ABC Carolinas Showcases 24 Construction Careers at Charleston STEM Festival
This year represented the first time ABC of the Carolinas participated in the Charleston STEM festival, a celebration of science, technology, engineering and math in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. Now in its fifth year, the 2018 festival took place on Saturday, February 3, at Charleston’s Brittlebank Park. The outdoor event with 80 exhibitors drew…
The Top Issues Facing Construction in 2018
Several industry surveys and reports forecast continued growth in the construction industry. Albeit, the growth shows a modest 4.8% increase, different from the double-digit growth in previous years. Regardless, there is still a general sense of optimism. With continued growth and positive outlook in the construction industry, what can possible be keeping construction executives up…
Spotlight on Justin Baker of Gaylor Electric
Justin Baker is Executive Vice President with Gaylor Electric, Inc., a leading electrical contractor headquartered in Indianapolis with a major presence in the Carolinas. Baker was promoted to EVP last summer following five years as Vice President in charge of the firm’s Charlotte office, a hub location. In his expanded role, Baker has responsibility for…
2017 Construction Technology Report Released
JB Knowledge, a leader in construction technology, recently released its 2017 Construction Technology Report. The report cites how over 3,600 construction companies are utilizing technology in their business. Key Highlights from the Survey IT Spending Despite a noticeable uptick in those allocating more than 1% of their annual sales volume to IT, construction continues to budget the…
Demand for Construction Workers Remains Strong
The recent employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows growth in both public and private construction spending, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Construction added 36,000 net new jobs in January, an impressive increase of 0.5 percent on a month-over-month basis. During the past 12 months, construction has added…
State of the Union Addresses Construction Industry Issues
President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union Address last night. During the address, the President touted key programs that will have a significant impact on the construction industry. This included legislation focused on workforce development, infrastructure and immigration. “I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and…
Spotlight on Derek Clyburn, P.E., of ECS Southeast – Raleigh
Derek L. Clyburn, P.E., M.B.A. is Senior Vice President and North Region Manager for ECS Southeast, LLP — a premier provider of geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and facilities services across North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. ECS Southeast is an operating entity of Engineering Consulting Services (ECS), one of the largest and rapidly…
Construction – Top 10 List of Provisions Included in 2017 Tax Reform
The last major tax reform legislation was passed in 1986. Since then, the tax rules – Internal Revenue Code amendments, regulations, procedural guidance and court case law – have morphed into a complex system for taxpaying contractors. The recently signed bill is a significant modification to the existing system and the consensus is clear. Most…
Connecting Industry to Education in the Carolinas
With the shortage of skilled craft professionals within the construction industry estimated to be at 1.5 million by 2021, it’s no secret that recruitment needs to be a priority. It takes time to educate, train and gain competency and industry can’t postpone recruiting fresh talent, particularly with 41 percent of the experienced workforce set to…
GroundBreak Carolinas 2018 Outlook Survey Feedback
Last month, GroundBreak Carolinas asked our readers for their thoughts on 2018. While your feedback was generally positive, there were some very interesting comments. We’ve compiled some of your comments and feedback. Our editorial staff categorized your comments. Business “Medical costs continue to be a huge burden for small contractors like us. We have 60…
