AGC Constructor

 

We can all learn something from Chinmay Lad, whose potent dreams of a civil engineering career, of an industry-wide "digital revolution," inspired him to join the ranks of those who have earned their Certificate of Management — Building Information Modeling (CM-BIM) designation. He is the 1,000th person to do so. Lad, a 23-year-old grad student, is in the process of creating his future, of realizing goals and aspirations. And in the process, he’s bringing his father’s long-held hopes to life. Read more in our January/February cover story.

Despite signs the overall economy may be slowing, most construction firms expect demand for their services and hiring will expand in 2020, yet even more firms are worried about their ability to find qualified workers to hire, according to survey results released recently by AGC of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate. The findings are detailed in Strong Demand for Work Amid Stronger Demand for Workers: The 2020 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook Report.

There are less than 60 days left until we kick off this year's AGC Convention! Jumpstart your business planning and preparation, and make the connections that are going to be most valuable in your career in the years ahead at the 2020 AGC Convention. Don't miss out on taking the next step in preparing for the industry of tomorrow. Register today.

Steve Sandherr, chief executive officer of AGC of America, issued the following statement in reaction to the recent release of the administration’s proposal to reform the National Environmental Protection Act permitting process: “The administration is right to seek to make the review process more efficient and cost effective without sacrificing environmental protections, thereby allowing the public to receive and benefit from cleaner water, safer roads and bridges, and a more reliable energy system in a timelier fashion. Upon initial review, this proposal appears to do just that.

 

Construction employment increased by 20,000 jobs in December and by 151,000, or 2.0 percent, in all of 2019, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. Association officials noted that its recent survey found three out of four contractors expect to keep adding workers in 2020, but even more respondents found it difficult to fill positions in 2019, and a majority anticipate it will be as hard or harder to do so in 2020. Officials called on the federal government to increase funding for career and technical education and expand employment-based immigration for workers whose skills are in short supply.

 

In the A/E/C industry, your employees are your most important asset. These are the folks providing the firm’s services and interacting with your clients. In turn, your employees’ perceptions and experiences with your firm are transferred to the clients with whom they work. If your employees are rallied around a cohesive business strategy and a shared sense of purpose, the brand will radiate meaning from the most authentic source: the people who work there. In our latest, AGC Business Development Best Practice, Christine White, R&M Consultants, discusses how “Proactive Internal Communication Drives Firm Success.”

 

Interested in more tips and resources in Business Development? Visit the AGC Business Development Forum page and click on “Join the Forum.”

Bob Shell, former Baldwin & Shell president and current chairman emeritus, passed away earlier this year at 88 years old after a battle with cancer. Bob was a pioneer for the industry, a strong leader, a devoted family man and an inspiring philanthropist.

J. David (Dave) Pepper, 59, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at his home in Barrington, Illinois. He was born in Evanston on January 15, 1960, to Richard and Roxelyn Pepper. He was a civil engineering graduate of Iowa State University, where he met his wife, Katy, and he served as CEO of Pepper Construction Group, an AGC-Indiana member. Dave lived his life in service to others and was widely known for his kindness and generosity.

Skanska, a global construction and development firm and member of multiple AGC chapters, will renovate ASHRAE’s new global headquarters in Peachtree Corners, Georgia.

McCarthy Building Companies, a member of multiple AGC chapters, has completed construction of the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, a 120,000-sq-ft, two-story attraction built inside the footprint of a nearly 500,000-sq-ft 19th century iron umbrella train shed designated a National Historic Landmark. The grand opening was Christmas Day 2019.