Author: Jeanie Clapp

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…

Olive’s platform gives contractors unbiased advice on IT decisions BY NICK FORTUNA Digitizing the operations of one of North America’s largest roofing and building-envelope contractors is no simple task, but at the Flynn Group of Companies, those efforts are ripening on the branch, so to speak, thanks in part to Olive. Over the past four years, Flynn, an AGC of Idaho member, has used Olive’s online platform to procure a number of key software programs, including systems for human resources, learning management and expense management. Alan Zych, vice president of information technology for Flynn, said Olive’s unbiased IT advice will…

All across the nation, highway constructors are pulling for motorists to take it easy in their work zones – and coming up with ways to make it happen BY AMY DREW THOMPSON He didn’t have to help me, this guy. No one else did. But as he was coming out of the Wawa, a local convenience store, he saw me struggling with the air hose in the corner of the parking lot, and he stopped. It was early. Painfully so. The sun hadn’t even come up yet. But folks were already on their way to work. I was, too, but…

BY KEYAN ZANDYCEO, SKILES GROUP In the demanding world of the construction industry, finding stability between work and life can seem almost impossible. Known for its relentless demands — long hours, design and financial constraints, and unwavering deadlines — the construction industry presents a distinct set of obstacles to achieving a harmonious work-life balance. However, the rewards of achieving this equilibrium are vast. It not only boosts our morale and job fulfillment but also amplifies our efficiency, making us more productive and effective in our roles. As — an industry — we strive to deliver peak performance, ward off burnout…

BY ELWYN MCLACHLANSECTOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR TRIMBLE CIVIL SOLUTIONSA MEMBER OF MULTIPLE AGC CHAPTERS Every successful project requires a coordinated blend of people, processes and tools—when any one of those components breaks down, safety risks increase, and accidents can happen. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), accidents and injuries are rising. The organization notes construction laborers accounted for almost a third of all fatal injuries in construction and extraction occupations in 2020, the highest proportion since 2016. Slips, trips and falls account for as much or more than 35.3% of workplace deaths. Looking at how technology can keep…

Sundt’s innovative safety program wins first place at the 2024 AGC Autodesk Innovation Awards program, for an initiative that goes far beyond traditional rules-based compliance programs. BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT STCKY stands for S#*! That Can Kill You – a mindset for all construction companies and their employees to pay attention to, said Paul Levin, Sundt Construction’s vice president and corporate director of health, safety and environment. The construction industry – “an industry we’ve devoted our lives to” – has data showing that even though contractors have been successful in driving down the recordable injury rate, the fatality rate has not…

This complex, impactful project took home the 2024 Construction Risk Partners Build America Grand Award BY CHRISTINE PREUSLER In the history of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), one effort stands as a colossus among its peers: the Central 70 Project. The public-private partnership (P3) between CDOT and Kiewit Infrastructure Co., a member of multiple AGC chapters, reconstructed an 11-mile stretch of I-70 — once a bottleneck for Denver’s bustling community — from six lanes to 10. The design-build-finance-operate-maintain project also included adding new express and general-purpose lanes in each direction, removing and replacing bridges, removing a half-century-old viaduct, lowering…