News
AGC Education Foundation Welcomes New Staff Member
The AGC Education Foundation is also welcoming someone new Mick Newell who is the Programs Marketing Coordinator. He is in charge of the Foundations marketing and sales as well as some of the communication and outreach. He will also be assisting with the development and continuing education. Mick...
Posted on 10/19/2010
HR Roundtable - Are You Ready for 2011?
The always informative Labor & Employment Law Update will take a fresh substantive and fun (yes fun) review of significant legal developments in Labor and Employment Law from 2010 and a look at upcoming Laws that might affect employers in 2011. The HR Roundtable held Oct. 26 at the AGC build...
Posted on 10/19/2010
BIM and the Application to the Building Lifecycle
More and more building owners are starting to ask about benefits of BIM after occupancy and finding that they need a much better understanding of the process to take advantage of the models in the lifecycle phase of a building. AGC-member Ideate presents a free seminar on Nov. 3 by Chuck Mies Aut...
Posted on 10/19/2010
What You Need to Know about Doing Business As, or With, a Small Business
AGC member Oles Morrison presents: SBA rules have become more important than ever as both large and small businesses need to learn how best and properly to compete for public contracts in this economy. Learn from experts from SBA and the private sectors. Nov. 16. Click SBA seminar for details...
Posted on 10/19/2010
Registration Now Open for AGC of America's 92nd Annual Convention
Join us March 21-25 2011 in Las Vegas for the 92nd Annual AGC of America Convention. The 2011 Convention is held in conjunction with the CONEXPO/CON-AGG tradeshow -- free CONEXPO admission with your AGC Convention registration. The 2011 Convention will be held at the Bellagio hotel; register ear...
Posted on 10/19/2010
And Finally…Some Happy Construction News for a Change
It seems that every news story that involved construction over the last couple of years has been a downer focusing on the economic challenges facing the industry. Well here’s some construction-related news that is actually heartwarming: San Diego construction workers subdue a gunman and save ki...
Posted on 10/19/2010
AGC Talks Taxes, PLAs, Card Check with Members of Congress
As part of the AGC National & Chapter Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. AGC of Washington leaders Tom Zamzow (Granite Construction) Pat McGarry (Manson Construction) and Steve Isenhart (Tiger Construction) joined AGC’s Executive Vice President David D’Hondt Government Affairs Director ...
Posted on 10/05/2010
Crane Safety: New Federal Rules Will Require State-Level Changes
AGC of Washington and its partners on the crane stakeholders group testified last week before the Joint Senate/House Commerce and Labor Committee to give an update on the new crane and operator certification requirements in light of the recently-adopted federal crane rule.
Mark Gauger Safety Man...
Posted on 10/04/2010
Labor Update: Negotiations with Laborers and Teamsters Continue
By Doug Peterson AGC’s Director of Labor Relations
The 2010 labor negotiations continue into October. The labor contracts for the five basic crafts Carpenters Cement Masons Laborers Operating Engineers and Teamsters were up for negotiations this year. The anniversary date for the labor agreeme...
Posted on 10/04/2010
Access to Experience: Advice from Panel of Experts
Access to Experience: Panel of Speakers and FLF AttendeesAt the AGC Education Foundation and AGC’s Future Leadership Forum’s recent event Access to Experience three panelists answered questions that ranged from their views on higher education to tips on what to remember when economic times are to...
Posted on 10/04/2010
Get to Know AGC Staff: Chuck Quick
As the Facilities Engineer for the AGC Building Chuck Quick maintains the property’s mechanics coordinates and oversees all contracting work troubleshoots building and property issues maintains suites’ interiors works with the electrical mechanical plumbing HVAC and structural details of the bu...
Posted on 10/04/2010
Less Than Meets the Eye: Initiative 1098
“Cuts state property taxes BY 20%” touts the ad promoting I-1098 the income tax initiative. Quick grab the calculator: A 20 percent cut of a say $6000 property tax bill is $1200…that’s great!
But hold on. One of the biggest misperceptions of the initiative is that in addition to imposing the ...
Posted on 10/04/2010
Build Schools? USGBC Announces Effort to Make them All Green, LEED
From a USGBC press release: The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced its newest initiative The Center for Green Schools at USGBC. There are nearly 140000 schools colleges and universities in the United States; no one has ever counted the buildings but thousands are barely built to code. ...
Posted on 10/04/2010
Bad Recipe: Input Costs Up, Finished Prices Flat
FLF members with AGC of Americas Chief Economist Ken Simonson in the middle.
“If you’re in the industry now if you’ve survived to this point you have great career prospects. The construction industry will get back to average levels and you’ll be in a great position.”
National AGC Economist K...
Posted on 09/24/2010
AGC's Board Tackles Two Economic Issues: I-1082 and I-1098
By Tom Zamzow AGC President
Last week AGC’s Board of Trustees considered two initiatives that will be on the November ballot both of which could have big implications for contractors. The Board voted to remain neutral on I-1082 regarding workers’ comp and to oppose I-1098 the income tax initiat...
Posted on 09/21/2010
Big Increases in Unemployment Taxes Expected Next Year
According to the Employment Security Department employer taxes are projected to rise up to 38 percent for 2011. The department notes that the rates may decline in 2012 and it is researching ways to spread this increase out over a number of years with the goal of reducing the 2011 increase. Incl...
Posted on 09/21/2010
2010 Idaho, Oregon, Washington Construction Industry Salary Survey
The Moss Adams Construction Industry Group in cooperation with AGC announces the arrival of the annual salary guide providing comprehensive salary and benefits data for executives management and financial administrative and field personnel; benchmarks in salary and bonus structures; salary differ...
Posted on 09/21/2010
Summary of I-1098, Income Tax Initiative
Bill Gates Sr. and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are among the major backers of Initiative 1098 a measure on this year’s ballot that will be the first time since 1973 that voters will be asked to establish a state income tax.
On the ballot information about I-1098 will read as...
Posted on 09/21/2010
Prepared for 520 Tolling? Here's Info to Get You Ready
Tolling will begin on the SR 520 Bridge in Seattle this spring. “Our innovative approach to tolling will help manage congestion in this busy corridor and pay for the construction of a new safer replacement bridge” said WSDOT in a press release.
WSDOT is providing info on how this might affect yo...
Posted on 09/21/2010
John Huntley's New Opportunity Found on the Gulf Coast
Among John Huntley’s AGC activities is participation in government affairs. Here John is meeting with State Sen. Kelli Linville.
“I don’t do gloom and doom I just look for opportunities.”
That’s the sentiment of John Huntley third generation co-owner of family-owned PM Northwest Inc. in Mt. ...
Posted on 09/21/2010
Dino Rossi Warns of \Fiscal Cliff\ at Southern District Dinner
Dino Rossi visits with “Fast” Eddie Zawislak of Coast Crane Co. at the AGC Southern District Membership Dinner.
“A common theme I hear from voters during this campaign is opportunities are decreasing as government increases.”
This statement is from Dino Rossi GOP candidate for US Senate who d...
Posted on 09/21/2010
Career Day: Building a Better Climate for Construction
This October approximately 800-1000 high school students will attend the King County Construction Career Day at Seattles Magnuson Park.
This event will be a two day extravaganza of all things construction. Students will be able to participate in three different sections each meant to educate the...
Posted on 09/21/2010
Mike Schmidt, Berntson Porter & Co., Named to AGC Board
Mike Schmidt a Principal at Berntson Porter & Company PLLC and the Construction Niche Leader has been named to AGC of Washington’s Board of Trustees.
Mike’s practice encompasses a broad range of business and individual tax planning tax and financial compliance and consulting for closely he...
Posted on 09/21/2010
AGC Northern District Members Help Build Area's First Hospice House
Above: The new Whatcom County Hospice House (photo by Edye Colello-Morton).Below: Karen Ssebanakitta Director of Hospice Services; Mike Hammes President of Ram Construction; and Mike Kirkland Executive Director of Whatcom Hospice Foundation celebrate at the open house for Whatcom Coun...
Posted on 09/21/2010
Got a Legal Question and Don't Know Where to Start?
Try AGC’s free one-call legal assistance service and get some help. This program is provided by the AGC Legal Affairs Committee. Get some initial advice from an AGC-member attorney. Click One-Call Legal Assistance for more info and a list of participating lawyers who are grouped according to spec...