Author: agcnews

Nora Degnan started in 2004 as a project estimator/project manager at Thorne Associates, Inc., a large drywall, acoustic ceiling, plaster, and carpentry specialty contractor in Chicago. Since then, she became a vice president and part owner alongside her dad, uncle, and cousin. In addition to her leadership roles in the office, Nora is involved on the board level in various local and national organizations including Chicagoland Associated General Contractors (CAGC), Chicago Building Congress (CBC), Midwest Wall and Ceilings Contractors (MWCC), and Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA). She is also a proud member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Chicago…

At the AGC Annual Convention in Grapevine, Texas, the Building Division by acclimation elected Shannon Sapp as Chairman for 2022-2023. Shannon first joined Merit Construction in 1996 after graduating from Auburn University in 1994 with a Building Construction degree. Shannon has been engaged in all facets of Merit projects including medical facilities, schools, historic renovations, churches, condominiums, and retail office buildings. As president of the firm, Shannon focuses his attention on the overall operations of the organization including finances, human resources, and administration.. Shannon is actively involved with the AGC Education and Research Foundation as well as the local Knoxville AGC Chapter. He…

Construction employment exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 32 states in March, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the government should support more career opportunities to enable people to work in the industry. “Contractors have been adding workers as fast as they can find them,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But there just aren’t enough qualified workers available in many states, as shown by the record number of construction job openings at the February.” Read more

Prices of materials and services used in new nonresidential construction jumped more than 21 percent from March 2021 to March 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. The association urged the Biden administration to relieve major cost pressures by removing the remaining tariffs on aluminum, steel, and Canadian lumber. “Construction firms have been burdened with cost increases of 20 percent per year or more since early 2021,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Since contractors can seldom pass along increases on projects that are underway, these extreme price hikes threaten the…

Choate Construction Company was recognized for having the nation’s best construction safety and wellness plan in 2021 by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association, which oversees the WTW Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted that 46 other companies were also selected as winners for the quality of their safety programs. “Safety and health is the number one priority for the construction industry and it’s important that we recognize our member companies for their efforts to lead by example,” said Bob Lanham, the association’s president and president of Williams Brothers Construction Co., Inc. in Houston, Texas.  “These awards also provides an…

Construction Safety Week started in 2014, when more than 40 national and global construction firms comprising the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) group and the Incident and Injury Free (IIF) Forum joined forces with a single aim: to inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. On this episode, Ken Aldridge of Aldridge Electric, and Mike Burke of Alberici Constructors, both serving as chairs on the Safety Week committee, share some history of the tradition, what this annual campaign means to them, and how you can participate. This year’s Safety Week will take place May 2-6, 2022. Visit…

For more than two years, the U.S. construction industry has been buffeted by unprecedented increases in material costs, supply-chain bottlenecks, and a tight labor market. AGC’s Construction Inflation Alert is intended to help owners, public officials, and others understand what contractors are experiencing. It also outlines steps owners and contractors can take to adjust to the fast-changing market conditions. The April 2022 edition—the 7th since early 2021—includes information on the impact of the war in Ukraine on recent increases in materials costs and supply delays. Chapters and members are encouraged to forward the latest information about conditions, such as supplier newsletters and “Dear…

Construction employment increased from February 2020—the month before the coronavirus pandemic—to February 2022 in nearly three-fifths of U.S. metro areas, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials said it is getting harder to find workers and urged officials to invest more in career training and education programs for construction. “The rebound in construction employment in most metros shows there is robust demand for infrastructure and nonresidential buildings, as well as housing,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But contractors in many areas say they would hire even more workers if…

Construction employment climbed by 19,000 jobs between February and March, while spending on construction projects rose for the 12th month in a row in February, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association leaders warned that further gains may stall unless the supply of workers and materials improves. They urged officials to end tariffs on key materials and broaden training and education opportunities for construction careers. “Construction is contributing significantly to the expansion of employment and the overall economy,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But the sector is facing…

AGC helps construction firms prepare for ripple effect The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) currently requires registrants (e.g., publicly traded companies) to disclose environmental risks (including climate) to investors. In its recent proposal, The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors (pre-publication version released March 21, 2022), the SEC looks to define “climate-related risks” and expand the required evaluation and documentation of those risks, including the disclosure of direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as the emissions related to the supply chain, if material. The proposal, when finalized, could cause more project owners to require climate-related documentation…