| October 20, 2015
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In This Issue |
Events
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Education/
Training
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Safety
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New Members
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Membership Benefits
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AGC News
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Member News
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Here's Looking At You
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News You Can Use
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 Quick Links |
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Events |
Friday, October 30, 2015
Last Day of Early Voting
Tuesday, November 3,
2015
Election Day
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Thursday, October 22,
2015 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the AGC Houston office.
Get More From Your Membership! Attend the Member Orientation and Learn About the Many Benefits AGC Offers.
Whether you are a new or existing member, please join us for this free information-packed luncheon! You’ll hear from AGC Houston staff, active members and company representatives about the many benefits of AGC Houston. Lunch will be provided, and every member is welcome. Find out how you can maximize your membership and save money!
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Thursday, October 22, 2015, 5-7 p.m. at AGC Houston
Join the Construction Leadership Council for an evening of conversation with some of Houston's most accomplished construction professionals. Free and open to all AGC Houston members.
Featuring:
Howard Tellepsen, Tellepsen; Charlie Nelson, Gilbane Building Co.; Patrick J. Kiley, Kiley Advisors, LLC; and Stan Marek, Marek Brothers Systems, Inc.
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Thursday, November 5,
2015 4:30 - 6 p.m. at Crisp in The Heights
Join us for our last Member Mixer of the year! All attendees receive two tickets for a chance to win an iPad Mini and all general contractors present will be entered into an additional drawing for a fishing trip, courtesy of R & M Service Company, Inc. Tickets include reception food and beverages.
$20 - Early Bird Pricing - Ends October 30
$30 - At the door (Cash preferred)
Sponsorship available.
Free for general contractors! R & M Service Company, Inc. will be giving away an offshore fishing trip which includes bait, tackle, ice and deck hand. All general contractors present at the Member Mixer will be entered into an additional drawing for this trip.
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Tuesday, November 10, 201 6 - 8 p.m. at Brenner's On The Bayou - Blue Bar
Join in the merriment at the AGC/AIA Joint Meeting - a tradition for more than 50 years!
$35 for food, libations and merriment. Early bird discount ends November 4;$45 after November 4.
Thanks to our generous sponsor:
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Education/Training |
This session will build on the Liens and Bonds speech with an advanced discussion of liens and how they are enforced. The session will also cover a variety of payment topics such as spotting important issues in joint check agreements, the new law related to releases and the construction trust fund act.
Early bird discount ends October 20, 2015.
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This six-session class will focus the fundamentals of construction plans and document reading. Each class section meets every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for two consecutive weeks.
Early bird pricing ends October 28, 2015.
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BIM Contract Negotiation and Risk Allocation is a full-day course that examines BIM and contract terminology to determine best practices for integrating BIM use into project contracts.
Early bird discount pricing ends October 29, 2015.
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Learn how to comply with contractual obligations concerning insurance and to assure compliance of other involved parties.
Early bird discount pricing ends November 3, 2015.
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Learn techniques for managing risk and how the scope and nature of risk management varies based on project contracting methods.
Early bird pricing ends November 11, 2015.
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Safety |
Due to the Thanksgiving holidays, there will not be a Safety Committee meeting in November.
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This national award competition
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.
There has been an important change this year: The two-year sit-out
requirement for the past
year's first place winners has been removed.
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This Friday! A hands-on training course using field appropriate application intended for supervisors and workers involved in rigging or hoisting operations while using cranes, heavy equipment, truck cranes or other equipment in any industry.
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This course will provide an overview of risk management from the safety, health and environmental program perspective. Specific topics will include
introduction to risk management utilizing ISO STD 31000; key terminology; describing and applying the risk management process; suggested strategies for improving environmental, safety, and health programs using risk management principles.
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This course is designed to provide
an entry-level construction
worker with general awareness on recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site.
Early bird pricing ends November 6, 2015.
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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 infirmary, clinic or physician that is reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance to the worksite.
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This course is designed for entry-level construction workers. The course provides information about worker rights, employer responsibilities, how to file a complaint, and provides basic awareness training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards.
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New Members |
Joshua Hanson
120 N Main Street Pasadena, Texas 77506
(713) 477-8335
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Kimberly Derry
6335 Gulfton St. #100 Houston, Texas 77081-1169
(713) 777-5337
kderry@jonescarter.com
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Sharon Wendell
2918 Elysian Street Houston, Texas 77009-7038
(713) 222-6212
swendell@concreteasap.com
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Ruben Zambrano
(713) 681-5300
3514 Pinemont Dr. Houston, Texas 77018-1332
ruben@mesamechanical.com
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Membership Benefits |
AGC of America recently hosted an educational webinar titled "How to Gain Control of Your Benefits Budget and Offer Employees More of What They Want." For those interested in learning more about how private insurance exchanges work, how they can help companies better control benefits costs, and how AGC's new private exchange program is helping member firms build a better employee benefits package, click on the link below to access the recording
NPP Membership is free. All you have to do is register! Featuring Verizon, Expedia, Sherwin Williams, Fleet Management, Office Supplies and more. Call 800-810-3909.
An effective safety program can help keep your employees on the job, reduce your premium and earn your company dividends. CompGroup AGC was created in 1993 by various Texas members of the Associated General Contractors of America to provide a better option for workers’ compensation coverage.
Contact your insurance agent and tell them you want a CompGroup AGC quote or contact program administrator Roberts & Crow at 800-406-9614 — ask for Julie Schatz.
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Your digital edition of 2015 Fall Cornerstone is always available online in a convenient digital format!
Find out how the commercial construction industry fared during the 84th Texas Legislative Session in a recap from the AGC Texas Building Branch.
See photos of AGC Houston member projects that won Texas Building Branch Outstanding Construction Awards at the TBB convention.
Read about the AGC
Houston Safety Committee and how you can get involved!
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AGC News |
Beginning in early 2016, information reporting provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act require many employers to file annual information returns with the Internal Revenue Service and provide annual statements to employees containing health plan coverage information.
The returns must be furnished to employees by January 31,
2016 and filed with the IRS by February 28,
2016 if filed on paper or March 31,
2016 if filed electronically. AGC Houston has all the information employers need regarding Forms 1094 B & C and Forms 1095 B & C. Sign in to the Member's Only section of the AGC Houston website, and see "Health Insurance Reporting Requirements" under the Employment Practices Committee Articles tab.
The AGC Houston Employment Practices Committee is meeting November 12 at 7:30 a.m. to discuss this and other relevant issues to promote and guide best practices. Please contact Charlene Anthony for more information.
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The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has issued a nationwide stay of the new federal regulation redefining "waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) for the purposes of the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed and then finalized the new regulation in an effort to clarify the scope of the statute’s requirements.
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On September 28, AGC of America reported that construction employment declined in 153 out of 358 metro
areas between August 2014 and August 2015, nearly matching the 163 areas that
added construction jobs. Association officials noted that the number
of metro areas losing construction jobs is on the rise amid growing uncertainty
about federal funding for construction programs and growing shortages of
qualified construction workers.
"The fact that fewer than half of metro areas added
construction jobs at a time when there were gains in nearly three-fourths of
the states suggests that contractors in many more metros would be hiring if they
could find qualified workers," said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief
economist. "In addition, the steep downturn in oil and gas drilling has hit
construction hard in cities such as Fort Worth, Houston and New Orleans, even
as downstream projects gain steam in places such as Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas."
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The number of unemployed workers with construction experience dropped to the lowest total for September since 2000, as hiring continued to slow despite robust demand for construction, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the hiring slowdown most likely reflects a lack of available workers that could lead to project delays unless more students and workers join the construction sector.
"Growth in the construction workforce has been slowing throughout 2015, just at the time that construction spending has accelerated to a multi-year high," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Contractors would love to hire more workers but there aren’t enough qualified craft workers or supervisors available."
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The NLRB's recent ruling in the Browning-Ferris Industries case relaxes the standard for determining when two companies constitute "joint employers" under the National Labor Relations Act. On November 3, 3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. , AGC will host a free webinar featuring a presentation by attorney Larry Marquess of Littler Mendelson on the implications of the ruling for employers in the construction industry and how such employers can minimize the risk of being deemed a joint employer of workers employed by their subcontractors, staffing firms, and others.
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Member News |
Houston Business Journal reported on the Museum of Fine Arts ground-breaking ceremony which took place October 15, 2015. The first phase of the project will include the new Glassell School of Art, which replaces the building that has housed the school since 1979. The new building will be 80,000 square feet, nearly double the size of the previous building. It will include space for the junior and adult schools, which serve 7,000 students each year.
New York-based Steven Holl Architects designed the Glassell School, the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building and the master plan for the campus. San Antonio-based Lake Flato Architects designed the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation conservation center, which will begin construction next year. The project is being built by McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
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The Hyatt Regency Hotel Houston Galleria officially opened for business on Oct. 16,
2015 and brings 325 more hotel rooms to the area. Located on Sage and West Alabama roads, it features 20 suites, 15,000 square feet of meeting space, restaurants and a fitness center that overlooks the pool. It is the ninth Hyatt-branded hotel in the Houston area.
Construction is also underway on the company's adjacent project, a 156-room Hyatt Place. The project broke ground last August and is scheduled to open early next year. San Francisco-based Gensler designed both buildings and McCarthy Building Companies served as the general contractor.
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On Thursday, October 8, 2015, JE Dunn Construction Company, along with HKS Architects, hosted a "Building for the Healthcare Consumer" seminar at Trevisio Restaurant in the Texas Medical Center. About 30 industry professionals gathered to learn about the findings from HKS’s 20XX Clinic; Designing For An Ever-Changing Present, including emerging design/construction trends as we move to outpatient care and preventative health.
The study was co-written by Tom Harvey, Principal and Senior Vice President, President of CADRE, HKS Inc., Dallas,; Ralph Hawkins, Chairman, HKS Inc., Dallas; Jim Miller, Sr. Vice President, Healthcare, JE Dunn Construction Company; Ron Smith, Design at the Intersection LLC; and Phil Macey, National Director Collaborative Project Delivery, JE Dunn Construction Company.
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JE Dunn Construction Company has just started the build-out of Texas Children’s Hospital’s latest Pediatric Clinic in Cypress, Texas. The new facility is 9,622 square feet of lease space and will have 24 exam rooms, a lab, two nurse stations, a break room, a conference room, a blood draw/sub-wait area, check-in/check-out area, storage space, office spaces, restrooms, triage and an IS closet.
The hospital is designed byPhilo Wilke Partnership, which is a specialized architectural design firm providing services to the healthcare, academic and scientific communities.
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On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, JE Dunn Construction Company hosted a golf tournament and book drive at Longwood Golf Club in Cypress, Texas. Participants included JE Dunn Houston employees and area subcontractors. All proceeds—over $20,000 —benefited the United Way agencies. Additionally, the book drive supplied more than 200 books for Houston elementary school kids.
JE Dunn donates over 10 percent of pre-tax earnings to charities around the country. The majority of JE Dunn employees spend time volunteering throughout the year in organizations such as educational and youth development, healthcare research, sustainability efforts, religious groups, arts and cultural foundations, and many more.
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Here's Looking At You |
 Thanks to the AGC Houston members who took part in the 1st Topgolf tournament on Thursday, October 15. Sponsored by the Government Affairs Committee, the event drew numerous teams and spectators to this highly popular golfing facility in west Houston. Houston City Mayoral candidate Steve Costello swung by to mingle with the attendees and promote voting. Many thanks to our Government Affairs Committee Co-Chairs, John Marshall, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.; Jeremy Stovall, Brookstone, LP to the entire committee members for representing our industry's interests at the city and state level.
Congratulations to the winning teams:
1st Place: Karsten Interior Services Team 1 (Dan Karsten, Doug Schneider, Tom Misciaci, Richard Barbetta with 1,567 Points)
2nd Place: MLN Company Team 2 (Kyle Woodfill, JP Machemehl, Walt Murray, Mike Bradby with 1,501 Points)
3rd Place: Pipkin Ferguson (David Mayronne, Andrew Myint, Will McMillan, Tyler Childs with 1,461 Points)
Raffle Winner: Tim Ross, Andrews Myers, PC
Photos of the event coming soon on our website.
Exercise Your Right To Vote! See link below.
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News You Can Use |
Engineering News-Record recently reported on rising pay for construction workers.
With construction spending continuing to rise toward pre-recession peaks and worker shortages growing for both open shop and union contractors, compensation of craft trades has seen a significant bump—the largest in nearly three decades for some firms.
"It’s a great time to be a craft person," says Jeff Robinson, President of Personnel Administrative Services (PAS), a Michigan open-shop pay research firm.
The rise in craft compensation coincides with increased construction spending in the U.S., which posted a 13.7% year-over-year gain in August, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Residential construction put in place in August was up 16.4% year over year, says Ken Simonson, Associated General Contractors of America’s Chief Economist.
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AGC Houston, in conjunction with ACE Mentor Program, invites all AGC Houston members to take part in and help sponsor the Build It Forward community projects that will be held on November 21, 2015 at Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Leadership AGC Class of 2016 participants will be heading up teams of high school students who are currently interested in pursuing studies in architecture,
construction and engineering.
Each year, ACE Mentor students participate in a community service by building a furniture project, which is then donated to local charities. ACE Mentor needs material and team sponsors to help "Build It Forward."
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The Greater Houston Partnership announced the release of its Fall Impact Report. Among its highlights, The Partnership successfully advocated for legislation in our three priority areas during the 84th Legislative Session, which will help to ensure our region's continued growth and success. Our three priorities included: early education, transportation and economic development incentives.
The Partnership also urges Houstonians to support Proposition 7 for transportation funding.
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Thousands celebrated Buffalo Bayou Park's transformation from an underused space along the bayou into the city's fourth "destination park" at an all-day grand opening ceremony Saturday, October 3, 2015.
Houston residents biked, drove and walked to free boat rides, yoga classes, art talks and a fireworks display at the improved 160-acre park that stretches from Shepherd to Sabine, bordered by Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive.
For information about the Buffalo Bayou Preservation, click here.
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On Saturday, November 14, 2015, Uptown Houston will be recognized as an exceptional patron of architecture and urban design at the Rice Design Alliance gala. Since its formation in 1987 as the city’s first management district, Uptown Houston has established the area around the Galleria as a commercial and residential destination and world-class example of decisive urban development, with ongoing projects fostering greater mobility on Post Oak Boulevard and lasting stewardship of Memorial Park.
AGC Houston is proud to sponsor the event as a benefactor and to be have supported the RDA for the past 25 years!
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Katy ISD’s budget is set to increase by nearly $59 million from last year’s after the district’s board of trustees unanimously approved a $780,852,617 proposal Aug. 25.
The fiscal year for 2015-2016 began Sept. 1 and assumes an enrollment increase of about 3,100 students, bringing the total number to 73,578.
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