Constructorcast

Traumatic Brain Injuries are responsible for 25% of all construction fatalities, and many life-altering injuries. With this information and emerging technology, many contractors are considering the transition from the traditional brim hardhat, to a chin-strap safety helmet. Joining on this episode to talk about their respective companies journey in this transition, include Seth Randall of Clark Construction, and Jamie Dabbs of TD Industries. Seth Randall, CSP, CHST Regional Safety Director, Infrastructure Group Clark Construction Group www.clarkconstruction.com Jamie Dabbs, CSP, ASP, CRIS Vice President, Safety, Health & Environmental TDIndustries www.tdindustries.com Kevin Cannon Senior Director, Safety & Health Services AGC of America kevin.cannon@agc.org www.hardhatstohelmets.org Photo for graphic provided by Clark Counstruction Group

On this episode of ConstructorCast, two of the nation’s leading construction economists will discuss where the economy is headed, construction categories they think will do particularly well, and share their insights on top issues including supply chains and inventories, finding qualified workers, and materials costs. Guests: A.C. Michael Guckes Senior Economist ConstructConnect Michael.guckes@constructconnect.com Construction Economic Resources https://www.constructconnect.com/economic-resources Construction Economic News https://www.constructconnect.com/construction-economic-news Kenneth D. Simonson Chief Economist Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) ken.simonson@agc.org Data DIGest, a weekly one-page summary of economic news relevant to construction: https://store.agc.org/Store/Store/StoreLayouts/Item_Detail.aspx?iProductCode=4401&CATEGORY=1900 AGC's Construction Inflation Alert: https://www.agc.org/learn/construction-data/agc-construction-inflation-alert More AGC constru

Election day is two weeks away! Are you wondering how results could impact you and the industry? On this episode, AGC Chief Executive Officer Steve Sandherr, Jimmy Christianson, Vice President of Government Relations, and David Ashinoff, Director of Political Affairs discuss all things midterm elections including what congress has accomplished in the current cycle, match-up analysis, and seat predictions. Visit https://constructionvotes.com to register to vote or confirm registration status, obtain early voting and absentee ballot information, confirm your polling place, download employer resources, and more. Members are also encouraged to visit https://advocacy.agc.org to learn more about AGC’s political action committee (AGC PAC) and the Construction Advocacy Fund. Links: https://constructionvotes.com https://constructionadvocacyfund.agc.org/donate/ https://advocacy.agc.org/agc-pac

Grappling with the maze of marijuana laws and your company policy? On this episode, Bill Judge of Drug Screening Compliance Institute talks about considerations for employers to create and enforce drug-testing policies that are consistent with the laws in all of the states in which they operate – as well as best practices for addressing safety-sensitive roles. Guest: William J. Judge, JD, LL.M. Drug Screening Compliance Institute bjudge@drugscreeningci.com www.askbilljudge.com Resources: At the federal level, marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug (https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling) under the Controlled Substances Act. Many federal contractors and all federal grantees are required by law to establish and maintain a drug-free workplace policy. In addition, some federal agencies have rules in place for specific industries/occupations that require employers to have drug testing programs. For example, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)[https://www.transportation.gov/odapc]

In this episode, AGC’s own Jimmy Christianson, Vice President of Government Relations, and Deniz Mustafa, Program Coordinator for the Building Division take a dive into what Buy America/n requirements are, why we have them, and what we may be able to expect from new Buy America Build America Act regulations that come with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As government agencies work through their individual processes and procedures, AGC would like to prepare members for imminent changes involving material procurement. Guests: Deniz Mustafa, Program Coordinator, Building Division, AGC of America, deniz.mustafa@agc.org Jimmy Christianson, Vice President, Government Relations, AGC of America, jimmy.christianson@agc.org Resources: Made in America Office within the White House Office of Management and Budget: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/made-in-america/ AGC's comments to OMB: https://www.agc.org/sites/default/files/Files/Communications/Constructorcast/AGC%20Comments%20Re%20OMB%20RFI%2

Who’s on the hook for design defects in design-build projects? It may not always be who you think. In this episode, Dirk Haire, co-chair of Fox Rothschild’s Construction Law Practice Group, and David Hecker, group general counsel overseeing all claims, litigation, and investigations for Kiewit Corporation, share their wealth of knowledge on design-build risk. Find out when and why contractors do not always bear the risk of design errors or omissions on a design-build project. This episode explains design-builders’ liability standard and discusses certain types of overreach by owners that merit pushback from design-builders. This podcast episode will help you: 1. Understand the differences between design and performance specifications and how they may govern design liability on a design-build project. 2. Determine when the Spearin Doctrine applies to design-build contracts. 3. Identify cases where a design-builder has received equitable adjustment for defect designs, as well as examples of cases where the

Struggling to find enough workers? On this episode, three young construction professionals share their insights about how they made a decision on a full-time position and why their selected firms stood out. This episode was pre-recorded at AGC's Annual Convention. When recording on the road, audio isn't always studio-quality, but the content is worth the listen! Thanks for following! Guests: Our guests each bring different perspectives on the recruitment and hiring process and share what got them where they are now. Trent Fair - Pittsburg State University / Simpson Construction Services, https://simpsonconst.com/ Jack McGavran - Pittsburg State University / McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., https://www.mccarthy.com/ Collette LeManske - Kansas State University / Brinkmann Constructors, https://brinkmannconstructors.com/ Resources: AGC Student Chapters - Membership in an AGC Student Chapter provides young professionals with an opportunity to observe and develop their skills with current industry leade

In this episode, we cover the steps the Biden Administration has taken related to construction and the environment. AGC’s Director of Environmental Services Melinda Tomaino walks you through the environmental highlights and headlines on WOTUS (waters of the United States), species-related issues, climate change policy developments and implications for projects, and environmental review and approvals. Find out how AGC is making timely decisions and setting priorities, the important role AGC plays in policymaking, and how you can get involved. Show Notes: Guest: Melinda Tomaino Director, Environmental Services melinda.tomaino@agc.org @AGCEnvironment More Information: There are a few forums available for you to get involved – • Attend AGC meetings and conferences, such as the Construction Safety Health and Environmental Conference on July 26-28, 2022, or the peer group discussion for In-House Environmental Managers scheduled for July 27. https://shec.agc.org/ • Join the Environmental Forum and eForum

Construction Safety Week started in 2014, when more than 40 national and global construction firms comprising the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) group and the Incident and Injury Free (IIF) Forum joined forces with a single aim: to inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. On this episode, Ken Aldridge of Aldridge Electric, and Mike Burke of Alberici Constructors, both serving as chairs on the Safety Week committee, share some history of the tradition, what this annual campaign means to them, and how you can participate. This year’s Safety Week will take place May 2-6, 2022. Visit the website to find all the resources you need. Guests: Ken Aldridge, Chairman of the Board, Aldridge Electric aldridgegroup.com Michael Burke, Chief Operating Officer, Alberici Constructors alberici.com Resources: Construction Safety Week website: https://www.constructionsafetyweek.com/

Business Development within the construction industry presents multiple challenges as competition levels rise, continued supply obstacles occur, and labor shortages pressure companies to do more with less. On this episode, members of AGC’s Business Development Forum – Chris Martin, President at Atlas Marketing and Tonya Byrd (Jackson), Business Development Manager at Gilbane Building Company – discuss these challenges and share best practices and methods to help your construction company grow. Get ready for some first-hand stories of techniques and proven approaches that you can apply to achieve revenue and profit growth in today’s market. Guests: Chris Martin, Founder and President at Atlas Marketing and co-host of Building PA Podcast https://atlasstories.com/ https://buildingpapodcast.com/ Tonya Byrd (Jackson), Business Development Manager at Gilbane Building Company and Vice-Chair of the AGC Business Development (BD) Forum https://www.gilbaneco.com/news-room/press-release/tonya-byrd-joins-gilbane-build

Construction firms are coping with a seemingly unending series of supply-chain disruptions that are compounding problems caused by record materials cost increases and pandemic-induced challenges to operations. It has never been more important for project participants to be prepared with strategies to mitigate the risk of material price escalation and delays due to material shortages -- in order to preserve the feasibility and profitability of the project. On this episode, Greg Sweeso of Tarlton Corporation, Jack Mumma of Michigan State University, and Ronald Ciotti of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP share risk mitigation strategies available during the bidding, procurement, and contracting phases of the project. Guests: Greg Sweeso, Project Manager, Preconstruction at Tarlton Corporation https://www.tarltoncorp.com/ Jack Mumma, Construction Contract Administrator, Michigan State University https://ipf.msu.edu/ Ronald Ciotti, Partner at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP https://www.hinckleyallen.com/ R

Panel discussion about HBCU Scholarship program between Procore and AGC

Building Inclusive Cultures & Company Success Although inclusive cultures offer clear benefits, companies still struggle with knowing how to cultivate the right culture for all their employees. On this episode, Mark Havens talks about how his organization WMFDP | FDP Global (White Men As Full Diversity Partners) transforms mindsets and behaviors to help organizations sustain truly inclusive cultures. We also talk with President & CEO of Clark Construction Company Sam Clark on how he learned the skills needed to build strong relationships, navigate difficult conversations and become an ally. AGC’s Brynn Huenke shares what AGC is doing to provide companies with training and resources that translate learning to action. Show Notes Guests: Mark Havens Senior Consultant White Men As Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP | FDP Global) https://wmfdp.com/ Sam Clark President & CEO Clark Construction Company https://clarkcc.com/sam-clark/ Brynn Huneke Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Member Engagement Associated Gen

Contractors may have millions of dollars of equipment, tools and materials stored on their job sites. On this episode, John Wallen of HUB International discusses how to position your firm to best manage the risk of theft. That includes being aware of the coverage details of your insurance policies, taking a multi-layered approach to keeping sites secure and deterring theft, and considering “Internet of Things” (IoT)-based solutions. Also hear tips and best practices on filing a theft report and insurance claim. Guest: John Wallen CPCU, Vice President at HUB International, Wisconsin Construction Industry Practice Leader www.hubinternational.com Resources: Best Practices for Deterring Crime at Construction Sites https://www.constructormagazine.com/best-practices-for-deterring-crime-at-construction-sites/ Solving a Billion-Dollar Problem BEST PRACTICES FOR PREVENTING EQUIPMENT THEFT FROM CONSTRUCTION SITES https://www.constructormagazine.com/solving-a-billion-dollar-problem/ National Insurance Crime Bure

In part two of this series, we explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can streamline critical construction project workflows by automating time-consuming and repetitive processes like building a submittal log and tracking changes to specs over the course of a project. Bryan Rumple of Mortenson and Sameer Merchant of Autodesk Construction Solutions discuss document management challenges and how AI technology can improve productivity and reduce project risk. Guests: Bryan Rumple, Lead Project Management Controls Engineer at Mortenson https://www.mortenson.com/ Sameer Merchant - VP of product development at Autodesk Construction Solutions https://construction.autodesk.com/ About Pype: https://pype.io/ Pype, part of Autodesk Construction Cloud, is a suite of construction software solutions that use AI and machine-learning algorithms to elevate your efficiency from preconstruction through closeout – specifically for project requirement identification, submittal log creation, and project closeout. About

On this episode, Josh Levy of Document Crunch, Paul James of BOND Brothers and Brian Perlberg of ConsensusDocs dive deep into how AI and Machine Learning are being used to assess contract risk and inform approaches to construction risk management. They discuss finding the right balance using technology versus operational discretion when bidding contracts, negotiating contracts, administrating projects, and managing insurance compliance. Hear their first-hand experiences on how AI powered contract review software for the construction industry can reduce costs, improve efficiencies and lead to a better industry understanding of what is fair and considered a best practice. Guests: Josh Levy, Co-Founder at Document Crunch www.documentcrunch.com Paul M. James, Senior Vice President, Risk Management & General Counsel at BOND Brothers, Inc. https://bondbrothers.com Brian Perlberg, Executive Director and Senior Counsel at ConsensusDocs https://www.consensusdocs.org Document Crunch, curated by legal professional

On this episode, President and CEO at Gilbane Building Company Mike McKelvy covers everything you need to know about Construction Safety Week 2021 – happening May 3rd through May 7th. Mike shares his excitement to be the chairman of this year’s event and his passion behind the “Holistic Safety” theme; walks through the wealth of planning resources and communication tools that firms can use to participate; and talks about lessons learned, future goals, and how he keeps him team engaged in safety initiatives. Also hear from some Construction Safety Week partners who are offering free training and resources. Kevin Cannon, head of AGC’s safety and health services, ties it all together with what you need to know about OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, which is happening the same week. Featured Guests: Michael E. McKelvy, President and Chief Executive Officer at Gilbane Building Company and Chairman of National Construction Safety Week 2021 -- https://www.gilbaneco.com/ Kevin C

As construction continues to be an essential industry in helping our nation’s economic recovery, firms are fighting the growing workforce shortage and looking to recruit more women than ever before. Women are making an impact in the industry by bringing new skill sets, opinions, and experiences into the office and the field – and a diverse workforce leads to stronger companies. Yes, there are certainly challenges. But perceptions and cultures are changing. During “Women in Construction Week 2021,” AGC’s ConstructorCast celebrates the successes and talks about what women have done to further the industry. In this episode, leading women – Lori Dunn-Guion of Swinerton, Maura Hesdon of Shoemaker Construction Co., and Lauline Mitchell of BBI Construction and current NAWIC National VP – share their stories and insights on how to recruit, train and empower women in construction. Listen to find out what attracted them to construction, the skills that have helped them succeed in the industry, and the tools for bu

The Protect the Right to Organize (PRO) Act bill now making its way through Congress attempts to overturn decades of federal policy. Despite its name, the PRO Act does much more than protect an employee’s right to organize and engage in collective bargaining. In fact, the PRO Act would expand the economic weapons available to unions at the bargaining table, at the workplace, and beyond. While the union-favoring legislation presents obvious concerns for open-shop contractors, union contractors may not realize the detrimental impact it could have on them. AGC’s CEO Stephen Sandherr explains on this episode exactly HOW and WHY this bill has potential to cause significant disruption in the construction industry, both for firms and the workers they employ, and upset the delicate balance of rights and restrictions established over decades by the NLRB, courts, and Congress. AGC of America Opposes the misleadingly named “Protecting the Right to Organize” (PRO) Act because it will dangerously wreck the balance be

This episode highlights some of the more unique and innovative aspects of how construction firms have adapted their operations and established new work routines to mitigate against the spread of the virus – so they can continue to work in a SAFE and ESSENTIAL manner. Learn from your peers as you hear Frank Baxter (Skanska USA Building), Mayone Sallows (Butz Family of Companies) and Felipe Serrano (The Beck Group) share how they are making use of technology advancements as well as some rudimentary systems to shift behaviors and change practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests: Frank Baxter | EHS Director | Skanska USA Building -- https://www.usa.skanska.com/ Mayone Sallows | Safety Coordinator | Butz Family of Companies -- https://www.butz.com/ Felipe Serrano | Assistant Project Manager | The Beck Group -- https://www.beckgroup.com/ AGC’s COVID-19 webpage at https://www.agc.org/coronavirus shows how the construction industry is protecting workers and the public. From there you can access the associat