TDSpirit Vol. 1 2024

TDSpirit At the Heart of Your Building

VOLUME 1, 2024

CONTINUING THE LEGACY

Of Servant Leaders Process Piping Mission Critical Cleanroom Systems

Thank You, Harold!

TD Celebrates 38 Years of Service

Safety and AI

TDSPIRIT 2024

Letter from CEO Frank Musolino D

ear Customers, Partners and Friends, In our ever-evolving industry, pursuing excellence remains at the core of our values and resonates deeply with me as I write to you for the first time. We maintain high expectations, even in the face of challenges, and we embrace innovation while challenging the status quo, ensuring that if we fall, we only fall forward.

As I step into the CEO role here at TDIndustries, I am humbled and honored to address all of you – our valued customers, partners and dedicated employee-owners. Being a part of this remarkable company is a privilege I do not take lightly. Leadership, at its core, is an act of service and I’m grateful for the confidence TD’s board and employee-owners placed in me to lead this company.

Your trust and commitment to service have been the cornerstone of TDIndustries’ 77 years of success, and together we will continue to build on our extraordinary legacy.

I’m excited to embark on this journey of guiding TD toward new horizons while upholding the strong, servant leadership culture that my predecessors have artfully nurtured: Harold MacDowell, Jack Lowe Jr. and our visionary founder, Jack Lowe Sr. Much like all of you, I have an unwavering passion for the world of construction and facilities services. The permanence of the structures that we help create and maintain – a visible legacy we can proudly share with our communities – is the enduring connection that initially drew me to the industry and keeps me here to this day. Though not all see the immense effort, coordination and expertise required to do this work, I do. Being part of that team and helping support those individuals working tirelessly toward a common goal is what continues to drive me to learn and achieve more.

As we define our next chapter, TD’s leadership is enthusiastically addressing our business goals with a fresh perspective and renewed vigor. We are streamlining our processes to enable our Partners to excel at the fundamentals and refocusing on the field where our true magic happens. We are committed to aligning our industry-leading talent to support our field teams effectively. Our unwavering priority remains the commitment to passionately pursue excellence to best serve our customers, partners and the communities where we work.

With appreciation and anticipation for the future,

Frank Musolino

Our unwavering priority remains the commitment to passionately pursue excellence to best serve our customers, partners and the communities where we work.

CONTENTS NEWS & UPDATES

COVER STORY

02 TD Names

MacDowell: 06 Harold TD celebrates Harold’s

Fourth CEO

TDIndustries names Frank Musolino to succeed Harold MacDowell

03 ABC Craft

Champions

Congratulations to our multiple award winners

Facilities Support TD solutions help keep Arizona campuses running smoothly

Construction 11 Arizona University of Arizona renovation wins ENR Best Project Award

12 One-Stop Cleanroom

38 years of leadership, including 18 years as CEO

Retrofit

Custom solution for mission critical company

LIFE-CYCLE SOLUTIONS

10 Emergency

CULTURE

Facilities Planning TD team helps City of Houston prepare for extreme weather

Life Sciences Manufacturing

Values 14 Core in Action

Celebrating diversity and giving back

Prefab pods create convenient lab workstations at Texas facility

SAFETY

Course 16 SMU TD engineer teaches cool new HVAC class

and AI 04 Safety App streamlines data analysis, pre-task planning

06

On the Cover: From left, Frank Musolino, Jack Lowe Jr. and Harold MacDowell meet with employee-owners during a December town hall meeting.

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NEWS & UPDATES

Board Names Frank Musolino Fourth CEO of TDIndustries IN DECEMBER 2023, TDIndustries’ Board of Directors named Frank Musolino its fourth Chief Executive Officer, marking a milestone in the company’s 77-year history.

“Frank Musolino is well-suited to lead TD toward a dynamic future,” said TDIndustries’ Board Chair Paul Minton.

“Frank has a remarkable track record as a visionary leader, skilled at uniting teams to deliver exceptional customer value. His forward-thinking vision for the evolution of construction and facilities services seamlessly aligns with TD’s next chapter of innovation and growth.”

Musolino has driven strategic initiatives across multiple markets throughout his career, excelling in leading organizations through significant growth. Most notably, he oversaw a national, multi-trade contractor’s expansion, resulting in revenue exceeding $1 billion. His roles have included chief executive officer, chief operating officer, executive vice president and preconstruction executive. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Wake Forest University and a Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from Stetson University.

In addition to his leadership roles in business, Musolino demonstrates a firm commitment to supporting the community. He is the chair of the Tampa Bay advisory board

Four TD Employee-Owners Serve Denton ISD With

107 Years of Service

BRIAN LILLARD, Senior Vice President of Facilities, caught up with four employee-owners at Denton ISD in Texas recently to celebrate their wealth of experience.

From left are Lillard; Mark Fowler (28 years); Vernon Smith (30 years); Tim Baxter (25 years); and Arnoldo Villarreal (24 years).

Add in Brian’s six years at TD and we’re up to 113!

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for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and he recently completed a four-year term as honorary commander at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

Harold MacDowell, who in April 2023 announced his plans to step down as CEO after 18 years, expressed confidence in Musolino’s capabilities: “I know Frank is the right leader at the right time for TD. His ability to blend intellect with empathy and fully grasp TD’s remarkable culture assures me he is well-positioned for success.”

For the latest news, please follow TDIndustries on LinkedIn and subscribe to our blog for updates.

Shoutout to Our ABC Craft Champions!

We had a banner year at the 2023 ABC Craft Championships in Orlando, Florida, with multiple awards including: TRISTAN WRIGHT: GOLD Pipefitting BYRON ALFORD: SILVER Pipefitting JONATHON GOMEZ: Sheet metal, SAFETY WINNER Team Event BRYCE TRAUT: BRONZE Plumbing

Tristan Wright in action.

Look out 2024 competitors, we’re on a roll!

Facilities Teams Keep Arizona Campuses Running Smoothly SKILLED FACILITIES SERVICES support is a hot commodity in Arizona, one of the nation’s fastest-growing states. TD’s facilities teams are ready to jump in with HVAC, plumbing, electrical and operations expertise for growing — and aging — higher education facilities.

Adding momentum to TD’s partnership with Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, the ASU Tempe campus and Scottsdale Community College signed on for TD facilities support for HVAC, plumbing and general maintenance, benefiting from TD’s expertise, quick-start assessment and active coordination with in-house technicians and managers.

Arizona State University (ASU) ranks among the largest U.S. public universities, with four campuses across the Phoenix

metro area. TD supports the Tempe campus, ASU’s largest, serving 58,000 students. Four skilled TD technicians will perform HVAC maintenance in Zone A — a section with 56 buildings, including the Nelson Fine Arts Center, Design North & South Buildings, and ASU at Mirabella (a retirement community on campus).

Scottsdale Community College (SCC) is one of 10 Maricopa Community College District campuses that serves students across Maricopa County—the most populous county in Arizona. More than 10,000 students attend SCC. Several TD technicians provide HVAC maintenance and plumbing support as on-site techs and managers retire. A contract through the Equalis cooperative streamlined the contract process with pre-vetted expertise and pricing.

TD works with six national cooperatives and is available to support businesses and campuses nationwide in need of custom facilities support to fill trade skills gaps, smooth retirement transitions and catch up on deferred maintenance.

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SAFE T Y

Safety and AI

App streamlines data analysis, pre-task planning INTERVIEW BY JACOB BUTTRY

F

iercely protecting the safety of all is a core value at TDIndustries, and a priority at every level. TD has invested deeply in training and safety technology advances across the organization and has been on the leading edge of innovation in construction safety for many years. Since 2014, the team has won national trade association and other industry safety awards each year. Vice President of Safety, Health and Environmental Jamie Dabbs, CSP, recently answered a few questions about how the TD safety team has been using AI for better planning and results.

Q: WHEN AND WHY DID YOU START USING AI AS A TOOL TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR TD AND ITS CUSTOMERS? A: We started using AI to evaluate, score and grade our daily

planning conversations in early 2020. At TD, we complete more than 400,000 safety processes every year, and with over 25 safety professionals on any given day, we can only effectively evaluate all plans if we use technology.

In safety, we use a DMAIC process – define, measure, analyze, implement and control. We needed an AI system that can take a large amount of unstructured human data and use it to make structured reports that we can use strategically to improve. Every year we evaluate thousands of daily planning conversations and score hundreds of thousands of pre-task safety plans using AI. We piloted an integrated AI assist feature into our pretask safety plans in August. We add detailed tasks to the safety app, and it creates a detailed work plan with a job hazard analysis

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within seconds. We will always require our experience and critical thinking to assess the project plan, but the AI assist reduces the time spent writing and can fill in gaps that may have been overlooked.

Q: HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO USE AI NEXT? A: This year, we will implement AI into our safety observation

processes. For example, a user observing a crane installing a rooftop unit can input the description of what is happening. AI can then share (1) a list of safety considerations to monitor and (2) a list of safety-related questions to ask the operators performing the tasks.

Q: HOW DOES AI BENEFIT TD’S CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEE-OWNERS? A: One of the most evident benefits is that it reduces the

time needed to build a safety plan. It also improves the flow of communication between field leaders and crew in the daily planning conversation. Based on the detailed tasks entered by the leader, the AI can outline the discussion with a structure that can make it easier for crew members to communicate and follow.

Instead of employee-owners having to create a pre-task plan manually on the fly, it allows safety plans to be enhanced from our learnings across the company and our subject matter experts. When a team member manually adjusts an AI-generated safety plan, the model learns to add that piece the next time someone requests a similar plan. This allows us to improve our safety processes more quickly and collectively.

Beyond playing a role in improving quality, flow and

efficiency, the AI model also dramatically increases the user experience and design and can easily translate into Spanish or other languages.

Q: DO YOU ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL USES FOR AI IN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY? A: Yes, AI is developing quickly and will inform best-in-class

tional AGC Safety & Health Conference in Nashville and the TEXO Safety Professional Day Conference in Hurst, and we had the opportunity to highlight our innovations in this area.

It is exciting how quickly AI is becoming a resource multiplier, filling knowledge gaps and improving the quality of construction safety observations, daily plans and conversations.

safety processes in the near future. It will use our learning points to prevent issues we’ve identified from recurring.

It will also get better at cross-zone resourcing. Currently, AI is a language model that focuses on one system, like video recordings or text-based plans. But in the future, it could pull from multiple sources like lessons learned, our TD safety manual and more. Pulling and checking across these multiple systems will allow the daily planning conversation to get beyond safety and integrate quality, lessons learned and other aspects of the work.

Q: HOW HAS TD INNOVATIVE USE OF AI BEEN RECEIVED? A: The safety team has quickly adopted the

daily use of AI in the app. We have focused for years on continually improving our daily planning conversations and have worked toward using a job hazard analysis library as a foundation for everyone’s daily plan. Our use of AI has allowed this goal to become a reality and has made safety plan creation and evaluation more efficient. To highlight our success, TD, along with our industry partner, presented on this topic at the Na-

At TD, we complete more than 400,000 safety processes every year, and with over 25 safety professionals on any given day, we can only effectively evaluate all plans if we use technology.

— J AMIE DABBS, VICE PRESIDENT SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL

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CELEBRATING H AROLD

Celebrating CEO Harold MacDowell: ‘He Cares Deeply for People’

W

Harold MacDowell catches up on paperwork at TD’s Dallas office in the late 1980s after finishing the Crescent project on the Special Projects team.

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hen you’re new to a large mechanical construction company and the CEO greets you by name, takes an interest in your life and hands you a soda at an all-hands meeting, you see nothing but great things ahead. Stories like these are plentiful and offer a glimpse into what TD’s CEO Harold MacDowell values. The answer has always been “people.”

When David Fultz had only been at TD a few months, MacDowell greeted him in the hallway by name and even asked about his recent oneyear wedding anniversary.

“It was shocking to me that the CEO of an organization as big as TD would know my name and care about me as a person,” Fultz says. “It demonstrates his sincere heart. For Harold, it’s not just about making money. At the end of the day, it’s caring for people, helping them grow in their careers and lives outside of work.”

For Lauren Turner, it was the gift of a children’s book, with a kind and personal note about family from MacDowell, after the birth of her first child.

“My favorite thing about working with Harold is that he cares deeply about people and that is something that you can’t fabricate,” she says. “It shows up in the way he connects with our field partners and when he’s walking the halls. He cares deeply for this organization and he cares deeply for people.”

Roberta Adams, MacDowell’s executive assistant who’s worked with him for 26 years, notes that Harold is not your typical stuffy CEO. “Harold has no pretense. He embodies servant leadership and TD’s culture and core values. It’s a part of his being to see and inspire the best in people.”

As only the third CEO in TDIndustries’ history, Harold champions the values of founder and

“It aligns with my personal mission and is one of the most rewarding things about working here.”

HISTORY AND HIGHLIGHTS

original CEO Jack Lowe Sr., TD’s second CEO Jack Lowe Jr., as well as other TD Legends. His humble and transparent leadership style draws people to him, as his motivations are genuine.

“What I’m most grateful for in my leadership journey at TD is having the opportunity to impact thousands of lives in a positive way through living our mission and values,” MacDowell says.

MacDowell started at TDIndustries in the mid1980s as a Southern Methodist University (SMU) trained engineer and Assistant Project Manager building the iconic Dallas Crescent Hotel and office complex for customer The Beck Group.

As the new guy, his role included basic project management tasks like submittals, change orders and estimates and helping the field team deliver commitments. “Being on-site was wonderful because we got to be so close to the action, and that’s how learning really happens,” he says.

As the Crescent and Harold’s TD career sprung to life at the same time, it’s notable that as Harold

“For Harold, it’s not just about making money. At the end of the day, it’s caring for people, helping them grow in their careers and lives outside of work.”

—DAVID FULTZ

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CELEBRATING H AROLD

BY THE NUMBERS YEARS

3rd CEO 18 TDIndustries’

as CEO

TD Legends are all smiles at the 2015 Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award ceremony honoring Jack Lowe Jr. The Batman-themed event is Methodist Health System Foundation’s annual fundraiser.

changed roles and led multiple business units through the years, TD continued to be a life-cycle partner to the Crescent. “We still roll trucks up to the Crescent every week, maintaining and replacing equipment put in place 38 years ago,” he says.

38 Years AT TD

Talk of favorite projects always comes back to the major stadiums. “We all love the chance to tell our families we helped build that,” he says.

“Every time I go to Jerry’s World (AT&T Stadium) or Globe Life Field, I look up and am amazed at what our partners have accomplished. How did we get that equipment so high, safely, in a way that enables these great venues to function and deliver games and fun? It’s an unbelievable track record.”

Yet he’s even more proud of the countless buildings TD has operated in and had a 20- to 30-year relationship with, providing a wealth of business and career opportunities for the company’s employee-owners. “You can drive around any city in which TD operates and there just aren’t that many significant buildings that we haven’t touched or worked in,” MacDowell says.

“One of the things I’m most proud to tell people is that we have over 400 service technicians rolling across the Southwest. And we’ve got another 400 facility engineers that care for complex systems and facilities like American Airlines, the city of Houston and Houston Airport Systems or Northern Arizona University. It amazes me, and I’m proud of what we do.”

CULTURE AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP

“Bob Ferguson used to tell a story that in Texas, the reason people leave their windows cracked in the summer is not to keep their cars from getting hot, but because they leave a little bit of themselves in the car before they come in, and they don’t want it to die before they get back. And I thought it was a really neat image,” MacDowell says.

“At TD, we don’t want people to leave a part of themselves in the car with the window cracked.

We want people to bring their whole selves to work. And when you live our core values every day, consistently, it’s a great formula for a life well-lived. So much of what I’ve learned here

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has made my life outside of work more diverse and meaningful. It helped me be a better coach, friend, father and husband. I’m intensely grateful for that.”

He holds the company’s leaders to a high standard, describing three qualities that set the great ones apart.

They are classic servant leaders who put others first and are always focused on growing others; they are good listeners who give honest and critical feedback when someone needs it to grow; and they love to teach.

Coincidentally, these are also qualities others use to describe him.

“He’s an excellent listener, and he seeks to understand,” says Ed Ramsey, who has been at TD for 55 years, is the longest-tenured employee across the enterprise and overlapped at the Crescent with MacDowell. “He doesn’t always make the decision you would like him to make, but I believe he makes the best decisions for the enterprise, what’s best for what’s going to move us ahead and grow. What I’ve learned from Harold is to observe and listen.”

Turner says Harold taught her the value of managing by wandering around, making sure to put people first.

“Harold and I have had candid conversations, and I have felt him value my perspective. That’s been very meaningful to me. Sometimes, people will resist those who are different, and I know that he sees value in me because we’re not the same.”

For Adams, the lesson is to be more trusting.

“Harold is a trust-first person, and he always sees the best in people. I watch him with others, and that has taught me to be a better employee, and just a better person, really.”

IMPORTANT WORK

When he started at TD 38 years ago, MacDowell never imagined he would become CEO of more than 3,000 employee-owners. “It has gone far beyond my wildest dream.”

He’s most proud of the company’s impact on people’s lives and the ripple effect beyond TD and into our communities.

“The work we do is important,” he says. “We get to help build and work in the facilities that better people’s lives. Our work underpins and enables the U.S. economy. We engineer, help construct, operate and maintain the hospitals that save lives as well as the data centers and

Dress for the job you want They say to dress for the job you want, and who doesn’t want to be a superhero, Beyonce, Uncle Sam or the Burger King? For many years running, Harold MacDowell and Roberta Adams were the team to beat for the best corporate Halloween costumes. MacDowell also elevated TD’s traditions of celebrating Flag Day, St. Patrick’s Day and other holidays with his festive attire. Here’s to having a bit a fun along the way.

semiconductor manufacturers that provide infrastructure for the cloud. We build and maintain the schools that educate our youth, the labs that develop vaccines and the office environments that enable great work.”

Yet for MacDowell, his most important work will always be the relationships he builds and the personal and career growth he inspires.

“We’re trying hard to be the kind of place where you’re proud to tell your friends and family, ‘I work at TD,’” he says. “And when we get that right, I think everything else falls into place. We can deliver for our customers. When we get that right, it’s not about the trophies or the magazine covers, it’s about delivering on the purpose of the mission in a way that leaves people stronger and better for having worked at TD.”

MacDowell’s Mentors

Harold shares what he’s learned from TD Legends over the years.

WATCH VIDEO

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LIFE-CYCLE SOLUTIONS

GOVERNMENT FACILITIES SERVICES

The city and TD review plans annually to reassess risks, refine plans and take proactive steps based on learnings from the past year.

Read

Read the interview on facilitiesnet.com.

‘The City of Houston Can’t Shut Down’

T

DIndustries’ facilities team supports Houston’s General Services Department (GSD) by performing proactive maintenance and operating procedures for 54 buildings and 1.5 million square feet, including the Houston Emergency Center, HHS Holcombe Laboratory, Houston Police Department Headquarters, Alief Multi-Service Center, Herbert W. Gee Municipal Courthouse, city libraries and more. That includes three central utility plants, chillers, boilers and all associated HVAC systems.

Houston GSD and TD collaborate proactively on an emergency response playbook to identify resources and opportunities for temporary equipment for contingency planning when weather or other emergencies arise.

“The city of Houston can’t shut

A Lab workstation pods are loaded at TD’s Dallas manufacturing shop.

LIFE SCIENCES MANUFACTURING

Prefab Pods Enable Remote Work for Austin Lab 10 TDSpirit 2024

down,” says Director of Facilities Operations John McKenzie in a recent facilities.net article.

“The office of the mayor, the important facilities, those important first responders cannot shut down,” no matter their challenges. The city and TD personnel review plans annually to reassess risks, refine plans and take proactive steps based on learnings from the past year.

“TD’s attention to detail is invaluable,” says Houston GSD Assistant Director Eric Alexander.

“They are very responsive and have a great understanding of best practices in the facility maintenance industry.”

West Coast company that empowers clients to conduct life science research and development lab work recently expanded to Texas. The 32,800-square-foot lab facility was built in fewer than four months.

For the design-assist project, the TD design and manufacturing teams were tasked with creating 19 lab pods with 20 workstations each. TD’s engineers designed the stations with two sides, piping for three gases and other convenient features such as power and data cabling wire mold. The team worked through multiple revisions with the general contractor, engineer of record and owner.

TD’s Dallas manufacturing team prefabricated the bench racks with life science piping and exhaust systems ductwork for the pods for use with argon, nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases. Each pod includes 20 exhaust connections and 60 gas connections that will serve 380 pieces of modular and agile equipment, according to TD Project Managers Ricky Herrera and Carter Gehm. The lightning-fast pace required a schedule of 12-hour days, seven days a week for two months.

Manufacturing Manager Jason Hogan notes that TD’s diverse material sources paid off for all. The original supplier didn’t have all the necessary materials, but a second vendor quickly supplied the proper parts. The team chose to pro-press and label the chemical lines for efficiency and clarity. The 30-foot prefab pods were shipped in three pieces and assembled on-site to meet the deadline.

ARIZONA SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE

TD Saves the First Day of School in Tucson

T

Photos Courtesy Sundt Construction

he “heroic actions” of TD HVAC techs saved the day at Tucson (Arizona) Unified School District with an emergency air conditioning system fix amid an extended heat wave.

TD’s Jake Hunter and Robert Hall received a special note of thanks from the school district expressing gratitude and congratulating the team on an extraordinary effort and job well done.

An electrical storm damaged critical components of a chiller, and parts were not readily available. Hall was driving back from vacation in another state and volunteered to pick up parts for the repair. Jason Crawford and Hall were able to then make the necessary repairs the night before school opened.

The governing board and Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo recognized the team for “making a catastrophe into a hero moment.”

The save made the Tucson local news, with the district celebrating a successful first day of school welcoming students and teachers.

ARIZONA CONSTRUCTION

University of Arizona Renovation Wins ENR Best Sundt contracted Project Award

C

ongratulations to General Contractor Sundt for winning ENR Southwest Best Project accolades for the University of Arizona Chemistry Building Renovations and Additions project in Tucson, Arizona.

The project repurposed the historic chemistry building into an innovative teaching hub and addressed deferred maintenance, life safety, code upgrades and sustainability. Sundt contracted TDIndustries to replace the building’s mechanical and plumbing infrastructure for heating, cooling, water and sewer systems. The project was 78,600 square feet and included a complete renovation with demolition and a new building addition for classrooms and lab areas.

TD Project Manager Eric Buchholz adds that the team installed new air handling units, exhaust fans, fan coils and air terminal boxes, and a complete plumbing and sewer system for the project. The TD project team also installed a stainless exhaust for chemical storage, compressed air for lab processes and specialty air distribution for large classrooms.

TDIndustries to replace the building’s mechanical and plumbing infrastructure for heating, cooling, water and sewer systems.

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LIFE-CYCLE SOLUTIONS

One-Stop Cleanroom Retrofit Architectural, engineering and MEP systems customized for mission-critical company

BY DONNA STOKES

E

MD Electronics in Dallas has been packaging and providing chemicals to the booming semiconductor industry for decades. Its cleanroom autofill system needed a modern, more efficient replacement.

The company turned to TD’s Process Solutions business unit to design, manufacture, build, QA check and commission an 800-squarefoot cleanroom and associated mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems to lead the company well into the future. Additionally, a TD controls and automation setup will provide remote, instant access and digital monitoring of operations to save time and labor costs.

TD’s Process Solutions business unit provides process piping and exhaust support for the process and industrial manufacturing market. They specialize in the design, fabrication and con-

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struction of process mechanical and cleanroom architectural systems including floors, walls and ceilings. Primary markets served include semiconductor, life science, food and beverage, university research, industrial manufacturing, and buildings which require Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems (FARS).

CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES

TD’s engineering and construction expertise is critical to ensure EMD Electronics’ operations continue full-time with minimal disruption throughout the project. The cleanroom structure was built in two weeks in existing on-site warehouse space using custom modular cleanroom plans in coordination with the architects to meet industrial safety and permitting requirements.

“Engineering and VDC worked together to ensure that the owner was getting a solution that met their requirements while also ensuring that it would realistically fit,” says Mechanical Engineer Brandon Hoke, P.E. Project Manager Austin Pillow noted the need for the new cleanroom to tie in with the current system and align with the company’s equipment specifications for the new installation. The TD project team designed a unique plan, developing material specifications and accommodating a location change and multiple design updates, with permitting approvals at crucial stages.

The leadership of multiple trades added to the complexity and scheduling for the TD team as subcontracting scope included structural steel, fire-stopping and fire suppression, cutting/coring, electrical, controls, roofing and a crane lift for the new 15-ton air handling unit on the roof, among others.

A few members of the TD process piping construction crew gather to mark a project milestone.

TD SOLUTIONS

The team is experienced in cleanroom architectural and required mechanical, high-purity process piping, electrical and controls system requirements. Scope for this bi-level, ISO 5 classified cleanroom includes: Custom cleanroom architecture designed for available on-site warehouse space and proximity to existing systems Prefabrication, construction and installation of fusion-welded, high-purity polypropylene piping and compliant parts for distribution of various proprietary chemical blends, including industrial waste egress Procurement of high-demand, high-purity materials during a pandemic, coordinating material ordering with design HVAC systems for pinpoint temperature and air purity requirements Supply and return ductwork for conditioning the cleanroom Acid exhaust to remove any corrosive fumes from inside the filling machine to an existing scrubber Fan filtration units Return air wall plenums Piping and plumbing for domestic water systems De-ionized water systems Safety shower and hand-washing system inside the cleanroom Compressed air systems and pneumatic valve controls

Orbital weld and stainless-steel piping and stainless-steel compression fittings Wall access retrofit with structural steel reinforcements Varied soffit ceiling heights to accommodate equipment Natural gas systems for heating Crane lift for new AHU on rooftop and exhaust duct HVAC system tie-in QA/QC testing and more TD’s engineering and VDC expertise from a one-model, digital approach and prefabrication of manifolds, ducting, and high-purity plastic piping at TD’s 25,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Richardson, Texas, ensures construction to exact specifications in consistent environment.

CUSTOMER BENEFITS AND GOALS

As the project team nears the testing phase for the switchover to the new system, working through a series of safety and certification processes, the company anticipates many benefits from the new system.

The new cleanroom incorporates modern automation and will increase efficiency, production and filling capacity, on-demand monitoring, fire protection and safety. The automation and controls system will require less manpower on-site and allow digital, remote access to view data and performance.

TD Project Manager Austin Pillow talks with EMD Electronics Production Engineer Hector Molinar.

TD’s engineering and construction expertise is critical to ensure EMD’s operations continue full-time with minimal disruption throughout the project.

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CULTURE

Core Values in Action: Celebrating Diversity and Giving Back

BY PHYLISSIA CLARK

S

tudies have shown that workplace diversity has a positive impact on corporate productivity and financial growth.

According to McKinsey & Company research, the most diverse companies are more likely to outperform peers when it comes to profitability. Research by Boston Consulting Group also found that when employers prioritize inclusivity, employees are three times more likely to be happy at work.

In keeping with its core values, TDIndustries has a comprehensive program to support workforce diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and a robust community outreach program. TD’s efforts focus on education and training, recruiting diverse talent, encouraging participation in support networks, cultivating strategic partnerships and community service.

ABC EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY AWARD

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recognized TDIndustries’ DEI efforts with its prestigious National Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Excellence Award. The award recognizes ABC member firms that illustrate exemplary DEI leadership within in the workforce, supply chain and community. This includes implementation of best-in-class recruitment policies, retention practices, training and mentoring programs.

“At TDIndustries, we celebrate the power of individual differences and value the unique perspectives of our employee-owners,” says Chief People Officer Steve Cunningham. “I am grateful to the many individuals who devoted time and energy to advance initiatives that diversify our workforce and create a productive environment for our team members to grow professionally.”

TD leaders accepted the award during ABC’s 33rd Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida.

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CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Annually, TD’s employee resource groups host a July school supply drive with the goal of donating enough supplies to support students throughout the school year.

The groups collected and donated over 1,000 items to Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) locations throughout Texas and Arizona. Established in 1977, CASA is a community of over 96,000 volunteers throughout the United States who help to support and advocate for the well-being of children in foster care.

“CASA envisions a day when all children experience safe childhoods and grow into resourceful, healthy adults. Our team is thankful for the generosity of TDIndustries employees for donating backpacks and school supplies for children served by CASA,” says Donor Relations Manager Sharon Balaban.

TD employee-owners across Texas and Arizona delivered backpacks, crayons, glue sticks, notebooks, pencils, pens, highlighters and other requested items to neighboring CASA locations.

“The TDIndustries team is comprised of truly wonderful community partners helping the greater good,” says CASA Development Specialist Libby Card.

WILMER-HUTCHINS HIGH SCHOOL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

One example of TD’s firm commitment to growing a diverse talent pipeline is its successful strategic partnership with Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas Independent School District. The population of Wilmer-Hutchins High School is composed of over 90% minority students. The school’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program grants students access to 60 college credit hours and industry certificates in several specific career pathways, including Construction Science, Engineering and the Skilled Trades.

The Anne McGee-Cooper Women’s Employee Resource Group facilitates this program annually by providing 15 to 20 female high school students an introduction to the various careers in the mechanical construction industry. The group

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toured the construction site of an upscale mixed-use complex located in Dallas, with TD’s project managers, superintendents and plumbing and HVAC leads. The purpose of the tour was to provide an interactive and enriching practical example of what students learned in the classroom.

“They are learning so many new things and seeing some of their coursework in action,” says Wilmer Hutchins Workplace Learning Coordinator Vakeshia Gordon. “It is exciting and a great opportunity and partnership with TDIndustries.”

Serving Others with United Way

BY KYLE BRYNSVOLD

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t was founder Jack Lowe Sr.’s strong desire for TD to make a positive community impact. TD’s 70-year relationship with United Way carries that tradition on today with a corporate giving program focusing on the organization’s three pillars: Education, Income and Health.

“I believe that serving others is far more important than serving oneself,” says Fort Worth Estimator Joel Dutton, who helps lead TD’s United Way partnership. Dutton, who has worked for TD more than eight years, is grateful to continue supporting underserved communities as he has in previous experiences as a missionary and working with AmeriCorps.

He challenges all of TD’s employee-owners to join him. “The best first step in getting outside of oneself is to give to and serve our communities,” Dutton says.

TD matches 10 percent of all employee-owner donations to increase the total impact of the annual campaign that benefits multiple local organizations. Whether helping tenants avoid eviction, rescuing people from sex trafficking or helping veterans receive necessary services, United Way

has a hand in it.

“Corporate giving programs are the primary funding source for United Way’s Community Impact Grants, and Community Impact Grants are the way that United Way funds the agencies that work with us,” says Wendy Krizmanic of United Way. Because TD has offices in cities across Texas, Arizona and Colorado, United Way provides a way for all to make a meaningful impact in their communities, including with volunteer events.

In Houston, for example, the team held a Trunk or Treat raffle event in October for friends and family that raised $1,200 for United Way. “There is no way to adequately express the massive gratitude that United Way has toward each and every TDIndustries employee for their generous donations this year and for many years,” says Krizmanic. “Each child you help, each person you assist to get out of difficult circumstances, each person you help to feed is someone who would want to say thank you.”

Employee-owners at TDIndustries’ Houston office put together a Trunk or Treat event with a raffle to raise money for United Way.

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CULTURE

SMU Selects TDIndustries to Launch ‘Cool’ New HVAC Engineering Course

BY LYNNE GREENFEATHER

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outhern Methodist University (SMU) is a nationally ranked private university in Dallas, Texas.

The school serves more than 12,000 students across eight areas of study and is recognized as a distinguished center for global research and teaching.

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering has a long tradition of offering a superb engineering education by providing students with a solid background and practical application of the fundamentals of science and engineering.

Many of SMU’s engineering students pursue a career in construction after graduation. This led SMU’s Mechanical Engineering Department to explore ways to augment the skills necessary for graduates to excel in the construction trade. TD’s Chris Sellers, Project Executive and SMU alum, serves on the school’s engineering board and saw this as an excellent opportunity to give back to the community.

TD Engineering Senior Project Manager Ardas Sabuncuyan was equally enthusiastic and offered to bring his 30+ years of experience to SMU as the adjunct professor for this new coursework. And since the classes are brand new, Sabuncuyan is creating the syllabus from scratch using ASHRAE’s Principles of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning handbook as his guide.

He will focus on lessons in psychrometry, load calculations, air handling,

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ductwork and piping, recovery systems and code knowledge.

“The construction industry is continuously growing, both in opportunity and technology advancements,” he says.

“Students who aspire to implement their knowledge and learn something new every day will thrive in a career as an HVAC mechanical engineer.”

For undergraduates, CEE 5383 is a 3-credit hour course that examines the science and practice of controlling environmental conditions using thermal processes and systems. Graduate students can enroll in ME 7383, a continuing study in the selection and design of basic refrigeration, air conditioning and heating systems, earning an additional

three credits. Classes will start in the Spring of 2024.

“It’s important that today’s students are well-prepared for their careers,” says Sellers. “TD is proud to be a part of helping students achieve their goals and succeed in their future endeavors.”

TDIndustries has a rich history of community support, including a robust internship program for college students.

TD hosted 19 student interns in the summer of 2023, where they learned how to blend their classroom knowledge with real-world applications. We look forward to seeing past and future interns sign up for these new curriculum offerings at SMU.

Chris Sellers and Ardas Sabuncuyan at TD’s Dallas office.

THE IN

NEWS

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HUMAN CAPITAL IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO SUCCESS

FINDING JOY IN THE MEP INDUSTRY

DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS AND THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION

TOP REGIONAL SPECIALTY FIRMS CONTINUE TO GROW

“No matter how challenging or daunting business pressures get, you should never stop trying to both lead and serve,” CEO Harold MacDowell says in an International Business Times article. “Be relentless in your pursuit to balance business needs that ensure the longevity and strength of your enterprise with the needs of the individual human beings that power your organization.”

This insightful thought leadership column in PHCPPros.com by VP of Engineering Justin Bowker, P.E., follows his career journey after choosing a path in the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) field. Bowker shares a few valuable tools to create a positive mindset and fully leverage the opportunities that a career in the MEP industry has to offer.

EVP Matt Terry, ABC’s 2023 Young Professional of the Year, shares his insights in a Construction Dive Q&A on construction safety, the growing challenge of educating and recruiting the next generation of construction industry professionals, and the dataand technology-led future of the industry.

In an ENR.com article, SVP Ed White says talent acquisition remains a top issue for specialty firms.

Given the training required for these trades, a onesize-fits-all solution is not possible, he says. “The demand for construction services remains high,” says White. “The industry will have to devote significant resources to growing its talent pipeline.”

CONTACT US EDITOR: Donna Stokes donna.stokes@tdindustries.com

MEDIA CONTACT: Phylissia Clark phylissia.clark@tdindustries.com

TDIndustries Headquarters: 13850 Diplomat Drive, Dallas, TX USA 75234-8849 • 972-888-9500 TDSpirit 2024

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13850 Diplomat Drive Dallas, TX 75234

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