INSIGHTS WINTER 2023 EDITION
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE MAREK FAMILY OF COMPANIES
MAJOR PROJECTS
ATLANTA While The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) N o r t h Druid Hills Hospital continues to progress, we have made our way around to the CHOA North Druid Hills Clinic Building. The Clinic Building is a 17-floor state-of-the-art outpatient clinic attached to The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) North Druid Hills Hospital. The clinic is part of the 70-acre Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta North Druid Hills campus, which features more than 20 acres of greenspace. We have combined some of our greatest talents to tackle this project. Our team consists of Project Manager, Mindy Griffeth, Supervisor, Jody Spencer, Layout Foreman, Jose Jimenez, Area Foreman, Sergio Linarte and Moises Martinez, Safety Advisor, Danny Williams, Logistics Foreman, Don Hicke, and Project Admin, Soraya Ontiveros. We will continue to put forth our best efforts to impress our customer, GC, JE Dunn and Architect, Earl Swensson Associates.
and is expected to be completed in April 2023, has a total size of 535,000 sf. Our scope is “acoustical ceilings only”, including specialty metal ceilings by USG. We are also performing the Window Treatments scope on this project out of Houston. This specialty children’s/ women’s hospital will be a state-of-theart medical facility including Neonatal/ Pediatric intensive care as well as all other services typically found in hospitals.
Instrumental in the success of the project were Donna Hand, Estimator, and Alan Alfano Jr., Division Manager. Manuel Villagran is Foreman on the project with Gabriel Enriquez as PM and Julio Saenz as Superintendent. GC is Archer Western and Page Southerland Page, Inc. is Architect.
DALLAS The Dallas Crescent’s mixed-use facility Doug Prew is Supervisor with Jose received a 27,000 sf build-out to house Apolinar, Misael Dominguez, Jose A. the expansion of PNC Bank’s footprint in Gonzalez, Nicholas Yglecias, Jaycub the complex. Completed at the end of Thrasher, and Melvin Fuentes as January 2023, the 7-month construction key employees. McCarthy is GC and project boasts high-end finishes, and Architect is Page Sutherland Page. includes specialty surfaces such as NUVACOR panels. DALLAS Within the Juan Martinez is Foreman on the Dallas Arts project with Carson Pittman as PM District is the and Koby Newkirk as Superintendent. new AMLI GC is Structure Tone and Page Interior Fountain Place Architects is Architect. high-rise residence. Began in 2019, this 45-story luxury construction project Scan this to answer MAREK’s Survey will be completed in March 2023. The Escanea esto para completar la new skyscraper was designed to be a encuesta de MAREK complement to its breathtaking IM Peidesigned neighbor, Fountain Place.
MAREK had 2 separate contracts on this project: one with the GC for regular AUSTIN This project is a new 5-story ground up shades, and one with the customer for Children’s Hospital in north Austin. The specialty shades and penthouse suites to project, which began in August 2022 match the building’s high-end finishes. WINTER 2023
HOUSTON MEMORIAL HERMANN Memorial Hermann - The Woodlands Phase II Reno project is an 18-phase, multi-floor active hospital with well over 100,000 sf of hospital renovation. This project is a follow up to the Memorial Hermann South Tower project that wrapped up in July 2022. The South Tower that tied into the existing building was closed off using a two-story temporary wall that MAREK and ACLP built together. Once the South Tower was completed and the two-story temporary wall was demolished, the real renovation work of the existing building began. Our team is working diligently with both Austin Commercial and the MH Hospital team to coordinate the renovation of the existing spaces. This effort consists of moving current staff from the original buildings phased area into the new South Tower space that was recently completed. MAREK and ACLP are strengthening an already established relationship built on trust, quality, and safety. Special thanks to our field teams flexibility and strong communication skills that are driving this project to the finish line. Superintendents on the project include Terry Holcombe, Dave McMillan, and Victor Banos; Hermen Valdez is Drywall Foreman, and Adrian Ortiz is Finisher Foreman. Special thanks to Austin Commercial as GC and Philo Wilke as Architect. THE HIGHLIGHT AT HOUSTON CENTER The Highlight at Houston Center, formerly known as Shops at Houston Center was the last major renovation of a multi-year project by Brookfield Properties, Gensler, and DE Harvey Builders. The mixed-use center serves as premium dining, retail, and lifestyle services for Houston’s largest downtown office complex. To finish up this last phase, MAREK paint was selected to complete the final coatings that will be most visible
to the public. Our scope includes over floor plan allowing our team to save time 27,000 sf of painted exposed decks and and money. nearly 2,000 sf of specialty Scuffmaster paint at the new entry. MAREK’s team began the framing and exterior sheathing this fall, and as work Traditionally aluminum is used for retail continues, we expect our manpower storefronts, but in effort to increase to exceed 100 people. We are grateful the visibility of retailers, and maximizing for McCarthy Building Company for daylight across the space, Brookfield the opportunity to partner with them Properties and Gensler Architects opted on building what’s expected to be the for DEKO Glass Partitions. MAREK “smartest” of Houston Methodist’s nine was excited to be awarded this project hospitals. and provide an architecturally unique solution in a high-traffic space. Gensler Shoutout to our crew, Sr. Project Houston’s office is within walking distance Manager, Glen Blaha, Project Manager, from this project, passersby are already Jose Turcios, Superintendent, Walter commenting and inquiring about DEKO Merlos, Foreman, Paul Trujillo, and before project completion. This project Finishing Foreman, Fabiola Stanford. On serves as the first retail project for DEKO the Field Team, we have Fabio Pena, in the US. Marcelo Illela, Simon Cardenas, and Aurelio Landaverde. Safety Advisor is Paint Project Manager is Robert Hall Ernesto Jimenez and BIM includes Paul and DEKO Project Manager is James Godwin, Hector Gonzalez, and Ryan Newman. McKimmins. METHODIST CYPRESS HOSPITAL In northwest Houston, we’ve broken ground on the new Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital. The “hospital of the future” project, as it has recently been nicknamed, is scheduled to debut in late 2024 or early 2025. It will have a new seven-story, 570,000 sf, 400-bed tower erected on 106 acres near Cypress. The facility will combine cutting-edge technology from the Center for Innovation, such as voice recognition, smart speakers, virtual care, and systems for remote patient monitoring.
SAN ANTONIO Work has recently been completed on a new higher education facility. This facility will house UTSA’s School of Data Science as well as the university’s National Security Collaboration Center. Built in the heart of downtown and on the historic San Pedro Creek, this is the first of many new buildings the university plans to build in the city’s urban core. This six-floor, 167,000 sf building contains hi-impact, sound-isolating drywall and perforated metal clouds.
Thanks to the MAREK team for their hard work: Project Managers Mike Staffel As exciting as all those sound, technology & John Bailey, Formen Luis Lopez was being utilized before construction (Drywall), and David Aguilar (ACT), and even began. MAREK’s BIM department teamed up with Rugged Robotics (George Banos) to use the latest in layout technology. Simply put, blueprints are loaded into the robotic system, it automatically applies the layout to the Page 2
Estimator, Eddie Atnip. GC is WhitingTurner Contracting Company and Jacobs/Overland Partners is Architect.
ON SITE ATLANTA The CHOA North Druid Hills Hospital in Atlanta is progressing well. What they are calling “The Future of Pediatric Care” is just a testament to the important work we do on a daily basis. Our on-site field team continues to do an amazing job leading our 130-person crew. We would like to thank our GC, Brasfield & Gorrie, and Architect, Earl Swensson Associates for their partnerships these last months. This project is expected to finish up by the summer of 2023 and we look forward to seeing the fruits of our labor! The project is being led by Marty Shonkwiler as Project Executive, Tony Smith as Project Superintendent Ismael Bravo, Juan Lopez, Jack Smith, Andres Diaz, and Martin Martinez as Supervisors, Ismael Grimaldo and Enrique Grimaldo as Finishing Supervisor, Danny Williams and David Torres as Safety Advisors, Don Hicke as Logistics Foreman and Soraya Ontiveros as Project Admin. AUSTIN Regent Property
Group
recently
acquired 816 Congress, a 434,801 sf, 20-story Class A Office Building, and is now doing some major renovations and upgrades. We are currently demoing and building back 5 separate spec suites on levels 5, 7, 11, 12 and 18. New open layouts, updated acoustical ceilings and finishes to attract new tenants.
offices to the restored floors; therefore, work is currently being done to prepare for future demolition and build-out. We anticipate receiving contracts for the demolition and rebuilding of the drywall, acoustical ceilings, paint, and fabric panels on these two floors after this interim work is finished.
Francisco Hernandez is Foreman, with Adan Osorio, Lucas Torres, and Jose San Juan Rendon assisting. GC is Balfour Beatty and DLR Group is Architect. DALLAS Underway is the construction of a new 9,000 sf showroom for Tangram curated furniture for office environments. After its acquisition of BKM Total Office of Texas, Tangram moved its regional headquarters to Dallas in 2021. Tangram believes in meeting a constantly-evolving workplace through interrelated places and devices to support the different stages and activities of everyday work. This has led to the growth of five business units that complement the core furniture offerings: flooring, fabrication, custom furniture, move management and audio-visual technology.
ON THE HORIZON
The new showroom expects to be completed by June 2023. Isaac Ruiz, Jr. is Foreman, Koby Newkirk is Superintendent, and David Smith is Project Manager. GC is Rand Construction Corporation with JLL Architecture as Architect.
ATLANTA Work recently began on the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville Clinical Expansion (aka North Tower 2/ED) project located in Gainesville, GA. The project will include 72 patient beds, a new emergency department, surgery expansion, heart / vascular / neuro department expansion, new parking deck, central energy facility, and food services expansion. Our team includes Brian Skinner as Project Manager, Marty Shonkwiler as Project Executive, Tony Smith as Project Superintendent, and Jack Smith as Supervisor. Brasfield & Gorrie is the GC and Perkins & Will is the architect.
HOUSTON On Levels 5 and 6 of the ExxonMobil Campus, MAREK Drywall field teams are currently erecting temporary walls and implementing protection for preexisting surfaces under the direction of Foreman Sergio Palomo and Project Manager Allan Nevlud. ExxonMobil officials are anticipated to relocate their
AUSTIN Cirrus Logic, a leading supplier of lowpower, high-precision mixed-signal processing solutions for mobile and consumer applications, is occupying a new five-story office building down the street from their current world HQ on West 6th Street. Phase 1 is 47,700 sf on floors 4 & 5 which we
Page 3
have already been awarded. Phase Two will be coming our way soon, adding 3 more floors and an additional 57,250 sf of work.
open plan ceilings, SAS custom metal ceilings, and Fact’s Design Ellipse ceiling. We would like to express our gratitude to Mission Constructors for giving us the chance to collaborate on a project Fernando Martinez is Foreman, that will have a significant effect on the with Mario Serrano, Raul Gomez, medical sector. Abel Suarez, and Augustine Garcia contributing. GC is HITT Contractors Working tirelessly on this project and Perkins + Will is Architect. include Luis Montalvo as Drywall Foreman, Terry Holcombe as Drywall DALLAS Superintendent, Josh Marek as Drywall Pepsico, manufacturer of products such Estimator and Project Manager, Davis as Doritos, Gatorade, Lays, Quaker Sprague as Acoustical Estimator, Sharon Oats and, of course, Pepsi soda, is taking Schoolcraft as Thermal Insulation on a 11,000 sf renovation at its Plano Estimator, Ray Vasquez as Fabric Panel headquarters. The project, slated to Estimator, Chuck Bundren as Paint be finished in February 2023, includes Estimator and Roland Mercier as DEKO installation of an acoustical ceiling Estimator. grid, interior framing, and a structural mezzanine. HOUSTON GREAT WOLF LODGE This project, which began in October G r e a t 2022, has Matt Davis as Foreman, W o l f Carson Pittman as PM, and Julio Saenz L o d g e , as Superintendent. Turner Construction a wellis GC. known indoor HOUSTON waterpark, will open its second Texas NURIX THERAPEUTICS location in the Houston Bay Area. In An innovative approach to treating cancer addition to providing entertainment and immunological disorders, Nurix for the whole family, this new facility Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical is anticipated to increase tourism business that focuses on the research, and provide 500 full- and part-time development, and commercialization of permanent jobs in the Webster area. small molecule treatments that modify cellular protein levels. In 2020, Lexicon Construction on the resort including Pharmaceuticals sold property in The an indoor waterpark, a hotel, and a Woodlands to this San Francisco-based meeting center will start in 2023. The business. lodge has a resort with 532 rooms, a 95,000-square-foot waterpark, a The offices, conference rooms, Medical 58,000-square-foot entertainment area, Chemical and Parallel Synthesis labs, and an 11,000-square-foot conference together with supporting buildings center. on Level Two, will all be renovated by MAREK Houston. Our teams will MAREK teams, led by Superintendents complete the drywall, demountable Art Villarreal, Bradley Moore, and Larry DEKO system, acoustical ceilings, Vance, Jr., will oversee the installation thermal insulation, and painting of Acoustical Ceilings, Fabric Wall throughout the project. MAREK’s Panels, and Insulation throughout the acoustical team will install Armstrong resort, entertainment, and conference Page 4
center. A project of this nature is sure to have obstacles, but we’ve got a great relationship with Turner Construction and are looking forward to being a part of such a monumental project! Project Managers include Andy Chien (Acoustical Ceilings), Kyle Ishimoto (Fabric Wall Panels), and Matt Hlady (Insulation). SAN ANTONIO Work has just begun at the NISD John Jay High School Fine Arts Building. This project includes a Fine Arts addition and campus renovation. Details include adding a new auditorium, band hall, choir hall, and additional facilities for theater, music and arts. Mike Staffel and Jesus Roman are the Project Managers for this assignment. Joeris General Contractors is GC and Alamo Architects is Architect.
WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT ATLANTA By Reginald Coleman, WFD Head Coach We’ve been busy investing in our supervisors, coaches, and trainees by hosting several classes for the continuing development of our employees. What makes this task easy to do is the ongoing materials that the MAREK company provides for each branch. Everyone seems to like all the different curricula that the company offers. The most exciting thing is everyone seeing a clear pathway for achieving growth in the company. This allows the coaches and trainees to be motivated and to understand that the fast way to grow in the company is totally up to the individual. I personally am looking forward to continuing to
bring understanding of how easy it is to grow with the company. I just want to thank everyone behind the scenes who makes sure that each branch has the materials for all of its employees to grow in their field.
MAREK Dallas held their 2022 Workforce Development inhouse craft earlier in October. Overall, we had three compete in a build-off for the opportunity to compete against other MAREK competition winners in a final showdown. Brandon Buenrostro won this in competition and moved on to compete against other winners from each MAREK branch for a chance to compete nationally in Florida at ABC’s National Craft Competition. We want to thank Luke Shew and Benjamin Navarro for their efforts in making this an event worth winning.
competition not only taught the students how to use a screw gun properly, but also touched on the efficiency and time management that our employees face on job sites.
As well as the ABC Careers Construction Expo, the WFD Team attended CMEF’s Houston Trades Day. This event was an opportunity for you to engage with high school youth through hands-on demonstrations at Trades Day. The goal of Trades Day is for youth to explore AUSTIN the various opportunities within the built By Ed Cheney – WFD Coordinator environment through hands-on exhibits Congratulations are in order to Luke (examples can include assimilators, laying ATL WFD Competition Bryant for winning first place in the On August 30th, MBS Austin held the Construction Education Foundation tile/brick, electrical walls, virtual welding, Branch Competition Build and are proud of North Texas, CEF Trades Team and so many more!). to announced that we will be represented Competition! Luke will represent MAREK in San Antonio at the MAREK Company in the Associated General Contractors SAN ANTONIO By Gabriel Garcia – WFD Head Coach Competition by Johnathan Yglecias. of America, ABC National Competition which will be held in Florida next year. October Austin currently has four MCP candidates 20th, our in the application process. Our candidates WFD team attended the Basic Math and Basic were hard at Blueprint and Layout classes in August. work talking to students at Austin has also scheduled our first WFD the Ignite Your Success Care Day. This Bootcamp on Sept.6 -13th. event gave our team the opportunity to share their experiences, benefits, and The Austin Safety Team, along with 3 career paths with students. This event field supervisors, attended the Advanced HOUSTON was so well received, our team has been MAREK Houston’s Workforce invited to come back next year! Communications class August 31st. Development team participated in ABC Careers Construction Expo the week of Construction is about a lot more than DALLAS building structures, it’s also about building October 17th. Head Coaches, Aurelio the future. Thank you, Chase Haecker, By Pablo Zarate – WFD Head Coach Flores & Jessica Colindrez, were assisted for the opportunity! It’s been a busy quarter by Drywall Helpers, Alyssa Parada, for the Dallas branch. In Victoria Magallon, Juan Mendoza Jr., effort to recruit future and Jorge Rubio. This event hosted over MAREK employees 500 students enrolled in construction and we participated in the technical courses in Greater Houston TEXO Bid Expo on high schools. The WFD Team provided a October 13th. This event welcomed over 1,000 students screw gun & drywall competition where ATLANTA around the Metroplex who have an the students had two minutes to screw “James Powell is a loyal, dedicated interest in a career in the construction as many screws as possible possible foreman who has been with MAREK for within a 4x4 square of drywall. This twenty plus years. I have had the pleasure industry.
OUTSTANDING
EMPLOYEES
Page 5
of working with him on two extremely difficult projects, Nathan Deal Judicial Center, and Microsoft, where he was an integral part of the team handling the most complex specialty products and schedules. He is a stickler for reviewing and maintaining budgets, a talented team member and makes MAREK a better place to work.” - Derek Marzak, Operations Manager AUSTIN MAREK Austin would like to recognize Anthony Holder, Drywall Supervisor, for Outstanding Employee. Anthony started in 2016 as a Laborer and then quickly adapted into a Drywall Helper position. After crafting his skills and becoming a Journeyman for 4 years, he was promoted to a Foreman position running major jobs. He is someone we can count on to perform a high level of efficiency. DALLAS I would like to recognize Ramon Martinez for Outstanding Employee. Ramon has the immense responsibility of managing the day-today operations within our SPD Warehouse. He has devised and maintains a smooth-running machine that fires on all cylinders. His organizing methods, communication and uncompromising safety standards are exceptional. He performs his duties with a friendly, upbeat and helpful manner. Our project managers and foreman heavily depend on him to ensure that the field gets the material, tools and equipment they need to have a successful, profitable project and he consistently delivers. Thank you for all that you do and the way you do
it. You absolutely make MAREK a better HOUSTON place to work. Reymundo Vasquez - Tommy Weeks, Superintendent has joined the Window Treatment Department as a new Estimator/Project Manager under Kyle Ishimoto’s leadership. Reymundo’s background started in the field, and he brings with him an extensive knowledge of the trade and skillset with him to the office. ATLANTA He’s looking forward to increasing his We had our first knowledge of the other trades MAREK Service Awards has to offer in a great work environment. banquet in 3 years this HOUSTON month at After 7 years as one of Houston Maggiano’s Administrative Assistants with a Little Italy, specialty in subcontracts, Kristina where we recognized and celebrated Velazquez made the transition to the 31 employees including eight 10-year Credit Department working under the awards, seven 15-year awards, four supervision of Steve Winn. Kristina 20-year awards, three 25-year awards, is the new Contract Administrator three 30-year awards, five 35-year overseeing the contract approval awards, and three retirements. We are process between MAREK and its honored to have such loyal employees customers. With Kristina’s eye for detail in our MAREK family! and her organizational skills, we know this transition is going to be an easy one! AUSTIN We have added a new HOUSTON Estimator/PM to the This year the Houston team says farewell staff. Cody Hoffman to 305 years of combined service. The was promoted from following team members have been the the field into the office epitome of what we mean when we to become part of the say, “Strength from Within”! They’ve set sales team. Cody spent the standard for loyalty, kindness, and the last nine years in the field, working character, we will forever be grateful for himself up to Foreman. He has had an the time and dedication they’ve given immediate impact to the team. We look us. Congratulations to each of you on forward to his continued success and your retirement! rise in the company. 10 Years Marshall Cook 20 Years Dale Dodson DALLAS 30 Years James Boyd We had a wedding! Robert Snider Congratulations Randy Viereck to our Accounts 33 Years Susan Viereck P a y a b l e 35 Years Roland Dube C o o r d i n a t o r, Mark Perez Tiffany Waldrop Juvenal Vargas and her fiancé, Jared Dobbelaer, on a Bob Weed beautiful October wedding! Welcome 45 Years Steve Hollamon to the MAREK family, Jared!
PEOPLE
NEWS
Page 6
HOUSTON In November we celebrated our 2022 S e r v i c e A w a r d recipients. We had the honor of celebrating 1,595 combined years of service! Each member of the team really exemplifies what it means to have a meaningful career at MAREK.
COMPANY HAPPENINGS
& EVENTS ATLANTA On Friday, October 14th, our Atlanta branch had its Annual Golf Event. This year’s event was held at the beautiful BridgeMill Athletic Club in Canton, GA. After a chilly start to the day, over 100 customers and vendors enjoyed a round of golf and post tournament meal. Thank you to all who participated! ATLANTA On Saturday, October 22nd, MAREK hosted a company picnic at Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park for employees and their families. It was a great day for a picnic; we had a great time playing games and eating. Every employee received free park passes for all the attractions that the park has to offer. DALLAS Thank you to L&W Supply for hosting a wonderful Holiday Luncheon for our Dallas office. We appreciate our partnership with you and thank you for the wonderful lunch and hospitality!
HOUSTON At the end of September, a team of 12 from MAREK Houston competed against the Houston Corporate team in a 15-obstacle challenge to raise funds to support homeless youth in our community. In support of Covenant House Houston Texas Guts and Glory, the MAREK team took home 2nd place in a tough battle of sweat, determination, and teamwork.
tournament:
- First Place Team: Davis Sprague, Mark Sprague, and Chad Crowell - Second Place Team: David Mauzy, Owen Mauzy, Chuck Bundren, and George Kissamis - Third Place Team: Gary Price, Andy Chien, and Nathan Martin - Closest to Pin on Hole #5: Rodrigo Parra - Straightest Drive: Arthur Ehmling Jr. - Closest to Pin on Hole #11: Chad Since 1983, Covenant House Texas Crowell has committed to providing shelter for - Longest Drive: David Mauzy homeless, abused, and abandoned youth ages 18-24. Offers homeless youth a SAN ANTONIO haven, absolute respect, unconditional On December 10th, love, and a path to lasting independence. MAREK San Antonio hosted their annual HOUSTON Christmas Party! All American employees and their Subcontractors immediate families enjoyed a day at Six Association Flags Fiesta Texas Theme Park. Employees – Houston enjoyed a fun-filled day of roller coasters C h a p t e r and Christmas shows. recognized the Houston Safety Team for their Safety Initiatives and Programs. This award Division President, David Cupit, dressed as Santa and passed out Christmas gifts to highlights our dedication to providing MAREK employees’ children. effective safety and health training for management, supervisors, and SAN ANTONIO employees. It is with great pride that we HOUSTON announce our San We are proud to announce that MAREK Antonio team won Fireproofing has been awarded the the 2022 ABC 7 Million Square Foot Award by – South Texas International Cellulose Corp.! This award Chapter Eagle Award for their work on represents the hard work the men and the Texas Public Radio project! women at MAREK have dedicated to learning and applying K-13 Spray-On Our team not only brought the installation of stretch fabric panels to the San Insulation. Congratulations team! Antonio market, but we’ve also opened up our own Special Projects Division to HOUSTON encourage the delivery of newer trades On November 5th nine (9) MAREK to the market. teams hit the course to participate in our annual Divot King Golf Tournament at The Excellence in Construction awards High Meadows are the construction industry’s leading Ranch Golf Club. competition that honors general and Congratulations specialty contractors for world-class, safe, and innovative construction projects to the following across the nation. winners from the Page 7
at the ABC National Craft Championship in Nashville in March 2023.
DEATHS BIRTHS
x
ATLANTA We would like to congratulate Connor Nolan and his wife, Hannah, on the birth of their daughter, Laney Lee, born on January 22,2023. AUSTIN Congratulations to Johnathan Yglecias on the birth of his son, Levi Ezekiel Yglecias, who was born on Sept 24, 2022, and weighed 7lbs 15 oz. Levi’s birth also made our WFD Head Coach, Joe Pete Gonzales, a great-grandfather! HOUSTON Congratulations to Paint Estimator/ Project Manager, David Mauzy, on the birth of his first child! David’s wife, Taylor, gave birth to beautiful Parker Leigh on May 23rd of this year. David is looking forward to watching Parker grow up and see the person she will be come, along with all the memories they will make together as a family. Congratulations again, HOUSTON Congratulations Houston Division President, Phil Nevlud, on becoming a first time grandfather! Phil and his wife, Kelli, plan on spoiling baby Dalton with all the love and attention this little boy can handle! Congratulations, Nevlud family!
HOUSTON Carlos Machado was a 12-year employee of MAREK. Carlos enjoyed his work and took pride in every project he worked on. He was instrumental to the success achieved on the various hospital projects he worked on in the Medical Center, and the University of Houston Dormitories. His work ethic and his can-do attitude was respected among his coworkers and superiors. Carlos will be greatly missed by all.
NEW EMPLOYEE:
Reymundo Vasquez has joined the Window Treatment Department as a new Estimator/ Project Manager under Kyle Ishimoto’s leadership. Reymundo’s background stems from the field and he brings with him an extensive knowledge of the trade with him and he’s looking forward to increasing his knowledge of the other trades MAREK has to offer in a great work environment. CORPORATE HAPPENINGS
September 28th WFD Superintendent Ricardo Menchaca received the 2022 Champion for CTE (Career and Technical Education) Award. This achievement showcases the strides Ricardo is taking in ensuring our future workforce is prepared for their careers in the construction industry. Company-Wide Craft Competition On November 16, 2022, all WFD Teams had a fantastic opportunity to meet in San Antonio and witness the skills of 5 incredible craft professionals competing for the top honor of representing MAREK Page 8
The competition consisted of a written test, and a 6-hour timed build judged based on quality, accuracy, and safety. Competitors previously won the top spot in their local branches. Atlanta: Joshua Youngblood Austin: Johnathon Yglesias of “2022 Overall Winner” Dallas: Brandon Buenrostro Houston: Juan Mendoza “2022 1st Runner Up” San Antonio: Sebastian Flores Johnathon Yglesias and Sebastian Flores will represent MAREK at NCC. They will compete against other drywall companies from across the US. We wish them luck at the first-ever NCC for Commercial Drywall! Thank you to our Craft Training Superintendents Stacy Gunderson and Ricardo Menchaca, as well as our team of Head Coaches and OJT Coaches who dedicate themselves to craft excellence and growing others. Thank you to all competitors who competed. We look forward to following your careers and seeing what you accomplish, and we know you will do great things. This proves that our Strength comes from Within! September 30th MAREK recognized Turner Construction Company, Gensler Architects, and Grabber Construction Products on the successful relationships and projects built by us collaboratively. The projects we’ve worked on together exhibited the highest standards of workmanship, superior quality, excellent safety records, and innovation that is often sought after to ensure positive
endorsements from the building owners. The evening consisted of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and dancing. But most importantly it gave us a chance to meet, mingle, and share the history of who we are and how far we’ve all come. The shared common bond of respect and great company culture was felt by everyone in attendance. We were grateful for the opportunity to celebrate and thank everyone for a successful partnership throughout 2021 and 2022. On October 1st MAREK had the opportunity to bring in industry leaders Turner Construction Company, Gensler, and Grabber Construction Products to discuss solutions for delivering today’s sophisticated projects on budget, on time, and with high quality. This event not only helped bring powerful insight into what happens on the client’s side but also brought forward thought-provoking questions that, with the right solutions, getting involved early, and prefab could possibly solve many industry problems. A Grabber representative stated, “I look forward to continuing to support MAREK’s forward thinking to help us find ways to support the industry better.” It’s partnerships like this that help build a motivated team to get out there and get the job done. Team MAREK appreciates everyone that attended. We look forward to learning more about the possible ways early engagement offers a viable solution for our industry partners for the foreseeable future.
MESSAGE FROM
STAN
the age of 20, Valdez signed for $10,000 at 21 and Urquidy made $100,000 after he was acquired from his Mexican League team two months before he turned 20.
Astros’ World Series stars embody Javier was a skinny kid from Santo Domingo who used to mimic older the Houston immigrant dream men he saw playing catch by chucking - The Editorial Board rocks at a mango tree. He left behind Admit it, Astros fans. You were worried. his family in a poverty-stricken nation Going into that Game 4 Wednesday to toil away in minor league stadiums, night in Philadelphia, the Broad Street chasing long odds to one day toe the Bullies had the hometown team on pitcher’s mound at Minute Maid Park. the ropes. The Astros’ vaunted offense Since reaching the majors, he has so had gone quiet the night before. The impressed coaches and teammates with possibility of the series never returning his poised, cold-blooded demeanor that he earned the nickname “Reptil.” He’s to Houston loomed large. Until Cristian Javier took the mound. even coined a new term — “Invisiball” By now, there’s no need to recap — for his deceptive fastball, the same Javier’s heroics. He keynoted the one that flummoxed the Phillies in Game Astros’ combined no-hitter that night, 4. dominating a formidable lineup with a fastball that seemed to sashay away from Valdez didn’t even pick up a ball until he was 16, admitting to reporters that he the Phillies’ bats. didn’t think he was ready to chase his It was an extraordinary performance that big-league dream before that. At 5-11 single-handedly shifted the momentum and 170 pounds, Valdez didn’t look of the series in Houston’s favor, and like a prototypical starting pitcher, but made all the more poignant by the he impressed Astros scouts in a tryout unlikely trail Javier blazed to the United in the small town of Guayacanes, 58 miles from his hometown of Palenque States. on the Dominican coast. He quickly For a city with an estimated 1.7 million rose through the minor leagues as a foreign-born residents, players such relief pitcher before transitioning to the as Dominicans Javier and Framber starting rotation full-time in 2020. In an Valdez, Venezuelan Luis Garcia, and era where starting pitchers rarely pitch Mexican José Urquidy personify the deep into games, Valdez is the Astros’ American Dream. They embody what workhorse, throwing 200 innings — we want Houston to be — an inclusive, fifth-highest in the majors — this season. welcoming, worldly city, where dreams Garcia might never have reached aren’t limited by language, birthplace or the majors if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. When it looked like the entire zip code. season was in jeopardy, he stayed sharp In a league where many international by throwing bullpen sessions in a parking signees ink high six- and seven-figure garage near the Astros’ West Palm Beach spring training facility. When a shortened bonuses as soon as they turn 16, season finally began, the Astros plucked this quartet of starting pitchers signed Garcia — who had never pitched for relative pennies. Javier signed for beyond the low-level minor leagues $10,000 one week before his 18th — from their alternate training site in birthday, Garcia signed for $20,000 at Corpus Christi for a handful of major Page 9
league starts. He’s been a mainstay ever since. Urquidy, who grew up in the resort town of Mazatlán in the state of Sinaloa, was pitching in the Mexican League when the Astros acquired him in 2015. From there, he took a circuitous route to the majors. He blew out his elbow during his first year in the minor leagues, missing an entire season after having surgery. When he returned, he showcased a stronger fastball but it took him two years to prove himself before he was promoted to the major league team in 2019. He honors his hometown by playing the song “El Corrido de Mazatlán” a popular ballad by Banda del Recodo while warming up before his starts. Last year, Urquidy became one of only two Mexican-born starting pitchers to win a World Series game.
particularly with pitchers, who put unique strain on their elbows and shoulders with every high-velocity fastball and wicked curveball they uncork. But as long as these unlikely success stories don Astros colors, they will continue to give our city something to be proud of. The team played with exuberance and cohesiveness all season, and with great love for Manager Dusty Baker, who finally earned his first world championship as a manager after 25 years. The team rushed to surround him and chant his name after Kyle Tucker.
Para una ciudad con un estimado de 1.7 millones de residentes nacidos en el extranjero, jugadores como los dominicanos Javier y Framber Valdez, el venezolano Luis García y el mexicano José Urquidy personifican el sueño americano. Encarnan lo que queremos que sea Houston: una ciudad inclusiva, acogedora y mundial, donde los sueños no estén limitados por el idioma, el lugar de nacimiento o el código postal.
En una liga donde muchos fichajes internacionales firman bonos altos de seis y siete cifras tan pronto como cumplen 16 años, este cuarteto de lanzadores abridores firmó por relativos centavos. Javier firmó por $10,000 una semana antes de cumplir 18 años, García firmó por $20,000 a la edad de 20 años, Valdez firmó por $10,000 a los 21 años y Urquidy ganó $100,000 después de Editorial: Astros “Estrellas de la ser adquirido de su equipo de la Liga These four pitchers form the spine of a Serie Mundial encarnan el sueño Mexicana dos meses antes de cumplir dominant pitching rotation for what could inmigrante de Houston” 20 años. be a dynastic run for the Astros. Along with teammates and fellow young Latino Admítelo, fans de los Astros. Estabas Javier era un niño flaco de Santo Domingo stars such as Cuban-born Yordan Alvarez preocupado. que solía imitar a los hombres mayores and Dominican-American Jeremy Peña, que veía jugando a atrapar arrojando all are squarely in their athletic prime Entrando en ese Juego 4 el miércoles piedras a un árbol de mango. Dejó atrás — Valdez, at 28, is the oldest of the por la noche en Filadelfia, los matones a su familia en una nación afectada por bunch. None of them carry the stain of la pobreza para trabajar en estadios de the cheating-scarred 2017 championship de la calle broad tenían el equipo de la ligas menores, persiguiendo grandes team. And each bring a little bit of much- ciudad natal en las cuerdas. La alardeada probabilidades para algún día pisar el needed flair and swagger to a sport long ofensiva de los Astros se había callado la montículo del lanzador en Minute Maid thought of by casual fans as staid and noche anterior. La posibilidad de que la Park. serie nunca regresara a Houston se hizo unexciting. grande. Desde que llegó a las mayores, ha It was Alvarez who launched the World impresionado tanto a entrenadores y Series-deciding, 450-foot, three-run Hasta que Cristian Javier tomó el compañeros de equipo con su actitud “moon-shot” home run in the sixth montículo. A estas alturas, no hay equilibrada y de sangre fría que se ganó necesidad de recapitular la heroicidad el apodo de “Reptil”. Incluso ha acuñado inning of Saturday night’s Game 6, 4-1 de Javier. Señaló el no-hitter combinado win that got Minute Maid Park rocking, de los Astros esa noche, dominando un nuevo término, “Invisiball”, para su watch parties screaming and celebratory una alineación formidable con una bola engañosa bola rápida, la misma que fireworks popping off in neighborhoods rápida que parecía alejarse de los bates desconcertó a los Phillies en el Juego 4. across Houston. The rookie sensation de los Filis. Valdez ni siquiera recogió una pelota Peña won World Series MVP thanks to Fue una actuación extraordinaria que hasta los 16 años, admitiendo a los acrobatic defense and timely, powerful por sí sola cambió el impulso de la serie periodistas que no creía que estuviera a favor de Houston, y se hizo aún más hitting. listo para perseguir su sueño de Grandes conmovedora por el improbable camino Ligas antes de eso. Con 5-11 y 170 que Javier abrió a los Estados Unidos. Nothing is guaranteed in baseball, libras, Valdez no parecía un lanzador
MENSAGE DE
STAN
Page 10
abridor prototípico, pero impresionó a los exploradores de los Astros en una prueba en la pequeña ciudad de Guayacanes, a 58 millas de su ciudad natal de Palenque en la costa dominicana. Rápidamente ascendió a través de las ligas menores como lanzador relevista antes de pasar a la rotación de abridores a tiempo completo en 2020. En una era en la que los lanzadores abridores rara vez lanzan profundamente en los juegos, Valdez es el caballo de batalla de los Astros, lanzando 200 entradas, la quinta más alta en las mayores, esta temporada.
la Serie Mundial.
Urquidy, quien creció en la ciudad turística de Mazatlán en el estado de Sinaloa, estaba lanzando en la Liga Mexicana cuando los Astros lo adquirieron en 2015. A partir de ahí, tomó una ruta tortuosa hacia las mayores. Se voló el codo durante su primer año en las ligas menores, perdiéndose una temporada entera después de someterse a una cirugía. Cuando regresó, mostró una bola rápida más fuerte, pero le tomó dos años demostrar su valía antes de ser promovido al equipo de Grandes Ligas en 2019. Honra a su ciudad natal tocando la canción “El Corrido de Mazatlán”, una balada popular de Banda del Recodo mientras calienta antes de comenzar. El año pasado, Urquidy se convirtió en uno de los dos únicos lanzadores abridores nacidos en México en ganar un juego de
Nada está garantizado en el béisbol, particularmente con los lanzadores, que ejercen una tensión única en sus codos y hombros con cada bola rápida de alta velocidad y bola curva malvada que descorchan.
Estos cuatro lanzadores forman la columna vertebral de una rotación de lanzadores dominante para lo que podría ser una carrera dinástica para los Astros. Junto con compañeros de equipo y otras jóvenes estrellas latinas como el cubano Yordan Álvarez y el dominicanoestadounidense Jeremy Peña, todos están en su mejor momento atlético: Valdez, de 28 años, es el mayor del grupo. Ninguno de ellos lleva la mancha del equipo campeón de 2017 marcado por trampas. Y cada uno aporta un poco García podría nunca haber llegado a las de estilo y arrogancia muy necesarios a mayores si no fuera por la pandemia de un deporte considerado durante mucho COVID-19. Cuando parecía que toda la tiempo por los fanáticos casuales como temporada estaba en peligro, se mantuvo serio y poco emocionante. fuerte lanzando sesiones de bullpen en un garaje cerca de las instalaciones de Fue Álvarez quien lanzó el jonrón entrenamiento de primavera de West decisivo de la Serie Mundial, de 450 pies Palm Beach de los Astros. Cuando y tres carreras, en la sexta entrada del finalmente comenzó una temporada Juego 6 del sábado por la noche, 4-1 acortada, los Astros sacaron a García, que hizo vibrar al Minute Maid Park, ver quien nunca había lanzado más allá de las fiestas gritando y fuegos artificiales de ligas menores de bajo nivel, de su sitio celebración estallando en vecindarios de de entrenamiento alternativo en Corpus todo Houston. La sensación novata Peña Christi para un puñado de aperturas en ganó el MVP de la Serie Mundial gracias Grandes Ligas. Ha sido un pilar desde a una defensa acrobática y un bateo entonces. oportuno y poderoso.
Pero mientras estas historias de éxito improbables vistan los colores de los Astros, continuarán dando a nuestra ciudad algo de qué estar orgullosos. El equipo jugó con exuberancia y cohesión durante toda la temporada, y con gran amor por el entrenador Dusty Baker, quien finalmente ganó su primer campeonato mundial como gerente después de 25 años. El equipo se apresuró a rodearlo y corear su nombre después de que Kyle Tucker persiguiera Page 11
el último out. “Houston, lo hicimos de nuevo”, dijo el propietario Jim Crane desde el escenario de la ceremonia del campeonato. Oh, cómo lo hicimos, gracias a este admirable elenco de jóvenes estrellas y veteranos. No podemos esperar al desfile.
Page 12
Insights 3539 Oak Forest Drive, Suite 200 Houston, Texas 77018 NASHVILLE ATLANTA MAREK Brothers MAREK Brothers Systems (MBS) Systems (MBS) AUSTIN RIO GRANDE VALLEY MAREK Brothers Company (MBC) MAREK Brothers MAREK Brothers Systems (MBS) Systems (MBS) DALLAS SAN ANTONIO MAREK Brothers Company (MBC) MAREK Brothers MAREK Brothers Systems (MBS) Systems (MBS) FORT WORTH MAREK Brothers Systems (MBS) HOUSTON MAREK Brothers Company (MBC) MAREK Brothers Systems (MBS) Oak Forest Lumber & Supply Company (OFL) Blue Bell - Stanley Construction Company
Page 13