August 28, 2008

Mark Your Calendars and Save These Dates

September Association Kickoff Meeting -September 24, Seaport Hotel, Boston - Sponsored by DiCerbo Financial/Northwest Mutual Financial Network 

November 19 – 21 US Green Building Council’s International Conference and Expo is coming to Boston. The theme is Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global Sustainability. (more)

Continue to check our website www.agcmass.org for the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events 

Attorney General Issues Advisory on OSHA 10 Law Enforcement on Public Projects

Job Site Field Audits Expected After Labor Day to Ensure Compliance
On August 15, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) issued an Advisory on enforcement procedures relative to the OSHA 10-hour law, which was passed in July 2004. The Advisory was issued after extensive meetings and discussions with stakeholders in the construction industry including AGC to clarify misunderstandings over varying interpretations of the law.   The Advisory eliminates the confusing areas including which employees on the jobsite are actually covered, what actually constitutes documentation of 10-hour training, responsibilities of employers, procedures for jobsite inspections and the removal of individuals from the jobsite.  View the AGC summary here.  AGO Advisory 

7^th Edition MA Building Code
The 7^th Edition Massachusetts Building Code will take effect on September 1, 2008, according to Rob Anderson, MA Department of Public Safety.  There will be a six-month period where either the 6^th or the 7^th Edition of the code will be viable. After March 1, 2009, the 7^th Edition will be the governing code for Massachusetts.  The publication will be available in early September from the State bookstore. Click here.

AGC reaches agreement for new member benefits – reap the savings!
Effective immediately, Enterprise Fleet Management is offering fleet programs to all AGC members.  Enterprise is the largest vehicle buyer in the United States and is able to offer you the lowest vehicle Fleet prices on a variety of programs including vehicle acquisition, maintenance, financing and fuel management. For more information, click here.

VerizonWireless.  AGC has recently signed an agreement through National Purchasing Partners Construction to provide member contractor and subcontractor firms – and their employees and families – significant savings on any Verizon Wireless calling plans, selected accessories and VZEmail data plans.  For more information, view attached.

AGC announces the 7^th YCPI course
On October 29, 2008, AGC, in partnership with Dr. Bill Ronco, will begin the 7^th Young Contractors Professional Institute.  Since its inception, over 300 construction individuals have taken part in the program.

YCPI is a year long program of monthly half-day seminars taught by professional leaders from all facets of the construction industry.  The Institute exposes participants to the growing number of management and communications tasks that they will be asked to perform as they progress in their careers. The purpose of the Institute is to enable participants to master these tasks, perform their jobs at optimal levels, add high levels of value to their companies and provide a foundation for long-term career and professional development. To see the full schedule, click here.

Members in News 

Robert France, president of Senate Construction Corporation has been named to the Builder Advisory Council of Chief Buildings, a division of Chief Industries, Inc. for a three-year term. This key industry advisory group provides industry intelligence on the direction of the metal building industry. Bob is also on the AGC Board of Directors.

John Fish, CEO and president of Suffolk Construction, has been chosen for this year’s CEO Social Leadership Award, a program that donates $100,000 to an area executive to be used for a social initiative.  “John’s commitment to the children of the inner city is one of the strongest aspects of his civic leadership,” said George Donnelly, editor of the BBJ and member of the CEO Social Leadership Award selection committee.

William Purington, president and CEO of Maine Drilling and Blasting in Gardiner, has been awarded the 2008 Major Achievements in Construction Award by the AGC of Maine.  The award is presented annually to a person in the construction industry who has unselfishly contributed his or her time, energy, and talent to Maine's construction industry and to the Associated General Contractors of Maine. Purington is the 33rd individual to be recognized with this prestigious award.  

Frank Leathers has been named chairman of GEI Consultants in addition to his role as president of this national environmental, geotechnical, water resources and ecological science and engineering firm.

Boston Business Journal has come out with its Best Places to Work list with Consigli Construction, Gilbane Building, Shawmut Design & Construction and Suffolk Construction among those who rise to the top of the class.

Fifty Feeley & Driscoll employees volunteered their time for the ninth consecutive year to help Habitat for Humanity.  This year the F&D team worked on converting a convent into condos in Lawrence.  They also were involved in a fire restoration project, also in Lawrence, which had left a number of residence without shelter.

Former scholarship winners . . . where are you?
With our ever-mobile industry, we have lost sight of some of our scholarship award winners and would like to hear from you.  Contact Mary Gately at gately@agcmass.org.

You will meet one of our scholarship recipients, Karen Westphalen at our September 24^th member meeting from behind the camera. Karen started off with a degree in  music, then ventured into civil engineering where she graduated from U Mass – Lowell four years later.  After a stint working with design engineers, she started photographing construction details and took the plunge to start her own photography firm, IBeam Images.  View Karen’s web site at www.ibeamimages.com and say hello to her on the 24^th at the Seaport Hotel.

Economy

Modest decline sounds ominous, but don't freak
AIA chief economist Kermit Baker has called for a "mild decline" in the nonresidential building sector of 1.2% in 2008, followed by a "more significant downturn" of 6.7% next year. But Building Design+Construction chief economist Jim Haughey has a more optimistic reading of the 2008-09 construction outlook.

Portland Cement Association downgrades consumption forecast
The latest Portland Cement Association forecast of cement, concrete, and construction predicts a 12% decline in cement consumption in 2008, followed by another 6% drop in 2009. The increasing unemployment rate, higher inflation, and low consumer confidence will combine to have lingering negative effects on the U.S. economy and the construction industry, the PCA said.

Resume

Senior project manager with over 40 years of construction experience managing base building projects, hundreds of successful tenant fit ups  and several thousand units of multi family housing.

For a copy of the resume contact Kerry Fristoe memberservices@agcmass.org.

Items of Interest

AGC Building to LEED-NC Course Receives USGBC Approval
AGC announced the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Education Provider Program approved the new AGC course curriculum Building to LEED-NC: Overview and the Impact on Construction Practices. [more]

Contracts comparison
A comparison of the ConsensusDOCS 200 Standard Agreement and General Conditions with the AIA A201, featuring editorial commentary, is now available on the AGC website (www.agc.org). The comparison was written by nationally recognized construction attorneys Jim O’Connor and Buck Hinkle, who are both fellows at the American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL), whose membership is comprised of the top one percent of the construction bar. 

Top Ten Reasons for Owners to Use ConsensusDOCS
AGC has developed a short piece highlighting reasons Owners benefit by using the new ConsensusDOCS contracts.  Click here for the document.

Scholarships and Awards
Scholarship applications are available on-line for the 2009 AGC Education and Research Foundation‘s undergraduate and graduate programs.  College sophomores and juniors enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time, four- or five-year ABET or ACCE-accredited construction or civil engineering program are eligible to apply.  Our renewable scholarships are worth $2,500 per year for each year of undergraduate study, up to a maximum of $7,500.  Over 100 scholarships are awarded each year.

Essay Contest - Seniors in construction and civil engineering programs are also invited to submit essays for the 2009 James L. Allhands Essay Contest.  The first place winner will receive $1,000 and an expense-paid trip to the 2009 AGC Convention.  All scholarship and award applications must be postmarked by November 1, 2008 to be considered.  Information and applications can be found on-line or call Flo Slade at (703) 837-5342 for an application by mail. Click here to download more information.

Calendar

All programs are held at the AGC Conference Center unless otherwise noted.

Register online at www.agcmass.org and click on the date.

September 2008 

Sep 4 - 7:00 am - 5:00 pm - OSHA 10-Hour Training Course with Chris Ziegler. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Sep 17 - 8:30 am - 2:30 pm - OTI Hazard Awareness for the Construction Industry.

Sep 20 - 7:00 am - 5:00 pm - OSHA 10-Hour Training Course with Chris Ziegler. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Sep 24 - 7:00 am - 5:00 pm - OSHA 10-Hour Training Course with Chris Ziegler. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

October 2008 

Oct 7 - 8:30 am - 4:30 pm - Work Zone Traffic Control - (NCSH 461) - Based on the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), this workshop is for contractors working in a public way, regardless of whether it's in the road or off the road. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Oct 8 - 7:00 am - 5:30 pm - OSHA 10-Hour Training Course with Chris Ziegler. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Oct 21 - 7:00 am - 5:30 pm - OSHA 10-Hour Training Course with Chris Ziegler. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Oct 22 - 8:30 am - 4:30 pm - OSHA 502 Update for Construction - OSHA Training Institute/Keene State Courses at AGC - October 22-24, 2008 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday and Tuesday 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Wednesday Prerequisites: OSHA 500 Course. Registrants must submit a copy of their current construction outreach trainer card with the registration form 2 weeks prior to the course start date. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Oct 23 - 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm - AGC Dinner Meeting - Healthcare Beyond 495. Seaport Hotel, Boston.  Speakers include: Mike Moran, Bay State Medical, Springfield and David Duncan, Healthcare Alliance, Leominster. Register online www.agcmass.org.  Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org.

Oct 29 - 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Young Contractors Professional Institute - See above for details.

November 2008

November 6 - 5:30 pm -  Construction Economic Outlook - A Co-Sponsored Event between CFMA MA & AGC MA - Will Construction Shine or Decline in '09?
How will the housing slump, weak economic growth and soaring materials costs affect New England in 2009? Will the election help or hurt construction in the Bay State? What are the longer-term prospects for the state's economy and what are the implications for different types of construction? Ken Simonson, AGC of America's chief economist and fearless forecaster, will tackle these questions--and yours. Sheraton, Needham. Register today! www.agcmass.org and click on the date. Contact: Kerry Fristoe memberservices@agcmass.org.

Young Contractors Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendars

Tech Series Dates - September 18 , October 9.

October 30 – November 1 - AGC of America's Emerging Leaders group is coming to Boston. The two-day event will include programs, round table discussions, tours, receptions and fun-filled activities. The sessions are free and all young contractors and young architects are welcome to join in the discussions.

Click here for more details!

Around Town

September 11-12 ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, Chicago  

In cooperation with ConsensusDOCS, the American Bar Association will host a Forum on the Construction Industry. This conference will provide an in-depth look at the ConsensusDOCS with a panel of industry experts including many AGC members and staff who helped draft these documents that are changing the face of construction contracts

October 2-3, AGC of America BIMForum Meeting to Focus on Interface Points, Falls Church, VA
This meeting will explore how interface points are established to help Building Information Models evolve. The BIMForum  will be loaded with presentations on the interfaces between project teams, the current status and future of software interoperability, risk management, as well as a showcase of new and innovative technology. [ more]

October 14 - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm - Avoiding the Pitfalls of Construction Law: Contracts, Claims, Liens and Collections in Massachusetts. - Holiday Inn, Taunton MA - Contact: customerservice@lorman.com.

October 15 - 7:30 am - 5:30 pm - Dispute Resolution Board Foundation Northeast Regional Conference and Training Workshop - Bay Colony Corporate Center, Waltham, MA.  For more information and to register click here.

BuildBoston – November 18-20.  Registration is open at www.buildboston.com 

November 19 – 21 - US Green Building Council’s International Conference and Expo is coming to Boston. The theme is Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global Sustainability. (more)

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