GroundBreak Carolinas is launching a new series of short guest commentaries on important topics like workforce development, safety and the economy. Our first contributor is Demi Knight Clark, a former, long-time residential construction executive and founder of “She Built This City,” a Charlotte-based non-profit solely dedicated to “Sparking interest in construction and maker trades for…
NAWIC Columbia’s Block Kids Building Competition Encourages Creativity in Construction
On a Saturday morning in mid-January a group of women from the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in Columbia, S.C., were thrilled to host students from kindergarten through sixth grade for the local 2020 Block Kids competition. Each year, NAWIC members in Columbia join their counterparts across the country by participating in the…
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
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…
Spotlight on David Lynn: Founder and President, Peak Safety Performance
Peak Safety Performance is a regional safety consulting firm based in Greenville, South Carolina. Performance minded and character driven, the company’s approach is simple and intentional; Peak’s expert safety consultants help companies build a successful safety culture through strategic planning, performance improvement, and leadership development. Owner and President David Lynn founded Peak Safety Performance in…
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….
Scope of Work Changes Leading Cause of Construction Disputes
Changes to a construction project’s scope of work was identified as the most frequent contributor to disagreements between owners and contractors according to a report by HKA, a leading construction claims and dispute resolution firm. The company recently released: 2019 CRUX Insight, A Global Market Sector Analysis into claims and dispute causation factors. HKA publishes…
Eleven Things to Know About Workplace Violence Insurance
Acts of violence are carried out at workplaces across the U.S. at a staggering rate every year. In fact, nearly 2 million Americans will fall victim to abuse, injury, trauma or death by the end of 2019. The enormity of that fact bears repeating: Two million American workers, and the businesses that employ them, will…
North Carolina Construction Outlook
While racking up thousands of miles driving throughout the Carolinas, it’s amazing how much construction work is going on these days with building, highway-heavy and utility work. Construction workers and often clogged highways are everywhere at a time when one of our biggest challenges is attracting more people into our excellent construction industry. The U.S….
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,…
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Working from Home? How TPM Can Help Autodesk Users Remotely
Many Autodesk users require the ability to work remotely. Businesses are asking questions about how to prepare and implement a strategy so they can successfully enable remote work with Autodesk software. This article covers installation and use of standalone installations, multi-user network access, and finally some options for working with the project data. Leveraging these solutions…
Evolving Women in AEC: Teri Canada, Principal, EVOKE Studio
EVOKE Studio Architecture is a Durham, NC-based design practice specializing in award-winning architecture, visioning, and master planning. EVOKE’s architects and designers rely on the communicative power of architecture to unearth, perpetuate and translate a project’s enduring message into a remarkable, bespoke design. Co-founder and Architecture Principal Teri Canada, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, was one of…
Guest Commentary: “Selling” Plumbing/HVAC Careers to Our Youth
GroundBreak Carolinas is always looking for industry experts to weigh-in on important topics such as workforce development, safety and the economy. Kathie Blackwell is director of field recruitment & development for J.A. Croson, LLC, one of the Southeast’s premier mechanical contracting firms with an office in Charlotte and a growing presence in both Carolinas. Blackwell…
Davis & Floyd Begins New Chapter, Launches Refreshed Website
Davis & Floyd celebrated its 65th year in business in 2019. According to CEO Stephen L. Davis, the primary drive for the company has always been to lead the way and stay out in front of the world of design and engineering. While other companies came and went over the past six decades, Davis &…
