Meeting Training Needs for Hispanic Construction Workforce

The National Center for Construction Education and Research creates training manuals to help Spanish-language speakers; also, Dallas-based HKS opens office in Abu Dhabi and Raba-Kistner turns 40.

HKS Expands Global Presence with New Abu Dhabi Office

Dallas-based HKS Inc., a national architectural firm with 24 U.S. and international offices, expanded its global presence through the opening of its Abu Dhabi office in the Al Bateen Tower in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The HKS Abu Dhabi office opened to serve clients in the Middle East and Northern Africa region with full-service architectural, interior design and planning services.

The firm has more than $1 billion in work currently under way in the MENA region - including 15 projects under design - and has completed projects at the Kuwait Embassy in Kuwait; housing and recreational facilities for Aramco in Saudi Arabia; and Souks Retail Complex in Saudi Arabia.

Spanish Language Construction Industry Training Resources Created

Two out of every three construction jobs created in 2006 was filled by a Hispanic worker, according to figures by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to the non-profit National Center for Construction Education and Research. In response, the NCCER created Spanish-language training resources and developed short- and long-term strategies for Hispanic workforce development.

The strategies include curricula and assessment translation and instructional language courses. Spanish textbooks for carpentry include introductory craft skills, field safety, rigging fundamentals, safety orientation, scaffolding and sprinkler fitting.

Anticipated curricula translations include concrete finishing, drywall, electrical, insulating, masonry, pipefitting and reinforcing iron and rebar.

Each title offers technical hints and tips and presents real-life scenarios similar to those encountered on the job site. Books also feature Spanish to English glossaries to promote bilingual education. NCCER worked with Spanish-speaking subject matter experts, representing leading contractors across the country, to introduce relevant industry material into each book.

Students successfully completing curricula through an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor earn credentials from the NCCER National Registry.

Texas Transportation Committee Official Named Secretary of State

Esperanza “Hope” Andrade of San Antonio was named as the state’s 107th secretary of state. As secretary, Andrade will serve as the state’s chief elections officer, the governor’s liaison on border and Mexican affairs, and Texas’ chief protocol officer for both state and international matters.

The secretary of state also serves as the formal repository for official and business records, publishes government rules and regulations, keeps the state seal and attests to the governor’s signature on official documents.

Andrade is an entrepreneur from San Antonio. In 2003, she was appointed to the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees the activities of the Texas Department of Transportation. She also served as interim chair of the commission from January to April.

Raba-Kistner Consultants Marks 40th Anniversary

San Antonio-based engineering firm Raba-Kistner Consultants Inc. celebrates its 40th year in the industry this year.

Through the course of the company’s existence, it has grown to include design, management and testing services in construction materials, facilities engineering, geotechnical engineering and environmental consulting.

The firm has been involved in many high-profile projects in San Antonio including Frost Bank Tower, SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, CPS Power Plants, San Antonio Library, San Antonio International Airport, UTSA, Valero Corporate Offices, USAA, Olmos Dam, Alamodome, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, AT&T Center, Toyota Texas Motor Manufacturing Plant and the new Grand Hyatt Convention Center Hotel.

Raba-Kistner has more than 350 employees in San Antonio, Austin, Brownsville, El Paso, Houston, McAllen, Dallas and Mexico. With more than $40 million projected revenue in 2008, the firm employs engineers, geoscientists, architects, environmental scientists, archaeologists, technicians and support staff.

DFW Hispanic Contractors Awards Women Construction Leaders

The Hispanic Contractors Association of Dallas Fort Worth honored the achievements of Hispanic women entrepreneurs with the presentation of the Luna Awards, named for Maria Luna, who immigrated to the United States from Mexico in 1923 creating her Luna’s Tortillas business just months after her arrival in the U.S.

The HCADFW Women’s Business Conference and Luna Awards Luncheon included the presentation of the awards to outstanding Hispanic women entrepreneurs and women in construction.

Awards included: The Business Advocate of the Year. awarded to Jayne Williams of the K Post Co. The Established Female Construction Firm of the Year, which went to DMCA Inc. The Established Service Firm of the Year was presented to Ibarra Consulting Engineers Inc. The HCADFW Rising Firm of the Year went to R & A Masonry Inc. The HCADFW Outstanding Female Construction/Service Worker of the Year was awarded to Martha Wolf of The Ratliff Group and the Outstanding Administrative Professional of the Year was awarded to Jill Melancon of the K Post Co.

The 2008 Luna Leaders include Diana Woodward of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas; Kim Hopkins of CREW - Commercial Real Estate for Women; Margo J. Posey of the DFW Minority Business Council; Rosa Navejar of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; CiCi Rojas of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Rebecca Hicks of the National Association of Women in Construction (Dallas); Cristy Treder of the National Association of Women in Construction (Fort Worth); Grace McDermott of the US Pan Asian Chamber of Commerce; and Debbie Hurst of the Women’s Business Council of the Southwest.

Komatsu Receives Award of Excellence From Historical Commission

Fort Worth-based Komatsu Architecture received the 2007 Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture given by the Texas Historical Commission.

The architecture, planning and interior design firm was led by President Karl A. Komatsu and project manager Gordon Marchant, and included Kelli Dilday and Eugene Dominguez. The firm worked on the Lampasas and Cooke County courthouses.

The award recognizes an architect or architectural firm for exemplary work that has made a significant contribution to the preservation of Texas’ architectural heritage.

Charlene “Charlie” Wilson, construction manager for Komatsu Architecture, was named Outstanding New Member of the Fort Worth Chapter of the Construction Specification Institute. She was cited for her work with the Institute’s certification education programs.

Among the award-winning projects she has worked on while with Komatsu are the New Community Center, Commissary and Exchange Building, Peterson AFB in Colorado, the Guinn Elementary School Historic Preservation in Fort Worth and the Grand Prairie Library.

Over the summer, the firm relocated to the Frost Bank building at 3880 Hulen Street in Fort Worth.

Dallas Architecture Firm t. howard Acquires Competitor

Dallas architecture firm t. howard + associates, or THA, acquired Wells Janousek Architects.

Wells and team bring experience of designing childcare facilities for corporate, health-care and university clients. He now leads The Early Childhood Studio at THA, a division within the firm. Wells and his team have led feasibility studies, site evaluation studies, and managed the design of both new facilities and renovation projects locally and nationally.

Established in 1998, THA is an award-winning architecture firm specializing in healthcare, educational, early childhood and ecclesiastical design. In addition to architecture design, THA services include pre-development analysis, sustainable building/design consulting and LEED certification.

Thomas Reprographics Acquires Accugraphics in Austin

Thomas Reprographics Inc. acquired Accugraphics Inc. in Austin from Terry and Patty Meyers. Established in 1975, Accugraphics will operate under the same name as a division of Thomas Reprographics, Inc. for the next few months.

Richardson-based Thomas Reprographics Inc., a 52 year old family-owned printing company, is the second largest reprographics company in the United States. The firm has locations in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Phoenix, Tucson, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Southeast and Central Florida.

Burt-Watts Experiencing Record Growth, Expands Team

Austin-based commercial general contracting firm Burt-Watts Industries Inc. expanded its staff this year to accommodate a record year of nearly 95% revenue growth in 2007.

The firm added a new project manager, Joe O’Jibway to lead a variety of projects with a focus on tenant finish-out and retail environments. The firm also plans to add four additional construction professionals to its team.

New Name and Move to New Headquarters for JBI Partners

Dallas-based Jones & Boyd Inc. changed the company name to JBI Partners in late July. The name change coincided with the firm’s move to its new headquarters location in Addison.

JBI Partners is a multi-disciplined consulting and design firm providing engineering, planning, landscape architecture, land surveying and related services to the real estate development and investment market.