Apprenticeships
Ronny Gillespie: Teaching the Next Generation of Electricians
With a passion for problem-solving and a heart for teaching, project manager Ronny Gillespie is living in his “sweet spot.” By day, Gillespie manages construction projects for Walker & Whiteside, a leading design-build electrical contractor in Greenville, S.C. After hours, he “pays it forward” as an instructor for the rigorous, four-year Upstate South Carolina Electrical…
Upstate S.C. Electrical Apprenticeship Program Celebrates Four Newly Registered Electricians
Four newly registered electricians were lauded by their employer, course instructors and industry peers at a private graduation ceremony in Greenville, S.C., on Friday, September 6, 2019. The celebration recognized the group’s successful completion of a rigorous four-year, electrical apprenticeship program registered with the S.C. Department of Labor. The Upstate Electrical Apprenticeship Program is a partnership among…
ABC Carolinas Chapter Recognizes Class of 2019 Apprenticeship & Craft Training Graduates
Charlotte, NC — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Carolinas Chapter celebrated the graduating Class of 2019 for the Chapter’s Apprenticeship & Craft Training Program by hosting the ceremony at the Charlotte Knights baseball game on Thursday, June 6, 2019. Included in the festivities was a Keynote Address by Kathryn Castelloes, ApprenticeshipNC Director, and the pre-game…
Recruiting
How SCAPA is Recruiting Road Construction Workers
Deemed an essential service, the asphalt paving industry continues to work to maintain South Carolina’s roads during the COVID-19 crisis. Ashley Batson is executive director of the SC Asphalt Pavement Association (SCAPA), a non-profit trade association representing the asphalt pavement producers in South Carolina, as well as the suppliers to the industry. Batson details the various…
FlexJobs’ Survey Explores Varying Workplace Attitudes of Millennials and Older Workers
FlexJobs released new insights from its August 2018 survey, which gathered responses from over 3,000 workers about key topics related to career, work flexibility, and workplace issues. FlexJobs specifically analyzed and compared responses from members of the millennial generation with those who identified with the baby boomer or silent generation to uncover differences and similarities…
Construction Employment Increases, Despite Challenges Finding Talent
Construction employment increased in 256 out of 358 metro areas between April 2017 and April 2018, declined in 63 and was unchanged in 39, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that the data showed a continuation of strong labor demand…
Safety
CrewMinders Launches Platform Designed to Rapidly Communicate Health and Safety Messages to Frontline Workers
CrewMinders, the Atlanta based technology firm empowering organizations to improve communications and compliance, announces the launch of its new platform to help clients develop world-class safety cultures. CrewMinders is optimizing the way employers communicate with hourly employees through simple, elegant, and rapidly deployable tools that ensure employees are safe, healthy, and informed. With CrewMinders, companies can transform…
Safety Best Practices Can Make Construction Companies 827% Safer
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2020 — Associated Builders and Contractors today released its 2020 Safety Performance Report, an annual assessment that furthers the construction industry’s understanding of how to achieve world-class safety through its STEP Safety Management System. Published in conjunction with National Safety Month, the report documents the dramatic impact of using proactive safety practices to reduce recordable…
Wayne Brothers Celebrates Historic Safety Milestone
Wayne Brothers Companies (WB) has made company history by reaching two million hours without a lost-time accident. Based in Davidson, N.C., Wayne Brothers is a specialty contractor with over 500 employees offering Concrete Construction, Civil & Infrastructure, and Industrial Contracting services throughout the Southeast. This significant industry achievement, officially reached on April 17, 2020, is…
Training
Duke Energy Awards $3.2 million to Innovative Education Programs
Duke Energy announcedit is awarding $3.2 million in grants to support 131 innovative K-12 education programs across the communities served by the company. “Bright futures begin in the classroom, and every child deserves a fair chance at academic success,” said Cari Boyce, president of the Duke Energy Foundation. “The grants we are making today are…
NCCER Releases New Construction Superintendent Certification Program
NCCER has released a new superintendent assessment and is partnering with FMI® to offer a joint certification to qualified professionals in the superintendent field. The assessment was developed in conjunction with subject matter experts for professionals whose primary role is to oversee the operations of a construction site from planning to completion. This joint certification…
Kirlin Holds Mechanical Systems Seminar for GC Interns and Early Career Employees in Carolinas
The Carolinas offices of Kirlin hosted a total of five “lunch & learns” in Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C., and Greenville, S.C., attended by over 150 general contractor interns and early career employees. The purpose was to learn more about the mechanical trade and how Kirlin remains at the forefront of mechanical systems, technology and products. …
Veterans Programs
ABC, USVBA Agree to Promote Veteran Construction Businesses
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the U.S. Veterans Business Alliance (USVBA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on expanding the participation of veteran and disabled veteran businesses in the merit shop construction industry. “ABC members are committed to achieving a fully inclusive and culturally competent workforce that is welcoming to all people,…
Making the Move from Military to Industry
I’ll admit, I’m in awe of the range of skills our veterans are learning in the military—from pipefitting to heavy equipment operation—and the connection to our industry. It seems like it would be a natural transition from the military to industry but it can be complicated. Terminology in skill levels and jobs are just a…
A Month For Heroes
November is a month that we traditionally try to give thanks and acknowledge the good in our lives. We get together with friends and family; we cook big meals or find a quiet restaurant; we share something we’re thankful for each day on social media; and we hope that we’re able to sneak home leftover…
More Workforce
Carolinas AGC Embraces Inclusiveness, Encourages Members to Take “Culture of Care” Pledge
Carolinas AGC (CAGC) is excited to share information about a new national AGC initiative intended to help make the construction industry environment an even better place to work. Culture of CARE, a joint initiative of AGC of America and AGC of Washington in Spring 2020, is challenging leaders to take a bold and visible step toward ensuring their…
CrewMinders Launches Platform Designed to Rapidly Communicate Health and Safety Messages to Frontline Workers
CrewMinders, the Atlanta based technology firm empowering organizations to improve communications and compliance, announces the launch of its new platform to help clients develop world-class safety cultures. CrewMinders is optimizing the way employers communicate with hourly employees through simple, elegant, and rapidly deployable tools that ensure employees are safe, healthy, and informed. With CrewMinders, companies can transform…
Duke Energy Invests More Than $240,000 in Programs to Build Energy Industry Workforce in South Carolina
The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded more than $240,000 in grants to five South Carolina organizations focused on building and enhancing strategic engineering initiatives that will help grow the energy industry’s workforce of tomorrow. “We have a long history of targeting investments to have the greatest impact for our communities,” said Mike Callahan, South Carolina state president for Duke Energy. “This year…
“She Built This City” Prepares to Take Construction Training into Charlotte Community
Charlotte-based She Built This City is a non-profit organization committed to sparking interest in construction and the maker trades for women and girls ages 9-17. After 20 years in the construction industry, founder Demi Knight Clark, found herself tired of being the only woman in the room. With that in mind, she launched She Built…
