Houston Contractors Association members worked with the office of Houston Mayor Annise Parker and the city�s Dept. of Neighborhood Protection to remove 99 abandoned and hazardous structures on May 21. Launched in 2010, Mayor Parker�s Demo Day is a one-day concentrated effort to rid neighborhoods of abandoned and dangerous buildings that often serve as havens for drugs, prostitution and other criminal activity. This year�s effort extended beyond one day to include the demolition of about 300 additional derelict structures over the summer months. This second batch of demolitions is being carried out by city contractors once the buildings have undergone asbestos abatement. The demolitions are funded by voter-approved bonds and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone funds specifically earmarked for this purpose. These dollars cannot be spent on other city budgetary needs such as payroll. This year�s estimated demolitions total $1.7 million. Pictured top, Mayor Parker (right) gets a few pointers on operating an excavator. Pictured above, a crew demolishes one of the city�s 99 derelict buildings during the May 21 Demo Day.

Photo Courtesy of Houston Contractors Association

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District was recognized on Aug. 1 at the USACE Summer Leaders Conference in New Orleans for outstanding achievement in professional excellence and for the Corps� construction efforts to reduce risk for the people of the greater New Orleans area. Pictured, Kevin Wagner (center), senior project manager for West Closure Complex, receives the USACE Project Manager of the Year Award from Major General Bo Temple (left), USACE Acting Chief of Engineers, and Col. Ed Fleming, commander USACE New Orleans District. Wagner�s West Closure Complex team won the USACE Innovation of the Year Award. The West Closure Complex is one of the largest and most complex projects ever constructed by the Corps. Not pictured, John Hess from Task Force Hope won top honors as the USACE Program Manager of the Year for his oversight of the $14.6-billion Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.

Photo Courtesy of USACE, Paul Floro

The AGC Texas Building Branch held its annual convention on June 19-22 at Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin. Pictured are winners of the AGC Safety Excellence Awards, representing Andres Construction, Barrett Building, Brookstone, Builtright Construction, Fretz Construction, Fulton Construction, Linbeck Group, MEDCO Construction, Miner-Dederick Constructors, RBR Construction, SeTEX Construction, Steele & Freeman, Structura Inc., Turner Construction and Zachary Construction.

Photo Courtesy of AGC Texas Building Branch

Hardin Construction Co. organized a Homes for Our Troops community home-build in Marion, Texas, on July 15-17. The team constructed a specially designed home for U.S. Army Specialist Craig Andrade (front) and his family. Andrade suffered severe injuries in Iraq when his platoon was hit with the blast of an improvised explosive device while on patrol near Baghdad in 2005. Also pictured are Hardin Construction superintendents Jack Barfield and Terry Davis and Hardin�s lead project manager, Matt Hoglund.

Photo Courtesy of Hardin Construction Co.

Louisiana Associated General Contractors celebrated its 25th Annual Summer Conference in Destin, Fla., July 6�10. The conference featured a varied program, offering education and networking sessions. Stephen Sandherr, AGC of America CEO, delivered a state of the association update.

Photo Courtesy of Louisiana AGC

Associated General Contractors San Antonio Chapter held its Midyear Economic Forum at the San Antonio Airport Hilton on July 11. Pictured left to right are Mario Hernandez, president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, Ken Simonson, AGC chief economist, and T.J. Rogers, AGC San Antonio Chapter president and vice president of estimating at Bartlett Cocke General Contractors.

Photo Courtesy of AGC San Antonio Chapter

Fourteen member companies of the Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Houston Chapter received the 2011 Diamond STEP Award, ABC�s highest honor recognizing safety programs that demonstrate a commitment to safety. Awards are given to contractors that have achieved low experience modifier rates for on-the-job accidents. Pictured are Neil Adams (right), ABC Greater Houston chairman, with award winners Geoff Pospisil (left), director of safety at W.T. Byler Co., and Wendell Rychlik, director of business development at W.T. Byler Co.

Photo Courtesy of ABC Greater Houston Chapter