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February / March 2016 BuildHoustonOnline.com 1 A L S O I N T H I S I S S U E : T H E S U P E R B O W L O F C O N S T R U C T I O N P R O J E C T S

Bo-Mac’s 50 Years Building the Gulf Coast

A Golden Anniversary:

2 BuildHoustonOnline.com February / March 2016

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February / March 2016 BuildHoustonOnline.com 3

Letter from the Chair

I want to wish all of our ABC Greater Houston members a happy and prosperous 2016. We are indeed blessed to be in Houston, and the great state of Texas. While the impact of an uncertain future concerning the energy industry is looming, we are surrounded by positive signs and a “can do” attitude in our community.

Several recent events point to progress for our chapter and its strategic objectives.

• In continuation of our focus on workforce development, put in place by our previous board chair Darlene East with Holes Incorporated, we welcome Michael Richter as our new Vice President of Education and Workforce Development. Overseeing the ABC training affiliate CMEF, Michael will be working to enhance existing programs, develop new training delivery methods, and build consensus among commercial contractors on craft training programs they use to increase performance.

• Staying on the workforce theme, The Greater Houston Partnership has announced they will construct their new office space downtown utilizing the Construction Career Collaborative (C3) principles. ABC was one of the original endorsers of C3, along with several other construction associations, and stands firmly behind the mission of developing sustainable employment practices, safety, and craft training to sustain our workforce into the future.

• I am proud to say our chapter has recently been awarded the status of a “High Performing Chapter” by ABC National through the accreditation process, an endorsement of the good work by our staff, members, and volunteers.

I am preceded as board chair by Darlene East, Tim Ricketts, Lohn Zylicz, Dwayne Boudreaux, and many others who leave a legacy of leadership and commitment to ABC and its members. I will be challenged to fill their capable shoes.

It is my sincere hope ABC Greater Houston and CMEF can offer a valuable service of some kind to each of your firms this year. Few organizations can boast of the passion and excellence our member firms and volunteers exhibit every day. I am pleased to serve as your 2016 Board Chair and I welcome any questions or concerns you have.

Mike Holland Chief Operating Officer; Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. ABC Greater Houston 2016 Chairman

humble

Beginnings

Mike HollandMarek Brothers Systems, Inc.2016 ABC Greater Houston Chair


Contents

Also in this issue

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18

Courts Scrutinizing Employer FCRA ComplianceCompliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is critical, especially since the number of employment class actions under the FCRA have increased.

Promote Your 401k to Help Employees SaveSuggestions to educate your employees and help them take full advantage of your retirement plan.

Super Bowl LI is Bringing More Than Fans to Houston in 2017Many Houstonians may fear the inevitably crowded restaurants, congested roads and overflowing venues during the weeks leading up to the event, but for the construction industry, being a host city means more project opportunities for our industry.

Building Your Business in Every Season: Through the Ups and DownsThe Brain and its Role in Sustainable SafetyYou Are HereIn the Know

AdvertisersAmerican Mat & Timber.....................11Buyers Barricades.................................9Cokinos, Bosien & Young...................15Cherry Companies..............................12Coastal Welding Supply.....................12Craig & Heidt, Inc....................................9

GP Radar System..................................17 Interface Consulting International.......15Locke Solutions.......................................7Marek Brothers Systems...................11Porter & Hedges...................................17RedGuard..............................................24

Scott Macon Equipment......................9TCA/The Compliance Alliance.....................2Trench Plate Rental..............................12Wolfenson Electric, Inc.........................9

Cover Story

13Founded in 1966 to provide civil, pipeline, andother construction services for the petroleum industry, Bo-Mac Contractors has since grown into a Texas construction powerhouse.

Bo-Mac Contractors, Ltd.

ABC LEADERSHIP

ChairMike Holland - Marek Brothers Systems, Inc.

Chair ElectWarren Adamson - S&B Engineers and Constructors

Vice ChairRobert Burelsmith - E.E. Reed Construction, L.P.

SecretaryBrandon Mabile - Performance Contractors, Inc.

TreasurerTodd Fry - Karsten Interior Services

Past ChairmanDarlene East - Holes Incorporated

PresidentRussell Hamley - ABC Greater Houston Chapter

2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brian Anderson - G.R. Birdwell Construction

Rusty Barnhill - Force Corporation

Leonard Bedell - Mobil Steel International, Inc.

Kerry Bennett - ISC Constructors, LLC

Sam Craig - Craig & Heidt, Inc.

Matt Daniel - BE&K Building Group

Matt Elliott - SpawGlass Construction Corp.

Laura Price Gautreau - Polk Mechanical

Dinesh Ghia - Gilbane Building Company

John Golashesky - Turner Industries Group, LLC

John Marshall - Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc.

David McCleskey - Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC

Rhonda Mitchell - Aggregate Technologies Inc.

Rod Molyneau - Brock Services, LTD.

Rodney Page - Ref-Chem L.P.

Tim Ricketts - HSG Constructors, LLC

Wendell Rychlik - W.T. Byler Company

William Sanchez - Oxford Builders Inc.

Christina Stone - Stone & Stone

Phil Restivo - Turner Construction

Ben Westcott - Andrews Myers, P.C.

Mark Williams - Bechtel Construction Services

Lohn Zylicz - D.E. Harvey Builders, Inc.

Build Houston Magazine4910 Dacoma StHouston, Texas 77092(713) 523-6222

Publisher/Owner: Associated Builders & Contractors of Greater HoustonExecutive Editor: Jennifer WoodruffContributing Writer: Jasmine SwoopeAccount Manager: Janice PetersGraphic Design: Robert Chevis

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If your company is conducting background checks on applicants, compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is critical, especially since the number of employment class actions under

the FCRA has exploded over the past two years. Most of the cases have involved challenges to an employer’s compliance with the FCRA’s disclosure and authorization requirements. However, recent class action filings show that the cases are also challenging employer compliance with the FCRA’s adverse action requirements, including allegations that the employer has failed to provide any pre-adverse action notice, or if notice has been provided, to wait an appropriate amount of time before taking final adverse action against an individual (holding the job open in the meantime).

The FCRA Requires a Two-Step Adverse Action ProcessEmployers must follow certain requirements if they intend to take “adverse action” against an individual, including a job applicant or a current employee, based in whole or in part on the contents of a consumer report, before the adverse action is taken. In the context of a consumer report used for employment purposes, an adverse action includes “a denial of employment or any other decision for employment purposes that adversely affects any current or prospective employee.” The FCRA also defines the term “adverse action” to broadly extend to “any action taken or determination that is made in connection with an application that was made by . . . any consumer” and that is “adverse to the interests of the consumer.” In prior guidance, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expressed an expansive view of the FCRA’s definition of the term “adverse action” and opined that the term extends beyond decisions to disqualify a job applicant from further consideration for an available position.

Before the employer implements the adverse action against the applicant or employee, the employer must provide a “pre-adverse action” notice to the individual, which must include a copy of the consumer report and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Summary of Rights. This requirement affords the applicant or

employee with an opportunity to discuss the report with the employer before the employer takes adverse action.

Once the employer is prepared to take the adverse action against the applicant or employee, it must then provide an “adverse action” notice to the individual. The adverse action notice, which can be in writing or delivered orally or by electronic means, must contain the following information:

• The name, address and telephone number of the consumer reporting agency (CRA) that provided the report to the employer;

• A statement that the CRA did not make the adverse decision and is not able to explain why the decision was made;

• A statement setting forth the applicant’s or employee’s right to obtain a free disclosure of his/her report from the CRA if the applicant or employee makes a request for such a disclosure within 60 days; and

• A statement setting forth the applicant’s or employee’s right to dispute directly with the CRA the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the report that the CRA provided to the employer.

• The text of the FCRA does not dictate the minimum amount of time an employer must wait between mailing the pre-adverse action and adverse action notices. One fairly accepted standard was five business days, although recent class action cases suggest that employers may want to wait more than five business days.

Considerations for EmployersIt is advisable for employers that use background checks for employment purposes to take steps to ensure compliance with the applicable provisions of the FCRA. There is more FCRA litigation against employers for alleged willful violations of the FCRA than ever before, especially class action litigation. In addition, because various other laws affect the use of background checks

B Y G . M A R K J O D O N

Courts Scrutinizing Employer FCRA Compliance


ABOUT THE AUTHORG. Mark Jodon, managing shareholder of Littler Mendelson’s Houston office, is board-certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mark represents employers exclusively in all areas of labor and employment law. He can be reached at (713) 652 - 4739 and [email protected].

for employment purposes, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and state fair employment and fair credit reporting laws, employers should continue to be mindful of their obligations to comply with all of these laws.

Employers also should:

• Consider the potential significance of the FTC’s position with respect to how they vet incumbents for promotions and lateral transfers (even ones without an increase or reduction in pay) and how, if at all, they use consumer reports to take disciplinary action against employees.

• Consider periodically auditing their background check policies and procedures to ensure that applicants and employees are being provided with an adequate amount of time to consider

the information contained in their background check reports. It also would be prudent for employers to review the indemnity provision in their “subscriber agreements” with CRAs. Employers may outsource the process of mailing the notices, but the employer remains potentially liable under the statute.

• Take steps to ensure that they are providing applicants and employees with the most recent version of the Summary of Rights document.

• Consider how to best record personnel decisions such that, if necessary, the employer can prove that the reason an applicant was rejected was because of a poor interview, failure to provide requested follow-up information, drug test failure, etc., rather than based – even in part – on the background

report. u

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Saving for retirement throughout one’s working years is vital, and your 401(k) retirement plan is a great vehicle for employees to do so. However, employees often do not realize the importance

of saving now, they might believe they can’t afford to save right now or may choose to remove 401(k) money prematurely to cover a current financial need in their lives. Other employees do realize the value of contributing to a 401(k) plan but are simply overwhelmed by the complexity of investing and choose not to do anything as a result. Consider the following suggestions to educate your employees and help them take full advantage of your retirement plan.

1. Offer some financial education. Bring a financial advisor or representative from your 401(k) administrator to provide employees information about the importance of saving, the concept of compounding, how much they’ll likely need to live comfortably in retirement, different investment options and how just a small amount from each paycheck can make a significant difference.

2. Make sure employees understand your plan. Investing in a retirement plan is confusing, and your communication strategies should make it as clear as possible for employees. If they don’t understand, they are more likely to make poor investing decisions or not invest at all. Employees should know if you offer a match (and how much you offer), the types of investments they can choose, fees associated with the plan, penalties for early withdrawal, vesting requirements, loan or hardship withdrawal options and all other relevant details. Consider providing written flyers or brochures, online or email communication, group meetings and one-on-one consultations.

3. Offer target-date funds. These funds are a great option for employees with minimal investment savvy or who don’t want to manage their investment options on a continual

basis. A target-date fund holds an array of stock, bonds and other investments, with the balance of risk becoming more conservative as retirement age nears.

4. Consider automatic enrollment. Often, employees realize they should enroll in the 401(k) plan but just don’t take the time to do so. Automatic enrollment will give them the push they need. Also, it is a benefit for new hires because they are enrolled as soon as they are eligible, so likely won’t miss the percentage deducted from their paychecks if it begins right away. Employees do have the option to change their contribution amount or opt out of the plan if they choose.

5. Offer a match if possible. Offering a 401(k) match is a great way to encourage employee participation. If you do offer a match, let employees know that not investing

themselves is leaving free money on the table. u

ABOUT THE AUTHORChrist Taylor Insurance is an Employee Benefits and Insurance Brokerage firm doing business for over 50 years in southeast Texas, and long-time ABC member. We provide solutions to small and medium size companies in the areas of Healthcare and other Benefit programs, as well as Life Insurance and Retirement Plans. Contact the Christ Taylor team at 713-850-7747 or www.christtaylor.com.

Promote Your 401(k) to Help Employees Save


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Building Your Business in Every Season:

Through the Ups and DownsBy R i c k ya n d l e

As any construction professional knows, the industry runs in phases. Some months are packed tight with bids, business meetings and build-outs, while others leave crews

contending with down time. Slower seasons might not seem ideal — after all, if you’re not on the job site, you’re not making money — but they actually present their share of opportunity.

Such times allow owners and management the chance to step back, evaluate current practices and find new ways to get the company’s name out there. The good news is, these efforts don’t have to cost much, if anything at all. Here are a few ways construction teams can continue building their brands and marketing all they have to offer, even between projects.

Take To Social MediaFacebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts are free to run, and they offer a great way to engage with both existing and potential clients. Post photos of recent projects, announce job openings and reach out to contacts’ pages to keep your business top of mind. If you want to take activity a step further, consider advertising on these platforms. It doesn’t cost much, and has the potential to get your message in front of an entirely new audience.

Go Straight To The InboxMany people collect business cards during meetings and trade shows, but never do anything with them. The truth is, if you’re not using that information, those cards are just collecting dust. Upload email addresses into your computer system, and include those contacts when sending out email marketing blasts. Updating people about company events, helpful tips and industry news allows readers to feel connected with your business. The next time they’re looking for construction work, chances are you’ll come to mind.

Don’t Forget The Human ElementEmails, tweets and other technology have changed the construction world in big ways. Still, at the end of the day, these prospective contacts are people. Personal relationships are important, and simple gestures go a long way. Make it a point to drop by and visit important clients, take them out for lunch

and form friendships. Ask about their families. Shake hands. These

seemingly common sense measures often go overlooked, but

could improve your business propositions substantially moving

forward.

Every season plays a vital role in running a successful construction

business. The key is to take advantage of opportunities as

they come, make use of available resources and work to build

relationships with both current and potential clients. u

ABOUT THE AUTHORRick Yandle is Business Development Manager for Design At Work, an advertising and marketing firm that has served Houston for more than 25 years. He obtained his BBA in marketing from Kennesaw State University, and has extensive experience serving clients across a range of industries. You can contact him at 832.200.8232, or by emailing [email protected].


At Marek, we invest in educating our employees to improve specialty skills and foster long-term careers. The result is a dedicated team of craft professionals with the experience and expertise to provide you what matters most — quality construction on time and on budget. Because we’re devoted to developing a highly skilled workforce, our process always leads to a strong final product. With Marek, it’s more than the strength in our workforce — it’s about giving your project strength from within.

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COVER STORY

A G

olde

n Anniversary:Building The Gulf Coast

Bo-Mac’s 50 Years Founded in 1966 to provide civil, pipeline, and other construction services for the petroleum industry, Bo-Mac Contractors has since grown into a Texas construction powerhouse. The company has added pile-driving, marine piling, fabrication and dock construction capabilities to better serve the gas and oil refining industries. Today the company provides a large number of civil, piling, and marine construction services for projects of all sizes along the Gulf Coast.

When asked about Bo-Mac’s staying power, company president Jody Brusenhan says, “It all starts with our core values. Number one is ‘We do what is right.’ That applies to everything from our accounting practices and how we treat our employees to our client relationships and delivering on our commitments.”

Bo-Mac’s second core value, “Working safely is not optional”, emanates from a true desire to do the right thing. And while safety is commonly cited as important for many contractors, Bo-Mac truly walks the talk. As of this writing, Bo-Mac’s Civil Division has worked more than 4 million man-hours with out a lost-time accident. This is one company that is serious about safety.

Safety training is mandatory for every employee and includes training in the safe operation of equipment, hazard awareness, and the proper implementation of safety policies. To keep safety at the forefront, field

personnel participate in weekly safety discussions and frequent training programs. Brusenhan continues, “Our great safety record is a result of driving the proper safety mindset across the company and from the top down. We’ve had stretches as long as 16 straight months without a recordable incident.”

Today the company’s 600+ employees are organized into three divisions. The Civil Division handles site

clearing and preparation, heavy haul roads, reinforced concrete foundations and structures, drilled piers, underground piping and drainage, and other turn-key projects. Bo-Mac’s Piling Division installs all types of driven pile, auger-cast pile and sheet pile. And the company’s Marine Division designs, fabricates and installs dock facilities for major industrial and energy companies with operations along inland waterways throughout the Gulf Coast.

While the company works with a few specially chosen sub-contractors, most of their work is performed in-house so the company can maintain its high safety standards and meet client expectations. Since Bo-Mac’s founding five decades ago, they’ve built a solid reputation for taking on difficult projects and producing high-quality work that thrills their clients, while safeguarding employees and partners. “Another of our core values is that we want results to exceed expectations,” Jody Brusenhan tells us. “Mediocrity isn’t acceptable to anyone at Bo-Mac so we like to keep control of all the project details. And given the results we’ve been able to achieve for our clients, it’s the way we’ll continue doing business for the next fifty years as well.

Bo-Mac Contractors Ltd. • (409) 842-2125 • www.bomaccontractors.com

“Our great safety record is a result of driving the

proper safety mindset across the company...”

KAS081415-BOMAC FULL AD-EDITORIAL.indd 1 1/7/16 3:35 PM


ABOUT THE AUTHORTara Maria Amavi, (formerly Tara Templeton Hart, name changed due to identity theft) is the Founder and President of TCA/The Compliance Alliance

L.P. TCA has provided services to almost 1000 companies nationwide and TCA’s proprietary tools, methods and means have been ranked #1 in the world for managing contractor safety. The TCA Safety System® is peer acknowledged as a method based upon TCA’s own trade secrets which get better results than traditional safety methods and, therefore, saves lives. Ms. Amavi has been named one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women by Houston Woman

magazine, and has also been named one of the Who’s Who in Safety by Compliance Magazine. Ms. Amavi is a sought after public speaker, has appeared on local & national radio and television programs including five appearances on The BusinessMakers, a radio show hosted by John Beddow & Russ Capper.

Ms. Amavi may be contacted at [email protected] or 713.263.7661.

THE BRAIN AND ITS ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE SAFETYB Y T A R A M A R I A A M A V I

SAFETY

It was a private, VIP tour of a major hospital’s latest and greatest technological advances. One of the presentations was a video of a patient who had lost his legs and who now had robotic-

type equipment attached to what was left of his legs and a cap of electrodes on his head. As he walked in the video, the first impression is the robotics made his legs work. But that was not what was happening.

What was happening is his own thoughts were making the robotic device work, not the reverse. Recently, PBS showed a series based upon the book The Brain, written by Houston’s own David Eagleman, a scientist at Baylor. His series shows a woman using her mind to make prosthetics work — no electrode cap — she’s using only her thoughts.

It has been accepted in the medical industry that sociopaths1 aren’t curable. However, new studies show all sociopaths brains are different than everyone else’s and they are different in exactly the same way2. Kent Kiehl is doing studies with sociopaths while they are still young — many initially display anti-social behavior between the ages of 8-16 years. Caught early, he finds you can sometimes reverse the syndrome. How? By using neuroplasticity exercises to turn the non-working part of the brain “back on”. This approach, in combination with other Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT—“how to stop your stinking thinking”) and a supportive environment, often results in recovery and reintegration as a productive citizen and family member.

From Sociopaths to Robotics, and many things in between, cognitive neuroscience is changing our world.

How does this apply to safety? Every time you do something, you

create a path in your brain. You can’t do anything without that path. The first time you do it, its awkward because you are baby-stepping into a new neuronal pathway. But the 50th time you do it, your brain is operating unconsciously to drive the behavior. That’s why you can drive all the way home on Houston freeways and, lost in thought, not remember the drive. Think of all the hundreds of safety decisions that were made by your brain without your awareness for you to unconsciously drive home on a Houston freeway without getting killed. It’s mind boggling!

According to David Eagleman, most human behavior arises from these unconscious pathways. He explains that, because of this fact, science asked the question: What is the conscious mind for? Why does it exist when almost everything we do arises from these unseen, unconscious neuronal pathways?

Their conclusion? The conscious mind exists to override the unconscious mind. It exists to say “No” to a neuronal pathway that does not serve that person’s ultimate interests and goals. This is why ANY approach to behavior modification, including safety, that does not engage the brain to develop new neuronal pathways in the workforce, will not be sustainable.

Safety systems based upon fear, punishment, and outside-in control do NOT reach this area of the brain. They force adaptive responses to avoid the thing they fear but they do NOT change behavior in any process-driven or sustainable way. For example, you drive the speed limit in League City or Pasadena because you fear the tickets their police have a reputation of writing. But, for most of us, on the open road in Montana, it’s a different story. We avoid punishment but we don’t change behavior. Why? Because, at a brain level, a neuronal pathway level, we actually


THE BRAIN AND ITS ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE SAFETY

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believe our default behavior (i.e. speeding in this example) is safe and that we have things under control.We will avoid consequence but we won’t change. And that’s why the industry’s fatality statistics don’t change in any meaningful way.

Tune is next issue when we examine the history of Behavior Based Safety (BBS) and begin to unravel where it goes wrong and how to integrate brain science to make BBS and other

programs more effective. u

1Dr. Robert Hare, internationally renowned expert on sociopaths/psychopaths explains the terms are interchangeable. He states separate terms arose in society, not within the medical community. Society reserves the term sociopathy for the fraudsters, embezzlers, and wife beaters of the world and prefers the term psychopath for the Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer’s of the world.

2The Psychopath Whisperer: The Science of Those Without Conscience by Kent A. Kiehl.


You Are Here My once a year shopping experience at the mall was not an enjoyable one. It seemed like I was the only one who did not know where to go. Maybe for guys like me, it’s good that the holiday season comes around only once a year. My first action was to find the directory and after being shoved around a bit I spotted it…and it read “You are here”. Relief did not come instantaneously. I’ve never been lost in the woods, and seldom in an unfamiliar place. But here, in my own hometown, even knowing what the directory declared, the truth be known, I was lost. The situation reminded me of a place our company ended up years ago: In safety, we were worse than the industry average, our execution was poor and we had no plan to do better. And customers were coming down on us.

You, Too, Are HereThis may strike you the wrong way and may not be what you want to hear, but your company is ‘here’ also. All companies have been at a place that was undesirable, uncomfortable or possibly non-compliant. As a contractor, many eyes are upon you…and not just in Texas. Your customers are looking. If you provide services for owners, you are under their magnifying glass.

Everybody is watching. Can you remember when contractor X was dismissed from a project for inability to perform the work? Do you remember contractor Y being ousted from the job for not meeting quality expectations? How about contractor Z losing its contract for having safety issues? Well, it happened yesterday and will happen tomorrow. Problem is, contractors have not been able to overcome issues that plague them.

Main Issue: Satisfy The CustomerEquipment and materials. Can we blame equipment and materials for our issues? No we can’t. Equipment and materials are inanimate objects and must be controlled by humans. So if it breaks, it is an issue of line management or the manufacturer. Equipment and materials are supposed to be purchased or rented and is to be inspected daily and maintained in a workable and safe condition. So if a forklift malfunctions, do we blame the manufacturer, the project manager or the operator? In reality, it could be all of the above. Each person in the line of execution has some responsibility and is accountable in some way.

The workforce. Can we blame hourly workers for our workplace problems? No we can’t. Labor is a subset of management. Every company needs qualified workers and if a firm chooses to develop its own workforce, workers can choose to stay or join another organization. So, if the contractor workforce is not trained it is a

situation for management to deal with. The old saying goes like this: “Train the workers and they leave you or don’t train them and they stay”. A firm can do more than train. They can lead, they can treat workers well and thus will maintain a percentage of them.

Management. Can we blame all issues on management? No, probably not all things, but maybe a high percentage. As in the military, leadership responsibility and accountability starts at the top. I was taught years ago to pass problems up to management and pass solutions down to the workers. For those who choose to supervise or manage others, accountability is key.

Safety. Can we blame all injuries on workers? No, all injury is not the fault of workers. Prevention lies in elimination of at-risk behavior on the part of leaders and workers. Leaders make errors in judgement, planning and leading execution of the work. Worker injury may be from following poor planning and supervisors who may be untrained and unfocused on the work.

These are but a few of the problems in construction. All in all, it gets done.

So…Where Are You?We need to know where we stand with workforce and company issues. Knowing about these can bring opportunities to improve. Our job as leaders, is to know the issues, our responsibilities and be accountable in fulfilling our roles. It is up to us, in leading construction, to know our corporate situation so that we can put the pieces of the puzzle together. We must combine workers and leaders, quality, safety, materials and planning in facing all that we encounter and still get the job done. Don’t forget ‘You are here’

and we’re in this together. u

ABOUT THE AUTHORBennett Ghormley has more than 35 years of experience in safety, training and construction administration. He is experienced in implementing safety programs involving commercial, industrial and municipal industries. Mr. Ghormley has conducted audits, investigations and inspections in refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants, for pipelines, water and waste facilities, manufacturing plants and fabrication facilities. Mr. Ghormley has served as an expert witness in litigation cases and appeared before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, EEOC, Employment Commission and civil courts. Contact Mr. Ghormley via email at [email protected].

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Call Jim Cardoza at 713-253-7072or e-mail [email protected]

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SUPER BOWL

LI

is bringing more than fans to Houston in 2017

Houston, we have a Super Bowl! It has been more than a decade since the Super Bowl was hosted in Houston, Texas. Every year the Super Bowl, the unofficial American holiday, is the NFL’s crowning achievement, heaping massive amounts of attention on whichever city is tasked with hosting the ubiquitous event.

More than 70,000 fans attended Super Bowl XLIX. With the guaranteed influx of football fans planning their trip to the Bayou City, many Houstonians may fear the inevitably crowded restaurants, congested roads and overflowing venues during the weeks leading up the event. However, there is a silver lining for all the locals to look forward to when the Super Bowl touches down in 2017.

For anyone who has seen downtown Houston—or any part of Houston— it is hard to miss the roadblocks and construction happening all over the city.

“There has definitely been a tremendous uptick in construction activity since the announcement of Houston hosting the Super Bowl—all of these projects contribute to a more dynamic experience for the visitor and residents,” A.J. Mistretta, Houston First, Sr. Public Relations Manager said.

From a new convention district, and dazzling hotels, to smoother transit, and delicious dinning options, Houstonians can look forward to a more vibrant downtown post Super Bowl.

(continued on next page)

B Y J A S M I N E S W O O P E


A New Experience Many Houstonians are working overtime to get ready for the big event. Sunday, February 5, 2017, thousands of fans will make their way to our fair city to pack NRG Stadium. Throughout the event, visitors and locals will experience Downtown Houston’s long awaited facelift.

The Houston Super Bowl Committee (liaison between the city of Houston and the NFL), Houston First Corporation and many construction companies are deep into the planning phase to help support the many events and activities preceding the game, including a 10-day Super Bowl Center at “Houston’s Front Yard”—Discovery Green, according to the Super Bowl Host Committee website. The Host Committee anticipates upwards of one million visitors to experience Super Bowl activities in the two weeks prior to the Super Bowl.

NPR reported that Super Bowl host cities could earn upwards of $200 million to $500 million for the local, regional and state economies in additional business revenue during the event. It is no wonder that construction is in full force. One of the biggest projects, lead by the Houston First Corporation, is the renovation of the George R. Brown Convention Center and Convention District.

The George R. Brown Convention Center is being transformed from a large, blank slate venue to a more interactive haven for events. Mistretta, describes the model as “inclusive”. He explained that it’s a trend now for cities to design their convention centers for the local residents as well as the visitors.

The convention center will include: a second connected headquarters hotel, a new grand entrance, restaurants at the front of the building, a pedestrian plaza out front, a concourse that connects exhibit halls, a parking garage linked to a 10-story office tower with street-level retail, and the new Avenida de las Americas, which runs across the front of the George R. Brown Convention Center.

“Most of the projects on the drawing board were in development before we won the Super Bowl bid. In my opinion, many of the projects were brought to the front burner,” Mistretta said. “Everyone wants to capitalize on the exposure and potential revenue from this major sporting event.”

ABC Greater Houston member, Marek Brothers Systems Inc., is one of the companies working to upgrade the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Marriott Marquis to suit the needs of the modern day visitor.

“We have been working on one of the many projects within the convention center non-stop since December 2014,” Glen Blaha, Estimator/Project Manager, Marek Bothers Systems, Inc., said. “Our primary focus has been two fold, one aspect being to design and construct a new concourse wall for a new registration space, separating the exhibit hall, and building a temporary wall to serve as a dust partition to shield guests from the additional structural demolition occurring at the same time.”

Due to the Super Bowl coming to Houston next year, the overall deadline for many construction projects has been moved up to meet the needs of the upcoming event. A major benefit for many constructions companies is having their work recognized and viewed by those that visit and live within that area. The Super Bowl is providing an opportunity for many Houston construction professionals.

“The novelty of being a part of the creation of these buildings, even after the project is completed, is a piece of what makes a career in construction so cool,” said Blaha. “There is a sense of pride for yourself and the company each time someone drives by, walks though or mentions it.”

Blaha is expecting a third quarter completion date for Marek’s portion of the convention center so that development can move forward to be completely done before the Super Bowl. This remodel will allow Houston to be an option for larger trade shows and conventions. Locals can look forward to a more wide-ranging and contemporary experience.

Houston invites you to be our guest Super Bowl guests can look forward to the addition of 3,000 hotel rooms through eight new hotels coming to Houston’s Convention District, as well as improved transit centers, a recently completed light-rail extension and a new antenna system to provide all the internet access fans desire.

The biggest project is the 29-story Marriott Marquis under construction next to the north end of the George R. Brown Convention Center and across from Discovery Green Park, bookending with the Hilton Americas-Houston to its south.

“This is a huge impact for the convention district,” Nick Martien, Senior Project Manager at Marek Brothers Systems, Inc., said. “They are making downtown a place where people want to live, instead of just commute.”

Houston will be the sixth city to carry the Marriott Marquis designation, which is reserved for large convention hotels of iconic design in the nation’s gateway cities. A sky-bridge will connect the


1,000-room hotel to the conventions center’s north end with 100,000 square feet of elegant event space, including multiple rooftop lawns.

“We are working on the Podium and Tower floors, providing exterior framing and sheathing as well as the interior framing, drywall, finishing, acoustical ceilings, acoustical plaster, and stretched fabric panels,” said Martien. “One of the challenges and major focus of the work Marek is doing with the hotel is ensuring the level of sound quality that hotels of this stature are accustomed to having,” Martien said.

Locals can also look forward to experiencing the crowning jewel in the hotel’s outdoor area, which includes an infinity edge pool, a Texas-shaped lazy river, and seven event lawns.

If Super Bowl fans are looking at flights as an option to make the game, they can look forward to the updates at the William P. Hobby Airport. Houston Airport System and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines spent $150 million to upgrade the Airport into Houston’s second international gateway.

On the horizon, passengers can expect an additional parking garage, roadway modifications, new concourse and an expanded terminal, all of which will help accommodate international flights

to and from Houston. The expanded terminal has a new ticket counter, six additional security checkpoints, five new gates and a Federal Inspections Services facility for Customs and Borders Protection.

Houston nonprofit, Scenic Houston, is working to upgrade the two-mile stretch of Broadway Street between Hobby Airport and Interstate 45, according to the Houston Chronicle. The multimillion-dollar project includes additional tree installation, innovative landscaping, and new LED lighting and better sidewalks to create a welcoming and walkable environment. In addition to the scenic appeal, the Texas Department of Transportation is working on a $17 million project to reconstruct Broadway Street.

A lasting impressionIt is plain to see that the Super Bowl will bring a plethora of people, activities and experiences for many—Downtown Houston can attest to that. The city will not know the overall revenue generated from the event until sometime in 2017, but the effects will be felt for years to come. As Houston works to beautify the city and prepare for its guests, perhaps a thank-you to the Super Bowl is in order. Once the dust settles and the adrenaline levels come down, Houstonians will have some amazing new additions and opportunities available to them at the place they call home. u

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In The Know

In the spirit of the holidays, Mobil Steel International, Inc. recently participated in the NRG bike giveaway for children in underserved communities, as well as gave to MD Anderson, Sagemont Helping Hands, The Special Olympics, and Boys & Girls Country of Houston. Annually, Mobil Steel also supports Houston area car shows which provide military veterans with transitional housing and provides funding for the Texas Lions camp for children with disabilities. Additionally, the company supports college scholarships for students interested in working in the construction industry through the Associated Builders and Contractors Scholarship Foundation.

Polk Mechanical is proud to welcome Harry Parker as its new Chief Estimator. Mr. Parker brings over 15 years experience in mechanical estimating. He comes to Polk from Gootee Construction, New Orleans, Louisiana. They are pleased to have Mr. Parker on board, and look forward to a prosperous future with him.

Teal Construction recently held their annual Christmas Party and announced employee awards. Mike Pettus received the “Superintendent of the Year” award for the Houston office. Mike has been with Teal for four years and is currently working on the Houston Community College Acres Homes Project. Also, Pat Garrett received the “Employee of the Year” award for the Houston Office. Pat has been a Teal employee for 17 years and is one of their Project Directors. Pat runs multiple projects, but mainly heads the Frost Bank team.

Karsten Interior Services announces exciting

internal growth and new projects. The company

promoted John Revell, who joined Karsten in

2011, to Director of Project Management.

With a construction background dating

back to 1983, and in-depth experience

in project management, estimation and a

wide range of industry trades, he brings

a wealth of knowledge to Karsten and its

clients. The company is also proud to play a role in the construction

of Amegy Bank’s state-of-the-art Houston headquarters. Among

other amenities, the 350,000-square-foot structure will feature

office space for more than 500 employees, a two-story conference

space and game room.

Coats Rose Yale Ryman & Lee, P.C., announces its merger

with Dallas-based Wright Ginsberg Brusilow, P.C. The merger

grows Coats Rose’s Dallas office by more than 500 percent, with

21 attorneys and 36 total employees bringing the firm to more

than 200 employees overall. Coats Rose currently has offices

in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and New Orleans, and

the merger will increase the firm’s total staff by 23 percent. The

merger not only expands the firm’s capacity, but also grows its

capabilities in various key practice areas. These areas include

business reorganization and bankruptcy, business and corporate

law, probate and tax, as well as wealth preservation planning.

Polk Mechanical announces its new location in Houston at 11875

Cutten Road (Houston, Texas 77066). This new location will allow

Polk Mechanical to better serve existing and future customers.

Polk sends many thanks to Houston and their loyal customers, all

of whom have contributed to their success.


Clay McCord has joined BE&K Building Group as Senior Superintendent. Clay has more than 36 years of experience in the construction industry on both domestic and international projects. In addition to delivering higher education, institutional, industrial, healthcare and commercial projects across the nation, Clay spent several years in Afghanistan overseeing construction of U.S. military bases in active war zones.

The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region announced the hiring of Ms. Denise Smesny as the Dream It. Do It. Southeast Texas Education Foundation, Inc. Program Manager. A retired educator of 28 years, Ms. Smesny has taught a variety of subjects including Vocational Home Economics (Lee College), English, Creative Writing, Reading, Computer Literacy, and Cisco Networking (Goose Creek CISD). In addition, Denise has been a district level Instructional Technology Specialist (Goose Creek CISD) as well as Coordinator and Director of Instructional Technology, Libraries, and Career and Technical Education (Sheldon ISD). In addition, Mrs. Smesny served as the program director for the 1:1 Nova 5000 hand held-computer project in Goose Creek CISD.

BE&K Building Group recently began construction on the Lamar University Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship project. This 21,000 square foot education and workforce development building will be a “technology business

incubator” to help develop and grow new enterprises. The

facility will include workforce training facilities, a Small Business

Development Center, the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and

several anchor tenants.

Peckar & Abramson, P.C. (P&A) is pleased to announce

the opening of three P&A Texas offices in Austin, Dallas and

Houston, along with the addition of nine leading construction

law attorneys, each previously at the core of the Ford Nassen &

Baldwin law firm. The Texas team, consisting of some of the state’s

foremost construction litigators, will enhance P&A’s construction,

commercial, real estate and surety law practice in Texas, as well as

its national government contracts practice.

E.E. Reed Construction recently began construction on The

Wilshire Condominium consisting of a 288,966 square foot,

seventeen-story, 96-unit, ultra-luxury residential condominium

tower. E.E. Reed is working with owner, Pelican Builders, and

architect, Kirksey, on this project which is scheduled to be

completed in the Spring of 2017.

Teal Construction Company hired three new employees in

December. New hires include Mike Woods and Mickie Smith as

Superintendents, and Jenny McCarver as a Project Coordinator.

Mike Woods came to Teal from DMAC Construction and Mickie

Smith was formerly with Gilbane. u

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PAIDHOUSTON TXPERMIT 2597Published by Associated Builders & Contractors of Greater Houston

4910 Dacoma St. Houston, Texas 77092(713)523-6ABC (877)577-6ABC

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