See you for networking next Wednesday in Duluth!

Join the AGC Board of Directors and your industry colleagues for some informal networking!

Thank You to our Sponsors:

Summer Mini Summit

Join us on Wednesday, July 17 for a half day event, providing updates on the following timely legislative and legal topics:

• Worker misclassification and changes to the independent contractor test in construction
• Duty good faith & fair dealing (i.e. can an owner change the scope of work without a change order?)
• Inflation Reduction Act and Davis-Bacon changes (i.e. can I get fined out of business for missing an apprenticeship standard?)
• Earned Safe Sick Time changes and compliance
• Prevailing Wage application
• Best Practices on getting bids or responding to RFPs complying with new laws
• Cannabis regulations and testing

We have applied for CLE credits, and will update upon approval.

FREE to AGC members / $100 for non-members (subject to availability).

What Contractors Need to Know about Minnesota’s New Independent Contractor Legislation

The Minnesota Legislature recently passed a bill dramatically altering the landscape for classification of independent contractors in the construction field, creating a more rigorous test for determining independent contractor status and providing for harsh penalties for misclassification. This article summarizes the legislation and highlights the issues contractors need to be aware of.

Click here to read more.

Luke is a shareholder in the Fabyanske Westra Hart & Thomson's Construction Law Department. He can be reached at 612.359.7628 or lclayton@fwhtlaw.com

Looper Case Overturns Chevron

The US Supreme Court overturned the Chevron case that held that courts should defer to the subject matter experts in the administrative branch who write regulations.  Instead, judges who may have no familiarity with the subject matter will be asked to review the regulations without deference to the administrative branch whether the regulations are justified by the legislation. It is staggering how broad the impact of this decision may be. Or may not. It is unclear whether Minnesota will follow this federal law and Congress could look to statutorily overturn the Looper decision. In sum, too early to speculate. AGC America will be hosting materials as this issue develops.

Davis-Bacon Rules on Hold

A Texas court has enjoined the new Davis Bacon rules as exceeding the legislative authority. This case likely will be appealed. AGC America has lead on this issue and will continue to provide updates.

City of Proctor Case

Oral arguments are nearing for the City of Proctor case which will pit the state’s low bid law against a city’s review whether the contractor is deemed responsible or appropriate for the work. We will keep you posted.

MN Dept. of Revenue Retail Delivery Fee: Effective July 1

Among the new laws this year is a new delivery fee on retail transactions. AGC is pushing for clarity if or to what extent this law applies to construction. We will keep you posted as we learn. In the meantime, here is a link to the Department of Revenue’s page for information.

Constructability Review Request:

Veteran's Memorial Bridge Project

MnDOT is asking potential contractors to assist with evaluating construction staging/access and risks to delivering this bridge re-deck project. Contractors who wish to participate in providing feedback are asked to do their due diligence learning about the project and come prepared to discuss the questions provided. The meetings are expected to last approximately 90 minutes. More information here.

July 16-19, 2024 has been selected as the Department’s desired time period for constructability reviews. Please contact Glen Coudron, MnDOT’s Project Manager at 507-327-6232 or glen.coudron@state.mn.us to schedule a meeting. 

Volunteer Opportunity for Signatory Contractors

Opportunity: MN Trades Academy, in partnership with Junior Achievement North, is hosting a Career Day for MN Trades Academy interns who will practice their interview skills and hear from construction industry experts. 

Where: Junior Achievement North - 1745 University Ave W, St. Paul MN 55104

When: Monday, August 12, 8:30am - 1:00pm (lunch provided)

Needs: Volunteers from signatory construction firms

The Experience: Volunteers will interview 3-4 interns, provide feedback, and participate in a networking opportunity for interns

View the flyer or sign up to volunteer here! Volunteers are requested to sign up by July 24. Questions? Contact Lindsay Tallman at 507-458-3131.

Leveraging Project Execution for Any Organization’s Success

Why do some construction companies merely survive while others thrive? Discover the secrets to creating high-performing project teams and integrating them into a high-performing organization.

In this online, livestreamed event on July 9, Klaus will share how LeanProject helps leaders reliably execute successful construction projects, and how the same concepts can help you create a great construction organization. Checklists, schedules and processes alone are not enough to create truly high-performing teams. Learn more and view.

AGC of America's Technology Conference

 The IT Conference provides a great opportunity for your organization to learn new ways to stay ahead of your competitors and keep your data/systems more secure. This annual event unites more than 300 construction leaders & technology professionals from around the country to share ideas, explore new trends and discuss which tech-related projects can have the most impact on your company's bottom line. For several years, this conference has educated people in the industry with instructive workshops and many sessions covering the latest in BIM/VDC, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence & more.

REGISTER NOW

Register for Upcoming Supervisory Training Program (STP) Classes

After our annual summer break, STP classes begin again in August and continue into December.

Register now for any/all of the following units:

• Unit 3: Planning & Scheduling (Aug 20-Sep 17)
• Unit 5: Improving Productivity/Managing Project Costs (Aug 21-Sep18)
• Unit 4: Contract Documents (Sep 24-Oct 22)
• Unit 6: Risk Management (Sep 25-Oct 23)
• Unit 1: Leadership & Motivation (Nov 5-Dec 10)
• Unit 2: Communication (Nov 6-Dec 11)

Communication Credentials Session 2:

Managing Difficult People

It can be difficult for professionals to feel heard, be taken seriously, manage critical relationships, or have the courage to address inappropriate comments at their own expense.

That’s why you need to learn and practice specific power phrases to help manage any difficult conversations at work, and still preserve your reputation.

In this session on September 19 we’ll cover:

• The theory of power phrases and how they help amplify your voice while staying true to who you are.
• Common biased scenarios and the power phrases you can use to change topic with ease and power.
• How to respond to unreasonable requests and behaviors from clients (such as quick turnarounds, ignoring protocol, and refusing to pay debt obligations).
• How to say what you want and maintain a respected position of power while overcoming project delays or errors and promoting yourself and your team.

AGC of America Virtual Member Orientations

Are you taking advantage of all the benefits an AGC membership gives you? All members are welcome to take part in these virtual sessions (via Teams) that will highlight the discounts and other benefit programs available to all members.

• Wednesday, September 11, 1:00 pm CST
• Wednesday, November 13, 1:00 pm CST

AGC of America Announces the 2024 Diversity & Inclusion Assessment: A Critical Tool for Progress and Celebration

AGC of America is thrilled to announce the opening of the 2024 Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Assessment, a tool designed to help construction firms establish a baseline, measure progress, and celebrate their successes in their D&I programs, policies, and practices.

The construction industry has made significant strides in fostering inclusive workplaces, but measuring progress remains a challenge. The D&I Assessment addresses this need by providing a comprehensive and confidential platform for benchmarking against industry peers. It is the only tool tailored specifically for construction companies, allowing for a more accurate assessment on your company’s current D&I efforts.

Why Participate in the D&I Assessment?

1. Establish a Baseline: Understand where your company currently is in its diversity and inclusion efforts. Identify strengths and areas for improvement to inform your D&I strategy.
2. Measure Progress: Track advancements over time. The assessment provides metrics to gauge the effectiveness of your D&I initiatives and adjust strategies as needed.
3. Celebrate Success: Recognize and celebrate your achievements. By participating, you contribute to a culture of transparency and accountability, setting an example for others in the industry.

Confidentiality and Benchmarking

Your data's confidentiality is our top priority. The D&I Assessment is conducted on a secure, confidential online platform, ensuring your company's information remains private. Benchmarking against industry peers allows you to see where you stand and learn from industry best practices.

Join Us in Leading the Way

Participating in the D&I Assessment demonstrates your commitment to creating a more inclusive workplace. It signals to employees, partners, and clients that your company values diversity and is dedicated to continuous improvement.

We encourage all construction firms to take advantage of this opportunity. Join AGC of America for a webinar, “Harnessing the Power of the D&I Assessment Tool for Industry-Wide Excellence” on Tuesday, July 9 at 12:00 pm (central) to learn more about how to get the most out of the AGC Diversity & Inclusion Assessment.

AGC Members: the "click here to take the D&I Assessment" link will not work for you until you are logged in on agc.org. Your membership with AGC of MN automatically gives you a membership with AGC of America, but you still need to create your own login credentials by going to AGC's home page, clicking the silhouette of a person at the top right, selecting "create new account" (if you don't already have an account), and then registering, being sure to connect yourself to your firm so that you are marked as a member.

Once you have those credentials and log in, you can access any member benefits, including the free D&I assessment. Your AGC of Minnesota login credentials are not the same as your AGC of America login credentials. Contact Renee with any questions or issues.

It's Time to Make Mental Health an Industry Priority

Great progress has been made in a short time to increase awareness of the construction industry’s mental health crisis. More recently, the concept of worker wellbeing has emerged, transcending an individualized focus on helping those already in crisis, and instead proactively identifying and working to mitigate the stressors found in our unique industry business model with its inherent demands.  

Spearheaded by AGC, the Worker Wellbeing Initiative Strategy Team has embarked on a comprehensive strategy approach that brings together all three industry partner segments (employers, workforce, and project owners) to foster a secure and healthy work environment for all construction industry workers. Engaged and productive dialogue is being focused to identify proactive measures that can reduce industry mental health stressors before they take hold and manifest in crisis outcomes. This holistic approach aims to tackle the mental health crisis that is hindering growth within our industry by prioritizing mental health on parallel with physical safety and wellbeing.

Registration is open for all of the following events.

Secure your sponsorship or registration before events are sold out!

Summer Mini Summit

(MN Senate Building | St. Paul)

Join us for a mini summit on July 17 to provide updates on significant legislative changes and more! 

Golf Tournament - August 2

(Keller Golf Course | Maplewood)

SOLD OUT for golfers, but great sponsorship opportunities still available!

St. Paul Saints Game - August 7

(CHS Field | St. Paul)

Join AGC and MBEX members for an afternoon of Minnesota Twins AAA baseball against the Columbus Clippers!

Sporting Clays Fundraiser - Sept 11

(Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club | Prior Lake)

Register your team of 5 to join us at the 25th Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser to benefit the AGC of Minnesota Foundation!

Communication Credentials:

Managing Difficult People - Sept 19

(Mendakota Country Club | Mendota Heights)

Join us for Session 2 in this 4-session professional development series!

Fall Networking Event - October 10

(Somerby Golf Club | Byron)

Join the AGC Board of Directors and your industry colleagues for some informal networking!

Holiday Reception - December 4

(Minneapolis Event Center)

Raise a glass to another year in the industry together with your peers!

AGC Honors 2025 - February 18

(317 on Rice Park Event Center | St. Paul)

Join us as we honor award recipients!   

ATTENDEES:

2025 Minnesota Construction Summit

February 19-20

(St. Paul RiverCentre)

Don't miss the industry event of the year! 

SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS:

2025 Minnesota Construction Summit

February 19-20

(St. Paul RiverCentre)

Don't miss the industry event of the year! 

Thank You to our 2024 Annual Partners!

Don't Miss These Events!

Register now for these upcoming AGC events:

• Summer Networking Event: July 10 (Hoops Brewing Co., Duluth)
• Summer Mini Summit: July 17 (MN Senate Building, St. Paul)
• Golf Tournament: August 2 (Keller Golf Course)
• AGC/MBEX Saints Game: August 7 (CHS Field)
• Sporting Clays Fundraiser: September 11 (MN Horse & Hunt Club)
• Communication Credentials - Managing Difficult People: September 19 (Mendakota Country Club)
• Fall Networking Event: October 10 (Somerby Golf Club, Byron)
• AGC Holiday Reception: December 4 (Minneapolis Event Center)
• AGC Honors 2025: February 18 (317 on Rice Park Event Center)
• 2025 Minnesota Construction Summit: February 19-20 (St. Paul RiverCentre)