Texas 23, November 8, 2020

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When WLE (Water, Land, Environment) won the bid for a major irrigation project in Austin, Texas, it needed to add to its equipment fleet — without draining its budget.

Ashlar Development, an Irving, Texasbased company specializing in upscale residential neighborhoods, sought to reclaim the effluent water produced in its Belterra neighborhood, west of Austin, and reuse it to irrigate the community’s common areas.

More From WLE: ‘5-Star, White-Glove Service,’ Page 8 The 200-acre project would include 6-to10-in. water lines at a depth of 36-in. cut through mostly limestone, a holding tank and filtering system for the waste produced by the growing area, along with the actual irrigation lines.

“We prepared our bid based on what we thought the Vermeer RTX1250 could help us achieve in terms of labor costs,” WLE partner Kade Thomas said of the company’s thought process. “We made the decision to buy the machine if we were awarded the contract. We felt like it would decrease labor by 50 percent.

It did exactly what we thought it would do.”

The company was happy with the performance of its Vermeer RTX550, but was limited see VERMEER page 14

Zachry Construction’s CEO, David Zachry (L), was recently recognized with ARTBA’s highest honor — the “ARTBA Award,” while Jim Anderson (middle), owner of Anderson Machinery Company, accepted the Gehl Top Dealer Award for North America from Chris Shoots, Manitou Group regional sales manager. See coverage on page 12.

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Page 2 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

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Page 4 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

City of San Antonio to Receive $60M for New eSports Facility ASM Global, a venue management and services company, and Port San Antonio have announced the initial timeline for the construction of a $60 million facility.

The 130,000-sq.-ft. complex includes a 2,500-seat, multi-purpose technology arena that will have an emphasis on eSports.

Upon completion, the venue is slated to be one of the most versatile in ASM’s portfolio of more than 325 facilities worldwide. Construction on the facility began in late August, with completion scheduled for early 2022.

Also included in the development project is a “24-hour LAN Gaming Center,” serving as a destination for gaming access and events, and also a community gathering space for the general public.

Bob Newman, president and CEO of ASM Global, commented in a release: “We salute the Port and its leadership for their forward-thinking vision and desire to further develop the large campus into a hub for global innovation. We look forward to partnering in bringing this innovative, world-class venue to life and delivering unparalleled experiences for the entire South Texas region and beyond.”

All profits from the Innovation Center will be reinvested to support technologyfocused education at the facility, including K-12 STEM/STEAM programs, as well as professional development programs.

Jim Perschbach, Port San Antonio president and CEO added, “In an increasingly connected world, this Innovation Center will help develop and strengthen the best talent and ideas with a sharp focus on addressing today’s biggest challenges and participating in an exciting world of opportunities across the nation and around the world to solve those challenges.

“We could not have selected a better partner in this project than ASM Global to join our ecosystem in San Antonio and further raise our community’s profile as a leading destination and global competitor in today’s most advanced technologies.” eSports Insider said in a statement: “This is a gigantic project for the community of San Antonio, and to have an eSports arena be part of that is massive for the local eSports community and vital to the growth of the sport in the area. In the hands of well-regarded ASM Global, there is no doubt the venue will be fantastic.” 

S&P Global Energy Awards Names Fluor Williamson County...

Finalist for Construction Project of Year Lane Construction to Construct 183A Tollway Job: $176M

Fluor Corporation announced that the MEGlobal BookraMEG project has been named a finalist for Construction Project of the Year for the 2020 S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards. In addition, Rocky Plemons, vice president of construction for Fluor, has been named a finalist for the organization’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement award.

The BookraMEG Project is a world-scale 750,000 metricton-per-annum monoethylene glycol and di-ethylene glycol facility built in Oyster Creek. Fluor served as construction contractor on the project which began operations in October 2019 and marked the first time that MEGlobal’s parent company, the EQUATE Petrochemical Group, constructed a new ethylene glycol facility in the United States. The project was completed safely, ahead of schedule and under budget.

“We are honored to be named a finalist along with our client MEGlobal for the Construction Project of the Year by S&P Global Platts,” said Fluor’s Energy & Chemicals Business President Mark Fields. “By all measures, the BookraMEG project was a success, and Fluor’s construction team was integral in helping the project set industry benchmarks for progress, productivity and safety.”

Rocky Plemons has more than 40 years of diversified experience in the construction industry, having advanced through several craft levels in both civil and mechanical disciplines. Most recently, he managed the successful comple-

tion of several major Fluor construction projects in United States Gulf Coast region. Over the course of his career, Plemons has shown a steadfast commitment to safety, quality and developing the industry’s next generation of construction talent.

“Rocky exemplifies a passion to build in his work and does so in a safe, productive and quality manner,” said Fields. “He is exceptional at setting the vision for the team, outlining achievable goals and holding himself and others accountable. He is truly one of the construction industry’s finest and is most worthy of this recognition.”

Established in 1999, the S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards highlight corporate and individual innovation, leadership and superior performance in 21 categories spanning the entire energy complex. Finalists are selected based on their performance for each category's criteria within the designated time frame.

Winners will be selected from each corresponding group of finalists by the Global Energy Awards’ independent panel of judges and announced at the live-streamed Global Energy Awards Virtual Gala on December 10. The complete list of awards categories and list of finalists for the 2020 S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards visit can be found at https://www.spglobal.com/platts/global-energyawards/finalists. 

The Lane Construction Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Webuild Group (formerly Salini Impregilo), announced it was awarded a $176 million design-bid-build contract to construct the Phase III extension of the 183A tollway project in Williamson County.

Work on the Phase III extension of the 183A tollway includes adding two tolled main lanes 6.6 mi. in each direction from Hero Way to North of SH 29 and constructing a shared use path from Hero Way to the proposed Seward Junction Loop project. The extension of 183A will include the construction of 17 bridges, two of which are over the South Fork San Gabriel River.

With unprecedented growth in Williamson County, especially in Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill, traffic volumes along the 183 are seen increasing by 183 percent over the next 25 years. The project will help alleviate future congestion and reduce driving times for commuters.

The project is commissioned by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and is scheduled to be completed in October 2024 

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 5

Page 6 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

ASV Holdings Inc. expanded product availability with new dealers and dealer locations across the United States.

ASV Signs Dealers in Texas, Adds More Locations in Q3, 2020

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ASV Holdings Inc. has expanded product availability with new dealers and dealer locations across the United States.

ASV added Robinson, Texas-based Construction Edge Equipment, as well as Construction Machinery Industrial with four locations in Alaska.

The new dealers are a sign of ASV’s fast-growing dealer presence in North America. The locations will offer ASV’s full line of Posi-Track compact track loaders, featuring bestin-class rated operating capacity, cooling systems and hydraulic efficiency.

The line features the newly launched MAX-Series loaders, including the RT-65, VT-70 high output, RT-75 and RT75 heavy-duty. The new machines feature enhanced comfort, visibility and overall operator experience.

The lineup also includes compact sit-in track loaders, the RT-40, RT-25, and RT-50, and the powerful RT-120 Forestry CTL. The dealers also will offer ASV's full line of skid-steer loaders.

“This continued expansion across North America gives our customers increased access to ASV machines, service and parts,” said Jeff Pate, director of sales of the ASV brand.

We chose these new partnerships because of how they align with our values of quality, customer satisfaction and integrity."

For more information, visit www.asvi.com. 

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 7

Page 8 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

WLE photo

Plum Creek — Monument sign for I35 Plum Creek neighborhood.

WLE photo

Kissing Tree Bridge — Iconic bridge that is the entrance to Kissing Tree, which is a community in San Marcos. Veneer limestone quarry blocks were used on the exterior.

Sophistication Comes to Landscape Construction Industry Comparing services provided by a contractor to those of a 5-star hotel might seem like a bit of a stretch, but that’s exactly how one Austin, Texas, area businessman is positioning his growing company.

Kade Thomas, a partner of WLE (Water, Land, Environment), a landscape construction and maintenance provider, said his company strives to bring “white glove service” to his clientele.

What exactly does that mean?

“We honestly think of ourselves as a 5-star hotel when it comes to the level of service we provide,” Thomas said. “We aim to bring sophistication to an otherwise unsophisticated industry.”

Thomas is quick to point out ways that his company, which employs 300 people, sets itself apart from the competition.

“First, we are a full-service provider, offering both landscape construction and maintenance,” he said. “Secondly, we really do offer a sort of ‘white glove service.’ We’re all about making our customers’ lives easier. We offer proactive solutions. We don’t just bid on jobs, we consult with our clients to find answers to their needs. Those solutions include consulting, designing, building and maintaining.”

Thomas added that the third way his company sets itself apart from others is the fact that it’s completely “turnkey”, with all services done in house, under one roof.

“There are very few landscape companies in all of Texas that provide that level of service,” according to Johnny McDonnell, WLE’s vice president of landscape services.

The Little Things In additional to stellar customer service, there are some little things that add to the overall experience WLE brings to the table.

“We show up on a job site with premium equipment…all matching,” said McDonnell. “From our trucks to our equipment, everything matches.”

The company has more than $20 million invested in its fleet of trucks, construction and landscape equipment. That consistency extends beyond just decals and paint jobs.

“We commit to a single brand,” said Thomas. “Our trucks

are all Isuzus, for example.” All mowers are the same brand; all skid steers carry the same manufacturer’s logo.

Vermeer is the choice for WLE when it comes to trenching and drilling equipment, Thomas pointed out.

All of WLE’s 300 or so employees are full-time, year around personnel, according to Thomas.

That didn’t happen by chance or luck.

“Our ‘one team’ culture focuses on employee appreciation,” Thomas said. Little things, like the company sponsored daily breakfast taco trailer, contributes to its ability to retain quality help, he said.

WLE’s headquarters building, designed internally, was created for maximum employee optimization and comfort, Thomas added.

At times, that “white glove service” level differs from client to client and from community to community.

For work in downtown Austin, for example, the company has specifically outfitted crews with battery operated and solar equipment. This creates a quiet, exhaust-free job site, which fits well with the progressive capital city.

Explosive Growth WLE’s roots go back to 2003, when the company was founded as Weigelt Enterprises in Dripping Springs, Texas.

At that time, the business focused solely on residential landscaping and irrigation.

Thomas, along with Bradley Roofner and Logan Brown, purchased Weigelt in 2017. By then, Weigelt had grown to 55 employees, but the trio saw potential for much more growth.

That number of employees has exploded by nearly six times in three years.

“Our goal was to grow and become a major player in south central Texas,” Thomas said. “At the time, there was a complacency that existed in the marketplace. We saw an opportunity for sustained rapid growth if we brought something unique to the table.”

Technology is a big part of that approach as well, according to Thomas.

“We were able to take on different kinds of clients by streamlining processes,” he said. “Not only new processes,

but also internally designed technology using fewer people.

It allows us to diversify our client base.”

Thomas added that its client base includes general contractors, developers, commercial office property managers and the state of Texas.

WLE is a preferred provider for UT Austin, Texas Museum, the state of Texas, as well as a host of central Texas municipalities. At the same time, the company is a major supplier of construction and maintenance services to large master-planned communities. (See related story).

The future appears bright for WLE, and that outlook is shared by employees, ownership and management.

“It is the commitment from our ownership group that has allowed us to grow,” said McDonnell. “With their leadership, we have never deviated from our goals.”  CEG

WLE photo

Miraval— Water feature at main entrance.

WLE photo

Trace — Monument signage for entrance into Trace neighborhood.

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 9

Page 10 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Extreme Sandbox Celebrates Grand Opening of Brand New Location: Sachse, The Station Extreme Sandbox celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Sachse, Texas, inside The Station mixed-use district on Oct. 26, 2020, at 2837 Pleasant Valley Road.

Along with a ribbon cutting ceremony, those in attendance were given a site tour and saw the equipment in action.

Extreme Sandbox, a heavy equipment adventure company, is an open-air entertainment concept that is a perfect destination for individuals looking to fulfill a “bucket list” adventure, or corporate groups seeking a unique group outing and/or team-building activities, according to the company.

The adventure company presents guests with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to operate construction equipment — including Komatsu excavators, bulldozers, and wheel loaders — under the supervision of highlytrained expert instructors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Extreme Sandbox to The Station as we conclude the district’s first stage of construction,” said

PMB Capital Investments Partner Taylor Baird. “Designing a dynamic, familyfocused mixed-use community is at the heart of our vision for The Station, and Extreme Sandbox perfectly captures that spirit, bringing an innovative experiential element to the district.”

Extreme Sandbox also offers entry-level heavy equipment training and student camps The adventure company presents guests with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to for those looking at a career in the construc- operate construction equipment — including Komatsu excavators, bulldozers and tion trades. wheel loaders — under the supervision of highly-trained expert instructors.

“We are excited to be open to the public at our new Sachse location,” said Extreme Sandbox CEO and founder Randy Stenger.

“The city of Sachse is an amazing community that is the perfect hub for new businesses to grow and thrive. Not only do we provide an amazing bucket list experience, but we also hope to inspire the next generation of construction workers. Whether you are a 14-year-old high school student or 94-yearold grandmother, we make learning fun.”

For more information, visit www.extremesandbox.com. 

The grand opening celebration took place on Oct. 26.

“Whether you are a 14-year-old high school student or 94-year-old grandmother, we make learning fun,” said Extreme Sandbox CEO and Founder Randy Stenger.

“We are thrilled to welcome Extreme Sandbox to The Station as we conclude the district’s first stage of construction,” said PMB Capital Investments Partner Taylor Baird.

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 11

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Page 12 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

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San Antonio Construction Exec Manitou Group Hands Zachry Accepts ‘ARTBA Award’ Anderson Machinery Gehl Top Dealer Award

David Zachry, CEO of San Antonio-based Zachry chairman, vice chairman at large and vice chairman Corp. and a long-time volunteer leader in the of the Transportation Development Foundation.

Zachry helped develop and advance an innovaAmerican Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), is the 2020 recipient of the tive revenue and tax reform package aimed at increasing federal transorganization’s highest honor portation infrastructure — the “ARTBA Award.” investment by providing It was presented Oct. 20 Zachry is being recognized during a special ceremony at long-term stability for the ARTBA's national conven- for more than 30 years of Highway Trust Fund tion.

(HTF). The HTF is the professional success at Established in 1960, the source, on average, of ARTBA Award recognizes Zachry Corp. more than 50 percent of individuals for outstanding highway and bridge capicontributions that have tal investments made by advanced the broad goals of state governments annualthe association. Recipients have included more than ly.

25 U.S. senators or representatives, two U.S. secreHe launched the Safety Certification for taries of transportation, several governors, and Transportation Project Professionals (SCTPP) — dozens of top leaders and executives from govern- the construction industry's only internationallyment and the private sector of the transportation con- accredited safety program. The SCTPP seeks to struction industry. significantly reduce the number of safety incidents Zachry is being recognized for more than 30 years that occur in and around U.S. transportation project of professional success at Zachry Corp. and for his sites. Nearly 500 industry professionals have earned ARTBA volunteer leadership service as a two-term the certification credential since its late 2016 launch.

(2015-17) chairman, senior vice chairman, first vice For more information, visit www.artba.org. 

Manitou Group presented Jim Anderson of Anderson Machinery Company, located in Corpus Christi, with the Gehl 2019 Top Dealer Award for North America.

This prestigious award is based on the overall sales performance, commitment and customer support of Gehl equipment in North America throughout 2019.

“On behalf of Manitou Group, I would like to congratulate Anderson Machinery Company for their excellent sales, commitment and customer support of Gehl products and services,” said Eric Burkhammer, Manitou regional vice president of sales.

“Because of Anderson Machinery Company’s dedication and commitment to their customers,

they have been recognized as one of Gehl’s top performing dealers for 2019,” added Burkhammer. “It is a pleasure to partner with a dedicated distributor who shares the commitment to quality products, services and customer support that Gehl has prided itself on since 1859.”

Tom Anderson, owner of Anderson Machinery Company, said, “We have had great success in selling and renting the Gehl products. “We are confident that the reputation the equipment earns will continue to open doors for our mutual success. We are very proud to be counted among their top dealers.”

For more information about Gehl, visit www.gehl.com. 

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 13

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Page 14 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Vermeer RTX1250 Vital for Austin Landscape Contractor VERMEER from page 1

to a 4-in. wide cut with the smaller machine.

“We would have had to double cut every trench,” Thomas said. “Even double cutting we might not have been wide enough.”

In the end, WLE completed the project with the RTX1250 four months ahead of schedule.

Other factors played a role in the decision to go with Vermeer Texas-Louisiana as well.

“We do have a special relationship with Vermeer,” Thomas said. “We’ve met and got to know senior management at Vermeer. Their company structure and business philosophy are very much like ours. They are all about family first and giving back to employees and team members.

“Terry Hall, our representative, goes above and beyond in keeping our fleet going in the field,” Thomas added. “His knowledge of varying local soil conditions is a real benefit to us.”

According to Hall, the Austin area is unusual because of the varying soil conditions in a relatively small geographic area.

“East of I-35 is black dirt, suitable for growing corn,” Hall said. “You can dig with an excavator. West of I-35 is solid limestone. Then further west, you get into marble and then granite. The Belterra project was all limestone.”

Vermeer’s RTX1250 ride-on tractor is made to increase productivity while installing a variety of utilities, including gas, fiber, water and electric.

Hall noted that if a landscape construction contractor is going to do business in Austin, west of I-35, it will need a rocksaw in its fleet.

Hall’s company, Vermeer of Texas-Louisiana, has been doing business with WLE for about three years, about the time the company was purchased by Thomas and partners Bradley Roofner and Logan Brown.

“WLE has quickly become one of the largest landscape construction companies in Austin,” Hall said. “In addition to the rocksaws and trenchers in its fleet, they have also purchased a BC900XL brush chipper.”

About the RTX1250 The ride-on tractor is made to increase productivity while installing a variety of utilities, including gas, fiber, water and electric.

The Vermeer RTX1250 can be equipped with a variety of attachments including a trencher, rocksaw or plow and features a quad-track system for work in various ground conditions. The Vermeer RTX1250 can cut through rock, concrete and other tough surfaces.

About WLE WLE is an Austin-based landscape construction and maintenance company. Founded in 2003, the company mission is “to bring sophistication to an otherwise unsophisticated industry. To do so, WLE aims to embrace best practices from other disciplines such as professional service companies, and incorporate them into their own identity.”

Its landscaping roots run deep, as partner Kade Thomas started mowing lawns at age 13. His enterprise grew to become a legitimate landscape company in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The company was later sold and is still active today.

About Vermeer Texas-Louisiana Founded in 1978, Vermeer Texas-Louisiana is a full-service equipment dealer specializing in selling, leasing, renting and servicing equipment manufactured by Vermeer Corporation.

It offers13 full-service locations in Texas and southern Louisiana.

The company is 100-percent employee owned.  CEG

The 200-acre project would include 6-to-10in. water lines at a depth of 36-in. cut through mostly limestone, a holding tank and filtering system for the waste produced by the growing area, along with the actual irrigation lines.

“We prepared our bid based on what we thought the Vermeer RTX1250 could help us achieve in terms of labor costs,” WLE partner Kade Thomas said. “We felt like it would decrease labor by 50 percent. It did exactly what we thought it would do.”

The Vermeer RTX1250 can be equipped with a variety of attachments including a trencher, rocksaw or plow and features a quad-track system for work in various ground conditions.

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 15

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Page 16 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Massana Construction Looks to Expand Biz in Texas

By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT

It was back in 2001 that Mark Massman and Anna Cablik founded Massana Construction Inc. in Tyrone, Ga. Since then, the company has grown by leaps and bounds and has expanded out west, where it now has a Texas division based in Frisco (near Dallas).

And furthermore, the company that specializes in bridge and marine infrastructure work, as well as installing cable barrier – pri-

Massana Construction photo

Massana Construction brought in more than 21,000 linear ft. of guardrail, more than 53,000 linear ft. of cable barrier and more than 8,000 tons of concrete for the job in Amarillo.

of concrete and more than 21,000 linear ft. of guardrail.

Starr, the Texas vice president, noted that his division has secured an excellent reputation for installing cable barrier, concrete paving and flat work.

“We acquired this reputation from our track record working with the DOT,” he said. “We have highly experienced crews that have built thousands of miles of cable.

Furthermore, our employees have a diverse

“We found that [the west coast] provided an opportunity to diversify and keep the company going. marily in Texas and more than 10,000 mi. thus far – is employee owned. Today, it employs between 150 to 200 people, depending on the season, with 150 plus permanent staff ranging from operators, craft labor to engineers and management personnel at its local offices.

So how does a company based in Georgia operate on the west coast? Jarod Cheney, Massana’s president and CEO explained.

“During the recession in 2008 – I call it a depression, we were looking for other markets to move into where we could be competitive in similar types of work,” Cheney said. “We found that [the west coast] provided an opportunity to diversify and keep the company going. It was a question of going after the work or go downhill. Mike Keyser, one of our shareholders, moved out there and started a new division, building it up.

“It was the same with Texas,” he added.

“Rob Starr [Texas operations vice president] went there at the same time. It was a bold move and we were doing whatever we could to get through that rough time.”

Texas Construction The company most recently finished an upgrade project on I-40 for the Texas Department of Transportation in the city of Amarillo over the summer.

That initiative installing four mi. of cable barrier, an east-west interstate on the south side of the city; 5 mi. of cable barrier, 4 mi. of new guardrail and 220 ft. of concrete barrier on U.S. 87 — a highway on the north side of the city; and 1.4 mi. of cable barrier.

In terms of new materials, more than 21,000 linear ft. of guardrail was brought in, more than 53,000 linear ft. of cable barrier, and more than 8,000 tons of concrete.

Materials removed included over 1,000 tons

Jarod Cheney Massana president and CEO

Massana Construction photo

Crews from Massana Construction perform highway work in Amarillo.

range of experience and skillsets that give us broad capabilities to meet any challenge or contingency. We’re successful because you are not just a number on a badge at Massana, you are part of the family, your safety is our safety, your quality product is our quality product, and your success is our success. We find that owners appreciate a team that embraces them, works with them, and wants them to succeed.

“Our growth has not only been consistent, but has exceeded expectations,” he added.

“Employees are a key to growth and we have been able to attract quality employees during a time when the unemployment rate was very low. We have a great group of guys that not only work hard, but place an emphasis on detail and doing it right the first time.”

Massana’s fleet is considerable – around 100 pieces of larger equipment and 100 plus trucks and trailers, with equipment yards repair facilities in Georgia, Texas, and Washington, along with experienced mechanics.

“I have an equipment manager and a maintenance manager in each division,” said Cheney.

The heavier equipment includes Cat and John Deere excavators, dozers, backhoes, loaders, skid steers, and lodrils. Cranes include Grove and Manitowoc models. The fleet also contains GOMACO pavers, Bidwell’s, Acrow Corporation of America detour bridges, and jacks manufactured by Beerman Precision. Dodge and Ford pick-up trucks and crew cabs are used by personnel. see MASSANA page 20

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 17

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Page 18 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Texas A&M Graduate Oversees His First Job as Project Manager

By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT

Zak Moore, 23, graduated from Texas A&M with a BA in Construction Science in 2019 and was hired by RK Hall almost immediately.

“As far as this job has gone, it’s not like any other project I ever heard about or was involved with during school,” said Zak Moore.

“The two biggest lessons learned so far from this project would be the importance of patience on a job like this due to outlying factors such as rain, as well as realizing that the plans are not perfect,” said Zak Moore.

The U.S. 82 in Red River County project is a memorable one for Zak Moore, RK Hall LLC project manager — it is the first job that he is overseeing.

Moore, 23, graduated from Texas A&M with a BA in Construction Science in 2019 and was hired by the general contractor almost immediately.

“I was a superintendent as soon as I came out of school,” he said. “Funny enough, I originally did not have an interest in construction. I had always wanted to be an engineer or a business major, but when I applied to Texas A&M, they require you to pick two majors from the engineering department or two majors from the business department instead of picking one business and one engineer major, like I did upon enrollment. I did not know they had this rule when I originally applied, so I was denied to both the engineering department as well as the Mays School of Business.

“That led me to just scrolling through their list of majors to finally stumble upon Construction Science,” he added. “Little did I know, Construction Science was the best of both worlds regarding business and engineering. Once I did my first internship with RK Hall after my freshman year of college, I knew I had picked the right major while also finding the right company.”

Moore graduated as part of a class of nearly 250 people.

“Not many people know about Construction Science, but more and more people are beginning to find out about this major and ultimately pursuing a career in construction,” he said. “The majority of my buddies from Construction Science had a job lined up after college. However, all of them ended up in the commercial construction industry.

I was the only one of my friends who pursued a career in the highway industry. Commercial construction is actually the majority of construction we learned about throughout school. However, the basic principles of managing a project are the same whether commercial or highway.

“Oddly enough, I ended up going off and doing my own thing, chasing a career in the highway industry,” he added. “No matter what sector you decide to pursue, there is a ton of opportunity for students with a construction science degree.”

Starting as a project manager/superintendent, Moore is relishing the opportunity to prove himself and learn from experienced hands to improve his skills for the next project.

“As far as this job has gone, it’s not like any other project I ever heard about or was involved with during school,” he said. “Also, none of them were as major as this one. This project has its ups and downs like anything else, along with its headaches, but it also has its great moments —

you get to meet a lot of different people that are very good at what they do. My team is what has really gotten me through this project, as well as having great management above me at RK Hall — I honestly could not have found a better company to work for.

“With the weather issue — specifically rain — the job was moving kind of slow for a while,” he added, “but there wasn’t anybody pushing me to speed up the project because everyone understands the issue with rain. That type of support is one of the biggest things you can ask for running projects in this industry, because the people I work with have all been there before and understand the struggles.”

Prior to the start of the project, Moore prepared for it by repeatedly reviewing the plans over, on top of doing the same thing with the schedule that had been built for the project.

“Like I mentioned earlier, we did not have a lot of instruction during school regarding the highway industry,” he explained. “We only focused on the commercial and residential construction industries. That being said, I did not know a ton about what I was about to dive into with this project. The best preparation I had was the ability to ask a lot of experienced people a bunch of questions going into the project. To this day, I am always learning something new. I am hopeful that will also continue throughout the duration of my career.

“As far as the project meeting my expectations, I would honestly have to say I did not know what to expect just starting out,” he added. “I knew how the project was supposed to progress, and we have followed that progression, but the rain really changed the entire scene regarding dates and timeline. It was pretty tough to deal with at times just because you feel like you are running behind, but there is also nothing you can do to alleviate the situation other than just wait for a dry day.”

Asked if anything about the project manager role experience has surprised or enlightened him, Moore replied: “There has not been a lot to surprise me, per se. I still learn a lot of really cool things on the job working around guys who have been doing this type of work for years. When I have a chance, I will help my dirt sub run equipment if they need the help, or I will do the same thing for my concrete sub as well. Some of the equipment I have had the opportunity to operate has been fun. For example, I had only run a motor grader a handful of times in the past as an intern, but I really got to spend some time on one while working on this project.

“The two biggest lessons learned so far from this project,” he added, “would be the importance of patience on a job like this due to outlying factors such as rain, as well as realizing that the plans are not perfect. There will most likely always be discrepancies in the plans.”  CEG

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 19

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Page 20 • November 8, 2020 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Texas State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Firm’s Texas Division Secures Stellar Reputation on Job Sites MASSANA from page 16

The company started small, but its founders were determined to succeed, which was helped by the hiring of Cheney, the second employee of the company to be brought in, in January 2005.

“Myself, along with our core group of employees, helped to build the company up over the years,” he said. “It was always Mark’s goal to be an employee-owned company and in 2008 we brought on some shareholders and in the last couple of years, the employees took over the company. The positives are ownership and accountability – when people are the owners of something, they treat it as their own, watch the bottom line, and build a good quality product because their name is on it as well.

“We’re modeled after a large national contractor that most of us used to work for them back in the day,” he added. “We had the experience and applied the lessons learned by others. If you don’t learn from others and the mistakes you’ve made, it’s tough to stay in business.”

Massana started via sound barrier wall and bridge work and then expanded into marine work. The bridge work focuses on rehabilitation and maintenance, including jacking operations and bridge deck replacements.

Today Massana does between $50 to

$100 million worth of work annually, on jobs ranging from $50,000 to $13 million.

Family Affair The children of many employees work for Massana.

“We try to operate as a family and we’re very fortunate to have a lot of longtenured employees,” said Cheney. “We are true professionals. “Everyone from our project managers to our vice presidents are engineers by trade.”

For the next five years, Cheney and his vice presidents are looking to expand the company’s operations.

“Our goal is to continue hiring and developing young talent,” said Cheney.

“Controlled growth is the key to main the quality – it will be continued, steady quality growth. Ninety to 95 percent of business is repeat business with the DOTs – TXDOT, GDOT, and WashDOT. There’s not many private owners of bridges and other large infrastructures. There’s a lot of counties that we do work with, many being new clients.

“I’m confident about the growth of the company,” he added. “We pride ourselves on doing things the right way and by doing so, good things will happen. Our clients know that if we say ‘we’re going to do something, that we do it.’”  CEG

Massana Construction photo

For the safety upgrade project in Amarillo, crews from Massana Construction use a GOMACO Commander III paver to perform highway work in Amarillo.

Massana Construction photo

Massana Construction photo

Crews installed 4 mi. of cable barrier on I-40; 5 mi. of cable barrier, 4 mi. of new guardrail and 220 ft. of concrete barrier on U.S. 87.

The Texas division has secured an excellent reputation for installing cable barrier, concrete paving and flat work.

Construction Equipment Guide • Texas State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 8, 2020 • Page 21

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