.jpeg?itok=6uFZXEBH)
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association has chosen a Texas CEO to lead the group through 2016. David S. Zachry, chief executive officer of Zachry Corporation, was elected during the ARTBA’s conference in Philadelphia.Speaking to the group, Zachry outlined several key goals for the year ahead. The most important thing, he said, is for the association to remain “laser-focused on its mission of ensuring a long-term Highway Trust Fund fix and congressional approval of a multi-year bill that boosts federal surface transportation investment.” The group is also going to advocate for more federal investment in airport construction as part of the re-authorization of the nation’s aviation programs.
Reshaping the Construction Industry
.jpeg?itok=4Vi_1nJG)
The following article was originally published in Breaking Ground, The NCCER Blog by Jennifer Wilkerson, a Construction Citizen blogger and NCCER’s Director of Marketing, PR, and Build Your Future. Reprinted with permission.So why hasn’t the construction industry been able to change the public’s perception of careers in the industry? Why aren’t more young people choosing careers in construction? First, we need to stop having city, state and regional meetings to figure out what we should do. We need to stop patting ourselves on the back because we participated on a committee that produced a report or white paper detailing what should be done to combat the skilled workforce shortage in our industry.It amazes me when I see outputs from committees all over the U.S. pontificating about the skills gap and discussing ways to connect education and industry, provide local and state support and unite communities, parents and businesses on the topic. They all say the same thing, and what amazes me even more is that these are not new ideas.
October 06, 2015
Employment growth slows nationally and among metros but spending acceleratesEditor’s note: Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 142,000 in September, seasonally adjusted, and by 2,752,000 (2.0%) over 12 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. Construction employment rose by 8,000 for the month (to 6,396,000) and by 205,000 (3.3%) over 12 months, far below the gain of 298,000 (5.1%) in the previous year. The number of unemployed jobseekers who last worked in construction fell from 604,000 in September 2014 to 479,000 in September 2015, the lowest September total since 2000. The unemployment rate for such workers fell from 7.0% to 5.5%, the lowest September rate since 2001. (Industry unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted and should only be compared year-over-year, not across months.)
October 05, 2015
Pat Kiley points out the positive elements of the current economy in Texas, in spite of the current downturn in the oil and gas industry.
October 02, 2015
With the support of a wide variety of companies and organizations from the construction industry, Construction Career Collaborative hosted 36 teams at its 5th annual golf tournament on a beautiful day at Sweetwater Country Club on Monday, September 21st. Players were treated to a box lunch prior to the noon shotgun start followed by a feast at the conclusion of the tournament that included chicken-fried chicken, blackened catfish, a variety of salads and vegetables, along with bread pudding for dessert. Each participant also received a black windshirt emblazoned with the red & white C3 logo on the chest with the logos of the three underwriting sponsors, Marek Family of Companies, McCarthy Building Companies and TD Industries, on the sleeves.Other supporters of the tournament included reception/dinner sponsors Camarata Masonry Systems and Slack & Company, along with beverage station sponsors J.M. Maly (who provided a variety of premium cigars for participants) and American Subcontractors Association Houston Chapter (who gave away a premium ice chest) and the Texas Construction Association.
October 01, 2015
Emily Pfeiffer of Construction Dive recently reported on 10 trends that are impacting construction today.
September 30, 2015
Fewer than half of metros add construction jobs in August; Dodge starts, ABI dropEditor’s note: Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.Construction employment, not seasonally adjusted, increased from August 2014 to August 2015 in only 163 (46%) of the 358 metro areas (including divisions of larger metros) for which the BLS provides construction employment data, decreased in 153 (43) and was stagnant in 42, according to an AGC release and map today that analyzed BLS data. (BLS combines mining and logging with construction in most metros to avoid disclosing data about industries with few employers.) The number of metros with job increases was the smallest since late 2011. It is possible that employment gains in some metros were held down by a lack of available workers rather than lack of projects; 86% of the 1,358 respondents to an AGC survey released on September 10 said they were having difficulty filling hourly craft or salaried professional positions.
September 29, 2015
Marek Dallas Division President John Hinson wrote the following President’s Message for AWCI's Construction Dimension magazine. Hinson is the 2015-2016 President of AWCI.I am honored to serve our industry for the next 12 months as president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry. I have worked in the wall and ceiling industry for 31 years and owe my success to my teammates who helped me perform to the best of my abilities. I am talking specifically about the craftsmen in the field who are making it happen every day. Without them I would not be in the role I am in today. In fact, not many of us would be in our current roles, right? We would not be successful, and we would not be in this business. We owe them our gratitude.
September 28, 2015
Hi there. The Chamberlin Man here.We got the opportunity to be our own client and perform work on new construction for our own office building this summer. The Dallas area team has some new “digs” and though they are just down the road, the new office and the old are worlds apart.The 28,000 square foot facility features a modern design created by Alliance Architects. Schwob Building Company was the general contractor. And Chamberlin, naturally, completed the roof system, as well as the waterproofing, elastomeric coating, warehouse flooring, and the control joint work.The energy efficient building features LED lighting and sensor faucets. The 14,000 square foot warehouse space is home to Chamberlin’s in-house sheet metal fabrication shop. The training and conference room are both equipped with all the latest audiovisual controls allowing Chamberlin offices across Texas and Oklahoma to collaborate and communicate smarter and faster – ultimately serving clients better.
September 25, 2015
The Construction Citizen team recently took a tour of classrooms at Lee College and spoke with Pipefitting Instructor Mark Hartley and Welding Instructor George Vance.
September 24, 2015
