CDI
Commercial Drywall, Inc.
Craftsman
Volume 2, No. 7
M ay 1981
For top contractors, architects, owners
CD(]=San AIM®gho® ©©oudlyeiis ©psim toys© Approximately 50 of San Antonio's leading architects, general contractors, and building owner representatives attended a CDI open house held April 28. The open house, which included drinks, food, system mock-ups, literature, and a slide presentation, was held at the CDI offices and was designed to better acquaint the guests with the company’s capabilities in the interior construction market. According to San Antonio manager Roy Van Cleave, the event was highly successful with an excellent response in both numbers and quality of guests. “We are very pleased with the attendance. We think we were able to get our information to those whom we feel to be the leaders in San Antonio construction,” says Roy. Those attending included representatives from the architectural firms of Marmon and Mok; Ford, Powell, Carson; Ed Nicholson Associates; Morkovsky
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S.A. manager Roy Van Cleave, (right) chats with two of the visitors who attended the recent open house.
Guests at the recent open house found their way along the food table ornated with a variety of hors d'ouevres, chips and dips
and Assoc.; Gustave Heye, A.I.A.; O’Neill and Perez; Ralph C. Bender and Assoc.; Richard Armstrong, A.I.A.; and Rehler, Vaughn, Beatty, and Koone. Also represented were Lyda, Inc. and Bartlett-Cocke construction companies, two of San Antonio’s major general contractors. In addition, guests included Data Point, the University of Texas Health Science Center, and Southwestern Bell — all building owner companies active in interior construction and remodeling. The two-hour open house featured self-tours through an elaborate mockup system of various CDI movable and demountable product lines, plus the CDI Texas Frame door frame and extrusion system. Also on display
was CDI’s ceiling capabilities which include Armstrong lay-in acoustical tiles. Midway into the late afternoon event, CDI president Dick Phillips welcomed those in attendance and introduced the CDI hosts who included Larry Hanvey, vice president and general manager from Austin, Mike Grogan, vice president and general manager in Dallas, and San Antonio's manager Roy Van Cleave. Following the introductions, guests viewed a 12-minute audio visual presentation outlining CDI’s history, past accomplishments, business philosophy, capabilities, product lines, and our involvement in the San Antonio market. A second showing of the presentation was (See CDI, p. 5)
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From the top
Tlha (field! — ®ytr besft satesmeoi
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By Dick Phillips The top CD I sales award goes to — the entire field operation of CDI — and it always has. Ask any CDI estimator how he sells to the same customers year end and year out and he’ll say — "it’s because of the excellent performance of our operations group.” This means that from Bruce Marek right on through our warehousing and material handling
on to our most senior supervisor and our newest apprentice, we beat our competition. That's not just a proud president talking, that’s our customers. Let me give you an example. A major general contractor from out of town called me and requested a meeting on a big job that he was going to bid in Houston. Not only was this to be one of Houston’s
biggest office buildings, but it had to be built on a schedule of two floors a week. We have never contracted for a job on which we had to move that fast. I met with the general contractor and his staff and the opening remarks to me from the company’s vice president was, "anyone would be a fool to try to build this job without CDI." Some slick selling on my part, right? Wrong. I’ll tell you what sold the job before the plans were even unrolled. 1. Larry Hanvey and the entire CDI team in Austin are just now completing a major project for this same contractor, and he was pleased and impressed with our performance. 2. Mike Grogan and our CDI Systems estimating staff in Dallas have just completed the negotiations on a major office building there, and he was impressed again with our high level of professionalism. 3. And, it is our overall reputation £ and ability to get a job done at w competitive prices and on schedule. Sure, those of us who are called salesmen and estimators play a big role in our successful marketing programs, especially at getting the first job with a new customer and helping maintain the ongoing relationship. You’ve heard me say it before and you’ll hear it again — getting that first job with a customer is sometimes tough, but after our field "sales” force has made its contributions, the second sale becomes easier and easier.
CDI
Craftsman Editor: Larry Williams
Teamwork Members of the Greenway Plaza remodeling crew are shown under one of the recessed light soffits which marked a highly complex lease in the Summit Tower Pictured are (l-r) finisher Dean Batson, carpenter foreman Frank Lawrence finishing foreman Tommy Craddock, and finisher Humberto Vargas. This group combined for a team effort on the Langham Petroleum lease, a job which included several difficult light soffits running the length of the hallways and found in individual offices throughout the lease. Congratulations on a fine job! -2-
The CDI Craftsman is published monthly by Commercial Drywall, Inc. for its employees and their families. Employees should send their news contributions to Larry Williams, Commercial'Drywall, Inc., P. O. Box 10686, Houston, Texas 77018.
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Bas1ny Quthrie earns buckle as Aosta craftsman V
Another CDI-Austin craftsman has been awarded a belt buckle for the efforts he has made for the company. Danny Guthrie, a carpenter foreman on the Motorola project, recently received the award for his excellent work since joining GDI over a year ago. Danny has worked on a number of major projects in Austin and has been a consistent performer. According to Danny Kaiser, construction superintendent in Austin, Danny has been an exceptional worker. "With his attitude and ability, he has always done whatever has been asked of him. And, he has done it with exceptional quality and production,” says Danny. The Motorola project on which Danny is now working is the center of much of the activity in Austin. (Right) A tunnel in the Motorola Some 23 craftsmen are manning the facility shows the unusual job which is now approximately 80 amount of framing required. The percent complete. Since it began last walkway is one of two tunnels fall under foreman Johnny Kovar, that make up a partionofthe .. . , i , , . . .’ Austin protect. (Above) With the the project has included the interior entjre Motorola crew fn the construction Of walls and ceilings with elaborate framing Of tunnel
walkways. In addition, CDI handled the installation of metal siding on the building. Currently on the Motorola project are a number of key Austin personnel, many of whose names
Traffie trivia Next time you’re stuck in a Houston traffic jam, consider these gems of traffic trivia. They won’t get you off the freeway any faster, but they might keep your mind occupied. o The "Loop” wasn't designed to carry traffic efficiently. It was designed to be a perimeter defense in case Houston was invaded by the enemy during World War II (No wonder it still looks like a combat zone!). o Traffic congestion is expectod to double by 1995, especially in the North Freeway and Eastex Freeway corridors. Four-Hundred percent more people will want to drive that route every day by 1995. ® It cost more money to build 10 miles of freeway in Houston in 1980 than it took to put astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
background, craftsman Danny Guthrie receives a belt buckle from field superintendent Danny Kaiser. Immediately to the left of Guthrie is Johnny Kovar, foreman of the Motorola project.
are being recognized as playing a part in many of Austin's projects. These include Gary Bonnet, Carl Carter, James Crowell, Paul Franks, Danny Guthrie, Garry Guthrie, Greg Hammack, George Henderson, Russell Holland, Eugene Iselt, James Joyner, Edward King, Richard King, Johnny Kovar, Keith Leslie, Mike Little, Ulysses Loving, James McAnally, Norma Jean Ortega, Ismael Salinas, Tommy Taylor, Alphonso Thompson, Jr., and Tim Wynkoop. Elsewhere in Austin, the Montgomery Wards department store is fast nearing completion under foreman Gene Doughtery, while IMB buildings 060 and 062 continue their steady progress. 060 is led by Bob Fritz and Terry LaRoche, while David Kovar is heading the 062 activity. Larry Hanvey, Austin vice president and general manager, reports that his office has received the contract for work on two single -3-
story buildings in the Brockton Office Park. These projects will utilize pre finished vinyl wall panels and is expected to begin late this summer. In addition, CDI-Austin’s painting operation got a boost with the contract on the Hyde Park Baptist Church. This job will be a substantial undertaking for CDI's painting group and is expected to start sometime in the last quarter of the year. Meanwhile, leasework has just started in the 16-story United Bank tower in downtown Austin. Heading CDI activity there is carpenter foreman Jerry Wilhelm.
Donna Dea vers EMPLOYEE NEWS
Key person Donna has been instrumental in the success of the new Dallas office operations.
HCtsy person teads active life CDI’s key person this month serves in our Dallas operations as office manager. Donna Deavers, who has been with the company since last August, has displayed herself as a knowledgeable, capable, and concerned employee. Donna is not only new to CDI but fairly new to Texas, having come here three years ago from Iowa. There, she was employed with the Trane Company as its office manager in Des Moines. Immediately prior to joining CDI, she was employed with a CPA firm in Dallas. At CDI, she has found a challenging and rewarding job. As office manager, Donna’s duties cut across a variety of jobs including responsibility for much of the office’s accounting, payroll, clerical, and secretarial duties.
F©rsm©o% apprsofess irs©©iwa awards Four foremen and two apprentices were awarded CDI belt buckles at the April supervisors’ breakfast. Those recognized were Eddie Carsten, Joe Garcia, Ron Love, Abel Nunez, Kenny O’Brien, and Ramon Recio. During a transition period at the Greenway Condominiums, foreman Abel Nunez coordinated the job site activities and for a large amount of the time made many of the major job decisions. Leading by example and maintaining his composure in stressful situations, Abel did a great job in keeping up the smooth, quality production on the project. Meanwhile, Ron Love and Kenny O’Brien, both finishing foremen, were also given buckles. Ron, who is currently over the core at Texas Commerce Tower, was cited by finishing supervisor Mike Hannah as being an exceptional worker with an excellent attitude and overall ability. The other finishing foreman is Kenny O'Brien of Shell Woodcreek. Operating with a minimum of manpower, Kenny has been able to keep the finishing operation at the tough Shell job going well. Supervisor Ben Boatright says Kenny needs very little supervision and is
impressed by the way Ken handles the extensive paper work and production planning on his project. In our paint department, special notice was given to Eddie Carsten for the outstanding job he did supervising the vinyl hanging on the N.L. Industries Complex on North Belt. A personal thanks was sent in by the president of Business Furnishings complimenting what he stated to be the most professional job of paint and vinyl work he’s seen in 21 years. Also recognized from our paint department was third-year apprentice Joe Garcia from Shell Woodcreek. Having shown the ability to perform any duty needed of a painter, Joe does what is asked without hesitation while maintaining a high degree of craftsmanship. The other apprentice chosen for a belt buckle is Ramon Recio of Greenway Plaza. Whether building panels or even running work, Ramon always gives 100 percent and the job is always done well. Fast earning a reputation for a great attitude and overall ability, Ramon's case is exceptional in light of the fact that he’s only a third-period apprentice, but one who obviously can look to a bright future with CDI. -4-
Donna approaches these jobs with a robust of energy and aggressiveness. Her supervisor, Mike Grogan, who is vice president and general manager of the office, says that Donna fills a very important function for CDI systems. "She does a super job on everything. She's hard working, and she virtually keeps this office together at times," says Mike. "Opening the new office was quite a chore. But, Donna came in and has done a great job getting things in order, keeping information flowing, and taking care of dozens of items," claims Mike. Donna takes life and her work with about the same degree of vitality. As a mother of five children, ages 16 to 26, her home life has always been a busy one. With the newness of the CDI Systems branch, life at the office has been a busy one too. But, not so busy that Donna doesn’t have time to pursue her education, because she attends a Dallas junior college on weekday evenings studying for a 0) BA in business. She plans to transfer to North Texas State University in the future to complete her studies. Although family, work, and school fill much of her time, Donna enjoys bowling or listening to music when she can fit them in her busy schedule. The Craftsman extends its thanks to Donna for the excellent job she does for the company in our Dallas office. Her 10 months have been fruitful and we wish her continued success in her job. The body of every organization is structured from four kinds of bones . . . ° There are the wishbones, who spend all their time wishing someone would do the work; 0 Then there are the jawbones, who do all the talking, but little else . • ■ ° The knucklebones, who knock everything anybody else tries to do . . . * ★ ★ fortunately, in every organization, there are also the backbones, who get under the load and do most of the work!
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Outstanding supervisor
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Btradi Friars©^ earns award for airport work
CDI-Houston has named Brad Frierson as its outstanding supervisor for the month of April. Brad, who has been with the company for the past seven years, is currently heading work on Terminal C at Intercontinental Airport. On the job, Brad has done an excellent job coordinating activity among his craftsmen, the city of Houston, and the general contractors. Such coordination has been made even more difficult because CDI is working under two general contractors — Linbeck and McKee construction companies. In addition, the project has demanded great flexibility in scheduling manpower. Since work began there over two years ago, manpower requirements have fluctuated tremendously — from working a crew of nearly a dozen to completely pulling off the job for a period of time. Currently, Brad is maintaining a crew of eight and getting an ^extremely good production rate, "putting CDI on schedule to meet the June 15 completion date. According to his superintendent, Jim LaCaze, one of Brad's biggest contributions to the airport job has been his preplanning. This preplanning has enabled him to foresee the personnel requirements
and more importantly, helped give the City of Houston the necessary lead time to get approvals on different aspects of the job. Jim also says that Brad has done a tremendous job in keeping a daily documentation of work activity so that he is constantly aware of progress, especially in areas where he needs general contractor or city input to complete a detail. Brad first served CDI as a carpenter foreman under Fred Lay. With Fred, he worked on a number of projects including Houston Centers One and Two and the First International project. Since then, Brad has headed a variety of projects, including N.L. Petroleum just prior to the airport. Throughout his career with CDI, he has always
been regarded as a top supervisor with the ability to be in control of his job at all times. Brad enjoys working at the airport with the primary reason being that it puts him closer to his home on Lake Livingston. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, he enjoys the peaceful seclusion of the lake so much that he is willing to make the long trip to work. His Coldspring residence is only 52 miles from the airport, whereas other projects closer in could put him as much as 80 miles from home. The Craftsman is pleased to recognize Brad for the fine job he performs for the company. And, we wish him continued success as one of our top supervisors.
COD [holds ©p@m hoys© (From p. 1) made later in the afternoon for those who missed the earlier one. The San Antonio Express and News sent a photographer from its Style section to cover the affair. The photographs, featuring both guests and CDI representatives, appeared in a Sunday addition of the paper approximately two weeks following the event.
(Editor’s note: A special thanks from the Craftsman and CDI goes to all of those who helped make the open house a success with their attendance. Also, thanks goes to all of the San Antonio office staff including its warehousemen Richard Lopez and Pablo Leza who did an exceptional job with the physical arrangements of the warehouse and office.
Buckle awarded CDI San Antonio has awarded its first belt buckle to Gary Schultze, a sixth period apprentice who has been with the company during all three years of his apprenticeship training. According to Grady Atnip, CDI’s construction superintendent, Gary has been involved in every major project in San Antonio. Besides his drywall abilities, Gary has an excellent attitude and is capable of doing ceilings, framing, layout, welding and movable sytems.
Brad Frierson, with Terminal C of the airP<Brad has headed°the airport job April's award for outstanding supervisor. since it began some two years ago.
It takes less time to do a thing right than it does to explain why you did it wrong. , —Henry Wodsworth Longfellow
Fishin9 F©@Hs COMPANY
Angters live up to mam® in tournament HIE By Charlie Duncan CDI Finishing Foreman
CDI having lots of bydget beaters CDI’s budget beater contests have resulted in two more steak dinners in recent weeks, in addition to several barbeque lunches. Earning an evening banquet were the work groups under Jim LaCaze, Jesse Hajdik, and Ted Hajdik. Members of these crews and their spouses and dates were treated to a steak dinner in reward for their fine efforts. On the job sites, catered barbeque lunches went to a variety of projects including the Texas Commerce Tower, St. Luke’s Hospital, Four-Leaf Condominiums, First City Bank, and Tipco. The budget beater lunches are won through a drawing of all the jobs which come in under budget during a two-week period. In recent weeks, several jobs in both the large job category and the small job division have been competing for the award.
As the smoke cleared and the long day drew to a close, CDI's battle weary fishermen gathered to weigh in their catch of the day. The event was the second annual Fishin’ Fools Bass Tournament held at Galloway’s Marina on Lake Livingston, April 11. Forty-two teams of CDI’s best anglers drew their rods and reels and declared war on the Livingston’s black bass. After a valiant attempt, it was generally agreed that the bass won. Persistent winds and rising water conditions slowed action as it had all week long. Of the 42 boats entered, only 12 weighed in fish. No team who weighed in fish left disappointed though. Tired bodies and sore casting arms were all but forgotten when tournament coordinator Larry Williams presented a tremendous collection of trophies, cash, and merchandise prizes secured through donations from the company, many of its suppliers, and from entry fees. Top winner Jim LaCaze fishing with brother Tommy took home a new rod, reel, two trophies, and $400 cash for his efforts. Jim’s team won first place in total weight and also the "Big Bass” award with the four
and a half pounder. Daryl Hammons, fishing with brother Ralph, captured second place. Daryl and Ralph each received a new rod, reel, and $100 in cash. Third place went to Glen Brabham and Steve Boren who each took home $100 worth of fishing tackle and $50 cash. Charles Duncan and partner Leon Krosleski captured fourth, each receiving a new reel plus $50 in cash. Although there was a scarcity of solid catches, the tournament was a bid success, and in the true CDI tradition, promises to be even bigger and better next year. Special thanks from CDI and all of its "Fishin' Fools” goes to the following suppliers for their donations of cash and merchandise: ° Church & Clark ° Republic Gypsum ° Georgia-Pacific 0 Joe Woods Sales ° Langwood Lumber ° Texas Tool & Fasterners ° General Power Tools ° Manufacturers Sales/Ohio Sealants
Softball teams continue action ifeuimnno.
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Pictured above are the winning anglers in CDI's recent Fishin' Fools tournament. First place honors went to the team of Jim and Tommy LaCaze (front right and left). Daryl Hammons and his brother Ralph, who took second place, and Steve Boren and Glen Brabham, who captured third place, are shown standing from left to right. -6-
CDI’s softball teams have reached the midpoint in city league competition. Thus far, the north team has compiled a 2-3 record. After getting off to a fast start of 2-0, they since have dropped their last three games. Despite this, they are currently in third place in their division. Meanwhile, the south team has done excellently dropping only one of their five games. With a 4-1 record, they entered the sixth week of the season in a tie for first place. According to coaches, Jim Rutledge of the north team and Mike O’Brien and Matthew Fields of the south team, there have been some exciting games including several come-from-behind wins and one-run games.
Pmjjeat of the momilh
Fom^Legf boasts talented cn’BftsmtBini The Four-Leaf Condominiu-ms are being recognized as CDI's project of the month for May. The twin 40-story towers represent the company’s largest project to date and, despite its magnitude, is a combination of high quality and excellent production. The Four-Leaf which started construction last year has an expected completion date of February 1982, thus putting CDI right in the heart of the project. And, the crew size shows it with nearly 150 carpenters, laborers, finishers, and painters doing work on the $200,000 and up units which include walls, ceilings, paint, and wallcoverings, and setting and finishing doors. When completed, CDI will have certainly left its influence on the finished product. With two buildings of this size rising simultaneously, one would expect an enormous burden in the areas of cooperation and coordination. But, to the contrary, these two items have been CDI’s strongest allies on the job and have been primarily responsible for the project’s success thus far. Also helping out has been the prior experience of CDI’s lead men in condominium work. Supervisor Glen Brabham with finishing supervisor Mike O’Brien, labor foreman Ken Williams, and project administrator Lee Jones have all led construction on previous condominum projects. This leadership, plus the placing of other experienced craftsmen in key roles, has helped the project assemble one of the company’s finest team of carpenters, finishers, laborers, and painters. According to Glen, the Four-Leaf carpenters including layout, framing and hanging crews have blossomed into some of the finest craftsmen he has seen. "I have never been on any other job where the men strive for such quality. They demand to do it right the first time, and it makes it easier on everyone concerned,” says Glen. i “The framers are framing right, the hangers are putting it up right, and this helps Mike’s finishers do a better job in shorter time, says Glen.
Supervisory personnel at the Four-Leaf condominiums include (front to rear) Lee Jones, project administrator; Kenneth Williams, labor foreman; Mike O 'Brien, finishing supervisor; Glen Brabham, project supervisor; and Charles Samuels, labor foreman. Four Leaf, currently CDI's largest project, was selected project of the month.
Mike O’Brien, who heads the finishers, agrees 100 percent with Glen’s views. “The carpenters are doing a heck of a job, and that helps my men do a better job.” According to Mike, the finishers are putting out a floor a week in production with excellent quality. And, he says that they are managing to accomplish this with no more than two go-backs — a situation which really helps the budget. Mike’s lead men include Mike Gensamer in the West tower and Dale Johnson in the East tower. It’s the toughest job we’ve ever done, but we’re doing it better than most any job I’ve seen,” claims Mike. Labor foremen Ken Williams and Charles Samuels both agree that teamwork at the Four-Leaf is making work more productive. Ken and Charles have split up labor responsibilities with Ken taking the East and Charles taking the West tower. Each has 10 laborers to cover the tool, equipment, and material needs of a total of 120 carpenters and finishers. But, as Ken says, “the cooperative effort is making things on us a lot easier. The main problems we have are losing time due to the cages and keeping -7-
materials out of the way of our men and other crafts.” While these three groups of craftsmen have been on the project for some time, CDI’s painters have only recently joined the project. While it is too early to assess the situation, the painters anticipate a challenging but productive endeavor. The Craftsman is pleased to recognize the Four-Leaf condominium project and the work of all those on the job. Their accomplishments on a job that demands so much just from its size and type of work has been exceptional. And it is no wonder that Glen, Mike, Ken, and Charles say that the best drywall carpenters, finishers, laborers, and painters can be found at the Four-Leaf Condominiums.
Salnnie! To the carpenters, framers, laborers, and job site administrator. Lee Jones. Thanks for a job well done in helping our operation run smoothly. Finishers Four-Leaf Condominiums
GDI Systems conducts ©rigmtetoon program CDI Systems in Dallas recently conducted an orientation program for its office and field personnel. The program was held in the CDI warehouse and included a brief discussion on the company, a look at the current backlog of work in Dallas, an audio visual program, and a barbeque lunch. The purpose of the big gettogether was to better acquaint CDI office and field work forces with one another. In addition, the affair was attended by three CDI-Houston representatives — president Dick Phillips, sales and estimating head Stan Marek, and employee relations manager Larry Williams. Following an introduction of the lead foremen on the various job sites and the recognizing of office personnel, everyone viewed the company’s orientation film which outlines CDI’s history, its growth over the years, and its philosophy and policies relating to employees. Concluding the orientation portion of the afternoon, everyone was treated to a catered barbeque lunch as a showing of appreciation for the excellent efforts being given thus far in our Dallas operations. In other Dallas news, vice president and general manager Mike Grogan reports that activity is moving on schedule with the focus of work continuing to center on the Placid/Elm, Park Central, and the Lincoln Centre job sites. In addition,
Mike says that the estimating group continues its bidding work with a number of projects going out in recent weeks. Elsewhere, Chuck Grogan, serving as construction superintendent over all of the field operations, is maintaining his hectic pace keeping men, materials, and work flow in excellent shape. Aiding Chuck in the materials end of the
operation is Marty Yearout, who has ^ done an extraordinary job procuring and expediting materials and equipment. CDI Systems has a new face in Bob Nichol who recently joined the company and will function in estimating and sales work. Bob comes to CDI with an intense background in the construction industry.
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With back to camera is Mike Grogan delivering a message to members of the Dallas field and office operations. The talk was part of a recent orientation program presented to the entire CDI Systems workforce.
CDI Craftsman Commercial Drywall, Inc. 3705 Piney Woods P.O. Box 10686 Houston, Texas 77018
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