WebEd: The Construction Workforce Outlook: Challenges, Best Practices & Solutions

All WebEd times are in EST

Member Price: FREE
Non Member Price: $79

Description:

The construction industry faces immense challenges—present and future—when it comes to developing, recruiting and retaining a fully-trained and skilled workforce. Construction contractors across the nation face worker shortages and an insufficient workforce development pipeline. How are contractors dealing with shortages? Where are they finding workers for today? How are they developing workers for tomorrow? How may technology disrupt the construction workforce? What’s government doing to help address (or worsen) these problems?

During this WebEd, registrants will hear answers addressing these questions and more from AGC’s Chief Economist Ken Simonson, Vice President of Knowledge Programs and Building Markets Mike Stark, Vice President of Public Affair and Strategic Initiatives Brian Turmail and Senior Director of Congressional Relations for Labor, Human Resources and Safety, James Young, and from Autodesk’s Senior Director, Construction Business Line, Sarah Hodges as they:

• Review the results of the 2018 AGC Construction Workforce Survey supported by AutoDesk, detailing national, regional and state workforce data;
• Highlight workforce development specific initiatives and best practices construction contractors are currently undertaking to meet their labor needs;
• Discuss several new technologies that may change aspects of construction delivery for some markets; and
• Evaluate recently enacted and pending federal legislation and regulations concerning career and technical education, immigration reform, and apprenticeships.

Speakers:

Kenneth Simonson
Chief Economist
The Associated General Contractors of America

Ken Simonson has been the chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading trade association for the construction industry, since 2001. His weekly summary of economic news relevant to construction, The Data DIGest, goes to 47,000 subscribers. He is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, the professional organization for individuals who use economics in their work. Currently, he serves as an appointed member of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Data Users Advisory Committee. Ken has 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating and communicating about economic and tax issues. He received a BA in economics from the University of Chicago and an MA in economics from Northwestern University.

James Young
Senior Director of Congressional Relations for Labor, HR and Safety
The Associated General Contractors of America

Mr. James Young is the Senior Director of Congressional Relations for Labor, HR and Safety for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). In this role, he works directly with members of the U.S. Congress, AGC members and press on a multitude of issues that directly affect the construction industry. Previously, Mr. Young worked for Direct Impact, the preeminent grassroots firm in Washington and Democracy Data and Communications which provides a comprehensive array of grassroots and political action solutions. Mr. Young began his career on Capitol Hill working for Congressman Benjamin Gilman (NY).

James holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the College of Charleston, Charleston, SC.

Michael F. Stark, CAE, IOM
Vice President of Knowledge Programs and Building Markets
The Associated General Contractors of America 

Mike Stark serves as Vice President of Knowledge Programs and Building Markets at the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Mike leads AGC’s training, education, credentialing and workforce development initiatives, as well as AGCs Building Contractors Division and Specialty Contractors Council. AGC is the leading association for the construction industry with more than 27,000 member firms.

Prior to joining AGC in 2007, Mike worked for the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and as a Congressional staff member on Capitol Hill.

Mike is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and a Certified Association Executive (CAE). Mike serves on the Lean Construction Institute (LCI) Board of Directors and the NCCER Board of Trustees.

Brian Turmail
Vice President, Public Affairs & Strategic Initiatives
TheAssociated General Contractors of America

As Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Brian Turmail’s role is to develop and oversee all public, member and chapter communications activities for the 27,000 member construction trade association.  He works directly with national, regional and local media to generate coverage of the construction industry and AGC’s major policy priorities. He is also helping oversee the implementation of the association’s Centennial “Future Focus” plan designed to position the association to help member firms thrive amid the significant technological, process and labor transformations taking place within the industry. He also plays a lead role in getting local, state and federal officials to act on the measures outlined in the association’s Workforce Development Plan.  And he is a member of the board of directors of AGC Charities Inc, the association’s charitable arm, where he oversees Operation Opening Doors projects that get volunteer contractors to renovate facilities for worthwhile groups, including veterans and members of the disabled community.  Turmail resides in Washington, D.C. where he serves as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and volunteers with local schools and law enforcement.

Sarah Hodges
Sr. Director, Construction Business Line
Autodesk, Inc

Sarah Hodges is the senior director of the construction business line at Autodesk, Inc.

As the senior director of the construction business line, Sarah is responsible for defining the global business strategy and marketing approach for the construction industry. Sarah is a strong advocate for construction customers and drives her teams to focus on the industry’s challenges and customer requirements in everything they do. Her mission is to provide solutions that help general contractors deliver projects with lower risk and better margins.

Before joining the construction team, Sarah held numerous positions within Autodesk in the mechanical engineering and education organizations. Prior to joining Autodesk, she was instrumental in delivering marketing technologies that drove efficiencies in the post-production process in the media and entertainment industry.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on marketing and management from Northeastern University.

WebEd Recording: