HCA’s Safety Excellence Awards Program is a safety recognition program focused on recognizing companies that excel in multiple areas of their safety and health programs.  Awards are given to member companies, in their size category, that consistently have OSHA recordable injury, lost time injury and fatality rates at levels lower than the industry standard and implement internal company safety practices above and beyond basic compliance. 

It is now time for companies to apply for the 2023 Safety Awards. Below you will find a link to the Safety Award application form. Please download the form to your computer and rename the form to include your company name at the end. The PDF has contains fields so you can type your answers right into the PDF. Save the form often to keep all your answers. When done, email the completed form to Jennifer Bernal. 

HCA is now accepting applications. The deadline for application submission is the end of business on Monday, April 3, 2023. Winners will be recognized at the May 25, 2023 HCA luncheon and all applicants with an EMR of 1.0 or below will be awarded a safety certificate for their accomplishment.

Get Started Now - Download the Safety Awards application form today.

What are thieves looking for?

• When possible, park in well-lit areas and close to building entrances.
• Install motion sensor lights on the outside of your buildings and parking areas.
• If you have a video surveillance system, evaluate the coverage and install more cameras or ensure employees are parking vehicles in areas covered by the cameras.
• If you have a garage at your house, park your car inside and keep the garage door shut.
• Have the catalytic converter welded to your car's frame, which may make it harder to steal.
• Consider engraving your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the catalytic converter — this may help alert a scrap dealer that it was stolen and make it easier to identify the owner.
• Calibrate your car's alarm to set off when it detects vibration.

By: Avery Nielsen

The HCA Annual Clay Shoot went off with a bang! The event had a great turnout, with 348 shooters on teams of four. Held at Westside Sporting Grounds, teams played at one of three courses, with a top gun winner at each course. Top gun winners from all courses were: John R. with Aggregate Technologies, Darrel Brandt (no company listed) and Trey Lamar with Lonestar Prestress. The tournament was scored using the Lewis Class System. Each course had three Lewis classes.

White course Lewis 1 winner was BRH Garver followed by Ferguson Waterworks, Lewis 2 winner was AAA Asphalt followed by Double Oak Erosion and Lewis 3 winner was Bottom Line Equipment LLC followed by Cokinos|Young. Green course Lewis 1 winner was Rangeline Tapping Services Inc. followed by Waukesha-Pearce Industries LLC., Lewis 2 winner was Peoples United followed by Peltier Brothers and Lewis 3 winner was NBG Construction Inc. followed by Romco Equipment. Yellow course Lewis 1 winner was Lonestar Prestress followed by Ferguson Waterworks, Lewis 2 winner was Lem Construction followed by Lonestar Prestress and Lewis 3 winner was Five Companies LLC. Followed by Houston Waterworks Team. 

After everyone was finished at their stations, members enjoyed a great meal sponsored by Andrews Myers and Gulf Coast Stabilized Material. The day was completed by a raffle, where 11 donated guns were raffled off. Everyone had the chance to enter the raffle to win amazing prizes. Prizes varied from a handgun, Beretta shotguns, to a customized American Flag Howa 6.5 Creedmoor with scope and bipod. Thank you to Diamond Plastics/Britco for donating the American Flag Howa 6.5 Creedmoor. A huge thank you to: Ferguson Waterworks, Advanced Drainage Systems, Peckar & Abramson, Stiver Engineering, Harper Brothers Construction and R.B. Everett for sponsoring the raffle. Everyone joined together under the pavilion that was sponsored by Accurate Meter & Supply, Advanced Drainage Systems, ChaceTech, Cokinos|Young and Mersino Dewatering, Inc.

Thank you to the Clay Shoot Committee for their hard work, the event would not have been such a great success without everyone who helped. We are very grateful for every sponsor and those who joined us at the grounds. We are excited for next year and to continue the fun HCA Annual Clay Shoot!

By: Avery Nielsen

Finishing off October, Houston Contractors Association put a twist on their monthly luncheon. The association put aside the traditional luncheon for a laid back and fun day at Spindletap Brewery. The brewery is local to the Houston area. Founded in 2015 by five men who worked at a logistics company: Brody Chapman, David Miller, Shaun Ebersole, Cameron Banks and Adam Wright, Spindletap Brewery was intended to be a small business, but took off. Banks named the brewery based off of the Beaumont oil and gas town Spindletop, which set the path for what Houston is today. Spindletap brews are diverse with a beer for every palate, made here in Texas. To find your perfect beer, check out the website for both on tap and brewed beers. https://www.spindletap.com

The field trip was a great event for the 130 attendees to socialize and network. During the event, guests could take a walk through the brewery area. Lunch was served in the brewery, where guests ate next to the fermenters and watched beers be canned. Click here for more pictures of the luncheon.

https://www.houstoncontractors.org/page/about-photo-gallery

 

HCA HOSTS ANNUAL DEVELOPERS FORUM LUNCHEON

The Houston Contractors Association held its 9^th annual Developers Forum Luncheon on June 25^th at the Houston Junior League.  HCA had the honor of hosting Jeff Dewese, Vice President of The Signorelli Company, Land Division; Mike Miller, Vice President of Houston Ashlar Development; and Scott Davis, President of Location Strategy, LLC.  We also want to thank Jim Russ of EHRA for serving as our moderator for the event. 

First to present was Jeff Dewese, Vice President of The Signorelli Company, Land Division.  Dewese stated that The Signorelli Company has ten development projects for the year 2020.  These developments consist of single family, mixed use, recreational, and commercial projects.  Eight of these projects are located north of Houston in Kingwood, New Caney, Cleveland, and Conroe.  Two of the projects are located south west of Houston. 

Of the eight northern developments, Dewese focused on Valley Ranch, a 1,400-acre master plan community that is at the intersection of Interstate-69 and the Grand Parkway Toll Road.  The Valley Ranch twelve-month project development costs total $96.1 million.  Dewese stated that this project will feature an entertainment district, commerce district, self-storage, medical district, marketplace, multi-family, and a parkway expansion.

Next, we had Mike Miller, Vice President of Houston Ashlar Development present.  Miller stated that Ashlar has four developments: Belterra, Nichols Vale, Wildridge, and The Groves.  This last project was the focus of Miller’s presentation.  The Groves is located north east of Houston proper in the Atascocita neighborhood, off West Lake Houston Drive and north east of Beltway 8.  This master-planned community was designed to embrace the natural piney woods it is built around, creating an outdoor enthusiast’s ideal neighborhood. 

Miller stated that this development also features amenities specifically designed for both kids and adults.  There is a fishing pond, baseball and soccer fields, an adaptive sports complex designed for children with disabilities, pool splashpad, and multiple playgrounds.  For the adults, there is the Lifestyle Center with a state-of-the-art gym, resort-style pool, and The Yard: a beer-garden style space for adults to mingle and unwind. 

The final speaker was Scott Davis, President of Location Strategy, LLC.  Davis explained how covid-19 has affected the housing market.  In comparison, new home sales in 2020 were consistently out pacing the previous year, often by 200 homes.  Then, in April of 2020 the housing sales dropped significantly; sales slightly increased in May, but still lower numbers than May of 2019 sales; and then in June of 2020, new home sales returned to higher numbers than June of 2019.  Davis succinctly stated, “Sales dropped in April, but a recovery started in May.”

April’s decrease in new home sales was a month after the WHO declared covid-19 a pandemic, President Donald Trump declares covid-19 a national emergency, and states began issuing stay-at-home orders.  Not only were the monthly average of sales affected, but Davis explained that the average closing price of homes dramatically dropped as well.  In February of 2020, the average home cost $335,000, whereas February of 2019, the average home cost roughly $355,000.  From February to April of 2020, the price was steadily increasing before crashing again in May. 

In closing, Davis stated that rural areas surrounding Houston have seen a large increase in sales.  He explained that families, both young and old, are increasingly moving away from Houston and the immediate suburbs to remote areas.  This change is at an increasing rate from previous years and Davis attributes that shift to a reaction to covid-19.  

As always, the Houston Contractors Association is glad to host these informative luncheons for our members.  We want to thank our luncheon sponsors for this year’s Developers Forum: ATAB Insurance Services, LLC; Doggett Heavy Machinery Services; Gulf Coast Stabilized Materials, and West Mermis, PLLC.

The Houston Contractors Association (HCA) was excited to host their May 28^th luncheon.  It was the first event that HCA put on since the coronavirus quarantine.  HCA and the Houston Junior League followed all Texas covid-19 protocols and our members enjoyed the successful luncheon.  The speaker was Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) Chair Carrin Patman.  She presented virtually and was projected onto the ballroom’s screen along with her accompanying PowerPoint.  Patman talked about the current METRO and the agency’s new $7.5 billion METONext program. 

First, Carrin Patman stated that Houston’s METRO currently services 1,303 square miles, which includes the City of Houston, unincorporated Harris County, and fourteen multi-cities.  Houston METRO currently employs 4,200 people and in fiscal year 2019 had 115 million trips in total ridership. 

Patman stated that METRO offers a wide variety of ridership options for Houstonians.  In FY 2019, the local bus service hosted 59.4 million rides, Park & Ride service hosted 7.8 million rides, Light Rail hosted 18.6 million rides, METRO Star Vanpool hosted 1.8 million rides, and the High-occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes and High-occupancy Toll (HOT) Express Lanes hosted 25.1 million rides. 

METRO also offers emergency management support.  For example, the agency assisted Houstonians after being hit with 2017’s Hurricane Harvey.  METRO buses brought 15,000 people to and from local shelters, served as a lifeline for those with destroyed vehicles, and transported first-responders and supplies.

With traffic being identified as Houston’s biggest problem, Patman transitioned to speaking about METRO’s newly passed METRONext Plan.  This plan is designed to help ease Houston’s current traffic congestion and anticipated traffic as the city’s population continues to increase.  Patman stated that, “Our region's population is expected to grow from 7 million to more than 10 million people in the next 20 years.  [METRONext] is 500 miles of travel improvements with the goal of giving you more ways to move around our region, with no tax increase.” 

In 2019, Harris County voters passed METRONext, authorizing METRO $3.5 billion in bonding authority. METRO will then leverage the $3.5 billion with Federal matching funds to have a total of $7.5 billion.  There will be no new tax increases for implementing the plan.  To learn more about the METRONext Plan, please visit metronext.org.

The key objectives that Patman covered included the implementation of 75 miles of the new METRORapid bus service, which is an “environmentally friendly rapid transit vehicle that looks like a bus, but runs like a rail.”  The plan also includes a new light rail extension to Bush International Airport, 21 new or improved suburban Park & Rides and service centers, 16 miles of new light rail with an extension to Hobby Airport, 110 miles of dedicated regional bus transit, and 290 miles of improved traditional bus services.

Patman stated that as a result of the METRONext plan, there is a projected increase of 116% in ridership, 112% decrease in daily auto trips, 165% reduction in daily vehicle miles traveled, and 118% increase in suburban ridership. 

For the contracting community, Patman stated that all planned projects are expected to generate more than 100 prime contracting opportunities, most of which will be road improvements and concrete flat work.  She added that she looks forward to working with many members of the Houston Contractors Association during the implementation of this multi-billion-dollar project. 

Click Here to see Chairwoman Carrin Patman's presentation.

Dear HCA Members:

There has been some important changes made to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that you need to be aware of if you submitted a request for funding, and were approved.  These changes require that the borrower prove that the loan request was made in good faith and that the loan was necessary to support the borrower’s ongoing operations.  There is also concerns that the SBA will be looking to see if the borrower had other lines of credit or other assets available to them other than the PPP loans.  Contractors who have received these funds need to take steps to document their need in order to protect themselves from the audits that are certain to follow. 

Below is an article released by AGC Texas covering this topic, along with a very informative educational video provided by AGC America. Thank you to our friends at both of these associations for allowing HCA to share this information with our members.  I urge any HCA member that was approved for the PPP loan to view the AGC Constructor Cast podcast on April 24 concerning updated PPP program guidance and what it means for construction firms linked below, and become familiar with the steps that you will need to protect your company.

Thank you and stay safe

Jeffrey Nielsen

Executive Vice President

Critical New SBA PPP Loan Guidance

On April 23, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of the Treasury issued new guidance (see question #31) that puts Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers and potential borrowers on notice that they should be able to prove in “good faith” that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support [their] ongoing operations” to be eligible for the loan. 

This appears to be a warning to PPP borrowers of the possibility of federal audits and investigations to come. The guidance goes on to state that any “borrower that applied for a PPP loan prior to the issuance of this guidance and repays the loan in full by May 7, 2020, will be deemed by SBA to have made the required certification in good faith.”

While there is much ambiguity in this guidance, the message is clear that AGC members should have documentation of their market uncertainty and corresponding operational need for these PPP loans when they signed the loan application.

To help inform AGC Chapters and members about this development, we put together an AGC Constructor Cast podcast on April 24 concerning updated PPP program guidance and what it means for construction firms (which was included in an all member COVID-19 email update). You can watch it HERE and listen to it HERE.

AGC of America will provide additional information regarding this guidance as it becomes available.

To:  All HCA Members

From:  Chris Smith – HCA President

The Covid 19 Pandemic has been a strange and unique time not only for The City, The County, The State and The United States, but for the entire World.  Every day we have heard news about the Stock Market’s losses and gains, the number of people that have been infected, recovered or unfortunately deceased.  It has consumed our lives for the last month or so, but God willing it will end soon.

Fortunately, for Texas and specifically the Houston and surrounding areas, Construction is considered an Essential Business which means that most, if not all, of our Members are still able to continue operations, including our dedicated Houston Contractors Association staff.

Since the Pandemic began, your Association has been hard at work trying to help our Members navigate through these extraordinary times by working behind the scenes with the County and the City of Houston, providing up to date information to our Members via email blasts. In fact, when the Order to Stay at Home was announced by the C.O.H. and Harris County, the HCA was instrumental in working with other Construction Associations to draft a letter to our elected officials to help shape the County’s policy keeping Construction as an Essential Business, hence allowing us to continue to work. There have been numerous issues the Staff has and will be working on as we continue to deal with this pandemic.

I want to confirm to all our Members, that The HCA is still functioning and open for business, here to provide you with the services that you are accustomed to and expect.  Although, we have had to cancel or postpone some of our activities due to the local “stay at home” ordinances, we will be back to normal soon.   Until then, we will continue to work on the items we can while abiding by the City and County rules.

If there is anything we can do or if you have any questions please contact Jeff, Antonette, Emelie or myself.

jnielsen@houstoncontractors.org

askrabanek@houstoncontractors.org

emelie@houstoncontractors.org

Take care and be safe.

Chris Smith

President

Digital signatures in construction are, without a doubt, the future in the industry. -Construction Business Owner Magazine

I am happy to announce that as of March 25th's Houston City Council meeting, the City is now authorized to use electronic bidding to award contracts.  This is a new tool for the city and will be available for use by all departments.  This is something that HCA has been working toward for several years now, and I want to thank everyone who has been associated with this project.  Director Haddock and her staff have been instrumental in getting electronic bidding through all of the internal hurdles at the city and without their support this would not have happened.

According to Director Haddock, it will take some time for the ordinance to work its way through the process now that it has been passed by City Council.  Public Works will also need some time to implement and train their employees, but expect to see electronic bidding rolled out around July 1^st.

Jeffrey Nielsen

Executive Vice President

The Harris County Attorney’s Office has just released the “Stay at Home” order, here is a link to the order on the county website www.readyharris.org/stayhome.  The order follows the guidelines of the National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) and according to those guidelines heavy civil construction and their related suppliers are considered to be essential services.  Construction work is to continue as normal on all job sites in Harris County and the City of Houston unless you receive a specific stop work order for your project. 

Both the City and the County stressed that, while work is continuing on these projects, construction companies need to be mindful of social distancing requirements even on the job site. Workers should remain six feet away from each other at all times. Do not congregate in lunch areas. Do not share tools and clean tools daily. Employers should provide some form of hand wash station or alcohol based hand rubs at multiple locations on the job site. Companies are to encourage your supervisors to ask questions of all employees, and if an employee is not feeling well, have that employee get tested.  Attached is a copy of the AGC recommended practices for construction job sites that lists all of the precautions a contractor should take to avoid infection.

HCA is also recommending that all companies issue a letter to their employees to carry in their vehicles as a form of identification.  The letter should state that this person works for your company, that your company is in the civil construction industry and is considered an essential service and exempt from the “Stay at Home” order.

As an industry we provide an invaluable service to the community and this order recognizes the importance of that service.  Let’s respect the honor that has been given to our industry by the City and County and make sure that we do everything in our power to keep our employees safe, and the projects moving forward.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Nielsen

Executive Vice President

AGC COVID-19 Recommended Practices

Dear Elected Officials:

On behalf of the construction industry here in the Houston area, we want to share with you a letter that has been presented to the elected officials at the state level. Locally we all support this position and feel strongly that, in the event that your community should issue a “Shelter in Place” type order, that you designate all construction services to be deemed an essential service and exempt from such an order. Shutting down construction companies means shutting down a mobilized, skilled workforce with access to materials, equipment and supply chains that can respond to hospital systems, grocery stores, food production facilities, housing, critical infrastructure and other essential operations that are absolutely necessary during this time. Additionally, our workforce must remain intact for us to continue natural disaster clean up areas and be ready to answer the call for help in the wake of any future natural disasters.

As counties and cities have issued orders, the construction industry has faced confusion around whether they are able to continue their important consistent with/or pursuant to CDC and OSHA guidance. Explicit exemptions for commercial and residential construction are needed to continue critical infrastructure projects. As you continue your work, we ask that you consider adopting specific language that allows our contractors to support their communities during these uncertain times. The suggested language is that used by Dallas County and substantially similar to that used by governors of Illinois, California, Ohio and New Jersey.

For the purposes of this order, individuals may leave their residence to provide any supplies, services, or perform any work necessary to the operations and maintenance of “Essential Critical Infrastructure”. Essential Critical Infrastructure work is work necessary to the operations and maintenance of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors as identified by the National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) including public works construction, residential and commercial construction, airport operations, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services), financial institutions, defense and national security-related operations, essential manufacturing operations provided that they carry out those services or that work in compliance with social distancing requirements of six feet, to the extent possible. Essential Businesses providing essential infrastructure should implement screening precautions to protect employees and all activity shall be performed in compliance with social distancing guidelines.

Our associations have encouraged all of our members to implement strict measures for the safety of their workers and the public during this pandemic. We’ve distributed OSHA 3990-03 guidance on preparing the workplace in light of COVID-19 and encouraged worker education. With the low risk nature of construction jobsites contributing to the spread of the virus (jobsites are controlled environments and not open to the public) and the existing heavy emphasis on safety in our industry to implement protections for workers and the public, we urge you to recognize construction as essential services that should be continued during this time.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Nielsen, Executive Vice President
Houston Contractors Association

Jerry Nevlud, President and CEO
AGC Houston

Casey W. Morgan, Executive Vice President and CEO
Greater Houston Builders Association

Russell Hamley, President
Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Houston

Paul Puente, Executive Secretary
Bryan Edwards, President
Lacy Wolf, Vice-President
Wayne Lord, Secretary/Treasurer
Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council

Abel R. Garcia, Executive Director
National Association of Minority Contractors, Inc. Greater Houston Chapter

March 23, 2020

Dear Elected Officials:

On behalf of the construction industry here in the Houston area, we want to share with you a letter that has been presented to the elected officials at the state level.  Locally we all support this position and feel strongly that, in the event that your community should issue a “Shelter in Place” type order, that you designate all construction services to be deemed an essential service and exempt from such an order.  Shutting down construction companies means shutting down a mobilized, skilled workforce with access to materials, equipment and supply chains that can respond to hospital systems, grocery stores, food production facilities, housing, critical infrastructure, and other essential operations that are absolutely necessary during this time.  Additionally, our workforce must remain intact for us to continue natural disaster clean up areas and be ready to answer the call for help in the wake of any future natural disasters.

As counties and cities have issued orders, the construction industry has faced confusion around whether they are able to continue their important consistent with/or pursuant to CDC and OSHA guidance. Explicit exemptions for commercial and residential construction are needed to continue critical infrastructure projects. As you continue your work, we ask that you consider adopting specific language that allows our contractors to support their communities during these uncertain times.  The suggested language is that used by Dallas County and substantially similar to that used by governors of Illinois, California, Ohio and New Jersey.

For the purposes of this order, individuals may leave their residence to provide any supplies, services, or perform any work necessary to the operations and maintenance of “Essential Critical Infrastructure”.  Essential Critical Infrastructure work is work necessary to the operations and maintenance of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors as identified by the National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) including public works construction, residential and commercial construction, airport operations, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining,  roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services), financial institutions, defense and national security-related operations, essential manufacturing operations provided that they carry out those services or that work in compliance with social distancing requirements of six feet, to the extent possible.  Essential Businesses providing essential infrastructure should implement screening precautions to protect employees and all activity shall be performed in compliance with social distancing guidelines.

Our associations have encouraged all of our members to implement strict measures for the safety of their workers and the public during this pandemic.  We’ve distributed OSHA 3990-03 guidance on preparing the workplace in light of COVID-19 and encouraged worker education.  With the low risk nature of construction jobsites contributing to the spread of the virus (jobsites are controlled environments and not open to the public) and the existing heavy emphasis on safety in our industry to implement protections for workers and the public, we urge you to recognize construction as essential services that should be continued during this time.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Nielsen, Executive Vice President

Houston Contractors Association

Jerry Nevlud, President/CEO

Associated General Contractors of Houston

Casey W. Morgan, Executive Vice President & CEO

Greater Houston Builders Association

Russell Hamley, President

Associated Builders and Contractors

Paul Puente, Executive Secretary

Bryan Edwards, President

Lacy Wolf, Vice-President

Wayne Lord, Secretary/Treasurer

Houston Gulf Coast Building & Construction Trades Council

Abel R. Garcia, Executive Director   

National Association of Minority Contractors

A major benefit of our membership is the HCA Affinity Medical Program.  We are proudly offering this to our members and their families.  This plan will save our members up to 15% or more from what they are currently paying. Best of all, they don't have to wait for the traditional 'open enrollment' period to sign up. 

The greatest benefit that membership in HCA provides is the opportunity to meet other professionals in the construction industry.  All HCA events provide an excellent forum for this where members of our industry gather to discuss the issues of the day.  It is here that the subcontractor will meet a prime, a prime will meet new vendors and suppliers can make new contacts.   This is where your future business is made.

HCA offers a wide array of social events for our members to enjoy.  HCA holds monthly luncheons with high profile guest speakers and host on average over 200 attendees.  From May to October, HCA’s networking mixers are a crowd favorite.  We also have the ever-popular clay shoot tournament, a spring and fall golf tournament, management conference – this year is Costa Rica – and the annual Christmas Party.  All of our social events are designed to entertain our members as well as allow for social networking.

HCA strives to provide its membership with the educational and training opportunities to keep our members up to date on the latest industry innovations, research, and trends.  Through our Education and Safety Committees, HCA hosts seminars on the latest changes to such areas as insurance, bonding, SWPPP, safety issues, changes in construction contracts, and much more.  

As the only civil construction association in Texas, HCA is a unique group.  Since 1956, we have been the home to Houston’s civil construction industry.  We are proud of our members and the work that they perform.  HCA holds certain standards for our member companies.  Being apart of this association shows that your company holds a code of best practices and is a good reflection on your company. 

Eliza Paul, District Engineer, TxDOT:  As the first speaker, Mrs. Paul presented a highly detailed list of projects for the remainder of the 2020 fiscal year (FY) and all for FY 2021.  These nearly 200 projects ranged in let amounts, but Paul highlighted the projects greater than $10 million and greater that $20 million.  In April of 2020, there will be a $43.3 million projects in Fort Bend to widen IH-69 from two lanes to four lanes.  In May 2020, Harris County will reconstruct Memorial Drive from East of Beltway 8 for $18.3 million.  June will have a $13.5 million project on Eldridge Parkway.  September will see a $28.9 million in Montgomery County, and both a $64.3 million and $69.05 million in Harris County.  All will involve widening the lanes.  In ending FY 2020, August will see seven major projects totaling to roughly $375,000,000 in addition to their other 17 projects.  FY 2021 will have $564,265,936 in lettings.  To see TxDOT’s full listing, visit the News tab on the HCA website: houstoncontractors.org

Alisa Max, Chief Operations Officer, Harris County Engineering Department: Next, Mrs. Max presented the 2020 Construction Forecast.  This highlighted the major building projects. Juvenile Probation Facility Repairs with an estimated cost of $5million (CIP-Buildings).  Parking and roofing repairs with an estimated cost of $10 million (CIP-Buildings).  Quebedeaux Park with an estimated cost yet to be determined (Arch & Civil – in planning).  Preston Street Central Plant with an estimated cost of $61 million with $20 Million being spent in 2020 (Maintenance).  Spring Creek Greenway – Creekside West Trailhead to Burroughs Park with an estimated cost of $4.5 million (Arch & Civil projects).  Transportation Improvements near University of Houston Cullen from S Wheeler to IH-45 with an estimated cost of $18.8 million (Road).  Finally, Hufsmith-Kohrville Rd from Ezequiel to Holderrieth with an estimated cost of $15 million (Road). 

Nathan Hayden, Director, Construction Division, Harris County Flood Control: Mr. Hayden presented the HCFCD’s 2020 outlook for project advertisements.  This 12-month listing totaled to $5.7 million worth of work.  Hayden stated that funds from the 2018 Bond election will be funding many of these projects.  He highlighted the Spring projects with an estimated cost over $10 million.  The Cutten Stormwater Detention Basin Improvement project has an estimated cost of $16.3 million.  Lauder Detention Basin Construction Phase 1 – Final is listed at about $14 million.  And lastly for the Spring, the White Oak Bayou Federal Flood Control Project, Channel Modifications from Hollister Street to FM 1960 with an estimated cost of $22.5 million.   For Summer 2020, the sole project over $10 million is Clear Creek Federal Flood Management Project with the estimated cost of $295,000,000.  Fall 2020 lists Major Maintenance of Cypress Creek and Tributaries – Package 1 at $12 million and Major Maintenance of Cypress Creek and Tributaries – Package 2 at $22 million.  Winter 2020 will have the Stabilization and Excavation of Basin a $20 million and finally, Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin Phase 1 & 2 at $48 million. 

Matt Kainer, Assistant Director, Maintenance & Construction Engineering, Harris County Toll Road Authority: Mr. Kainer stated that HCTRA has ten tollway and highway construction projects, let date will be spread throughout the year.  There are projects over $10 million.  The first being the Wilshire Service Center in quarter-two with an estimated cost of $60 million.  Also, in quarter-two, the Central Plaza Safety Improvements will be $15 million.  Although they are not estimated at over $10 million, quarter-two will be having three maintenance projects of $5 million each.  Quarter three will see South Plaza Safety Improvements, Quitman Overpass at Future Hardy Toll Road, both being $15 million.  The highest project cost is $120 million for the Ship Channel Bridge NB Approaches.  Quarter-four has the Hardy Toll Road Downtown Connector at $150 million.  HCTRA will be having $408 million worth of projects in 2020. 

Ike Akinwande, Assistant County Engineer, Fort Bend Projects: Keeping the presentation brief, Mr. Akinwande shared that Fort Bend will have five category types for their 2020 projects.  First, there will be 26 total projects with an estimated cost of $90 million.  There will be a single drainage project at $6 million.  Toll Road Authority will have 13 total projects costing roughly $88 million.  There will be five facilities projects with an estimated cost of $27 million.  And lastly, there will be seven traffic signal projects with an estimated cost of $3 million.  Altogether, Fort Bend County will have 52 projects costing an estimated $214 million.

Michael Shannon, Engineer, Galveston County: Mr. Shannon stated that Galveston County has projects that are funded individually by four different sources.  He stated that there are six FEMA funded projects totaling just over $4.7 million.  There are eight CDBG funded projects totaling roughly $14.8 million.  He stated that there are five projects with an estimated cost of $2.3 million that are in the funding type “other.”  He also stated that there are twenty-two County Bond Projects with an estimated cost of $37 million. 

Jeff Masek, Assistant Director, Capital Projects, City of Houston Public Works:

Jason McLemore, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Business Opportunity, Houston Airport System: Mr. McLemore shared an in-depth presentation with business opportunities with the Houston Airport System.  He emphasized the Airport’s commitment to working with DBEs and M/W/S/P/DBEs.  He stated that the Airport’s have several upcoming opportunities.  Terminal A Modernization at George Bush International will cost an estimated $244 million.  This project will include upgrading the core building systems, extending the inbound baggage handling service, replacing the gate support equipment, additional bathrooms and restoration of those existing, and to update finishes, furniture, fixtures, and equipment.  He stated that there are three upcoming projects at Hobby Airport.  The first is an $11 million project to rehabilitate and expand the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Station 81.  Second is the demolition of runway 17/35 at $8 million.  Third is the expansion of Southwest Airlines International Gate. 

Keisha Seals, Engineering Manager, City of Sugar Land: Mrs. Seals stated that there are fourteen construction projects for them in FY 2020.  In early 2020 they have the Settlers Park Drainage Improvements with an estimated cost of $6.6 million.  Spring 2020 has a $550,000 Sugar Creek Storm Sewer Pipe Rehabilitation project.  There is a Major Facilities Rehabilitation project in summer 2020 with an estimated cost of $1.2 million.  Fall 2020 will have seven of the projects.  They have four rehabilitation projects: Lift Station, Well, Ground Storage Tank, and Ground Water Plant with all total to $5.2 million.  Late fall will have First Colony Trail for $1.45 million, Ditch H Trail for $6.45 million, and Brazos River Park Road Extension for $3.4 million.  The City of Sugar Land’s fiscal year 2020 construction budget totaling $30.3 million. 

Cliff Brouhard, Assistant Director, Missouri City Public Works: Mr. Brouhard stated that there are nine CIP construction projects in 2020-2021.  The first project mentioned was Veterans Memorial.  This has an estimated cost of $900,000 and phase I is anticipated to bid in April 2020.  Next, the Roadway Corridor Beautification.  This project has an estimated cost of $2.5 million and anticipated bid to be summer 2020 for phase II.  Waterfall Drive Reconstruction is estimated to cost $2.3 million and bid in spring 2020.  Knight Road Extension is anticipated to bid in fall 2020 and cost roughly $7 million.  Sienna Intersection Improvement Project is estimated to cost $5 million with construction planned for 2020.  New Fire Station No. 6 is estimated at $5 million and the Parks Maintenance Facility is estimated to cost $3.5 million with an anticipated bid date in 2021.  Mustang Bayou WWTP Expansion (C-MAR) is estimated to cost $7 million and construction to start in April 2020.  Lastly, Steep Bank Flat Bank Creek WWTP Expansion, which is estimated to cost $8 million and to bid in spring 2020. 

Andrea Brinkley, Assistant Director, Capital Projects, City of Baytown: Mrs. Brinkley shared Baytown’s 2020 construction bid calendar.  In the first-quarter, the 2019 Street Reconstruction Program will be reconstructing Rollingbrook Drive from Spur 330 to Goose Creek Bridge is estimated to cost $1 million and reconstructing both Flamingo Street and Egret Street for an estimated $700,000.  In the second-quarter, the Bayland Island Hotel & Convention Center Utilities project is to design and build underground utilities.  This has an estimated cost of $1.5 million.  The new Animal Shelter and Adoption Facility will replace the old facility.  This will cost $6.6 million.  The scope of the Chambers Commons Utility project will be the Old Needlepoint Lift Station and force main and gravity sewer.  This will cost an estimated $3.7 million.  And lastly for the second-quarter, the Spur 330/Decker Drive/West Baker Road Intersection Improvements project will cost $1 million.  Quarter-three will solely have the $4.4 million rehabilitation of the Goose Creek Lift Station.  The fourth-quarter will again see work for the 2019 Street Reconstruction Program for Narcile, Colby, Edgebrook, and Allenbrook Streets for an estimated $3.9 million.  Main Street and Republic Storm Sewer Project will work on the underground utilities for $1.8 million.  Burkuloo Road, Connally Road, Sjolander Road, and Crosby Cedar Bayou Road will have their utilities serviced for about $8.9 million.  In 2021, Mrs. Brinkley stated that there will be new construction and renovations made to the Bayou Public Safety Building for an estimated $48 million. 

Ross Talbot, Manager, Construction project delivery, Port of Houston Authority: Mr. Talbot highlighted several projects for the Port.  He stated that there will be rehabilitation and repair of Wharf 9 and restoration of the restrooms at the Turning Basin Terminal.  At the Bayport Terminal, there will be the rehabilitation of Wharves four and five, construction of the East End Container Yard, Port Road expansion and drainage work, trench drain repairs, and the construction of the new Wharf-Six.  Barbours Cut Terminal will see the demolition of the cranes at Wharves seven and eight and the construction of a new maintenance facility.  Manchester Terminal will have the rehabilitation and repair of Wharf-2. 

Tim Mills, Director, Universal Accessibility, Houston METRO: In 2019, Houston-area voters approved a $3.5 billion bond issue that will contribute to the $7.5 METRONext Moving Forward Plan.  Mr. Mills shared the details of the plan.  The major investments are 200 miles of two-way HOV lanes, 100 miles of extended LRT lines, 90 miles on new BRT system, and 500 miles of the BOOST network.  Also, there will be fleet and operational investments in 211 new light rail vehicles, 448 new buses, and 33 BOOST corridors.  Mr. Mills emphasized METRO’s commitment to universal accessibility and improved services for all.

HCA is pleased to once again host our Clay Shoot Tournament for our loyal members.  On April 3^rd, HCA will be bustin’ clays at the Westside Sporting Grounds in Katy, Texas.  Participants include all skill levels from shooting enthusiasts to top-guns in the making.  Each 4-man team is given golf carts, shells, and a catered lunch.  After the dust has settled, the famous HCA raffle and shooting awards follow.  HCA is excited for everyone to come on out.  We hear that the best therapy is gunpowder and lead. 

Two Golf Tournaments Set for May 12^th and October 6^th

HCA’s members love our golf tournaments so much that we hold two of them annually.  This year, the Spring Golf Tournament is May 12^th at the BlackHorse Golf Club in Cypress, Texas and the Fall Golf Tournament is October 6^th at the Wildcat Golf Club in Houston, Texas.  Each tournament consistently has a turn out of over 300 players.  These golf events are a lot of fun and highly competitive.  May the course be with you. 

SAVE THE DATE!  HCA Management Trip in Costa Rica

With Costa Rica as this year’s destination, the 2020 HCA management trip will most certainly present itself as a recreational corporate retreat.  Zip-lining, deep sea fishing, and catamaran cruises are all in the itinerary.  This exciting get-away is packed with group events, presentations, networking, business development, and more.  Attendees will build and strengthen their business relationships that will directly increase the success of their company, all while experiencing Costa Rica’s “pura vida” lifestyle. 

Christmas Party Celebrating 2020

            Celebrating accomplishments is imperative for fueling continued success.  Each year, HCA hosts a Christmas party to commend the hard work and dedication of its members.  HCA will be returning to the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston for the 2020 festivity.  As Houston’s only AAA Five-Diamond hotel, guests will enjoy an evening consisting of a delightful cocktail hour, sumptuous dinner, energetic live auction, superb band, and dancing at this first-class venue.  Featured at this event, the newly elected Board of Directors is sworn in.  This year’s Christmas party surely will call for a lot of celebration. 

The Houston Contractors Association is pleased to announce the 2020 Board of Directors.  Coming into the spotlight as the newly elected HCA President is Chris Smith of PLW Waterworks, LLC.  Mr. Smith’s decades of work in the construction industry and focused energy will prove him to be a powerful leader for the association.  The outgoing president, Anthony Colombo of mc2 civil, inc, will be as serving as the immediate Past President. 

The Houston Contractors Association is also pleased to announce the addition of six new members to the 2020 Board of Directors: Vice President Dennis Wolford of Jimerson Underground, Inc., Chad Harris of Harris Construction Company, Larry Laird II of LEM Construction Company, Inc., and Chris Scruggs of Unitas Construction, Inc. are the new contractor members, and John Stiver of Stiver Engineering, Inc. is the new associate member.  The board is also welcoming HCA Past President Sherry Barker of C.E. Barker, LTD as Director Emeritus.  They are joining the current Directors that will be serving the last year of their 2-year terms:  Secretary Steven Kennedy of Ferguson Waterworks, Chase Albritton of Contractors Paving Supply, LLC., Steven Aranda of Reytec Construction Recourses, Inc., Cody Burgin of Millis Equipment, and Craig Drachman of Associated Steel Fabricators, Inc.

For their service to the association, HCA would also like to recognize the Directors that will be stepping down from the Board: Past President David Boehm of NBG Constructors, Inc., Director Emeritus Steve Jarvis of Beyer Construction, LLC, Jon Harper of Harper Brothers Construction LLC, Jeff Heflin of mc2 civil, inc., Jeremy Peltier of Peltier Brothers Construction, and Ben Westcott of Andrews Myers, PC.   

The Houston Contractors Association’s Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from the civil construction community in the Houston area.  These Directors provide leadership for carrying out HCA’s mission to promote the heavy civil construction industry for the Houston area.  HCA is proud to have these members as a part of this association. 

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“Construction is the most important industry on the planet,” said James Benham, CEO of JBKnowledge, host of The ConTechCrew podcast, professional speaker, and the Houston Contractors Association’s October 2019 luncheon presenter.  Having the Houston Junior League ballroom full of representatives from companies in Houston’s civil construction industry, this statement was well received.  Benham’s presentation, Building a Mad Scientist: Driving New Innovation at Complacent Companies, challenged the HCA members to break from “the way it’s always been done” and be their company’s innovative Mad Scientists who chase innovation, target inefficiencies, and achieve their audacious goals. 

With the logos of failed companies projected on the screen behind him, Benham warned of disregarding disruptive innovations.  Derived from the term “creative destruction,” disruptive innovation is defined as the process in which new technologies or new kinds of products invalidate their predecessors while creating new enterprises.  “The future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed,” quoted Benham.  Innovation is happening, the results are just not yet the industry standard.  He covered notable cases of failed businesses – Blockbuster, Polaroid, Tower Records – and the reasoning for their downfalls.  Although this process is a necessary element of capitalism, how a company responds to disruptive innovations can be a litmus test for its success or collapse.  Benham told the crowd that in order to future-proof their companies and avoid business failure, they must become Mad Scientists.

What is a Mad Scientist?  Benham argued that this is someone who is an “unabashed, unashamed capitalist” who fights complacency, targets inefficiency, and is relentless in driving innovation at their company.  They drive innovation to be the disrupter, not the disrupted.  Benham then posed the question, “How do you build a Mad Scientist?”  He stated that there are five key steps to do so.

Have an audacious goal.  Expanding upon the S.M.A.R.T. goal criteria of being specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based, a particularly audacious goal will incite a bit of fear within a company.  Paradoxically, the element of achievability should be challenged.  This will require the company leadership to present the goal to the rest of the organization in an inspiring matter to ignite an internal motivating energy.  This will foster an entrepreneurial spirit and force an innovative company culture to achieve the unachievable.  Benham used the example of Faith Technologies who targeted labor inefficiencies to increase productivity.  Their audacious goal was to have all jobsite tools and materials within 30 feet or 30 seconds from a worker.  They achieved this and took their 39% productivity rate to 64% within a year.  They are now continuing to “Strive for Five” by having their materials within five feet or five seconds from their workers.

Have dedicated staff and budgets.  Benham argued that innovation does not occur in employees’ spare time.  “When you ask someone to complete a task as an ‘also job,’ you will get ‘also results.’”  Benham advised the HCA members to create an innovation team within their company.  The sole job of this team should be to innovate, he said.  If a company is intentional about it, innovation will happen far more often.  Benham stated that contractors spend on average one percent of their annual revenue on technology.  This is the least amount spent of any other industry.  Most construction companies have the funds for innovation, said Benham, but chose to not spend it.  He urged the audience to be intentional and dedicate the resources necessary for innovation.  Complacency kills.

Have a process.  Benham stated that the key differentiator between companies is their process.

He said that the method that works for JBKnowledge is EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System.  Once discovered and put into effect, Benham stated that this process fixed his company’s meetings.  Now, his meetings are timed, have a specific agenda, and have strict meeting rules.  Benham stated that electronics are not allowed in his company’s meetings.  All electronics are left at the door.  He stated that to be an innovator, to be a disrupter, you have to focus with your team.  “Treat your meetings like a team huddle.  You should look forward to your meetings.”  He stated that one of the top causes of failure at innovation companies is having bad meetings.

Spend time studying the problem.  Benham stated that if a company has a problem, 55 minutes should be spent studying it and 5 minutes spent solving it.  He again advised to create an innovation team— a group of employees that learns to study problems and identify waste.  “Technology and innovation go hand-in-hand with lean.”  He recommended the book 2 Second Lean by Paul Akers and joked that “lean starts in the bathroom.”  He told the audience, the next time they are in the restroom, to notice where the trash was in relation to the towel dispenser.  “If the trashcan is not right under the towels, then you have a lean problem.”  He gave the example of how a company targeted their lean strategically placed the bathroom area on their job site.  This saved the workers hundreds of man-hours and miles walked to and from the bathroom area annually.

Focus on adoption.  Mad Scientists are industry leaders, big thinkers, and true visionaries.  They can be the creator of the innovation or one who recognizes the value in another’s.  If the latter, it is their responsibility to convince their company to adopt the innovation.  Benham stated that he sees company executives that are inspired by his presentations and introduce new technology to their company without a plan.  “You have to take the time to sell them.  You have to win hearts and minds,” said Benham.

In closing, Benham encouraged the audience to listen to his weekly podcast The ConTechCrew to stay up-to-date on global news and current trends within the construction and technology industries.  The world is full of Mad Scientists.

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The Houston Contractors Association was honored to host its 2019 Fall Golf Tournament at the Wildcat Golf Course in Houston, Texas on October 8^th.  For the last nineteen years, HCA has proudly put on this annual event for its members and invited guests.  We are happy to have seen a large participation among our HCA members this year.

Judge Lina Hidalgo was the honored guest speaker for the Houston Contractors Association’s August 2019 luncheon.  The newly elected Harris County Judge shared with HCA her strategy for addressing the defining issue of her term thus far, focusing primarily on flood control. 

Judge Hidalgo stated that her newly created website “Harris Thrives” initiative is working to address flooding in a way that is fast, fair, and smart.  Judge Hidalgo stated that the approach begins with working as quickly as possible to deliver what was promised to the residents regarding flooding.  She stated that we are working to complete the county’s drainage projects in roughly half the time, the Judge stated that $60 million of local funds was spent to expedite the efforts.  With this, Hidalgo hopes to protect tens of thousands of homes from flooding and to break Houston’s historic cycle of flooding and recovery.   

Next, the Judge stated that with the many flood projects in Harris County, the prioritization of flood projects will be focused on addressing the areas of the county where the chances of flooding are the greatest.  She stated that the county is using a federally created “Social Vulnerability Index” to determine the schedule of projects.  She emphasized the importance of protecting the more at-risk areas of town as opposed to the more affluent neighborhoods with the political connections.    

Lastly, she stated that the county is relying heavily on science to determine the best plan of action.  In addition to redrawing the county’s flood plain, the Judge stated that having new detention requirements for development is just as important.  With Harris County’s ever-expanding boundary, the possible impacts of water runoff need to be addressed and offset. 

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