Georgia Contractor Mar-Apr 2014

Volume 10, Issue 2 March | April 2014

CEFGA 2014 EXPO SKILLSUSA YANCEY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

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Georgia Contractor

GEORGIA

CONTRACTOR

w w w. t h e g e o r g i a c o n t r a c t o r . c o m Editor-in-Chief: Roland Petersen-Frey Managing Editor: Daniel Simmons | (770) 521-8877 Art Director: Pamela Petersen-Frey | (770) 521-8877 The Georgia Contractor is published bi-monthly on a calendar year basis. It is a magazine designed around the construction industry associations and their members. It is supported by associations and their members. Executive, editorial, circulation, and advertising offices: 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115 • Phone: (770) 521-8877 • Fax: (770) 521-0406 e-mail: rfrey@a4inc.com. Send address changes to your association and/or to A4 Inc. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of any of the associations or publisher nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content or omissions and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Parts of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher.

ADVERTISEMENTS ABC/Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 AEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 AGC/Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

On The Cover ~ This year marks the Tenth Anniversary of the CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships. This wonderful event started with about 1,000 participants at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville, Georgia in 2005.

See the story on page 11.

Albany Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Atlanta Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Calculated Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 CLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Georgia 811 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Georgia Power Company . . . . . . . . . 25, Inside Front Cover Georgia Trade School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Go Build Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, Inside Back Cover Holder Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 IEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 JAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 JCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Metro Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 New South Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 North Georgia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 RHD Utility Locating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 South Georgia Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 March | April 2014

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Letter from Governor Deal

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Letter from Commissioner Ronald Jackson

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When life hits hard—dream!

Letter from State School Superintendent John Barge Blue skies for blue collar careers

18 Zach Burgess - welder 23 Employment law update: What employers should expect in 2014

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MetroPower apprentice talks about his experiences

29 Contractor News 34 Enhancing mobility with intelligent interchanges and intersections

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Lessons Learned

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Georgia DOT’s first public private partnership gets underway

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Georgia Contractor

Georgiaowned and operated Yancey Bros.

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Celebrates 100 years in business and its customers who have built Georgia

36 The mystery of vitrified and molded rocks Cusco, the old Inca Capital Some, who have investigated this stone-fitting technique in Incan ruins, call the process vitrification and molding. In other words, the stones are similar to those that have been thermally disaggregated.

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Welcome Letter from the Lieutenant Governor Lt. Governor Casey Cagle gives CEFGA his support.

That is what it’s all about

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Casey Cagle

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Scott Shelar is Executive Director of CEFGA - the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia.

CEFGA is a lead organizer of the CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships for Georgia. www.cefga.org

Scott Shelar

Cusco, the old Inca Capital March | April 2014

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STATE OF GEORGIA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR ATLANTA 30334-0900

Nathan Deal GOVERNOR

Dear Fellow Georgians, Welcome to the 2014 CEFGA Career Expo and SkillsUSA State Championships. With thousands of Georgia’s best and brightest, this expo is an exceptional showcase of our talented young people and future workforce generation.

Education is the foundation of success, instilling the critical skills that lead to meaningful employment and rewarding careers. Through participation with the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development’s program, Go Build Georgia, we are working hard to build and maintain a highly skilled workforce that can sustain Georgia’s top industries.

We also need to provide opportunities and open doors for our young citizens, and organizations such as CEFGA and SkillsUSA give students a head start in the industry. With their help, we can provide our future labor force with available resources to make sure that their educational experiences lead to significant career opportunities.

Special thanks to the students, parents, and educators who were able to attend today. Your participation with CEFGA and SkillsUSA shows your commitment to building a workforce that will learn, live, and grow in Georgia.

Sincerely,

Governor Nathan Deal

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Georgia Contractor

This is what it’s all about!

By Scott Shelar | Executive Director of CEFGA | Construction Education Foundation of Georgia

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his year marks the Tenth Anniversary of the CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships. This wonderful event started with about 1,000 participants at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville, Georgia in 2005.

The idea was sparked by observing the SkillsUSA National Championships in Kansas City, and wondering: Could we create a similar high energy event for students competing in SkillsUSA Georgia?

Thanks to the vision, courage, and commitment of so many industry leaders and the enthusiasm and appreciation of tens of thousands of teachers and students, we achieved what we only wondered a decade ago.

Over the last nine years, we’ve seen more than 40,000 attendees walk through our CareerExpo doors. This year, we are proud to host another 7,000 students, teachers, parents, counselors, and industry professionals.

While the growth has been exciting to watch and the achievement of a vision, satisfying, there is one thing I enjoy the most.

That is, students coming through the event one year as SkillsUSA competitors or Expo attendees, then returning the next year with a full time job, enrolled in an apprenticeship program, university, or technical college, pursuing a career they are passionate about.

They first attend the Expo as a student, and before long, they come back to volunteer for the Expo or to judge a SkillsUSA competition as an employee of one of our sponsoring companies.

That is what our event is all about!

Connecting employers, schools and apprenticeship programs with teachers and students all over the state.

March | April 2014

Our immediate goal is to educate students on career opportunities in a fun, hands-on way. In other words, it’s about ‘Edutainment,’ as one of our Expo Planning Committee Members, Chuck Little of the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association likes to say. We realize that if we make it all about education, the event would be boring. If we make it all about entertainment, teachers and students couldn’t justify leaving school.

So, we walk the line and do our best to make the CareerExpo educational and entertaining at the same time.

This year, there are hundreds of employers, technical colleges, universities, and apprenticeship programs from all over Georgia and even outside of the state. Look for Middle Tennessee State University in the World of Concrete; and Clemson University (making their first appearance this year) and Purdue University (joining us for a second year), all the way from West Lafayette, Indiana in the World of Green Building and Construction Management.

Our long term objective is to get more young people into the construction and energy industries. We have a

workforce that is retiring in big numbers every day. That means opportunity for any young person who likes to work outside; who likes to build things and travel; who likes to earn a lot of money; and who may one day want to own their own business.

Looking for proof that you really can make a great living in the construction and energy industries? Look for these individuals who, just like you, walked the Expo floor or competed in SkillsUSA Competitions and today have come back to the event as employees and volunteers for their companies, working to share their excitement for the construction and energy industries.

Stop by the World of Mechanical Contracting and speak to Cameron Kinser, Jacob Holland or Ramiro Mojica. Each of these young men walked the Expo floor or competed in SkillsUSA Contests as high school students from Hall County in 2013. Today, they are employed by McKenney’s— one of the Nation’s largest mechanical contractors.

Stop by and observe the SkillsUSA TeamWorks Competition and look for Cameron Newell. Cameron visited the Expo back in 2005 when it was at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. Today, he’s a Superintendent with DPR Hardin, one of the largest General Contractors in the country. He comes back every year to help judge our SkillsUSA contests.

You could also visit the World of Electrical Contracting and speak to Joshua Wills with Allison-Smith Company, a major Atlanta-based electrical contractor. Joshua competed in the 2011 SkillsUSA State Championships and caught the eye of a volunteer from Allison-Smith. “Our original decision to hire Joshua was made after watching him compete in the Skills USA compe11

tition. He demonstrated a very good work ethic during competition,” says Mike Peters, manager of Field Operations for Allison-Smith.

There’s also Jennifer Smith, a graduate of McEachern High School, who competed in the SkillsUSA Industrial Motor Controls Contest. You’ll find her in the World of Green Building and Construction Management or assisting with registration out front. She comes back to volunteer just about every year.

Today, she’s working as a Pre-Construction Coordinator with a major General

Contractor, Juneau Construction Company.

Then there’s Andre Person, a line worker with Georgia Power. Andre got his start by placing Second in a SkillsUSA Electronics Competition. Just one week after graduating from high school, he went to work as an intern with Georgia Power. Today, he’s a lineman apprentice on his way to becoming a journeyman with Georgia Power. He comes back to the Expo often, and can be found in the World of Energy.

We hope you enjoy our Tenth Ca-

2014 CEFGA Board of Directors Kenny Adkins, Technical College System of Georgia David Barksdale, Batson-Cook Company Carol Burke, Georgia Department of Education Ryan Byars, Holder Construction Company Jeffrey Diamond, Goodman John Doherty, Pyramid Masonry Tim Grimes, Dollar Concrete Construction Company Debra Howell, Georgia Power Jimmy Medina, All State Waste Jake Nellis, JE Dunn Andy Rogers, Winter Construction Company Michael Rogers, Blount Construction Company Jill Stratton, Juneau Construction Company Tony Varamo, MetroPower 2014 CEFGA Advisory Board Jay Cunningham, Superior Plumbing Doug Davidson, New South Construction Company Pete Frey, The Georgia Contractor Mark Hornbuckle, HB Training & Consulting Mike Kenig, Holder Construction Company Brent Reid, Winter Construction Company

reerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships. And we hope that one day you will come back to volunteer for this event as a proud employee in the construction or energy industry! v

Scott Shelar is Executive Director of CEFGA - the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. CEFGA is a lead organizer of the CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships for Georgia. www.cefga.org

2014 CEFGA Expo and SkillsUSA State Championships Planning Committee E.V. Bennett, Holder Construction Company Scott Brumbelow, Georgia Utility Contractors Association Ryan Byars, Holder Construction Company Kenneth Cook, Pyramid Masonry Charles Crosby, CORE Project Management Tasha Hardegree, Georgia Power Michelle Dunham, Georgia Tech Research Institute Trey Harrison, Georgia System Operations Todd Hawkins, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Jim Holt, Georgia Power Michele Huber, Masonry Association of Georgia Jody Klodner, Marek Interior Systems Chuck Little, Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association Jerome Sabol, PlumbWorks Gina Shelnutt, Robert M. Anderson Cherri Watson, AGC Georgia Lynn Callery, McKenney’s Kris Dell, Applied Software Bridgette Moore, MBA Waste CEFGA Staff Scott Shelar, Executive Director Kevin Ward, Operations Director Tangie Judy, Office Manager Jamie Buck, Placement Coordinator CEFGA - 1255 Lakes Parkway - Suite 390 - Lawrenceville, GA 30043 - www.cefga.org

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Georgia Contractor

2014 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships Sponsors and Participating Companies This event is made possible through the generous financial support of our sponsors and involvement and passion of our participating companies. Thank you!

Sponsors (as of February 5, 2014) A4 Inc. ACE Electric ABC of Georgia AGC Georgia AGC Georgia Young Leadership Program Allison-Smith Company Allstate Waste American Institute of Architects - Atlanta Anning-Johnson Company Applied Software Atlanta Contract Glazing Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association AVI/SPL Balfour Beatty Construction Batson-Cook Company Block USA, a CEMEX Company Blount Construction Brooks-Berry-Haynie and Associates C.C. Owen Tile Company Century Fire Protection Clemson University Cleveland Electric CLP, A True Blue Company CMAA Cornerstone Masonry Day & Zimmermann Delcam Dollar Concrete Construction DPR Hardin Eckardt Electric Faith Technologies Fitzgerald & Sons Plumbing Fluor Fortune-Johnson General Contractors Georgia Concrete and Products Association Georgia Department of Education Georgia Department of Transportation Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC) Georgia Highway Contractors Association Georgia Masonry Supply Georgia Power Georgia Power Foundation Georgia Tech Georgia Trade School Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA) Glover & Davis Attorney Goodman March | April 2014

Governor's Office of Workforce Development (GOWD) GUCA Foundation HB NEXT Holder Construction Company Holder Construction Foundation IBEW Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) International Aviation Consultants JE Dunn Construction Juneau Construction Company Local #72 / Mechanical Contractors Association Joint Apprenticeship Program Lowe's Marek Interior Systems Masonry Association of Georgia Mechanical Industries Council MetroPower New South Construction Company Pace Drywall Parrish Construction Company PCL Industrial Construction Company Pearson/NCCER Penco Electrical Contractors Pittman Construction Pritchard & Jerden Purdue University Pyramid Masonry Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) School of Building Construction - Georgia Tech Sherwin-Williams Southern Polytechnic State University Southwire Company Tebarco Mechanical Corporation Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) The Conlan Company The Miller-Clapperton Partnership Tradestar Staffing Ultra Commercial Drywall Wayne J. Griffin Electric Winter Construction Company Wm. J. Redmond & Son, Inc. Yates Insurance Agency

Participating Companies and Organizations (as of February 5, 2014) Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association (AECA) AffinityService Group

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2014 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships Sponsors and Participating Companies (continued) AGC Georgia Allison-Smith Company Allstate Waste Applied Software Applied Technical Services Atlanta Grout And Tile Care, Inc. Blount Construction Co., Inc. Brick Industry Association Brooks-Berry-Haynie & Associates Inc. C. C. Owen Tile Company, Inc. CEFGA Clayton County Water Authority Clemson University CMAA - South Atlantic Chapter CORE Project Management LLC Cornerstone Masonry Group LLC Cowin Equipment dal tile Day & Zimmermann DeVry University Douglas Easter DPR Hardin Eckardt Electric Electric Cities of Georgia Fluor Corporation Fly & Form, Inc. Fortune-Johnson General Contractors Georgia Concrete and Products Association (GCPA) Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC) Georgia Tech Research Institute General Motors LLC Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Panel Georgia Power Georgia Power (AMIGOS) Georgia Power (TWIG) Georgia System Operations Corporation Georgia Transmission Corporation Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA) Georgia Tech Research Institute Georgia Tech - School of Architecture Georgia Tech - School of Building Construction Georgia Trade School Hallman Wood Products HB NEXT HD Supply White Cap Construction Supply Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt, PC Holder Construction Company Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Ivey Mechanical Co LLC Lakay Enterprises, Inc. Laurus Technical Institute 14

Marek Interior Systems, Inc. Masonry Association of Georgia Mayberry Electric MBA Waste Enterprises LLC McKenney's, Inc. MEAG Power MetroPower Middle Tennessee State University Oglethorpe Power Corporation OSHA PCL Industrial Construction Company Pearson/NCCER Peed Brothers, Inc. Pirkle Electric Company Pittman Construction Company Plumb Works Inc. Purdue University-Building Construction Management Pyramid Masonry Contractors Inc RockTenn Savannah College of Art and Design Simmons Welding, LLC Snapping Shoals EMC South Georgia Technical College Southern Company Southern Nuclear Southern Polytechnic State University Southwire Company Tekla, Inc TradeSTAR Inc Tri-County EMC UpTime Electric Company, Inc. US Department of Labor - OSHA Wayne J. Griffin Electric Inc. Winter Construction Company

Georgia Contractor

Blue skies for blue collar careers

By Jamie Buck | Placement Coordinator | CEFGA There are blue skies for blue collar careers in the construction industry,” says Donnie Woodham, Vice President Field Operations with McKenney’s Inc. Donnie has been with McKenney's for 28 years and has known Superintendent David Nix for just as long. They both started their apprenticeship in the late 70s and early 1980s, both working their way up the ladder into leadership positions for their industry, while making a decent living including benefits and pension for when they are ready to retire.

Donnie says right now there are a lot of people in the industry, just like him, who are in their mid to late 50s.

Most of those people that fall into that age group are not only still in the industry, but have worked their way up into positions as leaders for our industry. The opportunity is huge as many of those positions must be filled while our aging workforce continues to retire from the many diverse fields of sheet metal, piping, plumbing, controls, service, carpentry, and maintaining equipment.

There are huge benefits and job security for those entering the trade. An ‘opportunity to earn while you learn’ is something apprentices appreciate. Apprentices are able to learn a trade while earning an income. The apprenticeship program is free training and costs an apprentice nothing as long as the apprentice has passing grades and receives a good report from his employer.

The apprentices continue to learn throughout their life long careers through teamwork and relationships, gaining marketable skills, learning to become problem solvers, building confidence, responsibility, trust, communication and leadership skills throughout their career.

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l to r: Ramiro Mojica, Donnie Woodham, Jacob Holland and Cameron Kinser.

Richard Bolz, Pipefitter Foreman said the high school graduates that came from Hall County’s high school construction programs are doing great.

These are a first for McKenney's. The high school graduates came prepared with basic construction knowledge and were involved with SkillsUSA - a difference from the green helper without any construction knowledge hired off the street. Donnie Woodham recruited the high school graduates for a Hall County job through McKenney's involvement with the CEFGA CareerExpo & SkillsUSA State Championships that is held each year in March.

Donnie Woodham met Mike Madsen and Rodney Presley, instructors from Hall County who regularly attend the CEFGA CareerExpo & SkillsUSA State Championships. McKenney's has sponsored the ‘World of HVAC’ at the Expo for the past four years. Donnie invited the instructors and their students to McKenney's for a shop tour of their facility. The students start off in the training room with presentations about McKenney's and how it all began. Donnie has people come from

their Engineering, Drafting departments, a Project Manager, a representative from the apprenticeship program and Go Build Georgia to talk with the students. Students are given an impressive tour of the facility, drafting department, Dispatch Room and all the different departments including the sheet metal and piping shops. Students end the day long tour with lunch and any questions they may have before they board their bus back to school. Donnie asked the instructors to talk with a couple of their students about working for McKenney’s. He is always looking for students who are mature and responsible enough that he can put them on a large job.

McKenney's has a job located in Hall County that requested hiring Hall County residents. Donnie remembered instructors Mike Madsen of West Hall High and Rodney Presley of Johnson High and gave them a call to send their best graduating seniors that wish to pursue a career in construction. Donnie hired three ambitious graduates: Jacob Holland - Johnson High, Ramiro Mojica - West Hall High, and Cameron Kinser 15

- Johnson High. All three graduates were involved in SkillsUSA. All three graduates are mentoring and working under David Nix – Project Superintendant, Richard Bolz – Foreman, and Doug Dixon – Foreman, on the job in Hall County.

18-year-old Jacob Holland, 2013 Graduate of Johnson High School Jacob was interested in welding, and that is why he took construction in high school with SkillsUSA being the hook.

He wanted to become a welder which sparked his interest in construction.

Jacob competed in the SkillsUSA Team Building Competition in 2010 and took first in state. In 2011, Jacob placed first in masonry for the region competition.

Jacob's father works in sheet metal construction. Jacob enjoys operating a Lull on the jobsite and working with his foreman who takes the time to mentor and train him. Jacob plans to interview for the apprenticeship program in March.

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18-year-old Cameron Kinser, 2013 Graduate of Johnson High School Cameron says that Jacob Holland and his father got him interested in construction. His father does a lot of electronics and audio video. Cameron helps with all the work that his father does on the house in addition to learning how to run cables and repairs. Cameron did two internships while in school, with first semester with Kipper Tool and second semester with Haines Craftsman.

He was referred by friends and parents to do some construction work.

Cameron also enjoys welding and takes advantage on breaks to practice.

18-year-old Ramiro Mojica, 2013 Graduate of West Hall High School Ramiro credits Mike Madsen for getting him interested in construction since his freshman year of high school. He took Mike Madsen's construction class in his freshman, junior, and senior years.

Ramiro says he looked forward to at-

tending the CEFGA Career & SkillsUSA Championships Expo every year. He also took the shop tour at McKenney's which finally hooked him. He gave Mike Madsen his name to be forwarded on to Donnie Woodham to be considered for employment after graduation. Romera enjoys installing duct systems for McKenney's on the jobsite. Ramiro will start the apprenticeship program.

Jacob, Cameron, and Ramiro believe students should get involved in the CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships to see if construction is a career path for them.

Donnie Woodham says that meeting the instructors, getting into the classrooms, getting to know the students is ‘KEY’ to getting them interested in your trade. The relationships we build between instructors, students, parents and contractors will grow our workforce. v

Georgia Contractor

When life hits hard—dream!

By Wade Tuggle | Eckardt Electric

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n May 1998, as a carefree sophomore at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, Jeremy Tuggle’s life was turned upside down. He was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his right leg. All of a sudden life went on hold. Dreams stopped. Uncertainty set in and a journey began.

That journey began with Jeremy believing that God would heal him.

Eight months later that belief would prove true. God did heal him.

During that time, he received encouragement and support from many.

He was leaning toward a possible career in auto repair. He was taking auto shop classes at McEachern High School and enjoying them.

In his junior year, he met Mr. Kevin Ward, a construction teacher at McEachern High School. Jeremy enrolled in Mr. Ward’s construction class, and his career path began to change.

Mr. Ward invested in Jeremy and encouraged him in the construction classes.

In Jeremy’s senior year, he expressed a desire to apply for the Atlanta Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (AEJATC) apprenticeship program through the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association and IBEW Local Union 613.

Jeremy made application to the program and was accepted. Mr. Ward’s investment did not stop there. He helped Jeremy apply for and receive a Scholarship at McEachern High School which paid for his books and his first set of tools to begin his career in the electrical trade.

In July 2000, Jeremy started his electrical career as an apprentice working for Eckardt Electric Company in Chamblee, Georgia. He completed a five-year program of study through the March | April 2014

Jeremy Tuggle AEJATC while working full time obtaining valuable on the job work experience.

During those five years of study, he attended 1440 hours of classroom study plus received 10,000 hours of on the job training. He has worked for Eckardt Electric for 13 years now and is a foreman for Eckardt Electric, installing and overseeing electrical installations and most of all, beginning to mentor young apprentices in the trade.

Life hit Jeremy hard but by the grace of God he never gave up on his dream. The construction industry has provided well for him, his wife, and four children. It’s provided an education, good pay, and good benefits and most of all, a bright future. The investment and encouragement of Mr. Ward helped catapult Jeremy to a successful career in the Electrical Industry.

By the way, the teacher Mr. Ward is the same Mr. Kevin Ward of CEFGA. He is still changing lives and making dreams come true for many young men and young women. Thank you, Mr. Ward for your commitment.

Editors Note: The seeds of this success story were planted more than 13 years ago, when CEFGA Operations Director Kevin Ward was a construction teacher at McEachern High School in Cobb County.

CEFGA and Mr. Ward just learned about this story in early 2014. It’s a good reminder that teachers really do influence lives every day. For information about CEFGA, visit www.cefga.org v

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Zach Burgess - welder

By Zach Burgess

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fter I graduated from Kennesaw Mountain High school, I moved out to Eastern Kentucky for college, with every intention of majoring in broadcast media and playing college football. I ended up returning home after a less than stellar year and tried my luck at a community college. Unfortunately, that too went poorly. I could never get interested in any of my classes and honestly never gave it any real effort.

Three years went by before a good friend of mine, and now graduate, started talking about Georgia Trade School, and I knew that it was where I wanted to be.

My best advice for any prospective welder would be to be dedicated and driven every day. Take in as much information as you can. Ask questions and don't be afraid to make mistakes. Burn it till you learn it!

Georgia Trade School changed my life in many ways and really has made me what I can only hope is a much better person. Instructor James Spinner stood by my side through my good welding days and my bad. From him and the other instructors I learned patience and humility, not only when welding but just in general. The school gave me all the tools to do whatever I put my mind to and they drove me every day to be better than the day before.

I ended up getting a job with a small company called Apex Welding right out of school, and it’s been amazing since day one. It’s been a little bit of everything. From running pipe at CKS, a company that produces many of the plastic bottles we use every day, to a little bit of work for Lockheed Martin.

Throughout this year, most of our time will be spent at CKS in some of their new warehouses but we will also be running all the welded pipe for Georgia 18

Southern university's new football field house. Needless to say we'll have our

hands full, but I have no doubt that we can handle it! v

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The mystery of vitrified and molded rocks

By Beulah Banks | Staff Writer

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hether you are reading about the pyramids at Giza or the stone walls near Cusco, Peru, the official explanation for the creation of this fascinating stonework is usually the same: thousands of workers hauled enormous stone blocks (some weighing many tons) over great distances and then pounded and fitted them together with nothing more sophisticated than copper chisels and stone hammers. Really?

Personally, my logic sort of caved in (no pun intended) at the hauling stage. But, OK, there are all of those textbook drawings of thousands of workers tugging on ropes attached to great stones that make it somehow to the top of the pyramid or wall or temple. But what happened next produces another gasp: these great stones were then fitted together with such precision that no modern mason could duplicate the outcome. Stones that were regular and deliberately irregular were packed so closely together that no piece of paper (even if they had had paper) could fit between them. But still there’s more to puzzle over. Many of these structures are constructed of perfectly fitting stones that have a smooth, shiny surface—like cut cheese or butter. Presumably, they weren’t quarried with the surfaces smooth and shiny, so what were the ancients able to do to produce this effect? Some archaeologists suggest that the workers simply polished the stones until they shone. But what of the joints’ perfection? Some stones look as if they were melted and pressed into a form with the corresponding block.

Some, who have investigated this technique in Incan ruins, call this process vitrification and molding. In other words, the stones are similar to those that have been thermally disagMarch | April 2014

gregated. One such researchers is Jesús Gamarra of Cusco, Peru. Jesús and his father, Alfredo, spent many years investigating the Incan sites and collecting photos and information about the tech-

niques used. The elder Gamarra began his research into the phenomenon in the early part of the 20th century and spent his life investigating this mystery and others of his hometown Cusco. Sr.

A vitrified stoneblock in a wall inside of Koricancha.

Ollantaytambo is an excellent site in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here all kinds of vitrified and molded stones can be observed. In this example of the famous perfect fit, there is reflection, smooth parts, and a different color to be observed, especially at the borders.

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Gamarra puts the history of these stones even farther back than the Incan civilization—much further back. Before his death in 1999, he recorded the details of his research.

The father and son also observed that some of the stones in Tiahuanaco, Ollantaytambo, Koricancha, and the site at Yuroc Rumi, Vilcabama, contained evidence that metal clamps and T-grooves were used to join the stones.

Evidence of the use of clamps has also been seen in Egyptian ruins. These grooves appear to be limited to the most monumental structures.

Why would the builders need a small metal clamp to hold large stone blocks in place? Alfredo Gamarra said that the perfect fitting blocks are perfect because they were moldable at the moment of construction. If Alfredo was right, one can imagine that especially

big blocks were more difficult to treat, and that the T-clamps would have helped to hold the stones in place so that they would harden out in the correct position. This would mean that the shine observed on these stones was not due to polishing but to vitrification.

Vitrified stones are simply stones that have been melted to a point where they form a glass or glaze. But how could these huge stones have undergone such a process? Glass or glazes are traditionally created using a furnace. This process requires temperatures to exceed 1,000° C. According to Sr. Gamarra, this vitrification process would have been applied to once soft stone that was still in a clay-like state, hardening them and fortifying the construction.

Jan Peter de Jong, an agricultural engineer who graduated from the University of Wageningen in Netherlands, first visited Ecuador on an irrigation project high in the Andes in 1991. His work took him eventually to Peru, and as he visited ancient sites like Sacsayhauman, just above Cusco, and Machu Picchu, he, too, began to appreciate the genius of the builders of these great structures. Up close and personal, he began to notice the fascinating techniques that no one in the scientific community could quite explain. That’s when he met Jesús and Alfredo and started

on a 15-year study of the ancient sites.

Mr. de Jong points out on his Web site that huge molded rocks similar to those of the Inca sites of Peru were also made at other ancient sites around the world. Stone work similar to that found in Peru can be observed in Malta, Egypt, and Turkey.

There has been much discussion particularly about vitrification at the Incan sites. Was this a deliberate action or could this have been some natural occurrence? Natural or not, we are still left with the mystery of how these great stones were heaved into place.

I am particularly fascinated by the one thing that we can most assuredly observe: the ancients had knowledge that we no longer possess. Humbling and intriguing, this calling card of sophistication leaves me with a new respect for the human accomplishment that very long ago preceeded us.v Author’s note: A special thanks to Jan Peter de Jong for his kind cooperation on this article. For photo references used in this article, please see his Web site: www.ancient-mysteries-explained.com. Mr. de Jong offers great detail on the subject on his extensive Web site. He has also produced a documentary, The Cosmogony of the Three Worlds, which can be ordered at www.ancient-mysteries-explained.com

The area of the T-groove is also vitrified.

Alfredo Gamarra in Sacsayhuaman 22

Cusco, the old Inca Capital Georgia Contractor

Employment law update: What employers should expect in 2014

By Henry M. Perlowski & Ashley S. Kelly | Partners AGG

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ith a still uncertain economy and a more active regulatory climate, 2014 expects to be another challenging year for employers in their ongoing efforts to avoid potential litigation and government investigations. Here is a series of ‘hot topics’ for 2014, with some topics being continuations of prior trends and others being part of specific government enforcement initiatives: The Employee Misclassification Initiative. The Internal Revenue Service (‘IRS’) and the Department of Labor (‘DOL’) have engaged in a joint initiative to seek out and correct employers’ misclassification of employees as independent contractors. Notably, both agencies have increased the level of funding and manpower devoted to this initiative, which the government estimates can bring in over $7 billion in additional revenues. Given this heightened scrutiny and the far-reaching implications of misclassification (including, without limitation, liability for back payroll taxes and penalties, wage and hour concerns, liability for unpaid benefits, and civil penalties under federal and state law), employers should take the time now to ensure that any person classified as an ‘independent contractor’ or a ‘consultant’ is defensibly classified, and that existing documentation supports the classification.

Limitations on the Use of Criminal Background Checks for Employment Purposes. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (‘EEOC’) recently issued a guidance regarding the use of criminal background checks for recruiting and other employment purposes, which can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidMarch | April 2014

Henry M. Perlowski Partner, Atlanta Office (404) 873-8684 henry.perlowski@agg.com

Ashley S. Kelly Partner, Atlanta Office (404) 873-7020 ashley.kelly@agg.com

ance/arrest_conviction.cfm. In sum, the EEOC believes that the use of criminal background checks has a disparate impact on certain protected classes and that the use of such checks must be tailored narrowly to match the nature and requirements of the position in question. The EEOC generally rejects blanket exclusions in which employers exclude any applicant who has a criminal arrest or conviction. Since the issuance of the guidance, the EEOC has engaged in increased enforcement in support of the guidance and has initiated several class actions attacking blanket exclusions. And, unsurprisingly, plaintiffs’ attorneys have also focused on employers’ background check policies and practices as a basis for filing discrimination claims. Therefore, employers should review their background check policies and practices, and consider narrowing overlybroad policies, and especially any

blanket exclusions for criminal history.

Increased Scrutiny of Social Media Practices. Over the past few years, most employers have implemented policies to regulate their employees’ use of social media. Considering the explosion of social networking sites, such policies are an important way to protect business reputation and goodwill. Employers should be aware, however, that the National Labor Relations Board (‘NLRB’) has been actively scrutinizing such policies to ensure that they do not interfere with employee rights, specifically to engage in protected ‘concerted activity’ under the National Labor Relations Act—the right to discuss terms and conditions of employment. Notably, the protection for concerted activity applies not just to unionized workforces, but also to nonunionized employers. The NLRB has not hesitated to overturn policies that purport to prohibit employees from discussing the 23

terms and conditions of their employment, even discussions that would portray an employer in a negative light.

Social media practices are also facing challenges on other fronts. Polls show that employers increasingly are requiring job candidates to allow the employer to access an applicant’s personal social media accounts, such as Facebook or Twitter. As a result, many states, including California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and New Jersey, have recently enacted laws prohibiting employers from requesting social media user names or passwords from employees or job candidates.

Other states, including Georgia, are considering similar legislation. Employers should check all relevant state laws before requiring potential employees to hand over the keys to their social media accounts.

More, More, More Wage and Hour Actions. As in the past few years, 2014 promises to be another active year for wage and hour disputes. Driven by increased enforcement action by the DOL, as well as private claims by employees, employers are finding their pay practices under heightened scrutiny.

There are many different types of allegations in wage and hour claims. Some of the most common are as follows: • Employees claim that they are improperly classified as ‘exempt,’ and therefore have not been paid minimum wage or overtime pay to which they were entitled.

•

Employees assert that their employers failed to pay them for time worked ‘after hours,’ such as returning e-mail or answering phone calls.

•

Employees contend that their employers improperly docked their pay for meal periods and breaks that the employees were not able to take, including through ‘automatic’ deductions.

•

Workers claim that they were im-

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properly classified as ‘unpaid interns,’ when in fact they should have been paid as regular employees.

Given the high cost of these disputes – which are often brought as collective actions – employers should periodically audit their pay practices to determine whether they are consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable state law, and seek counsel as to the most effective way to mitigate any risks in this area. The law in this area is very punitive, as innocent mistakes often result in significant liability (with defenses to liability being very limited).

Ever Increasing Employee Migration. Numerous studies show that workers are changing jobs more than ever to the considerable detriment of employers who invest time and money in training and allow employees access to customers and confidential information. Therefore, it is vital that employers examine their policies, including their restrictive covenant agreements, to ensure that they are adequately protected from migration and post-migration competition, recognizing that the laws in this area are very state-specific. And, employers in Georgia can now take advantage of a law promoting the enforceability of noncompetition and other restrictive covenant agreements. While there has been much confusion surrounding the effective date of the new law, at least one federal court has held that the new statute applies only to covenants executed on or after May 11, 2011. Employers therefore should consider obtaining new covenants to take advantage of the new law (because prior agreements still will be held to the very difficult ‘old Georgia law’).

Proliferation of Alternative Work Arrangements. Most employers permit some form of alternative work arrangements, whether job sharing, flextime, a compressed workweek, telecommuting, or some other arrangement. These arrangements can be extremely useful for securing the best talent and increas-

ing employee morale, but they also bring numerous risks, including many of the wage and hour, misclassification, and employee migration concerns discussed above. Before entering into any alternative work arrangement, employers should ensure that the arrangement is carefully defined and that they understand fully the potential pitfalls associated with any nontraditional form of employment.

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act (‘ACA’) goes into effect for most employers on January 1, 2015, with the implementation for small employers with 50-99 employees pushed back to 2016. In very general terms, the ACA requires employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to provide affordable health coverage for their employees or risk facing stiff penalties. We cannot stress enough that employers must prepare for the implementation of the mandate this year, well before its effective date.

The ACA mandate also is going to result in increased scrutiny of independent contractor classifications (as discussed above) when employers seek to avoid the mandate by classifying workers as contractors or consultants.

If you have questions or would like additional information about any of these topics and how they may affect your business, please contact Henry M. Perlowski or Ashley S. Kelly of AGG’s Employment Law Team. v

Georgia Contractor

March | April 2014

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Georgia Contractor

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MetroPower apprentice returns to high school to talk about his experiences etroPower Electrical Contractors’ Jaime Morales visited his former high school construction class to speak with students about his experiences as an electrical apprentice.

Jaime, who graduated from West Hall County HS in 2012, was asked by his former instructor to give current construction students a glimpse into the life of an electrical apprentice and his experiences as a MetroPower Employee. Jaime’s former instructor, Mr. Mike Madsen has always been a strong supporter of the construction industry and wanted his students to hear first-hand of the great opportunities available in the electrical trade as well as the behavior required to be a safe and successful employee in a dynamic work environment. Jaime explained that success on the jobsite requires teamwork focused on safety, waste elimination, empowerment, and engagement. A strong team will always meet or exceed daily objectives as long as everyone communicates effectively, watches out for one-another, and uses the knowledge and skills developed through formal and informal training.

Jaime talked about the discipline, focus, and flexibility required to work safely and efficiently in a fast paced and ever-changing environment.

Jaime clearly stated that safety is his number one priority (each day) and that students should always be mindful of their surroundings whether they are at work or not. Jaime also talked about his Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Apprenticeship and the time management he must exercise to make sure he completes his homework each week before attending class.

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Jaime Morales Jaime gave students insight into the various projects he has been assigned and the tasks performed. He stated that he enjoys the challenge of work that requires the fine balance of electrical theory and on-the-job training.

He gave specific examples of stripping wire, installing devices, terminating wires, and his experiences as a team member that installed fluorescent lighting in the basement of Grady Hospital. Students really enjoyed Jaime’s talk and asked some very good questions regarding the trade and his training at the IEC. Jaime’s enthusiasm exemplifies the pride and dedication that apprentice’s exhibit each and every day and how this enthusiasm can achieve amazing results.

Scott Holtzclaw is now the construction instructor at West Hall County High School and maintains the program’s accreditation through The Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) in Carpentry, Electrical, Masonry, and Plumbing. Students are trained using the National Center for Construction and Education Research (NCCER) Curriculum. NCCER

develops standardized construction and maintenance curricula and assessments with portable credentials which are tracked through NCCER’s National Registry that allows organizations and companies to track the qualifications of their craft professionals and/or check the qualifications of possible new hires. The National Registry also assists craft professionals by maintaining their records in a secure database. v

Georgia Contractor

Contractor News Deal and Governor’s Office of Workforce Development congratulate six school systems Gov. Nathan Deal and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development (GOWD) are pleased to recognize Columbia, Effingham, Glynn, Jackson, Meriwether and Murray County Schools for having 100 percent of the system’s high schools organized with a Go Build Georgia High School Team.

“Go Build Georgia High School Teams serve as a great resource for our state, educating young people on the opportunities in the skilled trades and building a strong workforce,” said Deal.

“Special thanks to these educators for their commitment to Georgia’s youth and the economic future of our state.”

The Go Build Georgia High School Teams program launched in October 2012 to provide the next workforce generation with the necessary resources to make informed career decisions after graduation. The teams, made up of teachers, counselors, and local business leaders, promote the values and opportunities available in the skilled trade industry.

“I applaud the efforts of these schools for gaining 100 percent Go Build Georgia High School team participation,” said Ben Hames, executive director for GOWD. “With more than 220 teams across the state working to close the skilled labor gap, we are proud of these educators and look forward to experiencing the far reaching benefits of a skilled, available workforce in Georgia.”

The Go Build Georgia program seeks to close our state’s skilled labor gap by dispelling misconceptions about the industry and building a pipeline of workers. The online Web site, www.gobuildgeorgia.com, provides data, information and guidance to students and parents about careers in the industry and help on how to get started. Featured skilled trade occupations highlighted on the Web site include welders, pipefitters, March | April 2014

truck drivers, electricians, plumbers, industrial maintenance, civil engineers, and in-ground utility contractors.

“Through the Golden Isles Career Academy, Glynn County has been involved in Go Build Georgia since its launch in 2012. It is important that we close the skills gap so that upon graduation, students have the opportunity to move right into the workforce if that is their chosen career path,” said Howard Mann, superintendent of Glynn County Schools. “Our CTAE instructors use resources like the Go Build Georgia Web site as a career exploratory tool for students to learn more about the opportunities and to get them excited about the potential for success after high school.”

“The Murray County School System recognizes the value of preparing students for careers in the skilled trades

and we believe the GBG High School Teams are an important step in making information available,” said Vickie Reed, superintendent of Murray County Schools. “We appreciate the support we are receiving from the Go Build Georgia program as we strive to make our mission, ‘Committed to student success, no exceptions, no excuses’ a reality for all students.”

“We are excited to take yet another step in our journey for education excellence,” said Randy Shearouse, superintendent of Effingham County Schools.

“Working together as a community, we are building on the success of our school system’s Career, Technical and Agricultural Education program by participating in the Go Build Georgia initiative. Both of our high schools work to incorporate the importance of learning

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a skilled trade and good work habits.”

“The Go Build Georgia High School Teams Program helps our teachers better promote careers in fields experiencing a shortage of high-skilled workers,” said Sandra Carraway, superintendent of Columbia County Schools. “Through the program, our students are exposed to the value of learning a trade as we seek to dispel their misconceptions about the industry and inspire them to

consider building a career as a skilled tradesman.”

“Jackson County is very proud to have achieved 100 percent participation in the Go Build Georgia Initiative.” said April Howard, superintendent of Jackson County Schools. “Not only does the experience equip our students for success, ultimately the program empowers our communities by providing a more skilled work force which promotes

our economic development.”

“This is another exciting step in preparing our graduates for the world of work,” said Carol L. Lane, superintendent of Meriwether County Schools. “We are seeing more and more jobs come to Meriwether County, and programs such as Go Build help us show that we are able to produce top notch employees.”

Contact: Hope Peterson (404) 316 5509 v

IEC and the Downtown Atlanta Construction Workforce Consortium On Wednesday, Jan. 15, IEC Training Director, Todd Hawkins participated in the Downtown Atlanta Construction Workforce Consortium to serve as vice chair, Training and Skills Committee. Mr. Hawkins will work with the committee to devise a plan that helps meet the demand for labor during the construction of the Atlanta Falcons stadium in downtown Atlanta. The goal is to help 1,000 Atlanta residents connect with job opportunities and training throughout the construction project. As the Greater Atlanta Area begins work on the Atlanta Falcons stadium project the demand for workers becomes immensely multiplied! All trades are in need of workers and have been for a long time. Skilled labor shortages that were forecast for

years are appearing today! Those of us in the construction trade know how difficult it is to find one worker much less the hundreds of workers that a project of this magnitude demands.

Skilled labor, already a critical issue for the construction industry prompted Georgia governor, Nathan Deal to launch the Go Build Georgia campaign designed to get people engaged in careers in construction. Executive Director, Niel Dawson serves on the advisory board to Go Build Georgia. To begin solving the immediate problem of labor needs for the stadium project IEC Atlanta Chapter was asked to join the Consortium to focus on the area of providing workers to the jobsite. The initial plan calls for providing an assessment

of interested applicants, delivering an orientation of the construction industry and basic construction safety training.

Once these steps are completed the committee would continue providing career guidance to applicants so they can find specific in depth career training such as the IEC’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

IEC is a trade association for merit shop electrical contractors and offers a wide array of training programs for apprentices and experienced electricians.

In addition to the electrical apprenticeship training program, IEC provides personnel referral including loan/borrow programs, and provides a broad range of informational resources for electrical contractors in Atlanta and Georgia. v

IEC Atlanta Awards Kristen Williams of Penco Electrical Contractors Inc. the 2013 Member of the Year IEC Atlanta awarded Kristen Williams of Penco Electrical Contractors Inc., its 2013 Member of the Year Award. Mrs. Williams was presented her well-deserved award at IEC’s 2013 annual holiday party held on December 13th.

She has supported the IEC and the industry by helping with the design of the Emerging Leader Program from inception, which she also enrolled in herself. As a member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), she donated the electrical material for MAGIC Camp for girls interested in construction. MAGIC Camp was an IEC and NAWIC sponsored event. She is also a member of the Atlanta Board of Directors and has repre30

sented IEC at various meetings.

Congratulations to Kristen Williams, IEC’s 2013 Member of the year. Your dedication, hard-work, vision

for the industry, and women in the industry does not go unnoticed. IEC is thankful to Mrs. Williams for her support and looks forward to blazing into the future with her and Penco Electrical Contractors Inc. IEC is a trade association for merit shop electrical contractors and offers a wide array of training programs for apprentices and experienced electricians.

In addition to the electrical apprenticeship training program, IEC provides personnel referral including loan/borrow programs, and provides a broad range of informational resources for electrical contractors in Atlanta and Georgia. v Georgia Contractor

Stiteler Installed as Chairman of the Board of Atlanta-Based ABC of Georgia Inc. Sam Stiteler was recently installed as the 2014 Chairman of the board of directors of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia Inc. (ABC). The association also installed its 2014 board of directors at its annual business and dinner meeting at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

“ABC is a dynamic organization representing top caliber companies that build excellent construction projects in Atlanta, the Southeast, and across the country,” Stiteler said.

Stiteler serves as Business Development Manager for Metro Power, which has offices in Atlanta, Macon, Columbus, Albany, and Greenville, South Carolina. For over 30 years, Metro Power has served the electrical construction and services needs of commercial, industrial, and institutional clients across the Southeast in a timely fashion with pride, trust, and value ultimately resulting in total client satisfaction. He has been involved in ABC for more than a decade serving on the board of directors and numerous committees, and has over 13 years of experience in the construction industry, with an emphasis in business development and operations.

Stiteler graduated from Clemson University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. He and his family reside in Dallas, Georgia, where he is involved in church and community activities.

Other ABC of Georgia officers installed at its business meeting are: Officers/Executive Committee members: • Chairman, Sam Stiteler,

2014 ABC of Georgia Chairman Sam Stiteler (left), MetroPower, receives the chairman’s gavel from 2013 Chairman Kirk Mathews.

• • • •

MetroPower

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Chairman-Elect, Phil Greeves, JAMCo Inc.

Collin Skutt, All American Construction Services

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Vice Chairman, Jeff Toebe, McCarthy Building Companies

Matthew Smith, Manhattan Construction Company

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Treasurer, Al Clark, Smith Adcock & Company

Jill Stratton, Juneau Construction Company

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Adam Wheeler, Brasfield & Gorrie

President, Bill Anderson, ABC of Georgia (non-voting member)

Directors: • Gary Bishop, PCL Industrial Construction Company •

Rob Cooper, Ivey Mechanical Company, LLC

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David Hendrick, Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt

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Alex Henry, DPR Hardin Construction

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Eric James, Harcon Inc.

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Jim Pritchett, Balfour Beatty Construction

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Tammy Pace, Pace Drywall, LLC

Legal Counsel: • Scott Walters, Thrasher Liss & Smith, LLC ABC of Georgia represents 300 commercial and industrial contractors, suppliers, and service firms, representing more than 10,000 employees. Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) is a national trade association with 22,000 members representing more than 19,000 construction and industry-related firms. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 72 chapters help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. v

IEC Atlanta Awards Roland Weekley of Johnson Leppard Engineers the 2013 Partner of the Year Award IEC Atlanta awarded Roland Weekley of Johnson Leppard Engineers, its 2013 Partner of the Year award. Mr. Weekly was selected from of a total of 65 excellent, Atlanta partner members, because March | April 2014

of his consistent support throughout 2013. His time outside of his duties at Johnson Leppard Engineers consists of volunteering to work with IEC instructors, and designing and writing lab activ-

ities to help IEC apprentices better understand concepts like Ohm’s Law. Mr. Weekley brings with him an electrical engineering background that continues to elevate our apprentices and entire 31

electrical apprenticeship program.

Congratulations Roland Weekley, IEC’s 2013 Partner of the year. IEC is proud to have the contributions provided to the excellence of IEC apprentices, provided by Roland Weekley and Johnson Leppard Engineers.

IEC is a trade association for merit shop electrical contractors and offers a wide array of training programs for apprentices and experienced electricians.

In addition to the electrical apprenticeship training program, IEC provides personnel referral including loan/borrow

programs, and provides a broad range of informational resources for electrical contractors in Atlanta and Georgia.

For more information about IEC and its programs, contact Niel Dawson, Executive Director at (770) 242-9277 or niel.dawson@iecatlanta.org v

Paver Edging Spikes will Revolutionize the Industry MCP Supply, a distributor of the Edgetite is pleased to introduce new paver edging spikes that makes paver edging installations stronger.

The new paver spikes help solve the separation problem that can occur when installing paver edging with common spikes. They were created from firsthand experience when Jeff Goodman, a landscape/hardscape contractor with 25 years of experience, continually encountered this problem while installing paver edging. After growing tired of seeing and repairing

failed brick edging for years, he felt there had to be a way to solve this problem. Edgetite™ paver edging spikes were created with this in mind.

Edgetite™ paver edging spikes are unique because of the patent pending angled tip design. As an edging spike is hammered into the compacted base, the angled tip deflects away from the installation while the head pushes the edge restraint tightly against the brick.

The angled final position of an installed paver spike resists frost heave while adding strength and longevity to your

brick project.

When Mr. Goodman pounded in his first Edgetite™ paver edging spike, the result was amazing. The tip deflected away while the head firmly secured the edging to the brick. Now an old installation problem has a solution, and the brick paver edging industry has an ally.

Ask your local Landscape Supply dealer about Edgetite™ paver spikes. See videos showing how Edgetite™ spikes work visit www.mcpsupply.com.v

Red Hawk Road: Chicago Pneumatic Gas-Powered Breaker Now Available in North American Markets Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment has introduced the Red Hawk Road gas-powered breaker to the North American market, featuring a powerful breaking force, easy portability, minimum vibration, and maximum production all in one tool, ideal for general construction, demolition, and road building applications.

The Red Hawk Road – the only gaspowered breaker in the Chicago Pneumatic breaker lineup – is easily transported to any jobsite, and is designed to get the job done faster, combining high percussive energy with high blow frequency.

Offering the same power-toweight ratio as pneumatic or hydraulic breakers without any power source or hoses, the Red Hawk Road delivers a powerful breaking force of 60 joules.

With a light weight of 55 pounds, the breaker has a full speed impact rate of 1,440 blows per minute (bpm) and operates with a guaranteed sound power level of 109 dBA. 32

The hand-arm vibration value of the Red Hawk is 4.3 meters per second (m/s2) and allows 50 percent longer

work time with a one cylinder, twostroke engine. Measuring at 36.5inches with a width across the handles of 24-inches, the Red Hawk Road minimizes vibration reducing the impact on operators while increasing productivity.

Featuring a fan-driven cooling system, the Red Hawk Road has a recoil starter with a decompression valve, a redesigned tank cap, and electronic ignition for easy start-up in any type of weather.

“The Red Hawk Road is the toughest breaker in the Chicago Pneumatic lineup and can be utilized for everything from driving and compacting to cutting and breaking,” said Gus Armbruster, product manager, handheld tools at Chicago Pneumatic. “Delivering more power means increased efficiency and allows workers to be more productive on the jobsite while still maintaining a comfortable level of operation.”

For more information on the complete line of CP breakers, please visit www.cp.com. v Georgia Contractor

DataForensics Announces pLog Tablet Dataforensics, developer of geotechnical and geoenvironmental data management solutions, announces that pLog Tablet for Android is now available for immediate download from the Google Play store.

The evolution of pLog now allows users a new range of hardware options for field data collection, furthering the digital data collection model that Dataforensics has been a proponent of from the inception of the company ten years ago.

This iteration of pLog greatly enhances usability by allowing users to leverage new hardware options with bigger screen sizes, faster processors, greater storage capacity, integrated GPS, and real time data sharing. (*Availability of cellular network as well as WIFI connections will determine real time capabilities). pLog Tablet features include: • A new, customizable user interface with greater flexibility. Customize which data collection parameters are shown in each module and in what order the items are shown •

Graphical Log Preview. The ability to view a standardized borehole log in graphical format as data is entered has been a common request from our users. That dream is now a reality as you can view the log graphically on the data collection device so you can better visualize the investigation as it is happening.

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Real-time data sharing. The ability to send the data and/or the standardized log report electronically directly from the field makes sharing data with your colleagues a simple process enabling better communication between field and office staff.

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A simpler, direct data export to gINT. Users will no longer be required to synchronize their hand-

March | April 2014

held/tablet with their PC before working with their data in gINT. pLog Tablet will directly export field data to gINT, eliminating confusion for the user and simplifying installation and reducing the IT resources necessary to run the system.

•

More streamlined navigation. No more tapping between screens to input a specific type of data –all data can be accessed for a particular module from one screen. “pLog Tablet is a major milestone in

the effort to move the geotechnical and geoenvironmental field personnel towards digital technology. pLog Tablet streamlines the data collection process even further to create even greater efficiencies in the process. We can’t wait for users to experience pLog Tablet” said Scott Deaton, President of Dataforensics. pLog Tablet for Android is now available from the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de tails?id=com.dataforensics pLog Tablet for Windows is available directly from Dataforensics. v

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Enhancing mobility with intelligent interchanges and intersections Innovative technology, designs, and delivery methods are producing safer, more efficient facilities faster

By Pete Rahn & Jim Barbaresso | HNTB

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nnovative designs, technology, and alternative delivery methods are helping departments of transportation dramatically expand the capacity, safety, and mobility of urban interchanges and intersections without the cost of physical expansion and the need to acquire right of way.

Technology dramatically expands capacity According to an October 2013 HNTB America THINKS survey, many Americans expect their travel experiences to greatly improve in the next two decades thanks to innovation. One of the most exciting innovations in interchange and intersections is adaptive traffic signal control. According to the Federal Highway Administration, DOTs can expect improvements in efficiency ranging from ten percent to as much as 50 percent in areas where signals are particularly outdated.

Unlike conventional signal systems, adaptive traffic signal control collects real-time traffic information and then adjusts the signal timing plan to facilitate maximum throughput at an intersection. The software is smart enough to respond on a cycle-by-cycle basis to the level of traffic currently on the system, providing an amazing increase in efficiency.

Adaptive signal control technology: • Continuously distributes green light time based on prevailing traffic conditions 34

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Improves travel time reliability by progressively moving vehicles through green lights

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Reduces congestion by creating smoother flow

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Prolongs the effectiveness of traffic signal timing

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Reduces vehicle idling, which reduces harmful emissions

Although the technology can greatly improve efficiency, it requires a significant amount of stationary sensing

equipment and the software can be complex, which explains why only two to three percent of traffic signals in the United States have this technology. As the technology evolves, we may see greater adoption and adaptive traffic signal control used to its highest potential as part of an integrated corridor management program or as probe vehicle data availability increases.

No-tech or low-tech designs improve safety, capacity Today, there are collision-resistant intersections, where high-speed, rightangle crashes are things of the past.

Georgia Contractor

Roundabouts, displaced left-turn intersections, median U-turn intersections, restricted crossing U-turns, and quadrant roadway intersections are surprisingly effective in keeping project costs down while driving safety and efficiency up.

Cost-effective diverging diamond interchanges are helping resourcestrapped DOTs bring relief and greater levels of safety to congested highway junctions by eliminating left-turn crashes and rear-end collisions.

Innovative delivery speeds construction At a time when public agencies have a significant backlog of transportation infrastructure needs and insufficient funding to address those needs, designbuild and dynamic-design-bid-build (D2B2) are delivery methods being used for massive interchanges and large intersections. Further, D2B2 conforms to conventional procurement processes and can be instituted almost immediately.

Executed on the right projects, design-build and D2B2 also can enhance a DOT’s credibility among key decisionmakers and constituents, putting the agency in a favorable position to receive additional funding when it is available.

There is no doubt the future will bring even more advances. HNTB has been providing infrastructure solutions for 100 years. We have seen tremendous advances in interchanges and intersections. One day, likely within the next 50 years, we could see the elimination of traffic signals once vehicle-tovehicle communication becomes mainstream. Until then, DOTs can rely on innovative technology, design, and delivery methods to produce safer, more efficient assets faster.

About the Authors Pete Rahn is HNTB’s national transportation practice leader, where he develops and directs strategies that enhance HNTB’s service to state departments of transportation across the country. Rahn has served as director of March | April 2014

the Missouri Department of Transportation and cabinet secretary of the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department, making him one of only a handful of people who have led a DOT in two states. He also is past president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Contact him at (816) 5272034 or prahn@hntb.com.

Pete Rahn

Jim Barbaresso is HNTB's national intelligent transportation systems practice leader. His 35-year transportation career is a mix of public- and privatesector experience. Prior to joining HNTB, he was vice president for ten years at a company specializing in ITS. Before that, he served 18 years in various capacities at the Road Commission for Oakland County, Michigan.

Contact him at (313) 961-3330 or jbarbaresso@hntb.com. v

Jim Barbaresso 35

Georgia-owned and operated Yancey Bros.

Celebrates 100 Years in Business and Its Customers Who Have Built Georgia

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Georgia Contractor

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hen Goodloe and Earle Yancey started Yancey Hardware Company in 1914 in the heart of what is now downtown Atlanta, they focused on local needs, specializing in selling hardware, picks, shovels, and prison uniforms to government agencies responsible for road construction throughout the state of Georgia. They also served as the country’s only dealer of the Adams Mule Grader, an early version of the motorgrader, a piece of earthmoving equipment that was pulled by eight mules. But the

March | April 2014

Yancey brothers’ entrepreneurial spirit quickly led to the company’s expansion throughout the southeast, where the brothers became the only distributor for the Holt Model 45 tractor—a piece of equipment that boasted the ability to do the work of ‘40 mules…or 40 horses and countless humans.’ Sold by the Holt Manufacturing Company, which would later become the Caterpillar Tractor Company, the Holt Model 45 ushered in a new era of motorized equipment that appealed to farmers’ needs to increase production and efficiency. Goodloe and Earle Yancey visited land owners and agencies throughout Geor-

gia, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina and pre-sold the entire Holt Model 45 inventory using only a photograph and a $4,750 price tag.

This early collaboration with Holt was the beginning of a great partnership. In 1925, Holt merged with C.L. Best to form The Caterpillar Tractor Company. Today, Yancey Bros. Co., still holds the title of ‘The Nation’s Oldest Caterpillar Dealer.’

Within ten years, the brothers re-focused their

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business to the state of Georgia alone and split the counties to be covered.

Goodloe operated in the northern half of the state as Yancey Bros., Inc., and Earle and brother L.D. Yancey operated in the south as the Yancey Tractor Company. Yancey Bros. Co. continued to sell products and services to support contractors in the construction of county roads, infrastructure for growing communities, and the expanding road construction and maintenance required by the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916.

By 1947, the company had sold the Yancey Tractor Company in the south and adopted the current Yancey Bros.

Co. name in the north where it opened a full-service product support branch in Augusta. Subsequent expansions would move the company to a 12-acre site on Northside Drive in Atlanta and a second product support branch in Macon. These support centers serviced equipment for contractors building new, four-lane highways throughout the state as well as the rerouting of Highway 41 to bypass major cities.

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower green lighted the largest public works project in American history at

CAT Model 30

that time by signing the Federal Aid Highway Act into law and authorizing $25 Billion for 41,000 miles of an interstate highway system. The need for Yancey’s equipment and equipment servicing became more important than

ever. Contractors throughout the country bid on projects to build and extend Georgia’s growing highway system to better connect the state’s growing metropolises as well as support the tourism industry in the state. By 1959,

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the next generation of Yancey’s carried on the legacy of the family business, with Don becoming the President of Yancey Bros. Co. and continuing the focus of exceptional customer service.

The next 15 years saw the company expanding while Interstate 75 was built through swamps and granite, requiring heavy pushers, dozers, and excavators, which Yancey proudly sourced and serviced. Yancey Bros. Co. relocated to its current corporate headquarters in Austell, Georgia and ushered in the third generation of Yancey leadership with Don’s younger brother Goodloe III assuming the role of President upon Don’s retirement. Goodloe III further built Yancey’s legacy to deliver the highest quality equipment in the world with unmatched service to its customers state-wide.

In 1995, Don Yancey’s son-in-law, Jim Stephenson, became the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, ushering in the fourth generation of the Yancey family to lead the company. Under Jim’s leadership, Yancey has continued to thrive through acquisitions and expansions that better meet the needs of customers statewide. The company opened the Cat Rental Store in 1997 to offer local and general contractors flexible rental options for Caterpillar equipment, as well as dump trucks, aerial lifts, and other specialized tools.

The Carlton Co., southern Georgia's Caterpillar dealership at that time, was purchased in 2002 to enable Yancey to once again serve as Georgia’s exclusive Caterpillar dealer for equipment and power systems. Three years later, Yancey created Yancey Engineered Solutions, to meet customers’ global needs as a supplier of sound-attenuated packaging, testing, and design solutions and engineering services for power generation units.

The last decade has seen Yancey become the exclusive dealer for school bus parts, OEM parts, and factory-supported service for the Blue Bird Bus Corporation in Georgia. The company also March | April 2014

D6T Dozer

added forestry equipment to the list of products available for customers and created Yancey Truck Centers to support the trucking industry with equip-

ment, parts, and service throughout central and southern Georgia.

Yancey’s influence and market reach is substantial for the communities in which it operates. The company now offers products and services through two major company divisions to the following industries: Aggregates, Industrial, Mining, Governmental, Waste, Construction, Forestry, Road Construction, Electric Power, Marine, Industrial and Transportation.

It is during Jim Stephenson’s tenure as CEO that Yancey Bros. Co. celebrates its 100th Anniversary, and reflects on

the impact its customers have had on the transportation initiatives and intrastate connectivity throughout the state and the role it plays in their success.

Yancey is proud of its long legacy in the great state of Georgia and as ‘The Nation’s Oldest Caterpillar Dealer.’ The company honors its centennial with an anniversary theme celebrating all that its customers have built in Georgia – Yancey Bros. Co.: We Build Georgia – documenting its history alongside that of the nation over the last 100 years at www.WeBuildGeorgia.com. “A lot of things have changed in the past 100 years, but the foundation of what Yancey Bros. Co. stands for has not changed. It has always been about delivering the highest quality equipment in the world with unmatched service and support to customers that are building Georgia,” said President and CEO Jim Stephenson.

“So to celebrate our milestone, we want to tell the stories and share the images of the people and companies that built our great state.”

Yancey invites you to visit the We 39

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Georgia Contractor

Holt 45 Tractor

Build Georgia Web site (www.WeBuildGeorgia.com), read the stories and learn more about the actions that shaped the landscape of Georgia and the history behind its many construction initiatives.

From its humble beginnings on Peachtree Street and its early collaboration with the Caterpillar Tractor Company, Yancey Bros. Co. now operates 32 locations throughout Georgia, relying upon its dedicated team of employees.

Many of those employees have been with the company for decades, rising through the ranks over the course of their careers. No one knows this better than Wayne Evans, a Product Support Sales Representative and 50 year employee. “I started my career at Yancey Brothers Co. the year we celebrated our 50th anniversary. It has been an honor to be involved in major projects that have shaped Georgia,” said Evans. “We were part of projects such as the interstate program, building Interstates 75, 85 and 285 which have been so crucial to Georgia’s growth today. Another were the airport projects, I was involved in building the third, the fourth, and the fifth runways.”

In its 100th year, the company reMarch | April 2014

flects on its accomplishments helping customers build Georgia’s landmarks, cities, roads, ports, and communities and celebrates its valued partners who have built Georgia to what it is today.

Yancey Bros. Co. looks forward to the

Jim Stephenson President & CEO Yancey Brothers Inc.

next 100 years and meeting the everchanging needs of its customers who build the great state of Georgia. v

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Lessons Learned Construction Engineering Services

Observations and Lessons from the School of Experience:

The New ASTM Phase Environmental Site Assessment Standard n early November, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) published the new Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) standard essentially creating a new standard protocol for good commercial and customary practice to conduct environmental due diligence studies. The Phase I ESA is the standard method for evaluating a property for environmental issues, and the release of the new standard has been long awaited. While the technical and procedural changes are known, what is less certain is how these changes could impact the environmental consulting and commercial real estate industries.

There are essentially three significant changes in the new Phase I process. First is the introduction of a new type of Recognized Environmental Condition (REC). The REC is what Phase I ESAs are designed to identify as they indicate a past or present release of hazardous substances or petroleum products, or a material threat of such a release. The new classification is called a Controlled Recognized Environmental Condition (CREC) and indicates a release which has occurred on the property, has been addressed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulatory authority, and is subject to some form of use restriction imposed on the property.

For example, a release from an underground storage tank that meets clean up standards for commercial use, but not residential use, would be restricted to commercial use only and therefore be a CREC. Under the previous Phase I standard, this release would likely have been a REC. The new CREC term is simply a way to qualify the impact a

I

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release may have on the property.

The second major change with the new Phase I standard is a greater focus on when regulatory file reviews should be conducted by the professional completing the Phase I ESA. Before, if the Environmental Professional (EP) believed regulatory files would provide useful information, then those files should have been reviewed. In the new standard, the EP should, by default, review standard database files for the subject or adjoining properties. If they are not reviewed, the EP must provide adequate justification as to why not.

The third, and arguably most important revision to the standard, involves the inclusion of a definition for migration in accordance with that provided in federal statutes. The migration definition includes the movement of petroleum and hazardous substances in any form onto the subject property. The importance here is the explicit inclusion of vapor migration. Previously, emphasis had been placed on the movement of contamination onto a property via contaminated groundwater flow. This new definition essentially requires EPs to consider vapor migration no different than groundwater migration. This change will almost certainly result in additional vapor intrusion or encroachment concerns being identified in Phase I’s.

The publication of the new ASTM Phase I standard is certain to change the way environmental due diligence studies are conducted, but the magnitude of the change remains to be seen. However, some in the industry remain skeptical that the new standard will significantly change the way studies are conducted. Whatever one’s

particular view, the impacts of the new release will be made known in the early part of 2014.

We hope these ‘Lessons Learned’ will help you plan for, and adjust to the changing environmental regulations associated with commercial and residential real estate acquisitions and be beneficial to you in achieving that goal.

Respectfully, ECS Corporate Services, LLC v

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Georgia DOT’s first public private partnership gets underway

By Russell McMurry | Chief Engineer | Georgia Department of Transportation & Darryl VanMeter | Director of Innovative Program Delivery | Georgia Department of Transportation

F

inally. A decade after discussions began, the Georgia Department of Transportation’s first Public Private Partnership (P3) venture is underway.

Northwest Express Roadbuilders (NWER), a joint venture of Archer Western Contractors, LLC, of Atlanta, and Florida-based Hubbard Construction Company, is at work on a $599 million project that will transform commuting in Atlanta’s northwest quadrant and serve as template for similar breakthrough projects throughout the Metropolitan area.

The companies, along with their lead engineering firm, Parsons Transportation Group, are designing and building the Georgia DOT’s Northwest Corridor (NWC), a reversible, barrierseparated managed lane system extending 30 miles alongside busy Interstate Highways 75 and 575.

Archer Western and Hubbard are contributing $60 million in what in effect is a private equity bridge loan to the project. Design and preliminary construction activities are ongoing; major construction will begin by summer, and the variable-price toll lanes will open to traffic in 2018.

Building the Northwest Corridor is the Department’s largest single investment by far. It has been a long time in the making and expenses already incurred push the project’s total cost to nearly $834 million. No one doubts it will prove worth the wait and a wise investment, though. When it opens, the NWC will restore a mobility option in a corridor that routinely carries as many as 230,000 vehicles a day; the project 44

Darryl VanMeter also will be a key building block and linchpin of the Department’s Managed Lanes System Plan—our ambitious strategy to extend this mobility choice throughout Metropolitan Atlanta.

Like our colleagues in other state transportation departments, Georgia DOT has watched the gap between available funding and needed funding inexorably widen each year. And because of what we refer to as our problem of prosperity—Georgia’s continuing economic and population growth—the gap here is widening at a disturbingly quick pace. In Metro Atlanta alone, we need to find literally billions of unidentified new dollars to keep pace with a population predicted to grow from five to eight million people in just the next 30 years. We were hopeful when what we first called Public Private Initiatives —partnerships injecting substantial sums of private sector capital (and innovation) into public sector projects—began to receive serious consideration. Chicago getting $1.8 billion

Russell McMurry for its 99-year lease of the Chicago Skyway in 2005 was encouraging, and Indiana’s $3.8 billion, 75-year Toll Road lease a year later downright exciting.

Georgia DOT also was considering public/private ventures. The General Assembly had authorized them in 2003 and we received several unsolicited proposals to convert existing roads to tollways and build new tolled lanes on others, including the Northwest Corridor. Examining the offers though, we realized they were stand-alone projects —not interconnected to one another or an overall managed-lane strategy.

Some weren’t on roads we considered our most pressing priorities. It was apparent the Department needed to establish a managed lane agenda and drive its implementation. Working with subsequent General Assemblies and the State Transportation Board, unsolicited public/private proposals were prohibited. We formulated a comprehensive plan for managed lanes in Metro Atlanta and we developed a conGeorgia Contractor

tinually evolving, tiered agenda of potential P3 projects throughout the state.

(This remains one of—if not the only— prospective P3 projects blueprint in the country; the public/private industry now knows what Georgia DOT considers viable P3 opportunities, our priority for development of those projects, and how they would link to and complement future efforts.)

A constant in our evolving P3 landscape has been the Northwest Corridor.

Atlanta’s aforementioned growth and the equally increasing freight traffic on I-75 make the corridor a highest priority.

We continued negotiations well into 2009 trying to make a wide-ranging unsolicited NWC proposal work. Its initial iteration, featuring truck lanes and a bus rapid transit network, came at a prohibitive price approaching $4 billion.

The scope of improvements had to be modified as we came to better understand the varying types of P3s and their attendant requirements.

Transferring risk to a private sector partner, we learned, has its own cost.

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Understandably, as any private entity’s investment in a project increases, so too does its desire to control the circumstances that affect recouping that investment. ‘Partnerships’ become more complicated, however, as private sector business considerations and decisions must acknowledge prevailing public sector opinion and meld with governance’s public policy. There likely

is no universally applicable public/private template. What works in Chicago may not work in Atlanta; what’s right for Indiana may not be right for Georgia.

And what applies in Atlanta, Georgia, may be inapplicable in Dallas, Texas, or Miami, Florida. Each state, each community, and each project must find its own unique balance, its own appropriate terms.

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For instance, from virtually the first moments we began considering public/private partnerships and the tolling scenarios they usually necessitate, prevailing public sentiment indicated that, while tolling on new capacity could garner support, Georgians did not believe tolls should be charged on what were previously free general purpose lanes, ‘roads already paid for.’ In 2005, the Transportation Board voted to make that view Department policy.

The Board and the Department remained committed, however, to fashioning a viable environment for public/ private endeavors. In 2007, the Board declared that any new capacity added to limited access roadways in Metropolitan Atlanta would be managed lanes.

The expectation remained that Public Private Initiatives, by now rechristened Public Private Partnerships, or P3s, would be a common, if not predominant, delivery mechanism. In a 2010 solicited procurement, three consortiums were short-listed for consideration as the group to build a revived Northwest Corridor and also conduct preparatory engineering and environmental work on managed lanes on Interstate Highways 285 and 20 on Atlanta’s west side.

Later that same year, Nathan Deal was elected governor.

In the literally hundreds of meetings and thousands of conversations throughout the years of consideration of the NWC and other potential public/private projects, it became apparent that the price of securing the billions, or even hundreds of millions, of dollars in private investment we initially had envisioned would be steep. A concession agreement essentially giving a private partner decades of control of the roadway, the authority to set the toll rates, and first rights to the toll revenues, usually accompanied by restrictions on the Department’s ability to add or expand ‘competing’ infrastructure, would be necessary, reasonable business expectations perhaps for a private partner; something less, at least in Georgia, from 46

a public opinion, public policy perspective. Late in 2011, Governor Deal and the Transportation Board halted the procurement and directed the Department to find other delivery options.

Still remaining was the shared commitment of the Governor, Board and Department to the NWC project and a public/private partnership program that would be right for Georgia, a “better way forward.” Emerging from that commitment—the design/build /finance hybrid P3 with NWER that now, ten years later, is constructing the Northwest Corridor, the first real new capacity we’ve been able to add to

Metro Atlanta’s Interstate System in decades. No, there wasn’t a pot of billions of private-sector dollars at the end of a P3 rainbow, but there were privatesector innovations and alternative technical approaches that are saving hundreds of millions of dollars.

Moreover, there now is a framework of shared knowledge from which we can undertake future public/private partnerships that will be in keeping with public opinion and consistent with public policy. In the years to come, that knowledge base will prove to be just as important and beneficial as the Northwest Corridor itself. v

Selected Contractor Pay Scales 2013 Source: QCEW-EMSI 2013 Electricians Carpenters Construction Equipment Operators Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Sheet Metal Workers Painters and Paperhangers Cement Masons, Concrete Finishers, and Terrazzo Workers Roofers Drywall Installers, Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers Structural Iron and Steel Workers Carpet, Floor, and Tile Installers and Finishers Brickmasons, Blockmasons, and Stonemasons Glaziers Elevator Installers and Repairers Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers Boilermakers Plasterers and Stucco Masons

$21.67 $19.90 $16.02 $20.41 $20.31 $16.84 $17.11 $15.99 $14.99 $19.92 $16.99 $18.52 $16.91 $32.85 $15.72 $24.57 $14.34

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