Author: Jeanie Clapp

AGC of Massachusetts makes an impact with its workforce development efforts BY KEN GARCIA The construction industry builds America. The houses we live in. The restaurants we dine in. The roads we drive on. The hospitals where we care for the sick. The list is virtually endless. These structures are possible thanks to the dedicated men and women of the construction industry. With an industry so vital to everyday life, thousands of projects are always needed to keep pace with the population. Those projects need — workers. However, there is an issue — a lack of workers. According to AGC…

Rule expected to stifle competition, raise costs, impair disadvantaged firms Project labor agreements (PLAs) – pre-hire bargaining agreements between contractors and labor unions that establish a construction project’s terms and conditions – have been around since the 1930s. But they didn’t become a source of debate until the 1990s when they sought to tip the scales in favor of their use on federally funded projects. The controversy spread into the 21st Century with Obama’s Executive Order 13502, which encouraged, but did not require, federal agencies to use PLAs on large-scale construction projects of $25 million or more. For roughly the…

BY NICOLE NEEDLES Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords that resound on a company’s website or external collateral. The terms are inherent to the betterment of all workplaces. Implementing diversity and inclusion (DI) practices in any workplace can seem daunting, especially in the construction industry, which has historically been occupied by mostly men, many of them white. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 89% of construction employees are men, and 87.9% of employees are white. This includes everyone 16 and older as of 2021. Despite these statistics, workplaces are slowly becoming safer and more open for minorities.…

BY KEN GARCIA Strong relationships are a valued currency in the construction industry – both between company/clients and company/employees. Achieving these strong and healthy relationships requires a high level of emotional intelligence (EI). In her presentation, “Emotional Intelligence: Your Business Development Superpower!,” host Lisa Frisbie, Vice President of Member Services for AGC Massachusetts, said EI is the ability to recognize, under- stand and manage emotions in our- selves and others. “You have to know how to acknowledge and value feelings in yourself and in others, and how to respond to them appropriately,” she said. EI, also known as emotional quotient,…

AGC members share their stories in a series of newly released videos BY KEN GARCIA Construction, like all industries, is not immune to mental health issues and suicide. Construction has one of the highest rates of suicide at 53.2 per 100,000 U.S. workers, according to federal data. That’s about four times the national average and roughly five times greater than all other construction fatalities combined. AGC of America is committed to this cause and launched a new campaign highlighting the importance of addressing these issues plaguing the construction workforce. In the U.S., mental illnesses are among the most common health…

MBA teams with local community to provide much-needed support for veterans By BOB MCCALLDirector of Safety, Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania Board Member, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh When the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania (MBA) decided to do more to help the Pittsburgh community, they instinctively turned to their friends at Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh (RTP), an organization committed to ensuring everybody has a safe and healthy home. Nearly 30 years ago, MBA was the driving force behind bringing the organization, which would eventually become RTP, to the region. Over the years, MBA has consistently supported RTP’s vision and mission.…

BY KEN GARCIA For Leon Araiza, helping others succeed in life and the construction industry has become part of his mission. Through his company, Advanced Tribal, LLC, in Salem, Oregon, he recruits and trains the next generation of construction professionals. “I don’t look at it as giving them a job,” he said. “I look at it as helping create a career.” Araiza, who is Native American, has more than 30 years of experience in construction as a carpenter, concrete/mason and equipment operator. He said he started Advanced Tribal in 2015 to use his expertise to help those in disadvantaged communities. …

Pandemic Challenges Remain but Infrastructure Funding Brings New Opportunities for Construction AGC of America Chief Economist Ken Simonson recently sat down with Constructor publisher Jill Andreu to provide a preview of AGC’s Annual Construction Outlook Report. Constructor: Construction employment is on the rise for the residential sector, but for non-residential, employment is down 1.8% as of November. How much of this shift can be attributed to COVID-19, and how much of it is a continued construction workforce challenge? Simonson: COVID certainly set the construction industry back on its heels, as it did the whole economy. Construction rebounded more quickly than…

Unearthing the Secrets to Hiring, Labor and Retention in the Construction Industry BY GREG BELPOMMEDirector At Heron WolfA Delaware Contractors Association member The ever-evolving landscape of hiring, labor and retention in the United States for construction businesses continues to be a challenging terrain to navigate. The breaking news for employers: The power dynamic has shifted, and it’s time to face the music — job seekers are calling the shots. Gone are the days when employers could just post a job listing and expect a flood of applications. Candidates have become savvy adventurers, seeking a thorough and captivating journey that comes…

THEY’RE NOT JUST FOR PHOTO SHARING ANYMORE BY DEBRA WOOD As increasing numbers of contractors try unmanned aerial vehicles, they are finding more and more ways drones can help them avoid delays, rework, safety issues and increased costs. “Drone technology has proven time and time again to be valuable assets for project teams,” says Erik Gronneberg, an assistant project manager and drone pilot with Columbia in North Reading, Massachusetts, an AGC of Massachusetts member. “It’s able to identify issues early before they become big problems, saving both time and money.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, Columbia used its drone photos to…