Events
AGC Houston needs your help in making the 2015 BBQ Cook-Off a success! The BBQ Cook-Off Committee will be holding its first planning meeting on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 7:30 a.m. at the AGC Houston office. We are inviting all AGC members to attend and lend a hand in planning this fantastic event! Interested in attending or joining the committee? Contact Charlene Anthony for more information.
Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/?aid=297861&issueID=40141 to view the full article online.
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The AGC Safety Committee will be holding its monthly meeting on December 12, 2014 at 7:00 a.m. at the AGC Houston office. 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.
Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/?aid=297859&issueID=40141 to view the full article online.
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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.
Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/?aid=297666&issueID=40141 to view the full article online.
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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. Judges look for evidence of company management commitment, active employee participation, safety training, worksite hazard identification and control, and safety program innovation.
Visit http://www.agc.org/cs/construction_safety_and_excellence_awards to view the full article online.
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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.
Visit http://agchouston.org/pages/agc_scholarships_675.asp to view the full article online.
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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. Officers, owners or partners of companies are not eligible. Nominate a deserving individual today. Deadline for application is January 31, 2015.
Visit http://agchouston.org/files/12623_2015_standard_of_excellence_award_application.pdf to view the full article online.
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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.
Visit http://meetings.agc.org/convention/ to view the full article online.
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Education/Training
BIM Process, Adoption, and Integration is a full-day (8-hour) course that provides a foundation for participants to establish and execute the BIM process, facilitate its adoption, and achieve integration on a single project and at a company level to execute multiple BIM projects simultaneously.
Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1413 to view the full article online.
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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.
Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1430 to view the full article online.
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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.
Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1419 to view the full article online.
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Safety
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.
Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1760 to view the full article online.
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AGC News
Thank you to all those who made their voices heard by voting in the 2014 Midterm Elections on November 4. AGC recently released a video featuring AGC CEO Stephen Sandherr, who recounted the results of the 2014 midterm elections and what the outcome means for the construction industry. He also talks about AGC of America's legislative priorities for the upcoming "Lame-Duck" Congressional session, and for next year's new Congress. You can view the video here.
Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/?aid=297643&issueID=40141 to view the full article online.
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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. AGC urges the Board to maintain the requirement because it is consistent with the National Labor Relations Act, protects important public policies, and reflects the realities of labor relations on multiemployer worksites.
Visit http://news.agc.org/2014/11/12/agc-tells-nlrb-to-preserve-notice-rule-in-common-situs-picketing-cases/ to view the full article online.
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) released its final rule implementing Executive Order 13658 (EO), which establishes a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour for direct federal prime contractors and subcontractors at all tiers. That $10.10 minimum wage must be adjusted annually for inflation. The new minimum wage will take effect on direct federal agency contracts entered into on or after Jan. 1, 2015.
Visit http://news.agc.org/2014/10/06/final-rule-for-federal-contractor-minimum-wage/ to view the full article online.
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Here's Looking At You
Cherry Companies is doing its part to help build the Grand Parkway, State Highway 99 project, a proposed 180-plus-mile scenic highway that will circle the Greater Houston area upon completion. Cherry Companies is providing about a half-million tons each of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) 247 recycled concrete base material and stabilized sand.
"This is one of the largest construction projects in the Greater Houston area in the last 20 years," said John Conyer, Vice President of Operations over Cherry’s stabilized division. "With this project, we’ll produce over 2 million tons of stabilized material in 2014 alone. This is by far the largest project the stabilized division has undertaken."
Visit http://cherrycompanies.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Cherry-Companies.pdf to view the full article online.
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News You Can Use
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.
AGC and the Construction Career Collaborative stand behind Houston's movement to provide employers with the skilled workers necessary to keep the construction industry successful. To learn how you and your company can become involved and help influence positive change, click here.
Visit http://constructioncitizen.com/blog/texas-education-reforms-are-key-promoting-middle-skills/1411251 to view the full article online.
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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.
Visit http://www.chron.com/local/prognosis/article/Texas-Children-s-plans-Medical-Center-expansion-5906721.php to view the full article online.
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President Barak Obama's executive order announced Thursday 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."
Visit http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/Obama-s-immigration-order-will-ripple-across-5912000.php#/1 to view the full article online.
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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.
Visit http://www.equipmentworld.com/drones/ to view the full article online.
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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.
Visit http://sourceable.net/us-construction-boom-set-to-roll-on/ to view the full article online.
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Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have spent the past five years conducting molecular analyses of the limestone-to-silica ratios of cement to determine the most efficient combination. As the world’s favored construction material and a significant contributor to greenhouse gases—with estimates at about 5-10 percent of industrial emissions—any reduction in pollution that doesn’t compromise final quality is a sure advantage. What the team unearthed is that the standard ratio of calcium to silica is about 1.7, with an acceptable range from 1.2 to 2.2 But their database of various combinations indicates that 1.5 not only reduces CO 2 emissions by as much as 60 percent, the concrete is made stronger at that ratio.
Visit http://www.industrytap.com/concrete-evidence-worlds-used-construction-material-can-made-greener/23574 to view the full article online.
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