Harold,Robert,Alfredo FinishingcrewexcelsonVantagework
The finishing - that is the taping and floating of the walls - is a very importan! part of selling a job to an owner or general contractor. This issue's highlighted crew has no trouble selling their work. Finishing crewleader Harold Pryor, his right hand man, Alfredo Moreno, and finisher Robert Mature handle the finishing on most projects for Vantage Companies.
''This crew under Harold knows the type of work Vantage expects and sees that it is done," says finishing superintendent Lawrence Cieslewicz, Sr. "Harold has a good rapport with ali of Vantage's superintendents and they know his work is done the way it should be."
Most recen! projects for this crew include leases al Vantage's Westchase Center on Westheimer Rd., leases al Commerce Park in north Houston and the Mark Producing building. The lease on the eighth floor of the Westchase building was a particularly difficult one and one of the largest this crew has done. "That eighth floor lease had lots of angles, severa! radius walls, expansion joints and we had to float cernen! columns, all very technical to finish," says Harold. lt turned out so well for us though."
The three agree that they like doing leasework over the core. "With leasework, you gel to see a job almos! completed but when working on the core you jump around so much and don't really see the project when it's finished," says Harold.
According to Harold, computerized project budgets and status reports have been very helpful. "The computerized system has made it easier to keep track of what is happening on a job and I know what needs to be done. It's really helping in production."
Harold joined MBC about four years ago first working with his brother David, also a finisher. The Houston native is a graduate of St.
Pius. Leisure time activities include fishing and playing in a band with his brother.
Robert is a relative newcomer to the company having worked about six months under Harold. He attends school in the evenings while working full time for MBC during the day.
Alfredo has been with MBC a little over a year. He brought with
nt
him to the company about five years of drywall experience with another Houston drywall contractor.
"We all work well together," says Harold, "and we try never to miss the budget on our jobs."
Hard work, experience and skill add up to the fine job this crew is doing for the company. Adds Lawrence, ''There's not a job that this crew can't handle."
SteveSmithhonoredatquarterlycrewle
MBC conducted its quarterly crewleader meeting April 19 at Wyatt's Cafeteria. More than 70 of the systems group's top field supervisory personnel and estimating staff were in attendance. A portion of the meeting was used by personnel managér Mike Harnala to discuss the importance of on-the-job safety. Mike urged crewleaders to emphasize safe work habits as well as 100 percent compliance with ali OSHA regulations.
Other topics that followed Mike's presentation included work order procedures, project management, a market update and the announcement of the Austin 4
Interior acquisition and paint department formation.
Highlighting the meeting was the introduction of an outstanding crewleader award which will be used to honor the company's top field leader each quarter. Designated by a plaque, the award is presented to the crewleader who best displays the ability to complete jobs under budget, who maintains appropriate quality levels and who works with management, employees and customers effectively.
The first such award was presented to Steve Srnith. "Steve;• says operations manager Paul Marek while making the
This issue's highlighted crew. finishers /1 to r) Robert Mature. Harold Pryor and Alfredo Moreno. handle the finishing work on most Vantage projects.Employeeofthemonth Ed Simmons focuses on customer service
The job of customer service is to keep the customer happy; in MBC's case it's the builder or owner. Ed Simmons certainly does that as one of MBC's patchmen.
Starting 15 years ago with MBC, Ed has hung sheetrock, done finishing and sprayed texture. For the past two years, though, he has been doing patchwork for the company reporting to Leonard Meinke in customer service and Dale Mingus in residential construction.
"Ed is an asset in his role as a patchman," says Dale. "He is willing to work the hours required and work within the superintendent's schedule:' Ed handles mostly residential trae! housing for such MBC customers as Pulte Homes, Versailles, Genstar Homes, Arbor Homes and Cascade Builders and deals mainly with their superintendents.
"I stay pretty busy;' says Ed. "Pulte alone has nine subdivisions that we are working in.
"I enjoy doing patchwork. I gel to do it ali -a little hanging, finishing and texturing - whatever the builder needs to have
meeting
presentation, "has been doing it all. He is handling severa! projects and consistently beating the budgets. He is going the extra distance to work with project management making sure that his jobs are being built safely, on schedule and under budget. We're very proud of Steve."
Paul reviewed the criteria for being named the top crewleader and challenged everyone to make it a goal to achieve. In discussing the honor he said that the award will become the yardstick for measuring the successful crewleader. "lt will be an elite group that earns this award, because it will go only to the bes!."
completed. And, it's the final finish. l'm the last person in a house. lt is importan! that I keep the builder satisfied because it's a reflection on the company.
"I don't find my job really hard," says Ed. "But the hours can be long at times. If a builder needs a house completely finished for a closing, I don'! mind staying to do it.
"Customer service is actually fun. I have the opportunity to meet many different people during the course of a day. It can be a little lonely al times working alone though." Ed does, however, coordinate the work of six or seven patchmen working within a subdivision.
Ed, who is originally from New Iberia, La., attended college at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette studying journalism before moving to Houston and coming to work at MBC.
Ed's interests outside his job include church, playing basketball and drawing. In addition, he enjoys carpentry and has added three rooms to his home. Ed also attends
Houston Community College where he is studying construction and business.
He and his wife, Mary, reside in North Houston with their three children - Don, 15; Sheree, 11; Charles Winston, 5.
Gypsum prices on upward spiral
Effective April 30, gypsum board manufacturers again raised their prices making it the second increase this year. In 1983, five price increases were passed on to the contractors nationally by the manufacturers resulting in increased prices over the past 12 months of 60 percent.
"These price increases have been possible as gypsum board has been in short supply in many other parts of the country although not in Houston;' says MBC's general manager Pete Peters. "These price increases are difficult to pass on to our customers:'
When a person lowers his voice, he wants something; when he raises it, it's a sign he didn't get it.
ir
5
Steue Smith was the first recipient of MBC's quarter/y supervisor award. He receiued a plaque for his a/ways fine efforts.
Ed Simmons, pictured aboue, is a patchman Jor MBC working main/y in tract housing.
Circle Lake rules
As summer is fast approaching and more people are using the Circle Lake recreation facilities, MBC management reminds us of a few rules to be remembered and followed.
• Parents must supervise their children in ali water sports.
• Swimming is not allowed in Circle Lake. There are two swimming pools for use.
• Children must be accomplished swimmers to use boats, canoes or kayaks so that in the event of a boating capsizing, they can swim to shore safely.
• Paddle boats must be limited to three occupants.
MBC breaks ground for future
MBC is currently in the process of purchasing the 3.7 acre GrayWalker tract of land that líes immediately west of the Company's warehouse extending to the new post office.
Gray-Walker will continue to lease the land it now occupies so there will be little change in the
Congratulations
Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Cobarrubias celebrated their second wedding anniversary on April 24.
May 5 marked 38 years of marriage for Mr. and Mrs. Bill Marek, Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Doege celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on May 23.
May 23 marked 25 years for Mr. and Mrs. Ray Campbell.
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Marek will celebrate 11 years on June 16.
Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Marek will celebrate their fourth anniversary on June 20.
Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Crow celebrated one year of marriage on May 6.
immediate future. According to general manager Pete Peters, this is a good move for MBC. 'The price and the terms of sale seemed to be right for us and we want to make sure that the company has land enough for the next decade and ins½lre future growth for Marek Brothers:•
• No air rifles, pelle! guns or guns of any type are allowed at Circle lake. They may be used on the 1,000 acres we have leased for hunting.
• No motor cycles, trail bikes or noisy vehicles are to be brought to Circle Lake. They too, may be used on the 1,000 acres.
• As the busy season nears, we ask that each employee visiting Circle Lake limit their guests to one additional family. However if a special event is planned and severa! families will be invited as guests, it will be necessary to gel special permission and an area will be designated for your party.
Each Monday, Circle Lake's new caretakers, Ray and Karen
Mr. and Mrs. Vicente Robles are the proud parents of a baby boy, Vicente Robles, Jr., born April 3.
Mr. and Mrs. Marc Bollom are the proud parents of a baby girl, Diane Kathryn, born on May 22. Diane joins three little brothers.
Mr. and Mrs. David Michael Burns are the proud parents of a baby son born on May 27. He weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces and was named David Michael Burns, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Marc Bollom celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on May 11. 6
Towles, spend the <lay cleaning up the trash around the area. lf Circle Lake is to be kept beautiful for everyone's enjoyment, it is asked that you pick up your trash before leaving and place it in the garbage cans that are located around the area.
Please do not drop your beer and soft drink cans along the road coming into Circle Lake or along the Nature Trail.
Enjoy the summer at Circle Lake!
This would be a far better world if people based their wealth on what they are rather than on what they haue.
Katliy Frederick of MBC's Landscape Diuision examines a bush that was planted ar Willow Wood Apartments in northwest Houston. Tlie project was one of the largest projects for t/ie /andscaping diuision where /andscape timbers were used extensiuely - 1.950 timbers were used in ali....
Builderspotlight Pulte quality people,making quality product
MBC is proud to highlight Pulte Homes as this issue's featured builder. Pulte, who has been active in the Houston homebuilding industry since Spring 1981, is a national builder offering homes priced from the $40's to the $90's.
According to Richard Stuart, Pulte's Vice Presiden! of Construction, his company strives to mee! the needs of today's homebuyers. "Quality has to be one of the most important factors a new homebuyer considers. And, we work very hard to make sure that our homes are built with the highest standards."
Another important ingredient found in every Pulte home, says Stuart, is street appeal. "We place a lot of emphasis on the way a home looks on the outside. Because the presentation a house makes visually enhances the entire neighborhood and increases its resale potential:'
Pulte's other strong selling points include its locations in quality neighborhoods and the financing advantages available through its mortgage company, !CM, which is the subsidiary of Pulte.
Obviously, Pulte's business
philosophy is paying off as it ranks in the top three builders in the nation and the top five in Houston.
"We are currently building in seven communities in Houston with two more opening in the immediate future. Although we are big in Houston and the country, being big is not that importan!," says Stuart. "We prefer to be better, not bigger."
For MBC, Pulte has been a
valued customer for the past three years. The MBC team assigned to the Pulte account include Pat Trojanowsky and Randy Blalock on the sales side, and Dale Mingus, Steve Kinnaird and Donald Marek overseeing the construction end. MBC's scope of work for Pulte includes the drywall hanging, tape, float and skim.
Field superintendent Dale Mingus says that Pulte is great to work with. 'They're a complete organization from management to the superintendents. "They're extremely cooperative, professional and respectful. They respect us as a subcontractor," claims Dale.
MBC has averaged completing from 30 to 40 homes for Pulte each month. The present list of communities include Grant's Lake, Memorial Parkway, Windsong, Westglen, Copperfield and Millridge.
Sales Manager Pat Trojanowsky echoes Dale's feeling about Pulte. "They are a top notch group of people. And, we feel very fortunate to be part of their construction team;' says Pat. "They are a very successful company and we look forward to being a part of their success in the years to come."
Pictured left to right are MBC's Randy Blalock, Chuck Rogers, Les John, David Scoggins, Chris Ho. and Mike Pol/ock /rom Pulte Homes and MBC's Dale Mingus. Builder o/ the month Pu/te Homes constructs houses in severa/ Houston communities including Grant's Lake. Memorial Parkway. Windsong, Westglen. Copper/ield and Millridge.7
MBC's Top Hands ...
The Microphone is highlighting four MBC 'Top Hands' in this issue. Jay D. Nicholson, Dan Karsten, Tim Moreno and David Gonzales have done an excellent job for the company in each of their positions.
Jay D. Nicholson joined MBC in November 1982 hauling sheetrock and materials to jobsites. Six months later, Jay D. moved into the tool room to assist John Tant with inventory of tools and materials. He sees that MBC jobsites have the materials they need to get the job done. The Illinois native has lived in Houston four years.
MBC golfers finish third
The MBC golf team of Pat Trojanowsky and Randy Blalock won the third place trophy with an eight under par score of 64 at the annual DISCA golf tournament held May 3.
Thirty teams enjoyed the afternoon of golf at H & H Ranch Golf Course. Those participating from MBC were Ed Guarnieri, Jerry Nevlud, Paul Marek, David Trojanowsky and Doyle Crow in addition to Pat and Randy. Also golfing with MBC employees were customers from R.M. Mayfield Constructors !ne. and Cribbs Construction !ne.
Tim Moreno has been with MBC since September 1970. He is a sanding crewleader in tract housing construction.
Dan Karsten, a two-and-a-half year veteran of the company, was also chosen as a 'Top Hand' for this issue. The Wisconsin native is currently handling remodel work on HE! projects.
David Gonzales, a relative newcomer to MBC starling with the company in January of this year, is a carpenter. He is currently at work at Appomattox Square in Texas City for general contractor Orr Construction.
Marek Microphone
Marek Brothers Company
2201 Judiway
Hou�on, Texas77018
)MBCI
Jay D Nicholson
Tim Moreno
Dan Karsten