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Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News • May 2016
Lucky Stars
T
here was not just one lone star, but several at Grand Prairie’s Lone Star Park on Apr. 8. It was there that the National Utility Contractors Association’s North Texas chapter held its 2016 Awards Banquet and Scholarship Fundraiser, honoring members and companies who shine in the construction industry. –mjm
Extraordinary Leadership Eric Lesch, PCL Contract Bonding (right)
Top Project Over $5 Million Driver Pipeline, Ed “Whiz” Whizenant Accepting
Ditch Digger Award L-R: Travis Inge, Zach Fusilier and Alex Kocher
Extraordinary Leadership Kelli Meyer, Vermeer (right)
2016 Long Suffering Award MC National Trench Safety’s Patrick Keller
2016 Member: Contractor Dakota Utility Contractors Inc. L-R: Travis Inge and Nathan Vyers
Extraordinary Leadership Ed “Whiz” Whisenant, Driver Pipeline (right)
Top Project Over $5 Million REYES Group L-R: Jeff Heimer and Craig Beckendorf accepting
2016 Estimator and Safety Professional L-R: Southgate’s Bob Becky and John Burns’ Tom Thompson
2016 Company Safety Driver Pipeline Ed “Whiz” Whisenant accepting
2016 Extraordinary Member Participation U.S. Shoring’s Chad Pendley
L-R: National Special Event Award NUCA/OSHA Trench Training L-R: North Texas Contracting’s Zach Fusilier and Team Safety’s Greg Strudwick accepting
2016 Member: Associate, Frost L-R: Alex Kocher, Greg Wilkerson, Travis Inge, Rick Ducharme and Jill McKean
Industry FOLKS Curtis Purvis Roofing Superintendent Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing Dallas, TX
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n Feb. 17, Curtis Purvis sat in the audience at the National Roofing Contractors Association’s 129th Annual Convention awards ceremony, politely listening. As the presenter listed the next award recipient’s achievements, Purvis started having multiple “me too!” moments. Every achievement matched his own – but he wasn’t catching on. “I was happy for whoever that was,” he says, laughing, “only to find out it was me!” Purvis was humbled to be honored with the Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress’ Most Valuable Player award as well as Professional Roofing’s ONE “Best of the Best” MVP. Since that moment, Purvis has been inundated with congratulatory emails, phone calls and handshakes upon returning to work. “I wasn’t expecting it,” Purvis says of the awards, which now have a place of honor on his mantel. “It’s nice to be rewarded for the things you do, even though I don’t look for it. I do it because it’s what I want to do.” Purvis grew up in the construction industry, thanks to his father, a master plumber who enlisted his son’s help on job sites until Purvis was a young adult. After a brief stint in college, Purvis got a job in the warehousing industry, working as a shipping coordinator for nine years. Hoping to break free from a desk job and spend more time outside,
he was inspired to break into roofing in 2008 after meeting a cousin’s spouse who was in the industry. Purvis’ warehouse and shipping experience only put him behind another desk, however, this time as an accountant for a roofing company. It wasn’t long though before he was coordinating for the maintenance department, and when he was hired at Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing four years later, he soon began working in the field as an inspector. A happy circumstance helped him land the superintendent’s job. “We were short on superintendents!” Purvis says. “I went to go oversee a job and I never left!” It’s a role Purvis feels fortunate to be a part of every day. “I enjoy the interactions with the guys, the customers, and seeing something built,” he says. When he isn’t working, Purvis likes fishing, traveling and volunteering when he can find the time, but free time is rare. Purvis and his wife Kiki share a blended family of six children and two years ago welcomed their “last child,” Kaleigh, “who is younger than our four grandkids,” Purvis says with a chuckle before adding, “The kids are our greatest reward.” –mjm
L-R: Anchor Construction and NUCA’s national treasurer Dan Buckley presents Kiewit-Southgate’s Alex Kocher, National Trench Safety’s Fred Burlbaw, NUCA’s Deana Butorac, McLaughlin’s Kevin Wise and Driver Pipeline’s Ed “Whiz” Whisenant with acknowledgement of the charter.
The Lone Star State now has a consolidated voice with which to take utility contractors’ issues to Austin. NUCA Texas was officially chartered at NUCA’s 51st National Convention in March. NUCA Texas starts out almost 100 members strong as it immediately incorporates both existing national at-large members residing in Texas and the NUCA North Texas membership. The state chapter formed in time to build a strong utility contractor coalition to address the Texas 85th legislature.
Submitted to Construction News
Thrilled to build
The young ladies at Girls Inc. built up their construction confidence at a Block Kids event on Apr. 11. Hosted by the National Association of Women in Construction’s (NAWIC) Dallas chapter in partnership with Hilti Inc., the competition introduces elementary school children to aspects of the construction industry and encourages them to consider a future construction career. –mjm