| December 9, 2014
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In This Issue |
Events
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Education/
Training
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Safety
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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 |
Need to know AGC's scheduled holiday closures? Click here to download a calendar of the office closure dates. On behalf of AGC leadership and staff, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season!
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With 2015 right around the corner and a busy year surely ahead for the construction industry, there's no better time to begin registering for AGC Houston's upcoming education and safety classes. From leadership seminars to the most current OSHA classes, we're committed to keeping workers safe and educated. Click here to view the 2015 calendar and to register for classes.
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Architecture Center Houston in partnership with C2 Creative will host the 6th Annual Gingerbread Build-Off at City Hall's Hermann Square Saturday December 13, 2014. Over 30 competing teams will create their masterpieces using 100% edible materials. Following the Build-Off, winners and select competitors will be featured in a one-week exhibition December 15-19, free and open to the public at Architecture Center Houston.
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The Construction Safety and Excellence Awards recognize companies that have developed and implemented excellent safety and loss prevention programs. AGC Houston general contractor and sub-contractor members that excel at safety performance are encouraged to submit applications. Completed applications must submitted to Kim Mason by December 10, 2014.
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Do you know anyone who could use money for higher education? Hurry and apply today for the Patrick J. Kiley Excellence In Leadership Scholarships. Deadline is January 31, 2015. AGC Houston will award scholarships to deserving students majoring in a construction-related discipline or an employee or dependent of an AGC Houston member firm.
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Do you know a deserving recipient? The AGC Houston Standard of Excellence Award is presented annually and gives special recognition to a construction industry employee who most exemplifies the highest standards of excellence: commitment to quality, customer service, cooperation, teamwork and professionalism.
All construction industry employees are eligible - employees of general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, service companies, architects and engineers. Nominate a deserving individual today. Deadline for application is January 31, 2015.
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Please join us for our premier chapter business meeting of the year. We welcome
back Ken Simonson, Chief Economist, AGC of America and Jeff Robinson, PAS. NEW LOCATION! Omni Houston, Four Riverway, Houston, Texas 77056.
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Register today for the 96th Annual AGC Convention on March 18-20, 2015, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. AGC Houston is proud that Chuck Greco, Chairman, Linbeck Group, LLC., will become President of AGC of America. This prestigious honor marks only the second time an AGC Houston Leader has led the organization to such a level since Warren S. Bellows in 1946. At the same time that Chuck will take his new position, Jerry Nevlud, President/CEO of AGC Houston will become Chairman of the Executive Leadership Council with the AGC of America’s organization of CEOs.
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Education/Training |
Learn the difference between leading and managing, and understand the importance of communication in effective leadership. Develop techniques for motivating and negotiating solutions, as well as effectively managing change. Broaden your awareness of ethical standards and professional responsibilities.
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For AEC professionals, the AGC Certificate in Management Building Information Modeling (CM-BIM) is an assessment-based certificate credential that denotes knowledge and understanding of concepts related to BIM adoption, practice and process transformation outlined in the AGC BIM Education Program.
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Safety |
The AGC Safety Committee will be holding its monthly meeting on December 12, 2014, at 7:00 a.m. at the AGC Houston office. This week's meeting will feature presentations by Lonestar 811 on reporting requirements for utility strikes and gas monitor usages presented by MSA. Thanks to Brookstone, LP for being the breakfast sponsor for the meeting.
The Safety Committee is open to all those interested in promoting the safety and education of the construction industry. Interested in attending or becoming a member? Contact Safety Director, Kim Mason, for more information.
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This course is designed to give environment, safety and health professionals the tools they need to ensure their workplace is in compliance with environmental regulations and reduce environmental risks. The course will cover the basics of environmental regulations and demonstrate how to identify pertinent regulations to your operations.
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AGC News |
Non-farm payrolls were up 321,000 in November, according to Friday's data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This was far above economists' expectations of around 230,000. The construction sector added 20,000 jobs, while architectural and engineering services added 5,000. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.8%. The number of jobs added in September and October was revised upward by 44,000 as well.
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AGC of America has submitted an amicus brief with the National Labor Relations Board in a case involving common-situs picketing. The case, IBEW Local 357 (Desert Sun Enterprises), presents an opportunity for the Board to reconsider its long-standing requirement that, when a union notifies a neutral employer of its intent to picket a primary employer (the employer with which it has a direct dispute) at a site where both employers are located, the union must include assurances that it will conduct the picketing in accordance with set standards for lawful picketing.
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Benefit from financial strength and a superior loss-control program. It is managed by a board composed of CompGroup AGC members—general contractors and subcontractors from all parts of Texas are represented. It is a TDI-approved Workers' Compensation Purchasing Group. Learn more about membership benefits in the CompGroup AGC, Inc. today or click here for more information! Contact your insurance agent or call Program Administrator Roberts & Crow at 800-406-9614—ask for Julie Schatz.
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The AGC Alternative, is a private insurance exchange that operates like an online store, making it easy for your employees to shop for health insurance and other benefits on their own or through the help of our dedicated employee hotline.
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AGC Houston members are now eligible for even more discounts thanks to our new membership with National Purchasing Partners! AGC Members Enroll Today! Visit the Membership Discounts page on the AGC.org for more information. Sign up today with NPP to access some of these great savings opportunities:
Did you know?
- AGC
Members collectively saved more than $4,941,000 last year off the purchase
or lease of new GM, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ford vehicles.
- AGC
Members collectively saved more than $2,217,232 last year off shipping and
freight through AGC’s shipping programs.
- iSqFt - A decade ago,ISqFt forged a strategic partnership with AGC providing members with online plan room services and leads.
- Verizon - Access the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network. Members receive 22% off of corporate calling plans. Contact the National Purchasing Partners at 800-810-3909 for more information.
- Reliant Energy: Discounted prices, one-stop-shop service to install temporary meters and more.
- LegalZoom: Personalized, affordable legal protection. Automatic 15% discount.
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Did you know one of the many benefits of being an AGC Member is access to our resumé service? As a service to our members, we compile resumés of job-seeking professionals in the construction industry. To access this service, simply log in to the Members' Only section at agchouston.org to view the most current list.
Interested in posting a resume on our website? Contact Jaclyn Lee to have yours posted today.
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AGC Houston and other AGC Texas chapters have joined forces to help promote careers in the commercial construction industry by launching Texasconstructioncareers.com. More than just a website that allows employers to post jobs and job seekers their resumés, the site offers a plethora of information on craft training and professional education resources and job fairs throughout Texas. Click here for more information.
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Member News |
JE Dunn Construction Company recently completed a full interior build-out on the new Nordstrom Rack at the Willowbrook Mall located at FM 1960 and Texas 249. The 38,000-square-foot boutique was recently added to the Willowbrook Mall and opened its doors on September 10, 2014. The JE Dunn team attended the grand opening to commemorate the event. Congratulations on a job well done!
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The Houston Business Journal recently announced Houston's best places to work in 2014 and AGC Houston was well-represented! Congratulations to MiddletonRaines Zapata, LLP, Robert W. Baird & Co., Kauffman Co. and Trio Electric Ltd. on earning spots in the top 100 places to work in Houston!
For 13 years, the Houston Business Journal has hosted the longest-running Best Places to Work awards program in the city, honoring top employers for their unique cultures, amenities, benefits and worker-retention and attraction strategies. These awards are not easily won and we commend our members on their hard work and dedication. We wish you all continued success in 2015!
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Here's Looking At You |
The Construction Leadership Council gathered at the Warehouse Bar & Chill on December 4, 2014 for networking and to celebrate the year's accomplishments. In 2014, CLC raised more than $10,000 for the Patrick J. Kiley Excellence in Leadership Scholarship and provided numerous opportunities through educational programs and events for the next generarion of construction professionals. In addition, the CLC donated a flagpole, complete with the United States and Texas flags to the Hermann Park Golf Course.
The CLC will kick off 2015 with their recruitment event in January. To view photos from the holiday mixer, click here.
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News You Can Use |
Riverside Resources is building a 39-story condominium tower in Austin, Texas, and a joint venture with Gilbane Building Co. and Rogers-O'Brien Construction has been named the general contractor. When completed in 2017, the Fifth & West tower will be one of the largest buildings in the city.
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Only a handful of Class B office buildings in Houston are LEED certified. While 28 percent of Houston's 296 Class A properties have LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, just 2 percent of Houston's 571 Class B buildings can say the same, according to CBRE Group Inc. (NYSE: CBG). A recent CoreNet Global meeting focused on how Houston could help Class B commercial property owners understand the benefits — and financial payoffs — of going green. These improvements can boost the value of Class B buildings, which helps when it comes time to refinance or sell, said Dougal Cameron, Cameron Management's president and CEO. Improvements, like LEED certification, can lower the capitalization rate, which real estate investors use to compare commercial properties.
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A statewide coalition of Associated General Contractors (AGC) building chapters has taken the effort to address statewide
labor shortages and craft training needs to the Internet.
According to Doug McMurry, executive vice president of AGC San Antonio, many owners are willing to help address the skilled labor shortage. "In Houston, some owners are willing to pay more for construction services, if contractors are working ‘to positively address the issues facing the craft worker," citing the Construction Career Collaborative (C3). "By working together, owners and industry leaders can achieve greater results."
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Sweeping education reforms passed by the Texas Legislature in 2013 will be a great help to business leaders in Houston as they embark on an unprecedented push to promote "middle skills" jobs. A huge piece of that education reform package, known as House Bill 5, was the creation of multiple pathways for students to earn their high school diploma. Among the options from which students and parents can now choose is a career in the blue collar trades like construction. The Greater Houston Partnership recently announced the beginning of its push to advance the middle skills throughout Southeast Texas.
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Texas Children's Hospital plans to add a new heart center, renovate the emergency center and expand other services at its flagship in the Texas Medical Center. Texas Children's is the latest Houston-area hospital to plan for expansion in the Medical Center. Earlier this year, Memorial Hermann Health System and Houston Methodist each announced projects that would include expansions of their main hospitals, as well as construction of new facilities in Houston's surrounding communities, totaling an estimated $2 billion.
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President Barak Obama's executive order is expected to stay the deportations of about 5 million immigrants and grant them temporary work permits, giving them the same legal protections on wages, health and safety that U.S. workers take for granted. In Texas, which has the greatest number of people living here illegally after California, an estimated 743,000 immigrants of about 1.5 million could receive permits. They'll qualify either as parents of U.S. citizens or legal residents or through Obama's expansion of the so-called dreamer program for young adults.
"A lot of our workforce doesn't have the proper work papers," said AGC Houston President, Jerry Nevlud. "Now they'd be able to stay on payrolls, and companies can invest in training and development. That stability will encourage workers to consider construction as a career, not just a short-term job. The bottom line for the industry is that it's a good thing."
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Many in the construction industry are finding that drones and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) can play a vital role in their work. Whether they’re used for surveying, to show clients and potential clients an aerial overview of completed projects, to monitor jobsites to ensure safe practices or to inspect bridges and other structures, drones have the potential to become as important a tool to the industry as any piece of yellow iron. The Federal Aviation Agency has said that it plans to allow commercial UAS use once it has drawn up proper regulations for the aircraft. The deadline for those regulations is some time in 2015.
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Dodge Data & Analytics released its Construction Outlook report, which shows a five percent increase in construction activity this year and forecasts a nine percent increase next year. The report notes construction financing is becoming easier to obtain and more construction bonds are being passed. Office, institutional, single- and multi-family housing, and public works sectors will see largest gains in spending, according to the report.
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