Author: Jeanie Clapp

Four AGC members are vying for a seat at the table in their respective districts in different parts of the nation, hoping to bring what they’ve learned – and something new – to the conversation in our nation’s capital. Meet them. BY A.D. THOMPSON The call to serve can come at any time, from any place, and demonstrate in any number of directions. Mike Dugan enlisted, enjoying a first career in the Army – “20 years, two months, four days,” he shoots back when asked how long – before joining the ranks of the construction industry as a business development…

The construction industry has traditionally been associated with labor-intensive processes. But with the advent of technology, the industry is gradually embracing digital transformation. Among the most promising advancements that may revolutionize construction are artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These cutting-edge technologies have the potential to help construction companies streamline their operations, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs. Why modernize a construction business? Construction is a complex and challenging industry involving multiple stakeholders, each with their own requirements, timelines and budgets. Managing all these stakeholders and their requirements can be overwhelming, especially when done manually. By modernizing a construction business,…

AGC names its 2024 Construction Safety Professional of the Year BY NICOLE NEEDLES AGC of America has been recognizing member companies that prioritize safety through its Construction Safety Excellence Awards for more than 30 years. Recently, the association expanded its program to include front-line supervisors, field workers and safety and health experts, making the awards more competitive. The Construction Safety Professional of the Year (CSPY) award recognizes specific workers who have assisted member organizations in achieving a particularly high standard of safety excellence. Nominees have demonstrated technical expertise in the field of safety and health, contributed to the advancement of…

BY KEN GARCIA Construction workers are no strangers to extreme weather conditions. Like the dutiful postal worker adhering to their motto, “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night…,” construction workers are in various conditions building our communities. Each weather condition has its unique safety hazards. Thunderstorms have high winds and lightning. Winter storms have bitterly cold temperatures. Summers can be hot and dry. Those summer conditions, though, have gained the attention of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) – specifically, the heat. Heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the country. According to…

Sierra Pacific West founder Thomas L. Brown has been an athlete and a soldier and an enthusiastic member of AGC. But “never in his wildest imagination” did he think he’d be its next incoming president. BY AMY DREW THOMPSON The more things change, the more they stay the same. It was the better part of 20 years ago when incoming AGC President Thomas L. Brown attended his first board meeting as a wild card, serving at the pleasure of then-President Doug Barnhart. “I was at a table with a lot of gentlemen who were significantly more experienced than I was,”…

5 steps for success BY KEYAN ZANDY, CEO, SKILES GROUP, A TEXO MEMBER Throughout my career, I’ve  learned from several con- struction superintendents,  each imparting unique lessons. One earned respect with  his team by ensuring the trailer’s coffee pot was ready before he arrived each morning, while another valued the site’s security. And there was one whose trust I gradually gained by simply asking to join him during his early morning rounds — albeit under the condition that I remain silent, run safety meetings, handle daily reports and capture progress photos. Over time, he warmed up to me, sharing invaluable…

Where the skilled trades are for everyone BY NICOLE NEEDLES What started as a mission to find a career for her teenage son Dhillon turned into Naina Narayana Chernoff creating opportunities for a whole population of people. Chernoff considered helping Dhillon, who has autism, open a coffee kiosk after he graduated from school. She rethought those plans when the retail and hospitality industries laid off so many workers during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. After researching other sustainable options, one field continued to catch Chernoff’s eye: the skilled trades. Many don’t realize what lucrative careers can come from…

BY KEN GARCIA In the intricate tapestry of environmental concerns, per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as focal points, sparking heightened attention and regulatory scrutiny. Some PFAS, a group of human-made chemicals known for their persistent nature and widespread use in various industrial and consumer products, have raised environmental and health concerns. Because of this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations in 2022 that would clas- sify two PFAS – perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) – as hazardous substances. This would fall under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or Superfund.…

ConsensusDocs contracts revised to reflect latest industry best practices BY NICK FORTUNA When ConsensusDocs was established in 2007, it marked a major step forward for the construction industry. Twenty organizations in the architecture, engineering and construction industries had come together to transform the business of construction through standardized contracts. Founding members of ConsensusDocs included AGC of America, Associated Builders and Contractors, Construction Owners Association of America, American Subcontractors Association and Mechanical Contractors Association of America. Since then, the list of industry coalition members has doubled to more than 40, a clear indication that ConsensusDocs has achieved success. The platform now…

Building a brand to help recruit and retain life-long employees The construction industry is the backbone of infrastructure development and economic growth. As populations grow and cities expand, the demand for construction projects continues to rise. However, hiring the right talent in this dynamic and demanding sector is often a challenging task. Just ask Kelly Smith, CEO of All Tech, a TEXO member and second-generation firm that performs project and maintenance electrical work on commercial, industrial and healthcare construction. Smith’s father started All Tech – headquartered in Dallas with an office in Cleveland – when she was young and contemplating…