Georgia Contractor (November / Decemner 2016) by A4 Inc.

Volume 12, Issue 5 November | December 2016

ACE

INSPIRING A GENERATION, ONE SCHOOL AT A TIME

ITA TUNNELING AWARDS 2016 March | April 2016

No-

GEORGIA

CONTRACTOR

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

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

November | December 2016

On the Cover: ACE Mentoring Program. The cover story for this issue is an interview with Theresa Schroeder of Turner Construction about the ACE mentoring program here in Georgia. We sat down with Theresa, who was the initiator of ACE here in Georgia, to talk about her involvement in ACE, how it got started, and the beneﬁts that it provides the industry. The result was a fascinating story about the state of the industry, the diminishing number of professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction, and the positive outlook for the future, thanks in a large part to programs like ACE. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or otherwise getting involved with the program, you can go to www.acementor.org for more information. v

CONTENTS 7

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Wait to Take Steps for Automated Vehicles The ITA Tunneling Awards 2016

18 Mathcounts

30 26 Lessons Learned Geotechnical Engineering

20 $27M Investment to Globalize Driverless Vehicle Research

21 UPS Announces New 1.2M Square Foot Regional Hub in Atlanta

28 2016 FICE Engineering Excellence Award

30 Spotlight on Westside Works LightBulb Moments

15 ACE: Inspiring a Generation, One School at a Time

22 Why the Election Outcome Could Bring an Avalanche of Tax Law Changes

31 Spotlight on Westside Works Family Ties Georgia Contractor

ADVERTISEMENTS A4 Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Lehigh Hanson Heidelberg Cement Corp. . . .6

Burns McDonnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Metro Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Capital City Machine Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

New South Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Flint Equipment Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Primacq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Georgia 811 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover Georgia Power Company . . .Inside Front Cover

RHD Utlity Locating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Georgia Trade School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

True Blue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

IEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Wiregrass Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

November | December 2016

Georgia Contractor

Don’t Wait to Take Steps for Automated Vehicles THE US DOT’S NEWEST POLICY IS ONLY THE BEGINNING By Jim Barbaresso | Intelligent Transportation | Systems Practice Leader | HNTB Corporation & Adam Sheets | Strategic Advisory Services Manager | HNTB Corporation Adam provides advisory services to infrastructure clients across the country, including financial, policy, legal, procurement, revenue generation, governance, and efficiency. He has 11 years of legal and policy experience, including work on public-private partnership programs. Contact him at (614)-4935527 or asheets@hntb.com. With the September release of the U.S. DOT Policy on Highly Automated Vehicles (HAVs), state DOTs are expected to comply with U.S. DOT requests to support uniform regulation of automated vehicles across state boundaries. Although not binding upon states, the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy provides insight into the U.S. DOT’s views on what matters it intends to regulate versus what will be left to the states. The Policy identifies state regulatory responsibilities as those issues related to licensing and registering motor vehicles in their jurisdictions, enacting and enforc-

November | December 2016

Jim Barbaresso ing traffic laws and regulations, conducting safety inspections, and regulating motor vehicle insurance and liability. Attempting to deploy autonomous vehicles (SAE Levels 3-5) without addressing these regulatory areas could create signif-

Adam Sheets icant risks in states that have not addressed these hurdles. The existing regulatory framework in most states related to licensing, registration, and operation of motor vehicles does not contemplate HAVs. An

examination of current state laws and regulations is a good first step in establishing such a framework. A few states, like Florida, Michigan, and California, have demonstrated foresight and leadership in these areas, but likely fall short of meeting all of the guidelines issued by the U.S. DOT. New administrative procedures recommended in the Policy will reduce risk, but will also add to the burden of state government. A balance is needed to ensure that regulation does not hinder innovation and the advancement of these life-saving technologies. The Policy recommends that states work together on infrastructure needs for HAVs to ensure uniformity across jurisdictions. It also recommends establishing a state-level automated safety technology committee that includes members from different departments of state government and stakeholder groups. Finally, it offers a sound approach to creating a regulatory environment for the operation of HAVs. However, it stops short of providing guidance related to planning and design of infrastructure needed to support the safe operation of HAVs. Reading between the lines

All of that said, state DOTs should examine their own infrastructure and determine if they will be prepared to support HAVs in the short term. Here are a few initial considerations for establishing an environment for the safe operation of HAVs: Establish an automated technology safety committee. There are some states, including Florida and Michigan, which have already taken the first steps towards establishing a committee structure and other internal groups to support automated vehicle research, development, and deployment activities. Plan now for infrastructure upgrades. Though the guidance does not address infrastructure, it will be fundamental to the success of HAVs. In the short term, it’s necessary to look at your signals, 8

signs, and markings. Target areas where communication devices would be located (e.g., high-crash locations, heavily congested corridors). States also may need to dedicate facilities solely to HAVs. Upgrade your data management capabilities or have partners in place to do so. Equip back offices to collect, store, and analyze big data generated by HAVs and connected vehicles. Also, build a bullpen of professionals skilled in information technology, networking, and data analytics. Begin pilot projects based on real needs. Do you need to reduce crash rates at intersections? Highway fatalities? Increase mobility? Move freight more efficiently? Look to address priority needs with a pilot program, and leverage that data to build new policies and regulations within your state. Review existing laws and regulations in your state. Do you have legislation in place to address HAVs? Is it up to date? Do you have a permit process for testing HAVs on public roadways? Addressing the laws now will expedite a state’s readiness for HAVs on public roadways. Integrate Connected Vehicle technology to optimize safety benefits. While the policy recognizes the ‘complementary’ nature of connected vehi-

cle technology, it refrains from including it as an integral component of HAVs. For infrastructure owners and operators, connectivity with HAVs will be necessary to support emerging mobility solutions and evolving transportation operations strategies. Plan for the future. HAVs will have a disruptive impact on transportation networks. It’s important to look holistically at how HAVs will impact future design standards and transportation operations, across all modes of travel, and to support all travel needs. Integrate HAVs into a ‘smart city’ framework. Disruption Creates Opportunity

As we move into a shared economy, automation promises greater opportunity for vehicle sharing. Before you know it, cars, trucks and buses will operate 24/7/365; cities won’t need as much space for parking. As a result, we can reshape our cities, making them safer, more livable, and smarter. Evolving connected and autonomous vehicles also will make travel on streets and corridors more reliable, predictable, faster, and safer. The full benefits of this transformation won’t be realized overnight. But DOTs can start now to incrementally create a safer world for future generations of travelers. v

Georgia Contractor

The ITA Tunneling Awards 2016 Highlight on category “Major Project of the year with a budget over €500m” Introducing four remarkable projects The ITA Tunneling Awards is a prestigious competition which intends to identify outstanding achievements in the field of tunneling and underground space development, and provide international recognition to these remarkable contributions. This second edition is

hosted in Singapore, on the tenth & 11th November and includes nine categories*. The first category in this worldwide competition: “Major Tunneling Project of the Year—over 500M€” is composed of large-scale infrastructure projects. In 2015, the “Eurasia Tunnel Project” was awarded in this category. This year, among 13 projects received for this category, four caught the attention of the panel of judges:

Central - Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link - Causeway Bay Typhonne Shelter Section

application from Hong-Kong

Central, Causeway Bay, and Wan Chai lie in the heart of Hong Kong and are heavily trafficked. Hence there is a compelling need to provide a new trunk road to relieve the existing traffic congestion and cater for the anticipated traffic growth. The CWB expressway—a 4.5km dual 3-lane “Central—Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link (CWB)” will allow relieving the congestion between the east-west along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island and coping with predicted traffic. Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter Section, as part of the CWB project, November | December 2016

mainly comprises construction of approximately 750m of tunnel under the sea-bed between the ex-Wan Chai Public Cargo Working Area (ex-PCWA) and the east breakwater of Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter (CBTS). The construction of this 750m tunnel under the sea-bed took into account the geographic and spatial constraints and operational requirement of the existing facilities. Different construction techniques have been adopted, including ‘cut-and-cover’ through temporary reclamation for the section under exPCWA and CBTS; and ‘drill-and-break’ for the section (The Mined Tunnel) underneath the existing Cross Harbour Tunnel (CHT). Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit - SBK Line

application from Malaysia

In Malaysia, Klang Valley (which in10

cludes Kuala Lumpur and adjoining cities and towns from the state of Selangor) is home to some seven million people, with an expected increase to 10 million by 2020. This translates to about 18 million trips a day in the Klang Valley which, using private vehicles, would cause all roads in the Klang Valley to be gridlocked throughout the day.

With a vision to make Kuala Lumpur move up the notch to settle amongst the 20 top most liveable cities in the world, the government of Malaysia engaged into the first Mass Rapid Transit project: a modern urban rail that will serve people of the greater Kuala Lumpur. The Mass Rapid Transit, together with the existing urban rail network, will form the backbone of the public transport system in the Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley region. The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Project involves the construction of a rail-based public transport Georgia Contractor

network comprising three lines (two new and the previous existing one). The first line to be implemented is the 51km Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line (SBK Line). Construction of the line began on July 8, 2011. The Sungai Buloh - Serdang - Putrajaya line (SSP line) will be the second MRT line to be developed. Singapore Power Cross - Island Cable Tunnel Project

application from Singapore

Singapore Power (SP) owns and operates Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electricity and gas transmission and distribution businesses catering to 1.4 million industrial, commercial, and domestic customers. To ensure continual reliable, secure, and quality power supply and meeting future demand, SP engaged into a major tunnel infrastructure criss-crossing the island nation North-South and East-West. The average 60m deep, 35km long

November | December 2016

tunnel will house the 400kV and 230kV transmission cable to overcome the existing congestion of underground space and utility services where it is no longer feasible to install multiple transmission cables over long distances by conventional direct burial. Once completed, the tunnels will enable an efficient and reliable electricity network, faster maintenance and replacement of cables thereby contributing to economic competitiveness and ensuring better quality of life for all. The New Guanjiao Tunnel on QinghaiTibet Railway

application from China

The New Guanjiao Tunnel is a key project of the second line of Xining-Golmud section of Qinghai-Tibet Railway with a total length of 32.690km. The project aims to address the problems of difficult operation and low efficiency where the existing railway climbs over

Mount Qinghai Nanshan. The tunnel runs between Tianpeng station and Chahannuo station within the Territory of Tianjun County and Wulan County of the Qinghai province. Construction began on November 6, 2007, and the tunnel was opened to revenue service on December 28, 2014. It is the first time that a tunnel of over 30 km length is built in an area of over 3000m elevation with complex geological conditions due to magmatic rock, sedimentary rock, and metamorphic rock. The new tunnel, a two-set single-track tunnel, operates with freight and passenger electrified railway with a design speed of 160km/h, double-block ballastless track, seamless rail, rigid suspension catenary, and four-aspect automatic block signal system. The facilities include a 550m long emergency rescue station in the middle of the tunnel, together with 85 cross passages outside the emergency rescue station for operation safety.v

Five projects in competition for Technical Innovation of the Year The ITA Tunneling Awards is a prestigious competition which intends to identify outstanding achievements in the field of tunneling and underground space development, and provide international recognition to these remarkable contributions. The 2016 edition is hosted in Singapore, on the November ten and 11 and includes nine categories*. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Technical Innovation of the Yearâ&#x20AC;? covers inventive processes, methods, and technologies. In 2015, the Innovative Vehicle-mounted GPR Technique for Fast and Efficient Monitoring of Tunnel Lining Structure Conditions received the award in this category. This year, among 23 entries received for this category, five were selected by the panel of judges for presentation in Singapore: Automatic Inspection Vehicle (AIV) for Singapore North South, East West Cable Tunnel The Automatic Inspection Vehicle (AIV) is an innovative idea developed for the 35km long, 6m wide Singapore NSEW Cable Tunnel Project. By deploying a robot in a form of a suspended moving device, it provides safety and operational surveillance as well as visuals to assist firefighters during emergency or fire situation. AIV has two main functions. The

first is a pragmatic way of conducting routine visual inspection of the tunnel systems currently undertaken by maintenance crew. The second function improves operational and safety surveillance when cable or maintenance works are carried out in the tunnels. Large Diameter Shield Tunneling in Pure Sands with Hybrid EPB Shield Technology The shield-driven tunnel of Metro Line Four in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) has an approximate length of 5.2 km. The excavation was performed using a Hybrid Earth Pressure Balance shield with an excavation diameter of 11.51 m and

passed through complex geology that included a long stretch of pure sand bounded by two stretches of hard, highly abrasive rock. Considerable reduction in materials, for conditioning consumables, and energy of power consumption could be achieved with this Hybrid EPB technology. The application of the EPB shield concept reduced the area needed for jobsite equipment with accurate face support pressure and settlement control, as demanded in densely urbanized areas. GeoSURE - Realtime On-board Rock Mass Analysis System GeoSURE is a high-precision measurement-while-drilling (MWD) system that analyses the data and provides rock mass information in real time during drilling. The analysis is conducted automatically during drilling at the drill rig. This rig-integrated approach has several advantages. It is possible to conduct the analysis at a very high resolution.

The effects of the operator, drill rig and other varying factors can be compensated, so that only properties of the rock

Georgia Contractor

mass are reflected in the results. The analysis is immediate, allowing the results to be available without delay. In addition, the system does not interfere with the drilling works or add any more work for the rig operator. Uphill Excavator The Uphill Excavator provides users with the opportunity to carry out inclined excavations from the confines of the main site without disturbing the connecting shaft, thereby reducing the impact of construction on the local environment and community. The Uphill Excavator is electrically

powered, reducing the emissions generated by diesel tunnel excavators. It is specifically designed for excavating inclined tunnels from the bottom up. Special features include the suspension rail system that is installed as it advances and the machine itself, which can act as an excavator, spraying arm, and working platform whilst climbing an incline. Sprayed Concrete Linings Waterproofed with Sprayed Bonded Membranes Sprayed concrete tunnel linings have been disregarded in many countries as

permanent waterproof linings in high speed rail tunnels and motorway tunnels, due to the required durability and service life, as well as the required waterproofing function. Recent research findings, based on full scale testing in tunnels and laboratories, suggest that the sprayed concrete/sprayed membrane lining exhibits properties which can give a much higher level of durability than originally thought. These include findings on the physical properties of fiber reinforced sprayed concrete and sprayed membrane materials in a bonded context, suggesting that several identified degrading mechanisms can be prevented. About the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association: The International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA) is a nonproﬁt and non-governmental international organization, which promotes the use of underground space for a solution to sustainable development. Founded in 1974 and operating out of Lausanne, Switzerland, ITA currently associates 73 Member Nations, 300 aﬃliated members, 17 Prime Sponsors, and 60 supporters, as well as individual members. Disclaimer: the description of the above projects is based on information provided by candidates and ITA/Georgia Contractor cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies. * Major Tunneling Project of the Year over €500m • Tunneling Project of the Year - between €50m and €500m • Outstanding Tunneling Project of the Year - up to €50m • Renovation-Upgrading project of the Year • Technical Innovation of the Year • Environmental Initiative of the Year • Safety Initiative of the Year • Innovative Use of Underground Space • Young Tunneller of the Year

November | December 2016

Georgia Contractor

ACE: Inspiring a Generation, One School at a Time An Interview with Theresa Schroeder and Kim Gardner of Turner Construction. History of ACE Theresa: Charlie Thornton originally started the ACE program in New York City, knowing at the forefront that the industry was going to have a lack of people in the trades and going into construction altogether. So he started what he called the ACE Mentoring Program, which involved industry people going into the high schools and doing hands-on career events with them. Over time, that grew into something much bigger, involving teams and competitions. As ACE grew, Charlie put in place a board of directors for the program that included all the major construction firms, such as Bane, Holder, Turner, and the like, because we would all benefit from sparking an interest in these kids at an early age so that they could then go into higher education and pursue careers in architecture, engineering, or construction. In Georgia, when we first got started with the program here (Turner Construction, and Theresa in particular, were the initiators of ACE in Georgia) I reached out to my network, got a few people together, and we started our first Credit: Moye Photography (2016), ACE Atlantaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program here with Georgia Tech team students and mentors share a school system in their work at an industry networking event. Cobb County, which made for a great fit because, at the time, they had a drafting club and other industry-oriented activities (mind you, this is at a time when wood shop and other such classes had been pretty much en-

9 November | December 2016

Credit Atlanta Habitat for Humanity (2016), ACE Atlantaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Habitat for Humanity team gains hands-on practice to build their construction skills.

tirely phased out of high schools) that indicated to us their school culture would be fertile ground for a program like ACE. We started by approaching one particular school with a group of kids that had shown an interest in things like engineering and drafting. I called the principal and explained that we would like to bring in some industry people to talk to the students about the different opportunities that are available. They loved it.

How ACE Works Kim: As it’s structured now, the program is once a week for four months (January to April) and during that time we try to touch on as many of the most important architecture, engineering, and construction subjects as possible. From the students’ perspective, ACE is kind of like an ongoing project that culminates in a presentation at a banquet that we hold at the end of the program in April. Not only is this a way to increase engagement but these presentations are also an opportunity for ACE participants to compete for scholarship opportunities. That is to say, students who excel in ACE can be awarded majorspecific college scholarships, which means that they would receive the scholarship if they decide to attend a university and study architecture or engineering, for example. This is just another way that ACE works to encourage more people to get into the industry. As for the big picture, though, it’s important to say that a central part of ACE’s identity is that it targets the younger generation. There are plenty of other programs (like CEFGA or the Office of Economic Development, WOrkforce Division) that do a really fantastic job of helping working adults make a transition into the skilled workforce, but ACE specifically focuses on children. And we like to think that we’re 16

not only showing them their options, but we’re stimulating an interest. We’re really trying to play a formative role in the next generation of engineers, architects, and construction professionals by getting them excited about the possibilities that are out there waiting for them.

Mentors: Kim: Mentors are central to the ACE program. We rely on their participation, knowledge, and enthusiasm in order for the program to really work at all. At any given location, we might have one or two key mentors who are responsible for keeping the program going, and then we’ll have several others on ‘standby’ who are willing to come in when we’re talking about a subject that they are an expert in. For example at my location, at Georgia Tech, we would have GSA come in and talk about the architecture portion. They would send someone who knows Revit very well, who might bring in a computer and show the class what they do on a daily basis. And this is so great because kids really want to see the hands-on stuff, they want to do the modelling, and they want to know how to build. So we try to give them that.

trades; a project that is being headed up by Holder Construction. Beyond that, speaking more to the program in general, we do have electricians, unions, and other representatives of the skilled trades come in as part of the regular speaker circuit at all of our ACE locations. So even though engineering and architecture is the core base of our mentor program, we do recognize that skilled trades are an extremely important part of the picture. One thing that we have all of our speakers talk about is ‘how they got where they are.’ And this is particularly relevant in the case of skilled tradesmen because it helps illustrate that college is not the only end-goal. These people help show just how entrepreneurial the trades can be and hearing their success stories really helps carry home the message that there are a lot of fantastic career options that don’t involve a four-year degree.

Get Involved

If you are interested in sponsoring, contributing to, or otherwise participating in ACE, contact Amy Tribo of Holder Construction Company at 770-9883312 or atribo@holder.com v

Skilled Trades Theresa: Much of this so far has focused on architecture and engineering, so I should also mention that we have recently kicked off a program at North Springs that is skilled trade based, which really helps make the program to be more wellrounded. We see this as extremely important because, of course, there are a lot of kids who will never go off to college, and many of them are really interested in the trades and they’re good at it. So we’ve identified a school that had a trade program already and implemented an ACE program there that is specifically oriented towards skilled

Credit: Moye Photography (2016), Outstanding ACE students are recognized at the 2016 ACE Atlanta Beneﬁt & Awards Banquet. Georgia Contractor

Credit ACE Mentor Program (2016), ACE students learn about realworld projects, processes, and careers from industry professionals. November | December 2016

Mathcounts Mathcounts Mathcounts By Betty Jean Jordan, PE | Middle Georgia Chapter MATHCOUNTS Coordinator and State MATHCOUNTS Coordinator

Some students love math. It is a love that must be nurtured. Some students fear math. It is an unnecessary fear— one that must be overcome. MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide program to increase enthusiasm and excellence in mathematics among middle school students, whether they love math or fear math. Established in 1983 by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and several other founding sponsors, MATHCOUNTS targets middle school students because research has shown that this is the critical age during which young people form lifelong attitudes toward math. MATHCOUNTS Competition Series

The Competition Series is the original MATHCOUNTS program. It is 18

unique in that it is the only nationwide math competition program specifically for middle school students. The MATHCOUNTS Competition Series appeals to students who love math. These ‘mathletes’ begin training early in the school year using free materials provided by the national MATHCOUNTS office. Coaches, who are usually teachers, can draw from school handbook problems, the Problem of the Week on the MATHCOUNTS Web site, and many other resources as they work with their students. MATHCOUNTS problems cover a number of mathematic topics, including algebra, coordinate and plane geometry, probability and statistics, combinations and permutations, and logic. Additionally, MATHCOUNTS strengthens both individual

and team problem solving skills. In February, students participate in chapter competitions, held in every U.S. state and territory. Top students and teams from the chapter competitions advance to the state competitions, which are held in March. The top four individuals at each state competition comprise the team that advances to the national competition in May. State societies of NSPE typically host the chapter and state competitions; staff from the national MATHCOUNTS office organize the national competition. Competitions from the chapter level through the national level follow the same format: written rounds (Sprint, Target, and Team Rounds), followed by an oral competition with electronic buzzers (the Countdown Round) Georgia Contractor

for the top students from the written rounds. The Countdown Round is open to the public. Questions are shown via projector, allowing the audience to follow along. Here is a sample Countdown Round problem from the 2016 state competition: Question: The six-digit number 31A,B2B,

where A and B represent distinct digits, is divisible by 225. What is the value of A? Answer: 2

Imagine a middle schooler buzzing in – with the correct answer—before the emcee even finishes reading the question. More often than not, this is exactly what happens during the Countdown Round! National Math Club

Not all students want to take part in math competition. Therefore, MATHCOUNTS started the National Math Club in 2007. This national program gives students the opportunity to engage in mathematics in a manner that is noncompetitive, fun, and different from ‘textbook math.’ Students can participate in the National Math Club through their school or through a nonschool group such as Scouts, Boys and Girls Club Chapter, or local math circle. The adult leader of each National Math Club team receives a Club in a Box kit, which includes activity ideas, hands-on materials, and student prizes – all for free! This writer has even contributed an activity to the National Math Club, which was included in the first year’s Club in a Box. Celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th), it features a treasure hunt with pirate-themed math problems like the following: Question: Blackbeard has to swab the poop deck after a sword fight. Arrr! The poop deck is 48 feet wide and 100 feet long. If Blackbeard can swab 125 square feet per minute, how many minutes will it take him to swab the entire poop deck? Express yer answer to the November | December 2016

nearest whole number. Answer: 38 minutes. Arrr! Math Video Challenge

What about students who fear math? The Math Video Challenge might be just what they need to overcome their fear. Created in 2011, this program challenges students to develop their math, communication, and technology skills in a collaborative video project. Teams of four students, formed through school or non-school groups, create a video to present and solve a MATHCOUNTS problem, showing a realworld application of the math concept used. Each adult leader of a team receives a free Math Video Challenge Playbook, which provides detailed program information and tips on how to create a video. The Playbook contains 250 MATHCOUNTS problems that students can use to create their fiveminute videos. The problems are organized by math concept so that teachers also can use the Math Video Challenge as a class project. The Math Video Challenge might attract students who more naturally gravitate toward English, drama, or other subjects, allowing them to succeed in math in fun and creative way. Teams submit their videos by midFebruary. Following this deadline, the general public can vote online for their favorite video. The top 100 videos advance to a panel of expert judges, who narrow the field to 20 semifinalists. Another panel of expert judges then selects four finalists. The four finalist teams, as well as their advisors, receive an allexpenses paid trip to the MATHCOUNTS National Competition in May. Finally, the mathletes at the National Competition vote for the winning video. The four students who created the winning video each receive a $1,000 scholarship. MATHCOUNTS in Georgia

2016 was an excellent year for MATHCOUNTS in Georgia. Our team of four at the National Competition, held

in May in Washington, D.C., consisted of Anup Bottu from Westminster Middle School, Holden Watson from Fulton Science Academy, Lawrence Zhou from Trickum Middle School, and Johnny Fang from River Trail Middle School. Their coach was Sema Duzyol from Fulton Science Academy, the first place team at the state competition. The Georgia team placed 13th out of 56 teams and won an award for Most Improved Team. In addition, the GLUTube Stars, a team from Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, won the 2015-2016 Math Video Challenge! Their nationally winning video innovatively demonstrates the solution to the following problem: #Marblechallenge is a game using a bowl containing 39 marbles. Each player takes turns removing 1, 2, 3, or 4 marbles from the bowl. The person who removes the last marble loses. If player 1 takes the first turn to start the game, how many marbles should he remove to guarantee he is the winner? To see the winning GLUTube Stars video or to learn more about any of the MATHCOUNTS programs, please visit www.mathcounts.org. Also, if you would like to volunteer for a chapter or state MATHCOUNTS competition in Georgia, please contact state coordinator Betty Jean Jordan at bettyjean@jordan-eng.com The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers is proud to support MATHCOUNTS in our state. We engineers hope that all MATHCOUNTS participants – whether in the Competition Series, the National Math Club, or the Math Video Challenge – learn to love problem solving. From there, they can go on to rewarding careers in engineering, serving others by using math and science to address some of the biggest challenges facing our society. v 19

$27M Investment to Globalize Driverless Vehicle Research A $27 million investment from a Chinese firm will strengthen the efforts of the University of Michigan, along with industry and government partners, to advance autonomous, connected vehicles, and robotic technologies for a safer and more sustainable future around the world.

Google's Driverless Car

President Mark Schlissel and Vice President for Research S. Jack Hu have signed a memorandum of understanding with Frontt Capital Management Ltd, a Shenzhen-based investment firm focused on developing the intelligent vehicle industry in China. The funding will: ● Establish a Joint Research Center for Intelligent Vehicles at U-M to support faculty projects on autonomous vehicle technologies. ●

●

Contribute toward construction of the recently approved Robotics Laboratory and a vehicle garage on UM’s North Campus that would be located near Mcity, the simulated urban-suburban environment for testing connected and automated vehicles. The garage will create a place for researchers at U-M and its industry partners to work on, maintain and store vehicles. Provide engineering service and consulting fees for U-M researchers to advise Frontt on design of a unique autonomous vehicle test facility in Shenzhen, China. The facility will simulate the country’s unique transportation environment.

“Fatal crashes are all too common, and transportation is one of the largest sources of climate changing greenhouse gases. The world needs a better way for 20

Rendering of U-M's 140,000 sft Robotics Lab

people and goods to get around, and we believe autonomous, connected vehicles are an important component of the solution,” said U-M President Mark Schlissel. “Frontt’s investment in U-M people and technology will help advance mobility in a way that we believe will ripple across the globe.” U-M is already working with companies from a range of industries and countries across the globe, as well as U.S. government at all levels, to address the technical, social, economic, legal, political, and business challenges of deploying autonomous and connected vehicles on a large scale. U-M leaders say Frontt’s investment will further strengthen ongoing work in this space. The unique facility in Shenzhen would be developed and used to test new technologies and demonstrate how connected and automated vehicles could improve safety, efficiency, and Georgia Contractor

sustainability in China. China is the world’s most populous nation and one of its largest and fastest growing economies. At the same time, it contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than any other nation. Driverless and connected vehicles could offer transportation modes there that save lives and operate with greater energy efficiency, Hu said. More than 200,000 people die as a result of road accidents in China every year, according to the World Health Organization. Researchers estimate that autonomous and connected vehicles could reduce traffic deaths and injuries by as much as 90 percent. “The potential to save lives is tremendous,” Hu said. “And since autonomous vehicles are safer, they could eventually be made of lighter-weight materials, so they’d use less fuel. Vehicle safety and sustainability are common challenges no matter where you live. We all have the potential to benefit from

what we create and discover together through this partnership.” The Chinese facility will simulate the country’s unique transportation environment, which includes different road conditions, traffic density, traffic patterns, and culture. Once the facility opens, U-M’s industry partners would have the means to test their autonomous and connected vehicles in an environment that’s distinct from that of the U.S, Hu said. “In China, there are more bicyclists and pedestrians, and shorter on-ramps, for example,” Hu said. “U-M faculty will be helping to analyze China’s special traffic challenges and scenarios so they can be effectively addressed by the new facility.” This investment will also help bring to life U-M’s planned 140,000-squarefoot Robotics Laboratory, slated to open in winter 2020. In it, robotic technologies for air, sea, and roads, for factories, hospitals, and homes will have

tailored lab space. The building will be situated just down the road from Mcity. “U-M and Michigan Engineering have been leaders in robotic and automotive technologies for decades. Today these fields are rapidly coming together to move society forward and this investment comes at a pivotal time, ” said Professor Alec Gallimore, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering. The relationship with Frontt grew out of Gov. Rick Snyder’s effort to strengthen trade relations between Michigan and China. He has made several trade visits to China during his term, and he has welcomed Chinese leaders to Michigan. Most recently, in May, Chinese government officials from Guangdong Province and its City of Shenzhen came to Michigan and joined with Snyder to establish the MichiganShenzhen Trade, Investment, and Innovation Cooperation Center. v

UPS Announces New 1.2M Square Foot Regional Hub in Atlanta UPS announced plans to invest in excess of $400 million to build a new regional package sorting hub on the west side of Atlanta. The new hub will be the third largest processing facility in the company’s U.S. network. Construction will begin this month on a 341 acre industrial site in Fulton County with support from Georgia, Atlanta, and Fulton County economic development teams. The project is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2018 with 1,250 new employee positions operating on multiple sorting shifts. “UPS has proudly made its global headquarters in Atlanta for more than two decades,” said David Abney, UPS chairman and CEO. “This strategic capital investment will feature state-of-the-art technology. When combined with the strong transportation connections and talented labor pool that Atlanta provides, UPS is building flexibility to meet the growing needs of our customers and our business in Georgia, and around the world.” The new facility will feature the latest UPS sorting, processing, and data capture technology. UPS compiles significant volumes of shipment status data as it moves packages through its transportation network. Using this data, the company provides industry-leading package tracking, the capability to seamlessly change delivery location to meet customer requirements, and the flexibility November | December 2016

to modify shipment routing in response to weather or other unplanned occurrences. In the advanced 1.2 million square foot Atlanta facility, more than 100,000 packages per hour will be carried over 15 miles of conveyors using highly automated processing equipment. Six-sided laser label decode tunnels will rapidly capture package information from address labels. High-speed UPS Smart Label applicators will place labels on packages at a rate of three per second, providing UPS personnel instructions for proper routing and loading on local delivery vehicles. In addition to sorting and processing, the hub will include a delivery vehicle center capable of dispatching more than 280 trucks for area delivery and pickup, and a UPS Customer Center for retail service. The facility will also operate onsite compressed natural gas fueling for delivery vehicles and large tractor-trailer rigs to service the local UPS alternative fuel vehicles fleet. The company is working with Majestic Realty Company to develop the Fulton County site to UPS specifications. The new southeast region hub project is part of a multi-year UPS investment plan to modernize and expand the company’s global network, including several new facilities and acquisition of new cargo aircraft. Staff Report From Metro Atlanta CEO v 21

Why the Election Outcome Could Bring an Avalanche of Tax Law Changes By CRI CPAs and Advisors

legislation through the Senate. A Snowball of Proposed Tax Changes

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, along with Republicans retaining control of both chambers of Congress, will likely result in an overhaul of the U.S. Tax Code.

Based on Trump’s tax reform plan released earlier this year, tax law changes may include a reduction in tax rates for some individual taxpayers and corporations, the elimination of several tax breaks, a restructuring of U.S. taxes on income from abroad, the elimination of the estate tax, and a partial or full repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Weathering the Political Capital and Control

Even though Trump won the Electoral College, he lost the popular vote by a slim margin, thus possibly limiting his political capital. Republicans retain control of the Senate but did not reach the 60 members necessary to become filibuster-proof. Therefore, their simple majority will not be enough to pass legislation in the Senate. In the House, Republicans retain control by a margin similar to their current one. This outcome likely will result in less opposition from Democrats and a greater opportunity to enact significant tax law changes in the coming year. Yet, it also likely will require Republicans to compromise on some issues to get their 22

President-elect Trump’s current tax reform plan includes the following changes that would affect individuals: ● reducing the number of income tax brackets from seven to three, with rates on ordinary income of 12 percent, 25 percent, and 33 percent, and adapting the current rates on longterm capital gains and qualified dividends for the new brackets; ● ● ●

●

With President-elect Trump soon to be in the White House and continued Republican con- ● trol of the Senate and the House, major tax law changes likely are on the horizon.

eliminating the head of household filing status; abolishing the net investment income tax; eliminating the personal exemption (though expanding child-related breaks); increasing the standard deduction to $15,000 for singles and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly; capping itemized deductions at $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for joint filers; Georgia Contractor

● ●

abolishing the alternative minimum tax; and abolishing the federal gift and estate tax but disallowing the stepup in basis for estates worth more than $10 million.

Proposed changes that would affect businesses include: ● reducing the top corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent; ● ●

abolishing the corporate alternative minimum tax; allowing owners of flow-through entities to pay tax on business income at the proposed 15 percent corporate rate rather than their own individual income tax rate

●

(although there seems to be ambiguity on the specifics of how this provision would work); eliminating the Section 199 deduction, also commonly referred to as the manufacturers’ deduction or the domestic production activities deduction, as well as most other business breaks — but, notably, not the research credit; allowing U.S. companies engaged in manufacturing to choose the full expensing of capital investment or the deductibility of interest paid; and enacting a deemed repatriation of currently deferred foreign profits at a ten percent tax rate.

Bear in mind that uncertainty has surrounded the details of President-elect Trump’s tax reform plan. However, during the course of the campaign, some of its provisions have gelled with the House Republicans’ tax plan. Planning for Uncertain Tax Terrain

With President-elect Trump soon to be in the White House and continued Republican control of the Senate and the House, major tax law changes likely are on the horizon. However, at this time, it’s difficult to determine which provisions of the ambitious tax reform plan will be signed into law. Although this uncertainty makes tax planning difficult, CRI can help develop a plan that can take all of the ‘seasonal’ variables into account. v

Joe Riley of Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Receives Award for Professional Excellence From the Georgia Economic Developers Association Joe Riley, Manager, Economic Development, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC), was named the 2016 Rip Wiley Award-winner for Professional Excellence by the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA). Riley was selected based on his professionalism, integrity, leadership, commitment, and contributions to the profesJoe Riley, Manager, sion. Economic Development, Riley has represented Georgia Electric MemberGeorgia’s EMCs since 1982 ship Corporation when he came to Georgia via Oglethorpe Power Corporation from the state of Kentucky, where he headed up the state’s operations in their ﬁrst California Development Oﬃce. He was an active member of GEDA and a past member of the GEDA board of directors. Joe’s tenacity was ever-present as he worked diligently for the past seven years, while undergoing treatment for a very aggressive form of brain cancer. He never ‘skipped a beat,’ and many have said that Joe November | December 2016

worked harder after his diagnosis than many economic developers in perfect health. Riley was always most inspired when he would return to a community in which he had helped locate an industry. Seeing the project’s impact and knowing that the people working in that plant were earning a good living so that they could care for their families and educate their children was enough to motivate Joe to ‘keep at it.’ Over the course of his career in Georgia, Joe helped to create some $1 billion in economic investment and nearly 4,000 jobs. Over the course of his Georgia-career, Riley has recruited, hired, trained, and mentored nearly thirty economic development professionals, including Dennis Chastain, President, Georgia EMC. The award was presented to Joe at his home by members of the GEDA Executive Committee on Wednesday, September 14, with Peg, his wife, and Lynn, his sister-in-law, in attendance. The announcement was made by Pat Merritt, Secretary-Treasurer of GEDA and Vice President, Economic & Community Development, Georgia EMC, at the GEDA Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia on Friday, September 23. Dennis Chastain and Pat Merritt submitted the nomination.v 23

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November | December 2016

Geotechnical Engineering Observations & Lessons from the School of Experience Building construction in an urban environment often requires deep excavations up to the property line, and often up to the face of adjacent buildings. In order to support the excavation walls, a temporary earth retention wall system is required. These walls support the soil, groundwater, and building loads of the adjacent property. Temporary earth retention systems are typically designed by specialty design-build contractors. The basis for development of a monitoring program begins with a review of the earth retention system design by a qualified geotechnical consultant familiar with the soil conditions of the site, and earth retention system construction techniques in the region. The recommendations from the geotechnical consultant are often incorporated into the final plans, along with the development and implementation of a site-specific monitoring plan. Just about all temporary earth retention systems move laterally as the excavation is advanced downward. However, too much movement might result in lateral spreading and settlement of adjacent buildings, pavements, and anything supported by the earth retention system. In the extreme case, collapse of the system could occur. The goal of the earth retention system design is to limit deflections of the system and adjacent structures to tolerable levels. Separate deflection and settlement limits are set for the retention system, and for 26

Monitoring Earth Retention Systems & Adjacent Structures

each adjacent structure. The goal of a monitoring program is to provide information to the design and construction teams on the magnitude of any movements. A monitoring program specifies the location and type of monitors and instrumentation to be used for repetitive measurements of movements. A baseline survey of the monitors and instrumentation is recorded to document the in place position of each monitor prior to the start of construction. Once this task is completed, the actual in-place monitoring is conducted throughout the construction process. Monitoring typically consists of repetitive three-dimensional surveying techniques and geotechnical instrumentation. Three-dimensional survey monitoring typically consists of installing reflective targets on the earth retention system and adjacent structures, surveying those points from fixed points of reference, and measuring the location of the points vertically, horizontally, and laterally. The location of each point is compared to its baseline reading indicating the magnitude of movement in in three dimensions. Geotechnical instrumentation often includes crack monitors, inclinometers, tilt meters, extensometers, and other instrumentation. If earth retention system movements exceed the tolerable limits defined in the monitoring program, then additional supports are Georgia Contractor

often put in place to slow down the rate of movement, and reduce the risk of failure of the earth retention system. In addition, installation of additional retention system supports, and/or underpinning of adjacent structures are often used to mitigate further structural damage. A monitoring program can also be of value to refute claims of structural damage from adjacent property owners. While there are automated surveying techniques and instruments for three-dimensional movement monitoring, the monitoring discussed here is the most common and usually the least expensive. ECS has extensive experience in earth retention system and structure monitoring and welcomes the opportunity to assist you with your monitoring needs on future projects. We hope this â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lessons Learnedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will be helpful to you in planning your next project. ÂŠ 2016 ECS Corporate Services, LLC.

November | December 2016

Section 5 Palmetto SR826/836 Interchange Bridges*

Wins the 2016 FICE Engineering Excellence Grand Conceptor Award (9, 11, 15 and 19)

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Community/Condotte/DeMoya JV, BCC Engineering and FINLEY Engineering Group (FINLEY) have won the 2016 FICE Engineering Excellence Grand Conceptor Award for the Section 5 Palmetto SR826/836 Interchange (Bridges 9, 11, 15 and 19). The FICE Engineering Excellence Awards program is designed to recognize outstanding contributions to the consulting engineering profession through comprehensive evaluation of projects by a distinguished panel of experts in related fields. The Grand Conceptor Award is given to one outstanding project representing the best overall engineering achievement. This $558 million design-build-finance reconstruction of Section 5 Palmetto SR 826/836 Interchange creates a safer and less congested route for 430,000 vehicles traveling through the interchange daily. Challenges included project location in Miami International Airportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flight path, FAA vertical height restrictions, canals located in the middle of the project, strong aesthetic requirements, traffic flow maintenance during construction, and bridge pier placement. This project delivery method fostered innovation, creativity, and ultimately provided the FDOT and the traveling public with more than they expected. This team was the only one to take on the full scope of the project. Collaboration began nearly a year in advance of the advertisement and the team developed solutions to the many project challenges. Use of the FDOTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alternative Technical Concepts (ATCs) process allowed the use of diabolos with external tendons for the first time. Other design innovations 28

included using non-traditional shaped piers, adjusting the footing size to accommodate conditions, and pier caps, which were designed to support the balanced cantilever during construction. These design innovations reduced construction costs, as well as long-term maintenance costs. This project exemplifies design-build done right! v Key Team members on this project included: Owner: Florida Department of Transportation, Miami-Dade Expressway Authority Contractor: Community, Condotte America Inc., De Moya Joint Venture Prime Design Consultant: BCC Engineering Inc. Segmental Bridge Design and Construction Engineering: FINLEY Engineering Group Bridge Aesthetics: Touchstone Architects Precast Producer: Rizzani de Eccher Casting and Erection Equipment: DEAL Post-Tensioning: VSL Construction Engineering and Inspection: AIM Engineering and Survey Inc. Georgia Contractor

FINLEY Ranks #2 on the ‘Best Structural Firm to Work For’ List FINLEY is proud to announce that it has ranked #2 on the ‘Best Structural Firm to Work For’ list. The “Best Firms to Work For” award recognizes the top architecture, structural engineering, civil engineering, environmental, and multidiscipline firms in the US and Canada based on their workplace practices, employee benefits, employee retention rates, and much more. Since the Best Firms to Work For list began in 2001, hundreds of outstanding architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms have been recognized for this achievement. For the past several years, FINLEY has ranked as a Top Structural Firm to Work For. FINLEY’s annual benchmarks of salary and benefits has helped provide a motivated work environment. One bridge engineer commented, “We offer great benefits, people are fun to work with, we have a very attractive work environment, our firm has a realistic bonus plan.” FINLEY continually upgrades technology to best serve clients on the complex bridge projects worldwide. Our staff recommends working at FINLEY to their peers because of the career opportunities. As another bridge engineer said, “The experience gained at FINLEY is unparalleled. I gain exposure to all aspects of complex bridge design over the whole bridge life cycle, from concept and detailed design, to construction engineering, to load rating and bridge inspection. FINLEY’s benefits are exceptional when compared to previous companies that I have worked for in the engineering consulting industry. A strong emphasis is placed on us gaining technical knowledge and to advance our engineering career as far as we can take it.” FINLEY’s multi-year annual rankings as a ‘Top Structural EngiNovember | December 2016

neering Firm to Work For’ has helped attract staff to it’s new international office in Prague, Czech Republic which opened earlier this year. This international office has helped to accommodate FINLEY’s growth in the United States and international markets including Europe, Middle East, South America, and Canada. v “Gort! Klaatu Borada nikto.”

FINLEY President, Craig Finley, P.E., P.Eng. (R) receiving award from Mark Zweig (L)

(770) 521-8877 USE A COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST WITH YOUR TRANSLATION PROJECT, because a little mistake in another language can have unpleasant results.

Spotlight on Westside Works Light Bulb Moments

Westside Works Helped Lakeisha Lockard Find an Illuminating New Career as an Electrician

When Lakeisha Lockard decided to move from her native Pittsburg to Atlanta in summer of 2014, she had no idea what she would be doing for a living. All she knew was she was ready for a career change after spending 20 years in the medical field. Her choice of Atlanta, where she had a cousin, turned out to be fortuitous. Just as she arrived, Westside Works was launching. She had given herself a month to find employment; within two weeks, she was enrolled in Westside Works’ Construction Group No. 2. Westside Works offers instruction in a variety of disciplines, but Lakeisha chose construction after talking to some students in Group No. 1. “When I came in to apply,” she recalls, “I met some other girls who were doing it. They said, ‘Go for construction. You can do it.’” Lakeisha completed the four-week curriculum and graduated from Westside Works in August 2014. She accepted a job offer from Inglett & Stubbs Electrical Construction, which assigned her to its work on MercedesBenz Stadium. The nursing assistantturned-electrician quickly found her new line of work to be a challenge. “My first year was rough,” Lakeisha says. “It was so different from what I 30

was used to. I was dirty and sweaty all the time. I lost a lot of weight. And I had to get used to working with guys all day. There were plenty of times when I thought, ‘I don’t know if I want to do this.’” Lakeisha laughs when recalling one of her early adventures, learning to operate a scissor lift. “I fell out of it three times, because I didn’t let it all the way down,” she says. “I was confused about what was going on, but as I continued to work and watch other people doing it, and then having a chance to do things myself, I learned a lot.” After persevering for a year, Lakeisha says she told herself, “Well, I made it. I might as well keep going now.” Along the way, she’s become increasingly confident with wiring, outlets, lighting, and other electrical work. The light bulb has come on for her, literally and figuratively.

“I remember working on some lights,” she says. “When they first let me work by myself and I was able to actually tap some wires together—knowing that I had a part in putting the switch in, connecting the lights and understanding how it all worked, that was exciting.” Since then, says her supervisor, Lonnie Block, “Lakeisha has taken the initiative to work independently, when her skill level will allow. She displays a willingness to learn and helps without complaint. I look forward to working more with her and in her continuing success in her desire to learn a valuable trade.” The light bulb moments also have included a bit of self-discovery: “I realized there was a part of me that really enjoyed working with my hands,” Lakeisha says. “I wasn’t aware of that before; this helped bring it out of me.” As the old saying goes, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” For Lakeisha, her new venture has brought great gain. “It has challenged me in so many ways,” she says. “To be open to new challenges, to be open to new people, to be open to new places. It’s kept me from staying in this little box—it’s helped me to come out and just live more. I’ve found joy in it.” v Georgia Contractor

Family Ties

Thanks to Westside Works, a Father and Son are Thriving in the Construction Industry

Steven-Lee Ware Sr. and Steven-Lee Ware Jr. are discussing their work at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when the father suddenly pauses and stares at his son. “Is that my shirt?” he asks, feigning a look of incredulity. Both men roar with laughter, a recognition of just how intertwined their lives are these days. The Wares are the first father-son duo to graduate from Westside Works. Until recently, they also lived together, and Steven-Lee Jr., aka Steve, still helps out with babysitting chores for his father, a bachelor with twin six-year-old boys. The Wares discovered Westside Works through one of its partners, Integrity CDC. To be more precise, it was an on-street encounter between StevenLee Sr. and Rev. Howard Beckham, Executive Director of Integrity CDC. Steven-Lee, 53, had struggled to find steady work after some trouble with the law in the early 2000s. He was working part-time as a voter registration advocate on Atlanta’s Westside when Beckham approached and told him about Westside Works. “I think I viewed it somewhere between optimism and pessimism,” Steven-Lee recalls after hearing Beckham’s pitch. “I had been in several programs before. I had been told, ‘If you finish, this can happen, that can happen, but nothing ever really materialized. Reverend Beckham said, ‘I know you’ve been down this road before, but I’m telling you, if you complete this program, there is an opportunity for you.’” November | December 2016

“I had never been in something with my dad like that, so that was a different experience, seeing him study, and getting to help each other out,” Steve says. As Steven-Lee tells it, failing the intense four-week training program was not an option for either student. “I’m going to go get it,” he says. “When you see me getting up early in the morning, there’s no way you’re going to say, ‘I don’t feel like doing this today.’ You don’t have a choice.” Steve Kimberly, QA/QC Site Manager for ASP, says Steven-Lee has proven to be a great asset to the project: “His abilities are such that we have recently asked him to begin more significant tasks, such as receiving the completed test forms from our QA/QC inspectors, formatting the information, and then notifying the ASP superintendents and our project partners about the test

status. His ability to grasp the importance of the material he uploads is evidenced by him asking pointed questions to ensure the most accurate information is available to the ASP Team.” Steve Ware did end up accepting the offer from Inglett & Stubbs, and has received two promotions since. Though father and son work for different companies, they still cross paths on the job site; in fact, it was an almost daily occurrence when Steven-Lee was on the cleanup crew. “It was pretty cool,” says the 30year-old Steve. “It was another opportunity to work and be around my dad. And it’s been great learning how to work with different people, working with my hands, learning a new trade. It’s something I can take further if I want to.” Now, nearly two years after that chance meeting with Howard Beckham on a Westside street, did Westside Works live up to its billing? “Without a doubt,” Steven-Lee Sr. says. “It’s like night and day, the difference between Westside Works and other programs. I can say that I’ve never worked for a company that has given me opportunities like this one has.” v

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