Author: Jeanie Clapp

BY NICK FORTUNA When Ernst Concrete, an Ohio Contractors Association and AGC Georgia member, really needed its old dashcam system to perform, the hardware failed, leaving the company in a bind. Burned by that experience, Ernst Concrete upgraded to Motive’s new dashcams powered by artificial intelligence, resulting in meaningful cost savings and improvements to driver performance, according to Paul Fly, director of risk and safety at Ernst. Several years ago, two truck drivers from Ernst Concrete were involved in separate auto accidents that resulted in costly lawsuits. The truck drivers weren’t at fault, but since the old dashcam system hadn’t…

BY CHRIS PEPPLERTRIMBLE, A GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBER Recent interest rate cuts are expected to boost 2025 construction, and the Dodge Momentum forecast estimates a 6% increase in the dollar volume of nonresidential construction starts in 2025. Embracing evolving technology solutions is key for contractors as they scale their business in the coming year. In a recent survey of Trimble customers, construction company leaders shared insights into what challenges and trends they anticipate for the year ahead, as well as where they’re likely to invest to make their businesses more efficient, productive and profitable. Below are four key trends…

Industry Insights for 2025 BY A.D. THOMPSON A new not-new president-elect. An ongoing labor shortage. Positive gains in the realm of regulations. Uncertainty as the industry waits to see what will happen with immigration, and what the cost of doing business will be as the prospect of tariffs loom large. Is the membership feeling optimistic? Is there trepidation? “It’s very much a mix,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist, AGC of America. As the new year takes shape, there is always much on the minds of the membership. What’s worth considering? In the wake of a historic presidential election and with…

PLOT platform automates procurement of materials for jobsites By Nick Fortuna There are many rewarding aspects of supervising high-profile construction projects for a leading general contractor, but maintaining the procurement log spreadsheet typically isn’t one of them. Frequently updating the procurement log is an essential duty on large construction jobsites, ensuring that all required materials are ordered on time, get delivered as scheduled and meet the project’s specifications and budget. Properly maintaining that Excel spreadsheet may be tedious and time-consuming, but it’s vital to avoid delays and manage costs. Until recently, maintaining the procurement log took up a large portion…

Construction podcast provides platform for veterans to share their stories BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT Military veterans can bring a host of valuable skills to the construction industry – just ask Adam Stark. After serving in Israel’s Airborne Special Forces, Stark, born and raised in Los Angeles, obtained a bachelor’s degree in business followed by an MBA. Armed with this and his budding real estate experience, Stark then co-founded project management software company Jet.Build. This year Stark began hosting the podcast, The Veterans Who Build Show, featuring military veterans who have successfully transitioned into the development, design and construction sector by leveraging…

What’s Waiting for You in Columbus BY JEANIE J. CLAPP Every year at its annual convention, AGC of America delivers a top-notch program – impactful education sessions, valuable economic, legislative and political insights, and tried-and-true business solutions — along with irreplaceable connections made at the many networking events. No matter the geographic location of the convention, attendees are guaranteed to leave with more tools than they had upon arrival. In April 2025, the AGC magic will take place in Columbus, Ohio, and while the days will be loaded with learning, the nights will be yours to explore. Several local AGC…

BY KEYAN ZANDY, CEO, SKILES GROUP Early in my career, I managed the punch list for an office building our firm had just completed. As I was leaving the conference room, I tried to turn off the lights by flipping the switch, but nothing happened. I flipped the toggle up and down several times, but the lights stayed on. Spotting an electrician in the hallway, I asked him why the switch wasn’t working. “It was installed per the drawings,” he said matter-of-factly. I paused, a bit confused. “Wait—did you know it wouldn’t work when you installed it?” “Yes,” he replied.…

In pursuit of the next generation of constructors, AGC members and other organizations are moving up – and down – the educational spectrum to engage tomorrow’s talent today. BY A.D. THOMPSON Every kid in the world loves LEGOs. But only some LEGO kids have the passion that carries them forward to a place in life where they’re really building the hospital, the school, and maybe if they’re lucky, the pirate ship (assuming it’s part of a resort complex). In an industry where workforce development has topped the wish list for more than a decade – a recent survey by AGC…

Blueprints for a Safety Mentor Program BY KYLE LANG, CSP, DIRECTOR OF SAFETY, FAITH TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A MEMBER OF MULTIPLE AGC CHAPTERS Safety is a critical issue in the construction industry. To prevent accidents, construction companies need to foster a culture of safety that empowers workers to identify and mitigate hazards, report incidents, and learn from mistakes. One way to achieve this is by implementing a safety mentor program. Benefits of a Safety Mentor Program A safety mentor program can bring many benefits to mentors, mentees, and the company as a whole. Some of these benefits include: Improved Safety Performance…

Workforce development has been an issue for two decades and counting, and a new AGC of America survey reflects the continuing struggle and, along with industry pros like the ones assembled here, offers insight into what members can and are doing to combat it. BY A.D. THOMPSON Workforce issues. As far back as the mid-aughts, it’s been at or near the top of the list of construction industry concerns. Project delays. Scale-backs. Postponements. Cancellations. Insufficient labor has impacted all of these things according to a recent survey conducted by AGC of America and the human resources experts at Arcoro. Ninety-four…