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At literally almost any time of the day, there are Houston-area residents on the campus of San Jacinto College in Pasadena acquiring skills they need to be able to pursue good-paying careers in construction. Delores Tarin, for example, is a young woman who spoke with the Construction Citizen Team during an evening welding class this past week.“The fire and the power is cool,” Tarin said. "After this, if I don't get a job with my new certification then I’ll continue and get my Associate's Degree,” she said. Tarin has previously worked as a helper on a pipeline and felt an upgrade in her skills will lead to a better-paying job.Educators stress that the opportunities aren’t “just jobs.” Careers are available.“There’s a career ladder out there,” said Dr. JD Taliaferro, Director of Applied Technologies at San Jacinto. “Some of these larger companies are being run by people who started as pipefitters, welders, and electricians out on the job,” he said. “Just because you’re starting somewhere, that doesn’t mean that’s where you end. Your fate is really up to you."
Reshaping the Construction Industry
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The Dallas airport Love Field recently underwent a $519 million renovation for which Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing was the roofing contractor. Their 10-man crew completed the project on time and with no safety incidents.
February 02, 2016
Six men are accused of using shell companies to hide the number of workers they employed in order to avoid paying millions of dollars of workers’ comp insurance and federal payroll taxes.
February 01, 2016
Houston-area construction employees who want to boost their careers have a great new resource at Parker Williams Branch Library thanks to a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to purchase National Center for Construction and Education Research trainee guides.The guides will be based at the Parker Williams Branch Library in southeast Harris County but can be requested for use at other Harris County Public Library branches. The commission funding enabled the library to purchase guides in more than 15 different craft areas as well as the Core Curriculum.Also as part of the grant, Parker Williams Branch Library will host monthly orientations throughout the spring and summer of 2016 in the use of the guides as well as presentations on opportunities and career advancement in construction industries.Some of the guides are available for check out and some are available for use at the library only. For employees who would like to study at the library, all Harris County Public Library branches are open on Saturdays and at least one evening per week.
January 29, 2016
Click on image to view more information.Dodge starts, ABI rebound in December; housing starts slip; property tax receipts riseEditor’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.The value of new construction starts in December increased 4% from November's level at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, Dodge Data & Analytics reported on Thursday, based on data it collected. "December showed moderate increases for each of the three main construction sectors—nonresidential building [3%], residential building [6%], and nonbuilding construction (public works and electric utilities) [3%]. For 2015 as a whole, total construction starts climbed 8%," with nonresidential building down 8%, residential building up 14% and nonbuilding construction up 23%. "'A strong first half of 2015 was followed by a 20% loss of momentum in the third quarter and then a slight 1% rebound in the fourth quarter, as the expansion began to show that it was getting back on track,'" said Chief Economist Robert Murray.
January 28, 2016
Learn about the in-house welding program at S & B Engineers and Constructors. Valdovinos, a Welding Foreman and Instructor who started working for the company 3 years ago as a pipefitter helper, shares how the program has changed his life.
January 27, 2016
Our colleagues at Construction Dive recently reported on the 10 Construction industry trends to watch in 2016. They reference a Dodge Analytics 2016 report that “predicted 6% growth, with the value of construction starts reaching an estimated $712 billion.” That is great news for the industry for 2016.The Construction Industry usually gets a late start in the economic recovery and fortunately it has a “long tail” since it is hard to stop construction once the building has begun. We have a hunch that we are entering the long tail in commercial construction as many of the indicators show a slow down in the front or design end of the business.Construction Dive offers up the major trends to watch for 2016. Top on the list is a continued labor shortage of skilled workers. This has been widely reported and is the result of workers leaving the industry in the 2009 recession, retirements and a high demand in the industrial sector.
January 26, 2016
The following article originally appeared in the January newsletter to clients of Kiley Advisors, LLC. Reprinted with permission.The phrase “company culture” appears regularly in business literature. Senior leaders regularly use it too, and acknowledge the importance of having a strong company culture. But it is worthwhile, as this new and more challenging year begins, to examine the meaning of these words and the actions they mandate.Google the phrase and you will find many helpful definitions. Synthesizing, they all contain statements that company cultures flow from the beliefs, values and attitudes of the owners and leaders that result in consistent behaviors toward each other and all company team members toward customers, toward businesses partners and toward their industry and community.
January 25, 2016
Success.What do you define as success? Is it getting that title of management? That promotion that makes you feel like you have reached the top of the mountain? Or is it making enough money to have your family live comfortably? Not having to worry about the necessities in life such as utilities being paid or having a roof over your head? Whatever your definition of success is, the question arises, “Are you set up for success?” Have you put yourself in a position to reach your goals? Some people will tell you that you are lucky, but, in reality, one has to put in the work to be successful.So, how does this tie in to your career? Whether you are in a steady job, or in between jobs, or just trying to get your foot in the door, success is not an accident.
January 22, 2016
The News and Observer in Raleigh offers an in-depth look at two problems: lack of workers' compensation and worker misclassification.
January 21, 2016
