Building News And Georgetown News - FTWOODS Construction, Texas.

Building Relationships

cartoon

Personal Accountability: When I was a child one of my responsibilities was to mow the yard. Like most kids, I didn’t want to do it because it interfered with my play time or free time; it seemed like every time I was encouraged or reminded that it was time to do my job one of my buddies would show up to start play day. If that wasn’t bad enough, in my early years my seemingly small stature in relation to the mower handle (usually about even with my chin) made it difficult for me to keep a straight line while cutting a sometimes overgrown yard because of my procrastination in not doing it sooner. Consequently, I usually had to remow areas I would miss. That’s when my father would step in, on more than one occasion, after briefly watching my struggles in mowing a straight line. He would come out the door and walk over and gently guide my hands in a straight line to get me back on tract, and then head back in the door. I remember my father’s actions with such clarity because, at least to me, he exemplified the definition of personal accountability: The willingness to claim 100% ownership for the results provided as a consequence of your involvement, both individually and collectively with others. Sure, it was my job to mow the yard. I was responsible. But my father had a sense of personal accountability in when and how I would mow it. He could sit back and wait for providence to guide my hand, or he could intervene. Dad was always careful to never actually push the mower himself. He knew that it was important for me to do it. Still, by simply guiding my hand, his actions caused the mower to go straight. Many people confuse responsibility and accountability as being one in same. In reality, they are more like two sides of the same coin.

There is a cartoon that has been around for years er could have thought, “It’s not my job to help Todd mow that yard.” He didn’t. That is depicting a cowering employee before the large desk of his boss. The employee’s boss looks out over the rim of his glasses and says, “Jones, we’re going to give you more responsibility. We’re going to make you personally accountable for everything that goes wrong around here!” While each of us may feel like Mr. Jones now and then, this obviously is not the correct way to think about responsibility or personal accountability because “...being accountable has more to do with giving up certain behaviors, beliefs and attitudes, than just trying to behave in a different way.” Because you get a paycheck, you are responsible for something. It may be a product, a process, a service, or people. Your responsibilities involve what you are required to do. At the same time, there is also an expectation of accountability, which means that someone holds you accountable for the outcome of your actions – or inactions. The question then becomes, what are you doing, or not doing, to further the success of a product, a process, a service – and the people who look to you for help in your organization? Do you say, “It was the XYZ department that forgot to.” “It wasn’t my idea.” “My boss doesn’t spend enough time with me to train me right.” “My employees just stand around every chance they get.” And the ever popular, “It’s not my job.” My father could have thought, "It's not my job to help Todd mow the yard." He didn't. That is one of the reasons I remember him.

In the book entitled, The Oz Principle, authors Roger Connors, Tom Smith, and Craig Hickman seek to put courage and personal accountability into perspective by using the characters from the popular story, The Wizard of Oz. As we all know, the main characters embark on a journey of adventure, danger, and self-discovery along the Yellow Brick Road to help a lost little girl named Dorothy find her way home. The story uses its now famous characters to portray most of us at some point in our lives. We remember the Tin Man, who sometimes lacked the heart to be empathetic, the Scarecrow, who sometimes lacked the wisdom to make the best choices, the Cowardly Lion, who occasionally lacked the courage to do the right thing, and the Wizard, who tried to pass himself off as “all knowing” to mask self-confidence issues. By the end of the story, however, it is the character of Dorothy who realizes life’s great truths. To reach your destination and achieve your goal, you often need to think and act in ways that are different from those that are familiar and comfortable. In Oz, Dorothy realizes that everyone’s fear (false evidence appearing real) of failure is lessened when they discover their own courage and become accountable for their own actions. She learns that empowerment comes from within and waits for each one of us to make the discovery. As Dorothy sums up in the film’s famous line, “It was in my own backyard all along.”

Personal accountability is opportunity. It is opportunity to contribute to the organization of which we are a part. It is the opportunity to be counted among the other people inside our organization whom we truly admire and respect. It is our opportunity and responsibility to ask, “What can I do to contribute?” and “How can I make a difference?” If your organization fosters an environment of Christian values, professional integrity, and honesty and courage, then personal accountability truly presents you with the opportunity to grow while serving others. And as you grow, your organization will grow in building relationships.

May my horizon this day, Lord,

not be so foreshortened that I notice little.

Instead, open my eyes

that I may see afar and above

as well as in front and beneath me.

Lead me to keep my life in perspective and balance

and discover that the thread of your presence

is interwoven through the events and people of this day.

Project List

FTWOODS Construction has had a busy year and has been blessed to have a number of projects underway. Here is a list of our projects that are currently in progress.

General Contractor

TASUS Texas

Capital Metro Improvements

TXDOT Customer Service Center

Copper Oaks Retail Center

Creedmoor Elementary-Del Valle ISD

First Baptist Christian Education Center

Houston and Rodriguez Elementary School-Austin ISD

DeZavala Elementary School-San Marcos ISD

Maxwell Nissan Remodel

Roger Beasley Mazda

Concrete and Site Development

Hewlett Hummer

TASUS Texas

Sam’s Club-Waco

Lowe’s Home Improvement-SW Austin

Skipcha Estates Elementary

Saegert Ranch Elementary

TXDOT Customer Service Center

Capital Metro Renovation

Kensington Trails 3A

Shady Oaks Section 4, Phase 4

The Reserve at Twin Creeks Section 17

East Transmission Main

Del Valle ISD-Creedmoor Elementary

Ranch @ Brushy Creek 2A

Loop 1 Extension

Project Updates

First Baptist Ground Breaking

FTWOODS Construction recently broke ground on the Christian Education Center and Administration addition for First Baptist Church on April 17, 2005 in Georgetown . The project consists of a three-story, 49,062 SF Christian Education building and 3,092 SF addition to the existing administration building. The Christian Education building will have 34 classrooms to serve children in kindergarten through twelfth grade, a 2,100 SF children’s indoor playground and a new outdoor playground. There will be a 650 SF assembly room with a stage and sound system for elementary age students and a 700 SF theater room for all ages. The high school students will have a 3,800 SF assembly room with stage and sound system. There will also be a new parking lot that will hold 222 cars and a new septic system constructed to serve the entire church property.

The team from FTWOODS Construction consists of Project Manager Ross Schneider, Superintendent Matt Holley, Senior Estimator Mike Mason, and Project Engineer Mary Dixon. The architect for the project is Jackson Galloway Architects. The completion date is set for April 2006.

Creedmoor Elementary School-Del Valle ISD

FTWOODS Construction has been selected as the General Contractor by the Del Valle Independent School District. The project is a 100,000 SF elementary school. FTWOODS Construction was also awarded the site and concrete portion of the project. The architect for the project is Pfluger Associates. Charlie Hamilton will be leading the FTWOODS Construction Team as Project Manager, and Alan Funk will be the Field Manager. The completion date is set for June 2006.

Houston and Rodriguez Elementary Schools - Additions and Renovations

FTWOODS Construction was chosen to complete the additions and renovations for the Houston and Rodriguez Elementary Schools for the Austin Independent School District. The Rodriguez Elementary School project will consist of a 9,818 SF addition to house ten classrooms. The Houston Elementary School project will be an 11,176 SF addition to house ten classrooms with a commons area in the central corridor. Houston Elementary School will also have renovations which include a complete new library, new HVAC ductwork in 60,000 SF of the original building that was built in 1976, new window glazing, door repairs, ceramic tile work in existing toilets, and drainage improvements around the original building.

The FTWOODS Construction Team consists of Project Manager Charlie Hamilton and Project Estimator Mike Mason. The architect is Fromberg Associates, Inc. The Project Architect is Antonio Naylor. The completion date is set for August 2006.

Growing Up

FTWOODS Construction has been blessed this year. Our company has continued to grow. We have hired more office employees to help with our welcomed but increasing work load.

Frank Rodriguez has joined our Civil Group as the Civil Group Estimator. Frank is responsible for quantifying items and preparing competitive bids on site work and utility projects. Prior to joining FTWOODS Construction, he worked for CC Carlton. Frank attended Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. In Frank’s spare time he enjoys working with the youth at his church and helping the adults build a better life with Jesus Christ. He enjoys attending sporting activities and spending time with his nephew and family.

Lydia Van Zandt was hired as our Accounting Assistant. She is responsible for processing and maintaining the equipment logs and inputting invoices. Lydia graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Marketing. Prior to working at FTWOODS Construction, Lydia worked for Burnes Group in Austin. In her spare time Lydia enjoys exercising, shopping, and spending time with her husband, Lance, and her two cats, Titus and Lexi. She is also an active member of her church.

Greg Graham has joined our Civil Group as Project Manager for the Concrete Group. Prior to joining FTWOODS Construction Greg worked at ODAN Construction Company. He was a Superintendent, building residential condominiums. In his free time he enjoys hunting, mountain biking, and fishing.

McLain Hall is one of our newest members of the team. McLain works with the General Contracting side as an Estimator. He is a graduate from The University of Texas with a degree in Finance. Prior to joining FTWOODS Construction, he worked for Constructors and Associates. When McLain is not working he enjoys wood working and golfing. McLain also enjoys spending time with his two German Shepards, Dakota and Bandit.

Charlie Hamilton recently joined FTWOODS Construction as a Project Manager. He will be working on the new Creedmoor Elementary School in Del Valle, Texas.

Before joining the FTWOODS Construction Team, he worked at Faulkner Construction. Charlie has a degree in Building Construction from Texas A&M University. In his spare time, Charlie enjoys spending time with his family, the outdoors, hunting and shooting, and bay fishing.

Alan Funk has joined FTWOODS Construction as our newest Field Manager. He will work closely with Charlie Hamilton on the Creedmoor Elementary School. Prior to working at FTWOODS Construction Alan worked at Rogers-O’Brien Construction in Dallas. When Alan is not working he enjoys hunting and fishing.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls!!! (Part II)

In our last newsletter, we let everyone know that FTWOODS Construction would have an abundance of new baby girls joining the family. Here they are!!!

isabel

Isabel Vera Clawson

Casey Clawson-Superintendent

Logan

Logan Marie Schneider

Ross Schneider-Project Manager

Ryann

Ryann Lee Holley

Matt Holley-Superintendent

Ella Grace

Ella Grace Chaney

Mike Chaney-Project Manager Civil Group

FTWOODS Construction Appreciation BBQ

The Third Annual FTWOODS Construction Appreciation Barbecue was a huge success. It was great to see everyone who stopped by. We truly appreciate all of our customers, subcontractors, vendors, and business friends. Thank you for all you do. We look forward to next year.