| November 17, 2015
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In This Issue |
Events
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Education/
Training
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Safety
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New Members
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Membership Benefits
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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 |
Join AGC Houston in celebrating a successful 2015 in Safety. From our OSHA Partnerships, variety of classes and engaging Safety Committee meetings—this year is one to look back on fondly. We’re inviting all member safety professionals to come spend time with one another before we start again to do even better in 2016!
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
3 - 6 p.m.
Onion Creek Café
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Beginning in early 2016, information reporting provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act require many employers to file annual information returns with the Internal Revenue Service and provide annual statements to employees containing health plan coverage information.
Did you know? AGC Houston has helpful information for employers regarding
Forms 1094 B & C and Forms 1095 B & C.
• Login to the Members Only section of the AGC Houston website.
• Then click on the Employment Practices Committee Articles submenu and Health Insurance Reporting Requirements.
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AGC Houston, in conjunction with ACE Mentor Program, invites all AGC Houston members to take part in and help sponsor the Build It Forward community projects that will be held on November 21,
2015 at Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Leadership AGC participants will be heading up teams of high school students currently interested in pursuing studies in architecture, construction and engineering. ACE Mentor needs material and team sponsors to help "Build It Forward." Volunteers welcome!
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Your business, partnership, support and friendship mean the world to us. Thank you for supporting AGC Houston and helping to make this great city one of the nation's top places in which to live and prosper.
In observance of Thanksgiving, the AGC Houston office will close Wednesday, November 25 at 3 p.m. and reopen Monday, November 30, at 8 a.m
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Education/Training |
In 2016, AGC Houston will be awarding Patrick J. Kiley Excellence In Leadership scholarships to deserving students. Do you know of anyone who could use the money for higher education? Apply today!
Scholarship application deadline is February 1, 2016.
To date, the scholarship has generated more than $393,000 and helped to fund students' dreams of earning a degree in a construction-related discipline. Students who qualify are evaluated on their personal and professional commitment to advance their education, career and the commercial construction industry.To apply and for more information, see link below.
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Learn techniques for managing risk and how the scope and nature of risk management varies based on project contracting methods. Early bird pricing ends Wednesday, November 11, 2015.
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Learn the difference between leading and managing, and understand the importance of communication in effective leadership positions. Students learn to develop techniques for motivating and negotiating solutions, as well as effectively managing change.
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Safety |
Due to the Thanksgiving holidays, there will not be a Safety Committee meeting in November.
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AGC Houston is committed to helping employers and workers address safety and health issues through the OSHA Strategic Partnership program. To date AGC Houston members Anslow Bryant Construction, Ltd.; Brookstone, LP; W. S. Bellows Construction Corp., Linbeck Group, LLC; SpawGlass Construction; Tellepen; Allstate Commercial Flooring; Keystone Concrete; TAS Commercial Concrete Construction, LLC; and Trio Electric, Ltd. have signed a formal partnership agreement.
AGC Houston and OSHA are still accepting applications from companies wanting to reduce occupational-related fatalities and serious injuries within the construction industry, effectively implement all facets of jobsite safety, and achieve self-compliance through cooperative efforts. Contact Director of Safety Services Kim Mason for details.
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This national award competition recognize companies that have developed and implemented excellent safety and loss prevention programs achieved through management commitment, employee involvement, and program innovation. All AGC Houston contractor members that excel at safety performance are encouraged to submit applications for each division and occupational category.
There has been an important change this year: The two-year sit-out
requirement for the past
year's first place winners has been removed.Apply today and don't miss the December 14 deadline.
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This course covers the OSHA standards for the construction industry found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1926 along with other relevant policies, procedures, and safety and health principles for the construction industry.
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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.
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New Members |
Rhedonda Cox
(713) 979-2388
rcox@sealsecurity.com
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Ken Cooper
(713) 223-9181
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Tammy Rogers
(713) 461-8222
trogers@moduloc.com
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Donna Krieger
(281) 565-7313
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Membership Benefits |
As a qualified association member with an active Ford Commercial Fleet Identification Number, AGC members can receive significant discounts on new Ford fleet vehicle purchases. Combined with Ford’s National Commercial Fleet Incentive Program, qualifying members can save as much as $2,000+ off select vehicles.
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An effective safety program can help keep your employees on the job, reduce your premium and earn your company dividends. CompGroup AGC was created in 1993 by various Texas members of the Associated General Contractors of America to provide a better option for workers’ compensation coverage.
Contact your insurance agent and tell them you want a CompGroup AGC quote or contact program administrator Roberts & Crow at 800-406-9614 — ask for Julie Schatz.
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For more than a decade, iSqFt has given general contractors the online tools to help them work more efficiently and make their processes more cost effective.
iSqFt helps general contractors:
• Communicate with bidders and distribute project information, including documents and addenda
• Manage their vendor databases and understand
bid day coverage needs
• Prequalify their vendors
• Perform automated safety and risk assessments
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AGC News |
Join your fellow AGC members as the 97th Annual AGC of America Convention heads to the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio, March 9-11, 2016. The AGC Annual Convention and Technology & Construction Solutions Expo is the ideal opportunity to see everything AGC can do for you and your business. The convention features more than 15 education breakouts, terrific networking events and industry leading speakers, all in a perfect location for business, culture, family and fun!
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Construction firms added 31,000 workers in October as the industry's unemployment rate declined to 6.2% amid robust demand for construction, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction employment is now at the highest level since February 2009, as the sector continues to recover from the downturn. "The industry continues to recover while the hiring slowdowns it experienced during the summer were prompted more by labor shortages than they were any slump in demand," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist.
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The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has issued a nationwide stay of the new federal regulation redefining "waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) for the purposes of the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed and then finalized the new regulation in an effort to clarify the scope of the statute’s requirements.
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Since Jan. 2015, AGC chapters and members have been accessing environmental compliance and green information on the newly updated Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center—or CICA Center. AGC partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences to make the CICA Center available. Chapter Take-Away: Chapters can use this resource to get caught up on federal and state requirements, search for new topic ideas for meetings or conferences, and promote the association's dedication to
provide educational resources for its members.
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Each year around this time, AGC asks you—our members —to predict what next year will be like for your business. This year AGC has partnered with Sage to prepare questions that focus on expectations for market performance, hiring, labor market conditions, etc. Please take a moment to complete the survey.
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Member News |
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Congratulations the Charlie Nelson, Gilbane Building Company, on receiving ENR magazine's Legacy Award designed to recognize industry veterans with many years of experience and long lists of contributions to their profession and community. Nelson will be honored at ENR Texas & Louisiana’s 2015 Best Projects luncheon in Houston on December 8.
Charlie Nelson served as AGC Houston President in 1993, on the Board of Directors and on numerous chapter committee during the span of his career, which began 54 years ago. A native Mississippian, Nelson was hired in his early 20's by H.A. Lott, whose signature construction projects include the Houston Astrodome, The Tower of the America, the Port of Houston's World Trade Center, and built a panoply of projects throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Nelson joined Gilbane in 1995 and has extensive experience as the firm’s project executive on many complex projects throughout the Texas region, particularly major renovation projects. He most recently led both the Kinder Morgan (formerly El Paso) Tower Renovations and the North Cypress Medical Center projects.
To see a list of ENR's winning construction projects, click here.
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Ammie Hudson-Blahuta, Hudson Building Systems Ltd., is excited to announce the opening of GiGi's Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center, on December 5, 2015 from 2 - 4 p.m. Ammie and her husband , Keith Blahuta, have spent the past two years fundraising for the non-profit organization's new location in Sugar Land. The new facility will provide direct educational and therapeutic programs to individuals with Down syndrome, their
families and the community.
Hudson Building Systems specializes in the supply and installation of access floor, operable and accordion partitions, commercial overhead counter and sectional doors and medical supports. Ammie and Keith want to thank all their friends in the AGC Houston community for their fundraising support to make this project happen and welcome everyone on December 5!
Want to help? GiGi's Playhouse needs toys, play mats, office supplies, bookshelves, books and educational tablets. Contact Ammie Hudson-Blahuta for details.
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Here's Looking At You |
After a two-year hiatus, members of AGC Houston and AIA Houston held a joint happy hour on Thursday, November 12 at Brenner's On The Bayou to celebrate their 50+ years of collaboration. On hand were members of both organizations including Gensler's James Furr, Managing Principal Emeritus, who is receiving the AIA Houston Lifetime Achievement Award on December 8.
Special thanks to our meeting sponsors:
Click on the gallery link below to view more photos of the event.
In case you missed it, AGC Houston President/CEO Jerry Nevlud spoke about construction safety on Houston Matters, Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Nevlud was interviewed by Craig Cohen, Houston Matters host, which airs live each day on 88.7 KUHF at noon. Jerry spoke about construction safety in Houston, how we promote it, our training programs, and the Construction Career Collaborative (C3). Jerry was very effective in conveying the importance of safety, that the construction industry is a risky business and that our members take safety very seriously.
James Shelton, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist, also was an invited guest and he spoke about safety regulations in different trades and different types of training. Shelton explained how an investigation is conducted once there is a safety incident at a jobsite, he also addressed inspections and reporting requirements.
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The AGC Houston Government Affairs Committee welcomed mayoral candidate Bill King to discuss his political platform and campaign strategy on Thursday, November 12. King led a frank conversation about his political aspirations, vision for the city and alignment with the Houston business community. AGC Houston does not endorse candidates but encourages everyone to vote December 12.
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News You Can Use |
Andrews Myers' Tony
Stergio recently released an article regarding the new open carry law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2016. Any business that wishes to ban the open carry of weapons within their establishment must post a specific sign, in English and Spanish, in at least 1" text, the word for word language of the statute. If
the sign doesn’t comply with the language of the law, then arguably a licensed
handgun holder does not receive effective notice. To prohibit
open carry on a property, the business must display a sign that says the
following:
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At the International Council of Shopping Centers Texas conference, which kicked off Nov. 5 in Dallas, the future of retail in Houston was looking bright. Naveen Jaggi, the Houston-based retail Division President of Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle, said there was momentum to make deals happen at the conference.
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The Greater Houston Partnership announced the release of its Fall Impact Report. Among its highlights, The Partnership successfully advocated for legislation in our three priority areas during the 84th Legislative Session, which will help ensure our region's continued growth and success. Our three priorities included: early education, transportation and economic development incentives.
The Partnership also urges Houstonians to support Proposition 7 for transportation funding.
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Construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry, and several steps are being taken to address the risk. The Carson J Spencer Foundation, RK Mechanical and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention have created a suicide prevention guide. Next year some chapters of the Associated General Contractors of Washington will sponsor outreach presentations for their members.
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AIA Houston's popular Gingerbread Build-Off will take place in front of City Hall on Saturday, December 12. Fun for the whole family, the event typically draws more than 3,500 spectators. Over 30 competing teams will create their masterpieces using 100 percent edible materials.
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Employers beware! The new bipartisan budget, passed by both the House and the Senate and signed by President Obama on November 2, 2015, contains provisions that will raise OSHA penalties for the first time in 25 years. The budget allows for an initial penalty "catch up adjustment," which must be in place by August 1, 2016. The catch up adjustment is tied to the percentage difference between the October 2015 Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the October 1990 CPI.
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