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CONSTRUCTION
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The Industry’s Newspaper
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 (210) 308-5800  PO Box 791290
 San Antonio TX 78279 
Vol. 12  No. 6  JUNE 2012
Heavy metal in S. Austin
A product of hard work
South Austin Metals, a division of Compound Security Specialists in Austin, has been around
for only three years but already has a growing clientele.
Bob Foster, founder of All-Tex Supply, was honored at a recent 30th anniversary celebration
at the company’s headquarters in Dallas. Foster founded All-Tex in Austin in 1982. Foster is
flanked by co-owners Royce Farris, left, and Don Tice.
S
afety Coordinator Robert Palmerton refers to South Austin Metals
as “kind of a steel service center.”
It sells raw steel, but it does more
than that. Punching, bending and fabrication are also performed at the shop,
which is manned by a staff of six.
What makes South Austin Metals
unique, though, isn’t so much the services offered as it is its location.
“There isn’t much industry in the
South Austin area,” Palmerton explained.
“We’re the only people south of the river
(in Austin) who do this.”
The company’s been around for
about 3 ½ years, but is a division of Compound Security Specialists, which has
been in the automatic gate and security
equipment business since 1988. Adolfo
Rodriguez is president, and Brenda Reese is vice president.
Business has been good since the division opened its doors, said Palmerton.
“I think things are really starting to
turn around for the better,” Palmerton
said. “We sell to a lot of the smaller businesses. If the smaller businesses are getting to work, then that means the big
guys are getting back to work.
“The big guys usually get back to
work before the small guys do. It’s all a
good sign.”
While Palmerton acknowledges that
continued on Page 17
T
hree full decades – that’s how long
it’s been since Bob Foster opened
the doors to All-Tex Supply Inc. in
Austin in 1982.
Fast-forward to today, and the company is substantially larger, having expanded to two more major markets in
Texas as well as out of state. Today, the
chain that carries a wide selection of products, including commercial sealants, building products, power tools, glazing products, chemicals, concrete, wallcoating, waterproofing and water repellants, to name
a few, and is based in Dallas with locations
in Austin, San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
Royce Farris and Don Tice, who
joined in 1990, are now the principals, hav-
ing purchased All-Tex from Foster in 2002.
“We went to work for him when he
opened the store in Dallas,” said Farris.
“At that time, he only had the store in
Austin. After that, he expanded to San
Antonio and Oklahoma City.”
With a changing of the guard at the
principal position also came a switch for
the location’s headquarters, which
moved to Dallas from Austin.
Farris and Tice, who have been onand-off co-workers in Dallas for the past
25 years, have seen a lot of growth in the
company since joining in 1990, Farris said.
continued on Page 17
A ‘suite’ improvement
E
mbassy Suites hotels have long
been popular hotel options, with
distinctive characteristics such as
glass atrium lobbies, indoor swimming
pools, indoor sidewalk-style breakfast cafes and, of course, two-room guest suites.
The Embassy Suites on Town Lake in
downtown Austin, however, now mixes
edgy, modern design with the hotel’s familiar amenities, thanks to a facelift performed by KGC Contracting LLC, which
served as the general contractor on the
renovation.
Noteworthy changes made during
the renovation included a revamping of
the indoor swimming pool that was highlighted by stylish waterfall features, and
widespread improvements to the hotel’s
Copperbar lounge.
The recently completed project had
a price tag of just over $2 million and was
finished in just a few months.
“The time constraints for this project
were a major challenge since we had only
a few months and working around the
general public as well as making sure not
to disrupt the business and comfort of
the guests at the hotel,” said Keith Brandon, owner of KGC and manager of the
project. “There were a variety of scopes
and materials used, and the hotel is very
well known in the Austin area.”
Brandon said KGC Contracting’s specialty is remodeling, reconstruction and
renovation of commercial and residential
properties.
The improvements made to the
Town Lake Embassy Suites suggest this is
no exaggeration.
Indoor swimming pools can sometimes look as sterile as the natatorium at
the YMCA, but the revamped pool area at
the Embassy Suites is a far cry from this,
with mosaic-like walls and waterfalls that
make it look more like a grotto or underground lagoon than a lap pool.
The revamped pool area at the Embassy Suites on Town Lake in downtown Austin’s stoneaccented walls and waterfall features make it feel more like a grotto than a natatorium.
continued on Page 17
Page 2
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
A good foundation
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I
ntertech Commercial Flooring has
added a new Concrete Surface Analysis and Solutions Division.
The new division will be headquartered in the Dallas/Fort Worth office and
will serve the company’s offices in San
Antonio, Austin and Mission.
Heading up the new division is concrete expert Rick Kercheval.
Kercheval was founder and president of On Track Technologies. There, he
worked with health care, institutional
and other commercial clients to evaluate
and correct concrete issues to extend the
life expectancy of flooring.
Joining Kercheval as project superintendent in Intertech’s new division is Bob
Roland. Roland began his career with
Stonhard as an installer, and soon was
promoted to crew chief, leading project
crews across five states.
Bill Imhoff, Intertech Flooring President/CEO, said he was delighted to welcome the two professionals to the team.
“Projects fail all over the country because of improper testing and treatment
of slab issues, and there are very few true
experts who can guide clients in how to
resolve these issues,” said Imhoff. “Rick is
one of those experts. He began using the
best solutions for moisture vapor emissions (MVE) years ago, and is certified in
testing for MVE on large projects. His
track record, mitigating concrete moisture issues on nearly 3 million square feet
in highly sensitive areas, puts him at the
top of the industry.
“In addition, Bob is a seasoned trainer in teaching correct installation techniques and execution of project efficiency. He gets things done with quality and
consistency.” –ms
Rick Kercheval
Bob Roland
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 3
Construction News ON LOCATION
Branching out
From A to busy
Mary Ann A. Mitchell, MDC principal and founder, has joined O’Connell Robertson as part of
its acquisition of her firm. L-R: Benjamin Rosas, Associate AIA; Jason Puchot, AIA, EDAC, LEED
AP BD+C; Kim Pham, EIT; Mary Ann A. Mitchell, AIA, IIDA, and Jorge Olivares, PE.
L-R: Things have been pretty busy at A to Z Rental in Georgetown, says manager John Waller. Also pictured are Tony McKenzie and Alan Dorris. –ms
Construction News ON LOCATION
Chips off the ol’ block
The crew at Woodcraft in Austin is all business when dealing with customers,
but, as is fitting at a store that sells a variety of table saws, knows how to “cut
up,” too. L-R: Ron Marcil, Assistant Manager Ryan Murphy
and Floor Manager Dave Morris. –ms
Austin
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Austin Editor — Abby BeMent — AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net — 713-599-1774
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O
’Connell Robertson, a full service
architecture, engineering and interior design firm based in Austin,
has acquired the Mitchell Design Consultancy (MDC) in San Antonio.
Mary Ann A. Mitchell, AIA, IIDA,
MDC principal and founder, joins
O’Connell Robertson as part of the acquisition.
In her new role as principal, Mitchell
will serve as O’Connell Robertson’s
healthcare and government market leader for the South Texas Region.
Chris Narendorf, principal and director of O’Connell Robertson’s San Antonio office, said the acquisition made
the firm stronger.
“The acquisition of MDC enriches
our firm’s ability to provide comprehensive planning and design services to education and healthcare clients in the region, while allowing us to grow our expe-
rience in the retail and government sectors,” said Narendorf. “I look forward to
working with Mary Ann as we share a
commitment to innovating and the desire to increase and enhance our client
relationships,
further
integrating
O’Connell Robertson into the fabric of
the San Antonio community.”
Mitchell’s 25-year career as an architect and interior designer in San Antonio
has included facility design and project
management for Methodist Healthcare
System, Baptist Hospital, UT Health Science Center, and Alamo Colleges. She
most recently provided program management and design review services for
the new 1 million-sf Fort Hood replacement hospital in Killeen. She also spent
12 years at H-E-B Corporation during
which time she served as the Director of
Design – Architecture and Format Development. –ms
Page 4
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
What’s it like working with your two
boys?
Having family work together is a little bit different. You’ve got to know when
to separate family and working relationships. It’s not that hard to do with the
boys, though. They’re pretty hard working guys, though they do call me Dad at
work.
Marvin Gattis, Co-owner
Triad Mechanical Services
S
ince 1990, Triad Mechanical Services
has been operating from its location on US 183, starting out in a
small rent house and moving into a shop.
The company, which specializes in
commercial plumbing and HVAC, was
started by Everett Hicks, Lee Lively and
Marvin Gattis. Lively’s retired, but Gattis,
54, and Hicks, 55, are still going strong as
co-owners of a business that includes
Gattis’s two sons as project managers.
Construction News caught up with
Gattis – a former bull rider in his youth –
who enjoys being out in the great outdoors, whether it’s by land or by sea.
So, how did Triad Mechanical get its
start?
We’ve been here since June 1, 1990.
It was three of us guys – Lee Lively, Everett Hicks and I – getting together and
forming a company. Lively retired in
March of this year. We started out in a little rent house next door, but eventually,
we bought this property and built the
shop. We service a 60-mile radius.
Marvin, you grew up around here,
right? Did you always know you wanted to be in this business?
I was born in Austin. I didn’t always
know I wanted to go into construction.
My brother, Roland Gattis, who passed
away about three years ago, got me into
it. He was a plumber.
It looks like things are rolling pretty
well here. Did you ever think, 20 years
ago, that it would be in this good of
shape?
We didn’t see it growing like this at
first. In the early days it was Lee and I out
in the field, and Everett trying to get us
work. It was slow going at first. We grew
the business slowly, though, and it just
kept getting larger and larger. And now,
here we are.
I imagine part of the key to keeping
this place running is cultivating the
right crew, right?
We’ve got some good employees
here. My two sons Heath, 29, and Brent,
28, have joined in since they got out of
college. They’re project managers now.
They went to school at Bastrop High
School and then Texas State, which was
Southwest Texas at the time.
So how big is Triad Mechanical now?
We’re up to 40 employees and still
hiring. It looks like it’s really picking up
again. There’s a lot more to bid, so we’re
growing again!
My wife, Barbara, started out working with us, but she’s moved on. It’s a little different when you have partners. If
it’s just husband and wife, it works fine,
but when partners are involved, it can be
tough. She’s the office manager at another business, although she was here our
first couple of years.
What’s new in the wide world of commercial plumbing and HVAC?
It would seem that we’re going paperless and moving to fully electronic
building integration management systems.
For older guys like us, it’s an adjustment. I’m 54 years old, and Everett is 55. I
know it’s not that old, but we are the older ones around here.
So what’s the plan with this business?
Do you plan on hanging on to it much
longer?
Hopefully, Everett and I are going to
sell this to my boys. We have a 10-year
plan for doing this. They’ll be ready. I
think they’re getting the hang of it.
I’m guessing this isn’t the kind of trade
you learn overnight.
There’s a lot of learning to it – a learning curve. If you get good employees,
you really need to hang onto them. It’s a
long process to learn this trade. It takes
years to get good at what we’re doing.
I was trained by the school of Roland
Gattis hard knocks. He taught the trade,
and kicked my butt.
You’ve got some interesting stuff in
your office. I see a deer mounted on
the wall, and I see what appears to be
James Brown standing on your desk.
Where did you get your decorations?
Well, the deer is named “Scarback,”
named for the scar on the back of his
neck. He was a nine-point buck that
walked around our lease for a couple of
years. One day, I finally took him down.
James Brown, on the other hand,
was a gag gift I got when (the singer) was
performing in Texas.
Back to the deer. You mentioned hunting. I guess you’re an outdoorsman
type?
I love being outdoors. I love hunting
and fishing, and I’ve also got cattle.
I’ve got a place in Cedar Creek, and
when I leave here, I go to work. I’ve got
about 20 head of cattle. They’re registered Brahmans, you know, the ones with
the big humps.
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Marvin Gattis, co-owner of Triad Mechanical, has hobbies
that include hunting and raising cattle.
Are you raising them for meat, or
what?
Right now, I’m cross breeding them
and selling them. With breeding, there’s
a lot involved. You get a good bull, and
you get some artificial insemination services. There is a lot of science involved.
Would it surprise a lot of people to
learn you’re also a rancher? Do you
ever plan to make a career of it?
It’s getting to be common knowledge that I do this. I don’t think I’ll retire
and do this full time, though. I think it’s
more for my enjoyment. It’s definitely
more of a hobby.
So, you said this breeding thing is a
scientific process?
There’s a lot of science involved, if
you’re going with purebred strength.
With most people around here, there are
cows, there are bulls and that’s the way it
is. We’re a little bit more refined.
How did you pick up such a hobby?
I’ve always been around animals. I
was raised on a ranch about 10 miles
away from there.
Tell me a bit more about the deer
hunting.
We’re really big on the deer hunting.
We have a lease now in Harper, but I
haven’t even seen it. I just haven’t had a
chance to. Everett and the boys have
been, and they say it’s good, so I trust
them.
So, where have you been doing most
of your hunting?
We had a lease in Ozona that we did
a lot of hunting on. We were on with other people, and it was huge – it had a lot of
acreage. If you start losing people you
can’t afford to keep it. We’ve got the new
lease now, though.
Have you hunted in other states?
Everett and I took an elk-hunting trip
to Wyoming, where we hunted south of
Jackson Hole. We rode horses up there.
Everett killed him a 4X4, which has four
points on each side and I killed a spike,
which has just two horns sticking straight
up. The spikes on mine went up about 18
inches. I shot mine on the last day of the
trip, and he bagged his on the first day.
I’m guessing you couldn’t take freshly
harvested elk on the airplane, though.
We drove up there – it was an interesting trip. We had the meat processed
and packaged. The day we headed home,
we just loaded up and left. Everett had a
taxidermist take care his elk and ship it to
him. I just cut the spikes off mine and
took them home.
Was that your most memorable hunting trip?
Most memorable trip had to be with
my wife. At the place we’d been hunting
at in Ozona, we’d seen some really good
deer. I’d had my eye on one for a while. It
was a nice deer – the biggest one we’ve
ever had out there, and she got to kill it. It
was exciting – it was a 160-class deer.
And it wasn’t a high fence hunt, so it was
really thrilling.
Ever bag a trophy buck yourself?
I got to go on a trip once where I got
a really nice set of horns, but it was a high
fence hunt. Pretty cool, but it was high
fence, which means they’re kind of
trapped in there and bred for their horns,
so it was a trophy hunt. It was pretty
much managed. They’re easier to shoot.
Do you fish also?
I do fish when I get a chance. I’m not
a boatsman, though. I’ll charter some bay
fishing from time to time. We stock a tank
out on our place. I’ll feed them and watch
them grow. It’s pretty cool. We’ve got
perch and crappie in there now.
What else do you enjoy?
My wife and I have enjoyed going to
see a lot of bull rides. I used to ride when
I was a kid, so I was close to it. I was pretty
good at it when I stopped. I don’t ride
anymore, but riding is an absolute adrenaline rush.
Are your boys big outdoorsmen, too?
The boys like fishing on the Colorado. They’ve got special boats that they
build that can go in really shallow water.
They can go through about four or five
inches of water. They’re tricked out. I’ve
ridden on them before, and they’re pretty cool.
Shallow water? Like the airboats in the
swamp do?
I’d love to go on an airboat. That’s on
my bucket list. They’re pretty wild!
Is there anything else on the bucket
list?
I’d like to go back to Wyoming again,
before my knees give out. It’s rough out
there, and you’ve got to be in shape.
You’ve got to learn how to breathe when
you get up there, buddy. It was tough,
but it was invigorating. When we finished, I felt great.
Does that wrap up the bucket list?
No, I need grandchildren. I’ve got
three kids, but no grandchildren. I’ve got
two boys and a daughter – all pretty
close to the same age – and I’m waiting.
–ms
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 5
Construction News ON LOCATION
Splash of paint
Industry FOLKS
Megan Smith
Sales/Marketing
Hardwood Design
M
L-R: Assistant store manager Paul Hernandez; Amy Botha, inside sales
and Tim Hayes, store manager says Kelly-Moore Paints opened
the Ranch Road 620 store six months ago. –ab
The next generation
Graduates of the Crockett High School Construction Technology program
beam brightly after a commencement ceremony.
M
ay 3 was a proud day for both
construction professionals and
educators in the Austin area.
That day marked the first graduation
of students from the Crockett High
School Construction Technology program, which is supported by the National
Association of Women in Construction,
(NAWIC), and many Austin construction
companies.
The program is the first and only one
of its kind in the Austin Independent
School District. Members from throughout the construction industry, including
those who serve on the program’s advisory panel and NAWIC were on hand for
the ceremony.
Jim Stricklan, construction technology teacher at Crockett High School, said
leading the students in the program for
the past three years had been a “wonderful” experience.
“I have seen them come from not
knowing how to work as a team to being
a team leader and teaching younger students how to prepare for leadership,”
Stricklan said. “The students have been
guest speakers at several of our Construction Advisory Committee meetings and
have become closer with our advisory
members. They have been able to ask
questions and become a cohesive team
with our advisory members.
“Special thanks goes out to NAWIC
for their synergy for promoting our program and leading the way on our Internship Day.”
Graduates from the 3-year program
earn 28-college credit hours in association with Austin Community College, 30hour OHSA certification, NCCER Certification, and First Aid/CPR/AED Certification.
They also have the opportunity to par-
ticipate in Summer internships, one-day
internships, and construction field trips
throughout the year.
Crockett High School partnered with
ACC’s Building Construction Technology
department to develop the curriculum.
The program began in the 2009-2010
school year. –ms
egan Smith says she handles sales,
marketing and does all the paperwork at the Hardwood Design Austin
showroom.
“The company is a custom hardwood flooring manufacturer,” she said.
“I have worked here for about a year. “
Smith says she is originally from
south Louisiana and she came to Texas
when she attended Texas A & M University in College Station, TX.
“The company owner, Brandon
Claborn is an Aggie,” she said. “The
majority of us all went to A & M. I started off studying Biology and I finished
in Anthropology.
“During college, I worked at a call
center and answered phones. I also
helped a professor clean her house and
mow the yard once a week.
“When I left College Station in 2006,
I moved to Houston for a few years and
worked as a massage therapist. My husband is in the information technology
field. He got a job in Austin so we moved
here about five years ago.”
On the side, Smith says she plays
indoor soccer on Sundays, softball on
Thursdays and she works out at a gym.
“I do power lifting at the gym near
the office,” she said. “I did a marathon
in November and I enjoy doing adventure racing. Austin is a very good place
for adventure racing. I did some of my
training around Lady Bird Lake.
“I got up bright and early in the
morning and did the 10-mile loop a
couple times for training. I really try to
stay physically fit and eat right. I am
glad the new Whole Foods just opened
near the office.
“I went to the Whole Foods and
tried a few samples. It is nice to have
the Whole Foods so close to work. I
would walk over there from work but it
is a little far and the road is busy.”
According to Smith there are currently four of employees at the Austin
location.
“We all wear lots of different hats,”
she said. “Our main office is in College
Station, TX. I drive to College Station
two or three times a month in a flat bed
truck and do deliveries as well. I help
unload pallets of wood. It is actually a
really good workout!
“In addition, I have traveled to San
Antonio to pick up lumber to bring to
College Station. It is a small company
and everyone helps out where they
can.” –ab
Page 6
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Are you ready for some
bonding?
Smart-money use of
non-business time
Tony Ridout, Manging Shareholder
Ridout Barrett & Co., P.C.
San Antonio, TX
Kirk Quaschnick, President
Mogul Wealth Strategies, LLC
McKinney, TX
W
ith the anticipation of the economy improving
(hopefully soon) the demand for your construction company to obtain bid and payment/performance
bonds will be high. Most contractors have seen their financial condition weaken over
the past three years, so most project owners are going to require bonds and qualifications of these contractors. An easy way for a project owner to qualify its contractors is
to ask for a surety bond. Owners are not only asking for bonds from their general
contractors, they also want their general contractors to qualify their subcontractors
on the job as well.
Are You Ready? The first step is to
pull together the financial information
required by your bond agent. This includes:
1. At least 2 years income tax returns
for your business.
2. At least 2 years personal tax returns
of the owners of your business.
The Sureties will also request references from your bankers, creditors and
customers as well.
If your company does not meet traditional financial requirements for bond
approval, ask your bond agent about
surety companies who offer programs
for contractors considered higher risk.
Examples of these programs include:
3. At least 3 years business financial
statements with the most current being
no more than 90 days old on date of submission of application. It is important
these financials be prepared using GAAP.
4. Aging of your Company’s accounts
receivables and payables.
5. Certificate of Insurance to prove you
have proper coverage.
6. Copy of bond requirement from the
request for proposal or invitation to bid.
7. Resumes of owners and key personnel.
Additional documents your bond agent
will ask you to provide are:
1. A contractor questionnaire which
describes your company.
2. A status of contracts which your
company has under contract.
3. A performance and payment bond
request form for which you are seeking a
bond.
4. A job cost breakdown to include the
amount of materials and labor for the requested bond.
5. Personal financial statements of the
owners of your company.
Collateral – Offering collateral equivalent to 10 to 20% of the contract size.
Funds Control – Having a third party
manage the cash flow of funds for the
bonded contract, and
SBA Guaranty – The SBA charges a
fee for the guaranty of completion of the
contract.
If your company is currently receiving bonds, then this process is relatively
easy and a routine part of your business.
If your company has never applied for a
bond or has not done so in the past few
years, the process may seem overwhelming. Start today by contacting a Certified
Public Accountant with construction accounting experience and a bond agent.
These two professionals, working together, can make the process much easier.
If you can be bonded, you can make
your company more marketable than
your competitor who does not make the
effort.
Anthony (Tony) S. Ridout, Managing Shareholder, Ridout, Barrett & Co. P. C., President
of South Texas Surety Association, Board
Member of American Subcontractors Association, San Antonio. RidoutBarrett has
served the Construction industry for over 25
years
S
uccess in the construction industry often depends
on the ability to manage our time well. Whether
scheduling meetings, doing the books, training new
people or introducing a new product or service, successful business owners know that every day is a calculated race against the clock.
But what about non-business time?
That has a dollar value, too. How you
use—or misuse—your free time is a determining factor in the quality of life you
and your family enjoy. That’s why some
people can work 70 or 80 hours a week,
yet still manage to participate in a highly
rewarding home life. Meanwhile, others
see leisure time as an opportunity to
channel surf the television and then fall
asleep on the couch. Or they devote their
down time to household chores and yard
maintenance, even though they’d rather
be out playing golf.
We Spend Time…
Just Like We Spend Money
We can waste time…just like we can
waste money. You may want to ask yourself, “how can you get the best value
from your non-working time?” Evaluate
how to best use time in light of the following:
The pleasure factor
This can override all other considerations. If you’re a true-blue do-it-yourselfer who enjoys planting shrubs or
building that new kennel for the dog, go
ahead. If not, you might be better off hiring someone to do the work for you…
and either putting in a few extra hours in
the business or spending more time with
your family.
The dollar-value-of-your-time
factor
This is a hard-cash tangible based on
how much your time is worth. If your
work time is worth $120 an hour, your leisure time is worth the same. So, if you
don’t really enjoy the task of cutting the
lawn, for instance, hire the neighbor kid
to do it for $25…and go to a ball game or
take the dog for a walk in the park.
The convenience factor
In spite of the cost, it is sometimes
better to hand over the receipt shoe box
to a CPA rather than do your own taxes;
to call the plumber rather than fix that
leaky faucet yourself; or to tote home
carry-out rather than spend an hour making dinner.
The guilt factor
This is perhaps the most powerful
reason we end up doing things we’d really rather not do.
Beyond Dollars
We are often so caught up in what
we do that it can consume us. However, if
we don’t learn how to break away, we risk
never fully enjoying the fruits of our labors. Here are a few suggestions:
• Learn how to relax. Many business
owners don’t feel comfortable out of
“business mode.” So, we clutch the briefcase or do work at home. Try learning to
be more than just a businessperson. Not
only will it be fun, but will make you
fresher and more focused at work.
• Plan your leisure activities, just as
you do your business time. Map out your
day off to include a little yard work,
watching your daughter’s softball game,
and an hour or two of being a couch potato. Or take a whole day off and give it to
your son, daughter, spouse or friend to
do with as they please.
• Don’t bring work home or on vacations. Leave the briefcase at the office or
in the car. Also, encourage customers not
to contact you at home. If you force yourself to get all your work done before you
come home, you’ll get more done on
business time…sort of like getting ice
cream if you finish your veggies!
If you’re like most business owners
today, you work hard putting in long
hours each day doing what you do best.
One of the rewards should be a comfortable lifestyle. Make sure you take the
time to enjoy it.
Kirk Quaschnick can be reached at
(214) 420-7152
Construction News ON LOCATION
Four’s a crowd
L-R: Mike Stout, James Johnson and Shane Gibson, S & G Contracting and
Heather Watkins, Rothenberg Architects, enjoy the sunny day in Round Rock. –ab
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 7
No scope is left unchanged:
A contractor’s basic guide
to change orders
Tracy R. Galimore, Associate
Andrews Myers, P.C.
Houston, TX
Preventing falls
Joann Natarajan
Compliance Assistance Specialist
OSHA
Austin, TX
E
very contractor knows that few jobs are completed
from start to finish without changes in scope, price or
time. Despite good faith intentions, no area of construction contracting is riper for dispute (or disputed more frequently) than change orders and extra work. However, understanding your contractual
change order provisions and diligent project administration will go a long way in avoiding the change order pitfall.
A “change order” is a document which tract provision requiring changes to be in
indicates the agreement of the owner, con- writing. Unfortunately, successfully matractor and architect as to a change in the neuvering around the general rule usually
work, including adjustment in the contract takes up valuable time and considerable
sum and schedule. If the performance of expense, most of which occurs post job
the work deviates from the plans and/or completion and while significant monies
specifications, it will likely be considered a are outstanding. . The better practice is to
thoroughly review and understand your
change.
It is noteworthy that “extra work” contract terms prior to the occurrence of a
should be distinguished from “additional change order, and make every effort to folwork.” “Extra” work arises outside and in- low that contract to the letter of the change
dependent of the contract, or is something order clause.
not required for performance of the work. Situations may also arise where the
“Additional” work is required in the perfor- general contractor or owner cannot or will
mance of the contract and without which not sign a written change order request
the work could not be successfully carried and the down-stream contractor feels pressured to proceed with the work regardless.
out.
Determining whether the contractor Some contracts contemplate this scenario
should be compensated for extra work of- and contain a clause which gives the ownten depends on the contractor’s compli- er, architect or engineer the right to direct
ance with change order provisions in the the contractor to proceed with disputed
contract. Nearly all construction contracts work without an agreement as to time and
contain a change order provision stating costs for the change. The AIA A201 (Article
that the contract may be amended to al- 7) addresses change orders and “construclow for additions, deletions and changes to tion change directives” such as this. In this
the contract work, time extensions and instance, it is in your best interest to proeven changes to the terms of the contract ceed with the work following the directive,
itself. Most construction contracts gener- but provide written notice to the owner
ally require all changes to the contract be that you are working under protest, thus
in writing, and contractors should expect a reserving your right to make a future claim
court or arbitrator to enforce a provision for payment for the extra work.
which requires all change orders to be in If no such contractual provision like
AIA A201 exists within your contract, and
writing.
However, bear in mind that disputes you are compelled to proceed with the refrequently arise with respect to change or- quested work then, at a minimum, send a
ders and extra work not because of the self-serving letter which confirms the oral
complexity of the change order clause but instructions received when you began the
rather, the nature of the typical construc- extra work and include the charges for that
tion project. We are all aware of the com- work within your next draw application. By
mon practice of contractors proceeding taking these additional steps, you at least
with extra work upon oral authorization, put the general contractor on notice that
and then expecting a written change order you expect to be paid for the extra work,
sometime down the line or at the comple- and you have created a written record that
tion of the job. This practice is problematic you were verbally instructed to do that
in that Texas courts have consistently held work. Even if you have failed to follow all
that the parties should only rely upon the the procedures outlined in the change orwritten terms of their negotiated contracts der clause, the fact that you took the time
rather than industry custom and trade to document what you were asked to do
will assist in convincing a judge or jury of
practices.
The good news is that if you encoun- your position if a dispute arises.
ter a change order dispute resulting from In summary, a full understanding of
failure to obtain a written change order be- your change order clause is critical to avoidfore proceeding with the work, all hope of ing pitfalls and reducing your business
recovery for that extra work is not lost. Like risks. While in actual practice the change
most general rules, there are exceptions to order clause is often not followed to the letthe rule that “it must be in writing,” that ter of the law by the owner, the general
turn on the specific facts of the individual contractor, or the subcontractors, those
case. A good example is the general con- who choose to do business this way do so
tractor that repeatedly orders extra work at their own substantial risk.
Tracy’s practice focuses on construction
(orally) in violation of its own contract terms. The argument can be made that the litigation and alternative dispute resolution, in
general contractor breached its own which she represents general contractors, subagreement and therefore waived the con- contractors, suppliers and owners in a variety of
FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF
DEATH IN CONSTRUCTION. In 2010,
there were 264 fall fatalities (255 falls to
lower level) out of 774 total fatalities in
construction. These deaths are preventable
PLAN ahead to get the job done safely
When working from heights, such as ladders, scaffolds, and roofs, employers
must plan projects to ensure that the job
is done safely. Begin by deciding how the
job will be done, what tasks will be involved, and what safety equipment may
be needed to complete each task.
When estimating the cost of a job, employers should include safety equipment,
and plan to have all the necessary equipment and tools available at the construction site. For example, in a roofing job,
think about all of the different fall hazards, such as holes or skylights and leading edges, then plan and select fall protection suitable to that work, such as personal fall arrest systems (PFAS).
PROVIDE the right equipment
Workers who are six feet or more above
lower levels are at risk for serious injury or
death if they should fall. To protect these
workers, employers must provide fall
protection and the right equipment for
the job, including the right kinds of ladders, scaffolds, and safety gear.
vide workers with the kind they need to
get the job done safely. For roof work,
there are many ways to prevent falls. If
workers use personal fall arrest systems
(PFAS), provide a harness for each worker
who needs to tie off to the anchor. Make
sure the PFAS fits, and regularly inspect
all fall protection equipment to ensure
it’s still in good condition and safe to use.
TRAIN everyone to use the equipment
safely
Falls can be prevented when workers understand proper set-up and safe use of
equipment, so they need training on the
specific equipment they will use to complete the job. Employers must train workers in hazard recognition and in the care
and safe use ladders, scaffolds, fall protection systems, and other equipment
they’ll be using on the job.
OSHA has provided training materials
that employers can use during toolbox
talks to train workers on safe practices to
avoid falls in construction. Falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be prevented and lives can be saved through three
simple steps: Plan, Provide and Train.
These materials can be accessed at:
http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/index.
html
natarajan.joann@dol.gov
512-374-0271 x232
Different ladders and scaffolds are appropriate for different jobs. Always pro-
Construction News ON LOCATION
Supply and demand
construction related disputes.
Construction News ON LOCATION
Creative side
Crawford Electric Supply Company’s sales staff is primed and ready
for customers. L-R: Jason Davis, Ramon Sanchez and Ronnie Peel. –ms
Specializing in Surety and Insurance programs
for all facets of the Construction Industry
Melina Gutierrez is the assistant at Hot Rod Mechanical in Austin.
She loves oil painting when she isn’t at work. –ab
1405 E. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78741
800-365-6065 512-447-7773
6609 Blanco Road, Suite 135
San Antonio, TX 78216
800-365-6065 210-342-9451
John Schuler • Tom Mulanax
Steve Smith • Travis Kelley
Walter Benson • Tom Brewka
www.timeinsurance.com
Page 8
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Submitted to Construction News
WHAT IS YOUR
FAVORITE JUNK FOOD?
Legislative connections
I don’t really eat junk food. I will say,
though, that I love chicken wings. The
ones from Wings To Go are great!
Mike Croft, Impact Fire Services
Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice
Cream. That’s the one I eat. I know
they have a lot of other good flavors,
but I have a hard time getting away
from that one.
Charlie McGinty, Wurzel Builders
The Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) National hosted a Legislative FlyIn in Washington, D.C., Apr. 22–24. Eight members and staff from IEC Texas
chapters attended the event. Those attending from Texas included: Texas Region Director Lloyd Quinney, Quinney Electric and Julie Howard, IEC San Antonio; David Johnson and Eric Peralez, Central Texas IEC; IEC National President Bobby Tutor, Tutor Electrical Service Inc., and Marcie Funchess, Fort
Worth/Tarrant County IEC; Texas Region Director Joe Martin, KenMor Electric,
and IEC National Vice President Gordon Stewart, Joe Swartz Electric Company, Texas Gulf Coast IEC. L-R: Eric Peralez, Rep. Francisco Canseco, Julie Howard,
David Johnson and Lloyd Quinney –dn
Let me think ... I love just about any
kind of ice cream. Cherry Garcia is one
of my most decadent pleasures. It’s
my go-to food when I want something
sweet. I try not to treat myself to that
very often.
Sue Johnson, Construction News
I’m a chips and salsa kind of girl, I
guess. If it counts, I like the cheesy
bread from Little Caesar’s. That would
probably be my favorite.
Rachel Zimmerman, VBX
I’d say Whataburger, but I hate to call it
junk food. I get the No. 1 with barbecue sauce, jalapenos, pickles and
cheddar cheese.
Zach Brin, Constructube
Here in Austin, you’ll find a lot of us
who really prefer health food. I’m a
fruit and nuts kind of girl – health food
all the way. I really like going to Whole
Foods.
Casey Gandy,
Journeyman Construction
I eat healthy foods these days. I don’t
care too much for junk food any
more.
Mark Sprage,
Surplus Warehouse
I like going to Whataburger. I’ll have a
burger for lunch sometimes.
Dudley Hanson, Morrison Supply
Any food that has butter in it!
Carl Hutchison, KingSpoke
Freebirds – the variety is great! You
can get a burrito from small to toobig-to-eat filled with all the different
meats, beans and cheeses you want!
Rodney Wagner, Easy Drive
Every now and then I like to have a
bag of chips such as Cheetos or Doritos with my sandwich for lunch. I
don’t have chips that often though!
Jose Antonio Lopez,
Lopez Painting
I don’t really eat junk food. When I
want a snack, I like to go to the Whole
Foods cafeteria. They have a good
salad bar with lots of fruits and vegetables. They have a great selection to
choose from.
Bryon Pitts, Jon’s Rental
I like to get tacos from Amaya’s Taco
Village.
Freddy Cantu, CSHI
Taking the challenge
Century Supply won the barbecue competition
H
eating, venting and air conditioning suppliers and contractors
joined together for some friendly
competition in the 1st Annual HVAC Industry Challenge at Reunion Ranch in
Georgetown, TX Apr. 26.
Kathy Jeffery, Austin Chapter of Air
Conditioning Contractors of American
(ACCA) board member and vice president of Air Pro Austin says more than
100 folks attended the event.
“Food, fun and fellowship were key
elements of this inaugural event,” Jeffery
said. “An amateur barbecue competition
cook-off was conducted on the ranch
grounds. Century Supply of San Marcos,
TX swept the field this year, winning first
place in the chicken category, first place
in the baby back ribs category and first
place overall.
“The pit boss was Charlie Gallagher,
and the sous chef was Travis Fowler with
Century Supply.”
In addition, attendees took part in an
eight-station sporting clay tournament
during the afternoon. A total of 15 four
men teams competed in a Lewis Class
scoring tournament.
“After the shoot, everyone enjoyed
an all-you-care-to-eat barbecue buffet
and awards banquet,” she said. “Todd
McAlister, executive director of ACCA
Texas emceed the festivities.”
She says raffle prizes included gift
certificates to Cabela’s, Highland Lanes,
Lowe’s, BBQ Galore, Alamo Drafthouse
and a Black & Decker tool set. –ab
Sporting clay winners:
1st: RGF Environmental, Captain Todd
Montgomery
2nd: Place: Robert Madden Industries,
Captain Robert Tincher
3rd: Place: Robert Madden Industries,
Captain Denise Corbin
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 9
you anchor rope and the distance of your
cast. Once you have drifted over the
area, you intend to fish because your anchor didn’t hold or you misjudged the
wind. You might as well find a new area
to fish and try that spot later in the day.
During the summer months here in the
Coastal Bend, anglers can find some of
the best fishing along the entire coast.
Our bays are loaded with resident fish
and tide runners, which are constantly
arriving from the Gulf. With school being
out for summer and the weather getting
better everyday, that can only mean one
thing. Boating and fishing pressure will
be one of the most important factors for
not being able to find large concentrations of fish or stay on those fish once you
have a bite going. That is why I emphasize so much that the best fishing is usually during the week instead of on a
weekend. Another alternative to getting
away from the heat and crowed bays is
late evening fishing and night fishing.
Fishing/water
conditions improve
by Capt. Steve Schultz
Sponsored by:
Majek Boats, Premier Yamaha Boating
Center, Fishing Tackle Unlimited,
Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor,
Interstate Batteries, Pure Fishing,
Pflueger Reels, All-Star Rods, Mirr-O-Lure
and Columbia Sportswear.
F
or the past several weeks I have seen a
definite increase in trout fishing in the
Baffin Bay area. High water levels from
recent spring tides and timely rains received in the last month, are the main
reasons for the increase. Winds have
been fairly light with the exception of a
couple of late fronts coming through the
area. These conditions have also helped
the brown tide conditions in the Upper
Laguna Madre, improving water clarity.
Despite some harsh weather and high
tides, our bay system remains in great
shape for the upcoming summer months.
Since the beginning of May and the arrival of croaker bait fish, fishing strategies
have changed. Rock structures, reefs,
Shawn Wyatt of Stephenville caught this 31-inch redfish while working the east drop
in the Landcut with Steve Schultz Outdoors.
grass beds and potholes are areas which
need to be keyed on. It is very important
when approaching these areas to use a
trolling motor or push pole. Anchoring
up on the outside edges of these areas
can be very productive on spawning
trout. Setting up on these locations is the
key to catching fish. Always approach
the intended area with the wind at your
back carefully estimating the length of
www.constructionnews.net
publishing the industry’s news
STEVE SCHULTZ
OUTDOORS, LLC
BAFFIN BAY
LAGUNA MADRE
LAND CUT
SPECKLED
TROUT
REDFISH
FLOUNDER
FISHING AND
HUNTING TRIPS
(361) 949-7359
www.baffinbaycharters.com
steveschultzoutdoors@
gmail.com
U.S. Coast Guard &
Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed
Fishing late into the evening and into the
night during the full moon can get you
out of everyday crowds and into some of
the more popular fishing areas without
being hassled by novice boat operators
and impatient anglers. I have experienced all aspects of these people trying
to move-in on a set of rocks or a sand
pocket you are catching fish from and
scare all the fish away. It has reached a
point where you have to do some homework and really think about how you will
go about catching fish on any given day.
For more information or to schedule your
next bay fishing trip, give Capt. Steve
Schultz a call at 361-949-7359 or 361-8133716 or email him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail.com. Good Luck and Good
Fishing
Texas
Style




San Antonio
Austin
Dallas/Fort Worth
Houston
Page 10
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Ken Milam’s Fishing Line
Sponsored by Tropical Marine and Honda Marine
My name is Ken Milam and, for the past 26 years, I have been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on
Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity of getting to know
a good many folks in the construction trade.
Sight for sore eyes
I
was driving home this evening and
saw some old friends. Running all over
the road in front of me were a band of
whitetail does. These old girls are my
neighbors of sorts, all related to each other, being mothers and daughters and
aunts and such.
I hadn’t seen much of these does for
the last couple months. On the rare occasion, I would see one, she would turn and
give me a dirty look as if to say I just better not make her have to jump the fence.
This is the time of year when does are so
pregnant they just look like they are
about to pop.
Today was different though. The
girls were all slim and sassy and giddy
acting. I do believe they have already
dropped their fawns and have them hidden in the brush. That, my friend, is a
sight for sore eyes.
Think back to last year. It was already
so hot and dry and drought ravaged, that
everyone figured the mortality rate for
the new fawns would be terribly high,
and I think it did take a toll on them. This
year’s new little whitetail deer have it just
about perfect. We have had enough rain
at just the right time to provide plenty of
food and water for nursing does, and
some say there is all the right stuff for
horn development in the bucks.
If you have done any traveling
through the farming areas of Texas lately,
you have seen great changes there too.
Last year ,anything that was planted was
in the process of drying up and blowing
away. Now you can see lush fields of
green. The thing I like most to see is how
many fine corn fields are standing. We
need a good corn year so feed corn will
not be so expensive we can’t feed our
deer herds. Good hay would be a blessing to the ranchers too.
I am cautious about saying the
drought is over. Things are looking up all
over the state as we start to recover from
the effects of the drought. As a fisherman by trade, of course the state of the
lakes and rivers are the most important
things to watch. We have seen a little increase in lake levels on the Highland
Lakes, but we have a long way to go yet.
The ground is a good bit wetter now, so
we keep hoping for the heavy rains to
come and give us some runoff in the watershed. I want to be optimistic, but all it
takes is for it to stop raining, (as it so typically does this time of year), and the slip
back into the drought will be all too
quick. There are too many people who
still can’t use their water wells and too
many ailing and dying trees.
On the flip side, if the rains pick up as
some meteorologists say that it might
through the summer and fall, we will be
in for continued great fishing and a fantastic hunting season.
If you haven’t already, come on folks,
pray for more rain!
Half or Full Day Fishing Trips
All Bait, Tackle & Equipment
Furnished
Your catch Filleted and
Bagged for You
Furnish your TPWD Fishing
License & Refreshments,
and WE DO THE REST!
Ken Milam Guide Service
(325) 379-2051
www.striperfever.com
Have you
appeared in
ConstructionNews?
If not, Call us!
There is no charge
for stories & photos.
210-308-5800
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 11
Submitted to Construction News
A South Texas trophy
More red tape for antelope hunters
A ruling by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that went into effect April 4 requires sportsmen to have a special permit to hunt three African antelope species popular among hunters: the scimitar-horned oryx, the addax antelope
and dama gazelle.
The new rule took effect 90 days
after its publication in the Federal Registry on Jan. 5, 2012.
Breeders who currently own one or
more of the species had until April 4 to
obtain permits or legally sell their animals.
This rule replaces the exemption
from the provisions of the Endangered
Species Act that was given to these
three species in 2005.
Ranchers housing these 3 species
will no longer be able to breed, transport or take any animal without first
going through the required permitting
processes to do so. –ms
Eagle Ford
Shale
Donnie Steele of G4 Spatial Technologies bagged a prize-worthy trophy
on a recent hunt in Gonzales – a scimitar-horned Oryx with horns
measuring 38 ¾-in. Greathunt, Donnie! –ms
15 to 500 Ton
Capacities
Submitted to Construction News
A Tour de Blanco
Available
for your
Toughest
Projects
Construction News’ Miles Smith turned off the computer and saddled up on
his bike in the Hill Country May 19, when he and his wife, Jessica, tried out the
Real Ale Ride in Blanco, sponsored by the Real Ale Brewing Company. It was the
perfect ratio: one part biking, one part beer and one part barbecue. Are you a
cyclist? Send your best racing photos to miles@constructionnews.net. –ms
Gone
Fishing?
Send us your favorite
recent fishing photo
with a brief
description to:
austineditor@
constructionnews.net.
33 Years
of Service
to Texas
from
El Paso to Beaumont
Amar
Amarillo to Brownsville
www.alamocrane.com
San Antonio (210) 344-7370
Austin
(412) 282-6866
Toll Free
(800) 880-0134
Woman-Owned Business
City–94–020011/WBE
State–13580/WOB
Page 12
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Getting dirty is good, clean fun
R
uss Becker of Beck-Reit & Sons
LTD is not afraid to take the road
less traveled.
While the motorsports enthusiast
likes riding his BMW motorcycle to places
like Big Bend or Arkansas, his real passion
is motocross and cross-country dirt bike
racing, a passion he discovered at just 8
years old.
He’s 48 now, but that doesn’t stop
him from getting on a dirt bike and tearing it up competitively. He races in the
American Historic Vintage Motocross
Racing League.
“Most of my racing is out of the state
and all over everywhere, so it’s a lot of
traveling to get to the races,” he noted. “I
race in the intermediate class for my age
group. It’s a lot of fun!”
There are a couple of different styles
of racing he enjoys. One format takes him
on a seven-mile loop through the woods,
and the other format, motocross, he described as “a loop on a track that’s about
one mile.”
Becker said he uses different bikes
for different races.
“It depends on the track,” Becker
said. “I race a Husqvarna 430 for a more
wide open track, and a Husqvarna 250 for
a tighter track.
“For the motocross I have a very cool
bike that’s 533cc bored out. Only about
30 of them were made.”
Becker said he favors the big mo-
“My friends will come over and we’ll
have races in the yard,” he said. “It’s fun to
just take them out of the garage, put on
our gear and just take off.”
Even though the bikes are powered,
if you want to ride competitively, you’ve
got to be in good shape, Becker cautions.
“You’ve got to stay in good shape so
you can keep your heart from beating
out of your chest when you’re out there
for an hour and 15 minutes,” he said. –ms
Russ Becker stands with one of his many dirt bikes before taking it on a run on his home track.
tored bikes because he’s “a big guy.”
“I’m 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds,” Becker said. “Motocross riders are usually
more like jockeys on horses. They’re usually not more than 180 pounds.”
While he’s won – and won big, finishing first in his class many times – being
victorious isn’t really what drives him to
stay in the sport. He enjoys riding with
the friends he’s met over four decades of
being involved in racing, and says “it’s
just fun to do it.”
“I have a lot of friends who do it,” he
said. “We love to reminisce about the
days when we were much younger, skinnier and faster.”
Becker is so enthusiastic about the
sport that he’s built a quarter-mile track
on his property and keeps some 50cc dirt
bikes for his kids, ages 17 and 5, and him
to ride. The bikes are modified so adults
can ride them if they choose.
Russ Becker takes a modified 50 cc dirt bike
on a run at the track at his home.
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 13
Calling all subs
T
he Crowne Plaza Hotel in North
Austin was a can’t-miss destination
for area subcontractors May 8,
when The Blue Book held its annual GC
Showcase.
General contractors from all over
Texas and even from out of state in places
as far away as California set up booths to
make contact with area subcontractors
to help out with upcoming jobs. –ms
Construction News ON LOCATION
Working in the rain
Structural Steel Products
Pipe & Tubing
Metal Building Materials
Ornamental Iron & Accessories
Cast Iron Spears
Fittings
Decorative Castings & Designs
Toll Free
Welders
Cutting Supplies
Fax
Welding Supplies & Accessories
Power Tools
Abrasives
2042 W. Thompson @ Port San Antonio
Shop & Safety Supplies
San Antonio, TX 78226
Paint & Machinery
Trailer Products
“GATE OPERATORS FOR
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Gate & Door Hardware
FARM and RANCH”
Gate Operators
210.431.0088
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www.sss-steel.com
A little rainfall isn’t enough to keep the guys at Ahern’s South Austin location out
of the equipment yard, where they were hard at work on a recent visit by Construction News. L-R: Oscar Garcia, Val Flores, Troy Anderson, Joe Wittaopp,
Troy Moran, Danny Thomann, Keith Stanford and Derrick Rivas . –ms
Page 14
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Fire up the grills
Industry FOLKS
T
Brent Barnett
he smell of barbecue lingered in the
air at the Greater Austin Contractors & Engineers Association (ACEA)
4th Annual BBQ Cook-off held at the VFW
Hall May 11-12.
“It was all about networking and eating – and we did lots of both,” said Michele Yule, ACEA executive director. “A
great time what had by all. Everyone enjoyed samples of barbecue cooked by 11
teams.
“On Friday night, there was a washers competition, lots of laughter and lots
of eating. We also had a great Margarita
contest with several contestants competing for the best margarita. In addition,
we had a fun Bloody Mary contest.” –ab
Electrician
Lightning Electrical
B
rent Barnett was a drummer in
band for 16 years and still plays the
drums on the side today.
“I played at clubs downtown and
toured the country,” he said. “I have
settled down, so I am not in the band
anymore. I will marry my fiancé Samantha at The Oasis on Lake Travis in December. We have been engaged since
this February. I proposed to Samantha
at a local park where we first met.
“Samantha and I like to go walking
and running on the greenbelt. There is
a pond and hiking trails near my home.
Sometimes we take my 5-month-old
pitbull named Aries on a walk.
“In addition, I like to go fishing on
Lake Travis when I can. Most of the
time I catch catfish.”
Growing up in Cedar Park, TX, Barnett attended Leander High School. He
played drums in the high school band.
“I played baseball too,” he said. “I
eventually focused on playing the
drums. We were a good band for most
of my high school career.”
According to Barnett, his very first
job was working at Kentucky Fried
Chicken in Cedar Park at age 15. He
says he took customer’s orders and
made fried chicken in the kitchen.
“After high school, I got a job in the
telecommunications business,” Barnett
said. “My dad worked for Southwestern Bell for almost 30 years. I did that
for a couple of months and I found out
it was just not what I wanted to do.
“Next, I got hired on with a company that did telecommunications and
electrical contracting work. I realized I
liked doing the electrical side more. I
have worked at Lightning Electrical for
about a year and a half and I have been
an electrician for nine years.”
Barnett says he does electrical work
at commercial and residential projects
in the city of Austin and surrounding areas.
“I wake up and show up on the job
about 7am,” he said. “I run pipe, pull
wires and help out with what ever
phase of the project we are working on
at the time.
“I am also going to Austin Community College right now to get my bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
One day, I hope to be working in the office instead of out in the heat!” –ab
Congrats to the winners!
Ribs
1st Place: Terracon
2nd Place: Geo-Solutions
3rd Place: Waste Management
Brisket
1st Place: Terracon
2nd Place: Chaparral Professional Land
Surveying
3rd Place: Dirty Works/Texas Design Interests
Chicken
1st Place: Geo-Solutions
2nd Place: Terracon
3rd Place: Chaparral Professional Land
Surveying
People’s Choice Award
Sun Coast Resources
Chicken winners
Brisket winners
The Bloody Mary contest judges
Construction News ON LOCATION
A welcome change
More often than not, Construction News editors encounter a bunch of guys when
visiting companies. The office staff at Koetter Fire Protection in Pflugerville is a
nice change of pace. In back L-R: Theresa Justice, Elaine Briseno and Wanda
Kalmbach. In front, seated, are Sherri Douglas and Jennie Sessoms. –ms
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 15
HVAC & PLUMBING
We love it, you,
maybe not so much!
Todd McAlister, Executive Director
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
(ACCA) - Texas
Austin, TX
W
ill it get to 100° fast enough for the HVAC Contractors in Texas? Most likely, not even close to fast
enough, as members of the HVAC industry like the triple digit temps into November, a
quick cold snap in January then back to the heat by mid-March. Good news for the
consumer is, rarely happens that way, though some of us are still holding our breath
and waiting for 80° evenings to keep the weather hot.
Not only do contractors worry about of several factors, including the continhow the seasonal outlook will affect their ued implementation of the federal govbusinesses, they now have a myriad of is- ernment’s policies regarding HCFCs, cursues causing contractors of all sizes to rent market conditions, and delays in the
evaluate and reevaluate how they will regulatory process.” Without going into
move forward into the summer of 2012 a long dialogue of what took place, it
and beyond. From the cost of refrigerant boils down to issues within the actual alto smart thermostats, energy audits to location of R-22 for prior years. The EPA
economic factors, HVAC contractors are recently decided to mandate an even
facing an onslaught of critical aspects to larger cut in the allocation amounts to
work towards the 2030 complete phase
their trade.
If you have had recent service on out of R-22, as mandated by the Montreal
your units, and of course, we recommend Protocol, and this is one of the drivers intwice a year tune-ups to help your unit creasing the cost for R-22 refrigerant.
operate at its peak efficiency, you are well There could be further price adjustments
aware of the cost increase of R-22 refrig- before the end of the summer if the EPA
erant. As Charlie McCrudden, Vice-Presi- decides to make their final rulings on
dent of Government Affairs for ACCA what the allocation amounts will be for
states, “This situation is the culmination 2012 to 2014.
Licensing and registration
requirements
John Lain and Jeff Rinard
Texas Department of
Licensing and Regulation
Austin, TX
John Lain
What changes are occurring in the HVAC industry?
Two items we want to address is technician registration
and smart home technology.
Effective Jan. 1986 the Texas Legislature required all air conditioning contractors in Texas be licensed. In 2007, Texas
H.B. 463 additionally required technicians to register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
All persons in a capacity of air conditioning refrigeration maintenance that assists
a licensed contractor must be registered
with the department as a technician. The
registration includes a criminal background check at the time of registration
and each year upon renewal.
New commercial or residential construction is exempt from the regulation,
and technicians doing air conditioning are
not required by this department to be registered. That is because a home or business does not have an owner or occupant.
The second issue is the advancement
of remote technology. The control feature,
what we call smart home automation, has
arrived where many companies can remotely control the heating and air conditioning system. That is something that is
on the forefront for our department to
monitor potentially unlicensed activity.
Have there been significant code
changes in the last year?
The department adopted the 2009
residential and mechanical code in Sep.
2011. Through the state energy code, we
are requiring homes, particularly new
construction, have duct and building envelope leakage tests. We want to make
the homes tighter and the air conditioning systems more efficient in order to reduce energy consumption.
How is the code change monitored?
The compliance division assists the
enforcement division in investigating incoming complaints. We inspect and verify that required documents have been
completed to verify the home (specific to
the HVAC system) complies with the 2009
residential, mechanical and the energy
codes.
What training is provided on the code
change?
We travel throughout the state to
hold task force meetings with interested
stakeholders such as trade schools and
Texas contractors are also in the
midst of an energy auditing blitz. As
many of you know, the whole home and
home energy auditing business is booming in Texas. Recent code changes and
the statewide adoption of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code has
brought energy audits to the forefront of
many consumers’ minds. ACCA-Texas
sees the value in these audits, and how
they could become a valuable tool for a
reduction in energy usage within a home;
however, we also see the value of still incorporating licensed HVAC contractors
into the scope of work that is performed
by these energy audit companies. There
could be some movement on regulation
of this budding industry in the next legislative session of 2013.
Another aspect that is bringing
about changes to the industry is the
adoption of “smart thermostats.” The
IPhone, IPad and other smart phones
have enabled their fans and companies
everywhere to begin an integration of
“apps” of all types to become a part of
our everyday lives with regards to energy
usage. The ability to remotely turn on
your HVAC system, your sprinkler system,
your lights, outdoor hot tub and other
devices and appliances within the home
is a growing trend for not only tech savvy
consumers but the everyman as well.
This does bring up an interesting discussion about who is responsible for installation and maintenance of these smart
thermostats. ACCA-Texas firmly believes
that only a licensed HVAC contractor
should install and maintain components
of the HVAC system, and companies that
choose to ignore the Texas Department
of Licensing rules and regulations should
be subject to the same fines and penalties that other unlicensed activity receives.
Energy efficiency measures, new
technology and economic impacts on
customers are only a few of the important issues currently impacting the HVAC
industry across Texas and the nation. The
remainder of 2012 will be a fast-paced
race to find solutions that benefit the industry and more importantly, consumers
in Texas. One thing is for sure, another
very hot summer is upon us, and for the
HVAC industry, the hotter the better!
Since 2000, Todd McAlister has been
the Executive Director of ACCA-Texas, a
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration (HVAC/R) based non-profit
organization that represents more than 750
companies and 5000 employees across Texas. Todd also currently serves in the US Navy
Reserves as a Logistics Officer out of NOSC
San Antonio in support of Fleet based Supply Units. –dn
industry associations. We meet with
building officials, interested contractors
and those who want to be on the leading
edge of changing technology. We discuss
how the department is going to administer the programs.
Our obligation is to make sure the industry is aware of changes. There are still
people in the industry in Texas that aren’t
aware that we’ve gone from the 2006
code to the more strict 2009 code.
will call unlicensed contractors who are
advertising either electrical or air conditioning service. We ask them come out
and give us a bid to do the work. The bid
is very important because that shows
they are offering to perform the work.
Once we receive the bid, the investigators will gather all the evidence and prepare a report that goes to the prosecutor.
Additionally, we work with the media to let people know what is going on
and see who is doing these violations.
What enforcement is done by TDLR?
We have two separate processes to
handle 1) complaints against unlicensed
contractors, and 2) complaints for mechanical integrity problems with HVAC
units or systems.
If something is wrong with an HVAC
system, our technical expert will make an
initial inspection of the system and compile a report for further investigation. The
investigators will interview people and ensure the City department responsible is
following the right ordinance. We will even
pull the permit and make sure an inspection was made at the house or business.
On a proactive side, we catch contractors who don’t have a license. In Texas, it is a violation to offer or to perform
work without a license.
One way we deal with unlicensed activity is by searching advertisements on
Craigslist, green sheets and newspapers.
We even review business cards. We gather up leads and will conduct four to eight
stings per year all over the state. Once we
complete one area, we move to another
area of the state.
During a sting, we get a vacant house
or a business that is normally under construction. Our undercover investigators
Are most of the complaints against
unlicensed contractors?
It is a combination of both. There are
unlicensed people who will rip people off
and mess up a project. Sometimes there
are licensed contractors who make mistakes as well. We stress people should
hire a licensed contractor and check him
out before he is hired.
There is an abundance of information on the TDLR website where a consumer can check a contractor’s license or
check if final orders have been filed
against a contractor for violations. Also,
there is information on the air conditioning statute, FAQs, rules, application requirements, enforcement plan and penalty matrix. We also have a customer service division and a Facebook presence where
questions can be asked and answered.
John Lain, program manager for air
conditioning, is a 39-year industry veteran.
He has 34 years as a contractor and five years
with TDLR. He is TDLR’s air conditioning and
refrigeration subject matter expert with certifications as a mechanical inspector.
Jeff Rinard is the investigation manager for the enforcement division. –dn
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Page 16
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
HVAC & PLUMBING
Change is constant in the industry
Matt Beecroft, Service Manager
Guarantee Plumbing & A/C Inc.
San Antonio, TX
H
ow would you describe the current condition of the HVAC and
plumbing industry?
The industry is changing more into a
service-oriented industry. In the past the
industry focused more on equipment replacement rather than service. Now that
is changing due to increasing costs related to new regulations and the higher
cost of equipment. These factors are driving our costs higher, and our level of service has to match the higher prices.
bates that are offered through CPS Energy and through the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS). There are some IRS tax rebates on energy efficient equipment.
In 2006, companies quit manufacturing new equipment with R-22, but they
still can manufacture the R-22 refrigerant
for several more years to service existing
equipment. However, people need to plan
on the phase out of the R-22 and plan for a
new system. To find out more, the EPA
website has information about this issue.
What regulation changes are impacting the industry?
The phase out of R-22 refrigerant is
making a significant impact on the industry. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed a hold on the importation
and manufacture of R-22 a few months
ago. Prices have tripled overnight on the
refrigerant. For smaller businesses that
don’t have the cash flow for the increased
cost, it is putting them in a bind.
What is the most significant challenge
your industry faces?
Labor shortages are a big issue for us.
It is difficult to find people who are either
skilled to do the work or find young people who are willing to learn the HVAC
trade. We are looking for people who have
a good work ethic and are willing to learn.
In this economy, we see a number of
people moving among companies within
the area in order to earn another dollar
an hour. We are fortunate at our company that we have people with longevity
who stay with us. We are not seeing the
turnover that other companies are experiencing.
How long does it take to get trained to
do the job?
For HVAC, a helper can start on day
one. However, moving up to a technician
level takes two to three years in the industry.
For residential and business customers who have units that use R-22 refrigerant, what are their options?
R-22 costs around $80 per pound.
Customers are surprised by the higher
price of the refrigerant, however service
is still available on existing equipment. If
a customer has a leaking coil, the decision is whether to put money into an obsolete system? That is a tough decision
since probably 70 percent of residential
customers and 95 percent of commercial
customers still have R-22 systems.
To address the issue, we are educating our customers about different re-
apply for an apprentice card, which allows the apprentice to work under a journeyman or a master plumber. There are
different levels in the plumbing trade –
tradesman plumber, journeyman and
master plumber. It takes two to three
years minimum to increase through each
step.
Are there changes in technology that
are impacting the industry?
Technology has changed a lot over
the last few years with residential and
commercial equipment. This is due to
customers wanting higher energy efficiency. Also, equipment is larger than before and more computers are used in the
equipment.
The footprint of the equipment is
about the same, but it’s a little heavier.
Sometimes we run into situations where
we have to brace up an older structure because of the added weight on the rooftop.
As for green building construction,
we are seeing more geothermal heat
pumps. With more energy efficient
equipment, we have to look at the whole
building to come up with the best solution for the customer.
Besides the increase in R-22 prices,
what cost increases are occurring?
Costs are increasing due to the price
of equipment. Raw material prices to
manufacture products have increased.
When the increased cost of copper and
fuel is factored in with the increasing insurance rates due to the mold issue from
years ago, costs have gone up dramatically.
Is copper theft still a problem?
Even though new equipment has
more copper than before, there isn’t
much we can do on the residential side to
safe guard the units. Since units are on
the ground, homeowners generally do
not want to put a cage around their unit
because it isn’t attractive. Many commercial buildings are locking the staircases
going to the roof and some are installing
cages around the equipment.
What are the rewards of being in the
industry?
There is always going to be a demand for HVAC and plumbing. Being
able to solve a customer’s issue is always
a good thing.
Guarantee Plumbing & A/C has been
around since 1934, and our customers
know we are not going anywhere. We
have a reputation of integrity have a very
loyal commercial and residential customer base.
Guarantee Plumbing & A/C, Inc. is a
full-service repair company for HVAC and
plumbing. Service Manager Matt Beecroft
joined Guarantee after owning a Houstonbased HVAC company for 14 years. Beecroft
is the service manager for both HVAC and
plumbing. –dn
Family matters
What are the education requirements
for plumbing?
Plumbing is different. People have to
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Al Teinert likes spending time in the great outdoors when he can.
G
rowing up in the plumbing business, Owner Al Teinert III, Al Teinert Plumbing Inc., stayed with it
and built his company over the years.
“My dad started the business in
1964,” Teinert said. “He worked out of a
40X50 metal building in the early days. In
the ‘70s, my dad moved into a two-story
building with a showroom. In 1980, he
moved to the Canion St. location.
“When I was a teenager, I worked
with my dad during the summers and on
the weekends. He I helped him out at a
few apartment projects at the time. I
earned my license in 1973.”
According to Teinert, his dad retired
in 1989 and he took over the business
full-time.
“Today, the only employees at the
company are my wife Debbie, secretary
and treasurer and I,” he said. “We are a
small company. Our son John worked
with us for about two and a half years
and then found a good job in the electronics business.
“A recent project we worked on was
a historical log cabin in Austin. It was an
interesting project.”
In their free time, Teinert says he and
his wife like to spend time with their family.
“We have two grandsons and a
granddaughter,” he said. “Our grandsons
play baseball. My wife and I enjoy attending their games. They are growing up
fast!
“We also go fishing at Lake Georgetown with our children and grandchildren. I go deer and duck hunting at a
property in Fayette County in the fall season.
“In the future, I plan to stay right here
and finish my career out here in Austin.”
Al Teinert Plumbing Co. is a plumbing
company. –ab
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 17
Round-Up
HOLT CAT announces the following promotions and new hires. –dn
Ron Craft has been
promoted to vice
president of machine product support. A 19-year veteran in the heavy
equipment
business, Craft is responsible for all
parts and service support for machine
customers.
Bob Harwood has
been promoted to
vice president of
machine sales. He is
responsible for all
new and used machine sales and
rental equipment
for the dealership.
He has been involved in the heavy equipment business for 37 years.
Edward Craner has
been
appointed
vice president of
Strategy and marketing. He will lead
strategy and marketing for all divisions of HOLT CAT.
Charlie Reinhardt
has been promoted
from outside sales
to the sales manager role at Elliott
Electric Supply in
Austin, TX. Reinhardt started with
the company in
2002 after graduating from the Industrial Distribution program at Texas A&M
University. He has been with the company for more than nine years and has
worked in the warehouse, on the counter
and inside and outside sales. –ab
Robert “Bert” Fulgium has been promoted to vice president of power systems product support. A 20-year industry veteran, he
will oversee all industrial engine and
generator set parts and customer service
support.
Howard Hicks will
assume the role of
vice president and
director of public
affairs. He is a 36year veteran of the
company.
as it possibly could have.
“Working with Ms. Jody Smith, the
general manager of Embassy Suites, and
professional engineer Bill Follett was
seamless as we had the same eye for details and professionalism,” Brandon noted. “We had the foresight to see potential
problems and correct them before they
became an issue.
“The job ran smoothly, and we finished under budget.”
KGC Contracting has two offices: a
main office in Austin and a second office in
Corpus Christi. The company was founded
in 2002 by Brandon. The business has completed the renovation, reconstructing and
remodeling of more than 300 different projects since opening its doors a decade ago.
–ms
Aline Carmichael
has been named
the new senior director of human resource
partners.
She is responsible
for leading Holt’s
human
resource
practices, safety and environmental
management services.
Submissions
This is a section for brief company
announcements of new or recently
promoted personnel, free of charge
as space allows.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Email with “Round-Up” in the subject
line (w/digital photo, if available)
by the 15th of any month, for the
next month’s issue to:
austineditor@constructionnews.net
see some good growth here.
“We’ve had a very strong economy
through this recession – we’ve been very
blessed up here. It’s a young town here.
Being the live music capital of the world,
we always have businesses that are relocating here.” –ms
continued from Page 1 — A product of hard work
“Business is really good,” Farris noted.
“The company has grown substantially. At
one point, we had only seven employees,
and now, we’re up to about 25.”
To celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary, Tice and Farris hosted an open
house May 17 at the All-Tex headquarters
in Dallas. The mixer, which 400 people
attended, included food, drinks, door
prizes and giveaways.
Farris said it was no mystery how AllTex had continued to grow and thrive.
Mosaic tiling and granite surfacing
sets a mellow mood in the Copperbar
lounge, where guests can enjoy a cocktail and some conversation.
Other updates completed during the
project included improvements to the
hotel’s restaurant, spa, meeting room,
lobby, fitness room, breakfast area, atrium, lobby bathroom, business center
and laundry area.
Materials used in the project included tile, concrete, sheetrock, wallpaper,
granite, piping, waterfall features, stone,
and wood floor planking.
David Rose served as project superintendent, and Bill Follett was project
engineer.
Brandon was positive about the experience, saying everything went as well
Erin Fogarty has
joined the company
as the financial marketing
manager
and is responsible
for the financial
marketing team.
continued from Page 1 — Heavy metal in S. Austin
Austin, especially South Austin, is more of
a land of opportunity for people working
in the technology sector, he said he feels
good about the Lone Star State’s capital
city as a place to grow a business.
“I feel really good about Austin,”
Palmerton said. “I think we’re going to
continued from Page 1 — A ‘suite’ improvement
“We’ve got good products, and a
good group of employees,” he noted.
“We’re honorable men.”
Farris said he enjoys being in the great
outdoors when he’s not hard at work.
“I am an avid hunter – It doesn’t matter to me what I hunt,” he said. “ I’m planning to go to Canada to go bear hunting
later this month. I’m also going mule deer
hunting in Mexico with a customer. I hunt
birds and white-tail, too.” –ms
Have you appeared in Construction News?
Call or Email us!
There is no charge for stories or photos.
austineditor@ConstructionNews.net
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Granite countertops and mosaic walls set a mood at the remodeled
Copperbar lounge at the Embassy Suites on Town Lake in Austin.
Page 18
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Association Calendar
Construction News ON LOCATION
Rolling with it
Content submitted by Associations to Construction News
ABC Central Texas
CSI
Associated Builders & Contractors
Construction Specifications Institute
Jun. 1: CPR
Jun. 7-8: OSHA 10 Spanish
Jun. 11-15: OSHA 510
Jun. 14: Safety Committee meeting
Jun. 21: 8 Hr Competent Person Confined Space
Jun. 28-29: OSHA 10 English
For more information call 512-719-5263
ACCA
Air Conditioning Contractors of Amer.
Jun. 5: Monthly meeting, noon-1:30pm,
Third Base Sports Bar
For more information call 512-650-5355
AGC
Associated General Contractors
Owner David Pratt takes care of business at America’s Carpet Outlet.
The locally owned carpet company has operated since 1994. –ab
Did you
know?
Over 153,000 people could
be seeing your ad . . .
Advertising in
Construction News works!
Jun. 7-8: OSHA 10/30 Hour
Jun. 12: Safety Committee meeting
Jun. 13: Construction Law Update
Jun. 14-15: OSHA 10/30 Hour
Jun. 19: Building to LEED
Jun. 20: First Aid/CPR/AED Class
Jun. 21-22: OSHA 10/30 Hour
For more information call 512-442-7887
Jun. 11: Chapter Board meeting, noon
Jun. 18: Chapter meeting, 11:30am,
For more info: http://austin.csinet.org
CTSA
Central Texas Subcontractors Assn.
Jun. 12: Monthly meeting, “What is Fair
Pay?”
For more information call 512-255-6373
or go to http://www.ctsaonline.org
NARI
Nat’l Assn. of the Remodeling Industry
Jun. 14: Board meeting, 8am, FSG Lighting
Jun. 21: General Membership meeting,
11:30am, Dave & Busters
For more info: www.austinnari.org
NAWIC
Nat’l Assn. of Women in Construction
Jun. 7: General Membership meeting,
5:30pm
For more info: www.austinnawic.org
Submitted to Construction News
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It was a beautiful day at Gray Rock Golf Course for the Associated Builders and
Contractors (ABC) Spring Golf Tournament. The first place team was Bryan Brock,
Jeff McClanahan, Randy Mutscher and Shon Record, Glazer Distribution. –ab
Submitted to Construction News
A good day on the course
The WR Meadows team won first place at the Central Texas Subcontractors
Association (CTSA) Annual Golf Tournament held at the Star Ranch Golf
Course in Hutto, TX. –ab
Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Page 19
Job Sights
Time to play
S
Jose Antonio Lopez, Lopez Painting, handles the interior painting
at The Range Golf Club and Sports Bar in Austin, TX. –ab
Le Peep, Architect: Mell Lawrence; Contractor: Texas Construction
killpoint Alliance and its Gateway
construction students, Austin area
architecture firms and general contracting firms recently participated in The
Playhouse Project.
Functional and imaginative playhouses were on display at The Domain in
May. In addition, the playhouses were
auctioned off on Skillpoint Alliance’s online auction.
Casey Smith, programs director for
Gateway, says this is the first year for the
program.
“I got the idea from a similar project
in California called Dreams Happen,”
Smith said. “I remember living in Palo
Alto and walking by the Dreams Happen
playhouses and just being amazed at
how elaborate the houses were and how
excited the crowds that came to see them
were.
“After working with Gateway for a
little while, I knew that the same concept
would be a great fit with our construction
programs. When I started asking around
about the project, the firms I spoke with
were excited for the challenge and community involvement and the students
loved the idea of getting a really fun project to work on.”
The Playhouse Project is an effort to
raise support for Gateway’s workforce
development programs, she said. –ab
Dave Brady, The Sign Guys, takes down the LEED illuminated signs at World Interiors
at The Domain and says he is reinstalling the signs at another location. –ab
EE-42 Submarine, Harris Welker Architects; Contractor: Structura Inc.
Believe it or not, this isn’t actually an album cover. It’s the crew at Mainstream Services in
Georgetown taking a quick break at a busy job site. L-R: Ben Helfridge, Kyle Ziller, Chris
Huslage and Richard Adams. Huslage said business at the company,
which does “anything plumbing related,” has been good. –ms
Precipitation Station, Architect: Loop Design; Contractor: Shoal Creek Constructio
L-R: Sam Purvis and Bill Stires, Minyard & Son Services, hang lights
at the Realty Austin project in Lakeway, TX. –ab
Primary Colors, Designed by Gateway team;
Contractor: Instructors of Gateway program
Page 20
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Austin Construction News • Jun 2012
Deep roots
Doors and more
L-R: Chris Cardenas and Scott Whitley
Mark Sprage goes to church on Wednesdays and Sundays.
ranch manager Chris Cardenas,
Insco Distributing Inc., says the
Shirley Avenue location was the
first store to open in Austin in 1970.
“Insco Distributing is a family-owned
company,” Cardenas said. “Rudy and his
son Brian Trevino are the owners. I have
been employed at the company for almost five years.
“Counter salesman Scott Whitley
has worked here almost 10 years. I think
the best part about working in this business is meeting new people every day.
Our customers are licensed contractors.
We are looking forward to the summer
because it is our busiest time of year.
“We recently held a Vendor Day here
at the Shirley Avenue location. About 30
customers came by for breakfast tacos.”
Cardenas says Insco Distributing
hosts a trip every year for dealers. This
year, the four-day trip will take place in
Alaska, he said.
“In October 2012, we will have a another fishing trip,” he said. “The company
will have seven guided boats on the waters off the coastline of Rockport, TX.”
When Cardenas is not working, he
breeds, raises, trains and shows American
Bullies. He says he is attending an upcoming dog show at the Travis County
Expo Center in September.
“I have raised American Bullies for
about 15 years,” he said. “I have 11 Bullies
and three Chihuahuas at home. I have a
steel cage kennel so they can run around.
All my neighbors like to take care my
dogs when I go out of town. They were
scared at first but now they are in love
with the dogs!”
Insco Distributing is a wholesale distributor of HVAC equipment, parts and supplies. The company has 32 stores throughout Texas. –ab
S
urplus Warehouse, owned by E.C.
Barton Co., has been in the Austin
market for five years.
Mark Sprage is the store manager.
He says Surplus Warehouse has local contractor customers and do-it-yourselfers
visit the store frequently.
“Things have progressed well since
we first opened up five years ago,” Sprage
said. “Every year is a little bit better than
the last and 2012 should be a good one
too. We added one new employee this
year. Kirk Means is the assistant manager today. We all do a little bit of everything at the store to get things done.
“We haven’t had an annual picnic or
barbecue during the year, but we do
have an annual Christmas party. We usually have the Christmas party at a local
restaurant. One year we had the party at
Cheddar’s. It is always a lot of fun!”
On the weekends, Sprage says he is
involved at his church. He says he volunteers at church as much as possible.
“I go to church every Wednesday and
Sunday,” he said. “The church I go to has
many events during the year, especially
around holidays such as Christmas and
Easter. On Memorial Day, the church will
do something for the veterans.”
Sprage says he enjoys managing the
Surplus Warehouse Austin location and
says he works with a great team.
“As far as I know the owners at E.C.
Barton Co. will either relocate in Austin or
re-negotiate the rent in the future,” he
said. “There is a good possibility there
will be growth in the area.”
Surplus Warehouse is door, cabinet,
hardwood floors and window supplier. The
company also has locations in Temple,
Waco, Victoria and Corpus Christi, TX. –ab