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 Top News
How personal protective equipment for women pays off
Women team members at Flatiron for the first time ever are wearing certified Class-3 safety vests designed for female bodies. Flatiron is one of the leaders in the construction infrastructure market, including diversity and inclusion,” says Zubin Taraporevala, procurement manager for Flatiron in Broomfield, Colorado, a member of multiple AGC chapters. “This vest is first of many initiatives. Corporate procurement likes to keep Flatiron on the cutting edge.” This story and more, including a summary of a recent outlook survey by AGC of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate, an article featuring new technology designed to provide safety and training for the industry, and more in the March/April issue of Constructor magazine.
In this episode, leading women – Lori Dunn-Guion of Swinerton, Maura Hesdon of Shoemaker Construction Co., and Lauline Mitchell of BBI Construction and current NAWIC National VP – share their stories and insights on how to recruit, train and empower women in construction. Listen to find out what attracted them to construction, the skills that have helped them succeed in the industry, and the tools for building a more welcoming, safe, and inclusive workplace.
Advocacy
The Protect the Right to Organize (PRO) Act bill now making its way through Congress attempts to overturn decades of federal policy. Despite its name, the PRO Act does much more than protect an employee’s right to organize and engage in collective bargaining. In fact, the PRO Act would expand the economic weapons available to unions at the bargaining table, at the workplace, and beyond. While the union-favoring legislation presents obvious concerns for open-shop contractors, union contractors may not realize the detrimental impact it could have on them. AGC’s CEO Stephen Sandherr explains on this episode exactly HOW and WHY this bill has potential to cause significant disruption in the construction industry, both for firms and the workers they employ, and upset the delicate balance of rights and restrictions established over decades by the NLRB, courts, and Congress.
Construction Economic News
New producer price index data confirms association survey showing most construction firms are being harmed by skyrocketing costs for products like lumber while shipping problems impact project schedules
Another round of steep price increases and supply-chain disruptions are wreaking hardships on contractors, driving up construction costs and slowing projects, according to an analysis by AGC of America of government data released recently. The data comes a day after the association released a new survey showing materials delays and price increases are affecting most contractors. Association officials urged the Biden administration to end a range of trade tariffs in place, including for Canadian lumber, that are contributing to the price increases, and to help uncork supply-chain bottlenecks.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
A case study
Over the last 30 years, Mortenson, a member of multiple AGC chapters, has constructed many of the facilities that make up the United States’ sports and entertainment landscape. Its team of sports construction experts specialize in building these unique venues, bringing an unmatched skillset and understanding of well-designed and constructed facilities that positively influence revenue generation, building operations and the fan experience. Mortenson has a solid reputation for safely and consistently completing projects on time and within budget.
Newly released survey indicates construction demand will shrink in 2021
For many, news coverage of vaccinations in early January brought to mind Winston Churchill’s famous quote from 1942, after the Allies’ first major victory in World War II: "Now, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
BY NICK FORTUNA
Disruptor to the industry, aQuiRe© provides company-wide safety and training
Carley Hill has a long-standing history with the construction industry. Having grown up as a third-generation member of a family-owned heavy highway road and bridge company in West Seneca, New York, she spent every summer with her dad at work from as early as she can remember. BY LISA KOPOCHINSKI 
Business Tips
BY MAURICIO HENDERSON, CEO, PERSEVERANCE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICES SERIES
As we step into 2021, most of us are ready to accept the "new normal" that includes telecommuting as a part of daily life while juggling the usual demands of work and maintaining relationships. Of course, we are looking forward to the day we can be together again and travel more freely to make contacts, but in the interest of innovation and adaptation, we should focus on the silver linings and the upsides to dealing electronically. Maintaining strong business relationships are as important as ever, and in many ways more so now, as we don’t want to become “out of sight, out of mind” with our customers. In AGC’s latest BD Best Practice, Mauricio Henderson, Perseverance, provides “Six Ways to Maintain Your Business Relationships During COVID-19”.
Member News
For the past 20 years, Tricia Kagerer has worked in the construction industry, currently serving as the executive vice president of risk management for Jordan Foster Construction, a member of multiple AGC chapters. In 2020, she became the first female to win both the prestigious Bill McIntyre Leadership Award from the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) and the Award of Excellence from Board Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). In addition, she is a published author; her book, The B Words: 13 Words Every Woman Must Navigate for Success, was released last year. She has made it her mission to equip organizations and individuals with tools to create healthier work environments that celebrate diversity, reduce risk and empower future generations.
Industry Events
In the construction industry, safety is a value and belief shared by all. Since 2014, national and global construction firms have joined forces during an annual industry-wide initiative designed to celebrate and promote a continued commitment to safety. Construction Safety Week, scheduled this year for May 3-7, is a fully integrated annual campaign with a growing number of members and sponsors. It is an opportunity for companies across the spectrum of construction services to come together and inspire everyone to be leaders in safety.
BY MIKE MCKELVY, CEO, GILBANE BUILDING COMPANY, AND CO-CHAIR, NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION SAFETY WEEK March 17, 2021
March 18-19, 2021
March 23, 2021
April 6, 2021 For details on any event, please visit the Hiring Our Heroes Calendar.
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