Winter 2019/2020 Newsletter

MERIT SHOP E S S A G E

Pelican Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors

Eye Wander Photo

Celebrating the Best of the Best

ABC Pelican’s 2019 EIC Awards and STEP Banquet honors top construction projects, safety practices and craft champions

Newsletter highlights: Townhall................................................09 Trends in Construction..........................13 Uncommon Leadership.........................19 EIC Awards & STEP Banquet...............25 BRTC Craft Competition.......................37 Installation Banquet..............................43

Winter 2019/2020

CONVENTION MARCH 23-27

2020

BUILDING MUSIC CITY Register Now abcconvention.abc.org

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MERIT SHOP MESSAGE W i n t e r 2019/2020 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Carlos Guidry Turner Industries Group, LLC

Donnie Braud L.S. Womack, Inc.

Incoming Chair Shawn Worsham Worley Secretary Glen Redd Triad Electric & Controls, Inc. Treasurer Ryan Girouard Hancock Whitney Vice Chair Governmental Affairs Bryan Knost Wood Group Vice Chair Membership Growth Josh Rounds Performance Contractors, Inc. Vice Chair Member Services Scott Callaway Cajun Industries, Inc. Vice Chair Education Keith Coleman Beard Construction Group, LLC Vice Chair Outlying Areas Wes Mincin Triad Electric & Controls, Inc. Immediate Past Chair Donn Peterson GROUP Industries, LLC

Ben Brown Turner Industries Group, LLC

LE TTE R FRO M THE CHAIR HOW I HAVE REMAINED PART OF THE ABC PELICAN FAMILY FOR THREE DECADES BY: CARLOS GUIDRY, TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP

Tammy Corripio Primoris Services Corporation John Freeman Brown & Root Industrial Services Adam Landry Great River Industries Beau Leitner Doyle Electric, Inc. Scott McKnight BXS Insurance Aaron Partrich ISC Constructors, LLC Matt Shoriak EXCEL Group Andrew Thompson ISC Constructors, LLC BOARD ALTERNATE Russel Gaudin Merit Electrical, Inc. Seth Lemoine The Lemoine Company, LLC LEGAL COUNSEL Murphy J. Foster, III Breazeale Sachse & Wilson, LLP

MERIT SHOP MESSAGE: Winter 2019/2020 EDITORIAL/DESIGN: Erika Walter EDITORIAL / SUBSCRIPTION / ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ewalter@abcpelican.com | 225.448.3348 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 nearly 400 contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals and covers 52 parishes in Louisiana. The Merit Shop Message is produced quarterly and distributed digitally to members.

To all ABC Pelican Chapter Members: I would like to wish you a Happy New Year. Words simply cannot describe how much this opportunity to be your Chair in 2020 means to me. I am truly hopeful that I can lead the ABC Pelican Chapter and each of its members in such a way that does justice to our past chairs who have led this amazing organization.

I was first introduced to our Pelican Chapter in the early 90’s. As a recent college graduate, I had no idea what Associated Builders and Contractors was, much less the history and why a small group of construction and industry leaders formed the Pelican Chapter. I was simply told by my supervisor that in order to get some planning and scheduling expertise under my belt, I needed to “go take some classes.” I can honestly say that taking those classes was one of the most important decisions I have ever made.

Years down the road and after a few promotions, I was offered the opportunity to give back by becoming an instructor at the Baton Rouge Training CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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LE T T E R F ROM T H E C H A I R c o n T I NUE D Center. Teaching was something that I had never done before--much less even thought about doing-but after much contemplation, I realized it was something I had to do in order to give back to the next generation of craft professionals. I ended up teaching Blueprint Reading to a wide range of craft students, from laborers to supervisors and all in between. It was towards the end of my first semester as an instructor when I truly understood what kind of profound impact a person could make on others’ lives. Multiple students approached me and shared stories about how they were given opportunities to advance in our industry because of what they learned in my class. Wow! What a humbling feeling.

From that point on, I wanted and needed to get more involved in ABC Pelican and the Merit Shop.

Traveling for work pulled me away from ABC for a while, but at the first opportunity I had I jumped back in to a committee. That is where I started hearing the stories of the Merit Shop and the true mission of ABC and began to understand the true importance of the association. With the blessing and full backing of Turner Industries leadership, I was able to join the Board of Directors and take on the

great responsibility of becoming the 2020 Chair.

Looking back, 2019 was a great year and we are looking forward to 2020 with a clear vision for the future. We will continue to implement our Strategic Plan, we will grow our craft training programs, we will grow our membership responsibly, we will continue our community outreach with events such as Build Your Future, the Father-Daughter Dance and Touch-A-Truck, we will continue to promote the Merit Shop Philosophy and finally the Pelican Chapter will be breaking ground on the new Southwest Louisiana Training Facility in Lake Charles. Our new training center will support ABC National’s promise to President Trump and the “Pledge to America’s Worker” to train 500,000 workers in five years.

I look forward to working with the excellent ABC Pelican staff led by President David Helveston. It’s going to be a GREAT Year!!

God Bless you, God Bless ABC and God Bless America, Carlos Guidry, 2020 ABC Pelican Chairman

Your Support.

Our Gratitude.

THANKS FOR

45 YEARS!

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Roaring 20s

2020 state convention agenda Hilton Sandestin, Fla.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

July 29-31, 2020

3:00 – 7:00 PM: Convention Check-In 4:00 PM: Hotel Check In 5:00 – 6:00 PM: Breakout Session 6:00 – 8:00 PM: Welcome Reception 6:30 PM: Legislative Update 5:00 – 10:00 PM: Kids Krewe Welcome Reception

Thursday, July 30, 2020

7:00 – 8:00 AM: Convention Check-In re-opens 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Kids Krewe: Breakfast & Activities 8:00 – 9:30 AM: Breakfast & Keynote 9:45 – 10:45 AM: Educational Seminar 1 11:00 – 12:00 PM: Educational Seminar 2 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM: Kids Krewe: Parent’s Night Out 6:00 – 7:00 PM: PAC Cocktail Reception/SpeakEasy 6:30 – 8:00 PM: Cocktails & Dinner 8:00 – 11:00 PM: Casino night

Friday, July 31, 2020

8:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Kids Krewe 9:00 – 10:30 AM: Educational Breakfast 10:30 – 11: 30 AM: Breakout Session 1:30 – 4:00 PM: Family Beach Bash & Volleyball Tournament 6:00 – 8:00 PM: Family Dinner & Indoor Fun 8:00 – 8:30 PM: Glow Deck Party 8:45 PM: Fireworks Presentation & Farewell

Reserve your room today by calling 850.267.9500 (Group code LAA) Registration Details Coming Soon!

Kids Krewe activities are included as child care for registered children ages 2-12.

For more info on accommodations, sponsors & activities, visit abclouisiana.org.

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Win ter 20 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 Do you have a story suggestion? Would you like to advertise in the Merit Shop Message? Contact Erika at ewalter@abcpelican.com.

TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

01 2020 ABC National Event Info 02 Letter from the Chair 04 2020 State Convention Agenda 09 Townhall Recap 11 Spring Golf Tournament Info

A STATE REPRESENTATIVE’S STANCE ON FREE ENTERPRISE

COVER STORY

ABC Pelican’s premier awards program celebrates merit shop construction projects, our safest member companies and craft champions.

Why can’t we have a vibrant economy that encourages and doesn’t discourage economic activity? Why not, Louisiana?

13 Trends in Construction 19 Uncommon Leadership 21 Legal Update 22 ABC National Updates 23&24 Topgolf Merit Mixer Info 25 EIC Awards & STEP Banquet 25 Fall Graduation & Touch A Truck Info

MAIN EVENT MERIT MIXER

A BETTER BLOCK

More than 200 attendees networked like adults and played like kids at the capital city’s newest entertainment center.

Our craft students not only use their skills in their careers, but they also use them to build our communities stronger.

34 & 36 Training Center Updates 37 BRTC Craft Competition 40 Membership Update 42 Welcome New Members 43 Installation Banquet 44 Letter from the President

YP HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

Andy Dupuy, CEO of Brown & Root and former Pelican Chair, shareed his 40+ years of industry advice at the year-end party.

48 & 49 2020 Annual Sponsorship Info

A FARWELL FROM YOUR 2019 CHAIR

50 Staff Contact Info & Upcoming Committee Meetings

Connect with @abcpelican

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GOV E RN M E NTA L R EL A T I O N S U PDA TE : Gue s t A Rticle

WHY NOT LOUISIANA? WHY NOT, LOUISIANA? BY: Charles A. “Chuck” Owen, Ph.D, State Representative, Louisiana House District 30 (Vernon and Beauregard) Politics usually generates platitudes and squishy comments on what the future “can” hold if “someone” does the right things. During a campaign, those aspiring to office either have the audacity to say what they want to try to do or the political savvy to not say very much, knowing that they might be held to account for their “promises” or the visions they proffer. I was the former in my campaign. I offered up ideas I firmly believe are the route out for Louisiana, and the 30th District where I live.

Before I am sworn in and before the gamesmanship starts, let me put these ideas on the table for all to see. These are the things I will stand behind and pursue as a first term legislator. I will seek the help of fellow Louisianans in the legislature who I hope will listen and give the ideas consideration and hopefully support.

The Foundation: Free Enterprise I believe the answers to Louisiana’s economic woes are rooted in a vibrant economy. While this answer is remarkably simple, implementing such a pathway will require a paradigm shift from our current way of operation. There are multiple layers to this discussion, and it seems like for years, we just get stuck in the arguing mode. I hope for something different in the years ahead.

The question I pose is: Why can’t we do something we’ve never really done? Why can’t we have a vibrant economy that encourages and doesn’t discourage economic activity? Why not, Louisiana?

During the campaign, someone asked me if I was a “Jindal guy” and believed in taking the State back to the days of ‘cuts, cuts and more cuts’ as a way forward for the economy. I told him unequivocally “NO.” I told him I embrace something else---free enterprise, which means allowing businesses to operate with less strangulation from government and the things our government allows; the result of a more open business environment is more business activity, which means employment for more Louisiana citizens and an environment that draws business and innovation to our state.

Louisiana needs to be open for business. That doesn’t mean SAYING we’re open for business; it means actually BEING open. We need an environment that attracts and does not scare OFF economic development. This pathway has micro and macro layers. On the micro side, we need a concerted effort to make it easier for people who are in business to stay in business and we need to make it easier for small businesses to locate in our State.

We have to stop harassing people who currently are trying to make ends meet. Sadly, our state feasts on licensing and fees that cut into the profitability of small businesses. I’ll propose significant moratoriums on onerous practices that harass small businesses, such as forcing people in trades to travel to Baton Rouge for continuation training. If we’re going to cut into their profitability, then at least give these folks a break and stop taking them off track by forcing training they may or may not need. A top to bottom review needs to be conducted---QUICKLY--to determine what could be eliminated or put on hold for a few years.

At the macro level, we have to address different issues, such as the legal environment that is scaring away or running off businesses. “Legacy” and “Coastal” Lawsuits are crushing oil and gas and many related industries. For those unfamiliar, legacy and coastal lawsuits are basically situations where businesses are being sued for operating within the laws in decades or years gone by, but are now deemed as good pickings for a lawsuit. We’re losing exploration and production opportunities because many large oil companies prefer not to take the chance of coming into our legal morass. This needs to change if we want to participate in the oil and gas boom that is pushing our nation towards energy independence.

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T ow n H al l 20 1 9

WHY ABC PELICAN IS AN OUTSTANDING CHAPTER November 7, Baton Rouge Training Center We take pride in the fact that we are one of the strongest ABC chapters in the country because of our dedicated membership. That’s why we opened our doors in early November to each and every member of ABC Pelican for a town hall.

Our goal of the town hall was to receive ideas from our members on ways the staff can better serve you and fulfill goals. Members could also provide input and direction to the Pelican Chapter’s Strategic Plan, which the Board of Directors will follow over the next three years. This process was initiated a few years ago and now we needed the help of ALL members to continue with the strategic plan.

This is our membership’s opportunity to provide thoughts, suggestions and advice on how our future leadership will guide our association.

After members networked, 2019 Chair Donn Peterson reviewed the strategic plan and the goals of ABC Pelican, broken down in to these five buckets: 1. Board Recruitment, Engagement & Governance 2. Membership Growth 3. Membership Experience 4. Workforce Development & Recruitment 5. Governmental Affairs Attendees then dispersed for two separate breakout sessions, selecting one of the five buckets above to provide input on how the staff and board could achieve the goals under each bucket. Staff listened to a broad range of ideas and tips, took thorough notes and held recap meetings to discuss ways to implement this input in to the 2020 strategic plan.

“This town hall was the first of its kind for our chapter, and I believe we built a strong foundation for this meeting for years to come,” said Donn Peterson, 2019 Chairman of the Board. “The staff and board received some valuable input from 9

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members on ways we can make ABC Pelican more valuable and relevant for the merit shop, our industry and our state.”

We’re grateful for those who took the time to join us and share wisdom and opinions. This is one of the ways that we will continue to grow as a chapter.

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2 019 FAL L M ER I T M I XER

NOW, FOR THE MAIN EVENT

BY LINDSEY RUSS, DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES We saved the best for last by hosting our final Merit Mixer of 2019 at the capital city’s newest entertainment center, Main Event! Members, their clients and guests were able to network like adults and play like kids during the evening. The fact that we had the place all to ourselves really stepped up the level of fun.

More than 200 of our members enjoyed bowling, laser tag, arcade games, zip line, a ropes course, great food and drink and, of course, Thursday night football on multiple big screens. Our members commented throughout the night how innovative and exciting the new venue was for them. They enjoyed the layout of the venue and the out-of-the-box games many had not played since they were kids.

in long hours throughout 2019, so it’s nice to have a fun night like this to end a great year.”

Thank you to our event sponsors 24Hr Safety, Cody’s Transportation Systems, Five-S Group, Merit Electrical and Workforce Group for ensuring our members and their guests had a great time. To our members who attended, we hope each of you had as much fun as we did!

“ABC Pelican has such a large membership, and the Merit Mixers give me the chance to get to know and meet new people in a lively setting,” said Katie Verbois of ISC Constructors. “Those in this industry worked hard and put

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2 01 9 T re nd s i n c o n s t r u c t i o n

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR OUR ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY IN 2020

NOVEMBER 21, HILTON BATON ROUGE

Finance and business leaders walked away from the fifth annual South Louisiana Trends in Construction with a better understanding of what they and their companies can expect in our economy and industry in 2020.

Hannis T. Bourgeois’ Jay Montalbano welcomed the group to the 2019 Trends in Construction, thanking the sponsors and organizing committee for bringing together an excellent keynote speaker and group of panelists.

ABC Pelican’s David Helveston then offered insights on what he and the audience could expect to hear about the future of Louisiana. He posed questions such as: “What will make us competitive with our neighbors in the Gulf Coast?” and “How does Louisiana stack up?”

Attendees then heard a national economic perspective from ABC National’s Chief Economist Anirban Basu, who shared where America stands in terms of GDP, employment growth, salary growth, and other leading economic indicators.

“America is the best performing for the advanced economies in the world,” he shared. However, his keynote address was not all rainbows and sunshine.

He began his remarks by saying that there is probably another recession on the horizon. He explained this through the U.S Treasury yield curve inversions.

“Every downturn since the 1960s has resulted in a yield curve inversion, and a recession doesn’t necessarily happen.” Basu went on later to say that our economy will continue to soften as it has over the past eight months. This prediction came from GDP and Capacity Utilization Index data over the past 12 months.

Basu then provided the estimated growth in output by 13

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select global areas. America stands out and is on the top of the list, especially in our labor market and wage and salary growth.

“For every unemployed individual in the country, there are 1.2 jobs available,” Basu said. “That’s a strong labor market…Being busy isn’t the problem, but the problem is staffing the team.”

Moving on to employment growth, Basu explained that Louisiana ranked 48th in the country with a 0.2 percentage increase from October 2018 to October 2019. Utah, Florida, Arizona and Texas topped the list with anywhere from a 2 to 3.4% increase. Basu explained these changes in employment growth typically are attributed to the most mobile part of the workforce: recent college graduates. They go where the opportunities are.

Further explaining our national economic state, Basu used a genie in a bottle analogy. While most would ask wishes around money and love, Basu threw out a hypothetical of asking the genie for national wage growth and low inflation. “You cannot have wage growth and low inflation, but in this economy, the genie is delivering.”

Wage and salary growth in this quarter is at 2.9%, and according to Basu, “We do not have an inflation problem in this country, and that’s a victory.”

Basu went on to update the audience on certain leading economic indicators, including: 1.Architecture Billings Index. The data indicated there are concern among developers and financiers that there is some market saturation.

2.National nonresidential construction spending by subsector. Numbers revealed that lodging, office, amusement and recreation are at the top of the

2 019 T re n d s i n c o n s t r u c t i o n C o n t.

spending list while public safety, power and religious infrastructure are down. Total nonresidential construction is up by 22.2%.

3. Foreign investment in U.S. commercial real estate per 100,000 residents. Washington, D.C., New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Miami and Philadelphia are at the top of the list.

The keynote address concluded with Basu’s 2020 economic forecast. This economy, as it has over the past eight months, will continue to slow, he explained.

Basu also touched on challenges employees will face when hiring.

“We cannot find workers who can do the work and who we can afford.” Basu explained that artificial intelligence is and will continue to have a massive impact on the workforce and economy because it is essentially human-replacing technology. An outlier to the influences of AI? The construction industry. “You cannot lay brick with AI.” Basu concluded his remarks by saying the presidential election will shape next year’s economic performance more so than any other factor because of the stark differences in policy platforms of the candidates.

The keynote address was followed by a panel of industry experts who weighed in on workforce development, trade, ITEP, technology, recruiting and retaining young talent and more. While challenges lay ahead, the representatives of Louisiana Chemical Association, Exxon Mobil, Methanex and Cornerstone Chemical Association are overall optimistic for the year ahead.

Shortly after Greg Bowser, president of LCA and panel moderator, introduced Glynn Fontenot with Methanex, Charles Kelly with Cornerstone Chemical Company and Charles Dabadie Exxon Mobil, he asked a question on trade. The panel response was in unison.

Fontenot said his company wants free and open trade, and Kelly echoed by saying the current situation produces uncertainty. Dabadie agreed that Exxon wants free trade.

ITEP was the next topic of conversation, and each panelist said the lack of rules and clarity reduced predictably when making business decisions and investment plans.

Bowser then asked: What can local government do to make business invest here? Panelists answer by saying strengthening infrastructure and help with workforce development.

“We need support from this government,” Kelly said. “We need a consistent approach to economic development.”

“We want to live in harmony with our communities,” Glynn said. “And local media is not communicating that message.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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2 01 9 T re n d s i n c o n s t r u c t i o n C o n t.

Panelists were then asked what they were doing for their company’s young workforce.

Dabadie explained how Exxon is giving more workplace flexibility and introducing young-talent to long-term options “so they will stay with us…

They are a hell of a lot brighter than me” so it is about “challenging them to make work fun.”

Kelly said Cornerstone Chemical Company utilizes mentorships and giving them meaningful assignments.

“The millennials are coming, and they are bringing the skills,” said Glynn of Methanex. “We have to adapt as employers.”

Technology was the next topic of conversation. Glynn said in business, you either adapt or get out.

“Drones, for example, we use them for everything,” Glynn explained.

Kelly went on to say “it’s completely changed how we get things done.”

Dabadie remarked “this is the best part of my job…I can watch the plants on my phone. We’re just getting started and digital manufacturing is the next big thing.”

When asked by Bowser about the 2020 outlook for their company, panelists were positive.

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“We’ve grown and are growing because of this link to ethylene,” said Glynn. “Bigger plants are being built as a result and we’ll be the world’s largest ethyleneproducing plant right here in Ascension Parish.”

Kelly said Cornerstone is prioritizing a stable and strong workforce in the year ahead. “Our company has a good workforce and opportunities for us are in Texas and Louisiana; we want to be ready for those opportunities.

“I’m bullish,” Dabadie said of Exxon. “Production is up for us.”

The panel wrapped their discussion by talking about workforce development. While each panelist admitted there are many opportunities to grow and promote their workforce development efforts, they currently enjoy partnering with local community colleges.

“Workforce development begins in the high school,” Kelly said. “Our workforce is aging and skewed. We must make sure we have a workforce ready to do the work.”

A big thank you to CFMA for giving us the opportunity to partner together to host again and to all of our member sponsors for supporting this worthwhile event!

YOUN G P ROF E S S I O N A LS G R O U P UPDA TE

“THE HARDER YOU WORK, THE BETTER YOU’LL DO”

BY: KATIE ROUTH, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION DECEMBER 5, UNCLE EARL’S Our Young Professionals Group had an exceptional 2019. From interactions with national and local lawmakers, to YP of the Year, to tours of the Water Campus and equipment yards, to volunteer opportunities with Touch-A-Truck, LSU CM, and Workforce Development, to interactions with dozens of past ABC Pelican chairs, our 85 YPs had much to celebrate at their year-end get together at Uncle Earls.

2019 Chair of the ABC Pelican Board, Donn Peterson of GROUP Industries, welcomed the group and thanked them for their commitment to the chapter.

“You are the future of ABC.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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YOUN G P ROF E S S I O N A LS G R O U P UPDA TE c o n tin ue d John Freeman with Brown & Root Industrial Services will serve as the 2020 Chair of YPs for ABC Pelican.

Before he shared what’s in store for the YPs in the new decade, he thanked his predecessor Josh Zumo with Cajun Industries for serving as such a great leader for the group in 2019.

Brian Hooks with Triad Electric & Controls leads the LSU CM mentor group. He encouraged the attendees to get involved with the LSU CM students and mentor them as they prepped for the national competition in Nashville. Lance Arvel with Baker Gulf Coast Industrial and 2019 Young Professional of the Year added that it’s important to help the LSU CMs with their presentation skills.

The YPs then welcomed Andy Dupuy, CEO of Brown & Root Industrial Services and 1997 ABC Pelican Chair of the Board, to share his 40+ years of professional, personal and industry advice. Dupuy’s father founded the Baton Rouge Training Center.

“My dad found an answer to the question: how do we educate our workforce? This craft workforce is a transit workforce; they go where the work is, so an individual company cannot train the whole workforce, so we got together and decided ABC Pelican would educate them.”

After the creation of the training center, Dupuy began to get involved in the committees at ABC Pelican.

Over time, Dupuy was involved in just about every

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committee that this chapter offers. He noted later that it’s important to change out committee chairs yearly.

“It’s how we build alumnus and a base.”

“You guys are in the prime of your career,” Dupuy shared candidly with the young professionals. “You’re right where you need to be. Enjoy where you are and make it a priority to volunteer.”

Dupuy admitted he wished the YP Group was around when he was under 40. “This is the coolest thing about ABC.” One of the YPs asked Dupuy for his best career advice. He summed it up in about three sentences.

“Work harder than the next guy. It may take a little time, but it always made me more money in the end.

The harder you work, the better you do.”

Thanks to each of our 2019 YPs for committing your time and talents to this group and association. We look forward to a wonderful 2020!

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U ncom m on Lea d er s h i p

AT ABC PELICAN, LEADERS ARE NOT UNCOMMON BECAUSE OF UNCOMMON LEADERSHIP FALL 2019, ABC PELICAN

“Greatness is first and foremost a matter of conscious choice and discipline.”

These words, spoken by Jim Collins, were the anthem of ABC Pelican’s 22nd Uncommon Leadership class, which consisted of 22 young employees of our Member companies that were selected by their supervisors and mentors because of their promising careers and futures in industry.

The sponsors of the Uncommon Leadership students attended graduation and explained the improvement they had seen in their employees since attending the class.

The sponsors of the ISC Constructors students said they were more confident, and are better at making independent decisions, and prioritizing tasks.

•Strengthening listening and creative problem-solving skills Kyle Love, a partner at Human Dynamics, imparted some words of wisdom to our students as they recapped their learnings at graduation. “Part of this process is growing individually, and also so that you can give back to your companies that invested in you.”

“In our business, every hour of every day, we’re thrown curveballs,” Mario Rispone said. “[Our ISC students] have learned how to react and respond to those curveballs more quickly and strategically.”

Speaking of investment, Tim Thigpen with Westgate-who was a graduate from the very first class of Uncommon Leadership--said he was already seeing the investment his company made in their student, William Thigpen. William is now a second generation graduate, following in his father’s footsteps.

Dale LeBlanc with Cajun Industries said, “Our employees who are a part of the 22nd Uncommon Leadership Class are vital to the future of Cajun, and it’s been inspiring to see them grow in the area of leadership over the past few months.”

“This is a huge success for our graduate,” Thigpen said. “He has realized the importance of relationship building throughout his time in the class, and this class has made him a better employee and he has a bright future with our company and in his career.”

Over the course of the seven-week leadership development class led by Human Dynamics, the students learned to strengthen their leadership and management skills in practical, everyday ways such as:

Sponsors with Trade Construction mentioned they even saw an increased vocabulary in their young leaders. DJ Atkinson with Trade Construction sponsored Chad Ourso, a student who had been with Trade for a dozen years. Ourso had just started a new role, and this helped him step in to his new responsibilities.

•Taking greater personal accountability for achieving organizational results •Recognizing and understand diverse behavioral styles •Constructively managing conflict and achieving breakthroughs in performance •Assisting in the growth and development of people •Developing an audience centered approach to presenting 19

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“The self-awareness part of what you deal with as a project manager is very different than what was required of him in his technical role,” Atkinson said.

“Chad made emotional decisions before this class, now he can dig in to the facts and make decisions based on CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Uncom m on L ea d er s h i p C O N T i n ue d that…It is great to see him progress to be a even better employee than he already was for our company.”

Mike Braud with GROUP Industries sponsored a student named Toby Hooks, saying “there are many different personalities in this room, and our graduate was able to focus on his personality traits as well as others. I’ve seen many great developments and I’m proud of Toby and for everyone who completed the class.”

Chris Newton with Cajun Industries encouraged the 22 graduates to stay in touch with one another after the class wrapped.

“You are the ones in charge of the future of this industry,” Newton said. “Don’t be afraid to network with the leaders you’ve met in this class.”

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LE GAL up dat e

2020: TIME TO PROTECT YOUR LOUISIANA BUSINESS WITH NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS

BY: JUDE C. BURSAVICH BREAZEALE, SACHSE & WILSON, L.L.P.

WHY ACT NOW? 2020 is here. In today’s competitive marketplace, non-compete agreements serve as 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 now for such eventuality is critical to the long-term success of your business. What’s stopping you from utilizing non-compete agreements?

WHAT’S THE LAW? The validity of noncompete agreements in Louisiana is strictly controlled by a single 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: • employee/employer relationship • sale of the goodwill of a business • dissolution of a partnership • franchisor/franchisee relationship • employer/computer employee relationship • corporation/shareholder relationship • partnership/partner relationship (without consideration of any possible dissolution) • limited liability company/member relationship Louisiana has long had a strong public policy against non-compete 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.

Once it is demonstrated that a particular noncompete agreement falls within one of the listed 21 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

exceptions, most Louisiana courts require a valid non-compete agreement 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.

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.

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 2020 is smart business.

WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?

Up dat e s f ro m A B C N A T I O N A L NOVEMBER CONSTRUCTION UNEMPLOYMENT RATES RISE FROM A YEAR AGO WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan 6—In November, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates increased nationally and in 38 states, fell in 11 states and were unchanged in one state (Washington) on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors.

As of November 2019, the construction industry employed 145,000 more workers nationally compared to November 2018, even as the national NSA construction unemployment rate climbed from 3.9% to 4.4% over the same period, according to BLS numbers. This continues the trend of declining year-over-year growth in construction employment. November’s rise in year-over-year employment is the smallest increase since the January 2013 increase of 116,000.

“In November, below-average temperatures over most of the eastern half of the country likely acted as a drag on construction activity and employment,” said Bernard M. Markstein, Ph.D., president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors, who conducted the analysis for ABC. “Meanwhile, although there were above-average temperatures among the West Coast states and most Mountain states, wildfires continued to plague the region, a negative for construction in those areas.”

Because these industry-specific rates are not seasonally adjusted, national and state-level unemployment rates are best evaluated on a year-overyear basis. The monthly movement of rates still provides some information, although extra care must be used when drawing conclusions from these variations.

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR CONFIDENCE REBOUNDS IN OCTOBER WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec 19—

Leaders of the U.S. construction industry regained a degree of confidence in October 2019 with respect to near-term prospects for sales and profit margins, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Confidence Index released today. However, contractors became slightly less confident regarding their staffing levels during the next six months.

Despite large and growing skills shortages and rising compensation costs, nearly 46% of contractors expect their profit margins to increase over the next six months. Only 13% expect margins to decrease, strongly suggesting that demand for construction services remains elevated and purchasers are willing to offset rising compensation costs, including for subcontractors, which often face the most severe worker challenges.

Approximately 63% of contractors expect sales to rise over the next months and 57% expect to increase their staffing levels, indicating that the average contractor will face even greater challenges recruiting and retaining talent. The good news is that they are likely to be busy.

• The CCI for sales expectations increased from 62.4 to 63.8 in October • The CCI for profit margin expectations increased from 58.5 to 58.8.

• The CCI for staffing levels decreased from 64.2 to 63.6.

“The U.S. construction industry will enter 2020 with substantial momentum,” said ABC chief economist Anirban Basu. “Contractors continue to position themselves for a growing and more profitable marketplace with expectations of rising sales, wider profit margins and larger teams of workers. However, abundant risks remain, including in the form of increasingly volatile asset prices, a weakening global economy, massive levels of indebtedness in the United States and abroad, political uncertainty emerging from Washington and the impending insolvency of the nation’s

Highway Trust Fund. But these risks have been in place for quite some time and, for now, the mood among contractors remains upbeat.”

ABC’S GREG SIZEMORE APPOINTED VICE CHAIR, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ALLIANCE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec 18– Associated Builders and Contractors announced today that Greg Sizemore, the association’s vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development, has been appointed vice chair of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. In this role, Sizemore will help support the alliance’s mission to address suicide prevention as a construction health and safety priority and reach a zerosuicide industry.

“I am honored to be a part of this mission committed to raising awareness and equipping all levels of our workforce with the tools and education necessary to reduce the risk of suicide in the construction industry,” said Sizemore. “It is our job to not only make sure our workers go home in the same—or better—condition than when they arrived on the jobsite, but to also ensure they arrive safely the next morning. That cannot be done without acknowledging and addressing our industry’s suicide risk factors and integrating suicide prevention into our overall industry safety culture.”

Men in the construction and extraction industry had the highest rate of suicide among all occupational groups in the United States in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Construction Financial Management Association established the CIASP in 2016 as a response to the CDC study and now counts more than 90 stakeholders pledging to STAND up for suicide prevention, including ABC.

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ABC Pelican’s

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COV E R S T ORY W i n t er 20 1 9/ 20 20

WHAT FLOOD CONTROL, LSU FOOTBALL, THE FOUR SEASONS AND PHILLIPS 66 HAVE IN COMMON: EXCELLENCE

BY ERIKA WALTER, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

DECEMBER 11, L’AUBERGE BATON ROUGE

Images by Eye Wander Photography

ABC Pelican’s annual Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards and Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Banquet is our premier awards program that celebrates merit shop construction projects, our safest member companies and craft champions.

This special evening honors the commitment to world-class safety, innovation and quality that our member companies bring to each jobsite in planning, executing and delivering award-winning projects and flawless safety records.

This year we announced 25 award-winning construction projects, 40 companies’ impressive safety practices and5 local craft champions. These projects, companies and individuals were celebrated at a new venue that was a hit CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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COVE R S T ORy W i n t er 20 1 9/ 2020 C O N TIN UE D amongst the more than 400 honorees and attendees: the L’Auberge of Baton Rouge.

students, and providing much-needed manufacturing capabilities.”

“These construction projects, safety practices and talented people exemplify the best of the best in the industry,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of ABC Pelican. “Construction is one of Louisiana’s strong suits because of the long-term career opportunities it offers, the economic activity it invites and the robust local resources it utilizes. Each award that we present symbolizes the countless hours and endless dedication that the men and women in our workforce commit to innovation, quality, safety and excellence, ensuring that construction remains a pillar of this state.”

Speaking of, safety was an important focal point of the banquet. We celebrated this year’s 40 STEP recipients’ exceptional safety records, rigorous education programs, and the employees’ extraordinary commitment to safety. Our Diamond Level STEP recipients are at least 680% safer than the industry average. Our Platinum Level STEP recipients are four times safer than the industry average. Our Gold Level STEP recipients have reduced their total recordable incident rate (TRIR) by an impressive 23%.

In a first for our annual premier construction awards program, member companies could sponsor different facets of the evening, including video and production

by Performance Contractors, photography by Eye Wander Photo, centerpieces by Apache Industrial Services and desserts by Bengal Crane and Rigging.

The 2019 award-winning construction projects include the redesign of the LSU Football Operations Facility, the Nicholson Gateway Development, the Falgout Canal Flood Control Structure, the Comeaux High School Performing Arts Academy and the Phillips 66 Lake Charles Gasoline Isomerization Project.

The presentation of the ABC Pelican Award and the 2019 Project of the Year Award were two more first for ABC Pelican’s annual banquet. The winning company and project of the ABC Pelican Award went to Cajun Industries for choosing to utilize an impressive 31 ABC Pelican member companies to execute their EIC project, the Shell Convent Firewater Reliability Compliance. GROUP Industries took home 2019 Project of the Year for scoring 98.33 out of 100 on the DOW Fender Control Building Project!

Helveston noted of the 25 EIC winners: “Projects like these build stronger and safer communities in Louisiana by improving essential infrastructure, creating modern education and athletic spaces for

“While these stats are impressive and come with an enormous amount of hard work, it’s important to know that these companies have created a safetyoriented culture with the conditions for everyone to do their work without incident and go home safe and healthy every day,” said Helveston.

ABC Pelican craft professionals were also recognized.

They competed in ABC Pelican’s annual Baton Rouge craft competition on December 6 and announced as the individuals who will represent ABC Pelican at the 2020 National Craft Championships. Those winners are listed on page 37 of the newsletter, and we will keep you updated on their representation of ABC Pelican in Nashville in March.

Here are the 2019 ABC Pelican EIC winning-projects and companies, listed by category. Many of the projects below will go on to represent the chapter at the 30th National Excellence in Construction® Awards Gala in Nashville in March 2020. Thank you to each of the ABC Pelican members for your support of our chapter, this association and the principles of free enterprise. We are grateful to the owners and clients who have chosen to work with merit shop contractors. But most importantly, thank you for your commitment to safety.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR > MEGA-PROJECTS > MORE THAN $100 MILLION EXCELLENCE: The Lemoine Company, LLC: Nicholson Gateway Development CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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COVE R S T ORY W i n t er 20 1 9/ 2020 c o n tin ue d LSU’s largest on-campus project to date, Nicholson Gateway Development transformed a 28-acre underdeveloped tract of university owned property into a campus landmark. Completed in just over 20-months, the mega-project created over 1-million square feet of bustling space with zero lost-time incidents.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INDUSTRIAL > LESS THAN $5 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries, LLC: Shell Convent - Firewater Reliability Compliance Cajun safely executed Shell’s Firewater Reliability Compliance Project, operating multiple disciplines from land and water to overcome the site’s restricted access.

It entailed installation of a major pump structure over Shell’s Firewater Reservoir inclusive of marine, piling, civil and mechanical.

MERIT: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Cornerstone – Alkylation Tank Farm Project Cornerstone’s Alkylation Tank Farm Project was a true challenge with the client expediting the schedule upon award of the project to half of original planned duration. Performance successfully completed the project on schedule, working seven days a week, through the holiday season, without injury.

MERIT: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Valero - SRU 30 Waste Heat Boiler Turnaround The Valero SRU 30 Waste Heat Boiler Turnaround included removing structural columns and beams while still supporting the main structure, along with making one of the largest welds that Performance has ever made at 415 inches.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INDUSTRIAL > $5 TO $15 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries, LLC: Rubicon AP HyCO The project at Rubicon in Geismar, La included more than 100,000 manhours and was completed in only 12 months. Cajun completed a challenging project with no recordables, while upgrading an operating plant in difficult space limitations on time and within budget.

MERIT: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Westlake Chemical R201-D LCN EDC Cracking Furnace Westlake updated its EDC Cracking Furnace with a CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 27

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COVE R S T ORY W i n t er 20 1 9/ 2020 c o n tin ue d new Linde Modular furnace. Construction of the furnace required 14 critical lifts in an extremely congested live unit and three months of work under confined space conditions.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INDUSTRIAL > $15 TO $25 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC: Veolia - Burnside Converter Replacement & Capital Expansion Project Brown & Root completed the converter replacement and major capital expansion project while integrating into an existing chemical process and overcoming a historic high river, complex logistical footprint and accelerated timeline. The project was executed on-time with zero recordable injuries.

MERIT: Barriere Construction Co. LLC: Mosaic Uncle Sam Secondary Containment and RCRA BHT Piping Project The project brought the Uncle Sam phosphate production facility into environmental compliance while remaining operational throughout civil construction of a secondary containment area as well as reconfiguration and repurposing of related process piping and pumps. This project represented Barriere’s first mid-scale mechanical contract.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INDUSTRIAL > $25 TO $100 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Phillips 66 - Lake Charles Gasoline Isomerization Project To achieve the Lake Charles Gasoline Isomerization Project’s goal of consistently producing premium-grade gasoline for the demanding market, Performance executed civil and general mechanical work simultaneously to meet milestones of the aggressive project schedule.

MERIT: Primoris Services Corporation: Shintech Plaquemine Plant 3 Primoris overcame record rainfall, high river stages and excessive groundwater to successfully CONTINUED ON PAGE 29 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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COVE R S T ORY W i n t er 20 1 9/ 2020 co n tin ue d complete its work on Shintech’s third local expansion.

The project comes nearly 20 years after Primoris performed multiple scopes on the client’s first PVC facility in Louisiana.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INFRASTRUCTURE: HEAVY > UP TO $100 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Sealevel Construction, Inc.: Falgout Canal Flood Control Structure Self-performing 95 percent of the work, Sealevel installed the levees, piles, riprap and automated barge.

This infrastructure completes the southern portion of the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Plan, providing 1025 linear feet of flood protection for Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INSTITUTIONAL > $5 TO $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: The Lemoine Company, LLC: Comeaux High School Performing Arts Academy The Performing Arts Academy is a 21,350 square foot addition to the existing Comeaux High School. It was completed early and under budget with no safety issues. This Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) project required extensive coordination with the owner, architect, and CMAR. GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INSTITUTIONAL > $10 - $25 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Arkel Constructors, Inc.: LSU Football Operations Addition and Athletics Nutrition Center The design assist remodel and 32,000 square-foot expansion of the LSU football operations building, while remaining occupied, was completed on time, with additional major scopes added throughout.

Daily coordination with owner, architect, user, and subcontractors made it successful.

SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > ELECTRICAL: INDUSTRIAL > $2 TO $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: ISC Constructors, LLC: ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants Company-2019 Legacy Event ISC was contracted by the ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company to perform the electrical and instrumentation work associated with upgrading the Pipe Stills-9 & HIPPS system (PSLA-9), West Coker (WCDR), Sulfur Recovery (SRLA-400), Feed Prep

(PHLA-2) and Tail Gas (TGS) units.

MERIT: Triad Electric & Controls, Inc.: Valero Diamond Green Diesel Expansion Project This project was a world-class construction endeavor that has once again endorsed Triad’s reputation for excellence in the industry. With more than 119,000 manhours performed in a very compressed time frame, this project was completed with a perfect safety record.

MERIT: ISC Constructors, LLC: Marathon Garyville-10/22 Substation Installation Project This project was awarded to ISC as part of the Substation Replacement Program designed to strategically improve the electrical infrastructure of select process units by replacing single-ended and radially fed substations with new secondary-selective substations fed from Main Substation 35-7.

SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > ELECTRICAL > MORE THAN $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: ISC Constructors, LLC: MEGlobal BOOKRAMEG Project ISC was contracted to perform all electrical and instrumentation scopes for their new world class monoethylene glycol facility in Freeport, Texas. ISC, the sole E/I contractor for the ISBL and OSBL areas, installed all electrical equipment, raceway, cabling, and instrumentation.

MERIT: Triad Electric & Controls, Inc.: Shell Tiger AO4 Project Triad was awarded a $30 million contract for electrical and instrumentation construction for the Shell Tiger AO4 Project as part of a grassroots expansion at Shell’s Geismar refinery. Triad successfully completed 757,698 manhours without an OSHA recordable.

MERIT: MMR Constructors, Inc.: Ethylene Plant Restart Project The Indorama Ventures Olefins LLC Project consisted of the complete revamp of mothballed ethane cracker. The plant was idled in 2001 and sustained damage during several hurricanes. Over 433,000 safe Electrical and Instrumentation manhours were spent on the multi-year project.

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COVE R S T ORY W i n t er 20 1 9/ 2020 c o n tin ue d SITEWORK / LANDSCAPE / HARDSCAPE MERIT: Beard Construction Group, LLC: Drax – LaSalle Bioenergy – Sitework and Rail Yard Construction Drax Bioenergy awarded Beard a contract to perform sitework and to complete construction of a rail yard at their facility in Urbania, LA. Beard faced several obstacles in the completion of the project, including substandard material, demanding site conditions and permitting delays. Beard performed the work with zero safety incidences and on budget.

SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > SPECIALTY CONSTRUCTION - COMMERCIAL > LESS THAN $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries, LLC: Cleco Bayou Vista-Terrebonne T-Line Cajun installed 128 battered helical piles and steel grillage foundations for six transmission towers by using land equipment and barge equipment resources. This project consisted of a year and a half for conceptual planning and nine weeks of construction.

MERIT: Boh Bros. Construction Co., LLC: Four Seasons Hotel and Residences New Orleans – Piles Boh Bros. was selected as the piling subcontractor for the conversion of the World Trade Center into a Four Seasons Hotel. The project required driving four types of piles with five crews next to an existing building, around an active railroad, and under low overhead conditions while racing a rising Mississippi River and was executed with zero accidents.

SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > SPECIALTY CONSTRUCTION - INDUSTRIAL > LESS THAN $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Group Industries: DOW Fender Control Building Dow Beaumont’s “shelter in place” facility serves three purposes -- administrative offices, laboratory and control room. Proactively tackling the project, the design-build team determined the most efficient way to create the 100 percent-sealed structure, while battling logistical and design challenges.

MERIT: Cajun Industries, LLC: ExxonMobil Dock 5 Project Cajun’s accomplishments on the ExxonMobil Dock 5 Retrofit project were due to a state-of-the-art CONTINUED ON PAGE 31 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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COVE R S T ORY W i n t er 20 1 9/ 2020 c o n tin ue d safety program, exceptional due diligence, quality craftsmanship, thorough communication, and flawless execution. Despite difficulties, Cajun completed the multi-phased endeavor in two locations with a successful startup.

SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > SPECIALTY CONSTRUCTION - INDUSTRIAL > MORE THAN $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries, LLC: Zachry @ Lyondell Chemical Company PO/TBA Cajun was contracted to provide a variety of turnkey deep foundation scopes including design/build for LyondellBasell’s new Propylene Oxide and Tertiary Butyl Oxide Plant in Channelview, TX. Once completed, this will be the world’s largest facility of its kind.

Here are the 2019 ABC Pelican STEP Recipients.

The companies below excel in all areas of ABC’s STEP Safety Management System, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to safety. Participating companies score their level of achievement for each component on a weighted point scale and document their incident rates (TRIR and EMR). Companies receive recognition level of Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze or Participant based on this data.

Diamond Level Companies: Apache Industrial Services, Ardent Services, Barriere Construction Company, Beard Construction Group, Bengal Crane & Rigging, Brown & Root Industrial Services, Cajun Industries, Classic Industrial Services, Claymar Construction, Insulations, ISC Constructors, Merit Electrical, MMR Constructors, New Industries, PCL Industrial Construction Co., Primoris Services Corporation, REPCON, Southern Earth Sciences, The Lemoine Company, Triad Electric & Controls, Turner Industries Group, and Westgate.

Platinum Level Companies: Aggregate Technologies, Arkel Constructors, EXCEL Group, Group Industries, Mammoet USA South, MAPP, Moore Industries, PALA-Interstate, Trade Construction Co., and Worley.

Gold Level Companies: APTIM, Bluewater Constructors, Bottom Line Equipment, Ernest P. Breaux Electrical, Kostmayer Construction, Performance Contractors, and SJB Group.

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PELICAN CHAPTER, ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS, INC.

PERFECT YOUR TRADE THROUGH CRAFT TRAINING IN BATON ROUGE Established in 1980, ABC Pelican has trained more than 25,000 craft professionals, provided a variety of professional continuing education offerings, and promoted construction as a career to tens of thousands. Perfect your trade with us through nationally accredited curriculum developed for the construction industry!

CRAFT COURSES • NCCER Core • NCCER Electrical Levels 1-4 • NCCER Millwright Levels 1-5 • NCCER Heavy Equipment Levels 1-2

• NCCER Instrumentation Levels 1-4 • NCCER Mobile Crane Levels 1-2 • NCCER Pipefitting Levels 1-4

Pelican Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnic origin, religion, sex, handicap, union affiliation or veteran status. Persons who enroll in ABC Training Center courses acknowledge that they are physically fit to participate in these courses. In the event of an accident or injury, participants will hold harmless from all liability and/or loss or damage, the Pelican Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. or its agents. This information is subject to change without notice due to enrollment numbers and requirements. Completion of all or part of a training program does not guarantee employment. While it is our goal to train for the construction/maintenance industry, our primary purpose is to train our members’ employees.

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(Must have at least 3.5 years field experience) •NCCER Construction Site Safety Technician (CSST) •Project Coordinator (three semesters) •First semester: Print Reading •Second semester: Estimating •Third semester: Planning and Scheduling

• AWS Welding Levels 1- 4

About ABC Pelican

19251 Highland Road Baton Rouge, LA 70809

SUPERVISOR CLASSES

Spring 2020 Dates Early Registration: October 1- 31 (current students only) ICC/GBRIA Registration: November 4 - 28 Open Registration: December 2 - 19

Semester Begins: January 6, 2020 Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday, 7:30a to 6:00p

225.752.0088

Fall 2020 Dates Early Registration: April 1 – 30 (current students only) ICC/GBRIA Registration: May 4 – 29 Open Registration: June 1 - 30

Semester Begins: August 3, 2020 abcpelican.org

BA T ON ROUGE t r a i n i n g c en t e r update

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER

BY KELLY CARPENTER, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Open enrollment for the spring semester began on December 2. All Core and Level One classes for Electrical, Instrumentation and Millwright are filled.

Currently, there are still limited seats available in welding, pipefitting, mobile crane, heavy equipment and the specialty classes. The upper level (200, 300 and 400) classes are still open. The spring semester will begin January 6 and 7 at 6:00 p.m. Training Center staff will continue to accept applications through January 9. We look forward to another great spring semester in a new decade.

On December 6, ABC Pelican hosted the craft competition for our students and piloted a Jambalaya/Pastalaya and Gumbo cook-off for our members. The goal is to incorporate the cook-off with the craft competition in hopes of membership seeing our students compete against their fellow classmates for the opportunity to compete in the national competition. The first-place winners will travel to Nashville, TN in March of 2020 for the ABC NATIONAL CRAFT CHAMPIONSHIPS! Thank you to our contractors for their support with this event both in the craft competition and the cook-off.

CRAFT WINNERS: Electrical 1st - Devin Pourciaux, Ernest P. Breaux Electrical 2nd - Seth Oubre, Ernest P. Breaux Electrical 3rd - Kris Simmons, Dykes Electric Instrumentation 1st - Zeke Mahaffey, ISC Constructors 2nd - Justin Blanchard, ISC Constructors 3rd - Ryan Drake, Ardent Services

1st - Dewey Sibley, Performance Contractors 2nd - Dalton Newsom, Performance Contractors 3rd - Payton Morris, Performance Contractor Welding 1st - Trey Hebert, Turner Industries Group 2nd - Tristan Acosta, Turner Industries Group 3rd - Cameron Garafola, Performance Contractors COOK-OFF WINNERS: Jambalaya/Pastalaya Champion – Ardent Gumbo Champion - Excel ABC Pelican staff will soon meet with GBRIA for a kick-off meeting with the Contractor Workforce Development Committee’s to discuss objectives for 2020. These objectives will focus on the following: 1. A High School Millwright Curriculum Development – GBRIA would like to set a standard curriculum for Millwright to be taught at the high school level so that students graduating from the high school program can enter ABC for continuous training with equivalent knowledge and skill. GBRIA’s goal for 2020 is to have the standard curriculum developed and taught to high school instructors during summer 2020.

2. An Advanced Millwright Curriculum Development – GBRIA would like to identify or create an advanced millwright training program to improve skills of the current millwright workforce. GBRIA would also like to address gaps identified in NCCER’s Millwright curriculum and ensure these gaps are compensated in addition to providing feedback to NCCER to update their curriculum.

Millwright 1st - Austin Pardue, Turner Industries Group 2nd - Lionel Beckett, Turner Industries Group 3rd - Gavin Oldham, Turner Industries Group Pipefitting www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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so ut h w e st t r a i n i n g c en t er update

OUR SIGHTS ARE ON A NEW TRAINING FACILITY IN SWLA FOR ABC PELICAN

BY BLAISE THEARD, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, SWTC

The ABC Southwest Training Center successfully wrapped the Fall 2019 semester with 722 completers and 80 graduates. A career fair was held the last week of class for all of our graduates. Thank you to those contractor members who were present to interact with our students, including APTIM, ISC Constructors, Performance Contractors, Triad Electric & Controls, and Turner Industries Group.

Our dual enrollment welding students are continuing to improve with every rod burned. We have a great mix of new and returning students for the spring semester. The highly anticipated welding competition amongst the satellite classes will occur in March.

The students love this competition as they are provided with the chance to show off their hard work and dedication to the craft. They take pride in representing their class and instructor. It’s also a great opportunity for the students to see the ABC Southwest Training Center and interact with ABC Pelican member contractors.

We will also be hosting two other high school craft competitions in the coming months at our training center. The FFA District 9 welding and small engine mechanics competition will take place February 20. The winners of the district competition will advance to the FFA Area 3 welding and small engine mechanics competition, which will occur March 5.

The Southwest Jambalaya Cook-Off will be paired with the competition on March 5. We welcome any and all members who would like to join us for either of these competitions. It’s a great way to support the next generation of craft professionals.

The Spring semester began January 6. Among all crafts for our accelerated, night, and satellite training, 35 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

we currently have a total of 739 enrolled. As we recently kicked off a new semester, we also kicked off a new decade. The ABC SWTC expects the next ten years will be very prosperous in terms of educating the best craftsmen and women that our industry demands. We are very dedicated and committed to providing high-quality hands-on education our students deserve and our contractor members expect.

We are pleased that ABC SWTC has acquired land for the future home of a brand new, world class training facility. While we continue to increase our training numbers each year, we are limited by our capacity. The ABC SWTC looks forward to building a new state of the art training facility which will continue to improve the quality of training demanded by our industry for many years to come.

PELICAN CHAPTER, ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS, INC.

PERFECT YOUR TRADE THROUGH CRAFT TRAINING IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA Established in 1980, ABC Pelican has trained more than 25,000 craft professionals, provided a variety of professional continuing education offerings, and promoted construction as a career to tens of thousands. Perfect your trade through nationally accredited curricula developed for the construction industry with us!

Questions? Contact: Kirby Bruchhaus, Director of Education (kbruchhaus@abcpelican.com | 337.882.0204) Blaise Theard, Workforce Development Specialist (btheard@abcpelican.com | 337.882.0204)

• NCCER Core Classroom • NCCER Scaffolding Level 1 • NCCER Electrical Levels 1-4 • NCCER Millwright Levels 1-5

CRAFT COURSES

• NCCER Heavy Equipment Levels 1-2

• AWS Welding Levels 1- 3 (afternoon & evening)

• NCCER Instrumentation Levels 1-4

• NCCER CSST Safety 100 Hours

• NCCER Pipefitting Levels 1-4

NCCER Accredited Assessment Center

About ABC Pelican Pelican Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnic origin, religion, sex, handicap, union affiliation or veteran status. Persons who enroll in ABC Training Center courses acknowledge that they are physically fit to participate in these courses. In the event of an accident or injury, participants will hold harmless from all liability and/or loss or damage, the Pelican Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. or its agents. This information is subject to change without notice due to enrollment numbers and requirements. Completion of all or part of a training program does not guarantee employment. While it is our goal to train for the construction/maintenance industry, our primary purpose is to train our members’ employees.

222 Walcot Road Westlake, LA 70669

Fall 2020 Dates

Spring 2021 Dates

Early Registration: April 1 – 30 (current students only)

Early Registration: October 1- 31 (current students only)

Contract Employee Registration: May 4 – 28 Open Registration: June 3 - 27

Contract Employee Registration: November 4 - 28 Open Registration: December 1 - 23

Late Registration: July 1 – 30 (current students only)

Late Registration: December 1 – 31 (current students only)

Semester Begins: August 3, 2020 Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday, 7:30a to 6:00p

337.882.0204

Semester Begins: January 4, 2021 abcpelican.org

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BR T C 2 01 9 C r a f t c o m p et i t i o n

PUTTING IN THE TIME AND FOCUS TO BUILD EXCELLENCE

DECEMBER 6, BATON ROUGE TRAINING CENTER

Lucinda Williams once said: “You should put time into learning your craft. It seems like people want success so quickly, way before they’re ready.”

While this singer-songwriter was probably talking about the art of music, this quote applies just as much to the art of craft trade, and ABC Pelican is proud to educate about 3,000 individuals each year who are dedicated to truly learning their art, craft trade, and executing it with excellence.

The art of craft trade is on full display at our annual craft competition, which brings together our current craft students from the Baton Rouge and Southwest campuses to vie for a chance to represent ABC Pelican at the National Craft Championships. And of course, to win some great prizes and bragging rights in the classrooms and on their jobsites.

This year, nearly 40 of those craft students competed in the categories of electrical, instrumentation, millwright, pipefitting and welding in an all-day competition on the Baton Rouge campus. The competition included a written exam and a hands-on demonstration.

Trey Hebert, sponsored by Turner Industries, claimed first place in the welding category and is going on to Nashville in March.

“It is an honor to win the craft competition,” Hebert said.

“From putting all of the hours welding in the booths, it has finally started to pay by winning the welding competition and to be able to start working for Turner Industries. I am CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 37

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BR T C 2 01 9 C r a f t c o m p et i t i o n very blessed for ABC to show me what I can do for myself and how to make a living doing it and to let me be a part of something like this competition.”

Here are the 2019 ABC Pelican Craft Competition Winners. Those in bold are the craft students who will represent the chapter in the 2020 National Craft Championships in Nashville. ABC National presents the National Craft Championships annually to highlight the achievements of the men and women who represent the future of the construction industry. Craft trainees travel from across the country to demonstrate their superior skills, training and safe work practices and compete for top honors in their chosen craft.

scent, but it also filled the stomachs of the hungry competitors after they completed the test and hands-on demonstration.

EXCEL claimed the first-place prize for their delicious gumbo and Ardent’s pastalya stole the show and the winning slot for the jambalaya/pastalya category.

Thank you to each of our member contractors who came out to support the students and feed us!

•First Place in Electrical: Devin Pourciaux, sponsored

by Ernest P. Breaux Electrical •Second Place in Electrical: Seth Oubre, sponsored by Ernest P. Breaux Electrical •Third Place in Electrical: Kris Simmons, sponsored by Dykes Electric •First Place in Instrumentation: Zeke Mahaffey, sponsored by ISC Constructors •Second Place in Instrumentation: Justin Blanchard, sponsored by ISC Constructors •Third Place in Instrumentation: Ryan Drake, sponsored by Ardent Services •First Place in Millwright: Austin Pardue, sponsored by Turner Industries Group •Second Place in Millwright: Lionel Beckett, sponsored

by Turner Industries Group •Third Place in Millwright: Gavin Oldham, sponsored

by Turner Industries Group •First Place in Pipefitting: Dewey Sibley, sponsored by Performance Contractors •Second Place in Pipefitting: Dalton Newsom, sponsored by Performance Contractors •Third Place in Pipefitting: Payton Morris, sponsored

by Performance Contractors •First Place in Welding: Trey Hebert, sponsored by Turner Industries Group •Second Place in Welding: Tristan Acosta, sponsored

by Turner Industries Group •Third Place in Welding: Cameron Garafola, sponsored

by Performance Contractors While the students competed, EXCEL Group, GROUP Industries, Performance Contractors, Turner Industries, Worley and Ardent Services participated in their own competition…a cook-off! The gumbo, jambalaya and pastalaya not only filled the campus with a great www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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COM M UN IT Y U PDA T E

BUILDING A BETTER BLOCK NOVEMBER 8, ENTERPRISE BLVD, LAKE CHARLES, LA Our craft students not only use their skills in their careers, but they also use them to build our communities stronger.

Our staff, instructors and 11 of our Southwest craft students chose to volunteer their time and efforts to give back one Friday in November. They did so by joining with Better Block for a day of reimagining the Nellie Lutcher Cultural District on Enterprise Blvd in between Broad Street and South Division Street in Lake Charles.

ABC Pelican students helped with site prep and furniture building.

The Nellie Lutcher Better Block Event “dressed up” Nellie Lutcher Memorial Parkway with murals, refreshed crosswalks, temporary storefronts, and playgrounds, temporary outdoor seating – the works. Everything from pop-up businesses to temporary murals will help the community envision what could be.

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Nellie Lutcher was a jazz musician from Lake Charles, and the Nellie Lutcher Cultural District honors her legacy in a historically significant part of Lake Charles.

This Better Block Event helped infuse energy and growth into the future of the district, and our students got to be a part of that.

MEM BE RS H IP U PDA T E

ABC PELICAN’S 2019 BEAM CLUB AWARD

BY ANNA ZEBEAU, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP At our annual Board Installation Banquet recently held on January 9, several awards were given out to exemplary individuals in the areas of Committee Member of the Year, Merit Shop Member of the Year and Beam Club Member of the Year.

The ABC Beam Club, established in 1966, recognizes ABC members who have displayed their commitment to grow the association with their ability to recruit quality members into the association. Beam Club members have made ABC the world’s largest association of merit shop contractors and continue to be the foundation for the future of ABC and merit shop construction.

The Beam Club Award is given annually to a member who demonstrates outstanding achievement in the areas of membership development and recruiting – the lifeblood of any organization. The individual receiving this award exemplifies a commitment to making ABC an association force to be reckoned with; a “BEAM” which shines brightly and unyielding to our Merit Shop philosophy.

to know him. He is a person that has cultivated relationships in the construction industry and has passion for growing the Pelican Chapter in support of the Merit Shop philosophy.

Please join us in congratulating Jeremiah Johnson for his outstanding achievement and efforts in membership recruitment. We greatly appreciate your involvement and passion for the organization and chapter!

Members who sponsor new members are given one point per new member. Once a member reaches five sponsored members, they officially become a Beam Club Level Member and are enrolled in the Beam Club by their chapter. Beam Club activity is ongoing from year to year, with members’ point totals continually accruing and advancing members to the next Beam Club award level.

The individual recruiting the most new members in 2019 and was spotlighted at our installation banquet was Jeremiah Johnson, Territory Account Representative with Bottom Line Equipment. Jeremiah sponsored six new members in 2019 with a cumulative number of 10.5 new members to date. Now reaching 10.5 sponsored members total, Jeremiah has now reached the Merit Level of the Beam Club. He was an active member serving on several committees in 2019 such as Membership Committee, Member Services Committee, State Convention Planning Committee, Young Professionals and AmBassador Club Committee.

If you don’t know Jeremiah, I would recommend getting www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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MEM BE RS H IP D I S C O U N T S

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MEM BE RS H IP C O N T I N U ED

GET TO KNOW OUR NEW MEMBERS BPreferred Electric, Inc. Jeff Riemann Post Office Box 9060, New Iberia, LA 70562 337.365.5516 www.preferredelectric.net Joined: December 2019 Contractor: Electrical Contractor Sponsor: Chad Hargrave, Medsafe About Preferred Electric, Inc: Preferred Electric has a broad range of electrical, instrumentation and construction capabilities.

Equipment Share Keith Green 2919 East Napoleon Street, Sulphur, LA 70663 337.516.2020 www.equipmentshare.com Joined: December 2019 Supplier: Equipment sales, rental, service Sponsor: Wesley Littleton, 24Hr. Safety About Equipment Share: Equipment Share helps contractors across the country build better and work smarter with the help of Track smart jobsite technology.

Ashworth Industries Raymond Ashworth 10455 Jefferson Highway, Suite 230, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225.677.9560 www.ashworthindustriesllc.com Joined: December 2019 Supplier: Ind. Process Piping & Equipment Sponsor: Brad Roberts, EXCEL Group About Ashworth Industries: Ashworth Industries provides industrial services including construction management; third-party inspections; and manufacturing, repairing, maintaining and distributing process equipment and parts, including pumps, valves and compressors

225.752.4790 www.ardamann.com Joined: December 2019 Industry Professional: Engineering Services Sponsor: Ben Fromenthal, Beard Construction About Ardamann & Associates, Inc.: A professional geotechnical and environmental engineering corporation that has a global reach and operates from our corporate headquarters in Orlando and 13 branch offices throughout Florida and Louisiana.

The numbers speak for themselves 1,108,935

258,773

training units in 2018

students trained in 2018

1,800+

60+

current member companies

years’ experience

By putting our tools, technology, safety training and support to work, companies across the U.S. and abroad are working safer and smarter. Learn more about our foundational programs or talk to us about building a customized workforce development plan.

877-345-1253 alliancesafetycouncil.org

Ardamann & Associates, Inc. Jerry Outlaw 316 Highlandia Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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ABC P e l ic an I n s ta l lat i o n a n d M e mbe rs h ip A wa rds Ba n que t

2 0 2 0 V I SIO N

JANUARY 9, COUNTRY CLUB OF LOUISIANA “This is a celebration of you. You spur economic and workforce development in this industry and state, and ABC Pelican exists because of you. Thank you.”

Chapter President David Helveston spoke these words as he welcomed attendees to our annual Installation Banquet and Chapter Awards Ceremony. Past presidents, current board members, our executive committee, national committee members, outstanding chapter members and their guests were part of the celebration of ushering in new leaders to oversee the chapter.

“Because of you, we raise more PAC dollars than any other chapter, educate more craft students and defend free enterprise fiercely,” Helveston applauded the group.

He recognized past presidents, members of the 2020 National Committee, our 2020 Board and our 2020 Executive Committee before thanking the chapter’s 2019 Chair, Donn Peterson with GROUP Industries.

Tearfully, Peterson gave his farewell speech. “I have many to thank, especially the past presidents’ for their exceptional mentorship and for stepping up to the plate to provide wisdom and insight.”

Peterson summarized the impressive accomplishments of the chapter under his leadership. “My theme of 2019 was ‘In the beginning…with a constant eye on the future,” I just wish I would have had more time to accomplish the things I wanted to do!”

In order to accomplish the ‘in the beginning,’ phrase, ABC Pelican paid homage to the founders and leaders of ABC. “They went through trials and tribulations to get the merit shop established in our region,” Peterson said.

‘With the constant eye on the future,’ was accomplished by: linking the chapter bylaws to strategic plan, aligning with like-minded associations, engaging women and minority participation by implementing a diversity task force, engaging the Young Professionals Group, increasing past president’s participation in the chapter and hosting a town hall in November.

“This has been an incredible experience,” Peterson said as he wrapped his remarks. “What an honor to lead this association.”

We then honored our 2019 outstanding members with a handful of chapter awards. These members were nominated by the staff and the board for their commitment and involvement in the chapter.

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Images by Eye Wander Photo

Beam Club Member of the Year: Jeremiah Johnson, Bottom Line Equipment Workforce Development Member of the Year: Steve Bomar, Performance Contractors Committee Member of the Year: Ben Fromenthal, Beard Construction Group Committee Member of the Decade: Ryan Girouard, Hancock Whitney Bank Merit Shop Member of the Year: Donn Peterson, GROUP Industries The 2020 Board and Executive Committee were then sworn in.

“You are the guiding light of this association, the servant leaders of this chapter,” Stevie Toups of Turner Industries said moments before he administered the oath of office to the chapter’s 2020 leadership.

In front of past presidents and national committee members, these leaders vowed to uphold free enterprise, defend open competition and lead this chapter well.

Carlos Guidry, ABC Pelican’s 2020 Chair, then shared his lofty goals for both this capable group and for the staff.

Before sharing his 2020 vision, he offered up some thanks, with a few tears.

“Thank you to my wife and daughter for their support, to my parents for their moral guidance and to my Turner family. Mr. Roland Toups always says ‘God first, family second, Turner third’ and I appreciate you giving me this opportunity and sticking with me all these years.”

Guidry’s 2020 vision includes: breaking ground in Lake Charles this year, growing membership by identifying the contractors that belong in ABC, growing our craft training, continuing to implement the strategic plan, doing more community outreach to encourage young people to work in our industry and to introduce them to who we are, continuing to promote the merit shop, and increasing National PAC dollars.

Guidry concluded his remarks by saying: “I hope I can live up to the high standards set by the past chairs. God bless you and God bless America.”

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Fr om t he p r es i d en t

ROARING INTO THE TWENTIES BY: DAVID HELVESTON, PELICAN CHAPTER, ABC

When you hear the “Roaring Twenties,” what comes to mind? I think of ritzy parties, black ties and flappers, and champagne flowing freely. I think of the New York City skyline rising from the ground and gritty construction workers carelessly eating lunch on a beam atop a skyscraper.

As we head into our own “Roaring Twenties,” New York’s skyline is still very much shaped by the efforts of those workers who performed without the benefits of modern technology or our focus on safety. We in the construction industry are equipped with much more powerful tools and technology than our counterparts 100 years ago.

Advancements in technology have increased safety, competitiveness and profit, while also bettering our companies’ workforce, bottom line and longevity.

Approximately 70 percent of construction companies today believe those who do not adopt digital ways of working will go out of business, according to Visual Capitalist.

Technology is no longer a competitive advantage for early adopters, but rather an operational necessity for our entire industry. Advancements in technologies such as AI, augmented and virtual reality, 3-D printing, robotics and Building Information Modeling (BIM) software are cutting costs, improving build quality, streamlining processes, speeding project completion times, growing design innovation and scale, and creating energy efficiencies.

Craft professionals are safer today than they were stepping into 1920. This is a direct result of a more engaged contractor leadership and contractors choosing to

implement safety processes and utilize technology to meet or exceed safety goals. Wearable devices like health bands can measure and report workers’ biometrics, and safety badges can alert workers when they enter a dangerous area. Predictive analytics can identify what can put a craft professional at risk by looking at workplace environments, equipment, materials and practices. Mobile forms and scannable QR codes help determine the root cause of incidents and allow safety violations to be reported in real time. These are just a few of the technologies that can capture and address safety concerns to reduce jobsite injuries and send workers home safely at the end of the day.

Our industry is roaring into 2020, thanks in part to the benefits and advancements made by technology.

Evidence shows that the more support technology has at the top of an organization, the greater the probability of a successful implementation of the tool throughout the organization. As we step into a new year and decade, one of my resolutions is to continue to embrace the power and potential of technology, and I’d encourage you and your colleagues to do the same.

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A FARE W E L L F R O M YO U R 20 1 9 C H A IR

ABC PELICAN IS IN GOOD HANDS BY: DONN PETERSON, 2019 ABC PELICAN CHAIRMAN It’s hard to believe my year of Chairman of the Board for Pelican Chapter has come to a close, and I have passed the gavel to Carlos Guidry with Turner Industries! This chapter of ABC is in good hands, in fact, much better hands than mine or my predecessors.

(Yes, that’s a subtle dig on Trey Crawford and Andy Lopez). In all seriousness, Carlos will be a fine leader and accomplish many significant results this year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Trey and Andy for their leadership during my year at the helm. Their coaching, mentoring and counsel was instrumental in helping provide guidance as the Board undertook some major initiatives.

As the chapter took a deep dive into revising our By-Laws and navigated towards building a new Skills Enhancement and Upgrade Training Center in Lake Charles, a number of active members participated, including Past Presidents and future leaders. Andy Dupuy, Kenny Freeman, Art Favre, Scott Barringer, Glen Redd, Thad Rispone, David Franks, Donnie Braud are all offered special recognition for their willingness to assist.

In 2019, we held a Town Hall for the first time and it was considered a huge success by all in attendance. We presented the “buckets” of the ABC Strategic Plan and provided the opportunity to all members to give input into the direction our plan takes us, to future goals and initiatives, and to strategic thinking and planning for the chapter’s future success. I thank everyone who attended and provided their suggestions. Leadership looks forward to hosting a townhall again in 2020, as we will be looking to update our Strategic Plan for the ensuing three to five years.

My theme for the year was “In the beginning….. with a constant eye on the future.” We took a look at the humble beginnings of the Pelican Chapter, the transformation the chapter has gone through in the last 45 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

40 years and what our future leadership may look like. We have an incredible Young Professionals Group where our future Board and Chair will emerge, and they are engaged and enthused about the coming years.

The YP’s were able to meet with Past Presidents at a luncheon in September and everyone had a great time.

We look forward to providing opportunities where we can link our YP’s with Past Presidents and provide the two groups with the ability to coach and mentor.

Last, and certainly not least, I send a huge THANK YOU to all ABC staff both in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles for an incredible year. We have a staff that is second to none within ABC circles and everything that gets accomplished is because of staff ’s diligence and hard work. I have been blessed by the friendships created and the relationships enhanced. Each and every one of you hold a special place in my heart!

I hope you have enjoyed the year as much as I have, and that you consider ABC an extension of your company and find merit in your membership. I began the year promising I would offer a servant’s mentality in leading this organization and I end in much the same way. If there is anything I can ever do to make your membership experience more enjoyable, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Thank you for a wonderful year and here’s hoping your 2020 is even better! God Bless ABC and God Bless you and yours in the coming year!

GOV E RN M E NTA L R EL A T I O N S U PDA TE : Gue s t A Rticle c o n tin ue d The collateral effects caused by our legal environment are the sky-rocketing insurance costs we all live with here in the Bayou State. Individual households are being crushed as a result of high auto insurance premiums. Businesses who operate trucks or other vehicles are being bled dry because rates are so outrageous. Small loggers and truckers are being run into bankruptcy or forced out of the state. Our state’s paper mills are affected by the costs and are less able to expand or produce because of the difficulties in getting the products (timber) to the processing facilities (mills). We have a major processing facility in the 30th in Beauregard Parish and we have others throughout the State. These folks need positive government protection. There is NO reason in the world we should have the second highest insurance cost in the country----behind only Michigan. Our population is low and most of our state is rural, which usually means LOWER insurance costs. In Louisiana, however, the insurance we all pay is feasted on as an element of the economy, which is abnormal and has negative effects across the board for our economy.

There are other elements to the need for legal reform in our state, as well, and they need to be addressed.

Most people who follow policy matters are aware of these circumstances, but I’d bet that most who don’t have the time to get into the minutia are not. We have something in Louisiana that no other state has, and it’s not a good distinguishing feature; a person can sue or be sued with NO trial by jury up to the amount of $50,000. This figure allows for and begs an onset of lawsuits that choke an already burdened system and provides yet another impediment to progress for our State. A group of legislators tried to undo this situation in 2019 but were thwarted by the State Senate.

This phenomenon simply needs to be changed--significantly reduced down to a miniscule level if not eliminated. I support elimination.

Money goes where it’s treated best, and it’s not treated well here.

And for the record: None of these problems we have can or will be solved by higher taxes.

In short: Our regulatory and licensing environment needs to be reviewed and put on pause so people can come to this state. We need to stop choking off exploration, processing and production activities of

all kinds; we need an environment that encourages free enterprise, not the decimation of businesses and individuals through lawsuits. If we do these things, we have a chance to cut insurance both for businesses and for individuals and kickstart a flailing economy.

The Potential Cascading Effect Our pathway out of stagnation and economic decline is through a healthy economy, which means embracing free enterprise, and essentially unleashing the ingenuity of the people of Louisiana. Now, I want to address what I think can happen in our State if we turn our economy around.

A vibrant economy will result in many things. While some argue with the origin of the “surplus” we have now, it’s hard to argue with the notion that a surplus is a good thing. Policy initiatives and long-neglected projects and activities can be funded with surpluses and through healthy tax coffers. I believe a healthy economy will result in a significant, non-tax-hikedsurplus for our State. Consider, just for a moment, what we might do with more money in Louisiana’s treasury.

Education and Training: Of course, we need better pay for our teachers. But, we also need MORE teachers, so we can reduce class sizes. We need resources so we can both give teacher pay raises but also add in things like merit-based pay raises or signing initiatives when we attract talent to the classroom from other states or fresh out of college.

Yes, I am insinuating signing bonuses to bring in teachers in areas where we currently have shortages (math, science, special education, etc.). We need to hang on to high achieving teachers, cut loose those who are NOT contributing. And no, I am NOT recommending privatizing our school systems. I adamantly am FOR public education, but I am also for parental choice and home schooling. I support charter schools as long as they are necessary and making progress. Children are the responsibility of their parents, first, and parents get to decide what happens to their kids.

We need to energize pathways to technical training and careers for high schoolers and help those in the workforce who want to garner baseline education and technical skills. We’re moving in the right direction now, but the “Jump Start” initiative needs to be put on fast forward. High Schools need better routes and

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GOV E RN M E NTA L R EL A T I O N S U PDA TE : Gue s t A Rticle c o n tin ue d resources for students to pick and obtain training for entry in the work force if college isn’t their choice. We need electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, electronic technicians and other skills-based workers to stay in Louisiana and know their lives can be good if they go such a route. We can do great things by helping those in the workforce who want to improve their situation through new training and skills.

And, yes, we need to maintain standards and accountability. We also need to push control back to the local level and stop choking off local initiatives and autonomy. And no, I’m not against college; I have a few degrees, myself. I am for legitimate and sensible pathways to the work force.

Infrastructure: Our roads are mostly a mess in Louisiana. We all know this fact. Our roads are a big time mess where I live. The roads that connect Leesville to Natchitoches and Leesville to the Texas line are dangerous and need widening and improvement.

Our whole state needs attention and we need to do things soon. I-49 needs to be completed. The loop around Lake Charles and other I-10 improvements are imperative in southwest Louisiana. Interstate 14 has to be recognized and moved on quickly. And we SO need to do something about one lane in Baton Rouge on I-10. But, we can’t do these things if we don’t have the money.

And don’t forget other infrastructure issues: Water systems across much of Louisiana require attention.

Electrical systems and internet access need significant upgrades and aggressive action.

Security: We are living in a dangerous time. A massive influx of unaccounted for illegal visitors has changed the dynamic for our law enforcement professionals. I’d love to find ways to send more resources to our State Police and Parish Sheriffs’ Offices. I’d love to live in a world where our police forces can be paying attention to drug traffickers, human traffickers and other nefarious elements of our world as opposed to spending time writing traffic tickets to pay bills. Taxation through citation really can be stopped if our economy is strong enough to empower law enforcement to do more important jobs than issuing speeding tickets.

Fort Polk, Barksdale and other military installations: The impact on our State from our military installations is an oft-forgotten fact in Baton Rouge. Fort Polk 47 www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

has the largest payroll in the State. Thousands of service members, civilian employees, contractors and family members live in and travel TO Louisiana to keep our nation safe. Lots of times soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors deploy to foreign lands from Louisiana. We can’t forget about the economic and national security impact of these locations, including Guard and Reserve installations in places like Pineville, Hammond and New Orleans. The State needs to hang on to these national assets both because it’s the right thing to do and because they are important to our economy.

Conclusion I firmly believe ALL these things can be achieved through a healthy economy. Turn loose the engine of free enterprise and the ingenuity of our people. We are the children of Acadians who were expelled from Canada and settled a land others couldn’t; we’re the descendants of those who thwarted the Brits in 1915; we’re the people who inhabited the No Man’s Land and hosted the Louisiana Maneuvers. There’s nothing we can’t do if we’re turned loose.

I believe in the capacity of our great state and most of all, I know of the resilience of our people. Let us reconcile to move forward, to work together for the good of every citizen of our state. I commit to meeting in the middle with members of the other party as long as they come to the middle an equal number of times. I won’t be a participant to a deficit in terms of times compromised.

Why can’t we have the same, vibrant economies of places like South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia?

Why can’t Louisiana be the place where oil exploration is booming, as opposed to fleeing? Why can’t we have the problem of needing more roads to accommodate an expanding economy as opposed to maintenance of a crumbling situation? Why can’t Louisiana be better? I pose this question to citizens in the 30th and throughout Louisiana. Why not?

Charles A. “Chuck” Owen, Ph.D State Representative – Elect Louisiana House District 30 (Vernon and Beauregard)

Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.

2020 ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM Strengthen your brand Invest in your industry Support open competition 2020 Calendar of Events

YOUR

The Pelican Chapter, ABC Annual Sponsorship Program is designed to offer your company a platform to market your brand to nearly 400 member companies and their ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP INCLUDES: employees and receive other perks throughout the year.

• Investment in a better industry and business climate • Admission to ABC Pelican events* • Advertising in the quarterly newsletter • Recognition in chapter office, training center and events • Press and social media recognition, training and support

Contact Lindsey Russ at 225.753.2497 or lruss@abcpelican.com for details. *Number of admissions varies per sponsorship level

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Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.

2020 ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS

Platinum Sponsor $8,000 Investment •Four tickets per Merit Mixer •One team at the Spring Golf Tournament (4-man scramble) •One table at each ICC / Membership Breakfast •Four tickets per Crawfish Boil

•One team at the Southwest Fishing Tournament •Two teams at the Fall Golf Classic (2-man scramble) •One team at the Annual Clay Shoot •Five tickets for the Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards

Gold Sponsor $6,000 Investment

•Three tickets per Merit Mixer •One team at Spring Golf Tournament •Three tickets for each ICC / Membership Breakfast •Three tickets per Crawfish Boil

•One team at the Southwest Fishing Tournament •One team at the Fall Golf Classic •One team at the Annual Clay Shoot •Three tickets for the EIC Awards

Silver Sponsor $4,000 Investment

•Two tickets per Merit Mixer •One team at the Spring Golf Tournament •Two tickets for each ICC / Membership Breakfast

•Two tickets per Crawfish Boil •One team at the Southwest Fishing Tournament •Two tickets for the EIC Awards

Bronze Sponsor $2,000 Investment •One ticket per Merit Mixer •One ticket for each ICC / Membership Breakfast •One ticket per Crawfish Boil

•One team at the Southwest Fishing Tournament •One ticket for the EIC Awards

Contact Lindsey Russ at 225.753.2497 or lruss@abcpelican.com for details.

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PELICAN CHAPTER STAFF CHAPTER OPERATIONS (225) 752-1415 David Helveston President & CEO

dhelveston@abcpelican.com

Macie Morgan Administrative Assistant

mmorgan@abcpelican.com

Katie Routh Director of Administration krouth@abcpelican.com

jarceneaux@abcpelican.com

Lindsey Russ Director of Member Services lruss@abcpelican.com Erika Walter Director of Communications ewalter@abcpelican.com

Membership Growth Wednesday, January 15 8:00 a.m.

ABC Board Room azebeau@abcpelican.com

Anna Zebeau Director of Membership azebeau@abcpelican.com

Kathy Serwan Senior Accountant

kswerwan@abcpelican.com

Mikah Armstrong Finance Assistant

marmstrong@abcpelican.com

BATON ROUGE TRAINING CENTER (225) 752-0088 Kacie Blanchard Associate Director of Workforce Support

Danielle Labbe Director of Workforce Development kblanchard@abcpelican.com dlabbe@abcpelican.com Tiffany Buuck Alexis Montelius Administration Administration tbuuck@abcpelican.com amontelius@abcpelican.com Kelly Carpenter Director of Education

kcarpenter@abcpelican.com

SOUTHWEST TRAINING CENTER (337) 882-0204 Kirby Bruchhaus Director of Education

Justina T Montgomery Administration jthomas@abcpelican.com

Christina Frederick Administration

Blaise Theard Workforce Development Specialist btheard@abcpelican.com

kbruchhaus@abcpelican.com

cfrederick@abcpelican.com

Ivelynn Fuselier Administration ifuselier@abcpelican.com

J ANUA RY

SW Steering Tuesday, January 14 11:30 a.m.

SW Training Center btheard@abcpelican.com

FINANCE (225) 752-1415 Janie Arceneaux Director of Finance

20 19 / 20 20 UPC O MIN G C O MMITTE E MEETINGS

Member Services Wednesday, January 15 9:00 a.m.

ABC Board Room lruss@abcpelican.com Budget & Finance Tuesday, January 21 4:00 p.m.

ABC Board Room jarceneaux@abcpelican.com ABC Pelican BOD Meeting Tuesday, January 28 3:30 p.m.

ABC Board Room krouth@abcpelican.com

BR Training Center Thursday, May 14 kblanchard@abcpelican.com 2:00 p.m.

BR Training Center Education & Manpower kblanchard@abcpelican.com Thursday, March 12 2:00 p.m.

Budget & Finance BR Training Center Tuesday, May 19 kblanchard@abcpelican.com 4:00 p.m.

ABC Board Rom ABC Pelican BOD Meeting jarceneaux@abcpelican.com Tuesday, March 17 3:30 p.m.

Membership Growth ABC Board Room Wednesday, May 20 krouth@abcpelican.com 8:00 a.m.

ABC Board Room Budget & Finance azebeau@abcpelican.com Tuesday, March 17 4:00 p.m.

Small Conference Room jarceneaux@abcpelican.com J un e SW Steering Tuesday, June 9 Membership Growth 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, March 18 SW Training Center 8:00 a.m. btheard@abcpelican.com ABC Board Room azebeau@abcpelican.com Health, Safety & Enviornment

A PRIL

Health, Safety & Enviornment

Thursday, June 11 7:30 a.m.

BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com

Thursday, April 9 7:30 a.m.

Education & Manpower BR Training Center F E B RUA RY kblanchard@abcpelican.com Thursday, June 11 SW Steering 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 11 BR Training Center Education & Manpower 11:30 a.m. kblanchard@abcpelican.com Thursday, April 9 SW Training Center 2:00 p.m. btheard@abcpelican.com Budget & Finance BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com Tuesday, June 16 Health, Safety & Enviornment 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 13 ABC Board Room SW Steering 7:30 a.m. jarceneaux@abcpelican.com Tuesday, April 14 BR Training Center Kblanchard@abcpelican.com 11:30 a.m.

Membership Growth SW Training Center Wednesday, December 18 btheard@abcpelican.com Education & Manpower 8:00 a.m.

Thursday, February 13 ABC Board Room Membership Growth 2:00 p.m. azebeau@abcpelican.com Wednesday, April 15 BR Training Center kblanchard@abcpelican.com 8:00 a.m.

ABC Pelican BOD Meeting ABC Board Room Tuesday, June 23 azebeau@abcpelican.com ABC-LA Govt Affairs Call 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 18 ABC Board Room ABC Pelican BOD Meeting 3:30 p.m. krouth@abcpelican.com Thursday, April 16 ewalter@abcpelican.com 3:30 p.m.

West Cal Arena, Sulphur, LA ABC-LA Govt Affairs Call Budget & Finance Tuesday, June 30 krouth@abcpelican.com Tuesday, February 18 3:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m. ewalter@abcpelican.com Budget & Finance ABC Board Room Tuesday, April 21 Jarceneaux@abcpelican.com 4:00 p.m.

J ULY ABC Board Rom Membership Growth jarceneaux@abcpelican.com Health, Safety & Enviornment Wednesday, February 19 Thursday, July 9 8:00 a.m.

7:30 a.m.

ABC Board Room BR Training Center M A Y azebeau@abcpelican.com kblanchard@abcpelican.com SW Steering Tuesday, May 12 Education & Manpower 11:30 a.m.

M arc h Thursday, July 9 SW Training Center SW Steering 2:00 p.m. btheard@abcpelican.com Tuesday, March 10 BR Training Center 11:30 a.m. kblanchard@abcpelican.com Health, Safety & Enviornment SW Training Center Thursday, May 14 btheard@abcpelican.com SW Steering 7:30 a.m.

Tuesday, July 14 BR Training Center Health, Safety & Enviornment 11:30 a.m. kblanchard@abcpelican.com Thursday, March 12 SW Training Center 7:30 a.m. btheard@abcpelican.com Education & Manpower www.abcpelican.org/newsletter

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Pelican Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. 19251 Highland Road Baton Rouge, LA 70809

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19251 Highland Road Baton Rouge, LA 70809

225.752.0088

abcpelican.org/newsletter