| January 20, 2015
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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 |
Please join us for our premier chapter business meeting of the year. AGC Houston will recognize the 2014 and 2015 Board of Directors, active
committees and hear about our accomplishments as well as plans for 2015. Guest
speakers Ken Simonson, Chief Economist, AGC of America and Jeffrey Robinson, PAS, Inc. will provide valuable economic and
compensation data relevant to the commercial construction industry and
Houston.
NEW LOCATION! Omni Houston, Four Riverway, Houston, Texas 77056. For sponsorship and registration details, click on the link below.
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Charles Foster, Foster LLP, long recognized as a national expert in U.S. immigration law will lead an informative discussion on the major executive action on immigration policy on January 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at AGC Houston. FREE but registrations are required!
On November 19, 2014, President Obama signed an executive order that allows up to 5 million
undocumented immigrants to avoid deportation. Within six months or less, a window of opportunity for the construction
industry will open that will allow large numbers of construction workers to
obtain a three-year temporary Employment Authorization Document (EAD). It is estimated that several hundred thousand workers could
be positively impacted in the Houston region alone. Come hear how this will impact your business.
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Find out more membership benefits and how to get the most from AGC Houston. Attend the New Member Orientation on Thursday, January 29, 2015, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and gain valuable insight from benefits representatives, AGC Houston members and staff. All members welcome to this free event! Contact Catherine Bezman today for details.
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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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AGC Houston is accepting entries for TBB's Outstanding Construction Awards, which honor projects completed in 2014. Categories include commercial buildings, residential multi-family, residential single family, design build, healthcare, industrial/warehouse, interior finish-out, specialty construction and historical renovation.
Don't miss the February 9, 2015, submittal deadline.
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4:30-6:00 p.m.
Save the date! Join us for the first AGC member mixer of 2015! Held at Crisp in The Heights, this popular event attracts Houston's commercial construction industry professionals and is a great networking opportunity.
Thank you to Coats Rose for sponsoring this event!
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Fire up those pits! It's time to start planning for the 24th annual AGC Houston Barbecue Cook-off March 27 and 28 at the Sam Houston Race Park. Thousands of people are expected to converge on the Sam Houston Race Park as cook teams will man their barbecue pits around the clock for two days. Don't miss out on the Houston commercial construction industry's most popular event.There are lots of ways to get your company name in front of industry professionals through sponsorships!
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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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Get all the information you need electronically! The 2015 AGC Houston Resource & Membership Directory is available in digital format.
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Education/Training |
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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BIM 101 is designed specifically for construction professionals eager to learn the essential concepts of BIM.
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Completion of this course meets the requirements of OSHA Paragraph 1926.50, and participants will receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid and CPR/AED wallet card valid for two years upon course completion.
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For AEC professionals, the AGC Certificate of 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. Successful candidates will carry the CM-BIM designation.
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Safety |
The AGC Houston Safety Committee is proud to welcome Susan Phillips, Tellepsen, as the new General Contractor Co-Chair. The AGC Houston Safety Committee will be kicking off 2015 with their first meeting on Friday, January 30, 2015, at 7 a.m. at the AGC Houston office. Interested in attending or learning more? Contact Safety Director Kim Mason for more details.
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Course topics include practical soil mechanics and its relationship to the stability of shored and unshored slopes and walls of excavations, introduction of various types of shoring (wood timbers and hydraulic), soil classification, and use of protective systems.
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This Trainer Course is for employers to use in complying with the December 1, 2013, deadline to train their employees on the Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication (known as GHS).
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This course will provide an overview of the risk management and insurance profession from the health and safety program perspective. Topics include recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of safety and health hazards found in the workplace.
Early bird registration ends January 20, 2015. Don't miss your chance - register today!
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This course covers OSHA Electrical Standards and the hazards associated with electrical installations and equipment. Course topics include single- and three-phase systems, cord- and plug-connected and fixed equipment, grounding, ground fault circuit interrupters, and safety-related work practices.
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AGC News |
The AGC Texas Building Branch has launched their new weekly newsletter, "Capitol Roundup," designed to keep you informed of the latest advocacy efforts in Austin. This tool will be used to keep you up to date on the progress of relevant legislation and to help you become more involved with our process.
The newsletter will be sent out each Thursday around noon. For more information, questions or to submit additions for the newsletter, please contact Legislative Assistant Zach Buccheit.
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A new report finds building costs are rising faster than they have in the past six years. The report from the construction consulting firm Rider Levett Bucknall said that the company’s index of construction costs in the United States increased 1.66 percent between July and October, which is the biggest three-month increase since the beginning of 2008. Perhaps more importantly, the report found that construction starts in 2015 will rise about 10 percent—almost double the estimated growth rate in 2014. "General optimism with the construction sector has continued to rise," the report said. Rider Levett Bucknall keeps track of new commercial, residential, and other types of construction as well.
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Earlier this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a request for further comment on a proposed regulatory program that would make every construction company’s stormwater permit records, inspection results and compliance history accessible to the public.
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Have you checked when your U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) program certifications are up for renewal? It is time to start thinking about renewing certifications that expire in 2015. The re-certification process may take several months to complete. EPA has up to 90 days after receiving a complete application for firm certification to approve or disapprove the application. In addition, renovators must follow the established timeline to complete "refresher" training. Don’t delay getting started with your firm or individual re-certifications.
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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 percent 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.
- Ram Commercial Trucks: AGC members can receive up to $500 cash allowance toward the purchase or lease of many of the most popular vehicles in our lineup.
- FedEx: AGC members receive valuable discounts of up to 29% on select FedEx Express® and FedEx Ground® shipping services, up to 70% on FedEx Freight® shipping services.
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Did you know one of the many benefits of being an AGC Member is access to our résumé service? As a service to our members, we compile résumés 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 résumé 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 résumés, 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 |
Starting in 2015 and in partnership with the community, Balfour Beatty Construction is celebrating 35 years of history in Houston. Balfour reflected on their beginning in 1979 as a small interior construction company and how they have grown to be a global construction business with quite the presence in Houston working on local projects such as the Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, the Energy Centers Three, Four and Five, and the Houston Methodist Hospital Research Labs. With such an exciting milestone, AGC wishes you continued success in 2015 and many years to come!
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Here's Looking At You |
The Leadership AGC class recently had the opportunity to sit down with four owners to hear their experiences in construction from the architect and owners' perspective where they were connected to an entirely different side of construction. Coy McKinney, Director of Multi-Family Construction, Howard Hughes Corporation; Bob Parley, Co-Chairman, Collier's International; Hal Sharp, Principal, Gensler; and Pat Sharkey, Partner, Jackson Walker, LLP, provided valuable insight on leadership within the construction industry and emphasized the importance of networking and developing professional relationships early on in a career.
With guidance from Mike Holland, Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. and Jason Kopke, Marek Sawing & Drilling, LLC, the Leadership AGC class will be preparing for their sixth session in the bustling Texas Medical Center where they will be touring various facilities and will have the chance to network with some of the Texas Medical Center leadership.
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News You Can Use |
Following the completion of the 19-story expansion project Texas Children's Hospital announced in November, Texas Children's Hospital will begin renovations on its Emergency Center as well as other areas in the hospital's West Tower, according to a statement. The 19-story addition to the building base next to the Texas Children's Pavilion for Women will add 640,000 square feet and 130 intensive-care beds to the hospital. That project is expected to be completed in 2018, and will be home to the pediatric and cardiovascular intensive care, new operating rooms and the Texas Children's Heart Center.
The total budget for the vertical expansion is $506 million.
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The United States missed a year-end deadline for publishing new rules on remote-control aircraft, delaying an eagerly awaited step toward using drones in everything from farming to package delivery. The Federal Aviation Administration turned a draft of the rules—the first major overhaul of the regulations—over to the White House on Oct. 23, and had said it expected them to be published in 2014. The office has 90 days to review proposed regulations, during which time analysts craft a cost-benefit analysis and meet with affected parties. The time frame often is extended.
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Despite adding 48,000 construction jobs in December and thousands of others in the past several months, the industry has only recovered 30% of the 2.2 million jobs it had prior to the Great Recession. But the industry is now growing at the twice the rate of the entire labor market, according to this article. Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America, says the organization is projecting 250,000 to 350,000 job gains in 2015.
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A building boom is underway in Houston, but rather than focus on current projects, the Houston Chronicle prepared a photo gallery of major construction projects from the past 50 years. Sixty-six photos are included, and the projects range from stadiums to freeways to theaters.
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Houston's economic outlook is again firmly in the hands of the oil industry, and this brings good and bad news. The 2015 forecast shows continued job growth in Houston, but only with substantial help from both chemical construction and a healthy U.S. economy. In east Houston, a major construction boom is underway based on cheap natural gas. Although a wide variety of projects are underway, with some responding to new infrastructure and energy processing needs from the shale boom, the focal point of the expansion is petrochemicals.
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The ACE Mentor Program is currently recruiting for new committee members for 2015! The ACE Program has recently increased by over 100 students and has moved to a bigger, better location. ACE is seeking help in the following committee areas: communications, fundraising, accounting, grant writing, and event judging, If you're interested in becoming apart of ACE, please contact Angela Cotie, Chairman of the Board, for more information.
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