| July 28, 2015
|
In This Issue |
Events
|
|
Education/
Training
|
|
Safety
|
|
Membership Benefits
|
|
AGC News
|
|
Here's Looking At You
|
|
News You Can Use
|
|
 Quick Links |
|
 |
Events |
Register today for the Texas Building Branch 2015 convention at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Lake Tahoe, featuring the CompGroup AGC Safety Awards Luncheon and the TBB Outstanding Construction Awards Dinner. Guest speakers include: Robert Bass, Jr., shareholder in the Austin office of Winstead PC and member of the firm's construction law practice group; John Cyrier, state representative for Texas House District 17 and CEO of Sabre Commercial, Inc., in Austin; and Chuck Greco, president of AGC of America and chairman of Linbeck Group, LLC.
Congratulations to the following AGC Houston member companies that won a 2014 Outstanding Construction Award and will be recognized at the convention:
Anslow Bryant Construction, Ltd.: The Treehouse Memorial City
Dyad Construction, LP: Greens Crossing Tract A - HD Supply
Linbeck Group, LLC: Parc Binz One
Satterfield & Pontikes: TAMU Francis Hall Renovation
Tellepsen: The University of Houston Student Center Redevelopment
Vaughn Construction: TAMU Jack K. Williams Administration Building Renovation
|
Thursday, August 6
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
$20 - Early Bird Ends July 31
$25 - Regular Pricing Ends August 5
$30 - At The Door
This networking event draws a large crowd of commercial construction industry professionals. Thank you to Joslin Construction for sponsoring this Member Mixer. Contact Amy Collins for sponsorship details. Click here to register. Early bird pricing ends July 31. Free for general contractor members!
|
Celebrating its 11th year at the Hermann Park Golf Course, the Construction Leadership Council Golf Tournament swings into action on Friday, August 7, at 7:30 a.m. This event draws the commercial construction industry's young professionals to raise funds for the AGC Houston Scholarship fund. All AGC Houston members welcome! A few team spots remain! For registration and sponsorship details, see link below.
|
The AGC Southwest Chapters plan is the largest AGC Association plan in the nation, with more than 70 companies already participating. All AGC Houston members who want to find out more about the 401(k) plan are welcome to attend this special event.
Truluck’s – 5350 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77056
August 20, 2015
• Time 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• For CEOs, CFOs & HR with a 401(k) plan
• RSVP space is limited; Please RSVP to Ginger Gray ggray@rwbaird.com or 713-296-8079.
|
Open To All Human Resources, Labor And Employment Specialists, Attorneys
Thursday, August 20, 2015
7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.
AGC Houston is pleased to announce the rebirth of the Employment Practices Committee, which specializes in issues facing human resources professionals, labor and employment attorneys and anyone dealing with Department of Labor issues. Click here for details.
|
 |
Education/Training |
Do you have up-and-coming young leaders in your organization? This course, developed by young construction industry leaders for young leaders, is designed to create the building blocks for the next generation of construction professionals.
"This program gave me an opportunity to broaden my exposure to the community, meet other industry peers and learn specific leadership and management skills. What makes this leadership program stand out is that it is about an experience through leadership among the major industries in Houston."
Stephen Turner, Estimator, Brookstone, LP, Leadership AGC Class of 2015
Hurry! Application deadline is August 12, 2015. Nominate your company's up-and-coming young professional today!
|
 To develop the tools needed to build lean, AGC has developed the Lean Construction Education Program (units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). Construction professionals at all experience levels learn the building blocks necessary to transform their projects and companies into a lean operating system.
August 4: Unit 5 - Lean Supply Chain And Assembly. The four-session course challenges class participants to map the supply chain―looking to minimize waste and maximize value―in a collaborative fashion with all project team members, including suppliers and vendors.
August 26: Unit 6 - Lean Design and Pre-Construction. This half-day, instructor-led course explains the concepts of value-based management, lean in the design process and relational contracting
|
New series of program specially designed for emerging project managers!
Project Manager Development Program Module 1: Estimating and Job Costing
This five-course program covers the essentials of project management for emerging project managers.
This class develops professional estimating skills, including: an understanding of the different types of estimates; the importance of documentation and formatting; and the link between design, estimating and project costs.
|
Learn how cloud computing can help you manage your construction documents and mitigate your risks by safely archiving critical documents. You've heard the hype regarding the cloud; now learn how it can actually help improve your productivity. This free seminar is designed for general contractors, specialty contractors and suppliers who want to learn about the benefits of using the cloud in their business.
|
 |
Safety |
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced the launch of its annual Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers. For the fourth consecutive year, OSHA's campaign aims to raise awareness and educate workers and employers about the dangers of working in hot weather and provide resources and guidance to address these hazards. Workers at particular risk are those in outdoor industries, such as agriculture, construction, landscaping and transportation.
|
This course is the update required every four years for all OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainers for the construction industry. It provides timely information on OSHA construction industry standards, policies and regulations.
|
This course covers industrial hygiene practices and related OSHA regulations and procedures.This course features workshops in health hazard recognition, OSHA health standards and use of sampling equipment.
|
Essential for the new construction worker, this course will provide an overview of the risk management and insurance profession from the health and safety program perspective.
|
The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires facilities to implement robust air-emission-control practices, which are regulated and enforced through a complex permitting process.
|
 |
Membership Benefits |
Avis Rental Car: AGC Members Can Save Up to 25% on Car Rentals in the Continental U.S.
• International discounts - including Canada
• Free Preferred Enrollment for all members
• Live coupons and seasonal offers
|
Through Reliant Energy's agreement with the Texas Building Branch AGC (www.reliant.com/agc), association members receive the following benefits:
• One-stop-shop service to install temporary meters. Reliant requests your temporary meter from the TDSP and can manage the transition from temporary to permanent power
• No hassle temporary service enrollment
• Discounted prices
• Incentives for referring future tenants, friends and family
|
Effective through September 30, 2015, Verizon is offering great deals on products and services. Some of the deals through July 31, 2015 include:
• $200 bill credit when you activate a smartphone device on a plan of $34.99 or higher.
• AGC Houston members receive 22% off corporate calling plans.
• Employees receive up to an 18% discount (15% plus an additional 3% discount if enrolled in online billing) on their plans.
|
AGC Member Companies & Employees Save $ Through Purchase of Buick, Chevrolet Or GMC
Purchase or lease an eligible 2014 or 2015 Buick, Chevrolet or GMC passenger car, light-duty truck, van, or SUV.
Available during the program period October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015.
Redeeming this private offer is simple:
1. Provide proof of AGC membership, print your company list from the AGC Membership Directory, or call the local chapter to verify.
2. Visit your GM dealer and mention this private offer.
3. Choose an eligible vehicle or vehicles to purchase or lease and present your AGC Proof of Membership Form to your dealer.
|
 |
AGC News |
Plan to join your peers at AGC's 2015 Contractors Environmental Conference on September 2-3 in Arlington, Virginia, to explore ways to turn environmental responsibilities into successes for you and your firm.
• Next Generation of Compliance and Reporting Environmental Violations
• Stormwater: Self-Inspections and Documentation, Work in Sensitive Areas
• Factoring Endangered Species Into Your Project
• What GCs Need to Know about Asbestos, Lead and PCBs
|
Because of the accelerated use of personal portable mobile devices being used in the workplace, many companies have adopted policies regarding employee usage for business. As employees access the company network and use their personal devices for company business, many risks can ensue. Read Employment Practices Committee member Anthony Stergio's article on the benefits of implementing a policy related to personal mobile devices and the risks they incur.
|
 |
Here's Looking At You |
On July 23, nearly 50 commercial construction professionals filled the AGC Houston North training classroom to take part in the Unit 4 Module of the Lean Construction Education Program. On hand to teach the four-hour session were James Bryant and Ed Durham, Anslow Bryant Construction, Ltd.; Trae Compton, Patrick Lilley, and Stewart Trapino, Linbeck Group, LLC; and Jeff Johnston, Tellepsen. Unit 4: The Last Planner® System teaches how to create six-week look-ahead schedules and weekly work planning sessions.
Next Units:
August 4, 2015 - Lean Unit 5: Lean Supply Chain And Assembly
August 26, 2015 - Lean Unit 6: Lean Design And Pre-Construction
 |
News You Can Use |
The flurry of downtown real estate activity has been fueled by young professionals and empty nesters who want to live in high-density, urban neighborhoods where they can walk to work, eat and play.
The city of Houston's Downtown Living Initiative has further sparked downtown development. The initiative offers $15,000 per unit in tax breaks to developers building multifamily projects downtown.
Sixteen of the 18 projects currently under construction or planned downtown were approved for the Downtown Living Initiative, which is nearing its 5,000-unit cap. Last year, Atlanta-based Novare Group's SkyHouse Houston apartment tower, located at 1625 Main, became the first Downtown Living Initiative project to be finished.
|
Willis Group Holdings PLC, the third-largest insurance broker, agreed to merge with Towers Watson & Co. to add consulting operations and help take on larger U.S. rivals.
Shareholders of the broker will own 50.1 percent of the combined company, which will be domiciled in Ireland, lowering taxes for U.S.-based Towers Watson.
|
Air Worldwide's latest U.S. hurricane model has new features, including a storm-surge module and loss estimates that reflect local building codes and design practices. The model will help improve insurers' understanding of risks from wind and storm surge for risk selection, portfolio management and risk transfer, says Air Assistant Vice President Tim Doggett.
|
Led by growing demand for new schools, hospitals, cultural facilities and municipal buildings, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) increased in May following its second monthly drop this year. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9-12 month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the May ABI score was 51.9, up from a mark of 48.8 in April.
|
The Clean Water Rule: Definition of "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) was officially published in the Federal Register on June 29 and is effective August 28, 2015. Immediately following publication, at least 18 state attorneys jointly filed three lawsuits to block the rule.
|
|
| |
|
.jpg){kind=logo}
