ABC Pelican Year End Newsletter

MERIT SHOP MESSAGE ABCPELICAN.ORG FOURTH QUARTER 2017

YEAR IN REVIEW

ABC Pelican Closes Out 2017 With Strong Foundations Laid for the New Year

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD

It’s not enough to simply believe in the Merit Shop Principles - we must live by them.

NOW IS THE TIME TO UTILIZE NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS Learn how these agreements can help protect your business.

WHAT’S NEXT ON THE LEGISLATIVE FRONT

2017 was a trying year for national and state-level governments. How will 2018 measure up?

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MERIT SHOP MESSAGE ABCPELICAN.ORG

F O U RTH Q UART E R 201 7 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair Andrew Lopez Cajun Industries, LLC Incoming Chair Trey Crawford Grady Crawford Construction Co., LLC Secretary Thad Rispone ISC Constructors, LLC Treasurer Ryan Girouard Whitney Bank Vice Chair Governmental Affairs Scott Couper PALA-Interstate Vice Chair Membership Growth Jeff Plauche Boh Bros. Construction Co., LLC Vice Chair Member Services Josh Rounds Performance Contractors, Inc. Vice Chair Education Lee Mayeux Cajun Industries, LLC

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Conrad Bourg Primoris Services Corporation Darryl Clark The Brock Group Keith Coleman Beard Construction Group, LLC Donnie David ISC Constructors, LLC Carlos Guidry Turner Industries Group, LLC Wes Mincin Triad Electric & Controls, Inc. Donn Peterson Group Industries, LLC Shane Firmin Brown & Root Industrial Shawn Worsham Jacobs LEGAL COUNSEL Murphy J. Foster, III Breazeale Sachse & Wilson, LLP

Vice Chair Outlying Areas Sarah Taylor R.N. Gulf Coast Occupational Medicine Immediate Past Chair Glen Redd Triad Electric & Controls, Inc.

MERIT SHOP MESSAGE FOURTH QUARTER 2017 EDITORIAL/DESIGN Karina Solis EDITORIAL / SUBSCRIPTION / ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ksolis@abcpelican.com (225) 752-1415 This is a publication of the Pelican Chapter, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. ABC is a national trade association representing the merit shop construction industry. The Pelican Chapter represents over 500 contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals and covers 52 parishes in Louisiana. The Merit Shop Message is produced quarterly and distributed digitally to members.

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD

BY ANDY LOPEZ CAJUN INDUSTRIES, LLC

Principle No.10: We believe that the destiny of all Americans can best be served by cooperation, and following the tenets of Free Enterprise and democratic government. We believe business leaders can best preserve these tenets by becoming active in politics and civic affairs.

In continuation of our Knowledge is Power series intended to underscore one Principle of the Merit Shop in each publication, our final Principle is likened to “The Two Great Commandments” whereas on this last ideal “hang all other Law and the Prophets” and the first nine Principles “become flesh.”

Principles, philosophies, values and virtues are all just empty concepts until the moment someone embodies them. In this “Great Principle” our association founders wanted to ignite a more intentional embodiment of the ideals the Merit Shop philosophy comprises.

“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead……For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26) Christians believe that the single most important fact in history is the Incarnation and the bodily ministry of Christ on earth, culminating in his death and resurrection. Far from a vague set of beliefs floating in space, the Word became flesh. Jesus Christ had a ministry. He acted.

To be real and meaningful, principles need bones and blood; they need hands and feet. The founders of both our nation and association lived real lives of consequence with their ideals as purpose. They labored, they struggled, they fought and some even gave their lives for the cause they upheld. The Merit Shop principles highlighted over the past 12 months reflect the American soul – what it really means to think, believe and act like an American.

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LE T T E R F ROM T H E C H A I R open competition; for equal opportunity; for hard work; for self-reliance; for self-respect; for independence or, better yet, interdependence; for the flag; for the national anthem; for those that defend our freedom every day; and for those that came before us. It means love for the principles of the Merit Shop.

If you agree with this definition then it must matter more than in belief alone. A flood of emotion when you hear the national anthem or anger when you see that very anthem disrespected is well and good, but that alone is not enough, and it quite frankly devalues the real flesh-and-blood sacrifices of those who have gone before us. We must live patriotically in our communities, in our state, in our nation.

We must hold American leaders accountable. We must hold ourselves to the standards that embody the American soul.

We must become patriots of the Merit Shop. We must act!

How do we, modern day construction business leaders, measure up? It means nothing to have a heart swelling with belief if our hands are not expressing the same.

Noah Webster strikes to the core of this point in his 1828 American Dictionary, where he defines patriotism as “The passion which aims to serve one’s country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity. Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen.”

Passion and service. Ideas and action. Webster makes the connection plainly enough. Do we?

Patriotism means more than love for our country. I think it means love for what makes our country our country. It means love for personal, religious, economic and political freedom; for liberty; for personal and property rights; for market and labor freedom; for the free enterprise system; for 2

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Make no mistake about it, we are at war for liberty as we know it. We are at war for the Merit Shop! It is not armed conflict on foreign soil, but instead, this war is being waged in our classrooms, courtrooms, chamber floors, bureaucracies and sidewalks. This is the “same” war over our core principles that our association founders fought 67 years ago. Don’t lose sight of what our forebearers endured and gained. Let their example embolden and empower us to hold fast to that which was won.

This is our cause! Our principles are worthy of the sacrifice.

God Bless You, God Bless the Association and God Bless the United States of America. #UnyieldingMerit

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C O NNE C T WIT H US

CONTENTS

Got a suggestion for a story? Contact Karina Solis at ksolis@abcpelican.com.

CHAPTER NEWS

01 Letter From the Chair Faith without works is dead. It’s not enough to simply believe in the Merit Shop principles - we must live by them.

05 Governmental Relations

LEGAL COVER STORY Outgoing Chairman Andy Lopez highlights the Pelican Chapter’s year in his outgoing message.

Non-Compete Agreements are a valuable tool in today’s competitive marketplace. Learn how they can help protect your businesses.

2017 was a trying year for national and state-level governments. How will 2018 measure up?

06 Annual Sponsorships Annual Sponsorships for 2018 are now available!

08 ABC National Stable Construction Economy Predicted; Construction Input Prices Expand; Construction Backlog Surges.

21 Events

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Attorney General Jeff Landry encourages Western Union fraud victims to file a claim by early next year.

Did you miss out on our fall events?

We’re ready for the new year, but here is your recap of the fall with ABC Pelican.

14 Fourth Quarter New Members 24 Chapter News Briefs 25 Committee Meetings 25 Staff

ABCPELICAN.ORG check it out online www.abcpelican.org

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GOV E RN M E NTA L R EL A T I O N S

REFLECTING ON 2017: WHAT’S NEXT?

BY JOHN WALTERS, ABC OF LOUISIANA As we begin to close out the year and look forward to the year upon us, it is certainly a good time to review 2017 and get a preview of 2018.

We began a contentious 2017 with three back to back Louisiana Legislative Sessions primarily focused on raising more revenue to fund our ever-growing Louisiana government. Having raised over 2 billion in new revenue on the backs of Louisiana businesses the prior year, the Republican-controlled Louisiana House of Representatives thankfully had no appetite to raise any more revenue (taxes) in 2017.

Despite having to fight numerous pieces of legislation that would have negatively impacted the construction industry, ABC had a successful year at the Capitol. We passed substantial legislation by adding current construction terminology and methodology definitions into decadesold statutes, saving contractors time, effort and money.

We helped pass a constitutional amendment through the legislature and at the ballot box making sure construction supplies, equipment and components aren’t subject to property tax during the construction process. We had a very successful ABC-LA Day at the Capitol, followed by ABC-LA Legislative Reception with great attendance by both ABC members and Legislators.

“In his first 100 days in office President Trump has taken needed action to free business owners from unnecessarily burdensome regulations that have long hindered economic growth.,” Said Bellaman. “ABC appreciates President Trump’s executive orders curbing Washington’s appetite for over regulation and collaboration with Congress to eliminate illegal and duplicative Obama administration regulations like ‘blacklisting’ and ‘Volks’ rules.”

What lies ahead?

On the Louisiana front, the Legislature begins its 2018 Regular Louisiana Legislative Session on March 12th. By statute, revenue cannot be raised during a Regular Legislative Session. Knowing that the “temporary” additional 1 cent of state sales tax rolls off the books on July 1, 2018, and understanding the never-ending thirst for money in Baton Rouge, we will likely see a Special Legislative Session called by the governor both before and after the regularly scheduled session to renew the temporary 1 cent of state sales tax or to find new revenue to replace the revenue currently collected because of the temporary 1 cent sales tax.

On the federal front, 2018 is an election year. Thirty three of the 100 United States Senate seats and all 435 United States Congressional seats are up for grabs across the United States on November 6, 2018.

Despite multiple long and difficult battles with the governor and legislature, ABC once again came out tired and bruised but successful after a “season” of legislative sessions.

Currently Republicans hold a 51-49 seat majority in the U.S. Senate. Neither of Louisiana’s U.S. Senate seats is up for election in 2018.

In Washington D.C., we watched President Trump become inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017. Within President Trump’s first days, we saw an improved business climate for the construction industry prompting a statement from ABC’s President and CEO Mike Bellaman.

Republicans hold a 248-187 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. All six of Louisiana’s congressional seats are up for election.

2017 was a tough political year in Baton Rouge and Washington D.C., and it looks like 2018 may shape up to make us wish we could simply repeat 2017. www.abcpelican.org

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ABC N AT ION A L ABC CHIEF ECONOMIST PREDICTS STABLE 2018 CONSTRUCTION ECONOMY WASHINGTON, Dec. 13—Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Chief Economist Anirban Basu predicts stability for the construction industry’s economy and expanding nonresidential construction spending in 2018. While construction project backlog and contractor confidence remain high heading into the new year, Basu warns there are risks to the 2018 outlook as a number of potential cost increases could come into play.

“With wage pressures building, healthcare costs surging and fuel prices edging higher, inflation is becoming more apparent,” Basu said. “That could translate into some meaningful interest rate increases in 2018, which all things being equal is not good for construction spending. The stock market’s performance has been simply brilliant. But what goes up can go down.”

Basu added that asset prices might head in a different direction in 2018, including commercial real estate prices. Segments like hotels, office buildings and apartments have helped to fuel construction spending in recent years. If the value of properties begins to stagnate or worse, construction spending momentum will eventually wind down. The impact of this may not be felt in 2018, however, but in out years, Basu said.

“For now, there is plentiful

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momentum,” said Basu. “A recent reading of the Conference Board’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators suggests that the U.S. economy will enter 2018 with substantial momentum. Corporate earnings remain healthy. Global growth is accelerating. Consumers are upbeat.

Tax cuts could fuel faster business spending. All of this suggests that the construction recovery that began in earnest in 2011 may have a few more birthdays ahead.”

Read Basu’s full 2018 construction economic forecast in Construction Executive magazine.

NOVEMBER CONSTRUCTION INPUT PRICES EXPAND; YEAROVER-YEAR INFLATION HIGHEST SINCE 2011 WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 – Construction input prices expanded 0.7 percent in November and rose 5.6 percent on a yearly basis, the largest increase since November 2011, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today.

Nonresidential construction materials prices also expanded 0.7 percent for the month and 5.4 percent for the year.

Crude petroleum prices rose 11 percent in November and are 31 percent higher than this time last year.

“It would be an exaggeration to suggest that construction materials prices are spiking,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “However, in the aggregate, materials prices are now

rising at their fastest rate in six years.

As always, there are many factors at work, but undoubtedly one of them is the ongoing improvement in the global economy and continued rapid growth in a number of emerging nations.

Growth has also been accelerating in much of the advanced world, including the United States, Japan and much of Europe.

“Global growth is expected to hasten next year,” said Basu. “That should induce stable-to-rising global commodity prices next year, at least during January. That said, there is little reason to believe that materials prices will skyrocket as they did during periods both prior to and immediately after the financial crisis. Higher prices trigger more quantity supplied, which in turn helps to suppress price momentum.

“Still, contractors must be prepared to deal with steadily rising costs of delivering construction services,” said Basu. “This will place more pressure on estimators who must increasingly build into their bids the possibility of cost increases over the course of individual projects. Labor shortages continue to represent the number one concern of construction firms in America, but materials price inflation can no longer be ignored.”

CONSTRUCTION BACKLOG SURGES, SETS RECORD IN THIRD QUARTER WASHINGTON, Dec. 11—Providing more evidence of a strengthening economy, Associated Builders and

Contractors’ (ABC) Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) set a record as it expanded to 9.45 months during the third quarter of 2017, up 9.8 percent from the second quarter to the longest backlog reading in the eight-year history of the series. CBI is up by 0.8 months, or 9.2 percent, on a year-overyear basis.

CBI is a leading economic indicator that reflects the amount of construction work under contract, but not yet completed. CBI is measured in months, with a lengthening backlog implying expanding demand for construction services.

“The latest backlog reading strongly suggests the post-2009 economic

recovery is picking up steam and that the current construction spending cycle, in place since early 2011 for many contractors, is not on the verge of concluding,” said Basu. “Indeed, if anything, the CBI indicates that nonresidential construction firms are becoming busier due to a confluence of factors, including growing business confidence over the past year and a recent rise in energy prices, which is supporting more investment among energy explorers, producers and distributors.

construction cycle stands to get even hotter in the near term. That should represent a source of joy to contractors, but undoubtedly many are unnerved by growing pressures to secure suitably trained craftspeople who can support on-time, on-budget project delivery.

The upshot is that wage pressures will continue to build in the U.S. construction industry. However, based on the most recent CBI, increasing delivery costs have not yet begun to meaningfully slow the nonresidential construction sector’s ongoing expansion cycle.”

“With economic growth picking up recently, interest rates staying low, asset prices remaining high and confidence elevated among consumers and businesses alike, the nonresidential

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COVE R S T ORY

OUTGOING CHAIR’S MESSAGE

BY ANDY LOPEZ, CAJUN INDUSTRIES, LLC My year as Chair has come and gone. I survived the endless barrage of emails, committee meetings, organizational duties, newsletter articles and calendar of events associated with the job. I am better for having gone through it. To be honest, my time spent running the gauntlet pales in comparison to the amount of memories and experiences this year has brought.

Old acquaintances have become lifelong friends and new relationships previously unimagined have emerged. I leave with memories that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Working in this role has been the most enjoyable professional experience of my life. I pass on the chairmanship to a leadership team that will do great things for the members of our association and for the Merit Shop movement in the coming years. Trey Crawford, incoming chair, will be a solid and capable leader for our association. I am honored to have served next to him this year and am extremely proud to call him a friend. Good luck, Trey, and remember to “stand tall between the bookends!” Donn Peterson, Lee Mayeux, Ryan Girouard, Scott Couper, Josh Rounds, Jeff Plauche, Shawn Worsham and Sarah Taylor will all continue to dedicate their time and talents to the Executive Committee. I value the work we have done together, your counsel and the time spent together over the years. Thanks for everything, my friends.

There are many other leaders who have helped me during my experience as chairman this last year that I would be remiss if I did not recognize. Glen Redd, outgoing chairman, the consummate mentor who was always willing to offer guidance and share his breadth of professional knowledge, who was approachable and accessible, whose beliefs and career story is rooted in the Merit Shop Philosophy, thank you for your years of service and personal mentorship. Al Bargas, retired past President, giant of industry, mentor of mine and a friend to all of us, as a true warrior and defender of Merit Shop your legacy is forever etched into the cornerstone of our chapter.

Thank you for teaching me how to live your passion. Sarah Taylor, outgoing interim President, your dedication, sacrifice and commitment are unmatched. Although your tenure as interim President was a mere blink of an eye, your past 15 10

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years (plus) of service and leadership in a pivotal time will go down as a full chapter in the Pelican history book. I and the entire association forever owe you a debt of gratitude.

Thad Rispone, outgoing Secretary, your insight, counsel and friendship this past year proved invaluable. Thank you for your years of service, but more importantly, thank you for your contribution and dedication to the Merit Shop. I look forward to our continued friendship and collaboration in years to come. Dale LeBlanc, my Cajun and Bayou Chapter Chairman brethren, what a joy it was to have come through the ranks together, ascend to leadership positions and then work side by side defending the Merit Shop in Louisiana. I am better for your friendship. Thank you. To all the board members, committee chairs, volunteers and especially staff, your dedication and commitment constantly inspired me and kept me going day in day out. Your contribution is what makes our association the best in industry. Thank you for entrusting me with this awesome responsibility, but more importantly, thank you for all your efforts.

I would also like to take this time to welcome our new Chapter President, David Helveston, to the Pelican team.

David joined us at the end of October. In true ABC fashion, David came to us through a very competitive search process with a deep pool of talented individuals. He clearly rose to the top. This is an absolute testament to his intellect, progressiveness, character, talents, work ethic and leadership abilities. His passion and deep understanding of workforce development issues in the state will help the chapter ascend to the apex of craft-training nationally. I am proud to stand side by side with you as you usher in a new era of Merit Shop in Louisiana. The association could not be in better hands.

I welcome David to the battle and very much look forward to continuing the fight in the trenches with him at the helm to ensure that liberty and the Merit Shop are upheld for generations to come.

As I transition out of the role as Chairman, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what we have been able to accomplish for our association. As the leading voice for the construction

COVE R S T ORY industry in Louisiana, we have the responsibility to be on the leading edge, not just in the way we support our members or interact with external stakeholders, but also in the way that we operate as an association. This is a challenge that requires us to be ahead of the market we serve, to be flexible and to change course in how we help our members, just as our members so often do on their projects. We must also honor the past and stay true to our values in the process. We accepted this delicate balancing act of a challenge, and over the past year, I believe we succeeded by implementing the following significant positive changes: •

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We fund raised, rebuilt and modernized the Training Center and Chapter Administrative office as a result of the Historic August 2016 Baton Rouge flood.

In June, the Board of Directors formally adopted a fiveyear strategic plan entitled “The Merit Shop Blueprint.”

The plan isn’t about starting over. It is about building upon past successes and examining how recent shifts in the industry and political landscape impact ABC’s mission and its future priorities and operations. As a member-driven association with volunteer leadership, the plan also creates intentional consistency and focuses on key priorities year over year as leadership transitions in and out.

We honored the past and re-affirmed the association’s staunch commitment to Free Enterprise by dedicating the “Principles of the Merit Shop” visual art document signed by twenty past chairmen at the reopening of our administrative offices.

We created an annual chapter award recognizing an outstanding “Mentor of the Year” from industry.

In an effort for the chapter to embrace technology, gain efficiencies and communicate more effectively, the board of directors established an IT & Communications Ad Hoc committee that conducted a thorough assessment and recommendation for improvement of all existing technology systems, workflows and bridges.

In July, the board of directors formally adopted a new membership dues structure, as recommended by the Dues Study Task Force. It positions the chapter to be highly competitive, encourages growth, is aligned with our mission and creates sustained financial stability.

As an issues-based association, we re-messaged all recruitment and retention communication to better align with our mission which will ultimately result in

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a more balanced, diverse and committed membership blend.

In August, the board of directors adopted a policy clarifying parent company / subsidiary membership scenarios. The policy ensures equal value and consistency from membership.

We established a Builders Council. As their first major initiative, the council launched a daytime indentured apprenticeship training class for commercial electricians that has proven to be highly successful.

To provide superior value to our members we have separated the Annual Installation Banquet from the EIC awards with exciting new programing for both events.

We revamped the EIC awards competition so as to increase participation and competiveness. The program is now a badge of honor and truly showcases the best of the best.

In March of 2018 we will be co-hosting the Baton Rouge “Touch a Truck” event with Junior League. This marquee event will showcase ABC and careers in construction to the public.

The Young Professionals group grew to 92 members strong, expanded to Southwest Louisiana, had the most successful FEA fundraiser nationally, re-established the “Day at the Capitol” and greatly assisted LSU’s student chapter competition team.

In February, the board of directors passed a resolution re-affirming our staunch commitment to the repeal of Davis-Bacon; thus, reiterating our chapter’s support of maintaining the national PAC questionnaire requirement that candidates must align with as a prerequisite for funding. Pelican’s position single handedly defeated the move away from this position nationally.

We re-imagined seeking accreditation for our training centers.

We made significant headway towards our goal of building a new state-of-the art training center in Southwest Louisiana.

We thoroughly researched, vetted and deferred a merger with the New Orleans Bayou Chapter. This process will prove to increase cooperation and collaboration between the two chapters in Louisiana for years to come.

For the first time since 2001, the Pelican Chapter will have a representative on the National ABC Executive Committee. Milton Graugnard will be sworn-in in January. www.abcpelican.org

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And of course there is much, much more, but it is not about me telling you what we are doing. ABC is about members getting involved, contributing, sharing and supporting others and making a difference. I am very excited about the future of ABC. It will not be without some challenges and maybe some bumps along our way as we summit Mt. Everest, but I know the coming times will be brighter and that ABC has an incredibly important role to play helping to ensure the American Dream is alive and well.

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In closing I would like to leave you with a quote from Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” ABC and Merit Shop is a way to give. Don’t be too busy making a living that you forget to make a life.

I look forward to working with all of you in a different capacity as our association forges ahead into the future.

God Bless You, God Bless the Association and God Bless the United States of America.

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LE GA L

2018 is Here: NOW is the Time to Utilize Non-Compete Agreements

BY JUDE BURSAVICH, BREAZEALE, SACHSE & WILSON, L.L.P. WHY NOW? 2018 is upon us! What’s stopping you from utilizing non-compete agreements? In today’s competitive marketplace, non-compete agreements can be a valuable tool.

Businesses in Louisiana often use them to protect themselves from employees learning the business and leaving to compete with their ex-employer. Preparing today for such eventuality is critical to the long-term success of any business.

WHAT’S THE LAW? The validity of non-compete agreements in Louisiana is strictly controlled by one statutory provision (La. R.S. 23:921) and its judicial interpretations. The statute begins with generally prohibiting any agreement where someone is restrained from exercising a lawful profession, trade, or business, unless one of the narrow exceptions to the general prohibition is satisfied. The list of exceptions to the general prohibition are, for the most part, based on relationships and include:

to contain an area of prohibition described by parishes, municipalities, or parts thereof, together with a term of no longer than two years from date of termination of the relationship. These requirements are derived from statutory language.

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While not contained within the statute, some Louisiana courts also require a valid non-compete agreement to define narrowly and accurately the business in which the individual is prohibited from competing. Other Louisiana courts deny the need for this additional non-statutory-based requirement. If the business is defined within the agreement, however, the definition must be narrow and accurate.

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Employee/employer relationship Sale of the goodwill of a business Dissolution of a partnership Franchiser/franchisee relationship Employer/computer employee relationship Corporation/shareholder relationship Partnership/partner relationship (without consideration of any possible dissolution) Limited liability company/member relationship

Once it is demonstrated that a particular non-compete agreement falls within one of the listed exceptions, most

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING? Preparing non-compete agreements that comply with Louisiana law is critical to their enforceability. Reviewing and updating your company’s noncompete agreements annually is an additional good business practice. Doing this also serves as a constant reminder to your employees that they are subject to these agreements upon their termination of employment. It additionally allows consideration of any newly decided cases affecting the enforceability of these agreements. Using these agreements in 2018 is smart business.

Louisiana courts require a valid non-compete agreement

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Louisiana has long had a strong public policy against noncompete agreements. Because these agreements are in derogation of the common right -- the right to work in your chosen field -- Louisiana courts have narrowly construed the exceptions to the general prohibition.

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Our domestic & international market range includes: chemical • refining • power • water treatment • oil & gas terminal storage • manufacturing

CONSTRUCTION • MAINTENANCE • FABRICATION • ENGINEERING 8641 United Plaza Boulevard Baton Rouge, La 70809 • 225.408.1300 excelusa.com

Grow

with purpose

grow. compete. thrive.

HTB understands the complex needs of the construction industry. Our dedicated team of professionals and nearly 100 years in business uniquely position HTB to help manage and overcome the challenges you deal with every day. Make us part of your team and let’s build something great.

compete with strength

thrive with vision

B AT O N R O U G E / D E N H A M S P R I N G S / N E W O R L E A N S 2 2 5 . 92 8 . 47 70 www. h tb c p a .co m

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AT T ORN E Y GEN ER A L C O LU M N

COMPENSATION AVAILABLE FOR WESTERN UNION FRAUD VICTIMS Attorney General Jeff Landry Encourages Fraud Victims to File a Claim by February 18.

BATON ROUGE, LA – If scammers had you pay them via Western Union, you may be entitled to get your money back.

These potential refunds are being made available through a $586 million settlement between the Western Union Company, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, and 50 other attorneys general.

“Many in Louisiana fell victim to Western Union-related scams, so I am thrilled they will now be able to recover some or all of their losses,” said General Landry. “My office will continue to work diligently to ensure the recovery process goes smoothly for all the victims in our State.”

General Landry encourages consumers who lost money to scammers telling them to pay via Western Union’s money transfer system between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 to file a claim at www.ftc.gov/WU before February 12, 2018. Filing a claim is free, so General Landry says consumers should not pay anyone to file a claim on their behalf.

While no one associated with the claims process will call to ask for consumers’ bank account or credit card information, the mailed claim form will ask for their Social Security numbers so the United States Department of Justice may determine if money is owed to the Federal Government – a required step before checks are issued.

Some Louisianans who have already reported their losses to Western Union, the Federal Trade Commission, or General Landry’s Office may receive a claim form in the mail. If you

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filed a claim and do not receive a claim form in the mail, visit www.westernunionremission.com or call 1-844-319-2124.

Again, all completed claims forms must be mailed back to the settlement administrator by February 12, 2018.

For more information on this claims process, call General Landry’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-351-4889.

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CERTIFIED

WORKFORCE

Ready to take the next step?

To take your business to the next level, you need a banking partner who not only understands the challenges of your industry, but also the unique needs of your business and your local market. That’s why the Regions Bankers right here in South Louisiana can deliver the resources of a large bank with the local market understanding and responsiveness of a community bank. So whether it’s a smart leasing solution, cutting-edge Treasury Management capability or traditional loans and deposits, your local Regions Banker will be right here to deliver the customized service and solutions that give you a competitive advantage.

Call us at 225.388.2701 for advice, guidance and education on ways to move your business forward.

BATON ROUGE / BEAUMONT / HOUSTON / LAKE CHARLES

© 2017 Regions. All loans and leases subject to credit approval. I Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

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ME M BE RSH IP

FOURTH QUARTER

NEW MEMBERS AG-CON, LLC Silas LaHaye 1343 Cresote Ln., Mamou, LA 70554 (337) 468-2868 www.ag-con.net Joined: November Contractor: G.C./Heavy/Highway Sponsor: Neal Choppin

Cody’s Transportation System, LLC Stephen Cody 4425 Sherwood Common Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816 (225) 291-6488 Joined: December Industry Professional: Logistics/Shipping Freight Sponsor: Lisa Kelleher

Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. Stephen Gaffney 8555 United Plaza Blvd, Suite 101, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 436-2233 www.alliant.com Joined: October Industry Professional: Insurance Sponsor: Donnie David

EnviroCon Systems, Inc.

Bobbi Swires 1921 Greens Rd., Houston, TX 77380 (281) 443-2597 www.enviroconsystems.com Joined: December Contractor: G.C./Other Specialty Construction Sponsor: Andy Lopez

Aptim Maintenance, LLC Jim Bishop 4171 Essen Ln., Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 932-2500 www.aptim.com Joined: October Contractor: General Contractor - Industrial

Five-S Construction, Inc. Danielle Hosch 20269 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70817 (225) 749-5867 www.fsgrp.com Joined: October

Contractor: Site Preparation,/Improvements Sponsor: Randy Bonnecaze

Baton Rouge General Erik Showalter 8585 Picardy Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 763-4000 www.brgeneral.org Joined: October Supplier: Medical Services Sponsor: Carey Guglielmo

Guaranty Media Michele Rabalais 929 - B Government St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 490-8169 guarantymedia.com Joined: December Industry Professional: Advertising Sponsor: Braden Jones

Braun Intertec Bryan Landers 2965 East Napoleon St., Sulphur, LA 70663 (337) 412-6129 www.braunintertec.com Joined: November Industry Professional: Engineering Services Sponsor: Angie Bush

Kay Communications Walter Durio 3307 East Napoleon St., Sulphur, LA 70663 (337) 625-3690 www.kay-com.com Joined: October Contractor: Alarm Systems Sponsor: Wesley Littleton

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MEM BE RS H IP

FOURTH QUARTER

NEW MEMBERS Kelley Crane Rental Cade DuBois 10604 Airline Highway, Gonzales, LA 70737 (225) 647-5508 www.kelleyequipment.com Joined: November Contractor: Crane Rental/Heavy Haul Sponsor: Sarah Taylor

Kyle’s Lawn and Landscape, LLC Kyle Fournet 17830 Sotile Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 978-8658 www.kyleslawnandlandscape.com Joined: October Contractor: General Contractor - Industrial Sponsor: Stuart Clouatre

Northern Safety & Industrial Jordan Breaux 4610 East Napoleon St., Sulphur, LA 70663 (337) 625-6560 www.northernsafety.com

Joined: October Supplier: Safety Apparel/Welding Supplies Sponsor: Brad Hillebrandt

Planning Essentials, LLC Mary Richardson 14550 Ridge Rd., Prairieville, LA 70769 (225) 402-1340 www.planningessentials.org Joined: December Industry Professional: Event Planning/Lodge Accommodations Sponsor: Schwan Self

Primtek, LLC Kenny Wall 108 Business Park Ave., Ste A, Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 304-0614 www.primtek.net Joined: October Industry Professional: Software App Designer Sponsor: Kase Gonzales

T. Baker Smith Brady Turk 17534 Old Jefferson Hwy., Suite D-1, Prairieville, LA 70769 (225) 228-5618 www.tbsmith.com Joined: October Industry Professional: Engineering Services Sponsor: Wilfred Barry

TMA Environmental, Inc. Jody Elisar 6065 Highway 73, Geismar, LA 70734 (225) 677-8800

Joined: October Contractor: Hydroblasting/Vacuum Services Sponsor: Marcel Lemoine

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SAVE T HE DA T ES. . .

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i n cas e you m i s s ed i t. . .

BATON ROUGE CLAY SHOOT OCTOBER 6, COVEY RISE

LAKE CHARLES CLAY SHOOT OCTOBER 13, LAKE CHARLES GUN CLUB

BUILD YOUR FUTURE BR

OCTOBER 23-26, BATON ROUGE TRAINING CENTER

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in ca se you m i s s ed i t. . .

BR JAMBALAYA & GUMBO COOK-OFF NOVEMBER 9, LAMAR DIXON EXPO CENTER

ICC LUNCHEON & STEP AWARDS NOVEMBER 16, CROWNE PLAZA BATON ROUGE

BR CRAFT COMPETITION

NOVEMBER 30, BATON ROUGE TRAINING CENTER

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in ca se you m i s s ed i t. . .

LAKE CHARLES MEMBER MIXER

NOVEMBER 30, GOLDEN NUGGET LAKE CHARLES

2017 EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION AWARDS DECEMBER 6, HILTON BATON ROUGE CAPITOL CENTER

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CHA P T E R NE W S B R I EFS ABC PELICAN PARTNERS WITH JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BATON ROUGE FOR TOUCH A TRUCK 2018 The Pelican Chapter has joined forces with Junior League of Baton Rouge for the 2018 Touch A Truck event.

The interactive, family-friendly event gives children the opportunity to see, touch and explore the various vehicles and heavy machinery used in the local construction and manufacturing industry. Food and drinks will be available. Touch A Truck 2018 is taking place Saturday, March 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the BREC Fairgrounds.

Tickets are $10 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.juniorleaguebr.org.

BR TRAINING CENTER SENDING CRAFT COMPETITION WINNERS TO NATIONALS The Baton Rouge Training Center hosted its annual Craft Competition on November 30. More than 30 students competed in electrical, instrumentation, millwright, pipefitting

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and welding categories. First place winners in each category, as well as the second place winners in welding and instrumentation, will travel to Long Beach, CA to participate in ABC’s National Craft Championships on March 20-22.

LSU CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT TEAM PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL COMPETITION The LSU Construction Management Team placed 8th at the ABC Student Chapter Construction Management Competition. The team traveled to Orlando, FL to compete during ABC Leadership Week in November.

The CMC challenges teams of college or university students on their construction knowledge, time management, organizational and presentation skills.

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION AWARDS HIGHLIGHT YEAR’S BEST ABC Pelican honored 24 projects in 10 categories ranging from commercial buildings to industrial mega projects at its annual Excellence in Construction Awards on December 6. The EIC Awards Program is the industry’s leading competition that honors both general and specialty contractors for innovative and high-quality merit shop construction projects. Among the big winners of the night were Cajun Industries with four awards and Arkel Constructors and Barriere Construction Co. with three awards apiece. A full list of Excellence in Construction Award winners is available on ABC Pelican’s Web site.

TRAINING CENTERS CLOSE OUT FALL SEMESTER The Baton Rouge and Southwest Training Centers concluded their fall semesters on December 21. Baton Rouge fall graduation is on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel. Spring semester classes start January 8.

PELICAN CHAPTER STAFF CHAPTER OPERATIONS (225) 752-1415

20 18 fIRS T qua rte r CO MMITTE E MEETINGS J A N UA RY

David Helveston President dhelveston@abcpelican.com

Anna Zebeau Director of Membership azebeau@abcpelican.com

SW Safety Tuesday, January 2 SW Training Center ifuselier@abcpelican.com

Karina Solis Communications Coordinator ksolis@abcpelican.com

Lindsey Russ Programs & Events Coordinator lruss@abcpelican.com

BR Safety Thursday, January 4 BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com

Katie Verbois Member Services Coordinator kverbois@abcpelican.com

SW Membership Growth Tuesday, January 9 SW Training Center azebeau@abcpelican.com

FINANCE (225) 752-1415 Janie Arceneaux Director of Finance jarceneaux@abcpelican.com

Kathy Serwan Finance Assistant kswerwan@abcpelican.com

Mikah Armstrong Finance Assistant marmstrong@abcpelican.com

BATON ROUGE TRAINING CENTER (225) 752-0088 Danielle Birney Ricky Delafield Director of Administration Workforce Development dbirney@abcpelican.com Coordinator rdelafield@abcpelican.com Kacie Blanchard Associate Director of Misty Massarek Workforce Support Training Center Administration kblanchard@abcpelican.com mmassarek@abcpelican.com Tiffany Buuck Training Center Administration tbuuck@abcpelican.com Kelly Carpenter Director of Education kcarpenter@abcpelican.com

SOUTHWEST TRAINING CENTER (337) 882-0204 Kirby Bruchhaus Director of Education kbruchhaus@abcpelican.com

Ciera Henson Training Center Administration chenson@abcpelican.com

Christina Frederick Training Center Administration cfrederick@abcpelican.com

Ray Harris Facilities Management rharris@abcpelican.com

Ivelynn Fuselier Training Center Administration ifuselier@abcpelican.com

Blaise Theard Workforce Development Coordinator btheard@abcpelican.com

SW Programs & Events Tuesday, January 9 SW Training Center lruss@abcpelican.com SW Steering Tuesday, January 9 SW Training Center kbruchhaus@abcpelican.com BR Programs & Events Wednesday, January 10 Chapter Administration lruss@abcpelican.com Education & Manpower Thursday, Janaury 11 BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com SLCUC Traning Tuesday, January 16 SW Training Center ifuselier@abcpelican.com

SW Membership Growth Tuesday, February 13 SW Training Center azebeau@abcpelican.com

BR Programs & Events Wednesday, March 14 Chapter Administration lruss@abcpelican.com

SW Programs & Events Tuesday, February 13 SW Training Center lruss@abcpelican.com

Budget & Finance Tuesday, March 20 Chapter Administration jarceneaux@abcpelican.com

SW Steering Tuesday, February 13 SW Training Center kbruchhaus@abcpelican.com

SLCUC Training Tuesday, March 20 SW Training Center ifuselier@abcpelican.com

BR Programs & Events Wednesday, February 14 Chapter Administration lruss@abcpelican.com

BR Membership Growth Wednesday, March 21 Chapter Administration azebeau@abcpelican.com

Budget & Finance Tuesday, February 20 Chapter Administration jarceneaux@abcpelican.com SLCUC Training Tuesday, February 20 SW Training Center ifuselier@abcpelican.com BR Membership Growth Wednesday, February 21 Chapter Administration azebeau@abcpelican.com

M A RC H

BR Safety Thursday, March 1 BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com

BR Membership Growth Wednesday, January 17 Chapter Administration azebeau@abcpelican.com

SW Safety Tuesday, March 6 SW Training Center lfuselier@abcpelican.com

Budget & Finance Tuesday, January 23 Chapter Administration jarceneaux@abcpelican.com

Education & Manpower Thursday, March 8 BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com

FEBRUARY

SW Membership Growth Tuesday, March 13 SW Training Center azebeau@abcpelican.com

BR Safety Thursday, February 1 BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com SW Safety Tuesday, February 6 SW Training Center ifuselier@abcpelican.com Education & Manpower Thursday, February 8 BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com

SW Programs & Events Tuesday, March 13 SW Training Center lruss@abcpelican.com SW Steering Tuesday, March 13 SW Training Center kbruchhaus@abcpelican.com

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