SpawGlass Named 11th Best Company to Work for in Texas

'Best Companies to Work for in Texas' include Rogers-O'Brien , HKS, DPR, HCSS, FKP Architects, Burns & McDonnell Engineering, Flintco, EBCO, Adolfson & Peterson and Duke Realty Corp.

Texas A/E/C Firms Make List of Best Places in Texas to Work

Texas-based general contractor SpawGlass was named the 11th Best Company to Work for in Texas out of a list of 100. The ranking is among large-sized companies, 250 and more employees category, as part of the "Best Companies to Work for in Texas" competition, sponsored by Best Companies Group, in conjunction with the publishers of Texas Monthly magazine the Texas Association of Business, and the Texas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management.

SpawGlass University Dean’s List, which included team members earning 32 hours or more of training for 2007.

Other winners in the large companies category, affiliated with the A/E/C industry, are: SpawGlass, Rogers-O'Brien Construction and HKS Inc. In the medium companies category winners were Stress Engineering Services Inc., DPR Construction Inc., HCSS, FKP Architects Inc, Jetstream of Houston and Burns & McDonnell Engineering Inc. In the small companies category, firms selected were Flintco Inc., Petrotechnics, JMJ Associates, EBCO General Contractor Ltd., Adolfson & Peterson Construction and Duke Realty Corp.

The fourth annual program is a project of Texas Association of Business, Texas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management and Best Companies Group. A two-part process was used to determine the Best Companies to Work for in Texas. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking.

Some of the items that earned SpawGlass the recognition include 100% employee ownership available to all hourly and salaried employees, in-house SpawGlass University training program, career advancement opportunities and 401(k) plan with employer match.

"SpawGlass offers outstanding benefits, second-to-none training programs, the opportunity for employee ownership and a clear path for career advancement," SpawGlass President/CEO Fred Raley told Texas Construction. "Employees are regularly recognized for their accomplishments."

SpawGlass will cover the cost of in-state tuition for employees who wish to further their knowledge in their area of work after they've been on the job for two years. The firm offers partial reimbursement for gym memberships and Weight Watchers participation for employees and families. SpawGlass provides employees with paid time off to do volunteer work.

SpawGlass was also selected as a finalist for Training magazine's Training Top 125, a national awards program that recognizes employer-sponsored training and development. This is the first year SpawGlass has entered the Top 125 awards competition.

The Training Top 125 ranking is determined by assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative factors, including financial investment in employee development, the scope of development programs and how closely such development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives.

Houston Designer Camilo Parra Earns AIA Young Architects Award

A Houston-based designer, Camilo Parra, was among eight recipients of the American Institute of Architects' 2009 AIA Young Architects Award. Young Architects are defined as professionals who have been licensed 10 years or fewer regardless of their age. The award honors individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession early in their careers. The Young Architects Award will be presented to the recipients at the AIA 2009 National Convention and Design Exposition in San Francisco April 30-May 2.

Recognized widely in Houston as a designer and builder of upscale and affordable townhome developments, Parra also conducts a school of design studio and volunteers in his community.

"One of the unique things about Camilo is that he not only has his own practice, but develops his own projects; last year alone Parra Design Group developed 70 housing units," says AIA Houston President Brian M. Malarkey, AIA, in the chapter's letter of nomination. "As a member of the Houston Minority Business Council and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Camilo serves as an outstanding role model for the students at our historically black university," adds Prairie View A&M University School of Architecture Dean Ikhlas Sabouni.

Dallas Facilities Associate Presented AIA Honor for Encouraging Minorities

Clyde Porter, FAIA, is the 2009 recipient of the AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award. The honor is presented annually by the American Institute of Architects. The AIA Board of Directors selected Porter for “encouraging minority, underserved and low-income students to see themselves as architects and stewards of the built environment,” and for “extending the fruits of higher education to these same communities through his job with the largest undergraduate institution in the state of Texas.”

The AIA Board voted to bestow the annual award to Porter as the best example of the profession's social responsibility to be a positive force of change. Porter will be presented with the award at the 2009 AIA national convention.

Porter is the associate vice chancellor of facilities for the Dallas County Community College District. For 21 years he has been responsible for its facilities, campus planning and building efforts. Porter currently oversees $700 million worth of buildings that house and educate approximately 100,000 students on seven campuses-the largest undergraduate program in the state.

Texas Firm Among Finalists for ABC ’09 Craft Professional of the Year

The Associated Builders and Contractors announced the six finalists for its 2009 Craft Professional of the Year award.

The competitors represent the top craftworkers in the merit shop construction industry and serve as mentors and role models on the jobsite and in their communities, according to ABC information. The grand prize winner receives a brand-new, full-size pickup truck sponsored by Tradesmen International.

William T. Lawings of Irving-based Fluor Corp., representing the ABC North Texas Chapter, is one of the six finalists. He is in the boilermaker category.

Participants in the ABC Craft Professional of the Year program are evaluated on several criteria including: the candidate's mastery of job-related skills, jobsite and safety performance record, leadership, professionalism, community and industry service, personal motivation, credentials, commitment to the merit construction philosophy and recognition by others for the candidate's excellence in craft skills and teamwork to complete projects safely and successfully.

Houston Architecture/Engineering Firm Receives Hot Firm Award

Houston-based PGAL had the recent distinction of being named a 2008 "Hot Firm" in the ninth annual ZweigWhite "Hot Firms" list. Each firm on the national list experienced substantial revenue growth between 2004 and 2007 and an ability to survive and prosper during the challenging economic times. The 2008 list marks the second time that PGAL has been named a Hot Firm.

HDR Project Earns Texas Council of Engineering Companies Gold Medal

The graving dock that Corpus Christi-based HDR|Shiner Moseley designed for Gulf Marine Fabricators has been awarded a gold medal in the transportation category by the Texas Council of Engineering Companies. The project is eligible for the American Council of Engineering Companies' national awards, which will be announced April 28.

The project involved fabricating and transporting a deepwater hull from a land-based site to a water-based floating location. GMF determined that a graving dock was the best option and set out with HDR to make it a reality. Complications included designing a structure large enough to accommodate fabrication of the hull, constructing the graving dock at a difficult site, and working within a compressed project schedule to keep the project on track. Working with GMF, HDR was able to initiate dock construction, finish designing major elements, and keep the project running smoothly.

Dallas Real Estate Council Selects ’09 Leaders, Executive Committee

The Dallas-based Real Estate Council selected its new 2009 board members with Michele Wheeler, CFO of Jackson-Shaw, leading the new board of directors. In addition to Wheeler, Chip Cavanaugh, shareholder at Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr, begins his tenure as vice-chairman.

TREC and TREC Foundation Executive Committee members include Michele Wheeler, Jackson-Shaw, chairman; Jim Berry, Deloitte & Touche, chairman elect; Chip Cavanaugh, Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr, vice chairman; Melissa Eastman, Stewart Title, vice chairman elect; Tony Dona, Thackeray Partners, recent past chairman; Michelle Corson, The Real Estate Council, president; Ann Allison, The Real Estate Council Foundation, executive director; Don Braun, Hall Financial Group, treasurer; David Betzold, Bank of America, assistant treasurer; Dan Fryman, Commercial, Unsung Heroes gala chairman; Steve Bancroft, Crow Holdings, FightNight chairman; Bill Brown, Granite Properties, membership chairman; Neal Sleeper, CityPlace, government affairs committee chairman; Tanya Little, Hart Advisors Group, PR/marketing chairman; Frank Mihalopoulos, Corinth Properties, programs chairman; T. Andy Dow, Winstead PC, secretary; Mitch Paradise, Corgan Associates, ALC chairman.

Additional TREC board members include Bob Aisner, Behringer Harvard; Fred Albrecht, Vantage Companies; Lee Belland, Stream Realty; Brandon Bledsoe, Amegy Bank; Lisa Brinser, Courtland Development; Bill Brokaw, Hillwood; Richie Butler, CityView; Kevin Crayton, Comerica; Mark Doran, Transwestern; Carl Ewert, Jones Lang LaSalle; Craig Gardner, Citibank; Tom Garner, Fidelity National Financial; Mattye Gouldsby Jones, Coats Rose; Paul Higgins, The Beck Group; Willie Hornberger, Jackson Walker; Bill Jackson, NorthMarq Capital; Sam Kartalis, Henry S. Miller Commercial; Eric Krueger, Balfour Beatty Construction; Michael Krywucki, Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr; Beth Lambert-Saul, Archon Group; John Liegl, Guaranty Bank; Chris Mahowald, RSF Partners; Steve Modory, Champion Partners; David Pettle, Lincoln Properties; Joe Samford, Regions Bank; Aaron Wetherill, Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Greg Williams, KPMG LLP.

Additional TREC Foundation board members include David Barr, American Momentum Bank; Rob Bennett, Thackeray Partners (ALCAA Representative); Mark Fewin, CBRE; John Gates, Jones Lang LaSalle; Kim Hogan, HOK; Jay Hull, Workplace Solutions; Tom Lueder, Colonial Bank; Jack Matthews, Matthews Southwest; Wendel Pardue, Wachovia Bank N.A.; King Scovell, Woodbine Development Corp. (ALC Class Rep.); Mary Beth Shapiro, Republic Title of Texas Inc.; Aleta Stampley, Bank of America; Evan Stone, Jones Lang LaSalle; Michael Watts, Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Kevin Wisdom, ZOM Texas Inc.

TREC Government Affairs Committee leaders are Donald L. Braun, Hall Financial Group; M. Kevin Bryant, Crow Holdings; Glenn Callison, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr P.C.; Barry Henry, Crow Holdings; Frank Mihalopoulos, Corinth Properties; William G. Mundinger, II, Archon Group LP; Jon Napper, Courtland Development; Clay Pulliam, Hillwood; Neal D. Sleeper, CityPlace Co.; Manuel M. Ybarra, Pillar Commercial.

The TREC Young Guns selected its 2009 executive committee, which will lead its more than 350 members through 2009. Launched in May 2006 as a sub-membership level of TREC, the group's focus is to promote TREC involvement and to encourage participation in social, political and civic issues that affect the city of Dallas and North Texas.

The 2009 executive committee includes David Liggitt of CB Richard Ellis; Greg Urech of Centex; Hillary Keil of Kimley-Horn; Billy Gannon of Cushman & Wakefield; Adam Herrin of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler; Leah Ekmark of C. Pharr & Co.; Stephanie Seno of CB Richard Ellis; Gary Sanchez of The Beck Group; and Nathan Brown of Balfour Beatty Construction.

KDC Launches New Web Site, Branding Campaign

Dallas-based KDC - formerly Koll Development Co. - unveiled a branding campaign recently designed to recognize the company's expanding business platform beyond corporate office and industrial development to include increased acquisition and investment activity throughout the United States. As part of the new brand, KDC will feature the new tagline: "Real Estate Development and Investments." In addition, KDC launched a new Web site, kdc.com.

KDC has completed more than 90 corporate build-to-suit office and industrial projects valued in excess of $2.5 billion and totaling more than 13 million sq ft.

Balfour Beatty Forms Federal Group; Survey Earns Top Scores

Dallas-based Balfour Beatty Construction formed a new business unit to target projects in the federal sector nationally. The company has identified a five-year, $26 billion opportunity for new work in four target federal agencies - the Department of Defense, Federal Bureau of Prisons, General Services Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Balfour Beatty has managed construction on projects such as the Air Force Memorial, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and the recently dedicated Pentagon Memorial, and has completed more than $1.3 billion in military housing since 2004. Among its current construction activities, the company has more than $300 million in two design-build services contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The company also marked three years and 300 surveys in its client satisfaction program. The firm invested in a full-time client satisfaction manager to administer its newly created Mission Alignment Process, which has averaged a 4.52 (out of a 5-point scale) to date.

HOLT CAT Employee Recognized at Governor's Address

Mike Coolidge, a generator technician for HOLT CAT, the largest Caterpillar dealer in the U.S., was on the platform and highlighted during Governor Rick Perry's State of the State Address.

"Mike represents the 1,400 other Texans who will have the chance to work hard and feed their families in the coming months as a result of our state's economic development success," Perry says.

Presenting his State of the State address at the capitol, Governor Perry wanted to help the audience visualize the benefit to individual Texans of the 1,400 new jobs to be filled at the recently announced Caterpillar engine plant in Seguin.

Perry asked HOLT CAT CEO Peter M. Holt to select one of his outstanding technicians in the Austin area to represent the opportunity for jobs at the new plant to be open by 2011. Coolidge was previously selected as Technician of the Year in HOLT's Power Systems Division. Coolidge, a retired U.S. Army veteran, has been a HOLT employee at its Pflugerville location for more than eight years.