The Georgia Contractor (Sep Oct 2018) by A4 Inc.

Volume 14, Issue 4 September | October 2018

TAKE COMMAND

OF YOUR FUTURE

What does GEORGIA have to offer YOU?

Technical College System of Georgia Gains Office of Workforce Development

Georgia Contractor

GEORGIA

CONTRACTOR

w w w. t h e g e o r g i a c o n t r a c t o r . c o m Editor-in-Chief: Roland Petersen-Frey Art Director: Pamela Petersen-Frey | (770) 521-8877

The Georgia Contractor is published bi-monthly on a calendar year basis. It is a magazine designed around the construction industry associations and their members. It is supported by associations and their members. Executive, editorial, circulation, and advertising offices: 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115 â&#x20AC;˘ Phone: (770) 521-8877 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: (770) 521-0406 E-mail: rfrey@a4inc.com. Send address changes to your association and/or to A4 Inc. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of any of the associations or publisher nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content or omissions and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Parts of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher.

September | October 2018

On The Cover ~ Young people of Georgia! There are so many exciting careers for you to choose from these days! Best of all, you can get all of the training and experience you need for your profession right here in Georgia. Take a look at this issue of the Georgia Contractor and see what career path you might like to take!v

CONTENTS 8 10

12 18

Letter from TCSG Commissioner Technical College System of Georgia Gains Oﬃce of Workforce Development

22 24

Everybody Wins

Building on a Legacy

Does Your Future Lie in the Built Environment?

What does GEORGIA have to oﬀer you? The GO LIVE Task Force & Reversible Express Lanes

Georgia Trade School Underground

Building the Next Generation of Masons

Positively Charged

Calculating Destiny

How Technology Has Changed Bulk Material Inventory Measurements

It’s MAGIC!

Have You Met Lyle Collins?

Georgia Contractor

38 44

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GEICC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Georgia 811. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Georgia Trade School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 September | October 2018

South Georgia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Wiregrass Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5

Georgia Contractor

GCAA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP February 20-21, 2019 at the COBB Galleria

September | October 2018

Letter from TCSG Commissioner

n the past, many goodpaying jobs were available to students that entered the workforce after graduating high school. Millions of Americans chose this route and were able to sustain a lifetime of employment with the skillsets learned in secondary school. Today, more and more jobs that traditionally went to those with only a high school diploma require training beyond high school. Technological advances continue to make a profound impact on the workplace, making business more efficient, while at the same time, making skill requirements in workers more specialized. This reality has created a skills gap between what an employer needs in the workforce and the skills that workforce has. This gap is most prevalent in ‘middleskill’ jobs. Middle-skill jobs are those that require training beyond high school, but not a four-year degree. According to the National Skills Coalition, 55 percent of our jobs are middle-skill but only 43 percent of our workers are trained to this level. So, how does Georgia ensure more people receive this type of training? This is where the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) plays a very valuable role. The 22 technical colleges of TCSG specialize in providing the education and training for these 8

middle-skill jobs. We offer certificate, diploma, and degrees in more than 600 programs from

struction technology, industrial maintenance, precision manufacturing, and welding. It also pays for those interested in career fields many don’t think are taught at a technical college. These include practical nursing, computer programming, computer technology, health science, and certified engineer assistant. These jobs exist in Georgia and pay well. The average salary for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics in the metro Atlanta region is $40,000; a Plumber–$42,000; an Industrial

Matt Arthur

Maintenance

Technician—

$47,000; and an Electrical Maintenance Technician makes an

business to healthcare to manufacturing to construction to welding and everything in between. The HOPE Career Grant, formerly known as the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers. These industries have been identified as strategically important to the state’s economic growth and the grant allows students to attend our colleges tuition-free and graduate debt-free. The HOPE Career Grant pays the tuition for students interested in one of 17 career fields like con-

average of $53,000 annually. All of the programs can be completed in two years or less. Because of the need for workers in the middle-skills sector, many of our students have job offers prior to graduating. The 22 colleges of TCSG offer students the ability to graduate from college with an in-demand skill and no student debt. It’s why more and more students are considering a technical education after high school. The technical colleges of TCSG are a great, affordable way to get that training and start a career. — Matt Arthur, Commissioner v Georgia Contractor

September | October 2018

Technical College System of Georgia gains office of Workforce Development

or the fifth consecutive year, Georgia has been ranked the number one state in the nation to do business. One of the key factors that continue to attract leading companies to Georgia is the diverse talent and skills that exist within its thriving and robust workforce system. With more than 70,000 unfilled jobs in the state, Georgia has reached a critical point in workforce development—more open positions than there are skilled workers to fill them.

During Governor Deal’s 2018 State of the State Address, he announced that the Office of Workforce Development, formally the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Workforce Division, would be repositioned under the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). 10

“To further aid those coming into our workforce or those seeking new opportunities, we will also be moving our state’s Division of Workforce Development to the Technical College System. In addition, we will be relocating the state’s customized recruitment office to TCSG, further consolidating t h e s e separate workforce development components into a more cohesive and workable system.” – Governor Deal, 2018 State of the State Address With this re-alignment comes a great opportunity for not only Georgia’s technical college students, but also Georgia’s workforce as a whole. The Office of Workforce Development manages the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a federal program that provides funds to address the employment and training needs of Georgians. The Office of Workforce Development is the administrator of WorkSource Georgia, the state’s

federally funded employment and training system, working to connect talent with opportunity. WorkSource Georgia provides support to 19 local workforce development areas across the state that cover each region and focus on employment-driven training of Georgians. Wo r k S o u r c e Georgia trains dislocated workers, lowincome adults, and youth. In addition to providing training services to job seekers, WorkSource Georgia plays a major role in Georgia’s economic development by offering workforce development programs to new and existing companies in the state. Among those are registered apprenticeship programs that help train talent in-house and provide a customized approach to workbased learning. The Office of Workforce Development seeks to integrate its offerings with those of TCSG and continue providing innovative solutions to workforce challenges for companies, job seekers, and students across the state. v

For more information on the Technical College System of Georgia’s Office of Workforce Development, visit TCSG.edu/Workforce. Georgia Contractor

600 PROGRAMS TO CHOOSE FROM

Business Cyber & Related Engineering Technology Film Healthcare & Nursing Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)

Industrial Technologies Personal & Public Service Technologies Public Safety Transportation & Logistics THROUGH THE HOPE CAREER GRANT, TCSG OFFERS TUITION-FREE PROGRAMS IN 17 INDEMAND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES September | October 2018

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Albany Technical College Athens Technical College Atlanta Technical College Augusta Technical College Central Georgia Technical College Chattahoochee Technical College Coastal Pines Technical College Columbus Technical College Georgia Northwestern Technical College Georgia Piedmont Technical College Gwinnett Technical College Lanier Technical College North Georgia Technical College Oconee Fall Line Technical College Ogeechee Technical College Savannah Technical College South Georgia Technical College Southeastern Technical College Southern Crescent Technical College Southern Regional Technical College West Georgia Technical College Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

What does GEORGIA have to offer you? By Pamela Petersen-Frey | A4 Inc.

o you are a young man or woman starting to think about your future. What does that look like to you after high school? Have you checked all of the career possibilities to search for the perfect fit? Some high school students already know that they want to go to a university for a BA or advanced degree because they have a passion for law or maybe medicine, but did you know that not all high-salary careers require four years of college? Let’s take a look at all that Georgia’s educational system has in place to put you on the path to your personal success. The key is to plan early in your high school experience. The Georgia Department of Education offers a huge range of career planning opportunities. They want you to start exploring those opportunities early, but it’s never too late to get on board. What are your choices? Let’s start with a few examples.

Oh the possibilities! Do you love being around the excitement at the busiest airport in the world? Yes, that would be Hartsfield Jackson transporting over 100 million passengers in 2017 to their domestic and international destinations daily. You could become a logistics manager after earning a Bachelor’s Degree and start your career earning $68,900 per year. Storage and Distribution Managers make over $77,000 annually with a B.A. But wait! Air traffic controllers make over $125,000 per year and you only need an Associate’s Degree! OK, so keeping planes from hitting each other may be too much for 12

Body and Related Repair workers start off making over $40,000 per year. What if you just don’t want to go to school beyond high school? You could train to become a Transportation Equipment Painter with a High School diploma and start by making over $40,000 per year. So you can choose four year’s of college, only two years of college, technical college, high school apprenticeship programs (learn while you are still in high school), or high-school-direct to employment (CEFGA-Approved). But all of these great jobs require planning and training, so make a plan early! your nervous system, but commercial pilots start at $88,000 and only need some college. There are many high school or registered apprenticeship programs related to aviation that are available to you, as well. Automotive

REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS (Union & Independent) • Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union • Independent Electrical Contractors • Plumber, Pipefitters & HVACR Technician Union & Mechanical Trades Institute • International Union of Elevator Constructors • Iron Workers Union • Bricklayers and Masons Union • Teamsters Union • Screen Actors Guild • American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

Your Choices If you are someone who wants to go right to work after high school graduation, you might want to take a look at Georgia’s in-high school construction training program. You can sign up to take classes while you are still in high school to train for a professional career in construction. These programs are designed and registered through an organization called NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research). That means the classes you take are accredited and that the instructors are certified to teach you a curriculum for employment with construction companies. When you graduate with these qualifications, you can be confident that the construction industry will be on the look-out for young men and women with this NCCER, high-school certified training. Let’s go to work!

CEFGA CEFGA is the largest NCCER Accredited Training Organization in Georgia, Georgia Contractor

grams. If you think you might be interested, attend CEFGA’s Career Expo in the spring and see up close how young high school men and women have trained in their construction field of interest: plumbing, electrical, masonry, framing, and many more career fields where you can put your unique skills to work making money. Be sure and check out the Career Expo. Over 7,000 people attended in 2016!

Healthcare

with more than 70 accredited training and education facilities throughout the state. Not only does CEFGA deliver direct construction training but it also offers placement services through its nationally recognized Construction Ready and CDL Ready pro-

Georgia has over 40,000 students in high school and middle school involved in Healthcare Science programs. These classes help prepare students for a career in healthcare. Being enrolled in these high school programs will get them well on their way to successfully passing national assessments, and many are earning industry validated credentials prior to leaving high school. This past school

ABOUT NCCER

ABOUT CEFGA

NCCER is a not-for-proﬁt 501(c)(3) education foundation created in 1996 as The National Center for Construction Education and Research. It was developed with the support of more than 125 construction CEOs and various association and academic leaders who united to revolutionize training for the construction industry. Sharing the common goal of developing a safe and productive workforce, these companies created a standardized training and credentialing program for the industry. This progressive program has evolved into curricula for more than 70 craft areas and a complete series of more than 70 assessments oﬀered in over 4,000 NCCERaccredited training and assessment locations across the United States. v

CEFGA is a 501(c)3 nonproﬁt organization, created in 1993 as the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. We were founded by leading construction presidents and CEOs who recognized a need for quality construction skills training in Georgia. CEFGA is the largest NCCER Accredited Training Organization in the state, with more than 70 accredited training and education facilities throughout Georgia. More than 7,000 high school students receive NCCER training each year in our accredited programs throughout the state. CEFGA delivers direct construction training and placement services through its nationally recognized Construction Ready and CDL Ready Programs, currently oﬀered at two locations in metro Atlanta. These programs currently train and place more than 240 adult students each year. v

September | October 2018

WHAT IS SkillsUSA? SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) representing 130 diﬀerent occupational areas of study. SkillsUSA complements technical training with leadership development, so members can learn about their chosen ﬁeld of study and about themselves. Industry is desperate for workers who graduate from high school or college ready to hit the ground running. Fantastic opportunities are out there, and SkillsUSA makes sure their young members are ready to take those opportunities. Each year, students look forward to the local and national SkillsUSA EXPO where students compete against their peers for industry recognition, tools and prizes, and scholarships for further education. Most of all, they gain precious experience that looks great on a résumé and gives participants a vital head start on the quest for success. Combining technical knowledge with leadership capabilities sets SkillsUSA members apart and gets them noticed. Find and develop your inner talent with SkillsUSA! v

electricians is high and the pay is outstanding. The best news is that the training is not only free but you get paid to learn! The AECA (Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association), the IBEW (International Brotherhood of

year, students became Certified Nursing Assistants, Patient Care Technicians, Phlebotomists, Emergency Medical Responders, EKG Technicians, Pharmacy Techs, and Medical Office Assistants.

The Great Outdoors! Maybe you are somebody who loves to be outside with nature. The possibilities are as wide as the big blue sky! Georgia’s Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources pathway prepares high school students for the production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural products and resources. You could choose the Equine Science Pathway, the Companion Animal Systems Pathway, the Veterinary Science Pathway, Forestry/Wildlife Systems Pathway or the Environmental Agriculture Systems Pathway. There are many

more: Forest Mechanical Systems Pathway, Landscape Management Systems Pathway, and Plant and Floriculture Systems Pathway. That’s not even the whole list. Take a close look at the possibilities. You can gain valuable skills and knowledge while still in high school that will increase opportunities to earn industry-validated credentials before you even graduate. You can also receive help if you want to continue your program of study at one of Georgia’s excellent universities offering these unique programs. Straight from high school buyers and purchasing agents for farm products start to work at over $63,000 per year, and veterinarians make over $79,000 annually. Make money doing what you love!

Electrical Workers), and IEC (Independent Electrical Contractors) all conduct Registered Apprenticeship programs for the electrical profession. You can start your training with these approved programs as soon as you graduate, and you can get paid while you learn. Apprenticeship graduates earn about $60,000 a year.

Jobs, jobs, jobs Georgia is growing everywhere you look, and growing means construction. Roads have to be designed and built and buildings of all shapes and sizes have to be constructed. A lot goes in to building a home, an office building, or a skyscraper, but one thing is for sure: they all need electricity— lights to see by, electricity to power computers, and low voltage wiring for internet and high-speed telecommunications. The demand for trained Georgia Contractor

More About Registered Apprenticeship Programs Georgia offers young people a wide range of opportunities for career training through even more Registered Apprenticeship Programs. The Plumber, Pipefitters & HVACR Technical Union & Mechanical Trades Institute offer apprenticeship training, as does the International Union of Elevator Constructors, the Iron Workers Union, Bricklayers and Masons Union, the Teamsters Union, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The Georgia Department of Education can provide you with all the details and contact information that you need to get started with one of these terrific Registered Apprenticeship Programs so that you can start crafting the career that fits your skills and lifestyle.

The Military is for ME! The Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC). JROTC offers the opportunity for high school students to enroll in a leadership/citizenship program coordinated under the umbrella of the Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Division of the Georgia Department of Education. Any three JROTC courses satisfy the requirements for a career pathway, and the JROTC curriculum satisfies national and Georgia Performance StanSeptember | October 2018

dards (GPS) requirements. JROTC instructors in Georgia are required to secure a Georgia teaching “Permit” through the Professional Standards Commission in addition to their military credential. Georgia has its fair share of available units/programs; however, schools/systems should apply for a program in case expansion is accelerated. There is a JROTC program for Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. There is a State of Georgia JROTC Program Specialist at the GaDOE who can help you find out more about the application process.

GA DOE HAS 17 IN-HIGH SCHOOL CAREER PROGRAMS • Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources • Architecture and Construction • Arts, AV/Technology, and Communications • Business, Management, and Administration • Education and Training • Energy • Finance • Government and Public Administration • Health Science • Hospitality and Tourism • Human Services • Information Technology • Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security • Manufacturing • Marketing • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics • Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Trade Schools for Perfecting Your Skills Many excellent trade schools offer you specialized training upon graduation from high school. Georgia Trade School trains students in structural plate and pipe welding with industry certifications in multiple welding processes and positions. Georgia Trade School receives online applause for their excellent training and job placement. Check out their programs! AIM (Atlanta Institute of Maintenance) has an exciting program for aircraft maintenance training. Because the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) requires the strictest standards for training aviation professions, you can be sure that AIM training meets and exceeds those standards. AIM places their graduates with companies all over the world. Have you thought about working in the film industry? Georgia is now being called the “Hollywood of the East Coast,” so you know it is a growing and exciting field. Georgia Film Academy offers you hands-on experience on major film and television productions. So get in there and get professional training in the crafts of film-making! Move over Clint Eastwood!

What About Technical College? The TCSG offers programs in Business, Film, Personal/Public Services Technologies, Computer Information Systems (CIS), Healthcare and Nursing, Public Safety, Engineering Technology, Industrial Technological, and Transportation and Logistics. TCSG has a 99% job placement and college transfer record. Twelve high demand fields including computer technology, health sciences and early childhood education can be 100% tuition free through Georgia’s HOPE Career Grant. Dual enrollment is possible for an early start while you are still in high school. And many programs are of15

fered on-line so that you can fit your education into your busy schedule.

I want to go to University Georgia has 127 public and private colleges serving over 340,000 fulltime students. The Hope Scholarship makes college affordable for every citizen of the state. Created in 1993 under the supervision of Georgia Governor Zell Miller, the Hope Scholarship puts a four-year college degree in financial reach for over a quarter of a million of Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young citizens every year.

Wrapping it All UP While you are in high school in Georgia, you can begin putting your future career together. You can sign up for a

dual enrollment program that puts you in Technical College or University classes even before you have graduated from high school. You can start your training through NCCER programs and CEFGA-certified training so that you can enter a great career in construction as soon as you graduate. You can plan to attend one of the highly regarded Registered Apprenticeship Programs that Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high schools coordinate with AECA, IBEW, IEC, The Plumber, Pipefitters & HVACR Technical Union & Mechanical Trades Institute, the International Union of Elevator Constructors, the Iron Workers Union, Bricklayers and Masons Union, the Teamsters Union, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television

and Radio Artists. You can join the JROTC and enroll in leadership/citizenship programs to get your military career off to a strong start. Or you can enter one of the recommended Trade Schools to put you on a direct path to great-paying and rewarding jobs. So take a close look at the many options you have as a high school student in this terrific state. Sit down with your parents and get their advice. Compare the training and educational investment for each path, and factor in your greatest career passions! Whatever appeals to you, whatever seems like just the right fit, grab it! Make it yours! And make a plan to take command of your own future! Oh, and remember this: Georgia really needs you!v

Georgia Contractor

Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)

State Colleges and Universities in Georgia • Georgia Institute of Technology • University of Georgia • Augusta University • Georgia State University • Georgia Southern University • Kennesaw State University • University of West Georgia • Valdosta State University • Albany State University • Armstrong State University • Clayton State University • Columbus State University • Fort Valley State University • Georgia College & State University • Georgia Southwestern State University • Middle Georgia State University • Savannah State University • University of North Georgia • Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College • Atlanta Metropolitan State College • Bainbridge State College • College of Coastal Georgia • Dalton State College • East Georgia State College • Georgia Gwinnett College • Georgia Highlands College • Gordon State College • South Georgia State College September | October 2018

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The GO LIVE Task Force & Reversible Express Lanes. Remarkably complicated. Remarkably intertwined. By John Hibbard, P.E. & Andrew Heath, P.E. | John Hibbard is Director of Operations & Andrew Heath is State Traffic Engineer | Georgia Department of Transportation

Ever wonder what it takes to operate reversible express lanes? If yes, then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to the right place. Actually, even if the thought has never crossed your mind, we still think that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find this article interesting and really cool (at least we think so). 18

Georgia Contractor

By now you know that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), in partnership with the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA), is developing a system of Express Lanes across metro Atlanta. These managed lanes are owned and operated by the State of Georgia. GDOT is responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the roadway, while SRTA manages the pricing aspects of the tolled lanes, including functions related to the Peach Pass system. Two of these roadways are reversible. The first—the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes in Henry and Clayton Counties—opened in 2017. The second—the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes on I-75 September | October 2018

and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties—opened in early September 2018. During the construction phase of the I-75 South Metro project, GDOT and SRTA saw the need to ensure a streamlined transition from design and construction to operations. The project involved numerous partnerships made up of diverse individuals and different organizations—all with unique perspectives. To ensure that everything that needed to happen was, in fact, happening, it was agreed to bring all the stakeholders together regularly. Of paramount importance was making sure that the reverse transitions were safe and seamless. For the best possible outcome, impacted

disciplines were united under one cohesive unit. The GO-LIVE Task Force is born! The Go Live Task Force is made up of small, discipline-specific working groups. These include the roadway contractor team, who keeps everyone apprised of construction timelines in order to coordinate expected completion dates and in-facility training prior to opening. Other task force members are communications (to keep the public informed), incident management (to get traffic flowing after a stall or crash), transit (Georgia Regional Transportation Authority [GRTA], as well as charter and intercity buses), maintenance (to keep the roadway in good repair), 19

data collection (to track the numbers), IT (to handle the reversal technology and to keep the NaviGAtor 511 network running smoothly), infrastructure (to safely move motorists from point A to point B), human resources, legal and finance. The task force is led by a Steering Committee that formalizes coordination of the overall operation, ensuring that potential conflicts, issues or concerns among the working groups, who report monthly, are captured, tracked and resolved. Due to the reversible nature of both the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes and the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes, much of the GoLive Task Force focus is on training special HERO Master Operators, who ensure from the field—in coordination with dedicated reversible Express Lanes Transportation Management Center (TMC) operators, on the floor at the TMC—that the reverse transitions are safe and seamless. These positions work as a team—the HERO Master Operators facilitate the reverse on the ground while the TMC operators facilitate the roadway transitions using NaviGAtor from the TMC operations floor. HERO Master Operators receive extensive training on clearing lanes for the reversal process that uses a series of gates for security, opening the emergency entry gates and accessing control devices located in cabinets in the 20

field. They also learn how to manually operate the gates in the unlikely event that the need arises; how to replace a gate if necessary; and how to handle incidents in a barrier-separated setting. First responders learn about the reversal schedule and access points, and complete training—through in-thefield exercises, as well as table top simulations—on handling incidents and emergency situations based on the specific characteristics of the express lanes themselves. Bus drivers are trained to

navigate their large buses in tight circumstances. The I-75 South Metro Express Lanes Go-Live Task Force marked the first time GDOT and SRTA implemented a formal process of engagement and coordination across each enterprise. Given the smooth opening of the lanes last year and the efficient daily operations since, the task force has proven to be quite successful. This success is also demonstrated through the coordination of the contractors for both GDOT and SRTA. For the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes, C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. led the delivery on the GDOT contracting side

and worked with SRTA’s Toll System Integrator, Neology, Inc. The GDOT District 3 construction inspection team, located in west central Georgia, orchestrated on the ground inspection efforts, ensuring that both parties met their contractual milestones. Lessons learned from the I75 South Metro Express Lanes effort were applied and Go-Live was kicked off in 2016 for the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes project, constructed through a public private partnership utilizing a Design-Build-Finance Delivery model. Northwest Express Roadbuilders (NWER) led the design and construction effort on behalf of GDOT while SRTA engaged Neology, Inc. as the Toll System Integrator. A streamlined task force was also established for the I-85 Express Lanes Extension project in Gwinnett County, scheduled to open in late fall 2018. Each task force continues through open to traffic, and into the operations phase of each project. It is anticipated that the GoLive Task Force concept will be carried forward as the standard operating procedure for Express Lanes implementation in Georgia. The GO-LIVE Task Force has added a cohesiveness to the remarkably complex and remarkably entwined reversible express lanes. And we think that is truly remarkable. v Georgia Contractor

September | October 2018

Georgia Trade School, Underground By Ryan Blythe

welve months ago, Georgia Trade School received its certificate of occupancy from the city of Acworth. 60 months before that milestone, GTS launched classes at our original facility in Kennesaw. We have been sold out since our inception and despite multiple expansions three to four month waiting lists remain the norm. Welding has always been a very niche industry and it is my hope that this space will be a look behind the curtain to what inspired me to create Georgia Trade School and how our school has succeeded independent of any government funding in a state where you can take welding tuition free at our public institutions. Thanks to an incredibly hard working, talented and dedicated staff, today Georgia Trade School is one of the top three to five welding schools in the United States.

Being a product of an art school I studied the Delhi Iron Pillar and the famous “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” picture that was completely staged, a publicity stunt but one that captured plenty of attention. The John Ferguson Weir painting “Forging a Shaft, a welding heat” which dramatizes the fabrication of an ocean liner propeller and the Vulcan God of Fire in Roman Mythology influenced how 22

I wanted to market a product that was not receiving much interest from young people. Today, a replica of the Weir painting sits in GTS President Joanna Vinson’s office. Life Magazine’s May 17th, 1943 cover “Boypower” was the final influence. The magazine featured kids who were working in the skilled trades while their parents were busy fighting World War Two. The brand statement was simply two words “Rebuilding America” and our mission was to build the future while honoring the past. We started very humbly with seven students on a late summer morning in 2012. Because of limited funds, we built additional welding booths as more students registered. That idea was the genius of our Vice President, Sean Quinton. We made a real controversial and risky decision early on- not to participate in government loans or grants. To me our independence was going to be a critical part of our success. There was no school with the exception of Hillsdale College that had taken that space. I felt like the traditional model was failing and postsecondary education needed severe disruption. How do you solve a skills gap where average participants are 56 years old when you supplement those nearing retirement with career changers? To further my point, especially coming out of a great recession, why weren’t high school

students being recruited just as aggressively to become welders, plumbers, pipefitters or electricians like their peers who starred on the gridiron. If Nick Saban could get football players from Cobb’s great school system, then why couldn’t we find some welders. The life of an NFL running back is a few years. Our industry has shipbuilders who have worked in yards for fifty years. Most kids were being sold on a job- but that’s just over broke. We were going to sell a career. They were two seminal moments that made Georgia Trade School. The first was when Joanna cold called Huntington Ingalls, the largest shipbuilder for the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. Their HR Director was skeptical at first that we could deliver but our ace in the hole was the quality of both the Cobb and Cherokee school districts, where the bulk of our early students matriculated from. Most postsecondary schools emphasize advertising and financial aid but rarely make the investment in employer relationships. For more than thirty years industry surveys have suggested outcomes are the single most important factor to prospective students. Armed with a Fortune 400 partner we were ready to make our next move. I learned of a 20-year-old kid from Ohio, named Lanse Edwards from the marketing department at Kimberly Clark’s Georgia Contractor

GTS Instructor Kramer Bolton working in our welding lab PPE division. When I met him at the Embassy Suites near Kennesaw State a few months later, I was convinced we had our brand ambassador. Today ChuckE2009 has more than 120 million views on YouTube and our team, lead by Stephen Leone and Sidni Wafler have shot dozens of videos with some averaging over 100,000 views on their own merit. But the welding industry alone wasn’t going to complete my vision. We needed to reach regular folks and that was going to require mainstream earned media. Our attitude was simple, every time we had a chance to speak to a journalist we would make it a priority. I started writing to various editors from local (Marietta Daily Journal) to national (The Wall Street Journal). After plenty of failures—we got published. And then we kept September | October 2018

getting published. In 2014, we got our first magazine cover and then in 2016, our Senior Instructor Elaine Waters was named National Teacher of the Year. In 70 months that class of 7 is nearly 700 representing 20 states, over 100 employers in construction, energy, manufacturing, entertainment and more than 35 million dollars in an-

nual salaries. So, there it is, all the secrets, or at least a few of them. We tell stories here and I sincerely hope ours may help inspire a prospective entrepreneur. Keep chasing your dreams and never be afraid to fail. Stars can’t shine without darkness. v

Everybody Wins CEFGA and Anning-Johnson Company: A Case Study in the Value of Investing in People Story and photos by Allen Allnoch regory Escobar recalls the moment he learned about CEFGA’s Construction Ready training. He was checking in for probation when he saw a flyer promoting the program. After a series of lost jobs and jail stays, he was ready to turn his life around. “It actually sounded too good to be true,” Gregory says. “I thought there was a catch. But it really motivated me. It sounded like something that could help me have a career instead of just getting another job I didn’t want.” Gregory applied and graduated from Construction Ready at TCWFI (The Center for Working Families, Inc.), then went to work for Anning-Johnson Company, a frequent participant in the hiring fairs Construction Ready hosts at the conclusion of each four-week class. He’s now a Finisher Apprentice in a two-year training program the company offers select employees. And he definitely has a career, rather than merely a job. “I just decided I was tired of letting my family down, and I didn’t want to be 40 or 50 years old and staying in jail all the time,” says Gregory, 28. “I’d like to be an inspiration to my old friends to change, to show them that you can do something different. And my girlfriend has two sons, so I can show

them that hard work is important and there’s something better than just having a dead-end job.” The willingness of both Construction Ready and Anning-Johnson to give Gregory a chance is paying off for all parties involved. And he’s not the only Construction Ready graduate to find success with A-J despite a misguided past. Three apprentices in the company’s Carpentry division— Michael McCullough, Ishmael Burden and Derrick Woods—all came through Construction Ready after overcoming challenges as adolescents, and all are thriving. Another, Nicholas Holmes, is in lead training and on his way to becoming a foreman. CEFGA’s partnership with Anning-Johnson illustrates the redemptive value of investing in people—even, in some cases, those who as younger men and women made poor decisions. A-J Operations Administrator Edwin Parra explains: “As an employer, we can teach a lot of skills, but the right attitude is something that has to come from within,” says Parra, who oversees recruiting, hiring and training of field personnel in Atlanta, one of eight A-J locations nationwide. “It’s definitely up to the individual having the right attitude and state of mind, that’s what we look for in interviews. We look for people who are willing to take control of their

own destiny. “When you couple that kind of mentality with eager, open-minded employers and a program like CEFGA that wants to help connect all the dots and put that individual in front of the right people, it’s a formula for success.” If an A-J hire continues to show motivation and potential, they may be recommended for one of the company’s in-house training programs—commercial carpentry and drywall finishing. An apprentice will be paired with an experienced tradesman. Weekly evaluations assist the learning process. The employee also can opt for additional union training. “We’ll take one of our top tradesman—say, a carpenter who may hang forty boards of sheetrock a day by himself—and we’ll tell him to slow down, not hang as much drywall, but teach another young man to hang drywall,” Parra says. “So we’ve cut his production and we’re losing on the front end, but what we’re gaining on the back makes up for the loss and then some.” Michael McCullough is benefitting from that kind of investment. He’s taken advantage of almost every union class available to him, and now is beginning A-J’s Carpenter Apprentice training. “Getting that second chance was a blessing,” Michael says. “Edwin was talking about the comGeorgia Contractor

pany and what they do for their employees and I thought, ‘Man, I want to be part of this.’ I felt like somebody really cares about me and wants to groom me into having a real career. They tell you what to do, what not to do, and how to do it better. It’s a simple step by step career pathway.” Having made some bad decisions as a teen and wasted vital years of his life, Michael decided he “just wanted more” for himself out of life—to “live the American dream, have a family, a house, kids,” he says. Similarly, Ishmael Burden decided he wasn’t going to let past decisions ruin his life. One of those decisions—a youthful prank gone bad, resulting in an armed robbery charge—had landed him in prison for more than five years. But he made the most of the time, studySeptember | October 2018

ing investment strategies, preparing for the GED and SAT exams, and growing stronger in his Christian faith. Now 26, Ishmael graduated from Construction Ready at Build Cobb and is a first-year Carpenter Apprentice—one who “can honestly say I’m happy to go to work,” and who’s mindful of his potential to influence others. “I want to inspire people to reach a higher economic class,” he says, “and a higher level of character, a higher level of emotional and social well-being, a higher level of sense of responsibility for themselves and for their community.” Derrick Woods has perhaps the most dramatic comeback story of the Construction Ready grads Anning-Johnson has hired. He served a 20-year prison sentence for a crime he committed at the age of

19, but came out a changed man, determined to find a good job and make the most of his future. “It took me awhile, but I finally realized I could decide how my life is going to be,” says Derrick, whose youthful looks belie his 41 years. “Once I decided I didn’t want to live that kind of lifestyle anymore, I made it my business when I woke up in the morning to put positive thoughts in my head, to do positive things, to be around positive people.” When all the right ingredients are in place—motivated individual, proper training and willing employer—the results can be remarkable. Of 15 Construction Ready graduates A-J has hired, three are on track to become a foreman—a staggering success rate, Parra says. v 25

Building on a Legacy Kory Cofield is Following in his Grandfather’s Footsteps at Carroll Daniel Construction By Allen Allnoch

ory Cofield was but a young boy when his paternal grandfather passed away. But he’s well aware of the legacy of Clifford Cofield, better known around Gainesville, Georgia, as “Shorty.” And in the unlikely event he should forget, he need only look out the back door of his employer’s company headquarters for a reminder. A plaque adorns “The Shorty Shop,” the Carroll Daniel Construction Company’s workshop, “dedicated to Cliff ‘Shorty’ Cofield, for 50 years of service,” from 1953-2003.

Today, he says, “I’ve learned a little more of the trade—setting door frames, temporary doors, temporary windows, setting walls, reading blueprints. I’ve learned a lot in three years.”

“I’ve always looked up to him,” says Kory, a 2017 graduate of Lanier College Career Academy. “Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to build things. When I was in school, I took every construction class I could.” Kory has worked for Carroll Daniel for almost three years. He began as most laborers do— sweeping, cleaning up job sites and other entry-level tasks. Kory plans to start classes at Lanier Technical College’s brandnew Gainesville campus in January. He’ll continue his job with Carroll Daniel while working to-

ward a two-year degree in Construction Management. His ultimate goal: Superintendent, the same role Shorty Cofield held for so many years. “He’s kind of got it in his blood,” says Kory’s boss, Field Supervisor David Anthony. “He’s actually interested in construction, which is a delight these days. It’s kind of hard to find someone who wants to understand the business rather than just do a job until it’s time to go home. He wants to see the details, and he wants to see the big picture, too. He wants to learn my thought process and understand why we do things the way we do.” Kory is the fourth of five siblings—he has two brothers and two sisters—but he’s the only one to pursue a construction career path. Even when he’s off the job, he often can be found building something, or just tinkering. For example, he designs and builds custom tables for Big Green Egg grills. He does cabinet work. And he drives a 1989 Ford Bronco that he keeps in good running condition, despite its 145,000 miles.

Kory Cofield stands beside the workshop that Carroll Daniel Construction named in honor of his grandfather, Cliff “Shorty” Cofield. Georgia Contractor

“I’ve always liked to work with my hands,” Kory says. “Even though I didn’t know my grandfather well, he taught a lot of skills to my dad, and my dad has passed that along to me over the years.” Despite his heritage, Kory isn’t immune to mistakes in the field, but he keeps it all in perspective. “Stuff happens, weird stuff, all the time,” he says with a laugh. “But you learn from all of it.” At the same time, his bloodline motivates him to succeed. “I think people expect a little more because of my grandpa,” Kory says. “He was one of the best at his job, and everybody knew him around Gainesville. When people hear my name, they say, ‘Oh, was he your grandpa?’ So I try to [live up to that]. I doubt I ever will, but I try my hardest. I actually like that pressure—I think I work better under pressure.” So far, Kory has the full confidence of company management. “He aspires to be a superintendent,” Anthony says. “I think he’ll become one if he stays focused and stays on the track he’s on.” Kory has no intention of deviating from that track. “This is what I want to do the rest of my life,” he says. Who knows—one day Carroll Daniel may have to install a second plaque lauding the Cofield name. v September | October 2018

Does Your Future Lie in the Built Environment? By Ashley Dale, CPSM, CIT | Owner | DB Consulting Services | A Strategic Marketing Consultancy

he word construction brings to mind many things, from heavy equipment digging in the dirt to the tallest skyscrapers, tradesmen building masonry walls to architectural and schematic drawings and everything in between. Banks, grocery stores, office buildings, gas stations, classrooms, airports, bridges, highways and the list goes on and on. Who are the people leading the charge to construct the structures you encounter daily? Construction manager, general contractor, and project manager are general terms often used interchangeably in reference to the person leading the charge and directing the overall project once construction planning begins. In this article, we will focus on Construction Management as a methodology and career path within the industry.

construction industry - horizontal construction (roads and bridges) and vertical construction (buildings). Most owners have limited experience or staff available to stay focused on the many details involved in a construction project â&#x20AC;&#x201C; details which can make or break a project. As a result, owners often turn to construction managers/project managers (CMs) who are trained and experienced in managing the details and coordination required for a successful completed project. A CM collaborates with the Owner, Architect and construction team to deliver the project

within the specified time, cost and quality constraints. Rather than performing the actual construction tasks themselves, CMs typically act as advisors, overseeing and coordinating the project progress to meet or exceed the project milestones and goals. CMs oversee all aspects of the project including: scheduling, safety, cost estimating, design, quality assurance, value engineering, commissioning, construction inspection, risk management and lead the team with specialists from each of these aspects. Construction managers adhere to Construction Manage-

What Is Construction Management? Construction Management is a procurement methodology and project operations philosophy and practice that incorporates specialized techniques, tools, and processes to manage the planning, design, and construction of a project from concept to completion. This practice is applied to all sectors and markets of the 28

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ment Association of America (CMAA) Construction Management Standards of Practice, which establish industry standards of service and serve as a guide to the range of services that constitute professional construction management1. A Growing Industry The Bureau of Labor Statistics and a report from Timetricâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Construction Intelligence Center (CIC), project the construction industry to be one of the fastest growing industries into 2020. Population and business expansion is driving construction of new structures and the desire to retrofit buildings to increase en-

ergy efficiency and need to improve local, regional, and national infrastructure is triggering growth through roads, bridges, and pipe system upgrades and replacements. Construction industry employment is projected to grow 15 percent in the Southeast (11 percent growth nationally) in the coming decade. Rates faster than average for all occupations. In addition to employment growth to support industry expansion, retirement and attrition reaching substantial numbers in the coming decade will result in additional job opportunities. Construction processes and building technology and tools are also becoming

more complex, requiring greater oversight and specialized management personnel. All signs point toward careers in the construction industry and construction management specifically, as viable, lucrative and plentiful in the coming years. Education Requirements and Career Paths Typically, CMs have a bachelor's degree in construction science, construction management, architecture, or engineering and learn management techniques through on-the-job training. Internships, cooperative education programs, and previous work in the construction industry can provide that experience. Some individuals with a high school diploma and many years of experience in a construction trade may transition into construction management as well. As construction processes become more complex and new technologies emerge, employers are placing greater importance on specialized education. Accredited bachelor's degree programs in construction science, building science, or construction engineering are offered at over 100 colleges and universities and more than 50 technical colleges offer construction management or construction technology programs. Coursework includes project controls and management, design, construction methods and materials, cost estimation, building codes and standards, and contract administration. Some universities even offer master's degree programs in construction management. Georgia Contractor

The Construction Management Association of America awards the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) designation to workers who have the required experience and who pass a technical exam. It is recommended that applicants for this certification complete a self-study course that covers the professional role of a construction manager, legal issues, the allocation of risk, and other topics related to construction management1. Although not required, certification is valuable because it can demonstrate that a person has gained knowledge and experience. A Day in the Life Dependent on the size of a project and the size of the firm, a CM may be responsible for just one project or multiple projects simultaneously. No two days are the same and a CM could be negotiating a contract, presenting to an owner to secure additional work, inspecting a trade installation, approving subcontractor pay requests or myriad other activities. Most construction managers have a main office, but often spend their time working out of a field office on the construction site. Being onsite offers many advantages and allows them to

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closely monitor the project and make real-time decisions about construction activities. Construction isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really a 9-5 occupation and construction managers are usually up and on the job early. Days are split between meetings, planning, problem solving, personnel management, client interaction, working with documents, and maintaining a presence on the job site. Construction managers have strong analytic skills and juggle many tasks, personalities and responsibilities.

tors are unable to define objectives clearly to their teams, subcontractors and clients. CMs must give clear orders, explain complex information, and discuss technical details. They also write proposals, plans, and budgets, as well as document the progress of the work for clients and others involved in the building process. A solid comprehension of grammar, eye for detail and industry specific vocabulary will serve the CM well up and down the chain of command.

What Makes A CM Successful (Beyond Technical Knowledge)? A CM is the intermediary between his clients, staff and subcontractors, between the architect and subconsultants, and between the project and regulatory agencies. With the wide range of responsibilities that a CM faces, they require a variety of skills and attributes. The best CMs have common traits that help them excel in their work and stay passionate about their projects. Interestingly, the most valuable and relied upon traits are predominantly soft skills.

The Power of Persuasion and Inspiration: The most underrated skill a CM should possess is the ability to convince and persuade (through effective communication). It may be necessary to convince a client that a last minute change will mean innumerable delays or cost increases, or convince an unmotivated subcontractor to complete his job as agreed. The ability to motivate and inspire good work must be balanced with understanding the limits of the workers, and knowing when a change in plans already underway is worth fighting and when it is not.

Communication Skills: Even more valuable than technical skills because poor communica-

Adaptability/Flexibility: Construction managers must always

Let’s Go! So, do you have what it takes to enter the exciting, demanding, growing, rewarding and just plain awesome world of construction management? Want a taste of the industry? Looking to meet potential employers or fellow CMs? CMAA South Atlantic Chapter hosts events in Atlanta year-round and offers a special student rate of $10 to attend most events. To learn more about the regional chapter of CMAA, industry activities and events and ongoing initiatives, please visit cmaasac.org. be prepared to handle unexpected issues and delays and solve problems that arise over the course of the project. Often, these choices must be made quickly to meet deadlines and budgets. Organization and Time Management: Construction managers live by deadlines. They must ensure that construction activities and phases are completed on time so that the next phase can begin as scheduled.

Seeing the “Big Picture”: CMs must effectively manage and delegate tasks to trades, subcontractors, and other team members while maintaining a focus on how the individual parts and pieces fit together to drive an overall successful and positive project experience for the client. Attention to Detail: Seemingly contrary to the seeing the ‘big picture,’ a CM must stay on top of project details, like why certain materials are used in lieu of others or the sequencing of trades

activities. That awareness fosters respect among the staff and trades and directly contributes to morale and motivation. Service Minded. Construction managers are in constant contact with owners, inspectors, and the public. They must establish and maintain good working relationships, actively seeking solutions to problems a nd being generally helpful in any way they can helps

and ensure their needs are met. v

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Building the Next Generation of Masons By Cory Olson | SVP | Sakrete of North America he labor shortage is a real concern in the construction industry. So real, in fact, that organizations and associations, including the Associated General Contractors of America, have surveyed contractors to share how they plan to combat the shortage via better wages, hours, etc. With the demand at an all-time high, the lack of skilled trade workers has the industry looking for the next generation to take the reins. One area of opportunity for those looking for work in Georgia is in the masonry space. Whether individuals are looking to work for a general contractor, a construction company, or to be their own boss someday, concrete construction and remodeling provides a great point of entry for someone looking to get into the trade. Since there are limitless resources available, as well as YouTubeâ&#x201E;˘ videos that show individuals how to properly use the product, installing concrete has become more accessible, allowing individuals to easily get behind a skill before moving on to tackle other projects in the construction realm.

How to Begin If you are new to concrete, the first step is to roll up your sleeves and learn everything you can about the material. Tech schools are offering more opportunities to learn the trade and concrete manufacturers September | October 2018

are offering seminars to get oneon-one exposure to the product. Many of these seminars are free and allow someone to gain insight to a trade that is profitable in both residential and commercial environments. Universities are also offering specialized degree programs, such as Middle Tennessee State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Concrete Management Degree, with opportunities for Georgia residents to gain access to in-state tuition. Once an individual is ready to start working with the product, they should get started with a few small projects, as it will provide the framework to take on larger or more specialized projects. Sidewalks and patios using bagged concrete is a great first step, as the bags provide step-by-step instructions on what is needed to complete the install.

Once a person gets more comfortable, they can move onto smaller design projects using stone veneer mortar, concrete repair projects and more. With concrete, the opportunities are only limited by oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imagination. As the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) indicates, homeowners are expected to increase spending on improvements and repairs. With the construction labor shortage expected to amplify in the coming years, more and more opportunities will be available for those in the trades. With masons and contractors in Georgia leaving the industry for retirement, the opportunities are endless for those just now getting into the trade. v 33

Positively Charged Dynamic Electrical Apprentice Rhylea Morgan Has Found Her Niche with MetroPower By Allen Allnoch hylea Morgan was two years removed from high school, but she still hadn’t quite figured out what she wanted to do with her life. She had tried college —“I thought I wanted to become a nurse, but it just wasn’t for me,” she says—and was working for Sherwin-Williams when her father, Lemuel Mathis, called with an idea. Mathis, a project manager with MetroPower, said his company was hiring and offering to send young employees to school through the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Apprenticeship Program. “I had never really thought about [electrical work] until then,” says Rhylea. “I wasn’t sure, but I gave it some thought and finally said, ‘OK, I’ll try it.’” She started work with MetroPower in August 2018; after a shaky first day on a Douglas County construction site, she’s been all-in. “That first day it rained in the afternoon and it was so humid,” Rhylea recalls. “I was pouring sweat and I was tired and I thought, ‘I don’t know about this.’ Then I got up the second morning and I thought, ‘I can do this. I’m going to do this.’ It’s been really fun. I absolutely love it, because one of the biggest things I was looking for was a career. I wasn’t just looking for a job; I was looking for something I

can do my whole life, and I finally found it.” A lasting career is the primary selling point used by Workforce Development Manager Tony Varamo in recruiting talent to MetroPower. He’s also keenly aware of Georgia’s aging workforce and the need to identify and prepare eager young workers like Rhylea to fill the gap. “When I first interviewed Rhylea I was very impressed with her can-do attitude,” Varamo says. “She’s always very positive and willing to help others. She’s also very interested in furthering her career as an electrician and has a clear vision of her future. Rhylea made it very clear up front that she wanted a career, so it was an easy sell after that.” The IEC program in which Rhylea is enrolled is a four-year commitment. Apprentices attend a four-hour night class each week and work a full 40-hour week. Upon completion they will have amassed some 576 hours of classroom learning in safety practices, electrical theory, blueprint reading, math and the National Electric Code—not to mention at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. “There’s so much information,” Rhylea says. “I have my codebook and I’m always flipping through that and trying to soak it all in. When I’m doing homework, I can ask my dad some of the questions

and usually he can just rattle off the answer. It’s good to know I can go to him for help.” Rhylea also got to see her father in action when her first job site happened to be one where he was working. “That was pretty cool, to actually get to learn from my dad out there,” she recalls. “We were able to snap a picture of us together, wearing our vests and our helmets, and that’s one of my mom’s favorite pictures now.” Rhylea grew up in Carrollton, but moved to Springtown, Texas, a Fort Worth suburb, as a high school sophomore. She met her future husband, a competitive bull rider, in Texas. He’s continued to pursue that profession since moving with Rhylea to Georgia, and she often accompanies him to bull riding events on weekends. Clearly, Rhylea is a young woman not intimidated by hard work and rugged outdoor environments. When her father encouraged her to consider a construction industry career, he also issued a warning, and she’s been up to the challenge.

Rhylea Morgan has found a career she loves, thanks to an employer, MetroPower Inc., that invests heavily in its workforce, and a comprehensive apprenticeship program with Independent Electrical Contractors. Georgia Contractor

“He said, ‘Now Rhylea, it’s going to be different, because you’re going to be one of the only women out there.’ But I was raised that I can do anything I put my mind to. A few people looked at me like, ‘What are you doing out here?’ But everybody I work with has been really welcoming and helpful about making sure I have what I need. Even though I am one of the only females out here, they all treat me like one of them, and that’s what I want. I’m doing the same work as them and I don’t want to be treated any different. “I want to show that women can come out here and we can do this,” she adds. “We might have to work a little harder, but we can do it.” v

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Calculating Destiny Plans, planning, and Eisenhower’s paradox of preparation By Ryan Boling | Training Manager | HB NEXT uite frequently -and, much to my educational benefitmy work brings me in contact with veterans of the construction industry. I learned early on in my career, that we can learn an awful lot from veterans if we demonstrate an eagerness and willingness to learn from them; and, at times, the tolerance to endure a few ‘short’ stories. One day in the not-so-distant past, I was spending some time in my office chatting with a veteran coworker of mine who happens to be a military history enthusiast. While I had previously been musing (or, brooding, rather) over some unexpected, unforeseen and ultimately inconvenient changes to our work plans for that upcoming week, my coworker looked at me and asked (while laughing, heartily), “What are you so upset for, man? You know plans are worthless!”. Now, coming from a former construction superintendent and 40-year veteran of the industry, I didn’t quite know what to make of that statement, at first. This man, who carries what at times seems like an infinite amount of wisdom, has taught me a lot over the years about how to succeed in this in-

dustry. Coming from a man who spent decades in his career building tightly-scheduled projects that required the knowledge and interpretation of numerous sets of plans, quickly, I had determined this offered wisdom was either wildly ill-founded, or, deeply subliminal. Or, maybe he was just ‘pulling my chain’ with a joke, in a friendly attempt to lighten the mood. It took me some days before I finally made the discernment; but, the message still resonates with me to this day. Plans are worthless; but, planning is everything. In my sixth grade Language Arts class (many, many moons ago), my classmates and I were tasked with writing a biography of one of our nation’s former Presidents. My choice was Dwight D. Eisenhower. Through many long hours of research, along with some stern parental ‘encouragement,’ I learned a whole lot about President Eisenhower that winter; but was too young at the time to fully comprehend his impact on American history or to acknowledge his prowess as a military commander. President Eisenhower, well known for his military success commanding the Allied Forces in Europe during World

War II, was also well known for a paradoxical quote he made, paraphrased, and repeated, during speeches he gave in the 1950s: “Plans are useless, but the act of planning is indispensable.” If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering, “While that was a nice quote, what exactly does this have to do with me or my future?” Well, to answer that question, it has nothing to do with you and your future; and, it also has everything to do with it. For our entire lives on this earth, our existence is often driven, defined, and, to an extent, dictated by plans. Plans which we make personally or professionally; plans which are made for us; plans made for the immediate or distant future; plans which are kept, broken or rescheduled; plans which are accomplished inpart or in-full; plans which never get accomplished; and, so on... So, what message was President Eisenhower trying to convey through this (apparent) oxymoronic opinion of his? First, we need to consider the source of this information: Eisenhower commanded U.S. military forces during some of our nation’s most recognized and historic battles abroad. It is no secret that Eisenhower’s military Georgia Contractor

strategies required a great deal of coordination and preparation on his behalf. Given this knowledge, why would this seasoned and successful battle commander so confidently (and publicly) assert that plans have little to no ‘realworld’ value? Secondly, in attempting to understand the meaning behind the message, we need to consider how this concept applies to us, personally. Think about it: Metaphorically speaking, the planning of futures and the accomplishment of personal life goals are akin to military battle preparations, minus uniforms, weapons, and the need for ‘Top Secret’ security clearance. Military strategies or battle plans, similar to life goals, require adRyan vance research and preparation for anticipated, but largely unforeseen circumstances that cannot be fully predicted or controlled. We fight many battles; both internally and externally, don’t we? Fighting the clock, wrestling with our decisions and emotions, experiencing adversity that triggers changes of heart, debating about how our decisions will affect those around us, having to justify our choices to those who disagree with them... We make these perfectly organized and scheduled plans around these sets of expectations and conditions in life that, invariably, are subject to immediate September | October 2018

and unannounced change. Use weather as an example. Ever had to change or reschedule any of your outdoor plans because of an un-forecasted thunderstorm? Or do you keep a fold-up poncho, galoshes and an umbrella in the trunk of your car for when this

Boling happens? What I think President Eisenhower was trying to tell us all those years ago—and, ostensibly, a humorous coworker of mine less than a couple years ago—is that you can have all the detailed plans in the world drawn up for an upcoming battle, your job, a major life event, or some other challenging obstacle. You can spend years calculating risk, developing multi-layered contingencies, and building protective ‘bubbles’ around everything you hold dear. If your process of planning does not include the thorough exploration of and preparation for all the potential

‘what if’s’ that will undoubtedly impact your choices, that carefully curated list of plans you made, in most any circumstance, may—and, reasonably will—end up being irrelevant and ultimately, useless. In war, can an opponent always predict what their counterpart’s next move will be? In life, can we always predict when our next lifechanging event will occur? As you chart the course leading to your life’s destiny, plotting personal milestones for yourself along the way, don’t forget that timeless adage: “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” As you encounter obstacles—and you will—that list of plans you lettered A through Z may end up being personally categorized among the biggest wastes of time in your life. However, the process you underwent to develop those plans, combined with a habit of always preparing for the unexpected, will prove indispensable to you along your journey. All plans become useless when they meet with circumstances which render them ineffective. All plans must remain adaptable to your current situation.

The only thing worse than an ineffective or failed plan, though, is the one that was never made. v 37

How Technology has changed Bulk Material Inventory Measurements By Sally Zadra, P.E. | Wingfield Scale and Measure, LLC racking inventory of stockpiles is critical for both accounting, production, and sales functions in any mine, quarry or plant. Accounting uses the numbers for tax determination as well as valuation of shareholder stock prices in publicly-held companies. In cement plants, managers and engineers need an accurate inventory to balance consumption of raw materials with product output. Mines, quarries and sand and gravel operations require inventory measurements to balance production with product sales. The technology and methodology for physical stockpile measurement has evolved considerably over the past 25 years, from surveying instruments, (or total stations) to scanners and drones utilizing photogrammetry and point clouds. Earlier methodologies involved extensive hand calculations of the angles and distances gathered from the total station, and generation of cross sections was manually done on a drafting table or digitizing tablet. The field work was labor intensive, as each surveyed point needed to be occupied by a rodman within sight of a surveyor. The data processing was very

time consuming, generating many large drawings of cross sections, sometimes cumbersome to interpret. Modern innovations make gathering the field data much quicker and safer. Whether using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or ‘drones’) or scanners equipped with LiDar and/or photogrammetry, it is no longer necessary for a rodman to scale a stockpile, maintaining line of sight with a surveyor set up on a fixed point. LiDar is an acronym for “light detection and ranging.” A laser beam is “sprayed” across the surface of the stockpile, gathering millions of points per minute. Similarly, digital photos cover an

entire surface of the stockpile yard or raw materials building. Selection of the method is usually dictated by the specific site configuration. Photogrammetry is the science of determining measurements from photographs and has become very popular with the development of digital photography. Less than three decades ago, the stereoscope was still widely used to determine three dimensional perspective of photographs (remember the Viewmaster™?). Sterography uses a pair of photographic images of the same object or area viewed through a pair of lenses to achieve three-dimensional perspective. Analyzing

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stockpile yards for volume determination was an eye-straining process and very time consuming. Digital photography combined with analytic software has streamlined the reduction of photogrammetric ‘data.’ A process that would take days, now takes a few hours and yields a better result with superior resolution. Drones, whether equipped with cameras or LiDar, are best employed in larger, congested stockpile yards, when a ‘birdseye’ view is most beneficial. Using a scanner mounted on a vehicle or tripod will also work in large, congested yards, but drones are often the more efficient choice. At operations where many of the stockpiles are in buildings or under structures, drones are not practical to employ. A scanner or camera mounted on a tripod or railing is usually the best choice for this

circumstance. Drones equipped with LiDar are particularly useful in mapping heavily wooded areas as many of the points surveyed from above will reach the ground surface. In these cases, filtering software is used to eliminate points of the tree canopy, enabling modeling of the ground surface only. This is particularly useful when planning the layout of a stockpile yard, quarry or mine on previously undisturbed ground. Again, ground-based Lidar is effective in this circumstance, but is not the most efficient method. Drones are also affected by wind and weather, whereas ground systems can operate in a wide range of environmental conditions. Employing today’s technology has reduced physical manhours in the field for obtaining stockpile inventory measurements, and greatly reduces the data process-

ing time to yield an accurate, repeatable result. Oftentimes, reports can be generated in 24 hours or less for a stockpile yard or plant. These results can be viewed anywhere on a smartphone or tablet instead of flipping through pages of plotter drawings in a specific office. As with the advent of any innovation, new challenges are brought to light. Selection of the most effective equipment,

software

and

methodology can be daunting. The choices are many and price ranges are vast. The skill set required to perform stockpile inventory

measurements

has

also

shifted. Labor-intensive, strategic field hours have been replaced by a new set of software skills. As with automation of any process, pitfalls can arise when blind faith is put into a computer-generated result. Inventory measurements are key to many functions within a mine, quarry or plant and the toolbox to perform these calculations has expanded. Along with this, a new level of expertise in data collection and software applications has emerged. Combining site specific conditions and budget allowance with knowledge of the equipment and software

available,

educated

decision can be made to determine the best, unique solution for each mine, quarry, or plant, whether purchasing a solution for in-house use or selecting the appropriate contracting firm. v

Georgia Contractor

It’s MAGIC! MAGIC, more than just a construction camp, MAGIC is a family where bright futures begin to take shape. By Georgia Contractor Staff Writer

o you believe in MAGIC? A lot of people now believe in and support this free (and fantastic) summer day camp for rising 9th grade girls interested in pursuing a career in construction. MAGIC, which stands for ‘Mentoring a Girl in Construction,’ was created in 2007 and has been inspiring young women to reach their dreams every summer since. The program, which is held at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, partners with Georgia Power, TWIG (Technical Women in Georgia), and Gwinnett Technical College to offer 25 girls an opportunity to learn through hands-on, participatory instruction the basic skills of carpentry, electrical, welding, and more. The camp is designed to challenge high school girls to discover the many opportunities available in this exciting and rewarding field. The camp activities include a field trip, tool demonstrations, employer visits from our sponsors, and guest speakers (women already working in the industry), whose testimonials prove to the campers just how successful they can be! “When MAGIC was started 12 years ago, we had no idea what it would become,” said Renee Conner, MAGIC CAMP Director. “We are so proud of what has develSeptember | October 2018

oped—a real spirit of support and encouragement that is changing young women’s lives. We never dreamed that former students would return year-after-year just

Renee Conner MAGIC CAMP Director to serve as mentors and guest speakers. During our MAGIC camp this July, for example, three former campers visited us in Burke County to volunteer their support. Former camper, Samantha Meyers, who is now in the military, was lunchtime guest speaker, telling the girls what her job was like now that she had graduated, and she described for them what they, too, could become. Another former camper, Knesha Gilbert, is taking welding classes at Augusta

Tech, and she served the class as guest instructor in welding this summer to show the new girls where she was and how they, too, could reach their goals. Kristin McLamb, another former participant, was guest speaker at the banquet at the end of the week, Kristin McLamb. She opened her own bakery this summer, and she shared with the girls how she had made the furniture for her bakery using the skills she learned at MAGIC. Not only was she our guest speaker but she also made the cake for the banquet! The new and still enrolled students get so much out of listening and watching what these former MAGIC participants are now doing as they enter adulthood. These are the best mentors we can have, and their participation truly shows that we have come full circle.” MAGIC signed a partnering agreement in 2017 with the Kansas Department of Transportation allowing MAGIC Camps to grow and spread a little of the MAGIC in Kansas. They have held three successful camps there, two in 2017 and one in 2018. MAGIC hopes to spread far and wide and gives girls everywhere the opportunity to become part of this great experience.

https://mentoringagirlinconstruction.org/ Contact MAGIC at: (770) 601-1963 Contact Renee Conner at: reneeconner2008@yahoo.com 41

Georgia Contractor

September | October 2018

Have you met…

1. My first job in the green industry was...basic lawn maintenance for neighbors during high school. I would mow lawns after school and other activities were over.

Garcia. I met Brooks at the 2013 Southeastern Flower Show where we were installing a garden for

panies were struggling and closing, mine was growing. This year marks the 14th year of business. I am grateful for each and every one.

5. If I had it to do over again, I

2. The biggest challenge in my

would…probably go and work for another company in the beginning. I, along with two others, originally started Southern Tril-

career has been… learning how to grow a company and adjust to the constant changes. There was the total water ban and heavy water restrictions experienced in the Atlanta area. Then there was the slowdown of the economy. I have learned how to adjust and diversify, but I never know what will be the next hurdle.

3. The people who have influenced my career are…first, I would say David Berle at UGA. I majored in Religion at UGA but began to realize more of my interest in horticulture during my junior year. After taking the intro to Horticulture class taught by Professor Berle, I asked for him to sign me into his Residential Landscape Design class the following semester. He allowed me, as a Religion major, to take his class, which was the beginning of my path. Second, I would say Brooks 44

Lyle Collins the show. Since then, we have become friends and I consider him a mentor who has challenged me to consider each detail in everything I do.

4. My biggest career success so far has been…surviving the recession. While many other comGeorgia Contractor

September | October 2018

lium in 2004, one year after graduating college. I have never worked for anyone else, and I believe I could have benefited

greatly from that experience.

6. The thing I like most about my careerâ&#x20AC;Ś is designing and creat-

ing custom landscapes and gardens that only improve as time goes by. We live in a world of instant gratification, but a garden cannot be created instantly, nor is it enjoyed all at one moment. It is always growing and changing as the seasons come and go. Walking a garden only days apart may reveal new plants appearing and in bloom. A garden is art that is lived in and experienced over time.

7. My least favorite part of my job isâ&#x20AC;Śkeeping up with the ever changing rules and regulations required when owning and operating a company. I have to keep track of everything, including: 46

Georgia Contractor

tional Park. It is one of my favorite places, and I would enjoy interacting with the other guests while admiring and explaining the beauty of the park.

11. One thing that really annoys me is…seeing improper work done by so-called professionals. “Crape Murder” is on the top of my list. I would love to see the annual topping of crape myrtles become a footnote in a history book.

12. When I’m not working, I like

employees, DOT regulations, building/construction codes, permitting policies in each jurisdiction, tree ordinances, erosion regulations, chemical licensing, and insurance policies. It is a balancing act of keeping up with all of these while doing the part of my career that I love.

8. One piece of advice I would give to someone entering the green industry today is… learn all that you can and reach out to those around you for advice. As they say, you don’t live long enough to make all the mistakes, so learn from the mistakes of others.

ways want to understand more, so I read more. I have sought out licenses and certifications to further my expertise and career, such as being an ISA Certified Arborist as well as a Georgia Licensed Residential Contractor.

10.

If I could change careers, just for a month, I would…be a park ranger at Yellowstone Na-

to…spend time with my wife and two young daughters. I enjoy working in our own gardens and am constantly improving our home with custom remodeling and details. We are involved at our church, where I volunteer with the senior high youth group. I also love photography and have been shooting for over 20 years now.

13. One thing most people don’t know about me is…I am an Eagle Scout. My eagle project was a meditation garden at a church which included both hardscaping and landscaping. It is still there and used to this day, 20 years later. v

9. The one thing most responsible for my success is…my constant desire to learn more and be the best I can be in my field. I alSeptember | October 2018

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