October 2021

On August 16th, 2021, as a part of its continuous workforce development initiatives, the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) launched the AGC MA Building Advancement Externship (BAE) pilot program. The BAE offered an immersive experience for seven Massachusetts educators by exposing them to every aspect of the commercial construction industry through office and job site tours, a visit to the Carpenters apprentice training facility, and presentations about career paths, safety, technology, and business operations in today’s commercial construction industry. The program featured experiential learning led by highly sophisticated construction professionals and provided a comprehensive overview of the industry from the field to the office. The program’s long-term efforts will focus on establishing and maintaining partnerships between schools and AGC MA to advance awareness about commercial construction career paths.

The externs were given first-hand understanding of the various skills and career paths in commercial construction, the knowledge to relate core competencies in the industry to skills of students, and the ability to demonstrate viable career paths for all types of students from low-income students, vocational students, high achieving STEM learners, and those who need additional career guidance.

Each extern participated in 40 hours of virtual and in-person programming during the week of August 16 through the 20th, 2021 and each received a stipend generously funded by the Massachusetts Construction Advancement Program (MCAP) a union contractor benefits fund.

The first annual Construction Inclusion Week will be held October 18-22, 2021. Through this effort, CIW will urge all:

• To stand united in setting expectations and promoting consistent behavior.
• To champion inclusion that empowers us to reach our full potential, fueling innovation and connection with our employees, clients, and the communities we serve.
• To harness and leverage the capabilities and global reach of the construction industry and its affiliates, to cultivate and perpetuate diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We encourage all AGC MA members to actively take part in Construction Inclusion Week to send a united message that diversity, inclusion, and equity are priorities for the commercial construction industry. Resources to help you plan for jobsite and office activities during Construction Inclusion Week can be found on the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion web page and the Construction Inclusion Week website.

AGC MA and the Massachusetts Construction Advancement Program (MCAP) give out scholarship awards each year to deserving individuals who are enrolled in a construction or civil engineering degree program.

Congratulations to the 2021 AGC MA & MCAP Scholarship recipients! The recipients rewarded are all outstanding individuals who work hard and show enthusiasm for the construction industry. They attend schools like Wentworth Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This year’s recipients are looking forward to continuing their education and career in the construction industry. Special thanks to the scholarship awards panel: Deborah Griffin, Stan Martin, Francis Madigan, and Gary Miller. Congratulations to all!

• Nour Assaf - University of Massachusetts-Amherst
• Michael Cooper - Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Mitchell Decelles - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Luis Godoy - Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Jordan James - Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Chaise Kakuk - Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Samuel Santaniello - Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Alexis Sturgis - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Abigail Trainor - Wentworth Institute of Technology

The scholarship application process is now open for 2022. The deadline to submit applications is June 30. Please contact Kara Cady with any questions.

AGC’s Building Women in Construction (BWiC) committee is hosting its second annual Open House on October 14^th from 5:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Coppersmith in South Boston. This year, BWiC will be joined by AGC’s Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (CFDI) to explore potential alignment in their initiatives and objectives. In addition to CFDI, anyone else interested in learning more or contributing to AGC’s work on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the construction industry.

AGC’s Annual Golf Tournament was another great success! The sold out tournament was a fun day for all who joined. The Cape Club of Sharon continues to host a day filled with golf, networking raffles, prizes and lots of great food. Thank you to all who attended and our generous tournament sponsors. Keep your eye out for next years tournament announcement.

We welcome all AGC members to visit our newly renovated lobby where you can work, enjoy coffee and network!

We have also upgraded the AGC conference room to include hybrid meeting technology. This will allow our Board and committee meetings to take place in-person and virtually at the same time!

Employers with 100 or more employees should expect a new emergency temporary standard (ETS) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requiring them to mandate that all employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or else undergo weekly testing. News of this planned ETS came on September 9, 2021 from President Biden. Read the full article here.

If you have any questions on the industry consensus regarding COVID or would like for AGC MA Safety Services to review your safety plan, conduct a site safety inspection, or provide a training, please contact Chris Ziegler at ziegler@agcmass.org. 

Other safety services available:

• OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Trainings
• Safety program consultations/review
• Job site safety walk through
• Lunch and learns focusing on Silica, Fall Protection, Trenching and Scaffolding

Our purpose is Possibility. At Marsh, the idea of possibility isn’t just something we talk about — it’s something we've lived for over 150 years.

We help our clients and colleagues grow — and our communities thrive — by protecting and promoting Possibility. We seek better ways to manage risk and define more effective paths to the right outcome. We go beyond risk to rewards for our clients, our company, our colleagues, and the communities in which we serve.

99 High Street, Boston, MA 02110

(617) 385-0200

PROMOTIONS, NEW HIRES & MORE

Peckar & Abramson, P.C. Grows National Construction Practice with Opening of Boston Office and Addition of Top Litigation Team>>

If you are an AGC member and have news to share please send to Kara Cady

Interested in BWiC but not sure what it's all about? Then join us on October 14th at Coppersmith Boston for an informative and fun "open house"!

BWiC is hosting its 2nd open house to anyone in the AEC industry interested in becoming a BWiC or CFDI volunteer.

Learn from the BWiC & CFDI Advisory Board the opportunities, expectations and benefits of becoming a volunteer or committee member!

REGISTER HERE

AGC MA Diversity Dialogues: An on-going series of discussions on diversity-related topics

Join the Discussion, Lend your Voice

Building the Future: Recruitment Efforts by the Carpenters and Laborers to Create a More Diverse Workforce. Join the AGC MA Committee for Diversity and Inclusion for a discussion with Ziven Drake, Training Coordinator, North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund and Jaime Merloni, Executive Training Director of the New England Laborers’ Training Academy as they discuss their unions’ efforts to build a diverse pipeline of apprentices. Ziven and Jaime will also be joined by current apprentices that will speak about their experiences on jobsites as new members of the construction workforce.

REGISTER HERE

BWiC is proud to sponsor the 2021 5k for Girls on the Run!

Girls on the Run reaches girls at a critical stage, strengthening their confidence at a time when society begins to tell them they can’t. Underscoring the important connection between physical and emotional health, their program addresses the whole girl when she needs it the most!

BWiC has committed to the $5,000 Happy Pace Sponsor and will offer 10 AGC MA member firms the opportunity to donate $500 which allows for your logo and link on the GOTR website, t-shirts and signage. Recognition in all email communications, volunteer opps and 5 (total) complimentary 5k entries.

REGISTER HERE

OSHA 30-hour training is the primary method used to train workers and supervisors on hazard recognition and OSHA safety standards.

AGC MA bring together highly recognized trainers and safety directors in the construction, legal, insurance, and regulatory industry for this program.

Safety Training Institute Sponsored by:

McLaughlin Insurance & Risk Management

REGISTER HERE

As a benefit to AGC MA-MCAP contributing members, MCAP reimburses 75% of direct program expenses associated with education, safety and other industry issues after full payment is made to AGC MA. Check out the video and see for yourself!