Construction employment increased in 139 out of 337 metropolitan areas between December 2011 and December 2012, declined in 131 and was stagnant in 65, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that growing private-sector demand for new construction projects boosted employment in a slight plurality of metro areas. “Private-sector demand for energy, health care, higher education and residential construction is having a positive impact in a growing number of metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Unfortunately, construction employment in almost as many metro
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), which represents the $725-billion equipment finance sector, recently revealed its Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2013. Given that every year U.S. businesses, nonprofits and government agencies spend more than $1.2 trillion in capital goods or fixed business investment (including software), financing more than half of those assets, these trends impact a significant portion of the U.S. economy. Businesses considering acquiring equipment this year will consider numerous end-user benefits while weighing continued uncertainty related to economic conditions and fiscal policies.The Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for are as follows.1. Corporate perceptions of the
The Utah Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America opened its 91st Annual Convention Jan. 24 at Salt Lake City’s Little America Hotel on an optimistic economic note. Photo by Brian Fryer A panel of economic experts from the public and private sector addressed AGC members at the opening of the associations 91st annual convention. From far left: Dr. Kelly Matthews, retired financial and regional market analyst for Wells Fargo Bank; Natalie Gochnour, executive vice president of Policy and Communication and chief economist for the Salt Lake Chamber; Darin Mellott, Jr., research analyst for CB Richard Ellis; panel moderator
Associated Builders and Contractors Rocky Mountain Chapter held its annual board installation on January 17 at the SpringHill Suites in Denver. More than 60 ABC members and guests attended the event. The following individuals were sworn in as the new board of directors: Chair: Jeff Erker, FCI Constructors Inc.; Chair-Elect: Brandon Berumen, LEI Cos. Inc.; Treasurer: Scott Oglesby, Bauerle & Co. PC; Secretary: Jeff Champagne, The Skilled Trades Co.; Past Chair: Bryon White, Milender White Construction Co.Directors: Sean Chenoweth, Sunstate Equipment Co. LLC; Chris Cole, Encore Electric Inc.; Steve Donnelly, RK Mechanical Inc.; Doug Grogan, Shaw Construction; Mark Medlyn, Hensel
The Utah Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors recently appointed Ron Hadley as 2013 chairman of the board. As chairman, Hadley will be responsible for the oversight of the chapter, including the board of directors and executive committee as well as policy development for the chapter and the industry. He will also serve on ABC’s National Board of Directors representing Utah’s non-residential construction industry at the national level. He will serve a one year term as chairman. Hadley has served on ABC’s Board of Directors for four years before taking the helm as chairman in 2013. In all, his
Associated General Contractors of Colorado recently announced its 2013 board of directors. AGC/C has named Hensel Phelps Construction Executive Vice President Rick Tucker as the association’s 2013 board chairman. Tucker joins a large group of industry executives who have served as AGC Colorado board chairmen over the years, including CEOs and presidents of the state’s largest general contracting firms and most recently, Dave Morrill, vice president of Concrete Frame Associates, an Aurora-based specialty contractor.The 2013 board is comprised of 30-plus senior-level professionals who guide AGC Colorado’s direction in the areas of legislative issues, education, member services and more. An eight-member
The residents of the Denver Rescue Mission now have warm showers, energy-efficient dormitories and upgraded lighting, thanks to volunteer help from the local chapter of an international engineering association. The work of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) will save the mission about a third of its annual energy costs. The project is part of the society’s 2013 Annual Conference that will take place in Denver June 22-26. Some 1,800 members are expected to attend.The chapter overhauled the Denver Rescue Mission’s aged and deteriorating systems and replaced them with systems to
The U.S. Green Building Council recently released its annual list of the top 10 states for new LEED certifications in 2012, on which Colorado ranks No. 3. The per-capita list, which recognizes states that are leading the way in transforming their buildings and communities and includes Washington, D.C., is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and reflects certifications for commercial and institutional buildings. With 62,180,180 total sq ft of LEED-certified space through 2012, Colorado certified 2.10 sq ft per resident last year, standing behind Virginia, with 3.71 sq ft, and in front of Massachusetts, with 2.05 sq ft.“Securing a spot
Multifamily construction is booming despite the slow economic recovery for commercial and single-family markets, but it is a very different market than it was 10 years ago. Like other segments of construction, the increasing number of firms in multifamily has driven profit margins down. As a result, bidding errors or unanticipated project costs, which were once part of doing business and could be absorbed within the contract price, can now wipe out all profits on a project and even threaten a company’s overall financial strength. Multifamily’s healthy backlog of work has attracted firms from both residential and commercial backgrounds. The
As a small-business CEO observed a window washer at the Atlanta airport one day, she asked what she thought was a straightforward question, “What’s the secret to window washing?” “No secret, ma’am," the window cleaner said, as he continued working. “I just focus on keeping on with my tools and my experience. I keep on going.”The master continued working with repeated, slick motions, his washer remained fixed to the glass, leaving not one smudge. And, true to his word, he kept on going.When the CEO asked what was in the blue water, the cleaning professional smiled and said, “I can’t
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