The Magazine of the
keystonecontractors.com
CLICK ON ADS and LINKS to learn more — we’re an interactive magazine!
Publisher
Editor-in-Chief
Editor
Partner Editor
Content Advisor
Creative Director
Marketing and Social Media Writer
Advertising Director
Atlas Marketing
Chris Martin
Tracy Sturla
Keystone Contractors Association
Jon O’Brien
Jon@KeystoneContractors.com (717) 731-6272
Denise Dolgos
Beth Martin
Erin McCullough
Susan Matson
Tracy Sturla
Tracy@AtlasStories.com (412) 749-9299
Learn more or visit the KCA Events webpage for up-to-date information.
Construction Celebration
June 12
Construction Safety Week
May 1 - 5
National Safety Month sponsored by National Safety Council
June
Construction Opioid Awareness Week
July 24 - 28
KCA Safety Award applications due September 1
Construction Suicide Prevention Week
September 4 - 8
KCA Annual Clay Shoot to benefit college scholarships
TBA
KCA Top Young Leader Award and Tom George Community Service Award applications due December 31
Events are subject to change and exact dates will be announced in future issues.
Having grown up with only older sisters and a loving mom, women have played a key role in my life from day one.
I married a strong and powerful woman whom I met in high school, and we raised three boys together. She taught me the art of “compromise” by always doing things her way, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I saw often in her career path how much harder she had to work than her male counterparts to overcome the obstacles that were put in her way because she was female.
Fast forward to today, women play key roles in our business model at Penn Installations, including accounting, estimating, and project management capacities. In the field, however, there is a clear and obvious void that could be filled by women.
I believe that the culture is shifting as more and more of our people are recognizing that a hard-working and motivated worker is an asset, regardless of gender or race.
In this issue, you’ll read about some amazing female role models from the construction industry. From the founding president of a construction company to tradespeople in the field and every career position in between, these individuals are getting it done and setting a path that leads to success.
I welcome feedback from our readers on how all of us can better recruit and support our sisters to strengthen the construction industry.
Howard Bernstein President, Keystone Contractors AssociationInterested in sharing a message, opinion, or letter? Members can submit ideas to Tracy Sturla at Tracy@AtlasStories.com
In my life, no two days are the same. I might find myself walking a jobsite talking to the superintendent one day, and maybe the next day I’m meeting with a senator to promote workforce recruitment initiatives. Following that, I might be speaking to high school seniors about careers in construction. But the one constant, regardless of whom I’m with, it seems like we always spend some time talking about sports. Full disclosure, I’m a sports junkie.
I see a lot of similarities in business and in sports: strategizing to chase success; overcoming challenges; working as a team. And I think in both sports and business, one can apply lessons learned from one to the other.
In this year’s Super Bowl, there were a few examples that can be applied to construction. The Philadelphia Eagles had one heck of a season and came up a little short in the end. But what can we learn from them? One major takeaway for me is that they have a strong leader. Jalen Hurts is one impressive individual. And yes, a Pittsburgh Steelers fan can be impressed by a Philadelphia athlete. Through Jalen Hurts’ actions and words, he showed how to be accountable for your actions, and he placed an emphasis on having a strong culture. He played a “lights-out,” awesome game, with the exception of one play. (I won’t rub salt in Eagles fans’ wounds and discuss the play–you know the play I’m referring to.) His response after the game:
I always hold myself to a very high standard in everything I do. Obviously, I try to control things I can. I touch the ball on every play. I want to protect it. It hurt us. You never know what play it will be. I don’t do this to be loved. I don’t do this to be hated. I don’t do this to seek anybody else’s approval. I do it for all the guys in the locker room. I do it for all the time we invested in this.
Jalen Hurts demonstrated how a person who is accountable for his actions speaks. This football star realizes and embraces the benefits of a strong culture.
Advantage Steel & Construction, LLC.
Alexander Building Construction LLC
Atlas Marketing
Babst, Calland, Clements &Zomnir, P.C.
Barry Issett & Associates
Beckley & Madden, LLC
Benell Inc.
Bhaumik Engineering LLC
Bill Anskis Inc.
BL Companies
Bognet Construction
Bowles Rice
Brightbill Industries
Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz
Burns White
Business Information Group, Inc.
Caretti, Inc.
Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce
Carlisle Construction Materials
CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc.
Central Contractors’ Supply Co., Inc./ Overhead Door Co. of Johnstown
Charlson Braber McCabe & Denmark
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
CLA (ClftonLarsonAllen LLP)
Cohen Seglia Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC
Cresswell Brothers
Darr Construction Co.
EAS Roofing
Eastern PCM LLC
Edward A. Reider Inc.
Enerfab Power & Industrial Inc.
Enterprise Fleet Management
Eshbach Brothers LP
First Davis Corp
Foster & Foster Actuaries and Consultants
G.C. Zarnas & Co., Inc.
George M. Wildasin Ce Inc.
Grand Vistas
Houck Group
Houser-Ford Group at Morgan Stanley
Jem Group, LLC
J.C. Orr & Son, Inc.
Johnston Construction
Joseph Miorelli & Co.
Keller
Konchan, Inc.
Leibold Inc.
Lockton Companies, LLC
M.L. Acri, Inc
Macri Concrete
Marmat Inc.
Masonry Contractors Association of Central PA
Massaro Corporation
McClure Company
McConkey Insurance & Benefits
McCrossin
McCrossin Foundations
Mid-State Construction
Modernfold of Central PA
Novinger’s, Inc.
NUCA Pennsylvania
PA Masonry dba PA Group, Inc.
Panzitta Enterprises
PBX
Penn Installations
Pennsy Supply
Perdomo National Wrecking Co LLC.
Performance Construction Services, Inc.
PJ Dick
PPL Electric Utilities
Providence Engineering Corp
Pullman SST, Inc
Quandel Construction Group
Ralph E. Jones, Inc
Reager & Adler, PC
Rescue One
Ridgetop Interiors, Inc.
Rocky Bleier Construction Group
Sandra Palone & Associates, LLC
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP
Schlaegle Design Build Associates, Inc.
Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.
Schooley Mitchell of Pittsburgh
Seubert & Associates, Inc.
Serviam Construction
SHE DOES HAULING
Smith Masonry, Inc.
Spartan Construction Services
Stalwart Insurance Group
Stambaugh Ness
Stouffer Mechanical Contractor LLC
Strategic Executive Consulting
Strickler Agency, Inc.
The Blue Book
The SRS Group, LLC
Troianiello Masonry, Inc.
Willig Williams & Davidson
The number of construction workers who are women reached an all-time high last year. More than 1 million women now work in the construction sector. The industry is working harder to recruit even more to join the ranks. One way to do that is to promote the success of both new and long-time workers.
The Keystone Contractor recently interviewed several women to learn what drew them into the field and to ask their thoughts on what can be done to attract even more women to our male-dominated industry.
What led you to join the construction industry? Funny story. I literally took the scenic route in life to this career path. I worked for years in insurance, then banking. After the birth of my second child, I found myself looking for a job closer to home and found myself working for a site contractor and I LOVED IT! I worked there for several years, then took a spin with a residential builder before finding my home in commercial construction.
Describe your current role and duties. I am a project manager specializing in healthcare construction. I am CHC certified (Certified Healthcare Constructor) through the American Hospital Association. My passion is creating new and innovative spaces for people to receive high-quality medical care in their own neighborhoods. I am involved in the project from response to a request for qualifications, through award, buyout, construction, and closeout.
Did you previously hold other positions or perform other duties? I have held various positions over my 16 years in construction from administrative support to assistant project manager and now project manager.
What was your path into construction (college, trade school, apprenticeship, other)? I do have some college education but when I attended Kutztown University, I was going to be a special education major. Thank God that didn’t pan out–while I have a heart for those with special needs, I don’t think that would have been a great long-term fit for me. I have since received a Construction Management Certification from Penn State University.
What doesn’t your educational training prepare you for? There are a lot of reasons I wish I did have a degree in construction management. However, there are a ton of things I’ve learned in my 25 years in professional settings that I would not have learned in a (continued)
classroom, and some that are just part of my DNA. I believe that to be a successful construction project manager, you need to have dogged determination, tenacity, a strong sense of urgency for the important work that needs to be done, and a desire to build a strong team and great relationships internally and with your clients, design teams, and trade partners. Some of your ability to be good at that comes from things you learn along the way. Some of it comes from who you are as a person, and what drives you!
What is the best part of your job? Seeing the final product. Knowing that I had a hand in helping to build something that will serve a community; providing innovative spaces to receive high-quality care. Also, the people whom I work with are the best people around! I wouldn’t want to work in any other industry.
Is there an aspect that you would like to see changed? Diversity would be a huge benefit to our industry! I want to go to awards banquets and trade organization meetings and see diversity across the board. We need to help make construction a real career option for all ethnicities and genders!
What is the biggest challenge on the job? Right now, getting the materials and equipment you need to build it out! That comes with a strong understanding of the market and current lead times and having strong relationships with specialty contractors you can partner with to get it done.
How or why did you choose your specialty? Prior to health care construction, I worked in senior living construction (which I also have a passion for). At the time, the company I worked for had a need for a project manager in our healthcare division, so I made the jump. Health care construction is so specialized, not everyone can do it, not just anyone WANTS to do it. I look at what I GET TO DO every day and feel blessed. This career has allowed me to provide well for my family while I get to take pride in my career.
What can be done to encourage more women to join construction? I think the first step is to let others know there is a place for them in this industry! It is a great place to build a career, support your family, and make a life! I am involved in mentorship programs in an effort to talk to middle school- and high school-aged kids about career options. I also serve on the board of the Professional Women in Construction –Philadelphia Chapter, which is a fantastic organization that supports and mentors women in the industry.
“ Diversity would be a huge benefit to our industry! I want to go to awards banquets and trade organization meetings and see diversity across the board. We need to help make construction a real career option for all ethnicities and genders!
Education gives you the building blocks, but experience is everything. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some amazingly talented welders and technicians who have guided me to be able to do my job more efficiently.
What led you to join the construction industry? Growing up, I was always helping my father with small fixer-up projects around the house. When I was in the eighth grade, I was required to take a wood shop class and continued with that throughout the rest of my high school career. In 10th grade, I enrolled in the vocational program for electrical construction, and that’s when I knew I’d pursue a career in construction.
Describe your current role and duties? I’m currently a journeyman in the Local 524 pipefitters union working for McClure Company. I am a UA-certified welder so that’s my main responsibility. When I am in-between welding projects, I work on preventative maintenance under McClure’s contracts, along with HVAC installs, plumbing, and pipe work.
What was your path into construction (college, trade school, apprenticeship, other)? I was accepted into the pipefitters union in 2017 with the intention of specializing in HVAC. Given I had a background in electrical, I was already halfway there. I was an apprentice in Local 524’s program for five years, where I learned pipefitting, plumbing, and welding. I grew a love for welding immediately and decided that’s what I wanted to work toward for the rest of my career.
What doesn’t your educational training prepare you for? What education fails to prepare you for is quick thinking in the field. In my experience, I learned most of what I know on the job. Education gives you the building blocks, but experience is everything. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some amazingly talented welders and technicians who have guided me to be able to do my job more efficiently.
What is the best part of your job? The best part about my job is the people I work with. I love my job, but the people make it better. I’ve built solid relationships with the guys at my company and every day is like going to work with a father or brother.
What is the biggest challenge on the job? The biggest challenge I faced on the job was gaining the respect of my male coworkers in the beginning. After working side-by-side with them and constantly feeling the need to prove myself, it didn’t take long for them to recognize I am just as capable as anyone else.
What can be done to encourage more women to join construction? I feel like the number one thing discouraging women from this type of work is the strength-based challenges. As technology and equipment have come a long way, it’s rare that I face a time when I’m incapable of completing a task due to a lack of strength. When I am faced with this challenge, I know I can count on those working around me to lend a hand.
What led you to join the construction industry? I never thought I would find myself in construction. I found a post on Indeed for a “Women’s Pre-Apprentice Carpenter Program.” Through some research and phone calls, I became more interested. More importantly, I was gaining confidence in my abilities to commit to this program, continue into a career, and transfer into the full carpentry apprenticeship.
With my prior experience in home renovation projects, combined with my mechanical skills used to maintain my vehicles, trainer, and race ATV, I felt I should be able to learn just about anything!
Halfway through the program, I was on break, talking to a fellow ATV rider about rebuilding my race quad for the next season. I felt someone looking over at me with a sideways grin, and he said, “You’re not a carpenter, you’re a millwright!” I said, “I don’t even know what a millwright does!” Later that night, I looked up “millwright.” I was so inspired; this was right up my alley! I love to be able to recognize the problem and the cause, then move into how we can fix it and get it working properly again.
Also, I’m able to specialize in areas where smaller-frame people can excel. Being 5’4” and 130 pounds on a heavy industrial job site isn’t easy unless you can do the right job. I finished the carpenters’ program, passed the entry test, then entered it into the millwrights program.
Describe your current role and duties. I am a third-year millwright apprentice currently working with a local contractor where I’m teamed up with a journeyman. I’ve done many different types of work which makes me very well-rounded. Some jobs include unloading equipment from trucks and staging for upcoming jobs and outages, installing new equipment, repairing,and maintaining existing equipment, retrofitting and R&D projects, and precision alignment.
Did you previously hold other positions or perform other duties? I played with Lego for hours on end and was heavy into sports. I just like being constantly active. When I was 15, I was able to get my first dirt bike. My uncles and neighbors had dirt bikes. It wasn’t long until I had the bike on a bucket in the garage, cleaning it with a toothbrush.
At age 16, I was in a terrible car accident that put me in a wheelchair for four months. Two surgeries later, my broken pelvis was just as good as new, and I was able to buy a car and start learning how to change my car’s oil. I took great pride in the work I was learning — fixing up small things on the car and hanging out with grease monkey friends doing more involved work.
I still do all of my vehicle maintenance to this day, along with working on my ATV. I’m currently teaching myself how to rebuild a blown-up 450cc engine. Last year I replaced my truck’s entire front end myself on jack stands in my
Rebecca Rodriquez EnerFab
“
I stand very proud knowing that some of the jobs we do have helped our customers serve the public with minimal interruptions because of our training and craftsmanship.
garage. I just learned how to do a rear axle seal and wheel bearing on my truck. I learn how to fix things as I’d rather be doing the work.
What doesn’t your educational training prepare you for?
There are many things. First, how to be a good human being. It is the easiest thing to do and still for some reason, it’s something we deal with every day. I’ve learned that everyone has bad days, but when you clock in at work, leave the home drama at the door. The same goes for the end of the day. Maybe you had a rough day, fought alignment all day, struggled to rig a piece, and caused damage — worst case being someone got hurt. It is so crucial to leave that at the job site. Go home and rest your body and your mind. Second, the ways of the field. The technique that is taught versus the technique used on site are different. The field experience is needed to really understand.
What is the best part of your job? I love when we solve unique issues, often when the existing crew doesn’t have the tooling or manpower. We lift incredible amounts of weight, with unbelievably tight clearances in some of the worst work conditions you can imagine. We throw a harness on, jump in a boom lift, and use the crane hook to move a 50,000 lb. piece. We put it on roller skates and push it in place. It is mind-blowing.
I also enjoy the guys I work with. I prove myself every day, and that’s OK because I want to be the best. I want to be called upon as someone who know what needs to be done. The guys don’t treat me differently because I’m a woman. I look forward to working with certain partners and company reps. Being a construction worker and carrying on a professional conversation at the same time is a quality I hope will take me far in the field.
Is there an aspect that you would like to see changed? Stop treating women differently. I’m sorry to the ones who think we should have special treatment, but there is no reason for it. Being able to follow OSHA requirements is easy. But the biggest thing is saying, “Hey, guys” — I promise you are not offending me.
What is the biggest challenge on the job? Getting the guys to listen to me. It’s a little frustrating, but I do understand I am an apprentice. I spend as much time as possible watching my partners and how they solve issues. I often think, “OK, what would I do here?’’ If it wasn’t a safety issue, I just stand back, watch, and wait and see what the crew ends up doing. Recently some of my ideas have been used, and they worked well. When my idea worked, I was happy. That feeling of success is what drives me to keep doing better. I keep challenging myself daily; it’s the only way to progress.
What can be done to encourage more women to join construction? I feel that trades need to be pushed in the school systems. If I knew what a millwright was in high school, I probably would have joined the program earlier. I stand very proud knowing that some of the jobs we do have helped our customers serve the public with minimal interruptions because of our training and craftsmanship. KC
The dangers of falls will be highlighted across the construction industry from May 1-5 during the 10th annual National Safety StandDown Week.
In 2021, 378 of the 986 construction fatalities were due to falls from elevation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“I think the first step obviously is for everyone to recognize what constitutes a fall hazard,” said David Albright, senior construction services health and safety manager at Gannett Fleming in Camp Hill.
“It’s not only just working at heights or elevation. We also have falls on the same level. Slips, trips, falls. Slips and trips account for a large portion of our potential near misses and injuries. And usually, that’s associated with poor housekeeping, debris on sites, water, ice, snow, things like that. So, in addition to elevated surfaces, I think people need to be cognizant of what’s going on with the site itself, the surface that they’re actually working on.”
Fall prevention doesn’t just mean erecting warning lines and portable guardrails or wearing a harness and finding a suitable anchor point. It means thinking about whether workers even need to put themselves in a position where there is a fall risk.
“Is there a way that we can do the job that we need to do without climbing on something to look at it or putting ourselves in that situation?”
Albright said. “We’ve started looking at technology a little more to try to help us do that--using drones and remote cameras and things like that to try to just minimize or eliminate the whole need for our employees to go on elevated surfaces and expose themselves to the hazard.”
During National Safety StandDown week, Alexander Building
Construction Co. holds events at all of its job sites.
“It’s a great opportunity to teach our contactor community something new they can take with them as they progress in their careers,” said Mayone Sallows, safety manager at Alexander’s office in State College. Alexander is part of the Butz Family of Companies. Subcontractor partners are included in the safety events.
“The key to being a team is what’s most important. You’re only as good as your weakest link, right? You want your entire team, which includes your subcontractors and your management, to have that same knowledge when you’re going out to the field,” Sallows said.
She develops creative hands-on demonstrations to get team members involved.
In 2022, she demonstrated a virtual reality experience for members of a roofing subcontractor that works with Alexander, in addition to all of Alexander job sites throughout safety week. Workers put on VR goggles, giving them the experience of inspecting a harness and lanyard, selecting a proper anchor point, and undergoing a fall arrest if all steps were performed accurately.
“It tricks your mind. It makes you feel like you’re really in the moment. You could see the construction workers were hesitant to even walk out on the scaffolding,” Sallows said. “You could see them feeling for the ground. It was a lot of fun.”
Those who didn’t inspect their gear properly fell multi-stories in the virtual experience. On a television screen in the room, the audience caught a glimpse of what the worker with the VR goggles witnessed.
“I highly recommend it; the contractors had great feedback,” Sallows said.
Supervisors should hold toolbox talk briefings to go over the work for the day and reinforce the safety procedures for those tasks and the equipment that will be used, such as ladders and scaffolding, said Greg Johnson, president of The SRS Group in New Kingstown.
The firm provides medical case management, including around-the-clock remote triage services from nurses to injured workers.
“Most of us don’t pay attention, and that’s when we get hurt at home,” Johnson said. “But it’s especially dangerous in the construction field. Walking into your house, you pretty much know where everything is. On a construction site, things can change from day to day.”
Instructions and reminders on how to safely use
the equipment are essential, he said. For example, ladders always must have three points of contact. Workers should always face the ladder. Trying to ascend backward is a huge risk.
“
A lot of people don’t use the right ladder. Many people don’t tie them off. They don’t make sure they’re on level ground. I’ve done this myself. You get on a ladder, you overreach, and you overextend yourself to try to reach something rather than move the ladder. It’s an easy way to get hurt or get killed.
— Greg Johnson President, The SRS Group in New KingstownEven simple tasks such as getting out of a vehicle can result in a fall if care isn’t taken.
“Either they’re shoveling something off the back of the truck and they go to get off, or they’re getting out of the cab of a truck,” Johnson said. Surfaces get wet and slick. Workers move too quickly because it’s a simple task that’s taken for granted.
“That’s when you get careless,” Johnson said. Walking around a job site while talking or texting on a phone or entering data on an iPad can be dangerous, Albright said. The practice at Gannett Fleming is for team members to find a safe place to stop and have their conversation or enter their data. Fall prevention through design minimizes risk, both for the construction workers who are building a structure and for the occupants who will be using it post-construction.
“We try to be as proactive as we can, especially from the engineering side of things. We try to emphasize to our design engineers when they’re designing facilities to keep not only the construction workers in mind in terms of fall protection but also the facility’s end user, the maintenance people,” Albright said.
Instead of leaving a flat roof with a flat edge, a parapet wall can be designed around the perimeter. Mechanical equipment on the roof can be placed closer to the center, a safe distance (continued)
from the edge. Anchor points can be designed into the roofing system.
“It’s a lot easier to put it in during the design phase instead of trying to retrofit it down the road after the facility’s already been built. Cheaper, too,” Albright said.
Some project owners may not want to spend the extra money or may have concerns about aesthetics.
“The key is education and trying to get them to realize the long-term benefits,” Albright said. Gannett Fleming studies the workflows of each business group to assess specific hazards team members face. Then it gears safety training to those tasks.
The importance of training for good strength and balance is an overlooked aspect of fall prevention safety, said Johnson, who serves on the safety committee for the Associated Builders and Contractors Keystone Chapter and is a member of the Keystone Contractors Association.
“There are certain things that have to be strengthened to be able to play a sport. There are certain things that have to be strengthened to be able to do your job in the construction industry,” he said. “Their profession is their sport now. It’s what provides for their family.”
Many in the industry don’t think about strength training until they lose strength after an injury and have to regain it, he said.
National Safety Stand-Down week is an opportunity to reinforce other safety practices, too,
such as wearing a hard hat.
Sallows has put on a demonstration where a heavy object is dropped from 30 feet onto a watermelon. The watermelon explodes when it’s not covered with a helmet and is hit with a falling sledgehammer. When protected with a helmet and hit with a falling brick, the melon stays intact.
“There’s a lot you can do and make it look really interesting, so the workers are interested.”
Something as simple as hard hats — how complacent we are when we put them on every day. We don’t think about how important they are until you actually see how they can protect our heads.
— Mayone Sallows Safety Manager, AlexanderSafety equipment can’t be taken for granted. New technology is making some equipment obsolete. And gear must be well maintained.
“Workers throw it in the back of the truck. It’s wet. It gets moldy, and then it starts to get destroyed. Some people don’t check it before they use it, and that can result in injury or death,” Johnson said.
During Safety Stand-Down Week. Alexander
designs hi-vis T-shirts for team members, hands out stickers for hard hats, and provides lunch.
“It really shows our subcontractors and our people on our job sites that we appreciate what they’re doing every day by taking safety seriously and creating a good culture on our sites,” Sallows said.
Events also have included a Jeopardy-style trivia contest about fall prevention and other safety topics.
“The contactors like it and get to arguing about who got what answer right, and it’s a lot of fun,” she said.
Alexander holds an in-house safety trivia competition, too. Sallows sends out a question every morning during the week, and prizes are awarded to those who answer the most questions correctly.
The National Safety Stand-Down should be a company-wide undertaking, she said.
Fall Prevention Week also pertains to management personnel — even if you’re an estimator on a project, you have to account for what items are required to do the project safely. If you’re a project manager and making scopes for a project, you’re still going to have to look at these items and put them in the scope, so the contractors are bidding it accordingly. It involves more than just safety in the field. You really want to hit it from the start in the preplanning, in the preconstruction stage, before it ever gets to the site. At that point, it’s a last resort, and you’re trying to figure out what to do.”
Gannett Fleming reinforces fall prevention with videos, messages on social media, and tailgate talks at job sites during the National Safety Stand-Down Week. Despite all of the training the industry does, falls still happen too often, Albright said.
“It still amazes me in this day and age that you’ll
go out and see people working in conditions where they should know better.”
Finding a proper anchor point when working at elevation is critical, Sallows said.
“What are you tying off to? Is it sprinkler piping? Because that certainly isn’t going to hold you.”
Some locations may not have proper anchor points, so portable safety systems are needed such as a Raptor Cart or a Garlock railing system.
“The key is to get your safety person involved because there are lots of resources, and we can find a system that works best for any situation,” Sallows said.
Contractors have gotten more sophisticated about ensuring there are adequate anchor points on job sites. Albright said the OSHA standard requires an anchor point to withstand 5,000 pounds of impact force per person who’s attached to it.
Workers now are attaching anchor points to steel beams on the ground, before they are flown into place, so there is an anchor point to tie off to immediately. Points can be temporary such as a wire lifeline or permanent such as a cut-out or an eye bolt on the beam.
Safety can affect a company’s bottom line, Albright said.
“They always say, ‘Safety sells.’ And from our standpoint in the engineering and construction management business, it really does. Our clients are getting a lot more sophisticated when they put out RFPs. They are really looking at our safety metrics very strictly to see how sophisticated our safety management systems are. And they’re looking at them now and asking, are we a competent firm to deal with? As that gets more and more to be a focus from owners and clients, I think contractors are going to be forced to make sure their programs are in good shape.” KC
By Jon O’Brien
President Theodore Roosevelt was among the admirers of Pennsylvania’s new Capitol building at the dedication ceremony on Oct. 4, 1906.
“This is the handsomest state capitol I ever saw,” the president said as he entered.
While it was a magnificent building, the project was way over budget — three times more than the legislature allocated.
The subsequent investigation resulted in a law that, while well-intended at the time to protect taxpayers from fraud, is no longer relevant today. Instead, it is costing taxpayers money because it requires inefficient construction methods on public projects.
That $7.7-million Capitol overrun — the equivalent of more than $211 million today — triggered a probe that revealed grafting. Capitol Architect Joseph Huston, Superintendent of Construction James Shumaker, General Contractor John Sanderson, State Auditor William Snyder, and State Treasurer William Matheus were sentenced to prison.
With little financial stewardship, each convicted individual profited tremendously. But this sort of illegal activity wasn’t just happening at the Capitol project — it was the norm on public projects at the time.
Fast forward to 1913. Public outrage over the scandal remained. There was pressure on public officials to do something. Republican Gov. John Tener, a former congressman and major league baseball player signed the Separations Act.
It mandated multiple prime contractors on all public construction projects. The thought was that the more eyes there were on the project, the less likely that there could be collusion for fraud.
Perhaps 110 years ago, enacting the Separations Act made sense due to the circumstances at the time. Other states imposed similar rules.
But in this day and age, every cent can be easily tracked. All other states have done away with their laws because they recognized the laws were outdated and that providing options in construction delivery methods is the most efficient way to spend tax dollars on construction.
Pennsylvania continues to cling to its law. Here’s how that is hurting taxpayers by driving up the price of constructing public buildings.
Requiring multiple prime contractors — one for HVAC, one for electrical, one for plumbing, and one for general trades — means the owner must bid out and manage four separate contracts.
The primes are not contractually connected, and this impedes communication with each other. This lack of contractual relationship also hurts the communication between the architect and the primes. Each prime contractor and the architect are directly contracted with the project owner — like a school district, municipality, or other government entity — and because of that, all communication runs through the project owner. (continued)
The lack of a single point of contact from the construction team creates a nightmare scenario for the owner. It’s inefficient and cumbersome.
The most problematic is it eliminates the possibility of collaboration during pre-construction, which is a more efficient method of construction. If early collaboration were allowed between the project architect and a single construction manager, projects would proceed more smoothly. Hurdles could be anticipated and resolved in advance. Without collaboration, expertise from the construction team is sparse, if at all, during the design phase.
Legislation has been proposed several times in recent years that would do away with or amend the Separations Act.
During a legislative budget hearing in 2017, state Secretary of General Services Curt Topper testified that the Separations Act “requires that we do business less efficiently than we could otherwise do business.”
He said the old law “effectively sets up a situation where it is much more difficult to design a project, bid a project, and manage a project. So, I’d love to see us address that problem.”
Yet the law remains on the books, while its inefficiency is well documented.
From 2000 to 2010, public education projects could opt out of the Separations Act through the Education Empowerment Act that was enacted during Gov. Tom Ridge’s administration. Seventy school districts applied for the waiver during that period, an indication of the unpopularity of the Separations Act.
The Allegheny Conference on Community Development reviewed some of those projects and issued a report concluding that savings of between $8,000 to $2.5 million were achieved on school construction projects that used a single prime contractor instead of multiple primes.
Kennett Consolidated School District did one project with a single prime and one with multiple primes per the Separations Act. The single prime project was finished two months ahead of schedule and $300,000 under budget. The multiple prime project came in over budget. This is just one of the many examples to show that the Separations Act is costly to taxpayers.
There is a long line of organizations, trade unions, and governments that are lobbying for the modernization of the Separations Act.
They include the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, National Federation of Independent Businesses PA Chapter, Pennsylvania School Boards Association, Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools, Green Building Alliance, Green Building United, U.S. Green Building Council Central PA, Keystone Contractors Association, Master Builders Association of Western Pennsylvania, National Utility Contractors Association Pennsylvania Chapter, Association for Responsible and Ethical Procurement, Carpenter Contractor Trust, Construction Legislative Council of Western Pennsylvania, Design-Build Institute of America, General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania, General Building Contractors Association, Cement Masons Local 526, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, and Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania.
Many public owners want to modernize the Separations Act, and a few of the more vocal ones include the Philadelphia School District, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Peters Township School District, Cumberland Valley School District, and Community College of Allegheny County. KC
A big shout out to KCA members who volunteered and supported our local community during MLK “Love the Hill” Community Mansion Clean-up Event in Allison Hill, Harrisburg!
Joshua Jonas, Sika Corp, Jon O’Brien, Seth Kohr and Melody O’Brien, KCA, Terrell Davis, Alexander Construction.
In December, UPMC and the Keystone Contractors Association held a diverse construction vendor recruitment event in Philadelphia to support UPMC’s central PA construction needs. Participating vendors included Gordon Policy Group, BFW Group, construction project managers, and the Keystone Contractors Association.
On April 1st the KCA participated with Ralph E. Jones in a job fair stand-down event hosted by the Greater Harrisburg YWCA to support the hiring of displaced veterans.
Pennsylvania’s construction industry needs a robust economy to thrive. Its success is linked to growth at the local and state levels. Chambers of commerce play a big role in encouraging that growth, and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry recently named a new president and CEO.
Luke Bernstein joined the chamber in June 2022, bringing more than two decades of experience working in business and government.
His most recent position was as executive vice president and chief operations and technology officer at Orrstown Financial Services. His resume also includes two years as senior vice president of external affairs at the Pennsylvania Bankers Association; four years as deputy chief of staff for former Gov. Tom Corbett; and stints as an aide in the U.S. Senate and as an appointed advisor in the administration of President George W. Bush.
“My goal, and the mission of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, is to make Pennsylvania the most competitive state in the nation for economic growth,” Bernstein said. “That is both a challenge and an opportunity.”
Challenges include a declining population, rising costs, and an antiquated tax and regulatory structure, he said. Opportunities include strong infrastructure, a prime geographic location, world-class educational
net operating losses. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s permitting process needs significant improvement. Long delays and a lack of predictability in permitting often lead to slow-going infrastructure development and financing for all manner of public and private projects, and even causes Pennsylvania to be dropped from consideration for site selection,” he said.
We can make this a reality with the right policies.
institutions, and a good quality of life.
Advancements are needed in workforce development, tax reform, and regulatory reform, he said.
“Businesses across Pennsylvania are struggling to find qualified workers, and we need to ensure that we are investing in programs that train individuals with the skills needed to fill in-demand jobs, particularly in the trades.”
Bernstein said he is encouraged that Pennsylvania recently enacted the most comprehensive business tax reform in the last three decades.
Bipartisan legislation will cut Pennsylvania’s corporate net income (CNI) tax in half, from 9.99% to 4.99%, by 2031. Other small business tax reforms, including Section 179 (expense deductions) and Section 1031 (like-kind exchanges), bring Pennsylvania law in line with federal law and make it more competitive.
But more can be done, Bernstein said.
“Policymakers should build on these reforms by continuing or expediting the phase-down of the CNI and improving the treatment of
“To provide further certainty to businesses looking to invest and hire in Pennsylvania, the legislature should codify in law provisions included in recent executive orders from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration aimed at reducing red tape and streamlining the permitting and licensing processes,” Bernstein said.
Additional reforms that the state chamber is lobbying for include allowing permit applications to be “deemed approved” if an agency fails to meet a required deadline and allowing for a third-party review of applications.
Since starting as president and CEO, Bernstein has traveled to businesses and organizations in every corner of the commonwealth to get a first-hand look at their operations and hear about the challenges they face. He has also visited more than 40 local chambers of commerce.
“Pennsylvania has so many advantages–from our proximity to markets and population, infrastructure, and rich culture–but the most important is our people. It’s a real privilege to get to meet so many (continued)
WE
“A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO POSITION PENNSYLVANIA AS THE BEST STATE IN THE NATION to invest and do business.
fascinating and talented Pennsylvanians,” he said.
The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry has nearly 10,000 members, in every industry.
“Our size is our strength,” Bernstein said. “No other statewide association has the breadth and diversity of our membership or ability to mobilize significant support of pro-growth policies or against anti-business policies.”
Last year, the chamber collaborated with the insurance and automated vehicle industries to develop and enact legislation providing a regulatory framework to produce self-driving vehicles in Pennsylvania.
“We worked together to facilitate a compromise that ensures Pennsylvania will continue to be a leader in this innovative technology, which is expected to grow to a more than $1-trillion global market by 2026,” he said.
In addition to its advocacy efforts, the PA Chamber holds several events across the commonwealth throughout the year. They include an HR Conference, Health and Wellness Summit, Economic Summit, Women in Business Conference, State Civics Bee, Government Affairs Roundtables, and membersponsored webinars.
“These events provide attendees with valuable advice, networking opportunities, and continuing education credits,” Bernstein said. “Our annual chamber dinner at the Hershey Lodge is Pennsylvania’s premier event where the state’s business, civic, and governmental leaders gather to celebrate everything that makes Pennsylvania great. We look forward to announcing guest speakers and programming for this year’s dinner soon, but in the meantime, I can safely say that you won’t want to miss it!”
I encourage you to visit our website, www. pachamber.org, to learn more about our efforts to improve the business climate for Pennsylvania’s job creators and consider becoming a PA Chamber member today. We wake up every day with the goal of improving Pennsylvania’s business climate, and we need your help to create a more prosperous future. KC
I OFTEN JOKE THAT I HAVE 10,000 BOSSES. Navigating the unique perspectives and varying priorities of so many industries and sectors of the economy can sometimes be a challenge. However, the diversity of our membership is also one of our greatest organizational strengths, as it uniquely positions the PA Chamber to bring different groups together and build consensus on issues that move Pennsylvania forward.
Why did you get into construction? I worked roofing jobs in Arizona as a kid. It was better money than my friends made doing retail work. It was hard work, but there was merit in doing the hard work and seeing jobs completed as part of a team of others working just as hard. Although I am now an office nerd, that same sense of teamwork stands out when “we” do something special at Penn Installations. Many of my coworkers in the roofing trade were decades older than me. If they could do the hard work, surely, I could rise to the challenge.
What was your first job? Lots of roofing jobs as mentioned above. My first “real” job was with United Parcel Service in their Tempe, Arizona hub, assuring that each of you received your items in an era that preceded Amazon. They truly ran a tight ship and, again, everyone beside you in the hub was held to a high standard. Any time I wanted to walk out, a brother or sister was next to me working just as hard or harder. Sometimes we could do a double shift at 3:00 a.m., and a different group of people would be there but equally hardworking. I would want to impress upon the a.m. people how bad-ass my p.m. crew was as the Lucky Charms digested in my youthful belly. They truly recruited well and demanded the best of their people. I learned much that I keep with me today in being a part of that family.
Where were you born and raised? My wife and I were born in Tucson, Arizona. We were born in the same hospital (St Joseph’s) a couple weeks apart. We met in high school years later, and I thought she looked familiar. We are still married today, the last time I checked.
What is something someone would be surprised to know about you? I completed an Ironman Triathlon and have a picture at the finish line of a man many years my senior who “beat” me but over the course of that day, I found humility and peace in recognizing that we need not fight people running the same race. I hold true to that in construction – KCA has given me the voice to speak to competitors and develop friendships among competitors. Yes, I would like to beat you, 80-year-old guy at Ironman, but we are all in this together. As construction professionals, we are clearly better at working together through groups such as KCA and having the capacity to network and learn from one another. I believe I could beat him today, but that is not the point. He must be 95 by now, but I know we would support one another’s journey--only to have him beat me again! Argh!!
Do you have someone whom you consider to be your hero or role model?
I am definitely a sports guy and love the athleticism of my basketball and football heroes but am far more inspired every day by the men and women whom I work with that show a capacity to care, hold me accountable, and make us better every day. The rare occasions that I get in the field and see people who have the skill and want to contribute to something bigger are always great inspiration. Those that have the desire but lack the skill should know that skill can (continued)
be taught. We in the trades owe the next generation the ability to teach what we have learned from those who preceded us.
Do you have a favorite sports team or player?
Steph Curry of the NBA is a fav. Lebron taking his platform and speaking on behalf of social justice issues far above anything he does on the court. The Williams sisters, as tennis is the ONLY thing I can beat my wife at in this stage of my life, and I love their advocacy and entrepreneurship. My favorites are those who achieve at the highest level and yet never forget where they came from.
How about your favorite musician or actor/ actress? Michael Schenker. He is the brother of the Scorpion’s guitarist, Rudolf Schenker. Michael’s artistry and beauty in his guitar work never translated to major commercial success but it leaves me to ask, “what is our measure of ‘success?’” For those curious, his work with UFO as a teen is pretty powerful. Google “Lights Out” and strap on your seat belt!
How do you relax when you are not working?
Run, bike, swim, play guitar, and take inventory of the day ahead and give thanks for this day that we all have together, as our time here is short. Then I answer all of Jon O’Brien’s emails and texts about KCA as I don’t think he ever sleeps.
What was your favorite vacation and what made it so special? My father-in-law, Ike, now deceased, would treat his entire family to a week on Lake Powell on a timeshare houseboat in the beautiful Arizona/Utah sunshine. My three boys, who are now adults, looked forward to that every year. There were inevitably moments looking up at the unobscured stars on any given night, with any individual who was still awake, that helped give perspective on all of our lives. Thank you, Ike!
Are you involved in any community activities, volunteer roles, etc.? Service above self. I am a long-time Rotarian, YMCA and free clinic advocate, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Goodwill, etc., and believer that all of us can do more to make our communities better. I have only been one small cog in their outreach but have always been inspired by volunteerism and empowered by the men and women I have met in helping others.
Why did you join the Keystone Contractors Association? As an outsider with no friends or business contacts here, I saw these great leaders in the construction industry and wished I could be part of the group. One day I took a leap and years later I count many of these people as my friends. I am humbled every day to be part of this group and part of something so much bigger than Howard.
James Darr KCA Board of Directors Vice President, Darr Construction, Inc
Why did you get into construction? I was born into it. My father started the business in 1968.
What was your first job ever? Helping my father and his first employee change out light fixtures at our local high school in the evenings. I was probably 10 years old.
Where were you born and raised? The beautiful little town of Berlin, PA in Somerset County.
What is something someone would be surprised to know about you? I have a private pilot’s license.
Do you have someone whom you consider to be your hero or role model? Probably my father. He worked very hard to take care of his customers and would go out any time of the day or night to take care of their needs.
Do you have a favorite sports team or player? I follow the three Pittsburgh teams.
How about your favorite musician or actor/ actress? Billy Joel / Denzel Washington.
What was your favorite vacation and what made it so special? A week in Costa Rica. For a small country, they host beaches, tropical rainforests, a volcano, and a dry region. Very friendly people.
How do you relax when you are not working? Watching the grandkids’ sporting events, hiking, and reading.
Are you involved in any community activities, volunteer roles, etc.? My church; the Berlin Fife & Drum Corps (44 years); cochaired the Berlin Whiskey Rebellion Celebration (eight years); co-chaired the Berlin Borough Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1987; 23 years coaching AYSO soccer teams; coached Little League Baseball and softball.
Why did you join the Keystone Contractors Association? When first approached many years ago by then Executive Director Terry McDonough, he explained the benefits of being a member of KCA. It was a very easy decision to join. I have served on the board of directors for over 25 years.
Over 15,000 downloads and counting!
The Building PA Podcast is proud to announce its partnership with NFP. NFP is sponsoring a podcast series called “Mitigating Risk: A Special Series for Contractors.” The podcast series will tackle topics like: “Is your insurance carrier going to bat for you?” “Are you mitigating risk correctly?” “Surety bonding,” “Cyber professionals addressing liability/management lines,” “Coverage needs you didn’t know existed,” “Human capital management,” and “Employee
benefits.” The series will begin in the first part of the second quarter and run throughout the year. NFP is a leading property and casualty broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager, and retirement plan advisor that provides solutions enabling client success globally through employee expertise, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions.
NCP’s expansive reach gives them access to highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions in the industry, while their locally based employees tailor each solution to meet their clients’ needs. They have become one of the largest insurance brokerage, consulting, and wealth management firms by building enduring relationships with our clients and helping them realize their goals. For more information, visit NFP.com.
March 5 - 11 marked 2023’s WIC (Women in Construction) Week. In honor of this celebration, three prominent businesses in central Pennsylvania came together to celebrate one another in their respective professions. Houck, JEM Group, and Providence Engineering sponsored a social gathering on March 7 at the Englewood in Hummelstown. Over 100 women in the construction industry gathered to network and celebrate the construction industry. This event is in its third year and is looking to grow with more sponsorships, attendance, and fun giveaways.
Recently the KCA welcomed two board members. Tad Hoffmaster, vice president, Eastern Region of EnerFab, serves on the KCA Millwright Employers Negotiating Committee and employs millwrights throughout KCA’s expanded management territory covering all of Pennsylvania, excluding the Philadelphia area.
Mike Pasquerilla, president of Ridgetop Interiors, Johnstown, founded his construction company after years of working in the commercial construction industry. Since starting Ridgetop Interiors, Pasquerilla has assisted the KCA in negotiations with the Carpenters Union.
The Building Podcast has achieved another milestone in podcasting. In mid-March Buzzsprout officially announced we reached the 15K mark in downloads. Podcast co-host Chris Martin, president of Atlas Marketing, commented, “What is impressive to me about reaching 15,000 downloads on the Building PA Podcast is all the valuable and useful topics that we’ve talked about in such a short time. We take great pride in inviting knowledgeable guests who find the time to talk with Jon and me and share their insights. I’d like to think that we are using the podcast to help better the industry and bring valuable information in 20-to-30minute conversations.”
Jon O’Brien, co-host was reminiscent and shared, “Crazy to think where we have come from concerning the podcast. It just seems like a couple of weeks ago that I was at a construction industry happy hour event and said ‘I think it would be cool if the KCA had a podcast.’ Then the next day after this event, Chris called me and said if you’re serious about starting a podcast maybe we could partner on it. And here we are a couple of years later with over 150 episodes and over 15,000 downloads. I say a lot of things at industry happy hours; I’m just glad Chris heard this statement.” The Building PA podcast is in its fourth season with sights on broadening the scope of the podcast to include panel discussions, more on-site inperson recordings, and tackling tougher topics.
Quandel Enterprises has named Jerome Urban chief risk officer for the entire Quandel Enterprises family of companies. As chief risk officer, he will work closely with Quandel Enterprise’s executive team and board of directors to innovate, implement, and strengthen our risk management initiatives in response to the ever-changing landscape of the construction industry.
Urban previously served as the president and chief executive officer for Performance Construction Company, a Quandel Enterprises company. He began with the team in 2006 when he started his career in construction as an estimator. Since that time, he has served as an assistant project manager, project manager, project executive, and vice president of operations.
“We are confident that Jerome will bring value and insight into this new role that enables our continued success,” says Greg Quandel, president and chief executive of Quandel Enterprises. Urban is known among his peers to be a team-builder with a keen understanding of the construction business. His focus on enhancing the firm’s clients’ experience through innovation, continuous improvement, and commitment to excellence and exceptional service has made him an integral member of Quandel’s leadership team.
On February 7, Maura Hesdon was elected president of the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania (GCAP). Hesdon is the general manager of Shoemaker Construction, a Philadelphia-based general contractor. She represents the General Builders Contractors Association on the GCAP Board. Hesdon begins her two-year term following the two-year term of Steven Massaro, president of Massaro Corporation and a GCAP member representing the Master Builders’ Association (MBA) of Western PA. Joining Hesdon as a GCAP officer is Robert Leahey, who serves as GCAP’s vice president/ treasurer. Leahey is president of McCrossin and serves on the GCAP Board as a representative of the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA). In addition, Cliff Rowe, executive chairman of PJ DickTrumball-Lindy Paving, was named treasurer for GCAP.
April 17 - 21 marks National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). This is an annual spring campaign held at the start of the construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. The key message is for drivers to use extra caution in work zones. Some tips to keep in mind when you take to the road: drive the speed limit, stay alert and pay attention to signs and flaggers, maintain a safe distance around vehicles, don’t tailgate, use flashers when driving below the speed limit when you are stopped, avoid distractions, buckle up, expect the unexpected, and be patient. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #Slow4Zone, #WorkZoneAwareness, and #NWZAW.
On Tuesday, May 2 the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) will host the inaugural Construction Celebration at the Hilton Harrisburg from 5 to 7 PM. Come network with our elected officials and construction professionals, as we recognize the winners of the KCA safety programs, emerging leaders, and community champions in construction.
The Keystone Contractors Association is a Pennsylvania commercial construction trade association dedicated to improving the construction industry by focusing on safety, education and training, labor relations, community service, career development, and government relations.
keystonecontractors.com
VALUABLE MEMBER SERVICES: Education and training, career development, safety, labor relations, community service, and government relations.
KCA AFFINITY PROGRAMS: Your company and employees can take advantage of an extensive array of discounted services and products. We often hear members say the total dollar amount saved from these discounts offsets their annual membership dues!
ONLINE RESOURCES: Weekly toolbox talks, equipment recalls, "members only" wage rate information, monthly safety campaign calendar, and much more!
NETWORKING: Construction industry social events, webinars, podcasts, virtual educational sessions, and improving project outcomes group discussions.
MEMBER AWARDS PROGRAMS: KCA recognizes the state's most innovative, safest, and communitybased construction companies and professionals. Our prestigious awards include: The Thomas George Memorial Community Service Award; The KCA Top Young Leader Award; and, The KCA Annual Safety Awards!
Join now and gain access to valuable resources, benefits, and services that can help your company in today’s marketplace. APPLY
