December - Construction News

Transcription

Covering the Industry’s News
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South Texas
CONSTRUCTION
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The Industry’s Newspaper
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Volume 2
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Number 12
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DECEMBER 2014
A new home
Gimme shelter
H&E Equipment Services new facility in Corpus Christi is open for business.
McAllen Valley Roofing employees pose in front of the
company logo at its new location in McAllen.
I
t’s a new day in a new home for H&E
Equipment Services in Corpus Christi.
For branch manager Tom Hennig, the
day couldn’t come soon enough.
“Business has been great and we had
outgrown our previous facility,” Hennig
says.
The new location for the equipment
services company opened on Oct. 1 at
7809 IH-37 South in Corpus Christi.
Began in 1961 by Tom Engquist and
Frank Head, the company grew rapidly
with several mergers along the way.
There are currently 69 locations nationwide. Between 1999 and 2001, new
branch offices included the one in Corpus Christi, which specialized in aerial
lifts only.
The branch has grown and now specializes in earthmoving equipment, general construction equipment and carrydeck cranes, as well as aerial equipment.
“We also offer equipment sales, parts
and service,” Hennig says.
The new 22,000-sf facility sits on eight
acres and boasts expanded services.
As many in the southern part of Texas are experiencing, H&E Equipment is
seeing an uptick in business due in large
part to the Eagle Ford Shale, which is
driving a booming economy.
The important part for Hennig is that
his staff gets the majority of the credit for
propelling the branch upwards.
T
hree years ago, Brian McSteen and
Alfredo Villalobos combined their
vision for how to run an effective
business into McAllen Valley Roofing.
That collective concept proved very
successful, as the company has already
outgrown its original location and moved
into a much larger facility.
“This is the land of mañana,” McSteen
said. “You can’t operate like that if you
want to be successful. We do what we say
we are going to do.”
According to vice president of operations Pat Roth, the company is one of the
fastest growing in the Rio Grande Valley.
“We have seven to nine jobs running
continued on Page 14
at a time,” he said.
All three are quick to point to the employees as a large part of the company’s
success.
“We like people to realize it’s not just
one person,” McSteen says. “When you
call, there’s going to be someone here.”
The partners look for employees that
hold the same value and work ethic they
do.
“We might interview 25 people for a
single job,” McSteen says. “Hiring the
right people makes everything flow easier and smoother. There’s no dead weight.
They all carry their load and demand it of
Facing the challenge
A
ction was needed quickly. The University of Texas-Pan American’s
(UTPA) six-story Student Services
and Executive Tower, located near the
center of the main campus in Edinburg,
was losing face.
In other words, the brick veneer was
falling off.
The main campus hosts the majority
of UTPA’s 20,000 students and the Student Services and Executive Tower is the
primary destination of all visitors and potential students. The problem was that
the exterior brick cladding allowed moisture to enter in between the cladding,
building framing and sheathing. The
moisture caused the brick ties and brick
ledges to corrode, causing a severe safety
risk to facility users.
Alpha Building Corporation’s Edinburg office came to the rescue with a
renovation and rehabilitation of the
48,000-sf building. The project value was
$1,862,745.40. The project started on
Nov. 21, 2013 and completed on July 20,
2014.
The project consisted of 32,000 man
hours between Alpha and the subcontractors, which included estimating, constructability review, product research,
materials testing, scheduling, project
management, superintendence, safety
planning, quality control and project
close out.
Included in the scope of work was
pre-engineered suspended scaffolding.
A covered tunnel walkway was constructed to protect pedestrians at the main entrances. Existing brick veneer, mortar and
brick ties were removed and disposed of,
and in addition, lintels that were deemed
structurally unsound were removed and
replaced.
Coping caps on the perimeter of the
roof were removed and all sheet metal
The facelift of the University of Texas –Pan Am Student Services
and Executive Tower is complete.
Page 2
S
South Texas Construction News • Dec 2014
Powering up in Pleasanton
tarted in 1985 by
Doug Poole, AP Electric is one of the largest electrical contractors in
the Pleasanton area.
“We do it all – residential, commercial, oil field,”
says general manager Brice
Bivens. “We get tons of
business from the Shale. It’s
a wonderful thing.”
With 50 employees in
the field and an additional
nine in administration, Bivens says the company has
the manpower to handle
the job and enjoys many repeat customers.
“Our philosophy is customer first,” he says. “I want
to say we are the best. We L-R: Sharon Mahan, secretary; Doug Pool, owner; Brice Bivens,
are local and we have the
general manager; Jerry Revels, project manager
manpower. We try to do it
all ourselves and not sub anything out.”
have no reportables (incidences of work Employees are hired with an eye to place injury or death).
retention, Bivens says.
“We are real big in safety and family
“I try to find employees that are in for first,” Bivens said.
the duration,” he said.
The company also offers compensa And unlike many other businesses tion for employees who want to upgrade
located around Eagle Ford Shale, Bivens their skills for possible upward mobility.
says AP is not competing for employees.
Bivens says they like to hire employ That’s partly because the company ees who are new to the field.
culture encourages safety, family and the “I like to start them green,” he says.
ability to move up if desired.
“We can train them from the start. It
There is a monthly safety meeting, builds loyalty.”
on-the-job safety briefings and training, Together, employees participate in
job safety analysis (JSA) as required to plenty of events, like the recent Pleasanwork in the oilfield and the company be- ton Homecoming barbecue cookoff. –cw
longs to ISNetworld. So far in 2014, they
Buffalo strong
I
The Guerra family enjoys traveling and exploring new places.
n Native American lore, the symbolic
meaning of the word “buffalo” is provision, gratitude, abundance, consistency, strength, stability, blessing and prosperity.
It’s what spurred Alfredo (Freddie)
Jr. and wife, Esmeralda, Guerra to name
their new Weslaco company Buffalo
Construction in 2001.
“We liked what it stood for,” Freddie
says.
He came into the new company with
plenty of experience.
“I have been in the construction business for 20 years as a partner with my
brother,” Alfredo says. “In 2001, after a lot
of prayer, we decided to emerge as our
own company. We wanted to start a company that was different to everyone else.”
It was a good decision, as born out
by the company’s business.
“Today, Buffalo contracts with over
100 companies, which include experienced professional craftsmen in all aspects of construction - all focused on one
goal, that the services provided exceed
the expectations of our customer,” Alfre-
do explains. “We have an exceptional
safety record, we conduct pre-job safety
meetings and safety is our highest priority. Everyone goes home to their families
the same way they came to work.”
Although his crew is subcontracted,
it’s for the long-term.
“All of my subs have been with me
for at least 13 years or more,” he says.
“They come to work for me every day.”
In their spare time, the couple likes to
run marathons for charity – although
Freddie explains it’s mostly Esmeralda
doing the long marathon running.
“She loves to run,” he says.
The couple has visited many places,
including San Diego and New Orleans to
run in the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathons.
Another place you will find the Guerras is teaching at their church. They both
help guide young Catholics through their
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)
classes. In addition, Esmeralda helps with
the children’s choir.
The couple has four children: Brittany, 19; Bianca, 16; Alfredo “Freddie” Guerra III; and Vica, 13. –cw
Construction News ON LOCATION
Only the best will do
Omar Villarreal and Omar Villarreal Jr. of Best Granite gear up for
a day of selling granite slabs in Weslaco. –cw
South Texas
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Cyndi Wright, South Texas Editor: STeditor@ConstructionNews.net 210-308-5800
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Page 3
Industry jobs, just click
Caulfield to lead NDA
statewide coalition
of Associated General Contractors (AGC)
building chapters has taken
the effort to address statewide labor shortages and
craft training needs to the
Internet. Fittingly enough,
the Texas Construction Careers website, texasconstruc tioncareers.com,
launched soon after Labor
Day.
The virtual seeds were
planted last summer when
10 “partners” agreed on a
A screen shot of the front page of the new website.
simple business plan: “The
primary purpose of the website is to es- ers are using the site to advertise open
tablish and maintain a ‘go to’ online des- positions.”
tination in Texas for information about Owners are those who purchase contraining, education, and job placement struction services. He observes that many
as well as career opportunities for stu- owners are willing to help address the
dents and military veterans.”
skilled labor shortage. He adds, “For ex Doug McMurry, executive vice pres- ample, in Houston, some owners are willident of AGC San Antonio, states, “The ing to pay more for construction services,
plan grew out of some discussions if contractors are working ‘to positively
among industry leaders at the AGC of address the issues facing the craft workAmerica Building Division. We knew Wis- er,’” citing Construction Career Collaboraconsin had a workforce development tive (C3).
site, but we wanted to create one for a “By working together, owners and inTexas audience and make it bigger and dustry leaders can achieve greater rebetter.“
sults. We plan to continue our statewide
McMurry also points out that before marketing efforts during the last quarter.
this website, the industry didn’t have an In January, we’ll publish a progress report
online job bank that focused solely on with financial data for the original 10
Texas and construction, forcing firms to partners. We may use the report to reach
turn to paid space on Monster and similar out to other interested parties.”
sites. He says, “We wanted to give them a While McMurry comments that Texas
Texas option – an affordable, profession- Construction Careers is one small part of
al, not-for-profit place to go.”
the solution, he emphasizes that it pro
This collaborative effort between 10 vides an online resource for anyone interAGC chapters, including TEXO, is still a ested in construction workforce developwork in progress. The industry’s recep- ment. He states that the partners may
tion has been encouraging, McMurry also work to establish a statewide Connotes, adding, “Interestingly, public own- struction Careers Collaborative. –mh
NDA President Jeff
he National DemoliKroeker of Kroeker, Inc. in
tion Association (NDA)
Fresno, Calif., said, "Her
recently announced
proven abilities in advocathat Cheryl Caulfield, IOM,
cy, membership developCAE has joined the associament and member education as executive director.
tion will be incredible asCaulfield is replacing NDA
sets to NDA.” Executive Director Michael
Caulfield holds a bachR. Taylor, CAE, who is retirelor’s degree in political sciing from the association afence from Old Dominion
ter 25 years of service. University, a Certified Asso
Caulfield has more than
ciation Executive designa20 years of association exCheryl Caulfield
tion from American Society
perience.
“Among my goals moving forward is of Association Executives and a Certified
to increase public awareness about the Institute Organization Management desmany ways the demolition industry is ignation from the United States Chamber
making way for a more sustainable of Commerce. world,” Caulfied said. “I want communi- “My pledge to the members of the
ties to understand how demolition helps NDA is to enhance the products and serthem re-invent their futures. And, I want vices we provide that enable them to keep
governmental agencies to know that de- their businesses safe, profitable and promolition contractors have the equipment ductive.” She said. “We’ll renew our focus
and skills necessary to effectively respond on education and safety training, professional competency, membership developto both natural and manmade disasters.”
Caulfield spent a number of years ment and government advocacy.” –cw
working for building and real estate associations. A
Round-Up
Amanda S. Barber
joined Raba Kistner, Inc. as enterprise quality officer
for the firm and its
subsidiaries, including 14 offices across
the state of Texas,
Utah, Mexico and
New York. With
more than 15 years of experience in quality management programs, she will be
responsible for the implementation and
management of the firm’s Quality Management System (QMS). She earned her
bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Louisiana Tech University.
She also holds a bachelor’s in chemistry
and is an ASQ-certified quality auditor.
SpawGlass Operations Manager Eric
Kennedy has been
promoted to president, South Texas
Region. Kennedy is
a 14-year veteran of
SpawGlass. He will
be directly responsible for the overall
leadership of the
South Texas operations as president. He
graduated from Texas A&M University in
2000 with a degree in Construction Science and Architecture.
Submissions
This is a section for brief company
announcements of new or recently
promoted personnel, free of charge
as space allows.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Email with “Round-Up” in the subject
line (w/digital photo, if available)
by the 15th of any month, for the
next month’s issue to:
SAeditor@constructionnews.net
T
Page 4
tirety from the different houses. Everybody had it on their TV.
What other types of jobs have you
had?
One year, dad gave us a plot to grow
tomatoes. We worked really hard and
grew a lot of good tomatoes. We had
them sold to a large grocery chain that
came in two big trucks to pick them up.
After they had them loaded in their
trucks, they found out the price of tomatoes had dropped and they dumped
them all out right on the ground.
That’s when I decided I wasn’t going
to be a farmer. (laughs)
Frank Hale, Owner
Rio Elevator Company, Inc.
T
he Scots blood running through
Frank Hale’s veins is evident in the
stories he tells of himself and his father. Hardworking, stubborn and rebellious become common threads. Luckily
for Hale, a strong faith in God also played
a large part in the decisions and paths
that brought him to where he is today as
owner of Rio Elevator Company in Harlingen, a company started by his father, Sydney William Hale.
Tell me about your early life.
I was born when we were on a goat
ranch outside of Wichita Falls, TX. It was a
three-room house – two bedrooms and a
larger room was the living room, dining
and kitchen. My parents had something
to do with the goats, but I’m not sure
what. They came from farm families,
grew up near Ballinger and had been
high school sweethearts.
What was the family doing in Wichita
Falls?
My father became an elevator mechanic with Otis Elevator in Wichita Falls.
His uncle, Lewis Hale, building engineer
in the grand Meacham Building, got him
that job.
He hadn’t wanted to be a mechanic;
he wanted to be a salesman. But good
jobs were difficult to come by.
When did you leave?
Dad was exempt from the draft. He
was in what was called a critical industry
– the elevator trade, but he soon joined
the U.S. Navy and served as an electrician
servicing submarines and such in the Pacific.
When you see pictures of those guys
riding in a chair on a line strung between
ships – that was my dad.
While he was away, we went back to
Ballinger to live with my mom’s family. I
spent time with my great-grandfather,
Dr. Frank Hale, a pioneer doctor in Ballinger after whom I was named.
Tell me about growing up.
I hated school. I have since found out
I am dyslexic and I also needed glasses,
but we didn’t know that. I was younger
than most of the other kids. I was the
class clown because I didn’t like school.
In the third grade, a school teacher
told my mom that I couldn’t see the
blackboard and I got my first pair of
glasses.
My mother cried when I stood on the
front porch and told her I could see leaves
on trees and wires on the poles across
the street. She didn’t know I couldn’t see.
Frank Hale is a large part of the success of Harlingen’s downtown revitalization.
Did school get better as you got older?
Not really. I was really good at playing hooky. But then, in my senior year I
decided I wanted to go to Texas A&M.
Actually, my girlfriend’s brother was
an Aggie and she wanted me to go there
too.
I was about to graduate high school
and knew I was not prepared and able to
get into A&M, so I went to Principal Gorden Nix and promised I would behave if
he’d let me do an extra year of high
school. He laughed, but then said “Ok, I’d
like to see that.”
So you went to A&M?
Yes, but I didn’t graduate. But while I
was there, I majored in mechanical engineering, was on the Aggieland (yearbook) staff and two years on the wrestling team. I thrived in the corp.
Meanwhile, my heart-throb married
one of my best friends. She wasn’t as crazy about me as I was about her (laughs). I
hitchhiked home to attend their wedding.
How did you end up in the Rio Grande
Valley?
When I was around 10 years old, Otis
moved my dad to the Valley in 1949.
I used to travel with him when I was
off school. I’d sleep in the elevator while
he worked on them at night. He’d bang
on the cables to wake me up and say,
“OK, try going up.”
My ambition was to be like my dad. I
thought elevator men were the greatest,
being as how my dad was one.
How did you get into the business?
While I was at A&M, I worked parttime for ESCO in Fort Worth. I worked for
Bob Lockridge.
That’s where I found out about elevator men. Back then, they traveled all
over – repairing and selling elevators.
There were some real criminals in that
bunch. I saw things I had never seen before. But I didn’t get involved.
One of my bosses was a real monster.
What kept you out of it?
Because I believe in God and I’m
scared of Him (laughs). I’m a Christian. It
kept me out of major trouble.
What happened next?
I wanted to go to night school and
finish my degree, but I met and married
Kathy and we started having babies.
She passed away in 2006 after 43
years of marriage.
We have three children, Bud, Marie
and Cynthia.
How did you end up with Rio Elevator?
ESCO offered me a job in Houston
and I agreed to work there for five years.
My dad had parted ways with Otis and
was doing different things. Over a period
of time he acquired elevator contracts
and opened Rio Elevator.
Otis actually underbid my dad on
contracts, but he got the contracts anyway. Remember, he wanted to be a salesman and he was very good at it and very
persuasive.
We had talked about going into
business together many times, but we
just couldn’t come to an agreement on
how it would work.
He’s really a Scotsman. There were
hard times, but every penny mattered.
I had a family and was making great
money at ESCO.
After the five years were up, we
came to an agreement on Jan. 1, 1971. I
would do the work and he would do the
sales.
It seems your parents gave you a good
work ethic.
My mom, Freda, was a bookkeeper.
She did all of Rio’s books, as well as many
other clients in town.
My parents put us out early (referring to he and his brother).
At age 13, my father gave me a paper route and a car. I didn’t have a license
so I had to hire a high school kid to drive
me around.
The route was more than 60 miles.
Some of my customers were little grocery stores and I’d give them papers to
sell for credit in the store that the family
could use for groceries. I was really proud
of that.
On the weekends, my girlfriend and
I would drive from house to house collecting for the paper. We could watch
the Lawrence Welk show almost in its en-
Tell me about Lupita.
Lupita and I married in January 2010.
She owns Lupita’s Rebozos. Most people
don’t understand what a rebozo is. It’s
not a typical shawl. A rebozo is long and
can be worn in various ways. Many women use it as a baby carrier. The ones Lupita gets are handwoven in this little
town in Mexico.
Unfortunately, with the unrest in
Mexico due to drug cartels, it has been
harder to get this particular rebozo.
What do you and Lupita like to do?
Most of our travel has been in connection with her business – trade shows,
etc.
She also stages fashion shows at
meetings and conventions.
We have traveled for pleasure in Belize and Hawaii, among other places.
My brother lives in Hawaii. He is part
of a community there that makes a special, very high-end coffee. It’s been very
profitable.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to read. I read the Bible. I used
to own a sailboat, a Sunfisher, and I loved
that.
I serve on the downtown revitalization board. I’m an elder at my church,
Missouri Synod Lutheran. Kathy and I
used to teach at the Literacy Center.
A project close to my heart is the
Harlingen Veterans Memorial. We built it
after the first young man died in Desert
Storm in 2007. I’m now the chairman. You
can read more about it at HarlingenVeterans.com. –cw
Frank’s wife, Lupita, owns this little shop
in downtown Harlingen, filled with many
special items from Mexico.
Page 5
Let’s get profitable: Planning
ahead for 2015
GPS for your business: Identify
your top three business growth
and profit opportunities
Jeff Norwood, Executive Vice President
The Nitsche Group
Giddings, TX
Byron Hebert, CPA, CTP, Director
Entrepreneurial Advisory Services
PKF Texas
Houston, TX
G
rowth and profits are key to the success of any business, but how do you get there? The Growth & Profit Solution (GPS) gives you direction in your business, much the same as a global positioning system (also GPS) does in your car.
Below are ten factors that are key to the profit and growth of your business:
1. Vision – where do you see your
company in the future? Most people’s vision is to do better than last year. In today’s global economy, that approach will
not work. Have a vision with some stepchange in it. It is likely to include divestments, acquisitions and new products
and services.
2. Profit – is essential for cash flow,
dividends to shareholders, and funding
your growth. Profit is also a direct reflection of your customer service.
3. Sales and marketing – generates
growth and career opportunities. People
generally do an average job of both.
Sales are the life-blood of the organization. The sales process should be a machine that can be tweaked at will. Sales
are not just about increasing the top line
of the business. Sales that improve margin create more profit.
4. Technology – gives you leverage
and efficiency, as well as reinforces your
professionalism. Technology includes
machines, new technical innovations,
and social media initiatives. Technology
changes quickly, so it is essential to stay
on top of it.
5. Leadership – provides direction
and inspiration to the people. Leadership
is often overlooked, in part because there
has been little innovation in leadership.
How often do you brush up your leadership skills?
6. People and team dynamics – the
key resource for making it all happen. A
general rule is a third of your people are
fantastic; a third, you wonder how they
got there; and the remaining third are
somewhere in-between. People are one
of the biggest costs, but one we tend to
do little to improve.
7. Strategy – making sure you are
competitive and successful. Do you understand your competitive advantage? Is
it sustainable? Do you use it to make decisions? Are you planning to make significant improvements to your business this
year?
8. Growth – essential for survival in a
global economy. Growth creates opportunities, but requires an investment of
resources and careful management. The
challenge is in making sure you keep the
level of risk under control during times of
growth.
9. Innovation – the application of
clever thinking and solutions to your
business problems. Under-pinning most
of the other factors is innovation. Keep in
mind the Pareto Rule, 20% of what you
do creates 80% of your results. Therefore, 80% of what you do has limited
value. How can you apply innovation to
make you a better leader, create more
sales, recruit better people and make
more profits?
10. Continuous improvement –
the never-ending journey of continuously improving all your business processes.
The Japanese word, Kaizen, means continuously improving all the processes in
your organization, using all the people.
Do you do this? Changing just a few
things each day becomes a significant
improvement in your business.
Understanding the key factors facing your business at any specific time is
essential for you. What are your current
constraints? Businesses aren’t static. As
you improve in one area, for example
technology, the constraint moves to
something else, say profit. Where are
your three biggest opportunities for improvement?
Why do I need to do better?
The first thing you need to assume is
you may need to exit the business on
short notice. If you had to sell within the
next three months, is the business in a
condition to transition to someone else?
Imagine if your annual sales growth was
15% and your profits were growing at
30% annually. What price would you get
for the business? What if you had a management team not dependent on you
and a great customer base with longterm contracts? Now what price could
you get for the business? How would
that make you feel each day? It might be
a lot more fun!
Based in Houston, PKF Texas CPAs and
Advisors is dedicated to the growth of middle market construction companies and
other service/product related businesses in
the energy economy. Visit PKFTexas.com/
GPSDiagnostic for more information.
The circus is coming
F
or now, the good times are back. After a long and
slow recovery, we are finally seeing trucks moving,
cranes going up and help wanted signs everywhere. I
know for my clients, this recovery has been a long time coming, and we hope it continues well into the future. But, none of us know how long this will last. What we do
know is that we have to make hay while the sun is shining.
With all the growth we are seeing,
many contractors are venturing into
new areas of construction. This is great;
it can increase operations allowing the
company to be available for more jobs.
It can help spread out the income, so if
one area starts to fall another may be
able to help prop it up. Most of all, it
should increase profits. Nobody knowingly wants to lose money or just break
even, so increasing profits should be a
top priority.
With all this market growth comes
opportunity, risk and reward. While we
certainly cannot predict the future or
protect against all risk, there are a few
things we can do to be better prepared.
Before you venture out into new areas of construction, make a call to your
insurance agent. Discuss what new
types of work you will be doing. It could
be that you already have the correct
class codes on your general liability and
workers compensation, but more than
likely you do not.
Based on what you tell the agent,
he/she will be able to find the correct
codes and give you current rates. This
will allow you to bid the work knowing
the full cost of insurance up front. Rates
vary greatly, and could easily cause a
profitable venture to become unprofitable. By adding the class codes and
knowing the rates now, you should be
able to avoid a nasty surprise at audit.
The next thing you should start
looking at is your financials. In the past
18 months, we have seen many firms
grow by 20% to 50%. These firms
worked hard and were in the right place
at the right time. In order to keep growing, you may need to either establish a
bond line or move your current one up
to the next level.
don’t know what they’re looking for. Before making end of year decisions, visit
with your agent and discuss what type
of bond program you are looking for
and build a plan to get there.
December 31 is looming close, and
is the date many firms typically close
out their books for the year. But before
you close out the year, speak with your
agent and discuss what changes you
need to make. You may find that you’re
sitting on more cash than you considered possible, so you consider paying
off debt. Depending on the situation,
that may or may not be a good idea. The
problem is once you spend the cash,
you may hit reverse and get the debt
back, leaving you right back at square
one.
It can be easy to get caught up in
your current business conditions and
forget about the needs of the future.
You may be busier now than you have
been in the past five years, and that is a
great place to be.
But, you should always be looking
toward tomorrow. Set yourself up for a
profitable new year. Speak with your insurance agent and find out what you
can do to set yourself and your company up for success in 2015.
The Nitsche Group was created with
the independent spirit of a small-town
businessman in 1949. Then, known as the
Hannes Insurance Agency, the company
had only two employees at one location in
Giddings, Texas. Today, we have more
than 100 employees at nine locations
across Texas to serve our ever-growing client base. Jeff Norwood is a graduate of
Texas A&M, and Executive Vice President
with The Nitsche Group where he has
worked for the past 15 years. He specializes in construction insurance and bonding.
Jeff can be reached at 254.493.4600 or
JeffN@TheNitscheGroup.com
It can be hard to make yourself attractive to the surety company if you
Specializing in Industrial Scrap Metal
& Container Service
We buy Aluminum, Brass, Copper, Iron, Stainless Steel,
Steel, Brass & Radiators
These sparkly circus animals were seen on the side of Hwy. 83 outside of McAllen.
They are advertising an upcoming circus. –cw
2300 Frio City Rd.
210-927-2727
www.monterreyiron.com
Page 6
High attendance
Pay-if-paid clauses: Shifting
risk vs. getting paid on time
Courtney Willis, President
Willis Law, PLLC
Addison, TX
“W
e’ll pay you when we get paid”: it’s frequently
heard in construction, and probably just as frequently the start of a payment dispute. Parties hope to
be paid quickly after performing on projects, but if
they’re not careful and haven’t read their contracts, they may discover that the upstream parties do not actually have to pay until they are paid first.
Chapter 56 of the Texas Business and
Commerce Code, titled “Agreements for
Payment of Construction Subcontractor”,
governs what are known as contingent
payment clauses. Commonly referred to
as “pay-if-paid” clauses, they are related
to and often confused with “pay-whenpaid” clauses, though the two are very
different. Pay-if-paid means that a “contingent payor,” usually the GC, is obligated to pay its “contingent payee,” the subcontractor, only if it first receives payment from the owner or upstream party.
If it does not receive payment, it
does not have to pay the subcontractor
at any particular time. Put another way,
the subcontractor assumes the risk of
non-payment by the owner under a payif-paid clause. Pay-when-paid means that
a GC is still obligated to pay its subcontractor regardless of what the owner
does.
Under Chapter 56, contingent payment clauses can apply to contracts for
construction, construction management
and for the supply of materials. It excludes contracts for design services,
some types of projects relating to civil
engineering construction, and most
types of residential construction.
Pay-if-paid clauses are enforceable
in Texas, but there are limits on their effectiveness. For instance, a GC that has
breached its contract with the owner
cannot refuse to pay a subcontractor under a pay-if-paid clause unless the ultimate reason for non-payment is the subcontractor’s breach. Additionally, pay-ifpaid clauses are unenforceable in ‘sham
contract’ scenarios where the owner
controls the GC or is the GC.
Contingent payment clauses are also
unenforceable if they are “unconscionable.” The full meaning of “unconscionable” is beyond the scope of this article,
but the term is typically used when one
party takes advantage of the other to a
grossly unfair extent. To protect itself
against the claim of unconscionability, a
GC using a contingent payment clause
should get the owner’s financial information on the project and disclose it to the
subcontractor upfront. The GC should
also make reasonable efforts to collect
from its upstream parties or offer to assign the GC’s causes of action against the
upstream party(ies) for nonpayment.
Interestingly, parties to a pay-if-paid
clause have some room to maneuver
when it comes to enforcement. The subcontractor can deactivate the clause by
applying for payment in accordance with
the contract, and objecting to the clause
to the GC in writing 45 days after applying for the payment. The notice effectively renders the clause unenforceable eight
to 11 days later, depending on the type of
project.
Predictably, the notice sent by a subcontractor is ineffective when it hasn’t
performed under its contract. As a general rule of thumb, all notices should be
sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by other means that allow
the subcontractor to prove the GC received the notice.
The GC can override the subcontractor’s notice by sending its own notice
that the clause is enforceable, which
must be received by the subcontractor at
least five days before the effective date of
the subcontractor’s notice, or the fifth
day after the GC received the subcontractor’s notice, whichever is later.
Got it? The subcontractor can invalidate the clause if the GC sleeps on its
rights. The GC can enforce the clause if it
responds to the subcontractor’s notice
on time. As always, timing is crucial, and
the parties must have read their contracts and understand their rights and
obligations. Doing so just might enable a
subcontractor to get paid on a project
when they could otherwise be forced to
wait indefinitely, or, conversely, allow a
GC to minimize its exposure to liability
when it hasn’t been paid either.
Willis Law, PLLC offers litigation and
consultation services on commercial and
residential construction matters state-wide.
Courtney Willis can be reached at (972)
481-1779, or at cwillis@willislawpllc.com.
The NAWIC Region 7 APC was well attended.
T
he National Women in Construction
(NAWIC) Region 7 APC was held
Nov 7-8 at the Omni Corpus Christi
Hotel. About 100 members and guests
from all over Texas and Oklahoma attended. Additionally, eight members
from other states attended the event.
Corpus Christi #4 Chapter had nine members in attendance. –cw
L-R, front: NAWIC CC chapter members Vickie
Thompson and Virginia Llanas and back,
Patricia Lovas and Darlene Lee Omana CCA,
CIT, CCRRC man the registration desk.
To the ‘Tee’
O
n Friday, Oct. 24, Associated General Contractors – Rio Grande Valley (AGC) held its annual Fall Classic Golf Tournament at Harlingen Country Club. Congrats to the winners! –cw
“A” Flight
1st place: David Garza, Homer Guerra –
Alamo Concrete
2nd place: Mark Pratt, James Kaechele –
Pratt Insurance
“B” Flight
1st place: Marco Moreno, Diego Gonzales
– CMC Construction Services
2nd place: Tre Peacock, Trey Jennings –
Peacock General Contractors
“A” Flight 1st Place:L-R: David Garza,
Homer Guerra, Alamo Concrete
DAL place: Albert Garza, Armando Garza
– Vision Construction
Blind Draw: Danny Deleon, Wayne
Beneke – Bush Supply
Closest to the Pin
“A” Flight: Gilbert Ozune – Southern Steel
“B” Flight: Wayne Beneke – Bush Supply
Construction News JOB SIGHT
Soup’s on!
Long Drive
“A” Flight: James Kaechele – Pratt Insurance
“B” Flight: Roger Gonzales - CAPA
“B” Flight, 1st Place: L-R: Marco Moreno,
Diego Gonzales (not pictured), Mike Cantu,
CMC Construction Services
Want Reprints?
Full Color, Press Quality Digital Reprints available on
any item in Construction News – $42 includes tax
Perfect for framing in the office, a promo
item, for the website or as a gift.
Digital Press Quality PDF is emailed to you. Print as many
as you like. Can also be printed by any graphics
service provider, on any paper selection, size, or finish.
Victor Rubio and Rick Alonza of Weslaco Glass are helping The Soup Doctor Rudy Valdez
renovate a historical building that will house a kitchen and catering service in McAllen. –cw
To request a reprint . . .
• Email to: reprints@constructionnews.net
• Indicate you would like to purchase a reprint, and a credit card form will be
emailed for you to complete and return.
If you have any questions, contact the SA home office at (210) 308-5800
Page 7
Colder weather
brings bigger fish
by Capt. Steve Schultz
Sponsored by:
Premier Yamaha Boating Center, Majek
Boats, E-Z Bel Construction, Power
Pole Shallow Water Anchor, Aggregate
Haulers, Interstate Batteries, Pure Fishing,
Mirr-O-Lure and Columbia Sportswear.
W
OW! Another year is just about
gone. If you’re like me, you’re
probably wondering where time
went. I’m sitting here and still can’t believe that I’m writing my last column for
the 2014 year. This has been a very tough
year for me and my family because of my
injury that occurred last spring. Gladly, I
have almost made a full recovery and am
looking forward to the 2015 fishing season. I know I have said this in some of my
previous columns, but I would like to
thank everyone again for the support and
generosity on the benefit that help me
make it through this year.
Although the calendar may say it’s
the end of the year, it doesn’t say it is the
end of fishing for the year. Winter fishing
is just as popular as any other of the seasons. Many anglers wait for the colder
months to fish because, typically, you
catch bigger fish during winter months.
As we move into pre-winter fishing patterns, keep in mind that one must slow
down his retrieve as temperatures continue to drop. As water temps fall, fish become lethargic and feed less frequently.
Tres Agulair was flawless while fighting this 40-inch+ redfish to the boat.
Fish was caught in Baffin Bay on live perch.
Wade fishing is usually the norm
during this time of the year, slow rolling
soft plastics and suspending baits over
soft mud and rocks in Baffin Bay. While
top water baits land some of the largest
specks during warmer months, they will
still land some large trout throughout
the winter. Don’t be afraid to give your
favorite plug a few casts, especially
amidst an abundance of mullet. If you
catch one of these beauties make sure
you handle them with care. Their only
protection against predators is their
slimy coating. Try to keep them wet
while taking photos and never use a towel to handle them, as you will remove
their natural defense.
Preparing for your wade fish trip is a
must. Waders become a necessity until
spring and should be checked for leaks.
Winter conditions can be very harsh at
times in South Texas, but are extremely
harsh when on the water. Proper clothing and gear are a must for a comfortable
day on the bay. I’ve seen many folks not
be able to concentrate on what’s happening on the end of their line because
STEVE SCHULTZ OUTDOORS, LLC
BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT
SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER
FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS
(361) 949-7359
www.baffinbaycharters.com
steveschultzoutdoors@gmail.com
U.S. Coast Guard &
Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed
they are having some sort of malfunction
with their clothing or gear. Don’t be frugal when purchasing your wading gear!
Simms waders are the top of the line and
they stand behind their products.
I would like to wish everyone a very
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New
Year. Looking forward to a great fishing
season in 2015. To schedule your next
bay fishing trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a
call at 361-813-3716 or 361-334-3105, or
Flounder like these are starting to show
up along drop-offs near deep water. This
22-inch flounder caught by Capt. Steve
Schultz fell for a free lined mud minnow
near the Humble Channel.
e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@
gmail.com. Already booking for the
2015-fishing season. Good luck and Good
Fishing.
Alamo Crane is equipped
to handle any petroleum
related work in the
Eagle Ford Shale.
35 Years
of Service
to Texas
Two well sites in Eagle Ford.
We can do more than the competition.
Give us a call.
From El Paso
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Amarillo to
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www.alamocrane.com
San Antonio (210) 344-7370
Austin
(512) 282-6866
Toll Free
(800) 880-0134
Page 8
Ken Milam’s Fishing Line
Since 1981, Ken Milam has been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in
the Texas Hill Country,. You can hear Ken on radio on Saturday and Sunday mornings, 6-8
AM on AM 1300, The Zone – Austin, or http://www.am1300the zone.com
How do you know
it’s fall in Texas?
W
e all know how weird the
weather is here in Texas! We
don’t seem to get definite seasons like some places do. Two weeks ago
I was still waiting until late afternoon to
mow so it wouldn’t be so hot and this
morning I walked the dogs with frost
sparkling on the grass, wickedly happy
that the grass will stop growing now! I
guess that means autumn is here!
My father-in-law just got back from
his annual “last Colorado hunting trip
ever, ‘cos I’m getting too old”. He’s done
this for the last dozen years or so. He and
his brother bagged a couple of really
nice mule deer and had a ball, so I figure
they are already planning next year’s trip.
Acorns are pinging off the tin rooftops
and the deer are coming to eat them. Pecans are falling and any nice evening you
see folks poking around in the leaves under the trees to collect them for holiday
goodies.
The first batch of fresh fried venison
hits the dinner table! While some might
fuss about Bambi’s passing, the rest of
the family is appreciatively chowing
down, thankful for the hunter’s success
and the cook’s skill.
Yep, it’s fall!
Fall affects fishing too. The first
thing you notice is that the lake is a lot
quieter now. There’s not such a line at
the launching ramp. Now you can catch
fish without two other boats making a
bee line for your fishing spot. It’s pretty
much all yours now. Sure you have to
keep your eye on the weather and
choose your days wisely, but even as the
native species of freshwater fish might
be slowing down for winter, the stripers
and hybrids are just starting to get comfortable as the water cools down. Since
stipers are native to cold water, they really thrive in the winter. They are very active, feeding hard to prepare to spawn in
the spring. Trade in your shorts and flipflops for a nice jacket and a set of binoculars so you can spot birds working on top
of feeding schools of stripers and hybrids
and fish feeding on top water.
If you do decide to concentrate on
winter stuff like hunting and football and
holidays, be sure you take time to put
your boat up for the winter. Now is the
time to take it to the shop to have any
little glitches taken care of and get it winterized. You will be glad you did when
nice spring weather gets here and all you
have to do it hitch up your rig and go. It’s
a lot easier to get your repairs done this
time of year than in the spring when everybody else discovers their motor won’t
start. The last thing you need is to have
your first time out next year ruined by
clogged fuel lines and such.
I hope you and yours have joyous
holidays! As always, if you want to entertain holiday guests with a fishing trip or
just need a gift certificate for your favorite sportsman, give us a call at 325-3792051!
SHARE YOUR
PHOTOS . . .
Any outdoor
activity or sport.
There is no
charge to you.
Email to:
STeditor@
constructionnews.
net
or call
210-308-5800
(home office)
Ask for Cyndi)
Page 9
A pleasant day of pheasant
Submitted to Construction News
Straight shot
Tom Quintero and Bruce Bejia
M
ike Hendrickson and
Tom Quintero, of IBTX
Risk Services, hosted their annual South Dakota Pheasant
Hunt during the opening weekend Oct. 18-20. Clients attending the hunt
included Bruce Bejia, Alamo
City Medical, Dan McClendon,
McClendon Construction, and
Brad Baylis, Mark McIntosh,
Steve Guyton and Doug Cook
of City Wide Mechanical.
Hunting over native grasses and through cornfields, the
group harvested 44 ring neck
pheasant. Temperatures during
the hunt were warm and skies
were blue. Some hunters even
had to take a break from all the
shooting! –cw
This 11-point, 171-lb buck was taken by Nancy Cuellar Davenport, CFO of IOC
Company, Edinburg. The hunt took place at Ridout's Baja Ranch in Christine, Texas
and was guided by Dustin Michalak, CPA. –cw
Like father, like son
The warm weather caused some, including Don
Hendrickson, to enjoy a little shut-eye.
Right:
Dan McClendon,
McClendon Construction
Franky Garcia, son of Frank Garcia of ELCO Electro Cooling Service, took this
12-point buck early in November at DD Ranch in Medina. The buck scored 145 5/8.
Also pictured, Frank’s youngest son, Marco. –cw
Bikes and kites
City Wide Mechanical
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips
All Bait, Tackle & Equipment
Furnished
Your catch Filleted and
Bagged for You
Ken Milam Guide Service
(325) 379-2051
www.striperfever.com
Furnish your TPWD Fishing
License & Refreshments,
and WE DO THE REST!
South Texas Construction News editor Cyndi Wright spent a great day on
Galveston Beach with her three grandchildren, Julia, Luke and Kaylyn in
October. As part of the fun, they rode bikes and flew kites. –cw
Page 10
Opening up doors
R
H&H Door employees pose under the company’s new sign.
elationships from start to finish are
what H&H Door in Victoria is all
about, according to co-owner
Chase Stanzel.
“We take a very innovative approach
to business,” he says. “We do a lot of work
with the general contractor and also the
end user.”
The company was founded more
than 35 years ago by Rick Huegele as
H&H Overhead Door. It quickly expanded
into providing doors, frames, hardware,
overhead doors, access control, division
10 products and related equipment, primarily to the commercial and industrial
markets.
Stanzel came in as a partner about a
year ago. Both owners have degrees in
construction science from Texas A&M
University.
“I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship,” Stanzel says. “Rick was
starting to think about succession planning.”
The company split into two divisions,
K
One stop shop
aren and Gerald Simpson started
Carpet Express in Pharr in 1991,
next door to Gerald’s mother’s
store, Wallpaper Express. By 1996, they
had outgrown that location and moved
to a much larger facility.
The company currently has six staff
and six to eight subcontractor crews. Karen
Simpson says their business is 60 percent
residential and 40 percent commercial.
“We are tremendously customer oriented,” she says. “We built our business
from referrals. We pride ourselves on customer service so we will have repeat customers.”
The Simpsons consider their employees family and their subs and vendor
sales staff extended family. Each year, a
huge Thanksgiving luncheon is put on
for everybody. The regular employees
H&H Overhead Doors and H&H Doors
and Hardware, with both operating under the same umbrella. About 90 percent
of the business is commercial.
“We are considered a total openings
solution company, and more importantly, a total solutions company,” Stanzel
said.
Currently, there are 35 employees,
and with the rapid growth in Victoria and
surrounding areas, Stanzel says they
have openings.
“We range from Waco to the border
and are in Oklahoma and Louisiana, as
well,” he says.
He describes the company’s culture
as “extremely collegial.”
“We have a perfect blend of veterans
and young energy,” he said. “Rick has
built a great team.”
Employees take part in activities
such as hunts, fishing trips and more.
“Our customer service is relentless,”
Stanzel said. “We consider ourselves service first and then distributor.” –cw
F
Some of the crew at ELCO gather for a picture under a blue, Rio Grande Valley sky.
rank Garcia came up in the electrical
business in his father’s shop in Edinburg, but it didn’t take long for the
young entrepreneur to set off on his own.
At the age of 19, Garcia branched out
from the family business with a desire to
build something bigger. He started with
Frank’s AC & Electric in 1996, but in February 2013, renamed his growing business as Electro Cooling Service dba
ELCO. The company provides electrical,
air conditioning, crane and bucket work.
“I wanted to get into bucket and
crane. We got tired of the crane companies charging too much and then never
showing up, so I went and bought my
own,” he laughs.
Now, ELCO is a one-stop shop, according to Garcia, where customers can
hire one company to do what would normally take three companies.
His customer policy is simple.
“Give good work to our customers at
a decent price,” he says.
Got you covered
L-R: Rosie Castaneda, Sue Ramirez and Karen and Gerald Simpson
also have a Christmas luncheon.
Carpet Express carries Shaw Indus-
tries and is a Shaw Design Center – the
only one in the Rio Grande Valley.
With nine employees, many of them
long-term, Garcia estimates that his business is comprised of 75 percent commercial and 25 percent residential.
He attributes the retention of employees to the variety of work – plus
some perks.
The staff also takes time to participate in fishing tournaments and go hunting.
“We trade out work for excursions
and then give them to the employees,”
he said.
His advice to someone thinking
about this line of work is to be ready to be
in it for the long haul.
“It takes a lot of dedication and you
must have a really good attitude towards
people,” he says.
Frank is married to Monica and he
has two sons. One of those, Frankie, 14, is
already spending summers working in
the shop – and plans to make it a third
generation career. –cw
“We also carry other brands and we
are not just carpet,” Karen says. The business carries all types of flooring, including tile, hardwood and vinyl.
“We also make custom area rugs,”
she says, “so if somebody needs a specific
size or color.”
There are also area rugs in stock.
They also get quite a bit of walk-in traffic and in the back is “Gerald’s Bargain Center” – a mainstay in their local advertising.
“Everybody here works together,”
Karen says. “We all do what it takes to get
it done.”
Gerald and Karen have been married
for 26 years and have two children. Aubrey, 24, is in Houston and Travis, 21, is a
senior at Texas A&M, where he is in the
Corps of Cadets. Future plans may include joining the U.S. Air Force. –cw
He’s really that tall
Debbie Schibi, executive director
for South Texas Associated General
Contractors (AGC) met up with
former San Antonio Spurs player,
George “The Iceman” Gervin at the
Construction Leadership Conference Development Conference in
San Antonio. –cw
Page 11
Construction Equipment
Xtreme
T
Bobcat
he most popular frame
size got a new upgrade. Operators already
familiar with the 700 and
800 platform loaders tout
the performance, comfort,
visibility and machine protection of the machines.
Now, the M-Series lineup is
more complete, from the
radius lift path and allaround versatility of the
S510 to the extra power,
vertical lift path, excellent
reach and large, high-flotation tires of the S590.
he XR4030 is the newest addition to resulting in the strength and stiffness Premium
M-Series
Xtreme’s line of telehandlers. With a needed to handle loads up to 40,000 lbs. cab has new positioning
40,000 lbs. lift capacity at 36” load center, The XR4030’s boom rollers will outlast for better visibility, inKessler L91 axles driving 23.5R25 foam slide pads several times over. A bulletproof creased cab space, presfilled tires, and a Perkins 173 hp 1204E frame and chassis will withstand the surized interior and retwin turbo engine coupled to a Dana toughest conditions for over a decade. duction in cab sound levels provide comfort.
32000 transmission, the XR4030 is a Heavy duty boom chains resist stretching Stronger hydraulics and more than 20 percent improved attachment perforcapable rough terrain telescopic handler. and sagging. Standard safety feature mance; convenient, easy-to-use controls and many other features saves time and effort on the job. And simplified daily maintenance prevents damage to the machine.
The foundation of the XR4030 begins includes in-cab 360 degree visibility.
The hallmarks of Bobcat performance remain in the new 500 platform: construcwith 2” thick steel plate chassis. CenterAll major components from the engine mounting the engine and transmission and transmission, to the cooling system, tion, smart cooling and a maintenance-free chaincase.
Horsepower ranges from 49 in the s510 to 66 in the S590. Rated operating capaccreates an optimal weight distribution to the axles, to the cylinders, to the entire ity
ranges
from 1,650 lbs to 2,100 lbs.
and increased stability. Three standard hydraulic system are easily accessible.
steer modes (front-wheel, four-wheel, Beyond accessibility, the use of common
and crab steer) allow for maneuverability. filters allows for easy maintenance and
Rear-wheel steering is an available option. upkeep. The XR4030 doesn’t require
The two-section boom is fabricated from specialized training or unique tools.
he L213 features radialheavy steel plate, with a large cross section,
lift boom geometry,
with the boom connected
directly to the frame for
outstanding pushing and
excavating power. Maxihe 1850SJ Ultra boom®
mum reach is achieved at
from JLG Industries is
roughly eye level during
the world’s largest self-prooperation, making it ideal
pelled boom lift, providing
for loading and unloading
nearly three million cubic
flatbed trucks and trailers.
feet of reachable space.
New Holland knows a
Delivering 19 stories of
comfortable operator is
working height, the JLG®
more
productive.
line of Ultra Series boom
That’s why New Holland delifts reaches more applicasigned a cab with superior
tions at unprecedented
comfort and convenience
heights, moving aerial
and incorporates it into evwork platforms into appliery 200 Series skid steer
cations previously reserved
and compact track loader
for truck-mounted booms
model.
and allowing operators to
No matter which model is chosen, the operator gets a cab that’s one of the widest
work more effectively and
in the industry, with more head room and shoulder room and joystick controls that
productively on the jobsite.
come naturally to fingertips.
The JLG 1850SJ offers a
The long 200 Series wheelbase, combined with a low center of gravity and the
maximum capacity of 1,000 pounds, al- in positioning, and the communication of correct front to rear weight distribution results in a smooth, stable ride.
lowing operators to move more tools and service codes, engine status, fuel levels
materials to the elevated worksite. Pro- and other messages assists the operator
ductivity is further enhanced with faster and service provider with operation, dicycle speeds, enabling the boom to ex- agnosis and troubleshooting.
acker Neuson's 8003
tend from ground to full height in less The JLG 1850SJ further enhances
track excavator offers
than five minutes.
productivity with a powerful turbo diesel
one of the smoothest and
The machine’s telescopic jib extends engine that provides 99.8 horsepower to
most powerful hydraulic
and retracts to provide additional 25 feet optimize drive and lift performance. In
systems available on the
of reach, up-and-over capability and the addition, standard four-wheel drive and
market today in this class.
ability to telescope into and around four-wheel steer maximize jobsite maThis 8-ton excavator comes
structures. A graphic display of the oper- neuverability.
with an air conditioned cab,
ator’s position in the work envelope aids
and a choice of short or
long dipperstick. Powered
by the economical Yanmar
4-cylinder diesel engine,
the 8003 track excavator offers rubber track, dozer
blade and boom-mounted
working light. Hydraulic
system features oil cooler,
pilot joystick controls and
dipperstick-mounted auxiliary hydraulic Other features include: minimal tail
connection for two directions of motion. projection over tracks for work in tight
Other standard features include: auto- spaces; Large cab offers easy access and
shift 2-speed travel drive, hydraulically operator comfort; Tiltable cabin for easy
dampened drive pedals and levers, flat accessibility to all maintenance compofaced couplers and control pattern selec- nents.
tor valve.
T
New Holland
T
T
JLG
W
NEXT month in Focus:
Construction Forecast
2015
Wacker Neuson
Page 12
SkyTrak
Case
S
C
ase skid steers and compact track
loaders have always been known for
power and productivity. Now with nine
new skid steers and three new compact
track loaders, the line is even more impressive.
Improved visibility, operator comfort, climate management and operator
controls define the new Case Alpha Series machines.
To begin, the skid steer cabs are 25
percent larger—the widest in the industry. They feature a revolutionary ultranarrow wire side-screen design that improves operator visibility. Plus, the glass
surface was increased to provide 360-degree visibility.
The Case SV300 skid steer is the result of combining industry-leading tractive force and industry-leading breakout
and horsepower. This vertical-lift machine is engineered for lift-and-carry and
truck loading. With the use of CEGR technology, the SV300 meets Tier 4 regulations while also increasing productivity,
improving fuel efficiency, and increasing
uptime through best-in-class serviceability.
The new Alpha Series machines deliver best-in-class horsepower and bucket breakout force—up to 8,585 lbs (38.2
kN). By any measure, the new Case Alpha
Series will boost performance and productivity.
kyTrak® all-wheel-steer
telehandlers are hardworking machines for
hard-working people. Nononsense design gives operators what they need,
when they need it. They offer the maneuverability
and stability to handle the
toughest terrain with loadsensing hydraulics, a solid
steel frame, joystick controls and a host of other
p er formance - b oosting
features. Three steering
modes and up to 18 inches
of ground clearance provide excellent maneuverability for virtually any jobsite. There are five models
with capacities up to 10,000 pounds and
up to 54 feet of lift height.
The Skytrak cab features an uncluttered design that is both rugged and
comfortable. It is designed to help keep
operators comfortable so they are more
productive.
There are also a host of accessories
and attachments available for Skytrak
telehandlers that can make these machines more flexible and productive on
the jobsite. Power and reliability ensure
that work gets done.
John Deere
Caterpillar
S
erious productivity demands serious
thinking. Many of the numerous advantages of the 844K-II came from the
brightest minds in the industry — John
Deer’s Customer Advocate Group. Armed
with insights from loader owners and users, these productive material movers are
equipped with larger, higher-capacity axles with standard axle cooling and filtration for heavy-duty maneuverability in
T
he new Cat® 950M wheel loader powered by a Cat C7.1 ACERT™ engine
meeting Tier 4 Final emissions standards
- is significantly more powerful than its KSeries predecessors and delivers 10 percent better fuel efficiency. The new model features major drive-train refinement,
extensively redesigned hydraulic systems, new cab amenities, electronic payload measurement, optimized Z-Bar linkage that combines optimized bucket performance with parallel lift, and a range of
Cat Performance Series buckets and work
tools. These innovative systems intelligently lower the average working engine
speeds and reduce the overall system
heat loads which result in significantly improved performance and fuel efficiency.
With a net rating of 230 horsepower
(171 kW), the new 950M produces 9 percent more power than its K-Series counterpart. Peak torque is up an average 18
percent for the new model, which means
more useable power at the wheels. In addition, the new, productive Economy
Mode automatically senses power-train
load and adjusts engine speed and
torque for optimum performance and
fuel efficiency.
The 950M use a new five-speed Cat
power-shift transmission featuring a lockup clutch torque converter with lock-tolock shifting (transmission gear remains
locked during gear shifts), as well as the
Cat single clutch speed shift system
(which keeps the forward/reverse clutch
engaged during gear shifts). Auto-shift
features control the automatic shifting of
the transmission and engagement of the
lock up clutch. These two features working together maintain more effective and
efficient torque flow through the transmission during gear changes, especially
valuable when accelerating up ramps.
T
he new German-made
LEO15GT from Teupen
features an improved
working height and lateral outreach.
The LEO15GT is perfectly suitable for applications in tight spots – on the
inside as well as outside.
Due to its compact
design, it passes thru standard doors and offers fast
and efficient access to
confined areas that regular access platforms can´t
reach. All functions are
available centrally from
the basket. The easy handling makes the machine
attractive to both – operators and rental companies.
the most demanding terrain. Self-adjusting wet-disc brakes for extended wear
life and sure stops; advanced onboard
diagnostics with pushbutton customization of machine operation and response.
All to help increase productivity and uptime, while lowering daily operating
costs. Owners, operators, and maintenance personnel will benefit from the big
ideas found in the 844K-II loaders.
Teupen
Page 13
Leica
Link-Belt
T
he Leica ICON
Robotic
Total
Station ICR60 series
perfects one-person construction
layout and 3D Machine Control. With
high performance
tracking; an innovative prism lock &
find
mechanism,
and job tailored
software makes it
the most powerful
remote control robotic total station
on the market.
The new cube
search builds a virtual 3-D cube around
the prism’s position. The ICON robot dynamically searches within its dimensional
cube for its targeted prism.
The ICON CC66 controller or data collector is a construction tough Windows 7
handheld computer with no cables, long
range bluetooth connections, WiFi, and
fully loaded with desktop programs capabilities. The MEP module now includes
a set of four MEP routines.
Whether one constructs buildings,
roads, bridges or tunnels, the benefit
from intelligent construction is obvious.
Leica ICON is more than a new product
line or software package, it enhances
performance, and increases profitability
through perfecting your construction
workflow.
I
n 2002, Link-Belt introduced the world to hydrostatic drive on a six-wheel carrier
frame with the RTC-80100 Series II. Twelve years later, Link-Belt is adding reach and
capacity to its rough terrain crane line with the new 150 ton (135 mt) RTC-80150 Series
II, powered by a 345-hp Cummins Tier 4f diesel engine.
Features include full power latching style boom with market leading capacity for
its class; innovative 10 ft (3.0m) fly integral to one of the on-board fly options; over 25
tons (22.68mt) capacity and two load line lift procedures; and a counterweight that
consists of modular-style counterweights for multiple transport and lift scenarios.
Coming together to make a difference in today’s political world
Brian P. McGuire, President and CEO
Association Equipment Distributors (AED)
Alexandria, VA
A
s the trade association for North
American construction equipment
distributors, AED is playing a pivotal role
in shaping public policy. And while the
nation did not exactly elect a transportation-friendly Congress on Nov. 4, I am excited about the opportunities the lie
ahead. I'm also deeply impressed by all
the AED dealer executives across the
country who rolled up their sleeves and
demonstrated overwhelming grassroots
commitment this fall!
Dozens of members held events for
candidates, including an Oct. 31 rally for
new Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), hosted by AED member
Brandeis Machinery in Louisville, as well
as local Dallas/Ft. Worth-area distributors
who hosted Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) on Sept. 5.
And those were just the beginning.
In 2015, our new regional managers will
coordinate another 60 visits by members
of Congress to AED-member dealerships,
giving lawmakers a first-hand look at the
important role our industry plays in their
districts. Our members are keenly aware
of the importance elected officials to
hear and feel what is of concern to the
construction equipment industry – I
don't know of an organization whose
members – both dealers, manufacturers,
and service suppliers – are more effective
in voicing their concerns and engaging
their own members of Congress.
Bottom line: there has never been a
better time to be an AED member, and
there's no time like the present to get active in this association. There's a lot of
work to be done, and we are leading
charge on numerous fronts. Our top legislative priorities for the lame duck Congress include:
• Permanent extension of Bonus Depreciation and Sec. 179, which encourage contractors to buy new equipment
• Passage of a multiyear federal highway bill – Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) will
be the next Senate Environment & Public
Works chairman. Inhofe has strong conservative credentials, a good working relationship with the committee’s top
Democrat. He formerly held the EPW
gavel and has experience shepherding a
highway bill to enactment. That should
allow him to hit the ground running both
to build support for a Highway Trust Fund
revenue fix and to pass new multi-year
road, bridge and transit legislation.
• Immediate approval of the Keystone
XL pipeline – When the dust settles, we
expect the GOP will control 54 Senate
seats. Add to that number the six returning Democrats who say they support
Keystone and you have what looks like a
filibuster-proof majority in favor of getting the project underway.
• Creating a tax environment that encourages investment and allows businesses to grow and hire employees –
New leadership on the tax committees
on both sides of Capitol Hill means the
tax reform debate is on hold in the shortterm. But both Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)
and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), respectively
the presumptive incoming chairmen of
the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance Committees, have considerable
depth on tax and budget issues, which
means the process could get underway
quickly as soon as new committee staff is
in place.
AED made its voice heard loud and
clear with our Legislative Action Week in
mid-November. Our members took time
every singe day during the week of Nov.
17 to call and e-mail their members of
Congress to urge swift action on all of
these issues.
The U.S. midterm election results
hopefully send a strong message to both
the president and the members of the
House and Senate: Americans are looking for Congress and the president to get
things done!
AED stands ready to help Congress
and the president move forward on these
and the other important issues before
the nation. I hope all the equipment
manufacturers and distributors of Texas
will join us in our work. I also invite you to
attend our reinvigorated Summit annual
meeting Feb 10-13 for a week of extensive executive and management-level
education (6 tracks), unrivaled keynotes,
Condex and Hospitality Suite meetings
with the industry's suppliers, plus great
golf, relaxed gatherings for networking,
and a fantastic party with a live auction to
benefit The AED Foundation's workforce
development efforts. Please visit aedsummit.com for details, and I welcome
your feedback directly to me anytime at
bmcguire@aednet.org.
AED is an international trade association representing companies involved in
the distribution, rental, and support of
equipment used in construction, mining,
energy, forestry, power generation, agriculture, and industrial applications. More information is available at www.aednet.org.
NEXT MONTH
January 2015
Support Your Industry’s Feature Issue
Construction Forecast
2015
Schedule
Jan: Construction Forecast
Feb: Construction Safety
Mar: Construction Education
Call for Ad Space
Reservations
Apr:Women in Construction
May:Concrete Industry
Jun: HVAC & Plumbing
•
•
•
•
San Antonio
Austin • Houston
Dallas/Fort Worth
South Texas
July:Electrical Industry
Aug:Service Providers
Sep: Green Building Trends
(210) 308-5800
Oct: Specialty Contractors
Nov: Architecture & Engineering
Dec: Construction Equipment
Page 14
Association Calendar
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
AGC- Corpus Christi
AIA - Lower Rio Grande Valley
Associated General Contractors
American Institute of Architects
Dec. 4: Christmas Party, 5-8pm, AGC office
Dec. 6: Zebby Awards end of year banquet, 7pm at Villa de Cortez, Weslaco.
AGC- Rio Grande Valley
Associated General Contractors
Dec. 3: Holiday Open House, 5-7pm, Harlingen office
AIA - Corpus Christi
American Institute of Architects
Dec. 15-Jan. 5: Office closed
NAWIC - Corpus Christi
Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Dec. 17: Dinner Business Meeting, public
welcome, $20. Contact Vickie Thompson
361-299-6278 or 361-438-0593 to get
more information or check out nawic.org
or nawiccorpuschristi.org.
continued from Page 1 — A new home
“I would like to especially mention
my sales reps, Frank Pirotina and Omar
Cantu,” Hennig says. “Frank and Omar
are dealing with numerous large oilfields,
new industrial construction and commercial customers. Both sales reps are
having a very successful year in equipment rentals and new sales.”
Currently, there are 23 employees at
the Corpus Christi location.
Hennig says the philosophy towards
customers is simple.
“We treat our customers the way we
would want to be treated,” he says. “The
fact that a large part of our business is repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals shows that we value our customer
service above all.”
Safety is also a priority.
“We have safety meetings on a daily
basis,” Hennig says. “We are like a family
and we want everybody to go home to
their real families every day.”
H&E is planning an Open House Celebration in February.–cw
continued from Page 1 — Gimme shelter
their peers.”
In turn, employees get to take part in
regular barbecues, where they can relax,
have fun and sing karaoke.
McSteen says he asks his subcontractors and employees to approach each job
as if it was their grandmother’s house
they were working on.
“The goal is to make sure the cus-
tomer is 100 percent satisfied,” he says.
Another notable aspect is the company recycles all its shingles. Terra Firma
Materials makes paving asphalt out of
the old shingles.
“We feel good about that,” McSteen
says. “There are no shingles in the landfill
ever.” –cw
continued from Page 1 —Facing the challenge
was disposed of, while areas of modified
bitumen roof with drip edge were peeled
back one foot to allow for brick veneer
replacement.
All walls were cleaned and prepared
to accept new brick ties and a new damp
proofing system that covered all exterior
block walls and brick ties was installed.
The Executive Tower came into service in the late 1960s. Alpha Building Corporation already had an established relationship with UTPA as part of a Job Order
Contract, which created a great working
relationship on campus, according to
Gus Grajales, South Texas area manager.
“Alpha has continually exceeded UTPA’s expectations, therefore UTPA decided Alpha was the best contractor and the
project was awarded under the existing
Job Order Contract,” Grajales said.
Alpha worked with the UTPA Facilities Services department and CLH Engineering to create a viable cost effective
solution.
“With the full input of stakeholders,
our team focused on the characteristics
that were important to the client and end
user, to provide a solution with increased
value,” Grajales said.
The schedule for the project was vital: with the campus operating on a normal schedule, the work had to be completed with as little interruption as possible.
This was accomplished with much
preplanning.
Prior to the construction phase, preconstruction planning and staging included routing pedestrian access to the
building, protecting existing site conditions, establishing environmental controls and minimizing unforeseen conditions within the construction zone, plus
mapping out the access and egress of
pedestrian movement and deliveries to
the site.
The key consideration for this project
was the health and safety of all employees, faculty and staff, students and campus visitors due to potential safety hazards of scaffolding and people and objects falling from height in a heavily-pop-
Scaffolding was netted to protect against
any falling objects hazard.
ulated area. These hazards were made
significantly greater due to the intricacy
of the work being done in the high-wind
environment of the Rio Grande Valley,
Grajales said.
“Alpha was proud there were no
OSHA recordable accidents on this project,” he said.
Even with some weather delays, consisting mainly of high wind speeds, the
project did not only come in on time, it
was completed six weeks ahead of
schedule.
The most difficult aspect of the project, however, was coordinating work to
allow continued use of the building, Grajales says.
“The smooth running of this project
was a real team effort by everyone involved,” he said.
Project manager on the job was Fred
Lozano. Superintendent was Xavier Lopez. –cw
Alpha Building worked around the ongoing use of the busy building during construction.
Page 15
History in the making
I
t’s the tallest building in Harlingen and
has been since it was built in 1927, but
the nine-story Baxter Building is also
something else.
“This is really the elephant in the
room,” says Cheryl LaBerge, downtown
manager, who is spearheading the revitalization of the area. “The city acquired
the building last year in order to get control and redevelop it.”
LaBerge and a team of dedicated city
officials and citizens have made great
strides in the attempt to breathe new life
into downtown Harlingen. Working since
1989, the area is at nearly 90 percent occupancy, with more than 170 businesses
or organizations in the 18-block downtown area, as well as families residing in
spacious upper-story lofts. They are hoping somebody will step up to the plate to
help complete the picture.
For more than 50 years, the iconic
Baxter Building was the tallest high-rise
building in the Rio Grande Valley. Located in the heart of downtown, the building was occupied by insurance companies, physicians, dentists, attorneys, architects, realtors and other professionals
who were pivotal in the economic development of South Texas. The building also
is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
To that end, the city has issued a request for proposals with a deadline date
of Jan. 15. A best-case scenario – and
what the city hopes for - is to find a commercial development entity to privately
redevelop the building.
Unprecedented area growth, with
projects such as the SpaceX rocket launch
facility, two superhighways, a new college and medical school, make this building as valuable today as it was in Harlingen’s past. –cw
The RFP can be found at myharlingen.
us under the finance department.
City public information officer David Ralph and downtown manager Cheryl LaBerge
in front of the main floor elevator.
The vista from the rooftop stretches far and wide.
The Baxter Building has seen its share of residents, both professional and residential.
On the grid
Cold weather work
The Grid Game judges demonstrate to the teams what criteria they will need to meet.
T
he race wasn’t on the track at Texas
Motor Speedway – it was inside an
infield garage where 19 teams from
Texas, New Mexico, northwest Arkansas
and Oklahoma raced against time to install ceiling components. “The 2014 Grid
Games – The Armstrong Ceiling Construction Challenge” hosted Nov. 6 featured a first round for all teams to compete for best installation time, and a second round for the four fastest teams to
compete for cash prizes. The top four
teams in the final round were all from
Texas, with Integrated Interiors Inc. in
Fort Worth taking top prize. –mjm
Winners:
1st Place: Integrated Interiors, Fort Worth
2nd Place: Double Drywall, Fort Worth
3rd Place: Marek, San Antonio
4th Place: Trinity, Fort Worth
Bundled up against the early-morning cold, Marcos Colunga, Lorenzo Colunga
and Victor Escobedo Garcia of C&C Painting work in Weslaco. –cw
Structural Steel Products
Pipe, Tubing, Plate & Sheets
Metal Building Materials
Ornamental Iron & Accessories
Cast Iron Spears
Fittings
Decorative Castings & Designs
Toll Free
Welders
Welding Supplies & Accessories
Fax
Power Tools
Abrasives
Shop & Safety Supplies
2042 W. Thompson @ Port San Antonio
Paint & Machinery
San Antonio, TX 78226
Trailer Products
Access Control Products
Gate & Door Hardware
Pipe Bollards
Gate Operators–Farm/Ranch
Precut – Painted
Residential/Commercial
6-5/8” OD X .188 wall X 7 Ft
210.431.0088
800.725.4776
210.431.0701
www.sss-steel.com
Nineteen teams of two representing four states competed for best time.
The top four teams were from Texas.
Page 16
SpawGlass spooky
On Oct. 31, employees and their families at
the SpawGlass South Texas office in Harlingen livened things up a bit as they practiced
for a night of trick-or-treating. –cw
Carolina Cadengo and her son, Sebastian
Hermilo Morales and his wife, Lisa
Stephanie and Eric Kennedy with their children,
Kaitlin, William, and Cole
Gary Powell, Chris Pennington, Jose Mena
Getting ready
Kevin Bennett, Gary Powell
From
Construction
News
HAPPY
HOLIDAYS
Mayra Sepulveda, daughter of Rene Sepulveda of Sela Construction in McAllen,
oversees the work on the upcoming Hacienda Del Patron restaurant in McAllen.
Mayra will be assistant manager of the new dining experience. –cw

December - Construction News

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