The Georgia Contractor Mar-Apr 2015

Volume 11, Issue 2 March | April 2015

NCCER CREDENTIALS: The Fast Track to a Rewarding Career CEFGA CAREEREXPO SKILLSUSA WESTSIDEWORKS

2

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.

On The Cover ~ NCCER is a not-forprofit education foundation that was created in 1996 by more than 125 construction CEOs and various association and academic leaders. NCCER provides a consistent program of accreditation, instructor certification, standardized curricula, assessments, and certifications. See the story on page 22.

ADVERTISEMENTS AGC ...........................................................IFC AGC Future Leaders................................29 Atlanta Electrical Contractors...............19 Atlanta Technical College.......................18 Calculated Industries .............................20 Chattahoochee Tech..................................3 CLP...............................................................25 Columbus Tech...........................................11 GEICC .........................................................30 Georgia 811................................................BC Georgia Trade School ..............................14 Go Build Georgia Foundation ..................8 IEC ................................................................21 Mechanical Trade Institute..................IBC Metro Power ..............................................12 New South Construction........................27 North Georgia Tech .................................27 RHD Utility Services .................................11 Technical College System TCSG.............7 March | April 2015

3

CONTENTS

6 9 10 12 13 17 18 22 26 29 31 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 41 45 4

Welcome Governor Nathan Deal

Welcome from Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle Connecting students with industry : the Technical College System of Georgia SkillsUSA and Go Build Georgia: Preparing students for life after the classroom Run your race Culture reflects a company’s values Attention young people : Construction’s challenge is your opportunity NCCER credentials : the fast track to a rewarding career Training students in green building techniques Atlanta resident thrives in new job at stadium project Remarkable Rookie: Bennie Bell has distinguished himself as leader-in-making Rebuilding America Building the future Building a strong future for skills success Can technology replace the wheel?

A commitment to an apprenticeship program Skilled worker shortage HDR acquires Infrastructure Corporation of America Students find success in and out of the transportation classroom Contractor News Education is continuous - Five pillars to ensure you never stop learning Georgia Contractor

NCCER Credentials: The fast track to a rewarding career

22 Welcome from Governor Nathan Deal “FELLOW GEORGIANS - Welcome to the 2015 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA Championships.

With thousands of Georgia’s best and brightest in attendance, this expo is an exceptional showcase of our talented young people and future workforce.”

Welcome from

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle

9 Run your race

Inspirational comments by CEFGA CEO Scott Shelar

6

13

Visit www.gobuildgeorgia.com to learn more about the state’s Go Build Georgia program and how you can get involved.

March | April 2015

5

6

Georgia Contractor

March | April 2015

9

Connecting students with industry : the Technical College System of Georgia

By Gretchen Corbin | Commissioner | TCSG

W

ith more than 7.2 million employees nationwide, industrial and commercial construction has long been one of the largest industries in the U.S. Today, construction company owners around the country and in Georgia are facing a growing shortage of tradespeople such as pipefitters, steel workers, boilermakers, electricians, and carpenters.

We know that Georgia is one of many states addressing this need for highly-skilled workers. In fact, by 2020, more than 60 percent of jobs in Georgia will require a college certificate or degree. To ensure the state will meet the needs for its future workforce, Governor Nathan Deal launched ‘Complete College Georgia’ in 2011. A primary goal of this campaign is to make it easier for Georgia adults to return to school and complete their degrees. Governor Deal has charged the state’s Technical College and University systems together to meet a goal of graduating an additional 250,000 students by 2020.

With our 23 colleges serving 244,171 students in both technical and adult education, the Technical College System of Georgia is ahead of its benchmarks in meeting that goal, thanks to some exciting initiatives that are already paying off in the construction and other industries.

Through Georgia’s Strategic Industry Workforce Development (SIWD) grants, we are investing in a world-class workforce for Georgia by providing free tuition for Georgia’s students in seven high-demand areas, including three that pertain to the construction industry: welding, commercial truck driving, and diesel mechanics. Four new disciplines proposed this year to receive grants are 10

Gretchen Corbin Commissioner precision manufacturing, certified engineering technician, computer programming, and film and set design.

These grants are designed to supplement HOPE Grant funds to fully fund the cost of tuition for students entering these programs. Depending upon the hours taken, the SIWD grants may also cover some or all of the mandatory fees.

As of fall 2014, over 12,000 students were enrolled in SIWD grant-eligible programs. Early indicators of success include a five percent increase in welding program enrollment since last fall—the first year welding programs were included in the grants.

Enrollment in truck driving programs also increased, by 69 percent in the first year of the SIWD grant program.

TCSG has also enhanced its military support. We have hired a statewide, system-level military affairs director to ensure TCSG policies and procedures are military- and veteran-friendly. Also, we are in the process of establishing a path for standard application of credit for mil-

itary training and skills, anticipated by fall 2015. Together with the University System of Georgia, we are partnering to create Georgia’s New Military Academic Training Center in Warner Robins to provide career opportunities for veterans.

We are also collaborating with the University System to encourage Georgians who have an incomplete college education to return and finish their degree or certificate. About 1.1 million working-age adults, or 22 percent of the state’s population, attended college for some time but did not finish.

The ‘Go Back. Move Ahead’ campaign offers a simpler enrollment process, more flexible ways to transfer earned college credits, additional course schedule options, and a personal academic advisor.

We recognize that many students have taken courses in high school, or through military or corporate channels, that they would like to transfer to their relevant courses of study in college. The TCSG has proactively implemented system‐wide agreements allowing the transfer, or ‘articulation,’ of course credit between TCSG and USG institutions for 27 core courses.

We also have agreements with numerous private colleges for over 50 courses and are constantly working to add new agreements.

For high school students who are already focused on a career in construction or another discipline, we offer dual enrollment. In fact, the number of high school students who are now simultaneously enrolled in college has now passed 10,000 and is climbing quickly. Dual enrollment allows high-school students to acquire college-level credits and hands-on exGeorgia Contractor

perience in their career of choice, accelerating their entry into the workforce and their desired career.

The Technical College System is also focusing on construction-related opportunities in Georgia’s booming entertainment industry. Many may not realize that 70 percent of film-related jobs are ‘below the line:’ that is, production support and crew jobs, many of them in the construction trades. A number of Georgia’s technical colleges offer courses in these disciplines, and in fact, Southern Crescent Technical College has established a full-fledged curriculum in which more than 60 students are already enrolled. With the passage of aggressive tax credits in 2008, Georgia’s film business exploded: its economic impact was more than $5 billion last year. In order to ensure the state can continue to supply this industry with the crew strength it needs, TCSG and the University System are partnering to develop the Georgia Film Academy, which will marshal the state’s resources to further empower and staff film production in Georgia.

The Technical College System supports economic development not just in the film industry, but in a number of strategic industries: from bioscience to manufacturing to logistics —all of which need construction-related services. The services of our Quick Start program, a national model and the top-ranked customized workforce development program in the U.S., is offered to qualified locating and expanding companies free of charge. Last year, Quick Start trained more than 53,000 workers in 123 customized workforce training programs, creating or retaining a total of 10,024 jobs—not even counting the construction jobs involved in building and expanding facilities.

In addition, our colleges work individually with businesses in their communities to train students for the needs of local industry. An example of this is Savannah State, which partners March | April 2015

with Gulfstream to offer courses that train workers for the needs of this aerospace industry giant.

The Technical College system partners with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) not just in TCSG’s Quick Start program, but also through GDEcD’s Go Build Georgia campaign. Go Build Georgia was launched in 2012 to educate and inspire young people on the value of learning a trade and building a career as a skilled tradesperson, including in the construction industry.

Do our students find jobs? You bet they do! Today, 85 percent of TCSG graduates are employed in their field or a closely related field. When graduates who continue their education or are employed in an unrelated field are added, the successful transition rate is 98 percent. When you realize that over the past seven years, TCSG has graduated an average of 31,000 students per year, you understand that Georgia’s Technical College System is a rich resource for the workforce Georgia needs.

What’s more, Georgia’s technical college education comes with a guarantee: if a graduate educated under a standard program is found to be deficient in one or more competencies as defined in the standards, the technical college will retrain the employee at no instructional cost to the employee or

the employer. The guarantee is in effect for two years after graduation. In testament to the high quality of education our students receive, last year TCSG re-trained just eight students under this guarantee.

Georgia employers seeking to hire that 20-year workforce need look no further than the 23 colleges and 84 campuses of the Technical College System of Georgia.

Visit www.tcsg.edu to connect with the college nearest you. v

11

SkillsUSA and Go Build Georgia: preparing students for life after the classroom

By Ben Hames | Deputy Commissioner

A

s Georgia’s business community continues to grow, so does the need for a skilled workforce to support our growing industries. Go Build Georgia aims to equip students across the state with the necessary tools and information so that they are empowered to make informed career decisions. Much like SkillsUSA Georgia and the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Workforce division works to ensure that tomorrow’s workforce is being educated on career opportunities in Georgia today.

Through the Governor’s High Demand Career Initiative, we had the opportunity to travel across the state and hear from the private sector about the positions they are looking to fill over the next ten years. We learned that the skilled trade industries will continue to grow throughout our state, and employers are looking for applicants who will contribute to this growth. In addition to needing employees with credentials, company participants emphasized the need for self-starters with strong soft skills.

Our Go Build Georgia program and the SkillsUSA Georgia organization share a similar goal of educating students and preparing them for life after the classroom.

In February, we celebrated National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month at the state Capitol with Governor Deal. The event spotlighted the importance of our Go Build Georgia program. By having a presence in high schools across the state we can help educate students and develop a strong workforce to support our grow12

Ben Hames ing businesses. As we wrap-up CTE month, we are excited to have the opportunity to participate as a presenting sponsor in this year’s Georgia CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championship. This event also gives us the opportunity to educate students about career opportunities in

the skilled trade industries across Georgia.

The CareerExpo serves as a great platform where students are able to witness real world work-based scenarios as they participate in more than 100 skilled and leadership competitions. It’s a great opportunity to share our Go Build Georgia message with more than 2,000 students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Our team will be positioned at a Go Build Georgia booth where students can see, touch, and learn how practical skills can lead to rewarding career opportunities.

I encourage you to visit www.gobuildgeorgia.com to learn more about the state’s Go Build Georgia program and how you can get involved. v

Georgia Contractor

Run your race

By Scott Shelar | CEO of CEFGA | Construction Education Foundation of Georgia

I

highly recommend a new book called, “You Can You Will - 8 Undeniable Qualities of a Winner,” by Joel Osteen.

The second chapter, in particular, grabbed me. It’s called “Run Your Race.”

What does this mean?

It means you need to figure out your unique skills, your unique gifts; your unique talents, then choose the ‘race’ that best suits you.

For parents, counselors, teachers, and other influencers, it also means we need to be careful not to mold young people to run our race. The older I get, the more I realize that every individual is unique, and therefore has a unique race to run.

It’s tempting and natural to assume that what works for us in life also works for other people. The problem is that because each individual is so unique, each requires individualized guidance.

That is what makes the standard ‘go to a four-year university’ advice, for example, problematic. A four-year degree prepares certain types of people to run certain types of races. Indeed, the numbers say that a four-year degree prepares about 33 percent of the US population to run their race.

The obvious question is, “what are we doing to help the other 67 percent run their race?”

That’s what is great about the CEFGA CareerExpo. It helps parents, teachers, counselors, and students learn about and explore dozens of different careers or ‘races.’

It is a unique opportunity to speak with hundreds of professionals about the specific skills and training and edMarch | April 2015

ucation required. There are representatives from technical colleges and universities, private career colleges, and apprenticeship programs. And all of this is in one place, under one roof.

For example, when a student first enters the CareerExpo, they interact with safety professionals from OSHA, HB NEXT, and New South Construction to learn about careers in Safety and Health.

Across the aisle in the World of Welding, students meet representatives from Georgia Trade School and learn about welding careers in heavy equipment manufacturing, ship building, and construction.

As they continue through the Expo, students meet representatives from major construction management firms like Holder Construction Company, Parrish Construction, and Brasfield & Gorrie. In the same World of Construction Management, Sustainability and Design, students interact with re p re s e n t a t i ve s from Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Gwinnett Tech and Georgia Southern, just to name a few of the colleges and universities represented this year.

Think your race involves electrical or mechanical contracting? The interactive exhibits in the World of Heating and Air, the World of Plumbing and the World of Electrical Contracting will be great stops for you. Here you can visit with companies like McKenney’s, Superior Plumbing,

PlumbWorks, Rawlins Mechanical, Fitzgerald Plumbing, MetroPower, and Eckardt Electric.

Have you ever wanted to operate a big, yellow piece of equipment, ever thought that might be your race? You will want to be sure and visit the World of Heavy Equipment Operations and Utility Contracting. The Georgia Utility Contractors Association and its members always do a great job explaining their various careers and giving students lots of hands-on learning opportunities.

The World of Energy features a whole other exciting sector, with employers from Southern Company, Georgia Power, Georgia Transmission and Georgia System Operations, and MEAG Power.

We also have three exciting new Worlds this year in the World of Landscape, the World of Mining, and the World of Sheet Metal.

But back to Joel’s book for just a moment. Another great bit of advice in the “Run Your Race”

chapter is to remember that you are not going to please everyone.

We should ask for advice and seek guidance, but at the end

13

of the day, we have to know ourselves, follow our gut, and be careful to not get distracted by all of the various opinions we will hear from parents, counselors, teachers, friends, the media, etc. Process the ideas and opinions, but at the end of the day only you know what Your Race should be.

I love this story that Joel shares: “It’s like this country grandfather who took his grandson to town on a donkey. He started off letting his grandson ride the donkey as he walked alongside. Somebody passed by and said, “Look at that selfish boy making that old man walk.”

The grandfather heard it and took the boy off. Then he rode the donkey as his grandson walked by his side.

Somebody came along and said, “Look at that man making that little boy walk while he rides.”

Hearing that, the grandfather pulled the little boy up with him, and

14

they both started riding the donkey. In a few minutes, another person said, “How cruel of you and the boy to place such a heavy load on the donkey.”

By the time they got to town, the grandfather and the grandson were carrying the donkey!”

The point is that you will never please everybody.

Scott Shelar

Take this opportunity at the 2015 CareerExpo to learn as much as you can about all of the different ‘races’ that are out there, ask lots of good questions, collect information, participate in all of the hands-on activities. And at the end of this experience, we believe you will be better prepared to know and Run Your Race. v Scott Shelar Runs his Race as the CEO for CEFGA - the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, and as a husband and a father. He is in his 17th year with CEFGA. Scott and his wife have been married for 19 years and they live in Decatur, Georgia, with their two children, ages seven and four.

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

Georgia Contractor

2015 CEFGA Board of Directors Board Chair - Ryan Byars, Holder Construction Company

Scott Brumbelow, Georgia Utility Contractors Association

Vice Chair - Tony Varamo, MetroPower

Ryan Blythe, Georgia Trade School

Aggregate Association (GCAA) Bridgette Moore, United Rentals

Secretary - Debra Howell, Georgia Power

Dixie Speck, Sol Terra Ryan Byars, Holder Construction Company

Mary Kay Woodworth, Urban Ag Council

Kenneth Cook, Pyramid Masonry Kenny Adkins, Technical College System of Georgia

Charles Crosby, CORE Project Management

Jimmy Medina, All State Waste Carol Burke, Georgia Department of Education

Todd Hawkins, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC)

Diane McClearen, Oglethorpe Power Corporation Chuck Little, Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association (AECA) Linda Moore, Georgia Construction

Jim Holt, Georgia Power Aggregate Association (GCAA)

Jeffrey Diamond, Goodman John Doherty, Pyramid Masonry Tim Grimes, Dollar Concrete Construction Company

Michele R. Huber, Masonry Association of Georgia

Daniel Maxson, New South Construction Company

Jody Klodner, Marek Interior Systems Jerome Sabol, PlumbWorks

CEFGA Staff Scott Shelar, CEO

Cherri Watson, AGC Georgia

Kevin Ward, COO

Ellen Whitaker, Plumbing and Mechanical Association of Georgia (PMA)

Tina McDaris, Executive Assistant

Jake Nellis, JE Dunn Andy Rogers, Winter Construction Company Michael Rogers, Blount Construction Company

Jamie Buck, Director, Training and Placement

Donnie Woodham, McKenney's Dave Schoendorf, Baston-Cook Company 2015 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships Planning Committee EV Bennett, Holder Construction Company

Rod Owen, C.C. Owen Tile Company Dana Kilpatrick, Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) Tom Bosley, OSHA John Cardosa, Georgia Construction

Jessie Sadlowsky, Assistant Director, Training and Placement CEFGA 1255 Lakes Parkway, Suite 390 Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043 www.cefga.org

2015 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!

1st Mechanical 3M/Reflective Apparel Factory Ace Electric, Inc AECA AGC Georgia AGC Georgia Young Leadership Prog.

All State Waste March | April 2015

Allison-Smith Company Alondras Decorations American Technical Publishers Anderson Grading & Pipeline, LLC ASC/GCAA Atlanta Electrical Contractors Assoc.

Auburn University / McWhorter

School of BSCI Batson-Cook Company Blount Construction Co., Inc. Brasfield & Gorrie Brooks-Berry-Haynie and Assoc. Inc. Burke County Board of Education C. C. Owen Tile Company, Inc. 15

C.A. Murren & Sons Company, Inc. Caterpillar, Inc. Center for Disease Control & Prevention Central Georgia EMC ChuckE2009 City of College Park City Of Marietta City of Marietta - Marietta Power Clayton County Water Authority CLP, A True Blue Company CMAA - South Atlantic Chapter Cobb County School District Community & Southern Bank CompTrust AGC Mutual Captive Insurance Company Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) CORE Project Management LLC Cowin Equipment Company Custom Building Products Dal-Tile Day & Zimmermann Eckardt Electric Electric Cities of Georgia Fitzgerald & Sons Plumbing Fluor Fortune-Johnson General Contractors Galloway's Masonry com Georgia 811 Georgia Construction Aggregate Association Georgia Department of Economic Development, Workforce Division Georgia Department of Education Georgia Department of Transportation Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC) Georgia Power Georgia Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Georgia System Operations Corp.

Georgia Tech Georgia Trade School Georgia Transmission Corportation Georgia Urban Ag Council Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA) Go Build Georgia

16

GUCA - Georgia Utility Contractors Association GUCA Foundation Gwinnett Technical College Gwinnett Technical College, Horticulture Department Hanson Aggregates / Lehigh Hanson HB NEXT Holder Construction Company Holder Construction Foundation Home Builders Association of Georgia (HBAG) House Calls Complete Home Services Huntington Ingalls Industries IBEW 613 Atlanta, GA IEC Atlanta/Georgia Chapters Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Ivey Mechanical Co LLC Jackson Masonry Contracting, LLC JATC - Sheet Metal JE Dunn Construction Jeffreys/Manufacturing Solutions Kennesaw State University Labor Ready, a True Blue Company Lincoln Electric Local 72 / MCAG Joint Apprenticeship Program LU72 Mechanical Trades Institute Marek Interior Systems, Inc. Marietta Power Martin Marietta Materials Masonry Association of Georgia McKenney's McKinney Drilling Company, LLC MEAG Power Mechanical Industries Council Mechanical Trades Institute Memco Solutions MetroPower Miller MSA Neal Davis Homes New South Construction Company Inc. Oglethorpe Power Corporation OSHA Parrish Construction Group Pearson/NCCER Penco Electric

Petty and Associates Piedmont Construction Group Pirkle Electric Company Plumb Works Inc. Plumbing and Mechanical Association of Georgia (PMA) Plumbrite PRAD Group Purdue University, Building Construction Management Pyramid Masonry Contractors Inc Quarry Services/GCAA RDJE, Inc. Rock Services / GCAA Ross-Bain Green Building Savannah River Remediation School of Building Construction, Georgia Tech SelecSource Staffing, Inc Tradesmen Solultions Select Staffing Snapping Shoals EMC Solterra, Inc Southern Company Southern Company Services Southern Crescent Technical College Southern Nuclear Southern Polytechnic State University CMAA SAC Superior Plumbing Service, Inc. Technical College System of Georgia Tekla Corporation Thomas Concrete Tri-County EMC Tulsa Welding School Two Twigs Enterprises LLC U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA United Electric United Rentals University of North Western Ohio Urban Ag Council Georgia URJANET INC. Vulcan Materials Company Wayne J Griffin Electric Inc. West Georgia Technical College Winter Construction Company Wirthwhile Remodeling Wm. J. Redmond & Son, Inc. Yancey Bros.

Georgia Contractor

Culture reflects a company’s values

By Douglas Davidson, Founder and President of New South Construction Company

F

or 25 years, my construction company has built many structures that grace the metro Atlanta skyline, from office buildings to schools to sports facilities. Yet, no matter how well we do our job, the one thing we cannot seem to build turns out to be the most important element in our clients’ setting: their culture.

The word culture became so popular in 2014 that Merriam-Webster Dictionary chose it as its No. 1 Word of the Year based on the number of times it was searched. I find that to be ironic as culture is a word that’s almost as hard to define as it is to build.

You can’t see it or touch it, but in many organizations, you can feel it.

Young people report a company’s culture is more important than compensation in choosing where to work.

In October, Apple™ and Facebook™— already known for extravagant benefits—announced a new perk: paying for female employees to freeze their eggs. As Atlanta attracts more technology and entertainment firms, we’ll begin to see Silicon Valley benefits such as slides between floors, beer kegs in lobbies, and free food in cafeterias.

I agree that company benefits are important, but the real foundation to a company’s culture is the quality of the individuals you hire, the relationships you foster between management and employees, and the values that you establish and instill—sometimes during the initial interview with prospective employees.

I remember early in our firm’s history, when we were hiring new team members who had already been offered positions by competitors, we told them to take their time making March | April 2015

Douglas Davidson the decision, but to keep in mind that at our company, they would never be asked to do anything during the day that would make them lose sleep at night. A company’s values should be evident from the very beginning, as it will attract and retain the people that best fit with your firm.

Our values were the first thing I established and committed to when founding the company, and they are still the drivers for each decision we make today. In order to maintain your culture, you must continually reinforce the values and relationships. This can be as simple as celebrating wins with your team, as we do with each new project award. It may be celebrating with an ice-cream gathering or an event after work – but whatever it is, we ensure our team knows they are appreciated.

Another tenet in building a culture is establishing clear and authentic communication with

your team. In our training, we emphasize what we call, ‘Grandma’s Rule,’ which is, “Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it and do it right the first time.” When leaders model such genuine interactions to front-line employees, the team members will in turn foster trustworthy relationships and create long-lasting bonds with clients.

Culture is also about integrity.

When we were awarded a project by one of our industrial developer clients, we told him that if we could save money in the construction process, we’d let them have the savings, even though we were under a lump sum contract. A year later, when we finished the project under budget, we went over to present our client with the savings realized from our ability to find ways to be more efficient and save money on the project. He had forgotten our commitment to return these savings and was shocked we had followed through on our promise.

The result of this integrity is a lifelong client for whom we have constructed many projects.

As hard to define as it is, culture is one of the most important building blocks of any organization. Our company values have been the foundation of our culture, and the additional perks have been just that—perks. Culture isn’t about the Silicon Valley benefits we so often read in the headlines. It’s about your people. v Originally appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

17

Attention young people : Construction’s challenge is your opportunity

By Mike Dunham | Chief Executive Officer | Associated General Contractors of Georgia Inc.

W

hile contractors are enjoying today’s rebounding economy, the improved market presents challenges. One of the most pressing is finding skilled workers. Speak with any owner of a general contractor or specialty contractor firm, and they will share how badly they need qualified, hard working, responsible people to help build projects.

Recent statistics show that for every four workers retiring from the construction industry, only one is ready to help fill open positions. What does this mean for young people considering career options after graduation? It’s great news! It means you have a wealth of job opportunities waiting for you; just apply yourself and take advantage of resources available in your community.

Careers in construction resources • High school construction teacher • Career Coaches/Guidance Counselors • Local contracting companies • Go Build Georgia (www.gobuildgeorgia.com) • Regional chapter of SkillsUSA Georgia (www.skillsusageorgia.org) • Construction Education Foundation of Georgia - CEFGA (www.cefga.org) • Find a Training Center at NCCER (www.nccer.org) • ACE Mentoring Program (www.acementor.org – link to Georgia affiliate) • AGC Georgia’s Regional Workforce Development Alliance members (www.agcga.org) 18

trades will require workers to be outdoors most of the day, so those who have this desire for outside work will really excel in a construction career.

The electrical trade, as with all construction trades, requires safe and reliable workers who are committed to accomplishing goals in a team environment and who want to grow both personally and professionally.

Mike Dunham Words of Wisdom from Industry Experts Do You Have What it Takes?

Students interested in exploring a career as an electrician are encouraged to take the construction pathways in high school so they can begin gaining the knowledge and skills needed for the trade. Many electricians enter a four-to-five year apprenticeship after high school so the baseline knowledge and skills gained in the construction pathways will transfer over to the apprenticeship. Most construction

~ Tony Varamo, Workforce Development Manager, MetroPower Contracting is a Woman’s World, Too! When introduced to others as president of Collins and Arnold Construction Company, people often give me a quizzical look. It’s as if they are wondering “how did SHE become president?” To be honest, it’s not a path I thought I’d ever take. Early in my career, I worked in a construction office, but participated in field operations.

However, my mentors encouraged me to believe there was nothing I could not do and to set high goals. The more I learned about construction, the more it intrigued me. Over the years, I developed a love for construction. I love

Georgia Contractor

March | April 2015

19

the process. I love the smell of dirt being pushed around. I love the sound of safety devices on equipment when I visit a job site. I take a lot of pride in driving past a building or a shopping center built or renovated by our firm; that never gets old!

I encourage all young women to consider a career in construction.

Often, you find incredible opportunities in places you never expected. Regardless of whether you are looking to enter an apprenticeship program, enroll in a technical college or attend a university, rewarding opportunities are available for you. For those interested in a four-year degree, majoring in business, engineering, and/or construction management can help pave your way into the construction industry.

Throughout my career, I have worked with women who have taken all of the paths mentioned above to launch their career in the industry. As a group, we are good managers of time and talent, and have a knack of bringing a sense of calm to an other-

20

wise fast-paced industry.

There’s not one day (in over 30 years!), I started my morning wishing I was in another industry. For both young men and women interested in construction, I welcome your call if I can ever help you with your construction industry career path!

- Jennifer W. Horton, President, Collins and Arnold Construction Company Why Construction?

Men and women on our commercial construction job sites see their hard work and contributions to our team come to life every day. Each of these people play an important part in building schools, roads, shopping centers, hotels, churches, hospitals, sports stadiums, office buildings, bridges, and so much more.

Construction is where ideas from a set of architectural drawings come to reality. Without a contractor, it’s just someone’s vision—nothing more.

Another incredible aspect of the con-

struction industry is that it has no limits. Do you dream of leading a construction company? Many successful construction companies are led by people who began their careers in the field. With guidance from mentors and an understanding of the results of their hard work, they were able to seek a comfortable and financially-secure future. Do you have a desire to travel?

If so, amazing opportunities are available on all continents of our globe.

American-based construction companies have employees located on projects far and wide. Whether you choose to travel abroad or stay in your local community, the construction industry provides endless opportunities.

If you see yourself as a leader, as someone who enjoys meeting a challenge head-on and wants to be the best at what they do—you are on your way to a great career in construction.

– Mike Kenig, Vice Chairman, Holder Construction Company v

Georgia Contractor

March | April 2015

21

NCCER credentials : The fast track to a rewarding career

SkillsUSA masonry competitor at the 2014 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, Missouri

22

Georgia Contractor

By Amy Saxton | Communications Manager | NCCER

I

ndustry recognition is a key component of a valuable credential, and credentials have proven to significantly increase earning potential and upward mobility. According to the Construction Industry Institute, craft professionals who become NCCER Certified Plus receive an average of $2 more per hour than uncertified workers in the same field.

Contractors often times increase starting salaries for new craft professionals who produce NCCER credentials and many contractors will even offer their craft professionals training through tuition reimbursements for

Electrical trainee competing in a regional competition hosted by CEF of North Texas for a chance to move on to ABC's National Craft Championships.

March | April 2015

coursework, paid craft training programs and in-house training, which can lead to promotions or salary increases. It is also common for contractors to institute wage structures that reward craft professionals for reaching milestones in NCCER training, such as the helper and journey stages.

What is NCCER? NCCER is a not-for-profit education foundation that was created in 1996 by more than 125 construction CEOs and various association and academic leaders. Sharing the common goal of developing a safe and productive workforce, these companies created NCCER as a standardized training, as-

sessment and credentialing program.

NCCER provides a consistent program of accreditation, instructor certification, standardized curricula, assessments, and certifications. As a result, NCCER has become industry’s trusted source for developing craft professionals. In fact, eight of the top ten contractors on Engineering NewsRecord’s Top 400 Contractor List for 2014 are NCCER Accredited Training Sponsors, and one-third of the top 100 contractors are affiliated with NCCER. The Need for Credentials As the skills gap widens, industries that require skilled professionals are placing additional emphasis on credentials. This is particularly evident in the construction industry where the skilled workforce shortage is becoming more pronounced, and employers are recognizing the increasing importance of credentials as a way to validate the training of craft professionals.

According to ManpowerGroup’s annual Talent Shortage Survey, which has 36,000 participants worldwide, skilled trades have been the hardest jobs to fill globally for the last three consecutive years. The inability of contractors to find qualified skilled workers only highlights the immediate need for craft professionals to receive training that provides industry-recognized and portable credentials. As America recovers from the economic recession, the right credentials and training provide graduates and job seekers successful career paths into the construction industry, which is poised for dramatic growth. The Construction Labor Market Analyzer forecasts that more than two million new craft professionals will be needed in our industry by 2018. Credentialed craft professionals who are in high demand today will also be the frontrunners for the hottest jobs in the future.

Certification or formal training can put craft professionals on the fast 23

track to upper management or ownership positions, and, in conjunction with work experience, is the best way to achieve advancement. The path to ownership is one that few industries can offer; however, in the construction industry, there are many stories of people who begin as an apprentice and become the owner or CEO of a company. NCCER’s recruitment and image enhancement initiative, Build Your Future, offers a graphic that shows the various career paths an individual can take within the industry, starting with a middle school student and ending with a CEO. After high school, students can go into an industry training program, receive a degree or certificate from a community or technical college or receive a university degree. All three of these avenues can lead to the top position in a company. However, there are multiple

entry points regardless of what stage someone is in their career. The best part about the construction industry is that it offers career paths that enable trainees to earn a paycheck while they learn and avoid high college debt.

Standardized Craft Curricula In cooperation with publishing partner Pearson and subject matter experts representing contractors and schools from across the country, NCCER develops and publishes curricula for more than 70 craft areas. NCCER’s comprehensive library of craft curricula is used worldwide by contractors, associations, construction users, and secondary and postsecondary schools. The standardized curriculum offered by NCCER is comprised of training levels for each craft, and individuals receive credentials after successful completion of these levels.

NCCER’s Core Curriculum covers basic construction and safety topics and complies with OSHA-10 training requirements.

Industry-Recognized Credentials Contractors want to be certain that the craft professionals they employ on job sites have reached a standard level of competency. NCCER credentials validate the training individuals receive and provide proof that they have the proper training for their specific crafts. NCCER credentials are industry recognized, which means they are accepted by contractors throughout the industry and therefore eliminate the need for individuals to get retrained for a certain craft each time they change employers.

Journey-level written assessments and Performance Verifications, which are based on NCCER curricula,

High school students learning about careers in construction through crane simulators at the Build Your Future Career Day in Dallas, Texas.

24

Georgia Contractor

are also provided by NCCER and lead to industry-recognized credentials and certification. Many craft professionals have never received official recognition for the knowledge and skills they possess. Therefore, a craft assessment and Performance Verification can quickly determine the knowledge and skills an employee has acquired through work experience or training and reward him or her with appropriate credentials. Candidates who pass both a written assessment and Performance Verification become Certified Plus, which is the highest NCCER credential available in most crafts.

The NCCER Registry System is the credentialing and certification system that assures portability of skills within the industry by providing transcripts,

certificates, and wallet cards. After successful completion of training levels and/or assessments, individuals receive an NCCER wallet card with a specific identification number that allows employers to verify their training and/or assessment history.

ical to future success and career satisfaction for craft professionals. As more contractors recognize the value of standardized training and assessments, career prospects for credentialed craft professionals will only continue to grow.

Unlimited Potential It is clear that employers hold credentialed and certified individuals in high regard, and those credentials are crit-

Get the credentials you deserve. To find an NCCER training and assessment center near you, visit www.nccer.org/centersearch. v

CLP: Closing the Skills Gap One Job at a Time Closing the Skills Gap – what does that mean?

To CLP it means providing workforce solutions to our customers and creating opportunities to put people to work every day. We change lives of our customers and workers by doing one thing and doing it well: skilled trades staffing! We provide qualified workers to customers throughout Georgia and the entire United States. We partner with some of the largest and best construction companies to provide safe, reliable employment opportunities to thousands of workers each day.

CLP is proud to align with CEFGA as its placement program leader. We take certified students and work with our customers and CEFGA members to place these students as temporary workers or as temporary to permanent employees, affording you the cost benefit of testing a workers skills set and match for values prior to signing that person on permanently.

This model creates win-win for both the employer and the employee. We invest in the students training and meeting our customer’s priorities and objectives remains our clear directive.

The CEFGA System, a construction Workforce Development Plan for Georgia, is shown below:

AWARE NE SS WEBSITES, OUTREACH, MEDIA TRAINING/EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAMS PLACEMENT/EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT THROUGH CLP, LABOR UNIONS, AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY TERRY DAUGHERTY | CLP RESOURCES 8975 Roswell Road Suite 207 Atlanta, GA 30350 678-710-0826 678-710-0829 fax 404-987-9325 cell tdaugherty@clp.com www.clp.com March | April 2015

25

Training students in green building techniques

By John Kenyon | Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome, Georgia

A

s the cost of energy continues to rise, the amount of natural resources available continues to dwindle.

As a result ‘green’ building techniques are becoming more prevalent in residential and commercial construction, repair, and remodeling, To address this shift in construction trends, Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) developed a new Residential Energy Efficiency Technology program to train students in green building techniques that differ from standard building techniques.

Students learn not only how to save energy, but also how to build a structure that will last longer.

“We knew that when residential construction came back and the economy got stronger then more people would want to build with energy efficiency in mind and be able to hopefully lower their utility bills and live a healthier lifestyle inside their own home,” said Donny Holmes, director of GNTC’s Residential Energy Efficiency Technology program and Construction Management program.

The program trains students in green building techniques and practice, such as energy audits, indoor air quality, measuring how much leakage a house may have, and combustion testing. Students also learn to use energy efficient building methods outside of the house for landscaping and water conservation.

“The main concept we teach is simply to build with sustainability in mind,” said Holmes.

Students also are trained in Blower Door and Duct Blaster testing and perform carbon monoxide monitoring on appliances and HVAC equipment.

“The Residential Energy Efficiency 26

Donny Holmes (left) director of the Residential Energy Efficiency Technology program at GNTC, shows Bo Dooley (right), a Construction Management major from Calhoun, how to use a thermal imager to find faulty insulation.

Technology program was developed because we wanted to offer something different that will make an impact on our everyday lives,” said Holmes.

A key factor in the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Technology program at GNTC is the EarthCraft Education Project. EarthCraft is a green building program based in the southeastern U.S. that offers certification based on a points system. Projects that receive EarthCraft certification typically have healthier indoor quality, high standards of energy and water efficiency, reduce resource consumption, and provide savings on maintenance, repairs, and utilities.

The EarthCraft Program was created in 1999 as a partnership between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Southface Energy Institute to teach builders the latest methods of resource and energy-efficient construction.

For the EarthCraft Education project at GNTC, two houses were built side by side on the Gordon County

campus. One house was built under new green and energy efficient specifications using new materials and techniques with EarthCraft House guidelines. The other house was built under standard building practices and traditional construction typical for most houses in the U.S. This house had the common air leaks, older appliances and water heater, and an 80percent efficient gas furnace.

“The eco-friendly house uses a Carrier Infinity, which is a 96.5 efficient furnace,” said Holmes. “It’s a gas furnace that burns and retains the heat as much as possible. Older furnaces are less efficient, but this furnace is so sealed tight and it uses some great technology.”

The average energy cost at an EarthCraft certified home is 28 percent lower than at a standard dwelling.

“The energy efficient building was built to show the contrast between the standard home, and the focus was on using materials that were environmentally safe and also to keep out as much draft as possible,” said Charles Burns, a Construction Management Georgia Contractor

major at GNTC. The EarthCraft house has a sealed crawlspace with a dehumidifier, and the walls of the crawl space are insulated with two-inch ridged foam board. The dehumidifier removes all of the moisture from the air so there are not any sort of moldy conditions that are commonly found in a standard house crawlspace that isn’t sealed.

This creates better overall air quality inside of the home.

Zip System® sheathing with halfinch foam board was used for exterior wall sheathing and Zip System® roof panels used for the roof sheathing. All sheathing joints and corners were then taped to give you a sealed exterior envelope.

“That means everything is air tight, and we have created a building envelope,” said Holmes.

The EarthCraft House uses blown-in insulation in the wall cavities and spray foam insulation for the roof deck. This creates an envelope starting with the crawl space that goes up

March | April 2015

the walls and then into the attic and roof. Since everything inside the house

is inside the building envelope, there is no condensation, rusting, or mildew.

27

loggers will be a huge part of this ongoing project and will provide the needed data that we can share with many others to prove energy efficiency and that building this way is just smart,” said Holmes.

Energy efficiency and building science are concepts that many will find practical, whether they are building something from the ground up or renovating an existing house.

“The cost of energy is continuing to rise and if we can get contractors or building inspectors on board with how to build with energy efficiency and green building techniques, then our houses are going to use less power and hold up and perform better,” said Holmes.

Approximately 16,000 people benefit from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs, making it the largest college in Northwest Georgia and the fifth largest technical college in Georgia. v The house uses Nichiha cement board siding, and the mulch on the outside of the house is made of recycled tire treads. All of the fixtures are water sense fixtures, and all of the lighting is LED. There is also a Solatube for daytime lighting and rain barrels connected to the gutters to conserve water.

“It’s good for the economy; it saves energy, not only for yourself but also for the community,” said Shane McLaughlin, a construction management major at GNTC. The program uses Onset HOBO® UX100 temperature/relative humidity data loggers in the crawl space and attics of both houses to measure and record temperature and relative humidity, 24 hours a day, over the next year. Data from the loggers will be analyzed and used to show energy-efficiency gains that happen with green building techniques.

“The data loggers are collecting data every six hours in the two test houses,” said Holmes. “These data 28

Georgia Contractor

Atlanta resident thrives in new job at stadium project

By Allen Allnoch

L

loyd Foster wears a microphone on one shoulder. An iPhone is clipped to the other. A walkie-talkie hangs from a pants pocket. In his new job in security on the Atlanta Falcons stadium site, Foster certainly is well connected.

Thanks to Westside Works’ construction training and certification program, Foster is connected in a broader sense as well. After graduating with Westside Works’ first class in July 2014, he was hired immediately for a gatekeeper position, and he’s excited about the potential for career growth.

“I wanted something where I could make a decent starting wage and progress into a higher-paying job,” says Foster, 49. “The construction industry provided that. You can get in,

March | April 2015

Lloyd Foster

29

and it’s up to you how fast you move up.”

“He’s eager to learn, that’s for sure,” says Danny McCall, safety director for Holder, Hunt, Russell, Moody (HHRM, the joint venture in charge of the stadium’s construction).

“He came in, he knew what he had to do, and he’s doing it. He’s very professional.”

That’s welcome news for Jamie Buck, Director of Training & Placement for the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), which oversees training at Westside Works.

“We want to make sure our students represent the industry well and are successful out there,” Buck says.

Foster was a tattoo artist prior to entering the Westside Works program. The increased pay, coupled with better job stability, has enabled him to begin making some long-hoped-for improvements on his English Avenue home. The new role also affords him more time with his wife and children, ages six, eight, ten and 12.

30

“I like the job because there’s less stress,” Foster says. “With my old job, I had to do marketing and other things.

Here, I just have to be here on time, do what I’m supposed to do, and once I take my hat off, I can go home and there’s no stress.”

Foster came to Westside Works through Integrity Transformations Community Development Corporation (Integrity CDC), which recruits prospective students and serves as a liaison between Westside Works and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Thanks to the street-level connections and networking of Integrity CDC and its executive director, Rev. Howard Beckham, local residents like Foster are learning about career opportunities that are bursting with potential.

Foster had been in the tattoo business for more than 15 years. He doesn’t speak negatively of it, but it’s clear he’s happy with his new career.

After countless days hunched over bare skin with a needle in hand, he now works outdoors in a fast-paced

security role that he has embraced.

“I didn’t envision being here,” he says, “but once I found out about Westside Works, I was really happy I stepped forward and was accepted as part of that first class. I really like the program.”

Westside Works is a long term neighborhood program focused on creating employment opportunities and job training for residents of the Westside community, including Vine City, English Avenue, Castleberry Hill, and other contiguous neighborhoods.

Westside Works is a partnership of the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), Integrity Community Development Corporation, (Integrity CDC) and New Hope Enterprises. Investors of the project include Invest Atlanta, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Read more at www.westsideworks.org or cefga.org v

Georgia Contractor

Remarkable rookie : Bennie Bell has distinguished himself as a leader-in-the-making in the construction business

By Allen Allnoch

O

n a job site of such vast scope and complexity as the new Atlanta Falcons Stadium, career opportunities abound for skilled laborers— even those with little prior

experience.

Bennie Bell has been on the site since summer 2014 after graduating with Westside Works’ Construction Group #1. He works for Technique Concrete, and despite coming to the job as a novice, he’s quickly established himself as a ‘go-to’ guy.

“What I really like about Bennie is he’s always ready to step up,” says Jimmy Martin, Bell’s supervisor. “You get a lot of guys out here in the construction industry and they’ll be a little timid, but he wasn’t timid. He came right out, saw what we were doing and took off. I’ve been working with him on being a leader because I see a lot of potential in him. I’d love to have four or five more of him.”

Clearly, Technique has been a good fit for Bell, who says “All the way up to the owner, everyone has welcomed me with open arms and told me there is room for growth. It’s been a blast. I’ve been working hard and hopefully my hard work pays off.”

Westside Works was a welcome opportunity that arrived in the middle of a dry spell in Bell’s work life. “I had worked various jobs, just trying to find my way and make an honest living, but I was out of a job when I heard about the program through word of mouth. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but it sounded promising, so I gave it a shot.”

After four weeks of demanding classroom work and more than six March | April 2015

Bennie Bell

months of on-the-job experience, Bell, 27, is proficient in pouring and finishing concrete, cutting pile caps, and other tasks that are helping the stadium take shape on Northside Drive.

“Bennie is very smart and he catches onto things quickly,” Martin says. “There are a lot of times when he’ll analyze something and bring it to me and tell me about it, and we’ll work together on it.”

The job has enabled Bell to move into a new residence in Decatur, and he, like Martin, has an eye on his future. “I want to get married and have kids one day, and if I do, I can tell my kids I had a hand in something that’s

going to be historical,” he says. “This is going to be there for a while, long after I’m gone. It’s a real honor to work on this site.”

Bell appreciates the structure and discipline of the Westside Works training regimen, as well as the management behind it.

“It was exciting, and I felt like I accomplished something,” he says.

“There are a lot of scams out there, a lot of people who will lead you to believe they want to help you. But the staff at Westside Works—people like Scott Shelar, Jamie Buck, and Johnny Hughes—those are good people and they are actually there to help you.”

The crash course in construction training, Bell adds, “has shown me that I have more willpower than I thought before—that if I really want something, I can endure and get it. It’s also taught me that if I stay focused and keep a positive attitude, there’s nothing I can’t do. The whole experience has been positive for me.”

Westside Works is a long term neighborhood program focused on creating employment opportunities and job training for residents of the Westside community, including Vine City, English Avenue, Castleberry Hill, and other contiguous neighborhoods.

Westside Works is a partnership of the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), Integrity Community Development Corporation (Integrity CDC) and New Hope Enterprises. Investors of the project include Invest Atlanta, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Read more at www.westsideworks.org or cefga.org v 31

Rebuilding America

By Ryan Blythe | Founder | Georgia Trade School

W

ith more than fifty percent of US products requiring welding including ships, race cars, bridges, oil rigs, cell phones, and computers and with an estimated 250,000 new welding jobs created by 2019- the dynamic industry of welding and fabrication is both the present and the future.

Perhaps the most significant challenge to this dynamic business is an aging workforce. Fortunately, organizations like Skills USA and Go Build Georgia are helping to close that gap by creating opportunities and connecting young people to employers in dire need of their talent.

At Georgia Trade School, we understand this challenge and embrace it every single day. Here are just a few examples from the 127 welders we have recently trained and their great success stories.

Kramer Bolton has welded in Tennessee, Georgia, and Colorado building houses, banks and churches. By traveling all over the country, Kramer has embraced the limitless possibilities welders enjoy. He talks of the passion that learning to weld and fabricate brought him and how he gives 100 percent effort with everything he has on every job he works.

Quinton Cychosz attended college which is not unusual in the students we teach. But following his college experience, Quinton was not in a job with much advancement and certainly not in a career. So with a lot of hard work and determination, he became a pipe welder. Today, Mr. Cychosz earns enough money to pursue his expensive hobbies including motorcycles and aviation.

Tyler Wyman also went to college and saw how his friends in Texas were making far more money in the trades.

It is reported than in places like Houston, there are three pipe welding jobs 32

2014 Skills USA Welding and Fabrication Contestant for every qualified welder. So Tyler came to Georgia Trade School and earned his welding credentials leading to employment with the nation’s largest railcar manufacturer, Trinity Industries.

Deshei Hiraoka changed careers to become a TIG welder. With a background in audio engineering, she already had learned the discipline and hand/eye coordination that allows you to excel in welding. Within a few months of graduating, her employer could see she was a natural leader and promoted her to a supervisory position.

But perhaps my favorite story is John Norris. John studied industrial design in college and enjoyed the innovative and creative side of his major but disliked the university experience.

John comes from a family that is comprised of college educated professionals so deciding to pursue a trade to

find fulfillment required convincing skeptical parents. Just three years after John graduated from Georgia Trade School, he is a first class welder for the Navy’s largest shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries. He works for an exceptional company that provides a highly paid lifestyle with full benefits and continuing educational opportunities.

While attending the 2015 Georgia State Skills USA Championship, I personally invite you to stop by the World of Welding, to meet YouTube sensation Lanse Edwards aka ChuckE2009 and our fantastic industry leaders including Caterpillar, Ingalls Shipbuilding, and the Local 72 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union who will all be recruiting the next generation of success stories. v Georgia Contractor

Building the future

By Michele Huber | Executive Director | Masonry Association of Georgia

T

he Masonry Association of Georgia (MAG) is pleased to announce the reinstatement of their apprenticeship program after a brief hiatus due to the economic downturn. In partnership with Argos, students will have the opportunity to work on a ’live’ project throughout their training.

Now, more than ever, masons are needed in the Atlanta area with the building boom provided by the new Atlanta Braves and Falcons stadiums.

And it’s not only the stadiums that will need to be constructed—many new businesses will be planned around each of these new sports complexes.

With this surge in construction, apprentices will be able to get the on the job training they need while attending MAG’s apprenticeship training program. Masons work with brick, concrete block, and stone and may specialize in one or more of these materials. These materials demand the highest level of skill because the finished product is what the public sees.

The association especially likes to target high school students currently in masonry programs for recruitment into the apprenticeship program. Executive Director Michele Huber notes “we have structured our apprenticeship program around the NCCER text that is currently used in Georgia high schools. This will ensure that those students who have already demonstrated a willingness to learn the trade in high school can get a head start when they join the MAG program.”

She continued, “if we can continue to engage these students after high school and train them correctly, we will have masons who build with quality and future foremen and superintendents to carry on the art of the masonry trade. We want to show stuMarch | April 2015

Hands-on training area for students

dents a profitable career path in masonry.”

MAG is also targeting high school construction teachers to provide them with an opportunity to attend the apprenticeship classes on Tuesdays along with the apprentices. This allows the construction teachers who may not have a masonry background to critique their basic masonry skills and techniques to take back to their classrooms. “Instructor training is important, so future apprentices from high school programs can get a head start with the correct methods and techniques prior to starting our apprenticeship program.”

The MAG apprenticeship program is registered with the Georgia Department of Labor’s Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training and consists of 432 hours of classroom and handson training divided into six semesters of 21 weeks each. Subjects include mason tending, brick and block laying, mortar composition and mixing, wall performance, tools and equipment, specialty products, stone work, safety,

scaffolding, and blueprint reading. To become certified, apprentices must also complete 6,000 hours of on-thejob training with a MAG participating contractor.

The apprenticeship program includes a job placement component, and apprentices commonly finish the three-year program while on the job.

Apprentices can get a jump on their career that translates into higher pay because of their higher skill level.

Member contractors periodically stop by the training center on class days to see the continued progress with apprentices and to assist with any training needs (brick, block, sand, etc.) of the program. This also gives contractors a chance to see laborers that are looking for work and are genuinely interested in masonry as a career. These unemployed student/ apprentices pay their own tuition for the first semester with a goal of employment with a member contractor.

By the end of the first semester, most apprentices have the basics of masonry under their belt and can be 33

productive on the job. “Apprentices must meet the competencies and stages of the program before moving on to the next level and pay grade,” states Kenneth Cook of Pyramid Masonry and chair of the MAG Apprenticeship Committee. He adds, “We try to get them working out in the field as soon as possible to reinforce their training and expose them to realworld job conditions.”

Fact is, anyone can buy the materials and the tools, and look in a book or attend a workshop to figure out a way to lay brick, block or stone. But what separates amateurs from professionals is not only skill, but the professional pride in doing the job right.

For more information about a career in masonry, contact MAG at 770310-1885 or www.masonryassocga. com. v

Live projects work area for students

Building a strong future for skills success

By Ashley Brown | Director | SkillsUSA | Georgia

B

rick and mortar, if done correctly, will last forever. That was the positive outlook of a young Lewis Singleton as he prepared to compete in the 2014 SkillsUSA nationals in Kansas City this past summer. This do it right the first time attitude was long in the making and his journey up to this moment had been seasoned with so many great influences.

Carl, Lewis’s older brother, was a senior and was actually in an automotive class. His automotive teacher introduced Carl to SkillsUSA. He wanted to compete in the automotive area, but those slots were full. Carl was advised to talk to the construction teacher about masonry since he helped out with the family construction business. Carl soon went to region and won first in masonry and moved on to state and secured a third 34

Jeff Johnson, SkillUSA advisor with Lewis Singleton Georgia Contractor

place win. Lewis was in eighth grade at the time. He saw what his older brother did and was determined to match and surpass his brother. In talking to Lewis, he said, “I may never really tell Carl, but I really do look up to him. He has motivated me to do my best.”

During the summers and weekends, Lewis would spend time around the jobsite with his father, Carl Sr., and his uncle, Mr. Lewis Coleman, who both work in the mason and carpentry trades. It was here that Lewis began learning a strong work ethic and received more on the job training than any average high school student could get. Lewis explained that, “My uncle would let me string mortar for the masons and if I could finish a line quick enough, he would let me lay a brick or two.” Lewis also has a great mother.

She supported, encouraged and provided the best atmosphere for success. Lewis’s family was always at each event to cheer him on. “I know my family loves me and have always been my strongest supporters.”

As a freshman, he competed for his first time at the region level. The competition did not turn out as he

hoped; there was a setback. This humbling outcome at region was a great learning moment and a strong character building experience. He returned home even more determined to succeed. Lewis states, “When I lost at region, I made up my mind that someday I would go to nationals”.

As a freshman, Lewis enrolled in the construction program at Burke County High School. By the time he finished high school, he had earned three NCCER credentials: Core Curriculum, Carpentry I, and Masonry I. Lewis was vice president of his Skills Chapter and served as president for two years. As a sophomore, he won second in region and third in state. As a junior he won first in region and first in state and went to Kansas City for the first time. As a senior, he won first in region and first in state. He competed in masonry for a second time at nationals.

As a freshman, he attended CEFGA’s Career Construction Expo and the SkillsUSA State Competition as an observer. He reflects that the career expo opened his eyes to how big the construction trade is and how large SkillsUSA was. “As I watched

the masonry competition, I knew I would be there soon.”

Mr. Jeff Johnson, Lewis’s construction teacher, said, “Lewis was always a joy to teach; he was always upbeat, had a great positive attitude, and was always willing to go the extra mile. He is one of those students who come around once in a while and truly make your job as an educator a joy.

He was very teachable, took criticism in the way it was intended, and was a leader in the program”. Mr. Johnson also added that he believes that much of the success of the school’s SkillsUSA chapter was because of Lewis’s dedication.

Lewis now attends Albany Technical College and is studying masonry under Mr. Clifford Singleton (no relation). Lewis said, “The technical school has provided great hands on experiences and has also taught me how to figure jobs”. Lewis wants to finish the masonry program and then continue into the welding program.

Although he wants to leave his options open after technical school, he hopes to one day go into education and become an instructor in the area of construction and masonry. v

Can technology replace the wheel?

By Jon Minick | Project Engineer | New South Construction

W

hether at home or at work, technology has captivated our lives and has altered the standard of means and methods for how tasks are completed in the era that we live in today. In fact, it’s scary to think how much our daily lives depend on technology. What would someone do without a cell phone? What would a person do without internet access or a computer? Would that result in having to actually send conversations via the postal service? Having to pull an encyMarch | April 2015

clopedia off of the shelf to find an answer? In fact, I bet that if you asked a child today to find something in an encyclopedia, the child would respond with a question asking what an encyclopedia was, or instructing you to ‘Google’ it. Is this new ‘standard’ a potential issue or is it a remarkable solution to completing tasks in the modern world?

I am an employee for New South Construction where we strive to stay on the cutting edge of new technology, both industry-specific, as well as operations as a whole. The construction

Industry as a whole, is farther behind, in terms of technology, than most industries. A surprising statistic from a recent study shows that 75 percent of all construction dollars are spent in the field, while 90 percent of all construction technology is used in the office. With a career in the construction industry and sharing a passion for technology, I am currently involved in paving a new path within the company by researching and evaluating new technological advances and software to implement and apply more efficient 35

means and methods to complete dayto-day tasks in the construction industry. With the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), tablets, drones, and different computer and mobile programs, we have found ways to be more efficient in our industry.

This in turn, not only saves us time and money, but also does the same for the project owners, architects, and subcontractors. The owner is receiving a product that is superior, completed at a much faster schedule, and less expensive. Staying on this cutting edge not only results in savings and gives us a competitive edge, but it also places our company among the top contractors in the country.

So if applying advanced technology into your company results in such great returns, where is the downfall?

Why would anyone not be on-board the ‘technology bandwagon’? The answer lies with the previous generation

of baby boomers. Imagine giving one of your grandparents the new iPhone and just leaving them with it. This is the same concept as giving an iPad to an old-school, weathered and rugged construction Superintendent and telling him to use it to build his next project. What’s going to happen?

You’re going to go back to his office the next week to find a dusty iPad lying under scattered paper. That superintendent will continue writing his notes on a legal pad and reading his plans from a huge set of hard copy drawings. His response? “I don’t need that. I like paper.” Why does someone with an old-school mentality adhere to the old-school means and methods?

The answer is because they have always done it that way.

So why is this answer so important? This new generation relies solely on this new technology and nothing else. Though I have a passion for tech-

nology and base my career on it, I try not to blind myself from the foundations of how things are really accomplished. One of our vice presidents once told me that he was excited for all of the new technology that we are using, that is making our work more efficient and streamlined, but he did not want the entry-level employees missing out on the foundation concepts like reviewing shop drawings, conducting quality control, and communication skills. This statement could not be more powerful. Though technology is advancing more each day, we do not need to lose sight of our foundation or ‘old school’ means and methods. I am not implying that we should all stop using our phones and bring back the Pony Express; I am simply stating that we should not lose sight of the basics that got us to where we are today. v

A commitment to an apprenticeship program

By Chuck Little, H. R. Director, AECA

T

he Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association (AECA) is a not-for-profit trade association which represents over 40 plus electrical member contractors. These contractors employ some 3,500 people.

Workforce development has always been a top priority with the association. It is increasingly important as the economy improves and baby boomers continue to retire. AECA recruits from urban, suburban, and rural areas in an effort to recruit the best and brightest career-minded individuals. The world of electrical contracting is dynamic and constantly changing. We need individuals who are eager to learn and grow with the electrical industry. Chuck Little, AECA H.R. Director, first met Eric Allen when he was a senior at Franklin County High School, 36

in rural northeast Georgia. Although Eric could have started in AECA’s Electrical Apprenticeship program as soon as he graduated, he elected to head to a twoyear technical college. Shortly thereafter, he enrolled in the apprenticeship program which is a combination of full-time work and part-time (tuition-free) school.

AECA recently caught up with Eric to talk about his chosen career path AECA: What got you interested in construction in general and electrical specifically while in high school?

Eric Allen is following an electrical layout drawing to mount electrical control equipment in a new Hot Oil temperature control panel

Eric: I got my start in an agriculture mechanics class, where I learned the basics of electrical circuitry. I then took more classes that taught me how to wire common devices such as receptacles and switches. Eventually, I Georgia Contractor

learned how to wire whole circuits on mock up wall panels.

AECA: Did you participate in any competitions while in high school and what kind of results did you have?

Eric: While in high school I was asked if I would like to compete in competitions for FFA and Skills USA. I competed in the EMC wiring competition, where I placed first in the area. As I moved up to the regional competition I placed fifth. I was asked to do residential wiring for Skills USA where I went to regionals and placed first then moved to the state level and won the competition which led me to the national contest in Kansas City, Kansas. I didn't do as well at this contest because at the time I really didn't know much about bending conduit which was the main content of the contest.

AECA: What did you decide to do after high school and what sent you in that direction?

Eric: Once I graduated high school, I was looking at going to a four-year college. When I found out the schooling was costly, I looked into a technical college that was close to home. I got accepted into the Electrical Systems Technology program at North Georgia Technical college. I was taught even more about electrical circuits, motor controls, conduit bending, and even electrical systems calculations.

AECA: Did you participate in any competitions outside of high school and what were those results?

Eric: While at North Georgia Technical College I competed in two types of competitions. One was the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership in which I made it to the finals. The other was a wiring competition for the college which decided who would March | April 2015

represent the college. I was beaten out in the second tie breaker. The next year I was able to advance straight to state level where I placed first. The college then sent me to the national competition in Kansas city where I placed 12th out of 26 competitors.

AECA: You finally decided to get into our electrical apprenticeship program.

What led you to that decision?

Eric: After doing well in most of the wiring competitions that I competed in and after getting the five-year scholarship to the AECA-IBEW Apprenticeship program that I won in my last state competition, I decided to go on and further my education by signing up for the program.

AECA: Who are you working for now and what kinds of experiences have you had as an electrician apprentice?

Eric: I currently work for C & M Electrical Contractors in northeast Georgia. I have learned a lot on the job and from the journeyman that I work under. I mainly work at a pharmaceutical plant and I have seen a lot of devices and fittings I never knew existed. I mainly like to work in big control and PLC cabinets. There is not much that I dislike except ditch work but if it needs to be done, I get a shovel and get to digging.

AECA: You live quite a ways outside of Atlanta. How difficult is it to participate in the school portion of apprenticeship? What kinds of new things have you been learning in school?

Eric: I live about 82 miles away from the training center. It does get a little aggravating having to get up very early to get there, and it’s a long ride home after a day of learning some pretty intense stuff. I have learned how to use different types of meters and testing equipment. I am mainly looking forward to learning some of

the things I have been told about in later classes of the apprenticeship program.

AECA: Where do you see yourself three to five years from now?

Eric: In the next three to five years I hope to see myself finishing the apprenticeship program, getting my journeyman card and maybe getting a state license. I also hope to be able to get out on my own and find a nice house and land that I could have a little farm so that I could raise cattle.

AECA: In looking back, would you change anything in the path you took?

Eric: Some days I think that if I would have started the apprenticeship program when I heard of it in high school I would be almost done, but then I would not have been introduced to the people and the experience of going to a technical college, so I don't really think I would change anything about the path I chose. I would like to encourage high school students to join extracurricular activities and organizations. They give students an opportunity to sharpen their skills and be introduced to new ideas and experiences. If it hadn't been for the student organizations that I was part of, I might not be as successful as I am today.

Eric’s path involved high school, a technical college, and then an electrical apprenticeship program. It’s not uncommon for young adults in America to meander a little bit before finding their ultimate career path. In Eric’s case, even though he lives out in rural Georgia, he is still a successful part of an apprenticeship program sponsored by the Atlanta Contractors Association. It just goes to show that no matter where you live, if you are a determined individual, you can make the system work for you. v 37

Skilled worker shortage will impede Florida’s $9.9 billion construction proposal

By Allen Allnoch

G

overnor Scott’s $9.9 billion budget proposal for revamping state infrastructure highlights the need for a steady demand of skilled construction workers and presents opportunities for women in construction.

Florida infrastructure is getting a $9.9 billion makeover this year. (1) In 2012, Florida’s infrastructure received an average of a C rating in transit by the American Society of Civil Engineers. 14.7 percent of Florida bridges —1,764 of 11,982—are considered functionally obsolete, and 26 percent of Florida’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition. (2) The 2015 budget will allocate funding to handle this, a move that will generate more than 680,000 jobs and $96 billion in total economic value in the state’s seaports alone. The budget allocates: • $3.8 billion for highway construction projects

•

$350 million for aviation improvements

•

$109.6 million for seaport infrastructure enhancements

•

$242.6 million for scheduled repair or replacement of over 100 bridges

•

$38.3 million for bike and pedestrian trails (1)

However, this comes at a time when the industry is experiencing a worker shortage—46 percent of builders reported a worker shortage last year, a higher shortage than the peak of the housing boom in 2005. (3) The lack of skilled workers in construction is an 38

opportunity for more people to enter the industry, in particular, says one general contractor, more women.

Doreen DiPolito is the owner and president of D-Mar General Contracting and Development in Tampa Bay, Florida, and says this is a generational issue and urges more women to explore construction as a career. “Between the recent resurgence in residential and commercial building and the massive investments in seaports, airports, and other transportation projects, there are lots of great, high-paying jobs awaiting the right candidates.”

DiPolito is a testament to women in construction, exemplified in her work with multimillion dollar apartment complexes in Fort Lauderdale, commercial projects for popular franchises like Dunkin’ Brands, and recent work on a rebrand project for Marathon’s Speedway. She asserts that women and men in construction alike have an opportunity with the recovering Florida economy in this industry: “The opportunities are virtually unlimited for those who pursue relevant training and apprenticeships.”

The shortage in skilled workers contributes to construction projects

taking longer to be completed or costing more than expected. There is a push to bring in workers from in-state to contribute to these new projects.

(3) DiPolito says that many developers hire from out of state to fill all their openings, and the enormity of the infrastructural construction projects to come illustrates the definite need for more skilled workers from Florida.

Doreen DiPolito can speak to the following: • Why is there still a skilled worker shortage in Florida?

• How can the industry rebound and bring in new workers?

• Why do women need a stronger presence in this industry?

• What are your

Georgia Contractor

•

recommendations to women thinking about coming into the industry?

•

Why has construction been slow to rebound after the recession?

How will this budget proposal impact Florida infrastructure?

•

In what ways can the industry prepare for the generational

change when older workers retire and new workers are hard to come by?

If you would like to interview Doreen DiPolito of D-Mar General Contracting and Development please contact me via khelms@jotopr.com or call 888-202-4614 X 803.

1. Florida Department of Transportation. “Rick Scott Proposes $9.9 Billion Transportation Budget”; Mass Transit; January 28, 2015. masstransitmag.com/press_release/12039087/rick-scott-proposes-99billion-transportation-budget.

2. American Society of Civil Engineers. “Florida Key Facts”; Infrastructure Report Card; 2012. infrastructurereportcard.org/florida/florida-overview.

3. Harrington, Jeff. “Florida’s Surging Construction Industry Faces Worker Shortage”; Tampa Bay Times; February 20, 2015. tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/floridas-surging-construction-industryfaces-worker-shortage/2218378.v

HDR acquires Infrastructure Corporation of America

H

DR continues to expand its service capabilities with the acquisition of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Infrastructure Corporation of America (ICA), which specializes in transportation engineering, asset maintenance and management. ICA will do business as HDR | ICA. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“We’ve set a goal of cutting 10 percent of the owner’s cost over the life cycle of HDR-designed and constructed facilities by improving the delivery process,” said George A. Little, HDR, Inc. chairman and CEO. “ICA offers unique capabilities that will help our clients stretch their capital dollars and maximize operational efficiency.”

With the addition of ICA, HDR now employs more than 9,200 staff worldwide.

ICA Background and New Roles Infrastructure Corporation of America is a leader in transportation asset maintenance and management. It manages over 20 long-term asset maintenance management contracts March | April 2015

George A. Little

in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Arizona and South Carolina, including approximately 3,650 structures, 190 facilities and 4,700 lane-miles of roadway. ICA employs 400 asset management staff across eight states.

“ICA excels at helping clients get the most from their infrastructure investments,” said Little. “Their performance-based approach to asset management has helped state governments save up to 20 percent on maintenance costs. Combined with our capabilities in consulting, design and construction, we can help owners refine the delivery process in order to lower costs over the asset life cycle.”

“Joining HDR was the logical next step in ICA’s growth,” said ICA CEO Butch Eley, who will join HDR as president, HDR |ICA. “They’re well-respected in the industry and it was important for us to join forces with someone who has the same client-focused approach we have. We’re excited we’ll be able to reach more clients and offer continued ownership opportunities to our employees.”

The ICA acquisition includes its engineering division, ICA Engineering, Inc., which complements ICA’s asset management portfolio with high-value civil engineering services. With 300 employees in 13 regional offices, ICA Engineering significantly bolsters HDR’s presence in the southeastern United States. Mark Acuff, division president, will join HDR as chief operating officer for ICA’s engineering division, which will operate as HDR | ICA Engineering.

The Environmental Financial Consulting Group served as exclusive financial advisor to Infrastructure Corporation of America in its sale to HDR. v 39

Students find success in and out of the transportation classroom

By Rebecca Long | Specialist for P/R External Affairs | Chattahoochee Technical College

O

pportunities in the transportation industry can take many forms, but the common string that holds all these areas of expertise together is the ability to move people and goods from one location to another in a safe and efficient manner. At Chattahoochee Technical College, students in these technical programs are learning the skills that will prepare them for careers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with tremendous growth in the coming years.

For Chattahoochee Technical College graduate Mark Kennedy of Atlanta, a labor dispute with his public utilities employer left him unpaid and needing a new career. He was working where he could in door-to-door canvassing and telemarketing, and even had a stint as a dishwasher in a restaurant when Chattahoochee Technical College found him with an e-mail about careers in the transportation industry, including what Kennedy finally chose to study—Diesel Equipment Technology.

“When I started the diesel program, I considered myself the ‘low man on the totem pole’ because I knew so little about the automotive trade,” Kennedy said. “I try to keep that attitude because I know there’ll always be someone out there that’s forgotten more about my chosen trade than I will ever know.”

The breadth of specializations in the industry meant he had to be willing to learn, determined and flexible to finding the right niche in the industry.

Kennedy, who is now employed as a diesel technician by Drillers Choice Inc. in Marietta, also credits learning outside of the classroom for giving 40

Mark Kennedy (center) with scholarship sponsors Alan and Claire Peterson him an edge when it came to success.

For this honor graduate, his time at Chattahoochee Technical College included membership in Student Veterans of America and the National Society of Leadership and Success. He also honed his skills competing in the 2014 SkillsUSA Georgia Competition where he earned a silver medal and was one of eight students to win a full tool kit for his career through the Mike Peterson Memorial Scholarship and the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation.

Another transportation professional and Chattahoochee Technical College graduate who stepped outside the traditional classroom to advance his career and education was Gene Soloman of Brighton, Tennessee, Originally, the 2012 graduate began his education at Chattahoochee Technical College because of its convenient location to his home in Kennesaw. Near the end of his degree program, Soloman applied and was accepted into

the prestigious BMW MetroStep program that allows automotive students attend a BMW sponsored automotive training school for six months and work as an apprentice in a local dealership.

“The instructors at Chattahoochee Tech are great,” said Soloman, who had been working as a technician in a retail store and dabbling in automotive repair. “They were willing to share their expertise and knowledge of the business, if you were willing to listen and take heed to what they were teaching.”

For Soloman, the keys to success in the industry are loving what you do, being willing to learn, paying attention to the details, and having a sense of urgency. Soloman is now a lead technician for Roadshow BMW in Memphis and is Level II tech with only two courses to go before becoming a Level I – Master Tech for BMW. v Georgia Contractor

Contractor News Phil Greeves Installed as Chairman of the Board of Atlanta-Based ABC of Georgia Inc. Phil Greeves was recently installed as the 2015 chairman of the board of directors of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia Inc. (ABC). The association also installed its 2015 board of directors at its annual business and dinner meeting at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

“ABC of Georgia is an extremely worthwhile association in the construction industry because it connects the entire construction community not just one segment of it,” Greeves said.

“My company and I have found it very valuable and a great return on investment.”

Greeves serves as chief executive officer of the Johnson Group, consisting of JAMCo (Johnson Architectural Metal Co., Marietta, Georgia), JEMS (Johnson Engineered Metal Systems, Cartersville, Georgia), CES (Custom Entrance Solutions, Acworth, Georgia) and JAMCo/JEMS Fabrications, Bastrop, Texas. Previously he worked at JAMCo for 25 years, the past 16 as president. JAMCo is a commercial construction subcontractor that engineers, manufactures, furnishes, and installs curtainwalls, glass and glazing, and exterior envelopes for high-rise office buildings in the Southeast. He has more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry.

Greeves graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a BS degree in Civil Engineering. He and his wife Phylis reside in Smyrna, Georgia, and have one grown son, Adam.

Other ABC of Georgia officers inMarch | April 2015

• • • • • • • • • • 2015 ABC of Georgia Chairman Phil Greeves (left), the Johnson Group, receives the chairman’s gavel from 2014 Chairman Sam Stiteler, MetroPower. stalled at its business meeting are: Officers/Executive Committee members: • Chairman-Elect, Jeff Toebe, McCarthy Building Companies • Vice Chairman, David Black, Argos Ready Mix • Immediate Past Chairman, Sam Stiteler, MetroPower Inc. • Treasurer, Al Clark, Smith Adcock & Company • President & CEO, Bill Anderson, ABC of Georgia (non-voting member) Directors: • Polo Bascunan, Argos Ready Mix

Gary Bishop, PCL Industrial Construction Company Rob Cooper, Ivey Mechanical Company, LLC Neil Dostie, Balfour Beatty Construction Alex Henry, DPR Hardin Construction Daniel Herr, McCarthy Building Companies Joe Jenkyn, Fortune-Johnson General Contractors Katie Leonard, BDR Partners, LLC Tammy Pace, Pace Drywall, LLC Collin Skutt, All American Construction Services Adam Wheeler, Brasfield & Gorrie

Legal Counsel: • Scott Walters, Thrasher Liss & Smith, LLC ABC of Georgia represents nearly 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 70 chapters help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in ABC and its members’ work. v 41

Kristen Williams of Penco Electric is IEC Atlanta’s First Female President IEC has played host to many success stories over the years. This is to be expected when you offer the best curriculum, top instructors with a love for the industry, and willing and eager students to pour into.

Kristen Williams was one of those students, and in 2001 she graduated from IEC’s apprenticeship program with the knowledge and skills that assist her in running Penco Electric today.

This IEC graduate and president of an award winning organization is now IEC’s first female president of IEC Atlanta’s 2015 Board of Directors. She was sworn in at the end of 2014 and has effortlessly stepped into the role of president. Having already served on the board, 18 years as president of Penco, and being active throughout

Kristen Williams

the industry with organizations such as NAWIC, AGC, and MAGIC camps, Mrs. Williams has the connections and know how to guide the IEC Atlanta agenda. According to Niel Dawson, IEC Atlanta’s Executive Director, “I am thrilled to have not only a former graduate of the apprenticeship pro-

gram but also our first female!” This is a historical moment for the IEC that coincides with its 50th anniversary.

Mrs. Williams, thank you for making history with IEC. 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 770-2429277 or niel.dawson@iecatlanta.org.v

NCCER’s Supervisor Assessment Now Endorsed by Carolinas AGC The construction industry continues to see an escalating demand for skilled field supervisors. Traditionally, the industry has identified craft professionals to move into supervisory positions, however, proper skill assessment and training has not always occurred as a part of this process.

Field supervisors drive the construction team toward effectiveness and efficiency, while stabilizing it with consistency and good judgment. To fill this role, field supervisors need more than experience in the field, and while many organizations offer supervisory training, the contents of their programs are not always consistent.

NCCER’s Supervisor Assessment is an industry-recognized tool that can validate the skills supervisors have in regards to leadership, human relations, problem solving, quality control, estimating, planning, scheduling, resource control, communication, construction documents, and safety. The assess42

ment also sets a clear path for remediation, if needed.

In a joint effort between NCCER and Carolinas Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), NCCER’s Supervisor Assessment has recently been updated and is now endorsed by Carolinas AGC. NCCER made the announcement on Feb. 5 at the 94th annual Carolinas AGC Convention in the Bahamas. The two organizations collaborated to evaluate, improve, and align the assessment to both NCCER’s Project Supervision curriculum and to Carolinas AGC’s Project Super VISION training program. Carolinas AGC provided subject matter expertise from their member contractors as well as from Central Piedmont Community College, which also offers Project Super VISION training.

“The Supervisor Assessment assures employers that their supervisors have been validated against an industry standard to manage field opera-

tions,” said Don Whyte, president of NCCER. “Building on NCCER’s longstanding relationship with Carolinas AGC and having them participate in the update of our written assessment and Performance Verification has benefited the program greatly. Our goal is to have more organizations and contractors endorse the Supervisor Assessment and, ultimately, evolve it into a consensus credential, making it a common link for supervisory skills validation.”

“The Supervisor Assessment and Performance Verification utilize realworld scenarios that field supervisors face regularly, preparing them to effectively and efficiently manage all aspects of the work,” said Christa Davenport, committee chair for Carolinas AGC Project Super VISION. “This assessment, along with the corresponding training material and classes, levels the playing field by ensuring a strong understanding and application of the foundational skills Georgia Contractor

required for successful field management. The assessment adds credibility to our training curriculum and programs, while directly impacting the heart of the construction industry.”

NCCER credentials are awarded to eligible candidates for passing either the written assessment or Performance Verification components.

Completion of both components results in a Certified Plus credential, the highest achievement awarded by NCCER. To find out how your organi-

zation can become an endorser, or to have your management training program aligned to NCCER’s Supervisor Assessment, visit nccer.org/management or contact NCCER at 888.622.3720.

About NCCER — NCCER is a not-forprofit 501(c)(3) education foundation created by the construction industry to develop standardized curriculum with portable credentials and to help address the skilled construction work-

force shortage. NCCER is recognized by the industry as the training, assessment, certification, and career development standard for the construction and maintenance craft professional.

For more information, visit www.nccer.org or contact NCCER customer service at 888.622.3720.

Carolinas AGC proudly serves as an Accredited Training Sponsor and Accredited Assessment Center for NCCER. v

Thomas Concrete Group Strengthens Its Unique Market Position 2015 is a crucial year for the Swedish, family-owned Thomas Concrete Group AB. Through its size, independence, and high technical competence, the Group occupies a unique position in international concrete markets. After a few financially weak years, the Group is now taking further steps to strengthen its position while celebrating its 60th jubilee year.

The business was founded in Karlstad, central Sweden, by Mr. Martin Thomas in 1955. The Group, still owned by the Thomas family, has grown substantially over the past 60 years. Today, it is the largest independent supplier of ready-mixed concrete in Sweden, Poland, and Germany, as well as in the US states of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

In the last five years, Thomas Concrete Group has grown by more than 30 percent. Last year it produced 3.3 million cubic meters of concrete from 120 plants, a volume growth of more than 15 percent. During this year, Thomas has the ambition to acquire further concrete plants in Germany and the United States, which will bring the Group even closer to its customers and markets.

Key success factors for the Thomas Concrete Group include its independence from international construction and cement companies, March | April 2015

which makes the Group a long term reliable partner to the entire construction industry. Another key success factor is a high level of technical competence, exemplified by the operation of the Group’s own Research and Development Centres i.e. C. lab in Gothenburg and one at each national subsidiary, which is unusual for a concrete company.

In addition to a clear growth strategy and a continued focus on improving the Group’s profitability during its jubilee year 2015, Thomas will create a stronger group structure, with all employees working together as one, united team, irrespective of plant locations or national boundaries. The goal is to ensure Thomas Concrete Group as the best operator in its industry. The subsidiaries will work in a more integrated way, particularly in the field of research and development, with enhanced liaison between the Group’s various experts and specialists in different countries. Co-operation in marketing activities will also be intensified. For suppliers and customers alike, Thomas Concrete Group will be perceived as a cohesive and integrated company with strong local presence.

"Economic development has gained momentum in the United States, although growth in Europe continues to be weak,” says Hans Kar-

lander, Thomas Group’s President and CEO. “The situation is stable in Germany, while Poland is showing signs of improvement. In Sweden, there are plans for major infrastructure investments, although these have not yet started, while house building and industrial investment remain at low levels. However, we are hopeful about the future. Thomas Concrete Group is ready to meet increased demand. We produce high quality, ready-mixed concrete tailored for specific applications, we operate reliable delivery schedules, provide a high level of service and, not least, we are in a position to meet our customers' growing need for in-depth knowledge about the many opportunities provided by the use of concrete.

Thomas Concrete Group is an independent family-owned group which produces and distributes high-quality concrete for place cast construction. The company was established in 1955 in Karlstad, Sweden, by Martin Thomas and operates today in the United States, Poland, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Its headquarters are located in Gothenburg. In 2014, the Group had a turnover of about SEK 3.2 billion and produced 3.3 million m3 of concrete. It has 1,300 employees.

Its subsidiary company in The United States is Thomas Concrete Inc. v 43

ASHRAE, IAQA Approve Consolidation A consolidation between ASHRAE and the Indoor Air Quality Association has been finalized by both organizations.

The consolidation was approved by the boards of directors for ASHRAE and IAQA at ASHRAE’s recent 2015 Winter Conference in Chicago.

“We are excited about the opportunities presented by this consolidation,” ASHRAE President Tom Phoenix said. “It opens the door to alignment of ASHRAE and IAQA programs to create high-impact resources for building professionals around the globe.”

“This is an historic event for both associations and has great promise for growth and development for both organizations,” IAQA President Kent Rawhouser said. “The opportunities and possibilities for members are only limited by our own imaginations.

IAQA and ASHRAE are committed to growing and developing the IAQA brand. The consolidation will open new avenues for programs and benefits for our members.”

In July, ASHRAE announced it had agreed in principle to join forces with the IAQA, combining resources to im-

Tom Phoenix

Kent Rawhauser

prove indoor air quality in the built environment. Since August, the two groups have been undergoing a period of due diligence. That diligence was completed earlier in January.

Under the consolidation, IAQA will become a part of the ASHRAE organization while maintaining its own brand and board of directors. IAQA will operate independently within ASHRAE’s organizational structure.

The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing practitioners together to prevent and solve indoor environmental problems for the benefit of customers and the

public. IAQA was established in 1995 and is the nation’s largest indoor air quality trade association with over 2,600 members and more than 20 local chapters across the United States and Canada. More information is available at www.iaqa.org/news and at www.ieso.org.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society advancing human well being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The society and its more than 50,000 members worldwide focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration, and sustainability. v

Steven Jarrett Named Head of Structural Department in Atlanta’s Parsons Brinckerhoff Steven Jarrett, P.E. has been named manager of the structural department in the Atlanta office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global infrastructure strategic consulting, engineering, and program/ construction management organization. In his new position, Mr. Jarrett will lead the firm’s structural engineering operations in Georgia.

Mr. Jarrett has over 30 years of experience in the transportation industry.

He has managed numerous bridge design and structural rehabilitation projects and has served as project manager and lead structural engineer on a variety of rail and airport facility projects.

Mr. Jarrett previously worked at Parsons Brinckerhoff for 15 years and was responsible for several projects for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit 44

Steven Jarrett Authority, including the North-East line extension. Prior to returning to Parsons Brinckerhoff, he was the lead structural engineer in the Atlanta office of a national engineering firm responsible for the design of several bridge structures associated with a managed lane project for I/75-I/575 in North Atlanta.

Mr. Jarrett received a B.S.C.E degree from The City College of New York.

He is a member of the American Segmental Bridge Institute, American Concrete Institute, and Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.

WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff have combined and are now one of the world's leading engineering professional services consulting firms. Together we provide services to transform the built environment and restore the natural environment, and our expertise ranges from environmental remediation to urban planning, from engineering iconic buildings to designing sustainable transport networks, and from developing the energy sources of the future to enabling new ways of extracting essential resources. v Georgia Contractor

Education is continuous Five pillars to ensure you never stop learning

By Walt Grassl

M

any talented people feel that they do not have anything new to learn in their chosen field. They believe what got them there is enough.

Those who are determined and who work hard often spend a lot of time and effort to learn new skills and maintain their existing ones.

They display the most current knowledge of new technology and ideas.

Having employees who will improve themselves over and above the company-sponsored training is critical to an organization wanting to innovate and improve.

Eleven years ago, Ben got a job working in the mail room at a local business during the summer before starting college. The company had been in existence for over sixty years and was currently being led by Jack— a long-time employee and company legend who started in the mailroom.

Three weeks into the job, on his way from the basement to the top floor, the elevator stopped and who should enter the elevator but Jack. He smiled at Ben, introduced himself, and mentioned that he started out in the mail room. Ben was a little star struck, but as they both exited the elevator, Ben asked if Jack had any advice for him.

“Never stop educating yourself,” Jack said. “In fact, come into my office and let me elaborate. I have 15 minutes before my next meeting.”

Jack proceeded to share these five pillars for continued education: 1. You are responsible for your education You alone are responsible for your education. Whether or not March | April 2015

it makes sense to invest in a formal education, there are free and for-fee learning opportunities available to everyone. The public library and the Internet are two examples.

Another invaluable source of education is through people.

Spend time with people who can do things that you can’t. It may

mean volunteering to stay late to observe someone, going to lunch with more experienced associates, or finding a mentor.

You can also learn by taking on challenging assignments that are above your skill level. Discuss the help you will need to be successful and the company leadership may reward your 45

initiative by providing an experienced staff member oversee your on-the-job training.

You can learn pretty much anything, if you work hard at it.

2. No entitlements Time in service should be no guarantee of advancement in a successful business. It is what one learns with his or her experience that determines the value of the service time. In other words, if you put in your time, you are guaranteed nothing.

As your time with the company grows, seek lateral transfers or increased responsibility without necessarily a corresponding increase in title or pay. Realize you are making yourself more valuable to your employer and view the stretch assignments as an investment in yourself.

Although we are living in a time of an increasing sense of entitlement, we must all take care of ourselves.

3. You can’t rest on your laurels Many talented people feel that they do not have anything new to learn in their chosen field. They believe what got them there is enough. They become

complacent. They decide they don’t need to put in more effort and stop striving for success.

When you reach a goal, celebrate your success, but identify your next goal and begin to take action. When you stop moving forward and rest on your laurels, in actuality you are falling behind all the others who continue to move forward.

4. Staying current Likewise, you need to stay current with industry trends by reading industry literature and blogs. If you are moving into management, read leadership books and blogs. New trends are frequently entering the workplace. You have the choice to be aware of and lead the change or try to catch up—or even worse—resisting the change.

Joining industry and trade associations is another way to educate yourself on current trends.

5. New and old generation A big issue in many industries is getting several generations to work well together. Each generation has different learning and working styles. You have

several options to handle this reality. The first is to do nothing, since it’s your fellow employee’s responsibility to get with the program. You can leave it to your company’s leadership to implement a program to fix the problem. The higher percentage choice is to educate yourself on the differences between generations, the issues these differences bring to the workplace and some things others are doing to address the issues.

You can use this information to change how you interact and to the extent you can, help your company improve their processes.

Ben took Jack’s advice to heart. After graduating from college, he got a job with another company in another field. His education did not stop when he left school. He subscribes to industry and management blogs, has joined his industry association, seeks out challenging assignments, and develops relationships with other successful employees at his company. He has been identified by his management as a high-potential employee and is one of the youngest employees at his level. Ben’s future is bright. Amazing what a chance encounter in an elevator can do. v

Walt Grassl is a speaker, author, and performer. He hosts the radio show, ‘Stand Up and Speak Up,’ on the RockStar Worldwide network. Walt has performed standup comedy at the Hollywood Improv and the Flamingo in Las Vegas and is studying improv at the Groundlings School in Hollywood. For more information on bringing Walt Grassl to your next event, please visit www.WaltGrassl.com.

46

Georgia Contractor

March | April 2015

47

Georgia Contractor