2020 Winter Insights by MAREK

CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA

HOUSTON Marek Brothers Company (MBC) Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. (MBS) Oak Forest Lumber & Supply Company (OFL) Stanley Construction Company

We tackle a number of projects for a number of different industries, but some feel different, knowing you’re a part of something bigger. One of those times is when you’re helping the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in Georgia, the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

SAN ANTONIO Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. (MBS) SAN ANTONIO/RIO GRANDE VALLEY Marek Brothers Systems (MBS)

AMERICAN AIRLINES TRINITY CAMPUS After merging with US Airways, American Airlines knew the current headquarters needed an upgrade to house their growing employee base. What followed was a 300-acre renovation off Trinity Boulevard in Fort Worth to build a single, cohesive location. The American Airlines Trinity Campus includes four seven-story buildings, two two-story connector spaces, and one four-story rotunda town square building. Design was at the forefront of this renovation, with each building adorned with aviation-inspired artwork and design choices. The ceiling of the Town Center in Skyview 8 looks like you’re staring down a jet engine, while the centerpiece may very well be the 160-foot long piece of winding organic artwork called Tulsa Vertere, using 4’ composite blades made from the same composite materials used on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. MAREK Dallas also played a part in the campus’s unique designs. Throughout each building, we installed Hunter Douglas motorized roller shades using Somfy motors and Mermet fabric. But it wasn’t as simple as copying and pasting from one building to another. Each building contains different specialty shade con-

ditions, including sloped & tiled, angled, and 30’ tall cone-shaped sloped shades. The shades are programmed to operate on building timers set by the building management system from Johnson Controls. The project of installing these roller shades began in January of 2018 and was completed December of 2019. Miguel Servin was Supervisor, Donna Hand was Estimator, Alan Alfano, Jr. was PM, and Tommy Weeks was Superintendent. GC was Austin Commerical, while Architect was Kendall Heaton.

Specifically, a new 250,000 sf Support Building, part of a new campus and replacement hospital at North Druid Hills and I-85. When complete, the office building will offer the support staff of the hospital a workplace with open floorplans and a variety of common amenities, including staff dining, a coffee shop, a fitness center, employee health clinic and outdoor work, and meeting and dining spaces. All of this is being done to improve quality of care and access to specialized pediatric healthcare for Georgia’s children and families. This will all be part of a larger project for a planned campus, with this building planned at the north side of the campus.

MAJOR PROJECTS: DALLAS Energy Square is a multi-building community in North Dallas housing business of all sizes and industries. In total, there is over one million sf of rentable space, surrounding park-like green spaces, on-site restaurants, and an outdoor plaza. These modern buildings are all energy efficient, beautifully constructed, and house Fortune 500-caliber tenants. MAREK Dallas recently completed a project in October of last year as part of a renovation of the public areas on the ground level and plaza levels of three office towers in the five-building complex. The project began in June of 2018, and included a 10,000 sf fitness area, conference rooms, lounge areas, and delis, along with renovations to the lobbies and corridors of each building on both levels. Outside work consisted of a pedestrian park and drive-thru access to the building entries. There were high-end ceiling finishes and fabric panels, as well. All told, the project amounted to 39,000 sf of work, including interior and exterior drywalls, furrdowns, and gypsum ceilings. Jose Olvera was Supervisor, Steve Hale was PM, and Tommy Weeks was Superintendent. Whiting-Turner acted as GC, and Architect was Gensler. As commercial buildings and modern architecture continue to evolve, focusing on efficiency, ergonomics, and renewability, MAREK will be there at the forefront, and the work at Energy Square showcases that marriage of form and function.

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Throughout the six floors, we are installing high impact DensArmor Plus drywall, along with Armstrong Dune 1775 tiles, Ultima, Axiom, and SoundScapes blades. The project began December 2019 and will be completed September 2020. Don Cerlanek is the project Estimator, Andrew Sundseth is PM, Kyle McGrady is Superintendent, Ismael Grimaldo is Finishing Supervisor,

Moises Martinez and Don Hicke are both Drywall Supervisors. JE Dunn Construction is the GC on the project, and Architect is Hendrick. “This team blends the local, national, and international expertise necessary to create the facilities our patients need in a highly efficient and effective manner,” said Children’s Vice President of Planning, Design, and Construction Chris Chelette, regarding the combined effort of industry-leading companies and consultants in constructing this project.

Once all work is complete on the Support Building, plans are ready to begin construction on a new hospital, scheduled to be done in 2025. This campus will also provide over 20 acres of greenspace, a Center for Advanced Pediatrics, and other support buildings. The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta system sees over one million patients annually, and we are excited to be a part of that as they continue to meet the needs of Georgia’s children for decades to come.

ASHRAE

MAJOR PROJECTS: ATLANTA The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is currently undertaking a remodeling of an existing building to be their new home office. While there is no doubt the entire building will be properly heated and cooled, MAREK Atlanta has been brought on for the ceilings and drywall. ASHRAE and its more than 56,000 members worldwide focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration, and sustainability, and their new world HQ building will be a model for these tenets, reducing the carbon and environmental impacts of business operations in a cost-effective and replicable way. Advances in plumbing, landscaping, HVAC, lighting, and ergonomic space layout all contribute to ASHRAE anticipating net-zero operation for this building. Both ambitious and attainable, we will be providing 5/8” wallboard throughout the two-floor, 60,000 sf building, as well as 6 Axiom ceilings and Armstrong 2x2, 2x4, and 2x6 panels. Work on this project began January 2020, with ASHRAE anticipating to move into this current building in October 2020. Brian Skinner is the Estimator/PM, and Bill Pallino is the Drywall Superintendent. Skanska is the GC, and Architect is Houser Walker Architects.

WINTER 2020

ATLANTA Work is underway for the Skanska office relocation. MAREK Atlanta is playing a part in the ¾ floor tenant remodel, installing sound partitions, Axiom ceilings, and 2x4, 2x6, and 4x4 ceiling panels. The project began December 2019 and will be completed April 2020. Brian Skinner is Estimator/PM, Martin Martinez is Drywall Supervisor, and Gary Roy is Finishing Supervisor. Skanska is the GC, and Architect is PDR.

AUSTIN A new sports facility is currently underway. I-Sports will be a combination hockey and soccer field, housing two rinks and one pitch. MAREK Austin will contribute with both long and high production work of standard framing and rocking. Eric Lumsden is Supervisor, assisted by Alfredo Parra, Daniel Orduno, and Marisol Morales. This project began December of 2019, and will be completed June of 2020. Harvey Cleary of JMA Architects is GC. SAN ANTONIO The USAA EF01E Building is currently undergoing a 6,400 sf renovation to an existing office area. MAREK San Antonio will install the metal stud framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, corner guards, wood ceilings, soundscape blades, turf warp baffles, ecoustic matrix ceiling tiles, E3 tiles, and felt pendants. The project began November 2019 and will be completed by March 2020. The project is overseen by DW Supervisor Robert Rangel and ACT Supervisor Matt Luna. Onsite GC from PDR is Harvey Cleary. HOUSTON There’s no bigger compliment than having a General Contractor select MAREK to complete the drywall Core and Shell for their own office remodel. And that’s

just what DE Harvey Builders did, hiring MAREK to complete the interior framing and finishing on Levels One and Two. “MAREK’s quality and level of performance has always been the highest standard in the industry, said Kelly Hall, CEO. “I thank the MAREK team for looking at opportunities to improve in our industry; we look forward to many years in our new space.” Glen Blaha is Project Manager, Supervisor is Larry Vance, Jr. GC is DE Harvey Builders, and Onsite Architect is Kirksey. The project began September 2019 and will be completed February 2020.

ATLANTA We would like to recognize Reggie Coleman as our new Workforce Development Head Coach. Reggie will be leveraging his supervisory and organizational skills to help further develop our robust Workforce Development Program in Atlanta. Reggie was brought on with MAREK in July of 2013 and was most recently a Drywall Supervisor. We wish him well in his new position. SAN ANTONIO Sandy R. Garcia remains a breath of fresh air to work with after 13 years in our San Antonio office. She is a dedicated hard worker who handles Account Payables, Human Resources, and is Administration Team Lead for our San Antonio branch. She has always been eager to learn each department’s daily tasks and knows each department well, which makes her a true asset to our company. She goes above and beyond to help out anywhere she’s needed, and is great dealing with all our office, field employees, and vendors. She always does it with a great attitude and a smile on her face. Kudos to you, Sandy, thank you for all you do for us! Page 2

MAJOR PROJECTS: HOUSTON Being a part of a project means a lot more when it involves building something that will have an impact on the future. We’re honored to work with WS Bellows Construction to complete the Drywall, Thermal Insulation, and Sprayed Fireproofing throughout the four stories of the River Oaks Baptist Middle School and Levels One and Two of the Sarofim Learning Center project. The River Oaks Baptist School celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2020. What started as a weekly preschool and kindergarten has grown into a campus that educates approximately 850 children from pre-K to eighth grade. In 2019, it was the only private school in Texas to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. Knowing we’re playing a part in this construction where these young minds will learn is humbling. Construction is currently underway on the 100,000 sf expansion project that includes a new middle school building, underground parking garage, and an administrative building. The four-story middle school features dedicated music rooms, science labs, and an advanced robotics lab. The 150-space underground parking garage is designed to help improve traffic flow and maximize space. The Sarofim Leadership Center will become the main entrance to the school and the administrative wing. MAREK was brought on in January 2020, with Project Managers Randy Wakefield and Sharon Schoolcraft, and Foremen Oscar Miller and Leandro Gonzalez. WS Bellows is the GC, and Architect is Jackson & Ryan Architects. We can’t wait to see the completed construction!

MENSAGE DE

STAN Recientemente, tuve el gran honor de asistir a una ceremonia de compromiso en el sureste de Houston a las instalaciones del Houston Community College. Veinticinco estudiantes de secundaria fueron recibidos por primera vez a un programa en conjunto de HISD/HCC/ MAREK que otorgaría a cada estudiante un certificado universitario, así como su diploma de escuela secundaria al finalizar un programa de pasantías en construcción. Y como exclamó el Canciller de HCC Dr. Cesar Maldonado, “Sin deudas!” Este novedoso enfoque fue introducido a través de los esfuerzos de Trio Electric, quien se asoció con Spring Branch ISD y HCC en un similar proyecto. Lo emocionante para los estudiantes es que su educación y formación en construcción ha comenzado bajo la tutela de un empleado de 30 años de Marek proporcionado por la empresa como socio en el programa. Al completar su año junior, cada estudiante pasará su verano en proyectos comerciales alrededor de la ciudad trabajando para nosotros. Para que esto sucediera, se obtuvo un permiso especial del Departamento de trabajo y OSHA para permitirles trabajar a la edad de 16 y 17 años. Como tal, la seguridad formara gran parte del plan de estudios además de la capacitación que recibirán. Al graduarse del programa, se le ofrecerá a cada estudiante una carrera en uno de los múltiples oficios que realizamos como contratista de interiores comerciales. Sin duda, a mayor escala, un programa de este tipo podría sentar las bases para ayudar a abordar la grave escasez de mano de obra de la construcción, así como proporcionar oportunidades para nuestros hombres y mujeres jóvenes que no asistirán a la universidad. Incluso la selección de los participantes fue un novedoso enfoque. El programa fue anunciado, y muchos padres tomaron la oportunidad de involucrar a sus jóvenes en la exploración de la construcción como una opción de carrera. Se realizaron entrevistas en las instalaciones y en el

proceso de selección participaron los maestros que indicaron a los padres lo importante que sería su apoyo para el éxito. Más de 50 aplicaron y el número se recortó a solo 25 asistentes. Un aspecto importante para el programa es que ayuda al estudiante a través de la transición de dejar a sus familias, graduarse de la escuela secundaria, y entrar en la fuerza laboral. Todo lo que es estresante para el típico adolescente. Creo que un programa de este tipo debería convertirse de alguna manera en un componente importante para nuestra industria a medida que seguimos luchando por atraer a hombres y mujeres jóvenes. Recientemente, un profesor de Harvard declaró en una charla con la Reserva Federal que la competencia por el trabajo va a ser más intensa a medida que la tasa de natalidad de Estados Unidos continúa disminuyendo y se imponen más restricciones a la inmigración. Alistar a los estudiantes en prácticas en su primer año podría dar a los empleadores la ventaja de asegurar las mejores perspectivas. Desde hace ya mucho tiempo la industria de la construcción ha dependido en gran manera del trabajo de los inmigrantes. Nuestra nación tiene demasiados niños que no asisten a la universidad y que encuentran trabajos que no son una carrera. El aprendizaje de un oficio es una opción que proporciona una oportunidad para toda la vida. Una cosa que mejoraría literalmente las probabilidades de decenas de miles de nuestros hijos a encontrar una carrera, es arreglar el desastre de inmigración. Con más de 700.000 indocumentados en nuestra ciudad, muchos empleadores están llenando trabajos con trabajadores que no están pagando impuestos sobre la nómina. Estos empleadores no están proporcionando ningún beneficio o compensación al trabajador o cualquier semblanza de una carrera. Simplemente no es el tipo de sistema sostenible que nuestra industria necesita. Al sacar a los trabajadores de las sombras a un trabajo que requiere una identificación y pagar impuestos sobre la nómina, nivelaría el campo de paga para todos los empleadores que promueven la capacitación, proporcionan beneficios Page 7

y ofrecen a la construcción como una verdadera carrera que tiene una mejor recompensa a sus esfuerzos. Y si los empleadores están obligados a seguir las leyes de empleo, los salarios subirían para todos los trabajadores. Algunos dirían que eso no es bueno como resultado final, pero yo diría que un trabajador ‘entrenado’ a través de programas con iniciativas como el HCC/ HISD, es un trabajador más productivo a largo plazo. Otra ventaja sería que ayudaria a reconstruir una clase media que ha estado decayendo por décadas. En última instancia, crearía empleos para miles de estudiantes de secundaria que pueden no estar vinculados a la universidad pero que simplemente están tratando de seguir una carrera viable para criar una familia. Estoy seguro de que no estoy abogando por deportar a los 11 millones que están en este país sin autorización. Pero abogo por sacarlos de las sombras y ofrecerles un estatus legal que requiere una verificación de antecedentes, identificación con foto y pagar impuestos como el resto de nosotros. Eso por sí solo, aumentaría las oportunidades de empleo para millones de graduados de secundaria. Esta iniciativa de asociar a la educación y a la construcción es algo que ya se ve venir por mucho tiempo. Es perfectamente aceptable que los representantes de la educación y los negocios trabajen juntos para acomodar la realidad de que no todos los niños van a ir a la universidad. Sé que los padres que conocí estaban entusiasmados con la oportunidad de que sus hijos participaran en un programa que les de la capacitación, así como esperanza para un buen futuro. Si usted es un empleador, considere involucrarse con educadores para crear o unirse a programas como este. Es una situación donde nuestros hijos y nuestra comunidad salen ganando en ambas partes. Y por favor, póngase en contacto con sus funcionarios electos y pídales que resuelvan esta crisis de inmigración. Ha durado demasiado tiempo y está creando problemas que seguirán dañando nuestra nación los próximos años. Stan

MESSAGE FROM

STAN

Recently, I had the great honor to attend a commitment ceremony at the Southeast campus of the Houston Community College system. Twenty-five high school juniors were welcomed to a first-time-ever, joint HISD/HCC/MAREK program, which would award each student a college certificate as well as their high school diploma at the completion of an internship program in construction. And, as HCC Chancellor Dr. Cesar Maldonado exclaimed, “With no debt!” This novel approach was pioneered through the efforts of Trio Electric, who partnered with Spring Branch ISD and HCC in a similar undertaking. What’s exciting for the students is that their construction education and training has begun under the tutelage of a 30-year MAREK employee, provided by the company as a partner in the program. Upon completing their junior year, each student will spend their summer on commercial projects around the city working for us. To make this happen, special permission was obtained from the Department of Labor and OSHA to allow them to work as 16 and 17-year-olds. As such, safety will be a huge part of the curriculum in addition to the skills training they will receive. Upon graduating from the program, each student will be offered a career in one of the multiple trades we engage in as a commercial interior contractor. No doubt, on a larger scale, such a program could lay the groundwork to help address construction’s severe labor shortage, as well as provide opportunities for our young men and women who will not attend college. Even the selection of the participants was a novel approach. The program was advertised, and many parents took the opportunity to involve their juniors in exploring construction as a career option. Interviews were held on campus and the selection process involved the teachers who indicated to the parents how important their buy-in would be for success. Over 50 applied, and the number was trimmed to the 25 in attendance. One important aspect for the program is that it helps the student through the transition of leaving their families, graduating from high school, and entering the workforce… all stressful for the typical teenager.

I think such a program should somehow become a major component of our industry as we continue to struggle to attract young men and women. Recently, a professor at Harvard stated in a talk to the Federal Reserve that the competition for labor is going to be more intense as America’s birthrate continues to decline and more restrictions are placed on immigration. Enlisting students in internships their junior year could give employers the edge in securing the best prospects. The construction industry has relied heavily on immigrant labor way too long. Our nation has way too many kids who don’t attend college, finding their way into jobs that aren’t a career. Learning a trade is an option that provides opportunity for a lifetime. One thing that would improve the odds of literally tens of thousands of our kids finding a career is to fix the immigration mess. With over 700,000 undocumented in our city, many employers are filling jobs with workers who are not paying payroll taxes. These employers aren’t providing any benefits or worker’s compensation or any semblance of a career. It’s simply not the kind of sustainable system our industry needs. Bringing workers out of the shadows into a job that requires an ID and to pay payroll taxes would level the playoff field for all employers. And those employers that do promote training, provide benefits, and offer construction as a true career could see a better return for their efforts. If employers are required to follow employment laws, wages would go up for all workers. Some would say that’s not good for the bottom line, but I would argue that a ‘trained’ worker through programs such as the HCC/HISD iniative is a more productive worker in the long run. Another plus is it would go a long way towards helping rebuild a middle class that has been eroding for decades. Ultimately, it would create jobs for thousands of high school students who may not be college bound, but who are simply trying to pursue a viable career with which to raise a family. I’m sure not advocating deporting the 11 million who are here in this country without authorization, but I do advocate bringing them out of the shadows and offering them legal status that requires a background check, photo ID, and paying taxes like the rest of us. That alone would raise employment opportunities for millions of high school grads. This initiative with education and construction in partnership is something that has

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been a long time coming. It’s perfectly OK for representatives from education and business to work together to accommodate the reality that not all kids are going to college. I know the parents I met were excited about the opportunity for their kids to participate in a program that gives them training as well as hope for a good future. If you’re an employer, please consider getting involved with educators to create or join in a program such as this. It’s a win/win for our kids and our community. And please contact your elected officials and ask them to solve this immigration crisis. It’s gone on way too long and it’s creating problems that will hurt our nation for years to come. Stan MAJOR PROJECTS: SAN ANTONIO Many of our men and women who work within MAREK have either served in our nation’s armed forces, or have family who served. We don’t say if often enough, but thank you for your time, service, and dedication. Likewise, many of these same men and women are familiar with USAA and the lengths they go to cover the military community and its families. So we at MAREK San Antonio were happy to give back ourselves, hired on to work several facets of the new Home Office Building (HOB), notably the backbone of the entire complex, a ¾-mile-long corridor called the HOB Spine. Our scope of work includes the demolition, metal framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, and installation of Fry Reglet Graph Glass Panels in the 25-footwide corridor. But we’re accomplishing this task across not just one, but three floors! This building is home to 16,400 employees, and it needs these large corridors to accommodate the large number of employees to get around this enormous 3.9 million sf building. If you were to place this building on its end, it would be over 300 stories tall, larger than the size of three Empire State Buildings. Along with the glass panels, MAREK San Antonio also installed Type X Drywalls and Armstrong Optima 1940 ceiling tiles. Work on this project began November of 2019, and will be completed December 2020. Jorge Rosario is Drywall Supervisor, and David Aguilar is ACT Supervisor. GC on the project is Turner, and Architect is Beaty Palmer. USAA has been a fixture in San Antonio for nearly 100 years. Their contributions to the community and to its over 12 million members are beyond compare, and we’re happy to help in their future going forward.

ATLANTA MAREK is excited to undertake its first project with GC Hensel Phelps in the Mid-Atlantic region. Starting in October 2020, we will be installing six floors of motorized and manual shades for the new federal courthouse in Nashville. Bill Alaniz will be the project’s Estimator, and Bart Domino will be the PM. Fentress Architects will be the Architect. The project will be completed March 2021.

AUSTIN MAREK Austin is hard at work with a project in the Chase Building smack in the middle of downtown. Procore Technology hired MAREK for a 25,000 sf, two-floor project consisting of numerous specialty ceilings, including Armstrong soundscapes, Metalworks mesh, and 360 painted grid. The project began January 6, 2020, and will be completed March 2, 2020. Fernando Martinez is Supervisor, assisted by Luis Gomez, Hector Salinas, and Rodolfo Rivera. Harvey Cleary of IA Interior Architects is GC. DALLAS Work is currently underway on the AMLI Fountain Place, a 45-story residential high rise in downtown Dallas. MAREK is tasked with the 5000 Hunter Douglas manual and motorized roller shades. Supervisor on the project is Manuel Villagran, with Alan Alfano, Jr. as PM and Tommy Weeks as Superintendent. This project began April of 2019, and will be completed July of this year. Archer Western is GC on the project.

HOUSTON MAREK Houston has been contracted to complete the drywall and window coverings for the UTHSC Continuum Care Campus, the first public mental hospital built in Houston in more than three decades. Upon completion, it will be the largest behavioral health center in the nation, and will feature two buildings flooded with natural light and plenty of communal spaces, with a bridge connecting the two buildings. The project began January 2020, with Pedro Cerritos as Supervisor, Glen Blaha and Joel Marek as Project Managers, and Nick Martien as Estimator. Vaughn Construction is GC, and Architect is Perkins & Will. Starting in January 2020, MAREK Atlanta will begin work on the Sarofim Pavilion Level 9 in the new Memorial Hermann tower. This is approximately a 50,000 sf project, covering a 38-patient room build. Our work consists of drywall, GFRG columns, acoustical ceilings, floorings, and fireproofing. This project will be completed October 2020. Terry Holcombe is the Superintendent, and Gloria Palau is the Onsite Drywall Supervisor. Vaughn Construction is GC.

BIRTHS DALLAS

Dallas/Fort Worth has a lot of baby news! Please welcome all these sweet new babies to our MAREK family: Randy Agnew welcomed his new baby granddaughter, Olivia Mae Lynn Abeyta, on 09/13/19; James Moreno welcomed twins (double blessings!) James and Jane Moreno, born on 12/01/19; Manuel Gallardo welcomed Ethan Alan Gallardo on 12/3/19; and Tyler Mathers welcomed a baby girl, Alethea Elise Mathers, on 12/18/19. Congratulations to all these families! HOUSTON Christin Shelden and her husband Bobby welcomed beautiful baby boy Robert into the world on October 5, 2019! Page 3

MAJOR PROJECTS: AUSTIN The Ann Richards School for Young Woman Leaders is an all-girls college preparatory public school of choice for students in grades 6–12. Founded in 2007, the school is named for the former Texas governor and is consistently ranked among the best schools in Texas. Last year, Austin ISD broke ground on the $70 million voter-approved 2017 bond project in South Austin, the first phase of a strategic modernization plan to create a state-ofthe-art campus at the current site that will eventually serve more than 1,000 students. The Ann Richards School strives to ensure every single woman with economically disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue a college education and career, and MAREK Austin is honored to be a part of that, involved in long and high production work for this new replacement middle/ high school. Upon completion, the Ann Richards school will be approximately 181,000 sf, consisting of seven brand new facilities. This project will house a new gymnasium, new admin offices, a new cafeteria, and new classrooms. Helping to undertake this project are Supervisors Terry Lehr and Francisco Hernandez, along with Edwardo Villalobos, Augustin Garcia, Ruben Chacon, Lucas Torres, and Jesus Contreras. Brendan Burke is Estimator/Project Manager. MAREK’s involvement began in November 2019, with the project to be completed in December of 2020. Rogers-O’Brien Construction is GC, and the Architect is from O’Connell Robertson Architects.

WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT ATLANTA by Jody Klodner, WFD Coordinator MAREK Atlanta has established a new WFD Committee for 2020 and we would like to thank the following volunteers who will assist in stewarding our Workforce Development initiatives throughout the year: Mike Feather, Branch Manager; Dave Williams, Production Manager; Ralph Stills, Production Manager; Don Cerlanek, Estimator/PM; Derek Marzak, Estimator/PM; Mindy Griffeth, PM/ WFD Specialist; Dave Salyers, Estimator; Andy Harber, Recruiter; Reggie Coleman, WFD Head Coach; Jody Klodner, WFD Coordinator. We would also like to thank MBS-San Antonio for inviting us to their location recently to shadow their WFD Team members for a couple of days. We got a first-hand look at the initiatives and ideas that have been so successful in building their outstanding WFD program.

DALLAS Five Elements to Success By Pablo Zarate, Workforce Development Coach In order for trainees to feel motivated, they need to have trust in their company and leader. When you show confidence to employees, they renew their strength and feel confident in their position. It is good to know the self-esteem of others. This leads me to communication. The fact you are speaking does not mean you are communicating, and if we do not communicate, all the pieces will fall apart. A person who wants to be a leader must use communication to be able to guide. It is best to have a positive attitude. That will be a key piece to get ahead of your dreams and goals in life. Do not let anything or anyone take away the dreams you have, because your future depends on you: a positive attitude and optimism will lead you to success! Work dedication is not always about having a good job, but knowing how to perform in the best way possible with the job that you have. Sometimes there is no need to talk so they know you are a good worker. Let your work speak for yourself.

And when darkness obscures your understanding, don’t be afraid to ask questions. The light will come to those who ask for it. And of course, ambition. If you have a goal in mind, don’t give up. Try your best to achieve that goal. A good example is fellow employee Silvestre Rodriguez, who, thanks to his efforts and hunger to succeed, has represented us in the first Drywall Internal Contest and is doing an excellent job in this company. Congratulations!

mitment our instructors have to stay after hours and ensure everyone who enrolls understands and is not left behind is admirable. In addition to the program, we supported several schools and initiatives. The NCC in particular comes to mind, as we’re excited to travel to Nashville in March and be a part of the first Commercial Drywall Competition. Our Mark Ramirez will join Houston’s Pedro Briones for a chance to bring home the award. We anticipate both of these MAREK employees will do their best and represent MAREK proudly.

HOUSTON By Whitney Martin On November 13, 2019, we held our first ever qualifying round for the Drywall National Craft Competition between the MAREK offices. The winners of the competition now head to nationals to compete with others contractors. Pedro Briones of Houston and Mark Ramirez of San Antonio will both head to nationals to represent MAREK. Even though this was a competition between us (including Silvestre Rodriguez of Dallas and Mario Rodriguez of Harlingen), our team came together to show that we are One MAREK.

We are proud to announce Stacy Gunderson, a 15-year MAREK veteran, has been promoted to companywide Craft Training Superintendent. Stacy will be joining fellow Craft Training Superintendent Ricardo Menchaca in leading MAREK’s craft training and development programs across the company. She will continue to be based out of MAREK’s San Antonio office.

AUSTIN The Austin Branch is excited to have Ed Cheney as the WFD Coordinator. With Ed’s past 33+ years of experience with MAREK, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that is extremely valuable to the future leaders of our company. SAN ANTONIO By Gabriel Garcia, WFD Field Manager MAREK San Antonio had a full year that we are proud of and would like to share our accomplishments. Throughout the year we had 20 trainees enlisted in the program at various levels. We had several labs that took place in the field. Participants were able to learn applications like cornerbead and shaftwall in a group environment and travel to different jobsites in order to learn the tasks they need to succeed. In addition to the labs, we held six classes; most of these classes were taught by Gabriel Garcia and Gabriel Bostick. The level of com-

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Workforce Development Corporate By Sabra Phillips, Director of Talent Development

Stacy started her career as a laborer, helper, and field coordinator before joining Workforce Development to pioneer and continuously improve MAREK’s craft training programs for our San Antonio and South Texas operations. In addition to the impact she makes within MAREK, Stacy also serves as a Project Manager on the Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) National Craft Competition Committee, and recently spearheaded the creation of a national drywall and commercial framing competition to highlight craft excellence in commercial drywall. Prior to this, Stacy represented MAREK in leading the Texas Construction Career Initiative for five years, serving as President and Chair of their annual Construction Career Day for more than 1,200 high school students. In 2019, she was honored by ABC South Texas as the Subcontractor Volunteer of the Year for her work promoting the industry, attracting talent to careers in construction, and commitment to developing craft professionals. Please join us in congratulating Stacy!

PEOPLE

NEWS ATLANTA We would like to welcome new Accounts Payable Administrator Ally Tymkew to the MAREK Atlanta team. We had a great time at the Company Holiday Party at Bowlero. And congratulations to our three- and five-year Service Award recipients for their hard work, loyalty, and dedication.

Three years: Josh Youngblood, Benjamin Perez, Leonel Jaime, Alejandro Huerta, Mike Spence, Emmanuel Garcia Duran, Jose Mayorga, Alex Mayorga, and

Connor Nolan. Five years: Tom Harris, Andy Harber, Derek Marzak, and Raul Villegas. AUSTIN Join us in congratulating Priscilla Garcia, recently promoted to Project Assistant for the Austin Branch!

CONDOLENCES AUSTIN Our deepest and most sincere condolences go out to Jacobo Sanchez and his family as they mourn the recent passing of his mother.

Congratulations are in order for Joe Masias, who received his 25 Year Service Award. Joining him with a 15 Year Service Award is Felipe Garcia. Thank you for your continued loyalty and dedication.

We are so proud of Supervisor Jaime Ramos, HR Director Bobby Skyles, and Safety Advisor Grace Johnson, who participated in the interactive discussion relating to respect, overcoming challenges, and finding workplace champions for AGC Houston!

DALLAS Please welcome Joni Bullard to the MAREK Dallas/Fort Worth SPD Team. Joni started with us on January 6, 2019 as an Estimator/Project Manager. We’re happy to have you, Joni!

SAN ANTONIO Cherie Foerster joined the San Antonio team as a Safety Manager in October. She has extensive training and experience in commercial construction safety and will be an asset to the company. She is currently our onsite safety manager at the GCGV project in Portland, TX. There, she has developed a great relationship with the Harvey safety team and has been working to ensure our crews are working safely and in compliance with job specific requirements. We look forward to the future of having her on the MAREK San Antonio team.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Dallas/Fort Worth Branch!

HOUSTON After interning with MAREK for a year and a half, Noel Berruete has joined our Special Projects Department as a Project Manager/ Estimator. Luis Larios joins the Acoustical Department after interning with MAREK for a year. Our Project Assistants have also gained the smiling face of Erin Davis. Great job, everyone! January 8, 2020, we got to see our first group of the year achieve a new milestone in their careers. Michael Saccone, Marco Salinas, Jorge Diaz Navarro, Fabiola Stanford, Luis Cruz, Victor Ventura, and Thomas Cantu all received their Foremen certification and their silver hard hats! Congratulations!

MAREK is proud to announce the recipients of the 2019 Service Awards for our employees with three years of service and above. Congratulations to those listed for your loyalty and dedication to MAREK! 3 years: Ramiro Munoz and Saul Nicolas Salazar, Jr.; 5 years: Richard “Rick” Lopez, Jr.; 10 years: Jesse Carrillo, Jr., Juan Gabriel Garcia, Ted Rodriguez, and Richard Sandoval Sosa, Jr.; 20 years: Hector Carrasco, Juan “Carlos” Juarez, Braulio Vasquez Martinez, Valentin Rangel, Robert Schock, and Roberto Vasquez; 25 years: Juan Carlos Chapa and Jose Silva.

Randy Hageman was hired as the Tool Room & Warehouse Manager on Feb. 29, 1988, and has worn many hats over his great career at MAREK. He was soon promoted as the Field Personnel Manager, responsible for hiring all our craft workers prior to the existence of Memco. Soon after this, our Production Manager Jay Richard asked Randy to become engaged with our safety process and planning as the Personnel & Safety Manager. Randy was always a source of advice and connection between the leadership and our field employees. We wish him lots of fun with his family in retirement and plenty of time to travel and play golf.

MAREK San Antonio had a great turnout at our 2019 Christmas party at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Santa, our very own Division President David Cupit, talked to and treated each and every child of our employees that attended with their own personal gift from Santa. There was cookie decorating, ornament making, carnival games, field games, and a fun photo booth for everyone to enjoy. After the meal and Service Awards, everyone was treated to admission to the park for the remainder of the day. Hats off to Stacy Gunderson for putting this huge event together and all the office staff who helped pull it off. A great day was had by all!

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