| November 10, 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 |
We look forward to seeing everyone who registered for tonight's event.
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
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Open To All Human Resources, Labor And Employment Specialists, Attorneys
Thursday, November 12, 2015
7:30 - 9 a.m.
Hot topic to include: ACA Health Insurance Information Reporting. The Employment Practices Committee specializes in issues facing human resource professionals, labor and employment attorneys and anyone dealing with Department of Labor issues. Open to all AGC Houston members interested in Department Of Labor compliance issues and HR best practices. Contact Charlene Anthony for details.
Did you know? AGC Houston has helpful information for employers regarding
Forms 1094 B & C and Forms 1095 B & C.
• Login to the Members Only section of the AGC Houston website.
• Then click on the Employment Practices Committee Articles submenu and Health Insurance Reporting Requirements.
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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. - 2 p.m.
Leadership AGC participants will be heading up teams of high school students currently interested in pursuing studies in architecture, construction and engineering. ACE Mentor needs material and team sponsors to help "Build It Forward." Volunteers welcome!
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Education/Training |
In 2016, AGC Houston will be awarding Patrick J. Kiley Excellence In Leadership scholarships to deserving students. Do you know of anyone who could use the money for higher education? Apply today!
Scholarship application deadline is February 1, 2016.
To date, the scholarship has generated more than $393,000 and helped to fund students' dreams of earning a degree in a construction-related discipline. Students who qualify are evaluated on their personal and professional commitment to advance their education, career and the commercial construction industry.To apply and for more information, see link below.
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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 Wednesday, November 11, 2015.
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Learn the difference between leading and managing, and understand the importance of communication in effective leadership positions. Students learn to develop techniques for motivating and negotiating solutions, as well as effectively managing change.
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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.Apply today and don't miss the December 14 deadline.
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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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This course covers the OSHA standards for the construction industry found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1926 along with other relevant policies, procedures, and safety and health principles for the construction industry.
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This course is the update required every four years for all OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainers for the Construction Industry. It provides timely information on OSHA Construction Industry standards, policies and regulations.
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New Members |
Rhedonda Cox
(713) 979-2388
rcox@sealsecurity.com
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Membership Benefits |
As a qualified association member with an active Ford Commercial Fleet Identification Number, AGC members can receive significant discounts on new Ford fleet vehicle purchases. Combined with Ford’s National Commercial Fleet Incentive Program, qualifying members can save as much as $2,000+ off select vehicles.
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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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For more than a decade, iSqFt has given general contractors the online tools to help them work more efficiently and make their processes more cost effective.
iSqFt helps general contractors:
• Communicate with bidders and distribute project information, including documents and addenda
• Manage their vendor databases and understand
bid day coverage needs
• Prequalify their vendors
• Perform automated safety and risk assessments
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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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Join your fellow AGC members as the 97th Annual AGC of America Convention heads to the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio, March 9-11, 2016. The AGC Annual Convention and Technology & Construction Solutions Expo is the ideal opportunity to see everything AGC can do for you and your business. The convention features more than 15 education breakouts, terrific networking events and industry leading speakers, all in a perfect location for business, culture, family and fun!
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Construction firms added 31,000 workers in October as the industry's unemployment rate declined to 6.2% amid robust demand for construction, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction employment is now at the highest level since February 2009, as the sector continues to recover from the downturn. "The industry continues to recover while the hiring slowdowns it experienced during the summer were prompted more by labor shortages than they were any slump in demand," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist.
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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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Since Jan. 2015, AGC chapters and members have been accessing environmental compliance and green information on the newly updated Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center—or CICA Center. AGC partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences to make the CICA Center available. Chapter Take-Away: Chapters can use this resource to get caught up on federal and state requirements, search for new topic ideas for meetings or conferences, and promote the association's dedication to
provide educational resources for its members.
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Member News |
Crime Stoppers of Houston broke ground on its new 30,000-square-foot headquarters in Midtown on Oct. 30, 2015.
The nonprofit will tear down
its current 22,400-square-foot building at 3001 Main St. to make way for the new structure, which was designed by Houston-based Merriman Holt Powell Architects and is being built by Mission Constructors, Inc.
The new building will occupy the entire 3000 block of Main Street and will include a 12,800-square-foot Harris County Sheriff’s Officers Memorial Garden.
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Ammie Hudson-Blahuta, Hudson Building Systems Ltd., is excited to announce the opening of GiGi's Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center, on December 5, 2015 from 2 - 4 p.m. Ammie and her husband , Keith Blahuta, have spent the past two years fund-raising for the non-profit organization's new location in Sugar Land. The new facility will provide direct educational and therapeutic programs to individuals with Down syndrome, their
families and the community.
Hudson Building Systems specializes in the supply and installation of access floor, operable and accordion partitions, commercial overhead counter and sectional doors and medical supports. Ammie and Keith want to thank all their friends in the AGC Houston community for their fundraising support to make this project happen and welcome everyone on December 5!
Want to help? GiGi's Playhouse needs toys, play mats, office supplies, bookshelves, books and educational tablets. Contact Ammie Hudson-Blahuta for details.
Kathryn "Katy" Gray has recently joined Andrews Myers as an associate in the Houston office. A recent dual J.D. and M.B.A. graduate from the University of Houston. Katy’s practice focuses on advocating for general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and owners on a variety of construction-related issues including litigation, contract negotiations, and alternative dispute resolution.
Prior to joining the firm, Katy served as a legal intern with EMS USA Holdings, a pipeline maintenance, construction, measurement and automation, and integrity services provider.
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Here's Looking At You |
More than 100 AGC Houston members headed to Crisp on Thursday, November 5 for the last Member Mixer of the year. A big shout out to our generous sponsor, Reliant Safety Solutions, LLC, and congratulations to Angela Dunkle, Karsten Interior Services, who won an iPad mini.
All general contractors attending the event qualified to win a fishing trip, courtesy of R & M Service Company, Inc. Christina Zube, Endurance Builders, was excited to hear her ticket called as the lucky winner. She is looking forward to planning the trip aboard the Afishionado2 in Rockport.
Click on the gallery link below to view more photos of the event.
On Friday, November 5, 2015, Felipe Arredondo, Reliant Safety Solutions, LLC, taught a Confined Space Competent Person class. The course covered OSHA regulations, permits, atmospheric condition hazards, physical hazards, and monitoring. Arredondo recently received the Certified Safety & Health Official Construction Industry designation from the University of Texas at Arlington OSHA Training Institute.
AGC Houston is proud to partner with the University of Texas at Arlington OSHA Training Institute, the top-ranked OSHA Training Institute Education Center in the country. Check our calendar for all of the classes offered at AGC Houston.
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In case you missed it, AGC Houston President/CEO Jerry Nevlud spoke about construction safety on Houston Matters, Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Nevlud was interviewed by Craig Cohen, Houston Matters host, which airs live each day on 88.7 KUHF at noon. Jerry spoke about construction safety in Houston, how we promote it, our training programs, and the Construction Career Collaborative (C3). Jerry was very effective in conveying the importance of safety, that the construction industry is a risky business and that our members take safety very seriously.
James Shelton, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist, also was an invited guest and he spoke about safety regulations in different trades and different types of training. Shelton explained how an investigation is conducted once there is a safety incident at a jobsite, he also addressed inspections and reporting requirements.
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News You Can Use |
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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Andrews Myers' Tony
Stergio recently released an article regarding the new open carry law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2016. Any business that wishes to ban the open carry of weapons within their establishment must post a specific sign, in English and Spanish, in at least 1" text, the word for word language of the statute. If
the sign doesn’t comply with the language of the law, then arguably a licensed
handgun holder does not receive effective notice. To prohibit
open carry on a property, the business must display a sign that says the
following:
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At the International Council of Shopping Centers Texas conference, which kicked off Nov. 5 in Dallas, the future of retail in Houston was looking bright. Naveen Jaggi, the Houston-based retail Division President of Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle, said there was momentum to make deals happen at the conference.
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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 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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Construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry, and several steps are being taken to address the risk. The Carson J Spencer Foundation, RK Mechanical and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention have created a suicide prevention guide. Next year some chapters of the Associated General Contractors of Washington will sponsor outreach presentations for their members.
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AIA Houston's popular Gingerbread Build-Off will take place in front of City Hall on Saturday, December 12. Fun for the whole family, the event typically draws more than 3,500 spectators. Over 30 competing teams will create their masterpieces using 100 percent edible materials.
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