INSIGHTS WINTER 2022 EDITION
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE MAREK FAMILY OF COMPANIES
MAJOR PROJECTS AUSTIN Work is currently underway at the ALE061, a 110,000 sf data center. This is our first data center with GC, HITT Construction, whose mason client is AWS. AWS is currently building data centers all over the country. This $3.4 million project began in November 2021 with a projected end date of March 2022. This project is using typical drywall assemblies. However, a notable element of design is the expansive S.C.I.F. walls they’ve specified. Ceilings include hard lid, ACT and gypsum tiles. Nathan Watts is Supervisor, with Eric Lumsden as Foreman, Joe Juarez as Foreman, and Frank Cordova, Marco Herrera and Eddy Hernandez rounding out the team. ATLANTA
We are currently in the middle of building the 16-floor “ To w e r ” section of a new 20-story hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta - North Druid Hills Replacement. The 700,000 sf tower includes floors 4-20 which are primarily patient rooms. Overall cost of the project for the owner exceeds $1 billion. This project is the latest in a long line of mega-healthcare projects we have com-
pleted with GC, Brasfield & Gorrie, and their same project team. Earl Swensson Associates is Architect.
and Jose Turcios is Drywall Project Manager. Gilbane Building Company is GC and Perkins&Will is Architect.
Highlights of the project include ceilings with 10 distinct types of ACT and numerous drywall shapes, multiple types of drywall, including glass mat board, abuse resistant board, hi-impact board, shaftwall liner and moisture-resistant board as well as standard fire rated drywall. This project began in August of 2021 and is expected to be completed in January 2024.
Thank you to Gilbane for the opportunity to partner with you!
On-site Superintendent is Tony Smith, Assistant Superintendent is Thomas Purdue, Area Foremen include Ismael Bravo and Juan Lopez, and Finishing Foreman is Deni Carillo. Safety Advisor is Brian Smith and Logistics is being managed by Don Hicke. HOUSTON HCA Houston Healthcare is in the process of rehauling and renovating their North Cypress location to account for the rise in population and, therefore, a rise in need for medical care. They have engaged us in this 400,000 sf expansion that will include an additional cardiovascular operating room, enhancements of robotic operating rooms, operating suites and pre/ post-surgery areas. We will also upgrade and expand the areas for digestive disease care, and renovate and expand nursing units, surgery waiting rooms, and upgrade the front entrance. The project began at the end of 2021 with the estimated end date of January 2023. Terry Holcome is Drywall Superintendent, Miguel Mireles is Drywall Foreman
AUSTIN Work has recently begun on Phase II of the Brevan Howard Project on South Congress Ave. This large open 6,650 sf tenant finish-out space features sweeping curved walls, using FlexTrack and modern curved solutions to achieve radius corners. The project began in January 2022 and will be completed in April 2022. Heutimio Moreno is Supervisor, with Sebastian Dominguez as Leadman, Anna Marleny, Osvaldo Gonzalez, and Lenar Mejia assisting. GC is Rand Construction and Gensler is Architect. ATLANTA Work is ongoing at the Convention Center on 118 Acre Campus. The project includes the expansion and renovation of exhibit halls, ballrooms, meeting rooms, theater, and food hall. Materials for the project include drywall, acoustical ceilings, wood ceiling systems, and acoustical ceiling baffles. WINTER 2022
Greg Stine is Sr. Project Manager, Joe Spencer is Supervisor, Damian Ontiveros is Supervisor, Humberto Gonzalez is Finishing Foreman, and Juan Gomez is Ceiling Foreman. GC is Holder Construction and Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates is Architect. HOUSTON MAREK crews are tasked with building new walls, removing old finishes and repainting, and refreshing the entire interior of 14 floors in the Conoco Phillips Regional Office Building in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Saul Garza is Paint Foreman, Lamar Haas is Carpenter Foreman, Joey Buxton is Paint Superintendent, and David Mauzy is Paint Project Man-
ager. GC is DE Harvey Builders and Architect is PDR.
Work will be done in phases, consisting of a mix of days, nights, and weekends to work around the client’s needs. As usual, our Supervisors are doing a fantastic job at keeping the work on schedule while producing another MAREK quality project that we can all be proud of! HOUSTON Work has begun at the Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. This project is the beginning of several renovation projects that will take place at Minute Maid Park ahead of the 2022 season. Amazon is building 2 on-site stores, partnering with the stadium along with some building renovations such as escalator remodels, a new Blue Bell and refreshment nook, and possible Team Store expansion. Rey Zapata is Onsite Drywall
Foreman and Ricky Morgan is Drywall Superintendent. These are all exciting and fast-moving projects that will need flexible hours due to the countless events held at the park during the off season. MAREK has partnered with Metzger, the GC, in the past to remodel the suites club as well as the marketing offices at the stadium and both have been successful for all parties involved. Architect is MSA Sport. Go Astros! HOUSTON Brazoria County received funding to establish a new Emergency Response Center. This facility will serve as the command and operations center to help assist the Gulf Coast region in the event of natural disasters, or states of emergency. MAREK will do all the drywall, framing, and window treatments for this project. Jim Morton is Drywall Project Manager, Kyle Ishimoto is Window Treatments Project Manager. Drywall Foreman and Window Treatments Foreman are still TBD. SpawGlass is GC and Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects is Architect. SAN ANTONIO Work is underway on the new San Antonio State Hospital. The hospital will provide both long-term, short-term, residential, and crisis care for their patients. The new facility will consist of 300 beds made up of eleven 24-bed units, two 16bed units and 4 semi-private beds. The typical units are divided into 8-bed sub-clusters, each having its own activity space and quiet / consult rooms. All are accessible to 2 large outdoor courtyards, each Page 2
lined with therapy spaces for adolescent, psychiatric, intensive care, and geriatric patients. Each unit is designed to offer a range of choice regarding social, density, and privacy. Using a neighborhood approach with housing, dining, activities, and treatment together helps all patients feel safe. MAREK’s scope of work on this new 4-story, 454,000 sf facility for Vaughn Construction, GC, and HKS Architecture, Architect, includes drywall, acoustical ceilings, blocking, FRP, access panels, expansion joints, and tectum ceilings at all patient corridors. Project began in November 2021 and is expected to conclude in September 2023. Sales estimating team includes Eddie Atnip as Senior Estimator (Drywall) and Mark Williams as Division Director (Acoustical). The project management team consists of Eddie Atnip as Senior Project Manager Field Team, Jesus Paz as Foreman, and Jesse Flores as Assistant Foreman. MAJOR PROJECTS: AUSTIN
AUSTIN Work will begin on Symphony Square in May 2022. It will be a mixed-use office and residential building with GC, Greystar. This is our first project with Greystar outside of the multifamily side of MAREK. Architect will be R2L Architects. Nathan Watt is Supervisor on the project, with Luis Quinones, Marcos Herrera, Jose G. Lopez, and Abel Suarez contributing.
DALLAS The Hall Arts Residence is a luxury high-rise condominium building, located in downtown Dallas, TX, right in the heart of the Arts District. MAREK’S involvement consists in finishing out multiple floors throughout the tower (levels 20-25, approx. 43,000 sf.) providing framing, insuAUSTIN lation, drywall, acoustical ceilings, Kyle Public Safety Building is a custom/paint end wall caps and dry62,000 sf new construction for the wall reveals at wall base/door openKyle Police Department in Kyle, ings. Project began in July of 2021 Texas. This project includes ballis- and will be completed in September tic grade gypsum and features many 2022. curved architectural details throughout. It also includes covered parking Umberto Toledo is Foreman, Koby garage on-site. Newkirk is Superintendent and Nestor Hurtado is Project ManagWork will begin in March 2022 and er. Austin Commercial LP is GC and be completed in December 2022. HKS is Architect. Eric Lumsden is Supervisor, with Anthony Holder, Jesus Contreras, Carlos Herrera, and Christian DeLeon contributing. Bartlett Cocke is GC. ATLANTA We will begin work on the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville Clinical Expansion (AKA North Tower 2 / ED) project, located in Gainesville, GA, in March of 2023. The project is expected to end in September 2024. This project will include 120 patient beds and 72 shelled, a new emergency department, surgery expansion, heart / vascular / neuro department expansion, new parking deck, central energy facility, and food services expansion.
ginning in April 2022, set to finish in January 2024. The scope for the new 150,500 sf Center includes a community hall and related spaces, classrooms and related educational spaces, social halls, multi-purpose meeting/conference spaces, offices with an executive suite, plus entrance halls, foyers, cloakrooms, washrooms, storage, circulation, and infrastructure. The Center sits above an underground parking structure (307,800 sf) that also includes support spaces.
The Center is arranged as symmetrical wings dedicated to community gatherings, events, and learning. Open-covered terraces off each of the wings provide additional outdoor space and can be used for social gatherings encouraging deeper connections to the city and the gardens. The large, central-stepped atrium functions as common/free space for informal daily gatherings, music recitals, community fairs, and celebrations. The two-sided atria will be used for exhibitions and community gatherings and will connect to a café, DALLAS a large social hall, a secondary soKomodo is a high-end Japanese fu- cial hall, a flexible black box theater, sion restaurant and night club with and learning spaces. Administrative locations in Miami, Los Angeles, and spaces are in the upper floors of the New York. MAREK will working in building. the new Dallas location, furnishing and installing the NEWMAT lacquer Specifically contracted to drywall, membrane ceilings, custom ban- a notable product that will be used quette seating, and custom Novawall is the Vogle drywall ceilings. These graphic walls and ceilings. ceilings are gypsum from Germany and are cut with hundreds of small Alan Alfano Jr. is the Project Manager, Tommy Weeks is Superintendent and Horacio Grimaldo is Foreman. Beng is the GC on the project and Perkins&Will the Architect.
David Salyers will be Preconstruction Manager and Marty Shonkwiler will be Project Executive. GC is Brasfield & Gorrie with Perkins&Will as Architect. MAREK has been awarded the work on the Ismaili Center of Houston, bePage 3
triangles in a pattern. The install and coordination of these ceilings are very delicate and will pose an interesting challenge. Joel Marek is Drywall Project Manager, Dave McMillan is Drywall Foreman, and Terry Holcombe is Drywall Superintendent. McCarthy is the GC and DLR Group is Architect. HOUSTON MAREK has been tasked with the 2,700 sf interior build-out of a brand new structure for a dermatology practice in Houston. This build will consist of high-end finishes, consisting of Venetian plaster walls and ceilings, European wallcoverings, painted millwork baseboards, cabinets, paneling, doors, and frames. This will give our MAREK painters another fantastic opportunity to display our craftsmanship with finish materials rather than just the everyday paints.
end in July 2022. Estimator is Randy Miller, Project Manager is Jon Marek, and Foreman is Bobby Rangel. GC on the project is Rogers O’Brien, and Architect is Corgan.
WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT AUSTIN By Ed Cheney, WFT Coordinator Austin WFD recently completed Basic Construction Math Classes and will be starting the Basic Blueprint & Layout Class Feb 1st. Joe Gonzales is continuing our labs for shaftwall and installing hollow metal & aluminum door frames as well as drywall & acoustical ceilings.
ATLANTA By Reggie Coleman, WFD Head Coach Joey Buxton is Paint Superintendent Greetings MAREK Family : and Steve Gonzalez is Paint Project Austin Eubanks (survivor of the 1999 Manager. GC is Structure Tone South- Columbine High school shooting) west, working with Michael HSU – quotes: “Without pushing through difOffice of Architecture. ficult times, we simply won’t grow.” SAN ANTONIO MAREK is proud to partner with Rogers O’Brien on the new QTS Data Center. The 3-story tilt wall building, roughly 338,720 sf, will provide office leasing space and a hyperscale data hall. MAREK will be attaching our framing to Versadeck decking system, something rarely seen here in San Antonio. The current data hall will have the ability to build out future secured data space on levels 2 and 4. The lobby will showcase a “Freedom Wall” which extends to all three floors and is dedicated to the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, law enforcement, fire, and all emergency service personnel.
The WFD Team from Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia had faced difficult times in 2021. Covid had us using our creativeness to keep the WFD Program moving forward. We were able to overcome different obstacles set before us, which made us all a little stronger and full of determination to keep the program going. With that said, I’d like to switch gears and highlight a proud moment from the Atlanta
branch. We’re very proud of Joshua Youngblood (one of our graduates), who represented us in the yearly WFD Craft competition, held in Texas. Joshua has truly developed his skills through the WFD Program. He continues to grow while pushing through difficult times. Although we didn’t win the competition in 2021, we enjoyed the company of the other branches that were there. We do anticipate great and wonderful things this year; we have an awesome WFD Team at the Atlanta branch who are dedicated to the growth of our program. We’re very committed to the development of all our trainees in the program. With our sleeves rolled up, we’re ready to take on whatever 2022 brings. We truly understand that “without pushing through difficult times, we simply won’t grow”. We also had 9 employees complete an Advanced Blueprint Reading class by HB Next, to help prepare them for future success. DALLAS By Pablo Zarate, Work Force Development Head Coach MAREK has always been proud of our training and being on the forefront of knowledge in our industry. WFD Dallas has been given the incredible task of training personnel with the professionals of the Armstrong acoustic ceilings company in Waco, TX. Armstrong has an acoustic ceiling system that has a better sound-absorbing quality, which is called “Acoustic Build.” We are preparing our employees by offering hands-on experience of this system, so it can help our future employees get this knowledge as well. We are excited for this new area of expertise! HOUSTON By Quincy Jones, Workforce Devel-
Work will begin in January 2022 and Page 4
opment Specialist
call MAREK Boot Camp. The boot camp is conducted at our warehouse with the goal of preparing employees to be more productive and safer out in the field. We have had 7 successful boot camps that have played a key role in our retention rate. WFD San Antonio has also participated in the 2nd Annual Trades Discovery Day event for the Boys and Girls Club. It is an event Houston Workforce Development where many trades in the construction Team collaborated with Superinten- industry get together at a B&GC locadents & Field Human Resources to tion to promote their craft. select the 2022 MAREK Certified Professionals. The following employees have shown great improvements and accomplishments in the field, incredible leadership skills, and the true image of what a MAREK employee is. The following employees were selected for the 2022 MCP Program: Aurelio Landaverde, Daniel Morelos, Pedro Luis Perez, Samuel Cardenas, Samuel Cisneros, Simon Cardenas, Kimberly Villatoro, Ismael Granados, Blanca Torres, Edin Salazar, Fernando Gaytan, Fabio Peña, Denis Umanzor, Francisco Alvarado, Oscar Rocha, David Soto, Adrian Quintero, Emilio Martello, Austin Gibson, Samuel Cruz Mozo, Leopoldo Ibarra, Marcelo Villella, and Jose Rodriguez. Congratulations to all the employees listed! We are looking forward to a successful 2022! SAN ANTONIO By Gabriel Garcia WFD San Antonio has made major strides in developing our new young w o r k force, creating a weekl o n g training course we
over a year and has proven her ability on multiple jobs. “Very glad to have her. She is smart, reliable and highly organized. Does payroll, invoices, timekeeping and every other little thing that I need done. She is everything you want in an administrator.” - Bill Pallino, Superintendent
DALLAS Samuel Amado has been an employee with MAREK for twenty-six years. And he has been an outstanding employee for all of them. Samuel has been supervising work for 15 years and has a history of producing safe and profitable projects. His last project was for Turner Construction Diamond Hill Jarvis High School, where MAREK was awarded Turner Cons t r u c t i o n ’s “Award of Excellence.” Thanks, Samuel, for all you do! - Robert AUSTIN Brazel, suMAREK Austin proudly nominates perintendent Jacobo Sanchez as our outstanding HOUSTON employee. He has Dave McMillan been with MAREK has worked countsince September less hours for both 1998. Jacobo is litMAREK and the erally the “hot shot” ACLP team out at the between the wareMemorial Hermann house and field as the Woodlands Tower all jobsites rely on project in 2021. With him to deliver any warehouse material the help of his leadthey need. He is always the first one ership team, Dave in the warehouse and the last to leave. was able to navigate busing in a crew His dedication and hard work show of 110 employees while guiding his 8 daily, and the entire team is grateful to Working Foreman during the peak of have him at the Austin branch. this project. During a year of extended lead times and rising material costs, ATLANTA Dave was able to successfully plan for Kristen Bankston has worked as a material deliveries through the Covid Clerical Helper for MAREK for just trials. Dave has taken his team to new Page 5
heights as they worked off a 150’ boom the company then and will be one now lift, completing the eyebrow and halo and well into the future. on the roof of the 9th floor. ATLANTA This team has completed over This year, 9 employees celebrate 3 years $1,000,000 in total changes to the proj- with the company. ect in less than a 12-month period and We also have 9 emhas pushed to meet a demanding sched- ployees who have ule. Thanks to Dave’s knowledge and reached the 5-year leadership skills, this team has shown mark. Don Hicke growth and production all while stay- and Jorge Fuening safe. tes both received SAN ANTONIO San Antonio would like to recognize two outstanding employees for winning the branch-level NCC Competition: Pablo Alejandro and John Kruithof. We are proud of these young employees to be representing MAREK at the national level on our own home court in March. Their hard work has paid off as they are truly the Strength from Within.
PEOPLE
NEWS AUSTIN We are thrilled to welcome back Ted Clements to the MAREK team. Having worked for MAREK for a decade in the 90s, he is no stranger to our business and the current team. We also have the added bonus of Ted having worked closely with us through his previous employer. He was an asset to
new Instructional Designer. Claire has designed and developed training for over 5 years. She’s currently partnering with the WFD Head Coaches to formalize a new hire helper bootcamp across branches and is looking forward to supporting our teams and building a confident, skilled workforce.
Profit Center 01 has gotten a little bit bigger in their Estimating Department. Skylar Godtheir 10-year rings, win has moved and Moises Marti- from Central Esnez has reached 20 timating over to years with MAREK. Drywall. Skylar began her career with Ralph Stilz and MAREK over 3 years ago, workJody Klodner have ing part-time in our Data Department while she was in school. In her time at MAREK, she is looking forward to both been with growing in her role and is excited about MAREK for 30 the potential outreach into the commuyears. David Wilnity. liams has reached the 35-year mark, Connor Salerno recently graduated and Gregory Stine from SHSU with honhas been with MAREK for 40 years! ors in Construction Congratulations to them all! Management and is currently working on-site at the Hines HQ project. Once this project is completed, he will move into the office as one of Drywall’s Project Managers, working alongside Randy Wakefield with a focus on airport projDALLAS ects. Connor is looking forward to makWe would like to ing an immediate impact for MAREK, welcome Josue as well as learning everything possible Mancera for being along the way. promoted from the field to the WareJames R. (“Ranhouse Assistant dy”) Viereck, is reManager in the Coppell office. We are tiring after 33 years happy to have you, Josue! at MAREK. Randy started out as a paint HOUSTON estimator with the We’re excited to anHouston branch and soon became the nounce that Claire department manager for the Paint, Bradley has reFlooring, and Fabric Panel divisions for cently joined our many years. He always had an optimistalent team as the tic attitude and greeted everyone with Page 6
big smile and had a way of making you feel like an old friend. Randy has accumulated over 40 years of experience in the paint industry and is referred to as the “World’s Greatest Painter” in his large circle of clients. His experience and humorous banter will be missed by his customers and colleagues, and we certainly wish him much happiness as he rides out on his golden paint brush to travel and do all the things he has been looking forward to.
ATLANTA Everyone had a great time at our Annual MAREK Golf To u r n a m e n t in October in appreciation for our customers and vendors. We also participated on November 4 in the ABC Clay Shoot at Garland Mountain. No one was injured.
SAN ANTONIO San Antonio would like to welcome our newest team member, Alexis De La Cruz, in our Accounts Receivables department.
DALLAS MAREK DFW had a wonderful field holiday party in the Coppell warehouse. It was full of co-workers, food, FUN, and prizes!!!! Looking forward to what 2022 brings in the New Year!
We’d also like to congratulate employees who have accepted new roles within the San Antonio branch: Isabel Abbott, Executive Assistant and Ruby Martinez, Payroll Administrator.
HOUSTON We are excited to announce our Houston team was presented with the 2021 Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Houston Excellence In Construction ICE Award in Finish Interior Projects. We received this award for our work on the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Nancy & Rich Kinder Building! Congratulations to all competitors and we extend our sincere thanks to our clients and team involved in the project:
COMPANY HAPPENINGS AND EVENTS
AUSTIN Service awards were given to these outstanding employees who are valued by this company for their dedication, loyalty, and skills they bring every day. They include: 10 years – Abel Suarez Rodriguez 15 years – Jose M. Sigala 20 years – Francisco Hernandez 25 years – Craig Kaminski, Jose Bustos, Eric Lumsden 30 years – Jesus Contreras
General Contractor: McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Architect: Steven Holl Architects Owner: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Special thanks to: James Turrell Studio, NEWMAT and Radius Track Corporation SAN ANTONIO On December 4th, the San Antonio branch hosted their MAREK Christmas Party at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Employees and their immediate families enjoyed a fun-filled Page 7
day of rides, and all that Fiesta, Texas has to offer. David Cupid, Division President, dressed as Santa Claus and each child 12 and under received a special gift from Santa.
BIRTHS
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On August 25, 2021, Stan and Reinnette Marek became grandparents for the first time. Their son, Mike, and his wife, Lexi, welcomed their new baby daughter, Kimble, into the family. Congratulations to all! AUSTIN Congratulations to Le-
ticia Hernandez and her husband, German Meza, in welcoming their new baby boy, German Elias Meza, on October 19, 2021. ATLANTA Congratulations go to Jessica Thompson, Recruiter in our Nashville Memco branch, who gave birth to Irwin Thompson on 11/18/21. CONDOLENCES AUSTIN Our condolences to Craig Kaminski for the loss of his father Mr. Billy Kaminski. HOUSTON Kyle Brown passed away on November 7th. He was a dedicated employee who embraced every role given to him. Kyle touched many lives through work, friendship, and mentorship. His legacy lives on with his 3 daughters.
MESSAGE FROM
STAN
Each January, as we begin a new year, I’ve always felt that it was helpful to develop a vision statement to share with all our teams. Hopefully, something that foresees what we think the year ahead might look like and also gets all of us working towards common goals. There are several of us that have been doing this practice for years and it’s nice getting several versions and then narrowing it down to a finished product. Every year is surprisingly different. New challenges as well as new opportunities. As I sometimes say, ‘never a dull moment’! 2022’s biggest challenge may be dealing with Covid, especially Omicron. We hope the experts are correct and that it will peak and be gone very early. Manning our jobs and offices safely in such an environment is a huge concern as well as the anticipated disruptions in the supply chain and the impact on our vendors which will ultimately impact us. We’re all in this together and I anticipate our industry will find ways to continue our projects safely and productively. My comments about backlog are dependent on our ability to find the workers and get the material in place. The work is there, but we must be smart about targeting jobs as well as contractors, that will maximize our ability to perform. All General Contractors are not created equal, and the ones we work with are the best in class. We cannot and will not let them down
due to the challenge ahead, even whether they are foreseeable or not. Challenge and opportunity seem to always go hand in hand. 2022 will be no different. Please acquaint yourself with our vision and understand your role as we move through the coming year. --Stan
MENSAGE DE
STAN Cada Enero, al iniciar un nuevo año, siempre he entendido que el desarrollar una declaración de visión para compartir con todos nuestros equipos es algo útil. Con suerte, algo que prevea lo que creemos que podría ser el año próximo, y también nos haga trabajar a todos hacia objetivos comunes. Hay varios de nosotros que hemos estado haciendo esta práctica durante años y es bueno obtener varias versiones y luego reducirlo a un producto terminado. Cada año es sorprendentemente diferente. Nuevos retos, así como nuevas oportunidades. Como a veces digo, ¡’nunca un momento aburrido’! El mayor desafío de 2022 puede ser lidiar con el Covid, especialmente Omicron. Esperamos que los expertos tengan razón y que llegue a su punto máximo y se vaya muy pronto. Manejar nuestros trabajos y oficinas de manera segura en un entorno de este tipo es una gran preocupación, así como las interrupciones anticipadas en la cadena de suministro y el impacto Page 8
en nuestros proveedores que finalmente nos afectarán. Todos estamos juntos en esto y anticipo que nuestra industria encontrará formas de continuar nuestros proyectos de manera segura y productiva. Mis comentarios sobre la cartera de trabajo dependen de nuestra capacidad para encontrar a los trabajadores y poner el material en su lugar. El trabajo está ahí, pero debemos ser inteligentes al seleccionar los trabajos, así como a los contratistas, lo que maximizará nuestra capacidad de rendimiento. No todos los contratistas generales son iguales, y con los que trabajamos son los mejores de su clase. No podemos ni vamos a defraudarlos por los retos que tenemos por delante, aunque sean previsibles o no. El desafío y la oportunidad parecen ir siempre de la mano. 2022 no será diferente. Por favor, familiarícese con nuestra visión y comprenda su papel a medida que avanzamos en el próximo año. --Stan Vision 2022
2022 promises both opportunity and challenge for all teams as we look forward to more work and ensuring we have the people and best practices in place to impress our customers. We want everyone healthy, safe, and set up for success. COVID-19 continues to be a threat. Estimates are that over half of our team is vaccinated, and as a company, we sincerely hope all our team members will consider the science behind controlling the virus and get the vaccine.
One thing is clear, our backlog is improving rapidly after the pandemic induced slowdown. The real question is, where will all of us get the skilled workforce to build our projects plus the huge infrastructure spending bill passed by Congress. It will challenge us all. Our valued clients are depending on us to build their projects safely, with quality and within tight schedules. We must place more emphasis on intentional planning, utilizing prefab and/or offsite assemblies wherever possible. Our focus on teamwork and effective communication is a workforce strategy we know will work. Building a quality, hourly workforce has paid off and now we must step up our efforts to attract more men and women into the trades. Never have prospects for a career in construction been better! We have a huge opportunity to share the ‘dignity of work’ with those who are willing to learn. There is no better place to learn a trade than at MAREK. In closing, let’s be grateful for our many gifts. For the teams in every market who are strategically positioned for success. For our safety culture which means so much to each of our families. For our clients who are the best in our industry. Most of all we are grateful to each of you. Your dedication makes MAREK a special place to be and a major player in a wonderful industry. You are leaving a legacy that will be part of our communities of years to come. - The MAREK Team
Visión 2022
El año 2022 promete oportunidades y desafíos para todo nuestro equipo, ya que esperamos más trabajo debemos asegurarnos de tener las personas y las mejores prácticas para impresionar a nuestros clientes. Queremos que todos estén sanos, seguros y preparados para el éxito. El COVID-19 sigue siendo una amenaza. Se estima que más de la mitad de nuestro equipo está vacunado, y como compañía esperamos sinceramente que todos los miembros de nuestro equipo consideren la ciencia detrás del control del virus y obtengan la vacuna. Una cosa está clara, nuestra cartera de proyectos está mejorando rápidamente después de la desaceleración inducida por la pandemia. La verdadera pregunta es, ¿de dónde obtendremos todos la mano de obra calificada para construir nuestros proyectos más el enorme proyecto de ley de gastos de infraestructura aprobado por el Congreso? Esto nos desafiará a todos. Nuestros valiosos clientes dependen de nosotros para construir sus proyectos de forma segura, con calidad y dentro de horarios ajustados. Debemos poner más énfasis en la planificación intencional, utilizando ensamblajes prefabricados y / o ensamblados fuera del sitio de trabajo siempre que sea posible. Nuestro enfoque en el trabajo en equipo y la comunicación efectiva es una estrategia de fuerza laboral que sabemos que funcionará. La construcción de una fuerza laboral de calidad y compensada por hora de trabajo ha dado sus frutos. Ahora debemos intensificar nuestros esfuerzos para atraer a más hombres y mujeres a los oficios. Page 9
¡Nunca las perspectivas de una carrera en la construcción han sido mejores! Tenemos una gran oportunidad de compartir la “dignidad del trabajo” con aquellos que están dispuestos a aprender. No hay mejor lugar para aprender un oficio que en MAREK. Para terminar, seamos agradecidos por nuestros muchos regalos. Por los equipos en cada mercado que están estratégicamente posicionados para el éxito. Por nuestra cultura de seguridad que significa mucho para cada una de nuestras familias. Por nuestros clientes que son los mejores en nuestra industria. Y sobre todo agradecidos por cada uno de ustedes. Su dedicación hace de MAREK un lugar especial para estar y un jugador importante en una industria maravillosa. Ustedes están dejando un legado que formará parte de nuestras comunidades en los años venideros. --El equipo de MAREK Insights Article
Insights 3539 Oak Forest Drive, Suite 200 Houston, Texas 77018 ATLANTA
MAREK Interior Systems, Inc. (MIS) AUSTIN MAREK Brothers Company (MBC) MAREK Brothers Systems, Inc. (MBS) DALLAS MAREK Brothers Systems, Inc. (MBS) MAREK Brothers Company (MBC) FORT WORTH MAREK Brothers Systems, Inc. (MBS) HOUSTON MAREK Brothers Company (MBC) MAREK Brothers Systems, Inc. (MBS) Oak Forest Lumber & Supply Company (OFL) Stanley Construction Company
MAREK’s Brent Ballard assumes role of President of the Texas A&M Construction Industry Advisory Council
We are proud to announce that our own Brent Ballard, MBC President, has been asked to serve as President of the Texas A&M Construction Advisory Council/CIAC. The Advisory Council supports and promotes the Texas A&M Construction Science Department and its students. As the largest construction science program in the country with over 1000 students enrolled, the interaction between the TAMU Construction Science department and the CIAC is critical to ensuring a high level of information exchange that benefits students, faculty, contractors, and all others who participate in the construction industry.
SAN ANTONIO MAREK Brothers Systems, Inc. (MBS) SAN ANTONIO/RIO GRANDE VALLEY MAREK Brothers Systems (MBS)
MAREK has a rich history of involvement in the CIAC, with Stan Marek having served as the CIAC President in 2003/04, and MAREK funding the COSCI Safety Lab at Francis Hall in 2013, along with regular participation in CIAC events and programs. MAREK also was a founding member of the department’s Construction Industry Advisory Council in 1999. In December 2021, new Dean of the school of Architecture, Patrick Suermann, announced Brent’s appointment. “In 2022, we will welcome Brent Ballard of the Marek Family of Companies as President of the CIAC. Brent has a long history with COSC and made an immediate and significant impact when he was the Industry Rep on the 2017 ACCE accreditation shortly after I arrived in the fall of 2017. Brent has served on every Page 10
committee in the CIAC and will be a great leader for us in the role of President. We look forward to our first career fair in February and our first meeting in April with Prof. Guerra and Tonya Kidwell’s hard work and CIAC leadership’s support. Welcome aboard, Brent!”