| September 15, 2015
|
In This Issue |
Events
|
|
Education/
Training
|
|
Safety
|
|
New Members
|
|
Membership Benefits
|
|
AGC News
|
|
Member News
|
|
Here's Looking At You
|
|
News You Can Use
|
|
 Quick Links |
|
 |
Events |
Last week, we mailed letters to our members' main contacts, asking to verify the validity of information as it currently appears in our database. Please complete and return the forms to AGC Houston by Friday, September 18.
October 7-9, 2015
St. Louis, MO
Hyatt Regency at The Arch
Register By September 8 and save $100. AGC's Construction HR and Training Professionals Conference provides two days of education and networking for HR, training and workforce development professionals in the construction industry.
|
Thursday, October 15, 2015
TopGolf Houston West
Benefiting the AGC Houston Advocacy Fund. Tournament Space Is Limited. Register Here Today!
TEAM REGISTRATION - $800 - Includes four players for an hour and a half of TopGolf
SPECTATOR FEE - $100 - Includes food and beverages + entry to the tournament reception
Thank you to our generous event sponsors:
Thanks to our generous print sponsor:
|
 |
Education/Training |
To expand the tools needed to build lean, AGC has developed the Lean Construction Education Program (units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). Construction professionals at all experience levels learn the building blocks necessary to transform their projects and companies into a lean operating system.
September 17: Unit 7 - Problem-Solving Principles and Tools. This seven-hour, instructor-led course describes the Lean Problem Solving Process and illustrates how to use tools to solve problems in a lean manner.
October 2: Certificate of Management - Lean Construction Education Credentialing Exam
The AGC Certificate of Management-Lean Construction (CM-Lean) is an assessment-based certificate credential that denotes knowledge and understanding of concepts related to lean adoption, practice and process transformation outlined in AGCs Lean Construction Education Program. Successful candidates will carry the CM-Lean designation. Click here for details.
|
This program covers the essentials of project management for emerging project managers. Click on each course to read more about the specific course program.
Project Manager Development Program
|
 |
Safety |
Workers exposed to extreme heat or who work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Read more and access helpful information from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
|
Meet the requirements of OSHA Paragraph 1926.50, which calls for a person on the jobsite to have a valid certificate in first aid training in the absence of an infirmary, clinic or physician that is reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance to the worksite.
Note: Early bird pricing ends Thursday, September 10, 2015.
|
This course is the update required every four years for all OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainers for General Industry. It provides timely information on OSHA General Industry standards, policies and regulations.
|
This construction 10-hour safety course covers the safety requirements as contained in 29 CFR 1926.This course is designed to provide entry-level construction workers general awareness on recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site.
|
The foundation of a successful risk management program is the establishment and implementation of an effective performance measurement and data analysis system. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to establish, implement and maintain a performance measurement system in their organizations as it relates to their business enterprise.
|
The AGC Bookstore has a variety of safety products ranging from basic safety brochures to OSHA regulation books for on-site construction safety. AGC also has several DVDs designed to help keep constructions workers knowledgeable about their surroundings and how to prevent accidents from happening on the jobsite. Help your construction workers development well-rounded knowledge of what it takes to be safe at work with these safety products.
|
 |
New Members |
Higginbotham Insurance Agency
Dudley Ray
11700 Katy Frwy, Ste 1100
Houston, TX 77079
(713) 952-9990
dray@higginbotham.net
Royal Vicking Fence
Arthur Tafolla
214 York
Houston, TX 77003
|
The following companies have renewed their membership. Please consider contacting them for your business needs.
DistribAire, Inc.
Mark E. Sacra
P.O. Box 630409
Houston, TX 77263-0409
(713) 266-1761
msacra@distribaire.com
Environmental Remediation Services
Jerry Fields
6741 Satsuma Dr., Suite A
Houston, TX 77041
(281) 822-0000
jerry.fields@ersi-usa.com
Peak Roofing, Inc.
Kelly Paige
3451 Antoine Dr.
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 864-7325
kpaige@peakroofing.com
|
 |
Membership Benefits |
In September 2014, a coalition of Texas construction associations launched the statewide workforce development website Texas Construction Careers. Today, the website lists all of the places where craft training is provided in the state and provides helpful information to students, teachers and military veterans. Moreover, it maintains an excellent job bank, and the number of résumés posted on the website grew 147 percent in the site's first year.
To celebrate its first year, AGC employers can save $50 on a 30-day online job posting with Texas Construction Careers with this special promo code: 20MEMBER. It also applies as a 20% discount on other job posting packages.
Are you among the 93 percent of Texas firms hiring? Let Texas Construction Careers help you.
|
AGC members receive valuable discounts of up to 29% on select FedEx Express® and FedEx Ground® shipping services, up to 70% on FedEx Freight® shipping services.
There are no costs and no minimum shipping, copy or print requirements to take advantage of this great member benefit.
What are you waiting for to sign up?
|
 |
AGC News |
An overwhelming majority of construction firms report trouble finding qualified craft workers to fill key spots as demand for construction continues to rebound in many parts of the country, according to the results of an industry-wide survey of 1,358 construction firms released by AGC of America.
|
On Friday September 4, AGC of America unveiled a news release suggesting that while construction unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 2001, a serious shortage of workers is impacting the growth of the construction industry.
"The number of unemployed workers with construction experience dropped to the lowest total for August since 2001, as hiring slowed despite robust demand for construction, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the hiring slowdown likely has more to do with the lack of available workers in many parts of the country than it does low demand.
"The recent slowdown in construction hiring appears to reflect
difficulty in finding qualified employees rather than lack of projects needing
workers," said AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson. "The pool of
qualified construction workers will need to expand if firms are going to be
able to keep pace with rising construction demand."
|
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that clarifies an employer’s continuing obligation to make and maintain an accurate record of each recordable injury and illness throughout the five-year period during which the employer is required to keep the records.
"Accurate records are not simply paperwork, but have an important, in fact life-saving purpose," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "They will enable employers, employees, researchers and the government to identify and eliminate the most serious workplace hazards—ones that have already caused injuries and illnesses to occur."
|
 |
Member News |
Balfour Beatty Construction has announced the recent promotions of the following employees:
Rahul Dutta has been promoted to Operations Director for the Houston office. A Balfour Beatty Construction employee of 14 years, Dutta brings invaluable experience in executing successful projects, ensuring operational excellence and delivering value-based solutions for all stakeholders.
Lee Gibson was promoted to Senior Project Manager for the Houston office. Gibson has been with the company for 15 years and specializes in K-12 construction. In his new role, he will serve as the senior point of contact for our education projects.
Charlie Newton was recently promoted to Assistant Project Manager in the Houston office. Charlie has been in the construction industry for four years and previously served as a Senior Project Engineer.
David Ladewig has been promoted to Business Development Manager. In addition to enhancing the company's brand in Houston, David will help drive development of the commercial, education, healthcare, aviation, municipal and multifamily markets.
Marek Sawing & Drilling, LLC has hired Kirk Cullen as Superintendent and Jose Herrera as Dispatch/Project Coordinator.
Cullen, a native from San Diego, has over 15 years of experience in the construction industry. He and his wife Delaney have two young sons. Herrera recently relocated from Minneapolis, MN, with his wife, Jessica, and their three children.
|
Marek Sawing & Drilling, LLC worked alongside AGC Houston members MLN and Gilbane Building Company at the DeMenil Drawing Institute, a $40 million expansion and renovation project. According to Marek Sawing & Drilling, the existing central plant "sits directly between the new central plant, and the new Drawing Institute. One of the main challenges on this project was to keep the existing campus HVAC System running during construction." Marek Sawing & Drilling teamed up with MLN to provide directional drilling/boring services under the existing central plant. Upon completion, a "switch-over" will occur and the existing plant will be demolished.
Pictured is the directional drilling machine that allowed drilling, with precise accuracy, 11 feet deep and over 250 feet long to reach the other side of the existing central plant.
The 30,150-square-foot building is part of the $40 million first phase of a 2009 master plan that includes a new energy house that will power three of the campus’ art buildings, additional green space and an expansion of West Main Street, which currently dead-ends in the middle of the Montrose campus.
|
AGC Houston learned of the recent passing of Clell Edson Gierhart, Jr., at the age of 87, on August 22, 2015, in Missouri City, Texas. He was born on October 9, 1927, in Shamrock, Texas. He served in the United States Army at military posts in Japan and Korea from 1946-47. Clell graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a bachelor's of science degree in 1951.
Clell moved to Houston and married his college sweetheart, Jeanne Merilyn Bullen, on June 7, 1952. He started his career with Manhattan Construction Company. After 15 years of loyal service, he left to organize his own firm, Bullen/Gierhart Construction Company in 1967. In 1980, he engaged in a partnership with Joseph T. Vaughn and the business was renamed Gierhart/Vaughn Construction Company.
During his 40-year tenure in the construction industry, Clell served for many years on the Board of Directors of AGC Houston, Southern National Bank and Texas American Bank. All of us in the AGC Houston family extend our deepest sympathies to Clell's family and friends, and thank him for his service.
|
 |
Here's Looking At You |
Tamara Hancock has rejoined AGC Houston as Executive Administrator after leaving the chapter in November 2012. Along with supporting CEO/President Jerry Nevlud, her focus will be on Chapter Governance, Government Affairs and Diversity, as well as supporting industry liaison groups such as the AIA/AGC Joint Committee and the AGC/CEFPI Task Force.
Tamara will also be responsible for the chapter’s market data research and development. She brings 15 years of prior AGC experience including a diverse background in association management. Welcome back!
|
 |
News You Can Use |
AGC Houston member companies have been invited to take part in an employer compliance assistance workshop sponsored by the Department of Labor. The workshop will provide an overview of the Fair Labor Standards Act and include topics such as employer coverage, minimum wage, overtime pay, overview of "white collar" exemptions, youth employment and record-keeping requirements.
This workshop will be held at the Houston District Office located at 8701 S Gessner Dr., Ste. 1164, Houston, TX 77074 on:
Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon
Thursday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon
Business owners, human resources and/or payroll staff and supervisors are welcome to attend. Attendance is free but reservations are required due to limited seating. Attendance is limited to two representatives
per organization. For more information and/or to RSVP please call (713) 773-5359.
|
The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court has unanimously approved t place a $98.6 million facilities bond initiative on the November ballot. If approved by voters, the bond initiative will fund renovations and expansion of Fort Bend County buildings and facilities to keep up with the rapid populations growth and rising property values in the county. The largest project in the bond is a $29.2 million, 105,600 square-foot expansion of the Justice Center in Richmond.
|
The $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal is scheduled to be complete April 1, allowing ships carrying nearly three times the load to pass. It is the first expansion of the canal in more than 100 years. New locks, which raise and lower vessels from the canal, were finished June 10. Capital improvement projects at the Port of Houston have included spending $50 million on four new cranes that arrived in May.
The Port of Houston is expected to see a 15 percent increase in incoming cargo by 2020 and a 150 percent increase by 2030, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
|
The Sam Houston State University, Department of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Technology, Engineering Technology Program will have a career fair Thursday September 24, 2015. This career fair is intended to introduce the students to potential occupational offerings and to introduce prospective employers to students of this program.
The Engineering Technology Program offers degrees in the fields of construction management, design & development, electronics and safety management.
AGC Houston members interested in participating should contact Keith Coogler at (936) 294-1203 or via email at kcoogler@shsu.edu.
|
Many businesses around the globe are underinsured and unprepared for a number of emerging risks, states Willis Group CEO Dominic Casserley. "There's a long way to go not only in building up more resilient companies, which have more insurance," he says, "but, actually, in the middle of that, conducting advisory and brokerage activities to help them navigate a complex world."
|
The increase in burdensome endorsements that limit coverage for construction defects is causing commercial general liability coverage for defects found under the statutory period to come up short. Contractors pulled into litigation years after jobs are completed also face the problem that most CGL policies use the same pool of money to insure all of a contractor's projects.
|
|
| |
|
_ad-Sept.jpg)
