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2015 PARTNERS

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ABC REPORTER SUMMER 2015

President’s Corner with Josh Tompkins First and foremost, let me welcome you to our brand new quarterly newsletter! This will be the first of its kind in a strategic campaign to enhance not only member communications, but industry communications and the growth of ABC’s profile in Central Texas. In addition to this expanded, member­focused piece, we will be sending bi­monthly update emails with information on upcoming events, training and general chapter activity as well as a quarterly ABC advocacy piece with information on state, local and national political updates. With all of the great things happening around our chapter, we are excited to be able to share them with our members and our city in much improved way. Discussing the increased focus on marketing and communications provides me with a perfect segue to introduce the newest member of the ABC family! On June 2nd, the chapter welcomed its new Marketing and Education Coordinator, Amy Grace Torres, to our team. Amy Grace comes to us from a large marketing firm in San Antonio where she gained experience in event planning and effective marketing strategies. I’m excited to say she has embraced the ABC culture and has already begun to create tremendous value for our members. Please join me in welcoming Amy Grace to the team – she can be reached at amy@abccentraltexas.org. I would also like to take the opportunity to welcome two new members of the chapter Board of Directors – Jeff Eubank of SpawGlass and Flintco’s Ryan Baker. Jeff and Ryan will both bring years of project management experience to the table from two of ABC’s most committed contractor members. Welcome, gentlemen. We’re glad to have you on board. Finally, instead of listing off recent chapter achievements and initiatives, I’d like to let this newsletter speak for itself. We hope you find the content compelling and take something valuable away with you – even if it’s just a reminder for our upcoming clay shoot. I have high hopes for this new communication campaign, but it will only get better with your feedback. If you have any input on how we can improve or what else you’d like to see, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re very much looking forward to providing our 2nd edition in the Fall. Enjoy your Summer to the fullest, and be safe out there. For the Merit Shop, Josh

Issue 1 ∙ Summer 2015 ∙ Central Texas Chapter ∙ Austin, Texas

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Share Your Best GET INVOLVED Moment

ABC member Slater Painting Company recently partnered with Sherwin Williams to donate a

complete exterior repaint for local VFW 8787.

Send in your Best Get Involved

Moment ­ Click here.

Slater Painting Company VFW painting team

Mark Butzberger, Henna Chevrolet

Member Spotlight

Rick Slater owner of Slater Painting Company shaking hands with VFW representative

ABC member Slater Painting Company recently partnered with Sherwin Williams to donate a complete exterior repaint for local VFW 8787, located off of the I­35 North frontage road between Braker Lane and Parmer Lane. The VFW has been struggling recently with limited income and deteriorating facilities that must be in compliance with City of Austin building codes in order to keep the doors open. “When we became aware of the VFW’s needs to repaint their aging building, we decided that donating an exterior paint job would be a great way to pay back some of our veterans for their contributions to our country,“ said Rick Slater, owner of Slater Painting Company. “I am sure other ABC members would be willing to help the VFW with their building needs and maybe hearing about this will encourage them to get involved.” On June 8, Slater received a plaque with a letter of appreciation. “I am proud that Slater Painting stepped up to help out our veterans. ABC members are always willing to support community projects and we are fortunate to have members like Slater Painting,” said Josh Tompkins, ABC President. If you are interested in donating any of your services to the VFW please contact Colonel Justin Buyers, VFW Quartermaster, at (512) 663­4174. The VFW currently needs flooring, doors and door frame replacements and has several electrical and lighting issues.

Testimonial “ABC events have provided me with outstanding networking and business development opportunities over the last year here in Austin. It’s great to see such increased attendance and chapter leadership is committed to excellence. It’s an exciting time to be involved with ABC.” ­ Mark Butzberger, Henna Chevrolet

Issue 1 ∙ Summer 2015 ∙ Central Texas Chapter ∙ Austin, Texas

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ABC’s Upcoming Events

7/15 ­ EIC Presentation Training

8/12 ­ Program Series: Davis­Bacon and Affordable Care Acts

8/21 ­ Fall Clayshoot

8/21 ­ EIC Project Entry and Requirements Form Deadline

10/1 ­ EIC Awards Banquet and

Ceremony

10/30 ­ Fall Golf Tournament

11/5 ­ OSHA Safety Rodeo (OSHA Partnership)

11/18 ­ Program Series: Industry

Symposium

12/3 ­ Christmas Party and Auction

Event Information

The Associated Builders and Contractors Central Texas Chapter invites your company to enter the 2015 ABC Excellence in Construction Awards competition ­ recognizing the outstanding merit shop projects of the year. Use thisapplication to enter your company’s best project(s). All award winners will be recognized at an annual Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The ceremony will feature a multi­media presentation highlighting the Eagle and Merit winners. There will be an EIC Presentation Training on Wednesday, July 15th from 2 – 3 PM at the ABC office. This training will be conducted to demonstrate

how to properly create a Project Binder. To be eligible for award consideration, the project must be completed by August 21, 2015.

Entry Requirements Each entry must follow the entry requirements outlined in this award application. You may email questions to amy@abccentraltexas.org or call 512­719­5263.

EIC Judges Needed! ABC is looking for 6 volunteers to serve as judges for the Excellence in Construction Awards this October. The time commitment will be 2 ­ 4 hours after the submission deadline of August 21st. The best candidates will be individuals not directly affiliated with the submitted projects – architects, engineers and industry associates, we’re looking at you! If you or someone you know would like to participate, please contact Amy Grace Torres at amy@abccentraltexas.org.

Issue 1 ∙ Summer 2015 ∙ Central Texas Chapter ∙ Austin, Texas

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2015 ABC Training Schedule

NCCER Safety Director Certification Course

Topics Covered Include

Developing a Safety Culture Employee Motivation Training Techniques Accident Investigation Incentive Programs JSAs Risk Analysis ES & H Data Tracking Hazard Control Tool Box Safety OSHA Inspections

September 1, 2015

Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at ABC 5 ­ 8 PM

Call chapter for pricing.

ABC Central OSHA Partnership ABC Central OSHA Partnership more than doubled in size in the first six months of 2015 Associated Builders and Contractors, Central Texas Chapter entered a Strategic Partnership with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Austin Area Office. The overall goal of the partnership is to create a relationship that focuses on preventing fatalities, controlling or eliminating serious hazards and improving the safety management system. To learn more, visit. The ABC Central Texas OSHA Partnership program is a voluntary agreement between OSHA and Central Texas companies. These companies are interested in establishing a relationship with OSHA where they are required to 1) participate in a non­enforcement annual jobsite inspection 2) submit monthly self­inspection reports and active jobsite lists 3) attend at least 75% of monthly meetings and apply for the 4) Central Texas and 5) National ABC STEP Awards.

The benefits of joining the OSHA partnership are: Safer Job Sites, Monthly Safety Related Lunch and Learn Presentations, Lower Workers Comp Modifier, Lower TRIR and Safety Professional Networking “We are very proud of the growth of the OSHA Partnership. Chairman Todd Smith has energized the committee this year by recruiting 11 new members, organizing professional presenters for our monthly OSHA Partnership Lunch and Learn Safety Series, revived the Chili BBQ Cook Off and is the driving force behind the OSHA Safety Rodeo. Many ABC members have told me that being in the OSHA Partnership is one of the primary reasons they joined ABC,” said Josh Tompkins, ABC President. Associated Builders and Contractors Central Texas Chapter OSHA Partners

Austin Sales and Scaffold JE Dunn Construction Baird­Williams Construction Kiewit Building Group

BCS Concrete Lasco Acoustical Beckett Electrical Lee Lewis Construction

Cadence McShane Construction Matous Construction DCA Construction Rogers­O’ Brien Construction

EBCO General Contractor Seretta Construction Harvey­Cleary Builders Slater Painting Company

Intertech Flooring TDIndustries White Construction

“OSHA Partners are committed to establishing a safety culture in their company and enforcing their safety program above and beyond the OSHA minimum standards. Safety has become an essential component of the construction process and joining with other companies to mentor and assist each other is the reason I became involved in Safety and ultimately the Chairman of the ABC OSHA Partnership Committee,” Smith added. “We are looking for more companies to join. Any Subcontractor or General Contractor who is an ABC Member, committed to safety best practices, has no problems with OSHA violations and is willing to meet our five requirements is welcomed to join. I hope to have 25 companies by the end of the year”, Smith said. If you are interested in finding out more about joining the ABC Central Texas OSHA Partnership, please contact the ABC Central Texas OSHA Partnership Committee Chairman Todd Smith, todd@slaterpainting.com, (512) 294­9678 cell.

Issue 1 ∙ Summer 2015 ∙ Central Texas Chapter ∙ Austin, Texas

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Take a look at ABC’s first quarterly Political Advocacy update here

Don’t forget to take the Advocacy

survey as well – your feedback helps us craft our message

ABC News

Construction Economic Update Nonresidential Construction Spending Continues Growth With Stellar May "The U.S. economy has now entered the mid­cycle portion of its recovery, which often represents a period of sustained progress for the average nonresidential construction firm." — ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. Through the first five months of 2015, nonresidential construction spending is having its second best year since the Census Bureau began tracking the metric in 2002. According to the July 1 release, nonresidential construction spending increased 1.1 percent on a month­over­month basis and 8.1 percent on a year­over­year basis, and totals $669.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis. From January to May, nonresidential spending expanded by 7.1 percent; the only year in which the segment saw faster growth was 2007. Since then, growth over each year’s initial five months has averaged only 1.8 percent. Perhaps the most notable aspect of May’s release was the extensive upward revisions to three of the previous four months’ data. January, February and April saw their nonresidential construction spending estimates revised upward by 2 percent, 1.4 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. The Census Bureau also increased the estimate for May 2014 by 1.4 percent. “Though there continues to be discontent regarding performance of the U.S. economy, the current situation should be viewed positively,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The U.S. economy has now entered the mid­cycle portion of its recovery, which often represents a period of sustained progress for the average nonresidential construction firm. As with prior months, the industry progress continues to be led by the private sector. Among private segments, manufacturing­related construction was at the frontline of construction spending growth in May. “Moderate economic growth will allow interest rates to rise gradually, helping extend this mid­cycle,” said Basu. “Although it took several years to get to this point of the recovery, contractors will find themselves steadily becoming busier, with margins gradually expanding. The principle obstacle to progress will be skilled labor shortages, which eventually will translate into faster inflation, rising interest rates and the move into the final stage of the current economic expansion.” To continue reading, click here.

Issue 1 ∙ Summer 2015 ∙ Central Texas Chapter ∙ Austin, Texas

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Member Discounts

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PARTNERS ABC members can take advantage of Business Discounts with ABC's Business Partners. Click here to learn more about a specific program. Employees of member companies can also take advantage of discounts for personal use under the Employee Discounts section.

WEBINARS Click here to learn more about upcoming ABC Webinars.

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Issue 1 ∙ Summer 2015 ∙ Central Texas Chapter ∙ Austin, Texas