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In this issue...
Calling All Vets For A Little Shooting Fun! New Program For Construction Supervisors Begins April 18 AGC Houston Members Address Legislators About Key Bills Important For Construction Industry 28th Annual Barbecue Cook-Off Brings Fun & Raises $7,000 For Local Charity Proposal To Create Temporary Worker Visa System Will Boost Economy, Cut Illegal Immigration AGC To Address DOL Proposal To Update Regular Rate Of Pay Regulations Contractors Increase Use of In-House Design to Better Manage Project Demands 
Education/Training
April 12: Stormwater Education Program
April 18: Construction Supervision Fundamentals
April 19: Texas Sales and Use Tax
May 1: Contract Law
May 17: Texas Lien Laws
This new course is specifically designed for the building trades and craft workers to experience construction supervision techniques. Nine highly interactive classroom sessions focus on the knowledge and skills every supervisor needs to efficiently manage people, time, equipments and materials. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE! Click here for details. Safety
Friday, April 26 — AGC Houston Safety Committee Meeting: 7:15 - 9:00 a.m. Contact Kim Mason for details. ALL WELCOME!
AGC Members receive a 10 percent discount on all UTA OSHA-taught classes. Call (866) 906-9190 and provide the member code (AGCHOU).
View the full list of OSHA courses here.
April 8-11: OSHA 500: Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for Construction April 15-18: OSHA 510: OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry April 16-18: OSHA 3115: Fall Protection April 17-19: WTR 301: Introduction to Water & Wastewater Regulations April 23-25: CPT 102: Excavation Safety for the Competent Person April 23-26: OSHA 2225: Respiratory Protection April 23-26: OSHA 511: OSHA Standards for the General Industry April 29-May 2: RM 101: Safety, Health & Environmental Risk Management May 3: OSHA 7205: Health Hazard Awareness May 6-9: OSHA 3095: Electrical Standards May 6-8: OSHA 502: Update for Construction Industry Outreach Trainers May 8-10: OSHA 503: Update for General Industry Outreach Trainers AGC News
AGC of America urged Congress to act quickly on the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act that was introduced on March 13 by Pennsylvania Congressmen Lloyd Smucker. The measure would establish the only federal temporary visa program for construction, among other industries covered by the measure.
The record number of job openings in construction shows the urgency of allowing contractors to bring qualified guest workers into the country along with strict safeguards for American jobs and reduced incentives for individuals to enter the country illegally. Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC's chief executive officer stated: “Allowing employers to bring in guest workers for positions that can’t be filled otherwise is essential to keep the economy expanding.”
Thirty-seven states added construction jobs between February 2018 and February 2019, although construction employment increased in only 16 states between January and February, according to an analysis by AGC of America. Texas added the most construction jobs over the year (22,700 jobs, 3.1 percent), followed by Florida (22,400 jobs, 4.2 percent).
ROOM RESERVATION BLOCK ENDS APRIL 21, 2019 - Click here for convention details For more information about room reservations, National Park entrance fee, and getting to and around Jackson Hole, Wyoming, please click here. A study by the Associated General Contractors of America and FMI Corp. found that more than 43% of contractors are planning to move design work in-house, an increase of 5% from 2018. Compressed schedules, more widely available technology and funding issues are driving the push, but challenges include the failure of in-house teams to be thorough when developing design documents and the inadequacies of liability insurance.
Events
April 8: AGC/AIA Golf Tournament - Registration Closed April 9: Breakfast With the Mayor - Last Chance To Register May 9: CLC Texas Hold'Em Poker Tournament - Save The Date! May 15: Membership Orientation May 30: Military May Shoot-Out - Calling All Vets In Construction!
AGC Vets In Construction Invite You For A Friendly Shooting Competition! Thursday, May 30, 2019 11:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Boyert Shooting Center NO MILITARY EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Two-person team registration includes: SPONSOR A VET! We will team you up with a veteran Registration and Sponsorship Deadline: May 23, 2018. Click here for details Message from the President/CEO
When 44 Associated General Contractors (AGC) Houston members representing 23 companies travelled to Austin for the AGC/Texas Building Branch (TBB) Legislative Day on February 25, 2019, the mission was simple: to meet with and ask key legislators for their support on a handful of bills important to the commercial construction industry. By March 8 - the deadline for filing bills - the handful of bills AGC supports became part of more than 7,000 bills to be debated, negotiated, amended, debated, tweaked etc. and hopefully, deemed worthy of passage.
Member News
McCarthy Building Companies recently completed the CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi – Shoreline, New Patient Care Tower. The tower, which broke ground in July 2016, was completed 41 days ahead of the contracted completion date. Part of the hospital’s master facility plan, a new 400,000 square foot, 10-story tower significantly adds to the hospital’s capability in providing care for patients. The building consists of a new expanded state-of-the-art emergency department and Level II trauma center – the only one in a 12-county area – including four ultramodern trauma bays, imagining facilities, 200 new patient rooms, endoscopy suite, full dietary services, graduate residency spaces, with other clinical and procedural departments. In addition to the tower, a new Central Utility Plant and multiple renovation areas totaling over 12,000 square feet were completed with this phase of the master facility plan.
News you can Use
PlanGrid Hosts Free Houston Roadshow Event, Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Minute Maid Park
Featuring keynote speakers, break-out sessions, certification classes and dinner on the Astros turf!
Check out the details here.
An interactive map from Construction Dive provides information about major commercial, infrastructure and mixed-use projects across the U.S. Most of the projects are valued at $1 billion or more.
Behind-the-scenes job site footage and updated renderings of the Texas Rangers' $1.2 billion Global Life Stadium are now available. Many of the materials for the project, including precast concrete, limestone, steel and brick, are being supplied by in-state companies.
On March 28, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division unveiled a proposed rule that would update the regulations governing regular rate requirements for the first time in more than 50 years. The proposed rule focuses primarily on clarifying whether certain kinds of perks, benefits, or other miscellaneous items must be included in the regular rate.
AGC will provide input to the DOL on the impact this update might have on the construction industry and will notify members of any developments.
Membership Benefits
NPP offers members exclusive savings on a variety of Verizon Wireless services for business. Plus, you can also share Verizon discounts with your employees. Sign up today so your business can start saving with the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network.
Join the FedEx Advantage® program and the discounts keep coming. AGC members will enjoy savings of up to 78 percent on select services.
The program is free to join and no minimum shipping, copy or print requirements to take advantage of this great member benefit. Sign up now or call 1.888.708.4100.
Here's Looking at You
The Houston commercial construction industry came together for the annual Barbecue Cook-Off and Fair March 22 and 23, 2019. Thirty-four cook teams competed in categories that included best theme and best hospitality, crawfish, margarita, salsa, bloody Mary, dessert, ribs, brisket, and chicken. This year’s event raised funds for Henry’s Home, Horse and Human Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization that rescues horses and farm animals and offers free therapeutic care sessions for veterans, first responders and physically challenged children. A big thank you to all of the participating teams, sponsors, volunteers and attendees for supporting the event. Congratulations to Grand Champion, FireTron, Team 2; Reserve Grand Champion, Pieper Houston Electric, LP and to all the winning teams. Special congratulations as well to Walter Rigler of National Construction Rentals who received the Ralf Morton Spirit Award. Check out photos on our Facebook page and tag yourself! For a complete list of winning teams, click here.
Congratulations to Cadence McShane Construction, Anslow Bryant Construction,Ltd., Aggregate Technologies, Inc., and to Peterson Beckner Industries on being recognized nationally for their safety records at the AGC of America Willis Towers Construction Safety Excellence Awards. The award breakfast was held April 3, 2019 in conjunction with the AGC of America Convention in Denver, Colorado. Building Division - Under 600,000 hours: 2nd Place: Cadence McShane Construction 3rd Place: Anslow Bryant Construction, Ltd. Specialty Division - Under 350,000 hours: 1st Place: Aggregate Technologies 2nd Place: Peterson Beckner Industries, Inc.
More than 30 military veterans currently working in the commercial construction industry heard about a variety of benefits they and their families qualify for at the first Vets In Construction quarterly meeting on March 28. Representatives of various organizations including the Texas Veterans Commission, Harris County Veterans Service Office, Houston Volunteer Legal Aid, Funeral Arrangements and Home Land/Loan spoke about the multitude of benefits available for veterans. "I had no idea that I qualify for a free, full military funeral service - including my family - nor did I know about the free legal aid clinics for vets," stated one veteran. For a list of resources, visit the AGC Houston Vets In Construction website page or contact Kim Mason for more information.
On Friday, March 29, 2019, AGC Houston conferred a total of $25,000 to 12 college-bound and university students as part of the Patrick J. Kiley Excellence in Leadership scholarship. The annual event also recognized AGC of America Education And Research Foundations Scholarship Awards, the AGC Houston Standard of Excellence Award and the Leadership AGC Class of 2019 graduates. The event featured Anna Babin, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston, who drew a standing ovation from her inspirational speech. AGC Houston also presented Jaime Ramos of Marek Brothers Systems, Inc., with the 2019 Standard of Excellence Award. The award gives special recognition to a construction industry employee who exemplifies the highest standards of excellence: commitment to quality, customer service, cooperation, teamwork and professionalism. Four more education scholarships were given to students from Texas A & M University and the University of Houston who received an AGC of America Education & Research Foundation Scholarship. To conclude the program, 15 Leadership AGC Class of 2019 participants were recognized for having completed the eight-month program. Congratulations to these distinguished individuals and a special thank you to all the AGC Houston member companies who helped to sponsor the scholarships and program! Check out the event photos here. New Members
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