San Antonio Construction News • JAN 2024
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Virtual Builders Exchange Celebrates Michael Tollette
onday, November 20, 2023, marked a special occasion for Michael T. Tollette, Chief Executive Officer of Virtual Builders Exchange, LLC (Formerly the Builders Exchange of Texas) and staff and family gathered to celebrate his 30th anniversary with the company. Although Michael jokingly refers to himself as the head of sanitation and waste management, he has earned a reputation as a visionary and a leader over the last three decades, both in the U.S. and Canada. Builders Exchange began in 1900 as a means for contractors to “exchange” bidding information when project supplies were carted to jobs by mules and project information was displayed on chalkboards. As we all know, innovation in technology and the subsequent introduction of the Internet changed all our lives, and quickly. Michael was called upon to adapt to all the new changes and give his team the confidence to adopt the new technology that would bring Builders Exchange into the future. Michael remembers when he received his first plans on a CD ROM from the Army Corps of Engineers and realized that the cost to print those plans would be over $600 dollars. To have so much information available in an instant, in the palm of your hand, was groundbreaking. It took up less space and would save money. As he recalled, he once had a young estimator in his plan room who said, “I’m not going to do anything with these computers. I don’t like it.” Michael told the man, “Well then, you’re going to learn six words. May I take your order, please? Because if you don’t move with the technology, you don’t have a future in the industry.” When Michael began his career with Builders Exchange in the fall 1992, it was as an intern completing requirements for his degree. After graduation, he was offered full time employment with the Exchange as Associate Director, advancing into the Executive Director role within five years. In the summer of 1997, Michael launched the nation’s first online plan room service, introducing the internet-based technology to the construction industry five years ahead of national competitors. In 1998, Michael’s accomplishments were recognized by his peers when he was presented with the Management Award at a meeting of the International Builders Exchange Executives (IBEE). The Award is given for exemplary skill, vision and leadership in association and plan room management. By 2001, Michael earned his second IBEE Management Award for his efforts on behalf of its members and was
elected as president of the international organization in 2002.At the conclusion of Michael’s presidency, his contribution to the success of Builders Exchange was recognized through the organization’s most prestigious honor - the Dan Patrick Award, given for outstanding service. Michael was again honored by IBEE in 2005, this time with the No Boundaries award, that he himself inaugurated during his presidency three years earlier. The Award recognizes an executive that “consistently demonstrates boldness, creativity, vision and a willingness to challenge accepted limitations in managing the individual’s own organization.” In 2008, a series of events culminated in an unprecedented decision by the Builders Exchange of Texas Board of Directors to separate non-profit services from profit-driven services by privatizing the plan room operation. In April of that year Michael attained legal ownership of the online plan room business he created, and relaunched operations under the name Virtual Builders Exchange, LLC (VBX) is now recognized as the premier construction service in Texas. Together with Brenda Romano, the Chief Operations Officer and Co-Owner of VBX, they employ a staff of 31 who provide construction opportunities in the most accessible and efficient way. In reaching this incredible milestone, Michael’s friends, family, and staff wanted to surprise him with a luncheon in honor of 30 years of service to the Builders Exchange. While sitting in his office doing some paperwork with Brenda, there was a knock on the door. It was one of his staff members, telling him they needed him in the boardroom. His immediate feeling was dread, thinking, something is happening in the boardroom, that I don’t know about? That’s not a good thing. So that made the surprise even sweeter when he realized his family and friends were there to surprise him with a luncheon to celebrate his 30 years. Michael’s family was on hand, including his wife Allyson, son Mitch, daughter Allie and daughterin-law Lexi Dietrich-Tollette. Retired Executive Director Sandra Whitehead was also in attendance, under whom Michael first served. In addition to serving his favorite foods, and a giant cookie cake, He was presented with a retrospective book containing highlights of his career, along with gifts from friends and the Exchange’s traditional crystal anniversary award. Michael was touched by the surprise, and it was the perfect way to celebrate his 30 years of bringing VBX into the future. -ndw
Alpha Building Corporation Presents Omega GC
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n the late 1980’s, Neil Armstrong proclaimed: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” as he stepped on the moon for the first time. The same year, Gordon Kovich founded Alpha Building Corporation (Alpha) and began a 17-year partnership with NASA’s Johnson Space Center to support the construction needs of the space programs. From the Apollo through the Space Shuttle, for almost 20 years, Alpha worked in multiple buildings of the 1620-acre complex, including constructing ground-up Building #2, an astronaut training facility now NASA’s Space Museum. In the 1980s, Alpha was awarded several long-term contracts with United States military bases in San Antonio and moved corporate offices from Houston to San Antonio. For the next forty years, Kathleen Acock, Gordon’s daughter, successfully led the business, focusing on public facility construction for universities, public education, municipalities, and government entities until her retirement in 2022. Today, Jonathan Rogero, grandson of Gordon Kovich and son of Kathleen Acock, is the President/Chief Operations Officer, the third generation to lead Alpha Building Corporation. Jonathan became familiar with his family’s business and the construction industry as a child. In 1993, he became an Alpha employee as a general laborer. By starting from the bottom up,
Jonathan learned all aspects of the business. He worked in numerous field positions, from Carpenter, Foreman, Superintendent, and Estimator to Project Manager. While earning an Associate of Applied Science in Construction Project Management at St. Phillips College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Wayland Baptist University. He transitioned into corporate administrative and management positions, working in every company department. Rising through the company ranks gave him the wisdom and insight to lead his family’s company with the expertise and integrity it is known for. Alpha has prospered for 55 years, has completed over $1 billion in public facilities construction work, and will continue to thrive in the public sector, specializing in job order contracting. To honor Jonathan’s family legacy, he reconnected with the space industry through Alpha, where we’ve undertaken numerous successful projects and aim to continue this streak. Recognizing the remarkable growth in Texas, Jonathan envisioned diversification by venturing into the private sector while leveraging Alpha’s established success and reputation. This led to the formation of Omega GC, Alpha’s sister company. The distinction between the two lies in their market focuses – Alpha caters to the public sector, while Omega targets the private sector. Each company is dedicated to its market sector and provides tailored strategies to help clients achieve their goals. Omega specializes in construction management services for private sector clients, including commercial retail, hospitality, healthcare, and mixed-use developments. In a short time, Omega has surpassed expectations, with new commercial jobs awarded along the I-35 corridor to the Rio Grande Valley. Although Omega is in its infancy operations-wise, its personnel, experience, process, and protocols have been intact for several years. -ndw
210-545-6767 Security License #B15629 www.saqualityfence.com
New Year, New Fence!
Sandra Whitehead and Michael Tolette
Congrats Michael Tolette on 30 years of service!
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