AGC has begun offering regular webinars on a variety of topics that reflect the industry’s demand for the most up-to-date information. Webinars provide several benefits to participants. They are simple and convenient to participate in. They allow participants to access critical information in real time. And, perhaps the largest benefit is that attendees do not need to travel to participate in the seminar. What will you need to participate in an AGC webinar? All you need is a computer and Internet access.

Plan to participate in the next AGC Supervisory Training Program (STP) Train-the-Trainer in Albuquerque and learn to:Effectively teach adult learners, Encourage interaction among participants, Get the most out of the STP instructor materials, Incorporate visual aids into the curriculum, and Prepare for and conduct STP courses. Contact education@agc.org to learn more. Registration to open soon!

The 2008 October Estimating Academy will be presented by AGC of America and the American Society of Professional Estimators, held on October 28-29, 2008 in Omaha, NE. The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites Omaha Downtown/Old Market. This two day course will cover current topics like LEED® - Estimating for Green Buildings, Estimating with Electronic Documents, Managing Preconstruction and Conceptual Estimating. This program is appropriate for Junior and Senior Estimators.For more information and to register for this event, please click here or contact Carrie Harper via email at harperc@agc.org or phone (703) 837-5316.

AGC members and chapters are encouraged to hold an event during the upcoming Careers in Construction Week, October 13-17, 2008. This week is designed to increase public awareness of the hard work and contributions of our nation’s craft professionals and increase students’ interest in pursuing construction as a career.The week is an integral part of the Build Your Future national education and recruitment campaign, sponsored by the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER).NCCER has set aside a portion of its website to helping the industry plan events, issue press releases, produce radio ads, and more. Free planning materials are available on the website.Additionally, governors are encouraged to proclaim the third week in October as Careers in Construction Week in their state. So far 16 states have proclaimed Careers in Construction Week in 2008. The sample materials include a proclamation and tips on contacting your state’s governor.AGC of America is holding its annual Festival of the Building Arts at the National Building Museum in conjunction with the week.

The ambitious, state-of-the-art school is a stand-alone public high school devoted to the construction industry. “This futuristic school marks the launch of a new era of high-tech construction instruction in the District,” said DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Phelps graduates can look forward to well-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced and trades that can never be taken away.” Phelps first opened in 1934 was closed in 2002 because of a lack of funding.  The $63 million renovated school now features state-of-the-art classrooms for electrical wiring, carpentry and computer programming and has simulators for training on construction equipment. Phelps was a design-build renovation with Turner Construction Co. and DC Solutions (Fanning Howey Architects, A1-Construction, Bryant Mitchell Architects, and Delon Hampton and Associates). The building also meets the U.S. Green Building Council's Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Phelps is starting with just a class of ninth-graders and will add a grade each year until it’s a full, four-year high school with an expected 600 students. The school will prepare students for both college and trades using construction as the thematic approach to their education. Pamela Murray Johnson, Turner Construction Co.’s project manager at Phelps, said construction companies nationwide are pushing for more schools like Phelps because workers with the right skills are hard to find. City officials said they expect construction jobs to continue to increase, particularly as green architecture becomes more popular.

Thanks to Kraemer Brothers, the Central Illinois Builders of AGC, AGC of Michigan, and the San Antonio Young Constructors Forum, all of which have provided Build Up! kits to clubs in their region.The clubs are very excited about the prospect of using Build Up! Here are some of the notes we’ve gotten with the requests:“My goal is to get the members to look at their neighborhoods and learn the history and importance of where they live.”“We plan on using the toolkit in our Education and Career Development programs to teach youth in our clubs practical math, science, and history skills to become better, well-rounded students and also to help them find an interest in the building industry.”“We will use the kit to provide our members with a hands-on project through which they will learn not only how to build bridges and skyscrapers, but will also enable them to reinforce math, science, history and language arts. After the members have built their projects, we will put them on display for the entire Club and we will invite parents to come and see the projects. When the parents arrive, the children will have to explain their project to their parents.”“This kit sounds amazing. I look forward to seeing my club members working together in building skyscrapers and bridges.”Each kit costs $199 plus shipping and would be shipped directly to the requesting club. Additionally, AGC will send the club a letter in advance of each kit, telling the club the name of the sponsoring AGC member or chapter.We are looking for sponsors for kits to be shipped to communities in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana. Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia,Washington state, and Wisconsin.Boys & Girls Clubs serve nearly 5 million youths from more than 4,000, primarily inner-city, clubhouses. The 102-year-old charity offers youths of all ages a safe, professionally staffed haven that is open after school and on weekends.If you would more information or would like to know if a specific locality has requested a kit, please contact Liz Elvin, Director of Workforce Development, at elvinl@agc.org or 703-837-5389.

The Associated Contractors of New Mexico (ACNM) has been a partner with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) for the past 12 years in which both state and industry employees are trained under the same program.The Technician Training and Certification Program (TTCP) classes are conducted at the Albuquerque headquarters of ACNM, which not only boasts a state-of-the-art classroom but also offers in-house testing labs for soils, aggregates, concrete, nuclear densometer and hot mix asphalt (HMA).The idea behind the TTCP is to promote highly skilled sampling, testing and field technicians, while promoting statewide uniformity and consistency in sampling and testing. Further, the program seeks to “create a harmonious working atmosphere between public agencies and private industry employees based upon trust, open communication, and equality of certification.”According to Joe Folk, Safety & Training Director for the ACNM, the program has worked extraordinarily well; with both the training classes and the certification exams filling on a regular basis.Under the direction of Brian Legan, TTCP Training Director and TTCP Training Coordinators Joel Archuletta and Robert Martinez, the chapter offers a 40-hour training class in aggregates and an aggregrates certification; a 16-hour training class in soils and a soils certification; a 24-hour training class in asphalt and an asphalt certification. The two classes are taken separately from the certification exams and there is no requirement to take the training class as a prerequisite for the certification.On the other side of the building from the labs, Joe Folk conducts a variety of training courses above and beyond those with lab requirements. Currently on the agenda American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Traffic Control, Excavation & Trenching Competent Person, Confined Space Competent Person, Substance Abuse for Foreman, Storm Water Qualified Person, MSHA Sub Part 46, and both the OSHA 10- and 30-hour classes. Classes have been so well attended that the chapter built an addition last year, which now houses a high-tech classroom complete with a dual control computer so that the 60-person room can be broken down into two separate classrooms.The ACNM, under Executive Director Mike Gibson, represents 200 New Mexico transportation and utility construction firms and their 15,000 employees. 

Scholarship applications are available online 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.  High school seniors and college freshmen are not eligible. Our renewable undergraduate 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.

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and ITT-Technical Institute (Tempe) are AGC’s newest student chapters. Sponsored by AGC of Tennessee (Middle Tennessee Branch), MTSU completed its application and was awarded a charter in August of 2008.  In addition, ITT-Technical Institute (Tempe) was sponsored by AGC of Arizona and awarded a charter.By supporting an AGC student chapter, AGC of America and AGC chapters are helping to prepare students for "real-world" experiences in addition to traditional academics.For more information on how you can sponsor an AGC Student Chapter, please contact Carrie Harper at (703) 837-5316 or via email at harperc@agc.org.

Thousands of college students headed back to campus last month and as upper classman and freshmen settle into their collegiate roles, we are reminded of all the dreams young people have for their future. Even in a slow economy, the outlook for construction management graduates is strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in construction management and safety are projected to increase by 16 percent over the next decade, faster than average for any other occupation. Furthermore the Bureau also predicts,  “In addition to job openings arising from employment growth, many additional openings should result annually from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force for other reasons. A substantial number of seasoned managers are also expected to retire over the next decade, likely resulting in a large number of openings.” Among the college students returning to their dorms, apartments and campuses are members of the over 125 AGC Student Chapters.  Membership in an AGC student chapter provides emerging professionals with an unique opportunity to learn about the industry while developing their skills. AGC’s Student Chapters enjoy a range of member benefits, networking opportunities and recognition programs. AGC Student Chapters are known for their hard work in their local communities and on campus.More importantly, AGC Student Chapters provide the construction industry with its most valuable asset – the next generation workforce. Welcome back! We are looking forward to a great year and have many new things planned.For more information, contact Carrie Harper at (703) 837-5316 or harperc@agc.org