The Value of Vocational Education
Just recently, I attended a graduation awards ceremony for the construction management and technology department of a large university. I had the honor of saying a few words to the students, their family members and faculty, and then introducing the keynote speaker. This ceremony included a dinner, and I was seated at the head table…
Construction Contract Disputes are Getting Longer, More Complex
A new report released by Arcadis reveals that although the value of construction disputes in North America dropped for the fourth consecutive year, the average time taken to resolve these disputes increased in 2017, far exceeding the global average. The report, entitled “Does the construction industry learn from its mistakes?”, provides insight into the causes,…
Overcoming the Winner’s Curse
Winner’s curse is defined as bidding low enough to win, but regretting the results. Winner’s curse assumes the bidder (general contractors in this case) makes below normal or negative profits upon award of the work. This dilemma has plagued the construction industry for generations. I write this article to offer some contributing factors to why…
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….
Design-Build Now Delivers Nearly Half of all Projects Nationwide
Design-build used to be considered an “alternative” way to build. New research shows it’s now the fastest growing and most popular method delivering construction projects in America. Industry analysts at FMI have completed a comprehensive assessment of the nonresidential, highway/street and water/wastewater design-build construction market. This long-awaited research provides the most comprehensive look at design-build’s…
Carolina Construction Leaders Visit Washington DC
Over 25 leaders from North Carolina and South Carolina construction firms recently visited U.S. Senators and Representatives in Washington, DC. The construction leaders participated in the annual Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Legislative Conference (LegCon). “Whether you are new or well established in the political arena of lobbying, the Merit Shop Construction Industry relies on our…
Construction Employment Increases, Lack of Trained Workers Threatens Future Job Gains
Construction employment increased in 263 (73 percent) out of 358 metro areas between May 2017 and May 2018, declined in 47 (13 percent) and was unchanged in 48, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials warned that the supply of qualified workers…
Perkins Act a Step in the Right Direction for Construction Workforce Development
America is a land of opportunity, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the construction industry. It’s the classic American story where someone can start on the ground floor (literally) and work their way into a highly technical profession, or management, or entrepreneurship, or all the above. The challenge is connecting job seekers to…
Viewpoint: Let’s Unite Behind a Transportation Bill that will Sustain our Leadership Position
Fixing our nation’s transportation network requires long-term vision and a mix of funding solutions. America’s transportation system is the lifeblood of our economy, creating jobs and expanding opportunities, connecting us all to centers of commerce and neighborhoods, and securing a sound quality of life in our communities. As this system has evolved over the past…
Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta Visits NC to Learn About Construction Workforce Development
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of the Carolinas (ABC Carolinas) welcomed U.S. Secretary of Labor, R. Alexander Acosta, and Chairwoman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, to an active construction site in downtown Winston-Salem last week. Omega Construction’s Hotel Indigo project, a…
