flourishing, the best in 20 years.
How can you justify a lower bag limit
when the public thinks everything’s
okay; if it ain’t broke, why fix it? What
they failed to get across to the public
was that the vast majority of the “flourishing” fishery were under 18 ins. The
number of big fish is down in proportion
to the huge number of small fish be-
cause of more and better anglers, more
fishing guides, better and more effective baits, all of which are contributing
to harvesting more Trout than ever in
our history. It’s pretty simple. We are
harvesting so many 15-18-in. fish that
fewer are making it to old age. Nothing
corrects over harvesting but LOWERING
THE BAG LIMIT, unless you want to put a
limit on the number of fishermen allowed to fish, ban some baits, or enact a
closed season on Trout.
I ran across an idea from an anonymous angler on an Internet saltwater
fishing chat board last week that gets
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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST
NWTF banquet
a big success
By Buddy Doebbler
T
Scott Richter, Intertech Flooring, on a
successful December South Texas hunt
on the Parr Ranch, bags bobcat.
Mark Jones, Intertech Flooring, with a nice
10-pt. buck killed on the Parr Ranch in 2002.
Mark B. Hickey, Catto & Catto, was lucky
enough to stumble into this Zavala County,
7-1/2-year-old, 8-pt. buck, with a 22-in.
inside spread and weighing-in at 140lbs.
Glenn Richter, Intertech Flooring, sons
Skylar, Dakota and Montana, with a trophy
mule deer that recorded a 26-in. spread,
out of Yellow Jacket, CO.
Local resident Shane Chaffin guided Glenn.
Send us your outdoor
stories and photos,
or call
Construction News
at 210-308-5800
he Alzafar Shrine Temple in north
San Antonio was full of activity on
March 6th as the Alamo Chapter of
the National Wild Turkey Federation
held their Sixth Annual Super Fund Banquet & Auction. When the doors opened
at 6:00 pm, the 400 attendees started
pouring in to have a fun evening. The
chapter had promoted this event as a
family affair and, from the looks of the
turnout, they were successful. There
were plenty of kids who got exposure to
hunting this evening and lots of moms
also.
“Our chapter is really pushing this
event as a family outing, a place where
they can come and buy things and have a
great family evening,” said banquet committee member Charlie Klein. “We did
really well this year and we will get better
next year.”
“We are trying to push to get the kids
involved into hunting. We take 15 kids
hunting a year. We go to the ranch for
the weekend, feed them and put them
up and give them a chance to shoot a
turkey, which is something other clubs
don’t do. We want the kids to grow up
with the knowledge of hunting.”
The official beginning of the evening
began with the invocation, followed by
the singing of our National Anthem.
Next on the agenda came the announcement of the winner of the first ever $1000
scholarship. It was awarded to 17 yearold Dana Lynn Ballard of Antonian College Preparatory High School.
As is customary, great food was
served thoughout the evening and I
guarantee no one went home hungry, at
least I didn’t.
Beside the regular silent auction and
raffles the evening also offered an assortment of games like Pluck-a-Turkey and
Hi/Lo card game to win prizes.
The highlight of the evening was the
big live auction with auctioneer Kent
Crank back for his fourth year to strut his
stuff and present an entertaining auction. Thirty-five items ranging from
paintings to trips went off the block and
some folks got some pretty good deals.
The revenue raised this evening was
$90,000. A large portion of the net profit
from the event stays in and is used for
Texas projects.
The organization works for the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the hunting tradition.
Shane and Kristine Davis, T. M. Davis
Construction with Duane Zwicke, Dausin
Electric Company.
J.R. and Tamra Singley
Lynwood Building Materials
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Calvetti receives prestigious
SEAoT Award
T
he Structural Engineers Association of Texas (SEAoT) has pre sented the Wilbur C. Schoeller
Award to Lawrence Calvetti, P.E.,
president of WSC, Inc. The Award is
presented to a member for specific
achievement or attainment of note worthy prominence in the structural
engineering profession.
Originally from the Black Hills re gion of western South Dakota, the
first- generation Italian-American is a
graduate of the University of Texas and
holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Architectural Engineering. During the course of
his 30 -year career, he worked for Austin-based W. Clark Craig & Associates
and designed several multi-story hotel
structures throughout the U.S. Moving
to San Antonio in 1975, Lawrence
started a successful professional consulting practice, and later became a
partner with Williams and Schneider,
Inc. in 1983. He has helped direct the
organization as president of the new
corporation, WSC, Inc.
During the past 19 years, Lawrence
has been actively involved in the resto ration and renovation of historical
structures within the City of San Anto nio and in neighboring communities.
A member of numerous profes-
Obra Homes signature:
all-brick & affordable
T
sional organizations, associations and
societies, the presentation of the
SEAoT Wilbur C. Schoeller Award to
Lawrence came as a complete surprise
to him.
“I didn’t know until my partner
stood up and started talking about me.
They managed to keep it a surprise,
and I was quite humbled. This was the
third award of its nature given in the
last three years, and the previous re cipients were more world renown than
I. However, I do my best, I feel I’m a
good engineer, and I try to help people
as best I can. I’m proud to be a structural engineer, and I am thankful to
SEAoT and Texas. They both have been
very, very good for me.”
exas-based Obra Homes specializes
in quality, affordable homes, featuring four sides of brick standard, a
current signature of all Obra Homes communities, making the company a unique
homebuilder in the San Antonio market.
Its newest San Antonio community,
Kriewald Place, offers one and two-story
all-brick homes with up to four bedrooms. Floor plans range from approximately 1,073-sf to 1,972-sf, and are priced
from $73,550 to $98,500.
“No one here is selling new, medianpriced homes of the quality and affordability that we offer,” said David Cantu,
one of the principal owners of Obra
Homes. “We believe communities like
Kriewald Place prove that new homeown-
Labor/workforce issue draws
expert to seminar
Forming Structures Co., Inc.
T
he San Antonio Construction Network, New England Financial and
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), together with the promotional support of Plumbing Heating
Cooling Contractors-San Antonio
(PHCC-SA), Air Conditioning Contractors Association -San Antonio (ACCASA), and Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio (HCA), hosted a
well-attended seminar on Thurs., Feb.
27th, titled “Bridging the Gap.”
Over 75 general contractors and
subcontractors were welcomed by ABC
president Steven Schultz, who began
by naming the San Antonio Construction
Network’s Board of Advisors, then introduced the featured speaker, C. Scott Evans, C. Scott, Inc., an eight-year member
of the Charles Vander Kooi team of professional construction speakers.
Scott is a third-generation contractor who for 28 years has worked alongside, managed and communicated with
a primarily Spanish-speaking workforce.
An agent with the United States Department of Labor (USDL), he specializes in
finding, the assimilation of, and retaining
legal immigrant labor through the H2B
program.
“It’s surprising how many employers
know very little about their workforce
and the culture of the people who work
with them,” Scott said. “Companies that
are going to survive and do well are the
ones that embrace immigrant workforces
and their cultures, make them feel welcome and part of the company. It is possible to overcome the language and cultural barrier to create a total workforce
that is efficient, effective, motivated and
happy.”
Scott reported the U.S.D.L predicts a
construction labor depression beginning in the years 2005-2007 and lasting
through 2011 or 2012.
“If we think it’s bad now, it’s going to
get much worse. A labor shortage makes
contractors very vulnerable to all types
of questionable methods that would
help them with their labor force, just to
get by. The U.S.D.L. also reports that 70
to 80 percent of all construction labor in
America is here illegally. Now, the U.S.
Department of Justice is on to the construction industry and the days of don’task-don’t-tell are over.”
ers can expect more without having to
price themselves out of a good home.”
Obra Homes moved aggressively
into the San Antonio market last year.
The six-year-old company, started in the
Rio Grande Valley by four young entrepreneurs, quickly earned a reputation as
a builder friendly to first time homeowners.
Kriewald Place is the third Obra
Homes community to open in the city,
and it puts the company on pace to meet
its goal of opening 10 communities here
in the next few years. Principal owners
are: David O. Rogers III, president and
founder; David Cantu, executive vice
president; Tommy Brownell and Ernest
Garza, shareholders.
Concrete Forming
CFS Forming, Partner in building a
San Antonio Landmark. . .the SBC Spurs Arena
South Texas Premier Concrete Forming Company
Specializing in
Speaker C. Scott Evans, C. Scott, Inc.
Scott was referring to the employers’ requirement to complete the employment eligibility verification form,
based on the legal documentation presented by a prospective laborer. If that
documentation was false, and an illegal
worker was arrested and deported,
there was no black eye to the company.
“Because of Homeland Security,” he
said, “those days are gone. Construction
companies in America are being sued
today because they trusted a third-party broker to bring them labor. With
agreements stating those laborers are
independent contractors, the contractor trusts the broker is in charge of all
documentation, labor-related expenses
and payroll taxes, absolving the company from any responsibility. That is not
the case. The contractor is held completely responsible because he’s in direct control of those people on their
jobsites.”
As the day progressed, Scott offered solutions and challenged the audience to start getting their houses in
order, so to speak. U.S.D.L, U.S.D.J. and
I.N.S statistics clearly establish there are
problems related to labor in the construction industry and he suggested
that the companies who can straighten
that out are the ones who are going to
survive.
“Any company is only a few steps
away from being out of business, especially if they can’t get a legitimate labor
force out there. The advocacy groups
and the legal aid groups are going to
determine labor law in the future if leaders in industry don’t step up and take
the reins.”
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Foreign students observe
American homebuilding techniques
A
n international gathering of construction students from Nicaragua and Honduras observed
American homebuilding techniques
first-hand. The two-hour “outdoor
classroom” experience, sponsored by
KB Home and St. Philip’s College, was
part of a special international program
that trains aspiring builders from small
towns and villages in emerging countries.
The group of 20 students visited
three home sites at the Park Place community, each representing various
stages of the homebuilding process,
from slab to a completed two-story
house.
“We have partnered with St. Philip’s
to share some of our building techniques with Central American students,”
said Alan Trevino, regional construction manager for KB Home/San Antonio.
“It is really rewarding because we realize
the knowledge they gain here will be of
Nicaraguan and Honduran students in a special international program observe U.S. building techniques with
construction experts from KB Home and St. Philip’s College.
great use in their work at home.”
As the students were shown the
sites with the assistance of a language
translator, they took extensive notes
and photographed procedures, rang-
ing from the installation of steel reinforcements on slabs, to the positioning
of wooden beams and sheet rock, and
to the kinds of carpeting, appliances
and electrical wiring that were in the
finished house. They also learned firsthand about the materials to use in constructing sturdy, durable houses, taking
into account weather and soil conditions.
“Prompt Pay” on public projects supported by TCA
T
he following is a summary of
Prompt Pay issues regarding public
construction projects supported by
the Texas Construction Association
(TCA). According to TCA’s Harold Freeman, in a press release received by Construction News in mid-March, “Rep. Frank
Corte will file the prompt pay bill, which
would allow subcontractors and general
contractors to stop work when they
have not been paid by the owner. After
the time period required in the prompt
pay bill is past, notice would be sent to
the owner advising that work would be
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stopped 10 days after the notice is sent if
payment has not been made. Exception
is made when there is a defect and that is
the reason the owner has not paid.”
Background:
Construction businesses must manage complex cash flows associated with
equipment, materials and labor. Slow or
unreliable payment for completed work
creates significant financial difficulties.
The largest complaint heard from contractors, subcontractors and suppliers is
that they have not been paid.
By not starting the cash flow, the
owner of a project puts contractors,
subcontractors and suppliers in a restrictive cash flow situation. Subcontractors are in the worst position as they
typically furnish over 80 percent of the
labor and materials on a project. The
subcontractor is required to pay its
workers and material suppliers regardless of whether the payment has been
received from the general contractor.
Thus, subcontractors become the
“banker” for the project and are forced
to borrow money to maintain the necessary cash flow prior to payment.
The Problem:
Even though an owner does not
pay, the contractor and subcontractor
are required to continue furnishing la-
bor and materials, and are in a very perilous position. Continuing to pay the
employees and suppliers without receiving payment from the owner puts
these firms in financial jeopardy. Small
to medium size businesses do not have
the financial capital to be strung out for
months with only a hope that they will
be paid.
What is needed?
The contractor and subcontractor
need to have the right to suspend work
on a project if they are not getting paid
for work properly performed. No one
should pay for defective work. However,
if the work is satisfactory, then the owner should pay. If the owner will not pay,
then a contractor of subcontractor
should have the right to suspend work.
For private projects, Property Code
Section 28.009 provides that a contractor
or subcontractor can suspend performance for undisputed work after giving
notice to the owner. The same standard
should be available for public works projects. The Prompt Pay Act that applies to
governmental entities, Government
Code Chapter 2251, should be amended
to provide for a similar right to suspend
performance when not getting paid.
Source: Texas Construction Association
Builders express
support for
troops
T
he nation’s home builders association expressed its support for
the men and women of the U.S.
military in the conflict with Iraq in a
release from the National Association
of Home Builders (NAHB).
“The 205,000 members of the National Association of Home Builders
are proud of the members of our
armed services around the world and
are very much aware of the sacrifices
our troops are making and the hardships they and their families are enduring in order to protect the principles
that have made America a worldwide
symbol of freedom and democracy for
more than two centuries,” said NAHB
President Kent Conine, a home and
apartment builder from Dallas. “Our
hearts and prayers are with our troops
and their families during this difficult
time, and we wish our troops a speedy
and healthy return to their homes and
loved ones.”
This th
Mon
Greener resources available in Texas
San Antonio Construction News spoke with several suppliers and manufacturers about their companies, the ‘green’ aspects of their
products, marketplace trends and projected business expectations.
Roy B. Duggan
Alamo Foam Inc.
F
ounded in 1978, Alamo Foam Inc.
has survived and thrived for 25
years! The local manufacturer operates from one San Antonio location and
performs the bulk of its business
throughout Central/South Texas.
President Roy B. Duggan explained
the company’s operations, which include
the manufacturing of expanded polystyrene insulation, which is used primarily in
commercial applications, as well as in
concrete forms and voids and in the
packaging industry.
“We fabricate expanded polystyrene
into various shapes and sizes for specific
applications, such as foam cores for prestressed box beams for highway construction, or for decorative architectural
applications. Our customers include
commercial insulators, commercial waterproofing companies, plastering contractors, roofing contractors, general
contractors, and concrete contractors.
We also sell expanded polystyrene to the
manufactured housing industry for use
in structural insulating panels, and we
distribute extruded polystyrene, manufactured by the Dow Chemical Co.“
Although expanded polystyrene is
not biodegradable, Alamo Foam recycles
100 percent of its production waste.
“We utilize pentane as a blowing
agent, so there is no ozone depletion,
and all of the pentane is recaptured during the molding process and used as fuel
for the boiler,” Roy added.
Roy if his business is up, down or steady.
He said, “Business is definitely down,
probably by 30 percent. We’re starting to
see small signs of improvement, but until
the overall construction market improves,
then business is going to stay slow.”
Roy emphasized that expanded
polystyrene is not considered an alternative construction material, because it’s
been used steadily for decades.
“There are new applications surfacing and I think that’s where the growth
will be. The fact that it is lightweight contributes to its popularity in the concrete
industry. The average density we sell for
construction purposes is one pound per
cubic foot. An effective insulator, expanded polystyrene is also very versatile.
It can be cut, shaped and formed into different configurations to match whatever
is on the construction site. It’s a ‘green’
product in the sense that it doesn’t use
CFC’s and it can be recycled.”
Asked his opinion regarding the
slow pace with which the local construction community is embracing ‘green’
building practices, Roy said contractors
have a great deal invested in a project
and they can’t afford mistakes.
“They typically want to see and use
products that are absolutely proven beyond a shadow of a doubt before they
are going to invest time, money and resources into it, which I can understand.
In my opinion, the move toward ‘greener’ construction practices will have to be
generated by owners or end-users.”
ness of the federal government’s declaration to use sustainable building materials in future projects. Agriboard is a
product that meets or exceeds their
requirements.”
Frank Coble
Agriboard Industries
stablished in 1939, J.P. Hart Lumber Company, Ltd. has grown to
include six Texas locations, including two in San Antonio, and one in Austin, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston respectively. Locally, the lumber and
building materials company serves primarily commercial contractors and residential builders throughout Bexar
County and surrounding counties. Framing materials, engineered floor systems,
ceiling tiles, metal studs and gypsum
wallboard represent the bulk of Hart
Lumber’s sales.
T
ucked away in Electra, TX is the
manufacturing facility for Agriboard Industries. The company,
which is under new ownership and
management, transforms renewable
agricultural resources, specifically compressed wheat straw, into environmentally-engineered Structural Insulated
Panels (SIP’s).
with sales and marketing manager Frank
Coble, who said today more than ever,
commercial and residential buildings
must meet the demands of cost, performance and environmental awareness.
“Our distribution network reaches
throughout the southern and southwestern states,” Frank noted. “We’re just
entering the San Antonio and Austin
markets, and are actively looking for a
distributor through construction supply
and masonry supply houses. Agriboard’s
SIP’s compete with tiltwall construction
and concrete blocks used for structural
exterior walls.”
Frank said his response from energy
conscious architects in this area is positive because Agriboard SIP’s are priced
competitively with traditional, site-built
construction methods.
“Our new website provides information architects can review to determine if our product, which has many
valuable features, meets their design
needs and project budget. More architects and owners
are taking an interest in utilizing sustainable building
products. My expectations
for
business in 2003 is
off the charts!”
With the general understanding
that energy costs will continue to rise in
the future, alternative construction material companies like Agriboard Industries are leading the way towards a
‘greener’ environment. The Agriboard
SIP core is made from abundant and renewable agricultural byproducts without
the use of toxic chemicals or binders,
contributing to a healthier building environment.
“This provides extra income to
farmers and supports the regional farm
economies, Frank added. “Our product
has a lot of ‘common sense’ benefits, including strength, durability, noise reduction, thermal insulation, fire resistance, savings on labor, reduced drywall
costs, reduced site clean-up costs, and
reduced construction time.”
Frank said there are several forward-thinking architects and design/
build firms in the San Antonio and Austin areas that are specifying Agriboard,
which he emphasized is a natural fit for
commercial buildings.
“With the vast military presence in
South Texas, there has to be an aware-
Greg Wright
J.P. Hart Lumber Company, Ltd.
E
asked vice president Greg Wright if he
has observed any trends among his customers with regard to the purchase and
use of ‘green’ building materials. He said
he thinks everyone is interested in those
things, but they generally remain focused on cost-efficient products that
perform as well or better than “green”
building materials.
“My instinct tells me that contractors are going to be slow to incorporate
‘greener’ construction products and
practices,” Greg explained. “However,
the production of engineered wood
products (EWP) has revolutionized the
lumber and forestry business. Manufactured wood products take advantage of
fast-growth trees, and make significantly more use of that tree in terms of the
material they produce. EWP’s perform
better than standard solid sawn dimensional lumber, which can have natural
imperfections. The EWP are uniform,
identical, straight, and stronger, utilizing
far fewer trees to make them.”
Greg mentioned one of the biggest
product sectors undergoing change is
the outdoor deck industry. Pressure
treated or wolmanized lumber has historically had arsenic and toxic components in it. Treated lumber is effectively
being banned in residential applications,
forcing changes in the treatment process, which is going to increase the cost.
“The deck industry is going to the
composite products, made out of recycled plastic (TREX, Choice-Deck). As
more manufacturers are emerging in the
market, they are preparing for a flood of
business. The deck industry is getting
organized with weatherproof, salt-proof,
element-proof products that will last indefinitely. Commercial applications tar-
get other out-of-door uses, including piers,
docks, and marinas.”
Even though interest rates are as low
as they’ve been in many years, Greg said
people are frozen in terms of making big
decisions right now.
“Times are uncertain, and that slows
growth. In 2003, we’ll be happy to equal our
2002 numbers. In addition to the weather, I
think the war is having an effect on construction. Optimistically, San Antonio is
heading in a positive direction with the
Toyota plant and the promises for development that construction project holds.”
Larry Whitaker
Energy Wise Building Systems Corp.
T
exas’ sole distributor of RASTRA, a
wall building system, EnergyWise
Building Systems Corporation is
headquartered in Austin, TX. The fouryear-old company is owned and operated
by partners Larry Whitaker and Marley
Porter, architect.
RASTRA was developed in Austria
about 30 years ago and it is considered a
very ‘green’ construction product. Utilizing
recycled polystyrene from major computer
company sources, and diverting it forever
from the landfills, RASTRA is produced
when the polystyrene is ground into small
beads, which are coated when mixed in a
cement slurry. Formed into blocks measuring 7-1/2-ft. by 15-in. by 10-in., the finished
blocks are comprised of 85 percent recycled polystyrene and 15 percent cement.
“The blocks look very much like CMU,
but they perform very differently,” Larry
explained. “As opposed to standard stick
construction, a RASTRA-built residence will
cut utility bills by more than two thirds.”
RASTRA has a four-hour firewall rating,
is completely termite and mold proof, and
is certified by the Texas Insurance Board for
Tier-1 certification, the highest level of hurricane construction. It also features 50+ db,
sound studio-level quietness. To date,
most construction utilizing RASTRA in Texas has been in the residential and light
commercial sectors, however, RASTRA can
go up as high as seven stories without additional engineering.
Larry indicated the road to a greener
built environment begins by showing the
owner or end-user the attributes of the
product and creating a demand.
“The pressure of demand will afford
more builders and contractors to make the
switch from a methodology they are comfortable with and profitable at,” Larry added, “to a method that is profitable, better
for the environment and the building’s occupants. The energy efficiency rules that
are mandated in SB5 demand more and
more energy efficiency. With RASTRA, you
can leapfrog all the way to the top. Once a
person has experienced the benefits of
RASTRA construction, they don’t want to
F O C U S
Page24
continued from Page 23
Greener resources available in Texas
can leapfrog all the way to the top. Once
a person has experienced the benefits of
RASTRA construction, they don’t want to
go back to wood construction.”
EnergyWise Building Systems Corporation is recognized by the U.S. Dept. of
Energy as an Energy Smart School Business Partner, and as a member of ReBuild
America. Larry said the faster, labor-saving construction methods associated with
RASTRA are perfect for the school market.
“Schools, which continue to have
such increasing utility costs and mold issues, are a prime candidate for RASTRA
construction. We can help builders and
contractors deliver a superior product to
the school client.”
According to Larry, a craftsman can
learn to build with RASTRA with about
three weeks of good training.
“The people who are best suited for
rapid understanding and appreciation of
the process are framers. It’s less time consuming and they are able to move quickly
and make more money. If a contractor
has his own crew (3-5 men), it’s very cost
effective. If we supply the labor, it works
out to be about the same as building
with 2X6 and a brick veneer, if we were to
choose residential as an example, versus
RASTRA with a two-step stucco finish
(basecoat and texture).”
Looking forward, Larry is hopeful
that his continued marketing efforts and
education of the public and architectural
community will help catapult the use of
RASTRA from an alternative construction
material to a standard choice.
“Whereas wood houses decompose
over time, we’re building structures that
should be around for many, many years.
As utility bills continuing to rise, we’re
able to provide a product that will reduce
consumption by approximately, or better
than, two thirds. For me, I can’t even
imagine building with wood anymore,
because of fire. There’s no need for us to
have a problem with fire.”
by Michael Garrison, Professor of Architecture
The University of Texas at Austin
G
reen building strives to meet today’s needs for shelter and work
without depleting resources for future generations. Practicing resource efficiency makes it possible to reduce the
pressure that construction places on natural resources. Currently, according to the
National Center for Appropriate Technology, “construction and operating buildings consume more materials and energy
than any other single activity in the United
States.” Green building materials involve
choosing building materials that use the
least amount of energy to manufacture or
produce, are the most likely to be recyclable or are already recycled, and are produced from an easily renewable resource.
Green building products and methods do
more with less: they are derived from reused, salvaged, currently under-utilized
or waste materials; they reduce resource
use; and they produce less pollution and
waste than conventional building materials and technologies.
Depending on the criteria for a particular project, natural materials, recyclable materials, renewable materials, local
materials, non-toxic/low toxic materials,
and materials that are in harmony with the
environment can be considered green
building materials. Wood should be
specified from certified, well-managed
forests. Alternatives to old-growth lumber include component systems (such as
trusses and engineered lumber), stressedskin insulating-core panels (such as structural insulated panels), reclaimed wood,
and composition materials (where recycled plastic is mixed with wood fibers). In
addition, optimum-value engineering
techniques—including advanced framing
systems, detailing for durability and job
site waste management—should be con-
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sidered and implemented when possible.
Other natural materials include plastered
straw bales (used as alternatives to pacificnorthwest old growth lumber), rammed
earth, adobe, and local stone.
Some green building materials take
advantage of recycled products currently
on the market: such as cement from fly
ash, fiberboard from cardboard, ceramic
tiles from recycled glass, carpet from recycled plastic, siding from recycled metals, piping from recycled plastic, landscape timber from recycled fiberglass,
and roof shingles from recycled plastic are
just a few of the building materials now
available. Durable building materials offer
greater opportunities for reuse. Stone and
brick from an old recycled exterior wall,
for example, can be used as a durable paving surface.
Plastic is one recycled material that
requires significantly less energy to remanufacture it into a reuse material than
the energy required to produce the virgin
plastic in the first place. Producing a plastic product from scrap plastic instead of
virgin resin saves between 85%-90% of
the energy otherwise used to produce the
virgin resin in plastic. Plastic also constitutes one of the fastest growing categories of material used and disposed of in
our economy. Today plastic comprises
about 8% of the weight and nearly 30% of
the volume of a typical municipal solid
waste stream. Every year, we make
enough plastic film to shrink-wrap the
state of Texas. Plastic is therefore one of
the materials with the greatest potential
for making it into reuse products. The use
of plastics in building is relatively new. In
1985, the building industries consumed
almost 10 billion pounds of plastics. Today, the industry consumes over 15 billion
pounds of plastic in the form of pipes and
fittings, plumbing and bathroom fixtures,
interior and exterior building finishes, trim
material and other uses. Products made
from recycled polyethylene terephthalate
(PETE) include carpets, insulating materials, containers, liners and industrial paints.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is characterized by its rigidity, low cost, ease of
forming and resistance to breakage. It is
used to make industrial pallets, bathroom
stalls, plastic lumber and decking. Polystyrene (PS) is a versatile resin with a
range of physical properties that include
thermoforming-an ability to form and
foam, which have applications in the
building industry for use as insulation and
as permanent insulated concrete wall
forms.
When possible, local green building
materials should be specified to reduce
the transportation costs associated with
using materials afar. Materials should be
tested to make sure that they are low in
volatile organic compounds and other,
toxic substances, and that any waste runoff or emission associated with the production or use of the material will not
harm the local environment or inhabitants. Choose building materials that do
not out-gas harmful chemicals when they
are hot and/or wet. Moisture should be
controlled to reduce mold and mildew
growth and the deterioration of building
materials due to these organisms.
Each material carries its own set of
environmental burdens and benefits, and
accurate information on this can be hard
to find. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Environmental Resource Guide
(ERG) is probably the most detailed reference available on the environmental impact of building systems and materials.
The Guide to Resource Efficient Building Elements, 5th Ed., available from the Center
for Resourceful Building Technology in
Missoula, Montana, contains this kind of
product information, along with manufacturer contacts for everything from
foundations to roofing. The Harris Directory in Santa Fe, New Mexico is a database
available on diskette. It contains information on recycled content and resource-efficient materials. GreenSpec by Kalin Associates of Boston is a database of green
products and practices, and technical
language for them so they can be included in architectural specifications. The U.S.
Green Building Council’s Leadership In
Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)
workshops and the Austin Green Building
Program: Sustainable Building Sourcebook
are both excellent resources. Finally, Environmental Building News is a monthly
newsletter for builders and architects
with an extensive database on green
building materials.
Michael L. Garrison is a registered
architect active in the design and
construction of sustainable buildings.
He is an Associate Professor with the
School of Architecture at the Universityof
Texas at Austin and can be reached at
mgarrison@mail.utexas.edu.
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San Antonio Construction News • Apr 2003
F O C U S
RV
YY
S SUUR
VEE
This month we are highlighting the Construction Materials Industry
The response was 12%.
28% considered their company “small” with less than $2 million in sales.
00% considered their company “medium” with $2 - $5 million in sales.
72% considered their company “large” with $6+ million in sales.
1=Strongly Agree
2=Agree
3=Neutral
4=Disagree
5=Strongly Disagree
Results are measured in percentages.
PERSONNEL
1
We are actively hiring office/sales personnel at this time: .......... 00
Our company employs a full-time human resources position: .... 14
We pay for a portion of our employees’ health coverage: ........... 72
We have reduced our staff in 2003:............................................ 00
INTERNAL OPERATIONS
We need more office space:....................................................... 14
We need more warehouse space: .............................................. 14
Computer technology streamlines inventory and accounting: .... 29
Business insurance rates have increased: ................................. 43
TECHNOLOGY
Computer security is a top priority these days:........................... 00
Computer viruses have not affected our operations: .................. 14
We will upgrade our business/communications technology
in 2003: ......................................................................... 00
We find the Internet to be a necessary resource tool:................ 29
PRODUCTS
Wholesale prices have dropped in the last 12 months: .............. 00
Our present margins have increased since this time last year: .. 00
Pricing competition is at an all time high: .................................. 00
We are seeing many new products:............................................ 00
FINANCIAL ISSUES
More banks are soliciting our business:...................................... 00
We have a strong relationship with our banker:.......................... 14
We are taking advantage of low interest rates to refinance
our debt:........................................................................ 00
We are projecting an increase in business in 2003: ................... 00
PERSONAL
Business demands have reduced time with my family: .............. 00
Affiliation with professional associations improves our
credibility: ...................................................................... 29
I still have time to play:................................................................ 00
I generally work six days a week: ............................................... 00
2
28
00
00
00
29
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28
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28
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00
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14
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28
14
00
14
43
00
14
00
5
14
58
00
43
14
14
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00
29 42 29 00
43 14 29 00
57 29 00 14
57 14 00 00
00
14
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72
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57
28
LEED™ sets national
performance standards
T
5 companies were involved in a lawsuit in the last 12 months.
1 of the companies was audited by the IRS in the last 12 months.
None of the companies were inspected by OSHA in the last 12 months.
None of the companies are woman and/or minority owned.
14
14
00
00
14
14
00
00
he LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) Green
Building Rating System™ is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance,
sustainable buildings. Members of the
U.S. Green Building Council, representing all segments of the building industry, developed LEED™ and continue
to contribute to its evolution. LEED™
standards are currently available for:
1. New construction and major renovation projects (LEED 2.1).
2. Existing
building
operations
(LEED-EB, Pilot version).
3. Commercial
interior
projects
(LEED-CI, Pilot version)
LEED™ was created to:
1. Define “green building” by establishing a common standard of
measurement.
2. Promote integrated, whole-building design practices.
4.
5.
6.
Recognize environmental leader
ship in the building industry.
Stimulate green competition.
Raise consumer awareness of
green building benefits.
Transform the building market.
LEED™ provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability
goals. Based on well-founded scientific
standards, LEED™ emphasizes state of
the art strategies for sustainable site
development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor
environmental quality. LEED™ recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a
comprehensive system offering project
certification, professional accreditation,
training and practical resources.
Source: The U.S. Green Building Council.
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For more information, please contact us at:
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employer@sbcglobal.net
Brick, Block
& Masonry Supplies
Residential & Commercial
28 72 00 00
57 43 00 00
29 00 42 00
72 28 00 00
43 14 00 43
3.
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43 14 29 14
57 29 00 00
29 29 42 00
Page 25
210-493-2612
Converse Block Plant: 210-658-4631
Sales Office:
16121 College Oak Dr.
BUILDING SPECIALTIES, INC.
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Products in Division 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, & 12
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(210) 732-6139 Fax (210) 735-2647
8222 N. Lamar #F58  Austin, TX 78753
(512) 339-7836 Fax (512) 339-7916
Student homebuilders vie for awards
S
chool pride found a new venue
among the Construction Technology
classes from seven area high schools.
Eight groups of students from Boerne,
Holmes, Sam Houston, Judson, Lanier,
Marshall and Taft high schools put their
competitive spirit into the designing and
building of 100-sf miniature dream playhouses.
From Feb. 28th through March 2nd,
the results of many months of work were
on view for judging and purchasing at
the 2nd Annual KB Home Kiddie-House
Build-Off, a feature of the 22nd Annual
San Antonio Home & Garden Show,
housed in the Alamodome.
The eight playhouses were showcased in a miniature village, comprised of
4,000-sf of cobblestone streets, complete with street signs featuring the
names of each participating school.
KB Homes provided each team with
$200 in cash, plus identical building materials. From this even starting point,
each team, through their own entrepreneurial efforts, could expand its resources in order to create its miniature “dream
house.” The homes are real-life examples
of the lessons learned in each high
school’s Construction Technology program.
“It was the perfect venue for our kids
to live out a real life working-world situation. They managed a budget, created a
design and worked within a deadline,”
according to Lynn Steinhiser, Taft’s Career Technology Department Chair.
The dream homes were judged by a
panel including: Ed Banner, director of
construction services for KB Home con-
A
griculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced in February the
selection of 21 loan and grant recipients in 10 states to receive more than
$12.8 million in rural economic and community development loan and grant
funds. The funds are designed to assist in
fostering economic and community development in rural areas.
Three Texas communities will benefit
from loans and grants totaling $6,722,600
including:
sentative of the local chapter of the
American Institute of Architects (AIA);
and Tracey Dobson Lehmann, editor of
the Home & Garden section of the San
Antonio Express-News.
The students took their miniature
dream homes through final sale and closing and all of the proceeds from the sale
of each home went back to the respective high schools. A total of almost
$14,000 was raised for these schools.
Winners of the 2nd Annual KB Home
Kiddie-House Build-Off Awards:
Eight dream playhouses built by area high school Construction Technology
classes dominate the Alamodome.
John Friesenhahn, president of GSABA, presents members of one of Taft High
School’s teams with the “Best Overall Design” Kiddie-House award.
struction; John Friesenhahn, president
of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association; Tricia Lynn Silva, real estate
reporter for the San Antonio Business
Journal; Gilbert Candia, intern architect
with Kell Muñoz Architects and repre-
Need work? Go to the country!
1. Greater Gardendale Water Supply Corporation, Gardendale, Texas for a $4,417,600
water loan and grant package. Funds will
be used to develop a central facility that
utilizes water from six existing wells.
2. Menlow Water Supply Corporation,
Abbott, TX, for a $625,000 water loan and
grant package. Funds will be used to drill
a new well, construct a 50,000-gallon elevated storage tank and pump house,
and make improvements to the two ex-
Most Creative:
Judson High School
Best Elevation:
Lanier High School
Best Craftsmanship:
Taft High School/Joe Devine team
Best Use of Color:
Sam Houston High School
Best Interior Design:
Holmes High School
Most Kid-Friendly:
Boerne High School
Best “Texas” Design:
Marshall High School
Best Overall Design:
Taft High School/Lynn Steinhiser team
People’s Choice Award:
John Marshall High School
Congratulations
to the students and their teachers
for a job well done!
isting plants and distribution lines.
3. Town of Cut and Shoot, TX, for a
$1,680,000 water loan and grant package. Funds will be used to make improvements to the community’s water
system by adding two additional wells,
one elevated storage tank and additional
distribution lines.
The funds provide new opportunities to spur economic investments in rural communities, while helping create
jobs in rural America.
“Green” products/classes featured at Expo
P
ublic relations agency owner Rita
Z. Heck has published Product &
Design / The Green Connection;
wrote The Green Connection column in
the San Antonio Express News; and produces The Green Connection television
show on cable access channel 20.
In an effort to unite the companies
who have energy-efficient, green and
sustainable products with architects, facility owners, builders, contractors and
end-users, Rita produced the Better
Building/Products Source Conference &
Expo on Fri. and Sat., Feb. 28th and March
1st.
Staged at the Live Oak Civic Center,
Rita gathered sixteen experts from their
respective fields to conduct classes
throughout the two-day event. Most of
the classes were certified for continuing
education credits by the American Institute of Architects–San Antonio, and
most subjects qualified for State Building
Code Licensing Credit.
Speakers addressed a variety of topics including: greening affordable housing; air-water-moisture management in
commercial buildings; alternative construction materials; sustainable lighting
techniques; environmental interior design; biocompatible materials; geothermal systems; earth sheltered construction; PV systems; disability access; environmental insect, mold and water control; windows to meet code; solar applications and designing toward 0-energy.
“There is a growing segment of people who are interested in building with
energy efficiency and sustainability in
mind, but they can’t find a builder or contractor who can provide what they want,”
Rita noted. “This event is intended to fill
the gap in the learning curve.”
Inspired by the quality of the thirty
energy-minded exhibitors and by the
educational potential, Rita plans a repeat
of the Better Building/Products Source
Conference & Expo next year.
Inventor Ignacio Torres III with BUGOUT
Weep Hole Insect Barrier.
L-R: Brent Davis, Shaw Industries; Scott
Richter, Carie Wilson and Jim Moody,
Intertech Flooring.
Lawrence F. Jetter (L), president of Advanced
Earthen Construction Technologies, Inc.,
explains earth block production.
RASTRA’s Texas distributor Larry
Whitaker, EnergyWise Building Systems.
L-R: Representing ARXX Building Products
are Matt McCoy, Mickey Gay and Rusty
Hammel.
L-R: Walt Williamson, Don Young Company,
discusses the energy efficiency of his
window products with show attendee.
Crane companies work together
at historic brewery
W
hen Castroville’s Keller Enterprises purchased two porcelain-lined grain silos at the Pearl
Brewery auction, they got a good deal.
The only challenge remaining was to
move the fragile giants as carefully as
possible.
Enter AmeriCRANE Rentals and
Howell Crane and Rigging, two competitors that joined their expertise and knowledge to accomplish the task. On Sat., Feb.
22nd, two cranes, one from each company
began the silo removal process. Working
together and taking every precaution in
the rigging, the crews understood that
any misstep could result in damage that
would render the silos useless.
“Each silo is 65-ft. tall and 15-ft. in
diameter,” said Steve White, AmeriCRANE Rentals. “We took several hours to
rig the first tank with a combination of
steel and nylon chokers. By mid-afternoon the first of the two tanks was loaded onto a tractor-trailer. By noon on
Sunday, the second tank was loaded,
parked and ready to roll out of the gate
on Monday morning.”
Steve said the reason he joint-ventured this job is because, as a new company, AmeriCRANE doesn’t have a full
complement of cranes in all sizes.
“Audie Howell, vice president of
Howell Crane and Rigging, stepped up to
the plate. He utilized a 210-ton crane and
we provided a 75-ton crane. By working
together and combining our experience
and knowledge, we were able to make
the critical lifts and do a good job for the
customer.”
San Antonio Construction News also
spoke with Audie Howell, who said he
has worked with other crane companies
in the past, but not very often.
“We were working on another job at
the brewery, and when Steve approached
us to help with the silos, it made sense
and good use of our equipment. We had
the heavy end!”
Porcelain-lined silos handled with care by Howell Crane and Rigging and AmeriCRANE Rentals
ORION
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Clients include:
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Charles Cheever
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We Support
Our Troops
This Bid Is For “YOU”
T
his segment is about how to get the edge by using a few
select words that will influence the thinking of your prospect.
A recent survey concluded that restaurant servers received
an average of 13 percent more gratuities from patrons when
they included in their language the simple phrase, “for you”.
“For You”, it seems, makes restaurant
patrons feel special, cared for and more
comfortable with their dining experience. When a server delivers coffee, the
menu or even the check, the patron is
more apt to increase the gratuity when
the service is personalized. The more
often this phrase is used, the greater the
increase in gratuity.
What would happen if you received
a 13 percent increase in your contracts
from your clients? That would just make
your year, wouldn’t it? You could buy
that extra house on the beach or even
retire. Well maybe not, but you would be
a whole lot more profitable.
People buy products and services
for one main reason. The perception of
what is in it for them. Once you discover
what is in it for your prospect, you are
rounding third base and headed to
home plate for the score. Start by using
words and phrases that set you up for a
successful sale. Here are a few words that
you should include in every conversation that you have with your customers.
YOU. “This is all for YOU, Mrs. Customer.” “I am preparing these plans and
specifications for YOU, Mr. Buyer.” “I will
deliver samples for YOU, Ms. Homeowner.”
YOUR. A first cousin to “you”, YOUR
is equally as important. “YOUR project is
exciting and challenging, Mr. Buyer.”
“YOUR samples will be arriving soon, Ms.
Homeowner.” “I’m sure that YOUR family
will love this fireplace, Mrs. Customer.”
NEW. Most everyone I know likes
new things. NEW is refreshing, and NEW
is…well, NEW. “I have a NEW set of
specifications for you Mr. Buyer.” “I have
a NEW set of samples for you, Ms. Homeowner.” “I thought of you first when
these NEW products arrived, Mrs. Customer.”
HOW. Along with the benefits, customers want to know HOW they are going to benefit. “These specifications will
show you HOW to maximize your living
space, Mr. Buyer.” “The design samples
demonstrate HOW the colors and textures coordinate with each other, Ms.
Paul Montelongo
Homeowner.” “Mrs. Customer, your
manual illustrates HOW to utilize the system.”
NOW. We live in a fast-food society.
Everyone wants it now, or at least they
think they do. “NOW is a good time for
us to discuss your specifications, Mr.
Buyer.” “I couldn’t think of a better time
than NOW to deliver the samples, Ms.
Homeowner.” “You can have your design work started NOW, Mrs. Customer.”
FREE. Need I say more? But just
because this article is for YOU, here are
some examples. “Mrs. Customer, the
design consultation is FREE when you
invest with our company.” “Those are
FREE samples for you to choose from, Mr.
Buyer.” “Your new blueprints allow you
to FREE up more space in your kitchen,
Ms. Homeowner.”
Integrating these words into your
sales vocabulary will increase your closing ratios and build better relationships
with your customers. That all translates
into profits for YOU.
Dale Carnegie said, “The sweetest
sound to a person’s ear is the sound of
their own name.” Using your customer’s
name frequently and with genuine interest will only add to your credibility. Your
customer will understand that you have
their best interest in mind and that you
care about them. Imagine a world where
all business people only cared about
their customer. What a concept!
It certainly can’t hurt your sales by
using these words. What have you got to
lose, other than that extra house on the
beach or that early retirement money?
Paul Montelongo is the author of 101 Power
Strategies; Tools to Promote Yourself as the Contractor of Choice. Paul is a nationally recognized speaker and consultant to the construction industry. Visit Paul at www.ContractorOf
Choice.com and register for a free E-mail newsletter to receive tips, strategies and concepts to
help you grow your business and increase your
profits. Paul has owned and operated his own
multi-million dollar construction company for
over 23 years.
SACN: Where did you go to college?
was in the right place at
DC: University of Tennessee, the home the right time and my caof the Tennessee Vols. My friends in reer with Marek Brothers
Texas know I’m a huge Volunteer fan.
started taking off.
SACN: What was your major and did you SACN : Did a promotion
play sports in college?
bring you to San AntoDC: Because I loved math, I majored in nio?
Accounting at UT. I aspired to be a CPA. I DC: A position for an
didn’t play sports. I was, quite honestly, estimator/project manburned-out on sports, and I really wasn’t ager opened in San Antofast enough. I could never break a five- nio. I didn’t know one
Dewitt T. Churchwell, III
flat forty. I went to the college all of my person in San Antonio,
buddies went to, and looking back, if I but I was unmarried, had
Marek Brothers Systems Inc.
had it to do over again, I might have no ties, and I saw an opgone to a smaller school.
portunity to become a
SACN: Why do you say that?
bigger fish in a smaller
Editor’s note: Hailing from the Volun- DC: Tennessee was huge, one of the big- pond. I remained in that
teer State, Dewitt Churchwell is the Di- gest schools in the nation. It was easy to position for five years,
met a lot of people, and
vision President of Marek Brothers Sys- get diverted.
tems, Inc. Displayed on his office wall is SACN: Were you diverted once or came to realize how
much I liked the ‘sales’
a panoramic photograph of the Univer- twice?
sity of Tennessee football stadium, to DC: Yes, I was. After two-and-a-half function of this business.
years, I was tired of being broke all the In 1986, I was promoted
remind him of his roots.
time, so I convinced myself that I could to the branch manager
SACN: Dewitt, tell me about your youth drop out of school for a quarter and slot, and I would like to
work. Once I did that, my attempt to go think I contributed to
in Tennessee.
DC: I was born and raised in Morristown, back was sporadic. I eventually com- Marek Brothers’ growth.
SACN : Are you married?
a small town in east Tennessee, about 40 pleted about three years of college.
miles east of Knoxville. We were an hour SACN : What did you think of the work- DC: Yes, and the way I met my wife con- scribing it as going from a man-to-man
vinces me that God has a plan for every- to a zone defense. Gail retired when litaway from the Smokey Mountains, and ing world?
DC: Well, I wasn’t doing anything par- body in this life, but that’s another story. tle David came along.
it’s beautiful country.
ticularly meaningful. I worked construc- Gail has an architectural engineering SACN: How do you and your family
SACN: And your family?
DC: My father is Dewitt T. Churchwell, tion and carpentry jobs, and basically degree and we met in a job site trailer. spend your free time together?
Jr., which technically makes me the III. floated for a while. The most credible She worked for Jordan & Nobles as proj- DC: Our free time is spent shuttling kids
Dad passed away in 1982. My mother, job I had in that period was as a bank ect engineer and I was a subcontractor to T-ball, baseball or basketball practice.
Billie Jo, presently lives in Knoxville, teller for the TVA Credit Union in Knox- on the Texas Bank North project at Bit- We’re also very involved with our church.
where my family moved after I graduat- ville. But it became apparent to me, if I ters and Hwy. 281 N. It was love at first My latest passion is umpiring Little
ed from high school. Both of my parents stayed in Knoxville I was heading for a sight for me. We dated, and I asked her League. About four years ago, I was
dragged out of the
dead end. I found myself in a rut at age to marry me within
were originally from Alabama.
stands at one of my
23.
six months.
SACN: Do you have brothers or sisters?
“You may be on the mountaintop sons’ games to be a
DC: I am the oldest of three brothers, SACN: When and why did you move to SACN : Did you contoday, but tomorrow is not
third base umpire. I
Texas?
tinue to work on
although I enjoyed
absolutely loved it,
DC:
In
1977
a
other
projects
tothe status of being
promised to anyone.”
“Going from east Tennessee to
and later transifriend of mine, Bo gether?
an only child until I
Houston was like crawling
tioned to home
Leonard, moved DC: Yes, and it was
was twelve. I do wish
to Houston. He all above board in spite of the way it ap- plate. I was elected chief umpire for the
we had been closer
out of a cave.”
had an architec- peared. The ongoing joke at my annual New Braunfels Little League, and the
in age, because by
ture degree and meetings with Marek in Houston oc- season is about to kick-off. I’m trying to
the time they came
along, I was seventeen years older than Houston was booming at the time. At a curred when they started asking about form an association in New Braunfels, to
the youngest. Unfortunately, we never party, he met Stan Marek, who said his backlogs. They would always ask me provide umpires for the Little League
got to be that close. It was almost like family’s company, Marek Brothers Sys- what job Gail was going to next. No one, program. It’s a good way to give back to
tems, needed young people. In 1979, af- including my competitors, believed that the kids, plus it’s just fun. If I can ever
having two separate families.
manage to retire, I envision myself deSACN: What did your father do for a liv- ter heavy pressure and encouragement everything was legitimate. But, it was.
from Bo and others, I packed up my SACN : It must have been nice to have voting a lot of spare time to umpiring. I
ing?
DC: Dad worked in the public safety di- worldly possessions in my 1973 VW the language of construction in com- like the fact that the umpire is in charge
of the game, in total control, and you’re
vision for TVA, Tennessee Valley Author- Beetle, with a promise that I could get a mon.
DC: We never lacked good conversation there to make sure the kids get a fair
ity, the big power producer for a five- job with Marek Bros.
SACN: What did you think of Houston?
when we went home at night. She could chance of winning.
state area.
DC:
Going
from
east
Tennessee
to
Housalert me to some potential problems or SACN : What would you like our readers
SACN : Where did you go to high school
ton was like crawling out of a cave. We pitfalls. It was handy having my wife on to know about your sense of character?
and when did you graduate?
DC: I attended Morristown West High use the term hillbilly for people from a jobsite, and we did speak the same DC: I work on trying to be humble,
School, which was a brand new school. I Tennessee, and I’m sure I fit that bill. I felt language. Gail likes to remind me that which can be hard at times. We’re all
was a member of the first full four-year like Jethro going to the big city for the the general contractors are always in supposed to love one another and have
charge of the subs, and the same rule the heart to help one another. That can
graduating class in 1972. Morristown first time.
SACN : Apparently you impressed the applies at home. She does a great job of be a challenge when you’re in a comwas a great place to grow up.
decision-makers at Marek Brothers.
keeping me on the “critical path” at petitive business like construction. AlSACN : How so?
DC:
I
guess
so.
Marek
hired
me
in
1979,
home. I was older when we got married, though it may not appear that I carry
DC: Well, it was a small town of 25,000,
where high school sports were a big as a timekeeper; a ‘go-fer’ for the proj- and I’ve learned the secret to wedded myself that way, one of my goals is to be
ect superintendent, with a fancy title of bliss is respecting my wife and keeping sensitive to others, especially people
part of the life of the community.
who are less fortunate. With all the sucProject Adminisher on a pedestal.
SACN : Did you play sports?
SACN: Do you and cess that I have had in my life, I’m truly
DC: I loved sports! Football, basketball, trator. My first job
“My first job was a 55-story
blessed. None of the things that I’ve
Gail have children?
and baseball – everything but track be- was a 55-story
cause I hated to run. We would travel on building, and I’d building and I’d never been that DC: We have three managed to accomplish have I done on
sons, Nathan, 14; my own. I give God the credit for the
Friday nights, and my parents would never been that
high off the ground before.”
high
off
the
Philip, 11; and David, good things and the bad things that
never miss a game.
ground before. It
4. There is never a have come my way. It’s all part of shapSACN: Were you a good student?
DC: Actually, I was an A – B student, was exciting, and I learned about metal dull moment at our house. When Gail ing our character. You may be on the
made pretty good grades, and stayed studs and the drywall business. After and I were planning to have our third mountaintop today, but tomorrow is not
out of trouble for the most part. eight months on the jobsite, they need- child, I called a good friend who is the promised to anyone. I try to take life one
Throughout school, I always knew that I ed help in the office. I was fortunate to father of four. I asked him what the dif- day at a time. When I wake up each
had a facility for math and numbers, and be picked to enroll in an estimator train- ference was between having two kids or morning and roll out of bed, if I draw a
ee program. The numbers came easy; I three. He summed it up perfectly by de- breath, it’s going to be a good day.
my Dad was similarly gifted.
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EPA discourages use of
CCA-treated wood
CPS’ skybridge repaired
E
mployees slowly
but surely disassemble a web of
steel that has facilitated
repairs to the skybridge
connecting City Public
Service’s Main Office at
145 Navarro St. with the
natural gas and electric
utility’s Navarro Build ing offices. Traffic on
Navarro Street, which
has been diverted since
mid -January,
was
scheduled to flow freely
again Mon., March 17th.
After a storm damaged
the skybridge in May
2000, CPS evaluated the
16 - year- old
elevated
passageway and found
it to be structurally
sound, however the
evaluation called for
replacement of the roof
and side panels.
SAMCA past-Pres. nominated
for industry award
T
he 2003 Promotion Progress Awards,
sponsored by The Portland Cement
Association and the Cement Association of Canada, recognize cement
company personnel for extraordinary efforts in promoting cement and concrete
products. Among this year’s 28 nominees
from companies across the country was
John Williams, Capitol Cement, pastpresident of the San Antonio Masonry
Contractors Association.
John played a key role is establishing the San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association in 1995. During his
presidency from 2001-2002, he helped
increase membership by 35 percent. He
was instrumental in raising funds for the
undergraduate and graduate scholarship program at the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at San
Antonio, created a membership directory for distribution to local architects
and contractors, and created a Career
Day for area high schools to encourage
students to pursue a masonry career. He
also worked with SAMCA to build a
Habitat for Humanity masonry house.
Under John’s guidance, SAMCA established its first $10,000 endowment
fund for scholarships to UTSA’s School of
Architecture, and is working to create a
L-R: Last year, on behalf of SAMCA, John
Williams presented a $10,000 endowment to
the Dean of the School of Architecture,
Julius Gribou, AIA.
second one. John’s efforts have also
contributed to increased masonry cement sales, up nearly 12 percent over
the past year.
“We’re very proud of John,” said coworker Don Taubert, Capitol Cement,
“who has put a selfless effort into the
San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association, which among other achievements, resulted in the endowment
SAMCA has given to the UTSA School of
Architecture. He sets an example for
other members of SAMCA and people in
the industry to promote the use of masonry and masonry products.”
O
n March 17th, EPA granted the
voluntary cancellation and use
termination requests affecting
virtually all residential uses of chromated
copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood. Under this action, affected CCA products
cannot be used after Dec. 30, 2003 to
treat lumber intended for use in most
residential settings.
This transition affects virtually all
residential uses of wood treated with
CCA, including play structures, decks,
picnic tables, landscaping timbers, residential fencing, patios and walkways/
boardwalks. Phase-out of the residential
uses will reduce the potential exposure
risks to arsenic, a known human carcinogen, thereby protecting human health,
especially children’s health and the environment.
Consumers may continue to buy and
use the treated CCA wood for as long as it
is available. The transition to using the new
generation treatment products is well underway. The Agency is deferring any action on two uses involved in the termination requests, therefore wood used in permanent wood foundations and fence
posts for agricultural uses may continue to
be treated with CCA at this time.
EPA is working with the registrant
community and other stakeholders to
ensure that safer, comparable alternatives will be available. EPA is continuing
its work on an ongoing comprehensive
reevaluation of CCA-treated wood that
has been underway as part of the Agency’s effort to reevaluate older pesticides
to ensure that they meet current health
and safety standards.
“Trees of Knowledge”
planted at Library
O
n March 22nd, a “Trees of Knowledge” planting ceremony took
place on the grounds of the San
Antonio Library. Native, drought-tolerant
shade trees and a xeriscape garden were
planted. A 1,440-gallon condensationcapturing irrigation system, designed by
the San Antonio Water System (SAWS),
was also activated.
The landscape demonstration reminded library patrons and the general
public that trees save energy, improve air
quality and capture storm water runoff. A
2002 tree canopy study of Bexar County
by American Forests of Washington, D.C.,
revealed that the San Antonio area has
lost 23 percent of tree cover since 1985.
The Alamo Forest Partnership (AFP), a
consortium of public, private and nonprofit agencies and organizations dedicated to conservation of trees, commissioned the study and plans to educate
the public about the value of trees. The
AFP is spearheaded by publicly-owned
City Public Service (CPS).
Scott Smith, CPS director of environmental services; Jenna Terrez, CPS environmental analyst and AFP project manager; Ed Wilcut, SAWS conservation planner, Debbie Reid, City of San Antonio arborist; AFP volunteers, Don Counts, San
Antonio Library Board chair; and Hardy
Oaks Elementary School students participated in the Saturday morning ceremony.
Sentinel Refuse opens
new SA office
Square D/ Schneider Electric
reach 100th Anniversary
O
ne hundred years ago, Bryson D.
Horton and James B. McCarthy
formed the McBride Manufacturing Company in Detroit. They hired two
women to assemble an initial order of
1,000 cartridge-type electrical fuses,
working in an 18-by-40-foot rented
room.
The cartridge fuse business produced
rapid growth for McBride Manufacturing
in its first decade in Detroit; a period
when the company underwent numerous name and management changes
while Bryson Horton led the business. In
1915, the Detroit Fuse and Manufacturing Co. began marketing a new sheet
metal version of its cast iron enclosed
safety switch with the cover displaying an
embossed letter “D” (for Detroit) within a
square border. The simple trademark design soon had customers asking for the
“SQUARE D” switch. So successful was the
new switch that in 1917, the fuse business
was sold, and the firm officially changed
its name to the Square D Company. For
this reason, it can be said that the company’s customers actually created the trademark, which continues to be among the
most highly recognized brands of its
kind.
That modest beginning grew into a
multibillion-dollar North American electrical industry leader that set the standard
for the metal-enclosed safety switch, the
modern residential circuit breaker and a
host of other electrical innovations, protecting people’s lives while efficiently
distributing, managing and controlling
electricity.
SQUARE D is now a market-leading
brand of Schneider Electric, a 9-billion-
dollar enterprise committed to “Building a New Electric World” in more than
130 countries around the globe. The
brand accounts for the greatest share of
2.7 billion dollars in annual sales by the
company’s North American Division,
which in turn provides nearly one-third
of Schneider Electric’s global revenues
and employs 17,000 people in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico.
Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and the electrical industry are
celebrating the centennial of one of
America’s best-known brands of electrical distribution and control equipment.
“On behalf of IEC’s 3,200 member
companies, we want to congratulate
Square D/Schneider Electric on the
100-year anniversary of the SQUARE D
brand,” said Gene Mini, IEC National
President. “We also extend our sincerest thanks to Square D for providing
electrical contracting companies with
quality goods and services and for providing the American people with greater efficiency, cost savings and electrical
reliability for over a century.”
According to Chris Richardson,
President/CEO of the North American
Division of Schneider Electric, “Very few
brands that have been around for 100
years can claim that they meet the
same essential needs of society as when
they began. Electrical safety has always
been a major priority for us, and new
technologies we’re introducing to improve electrical energy conservation
and to support the distribution and
control of alternative electrical energy
production make this business more
critical than ever.”
JJ C
CH
H
CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Specializing In
Backhoe • Rocksawing • Trenching
“We Can Dig It”
(210) 651-5612
305 IH35 North
Fax: (210) 651-5451
Selma, Texas
L-R: Jason Leather, Terry Gawlik, and Harry Ybarbo
T
he economy might have been slow
last year, but Sentinel Waste
moved full-speed ahead. The construction waste management company
opened its third office last Oct. in San
Antonio. The San Antonio branch operates as Sentinel Refuse.
Sentinel first opened its doors in
Houston in 1994, venturing to Austin in
2000. In that time, the Solid Waste Association of North America deemed
Sentinel the fastest growing waste disposal company in Texas for 2002.
“We continue to experience solid
growth in 2003 because we maintain an
extraordinary quick waste disposal turnaround time at a very fair price,” said
Michael Schwartz, president of Sentinel Waste. “In fact, clients repeatedly
tell us that they have never experienced
same day service on their waste container and that our prices are very competitive.”
Sentinel’s San Antonio office has
eight employees and presently is the
only market where the company offers
front-load dumpster service in addition
to roll-off containers.
Vice president of operations for
Sentinel Refuse, Terry Gawlik is no
stranger to the local waste industry. His
10 years of experience with a local company prepared him for the challenge of
building a new company.
“I believe in the old philosophy that
garbage is not rocket science. It’s a service industry; pick up the trash, send the
customer a bill, and provide excellent
service.”
Terry said he was about ready to
buy trucks and start his own business
when he met Michael Schwartz.
“We struck an arrangement and
within a week we were in business. I
have a lot of local business and construction-related contacts, and Sentinel
gives me the freedom to operate the
BIA Award
to
Corpus firm
T
he Brick Industry Association
and Architectural Record are
pleased to announce the winners of the 2003 Brick in Architecture
Awards.
The judging was held Fri., March
7th, at the offices of Architectural
company and the authority to make decisions. Through the company, I have
resources for additional trucks and boxes just by making a simple phone call.”
In the first three months of business,
Sentinel Refuse purchased over 150
boxes, which are painted bright safety
orange. Its roll-off container inventory
ranges in size from two to 40-yds. It also
operates a compactor company, renting
and leasing trash compactors to jobsites
and business.
“Our research indicates that San
Antonio did not have quality service
providers with the front load product,
and our reception has been tremendous,” said Schwartz. “We anticipate
being a major front load player in San
Antonio very soon and will promote the
product line in other markets when and
where demand is strong.”
Schwartz says the company’s customers are demanding its services
throughout Texas. Therefore, the Sentinel’s five-year plan calls for an expansion into a new Texas market every 18
months.
“The public companies grow by acquisition in the waste industry, however,
we feel strongly that the only way to
truly duplicate our business model and
continue to offer the level of service that
we do is by internal growth versus
growth by acquisition,” said Schwartz.
The company is studying several
new markets for the next expansion, including Dallas/Fort Worth and Laredo.
Yet, Schwartz says he doesn’t want Sentinel to be the largest company in a
specific market.
“We intend to capture only a small
percentage of market share within each
local market, with a large percentage of
business from the healthiest local, regional and national construction firms,”
he said.
Record in New York City. This year’s
program had 387 submissions, a re cord number. This large field made
for intense competition, and the
judging lasted all day, with the four
jurors arguing passionately over the
twelve finalists for over an hour. In
the end, six projects were chosen as
the best in field, with no ranking
between them.
Among the winners of the 2003
Brick in Architecture Awards was
“Amarillo Travel Information Center
– Texas Department of Transportation,” Amarillo, Texas, by Richter
Architects, Corpus Christi, Texas.
All six projects will be featured
in the next issue of Brick in Architecture, which will be featured as an
insert in the May issue of Architectural Record.
continued from Page 1 - Morkovsky + Associates marks 30th anniversary
“which was the largest project the
Archdiocese of San Antonio had ever
undertaken. It was also the largest
project in dollar value that our firm
had ever taken on. Another memorable
project was the development of a
multi-million dollar, 11-building complex for the Mexican American Cultural
Center, located at 3115 West Ashby
Place.”
Coming full circle, Morkovsky + Associates, Inc. is currently involved in
the Assumption Seminary new construction and renovation project for
the Archdiocese. When completed, it
will be the largest project the Archdio cese of San Antonio has ever constructed to date.
“In the year 2000, our firm de signed the Millennium Cross at St. Helena’s Catholic Church,” Robert noted.
“Sited on top of a hill in northeast San
Antonio, the granite structure ascends
to a height of 75-ft., and features a
cross-arm measuring 25-ft. An architect typically doesn’t have many op portunities to design a monument of
that magnitude. It was both an architectural and an engineering challenge,
and we considered the project a ‘once in-a-lifetime’ experience.”
asked Robert how the growth of technology affected his practice over the
last three decades. He said the techno logical advances offer greater latitude
and makes information more readily
available.
“The fax machine and email are
two of the electronic devices that
made our lives much simpler and improved communications with jobsite
personnel and consultants,” Robert
added. “With CAD technology, we can
give our consultants a disk, and we
don’t have to exchange or reproduce
plans. You might think that high-speed
communications would enable us to
produce more work, but construction
methods and systems are much more
complex and the rules and regulations
are
monumental.
The
design/
development phase is critical and still
takes a great deal of time. There’s a lot
more time involved in a project today
than there was thirty years ago.”
In his early youth, Robert’s parents
identified an architectural direction in
him when he was still playing with
building blocks. Together with other
relatives, they encouraged him with
architectural books and were very sup portive. The mechanical drawing tools
his parents originally gave him to use
for middle school classes are now displayed in a shadow box at Robert’s office.
“My natural gifts leaned toward
art, mathematics and design. Fortunately, I’ve been blessed with an enjoyable career, and I have no regrets. I’ve
thoroughly enjoyed being an architect,
and I’m proud that my son Mark, who is
very talented, will have the next 30
years to continue to make his mark and
fully enjoy the practice we have built
together.”
continued from Page 2 - Bakeman fills
vacated Safety Director spot
not know. I’ve been working around jobsites for most of my life, and safety hazards have a way of jumping right out at
you if you’re looking for them. My role is
one of safety advisor, not safety police.”
Intent on bringing fresh ideas to the
table, Mark is excited about his new job
and looks forward to maintaining the
strong safety program developed by his
predecessors.
“Each company has specific needs,
and training programs are custom designed to serve those needs. I may never
know if I’ve actually helped save lives and
limbs, but I’m confident that safety training prevents accidents.”
Mark is not bi-lingual and he anticipates the need to take a Spanish language immersion course.
“One of the topics discussed among
the safety committee members is the
possibility of a construction-related language course, which would emphasize
terminology specific to the industry. I’d
like to test the waters, and if it happens,
I’ll be the first person to enroll. Our labor
force is predominantly Spanish speaking,
and if they don’t have a full understanding
of safety standards because of a language
barrier, then we’re not doing our job.”
Swanstone Kitchen Sinks
* Authentic solid surface.
Color and texture run
all the way through and
cannot wear away.
* Virtually indestructible.
Boiling water, hot pots
and dropped kitchen
objects will not harm.
* Large bowls and offset
drains increase
workspace in sink and
storage under it.
* Wide variety of styles
and solid & granite
colors.
* Same sink can be
installed as drop-in
or undermount.
Steve Mechler & Associates, Inc.
10737 Gulfdale
SWANSTONE ™
210-545-0084
Strength Balance Beauty
continued from Page 1 - Huber Contracting erects Marantha Bible Church
“When we began the project we did
not have any guarantees,” said Bill Huber,
president of Huber Contracting Inc. “David Cadena, building inspector for the
City of Converse, made it possible to begin this project with a permit for the shell
only. He then allowed the church to update the permit as the change orders were
written. Because of the budget issues, all
members of the construction team were
focused on solving any questions or problems that came up. Gene Baldwin, Converse Fire Department, enabled the fire
inspection to be conducted in two phases,
allowing the church administration to occupy the building until the adult classrooms where complete. Of course, all
codes and safety issues were in compliance at every phase of completion.”
Joe said the church’s successful
completion was the result of total cooperation on the part of the major subcontractors, including Moore Erection, Lone
Star State Mechanical, SA Electric, Lone
Star Drywall, J.E. Travis Painting and
Miko Excavation.
“All of these companies provided
value-engineering ideas and maintained
a positive attitude throughout the project,” Joe added. “Their attitude and the
faithfulness of the church, in keeping us
updated on the financial aspects, made
this a successful project.”
The church’s building coordinator,
Darnell Matthews, said he and fellow
church members developed a wonderful
relationship with Huber Contracting.
“They were flexible and worked well
with us, fulfilling everything they promised. I think of them as part of our extended family. Bill Huber is to be com-
mended for the work that he does as a
general contractor. Joe, the project manager, and Steve, the project superintendent, held it all together and served as
the catalysts that made this project a success. We’re very pleased with the final
product and we have an excellent structure, for which we are thankful to Jesus
Christ, who performed this miracle.”
San Antonio Construction News was
told by church member Darlene Draper
(the Pastor’s wife) that Maranatha is an
Aramaic word translated as “The Lord is
Coming” or “Come Lord,” taken from I
Corinthians, 16:22.
Subcontractor Construction Team:
Moore Erection; Lone Star State Mechanical (plumbing & mechanical); SA
Electric; Lone Star Drywall; J.E. Travis
Painting; Miko Excavation; Urban Concrete Contractors; and Mutual Sprinklers.
Professional/Design Team:
City of Converse, David Cadena; Converse Fire Department, Gene Baldwin;
RVK Architects, Inc., Jimmy Powers, AIA
and Bear Goolsby; Calle & Associates,
Jim Calle; MEP Engineering, Inc., Robert Frick; and Lundy & Franke Engineering, Shawn Franke.
Huber Contracting, Inc., founded in
San Antonio in 1996, operates from one
location and was established to provide
general contracting and pre-construction services for all types of commercial
construction, including schools, commercial office buildings, medical clinics
and offices, religious facilities, and theme
park entertainment facilities. Every project undertaken by the firm benefits from
direct principal involvement.
Renewables have “Texas Size” potential
T
exas has copious amounts of
oil, gas, coal and uranium. But
the state’s renewable resources
make those fossil fuel resources look
small. The wind, solar and biomass
(useful energy derived from plants or
animals) potential in Texas is equal to
4,330 quadrillion BTU’s per year, or
about 400 times the state’s annual
energy diet. While smaller than Texas’ solar potential, wind energy alone
could provide eight times as much
power as all of the state’s electrical
generation plants combined.
The real question for renewables
is not whether there is enough re -
source, but rather when technologies
will be available that allow this enormous potential to be used reliably and
affordably. In some cases, such as wind
energy and landfill gas, the answer is
now. Another renewable ready for use
is Building Climatology, which refers to
knowledge of the local climate used to
design buildings that are comfortable
but use little energy. This underutilized
resource could save Texans billions of
dollars in ongoing energy costs while
improving the livability of structures.
Passive solar heating, photovoltaics, solar water heaters and groundcoupled heat pumps (geothermal) are
practical just about anywhere in
Texas. However, for large scale re newable power projects involving
wind and solar power, commercial
developers will seek out the best
locations in the state. For wind and
solar, the best potential areas are in
south Texas, west Texas and the
Panhandle.
Source: Texas State Energy Conservation Office.
Round-Up
Our Mistake!
E
Last month, we reversed the names and photos of
Dick McNary and Rick McNealy, or is that
Rick McNary and Dick McNealy?
(We hope they showed up at the right offices).
Our apologies . . . below are the correct profiles.
P
roject Control
has
named
Dick McNary to
senior vice president. Dick has a
B.S. in Construction Management
from Pittsburgh
State University.
Employed
with
Project Control since 1985, he will
become more active in managing
the company’s day-to-day administrative responsibilities and internal
operations.
A
nnie Sauser
joined Fisher
Heck Architects as
Project Manager
and Preservation
Specialist. A Master of Architecture,
University of Texas
at Austin, Annie is
currently the project manager for the restoration of San
Fernando Cathedral and the restoration of
the Atascosa County Courthouse. She also
served as project manager for the restoration of the Basilica of the National Shrine of
the Little Flower. As a preservation specialist, Annie considers herself to be “a doctor
for old buildings.
V
ickrey & Associates,
Inc.
is pleased to announce that it
has
appointed
Frederick (Rick) J.
McNealy, P.E. to an
associate position
within the firm. Rick
has demonstrated outstanding capabilities and will assist in the overall technical
and administrative management. He
has an MS degree in Management from
Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass., and a
BS degree in Civil Engineering from Texas
A&M University.
M
r. Chien-Nan
Fu, P.E. recently joined RabaKistner Infrastructure, Inc. as the
Construction Quality Assurance Testing Manager for SH
130. Mr. Fu received
his B.S. in Hydraulic
Engineering
at
Chung Yuan Christian College of Science
and Engineering in Taiwan, and his M.S. in
Engineering from The University of Texas
at Arlington. Mr. Fu will support the State
Highway 130 project and provide construction management and oversight inspection and testing services.
mmitt F. Irby
Jr., P.E., has
joined Raba-Kistner Consultants,
Inc. as Manager,
Construction Materials Engineering
and Testing Services for the Austin
office. Emmitt received his B.S. in Civil Engineering at UTEl Paso and is a member of the Consulting Engineers Council of Texas (CEC), the
Association of Soil and Foundation Engineers (ASFE), and the Structural Engineers Association of Texas (SEAT). With
29 years of experience, Emmitt’s responsibilities include scope development,
contracting, financial management, and
implementation for projects performed
in Austin and the surrounding areas.
J
E
R
ric Martinez has
joined
Rehler
Vaughn & Koone,
Inc. to assist in their
expanding architecture department.
Eric earned a BFA
from UTSA and previously served as
designer for commercial, residential and religious facility
projects. An active member of AIA, Eric
serves on the Homes Tour Committee.
L
opez Salas Architects announces
the addition of Marc
Johnson to the firm.
Marc has a degree
from the University
of Texas at San Antonio and over two years experience in the
construction industry.
ames M. Kistler, AIA joined
Fisher Heck Architects as Project
Manager. A Master of Architecture, University of
Texas at Austin,
and Registered
Architect in Texas
and Illinois, Jim’s
background is in design of process-oriented industrial facilities, historic preservation, and adaptive re-use. He is
project manager of the new Cathedral
Centre for San Fernando Cathedral,
Laurel Heights United Methodist
Church renovation, and the expansion
of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic
Church.
iley Cotter has
joined Timber
Tech as Account
Service Representative. Cotter will
assume responsibility for selling floor
and roof products,
along with wholesale products. He
will be working in
the San Antonio, Austin, and surrounding
areas. A Public Relations and Media Advertising graduate from the University of
Northern Colorado, Riley has earned a
well-respected reputation for his exceptional interpersonal and management
skills. An avid outdoorsman, he is a certified white water guide, as well as a professional fly-fishing instructor.
Tournament results:
Majestic day at Tapatio Springs
T
he Greater San Antonio Builders Association selected a blue-sky, sun-shiny
day for the 2003 Golf Extravaganza at Tapatio Springs Resort. Cool air, warm sun
and light breezes on Fri., March 21st lured 152 enthusiastic players to the course
carved out of the rugged hill country.
A pre-tournament patio buffet welcomed hungry players, courtesy of Ferguson,
Inc. After the last player signed his scorecard, an awards ceremony and dinner, sponsored by Ranger American of Texas and KB Home, ensued.
“GSABA would like to extend a special thank you to the committee members and
chairpersons who organized this spectacular event,” said association staff member
Kim Jacobs. “We would also like to thank our generous sponsors and outstanding
volunteers for making the 2003 Golf Extravaganza an enormous success! We could
not do it without them!”
1st Place Net:
2nd Place Net:
3rd Place Net:
1st Place Low Gross:
Longest Drive:
Dewitt Carnes, Tom Ebarb, and Mercy Vellejo.
Louis Aday, John Howard, Bruce Ross and Louis Howard.
Steve Louis, Mike Reidel, Mike Manley and Mickey Davis.
Jesse Pigott, Ron Kitchen, Adam Sanchez and Jerome McClure.
Randy Wilkinson.
Closest to the Pin:
Mercy Vallejo
Pre-tournament
nourishment
for hungry players.
L-R: Representing the
Seguin Homebuilders
Association are
John Howard,
Howard Plumbing,
president of the SHA;
Louis Howard
(John’s Dad);
and Chris Ross,
Ross Contractors.
15080 Tradesmen Drive
San Antonio, TX 78249
210-492-5501
Fax 210-492-0031
800-850-9275
L-R: Manny Martinez,
Termimesh System;
Walter Johnson,
Ranger American;
Tracy Bowman,
Ranger American;
Mike Riedel,
Continental Homes.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
ABC
ASA
April 7: Associated Builders and Contractors will host its annual Spring Golf
Classic at Fair Oaks Ranch Country Club.
Cost is $135 per player; registration at 11
am; 1 pm shotgun start. Lunch and dinner included.
April 9: The ABC Safety & Health Committee, in conjunction with SpawGlass
Contractors, Inc., will host it’s second
Jobsite Awareness Tour and toolbox talk
at the new Valero Headquarters, Loop
1604 and IH-10, at 7 am. Breakfast tacos
will be served.
April 14 – May 12: Blueprint Reading
Class at The Builder’s Exchange of Texas
offices (4047 Naco Perrin). Cost is $175 for
members, $190 for non-members. Call
210-342-1994 for reservations.
April 15, 16, and 17: OSHA 10-Hour
Training Class, at the chapter offices,
from 5:30 to 9 pm each night. Cost is $175
for members, $190 for non-members.
Space is limited. Call 210-342-1994 for
reservations.
The American Subcontractors Association
has found a new home! The ASA office
will be moving to 26254 IH-10 West,
Suite #115 in the south-bound office complex (past Rudy’s BBQ).
Notices will go out as soon as the move is
final. Don’t hesitate to come by and see
the new location!
April 15: The next member’s meeting will
be held at the Barn Door Restaurant.
May 20: The last member’s meeting before we take a short break for the summer.
For more information on any of the above
or ASA membership, call 210-349-2105.
AGC
April 17: Associated General Contractors, in conjunction with Midco and Protecta, will host a fall protection training
seminar at the Alamo Crane Services office, 16850 Alamo Parkway, Selma. The
seminar will be held from 8 am to 1 pm.
For more information, please call the
AGC office at 210-349-4921.
April 30 to May 3: The AGC Chapter
Leadership Conference for presidents/
vice presidents will be held in Washington, D.C. For more information, please
call the AGC office at 210-349-4921.
Sept. 13: Remember to save this date for
the exciting 10th Annual AGC Safety Fair
& Barbecue Cook-off. It will be held at
Camargo Park from 11am to 4pm. For
more information, please call the AGC
office at 210-349-4921.
CSI
April 22: The San Antonio Chapter of
Construction Specifications Institute will
meet at the Barn Door Restaurant, 5:30
pm. The featured speaker is Paul Montelongo. Check out his web site at
www.paulmontelongo.com. Be sure to
reserve a space early, we expect to fill up
the room.
RSVP to Pam Scribner,
210-647-8800 ext. 139, or email her at
pscribner@texaswilson.com no later than
5 pm, Fri. the 18th.
HCA
April 16: The Hispanic Contractors Association de San Antonio general meeting
will be held at the Bexar County Court
House, at the central jury room in the
basement of 300 Delarosa, at 6 pm.
Our host for the evening will be Renee
Watson, the county program manager of
the SMWBE office.
MCA-SMACNA
April 3: Mechanical Contractors Association – SMACNA will hold its 2003 Golf
Tournament at Pecan Valley Golf Club
beginning at 8 am. Proceeds will benefit
Skills USA-VICA competition
pits Marshall against Mac
T
he Skills USA Vocational Industrial
Clubs of America promotes high
school trades and technology programs across the country.
This year in San Antonio, groups of
students from John Marshall High School
and Douglas MacArthur High School in
various VICA competitions, including the
Practical Skills competition, the Projects
competition, the Written Technical-Related Math exam, and the Job Interview
competition. San Antonio Construction
News spoke with electrical instructor
Perry Callaway, Electrical Systems Technology, MacArthur High School.
“Of our 18 students who submitted
projects,” he said, “16 of those were
awarded blue ribbons advancing them
to the state level in Ft. Worth.”
The project competition is a competition in which the work is done at school.
Students pre-build an electrical application on a residential or commercial wall
section, utilizing the appropriate electrical components and code requirements.
Each project is judged individually for
neatness, accuracy, workability, and
meeting the criteria set forth in the National Electrical Code. Regardless of the
level of difficulty, which may differ based
on the experience of each student, each
project is based on its own merit.
In February, the Practical Skills
competition was held at the office of
the Independent Electrical Contractors,
in San Antonio. Of the six MacArthur students who participated in the Skills competition, they placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
The first-place winner was James Storey,
a senior, who will compete in skills in Ft.
Worth in April. Second place was Victor
Olivares and third place was Andrew
Johnson. Both were sophomores and
will compete in the State Electrical Written Technical Information Test.
John Marshall has a new instructor,
Joseph Luna. As a result, this was the
first year John Marshall High School students participated in the Skills competition in many years, with students taking
4th and 5th places.
NSPE 2003 Legacy to benefit
Witte’s aquifer exhibit
A
ttendees at the National Society
of Professional Engineers Annual
Convention (San Antonio, July 1012) will make a lasting impression on its
host city by leaving behind a legacy—a
major financial contribution to a worthwhile local charity. This year NSPE has
chosen a unique and cutting edge educational program as its 2003 Legacy.
The prestigious Witte Museum in
San Antonio is launching an ambitious
project to educate the public about one
of the critical issues facing the city—its
water supply. The museum is creating a
3-D real-time interactive virtual reality
simulation of the Edwards Aquifer—San
Antonio’s main source of water. The NSPE
2003 Legacy contribution will help get
this unique exhibit under way.
The project will focus on local
ground water sources and how water
works through natural and engineered
resources, and will be available on CD.
Habitat for Humanity. A buffet lunch and
awards will follow.
April 15: Customer Service Skills Seminar
in the Assembly Room of the Plumbers
and Pipefitters Apprenticeship School,
from 8 and to 4 pm.
April 1-25: Applications for sheet metal
workers apprenticeship will be accepted
at the apprenticeship school, M-F, mornings and afternoons, 130 Avenue Del Rey.
NARI
April 2: The National Association of the
Remodeling Industry - San Antonio
Chapter hosts a general membership
meeting at Sam’s Club, 12919 San Pedro
Ave., San Antonio. RSVP by calling 210496-7417.
March 2 – 24: NARI - San Antonio Chapter’s “Backyard Makeover Contest”, www.
citypublicservice.com
March 22 – Aug. 30: NARI-San Antonio
Chapter’s “2003 Deck of the Year & Outdoor Living Event.” Free to the public!
Every Sat., from 10 am until 2 pm, at Parrish & Co., 26995 Hwy 281 N., Ste. 100.
Contact Line: 210-732-9663.
NAWIC
April 2 : The National Association of
Women in Construction will host its general membership meeting at the Petroleum Club of San Antonio, 8620 N. New
Braunfels, San Antonio, Texas 78217. Networking starts at 5:30 pm, with dinner
served at 6:15 pm. This month’s topic will
be a “hands-on” minor plumbing repairs
demonstration (faucets, toilets, etc.). For
reservations or more information, contact Scotty Stanley at 210-651-9000.
Interested in joining NAWIC? Contact
Celeste Rowe at 210-344-0090.
PHCC-SA
April 10: The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of San Antonio will hold
its general membership meeting at Dave
& Buster’s from 11 am to 1 pm. Guest
speakers representing PHCC-Texas &
Texas Construction Association (TCA) will
discuss Legislative updates, Med-Gas
and Member Benefit Providers. Cost to
members is $15, and to non-members is
$20. RSVP: PHCC-San Antonio Office,
210-523-1540.
April 25: PHCC-SA Sporting Clay Tournament, Kid’s 22 Rifle Shoot, and BBQ
Cook-Off on Battle of Flowers Day, at Cedar Ridge Range, Bulverde. Call PHCCSan Antonio Office, 210-523-1540, for
more information.
Continuing Education for Plumbers
& Specialty Classes: 1-800-992-7422 or
www.phcc-tx.org
SAMCA
April 24: The San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association has scheduled its 7th
Annual Golf Classic at the Republic Golf
Club, 4226 S.E. Military Drive. The cost of
$90 per golfer includes green fees, lunch
buffet, beverages and a golf cart. For
anyone who would like to attend the
event, but does not want to play golf, the
cost is $25. Late registration (after April
11) the fees will be $100 for golfers and
$30 for non-golfers. The event will have a
1:30 pm shotgun start and registration
will begin at noon. To make reservations,
or obtain further information, call Michael Hunt at Curtis Hunt Restorations,
210-827-1167 or Debbie Mason, 830606-5556.
April 30: SAMCA will hold its monthly
general membership meeting at 12 pm,
at the Water Street Oyster Bar restaurant,
7500 Broadway. The guest speaker, Jaime
Elias, SouthTrust Bank, will discuss the
bank’s history, products and services.
The cost of lunch is $20 per person. To
obtain information or reservations for this
meeting, call Debbie at 830-606-5556.
PRO-LINE
PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
ASPHALT PAVING
ASPHALT OVERLAY
ASPHALT REPAIR
SEAL COATING
LINE STRIPING
TRAFFIC SIGNAGE
YOUR FULL SERVICE COMPANY!
“OVER 20 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE”
SAME DAY - NEXT DAY SERVICE
210.530.0062 • FAX 530.0064
MIKE & MARK CRAWFORD
P.O BOX 791324 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78279-1324
Business Card Exchange
lone star
reprographics, inc.
210–366–4808
210–366–4827 fax
1–800–683–3535
Large Format Printing
Monochrome/Color Scanning
Color Laser Copies
Monochrome/Color Plotting
Blueprinting/Supplies
Océ
Encad
HP Dealer
www.lonestarrepro.com
227 W. Nakoma • San Antonio, Tx 78216
GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC.
Over 30 years of combined experience in construction
• Interior Finishouts
• Government Construction
• Commercial & Residential
• Multi - Family Housing
Competative without sacrificing quality. Our staff of professionals
are committed to total client satisfaction
UTILITIES–EXCAVATION
210-649-4600
Call RL Rohde General Contracting for all of your construction needs.
12931 Hwy 87 S.
Adkins, Tx
78101
Ronnie Rohde, President
Off. 210.649.3130
Fax. 210.649.3110
Tom Smith, President
Pager 210-220-7975
Fax
210-649-4602
Chuck Sparrow,
Superintendent
CLASSIFIED ADS
NOTICES
BULLETINS
TIRE PROBLEMS
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
DISCOVERY CO.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
ALL SIZES
STOP FLATS WITH FOAM FILLING
OTR NEW & USED
WE BUY AND SELL
Peterson Tire, Inc.
210-738-1111
EQUIPMENT
Royall Matthiessen Monthly Special
KNAACK Model 89 Box
$489 while supply lasts
734-4363
USED
CONSTRUCTION
AND SALVAGE
CELL. 210.313.8086
830.663.5951
METRO. 830.665.2160
DEVINE, TX 78016
Now a stocking
distributor of
Senergy Coating &
Finish Products
Lynwood Building Materials
Downtown
1146 W. Laurel
210-477-3000
Northside
15262 Capital Port
210-408-9052
On Location
We don’t just
publish newspapers!
Caught in the act again at the NWTF Banquet is Tom Hewitt with Guaranty Insurance Services.
Say what?
COLOR
e
p
r
FLYERS
i
n
t
s
Broadway Bank will open a new location on 281 North soon.
Malitz Construction, Inc. is the general contractor.
FLYERS
S
T
A
T
I
O
N
E
R
Y
FLYERS
M
MAIL
DIRECT
FLYERS
Brochures
Directories
The 45,000 sf Orthopedic Medial Office Building of South Texas is going up in Stone Oak.
General contractor is Rowland Companies.
Corporate
Presentations
Handbooks
graphics
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
The management team at Cooper Equipment. (L-R) Fred Jose, product support manager for
parts and service; Peggy Palmer, vice president; Jerry Smith, assistant service manager; and
Malcolm Meek, assistant parts manager. Wait a minute. Where’s George?
caters to the
Construction Industry by providing turnkey
graphics services, printing and distribution.
Give Us a Call
In Austin (512) 447-2900
In San Antonio (210) 308 -5800
or email: reesa@constructionnews.net
Michael Crawford (R) of Pro-Line Pavement Maintenance oversees a project
at Bulverde Methodist Church
Builders First Source hosts GSABA mixer
O
ver 300 Greater San Antonio
Builders Association (GSABA)
members and their guests gathered at Builders First Source for a
monthly networking event catered by
Black Tie Affair. GSABA’s executive vice
president, Becky Oliver, and staffers
welcomed members as they arrived on
Thurs., March 20th.
Builders First Source purchased
Fisher Lumber in 2001. Vice president of
operations, Dave Fisher, said his affilia-
tion with GSABA has been steadfast for 22
years.
Event coordinator Christian Finke,
group sales manager, Builders First
Source, said he wanted to host a mixer
for a long time.
“This year, I’m the president of the
Associates Council for the builders association, and our number came up! Some
of the homebuilders and associate members may not have been here before, and
this is an opportunity for them to see our
products and network with their fellow
association
members. This is an
‘Open House’ for us,
in the sense that it
gives us a chance to
bring people in, tell
them what we can
do, and try to sell
them some products.”
One of the drawing
cards of the evening’s
mixer included a
chance to win $800
in cash. Unfortunately, the winning ticket
belonged to Craig
Glendenning, Post
Oak Development,
who was not present
to win and forfeited
his chance for cash.
Ironically, this was
the second time in a
row Craig’s ticket was
drawn for the cash
prize, and he didn’t
stick around to claim
it. The cash pot will
L-R: BFS’ Greg Davis, Mike Shaddock, Jr., Chip Colbert,
and Dan Klobedans.
continue to grow.
Members gather amidst the door and window product lines.
L-R: Dave Fisher, BFS, Eddie Muehlenberg, The Housing Consultant; Christian Finke, BFS,
Sherry Christofilis, Hotchkiss Insurance; and Damon Christofilis, Burdick & Christofilis.

April - Construction News

Transcription

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