INFO RMAT I O N FO R ZAC H RY CO R P O R AT I O N E M P LOYE E S , FA M I L I E S A N D F R I E N DS ™
INNOVATION IN ACTION: LAUNCHING THE DREAMERS AND BUILDERS PROGRAM P. 8
ISSUE 2, 2023
ANNUAL TOURNAMENTS A CAPITOL IDEA! P. 4 HISTORIC HOSPITALITY: HILTON PALACIO DEL RIO CELEBRATES 55 YEARS P. 6 TIPPING OFF AN ERA OF INNOVATION - ZCC’S ANNUAL MEETING P. 12
DEAR READERS, A normal part of being human
One of my very favorite quotations is from author E. E. Cummings
is that each of us is afraid of
in a phrase that is particularly appropriate this time of year when
something. That fear may be
the school year is ending. Cummings said, “It takes courage to
heights, public speaking, horror
grow up and become who you really are.” While the obvious
movies or sharks. Fear could
language speaks about children, a more nuanced reading is that
also be much more internal and
we all continue to grow throughout our lives. In the same way
express itself in ways that are
that children in a supportive and encouraging classroom perform
often hard for others to distinguish
better than their peers, that kind of environment produces the
such as, not speaking up in front
same result in adults. We would all rather have a teacher who
of colleagues for fear of appearing
encourages us, takes time with us, helps us understand and
to lack knowledge, choosing not
feel understood and seen, makes us feel like we are every bit as
to pursue an opportunity for fear of failure or being judged, or
capable as others, and gives us the confidence to go out and do
fear of losing your job and not being able to provide for your
more. That amazing teacher is not giving us anything that isn’t
family. These fears are all very real, rational and, unfortunately,
in us already, it is just hiding behind our fears waiting for a safe
quite common. They also have the potential to diminish our
place to come out. That is the environment where every person
individual and organizational capabilities and undermine the
can dream and succeed, individually and together.
environment of belonging we strive to create. We are working to enhance our culture and work environment Former Secretary of State and orator William Jennings Bryan
around the structure of our Core Values. Our goal is to create a
said, “the way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you
supportive and encouraging environment where authenticity is
fear.” While that statement sounds so simple, which is the beauty
valued and individuality and creativity is celebrated.
of it, there is a very real challenge in purposely choosing to do something that will bring anxiety and uncertainty. That is a
Several years ago we developed a leadership model that is the
challenge worth every effort.
foundation of our team member development strategy. The three pillars of our leadership model are Develop Yourself, Develop
Creating an environment that encourages leaning into our fears
Others, and Live the Values. We seek an environment in which
requires a depth and breadth of leadership consistency that
every person believes they belong and can safely try new things,
can only be accomplished through a structured strategy and
set high goals, fail and succeed, learn and try again. We want
plan. An important part of our strategy is to focus on retaining
to recognize the courage it takes to speak up in a meeting and
and developing our talented team members. The length of time
offer your ideas and experiences, acknowledge the courage to
our team members have been with our company, and lived and
ask for training or help or what it would take to be ready for that
guided our culture, is an incredibly valuable resource in sustaining
promotion you have dreamed about but are not sure you are
the good things we do. So, making intentional efforts to develop
ready or qualified. If we can get there, our future will be quite
and promote internally are critical. We can always benefit from
secure because we will have unlocked everyone’s full capability
bringing in new ideas and energy, but we must remain committed
and potential.
to our internal pipeline of talent ready to fill each opening.
David S. Zachry President and CEO
WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU! 2 | ZACHRY ADVANTAGE ISSUE 2, 2023
Zachry Advantage is YOUR magazine. It is designed to keep team members informed on company happenings and we want to hear from you. Please send your story ideas, suggestions for improvement, or a cool photo taken on the job to Public Affairs at public.affairs@zachrycorp.com or by calling 210-871-3366.
TAKE HOLD OF YOUR HEALTH! Physical – Financial – Mental – Emotional PHYSICAL – Take advantage of the diabetes management program included in our medical plans. The Diabetes Management Program through LIVONGO® is available at no cost to you and your covered dependents. You must be enrolled in the company offered medical plans to participate. To enroll go to join.livongo.com/BCBSTX/register or call 800-945-4355. Use registration code: BCBSTX. You will receive a welcome kit that includes an advanced electronic blood glucose meter, unlimited test strips, lancets and a bag. You will also have access to real-time support, expert coaching with health professionals and nutritionists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
FINANCIAL – Maximize your health care dollars by getting the “right” treatment and service in the most cost-effective way. Primary Care Physician, Urgent Care or Emergency Room Remember the best place to go for care is usually your Primary Care Physician for most common illnesses. If you are not sure, you can always contact the BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) Nurse line 24 hours a day 7 days a week by calling 800-581-0353. If you are not experiencing a life-threatening condition, yet are in need of services after hours or during a weekend or holiday, a trip to Urgent care is generally a better use of your time and resources to treat injuries, fevers, infections and other ailments verses the Emergency Room (ER). Urgent care clinics often have far shorter wait times than the ER and cost less than a traditional hospital emergency room visit.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Christie Boubel Brian Dickson Tyler Farella Chris Foster Ben Fox Sam Hosch Ryan Ilg Laura Irle Lindsay Hartman
CONTENTS 2
DEAR READERS
4
ANNUAL TOURNAMENTS A CAPITOL IDEA!
6
HISTORIC HOSPITALITY: HILTON PALACIO DEL RIO CELEBRATES 55 YEARS
7
THE ZACHRY SCENE
8
INNOVATION IN ACTION: LAUNCHING THE DREAMERS AND BUILDERS PROGRAM
10
I/Q WINNERS
11
IMPACT YOUR INDUSTRY ENGAGE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY INSTITUTE
12
TIPPING OFF AN ERA OF INNOVATION - ZCC’S ANNUAL MEETING
14
THE ZACHRY WAY
15
MILEMARKERS
16
THROUGH THE LENS
If you or a covered family member is experiencing a life-threatening condition or illness, the best place to seek care is the Emergency Room.
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL – Mental health is just as important as physical health. You have many options to seek care for emotional and mental health in both English and Spanish. We added a new resource that is available to all team members and their families through Gateway to Hope. The list below identifies all resources that are available: New Hope Line by Gateway to Hope – Call 832-831-7337 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (CST) 7 days a week. The services are free.
Chris Jaworksi Nancy Lopez Natalie Manning Marleen Morales Jennifer Navarro Wendy Parker, Chair Lee Scheel Tara Snowden Marie Surls
ZCARES (EAP) – Call 888-922-7375 for assistance. There is no cost for assistance. Unum Health Advocate – Call 800-854-1446 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The first 3 visits are free. You may choose in-person, online, or telephonic visits through BetterHelp.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) Customer Service – Call 800-521-2227 or visit MDLIVE.com/bcbstx or download the MDLIVE App for team members and covered dependents enrolled in one of the company medical plans. MDLIVE Telemedicine – Call 888-680-8646, or visit MDLIVE.com/bcbstx or download the MDLIVE Mobil App for team members and covered dependents enrolled in one of the company medical plans. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call 988, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Cover: The winner of the first Dreamers and Builders Open Challenge was the Wind Energy Construction Services proposal submitted by Mark Spaulding and Tyler Farella.
ZACHRY ADVANTAGE | 3
ANNUAL TOURNAMENTS
A CAPITOL IDEA!
Pictured Above L to R: Andy Nowak, Jacob Ackerman, Jonathan Johnson, Colton Corso, Jerome Martin, Jeff Weyel (retired), RJ Lee, Bruce Dallimore (retired), Joey Klar, Andrew Swayze, Mike Castillo Pictured Right L to R: Scotty Gerbes, Jose Torres, Bob Jackson, Bruce Loesch, Arnie Tovar
Every year during the second quarter, Capitol Aggregates (Capitol) gathers as many team members as they can for some competitive recreation away from the rocks. David Disbrow, now retired, kicked off the tradition nearly ten years ago as a way to encourage camaraderie between team members separated by up to hundreds of miles. The games go beyond the fishing, skeet shooting, and golf that take place. They build the very culture and connections that define what it means to work at Capitol – This is More Than a Job®. “These tournaments are a chance for our teams to have fun and get to know each other a little,” said Senior Area Manager Steve Eckert. “The winners get prizes and the team that wins two out of three tournaments, whether Cement or Aggregates, carries the trophy for the year.”
Pictured Above: Ben Fox, Scott Wolston, Eric Ervin, Mark Spaulding
Pictured Above: Mike Castillo, Alex Kopka, Andy Nowak, Ben Caccamo
4 | ZACHRY ADVANTAGE ISSUE 2, 2023
More than 60 team members participated this year, netting bass at Rancho Blanco in Laredo, Texas, shattering targets at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas, and teeing off at The Buckhorn in Comfort, Texas.
“A lot of work goes into organizing the events, but we do it to thank our hard-working team members and build rapport between the plants and quarries,” said Director of Distribution Scott Wolston. Special thanks to Environmental Specialist II Adam Ybarra, Electrical Manager Arnie Tovar, and Engineering Manager Richard Jarzombek for their pivotal roles in making sure the games were a success.
Pictured Above: Nelson Bohannan, Marlin Webb, Bobby Rankin, Lindsay Hartman
Pictured Above: Jason Jones, Colton Carson, Sebastian Gutierrez, Adam Ybarra
Pictured Above: Lindsay Hartman, Jason Jones
THE CEMENT PLANT’S NEW LAB
Above: Pouring Capitol’s own blended cement into insulated concrete forms to shape the walls at the new Cement Plant Lab.
Capitol Aggregates Cement Plant’s highly anticipated new lab building is well under way and on schedule for completion in fall 2023. Engineering Manager Richard Jarzombek is overseeing the design plans and construction of the single story, 7,500 square-foot facility.
“Team members are excited it’s finally happening,” said Jarzombek. “The new facility will house both the Cement Plant’s lab department and the technical services group. The two teams currently occupy buildings that were built in the 1950s and 60s so it’s time for a new and better facility.” Jarzombek explained the unique way they constructed the walls of the new lab. Rather than the typical tilt-wall method, the team used insulated concrete forms made of heavy-duty Styrofoam and plastic ties that interlock together to shape the walls. A pump truck then poured in the Cement Plant’s own Type 1P cement, which is a “green” blend. “The great thing about insulated concrete forms is the sound barrier it creates. Team members inside won’t be able to hear the industrial hum of the plant at all. It will also help the building stay cool in the summer and keep the heat in the winter,” said Jarzombek.
PROFILE JOEY KLAR
Capitol Aggregates is proud to welcome back Joey Klar, the new plant manager of Rio Medina in Hondo, TX. Joey started at Capitol in 1984 doing yard and office work before he turned 18, then he worked in the sand and gravel plants running the scale during the day and plant maintenance in evenings. In 1994, he was sent to Austin River Plant to run the heavy equipment shop, moved to Ready Mix operations, then left Capitol in 1999. He gained a lot of managerial experience including Division Manager over the design, fabrication, installation and servicing of aggregate, limestone, frac sand, cement, and lime equipment for another company.
“My previous experiences have taught me a lot about the plant and plant equipment, but more than that I learned about the people,” said Klar. “I have been blessed to work with a diverse group of people throughout my career and have learned that success is just a topic for discussion without the support, hard
Pictured Above: Harvey Gonzalez, Jerome Martin, Rob Lykins, Eugene Levya
Pictured Above: Justin Bradley, Drew Nunn, Bruce Loesch, David Carrasco
Pictured Above: Tracey Taylor, Carla Esparza
work, and dedication of the team.” ZACHRY ADVANTAGE | 5
HISTORIC HOSPITALITY:
HILTON PALACIO DEL RIO CELEBRATES 55 YEARS
Pictured Left to Right: Alejandra Gandara, Marilou Villasenor, Lucila Alderete Gonzalez, David Tidwell, Shaukat Khan, Isabel Montero
Pictured: TeAunda Rodgers
When H.B. “Pat” Zachry Sr. pitched his plan to build a new hotel in less than nine months in time for San Antonio’s HemisFair ‘68, the city council was skeptical. Even IBM computers verified that the 500-room, 23-story hotel could not be built in time using conventional construction methods. So Pat redefined the conventions with record-breaking innovation we still marvel at today. Words like futuristic, revolutionary, and genius were used to describe Pat’s idea of constructing prefabricated rooms on the ground and lifting them into place with a 300-ton super crane. The rooms were completely furnished before being lifted, from the furniture to the soap in the soap holders. Another first-of-itskind was the “whirly-bird” lifting rig that used a helicopter tail rotor to precisely align and stack the modules. Working in shifts around the clock, the 600-member crew completed the hotel in an astonishing 202 working days, 31 days ahead of schedule. The Hilton Palacio del Rio was the tallest, fastest-built, and most sophisticated prefabricated structure in the world in 1968, all thanks to Pat’s inspiring vision, unprecedented ingenuity, and heart of service for the city.
Pictured Left to Right: Robert Thrailkill, Cecilia Salinas, Richard Gonzales, Liz Miera, Rachel Lopez-Mayfield, Valarie Tello
Fifty-five years later, the Palacio carries on the hard-working, innovative legacy it was born into and continues to win accolades, for its generous support of the community and above-and-beyond service.
“We just had a record month at Hilton Palacio del Rio in March, so we spent our anniversary recognizing our team members’ hard work and enjoying each other’s company,” said Vice President of Operations Robert Thrailkill. “We have so many generous, service-focused people here who really care about what they’re doing. I see it every day and I want to thank all of them for their dedication and perseverance.” Learn more about the Palacio’s industry-defining construction by searching “A Tall Story Hilton Palacio del Rio” on YouTube.
BOOKING A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR HOSPITALITY Hospitality is the kind of industry you can climb from front desk clerk to Chairman of the Hotel and Lodging Association. Just ask Embassy Suites Airport General Manager Matthew Hosack. He started his career in hospitality at the front desk and earned his way to influencing decisions that affect the whole industry as Chairman of the San Antonio Hotel and Lodging Association (SAHLA). SAHLA advocates for lodging interests at the highest levels of city government and supports opportunities in education to grow the industry. 6 | ZACHRY ADVANTAGE ISSUE 2, 2023
“We want to get the story out that young people can start in hospitality and have a rewarding career with competitive salaries and wages,” said Hosack. Another duty of SAHLA is to celebrate the amazing contributions of hospitality team members through events like the bed-making competition, the Pineapple Awards, and Hospitality’s Hidden Gem.
“My personal goal as Chairman is to make our signature events higher-grossing and better than ever to deliver the most value for our hard-working members,” said Hosack.
ZACHRY SCENE THE
San Antonio River Foundation Zachry Corporation partnered with the San Antonio River Foundation and adopted the Right-of-Way on W North Loop Road (in front of Zachry Underground and Utility Services). On April 12, Zachry volunteers helped beautify the location by picking up trash and performing landscape beautification. San Antonio River Foundation’s (SARF) mission is to preserve, enhance, and transform the SA River Basin as a vibrant, cultural, educational, ecological, and recreational experience.
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center On April 15, Zachry volunteers helped the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center in San Antonio, TX, with landscape cleanup, removing and trimming plants, clearing the viewing area, and mulching brush piles. Mitchell Lake Audubon Center’s mission is to connect people to nature through conservation and community education focused on birds and their habitats.
The Autism Treatment Center On May 20, Zachry’s volunteers helped the Autism Treatment Center (ATC) with landscaping needs by mulching the children’s playground and clearing brush. The playground is the children’s safe space for breaks and fun between Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis tasks, and learning how to play with other children or on their own. The ATC meets the growing needs of both children and adults with autism.
Days of Caring Coming soon in September 2023! Through this companywide volunteer effort, all team members and family members are invited to volunteer at local organizations and demonstrate Zachry’s Core Values in action. Look for information on volunteer opportunities from the following Regional Leaders. Scan the QR Code to get more information as it becomes available. Central/South – Abel Luna East Coast – Raleigh – Ryan Ilg East Coast – Charlotte – Ryan Ilg
Gulf Coast – Nic Buhler North Texas – Matt White West Texas – Celza Sauceda
ZACHRY ADVANTAGE | 7
INNOVATION IN ACTION Launching the
“I want to dream and to build...” — H. B. Zachry Sr.
This quote from founder H. B. Zachry Sr. inspires innovation and invention and is in the DNA of Zachry Corporation (Zachry). Dreamers and builders are welcome at Zachry. In fact, every team member is encouraged to dream. At the end of 2022, David Zachry issued a challenge to every team member: bring forward your dreams and ideas about how we can improve anywhere in the company and we will ensure that every innovative solution is heard and rewarded. In 2023, that open challenge evolved into the Dreamers and Builders Program. The Program resides within the Zachry Intellectual Property Company (ZIPCO), which was originally founded to hold Zachry’s patents and now houses Dreamers and Builders to encourage, support, and invest in innovation. A new position, Manager of Investments and Ideation, was created to lead the Dreamers and Builders Program. Former System Administrator, Rachael Ferrera, accepted this important role.
“Every team member is capable of a big idea,” said Ferrera. “But how can we put the ideas in our heads into action? We needed an organized structure to
inspire a culture of innovation. Dreamers and Builders streamlines the submission and evaluation processes and implements concepts to improve both Zachry and the industries we operate in.” The new program consists of two types of challenges. The Open Challenge is a search for ideas on how any of the companies can improve anywhere, and the Focused Challenge is a search for solutions or alternatives in response to an identified issue. In either challenge, solutions can come from any team member or group of team members across all companies. All ideas are welcome, with a general request that they relate to problems in business lines we already operate. A particular value is placed on patentable products, tools, and processes. In response to David’s Open Challenge, team members submitted 43 outstanding concepts. Although many of those ideas are moving forward to the proposal stage, three concepts stood out as worthy of consideration for the Innovation of the Year award. The finalists pitched their ideas at Zachry Construction Corporation’s (ZCC) annual meeting in March where they were voted on the same day. The award-winning idea came from Capitol Aggregates (Capitol) Senior Director in Cement Sales Mark Spaulding and ZCC Area Manager Tyler Farella. Together, they proposed a partnership
8 | ZACHRY ADVANTAGE ISSUE 2, 2023
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR WINNER – WIND ENERGY CONSTRUCTION SERVICES leveraging the construction expertise of ZCC with the proprietary concrete mix design technology of Capitol to pursue wind farm construction projects in Texas. This idea requires no upfront investment since the equipment and teams are already in place. Through Capitol’s leading-edge concrete mix design technology, they are able to reduce the cementitious material required for mass concrete projects like wind turbines and mills. This creates major materials savings that will give ZCC an advantage when bidding for these jobs. Spaulding stated that a dozen wind farm projects will come to Texas by the end of the year. But the idea has applications beyond Texas. “This technology can be duplicated with other cements and aggregates throughout the country,” said Spaulding.
“I want to emphasize that no idea is too small. Please don’t be shy about submitting ideas. Dream big and think outside the box. We have a long history of innovation; let’s keep that spirit alive. Thank you to each team member who had the courage to answer the challenge,” said Ferrera. Team members are free to submit Dreamers and Builders ideas to Ferrera at any time. Those ideas will need to be submitted through the formal Dreamers and Builders process during the next Open or Focused Challenge to be considered for implementation. Send your ideas to rachael.ferrera@zachrycorp.com.
Pictured above: The winner of the first Dreamers and Builders Open Challenge was the Wind Energy Construction Services proposal. Pictured left to right: Zachry CEO David Zachry, Capitol Cement Sales Senior Director Mark Spaulding, ZCC Area Manager Tyler Farella, and ZIPCO Manager Rachael Ferrera.
ZAPP News is an idea that Zachry Construction Project Manager AJ Nanfro, P.E. submitted to the Dreamers and Builders Open Challenge Program. He wanted a place where all ZCC team members in the field can share photos and videos of work. Photos are welcome and videos can be long, short, educational, or just what’s happening on the project or around ZCC. Users can engage by “liking” posts and opting to receive notifications. This initiative is meant to get people talking and excited about the work our organization is doing and continue to keep everyone connected throughout the year. To access, use the QR code. For help logging into Connect, contact Public Affairs at public.affairs@zachrycorp.com.
ZACHRY ADVANTAGE | 9
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
2023 1st QUARTER
I/Q AWARD PROGRAM WINNERS ZACHRY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION
Z
Slipform SSTR with Fractured Fin Bennie Garcia
Congratulations to Bennie Garcia for winning the Innovation and Quality Award for the first quarter of 2023! His idea for use of a modified SSTR Fractured Fin in turning a hand pour into a slip-form pour is an innovative design that could potentially save multiple work shifts on future Zachry projects. This is an exciting development that has the potential to increase efficiency and save time and resources. Cheers to Bennie on this well-deserved award!
I/Q Coordinators Rudy Alarcon Matt Anderson Karim Atiyeh Weston Baros Jon Chism
Darren Colby Donnie Connell Marcos De Leon Todd Eide Tim Greenwood
Randy Henson Ryan Ilg Gunnar Johnson Katrina von Kamrath Alan Kassen
Chandler Mross AJ Nanfro Trey Quirk Leslie Reyes
Channing Santiago Adam Saur Jacob Selby Ian Stephenson
Steven Suits Matt Tschirhart Aaron Vrazel Matt White
Find information and past winners of the Innovation and Quality Award (I/Q Award) on the Zachry Connect app.
CAPITOL AGGREGATES
Z Freshwater Pump at Delta Quarry Randy Miller
Congratulations to Randy Miller for winning the Innovation and Quality Award for the first quarter of 2023, with his solution for the freshwater pond at Delta! Randy proposed and implemented a solution that has resulted in cleaner water and a reduction in maintenance and damage to the pump and other equipment at the Delta Quarry plant. Randy addressed the root cause of the contamination by building up a roadway and installing additional water pipes. The plant replaced the freshwater pump for the final time to ensure that the freshwater pond remains clean. The cost to implement this solution was minor and required only some dirt work, base rock, and piping. Randy’s innovative thinking is truly commendable, and his solution serves as an excellent example of how minor changes can have a significant impact. Great job, Randy!
Capitol Aggregates team members are encouraged to submit their I/Q ideas to Business Analyst Kathryn “Katy” Adams at kathryn.adams@capitolaggregates.com or 210-871-6128. I/Q nomination forms are available on the Zachry Connect app under the Capitol Aggregates folder or by request through Katy.
10 | ZACHRY ADVANTAGE ISSUE 2, 2023
REDEFINING BOUNDARIES
ZACHRY CELEBRATES WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Pictured Left to Right: Jamie Gerbrecht, CII Interim Senior Director, Todd Sutton, ZCC Director of Construction Technology, and Jenny Bien, CII Associate Director, Membership & Communications
IMPACT YOUR INDUSTRY: ENGAGE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY INSTITUTE The Construction Industry Institute (CII) is a nonprofit think tank of the leading minds in the capital projects industry. Their membership spans a diverse group of Fortune 500 owners, engineering contractors, technology firms and academia that have all united for the same mission: Use world-class research to drive innovative solutions that maximize project potential and minimize costs and hazards. With a mission like that, you should not be surprised to learn that H.B. Zachry Company was a founding member of CII in 1983. Zachry Corporation remains involved today. Director of Construction Technology Todd Sutton is keeping the company included by issuing a call to action to team members across all companies to revive Zachry representation in CII.
“CII has opportunity far beyond construction. All of our team members can take advantage of CII to grow their careers, make valuable connections, and participate in research that will change their industry for the better,” said Sutton. Each Zachry company fits into a corresponding sector committee within CII. The five CII Sectors cover a diverse array of industries including Upstream, Midstream, and Mining; Power, Utilities, and Infrastructure; Facilities and Healthcare; Downstream and Chemicals; and Manufacturing and Life Sciences. Communities for Business Advancement also exist that benefit team members in specific professions, from safety and data analytics to supply chain, project controls, and risk management.
Every March, Women in Construction (WIC) week highlights women as a viable and vital component of the construction industry. This year, Senior Field Engineer Sydney Harrison led a live-streamed panel discussion with top Zachry Construction Company leaders exploring the value women bring to Zachry teams. Later in the week, Harrison and other members of Zachry Women Breaking Ground (ZWBG) visited Construction Careers Academy to show 100 high school girls how cement works through live demonstrations.
“People should know that ZWBG is here as a resource for everyone. We offer networking, mentorship, and leadership opportunities,” said Harrison. “If I ever run into a challenge, I have a support system with valuable advice thanks to ZWBG.” ZWBG stepped up their game for SheBuilds Houston this year, an event that drew 1500+ 8th grade girls from Katy ISD. Fifteen Zachry team members showed the students how to mix and pour a concrete “Z” mold of the Zachry logo, which the girls took home. They also explored the cab and driver’s seat of a Zachry CAT 740 Articulated Truck. “It’s important to show the younger generations that women can do this work. Helping them start young opens a whole new world for their future and our industry as well,” said Senior Field Engineer Kinsey Dean. Zachry Corporation recognized Women’s History month in March by celebrating the contributions of Zachry women at all levels. Zachry highlighted the stories of women leaders internally and on social media. By recognizing women’s accomplishments and valuing their own paths, the company hopes to inspire a more equitable and diverse environment. Pictured Below: Zachry Project Engineer Leslie Reyes teaches female 8th grade students from Katy ISD students about cement at the SheBuilds conference in Houston.
Sutton credits CII for his own career development from structural ironworker to project controls. After reading CII research and attending their conferences, he gained the best practices, resources, and knowledge he needed to advance. Help establish the next generation of Zachry team members impacting industries. Contact Todd at todd.sutton@zachrycorp. com and register for CII’s annual conference July 31 - August 3, 2023 to get involved. ZACHRY ADVANTAGE | 11
TIPPING OFF AN ERA OF INNOVATION
ZCC’S ANNUAL MEETING
Pictured Left to Right: Abel Luna, Travis Mross, Robyn Rasch, Andrew Harper, Megan Medina, Tyler Farella, Ranjeet Gadhoke, Susan LaBrie, David Zachry, Ryan Ilg
Zachry Construction Corporation (ZCC) gathered for its 11th Annual Meeting in March at the Hilton Palacio del Rio. The handful of managers and executives who first convened in 2011 to review financials and operations would be amazed to see what the Annual Meeting has become: a three-day event with interactive panel discussions, breakout sessions, and guest speakers that averages 150 in-person attendees and hundreds more online. Vice President of Project Controls Ranjeet Gadhoke explained the reason and goal behind expanding the Annual Meeting to more team members.
“There is tremendous value in getting as many team members as possible together and sharing the perspectives of our senior leaders. Then everyone understands the strategy behind where we are going and how we are getting there,” said Gadhoke. “The networking that takes place strengthens teamwork and builds a vibrant culture.”
12 | ZACHRY ADVANTAGE ISSUE 2, 2023
Last year’s Annual Meeting focused on breaking through the lingering challenges of COVID with higher levels of performance. ZCC now plans to hone that performance by getting back to a principle so fundamental it is easily taken for granted: teamwork. 2023’s theme, “Success is a Team Sport,” recognizes that no one person makes a project successful. Projects are a massive coordination of everyone exceling in their specific role for the good of the team. Right on theme, six-time WNBA all-star and basketball hall of fame inductee Becky Hammon delivered the keynote. Hammon’s message hinged on key ingredients to any team’s success: diversity, persistence, and taking ownership of your duties. Both funny and down-to-earth, she inspired and connected with everyone.
CONGRATULATIONS 2023 AWARD WINNERS!
Megan Medina
Isaiah Carter
Support Person of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Nicholas Buhler Estimator of the Year
Adam Saur
Felipe Salinas
Max Collier
Project Manager of the Year
Project Superintendent of the Year
Project Engineer of the Year
With so much collaboration and competition inherent to the industry, construction can feel like a sport, and ZCC is in it to win it. Their game plan involves investing in greater technology and innovation to stay on the cutting-edge of construction. Gadhoke and Director of Construction Technology Todd Sutton delivered a presentation on powerful, emerging tools using computer vision, AI, and machine learning that can improve the safety and productivity of ZCC projects. As Gadhoke explained, “Embracing technology in construction isn’t about keeping up with the times. It’s about creating a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Today, technology isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity for staying competitive and delivering projects on time and on budget.”
Horacio Hinojosa
Gabriel Tovar
Foreman of the Year
Foreman of the Year
“The Annual Meeting takes a lot of work and investment from us, but our team is worth the effort. We go beyond developing our people in their jobs. We actually show them the greater vision of who we are and how they’re contributing to the big picture,” said Gadhoke. “After hearing these presentations and interacting with senior leaders, team members leave feeling proud and ready to inspire others. They know we have a bright future ahead of us, we have a critical path to get there, and we’re on track with it. That kind of value is priceless.” Senior Talent and Development Manager Megan Medina shared a glimpse into that path for next year’s Annual Meeting.
Innovation was the other major theme running throughout the Annual Meeting. The Innovation of the Year award embodies ZCC’s strategy to purposefully innovate with targeted goals rather than letting innovation happen on its own. They are moving forward with several ideas as part of the Dreamers and Builders Program.
“I am honored and excited to serve alongside Co-Chair Tyler Farella for Zachry’s 2024 Annual Meeting. Planning is already under way with the goal to honor Zachry’s last 100 years and continue to push the envelope as a company when it comes to performance, technology, and teams,” said Medina.
Pictured Below: Ranjeet Gadhoke leading a discussion at the 2023 Annual Meeting.
Pictured Below: Choir students from H.B. Zachry Elementary School kicked off the Annual Meeting.
ZACHRY ANNUAL MEETING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Travis Mross Ranjeet Gadhoke Megan Medina
Tyler Farella Abel Luna Sandra De Hoyos
Robyn Rasch Susan LaBrie Ryan Ilg
Trish Benavides Andrew Harper
ZACHRY ADVANTAGE | 13
THE
LEADERSHIP CORNER
As Zachry’s businesses grow, so do our team members. Growth means change and opportunity. Congratulations to these team members on their recent promotions.
Zachry Construction Corporation Oscar Alejandro.........................................Superintendent, Structure Curtis Allen..................................................Superintendent, Dirt Romualdo Almaguer................................Work Zone Barricade, Servicer Jesus Arcos..................................................Foreman, Structure Jose Arriaga................................................Superintendent Antonio Calderon......................................Form Builder, Structures David Cano...................................................Foreman Skyler Cobb.................................................Superintendent, Structure Dustin Cunningham..................................Equipment Manager Daniel DeLeon............................................Foreman Garrett Dunn................................................Senior Field Engineer Rachael Ferrera..........................................Manager of Investment and Ideation Ruben Flores...............................................Foreman Rafael Gonzalez.........................................Party Chief I Ian Griggs.....................................................Superintendent Sydney Harrison.........................................Senior Field Engineer Steven Henry...............................................Foreman, Equipment Lorenzo Hernandez..................................Truck Driver, Single Axle Victor Herrera Castillo............................Foreman, Structure Colton Hopper............................................Truck Driver, Single Axle Ernest Inocencio........................................Superintendent, Equipment Alan Kassen.................................................Senior Project Engineer Michael Kennison......................................Foreman, Equipment George Lara.................................................Form Builder, Structures Brett Legrow...............................................Senior Project Engineer Eloisa Lopez................................................Safety Coordinator Juan Martinez Garcia...............................Form Builder, Structures Jordan Masters...........................................Foreman, Structure Robert Matousek.......................................Senior Field Engineer Reynaldo Mauricio....................................Truck Driver, Lowboy Stephen O’Quinn.......................................URD Electrical Foreman Aaron Orozco..............................................Truck Driver, Single Axle Jesus Paniagua Martinez........................Foreman, Pipe
Melissa Poole..............................................User Access/IT Compliance Timothy Sammons....................................Foreman, Dirt Jose San Martin..........................................Foreman, Structure Austin Schott..............................................Project Engineer Jacob Selby.................................................Senior Project Engineer Jose Torres...................................................Crawler Tractor Operator Angel Torres Cruz.....................................Laborer, Utility Carlos Villarreal..........................................Senior Field Engineer Katrina von Kamrath................................Area Controls Engineer & Surety Relations Sidney Watts...............................................Senior Field Engineer Brennan White............................................Senior Field Engineer Richard Williams........................................Superintendent, Pipe Capitol Aggregates, Inc. Robert Carrillo............................................Financial Accounting Lead Daniel Mares................................................System I Operator Hugo Martinez............................................Plant Mechanic II Tracey Taylor...............................................Executive Assistant Pedro Villalpando.....................................Plant Operator I Zachry Hospitality Maria Alvarez..............................................Housekeeping Supervisor Alicia Garza..................................................Food & Beverage Manager Maribel Gutierrez Solano.......................Housekeeping Supervisor Marisa Llano................................................HR Manager Frank Lucio..................................................Food & Beverage Supervisor Melissa Meyer..............................................Food & Beverage Supervisor Gabriel Morin..............................................Guest Services Bell Captain Yesenia Padilla............................................Front Office Supervisor TeAunda Rogers........................................Catering & Events Manager Joanna Thamasson...................................Catering Administrative Assistant Marilou Villaseñor.....................................Sales Administrative Assistant
Robert James
5/6/2023
41 years
ZCC
Luis Nieto
5/13/2023
5 years
ZCC
Donald Sinchak
4/29/2023
9 years
ZCC
Bobby McBride
2/25/2023
2 years
ZCC
Santana Marroquin
4/22/2023
6 years
ZCC
HELP THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR GET TO THE GREEN LEAVES.
ZACHRY
Q: Where do sheep go on vacation? A: The Baa-hamas! 14 | ZACHRY ADVANTAGE ISSUE 2, 2023
ADMINS DAY Zachry celebrated Administrative Professionals with cakes and cookies for the administrators. Zachry wanted to express gratitude and appreciation for those who play a vital role in the success of many Zachry organizations, projects, and departments. Thank you, Admins!
ZUUS LIGHT POLE INSTALLATION ZUUS was selected by CPS Energy
SIDNEY WATTS
and the City of San Antonio to assist with the beautification of downtown
Congratulations to Sidney Watts, field
streetlights in priority corridors by
engineer on the FM1463 - IH10 to FM1093
replacing 119 old existing poles with
project in Katy, Texas, for being elected
new decorative streetlight poles.
to the 2022-2023 National Association of
This project was completed two
Women in Construction (NAWIC) Houston
weeks ahead of schedule.
Chapter Board! She also serves on the Clay Shoot and WIC Week Committees.
Zachry Construction Corporation 40 years Gilbert Salas 35 years Teddie Foreman Victor Rodriguez 30 years Nicolas Hernandez Roberto Vela
Capitol Aggregates, Inc.
25 years Leonides Gonzalez Jesus Salazar 15 years Michell Barthold Evelyn Calonge Thomas Couling Rachael Ferrera Kenneth Klug Ignacio Martinez Kyle Nelson
Zachry Hospitality
10 years Kuulei Apao Matthew Miller Adam Saur Jonathan Schlueter Michael Tamburrano 5 years Kevin Allen Linice Alvarerz Jason Ashton Weston Baros Lounova Branch
Nathaniel Burgei Ricardo Castellanos Arcadio Castillo Ruiz Ronnie Chapa Kinsey Dean Miriam DeLeon Sylvia Gallegos Arturo Garcia Cameron Geckler Oswaldo Gonzalez Pablo Goyzueta-Zuleta Rufino Guebara Addam Hall
Phillip Krutz Timothy Martin Jerome Martin Jr. David Martinez Savina Nguyen Jose Nucette Raydan Martin Palacios Gonzalez Juan Perez Medina Marissa Rodriguez Dario Ruiz Matthew Tschirhart
ZACHRY ADVANTAGE | 15
El hotel Hilton Palacio del Rio de Zachry Hospitality celebró su aniversario número 55 con una fiesta completa con amigos y pastelitos. ¡Por muchos años más! En la imagen de izquierda a derecha: cocineras Maria Castruita y Maria Garcia y Oscar Jimenez Patino del equipo de camareros.
PRESENTADO POR JENNIFER NAVARRO, GERENTE DEL HOTEL
Zachry Hospitality’s Hilton Palacio del Rio hotel celebrated their 55th birthday with a party complete with friendship and cupcakes. Here’s to many more years! Pictured Left to Right: Cooks Maria Castruita and Maria Garcia and Oscar Jimenez Patino from the stewards team.
SUBMITTED BY JENNIFER NAVARRO – HOTEL MANAGER
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GIVE US A PEEK AT A DAY IN YOUR SHOES!
Jacob Fendlason, superintendente asistente en el proyecto US-75 Grayson del Departamento de Transporte, acaba de completar su capacitación y recibió la licencia como piloto de drones. ¡Vea la fotografía increíble del proyecto!
PRESENTADO POR JACOB FENDLASON
Jacob Fendlason, Assistant Superintendent on Texas Department of Transportation’s US-75 Grayson project, recently completed his training and received his drone pilot’s license. Check out the amazing photography of the project.
SUBMITTED BY JACOB FENDLASON