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Austin Construction News • Oct 2016

Page 3

ABC introduces new president

Industry FOLKS

Kenneth Wayne Brade Fleet and Safety Manager Lone Star Materials

enneth “Kenny” Brade has worked at Lone Star Materials in Austin for almost 29 years. Brade, who grew up in Austin, says he got his start in the business by helping a neighbor who delivered drywall. In 1987, he applied for a job at Lone Star and was hired as a delivery driver. As he has worked there, he has moved up in the ranks and now he’s an integral part of just about everything that happens there. “I do all the training for the delivery drivers and the boom operators,” he says. “I take care of all the trucks, making sure they are all running properly and have all their safety inspections, as well as routine maintenance.” As safety manager, Brade is responsible for making sure the employees have all the proper training and are adhering to company – as well as state and federal – regulations. “I make sure they have all their fall protection, hard hats, safety glasses at all times,” he explained. “We have a weekly safety meeting and throughout the month, I go out and do job checks and field ID’s. I also inspect the jobs after they are done. I can show up anytime, anywhere and I do.” Owned by Gypsum Management & Supply Inc., (GMS) a national company, Lone Star Materials, is one of many across the U.S. According to Brade, GMS is a great company to work for and as safety manager, it’s up to him to maintain the company’s high standards.

Recently, Lone Star Materials was tested in a mock audit – based on what a real audit by OSHA or the Department of Transportation will do. Brade was proud to say that Lone Star made a 100. “These audits get us prepared and make sure we have everything we need to pass the state and federal exams,” he says. “The GMS regional safety manager, Taylor Sullivan and I work together to make sure we are upholding all of the company, state, and federal regulations.” When not working, Brade loves to restore old muscle cars – doing all the bodywork, painting and motor rebuilding himself. “My wife is real understanding about it and she likes classic cars as well, so it works out great,” he says. He’s currently working on a 1969 Camaro that he plans to keep. “I decided it was time to do one for myself.” Under the new management of Dustin Noles, Lone Star continues to thrive. Brade has nothing but praise for the company. “Working for Lone Star Materials has been great,” he says. “There’s room to grow and I would definitely suggest that anybody looking for a career of this type to try and find a company that is established and treats their employees as well as Lone Star does.” –cw

racey Evers has been named the new president of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Central Texas Chapter. Evers brings a wealth of association management experience to her new position. After growing up in Breckinridge, CO., Evers left the ski slopes behind to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she majored in business with a focus in marketing and minored in music. In the early 2000’s, Evers began her career in association management and spent 10 years with the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, where she was executive director. She left that position to run the Independent Insurance Agents of Dallas, before moving back into leading the membership relations arm of Texas Restaurant Association (TRA), based in Austin. There, she and her team of 10 employees, based all over the state, found major success in growing the membership base. Evers says she was ready to get back into a broader scope of association management. “I was ready to get back to this kind of work,” she says. “I missed advocacy and interaction with a board. I really love communications and media relations. This is a great opportunity.” As president of ABC, Evers is starting out by visiting with members and getting a feel for where the association has been, where it is currently and where it will go in the future. Doing that includes a strong emphasis on partnerships with a variety of organizations, including OSHA, to offer and continue to grow training and safety programs. The upcoming Texas Legislative session will also provide opportunities for the association to enhance its communication, education and community outreach, Evers says.

Tracey Evers

Growing up with a dad who owned an electrical contracting business in Colorado, Evers has first-hand experience with the construction industry. In her personal life, Evers makes use of her musical bent by singing in the choir at Riverbend Church. “It’s one of the greatest pleasures of my life,” she says. “Austin is full of musicians and many of them bring their talent there.” Her son, August, 24, is in restaurant management, working for Torchy’s Tacos, based in Austin, where he is on the opening team of their new locations in Denver. Evers is now focused on bringing her talent to her new position. “I want to get the message out about what ABC is all about and what we stand for,” she says. “I want to be sure we continue to enhance our member value proposition by facilitating relevant education programs, excellent events, effective advocacy and continue to be the organization that supports and represents the commercial construction industry in the Central Texas area.” –cw

Construction News ON LOCATION

GC at work

Clarification The story on the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Annual Meeting and Education Conference in the September issues of Construction News stated that Dede Hughes will be retiring from her position as NAWIC’s national executive vice president on Dec. 31. The statement should have specified that this will be happening on Dec. 31, 2017. –mh

Austin

You don’t generally see a general contractor driving a Bobcat on the jobsite, but general contractor Alan Utz, Alan Utz & Associates Inc., Tyler, is working overtime on his company’s project MedPost Urgent Care in San Marcos. –cw

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