Accounting
Aprio to Welcome North Carolina-based firm Ladd Robbins
Today Aprio, LLP, a top 35 business advisory and CPA firm, announced that North Carolina-based Ladd Robbins CPAs and Consultants (Ladd Robbins) will join Aprio on October 1, 2022. For more than 20 years Ladd Robbins has served clients in 20+ states across the U.S., focusing on healthcare practices including dental and optometry. As part of Aprio, Ladd…
Introducing FORVIS: New Name for Planned Merger of BKD and DHG Reflects the Firm’s Forward Vision
CHARLOTTE, N.C. and SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The newest entrant among the nation’s Top-10 professional services firms will be called FORVIS. The name was jointly announced in April by the leaders of BKD and DHG. The two firms agreed to a merger of equals in February, with an effective date of June 1, to create an enhanced, Top-10,…
BKD and DHG Combine for a Robust National Growth Strategy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. and SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (February 17, 2022) – The leading accounting firms of BKD and DHG today jointly announced they will merge to create a new, Top-10, national professional services firm with $1.4 billion in revenue, setting the stage for a national growth strategy. With complementary operations, geographies and nearly two centuries of legacy…
Banking
FMI Capital Advisors Releases 2022 Construction Materials Outlook
FMI Capital Advisors, a leading investment banking firm for companies that work and invest in the built environment, released its 2022 Construction Materials (CM) Outlook report entitled, “Seizing the Opportunities Ahead.” The report provides a brief recap of last year’s M&A activity and summarizes key drivers and challenges for the CM industry in 2022 and…
BB&T Reinforces Commitment to Eastern North Carolina
BB&T Corporation (NYSE : BBT ) announced it will build an approximately 95,000-square-foot office facility on Pine Street in downtown Wilson, N.C. The new $35 million building will accommodate 650 BB&T associates who are currently working in the twin buildings at 223 West Nash St. or elsewhere in Wilson. BB&T expects to begin site work on…
Infintech Is CFMA’s Newest Affinity Program Partner
The Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) is proud to introduce its newest Affinity Program Partner, Infintech. Ranked as one of Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies, Infintech specializes in business-to-business and construction payment processing. Offering cutting-edge technologies and equipment, at the best prices, Infintech clients can then offer the convenient, secure payment options their customers need….
Diversity & Inclusion
CAGC Wins Diversity and Inclusion Award from AGC of America
Carolinas AGC was once again a winner at the AGC of America Chapter Awards Dinner last week, taking home the Diversity and Inclusion Award. Last year, the CAGC Chapter received both the Public Relations and Workforce Development awards, and three years ago won the Chapter of the Year Award. CAGC was honored by AGC of…
FMI Partners with the United States Minority Contractors Association (USMCA) to Help Improve Members’ Operations and Strategic Planning
FMI Corporation, a leading consulting and investment banking firm serving the built environment, announces a strategic partnership with the U.S. Minority Contractors Association (USMCA), a nonprofit that helps and advocates for minority business owners, contractors and subcontractors. FMI will serve as a strategic partner and consultant to USMCA, helping the association expand member services and…
Carolinas AGC Celebrates Women in Construction
Carolinas AGC (CAGC) was proud once again to celebrate Women in Construction Week, which extended from March 8 – March 12, 2021. In addition to launching targeted advertisements which showcased the benefits of careers in construction for women, CAGC also launched a three-part CAGC Buildercast podcast series, We Were Built for This, highlighting the impact that women have on…
Finance / Bonding
BuildersRisk.Net Insurance Succeeds Sells 2554 Policies During 2021
The construction segment has faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, from supply chain disruptions and material shortages to social distancing requirements and sick workers. After a turbulent market in 2020, certain lines of business are experiencing some stabilization. However, 2021 was a banner year for the construction industry, and until today, consumer appetite for new…
Built Helps Construction Lenders Manage Risk with Project Pro
Built Technologies (Built), the fastest growing construction finance platform in the U.S., today announced Project Pro, the first-of-its-kind contractor management and project monitoring solution for lenders. Construction lenders around the world are limited in their ability to monitor and manage the risks of their construction portfolio. They often lack specialized tools built for construction financing that…
Flexbase Announces First-Ever Credit Card for Construction Industry
Flexbase, the automated payment platform for contractors and the construction industry that delivers faster and more efficient payments, announced the first-ever credit card specifically for construction companies, targeting small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Flexbase Card is available immediately nationwide, offering up to 60 days interest-free credit and numerous other benefits. “For years, slow payments and…
Government Affairs
CAGC Delegation Lobbies Carolinas Congressional Delegation for Construction Support at NCLC
Last week CAGC leaders, including members and staff, met in Washington, D.C. with Congressional Delegations from the Carolinas to urge their support of infrastructure and Career Technical Education (CTE) funding, and to oppose mandatory Project Labor Agreements pushed by unions, burdensome Buy America provisions that will create unnecessary red tape and proposed heat standards that…
President Biden’s Inflationary PLA Schemes Hurt Taxpayers and Construction Job Creators
Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement in response to the publication of a proposed rule, Federal Acquisition Regulation: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, implementing President Biden’s Executive Order 14063, which requires federal construction contracts of $35 million or more to be subjected to controversial project labor agreements. “The Biden administration continues…
New Federal Project Labor Agreement Rule Will Prevent Most Firms From Bidding on Federal Construction Projects and Hurt Minority Firms
The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, released the following statement in response to the release of new federal rules that will soon require procurement officials to impose project labor agreements for federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more: “Today’s proposed rules requiring procurement officials to impose project…
Human Resources
Aon: U.S. Employer Health Care Costs Projected to Increase 6.5 Percent Next Year
Average costs for U.S. employers that pay for their employees’ health care will increase 6.5 percent to more than $13,800 per employee in 2023, according to Aon (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm. This projection is more than double the 3 percent increase to health care budgets which employers experienced from 2021 to 2022; but is…
What Your Gen Z Employees Want
For the most part, the world has Gen X and millennials figured out. As two prominent generations, there is abundant research about how they behave socially and professionally. And at this point, we have been able to see how these studies fare. By 2017, 33% of the workforce was Gen X and 35% of the…
Team Engagement and Collaboration in a Hybrid World
Over the last couple of years, employees have experienced unprecedented stress from external sources including significant losses or changes, health issues, social division and more, all while managing their personal and professional obligations. As a result, employment expectations for both employers and their employees have shifted and will continue to change. Work View Shifts One…
Leadership
ING Tour Stops with “Antarctic Mike” Pierce
GroundBreak Carolinas is pleased to promote a series of exciting speaking events sponsored by the Industrial Networking Group (ING). Speaker, author and coach “Antarctic Mike” Pierce will be visiting the Carolinas and Georgia to share his inspirational story. Antarctic Mike brings very high energy to his programs and knows how to tell stories that will…
Communication Skills of Top Leaders
Do you struggle with communicating effectively? Communication is a critical part key part of success in the construction industry and in other parts of your life. The top leaders and best communicators have practiced and mastered the skills that enable them to communicate so effectively. You too can learn these same skills! Follow these strategies…
Your First 100 Days
Each time a new President moves into the Oval Office there is considerable discussion, anticipation and focus on the first 100 days in office. New Presidents seek to set the tone of their administration and begin to implement the platform and agenda on which they campaigned. The approach also applies to construction businesses. What will the…
Legal
Elmore Goldsmith Kelley & deHoll Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for 2022
The law firm of Elmore Goldsmith Kelley & deHoll is pleased to announce that the firm’s attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for 2022: L. Franklin “Frank” Elmore: Construction Law and Litigation–Construction Mason A. “Andy” Goldsmith, Jr.: Construction Law and Litigation–Construction Bryan P. Kelley: Construction Law…
Elmore Goldsmith Kelley & deHoll, P.A. Recognized as South Carolina ‘Super Lawyers’
South Carolina ‘Super Lawyers’ Five attorneys from Elmore Goldsmith Kelley & deHoll have been named by South Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine for 2021. Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice and less than five percent of lawyers in each state are selected to this exclusive list. Attorneys recognized as Super…
Elmore Goldsmith Kelley & deHoll, P.A. and Attorneys Recognized by U.S. News- Best Lawyers® 2021
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® released the 2021 “Best Law Firms” rankings and Elmore Goldsmith Kelley & deHoll, P.A. has been recognized in four areas. For the Greenville metropolitan area, the firm has received tier one rankings for Construction Law, Litigation–Construction, Litigation–Securities, and Commercial Litigation. Firms included in this eleventh edition are recognized for professional…
Management
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. Fell Further in July
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. decreased by 0.4 percent in July 2022 to 116.6 (2016=100), after declining by 0.7 percent in June. The LEI was down by 1.6 percent over the six-month period from January to July 2022, a reversal from its 1.6 percent growth over the previous six months. “The US LEI declined for a…
2022 Starts with Strong Job Growth
Today’s jobs report showed a better-than-expected increase in the number of jobs in January. Disruptions related to the Omicron variant do not seem to have derailed continued progress in the labor market. However, headwinds for employers persist, as labor shortages are still severe and economic activity remains healthy. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 467,000 in…
FMI Releases 2022 Engineering and Construction Industry Overview and First Quarter Outlook
FMI Corporation, the leading provider of consulting and investment banking services to the built environment, released the 2022 Engineering and Construction Industry Overview today. The report provides a comprehensive forecast for a broad range of construction and engineering segments in the U.S. and Canada for 2022. Entering 2022, FMI expects construction spending to increase by 5%. But…
Marketing
Developing Your 2023 Marketing Plan
Successful construction firms don’t view marketing as an expense, but rather a strategic approach to business. Each year we have the opportunity to refresh how we approach our business, marketplace and clients. A marketing plan is about strategic choices: which markets to target, what services to offer, how to differentiate, how to communicate and how to win….
SEO vs. Social Media Marketing – Which is Better for Your Construction Business?
With online marketing, there’s a debate raging among experts over which strategy is best to grow your construction business. Would SEO or social media marketing be the better option? Often, construction businesses will hire an SEO expert or agency to increase their visibility in the search engines without even thinking about social media and the…
A Brief Guide on Content Marketing Strategy for a Construction Business
Content marketing is a great way to subtly push your brand among consumers while offering them unconditional value. The successful content marketing with continuity also eventually improves the organic online visibility of the business. For these reasons, businesses from all sectors and niches have made content marketing an integral part of their digital promotions. However,…
Operations Management
Nick Skrobola Promoted to Project Manager at McCrory Construction
McCrory Construction announces the promotion of Nick Skrobola to Project Manager. Skrobola has a decade of construction industry experience and is currently working on a 150,000-square-foot warehouse and machine/maintenance shop in Anderson, S.C. “Nick has a can-do attitude that has served McCrory well on some of our most complex projects. He has demonstrated leadership qualities…
McCrory Construction Promotes Seth Dunnagan to Project Manager
Columbia, South Carolina — McCrory Construction announces the promotion of Seth Dunnagan to Project Manager. Over the past three years, Dunnagan has served in various project management roles for the firm’s Retail Division, managing several Walmart projects around the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee. A graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Environmental Engineering, he…
Civil Contractors Remain Optimistic About Work Volumes Leading into 2022, but Express Growing Concerns Around Skilled Worker Shortage to Handle It
The latest issue of the Civil Quarterly (TCQ) from Dodge Data & Analytics reveals that most civil contractors are optimistic about the volume of work they expect in 2021 and 2022, and they anticipate both revenue and profit margin increases for their companies as a result. However, that optimism is overshadowed by increasing concerns around skilled worker shortages, including an…
Risk Management
Sandra Johnson Promoted to Director of Operations for Owens Insurance Agency, Specialists in Serving Contractors
Owens Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency with a 70-year presence in the Upstate, has promoted Sandra Johnson, CISR, INS, SM, to Director of Operations. Johnson serves as the point of contact for the agency’s carriers and is responsible for overseeing the agency’s administrative functions. She is based in Owens Insurance’s home office in Greer,…
Chad Hannon Promoted to Market President for Owens Insurance Agency, Specialists in Serving Contractors
Owens Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency with a 70-year presence in the Upstate region of South Carolina, has promoted Chad Hannon, CLCS, to Market President for the agency’s home office in Greer, South Carolina. In this role, Hannon will focus on continuing to grow the commercial side of the business, which accounts for about…
Latium Technologies and Aon Revolutionizing Construction Risk Management
Latium Technologies and Aon plc today announced a strategic alliance to introduce Latium’s Job Site Insights® (JSI®) Internet of Things (IoT) application and suite of products as a foundational risk mitigation tool for contractors and owners. The alliance between Latium Technologies and Aon brings industry-leading technology to more contractors and owners, so they can prevent incidents before they…
Strategy
The Wooten Company Opens New Winston-Salem Regional Office
The Wooten Company, an engineering consulting firm celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, announced on Monday that it has opened a new Regional Office in the Old Salem Historic District of downtown Winston-Salem, NC. Overseen by Regional Manager John Grey, PE, the office was previously located in Asheboro, NC, from where it served the towns,…
Integrated Delivery – Why Is It?
Integrated delivery is a delivery method that embraced 360 degree collaboration between all the stakeholders on a project; including designers, consultants, general contractor, subcontractor, vendors, and yes the owner. Design-build (DB) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) are two examples of integrated delivery. There are numerous differences between the various contract forms of both DB and…
Should You Get Out of the Contracting Business?
That may seem like a strange resolution for a contractor. However, it might be the best advice you ever receive. How many people do you think wake up in the morning and say to themselves, “I can’t wait to hire a contractor today?” If you do service work, it’s even worse. No one wakes up…
More Business
CAGC Wins Diversity and Inclusion Award from AGC of America
Carolinas AGC was once again a winner at the AGC of America Chapter Awards Dinner last week, taking home the Diversity and Inclusion Award. Last year, the CAGC Chapter received both the Public Relations and Workforce Development awards, and three years ago won the Chapter of the Year Award. CAGC was honored by AGC of…
Hard Hats with Heart
Did you know that 1 in 25 construction industry workers are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease? Cardiovascular disease impacts everyone, but the American Heart Association specifically recognizes the higher prevalence in the construction industry. 1 in 4 construction workers struggle with being overweight. 1 in 4 construction workers are tobacco users. 1 in 4 construction workers…
Construction Employment Grows In 246 Of 358 Metro Areas From August 2021 To 2022 But Record Openings Show Firms Want To Add More Workers
Construction employment increased in 246 or 69 percent of 358 metro areas between August 2021 and August 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. But association officials noted the job gains likely would have been higher if firms could find more qualified people to hire and train. “While…
Survey: 97% of ABC Contractors Say Biden’s Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreement Policies Would Make Federal Construction More Expensive
According to a September 2022 survey of ABC contractor members published today, 98% oppose President Biden’s proposed rule mandating project labor agreements on federal construction projects of $35 million or more. PLA schemes needlessly increase costs and exacerbate the construction industry’s skilled labor shortage because they exclude almost nine out of 10 workers from participating in these contracts. “The overwhelming opposition to PLA…
