Accounting
DHG Webinar: PPP Loan Forgiveness – Questions We’re Hearing and What We Know
At Dixon Hughes Goodman, we know there are still many questions surrounding the PPP and the Flexibility Act of 2020. With these uncertainties in mind, our team will focus on the questions, concerns and opportunities we’ve compiled from clients in the construction and real estate industry. Tune in for meaningful discussion around the PPP loan…
Senate Passes Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act of 2020
On June 3, 2020, the United States (U.S.) Senate passed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act of 2020 (Flexibility Act). The bill (H.R.7010) had previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on May 28, 2020. The bill will need to be signed by President Trump in order to become enacted. The Flexibility Act would…
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…
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
Senate Republicans’ Coronavirus Relief Measure Includes Provisions That Will Help Hard-hit Construction Firms Recover
July 27, 2020 – The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the release today of Senate Republican’s latest coronavirus relief measure, the Heals Act: “Senate Republicans have crafted a relief measure that includes a number of vital provisions that will allow…
House Approves ABC-supported Great American Outdoors Act, Which Would Create 100,000+ Construction Industry Jobs
Washington, DC – July 22, 2020 – On July 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoor Act (S. 3422/H.R. 1957), which was introduced by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), by a vote of 310-107. The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Trump. Ahead of the vote, ABC sent…
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…
Human Resources
Why My Heart is Broken: Becoming More Inclusive and Why it Matters
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If I can be honest, I debated whether or not to say something publicly about the heartbreak, anger and despair many are feeling right now, both minorities and non-minorities. Sometimes, I’ve dealt with my sadness and frustrations about what’s happening in the world right…
32 Top Interview Questions to Ask When Hiring Job Applicants (And Determine If They Are Best Fit For the Position)
A vacancy in your work team can bring on the pressure to find a highly-qualified replacement that can suitably fit the position. Can the right candidate be determined through just an interview? In your search for a candidate, coming up with the top interview questions to ask matters a lot. Preparation and creativity are needed, not just by the…
Establishing Relationships that Build an Inclusive Industry
The latest edition of CAGC’s podcast series features Patrice Gilmore, National Supplier Diversity Lead for DPR Construction and President of United Minority Contractors of North Carolina (UMCNC). Gilmore discusses what connections and relationships can do to grow and strengthen minority-owned businesses. She also discusses opportunities for our member companies to work together in mentoring relationships. Listen in!
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
Elmore Goldsmith Ranked in Construction Executive’s Top 50 Construction Law Firms™
Elmore Goldsmith has been included in Construction Executive magazine’s list of “The Top 50 Construction Law Firms” in America for 2020. To determine the 2020 ranking, Construction Executive surveyed hundreds of law firms throughout the United States with a construction practice. The ranking considered the number of construction attorneys, the percentage of the firm’s revenues…
Positioned for Growth in Construction Sector: Elmore Goldsmith Kelley & deHoll, P.A.
Greenville, S.C. – Elmore Goldsmith announces the addition of two named partners and one new associate. Bryan Kelley, who has practiced with the firm since 2009, has been recognized as a named partner. Robert A. deHoll, who recently left Fox Rothschild to join the firm, is also becoming a named partner. Alan G. Jones joins…
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…
Management
New Survey of Small Business Shows Slight Uptick in Optimism
Today, the National Small Business Association (NSBA) is releasing a new survey on how COVID-19 is impacting America’s small businesses and what they anticipate in the coming months ahead. The survey shows modest improvements in small-business confidence and economic outlook, and a lower overall impact of the pandemic. “Despite these gains in outlook, COVID-19 continues…
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…
Marketing
Mashburn Construction Grows Corporate Marketing Team
Columbia, S.C. — Mashburn Construction is pleased to announce growth and promotion within the company’s corporate marketing department. Lee Mashburn, President of Mashburn Construction says, “Despite these very difficult times, we continue to invest in our employees. To keep in line with our strategic goals, we are proud to promote Lindsey Culley to oversee our marketing efforts…
ABC Carolinas Webinar: Marketing in a Dynamic Environment
Be sure to register for this timely informational webinar on Strategic Marketing scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2020. The featured speaker is marketing expert Brian Gallagher, Vice President of Corporate Development for Graycor.
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…
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
AGC Reports Construction Spending Decreases For Fourth Consecutive Month In June As Declines In Leading Public Categories, Homebuilding Dominate Results
Washington, D.C., August 3, 2020 – Construction spending declined for the fourth consecutive month in June as decreases in single-family, highway and educational projects outweighed increases in several private nonresidential categories, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. As state and local government face budget deficits,…
JDSfaulkner Adds Land Surveying Services, Welcomes Billy DiGiacomo as Partner and Director
RALEIGH, N.C. – JDSfaulkner, a leading engineering, design and consulting firm, has expanded its service offerings to include land surveying for residential, commercial and industrial projects. To lead this new service area, the firm recently welcomed William “Billy” DiGiacomo as partner and director of surveying services. DiGiacomo, a professional land surveyor and certified floodplain surveyor, brings…
Construction Output Drops Significantly Due to COVID-19, Says ABC
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2020 — The U.S. economy contracted at an annualized rate of 32.9% during the second quarter of 2020, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Nonresidential and residential fixed investment contracted by 27.0 and 38.7%, respectively, while investment in nonresidential fixed…
Eldon Gowens Joins Carroll Daniel Construction to Lead New Greenville Business Unit
July 22, 2020 | Greenville, SC – Carroll Daniel Construction Company is expanding with a new location in Greenville, South Carolina, and Upstate construction industry veteran, Eldon Gowens, has joined the team to lead the effort. As Vice President and Division Manager, Gowens will be responsible for all aspects of Carroll Daniel’s Greenville office. Carroll…
