July is here and things are hot! The high temperatures have many seeking to enjoy the lazy days of summer with a cold beverage and a cool body of water. However, that is not the case with AGCVA. We have been busy producing results and returning value….action on behalf of our members. We are 6 months into our new strategic plan, and I am excited to give a brief report on the amazing progress being made in our three core pillars – Advocate, Grow, and Connect.

 

This year’s winners include executives in traditionally male-dominated industries – engineering, construction and maritime – as well as fields encountering staffing or financial challenges, such as health care and higher education. Some leaders have overcome challenges to achieve success, and all winners have made time for mentoring other women along the way, making sure that the doors they’ve walked through remain open to future generations.

AGCVA members recognized:
Buffy Barefoot, TowneBank, Virginia Beach
Marcia Conston, Tidewater Community College, Norfolk
Janet Gullickson, Germanna Community College, Fredericksburg
Cathy Underwood, Branch Builds, Roanoke
Denise Vaughn, Ferguson Enterprises, Newport News
Jen Flinchum, Keiter CPAs, Glen Allen
Brenda Elliott Karp, The Breeden Co., Richmond

MEB is excited to announce Tim Griffin's promotion to Vice President of Environmental/Civil.

Please join W. M. Jordan in congratulating Jonathan Galgan on his promotion to Senior Project Manager.

 

Region Rents is proud to announce the opening of a new location in Newport News at 66 Richneck Road, Newport News, VA  23608. The full-service facility will be operational in July of 2022.

For more than two years the U.S. construction industry has been buffeted by unprecedented increases in materials costs, supply-chain bottlenecks, and a tight labor market. To help project owners, government officials, and the public understand how these conditions are affecting contractors and their workers, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has posted frequent updates of the Construction Inflation Alert.

The U.S. construction and engineering sector is about to enter a time of infrastructure boom as the IIJA provides a $1-trillion-plus revenue opportunity for U.S. construction and engineering contractors to take on infrastructure projects.

Nonresidential construction added 16,500 jobs in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a surge that offset 4,100 jobs lost in the residential sector. The June gains helped push the industry’s overall unemployment rate even lower, to 3.7%. That’s the lowest rate for June in the data series’ 23-year history, according to Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America.  

President Joe Biden announced in June three executive orders under the Defense Production Act to increase domestically manufactured clean energy technology and boost clean energy construction projects. 

If employees do not feel appreciated, they might have one foot out the door – something most construction companies cannot afford to risk right now. The U.S. construction sector is set for a jobs boom but still faces a talent shortage. One of the most effective ways to retain employees is to ensure they feel appreciated.

Did you know that thousands of veterans enter Virginia’s workforce each year – and that number is expected to grow? As veterans return to civilian life, they are seeking not just a job, but a meaningful career path. 

Construction remains a pretty dangerous line of work. Decades of new safety rules, technology, and management practices have made the industry much safer, but hazards continue to impact workers and their families. Fortunately, implementing a dedicated culture of safety can mitigate many of these risks.