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TEXAS JOURNAL

W W W . S U B C U S A . C O M

March 2017

Inspire, Inform & Educate

12th Edition

Doing Business With the Houston Community College System

20-21

INSIDE

Three Must Do's to Avoid Delays in Obtaining City Building Permits

In the Subcontractors USA Community...

Port Houston Fire Department Receives Meritorious Public Service Award

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Serving local small businesses who are seeking to do business with Houston Community College Assisting small businesses and Contractors by providing opportunities, information, and support

For information about the Small Business Development Program, visit hccs.edu/sbdp For current bid opportunities, visit hccs.edu/procurement

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Publisher’s Message

MR. D-MARS

Subcontractors are gaining opportunities in Houston. However, there are some subcontractors who just don’t know where to start in searching for information and resources to gain opportunities. The Subcontractors USA Texas Journal is here to help open doors for subcontractors seeking opportunities in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and other cities in Texas. This month’s cover story highlights The Houston Community College System’s (HCC) Small Business Development Program (SBDP). As one of the largest community colleges in the nation,

Behind the Journal

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dawn Paul ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla Vice President, Marketing Anita Bates SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C.T. Foster Tiffany Black

LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Angel Rosa Project Coordinator Taelor Smith DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Helen Callier Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Subcontractors USA News Provider

our services ADVERTISING | MARKETING MEDIA | COMMUNICATION

06 Architecture 06 National Organization of Minority Architects 06

08 Austin News 08 Austin Foam Plastics, Inc. 08 SXSW 08 Austin Development Center

10 Construction 10 Three Must Do’s 10 Dallas News 10 Submit Proposals for South Dallas/Fair Park Trust Fund Grants 12 Education 12 Best Bachelors in Engineering Degrees

14 Energy 14 CenterPoint News 14 Spectra Energy Partners, LP

PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes

—Steve Jobs

contents

Publisher & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. Chief Operating Officer Kimberly Floyd

“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the nonsuccessful ones is pure perseverance.”

HCC has proudly served the Greater Houston area for over four decades. HCC has served this city in various areas and in several capacities. When it comes to serving the small business community, the SBDP is an award-winning program within HCC, dedicated to developing and promoting our local small businesses. As always, thank you for your continued support of the Subcontractors USA Texas Journal. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

16 Engineering 16 Houston Community College 16

18 Houston News 18 City of Houston Expands Investment in Renewable Energy 18 Houston Receives $1 Million Grant 19 Port Houston News

• Business Journal • Health & Wellness Journal • Community Journal • Black Pages Online Business Directory • Top 50 Black Health, Medical & Wellness Professionals • Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs • Top 30 Influential Women of Houston • Top 25 Prime & Subcontractors for Diversity • Business Connection • Business Development • Business Consulting • Graphic Design • Photography • Printing • Web Design • Online & Email Marketing • Public Relations • Social Media • Advertising • Writing • Promotional Marketing

20-21 Cover Story 20 - 21 Doing Business With the Houston Community College System 22 Information Technology 22 Tech Tips for Subcontractors 24, 26 In the Subcontractors USA Community 24 Premier Wireless Lunch & Learn 24 Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum 26 Beaumont 2017 Procurement Connection Seminar & EXPO 27 Manufacturing 27 Canon U.S.A., Inc. News 28 Oil and Gas 28 Marcus Hiles Praises Texas 28 Shell, YPF to Develop Vaca Muerta Gas Pilot Project 28 Mobilize Federal Support for Carbon Dioxide Pipelines 30 Petrochemical 30 Honeywell UOP Technology

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32 San Antonio News 32 Small Business Administration Loan 32 San Antonio Non-Profit Commends Freehold Capital Partners

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Diversity. Powering much more than the grid. We are all a part of the circuit that powers life, community, industry and each other. Entergy believes in the circuit. Diversity is an integral part of the circuit and diverse organizations create dimension and perform better. A committed Supplier Diversity Program helps our company reflect the diversity of our employees, communities and the industries we serve. We’re all in the circuit together. And together we power life. Please visit us at entergy.com/supplierdiversity.

Building

HOUSTON It’s official! Harris County and the City of Houston have broken ground on the

Joint Processing Center Experienced builders with deep local roots, Clark/Horizon is proud to partner with city and county agencies, and architect PGAL, to deliver this model social infrastructure project. Hats off to Harris County and the City of Houston for bringing this facility to life!

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Architecture

National Organization of Minority Architects:

Spotlight on Victoria Acevedo

trength in the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) is built through unity in the cause that created the organization. NOMA increasing the number of people in the organization adds strength to the voice with which it can speak against apathy, bigotry, intolerance and ignorance; against abuse of the natural environment; and for the un-empowered, the marginalized and the disenfranchised. By building a strong organization, NOMA develops a showcase where minority design and construction professionals can be highlighted. NOMA’s mission is to champion diversity within the design professions by promoting the excellence, community engagement, and professional development of its members. This month the Subcontractors USA Texas Journal shines the spotlight on NOMA member Victoria Acevedo. Victoria is a senior studying Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. Through NOMA and her local Atlanta chapter, she received an opportunity to attend the Career Discovery Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design last summer. During the program, Victoria studied Landscape Architecture, attended interdisciplinary lectures, and explored the Boston/Cambridge area. Below is the final post from her blog “I Parked My Car in Harvard Yard,” where Victoria looks back at her experience and highlights life lessons she learned as she finds her spot in the design profession. If you had asked me before I had left for Boston what would be one thing I’d take away from the Career Discovery program, I would probably say something about just being at Harvard and what opportunities the mention of that name on my resume could bring. I did not imagine I could undergo anything else than that, but, of course, silly me, I was wrong. The Career Discovery Program taught me a lot about the design discipline, landscape architecture, as well as lessons outside of the studio. I learned a great deal about design and itsdrivers, but I felt that my growth as a person/young adult/designer is something worth highlighting.

Hereisisaalist listof ofonly onlysome someof of Here thethings thingsI Ihad hadthe thepleasure pleasureto the to learn: learn: 1) Do not be afraid to re-evaluate your choices. Before I left for this opportunity that was luckily given to me, I could not challenge anything. I could not challenge my future trajectory. Grad school is after undergrad. Then you get licensed ASAP. I was scarily going through the motions to become an architect without re-evaluating, because that is what I had learned and what I felt I HAD to do.

This is what 19-year-old Victoria had chosen three years ago, and this is what she will have to stick with. Architecture is not for everyone. I felt that if I had re- evaluated, that meant I had made the wrong decision to change into the field, and all of the time, money, and efforts had been wasted; and that I would be back to square one. I was and still am afraid of failure. But failure is okay. I cannot stress enough the DANGER of a blind trajectory, and I was completely oblivious to it. I learned this before it was too late, and this knowledge is invaluable. Evaluate yourself. Re-evaluate your decisions and what your goals are. You have time.

2) Get involved. No one else will bring opportunities to your door if you are not actively searching for them. Get involved, ask questions, and meet and cherish people. I have seen deserving people given amazing opportunities because they are present and are always questioning. 3) Take some time to learn about yourself. I am now consciously working on figuring out where my interests and passions fall. What are my interests? I am sure I have them. How can I contribute to the world? I ask, because I know I can, but it is all about figuring out how. Once you know what you are interested in, finding a career that suits your taste will fall into place; and you will, hopefully, never work a day in your life. This list is only a sampling of what I have learned. These lessons I have learned are from the most resourceful and inquisitive bunch of people I have met at Harvard. It is through them, their stories, and their company, that I can now turn and cultivate myself. Source: www.noma.net

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SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ON THE MOVE Take your company to new heights!

CONTRACTORS

SMALL BUSINESS UNIVERSITY (SBU)

OUTREACH

METRO’s OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS OFFERS: • Outreach • Certification

• Face-to-Face Match Up • Small Business University (SBU)

For more information, contact METRO’s Office of Small Business at smallbusiness@RideMETRO.org or call 713.739.4844

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Austin News

Austin Foam Plastics, Inc.

Certified as a Women's Business Enterprise W

ell-established packaging engineering firm & foam fabricator meets national certification standards as a women-owned business Austin Foam Plastics, Inc. (AFP, Inc.) - Since its inception in 1978 in Austin, Texas, AFP has been a leader in providing Engineered Packaging and prides itself on its loyalty to its customers, suppliers, and employees. Upon the untimely death of Tim O'Hearn in 2013, the majority ownership of AFP transferred to his three daughters and they are committed to continue his legacy. On February 8, 2017, AFP received national certification as

Austin News

Fare Partners with Local and National Brands to Promote Safe Rides Around Austin, TX During SXSW

ne of Austin's leading rideshare companies, Fare, has partnered with a large number of local and national brands and performing artists for this year's SXSW, March 1018, 2017. Their ultimate goal? To ensure visitors and local Austinites, have ample access to safe and reliable transportation during Austin's largest event of the year. Fare has joined forces with companies such as Envy, The American Cancer Society, Skyrise, ConnectThings, Back Beat, Four Seasons, and Omni Hotels just to name a few. "We want to ensure visitors to SXSW have the opportunity to know about Fare and have access to safe and reliable transportation," said Fare, Regional Marketing Director, Jeremy Woodson. "We'll continue to cultivate relationships with trusted local and national brands and together provide the best transportation service for those that choose to call Austin home or their destination of choice." Fare opened for business in Austin on May 20, 2016, currently has more than 4,000 drivers in the greater metro area and has become a household name among the locals. Visit the App Store or Google Play Store to download the Fare app. For more information, visit ridefare.com Source: www.ridefare.com

a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Council Southwest (WBCS), the regional certifying affiliate of the Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBENC). WBENC's national standard of certification is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and con-

trolled by a woman or women. By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs. April O'Hearn Abello, CEO of Austin Foam Plastics since 2015 sums up the new certification with this statement: "AFP is proud to become part of the WBENC community and join thousands of successful business leaders who share WBENC's vision to foster diversity in the world of commerce. I strongly believe that WBENC will allow AFP to share our own experiences and learn from others as we continue to strive to be a leader in the engineered packaging space and in the community."

About AboutAustin AustinFoam FoamPlastics, Plastics, Inc. Inc.

AFP designs, produces, manufactures and sources protective packaging for product manufacturers in retail and direct shipping environments. AFP has five facilities across the United States; Austin TX (HQ), Dallas (Carrollton) TX, El Paso TX, Columbus OH and Nashville (La Vergne) TN and a global presence in Asia and Mexico. To learn more, please visit www.a-f-p.com.

AboutWBENC WBENC About The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States. To learn more please visit www.wbenc.org. Source: Austin Foam Plastics

Austin News

Peregrine Semiconductor Opens Austin Development Center Now Open, Peregrine's New Austin Office Will Accelerate the Development of UltraCMOS® Products for Mobile Applications By Subcontractors USA News Provider eregrine Semiconductor Corp., founder of RF SOI (silicon on insulator) and pioneer of advanced RF solutions, announces their new Austin, Texas development center. Now open, Peregrine's Austin office will accelerate the development of UltraCMOS® products for mobile applications including power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers and switches. This new office is staffed with 13 experienced RF integrated circuit (RFIC) developers and is seeking candidates for further expansion. The new Austin development center includes laboratory and office space and is located at 3801 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, Suite 150, Austin, Texas. "Austin is one of the few hot beds for IC development, and it has been on our radar for several years as a location with a high potential for expansion," says Dylan Kelly, vice president and general manager of Peregrine's mobile wireless solutions business unit. "Peregrine is extremely fortunate to be able to open an office in the region and immediately staff it with the region's top talent. Our new Austin team members are experts in their field with the added benefit of having worked together as a proven team for the last nine years. This new Austin development center will strengthen Peregrine's position as a proven leader in RF and analog IC development." The Austin office will be led by 25-

year industry veteran, David Bockelman. Most recently, David served as the Senior R&D Manager at Avago Technologies/ Broadcom and was previously the Vice President of Engineering at Javelin Semiconductor. David holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Florida and a BSEE and MSEE from Georgia Institute of Technology. Now hiring, the Austin development center is accepting applications. To apply, visit Peregrine Semiconductor's www.psemi.com/ careers/job-listings.

ABOUTPEREGRINE PEREGRINE ABOUT SEMICONDUCTOR SEMICONDUCTOR Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation, a Murata company, is the founder of RF silicon on insulator (SOI) and is a leading fabless provider of high-performance, integrated RF solutions. Since 1988 Peregrine and its founding team have been perfecting UltraCMOS® technolog y— a patent-

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ed, advanced form of SOI—to deliver the performance edge needed to solve the RF market's biggest challenges, such as linearity. By delivering best-inclass performance and monolithic integration, Peregrine's product portfolio is the trusted choice for market leaders in automotive, broadband, industrial, Internet of Things, mobile devices, smartphones, space, test-and-measurement equipment and wireless infrastructure. A Murata company since December 2014, Peregrine holds more than 300 issued and pending patents and has shipped over 3.5 billion UltraCMOS units. For more information, visit www.psemi.com. Source: Peregrine Semiconductor

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Construction

Dallas News

Community Organizations Invited to Submit Proposals for South Dallas/ Fair Park Trust Fund Grants What: What:

Three Must Do's to Avoid Delays in Obtaining City Building Permits By Helen Callier Contributing Writer

ouston has wrapped up one of the most successful Super Bowls in NFL history, and thousands of revelers enjoyed the experience in new restaurants at the George R. Brown Convention Center and all across the city. The expansion, construction, and opening new venues were a painful process for some project owners, but was smooth sailing for several owners eager to rake in big revenue from Super Bowl 51. For some owners, the experience in obtaining a city permit can be a dreadful challenge. Just a couple of days before the big Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift concerts at Club Nomadic, the venue was on the brink of not obtaining their city building permit and certificate of occupancy in time to open. Project Owner’s headaches in obtaining city building permits in a timely manner can be minimized through what we call the Three Must Do's.

The TheThree ThreeMust MustDo's Do'sare as folare as follows: lows: Plan Early: Each construction project is unique. It is important to start early in planning the steps needed to obtain a city building permit. During the permit planning process, the architect or selected contractor can identify any changes to building codes, review prerequisites for submission, and make sure the required forms are in, at a minimum. Through early planning, the Permit Us Now team expedited city building per-

Community organizations that qualify for funding from the South Dallas/ Fair Park Trust Fund (SDFPTF) are invited to submit proposals for funding from Feb. 22 - April 14, 2017 at 4 p.m. The SDFPTF was created to facilitate economic and community development programs and initiatives in the South Dallas/Fair Park community.

Applicantscan canapply applyfor forgrants grants Applicants in these categories: in these categories: • Community-Based Non-Profit: For agencies designated as a 501(c) (3) by the IRS. Maximum grant is $35,000 for a maximum three years of funding. • Challenge: Any non-profit community based organization can apply; maximum grant amount is $5,000. • Public Safety: Any non-profit community based organization can apply; maximum grant is $10,000. Public Safety Projects must directly relate to an aspect of crime prevention or abatement.

Where: Where: mits in less than 30 days for the new George R. Brown Convention Center restaurants. Several of our client permits were delivered in late August 2016. Prepare Early: Make sure to visit the local jurisdiction’s web site, review the required list of prerequisites, number of plan sets, submission format, and types of applicable permit fees. If you have any questions on designing to meet a specific building code, then consider obtaining this information before designs are 100% complete. Note some local jurisdictions may charge a fee for pre-plan review meetings; so as an option, you can reach out to local building permit experts for their input. Engage a Permit Expediting Expert: Some times with large events, such as Super Bowl 51, local jurisdictions prepare for peak loads and coordinate their plan review staff to have flexible work shifts to process building permits, inspections, and certificate of occupancies in a timely manner. Prudent project owners realize using proven building permit expediters is the best way to not take a chance on any misses with city permits. This solution also helps them to save time and money.

Planning and preparation are two must do keys when it comes to obtaining city building permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy in a timely manner. And whether you use an internal expert on staff, engage a building permit expert who lives and breathes the city permitting process. Having this established relationships is sure to help you save time and money for your organization. This also helps you to avoid delays in starting construction and allows the project owner to open on time. The Permit Us Now team is here to answer your questions on building permits and codes. You can reach us online anytime at www.permitusnow. com or call 1-844-PERMIT-4. Happy building! Helen Callier, CEO of Permit Us Now, is the one-stop building permit expediting firm that helps architects, engineers, contractors, and project owners save half the time and money in obtaining building permits in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and North Texas. Connect with @PermitUsNow on Twitter and Facebook.

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Martin Luther King Branch Library, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Building C.

What: When: • 6 p.m. Tuesday March 7 • 6 p.m. Tuesday March 14 • 6 p.m. Thursday March 16 • 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 • 6 p.m. Thursday March 23 • 6 p.m. Tuesday March 28 The public meetings will discuss particular aspects of eligibility and application for annual grants. Grant applications are available at the South Dallas/ Fair Park Trust Fund office, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Building A, Suite 127 through April 14.

Formore moreinformation informationcontact: contact: For Betty Artis SDFPTF Administrator (214) 670-8271 betty.artis@dallascityhall.com Honnaca King SDFPTF Coordinator (214) 670-8268 Honnaca.king@dallascityhall.com

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Education

College Choice Publishes 2017 Ranking of the 50 Best Bachelors in Engineering Degrees By Subcontractors USA News Provider

ollege Choice, a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources, has published a ranking of the 50 Best Bachelors in Engineering Degrees for 2017. The United States' global competitiveness has become a national priority, and with it, efforts to increase the number of U.S. students seeking degrees in engineering and computer science, evident at the federal level in the America COMPETES Act, which authorized $43.3 billion in federal spending in science, engineering, mathematics and technology research and education programs. There are many educational institutions of high quality that are offering bachelors degrees in engineering, and College Choice's ranking seeks to parse out what separates the very best. "Because we know that a degree is an investment of sorts, we have factored into our rankings the cost of getting an engineering degree and the salary prospects for graduates of the various schools," Christian Amondson, Managing Editor of College Choice, said of the ranking. "And because research is such an integral part of engineering, and because schools with graduate programs tend to have more research center, labs, and institutes, we've limited our top fifty list to those schools with graduate programs." College Choice developed its list by looking at academic quality along with return on investment—the differential between tuition costs and average early career earnings.

The ranking for the 50 Best Bachelors in Engineering Degrees for 2017 finds the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the top spot. Purdue University is in second, and Georgia Institute of Technology rounds out the top three.

Theentire entireranking, ranking,listed listedininalphabetical alphabetical The order,isisas asfollows: follows: order, • Arizona State University—Tempe • Auburn University • California Institute of Technology • Carnegie Mellon University • Clemson University • Colorado School of Mines • Columbia University • Cornell University • Duke University • Georgia Institute of Technology • Harvard University • Iowa State University • Johns Hopkins University • Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Michigan State University • North Carolina State University—Raleigh • Northwestern University • Ohio State University—Columbus • Pennsylvania State University—University Park • Princeton University • Purdue University--West Lafayette • Rice University • Rutgers University—New Brunswick

• Stanford University • Texas A&M University—College Station • University of Arizona • University of California--Berkeley • University of California—Davis • University of California—Irvine • University of California—Los Angeles • University of California—San Diego • University of California—Santa Barbara • University of Colorado—Boulder • University of Delaware • University of Florida • University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign • University of Maryland—College Park • University of Michigan--Ann Arbor • University of Minnesota—Twin Cities • University of Pennsylvania • University of Pittsburgh • University of Southern California • University of Texas--Austin • University of Utah • University of Virginia • University of Washington • University of Wisconsin—Madison • Vanderbilt University • Virginia Tech • Yale University For more information, please visit College Choice www. collegechoice.net. Source: College Choice

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Energy

CenterPoint Energy Designated a 2016 Residential Customer Champion in Utility Trusted Brand & Engagement™ Residential Study

enterPoint Energy achieved top tier rankings among U.S. natural gas utilities throughout 2016 in the Midwest and South regions, designating the company a 2016 Residential Customer Champion by Cogent Reports™. The Customer Champions list was compiled from year-end Engaged Customer Relations (ECR) scores and ratings from consumers surveyed for the annual Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™ study. The results are based on responses from more than 52,000 residential ratepayers for 130 leading gas and electric utilities throughout the U.S. The study measures and tracks brand trust, customer engagement, satisfaction and relationship strength among residential customers. "Over the past several years, we have made substantial investments to further enhance safety, reliability and service," said Gregg Knight, senior vice president and chief customer officer for CenterPoint Energy. "While these rankings confirm that our customers appreciate our efforts, we plan to continue working hard to improve our systems and service and earn our customers' trust." Rick Zapalac, senior vice president of Gas Operations for CenterPoint Energy agrees and added, "Whether it's in the field, in the office or on the phones, it takes a team of employees all aligned around the

goal of serving the customer, to provide the kind of service reflected in these scores. I would like to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication." This is the third year Cogent Reports™ has computed Customer Champion scores for individual utilities and recognized Customer Champions. In October 2015, CenterPoint Energy ranked third in the Midwest for environmental dedication by Cogent Reports™. In April 2014, CenterPoint Energy was also ranked first in operational satisfaction by Cogent Reports™. Cogent Reports™, a division of Market Strategies International, announced customer rankings for the top tier electric, natural gas and combination providers in four regions across the U.S. The ranking is based on how CenterPoint Energy performed compared to other large utilities in the U.S. CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also owns a 55.4 percent limited partner interest in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp., which owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With more than 7,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 140 years. For more information, visit the website at CenterPointEnergy.com. Source: CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

Energy

Spectra Energy Partners Announces Change in General Partner and Appointment of New Directors and Officers By Subcontractors USA News Provider

pectra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: SEP) (SEP) announced recently its general partner became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (TSX, NYSE: ENB) (Enbridge), as a result of the completion of the combination of Enbridge and Spectra Energy Corp. In conjunction with this change, Bill Yardley will assume the role of Chairman and President of the general partner of SEP. Greg Ebel, Pat Reddy, and Reggie Hedgebeth are resigning, effective today, from their roles as Chairman, President and CEO; Chief Financial Officer; and General Counsel, respectively, of the general partner of SEP. "I want to thank our outgoing management team and directors for their dedication and service, and for establishing Spectra Energy Partners as a bestin-class MLP investment. We look forward to continuing that record of accomplishment," Mr. Yardley said. "The stable underpinnings of our business and our strategic and competitive asset footprint – with virtually no direct commodity or volume risk, high-quality demand-pull customers, excellent liquidity, and access to favorable capital markets – will continue to generate the steady cash flows that have benefited our unitholders for the past decade." Mr. Yardley, John Whelen, Enbridge Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Vern Yu, Enbridge Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer; and Laura Sayavedra, Enbridge Vice President of Sponsored Vehicles, will serve as management directors of the board of directors. J.D. Woodward, III, and Nora Brownell will continue to serve as non-management directors, along with new non-management director Michael G. Morris. In addition to Mr. Ebel, Dorothy Ables, Julie Dill, and Fred Fowler have resigned from the board of directors of the general partner of SEP. Spectra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: SEP), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (TSX, NYSE: ENB), is a Houston-based master limited partnership. SEP is one of the largest pipeline MLPs in the United States and connects growing supply areas to high-demand markets for natural gas and crude oil. These assets include more than 15,000 miles of transmission pipelines, approximately 170 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage, and approximately 5.6 million barrels of crude oil storage. For more information, visit w w w.spec t raener gypartners.com. Source: Spectra Energy Partners, LP

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Engineering

Houston Community College Engineering Center of Excellence

Texas TexasA&M-Chevron A&M-ChevronEngineering Academy Engineering Academy

ouston's Energy Corridor is the third largest employment center in the region. Nearly 800,000 employed persons and more than 43% of all Houston area architects and engineers live within a 30-minute commute zone of The Energy Corridor. The HCC Engineering Center of Excellence is designed to support career pathways in various engineering fields to fill highly-skilled job opportunities in Houston, and specifically in the Energy Corridor.

The Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at Houston Community College is an innovative program that offers students interested in pursuing an engineering degree at Texas A&M University the opportunity to co-enroll at HCC and the College of Engineering at Texas A&M. Engineering Academy students have the unique opportunity to complete Texas A&M engineering courses during their two years at HCC in Houston. At the end of two years, upon successful completion of the Engineering Academy at HCC with at least a 2.5 CGPA, students will apply to the College of Engineering major of their choice. The remainder of the bachelor’s degree coursework would be completed in College Station.

Universityof ofTexas Texasat atTyler Tyler University EngineeringProgram Program Engineering The University of Texas at Tyler is partnering with Houston Community College to allow students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering at the UT Tyler Houston Engineering Center (HEC), located on the second floor of the HCC AliefHayes campus in Houston. Through this engineering partnership with The University of Texas at Tyler, students have an opportunity to earn a Bachelor’s degree in engineer-

ing: mechanical, electrical or civil engineering. The program is conveniently located at the HCC Alief-Hayes campus, is affordable at less than $20,000

for a four year degree (in-district tuition), is seamlessly aligned with the UT Tyler curriculum, and UT Tyler is ABET accredited.

For more information about this program at Houston Community College, please visit www.hccs.edu.

We’ll wait on YOU, before YOU wait on US Traffic Control in Cypress, American Traffic Control, based in Cypress, Texas, specializes in traffic control and planning services for detours, lane closings, road and freeway closures, and traffic calculation. We provide professional service to the entire United States, while maintaining the highest safety standards for workers and the public.

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Houston News

City of Houston Expands Investment in Renewable Energy M

Houston News

Houston Receives $1 Million Grant for Houston Spaceport Infrastructure

Additional 20 MW of Solar Power Solidifies Houston’s Status as Nation’s Top Municipal Green Power Purchaser From the Office of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

eaffirming Houston’s commitment to renewable energy, reducing emissions, and saving taxpayer money, Mayor Sylvester Turner and City Council recently agreed to purchase an additional 20 megawatts (MW) – for a total of 50 MW of solar power. This increase expands the 20-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA) the City entered into in 2015 with Hecate (now SolaireHolman) and will supply 10.5% percent of the City’s electricity needs with solar power. “As the nation’s largest municipal purchaser of green power, the City of Houston has a loud and proud history of commitment to renewable energy,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Investing in renewable energy helps the City become more sustainable, but also protects us from market volatility in the longterm. Green power makes smart business sense and is an important tool cities can use to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change.” In 2014, as the cost of solar energy began dropping significantly, the City embarked on a process to identify a solar energy provider for 6% of its municipal operations as a step towards diversifying the City’s energy portfolio and securing low cost energy and long term price stability. In 2015, SolarieHolman (formerly Hecate) was selected as providing the best price and value to the City for its proposed 30 MW facility. A key component was the lack of any price escalation or inflation adjustments during the 20-year term. In 2016, SolaireHolman offered the City the option of purchasing an additional 20 MW of solar power. In exchange for purchasing the additional 20 MW, the overall contract price is reduced by 8%, resulting in an estimated $1,956,067 per year of savings over the 20-year term.

Benefitsto tothe theCity Cityinclude: include: Benefits

“Engie Solar (formerly Solairedirect) is pleased to grow our partnership with the City of Houston to supply a total of 50 megawatts of solar generated electricity,” said Marc-Alain, Vice President Business Development Americas, Engie Solar. “We are also excited to be a part of the City of Houston’s Sustainability Program, recognized by EPA as a ‘leading Green Power Partner’.” Through its long standing relationship with the City via its Reliant Energy contracts, NRG’s Business Solutions group provided the financial support for the deal through its offerings that include asset management services, along with a wide array of structured energy and capacity products. “As Houston’s retail electricity provider, we commend the City for its increased purchase of renewable energy directly from a solar facility in Texas,” said Rob Gaudette, SVP, NRG Business Solutions. “We provide all customers with energy solutions that support both sustainability and economic growth, and are pleased to have facilitated this transaction through our existing retail supply agreement.”Under this amended agreement, SolaireHolman will supply the City’s retail electric provider, Reliant Energy Retail Services LLC (Reliant) with up to 50 megawatts (MW) of solar power from a facility in Alpine, Texas. The facility is expected to come on line in April 2017. With this addition, the City further solidifies its national leadership in renewable energy. For the past two years, the City of Houston has held the top spot on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) Top 30 Local Government list of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership. Houston is also #7 on EPA’s overall Top 100 green power users. The City uses nearly one billion kilowatthours (kWh) of green power annually, which represents over 85% percent of its total power needs.

• Minimized exposure to electricity market price volatility • Realized budget certainty and energy price stability with a guaranteed electricity rate • Long term savings • Improved air quality in Houston and Texas Source: www.houstontx.gov

From the Office of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

ayor Sylvester Turner recently announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Houston, Texas a $1 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to build some of the necessary infrastructure required for the planned Houston Spaceport at Ellington Airport. “This grant is another sign of the serious attention our project is receiving,” said Mayor Turner. “Houston has always been at the forefront of aerospace-related advances. We are continuing to lead the way with the Houston Spaceport.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a launch site license to the Houston Airport System in July 2015 to enable Ellington Airport to establish itself as a launch site for Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV), making Houston Spaceport the 10th commercial spaceport in the United States. Currently in Phase 1 of development, the Houston Spaceport recently acquired a 53k square-foot facility. Its first tenant is Houston-based Intuitive Machines, which is currently developing drone technology. Future plans include attracting additional aerospace and aviation companies to begin operations from the facility to advance Houston's position as a leader in the aerospace industry. “The momentum behind Houston Spaceport continues to build,” says Mario Diaz, Houston Aviation Director. “There is limitless potential for aerospace activity at Ellington Airport and that fact is now being recognized on a broad scale, both by our partners within the U.S. Government and representatives from the private sector.” The City of Houston sought funding from the EDA, which provides grants for projects that will spur economic development and create jobs for residents. Last year, Houston Aviation Director Mario Diaz hosted a roundtable at Ellington Airport with Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams, Congressman Pete Olson, Councilmember Dave Martin and representatives of the business community. This roundtable highlighted the potential for the Spaceport to spur innovation and create new jobs with local universities partnering to provide job training and engage in research and technology transfer. The Houston Airport System has partnered with several state and local universities to engage in research, and job training in the aerospace sector to provide a skilled local workforce for employment opportunities created by this investment. For more information on Houston Spaceport, please visit www.fly2houstonspaceport.com or contact Houston Spaceport General Manager Arturo Machuca at Arturo.machuca@houstontx.gov. Source: www.houstontx.gov

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Houston News

Port Houston Fire Department Receives Meritorious Public Service Award

he Port of Houston Authority Fire Department was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award, at a special ceremony conducted during the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee meeting at the Houston Pilots facility in Houston, recently. According to a press release issued by the Coast Guard, the Port of Houston Authority Fire Department represented in person by Assistant Chief Glenn Hood and Senior Capt. Kirk Beverung, along with Houston Pilots Capt. Michael McGee and Capt. Michael Phillips; G&H Towing Capt. Douglas Scott and Capt. William Curry were presented the award by Rear Adm. Dave Callahan, the Coast Guard's 8th District commander, in recognition for their “prompt and effective response to prevent a major marine casualty.” The incident, involving M/T Aframax River, an 800-foot-crude oil tanker, occurred Sept. 6, 2016. There were no injuries or loss of life and impact to the environment and channel closure was “minimized” credited to the actions of those involved. In part, the Meritorious Public Service Award noted that Port Houston firefighters “applied their training and expertise to effectively battle the enormous blaze.” During an Oct. 25, 2016 Port of Houston Authority Port Commission meeting, Port Commission Chair-

man Janiece Longoria hailed the response to the incident and heroic life-saving actions of all involved. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Peter Martin, in attendance at the Oct. meeting, publicly praised the Port Houston crew members for their “diligence” and “immediate action.” Chairman Longoria underscored the quick response of the port’s fire department and their “excellent decision-making skills” to save the nearby vessels and docks and “quickly” extinguish the fire. Port Houston maintains its own emergency first responders, Port Police and Fire departments. Members are well-trained in emergency response tactics. The Port of Houston Fire Department currently operates three fire stations, which are strategically stationed along the Houston Ship Channel. The personnel and equipment perform rescue, fight marine and land fires, hazardous materials and oil spills and releases and other emergencies throughout the ship channel.

Port Houston operates three fireboats along with three HAZMAT trucks, three class-A pumpers and one booster truck. Port of Houston fireboat captains are licensed U.S. Coast Guard masters; and its firefighters are certified by the state of Texas as Structural Firefighter, Marine Firefighter, HazMat Technician and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Regarding this high-level meritorious award, Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther offered, “We are extremely proud of all the members of the port’s emergency management and safety teams. They serve with dedication and honor every day; and we are particularly proud of those presented with this distinguished honor by the U.S. Coast Guard. This recognition is well-deserved,” he said. 2 The Meritorious Public Service Award is the second-highest public service honor bestowed by the U.S. Coast Guard.

For more information, visit Port Houston’s website at: www.porthouston.com.

Help Us Shine. CenterPoint Energy values its diverse suppliers. Our suppliers include minority-owned and women-owned businesses, as well as small businesses. We choose diverse suppliers for their capability, safety, innovation, agility and competitive pricing. In turn, our suppliers create positive economic impact throughout the communities we serve. Mutually beneficial relationships and forward-thinking approaches offered by quality, diverse suppliers are integral to CenterPoint Energy’s vision to lead the nation in delivering energy, service and value. This is why we welcome and are committed to including diverse suppliers in competitive bid opportunities. Our beacon shines brightly as we guide diverse suppliers to the shores of business opportunity. Learn more at CenterPointEnergy.com/SupplierDiversity.

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HCC’s

Small Business Development Program

Houston Community College is Dedicated to Developing and Promoting Our Local Small Businesses By Subcontractors USA News Provider

s one of the largest community colleges in the nation, the Houston Community College System (HCC) has proudly served the Greater Houston area for over four decades. HCC has served this city in various areas and in several capacities. When it comes to serving the small business community, the Small Business Development Program (SBDP) is an award-winning program within HCC, dedicated to developing and promoting our local small businesses. The SBDP was created to provide business opportunities for local small businesses to participate in contracting and procurement at HCC. The SBDP works diligently, formalizing existing practices and implementing new procedures to allow HCC to produce more effective small business participation and create opportunities relating to HCC contracting and procurement. HCC understands that our small business community is a vital component to Houston’s continuous economic growth. Through this program, HCC positively contributes in capacity building, increasing competition among small businesses and creating opportunities which will ensure the best value to HCC. Veronica R. Douglas, Manager of the SBDP, is responsible for meeting with small businesses, providing them with the opportunity to present their product or service to HCC. Douglas says, “Many of our small businesses have had the opportunity to not only

submit quotes, but to successfully win awards, and ultimately provide HCC with their product or service. I take pride in representing the small business community, as well as assisting them with the public procurement process.” In this leadership role with HCC, Douglas also manages the annual HCC Procurement Opportunities Expo, a free event for the small business community. The expo allows businesses of all sizes to network with public and private procurement professionals who are seeking small businesses and diverse suppliers in Harris County and throughout Greater Houston. The SBDP has a successful approach to producing more effective small business participation and creating opportunities related to HCC contracting and procurement. HCC strives for a 35% small business goal in formal solicitations, where subcontracting is probable. The annual goal for small business participation is based on prior utilization, policy requirements, staff recommendations, and general input regarding capacity analysis, and HCC projected contracting opportunities. Douglas and the SBDP team are meticulous in

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identifying certified small businesses that can provi goods and services through cooperative agreemen which are often utilized for informal purchases goods and services. Because the SBDP understands the trials sma businesses face, it hosts workshops and training se sions on challenges frequently encountered by sma businesses during the proposal process and general when performing work for HCC. It also holds pr proposal seminars to explain small business requir ments, including explanation of the forms that mu be submitted with a proposal, conduct outreach a tivities for small businesses to ensure access and o portunity to compete, and maintain lists of SBD Certified Small Businesses in coordination wi listings from other agencies. There is passion behin the SBDP’s work, and their meetings, events, an partnerships help to provide the local small busine community with a keen understanding and opport nity to network and to learn about how they shou submit their proposals, giving them the best chan possible to do business with HCC.

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Learn More about HCC’s Small Business Development Program HUB Certification Process The program goals are with certified SBEs/ MBEs. The SBDP recommends to all of their clients to obtain as many certifications as possible to open the doors of opportunity at federal, state, local, and educational entities. The SBDP is not a certifying agency. However, there are recent significant improvements to the SBDP. These improvements will provide greater opportunity to certified small businesses that participate in the procurement process at HCC. The SBDP has also improved the evaluation process for qualified certified small businesses to maximize their opportunity to compete and win more HCC business.

Small and Minority Business Outreach The SBDP participates in networking and outreach events in all communities throughout Houston and average in participating or presenting in over 80 events per year. Bid notices are also posted on the centralized master bidders list (CMBL), the HCC Procurement Operations website, and in local publications. As an example of taking their message out to the community, the SBDP utilizes HCC-TV to present a unique program called “It’s Your Business,” which spotlights local small businesses. In addition, the SBDP conducts “How to Do Business with HCC” seminars in each of the nine HCC Districts and are highly involved with the local Chambers and the certifying agencies. The SBDP recently entered into an agreement with several community partners to participate in an Inter-Agency Mentor Protégé Program.

Requirement of Good Faith Efforts

“The SBDP has successfully engaged with and provided many opportunities to our local small businesses. We have become a staple in the community known for our passion and good work in the education and promotion of local small businesses. We have successfully assisted small businesses with the certification process, locating opportunities, and understanding the public procurement process.” —Veronica R. Douglas, Manager of HCC’s SBDP

The SBDP requires Good Faith Efforts by contractors to use small businesses in contract performance. The SBDP has procedures in place to determine whether contractors are meeting this requirement of the Good Faith Efforts. Contractors are required to document efforts to obtain small business participation. A contract award may be denied or an existing contract may be terminated for the contractor’s failure to use Good Faith Efforts. “We believe we are teaching people ‘how to fish’ to be successful in targeting their best opportunities and putting their best foot forward. We teach, so the bidders can learn from each procurement that they participate in, which will help build their knowledge towards a successful award. It is important that they continue to learn from their diversity champions, their experiences, and to never give up. Opportunity is always around the corner,” says Douglas. The SBDP understands that the Houston economy stays strong by keeping its dollars in the community. Douglas adds, “We ARE Houston’s community college, which means we focus our efforts on our local community and the nine districts in which we educate and prepare students for success.” The SBDP is proud to serve within HCC, working with the small businesses that provide the goods and services that make our community GO.” For more information about the Houston Community College Small Business Development Program, please visit www.hccs.edu or call 713-718-5001.

The SBDP Bidding Process The SBDP is committed to a transparent process. Tabulations, award information, and contracts are posted in the archive section on their website. As a public sector educational institution, the SBDP provides information related to their procurement process through public records requests as well. This department also continues to identify and use technology that will provide a self-serve model to share bid, award, and contract information on their website.

Certifications The SBDP recognizes and has goals for the City of Houston SBE, MBE, WBE, PDBE, and DBE. This is in addition to the SBE certification from METRO, Texas Department of Transportation, City of Austin, South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency, and the Small Business Administration 8(a). As a philosophy, the SBDP values all diversity certifications.

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information technology

Tech Tips for Subcontractors By Subcontractors USA News Provider

our smartphone, your tablet, your computer - they are some of your most important and most used possessions. They are the daily tools you use for research, to connect with others and make purchases. You take them everywhere and fill them with your important, personal information. And all of that makes them the perfect targets for a cyberattack. The number of cybercrime incidents in the United States grows each year, and as Americans move into an increasingly digital society thanks to smart phones, smart cars and smart in-home technologies - cybercrime is expected to grow in frequency again this year. Protecting yourself, your business and the vital information on your devices means increasing your focus on your own cybersecurity. That starts with these five tips. • Recognize you're not immune. Cyberattacks increase in frequency and severity every year, so don't make the mistake of believing it can't happen to you. "It's important to protect yourself by taking personal responsibility for your data; we can't expect banks or other institutions to do it for us," said Jim Karagiannes, Ph.D., professor in DeVry University's College of Engineering & Information Services. "We lock our doors and take other security measures to protect our business. We need to also take precautions with our personal security and information." • Don't store your username, password or credit card information with a website. The convenience makes it tempting, but websites are a popular target for cybercriminals because a successful hack gives them access to hundreds or thousands of files, including yours. Even storing this information on your own computer can expose it in a cyberattack, and if your credit card information is captured, criminals can use it to gather your social security number. That exposes you to identify theft. Keep this information off your devices and, instead, create complex passwords and write down all of your usernames and passwords on a piece of paper that you keep in a safe place, such as a deposit box. • Use only a credit card, not a debit card, when making online purchases. Using your credit card instead of your debit card allows you to keep better track of the purchases you have made. It also limits the ef-

fects of any possible theft to just the one card instead of several. If you have no choice but to use a debit card for an online purchase, do not use your pin number online. • If it feels like a trick, it probably is. Cybercriminals often engage in "social engineering" or other nonelectronic methods to try and trick you into surrendering your data. If you get a phone call about a banking or credit card issue or if your computer tells you to call a number because it just caught a virus, be cautious. Do not divulge any personal history or credit card details. Hang up or ignore the computer-generated notices and call the customer service number of the institution's website with any questions. • Replace your existing credit cards with chip cards as soon as possible. Chip cards are becoming the new normal these days, and if your current credit card does not have a silver square chip on its front, consider replacing it quickly. Popularized in Europe, chip cards possess the necessary encrypted information to eliminate delays in the transaction process. Doing so closes the window criminals need to steal your personal information, thus protecting you from identity theft. You have no intention of abandoning your devices, of course, so protect them. Following the tips above will help better secure your technology and personal information from the threats of cybercrime so you can run your business with greater peace of mind. – BPT Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

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Premier Wireless Lunch & Learn

Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum

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Beaumont 2017 Procurement Connection Seminar & EXPO

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Manufacturing

Canon to Deliver World's First Nanoimprint Replica Mask Manufacturing Equipment for Mass-Production to Leading Mask Supplier units to be clustered together for increased productivity.

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

AboutCanon CanonU.S.A., U.S.A.,Inc. Inc. About

anon U.S.A., Inc., a leader of digital imaging solutions, has announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., will commence sales of the FPA-1100NR2, the world's first mass-production replica mask manufacturing equipment. The FPA-1100NR2 duplicates masks for semiconductor lithography equipment utilizing low-cost nanoimprint technology. Canon Inc. has announced that FPA-1100NR2 equipment will be sold to Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd, a leading supplier of masks for nanoimprinting. Facing the difficult challenge of circuit scaling or miniaturization, the key to the advancement of semiconductor devices, nanoimprint lithography (NIL) has garnered a lot of attention as a new technology that achieves even more detailed circuit patterns of 10nm (1 nanometer = 1 billionth of a meter) at an even lower cost, compared with photolithography.1 Since 2004, Canon has been carrying out R&D in the field of semiconductor manufacturing equipment that utilizes nanoimprint technology. When mass producing semiconductor devices with nanoimprint lithography, it is important to control the cost of the replica masks that are required for the patterning of advanced semiconductor devices. This can be challenging due to the expensive, time-consuming step of using electron beam writers to define patterns on a mask. To address this problem, Canon has developed mask replication technology that enables the fabrication of replica masks at a low cost.

Employing nanoimprint technology, the FPA-1100NR2 can faithfully transcribe a pattern from an expensive master mask to a replica mask blank in a short amount of time, making possible replica mask production with high efficiency. Through this process, mask productivity can be rapidly increased at the production sites of nanoimprint mask suppliers, to greatly reduce the manufacturing costs of semiconductor devices produced using nanoimprint technology and realize a cutting-edge lithography process with a reduced cost of ownership.2 Canon will host several presentations on its nanoimprint technology and will report on the progress of NIL development at SPIE Advanced Lithography 2017, to be held from February 26 to March 2, 2017, in San Jose, California, U.S.A.

For more information about Canon U.S.A.'s industrial products, please visit https://www.usa.canon.com/industrial.

About AboutNanoimprint NanoimprintTechnology Technology Nanoimprint lithography manufacturing equipment utilizes a patterning technology that physically presses a mask, into which circuit patterns have been cut, onto a resin wafer resist to faithfully reproduce patterns with a higher resolution and greater uniformity compared to those produced by photolithography equipment. Additionally, as this technology does not require an array of wide-diameter lenses and the expensive light sources necessary for advanced photolithography equipment, NIL equipment achieves a simpler, more compact design, allowing for multiple

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Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $29 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2016.†Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes in the United States. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss. †Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office. 1 A semiconductor lithography system that utilizes wide-diameter lenses and a laser light source to transcribe circuit patterns onto wafers. 2 Necessary equipment investments and operating costs related to semiconductor production. Used as one of the benchmarks for assessing the productivity of processes and production equipment used in a semiconductor manufacturer's high-volume production line. Source: Canon U.S.A., Inc.

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Oil and Gas

Marcus Hiles - Praises Texas on Becoming the Strongest Labor Market Across the United States By Subcontractors USA News Provider

exas gained the momentum after officially adding 210,800 new jobs, as of December 17th, 2016 – the increase predominantly driven by a rise in oil prices and the distinct stabilization of the energy sector. Marcus Hiles, the dynamic CEO of Dallas real estate development firm Western Rim Property Services and one of the state's leading job creators, recently spoke out on the impressive growth of the Texas economy, and the state's return as the nation's leader of business, hospitality and most importantly, energy. In late 2014, when the price of oil fell dramatically, communities throughout Texas suffered economic downturns, with areas surrounding Houston being hit the hardest. As 2016 came to a close, Hiles was pleased to see that, with the value of crude oil doubling since their February lows and active rig counts

Oil and Gas

Source: Marcus Hiles

Oil and Gas

Shell, YPF to Develop Vaca Muerta Gas Pilot Project By Subcontractors USA News Provider

oyal Dutch Shell PLC and Argentina’s YPF SA have signed preliminary terms and conditions of an agreement to develop a shale gas pilot project in the Vaca Muerta shale of Neuquen province. The agreement would provide each company 50% working interest with Shell as operator in the 55,000acre Bajada de Anelo northeast of Loma Campana, a strategic region in Vaca Muerta that has both shale oil and shale gas resources, according to a release from YPF. Shell estimates the project would require investment of $300 million, which would occur in two phases. YPF Chairman Miguel Angel Gutierrez noted the importance of a new partner in Vaca Muerta “after the addendum to the collective bargaining agreement” that was recently sealed among stakeholders in the Neuquen basin. The Argentine government last month struck a deal with labor unions and international oil firms—including Shell, Chevron Corp., BP PLC, and Total SA—to attract investment to Vaca Muerta. As part of the deal, the government will provide a subsidized wellhead price of $7.50/MMbtu through 2020 and invest in infrastructure surrounding oil and gas operations. In turn, the firms pledged to invest $5 billion in 2017, with that total multiplying in subsequent years. Shell’s presence in Argentina includes its 22.5% nonoperated interest, held since 1998, in the Acambuco natural gas and condensate block in Salta province. That concession is operated by Pan American Energy LLC. In 2012, Shell became operator with 90% interest in the unconventional Sierras Blancas, Aguila Mora, and Cruz de Lorena blocks in Neuquen. It also has 45% nonoperated interest in the province’s La Escalonada and La Ceniza Corner blocks. The US Energy Information Administration estimates Vaca Muerta holds 308 tcf of dry, wet, and associated shale gas resources.

rising by 200 in recent months, both the oil industry and the Houston economy have stabilized and resumed growth trends. In November alone, mining and logging, the sector that includes oil and gas extraction, added 3,200 jobs, while the greater Houston metropolitan area continued its job increase by half a percent, a rise from 2015.

Marcus Hiles predicts continued improvement for the statewide economy over 2017, citing The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) decision to reduce production levels in January as a sign that oil prices are likely to continue to increase and in turn promote huge job gains. Hiles expects other regions of the state, including North Texas and Austin, to further advance their nation leading technology, manufacturing and real estate sectors. Marcus Hiles is a Texas-based property developer and the Founder & CEO of Western Rim Property Services who understands the value of a strong community, and avidly supports numerous schools, children hospitals, local low-income feeding and meal programs, and charities. He has funded the construction of two large churches in Texas and in his home state of Massachusetts.

Mobilize Federal Support for Carbon Dioxide Pipelines, Group Urges By Subcontractors USA News Provider

multistate working group convened by two western governors urged the Trump administration and the 115th Congress to make carbon dioxide pipelines a priority within a more-ambitious US infrastructure agenda. The State CO2-EOR Deployment Work Group also released a report recommending that the federal government support development of CO2 pipeline networks to securely transport large volumes of the gas to US oil fields for enhanced recovery operations. Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead (R) and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) formed the working group in September 2015 as a follow-up to a Western Governors Association resolution calling for federal incentives to accelerate carbon capture deployment at power plants and industrial facilities, and increase the use of CO2 in enhanced oil recovery while safely storing the gas underground. “Carbon capture for enhanced oil recovery with CO2 storage is a game changer for the American economy,” said Brad Crabtree, vice-president for fossil energy at the Great Plains Institute (GPI) in Minneapolis. GPI provides staff support for the working group. Crabtree said, “But to make the current potential a reality, we need an investment in the nation’s energy infrastructure. This report outlines the specific policies and federal support necessary to build the pipelines that will boost America's energy independence, create jobs, and decrease emissions.” The report, which GPI released on Feb. 23, includes a map outlining five potential large-volume, long-dis-

tance CO2 pipeline corridors. These pipelines could expand the annual supply of manmade CO2 available for EOR by 150 million tons by 2030, when coupled with targeted federal incentives for deployment of carbon capture technology. The analysis shows that robust pipeline systems on this scale could triple the existing US EOR industry, with about 375 million bbl/year of US crude oil production and an estimated reduction of 22% in annual US oil imports valued at $30 billion. They recommended CO2 pipeline systems have the potential to drive an estimated $75 billion of capital investment and stimulate more than $30 billion/year in economic activity. Lack of pipeline systems is a major obstacle to increasing CO2 deployment for EOR, Crabtree said. “Trunk pipelines are needed to link industrial and power plant CO2 sources to oil field customers, and they must be built at very large scale across regions to make economic sense.” The working group, which includes officials from 10 state governments, recommends that the federal government play a targeted role, supplementing private capital, in financing increased capacity for priority trunk pipelines to transport CO2 from industrial facilities and power plants not currently served by pipeline systems to oil fields for enhanced recovery. It also calls on Congress and the president to work with states, tribal governments and key stakeholders to identify and foster development of these pipeline corridors, including support for planning, streamlined permitting, and financing. Source: Article by Nick Snow of Oil & Gas Journal

Source: Oil & Gas Journal

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FLUOR SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM

Connecting for Opportunities Fluor is committed to excellence in supplier diversity. As a global company, Fluor operates across highly diverse markets that are best served by correspondingly diverse resources, including suppliers and subcontractors. Visit us at www.fluorprocurement.com for a list of the products and services that Fluor buys and create your company profile.

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Petrochemical

Enterprise Products Chooses Honeywell UOP Technology for New Petrochemical Plant in Texas

Honeywell UOP's Oleflex™ technology to help produce high-octane fuel and other materials By Subcontractors USA News Provider

oneywell (NYSE: HON) announced recently that Houston-based Enterprise Products Operating LLC has chosen Honeywell UOP's C4 Oleflex™ technology to produce 425,000 metric tons per year of isobutylene, which is used to make high-octane fuel and highperformance synthetic rubbers and acrylics. In addition to technology licensing, Honeywell UOP will provide the basic engineering design, control systems, catalysts and adsorbents for the plant, which is located in Mont Belvieu, Texas. Honeywell UOP also will provide a modular CCR™ (continuous catalyst regeneration) unit. "High demand from automotive, industrial machinery and construction applications are expected to drive growth in lubricant production, and at the same time, demand for highoctane fuel is rising as auto manufacturers build more engines that meet higher fuel economy standards," said Mike Millard, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP's Process Technology and Equipment business. "Isobutylene produced by the Oleflex process is a great raw material for making products to meet these market needs." Honeywell UOP's C4 Oleflex technology uses catalytic dehydrogenation to convert isobutane into isobutylene and is proven to have the lowest cash cost of production and the highest return on investment compared with competing technologies. Its low energy consumption, low emissions, and fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system minimizes its impact on the environment. The unique and proven process design maximizes operating flexibility, on-stream factor and reliability. The Honeywell UOP CCR section is a critical part of the Oleflex unit and will be delivered to Enterprise as modular equipment. Honeywell UOP has delivered more than 70 modular CCR

sections globally, providing a cost-competitive and time-saving alternative to conventional field construction. Modular equipment has several advantages over typical installations. Because it is factory-built, it can be started faster that systems that are constructed on site, and it is easier to operate due to common parts and standardized training, operations and maintenance. Honeywell UOP's Oleflex technology has been selected for 39 projects by 46 producers globally since 2011. Since the technology was first commercialized in 1990, Honeywell UOP has commissioned 27 Oleflex units for on-purpose propylene and isobutylene production. Five more units in China and the Middle East are expected to start up later this year. Enterprise Products Operating LLC provides midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, petrochemicals, and refined products in the United States and internationally. It is a subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Honeywell UOP (www.uop.com) is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is part of Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions (www.honeywellprocess.com), a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries. Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www. honeywellnow.com.

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projects on 1 Delivers time and on budget to 2 Committed delivering quality &

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About Us Horizon International Group, LLC is a certified SBE/MBE/WBE/HUB construction manager with a proven history of providing clients impeccable contracting services since 1994.

Certified MWBE/SBE/HUB Contractor Horizon is a certified MBE, WBE, SBE and State of Texas certified Historically Underutilized Business (HUB). As such, Horizon is always striving to expand business opportunities, provide added value to our clients, and is actively engaged in procuring goods and services from other talented SBE/MBE/WBE/HUB subcontracting firms. We believe that diversity strengthens the community and the overall small business environment.

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4204 Bellaire Boulevard Houston, TX 77025 p: 713.660.8282 f: 713.660.0102

Source: Honeywell

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When you need experience, we have it covered. Rice & Gardner Consultants, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary professional engineering firm that focuses on MEP Engineering, Commissioning, and Program Management. We act as an extension to our clients, providing total engineering services from project inception to completion. With our deep bench of high skilled and experienced staff and innovative technology Rice & Gardner can plan, lead, and complete projects on time and within budget.

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San Antonio News

Impacted Homeowners May Be Eligible For Small Business Administration Loan C

ity crews from the Transportation & Capital Improvements Department, Solid Waste Management Department and Parks & Recreation Department have removed more than 70% of debris from storm-affected areas, which amounts to 11,900 cubic yards or the equivalent of one football field stacked nearly 6 feet high. The Bitters Brush Recycling Center is open at no charge to affected residents from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days per week. The Office of Emergency Management, with the assistance of the San Antonio Fire Department, San Antonio Police Department and Development Services, continues to perform damage assessments. To date, 575 residences are confirmed to have sustained damage. The San Antonio Police Department will continue to have increased neighborhood patrol throughout the affected areas overnight to ensure the safety and security of residents and their property. Code Enforcement is proactively monitoring all affected areas for unlicensed contractors and will provide impacted residents with information to assist in choosing a properly licensed contractor. This information includes warnings about unlicensed contractors and contact information for Development Services Department staff dedicated to assist residents through the repair, reconstruction and permitting process. Contact (210) 207-1111 for more information. Representatives from the Texas Department of Emergency Management and Small Business Administration have evaluated effected areas along with Development Services Department staff. If residents qualify under SBA guidelines, they will be able to apply for a low interest loan through the SBA. The 311 Call Center has handled more than 11,800 calls for service, including storm-related calls and volunteer requests for residents who want to assist with the

cleanup effort. Residents are encouraged to continue calling 311 to report non-emergency service requests. The Office of Emergency Management conducted a meeting with the Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster and developed a two-phase approach to volunteer programs. Phase 1 – Experienced group volunteers from the Southern Baptist Relief, Church of Ladder Day Saints and Texas Baptist Men have been deployed to the most affected areas to assist with clean-up efforts. These groups have prior background checks, training and are equipped to work specifically within disaster areas. Phase 2 – Individual volunteers or groups of individuals who have contacted 311 and registered with the San Antonio Food Bank have been provided instructions. Those interested in volunteering for clean-up efforts are encouraged to contact 311 to register. Source: www.sanantonio.gov

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San Antonio NonProfit Commends Freehold Capital Partners By Subcontractors USA News Provider

asa Tierra, a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on the development of affordable housing, is pleased to announce receipt of a significant donation through Freehold Capital Partners. Mark Temple, the executive director of Casa Tierra, said, "It has been our pleasure to work with Freehold Capital Partners, and we commend them for their support of affordable housing. As government resources become scarce, it is more important than ever for the private sector to help fill the funding void." Freehold Capital Partners is the world's largest originator and owner of capital recovery fees, also known as private transfer fees. Capital recovery fees consist of an assessment created in connection with real estate projects. These assessments help spread infrastructure costs, make home ownership more affordable, and provide long-term sustainable funding for non-profits. According to Freehold Capital Partners, five percent of every assessment dollar goes back into the community for diverse public benefits such as open space, volunteer fire departments, and of course, affordable housing. Freehold's 2016 contributions to non-profits were approximately $2.5 million. This is anticipated to rise significantly over the coming years, ultimately generating billions of dollars for clean air, parkland, affordable housing, and other community benefits. Mr. Temple went on to say, "Helping property developers pay for infrastructure through long term assessments, while also requiring that a portion of every assessment dollar be returned into the community, aligns private business interests with the public good."

About Casa Tierra: Casa Tierra is a 501(c) (3) public charity organization focused on affordable housing. About Freehold Capital Partners: Freehold Capital Partners owns the largest portfolio of private transfer fee assessments in the world. Freehold created this portfolio to make housing more affordable and, in the process, harness private sector incentives to build better communities. Learn more at www.freeholdcapitalpartners.com. Source: Freehold Capital Partners

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Transportation

Does the Recent Reason Foundation Report Provide an Accurate Assessment of High-Speed Train Service in Texas?

exas Central finds the Reason Foundation Report flawed, biased, and having unsupported data.

Here’saadeeper deeperlook: look: Here’s • The source data is specifically flawed for this study’s premise and says so. TxDOT’s 2013 Statewide Ridership Analysis Report, the basis for the Reason report, states on page iii that it “… was not intended to provide a detailed ridership analysis of any individual corridor, since many assumptions were applied to all of the corridors statewide and would need to be modified to more accurately reflect the characteristics of any particular corridor.” • The Reason Foundation author did not use data provided by Texas Central. He was also offered full access to the reports and he chose not to use or reference them. As recently as last month, the author confirmed that he “…would be interested in getting more information about the numbers. As you may know, Reason supports private high speed rail lines.” Subsequent calls and emails went unacknowledged. As a project being driven by free market principles, every decision is driven by data. This project has spent millions of dollars using the best technology in the industry to produce data that exceeds what TxDOT provides on ridership and revenue. All of this has undergone intense scrutiny by the project’s various investors. These analyses included original research by the project using publicly available Bluetooth data, among other inputs. No other group – government or otherwise – have completed such a thorough, sophisticated analysis of the Texas travel market. These studies include survey of thousands of real Texans, which show a strong, pent up demand for more travel alternatives between North Texas and Houston. The Reason report ignores all of this data and offers no new information for consideration. The conclusions of this report contrast sharply with previous articles from the Reason Foundation, which called out “opponents” who in Reason’s own words, “mistakenly claim that taxpayers will be stuck subsidizing the rail line.” This same report acknowledged that even with the project’s consideration of federal loan programs, “there is little or no risk to taxpayers, federal or state.” The author contradicts his own views from May 2015, where he affirms positive attributes of the North Texas to Houston travel market and declares that the public should give “privately funded Texas high-speed rail line a chance.” He notes that “For distances longer than 400 miles, planes have major cost advantages,” but claims in his new report that the market is “well-served” by aviation and buses, presumably leaving no room for a service to compete on cost, convenience or experience.

The only thing that has changed in the time from the previous report to now, is there is more accurate and detailed data available supporting the financial viability of the project. The author ignores all of this and somehow came to a different conclusion.

Conclusion Conclusion For months preceding the publication of this report, the author ignored our calls and emails seeking to provide data and background information that would have informed his ongoing research. We again reiterate our offer to the Reason Foundation to take a fresh, open-minded, objective and data-driven view of the project. Any opinion they offer at that point would be a welcome and informed addition to the important public policy conversation going on in Texas about what role high-speed train service can play in accommodating the needs of a growing state.

truly comprehensive analysis. We disagree with the paper’s findings, its assumptions and regret its inexplicable departure from the Reason Founda-

tion’s usual adherence to respectable, defensible academic standards.” Source: www.texascentral.com

T H E H O U S T O N A I R P O RT S Y S T EM P ROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A “2016 TOP 25 SUPPLIER DIVERSITY CHAMPION”

themeantime, meantime,Texas TexasCentral Central InInthe standsby byits itsstatement: statement: stands “The recently published Reason Foundation report is deeply flawed and rife with uninformed biases about how Texans travel. The report offers no original research on the Texas market, and instead relies largely on an outdated state government report that explicitly warns against using it to analyze any single corridor. The report’s author did not respond to our offer to review the very “verifiable, objective data” that his review claims we have not yet provided. That our many calls, emails and voicemails on this matter were left unacknowledged and unreturned signals a willful disinterest by the author to produce a Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

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w w w. t u r n e rc o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m

Building the Future As one of the nation’s largest builders, Turner is dedicated to providing avenues of opportunity for Minority and Woman-Owned Businesses in Houston to achieve entrepreneurial success. Our commitment to social responsibility and fair play is not just on paper; it is ingrained in our corporate culture. We are devoted to making contributions that not only strengthen the local economy, but also reflect the demographics of the community at large. Turner is proud to celebrate our 20th year of The Turner School of Construction Management in partnership with The City of Houston, Office of Business Opportunity. We remain steadfast in our commitment to grow capacity in Small, Minority and Women owned enterprises in the

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