Members' Edge - October 17, 2019

AGC News

Women in Construction Group Offers Resources

Launched last year, AGC Houston created a Women In Construction Steering Committee designed to produce events that bring insight to the ups and downs of women pursuing a career in construction.

Check out our dedicated Women in Construction web page that contains a variety of helpful resources.

Check out our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

In observance of Day of the Girl on Oct. 11, Angela Cotie, Gilbane Building Company, and Women in Construction Sterring Committee Chair, penned a blog dedicated to "Coach Lew, Mr. Hamlett and my dad" the driving force behind her life choices and career's success. Read the tribute here.

Visit https://www.agchouston.org/AGCH/About/Women_in_Construction/AGCH/About/Women_in_Construction.aspx?hkey=f25bdf7a-cf20-4619-9e4b-a1268fb9378c to view the full article online.

Construction Employment Rises By 7,000 in September

Construction employment increased by 7,000 jobs in September and by 156,000, or 2.1%, over the past 12 months, while the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience reached a record low for September, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America.

Average hourly earnings in construction — a measure of all wages and salaries — increased 2.2% over the year to $30.81. That figure was 9.7% higher than the private-sector average of $28.09, according to Ken Simonson, AGC of America Chief Economist.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2019/10/04/construction-employment-rises-7000-september-and-156000-12-months-hiring-slowdown to view the full article online.

AGC National Awards Applications Due Oct. 23

The Construction Risk Partners Build America Awards (including the Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence category) and AGC in the Community competitions recognize the nation's most impressive construction projects.

The AGC Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Awards recognize contractors that are champions in advancing diversity and inclusion within their workforce, subcontractor-partners, supply chain, the association, and in the communities they serve.

The AGC Diverse Business of the Year competition honors an outstanding diverse AGC member-firm that is committed to achieving business success.

Visit https://www.agc.org/about-us/awards-recognition-programs to view the full article online.

AGC Offers Scholarships to Students in Construction Industry

AGC Education and Research Foundation Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarship Application Deadline is November 1, 201

Through endowments made by AGC members and supporters, as well as AGC Chapters, the Education and Research Foundation awards over 100 scholarships each year to students dedicated to pursuing a career in the construction industry.

Students can click here to apply.

Attention AGC Houston members! Be on the look out for the Patrick J. Kiley Excellence in Leadership Scholarship application in the coming weeks! The AGC Houston scholarship program has awarded over 168 scholarships totalling $512,000 to students pursuing construction-related careers.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=585612&issueID=65347 to view the full article online.

Member News

Cherry Cos. Named ENR Texas & Louisiana's 2019 Specialty Contractor of the Year

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=585778&issueID=65347 to view the full article online.

Vaughn Construction Breaks Ground on Methodist Hospital Expansion

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=585753&issueID=65347 to view the full article online.

Tellepsen Team is Tickled Pink

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=585754&issueID=65347 to view the full article online.

In Sympathy

It is with great sadness that AGC Houston has learned of the passing of Patricia Jones, co-founder of Raven Mechanical, LP.

Over the years, Raven Mechanical, LP and the Jones family have supported our chapter in numerous ways, including serving on the AGC Houston Board of Directors: Bill Jones from 2000 through 2002 and his son, Stephen L. Jones, who currently is serving a two-year term.

This year, Raven Mechanical, LP is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The Jones family welcomes all to a viewing and Rosary, which will be held Thursday, October 17, 2019, from 6:00 pm. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Plantersville, Texas. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 18 at 10:30 a.m. followed by internment at the St. Mary cemetery.

AGC Houston sends it deepest sympathies to the Jones and Raven Mechanical family.

Read the obiturary.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=585987&issueID=65347 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

Disaster Plans are Key For Gulf Coast Area Contractors

When Force Majeure is for Sure: The Business of Construction in Disaster-Prone Areas

Instead of solely relying on force majeure clauses, contractors building along the hurricane-prone Gulf Coast should have disaster action plans that provide guidance on what to do when a storm has been predicted, when it is happening and after it has passed, write attorneys from Jones Walker in Texas. Contractors should also identify potential suppliers, labor sources and modes of transportation that may be available.

Visit https://www.natlawreview.com/article/when-force-majeure-sure-business-construction-disaster-prone-areas to view the full article online.

As Overtime Rule Drops, Experts Recommend Audits, Training

Employers have had nearly four years to prepare for changes to federal overtime regulations. Legal experts agree that employers will be required to pay newly eligible workers overtime or give them raises to meet the higher pay threshold for exclusion.

Visit https://www.hrdive.com/news/as-overtime-rule-drops-experts-recommend-audits-training/561988/ to view the full article online.

ACE Mentor Houston Needs Mentors!

WE ARE BUILDING HOUSTON

Work with students in your community and make a difference

The ACE Mentor Program Houston is currently in the search for enthusiastic professionals to share their passion with local high school students to get them excited to join the building industry! If you are a designer, engineer, contractor, or otherwise engaged in design and construction and want to get involved as a 2019-2020 Houston Mentor, please send us an email at mentors@acementorhouston.org .

Meetings take place at various locations throughout Houston, beginning in mid-October through mid- April. You will work together with other professionals and high school students as they work on a design project from conceptual design through what it would entail to construct it. The goal is for students to gain an idea of what it means to be a part of the building industry in a fun and interesting way!

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=585886&issueID=65347 to view the full article online.

Resources

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=585830&issueID=65347 to view the full article online.

Keep the Gauze and Stay Safe!

Halloween may lose some of its terror as we get older, but for parents it can still be frightening to have your kids running around at night in costume. The numbers show that kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

Check out the National Safety Council Safety First blog post to learn why seeing - and being seen - need to be trick-or-treat priorities. Check out the Center for Disease Control for more health safety tips related to Fall celebrations.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=585831&issueID=65347 to view the full article online.