Members' Edge
November 18, 2014 In This Issue
Events
Education/
Training
Safety
New Members
AGC News
Member News
News You Can Use
Quick Links
Slack & Co. Contracting, Inc.
TAS Commercial Concrete, LLC
Betco Scaffolds
Events
The ACE Mentor Program of Houston invites you to join in The Third Annual Build It Forward Event. This event brings together students involved in the ACE Mentor Program and industry-wide professionals. For more information and to learn how you can get involved, please click here.
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In observance of Thanksgiving, the AGC Houston office will close at 3 p.m. on November 26 and reopen December 1 at 8 a.m. We wish you all a safe and happy holiday weekend!
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Register today for the 96th Annual AGC Convention on March 18-20, 2015, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. AGC Houston is proud that Chuck Greco, Chairman, Linbeck Group, LLC., will become President of AGC of America. This prestigious honor marks only the second time an AGC Houston Leader has led the organization to such a level since Warren S. Bellows in 1946. At the same time that Chuck will take his new position, Jerry Nevlud, President/CEO of AGC Houston will become Chairman of the Executive Leadership Council with the AGC of America’s organization of CEOs.
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Do you know anyone who could use money for higher education? Hurry and apply today for the Patrick J. Kiley Excellence In Leadership Scholarships. Deadline is January 31, 2015. AGC Houston will award scholarships to deserving students majoring in a construction-related discipline or an employee or dependent of an AGC Houston member firm.
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The Construction Safety and Excellence Awards  recognize companies that have developed and implemented excellent safety and loss prevention programs. AGC Houston contractor members that excel at safety performance are encouraged to submit applications. Entry deadline is December 15, 2014.  Judges  look for evidence of company management commitment, active employee participation, safety training, work site hazard identification and control, and safety program innovation.
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Education/Training
BIM Process, Adoption, and Integration is a full-day (8-hour) course that provides a foundation for participants to establish and execute the BIM process, facilitate its adoption, and achieve integration on a single project and at a company level to execute multiple BIM projects simultaneously.
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Learn the difference between leading and managing, and understand the importance of communication in effective leadership. Develop techniques for motivating and negotiating solutions, as well as effectively managing change. Broaden your awareness of ethical standards and professional responsibilities.
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For AEC professionals, the AGC Certificate in Management Building Information Modeling (CM-BIM) is an assessment-based certificate credential that denotes knowledge and understanding of concepts related to BIM adoption, practice and process transformation outlined in the AGC BIM Education Program.
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Safety
Designed to meet requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 (q), participants will learn about techniques to develop an air-sampling strategy and other requirements.
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This trainer course is designed for individuals interested in teaching the OSHA 10- or 30-hour General Industry safety and health Outreach training program to their employees and other interested groups.
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This course is designed to give environment, safety and health professionals the tools they need to ensure their workplace is in compliance with environmental regulations and reduce environmental risks. The course will cover the basics of environmental regulations and demonstrate how to identify pertinent regulations to your operations.
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New Members
Please consider using the following members for your business needs:

2253 B. Pasadena Blvd.
Pasadena, Texas 77502
(713) 472-2426

6613 Springer
Houston, Texas 77087
(713) 645-4611
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AGC News
Thank you to all those who made their voices heard by voting in the 2014 Midterm Elections on November 7. AGC recently released a video featuring AGC CEO, Stephen Sandherr, who recounted the results of the 2014 mid-term elections and what the outcome means for the construction industry. He also talks about AGC of America's legislative priorities for the upcoming "Lame-Duck" Congressional session, and for next year's new Congress. You can view the video here.
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The Construction Safety and Excellence Awards are now open for submissions! These awards recognize companies that have developed and implemented excellent safety and loss prevention programs achieved through management commitment, employee involvement, and program innovation. All AGC Houston contractor members that excel at safety performance are encouraged to submit applications for each division and occupational category.

Entry deadline is December 15, 2014Click here for details.
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The AGC Alternative, is a private insurance exchange that operates like an online store, making it easy for your employees to shop for health insurance and other benefits on their own or through the help of our dedicated employee hotline. Click here for detailed information and for quotes.
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AGC of America has submitted an amicus brief with the National Labor Relations Board in a case involving common-situs picketing.  The case, IBEW Local 357 (Desert Sun Enterprises), presents an opportunity for the Board to reconsider its long-standing requirement that, when a union notifies a neutral employer of its intent to picket a primary employer (the employer with which it has a direct dispute) at a site where both employers are located, the union must include assurances that it will conduct the picketing in accordance with set standards for lawful picketing. AGC urges the Board to maintain the requirement because it is consistent with the National Labor Relations Act, protects important public policies, and reflects the realities of labor relations on multiemployer worksites.
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Benefit from financial strength and a superior loss-control program. It is managed by a board comprised of CompGroup AGC members—general contractors and subcontractors from all parts of Texas are represented. It is a TDI-approved Workers' Compensation Purchasing Group. Learn more about membership benefits in the CompGroup AGC, Inc. today or click here for more information! Contact your insurance agent or call Program Administrator Roberts & Crow at 800-406-9614 - ask for Julie Schatz.
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AGC Houston members are now eligible for even more discounts thanks to our new membership with National Purchasing Partners! AGC Members Enroll Today! Visit the Membership Discounts page on the AGC.org for more information. Sign up today with NPP to access some of these great savings opportunities:
Did you know?
  • AGC Members collectively saved more than $4,941,000 last year off the purchase or lease of new GM, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ford vehicles.
  • AGC Members collectively saved more than $2,217,232 last year off shipping and freight through AGC’s shipping programs.
  • iSqFt  - A decade ago,ISqFt forged a strategic partnership with AGC providing members with online plan room services and leads.
  • Verizon- Access the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network. Members receive 22% off of corporate calling plans. Contact the National Purchasing Partners at 800.810.3909 for more information.
  • Reliant Energy: Discounted prices, one-stop-shop service to install temporary meters and more.
  • LegalZoom: Personalized, affordable legal protection. Automatic 15% discount.
 
 
   
We're excited to announce new AGC Houston emblem stickers available to all members! Show your AGC pride. Contact AGC Houston today at (713) 843-3700 and get hard hat stickers while they last. They're free for members!
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) released its final rule implementing Executive Order 13658 (EO), which establishes a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour for direct federal prime contractors and subcontractors at all tiers. That $10.10 minimum wage must be adjusted annually for inflation. The new minimum wage will take effect on direct federal agency contracts entered into on or after Jan. 1, 2015.
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AGC Houston and other AGC Texas chapters have joined forces to help promote careers in the commercial construction industry by launching Texasconstructioncareers.com. More than just a website that allows employers to post jobs and job seekers their resumes, the site offers a plethora of information on craft training and professional education resources and job fairs throughout Texas. Click here for more information.
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Naylor, LLC
Naylor Association Solutions
Proline Supply Company
Member News
Porter Hedges, LLP was recently recognized as one of the top the leading Construction practices in 2014 by Chambers USA for the tenth consecutive year, more than any other firm in Texas. They have also been named among leading construction firms in 2014 by Legal 500, Best Lawyers and Texas Super Lawyers.  Congratulations to everyone at Porter Hedges on all your achievements this year! We wish you continued success in 2015.
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News You Can Use
Many in the construction industry are finding that drones and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) can play a vital role in their work. Whether they’re used for surveying, to show clients and potential clients an aerial overview of completed projects, to monitor jobsites to ensure safe practices or to inspect bridges and other structures, drones have the potential to become as important a tool to the industry as any piece of yellow iron. The Federal Aviation Agency has said that it plans to allow commercial UAS use once it has drawn up proper regulations for the aircraft. The deadline for those regulations is some time in 2015.
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KUHF radio and local media headed to Houston's port on Monday, November 10, for a Centennial celebration of the number one  ranked U.S.  port in foreign tonnage. According to the news story, cannon fire at the Turning Basin duplicated the original christening by President Woodrow Wilson, who pushed a button from his office more than 1,400 miles away, which officially opened the 52-mile channel for operation.

It's now the model used for other federal navigation projects. A study found that ship-channel-related business provides over one million jobs throughout Texas, generating more than 1.7 billion dollars in economic impact and 4.5 billion dollars in state and local taxes. "If those bond issues hadn't passed, it wouldn't have been dredged to 45 feet. And so, the fact that the community embraces the port and the port embraces the community is what makes it work," said Harris County JudgeEd Emmett.
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Dodge Data & Analytics released its Construction Outlook report, which shows a five percent increase in construction activity this year and forecasts a nine percent increase next year. The report notes construction financing is becoming easier to obtain and more construction bonds are being passed. Office, institutional, single- and multi-family housing, and public works sectors will see largest gains in spending, according to the report.
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In an effort to help students learn more about post-secondary options available in the skilled trades area, Nimitz High School is seeking volunteers willing to come and impart knowledge to the student body.

Held on November 19, 2014, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., construction trade volunteers can visit with students eager to learn more about the profession and trade jobs. The few hours you spend with the students will resonate and will be an important formative experience in their young lives. Please contact Career Fair Coordinators Sharon Coleman, scolema3@aldine.k12.tx.us, or Iresha Johnson, ijjohnson@aldine.k12.tx.us.
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Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have spent the past five years conducting molecular analyses of the limestone-to-silica ratios of cement to determine the most efficient combination. As the world’s favored construction material and a significant contributor to greenhouse gases—with estimates at about 5-10 percent of industrial emissions—any reduction in pollution that doesn’t compromise final quality is a sure advantage. What the team unearthed is that the standard ratio of calcium to silica is about 1.7, with an acceptable range from 1.2 to 2.2 But their database of various combinations indicates that 1.5 not only reduces CO2 emissions by as much as 60 percent, the concrete is made stronger at that ratio.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants to overhaul its approach to reducing workplace exposure to hazardous chemicals—and the agency is asking for your help. For the next six months, OSHA will accept comments on the best ways to protect workers from illnesses caused by exposure to hazardous substances. It’s specifically asking stakeholders, including businesses, for suggestions on how to streamline risk assessment and develop alternatives to updating permissible exposure limits (PELs) for chemicals.
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Recently, Charles Vento, CFPS, Harris County Fire Marshal's Office contacted AGC Houston to inform our members about Waller County's Fire Code. Stated Vento, "Many of the contractors, developers, and design professionals who work on projects in Waller County come from the Houston area and so we are hoping that you will help us with this initiative to get the word out. Please see the Web address and attached press release for information related to relevant codes, plan submittal, and fees."
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