Members' Edge

Education/Training

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=508599&issueID=57413 to view the full article online.

Is Your Company Harnessing The Power Of Technology In The Field And To Streamline Your Business?

How can your company harness technology and take advantage of how it is being used in the field and in day-to-day business transactions?

As
the business of the construction industry changes, so must companies in order
to adapt and remain competitive. Companies are faced with a decreasing skilled
labor pool, complex projects and demands to streamline information and
processes.

Hear from Johnny Saldana, Raven Mechanical, LP and Zeke Smith, Gallant Builders, on how mobile technology is being implemented and managed in the field and how cost effective technology is integrated to ensure a company’s competitive advantage and recruiting tool.

For more information, please contact Charlene Anthony

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=508600&issueID=57413 to view the full article online.

Safety

Are You Ready To Get Your OSHA 30-Hour Certification?

Beginning July 12, this class meets five consecutive Thursdays through August 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This course provides an overview of the risk management and insurance profession from the health and safety program perspective. It is intended for Superintendents, Foremen, Safety Specialists and Coordinators, and project managers.

Visit https://agchouston.org/Shared_Content/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=2018277&WebsiteKey=c528e6e9-a956-41d3-9bf4-82416fc10399 to view the full article online.

Check Out these Upcoming Safety Classes

Visit https://agchouston.org/AGCH/Safety/Awards/Construction-Safety-Excellence-Awards/AGCH/Safety/Awards/Construction_Safety_Excellence_Awards.aspx?hkey=5de8ae30-faca-4db6-9341-73eed909fdb1 to view the full article online.

AGC News

Active Shooter & Workplace Violence Awareness Workshop June 27

Learn The EPF Strategy: Evade, Prevent & Fight

Until about a decade ago, workplace security focused mostly on preventing theft. Now, businesses are trying to give their employees guidelines on how to escape or handle armed intruders.

Topics will include the history of active shooter incidents, as well as the roles, responsibilities, and/or response options of employers, employees and emergency responders. Presented by Rick Hernandez, Jr., U.S. Navy veteran, former police department SWAT team leader, retired police sergeant, and current adjunct police instructor.

Visit https://www.agchouston.org/Shared_Content/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=2018283&WebsiteKey=c528e6e9-a956-41d3-9bf4-82416fc10399 to view the full article online.

AGC Survey On Drone Use In Construction Activities

AGC of America has prepared a drone use survey to determine the state of the art in drone use on highway, bridge, heavy and civil projects. The task force is looking at issues such as: how contractors are using drones in day-to-day operations, what impediments to their use exist, what are best practice recommendations, what technical issues need to be addressed, how can AGC work with FHWA and state DOTs in addressing these concerns.

Please take the time to have the person in your company who is the expert on drone use complete the survey.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=508607&issueID=57413 to view the full article online.

AGC Releases Construction Employment Figures & Warns Of Soaring Construction Costs

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between May 2017 and May 2018, while 28 states added construction jobs between April and May, according to an analysis by AGC of America and data collected by the US Dept. Of Labor.AGC warns that soaring construction costs, aggravated by new tariffs on steel and aluminum, could trigger project cancellations and job losses. The report also features employment data by rank, state and peak.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/06/15/construction-employment-rises-42-states-and-dc-may-2017-may-2018-while-28-states-add to view the full article online.

New Tariffs Threaten to Worsen Cost Squeeze, Lead to Project Delays

Construction costs accelerated again in May, with steep increases for a wide range of building and road materials, including many that are subject to tariffs that could drive prices still higher, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new Labor Department data. Association officials say that the construction industry will bear a heavy share of the tariffs’ costs.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/06/13/construction-costs-soar-may-outpacing-contractors%E2%80%99-pricing-new-tariffs-threaten to view the full article online.

Member News

W. S. Bellows Construction Corp. Promotes Three Longtime Employees to Vice Presidents

W. S. Bellows Construction Corporation announced that Warren S.Bellows IV, David Kubin, and Tim O’Malley will be promoted to vice president positions effective September 4, 2018.

Warren Bellows IV, great‐grandson of company founder Warren S. Bellows, will be promoted from
project manager to vice president of project controls. Bellows IV officially joined the company in 2007,
following three years of summer internships, upon graduation from Duke University. His first project as
a Bellows employee was the Children’s Museum of Houston Expansion; currently, he is a project
manager for Bellows on Texas Children’s Hospital’s Legacy Tower.

David Kubin, whose grandfather worked for Bellows as a carpenter on the San Jacinto Monument, joined Bellows Construction in 1984 to work on the Renaissance Tower in Dallas. Along with the 777 Tower in California and the Schlumberger Technology Campus in Houston, he has since worked on three Texas Children’s Hospital projects: the Mark Wallace Tower, the Pavilion for Women, and Legacy Tower.David Kubin will be promoted from senior project manager to vice president.

Tim O’Malley, who will be promoted from senior project manager to vice president, joined Bellows Construction in 1991 as a project engineer working on the company’s Compaq Center project. Other notable projects include BLVD Place, Phase II; several projects in New Orleans; the international headquarters building for McDermott International; and, most recently, the International Union of Operating Engineers Training and Conference Center in Crosby, Texas.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=508616&issueID=57413 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

An Epic Decision for Class Action Waivers

By Tony Stergio, Pattrick Kelly and Andy Clark, Andrews Myers, PC

On May 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, issued a big win for employers. In a 5-4 decision, the Court decided that employers can, in connection with an arbitration agreement, require employees to sign a class action waiver as a condition of employment. A class action waiver is a provision that states the employee will resolve disputes with the employer only through one-on-one arbitration, and not through any class or collective action, in court or in arbitration.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/AMyers_EPICSystems.pdf to view the full article online.

AGC Is Proud To Be A Pinnacle Sponsor Of OSHACON!

Visit http://oshacon.org/ to view the full article online.

Lee College Looking For Part-Time Craft Instructors To Grow Skilled Workers

Lee College is looking to hire part-time craft instructors to support a
curriculum developed for fast track industrial training. Thanks to a grant from
the TWC National Dislocated Worker Disaster Grant (Harvey Grant), the college
is able to offer classes to help train and grow a skilled workforce.

Interested individuals can contact Lupe Martinez directly at gmartinez@lee.edu or by phone at 281-425-6214. You may also contact Marsha Tuha, Director, Workforce Development
at mtuha@lee.edu.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/LeeInstructor.pdf to view the full article online.

Construction Begins On $962M Cable-Stay Bridge In Houston

Construction has started on a $962 million bridge replacement project on the Sam Houston Tollway. The Harris County Toll Road Authority expects the cable-stay bridge, which will cross the Houston Ship Channel, to be completed in 2024. The Harris County Toll Road Authority says it’s replacing the bridge so it can handle growing traffic. The bridge currently carries about 55,000 vehicles a day. That’s expected to grow to about 160,000 vehicles a day by 2035.

Visit https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2018/06/01/288149/work-starts-on-billion-dollar-project-to-replace-houston-ship-channel-toll-bridge/ to view the full article online.

Membership Benefits

Free Webinar On Financial Welness & AGC Southwest Chapters 401k Planl

Join us for a live webinar to discover how you can improve your financial future through your retirement plan. This short, online presentation will cover:

•Basics of Investing

•Our retirement readiness tool called Your Retirement Outlook®

•Benefits of joining the plan

Join us for a live webinar on:

Thursday, June 28, 2018

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/AGC401k.pdf to view the full article online.

AGC Members Save More Than $10M Annually; Are You Participating?

AGC members are eligible to participate in more than 20 discount programs specially designed to meet the needs of contractors. Whether you are looking to purchase a new vehicle for your fleet or for ways to cut costs on fuel and shipping, AGC programs can save you money. Enroll and maximize the value of your membership.

Visit https://www.agc.org/member-benefits/member-discount-programs to view the full article online.

AGC Houston