Author: Jeanie Clapp

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…

AGC of America’s annual convention is the don’t-miss event of the year. It provides contractors of all sizes and markets the opportunity to gain a competitive edge, protect crucial business interests, build valuable industry connections, and prepare for future industry changes. Members hear from top-notch keynote speakers, attend highly informative educational sessions, and participate in critical networking opportunities. Next year, beyond the convention program and outside the convention center, attendees will find more to explore – a city that is celebrated for its creativity, innovation, and dynamic atmosphere. With its remarkable arts, entertainment, fashion, and culinary scenes, exciting collegiate and…

Jordan Foster Construction’s commitment to safety — employing both traditional and nontraditional principles — earned the company top recognition at AGC of America’s Construction Safety Excellence Awards, sponsored by WTW and Starr Insurance, naming it the nation’s top construction safety and health program in 2023 BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT Each year at its annual convention, AGC recognizes and honors those construction companies that excel at safety performance. Earlier this year in San Diego, Jordan Foster Construction, a leading Texas general contractor performing both civil and building group work, received first place in CSEA’s Highway and Civil work category with more than…

BY KEYAN ZANDYCEO, SKILES GROUP The construction industry’s competitive landscape forces us into price wars to win projects. We have grown accustomed to perpetuating a self-defeating cycle, where we willingly reduce our fee until there’s hardly anything left: A competitor’s fee is 3%? Tell the client we’ll do it for 2.5%!They’re down to 2.5%? OK, we’ll do it for 2%! This cycle is destructive for us — as individual businesses and as a collective industry — for several reasons, including: This is why the construction industry suffers when we compete solely on price. Commoditization diminishes the unique strengths and expertise…

BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT While there is no substitute for human oversight to ensure that jobsites are as safe as possible, leveraging AI-powered technologies can help enormously in this endeavor. We share the details of two such technologies that AGC members are utilizing to minimize incidents and reduce injuries. Eyes on Site EarthCam Inc., based in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, an AGC of New York State, LLC member, is a leader in providing webcam content, technology and services. Founded in 1996, it provides live streaming video, time-lapse construction cameras and 360-degree reality capture for corporate and government clients. EarthCam pioneers…

The key issues. The unprecedented circumstances. The local races that matter. BY A.D. THOMPSON The more things change, the more they stay the same. For more than a decade, through administrations led from both sides of the aisle, workforce woes remain the top industry concern for AGC members who, despite the nation’s frustrations at our government’s slow pace in getting things done, continue to make it their priority when it comes to nation building. Literally. “We have a lot of work looking at us for a long time,” says Shad James, president and CEO of Jaynes Corporation, an Albuquerque-based firm…

Russell’s Building Camp, a 501c3 organization, offers youths the chance to develop hands-on skills and creativity, leading to transformative experiences. BY CHRISTINE PREUSLER Adrian Russell’s journey to becoming a construction industry leader and champion for youth empowerment via Russell’s Building Camp underscores both his resilience and passion for practical learning. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Russell grew up in a bustling household of 10, navigating the challenges of poverty with the support of his family. His early introduction to construction, working hands-on alongside his father and siblings on projects around the home, ignited a lifelong passion for building and…

BY JEANIE J. CLAPP When Kendall Dewey began her college journey, a career in construction was far from her mind. Entering Purdue University with a broad interest in engineering, she anticipated following the more traditional paths of mechanical or civil engineering. However, her perspective dramatically shifted after attending the Engineering Your Major (EYM) sessions, a mandatory program for all first-year engineering students at Purdue. It was here that Dewey discovered the Construction Engineering and Management program, which immediately captivated her interest. “I loved the idea of seeing a project through from start to finish and the hands-on opportunities that construction…

BY KASH MORGANASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF PARTNERSHIPSENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT Too often, fleet management strategies revolve around a simple strategy: Buy a vehicle at the best price, pay it off, then drive it until the wheels fall off. To measure what owning a vehicle fleet really costs – and maximize dollars – businesses must do more than calculate the amount paid for the vehicle at acquisition or the interest rate on the loan. With a vehicle fleet typically ranking among the top five business expenses, organizations should closely examine their fleet-related costs to get the most bang for their buck. For…

As a young man, Chris Davis worked for a family-run general contractor, responsible for picking up trash and making runs to the local Dunkin’ Donuts. It may not have been glamorous, or even enjoyable, but it was his start to a successful and fulfilling construction career. Today, Davis is the scheduling manager for Holliston-based construction management firm Colantonio, an AGC of Massachusetts member, charged with critical path method (CPM) scheduling on all Colantonio new-build and renovation projects. Construction scheduling managers know all too well that the past few years have posed significant challenges for keeping projects on task and on…