austin construction news march 2015

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Austinites have a new place to take a morning walk on The Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake. Jay-Reese

Contractors Inc. is the GC and the City of Austin is the owner. Katie Williams, Jay-Reese Contrac-tors, was the project manager and Derek Eckhoff, Jay-Reese Contractors, was the superintendent. Al Godfrey, Limbacher & Godfrey was the architect. The City of Austin project manager was David Tay-lor. “The Boardwalk Trail final product is a spectacular structure stretching and meandering along the lake shoreline for nearly a mile and a half,” Williams said. “The new trail provides pedestrians a much safer path either day or night from dangerous roads and highways nearby. This location enables everyone to enjoy the natural scenery and wildlife with the beautiful backdrop of downtown Austin.”

The pedestrian/bike trail has various bridge structures and on grade trails, a 425-sf restroom, LED handrail lighting for elevated trail sections, landscaping and associated site work. The project also in-cluded structural concrete abutments, stone retaining walls and structural steel shade structures. Williams says the majority of the work was done over Lady Bird Lake and took approximately 18 months. The project faced many obstacles from design, access, storage, safety, fabri-cation and construction. According to Williams, one small yard at the east end of the project was used for all deliveries, material storage, equipment storage and distribution of the building materials to the project.

The Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake

The folks at A.G.P. Rock ‘N Dirt Yard are preparing for a busy spring sea-son in South Austin.

Roy Amonette and Marc Vogel-man are the owners and Marcos Sal-dana is the manager. The office manager is Vogelman’s wife, Ellie. The company has operated for al-most five years. Saldana says he began working as the manager three years ago. “I usually arrive at the yard at 7:30am to assist contractors who get here before we do,” Saldana said. “I stay until 4:30pm or 5:30pm until everything is done.” Grateful to work at a job he loves, Saldana says he and the owners have fun at the yard every day. Saldana enjoys driving the trucks,

meeting new people and visiting with existing customers. Amonette and Vo-gelman do a little bit of everything, such as preparing trailers and loading and de-livering materials. According to Saldana, the company’s inventory has grown quite a bit since he came on board three years ago. Once in a while, employees get to-gether and have a party at the yard. Cus-tomers are always welcome to stop by. The most recent party took place on New Years Eve. Their close friends and customers attended the event. “We smoked a couple of different meats on the barbecue pit and listened

L-R: Roy Amonette, Marc Vogelman and Marcos Saldana

In 1983, the Caya family bought Stan-dard Drywall Inc. (SDI), a drywall sub-contractor founded in San Diego, CA

in 1955. Brothers Blaine, vice president, and Robert “Bob” Caya, president, estab-lished the corporate headquarters in San Diego, starting with a small crew and very little equipment. Their father Rob-ert, executive vice president, founded the company. The Caya’s saw opportunity in the Austin market and opened a Texas re-gional office on Drossett Drive in 2011. Jennifer Saucier Is the office man-ager and project engineer. She assists Kevin Meinhold, general superinten-dent, and the project managers.

“Opening an office in Texas was thought out for a long time,” Meinhold said. “We got a job at Randolph Air Force Base 15 years ago and saw the opportuni-ties here.” Meinhold began his career with Standard Drywall 27 years ago. “I love what I do today,” he said. “I have done this type of work most of my life. This is all I know. I started out as a worker in the field and worked my way up to foreman and then to general super-intendent.” The company provided the drywall services at the recently completed JW Marriott project, its largest job to date

Jennifer Saucier and Kevin Meinhold

Texas State Capitol

Austin Construction News • Mar 2015

Seventh Spectrum Studios has opened a new location in south-west Austin at 5901 Old Fredericks-

burg Road #A 102. “We have experienced great growth in the construction industry over the past two years and needed additional space for future staff and larger support areas,” said Principal Angela Peterson, RID, LEED AP ID+C. Peterson has worked in the design and construction industry for more than 19 years. She has a passion for sustain-able interiors and a substantial portfolio of green projects. She earned an accredi-tation as a LEED professional with an inte-rior design/construction specialty. As a child, Peterson watched her mother, Wanda Sorrell of Corpus Christi, open an interior design business. “My mother had a knack for color, texture and how to tweak the smallest detail of a space to make it ‘just so’,” Pe-terson said. “I carefully paid attention to not only what my mother did - but why!”

Pursuing a passion

Armed with this early understanding of both the elements and principles of design, Peterson set out to tackle a de-gree in interior design at the University of Texas at Austin. Next, she launched Seventh Spec-trum Studios with the support of her hus-band, Jeff, who owns Caring Transitions of Austin, a senior move, downsizing and estate sale business. The couple has two children, ages 7 and 10. The family is active in Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, Girl Scouts, Math Pentathlon and the Junior League of Austin. “In the future, we would like to grow the company a bit more in size but over-all want to keep it small so it maintains its ‘boutique’ feel.” Seventh Spectrum Studios is a full ser-vice commercial interior design firm. The firm provides programming, schematic de-sign, design development, construction drawings and construction administration. –ab

Angela Peterson was inspired by her mother to open her own firm.

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

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

New COO at MarekCompanies

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


The Austin Construction News (ISSN 1547-7649) is published monthly, by Construction News Ltd., dba Austin Construction News, and distributed by mail to selected construction-related companies in Austin and surrounding counties. All submissions should be mailed to our editorial offices. We reserve the right to edit any materials submitted. No fees for materials, copy or photographs submitted will be due unless agreed upon in advance in writing. Submissions will be published at our discretion on a space-available basis. Construction News, Ltd., dba Austin Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time.

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Thank goodness it’s FridayConstruction News ON LOCATION

L-R: Brandi Molina enjoys spending the day with her father Guadalupe Molina, owner of A Good Plumber. –ab

The Texas Showcase Roofing crew loves going to work in the mornings. The company provides residential and commercial roofing and remodeling. –ab

Submitted to Construction News

‘Roof’ing it

Another new leader rises at HOLT

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

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

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

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

support for the Machine Division.


Sarah AndrewsCSI CDT, LEED AP BD+C, GGP,

OwnerSustainable Solutions

Sarah Andrews has worked in the construction industry for more than 20 years and has a passion for green

building. “There are a wide variety of person-alities involved in the construction indus-try and a broad spectrum of opportuni-ties available,” she said. Andrews says she meets people at every turn who did not start their careers in construction; they come from back-grounds as varied as biology, marketing, economics and music. “That’s one of the great things about the professionals you meet – everyone brings a different perspective and there’s room for all,” she said. Andrews formally organized Flor-ence, TX-based Sustainable Solutions in Dec. 2012. The company provides construction professionals with the tools and skills necessary to succeed, develops specific training programs for all aspects of sus-tainability, provides exam preparation for LEED professional credentials and men-tors and consults to provide project plan-ning, implementation, documentation and certification services for green proj-ects.

Where did you grow up, Sarah? I was born in San Angelo. My parents waited for me to turn a month old and we moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. My family always had horses and cattle when I was growing up. I loved horseback riding with my sisters and go-ing to the rodeo.

What did your parents do for a living? My mother was very active in the oil industry in Dallas and Fort Worth. My fa-ther worked for Chrysler for many years.

Do you have any siblings? Yes, I have two sisters. One lives in Marble Falls and one still lives in the Dal-las/Fort Worth area. Where did you go to high school? I attended Lawrence B. Bell High School in Hurst. I sang in choir during my high school years. I grew up playing and studying pia-no and always loved music.

Describe your very first job? I worked at one of the target shoot-ing games at Six Flags during the sum-mer time. Where I lived, if you didn’t want to flip hamburgers for your first job, you got a job at Six Flags. My friends and I rode the rides after work often. By the time we finished work-ing at Six Flags, it lost its luster. Did you go to college? Yes, I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983 with a Bachelor of Music in Education. I went to summer school every year to knock out my non-major courses.

Did you do any music performances in college? Yes, I participated in choral perfor-mances in college. Right before I gradu-ated, I started student teaching so I was involved in their performances.

What did you do next? I spent the next 10 years teaching ju-nior and senior high school students. Fol-lowing my departure from public educa-tion, I entered the construction field and worked as a construction safety officer, construction estimator and project man-ager. I began to see there was more and more of a demand for green construc-tion, particularly in the federal govern-ment work. I loved the concept of green build-ing. Next, I attained my LEED AP creden-tials. I have stuck with it ever since!

What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I resigned from a very satisfying full time position with a local contractor in Austin, but I decided that I wanted to spend my time pursuing my two favorite things – construction and education – on my own terms. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the construction industry and I really en-joy sharing what I know with others who are eager to learn. I couldn’t design a bet-ter job. I’m constantly learning new things myself.

The sky is the limit in terms of all the ways to participate in green construc-tion.

What were the early days like at your company? Things aren’t really much different today than when I started the company. I don’t have any employees - it is just me. On the side, I made presentations for the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association de Austin, the City of Austin, Build Expo, Associated General Contractors Austin Chapter, and Associated Builders and Contractors Central Texas Chapter on topics of interest to local contractors.

What are your favorite hobbies when you aren’t working? I enjoy raising cattle, photography and reading. When I first moved out to the country, I took photos of every type of flower that grows on my property. I have some nice photos of my cows and their calves in the wild flowers, too. My cows are very easy to work with. I have been raising cattle since 2001. I have a lot of my original herd. My cows are like big dogs. I am down there with them all the time. It is a lot of fun and a lot of work, too. I am also a fervent supporter of the Texas Stars Hockey Club in Cedar Park. I have been a season ticket holder for five years.

Do you have any dogs or cats? Yes, I have three rescue dogs - a Rott-weiler Chow cross and the other two are Terrier Retriever crosses.

Do enjoy traveling? I do enjoy traveling although I don’t get to get away too far anymore because of my cattle. I have spent time in Alaska and I loved visiting Colorado and Shanghai, China.

What do you remember most about

visiting China? The people I met in China were very warm and friendly. If they knew any Eng-lish, they came up and said “hi.” They loved carrying on conversations. I remember one young lady was so eager to learn and asked many interest-ing questions. I also enjoyed having the chance to take landscape and scene photos in Shanghai.

Where is a place you would like to go to one day? I’d love to spend time in Ireland. I want to see the green countryside, rock walls and sheep.

What is the best part about living in Central Texas? I love the climate and environment. Central Texas is growing fast. This is the only place in Texas I want to live.

Why do you enjoy what you do today? Green construction has similarities from project to project but there is al-ways something different about every one. That helps keep it fresh and chal-lenging. Green building is becoming more accepted in the market. Plus, it is something I truly believe in.

In your opinion, what does it take to be successful in your industry? You have to put forth effort and per-severe. It takes effort to do the work be-cause it is challenging but also you have to put forth an effort to stay up-to-date in the industry. The industry is changing so quickly nowadays. It is also a good idea to network with like-minded individuals in the industry. Get involved and develop relation-ships so you can have a well-rounded ref-erence point. You can learn from other people and pass on the knowledge you know, as well. What are your goals for the future? My main goal for Sustainable Solu-tions is to be considered the prime re-source for green building training in the Central Texas area. I’d like to continue to educate the public about green building for years to come. –ab

Sarah Andrews has a passion forgreen building.

Andrews took this photo of one of her calves in the wildflowers on her property.


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Start your enginesConstruction News ON LOCATION

Benigno Quiroz Casas, operator and salesman, helps load stone for a customer at J & M Stone Supply. –ab

Rock solid

Sales manager and owner Joe Davila and his wife Laura Labastida, ad-ministrative manager, have operat-

ed Round Rock Landscape Supplies for four years. According to Davila, Round Rock Landscape Supplies is part of New Age Rocks Inc., a multinational company in Latin America that has been doing busi-ness in the construction and landscape industry since 1999. New Age Rocks owns production fa-cilities in central Mexico for stone crush-ing, tumbling and powder mixing. “When you are a new business, the only thing you can do is grow,” Davila said. “It is either that or die. We are con-stantly doing research and development to create new products for the changing market.” Davila and Labastida arrive to work before 8am and stay at the yard until

5pm. After 5pm they visit customers and provide job estimates. “After looking at several markets in Texas, we decided we wanted to be in Round Rock,” Labastida said. “We love this area. This strategic location enables us to ship from our warehouse to virtually the rest of the continental U.S.” Labastida says at first the company only sold exotic rocks, stone pavers, peb-bles and aggregates and has expanded to provide installations, fences, decks and concrete slabs. “We have built great relationships with our suppliers over the past four years,” she said. “We plan to continue to do so in the future. “We feel like we now understand this particular market. We have doubled the size of the business every year since we opened. Our goal for 2015 is to continue to double the size of the business.” –ab

Laura Labastida and Joe Davila work together on a daily basis.

Jerry Hamlin, owner of Leander-based MacLin Plumbing Co. Inc. says in ten years he and his business part-

ner Matt McClellan want to travel to Scotland. “We want to go to Scotland because we both have Scottish heritage,” Hamlin said. “We want to take a couple of weeks off and just go and see the beautiful countryside. I have never been out of the U.S., so I am really looking forward to it.” The company reaches its fifth anni-versary this year. Hamlin and McClellan work hard every day so they can achieve their dream. “In the beginning, Matt and I rode to-gether in one truck,” Hamlin said. “In about a year we had enough jobs where we could purchase another truck. We just recently purchased another truck. Things are really working out for us.” Hamlin, 51, says he worked in all phases of the plumbing industry since he was 18.

“Matt and I love what we do today,” he said. “Some might say we’re old-fash-ioned, but we’re okay with that. “We believe that being straight-for-ward and up-front with our customers is the only way to be, because if we can’t stand behind our word, we’re in the wrong business. Our reputation is built one job at a time, and we never take it for granted.” If a young person wants to become a plumber, Hamlin says start early, get an apprenticeship license and be willing to work hard. When Hamlin and McClellan have free time, they love to go waterskiing at Lake Travis and they are in a bowling league. Every now and then, they like to go to Las Vegas. “Our future goal is to stay small but have five trucks in the field,” Hamlin said. MacLin Plumbing provides residential and commercial plumbing services. –ab

Jerry Hamlin picks up plumbing supplies in Round Rock.


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Use JPM to trackproductivity during jobsLane Gorman Trubitt PLLCDallas, TX

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

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

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

which tie revenue recognition to the completion of performance obligations.

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

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

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Chris, Laura, Anthony, Juan, Daren and Shannonhave a busy day at Tri-Supply in Austin. –ab

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McCarthy Building Companies Inc. broke ground on the State Highway (SH) 71 Express Lanes project alongside the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) Jan. 27. The SH 71 Express Lanes project is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2016. –ab

Trenching andexcavation safetyJoann NatarajanCompliance Assistance SpecialistOSHAAustin, TX

Two workers are killed every month in trench collapses. The employer must

provide a workplace free of recognized hazards that may cause serious injury or death. The employer must comply with the trenching and excavation require-ments of 29 CFR 1926.651 and 1926.652. An excavation is any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface formed by earth removal. Trench (Trench excavation) means a narrow ex-cavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In gen-eral, the depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet (4.6 meters).

General Trenching and Excavation Rules:

• Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.• Identify other sources that might affect trench stability.• Keep excavated soil (spoils) and other materials at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) from trench edges.• Know where underground utilities are located before digging. In Texas, dial 811 to request utility location at least two business days prior to digging. • Test for atmospheric hazards such as low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases when greater than 4 feet deep.• Inspect trenches at the start of each shift.• Inspect trenches following a rainstorm or other water intrusion.• Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials.

• Inspect trenches after any occurrence that could have changed conditions in the trench.• Ensure that personnel wear high visibil-ity or other suitable clothing when ex-posed to vehicular traffic.

Protective Systems:

There are different types of protec-tive systems. Benching means a method of protecting workers from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near verti-cal surfaces between levels. Benching cannot be done in Type C soil. Sloping involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excava-tion. Shoring requires installing alumi-num hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and cave-ins. Shielding protects workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins. Designing a pro-tective system can be complex because you must consider many factors: soil clas-sification, depth of cut, water content of soil, changes caused by weather or cli-mate, surcharge loads (e.g., spoil, other materials to be used in the trench) and other operations in the vicinity.

For more information:http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingex-cavation/index.htmlhttp://www.texas811.org

[email protected] x232

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

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

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

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

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


What’s your favorite local gem?Showing gratitude

Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal host-ed an annual Subcontractor Appreci-ation Day at its Buda location Jan. 23.

Sales manager Kenedee Hall says 30 subcontractors visited the showroom and talked about plans for 2015. “We had a great barbecue luncheon to say thank you to our subcontractors,”

Hall said. “Our crews are an integral part of our business and we can’t thank them enough for the hard work they do.” Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal provides professional residential and commercial roofing services in Austin and the surround-ing communities. –ab

President and CEO David Phillips and his daughter Kenedee Hall, sales manager

Associated Builders and Contractors Central Texas Chapter (ABC) mem-bers gathered for a Legislative Day

at the Office of Texas Lobby Group Feb. 9. Fellow contractors converged on the Texas State Capitol to meet with elected officials to discuss issues important to the commercial construction industry. –ab

Capitol bound

L-R: Rich Leisy, Ryan Companies; Josh Tompkins, ABC Central Texas; Bill Erwin, Andrews Myers; Corey Taylor, American Constructors; David Smith, TD Industries; Jason Beers,

Harvey Cleary and Ryan Krogstad, DPR Construction

L-R: Jason Beers, Harvey Clearyand Bill Erwin, Andrews Myer

L-R: David Smith, TDIndustries, Corey Taylor, American Constructors and Ryan Krogstad,

DPR Construction

Making friends

The folks at Economy Plumbing Sup-ply Round Rock store enjoy meet-ing customers as well as catching

up with longtime customers every week. Manager Brian Westberry says he got his start in the industry about 12 years ago. “I worked as a plumber in the field before I got into the plumbing supply business,” Westberry said. “I have experi-ence on both sides of the counter.” When Westberry is not at work, he enjoys playing golf and spending time with his daughter. Debbie Williams is the “showroom guru.” She has 19 years experience and has worked at the company almost three years. “I enjoy my job because I like show-ing customers what is available at our showroom,” Williams said. “In my free time, I like to shop at unusual shops to

find unique things. I go to shops on South First Street when I get the chance.” Williams is originally from El Paso, so she says she likes to shop at places that carry Mexican folk art. Bobby Cooper, counter salesman, talks with plumbers on a daily basis to help them find what they are looking for at the store. “When I am not helping customers, I spend as much time as I can with my two granddaughters,” Cooper said. Westberry says Economy Plumbing Supply has counter days throughout the year and a customer appreciation day once a year. “Looking ahead to the future, we want to make Economy Plumbing Supply the best we can,” he said. Economy Plumbing Supply provides plumbing supplies and kitchen and bath products. –ab

L-R: Brian Westberry, Debbie Williams and Bobby Cooper

I like going to the shops on South First Street. I think it is fun to shop at unusual stores to find unusual things.

Debby Williams,Economy Plumbing Supply

Poodie’s Roadhouse in Spicewood. I en-joy the live music. I see new musicians play all the time.

Barbara Arnold,Spicewood Metalworks

Rolling Hills Community Church in Lago Vista.

Diane Segrest,Diane’s Dirt & Excavation

The Guadalupe River. I love floating the river with my family when we get the chance.

Michael Beery,Firetrol Protection Services

Granger Lake! Mokri Maziar, Euro-Tex Manufacturing

Lake Marble Falls is beautiful!Bobby Breeden,

Central Texas Paving Stone

Inks Lake State Park. It is great place to spend the day.

Verlon Reagor,Reagor Air Conditioning

My family and I like to go camping at Bas-trop State Park.

Clyde Clark, 4MC Enterprises Ltd.

My own backyard! My wife and I put up jasmine on an arbor I built. It smells great in the springtime! Fred Vierna, Longhorn Glass

Downtown Luling! Daniel Rivas, Aptiva Interiors

Anywhere in the Hill Country! Jaime Torres Jr.,

Bastrop Stone & Materials Supply

The OASIS Restaurant on Lake Travis. The view is great!

Craig Sellman,Affordable Concrete Products Inc.

Lake Travis my favorite local gem.Nathan Carson,

Cashway Building Materials

A deer lease in Williamson County.Phillip Morris, Morris Construction

It is not local, but it is a gem! I love spend-ing time in Salado in Central Texas.

Charles Gerhart,Eagle Air Conditioning & Heating

Texas Road House. They have the best steak! James Alvarez, HK Fasteners

Any coin shop in Austin is a gem to me. I am an avid coin collector. Jesse Berry, Berry Plumbing

I love spending time at Lake Buchanan. I always catch a lot of black bass. Alvin Wyatt, Rose Electric

I have a favorite hang out in Austin – it is the greenbelt area near Mopac and Capi-tol of Texas Highway. I have a sincere ap-preciation of nature.

Ben Baker, U.S. Lumber Brokers

There are so many gems in Austin! The swimming holes, the people, the tacos and art and entertainment.

Blake West,Innovation Water Solutions LLC


BAFFIN BAYLAGUNA MADRE

LAND CUT

SPECKLED TROUT

REDFISHFLOUN DER

FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS

STEVE SCHULTZOUTDOORS, LLC

www.baffi nbaycharters.comsteveschultzoutdoors@

gmail.com

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

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

Spring outlookis promisingby Capt. Steve Schultz

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

are several pointers I will give you to help you be a bet-ter angler when throwing surface plugs. Not every game fish can be raised with a popping plug, of course, but most can’t resist the temptation to blast what ap-pears to be a helpless meal - even if they have no idea just what it is. That even applies to fish that aren’t hun-gry. Presentation is key when working surface baits. On calm mornings I tend to use smaller baits than I would if it was windy. Work the bait with a side to side action and a slow retrieve with frequent pauses. On winder days move up to a larger plug such as a Top Dog or She Dog and be a little more aggressive with your retrieve and less frequent stops or perhaps none at all. Try different retrieves of rhythm to find what works best on that giv-en day. Another tip that will be very useful when fishing surface baits, is to not try and set the hook to quickly when you see the fish hit the lure. Lots of times they will miss or short strike on the first pass only to come back and hit it again. Once you find the tempo your target fish wants, it could make for some explosive action. Also, those who say top water lures only work in early mornings and late evenings, have obviously never given them a solid effort during mid-day wades.

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

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

TexasStyle

San Antonio Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Houston South Texas

www.constructionnews.netpublishing the industry’s news

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE


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

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

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

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

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

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

Spring fishingby Max Milam

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

Let us know or send photos to Abby at austineditor@constructionnews.

net.

Mudbugs in March?

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips

All Bait, Tackle & EquipmentFurnished

Your catch Filleted andBagged for You

Furnish your TPWD FishingLicense & Refreshments,

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

www.striperfever.com


Stucco & EIFS Products • Custom Color MatchingCement, Lath & Trim Products

23703 IH-35, #101B Kyle, TX 78640512.268.5600

conveniently located to service Austin and San Antonio

Starting the year off right, Braun and Butler Construction Inc. and Champion Site Prep employees had a successful hunting trip to South Texas in January. –ab

Lots of laughter and stories

Business development manager Ruben Garcia, Braun and Butler Construction, with his javelinas.

Project manager Kyle Pearson, Braun and Butler Construction, with his buck.

Par for the courseSubmitted to Construction News

When the AmeriTex Pipe & Products LLC Austin sales team have free time, they like to play golf at Twin Creeks Golf Country Club. –ab


Companies in the Austin construc-tion industry took part in the build-ing of a home for Marine Sgt. Ray

Coffey. Sgt. Coffey served in the Marine Corps, with two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. To show their appreciation for the sacrifices Sgt. Coffey made, Operation Fi-nally Home gave the Coffey family a new mortgage-free home. Henley Homes Inc. was the builder on the project. The home is located in Santa Rita Ranch in Liberty Hill, TX. Santa Rita Ranch hosted the Operation Finally Home dedi-cation for the Coffey family Jan. 31. The Texas Longhorn mascot Bevo, patriotic and veteran biker groups and the Liberty Hill Marching Band made a special ap-pearance at the event. Companies and people involved in the project included Dan White Screens & Things, Redline Concrete, Reinforcing Steel Supply, Lauren Concrete, Western Concrete Pumping, Anastas Plumbing, Moore Supply, IWP Water, American Electric, Lighting Inc., 1st Call Security Solutions, J & S Custom Hardwood, Pre-cision Trim, Liberty Hill Woodworks, Chuck Wehner, Austin Deck Co., Austin Flag & Flagpole, Vetta – Geri Alger, BMC Building Materials, Sappington

Welcome home

Construction, Zephyr Masonry, Brauer Stone, Central Texas Custom Gutters, Cedar Park Overhead Doors, Cabinets Deluxe, Eddie Martinez Paint, Sherwin Williams, Direct Propane Services, Ch-isholm Trail S.U.D., Southern Shutters and Blinds, Exclusive Windows & Doors of Austin, L & W Supply, Timbertown USA, Matt Russ, Texas Irrigation Sup-ply, Pro Source, Get Floored, Harway Appliances, HK Computers, All Star Window Clean, Landscape & Business Serv, Mike Griffin, D & R Signs, McCoy’s Building Supply, InteXgration, Hill Country Electric Supply, Home Team Pest Defense, City of Liberty Hill, Texas Curb Cut, Timbertech, MItsubitshi Inc., Sierra Landscape Irrigation, Weather-ization Partners Ltd., Firerock Building Materials, Eyesite Surveillance; Closets, Storage and More, Bryan Technical Ser-vices Inc., Glasscraft Doors, Brenner Design Build, BHI Media, McCuyer Homebuilders, Austin Contractor Ser-vices, Plastpro Inc., Roadrunner Inspec-tions, Pacific Shores Stones, Safe & Se-cure Home Solutions, Pope Materials Inc. and Cat Trax Rentals.

Photos: Timbertown USA

Sgt. Coffey and his wife receive the key to their new house.

Patriotic and veteran biker groups ride at the event.

The Texas Longhorn mascot, Bevo, also attended the event.

Mechanic Eric Motts tests the brakes on equipment at Ahern Rentals. The company provides sales, rentals and service on heavy construction equipment. –ab

Testing, testingConstruction News ON LOCATION

15 to 500 TonCapacitiesAvailable for yourToughest Projects

www.alamocrane.com

San Antonio (210) 344-7370Austin (512) 282-6866Toll Free (800) 880-0134

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Installing utilities in downtown AustinWe can help you lay a lasting beginning


Time to chat

Plumb happyConstruction News ON LOCATION

Chase Becker, counter salesman, loves his job at Ferguson, a distributor of residential and commercial plumbing products. –ab

Dynamic dayConstruction News ON LOCATION

Driver Luis Valenzuelas is ready to start his week at Dynamic Systems Inc., a mechanical contracting company. –ab

Safety mattersSubmitted to Construction News

L-R: Associated General Contractors Austin Chapter (AGC) safety director, Larry Connelly, OSHA compliance assistance specialist Joann Natarajan; Chasco Constructors safety director, Jonathan Escalante and OSHA area director Casey Perkins met in Austin in

February to discuss plans for another Safety Stand Down event in 2015. –ab

The Associated Builders and Contrac-tors Central Texas Chapter (ABC) held its 2015 Chapter Dinner at the

Norris Conference Center - Red Oak Ball-room on Jan. 29. Plenty of folks gathered for the auspicious occasion. –ab

Fine dining

ABC members network at the Norris Conference Center.

On the right: L-R: Amber and Kristen,

Mar-teK Contractor Supply LLC

JE Dunn Construction

Having a chance to talk with elected officials, Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors Association

of Texas (PHCC) members attended the 2015 Walk on the Capitol in Austin in late January. –ab

L-R: Milton Frank, Jessica Frank Burden, Phillip Johnson and Rick Shelton

L-R: Ricky Stecher, Doug Turner, Clayton Turner and Ken Boen

On the right: Ray Jones (left) and Don Clements,

legislative aide to Senator John Whitmire District 15


Splash of paintConstruction News ON LOCATION

Assistant manager John Carver wears many hats at the Rooster’s Paint Center Lakeway location. –ab

Making friendsConstruction News ON LOCATION

L-R: Counter salesman Cornelius Henry and Juan Martinez have fun visiting with new and existing customers at Morrison Supply on Springdale Rd. –ab

Corey BallSenior Certified DuPont™

Tyvek® Commercial Specialist

Weatherization Partners Ltd

Industry FOLKS

Corey Ball moved from Lubbock to Austin 10 years ago and couldn’t

be happier with his life in the capital city and his job. “I love living and working in Aus-tin,” Ball said. “It is such a beautiful city with so much diversity and a ton of dif-ferent things to do and see.” As a senior certified DuPont™ Tyvek® commercial specialist, Ball calls on architects, builders, installers, code officials, building material dealers and distributors. Ball says it is his job to educate others of the benefits of the products he represents within the company. “DuPont™ Tyvek® puts us through lots of training each year, and I have learned so much about building sci-ence as a whole,” he said. Ball likes taking that knowledge and working with other building pro-fesssionals. He also enjoys representing a product line that is an important part of making construction happen. Employed at the company for eight years, Ball says he has worked hard to learn his industry. Ball was recently awarded Du-

Pont™ Tyvek® Commercial Specialist of the Year for his work in Austin. Linda Marquess, N.A. DuPont Building Innovations sales manager, gave him the honor which is based on initiative, involvement with industry members, enthusiasm and sales growth. Ball represents the top percent among an industry leading specialist network - a national group of more than 170 highly-trained field represen-tatives. When he isn’t working, Ball and his wife Libby like to spend time at the lo-cal lakes on the weekend. The couple also enjoys playing golf around town and going to dinner with friends at unique restaurants. Ball says that if his friends could describe him, they’d say he is humble, pleasant and always in a good mood. “My goal for 2015 is to continue to have the same success I enjoyed over the past year,” he said. –ab

O’Connell Robertson has partnered with Flintco to design and build the new Texas Advanced Computing Center on the UT Pickle Research Campus. A groundbreaking

celebration for the project took place Feb. 18. –ab

Submitted to Construction News

Coming: Advanced computing

The Bartlett Cocke General Contractors Central Texas office recently wished James Hood a happy retirement after almost 50 years in the construction industry. Before he

retired, he completed the West Cypress Elementary School for Lake Travis ISD. –ab

Golden yearsSubmitted to Construction News

Right on point

Husband and wife team Collins Johnson, president, and Janna Johnson, vice president, have op-

erated Austin-based Pinpoint Strategies Inc. since 2007. Growing substantially since the early days, today the company has jobs in Aus-tin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. “I have a very calculated approach to growth, but a very aggressive one,” John-son said. “We have grown over the years through diversification.” The company has a large office staff, including estimators, project managers and administration employees and has hired more field supervision, as well. The company also recently added a design studio and classroom area. An eight-year employee, Joshua Gothia was promoted to operations manager at the first of the year. He went through a six-month training before he took on his new position. The new esti-

mator is Gary Lewis. “We are taking on larger jobs now and perform those jobs with the same precision and organizational flow as we have always done,” Johnson said. A few commercial jobs the company has completed include finish out jobs, theaters and medical, industrial and heavy manufacturing projects. In January, Pinpoint Strategies sold all of its shares of Southern Demolition. They previously owned 50 percent of the company. “We are blessed to have a great team, great clients and a lot of work,” Johnson said. “Our company is stronger right now than it ever has been.” Pinpoint Strategies provides commer-cial and multi-family construction services such as interior demolition, framing and drywall, flooring, acoustical ceiling, doors and hardware and painting. –ab

Janna and Collins Johnson


Construction Education

Look for a good education foundation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hands on experience is key

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

What type of training is available at your organization?

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

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

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

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

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Construction EducationEducation and experience equally important

Dr. Orlando R. Bagcal, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Construction ManagementTechnology ProgramTarrant County College SouthFort Worth, TX

How have construction education and training changed over the

years? Construction education has always been dynamic and evolving. The de-mand of stringent industry standards and quality, as well as the growing em-phasis on making buildings more energy efficient, require a high level of knowl-edge and education. Keeping abreast of current technological changes, emerg-ing techniques and methods and com-puter knowledge and skills will help fu-ture construction project managers per-form their professional responsibilities. In addition, the delivery of education and training has changed in the past de-cade. Aside from the traditional class-room face-to-face instruction, there are various options that students can choose that will suit their demanding schedules, such as online classes and hybrid (combi-nation of face-to-face and online) classes. These options allow individuals who want to further their education more flexibility and enable them to learn sub-ject content at their own pace.

What areas of education need to be improved to better serve the indus-try? The construction industry is a com-

plex and challenging environment, thus requiring an individual that has the abili-ty to quickly adapt and respond to cur-rent situations and problems. Students who are pursuing a career in construc-tion must be trained and learn critical thinking (logical and analytical), team working (collaboration) and advanced knowledge and skills in computer-driven technology. Further, as many government agen-cies and private companies require and standardize the use of BIM (Building In-formation Modeling) in construction projects, it is important that students must learn the capability as well as ability to operate this software. The use of BIM in construction projects is known to im-prove collaboration and more efficient processes in the construction industry.

How important is “hands-on” train-ing? As I always tell my students, educa-tion is as important as obtaining experi-ence (hands-on). Knowledge + experi-ence = wisdom, a trait project managers must possess in order to make good deci-sions in every situation that arises at the field site. Practical experience or hands-on training is very important in becom-ing a construction manager, whether you

obtained it through classroom laborato-ries, an internship or a job as a construc-tion trade.

What are ways to attract young people to the industry? The mindset of young people has to be changed. The idea that the construc-tion industry is all about dust and mud, hammers and saws or materials and heavy equipment must go away. Pro-spective young people need to know that getting an education in construction will lead them to vast and various oppor-tunities in the industry. To attract young people, we need to teach them to look at things in a different way, a varied way in doing things. Teaching strategies and ways that will streamline processes and improve workplace safety by integrating computer and automation in the work-place could stimulate their desire to be in the construction industry. Likewise, construction companies should invest in training their young con-struction workers so that they feel secure that their viability as a hirable employee will continue to grow. Thriving construc-tion companies must establish skills pro-gression programs with rewards as young workers move up the management lad-der. Doing so will help restructure the in-dustry to continue to be appealing to young people.

What are some areas of study? The responsibilities of the construc-tion manager are becoming complex and demanding. Construction managers plan, direct, coordinate and budget di-verse construction projects in various sectors such as residential, commercial, heavy infrastructure and industrial facili-ties.

Students who consider a career in this industry must learn the functions of project managers: estimating, schedul-ing, planning, coordinating and supervis-ing. There is also this growing need to-ward certification in special areas as con-struction managers. This certification is becoming valuable as it provides valida-tion and evidence of their expertise, pro-ficiencies and competencies to be con-struction management professionals. Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), American Institute of Constructors (AIC), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) all have established a voluntary certification exam or training for construction manag-ers. At Tarrant County College, we offer four different certificates of completion and an AAS degree in Construction Man-agement Technology.

Are scholarships available for con-struction education? There are several scholarships of-fered for construction management stu-dents at Tarrant County College through the TCC Foundation such as the “West-wood Contractor Scholarship” and “For the Ones Who Get It Done Scholarship.” In addition, the Texas Builders Founda-tion and the National Housing Endow-ment of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) offer scholarships for students who pursue a career in the residential sectors. The Associated Gen-eral Contractors (AGC) is also offering scholarships for those wanting to be in the commercial sectors. –mjm

Promoting professionaldevelopment

Dana Marsh, Education DirectorAssociated General Contractors (AGC)San Antonio, TX

While there are programs to rally the next generation of the workforce

and college programs to bring construc-tion science into the realm of higher edu-cation, what options are available for a professional in the field who wants to continue to improve along an existing ca-reer path? The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America has programs that are offered nationwide that anyone can at-tend, regardless of membership. Dana Marsh, education director for the San An-tonio Chapter, notes that these programs offer professional development on every level. For people who are out in the field, AGC has the Supervisory Training Pro-gram (STP), a construction-specific train-ing curriculum developed, updated, and field-tested by and for contractors. “Supervisory skill – or the lack of it – directly affects every company's bottom line,” explains Marsh. “Each day, decisions made by every foreman and superinten-dent are crucial to the success or failure of

every construction project. You make your money in the field, and STP can help you improve your organization's bottom line.” Participants in the STP program, which is comprised of six courses or mod-ules, come from a range of backgrounds, and Marsh notes that they could be “any-one on a construction jobsite in a super-visory role – from the new supervisor and foreman to the experienced superinten-dent – who is looking to become a more effective manager of people, time, equip-ment and materials.” For project managers, there is the AGC Project Manager Development Pro-gram (PMDP), another training curricu-lum developed and field-tested by and for contractors, which also offers a certifi-cate of completion. This five-course pro-gram helps assistant project managers, project managers, project engineers and project administrators, among others, develop long-term skills. These courses teach estimating and job costing, con-tract administration, project administra-tion, risk management and leadership.

This program is comprised of five mod-ules, and it is two days for each module. Marsh emphasizes that they try to spread out the scheduling for the classes, especially if they are two-day classes, which ensure that the attendees will not be out of the office for an entire week. “What’s good about these programs is each module is stand alone,” she adds. “So, if you don’t feel like you need all five modules, you can attend just one mod-ule. If you’re a project administrator and you want to just take the one on contract documents and project administration, you can. “These really hit everybody that works in construction, you don’t have to be just a project manager or just a super-intendent to get something out of one of these modules.” In 2009, AGC started its Building In-formation Modeling (BIM) Education Pro-gram, and upon completion, participants receive the Certificate of Management – Building Information Modeling (CM-BIM). Marsh points out that this is the in-dustry’s first and only BIM certificate pro-gram that teaches the practical applica-tion of the Building Information Model-ing process for commercial construction firms. The San Antonio Chapter has also joined with Bexar County to offer the “Ba-sics” of Construction Training Program, and this month, the program is in its 10th year. “The program is a 10-session educa-tional program designed to assist small, minority and women-owned construc-

tion businesses,” she says. These sessions include topics such as running a successful construction busi-ness, project scheduling, financial man-agement, understanding contracts, liens, estimating, project management, safety, business development, insurance and bonds. Graduates of the program are eli-gible to participate in AGC’s two-year Mentor-Protégé Program. These programs each offer a certifi-cate of completion and help to fill an ed-ucation gap once an employee or man-ager is in his or her job. Not only are these things that are not taught in college, Marsh comments, but a lot of field per-sonnel might not have gone to college, having worked their way up to their cur-rent position. Addressing practical issues that these team members will be dealing with daily, these programs can help them learn how to motivate the people work-ing for them and communicate to them. Also, Marsh believes that this can benefit those applying for these posi-tions, stating, “if you’re applying for a job, it’s going to show the employer that you’re really interested in bettering your-self and progressing in your career.” Dana Marsh started at AGC San Anto-nio as the plan room manager 15 years ago. As the chapter developed a more ro-bust education program, she transitioned to education director. She serves on the Ad-visory Council for Construction Careers Academy and the St Philip’s Construction Advisory Committee, as well as chapter ad-ministrator for the AGC Student Chapter at UTSA. –mh


Round-Up

This is a monthly section for brief company announcements of new orrecently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Email (w/digital photo, if available) by the 15th of any month,

for the next month’s issue (published 1st of each month).Email info to appropriate city issue, with “Round-Up” in the subject line:––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

San Antonio: [email protected] Austin: [email protected] Dallas/Ft. Worth: [email protected] Houston: [email protected] South Texas: [email protected]

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“Since the majority of the 1.2 mile project was over water, this meant hav-ing to build from the water,” she said. “Delivering all construction equipment and materials via barge from one end of the project on a daily basis was the main obstacle.” The construction team faced a chal-lenge when drilling and placing over 300 piers with distinct anchor bolt bearings in tough locations on water, in wetlands, on slopes and under I-35. Other challenges were gaining ac-cess through environmentally sensitive wetland and forestry with minimal tree damage, crossing creeks, and low water areas without harming, fish, turtles, en-dangered plants, birds and other species. The use of heavy equipment such as cranes, drill rigs and excavators from

continued from Page 1 — Happy trails

continued from Page 1 — Spring is coming

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barges over the water were used to build a structure with minimal tolerance. “Drilling structural piers from barges into the rock below the lake bottom pro-vided the solid foundation,” Williams said. “Everyone had to work together to solve unusual problems that came about during the project regarding environ-mental and structural issues. It was a team effort.” Jay-Reese Contractors is a Austin-based general contractor founded in 1989 by Ron Albee, PE. The firm is experienced in many different areas of construction such as bridge construction and restora-tion, design build, utilities, commercial buildings, building renovations, site and concrete work, highway work, railroad structures and capacity work. –ab

Downtown Austin can be seen from The Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake.

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

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

to live music,” Saldana said. “It was very cold that night so we were all in the barn. There was plenty of room for everyone. We stayed warm with a campfire, too.” When Saldana, Amonette and the Vogelman’s have free time, they like to ride Harley Davidson motorcycles in the Texas Hill Country. “We go riding as often as possible,” Saldana said. “Our favorite time to ride is on Sundays. We all look forward to the upcoming Republic of Texas (ROT) Rally

in Austin. “In addition, we like hang out with friends and to listen to live music at the local venues around town when we get a chance.” Looking ahead, Saldana said the company’s future goal is to continue to grow and add new inventory. A.G.P. Rock ‘N Dirt Yard provides ag-gregate and grass products, such as lime-stone, sandstone, dirt, sand, mulch, cement and landscape supplies. –ab

here in Austin. When Saucier has free time, she says she and her husband like to spend time outdoors and go white tail deer hunting in East Texas. “I just had a baby, so I wasn’t able to go hunting this past season, she said. “My husband killed a couple of hogs. Next year when our son, Hunter, is a little older, I will be back in the stand!” Meinhold says he enjoys spending time with his wife and their son, 17, and he goes golfing when he gets the chance. He and his wife are avid gardeners. “We love planting seeds and watch-ing them grow,” he said. “We have eight raised gardens in our back yard. We look forward to the springtime. We have al-ready planted rows of onions and lettuce. The asparagus is starting to come up from last year.”

Meinhold also likes to read detective and zombie books after a long day at work. “I never thought I’d like the zombie books, but my wife turned me on to them,” he said. “The books are about sur-vival after the apocalypse. I can picture myself right in there saying, ‘Let’s do this!’” So far this year, Standard Drywall has worked on four small jobs and is also bid-ding on another large job. “We look forward to continuing to grow here in Austin in 2015,” he said. Standard Drywall is a metal stud, fram-ing, drywall, lath and plaster subcontractor. The company currently has seven locations throughout the United States. Standard Drywall employs union craftsman, such as carpenters, plasterers, tapers, painters and laborers. –ab

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Extra Papers?

Building a brewerySubmitted to Construction News

Structura is constructing a new 22,000-sf facility in Southeast Austin for craft beer brewer, Live Oak Brewing. A groundbreaking ceremony recently took place with the

project team, owner’s family and brewery’s employees all throwing a shovel of dirt to mark the occasion. –ab


Association CalendarContent submitted by Associations to Construction News

AGCAssociated General Contractors

Mar. 2: Safety Committee meetingMar. 3-6: Respiratory Protection TEEX OSH 222Mar. 5: Scaffold AwarenessMar. 6: Ladder/Fall Protection for WorkersMar. 23: TEEX OSH 750 – Intro to S&H ManagementMar. 24-25: TEEX OSH 755 – Intro to Ac-cident InvestigationMar. 26: TEEX OSH 720 – Bloodborne Pathogens OSHA 10 Hour TrainingMar. 27: OSHA 10 Hour TrainingMar. 31: TEEX OSH 581 – Hazard Recogni-tion/Shore Oil & Gas, MEDIC First Aid Ba-sicPlusFor more information call 512-442-7887

AIAAmerican Institute of Architects

Mar. 2: Deign Awards Committee mtgMar. 4: BEC - AUSTIN - Air Barriers 101: Ba-sic Use and Design 1 LU/HSWMar. 5: CRAN Committee meetingMar. 9: COTE meetingMar. 11: Emerging Professionals meetingMar. 12: ASLA-CTX CodeNEXT Commit-tee meetingMar. 19: Small Firms Roundtable and La-tinos in Architecture Committee MeetingMar. 20: AAH Committee meetingMar. 23: CodeNEXT Advocacy RoundtableMar. 26: Activities Committee meetingFor more information call 512-767-7436

CTSA Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.

Mar. 10: Monthly meeting, 5:30pm-6pm Social Hour, 6pm-8pm Dinner and Pre-sentation, Embassy Suites, 5901 N. IH-35For more information visit www.ctsaon- line.org

IECIndependent Electrical Contractors

Mar. 9: Spring Golf Outing, Berry Creek Country ClubMar. 18: General Membership Luncheon, Saltgrass SteakhouseFor more information call 512-832-1333

NARINat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry

Mar. 19: Spring SocialFor more information visit www.austin- nari.org

NAWICNat’l Assn. of Women in Construction

Mar. 2-6: WIC WeekMar. 3: Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm, Uncle Bill’s Brew & QueMar. 5: Jobsite Tour at New City Library with Hensel Phelps and Crockett High School, 9am-noonMar. 5: Proclamation Ceremony WIC Week at City Hall, 5:30pmMar. 5: Community Involvement/Chap-ter Meeting at Capitol Area Food Bank, 6pm-8pmFor more information visit www.austin-nawic.org

USGBCU.S. Green Building Council

Mar. 12: Sustainable Sites: Upcycling Our Urban Ecosystems – Lunch ‘N Learn in San AntonioFor more information visit www.usgbc-centraltexas.org

Strong as steel

The U.S. Green Building Council-Central Texas Balcones Chapter announced its new board of directors for 2015-16. This year’s board includes second-year members Karen Bishop, SARA; Cliff Braddock, PEPCO Energy Services; Paul Brown, Bautex Systems; Pam Carpenter, 7th Generation Design; Brad Garner, Garner Development Services; Jane Baxter Lynn, JBL Strategies; and Marc Stroope, Gardner Law Firm; second-term members Mehmet Boz, AECom; Scott Gerhardt, CORE USA; and Michael Sweeney, Arup; and new members: Jim Brunson, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction; Bonny Gray, GSC Architects; Andy Kim, Austin Community College; Reed Sternberg, Texas Green Realtor; and Lisa Storer, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Sustainable Sites Initiative. Alternate board members are Andrew Clements, Texas Department of State Health Services; and Beth Guillot, Fuse Architecture Studio. –mh

Going green board

More than 150 engi-neering students competed in the

Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition at the University of Texas at Aus-tin Recreational Center in January. The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) host-ed the event. According to Annema-rie Gasser, ASCE communi-cations manager, the pur-pose of the competition is to provide civil engineering students with comprehen-sive project experience involving the de-sign and building of their own one-tenth scale steel bridge. The competition featured more than 17 student chapter teams from major Texas and Mexico universities competing for the honor of going to the national competition. The students were required to do their own design, fabrication and testing with client specifications. Students’ bridges had to withstand 2,500 lbs. and show the least deflection (or dip) when the weight is applied, and were judged in the following categories: display, construction speed, stiffness, lightness, construction economy and structural efficiency, she said. Throughout the academic year, stu-

dent teams work for months perfecting the design, fabrication and construction of each bridge. This extracurricular activity teaches civil engineering students to develop skills including teamwork, innovation, project management and professional-ism. –ab The top three schools will advance to the national competition held May 22-23, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. –ab

Congrats to the winners!

University of Texas - San AntonioUniversidad Autonoma del Estado de MexicoTexas A&M University

Students build a steel bridge at the University of Texas at Austin Recreational Center.

The University of Texas – ASCE Steel Bridge team

Kiva CothamVice PresidentCotham ConstructionServices & Roofing LLC

Industry FOLKS

Kiva Cotham works with her father Marlon, owner of Cotham Con-

struction Services & Roofing LLC, on a daily basis. “I enjoy what I do today because I am able to help others,” she said. “Whether it’s a simple reroof that will protect their home for years to come or helping bring their remodeling dreams to life. “I truly love what I do and have a passion for the construction trade. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” Cotham says if a young person wants to work in construction, it is wise to find a mentor in the industry to learn the trade. Born and raised in Austin, Kiva followed in her fathers footsteps to the University of North Texas to com-plete her bachelor's degree. After a yearlong stint in Denton, she opted to transfer to the University of Texas at San Antonio to be closer to home. She completed her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Law En-forcement in 2011. “I haven't always had my eyes set on working in the construction indus-try like my father,” she said. “Original-ly, I planned to take my degree and become a Texas game warden. But, I

had a change of heart after spending so much time working with my father.” Cotham says she is very happy to be back home at Cotham Construction Services & Roofing. She handles everything from proj-ect management, website design, mar-keting, sales, as well as continuing her education to keep up with the fast-changing construction industry. In addition, she is currently work-ing on several certifications and is also in the process of obtaining her All-Lines Adjuster license from the State of Texas. These days, Cotham resides in Le-ander. She is a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and volunteers at organizations such as Su-san G. Komen, Habitat for Humanity and the Alzheimer’s Association. Cotham says in her free time, she enjoys spending time near the ocean, going sailing and traveling to new places. “In the future, I want to help my father continue to grow the business and have multiple offices throughout Texas,” she says. –ab


Brian Schultz, counter salesman, helps customers find electrical supplies at Crawford Electrical Supply on Burleson Rd. –ab

Busy at the counterConstruction News ON LOCATION

Sunny dispositionConstruction News ON LOCATION

The Sunstate Equipment Co. team enjoys the spring like weather in February. The company provides construction equipment rentals. –ab

Fox Service Co. hosted a Casino Night employee party in late January. Employees and guests mingled and played blackjack, roulette and craps during the evening. Fox Service Co. provides commercial and residential HVAC, plumbing, electrical,

refrigeration and process piping services. –ab

Having a blast

CEO Robert Nagel addresses the attendees. George Stuckey and guest

Christopher Williams and guest

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