Members' Edge
In this issue...

Get more from your membership! Attend our Membership Orientation and learn about the many benefits and services AGC offers.

New, Current and Prospective Members Welcome! Check out the details. 

Be part of a legendary event! Sponsorship is the only way to attend the AGC Houston Barbecue Cook-Off unless you are invited by a cook team.

Hurry! Sponsorship opportunities end March 13, 2020. More details here.

State Tax Advisors - Taxes Made EASY!
State Tax Advisors
Whether you are a general commercial contractor or a multistate industrial specialty contractor, State Tax Advisors promises to provide the best quality assurance and tax services.  Because each construction project has it's own challenges, our experienced tax consultants are able to assist you with the itricate requirements for federal and state tax regulations.
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News you can Use
The Inflation Adjustment Act requires the Department of Labor to annually adjust its civil monetary penalties to adjust for inflation no later than January 15 of each year. This final rule increases civil penalties the Department of Labor assesses, including those issued by OSHA based on workplace inspections and potential violations of safety and health standards. 
 
Employers who have open and ongoing OSHA inspections can expect that any citations issued by OSHA after today will reflect the increased penalties.
The new 2020 maximum OSHA penalties are as follows:
Other-than-Serious: $13,494 (increased from $13,260)
Serious: $13,494 (increased from $13,260)
Repeat : $134,937 (increased from $132,589)
Willful: $134,937 (increased from $132,589)

AGC Houston Is Proud to Support the 2020 Census to Ensure that People in the Houston Community Are Accurately Counted and Represented.

For the first time, in 2020 the U.S. Census Bureau will accept responses online. The process will be quick and secure. You can respond to the census in less time than it takes to finish your morning coffee. You’ll still be able to respond by mail. To learn more about what to expect, visit 2020census.gov

U.S. Census Bureay hiring thousands of people fto fill temporary positions. Click here for details.

An new breed of construction workers in Canada is using wearable machinery to do work faster and with less fatigue. The hope is this technology will attract younger workers and allow older employees to stay on the job longer, which would benefit an industry facing a labour shortage.
Some of the suits work like a lever, using counterweights to lift objects.
The latest version is a fully powered motorized suit that can enhance a user's strength and stamina. 
Join the LCI Houston Lean Interest Group Presents:
Thursday, Feb. 27
4 - 6 p.m.
True Anomaly Brewery
2012 Dallas Street, Houston, Texas, 77003
Flat Rate Registration Fee: $15.00
Education/Training

Open to all AGC Houston members, this committee of human resource professionals meets quarterly to discuss issues and regulations that affect the commercial construction industry.  Details here.

Slack & Co. Contracting, Inc.
Andrews Myers, PC
AGC News
At the Annual Business Meeting on Jan. 30, AGC Houston Chairman Tony Mansoorian, W.S. Bellows Construction Corp., announced the new incoming officers and Board of Directors.
Mansoorian, who will complete his two-year term at the end of December, is Chief Operating Officer for W. S. Bellows Construction Corp. and has been with the firm since 2000. Mansoorian graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s of science degree in engineering technology, structural analysis and design from the University of Houston, Downtown.
 
AGC Houston has elected the following members to lead its Board of Directors. They include:
Chairman of the BoardTony Mansoorian, W. S. Bellows Construction, Corp.
Vice-Chairman of the BoardJohn Marshall, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.
Secretary: Jeremy Stovall, Brookstone, LP
TreasurerBrian Cook, Hoar Construction
President/CEOJerry Nevlud, AGC Houston
 
For a list of the full Board of Directors, click here.
  

LAS VEGAS - MARCH 9-12 - The Bellagio Resort & Casino

The largest convention dedicated to the construction industry!

The AGC Annual Convention provides contractors of all sizes with the opportunity to gain business-critical insights into the issues affecting their operations.

Check out all the details.

Last week's winners in the three Texas House special elections are guaranteed seats in the Legislature for the remainder of its 86th term. However, the victorious candidates will need to win again in the March primaries to advance to the November, 2020 election in order to hold those seats for the 2021 Session.
View the full list of 2020 primary election races here
AGC of America's Chief Economist Ken Simonson released  a full report on the construction industry's year-end outlook and projections for 2020.
 
According to the Data Digest newsletter, construction employment rose by 20,000 for the month and 145,000 (2.0%) year-over-year (y/y) to 7,551,000, the most since October 2007. Average hourly earnings in construction rose 2.3% y/y to $31.11, 9.9% above the average for all private-sector employees ($28.32, a 3.1% y/y increase). The unemployment rate in construction, not seasonally adjusted, dipped from 5.1% in December 2018 to 5.0%, and the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience inched down from 493,000 to 489,000 — the lowest December levels in the 20-year history of both series.
Knight Security
Mustang Cat
Member News
  
The beginning of the year marked new changes for Marek Brothers Systems, Inc., with the promotion of Phil Nevlud (pictured) to Division President of its Houston commercial construction business. Phil also is a new Board of Directors members of AGC Houston.
 
Jorge Rodriguez was promoted to Managing Director of Field Production and George Kissamis is now Managing Director of Estimating and Project Management. This team will lead sales and project management as well as construction project delivery across all of MAREK’s commercial service lines.
Long-time leader and Houston Managing Director Saied Alavi announced his planned retirement in December effective June 30. Saied will continue working with CEO Stan Marek and COO Mike Holland on company-wide executive initiatives including pre-fabrication and modularization as well as potential expansion of its fireproofing business line to other markets.
 
“Phil, Jorge and George are known for their tenure, industry leadership, deep relationships with customers, and commitment to delivering high quality projects while growing top talent within MAREK,” says COO Mike Holland. “While Saied’s passion and experience will be greatly missed in the Houston operation, we are excited he will continue to lead executive initiatives to innovate and ensure MAREK continues to achieve outstanding results for our customers.”

Arch-Con Corporation and Moody National recently celebrated the topping out of Moody National Bunker Hill. The project is being built in three phases, with the first two including a 120,000-square-foot office and 420,000-square-foot, seven-story parking garage. Designed by HOK in Houston, Moody National’s headquarters will be on the top floor and some of Houston's iconic restaurants on the first floor of the mixed-use project will include Treebeards, Masraff's and Texadelphia.

Robert Schindler, Vice President - Safety of Arch-Con Corporation, is a Vet In Construction, an active member of the AGC Houston Safety Committee and received the AGC Ray Lambright Ecellence In Safety Award in 2018.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts
Cadence McShane Construction Company LLC
Membership Benefits

Workforce challenges are a top concern in the construction industry but they don’t have to be. As the only HR software created for the construction industry and used by hundreds of AGC members, BirdDogHR can help your company. Click here for details.

Safety
Here's Looking at You

At the sold-out event, Chairman Tony Mansoorian, W.S Bellows Construction Corp., introduced the 2020 Board of Directors and highlighted key initiatives and events for the year. The meeting also served to recognize recipients of the Videos In Construction award winners, who received a one-of-a-kind 3-D printed award sponsored by Gilbane Building Company.

The winning entries were featured on 65-inch screens in the foyer, prior to the meeting, and included videos from Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing; Gilbane Building Company; Karsten Interior Services, LP; McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.; Reliant Safety Solutions, LLC; Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.; TAS Commercial Concrete; and TDIndustries, Inc.
The entries ranged from promoting safety and best practices, to recruiting and training, promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as celebrating project and firm milestones. 

Special thanks to all of our sponsors for making the evnt possible! For more information about the VIC awards, click here.

To see Annual Meeting photos, click here.

The first Construction Leadership Council members mixer took place on Jan. 30 at Preslee's in The Heights. The group of young professionals not only host networking events, but a Poker Tournament in May and a Golf Tournament in August to help to raise funds for the AGC Houston Scholarship program.

Thanks to our sponsor, PlanGrid, for a great evening!

Serving on the 2020 CLC Board of Directors are:

Jay Lee – Marek Brothers Systems, Inc.; David Maniha – Hoar Construction; JP Martinez, Pieper-Houston Electric, LP; Calvin Silva – McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.; and John Morvant - Tellepsen.

To learn more about the Construction Leadership Council, click here.

  
AGC Houston Safety Committee members headed to Austin to join nearly 300 construction professionals for the annual conference Jan. 15-17.The conference provided educational options for critical safety and health compliance and risk issues impacting the business of construction. During the conference, the Construction Excellence Safety Awards finalists were selected and will be announced at 21st Annual Willis Towers Watson Safety Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, March 11 at the AGC of America Convention in Las Vegas.
Several AGC Houston members made the final rounds and will be officially recognized at the luncheon.
Pictured are Tommy Lee, Vice President of Safety Services, W.S Bellows Construction Corp. and Kevin Cannon, Senior Director, Safety & Health Services, AGC of America.
 

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