Accounting
DHG Webinar: The CARES Act and Its Impact on the Construction & Real Estate Industry
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law March 27, 2020 which includes a significant number of tax and other provisions designed to support businesses and individuals impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Join DHG on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, for a Webinar discussion of CARES Act implications for your organization and next…
Cash is King – Construction and Real Estate Concerns in the COVID-19 World
We are certainly living in uncertain and unusual times; however, there are sound methods that contractors, developers and property managers can use to preserve cash, speed up the cash collection process, delay payments and seek optimal options for debt. Such options for construction and real estate entities are listed below. 1. Small Business Association (SBA)…
Be Alert for Scams During Challenging Times
Content contributed by Brightworth Financial As you read this, you’ve probably been bombarded with news about financial markets, lockdowns, and public health. While the current environment provides a time for us to connect with others to give comfort, others see an opportunity to leverage a crisis to exploit people through scams. In the last few…
Banking
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….
FMI Advises Enovity on Sale to Veolia
FMI Capital Advisors Inc., a subsidiary of FMI Corporation, is pleased to announce the sale of Enovity, a San Francisco-based energy services firm, to Veolia North America. FMI Capital Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Enovity for this transaction. Enovity is a strategic acquisition that complements Veolia’s existing SourceOne energy services business. Investing…
Finance / Bonding
Cherry Bekaert Expands Credits & Incentives Resources and Capabilities with Acquisition of the Tax Advantage Group
Cherry Bekaert LLP (“the firm”) announced the acquisition of the Tax Advantage Group (“TAG”), a specialized consulting firm that provides New Markets Tax Credit (“NMTC”) services to clients across the country. Based in Greenville, SC. TAG will now operate as Tax Advantage Group by Cherry Bekaert, and will bring six experienced professionals to Cherry Bekaert’s Credits…
Improving the Budget Process for Your Business
Budgeting may be considered a great equalizer among businesses of all types: at the end of the fiscal year, we all measure and analyze the previous year, as well as plan accurately for the next year with goals aligned to a strategic plan. However, the process leaves many businesses frustrated as they struggle with what…
Business Owners View 401(k)s as Advantageous, Yet Struggle to Communicate Benefits to Employees
It won’t come as a surprise that business owners view 401(k)s as advantageous both for their business and their employees. Yet, despite business owners seeing the advantages of 401(k)s, a gap exists in understanding how to effectively communicate 401(k) benefits to employees, according to a new survey from Nationwide. And with the Bureau of Labor…
Government Affairs
AGC Supports Legislation Allowing 15 Year Depreciation of Commercial Property Improvements
Error in 2017 Legislation Set Timeline at 39 Years, Forcing Many Property Owners to Delay or Reconsider Planned Improvements and Putting Future Demand for Construction At Risk The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, released the following statement in support of the new, bipartisan, Restoring Investment in Improvements…
Legislation Introduced to Address Temporary Worker Issues in Construction
Construction Official Urges Congress to Act on Proposed New Legislation Introduced by Congressmen Francis Rooney & Lloyd Smucker that Will Establish First-Ever Temporary Visa Program for Construction The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, urged Congress to act quickly on the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act that…
GroundBreaker: U.S. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
People make the construction industry what it is today. GroundBreak Carolinas is excited to share the story of yet another member of the inaugural class of GroundBreakers – individuals who are shaping our industry in a variety of ways. A longtime supporter of workforce development initiatives, North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is having an impact on the…
Human Resources
Considerations for Building a Better Coaching Culture
Many organizations ask an all too common question: “How can we help our employees improve their performance while nurturing and developing their long-term strengths?” The answer may be found in building a coaching culture that aligns uniquely to your organization. Unlike traditional mentoring (manager explains to team member his or her own personal experiences in…
How to Successfully Find and Retain Ideal Construction Employees
According to recent statistical data1, due to the booming economy in the U.S., there are more job openings in construction than there are people to fill those jobs. In addition more people are leaving their jobs than ever before 2. The evidence is clear – keeping your best employees has become more important than ever,…
It’s Time to Re-Think the Annual Performance Review Process
Whether the reviewer or reviewee, very few people enjoy annual performance reviews. For the reviewer, providing a performance review is a large responsibility. To conduct one properly requires a significant amount of planning and work. Reviewers must think back over a full year as they consider an employee’s actual performance. They should have a written…
Leadership
The Essential Soft Skills All Construction Workers Need
In the construction industry, laborers are used to hauling materials, managing equipment, and doing the heavy lifting. A great construction worker is used to showing their hard skills on the job site. But what about those all-important soft skills? The talents that land you your next job and help you be the go-to guy on…
The Importance of Happiness and Gratitude
Leaders from across Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP (DHG) gathered for our annual partner meeting earlier this fall. This event is an opportunity for us to come together as ONE DHG to re-energize, learn from one another, and hear from incredible speakers. As part of the meeting, we were honored to feature New York Times bestselling author, Shawn Achor,…
Life Coach, Xulon Press Author Releases Book on Living Without Limits
Within the pages of Tim Hart’s new book, Breaking Free: Life without Limits ($14.49, paperback, 9781545648070; $5.99, ebook, 9781545648087), readers will find a book about finding out how life can be more than merely existing. “What you do and how you live your life should make you feel fulfilled and feel that your contribution to…
Legal
Will Construction Return or is this the “New Normal?”
We will return to normal, but no one knows when. Government officials walk a timing tightrope. Open too soon and the virus might return with a vengeance. Open too late and the economic system might collapse. According to recent polls, people remain content with the lockdown for the time being. Support for the status quo will…
Elmore Goldsmith Attorneys Recognized as South Carolina ‘Super Lawyers’
Five attorneys from Elmore Goldsmith have been named by South Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine for 2020. 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. Elmore Goldsmith attorneys recognized as Super Lawyers are: L. Franklin Elmore…
Are You (Really) Indemnified…?
Indemnification clauses run a close third for “Most Tortured Interpretations” in the history of the written word, just behind the United States Constitution and the lyrics to The Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus.” One would think that, by now, a razor-sharp indemnification clause would exist such that it would become essentially boilerplate language, with a…
Management
Business Lessons from a Professional Athlete
We use sports analogies often in the business world. Winning comes from motivation and determination. Practicing hard and focusing on the details will lead us to victory. Never give up until the game is over. The phrases could go on. But very rarely do those of us in business consider the possibility that a practicing…
Construction Employment Rises in 45 States
Forty-five states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between July 2017 and July 2018, while 29 states and D.C. added construction jobs between June and July, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials cautioned that continued job gains may depend on…
DOL Announces New Pilot Program to Expedite Resolution of Wage Violations
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has announced a new nationwide pilot program, the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, which facilitates resolution of potential overtime and minimum wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The program’s primary objectives are to resolve such claims expeditiously and without litigation, to improve employers’ compliance with…
Marketing
Marketing During COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the economy, businesses in the construction industry face dynamic challenges. Many firms are tightening their belts and cutting expenditures. During challenging economic times, communicating with prospects and clients is more important than ever. While activity has slowed, companies still need resources, solutions, information, products, and services provided by…
Developing Your 2020 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….
Content Marketing
As traditional marketing methods continue to decline in effectiveness and return on investment, content marketing is increasing becoming an effective tool for lead generation, client engagement, and thought leadership. GroundBreak Carolinas was established as a content marketing platform serving the design and construction communities in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Content marketing is a strategic…
Operations Management
9 Tips for Construction Business Owners Looking to Optimize Their Business
Every year there are lists of construction business owners making billions of dollars while others go out of business. Running a business is hard, and it’s even harder in an industry like construction. However, many of these top performing construction businesses have a series of tips and tricks they’ve learned to run a business successfully….
New Website for Outer Banks Pool & Landscape Designer Makes a Splash
Outer Banks Media (OBX Media), a North Carolina-based digital marketing agency specializing in website design, search engine optimization and internet marketing, announces the completion of a website redesign for their client, Southern Scapes Pool & Landscape Design (Southern Scapes). Southern Scapes has been in business since 1998, and is a family owned business specializing in pool…
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…
Risk Management
Catalyst Expands Product Offerings, Launches Commercial Insurance Division
Charlotte-based Catalyst Surety Partners, LLC (Catalyst), with plans to open a Columbia office in April, recently announced the formal launch of a commercial insurance division. Since the agency’s founding in 2014, Catalyst’s singular aim has been to help contractors succeed. To date Catalyst has worked to live up to that aspiration by providing just one…
2020 Insurance Market Review and Forecast
Change. Transformation. A touch of chaos. Sentinel’s 2020 Insurance Market Forecast reads like a good suspense thriller. And like all great books do, this one ends with the good guys (that’s you, commercial insurance consumer) coming out on top. Provided, of course, that your business’s risk management house is in order. Download Report
McDonald York Named Safety Lightkeeper of the Year
Sentinel Risk Advisors this week announced that McDonald York Building Company, a Raleigh-based construction firm with deep roots and a storied history, is the recipient of the risk management firm’s Lightkeeper Award, an annual recognition of clients that have elevated safety and loss control programs to superior standards. Sentinel’s Chief Operating Officer, Nicole Winkle, said…
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
InSite Consulting Expands Leadership Team, Adds Jerry Howard as President
Economic development professional Jerry Howard has been named President of Greenville (S.C.)-based InSite Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive site assessment/site selection and economic development services to clients around the world. This significant addition to InSite’s leadership team was announced this week by company founders and owners, Tonya Crist and Rob Cornwell. “Bringing Jerry on…
Drop in April Construction Input Prices Could Help Stabilize Nonresidential Construction Sector, Says ABC
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2020 — Construction input prices fell 4.4% in April from the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices declined 4.2% for the month. Among 11 subcategories, nine experienced monthly price declines. All three energy…
ECS Welcomes Walid Sobh Construction Group Manager in Charlotte
ECS is pleased to announce that Walid Sobh, PE has joined the firm as a Construction Group Manager for the Charlotte, NC office. Sobh has more than 19 years of experience working for ECS and over 25 years of experience in subsurface exploration for shallow and deep foundations, pile installations, Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) testing, construction materials testing,…
How to Deal with (and Prevent) Commercial Construction Delays
As nearly anyone who works in commercial construction will tell you, delays are a big problem in the industry. How big? A McKinsey study found that a staggering 98 percent of megaprojects (those with budgets over $1 billion) faced cost overruns or delays. Another study found that 60 percent of construction cost overruns at all budgetary levels are due…
