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Education/Training
Safety
December 12-14: Fall Protection December 12-15: OSHA 511: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry January 9-12: OSHA 500: Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for Construction January 16-19: OSHA 510: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction January 16-26: OSHA 510: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction - EVENING January 17-20: OSHA 2045: Machinery and Machine Guarding Standards
The Leading Edge is a bimonthly newsletter dedicated to updating AGC Houston members about safety issues in the commercial construction industry.
AGC News
By Tony Stergio, Andrews Myers, PC
A Texas Federal Judge recently enjoined the implementation of the DOL’s new overtime rules. The regulations, which raised the salary requirements for white-collar employee exemptions to $47,476/year, were slated to go into effect on December 1, 2016.
The judge, in blocking the rules’ implementation, held that the 21 states that brought the suit met their initial burden for the injunction through arguments that the DOL lacked statutory authority to raise the salary level for the exemptions. The judge will later determine if the salary hike can ever go into effect without an act of congress.
Whatever the ruling, appeals are expected. But for now, the new exempt employee salary hike regulations are on hold. Data DIGest is your source for the latest economic news relevant to the construction industry with commentary and analysis from AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson. It brings you actionable information to stay ahead of the curve on issues such as materials, prices, construction employment, and state-by-state construction trends. Hear Ken Simonson at the Annual Business Meeting & Membership Networking Breakfast Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis Houston. Click here for details.
AGC of America is proud to announce the launch of our 2017 project award competitions! The Alliant Build America Awards (including the Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence category) and AGC in the Community competitions are now accepting applications.
Events
Member News
 Linbeck Group, LLC announces the completion of the 164,000-square-foot renovation of the Hankamer Cashion Complex at Baylor University. It is Linbeck’s third project on the Baylor Campus.
The $26-million Baylor University Hankamer Cashion project is comprised of the former Hankamer School of Business, a three-story building originally built in 1960 and Cashion Academic Center, five stories that were built the in late 1980s.
 Members of the Leadership AGC Class of 2017 helped successfully lead high school students to build benches at the fourth annual ACE Mentor "Build It Forward" Event, on Saturday, December 3, at Marek Brothers Systems, Inc.
Twenty teams of students worked all day to build a bench, all of which were donated to a local charity. This is the third year the the Leadership AGC group has volunteered to oversee the teams as part of their community project. A big congratulations to all the members of the design/build sector who helped to make this project a reality. Many companies donated materials, time and staff. This marks the fourth year that Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. has served as base for the community project. News you can Use
By Katy Laird, Andrews Myers, PC
On November 8, Texans voted in favor of school bonds throughout the state, affording contractors multiple opportunities to bid on new projects in the coming months.
In total, Texans approved $2,719,875,577 worth of education bonds. The following are some of the larger bonds that were passed:
• El Paso ISD approved a $668.7 million bond in order to close nine schools and consolidate the schools into rebuilt campuses.
  
The American economy will grow 2.2% in 2017, according to economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics. Those surveyed also predicted a 4.7% unemployment rate and an increase of 2.3% for consumer prices. The improved number is still lackluster by historical standards. U.S. economic growth averaged 3.1 percent a year from 1948 to 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service. But the business economists say Americans need to get used to slow growth: 80 percent of those surveyed believe the potential growth rate of the American economy will remain at 2.5 percent or lower over the next five years
OSHA’s Small Entity Compliance Guide for Constructionis now available. The guide is intended to help small business employers comply with the rule by explaining each requirement in easy-to-understand language. Enforcement of the final rule in construction is due to begin June 23, 2017.
ACE Mentor Houston is seeking construction industry professionals to mentor high school students interested in learning about the world of architecture, construction and engineering.
"If you can volunteer and help to mentor students, please let us know. The best way to get in touch is by emailing us at HoustonTX@acementor.org or visiting us on the web at www.acementor.org/houston," says Angela Cotie, Gilbane Building Company, Chairman of the Board for ACE Mentor Houston. "We really have a critical need and hope that we can make sure these students get the help and guidance they need."
In this after-school mentoring program, student teams work directly with professionals from the A/E/C industry to design hypothetical projects, tour local construction sites and visit architectural, engineering and construction offices. The program runs from October to April and meets at one of eight locations around Houston. The group needs help at the following locations: Galena Park, North Belt, and Spring.
AGC Houston members are invited to join the Houston Revit Users group, which meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Revit and BIM application users range from beginner to expert skill levels. Since 2002, the Houston Area Revit Users Group (HARUG) has been the main resource in the area for Revit Users, AutoCAD Architecture (previously Architectural Desktop), AutoCAD and other BIM-related tools.
Membership Benefits
 PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO YOUR EMPLOYEES! The Patrick J. Kiley Excellence in Leadership Scholarship has granted more than $400,000 toward scholarships in over 20 years.  If you're not using fair contracts, you're projecting the wrong values.
ConsensusDocs are the first and only industry standard contracts written by a coalition of 40 A/E/C association. AGC Members save 20% off of retail pricing. Use discount code AGC100.
Here's Looking at You
Breakfast forum Committee Chairman Stan Marek, Marek Brothers Systems, Inc., welcomed and introduced Dr. Paul Schultz, who is leading research to develop better diagnostic tools and treatments for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. His research interests include the early diagnosis and prevention of dementia, the treatment of Alzheimer’s, the causes and treatment of frontotemporal dementia, and the neurologic complications of post-traumatic stress disorder.
For 30 years, Schulz is a Professor of Neurology, and Director of the Memory Disorders and Dementia
Clinic at the UT McGovern Medical School.
Pictured are Dr. Paul Schulz and Stan Marek.  On Monday, December 5, 2016, AGC Houston Board of Director members along with current and past leaders headed to Bernardine's restaurant to celebrate the chapter's successes and accomplishments. Houston's commercial construction industry was well represented at this special eventunderwritten by Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc. and Transamerica Retirement Services. AGC Houston President/CEO Jerry Nevlud welcomed the guests and touched upon some of the chapter's accomplishments in the past year and thanked the active members for their ongoing commitment to AGC. Chairman Bill Scott, III, also thanked all present and recognized AGC Houston staff for their support. Attendees included members of the CLC board, Leadership AGC participants, committee leaders, current and past AGC Houston Board Of Directors members.
AGC Houston deeply appreciates all members who have and continue to give their time and expertise to help advance the issues important to the commercial construction industry. We wish you Happy holidays and all our best wishes for 2017!
New Members
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